For the first time in over a year, the Ohio State football team has to respond after a loss. They hadn't lost since the Michigan game last November. The Buckeyes were able to respond to that loss by running off four straight wins en route to a national championship.
Saturday night's loss in the Big Ten Championship is a little different. It was not a loss to a rival, and it didn't have any effect on their CFP livelihood. They still get a bye. Yet, fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes were not happy that the team lost in Indy. There were some questions about Brian Hartline, too.
Once Ohio State knew its fate in the CFP, Ryan Day was asked about the loss to Indiana. What Day said should give fans confidence that the Buckeyes can rip off a similar run to the one they went on last season that culminated in a national championship victory.
Ryan Day's quotes after loss to IU should give Ohio State confidence
Day made sure that everyone knew that they were not going to take this loss lightly.
"We're gonna respond like men. We're not gonna sit around and point fingers and feel sorry for ourselves. We lost. We were not at our best. Everybody, including myself, including the coaches, everybody. That's what you have to do. You've got to address what the problems are and get them fixed."
The issues that need to be fixed are pretty clear. The Buckeyes clearly have a massive problem with the right side of the offensive line. They seemed to address that with the addition of Gabe VanSickle in for Tegra Tshabola at right guard in the second half. That's not the biggest problem, though.
Ohio State must get the red zone offense figured out. It has been the issue that has plagued them the most this season. Brian Hartline must come up with a better plan to attack opposing defenses when they get close to the end zone. If he can't, there will be no repeat.