Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Says Ohio State's Slate is “Wiped Clean” Entering the Cotton Bowl, Steve Sarkisian Continues Embracing Texas’ Underdog Role

The final bit of talk before the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Cotton Bowl arrived on Thursday.

One day before their teams clash in Arlington, Texas, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian took to a stage on the concourse of AT&T Stadium for a joint press conference to preview the matchup. Day said that nothing the Buckeyes have done previously in the CFP matters entering the contest and “execution” is what will win the game.

Sarkisian said that right tackle Cameron Williams will play for the Longhorns while continuing to embrace his team's underdog role entering the matchup.

Ryan Day

Day offered thoughts and prayers to the people of Los Angeles and New Orleans in his opening statement. "We're very excited about being here again. I think the Cotton Bowl does a great job at hosting our teams. ... We're excited to be here again. ... Every week we've had an opportunity to grow and to build, and we're excited to be in this spot."

On the momentum the Buckeyes have entering the game: "Nothing that Ohio State has done or Texas has done is gonna have any impact on this game. Zero. ... Every single week the slate is wiped clean and you have to start from scratch again. ... There's a lot of opinions out there of what to expect, but it's ultimately going to come down to the players and who can play."

Day said part of Ohio State's reduced number of plays was for wear and tear purposes, but it was also for more cohesion as Will Howard can communicate to the other 10 members of the Buckeyes' huddle.

Day's studied Sarkisian's offenses for a long time, he said. "He's a tremendous offensive mind."

On his move away from play calling: "I felt like it was time for me to spend a little bit more of my time and my spots with the team, defense, special teams. ... It consumes your mind, and that's what makes great play callers great play callers, and it allowed me to step away a little bit."

Day said it's a benefit to both teams' players that Ohio State and Texas feel free to play each other to open next season. "You're allowed a loss or two to grow and build throughout the season."

On if there's been an emotional "uptick" in his team since the Michigan loss: "I think that this team plays for each other, and all year, I've been proud of our men. And they're men. They really are. ... The only story that's told about your team is if you win. That's the reality. ... I think they know where they are right now. ... I think it comes down to the execution."

On Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon and Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.: "Our Mike linebackers in this game are both No. 0, and I think defense starts with the Mike linebacker. ... Cody is our Block O. ... Cody Simon does everything right. That's the best way to describe him. ... He communicates to the front and the back end, and that's going to be very important in this game."

The physical, mental and emotional grind of a season that is now 15 games is a different experience than any "I feel like because of the length of the season and this bowl game is very different. This Cotton Bowl experience is very different than it was last year. ... These guys are not pros. They're not in their middle to late 20s, they're in their formative years. ... Learning to play this length of a season, there's a lot that goes with that."

Steve Sarkisian

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