"His greatest role, and the one that gives him the greatest satisfaction, is being a dad." Ryan Day built his career on coaching quarterbacks, but his most precious passer is a high school junior. A feature on a father-son bond never taken for granted: https://t.co/7v4PeU1hTQ

Ryan Day on the job security of college football coaches following Penn State’s firing of James Franklin: "This is what you signed up for. We're in this environment because we chose to be, and it's ultra competitive."

As Ohio State prepares to travel to Wisconsin this week, Ryan Day said the Badgers play hard and are well coached despite four straight losses. "The easy thing to do is look at their record and last week."

Programming note: I’m resuming regular Ohio State coverage after some bereavement time. We lost our daughter Madeline to an early stillbirth this month and miss her dearly. Grateful for editors who provided space for grief and colleagues who helped on the beat in my absence.

Ohio State will be back in the noon time slot for its Oct. 11 game at Illinois:

Ohio State is the only FBS team that has not allowed a touchdown in the red zone this year. The Buckeyes have surrendered just two field goals on opponents’ seven trips inside their 20-yard line.

Ohio State is allowing the fewest points per game (5.5) in the Football Bowl Subdivision through five weeks. The Buckeyes, who finished 2024 with the nation’s best scoring defense, have given up just two touchdown in their first four games.

Ohio State's defensive line began this season as perhaps its biggest mark. After a sack party at Washington, it looks like a strength. "I feel like our defensive line is just a bunch of no-names. We just try to ball and play as hard as we can."

Four things we learned from Ohio State’s win at Washington:

Washington was 27 of 36 on third downs (75%) through four weeks, leading the FBS. It was just 1 of 11 against Ohio State (9%).

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Julian Sayin: “We knew it was going to be a gritty day. It wasn’t going to be perfect.” Sayin said Ohio State’s message was to “keep swinging.”

Final: Ohio State 24, Washington 6 The Buckeyes hold the nation’s highest-scoring offense out of the end zone.

Jayden Fielding's 34-yard field goal gives Ohio State a bit of a cushion with a 17-6 lead over Washington with 13:19 left in the fourth quarter.

Ohio State caught a break with a roughing the passer penalty and took advantage the rest of the drive to open the second half, finishing in the end zone with a 1-yard touchdown run by CJ Donaldson Jr. The Buckeyes have a 14-3 lead over Washington with 7:19 left in the third.

Ohio State was surprisingly run heavy in the first half considering the state of Washington's secondary. Before Julian Sayin led a touchdown drive just before halftime, the Buckeyes ran the ball on 11 of 15 plays, spanning their first two possessions.

Halftime: Ohio State 7, Washington 3

Dealing with a free rusher off the edge, Julian Sayin spotted Jeremiah Smith over the middle, resulting in an 18-yard touchdown to get Ohio State on the scoreboard late in the second quarter. The Buckeyes have a 7-3 lead over Washington.

Washington reached Ohio State's 2-yard line after recovering a fumbled punt return, but the Buckeyes hold the Huskies to a field goal.

One red zone trip, 0 points for Ohio State.

Ohio State won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.

Indeed a great setting: