COLUMBUS — With the invading Tennessee followers loud and able to attempt to take over Ohio Stadium with what appeared like 30,000-plus followers, Ryan Day aggressively quieted the opposing followers — and the critics — in a dominant 42-17 win. 

Earlier than the sport as an increasing number of orange jackets, toboggans and jerseys got here streaming into the stadium, it felt like a referendum on Day. Seemingly capitalizing on Ohio State fan apathy following a devastating dwelling loss to Michigan, Tennessee followers devoured up tickets everywhere in the stadium and proclaimed it “Neyland North.” 

The “Tennessee Takeover” of Columbus began Friday night time as orange clothes populated native bars and there have been many whiskey-induced cheers and Vols chants in typical Ohio State fan haunts. One inebriated Ohio State fan was so bothered by the scene contained in the Brief North Pint Home he turned to a buddy and stated “I wish to get in a struggle. That is our territory.”

The Buckeyes had greater than sufficient struggle in them to defend the Horseshoe even when way more intruders made their means into the constructing than anybody may have imagined. 

By the tip of the third quarter after Ohio State went up 35-10, the orange devoted solemnly headed for the exits en masse and obtained able to make the lengthy drive again to Knoxville. Ohio State left little doubt that it was the higher workforce on a chilly Ohio winter night time that noticed temperatures drop into the low 20s. As the ultimate seconds ticked off, Ohio State followers let free a deafening “S-E-C” chant to mock the departing Volunteers. 

“They thought they had been going to take over this place and we confirmed them fairly fast that we weren’t going to let that occur,” stated Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. “I feel clearly us leaping out to a fairly fast begin helped with that however I’ve to provide credit score to Buckeye nation for displaying up and being loud.”

Day badly wanted a win like this and eventually confirmed the aggression followers had been begging for in opposition to Michigan. When this model of Ohio State reveals up, with an attacking offense and a ferocious protection, it has a respectable argument as the perfect workforce within the nation. This workforce appeared free in a means that it by no means does in opposition to Michigan and performed as dominant a sport because it has all season in a pressurized spot that prompted athletic director Ross Bjork to publicly defend Day earlier within the week. 

When it was throughout, an ecstatic Bjork hugged and celebrated with gamers and Ohio State luminaries like former head coach City Meyer, beaming over the efficiency he simply witnessed. 

Ohio State got here out swinging from the leap, and Tennessee had no reply for it. Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly appeared to recollect Jeremiah Smith is the nation’s greatest receiver after solely getting him 5 catches for 35 yards in that loss to Michigan. Towards Tennessee, Ohio State neatly obtained the ball to Smith everywhere in the subject to the tune of six catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns. 

“You can inform from the leap that they had a glance of their eye they weren’t going to lose this sport,” Day stated.  

Quarterback Will Howard appeared terrific, hitting Smith and Emeka Egbuka with a number of on-the-money passes that Vols defenders had no probability of stopping. He completed 24 of 29 for 311 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His one actual mistake, a second-quarter endzone interception, got here on what appeared like move interference in opposition to Smith and a 50/50 name on whether or not Tennessee defender Will Brooks stayed inbounds on the interception catch. 

Had it gone the opposite means, Ohio State could be up 28-0 and the sport could be all however over. However after Tennessee scored a subject aim and later added a landing on a drive that once more benefited from a controversial officiating name, Ohio State was up solely 21-10 regardless of dominating the primary half. Even worse, Tennessee was set to start out the second half with the ball. 

In that second you may really feel the Ohio State crowd get tenser and the Tennessee followers come alive after the Buckeyes’ early haymakers successfully shushed them. It threatened to check Day and his Ohio State workforce’s resolve after nearly every thing went its means early.

Identical to it needed to begin the sport, Ohio State got here out within the second half and wasted no time reminding Tennessee it was the higher workforce. The Buckeyes stopped Tennessee’s first 5 offensive drives of the second half, scored 21 straight factors on offense and the blowout was on. Ohio State so totally dominated Tennessee that not solely did its backup quarterback (Devin Brown) get within the sport however so did third-string freshman quarterback Julian Sayin. 

Ohio State’s protection was spectacular all through the night time, beginning with a primary quarter that disadvantaged Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava of a single passing yard. Ohio State’s protection overwhelmed Tennessee’s offensive line all through the sport, forcing Iamaleava out of the pocket and rendered him unable to do something within the downfield passing sport. Ohio State restricted Tennessee’s vaunted operating sport to lower than 100 yards deep into the fourth quarter earlier than a rubbish time landing drive bolstered the numbers. Ohio State definitely benefited from SEC Offensive Participant of the 12 months Dylan Sampson getting harm early within the sport and ending with solely six yards on two carries. 

A loss in opposition to Tennessee and the requires Day’s dismissal would have been deafening. Bjork had stated Day would completely be again subsequent season however blowing an all-in $20 million roster with a large quantity of visiting followers in attendance may need been an indignity too huge to swallow. As a substitute, Ohio State will get one other probability at No. 1 Oregon within the Rose Bowl after the 2 performed an on the spot traditional that the Geese received, 32-31, again in October. 

“He takes a lot warmth and it is such bullshit,” senior defensive finish Jack Sawyer stated about his head coach. “I am so blissful for him to get a win like that and now we have momentum going into this sport and it is superior.”

The final time Sawyer was in Ohio Stadium he was grabbing on to a Michigan flag that the Wolverines tried to be planted at midfield, an unsightly scene that included pepper spray and punches and pushes thrown between the 2 groups. It led to an extended, difficult three weeks for Day after that fourth consecutive loss to Michigan prompted elevated hypothesis on whether or not he is the correct man to guide this system.

On Saturday night time, that stress appeared to energise Day to be his greatest model quite than crumble underneath the lofty expectations of the scarlet and gray-adorned followers in attendance.

If this Ohio State workforce is for actual and the one which confirmed up in opposition to Michigan has been flushed away, good luck to the remainder of the playoff subject as a result of this Buckeyes workforce seems championship-worthy. 

It had been an extended month for Day after a fourth consecutive loss to Michigan prompted elevated hypothesis on whether or not he is the correct man to guide this system. 

“I informed him a very long time in the past he is constructed for this,” offensive coordinator Chip Kelly stated. “He understands it, he understands the gravity of what his place is. He understands how all people feels about Buckeye soccer and rightly so. He feels the very same means. I do not assume anyone took the loss to the workforce up north tougher than he took the loss.” 

If this model of Day and his Ohio State workforce is for actual and the one which confirmed up in opposition to Michigan has been flushed away, good luck to the remainder of the playoff subject as a result of this Buckeyes workforce seems championship-worthy.