Ohio State sits pretty at 7-0 and is averaging over 36.4 points per game. But according to one former Michigan star turned Big Ten Network analyst, the Buckeyes’ secret weapon for a deep playoff run has nothing to do with their loaded roster or explosive offense. Jake Butt, who played tight end for the Wolverines from 2013 to 16, has noticed something about Ryan Day’s approach this season that most fans probably haven’t picked up on.

Here’s what Butt sees that’s flying under everyone’s radar: “I think one subtle thing to consider here, especially as we talk about making a playoff push, is the way he controls the entire picture all three phases,” Butt explained on the Big Ten Network. “And I know some Buckeye fans might be frustrated about the offense. Maybe they want them to put up even more points. We’re nitpicking, of course, but when you do the math, they’re a team that has a very slow pace of play.”

That slow pace is showing up big time in the numbers. Ohio State is running just 62.4 offensive plays per game through its first seven contests. This is significantly low as the Buckeyes are ranked 123rd nationally. They’re also dominating time of possession at 32 minutes and 34 seconds per game, nearly five full minutes more than their opponents.​ The genius of what Ryan Day’s doing becomes clear when you zoom out and look at the big picture over an entire season.

“When you do the math in terms of snaps per game and extend it out over the course of a season, they will have effectively played one fewer game than their opponents in terms of total snap counts,” Butt said. Think about that for a second. By the time Ohio State gets to the College Football Playoff, its starters will have absorbed significantly less physical punishment than teams that run 75-80 plays per game. 

“So he’s building in an additional bye week into the season just by controlling the clock and playing ball control throughout the game,” Butt added. It’s the strategic advantage that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet but could be the difference between running out of gas in the semifinals versus having enough left in the tank to win it all.​ What makes this approach even more lethal is that Ohio State isn’t sacrificing effectiveness for the sake of pace.

They’re averaging 6.91 yards per play (absolutely absurd efficiency) while holding opponents to just 3.81 yards per play. The Buckeyes have scored 255 points through seven games while allowing just 41, and they’re converting 52.7% of their third downs while holding opponents to a measly 21.35% conversion rate. Their offense has put up 3,020 total yards on just 437 plays (3rd lowest number of plays in the nation). This means they’re doing way more damage with way less volume than most elite programs.

“What’s really scary is that team is so talented,” Butt said. “And yet because of the coaching decisions, they should be fresh going into the postseason.” That’s the whole ballgame right there. Ohio State has enough elite talent to blow teams out at 90 plays per game if they wanted to, but Ryan Day is choosing to grind opponents down with a deliberate, physical style that keeps his stars healthy and ready for what really matters. 

Day’s master plan comes from Meyer’s playbook

That slow-burn approach Jake Butt identified is a philosophy Ryan Day inherited directly from Urban Meyer and has refined into his own formula for sustainable excellence. When Day appeared on Big Noon Kickoff recently, Meyer himself brought up the conversations they used to have about this exact topic: how do you keep elite players sharp without grinding them into dust before the games that actually matter? Ryan Day doesn’t hide where he learned this stuff.

“Yeah, I mean, I learned so much of it from you,” Day told Meyer during the broadcast. “And just talking about that balance of how do you keep your edge. But how do you get your guys healthy for the stretch run? And that’s really what we talk a lot about with Mick Marotti, and you know, try to figure out what’s right for our guys. I think a couple of things come into play. One, you’ve got to keep your guys who are the starters with an edge. So you’ve got to use good on good, you’ve got to make sure that the guys are staying locked in.”

 That “good on good” concept is putting your best offensive players against your best defensive players in practice to maintain that psychological edge that championship teams need. It’s about making every rep count and keeping that competitive spirit without burning guys out.​ You’re seeing that pay off with guys like true freshman running back Bo Jackson, who’s averaging 6.4 yards per carry.