I also think that D approach played into it—OSU was more of a cover 3, bend but don’t break approach—and opponents went really slow v OSU.

Day discussed in-season how, by playing slow, they were basically taking a game’s worth of plays off their starters. But it’s likewise hard for me to believe that they were that much slower than everyone else.

Chart titled "Possessions Per Game Season Distributions", a bubble chart representing games played between FBS opponents plotted by the number of total game possessions. Columns of bubbles are organized by season, 2007 to 2025. Labels for the median number of possessions per game by season are included, which along with the distributions themselves, drift down from a median of 27 game possessions (in the 2007 and 2012-2015 seasons) to a median of 24 game possessions (in the 2023-2025 seasons).

College football possessions per game totals have been shrinking over the last decade due tempo preferences downshifting, plays per drive increasing with improved offensive efficiency, and game/play clock rule changes. FBS games averaged 23.9 possessions per game in 2025.
bcftoys.com/possessions

I agree re relative lack of explosiveness out of the run game, but between the weather and Smith and Tate coming off injuries that’s about as neutered as the pass game will be. Get to play in domes/good weather going forward.

3x1 bust

Day has run that have roll corner-post (and variations) since he arrived at OSU. Very popular Shanahan influence

OSU put Tate and Smith to the same side. UM went C2 to that side, C4 opposite. C2 Safety shaded to Smith.

OSU really starting to go after the LB level, both in pass and in misdirection. They just do not execute early assignments well or recognize structures of route stems to help DBs behind them in coverage or actually position themselves to at least flash color to the QB

Zig zag motion into stack from the slot. LB didn’t have good leverage on the point man, can’t let him push vertical there and form that rub. But the motion makes it difficult as they are thinking quick route to the flat with the initial motion and not communicating

OSU went 13P there as a tendency breaker. Got C3

Thanks Wink. Appreciate the single coverage.

@colintj.bsky.social have to assume that was Zeus on INT? C2 on Smith, C4 to field. Field side was where Sayin needed to go with football.

Ironically osu was in a 4 down front

I’m similarly expecting UM to get in 12, then spread out, see how OSU responds. Lots of reliefs early.

Also if you get UM in a series where they’re playing a bunch of depth like they have all year would again go tempo and not sub.

lol great minds. Was gonna say, if UM is in nickel then you run you gap & pin and pull schemes and see if they can fit.

As we discussed, if I’m OSU I get in 12, then shift/spread out. See a) how UM responds personnel wise; and b) how UM matches personnel. Then if I get UM in base 3-4 I go tempo and don’t substitute.

Interesting wrinkle this year is OSU has tended to have a true outside monster and then a guy they lined up in the slot.

This year it’s 2 true outside guys. So if we play C2 to Smith to the field, it’ll be Quarters away to Tate.

Will Sayin be able to process that and get the ball to the 1v1?

Was gonna say, you know who else loved split Q IZ in short yardage!?

Eh. Def maj MoFC but uses C2, C4, C6. Lots of variation w/in those. But hasn’t had/wanted to use much of it. He def likes to use multiple fronts. Likes bringing out the different coverages/disguise on pass downs.

If forced to pick, 3 LBer, but lots of variance.

Yes. It’s not an automatic response, but OSU will play 3 LBers. Will run Penny but have 2 off-ball LBers. Have also seen 6-1, true odd, over, under.

UM likes to run windback, right? Gets you to the same place as Duo.

0, 4i, 5 to the backside, 7 frontside.

To me, this is 2 man under. Where do you think Sayin should have gone with the ball?

I just don’t know how you get zone doubles against a gapped out, single high penny front. I haven’t seen any offense get doubles against them with zone runs this year.

PSU (and Illinois) had some success with unbalanced. Penny with C3 is such a balanced look on both sides of the center line so unbalanced is a good response. Expect some unbalanced from UM

Zero and 4is, but there is no B gap bubble.