OSU shifted focus to Big Ten title game 'minute' after Michigan win
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For the first time since 2019, Ohio State was celebrating after a Michigan football game, recording a 27-9 victory on Nov. 29, but by the next morning, the Buckeyes‘ focus had already turned to the Big Ten championship game.
The Buckeyes have the chance to win their first conference title since 2020 when they face Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium at 8 p.m. Dec. 6.
“We’ve got to have a great look in our eyes, great energy,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “It’s going to be an electric atmosphere, a great opponent, and it’s a very important game for us. We’ve got to play our best. And so, that game is behind us. … The minute that game was over, it’s on to Indiana. So, that’s where our focus is, and we can’t be looking back on last week.”
Ohio State found success against Michigan in both the passing and rushing games, finishing with 190-plus yards in both areas of the offense.
While the focus shifted quickly at the beginning of the week, the Buckeyes still recognize the momentum they’re bringing from the win over Michigan to the championship matchup.
“I think we learned a lot about ourselves in that game and what we’re capable of,” guard Luke Montgomery said. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs throughout the season, as a unit, as an offense, and stuff like that. And I think we took a great step in a great direction this past weekend.”
How a flight delay helped Ohio State shift focus to Big Ten championship vs Indiana
Following a week in which the Buckeyes stuck to their standard road-game routine rather than have the typical lead-up of rivalry week, plans changed when catching the flight back to Columbus.
Ohio State was delayed due to its plane arriving in Ann Arbor late and the runway needing to be cleared of snow. The Buckeyes arrived in Columbus a little after 11 p.m. despite the game being over by 6 p.m. and the flight taking just 70 minutes.
However, the time waiting allowed Ohio State to move toward preparation for Indiana earlier than expected.
“We had a little too much time on the plane,” Day said. “So, we were able to get a little bit of a head start, more than I expected. We kind of put the film to bed before we took off, and started on these guys. … This is (also) going to be just like any away trip.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State quickly shifted focus to Big Ten title game after Michigan
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