Ohio State coach Ryan Day: Special teams 'not good enough' after Iowa win
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day did not sugarcoat his team's special teams performance in the wake of the Buckeyes' Week 5 victory over Iowa. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Day said the unit has not improved and must get better across the board as Ohio State prepares to host Maryland this Saturday.
The Buckeyes, ranked No. 116 nationally in punt return average, have struggled on special teams in key moments over the past two seasons. Day made clear that the issues go beyond missed field goals, pointing to kickoffs, punts, and returns as areas needing immediate attention.
What did Ryan Day say about Ohio State's special teams?
Day did not hold back when asked about the special teams unit's progress.
“I don't think I can sit here and say that we've improved on special teams right now. We need to play better. And that's everybody included,” Day said. “We need to make sure that we're getting better production out of the special teams. When we play against certain teams, teams will try to steal a possession. So there's times where we have to make sure that we're covering our bases.”
He added that field goal consistency, return yards, and pooch kicks into the 10-yard line all need work.
“Just overall, when we look at the consistency of kicking field goals, not good enough. When we look at our return yards, we need to do better just across the board. And we have an opportunity to pooch the ball into the 10-yard line. That has to get done. So it's a challenge to everybody in the program. We've got to get better in all four phases of special teams,” Day said.
Offensive line likely to be by committee, with key return on the horizon
The Buckeyes entered the season knowing the offensive line would be a critical factor. So far, results have been mixed. Day said the team is hopeful that starting right tackle Phillip Daniels, a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2025 with 14 career starts, will return soon. But he acknowledged that the rotation remains unclear.
“I've always felt like you don't lose a position just because you get injured,” Day said. “That being said, I think there's a little bit of rhythm going on right there, so we'll have to identify that as it goes. I think we thought Phil (Daniels) would've been back a little bit sooner. He'll be limited today. We'll see how he looks today. Hopefully, we can get him going with some scout work throughout the middle of the week, and hopefully, we can get him available for this game.”
Day said the coaching staff will determine how many snaps Daniels can handle once he is cleared, and how the rotation will work from there.
Running backs 'feel the competition'
Bo Jackson and Ja'Kobi Jackson continue to share carries for the Buckeyes, and Day said the competition is healthy and productive. Ja'Kobi Jackson started against Iowa, but Bo Jackson leads the team with 66 carries for 353 yards and two touchdowns. Ja'Kobi has 45 carries for 278 yards and six scores.
“Yeah, I think everybody needs to feel pressure, and everybody needs to feel competition,” Day said. “And we're challenging a lot of different people, and it's a good thing. When Quinshon (Judkins) and TreVeyon (Henderson) were working together, they were challenging each other every day. I think Quinshon really helped TreVeyon in a lot of ways, and I think vice versa. It's the same thing here. Ja'Kobi's coming in, and I think he's pushing Bo, but it's a great relationship. And I think it's a healthy relationship, and I think it's a healthy competition.”
Day emphasized that teams making deep playoff runs typically rely on multiple high-level running backs, and he wants to see that kind of depth continue to develop.
What's next for Ohio State?
Ohio State will host Maryland this Saturday in Columbus. The Terrapins are coming off a bye week and will look to spoil the Buckeyes' momentum. Kickoff is set for noon ET.
Frequently asked questions about Ohio State football
Why is Ohio State's special teams struggling?
Ryan Day cited inconsistent field goal kicking, poor return averages, and missed opportunities on pooch kicks. The Buckeyes rank No. 116 nationally in punt return average, and Day said the unit has not shown improvement.
When will Phillip Daniels return for Ohio State?
Day said Daniels will be limited in practice this week and the team hopes to have him available for the Maryland game. His snap count will depend on how he responds to practice work.
Who is starting at running back for Ohio State?
Ja'Kobi Jackson started against Iowa, but Bo Jackson remains the team's leading rusher. Day said the competition is healthy and both backs will continue to see significant carries.
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