25 questions I’d like to ask Ryan Day

A primer for Tuesday’s news conference.

Ryan Day will meet with the media on Tuesday, as he does every game week. (Photo courtesy of Ohio State football.)

COLUMBUS — I’m never out of questions. But I have more than usual that I’d love to ask Ohio State head coach Ryan Day on Tuesday.

A few topics I’m not interested in using a question on:

• The decision to go for 2 points with just over two minutes left, rather than kicking the extra point to cut it to eight and waiting for a 2-pointer later. It’s a personal preference, with no clear right or wrong answer. It’s unlike the decision to not let Texas score at the end of the Week 2 loss, which I thought was objectively incorrect when it comes to game strategy.

• How well Luke Fahey played. Good job — now isn’t the time for moxie stories. If you want to get into specifics about his play, fine, but no generic emotion questions.

• Anything about the first looming playoff rankings Tuesday night, their poll ranking, or if they feel like they can’t afford another loss. They want to and need to win every game. Win out and they are a playoff team. Lose once and they are probably out. Lose twice and they’re done. We don’t need to ask if the Buckeyes feel like their backs are against the wall.

• Blaming fans for their reaction. Any question that references “the criticism out there” is a cop-out. Just ask a question. It’s about the performance, not the criticism of the performance.

• Officiating.

• The fact that it rained.

• Election or voting questions. It’s a football news conference.

Now, what I would like to ask, in no particular order:

1. You talked a lot last week about the team and coaches rising up to rally round a freshman QB. As you’ve thought about it since Saturday, why didn’t that happen?

2. Luke Fahey had successfully sneaked on the previous play. Why not call another sneak on first down from the half-yard line instead of handing off to Bo Jackson? Why not keep sneaking until you score?

3. You often say you can’t lose a game at Ohio State. Do you feel like that thinking ever negatively affects your coaching during a game?

4. You ran the ball three times and punted on the first drive of the second half. Why all runs? Were any of those play calls RPOs?

5. You spoke highly of the offensive line in the preseason and have said you’d like the offensive line to be a force for this team. Do you feel like it is, and if not, why isn’t it?

6. Were you worried about the line’s ability to protect Luke after giving up consistent pressure, and if so, how did that influence the play calling?

7. Why did the gunners both run past the punt returner on the 44-yard return, and why does the return game continue to be an issue?

8. Jay Timmons has played very well, obviously, and Luke is the QB now. Why aren’t more of your freshmen playing consistently and making bigger contributions?

9. After your second loss in 2024, the team met and you all rallied and went on a four-game run. What has happened, or can happen, now after a second loss to set this team up for a similar run?

10. Beyond the failed punch-out and the hurdle, did you think all of your defenders were giving 100 percent effort to try to chase down Mark Bowman on that long play?

11. Have you considered or would you consider any staff changes during the season and if not, why not?

12. You said after the game you didn’t want to panic and push tempo too much too early. Down 15, getting the ball with 8 minutes left, you didn’t score until there was 2:12 left. Looking back, did you go too slow, and in particular, did you substitute too much?

13. On third-and-19 in the second quarter, your defense was clearly having trouble getting lined up and gave up a 21-yard run. Did you notice that as it was happening, and why didn’t anyone call a timeout?

14. Is Eddrick Houston’s injury long-term?

15. Did you put too much on Austin Siereveld in his first game back? He played 60 of 85 snaps and gave up the most pressures of his career.

16. It seemed like Jeremiah Smith may have been frustrated during the game. What conversations are you having with him about the offense right now?

17. Going back to the last three games of last season, you’re 17 of 35 on red zone TDs in your last nine games against power conference teams. You’ve said before you need to hammer it in there. You’re not. Is there an issue with your red zone strategy?

18. You lost eight players to the first three rounds of the draft. Does this team have enough play makers?

19. Did the work put into getting a new starting quarterback ready hold back preparation in any other areas that showed up Saturday?

20. There’s video of some words being exchanged between Ohio State people and Lincoln Riley going into the tunnel after the game. What do you know about it and what was the issue?

21. Why did you have so many penalties?

22. Everyone agrees Luke played well for his first start. What kind of improvement do you need and can you expect for his second start?

23. Are you doing enough defensively to try to generate pressure on the quarterback?

24. Did the defense get out-leveraged on USC’s first long touchdown? If so, why?

25. The changes in the sport have flattened out the talent. Do you and your staff do enough to win in the margins and find small extra edges in games like Saturday?

Anything I’m missing? Feel free to make suggestions in the comments.