INDIANAPOLIS — The Ohio State Buckeyes sent a message loud and clear at Big Ten Media Days: They won’t settle for anything less than a National Championship.
“Our three goals are beat the team up north, win the Big Ten Championship and win the National Championship,” Buckeyes Head Coach Ryan Day said.
Day said an 11-2 season and a Rose Bowl victory doesn’t quite cut it, so offseason changes have been made. Defensive Coordinator Kerry Coombs is gone. Jim Knowles has been hired to take his place. A new defensive scheme could be what the Buckeyes need to get over the National Championship hump, or at least be enough to avenge the late-season loss to the Wolverines last year.
“A whole new coaching staff just requires a whole lot of change. Change is for the good sometimes,” Safety Ronnie Hickman said.
Hickman knows the defense has to pick up the slack. Without giving away too much, Hickman thinks he could become an impact player next season.
“I will say coach Knowles runs a safety-driven defense,” he said. “Whether that’s you making a play in the box or making a pick 50-60 yards down the field. So, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help us win games on Saturday.”
With the season opener less than six weeks away, the clock is ticking.
“We’re excited for the season to show everyone we still have that sour taste in our mouth from last season,” Hickman said. “We’re working every day to prove to the country what we’re about.”
On the offensive side of the ball, Ohio State returns with a terrific set of triplets. Led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running TreVeyon Henderson, the Buckeyes are primed for an explosive season.
“I feel like the sky is the limit for us,” Smith-Njigba said. “It’s hard to tell you what I expect because I don’t even wanna put any limits on us.”
Smith-Njigba said the offense’s goal is to score on every drive, something he believes is realistic thanks to the talent on the team.
“It’s (National Championship) or bust,” he said. “Fifteen weeks, trying to go undefeated.”
Stroud believes the team is built to handle whatever is thrown at them this season.
“I don’t really look at it as pressure,” Stroud said. “I just look at it as having fun. It’s a responsibility, and I’m excited. We didn’t reach that goal last year. We just really got to learn from that.”
Day said last year’s trials have taught the team plenty of lessons and will serve as the primary source of motivation this season.
“I think our guys are a little scarred and they’re a little callused,” Day said. “They know what it’s like to lose a game, and that’s not fun. We remind our guys about that regularly, but we also know we have to move forward and focus on what’s coming next.”
Ohio State opens the season at home against Notre Dame on Sept. 3.
