COLUMBUS – Ohio State coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes players were ready to talk about next Saturday night’s game at Oregon in a match-up of nationally ranked teams minutes after finishing off a 35-7 win over Iowa on Saturday night.
“As you can imagine it didn’t take too long to set our focus on Oregon,” Day said.
Quarterback Will Howard said, “I’m proud of the way we played (against Iowa) but we’ve got a big one coming up next week. I think confidence-wise we feel great. We have continued to iron things out and get better every week. Going into this game we know this is a big one.”
Defensive end Jack Sawyer said, “I’m super excited. Can’t wait to go compete against a team like Oregon. We’re ready for a heavyweight bout. I think we’re ready. I think everybody in the program is ready. We’re excited.”
OSU was No. 3 and Oregon was No. 6 in last week’s Associated Press poll, but with No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Tennessee losing on Saturday, both could be moving up this week.
Ohio State has won 9 of the previous 10 games it has played against Oregon. The Ducks’ only win was in 2021 by a 35-28 score in Columbus.
• FIRST PICK FOR IGBINOSUN: Davison Igbinosun got the first interception of his Ohio State career in the second half against Iowa.
•TATE HELD OUT: Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate did not play because of an unspecified injury but could have played if needed, Day said.
“Carnell was available, he could have played. If we needed to put him in the game he absolutely could have played. We just felt like it was the right thing to do to hold him and we’ll have 100 percent of Carnell going into next week,” he said.
•HEAD OF THE CLASS: Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said after the game that Ohio State’s receivers are “as good as you’re going to see anywhere.”
• LACHEY UPDATE: Iowa tight end Luke Lachey, son of former OSU and NFL offensive lineman Jim Lachey, caught 5 passes for 39 yards in a return to his hometown.
