Ohio State Football: Confidence level against Michigan State
By Eric Boggs
![MADISON, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 28: Ryan Day head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts to a penalty called on Ohio State Buckeyes during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) MADISON, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 28: Ryan Day head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts to a penalty called on Ohio State Buckeyes during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/29c559958062b5c5236d5e32f7d1b545a421e71d55ee080fd8658d6d0bfa3c9a.jpg)
X-Factor Confidence Level
I’m not one to get all hot and bothered when the Ohio State football program decides to wear an alternate uniform. I know there are a lot of traditionalists out there who believe that Ohio State has the perfect color scheme and it doesn’t need to be tinkered with. So far this season, the Buckeyes have played every game, five of which have been on the road and four of them at home, with their same traditional uniform. That will not be the case this Saturday against Michigan State.
The Ohio State football team has unveiled their new “all-gray” uniforms, which resemble the all-gray uniforms that the basketball team has worn for decades. It is more of a “silver” look than the dark gray they wore back in 2017 against Penn State (pictured above.) These uniforms incorporated a pattern on the helmet called wolf fur and metallic scarlet buckeye leaves. This year’s version of the all-gray will be more like their silver helmets and will incorporate scarlet on the jerseys. In other words, Ohio State will wear their traditional helmets and pants, but the jersey will be the same color as them both.
There is an old saying in business that if you look good, you will feel good. I know this doesn’t exactly translate onto the football field, but the players seem to like it. There is a little different buzz when they walk into the locker room and see a different style of uniform awaiting them. It makes them feel like this game is a little different.
Not that the Buckeyes need additional motivation, but when your opponent is 3-6, it can only help to get a little more juice, which will be the case for the Buckeyes with this new alternate uniform. A little more juice can’t be a bad thing and that is why I give Ohio State a perfect 10 this week when it comes to the X-factor of this game.