After an easy Week 11 win over Purdue, the Buckeyes head coach, Ryan Day, hinted at a new approach designed to balance the workload across his offense. The adjustment was on full display in West Lafayette, where a pair of under-the-radar contributors stepped up and caught Day’s attention, giving Jeremiah Smith some much-needed breathing room heading into the final stretch of the season.

The victory ensured Ohio State’s perfect record continues. However, Ryan Day was more impressed with the way WR Bryson Rodgers and OL Ian Moore played against the Boilermakers. With WR Carnell Tate sidelined by injury, Ryan Day needed more depth on offense, and Bryson Rodgers stepped up. He caught two passes for 30 yards, marking a career high in receiving yardage, and played 35 snaps, his second-highest total of the season.

The Buckeyes came into the matchup as heavy and obvious favorites with a massive 29.5-point spread. And those odds translated into the game. Spencer Porath’s early field goal advantage wasn’t enough for Purdue take on the best team in the nation. Sayin posted 1 TD and an 81.8 completion rate for 303 yards, while Smith had 10 receptions for 137 yards. But Day was particularly happy with the way Ian Moore played against Purdue.

The week 11 game was Moore’s first career start as a right tackle. The position transition occurred because OT Phillip Daniels was out due to an injury. Day had the option to start Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa, but went with Moore, who was solid against the Boilermakers. Day even said that Moore had “a heck of a start” in his first game as a right tackle.

Can Ryan Day and Ohio State win back-to-back?

The Buckeyes have unsurprisingly enjoyed an outstanding season so far. Having played one less game, Ohio State sits second in the Big Ten, just behind Indiana. With only three games remaining, Ryan Day’s side is poised to secure another playoff spot. This means back-to-back appearances, giving fans the chance to see the defending champions back on college football’s biggest stage.

The playoff spot means the chance to win the College Football Playoff National Championship two years in a row. The last team to do that was the Georgia Bulldogs, who won the trophy in 2021 and 2022. So, it will be a chance for Day to make history with the Buckeyes.

Day has already turned an eye toward 2026, methodically building a roster designed to sustain Ohio State’s dominance. But before the dynasty talk can continue, there’s one final regular-season obstacle standing in his way, a trip into the devil’s lair in Ann Arbor to face Michigan.