Ohio State Football: Three keys to beating Minnesota
By Ryan Stano
2. The Ohio State football team can’t get caught looking ahead
We all know who is looming after this game. It could be the most intense matchup of The Game since 2006 when it was #1 vs. #2. With so much hate from each fanbase directed at their rival, it’s hard to not get caught up in all of that noise as a player or a coach.
Yet, the Buckeyes must stay focused. There is still one more opponent to take on before they can vanquish their rivals. The Golden Gophers are begging the Ohio State Buckeyes to look ahead of them. That’s their best chance of pulling the massive upset.
Minnesota is a solid team. I wouldn’t say they’re great or anything, but they are certainly good enough to beat the Buckeyes if they look completely past them. Being reckless with the football and turning it over multiple times would certainly keep Minnesota in this game.
Day’s message should be very simple. As long as they can stay focused for the first half of this game and ram it down Minnesota’s throat, they can coast in the second half. At that point, the Golden Gophers will be down so much that they can’t come back.
A game similar to last week against Michigan State is the ideal outcome. Play a great first half and then get the starters out of there. That brings us to our final key to win this game, which has implications for next week as well.