Ohio State, Ryan Day shove aside orange invasion and answer the critics in dominant win over Tennessee

COLUMBUS — With the invading Tennessee fans loud and ready to try to take over Ohio Stadium with what looked like 30,000-plus fans, Ryan Day aggressively quieted the opposing fans — and the critics — in a dominant 42-17 win. 

Before the game as more and more orange jackets, toboggans and jerseys came streaming into the stadium, it felt like a referendum on Day. Seemingly capitalizing on Ohio State fan apathy following a devastating home loss to Michigan, Tennessee fans gobbled up tickets all over the stadium and proclaimed it “Neyland North” before the game. 

And, yet, at the end of the third quarter after Ohio State went up 35-10, the orange faithful solemnly headed for the exits en masse and got ready to make the long drive back to Knoxville. Ohio State left no doubt that it was the better team on a cold Ohio winter night. As the final seconds ticked off, Ohio State fans left loose a deafening “S-E-C” chant to mock the departing Volunteers. 

“They thought they were going to take over this place and we showed them pretty quick that we weren’t going to let that happen,” said Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. “I think obviously us jumping out to a pretty quick start helped with that but I have to give credit to Buckeye nation for showing up and being loud.”

Day needed a win like this badly and finally showed the aggression fans were begging for against Michigan. When this version of Ohio State shows up, with an attacking offense and a ferocious defense, it has a legitimate argument as the best team in the country. This team looked loose in a way that it never does against Michigan and played as dominant a game as it has all season in a pressurized spot that prompted athletic director Ross Bjork to publicly defend him earlier in…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ohio-state-ryan-day-shove-aside-orange-invasion-and-answer-the-critics-in-dominant-win-over-tennessee/

Author : John Talty

Publish date : 2024-12-22 06:25:00

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