Just last season, the Buckeyes were national champions. But the exodus of talent to the NFL left fans questioning their consistency moving forward. They need not have worried. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are a perfect 6-0, silencing their critics. Their latest victory over Illinois was another in a string of dominant wins this season. Day’s squad is playing with a sense of precision and swagger unmatched in college football.

Perhaps that’s why, OSU HC said, “We’re running physical. We’ll look and see if there was more there, because we always want to gain 8–9 yards a carry.” That’s vintage Ryan Day, who is always chasing perfection. Now, while they prepare to face Wisconsin this weekend as 28.5-point favorites, it’s clear how OSU keeps its winning streak alive.

In CFB, where most HCs lean on complex playbooks, Ryan Day is proving that fundamentals reign supreme. Like clean execution, disciplined football, and relentless effort. That’s why Joe DeLeone said during his October 12 appearance on The Ruffino & Joe Show, “You go back and rewatch the highlights, and it’s just kind of uneventful.” Then came a bold claim.

“They’re just beating people in the most simple way possible, being better, wanting it more,” he added. And DeLeone summed it up perfectly, stating, “Ohio State’s producing and succeeding at a level of dominance that’s easy to overlook, and we shouldn’t.” While OSU’s game isn’t built on trick plays, DeLeone went the extra mile.

“Their defense made Luke Altmyer a complete victim,” he said, noting how Illinois’ QB had been struggling. It’s simply because the OSU defense allowed 16 points to Illinois. To cap it off, OSU’s WR unit was stunning. “Carnell Tate and that offense keep making big plays. Bo Jackson keeps making big plays. This (game against Illinois) was just another one to add to the list,” added DeLeone. Maybe that’s why Day quickly eased concerns despite Jackson suffering an ankle injury, according to FOX.

The OSU HC said Jackson “could’ve kept playing” if the game demanded it. Now, while it shows the strength of the OSU team, Blake Ruffino summed up their dominance with pure conviction.

“I don’t know of an area that they’re bad at or even average at,” he said. And while Illinois tried to throw them off with tempo, it barely made a dent. “They just completely dominated their opponent. They keep dominating every week,” added Ruffino. He’s not inaccurate. The Buckeyes held Illinois to just 21 points off 3 turnovers, limiting third-down conversions to 4 of 14. The sense of invincibility is frightening as teams involve Plan B or Plan C in their plans.

Then QB Julian Sayin was sharp, completing 70% of his passes, while WR Jeremiah Smith extended his streak with a TD. Following that, Ruffino also noted how the Buckeyes continue to crush teams on the ground. And here, Ryan Day didn’t stay quiet about OSU’s WR unit.

Ryan Day breaks down what makes his Buckeyes tick

OSU faced one of its toughest road tests of the season against the Fighting Illini. The OSU team’s offense and defense stood apart, which made the difference. That’s why QB Altmeyer didn’t stand a chance. Now, while the Buckeyes cruised to a 34-16 win over the Illini, WRs Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate showcased their skills.

While Smith hauled in five catches for 42 yards, Tate added four catches for 41 yards. And these stats left Ryan Day raving about their performance. “Oh yeah, Jeremiah is, I can’t say enough about him, about Carnell,” stated Day. “In a game like this, we found ourselves down in the red zone a lot… and they’re into it, just like everybody else. When you have a team that understands what needs to get done, that’s when you have a chance to be special.”

However, their red zone prowess gives defenses a dilemma: crowd the line to stop the run or guard the fades to contain the WRs. Still, Day highlighted their team-first mindset. They may not get every opportunity, but they thrive anyway. Now, let’s see if they can keep their winning streak against Wisconsin.