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Ohio State football: 3 wishes for Buckeyes in 2020

By Thomas Scurlock

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes gets ready to lead the team on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes gets ready to lead the team on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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The sting of the Ohio State football team’s 29-23 loss to the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff semifinal will last for some time.  It may never fully go away.

Having seen long stretches when the Ohio State football team failed to win 10 games, win a conference title, beat Michigan or play in a meaningful postseason game, the only way to describe this season is fantastic with a disappointing ending.

Winning the Big Ten, crushing TTUN again, having two Heisman finalists, making it back to the CFP and watching J.K. Dobbins, K.J. Hill, Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah have record-setting seasons are the achievements that should be remembered about 2019, not the blown call.

Furthermore, Ohio State accomplished all of these successes with a first-year head coach and a new quarterback. That is remarkable.

As the program heads into the off-season, here are three wishes for the 2020 team:

Culture

The way this team bought into Ryan Day’s vision was incredible.  It was clear from the outset that the players were locked in on burying the minor flaws from the past few seasons. The team built an identity around being physical and unselfish, and playing aggressively.

Sustaining that type of culture is often tricky.  Players leave, new assistants arrive and the overall chemistry changes.

My hope is the work that went into building the foundation this year grows stronger.  There will be a nice blend of experience coupled with younger, but highly touted players next season.

Just follow the lead set by ones leaving.  That blueprint works.

Related Story: 2019 stings, but still huge success for Buckeyes

Attack

Outside of punting the ball back to Clemson at the end of the fourth quarter, I can’t recall a moment or play this season where Day did not let it rip.  That’s called trusting your team to make the play regardless of the risk.

I hope Day maintains his instinct to go for the jugular whenever possible. The players love it.

Minimal Injuries

Avoiding major injuries to key players is often the difference between a good season and a great one.  Thanks to Mickey Marotti, Ohio State has been able to maintain an exceptional level of depth and conditioning that keeps the team healthy compared to other programs.

Next. Former five-star RB in OSU's future?. dark

If this continues in 2020, there is no doubt the team will be back in the playoffs again.

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