Squeeze Bullets: Ryan Day and Dabo Swinney offer final thoughts ahead of Ohio State rematch and Clemson college football playoff rematch

We’re about 36 hours out of Ohio state and Clemson is starting his redux of the Tigers’ 29-23 Fiesta Bowl win in 2019.

Ryan Day and Dabo Swinney stepped onto the virtual podium Thursday morning for a joint press conference ahead of the college football playoff rematch.

A look at what the two head coaches had to say:

Ryan day

• Despite being an underdog for only the third time since 2016, Day says it doesn’t provide any additional motivation for Ohio State: “Our guys are excited for this game no matter what. … You are in the CFP and playing for a national championship. We don’t need much more motivation than that.

• Day says last year’s loss to Clemson was “fresh in our minds” and used as motivation, but says the motivation for that loss became a little less important when the Buckeyes’ season was called into question for the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Day: “What motivates us the most is that we will have the opportunity to tell a great story.”

• Healthy and Full Power Ohio State Day for the Game: “Full strength is a floating target.” The players who were absent for the Northwest game “are going back … but to say 100%, it’s different this year”.

• JK Dobbins was the bell cow in 2019, so the split between Master Teague and Trey Sermon was “different,” Day says. And after a season of ups and downs for the two, Day thinks they both get into a rhythm: “Seeing how (Trey) ran in his last game was awesome.”

• Swinney having ranked Ohio State No.11 in his coaching poll, Day admits he’s glad Swinney isn’t on the college football playoff selection committee, but he didn’t respond directly to Swinney having them. ranked outside the top 10.

• He believes winning the line of scrimmage is of the utmost importance to the state of Ohio for any chance of winning.

• Being outside of the daily grind in such a routine-based sport, Day says it took a toll on the program not being able to “look guys in the eye and tell them what’s next.” He says they no longer take anything for granted and “still have a lot to be thankful for.”

• Buckeye’s defense is confident they’ve figured things out since the Indiana game: “That’s a great question. How do you know you’ve only played six games? The only way to find out is to play. … against each other in practice every day. … There have been great improvements in this area, but the real test will be tomorrow. ”

• Day after being the underdog: “These are the opinions of the people. What matters is that we got out and played.”

• On the importance of Justin Fields to bounce back and play his best game against Clemson: “I don’t think we, as a team, played our best game yet. … I’m not sure Justin has it. either, but that’s the challenge. But that’s everyone. “He says it’s going to be a team effort but Fields” is going to have to play well, sure, and he knows it. ”

Dabo swinney

• Swinney says Clemson is “motivated by victory as much as by defeat”. He says winning a national championship makes you want to go out and win another, just as much as losing in the national title game like he did against LSU: “We certainly learn from our memories.”

• Swinney on offensive coordinator Tony Elliott being unavailable for the Sugar Bowl: “Tony will definitely be missed,” but what impact will that have on Clemson? “You can ask me that after the game.”

• Swinney says Clemson is only missing two players who didn’t make the trip, including a walk-in and a fellow. The Clemson and Ohio State situation reports will not be released until Friday.

• He says the Tigers were forced to make a ton of adjustments during an uncertain season “but we found a way to still find joy in the trip.” He says Clemson has “cast more guys than at any time, ever.”

• Clemson’s recruiting was also “very, very different” this season. Swinney says the Tigers have a few guys moving to campus next week that he “hasn’t met in person.”

• CJ Spiller is handling the rotation of the backs with Tony Elliott out, while Swinney and assistant coach Brandon Streeter will coach the quarterbacks in tandem.

• The Tigers are rarely an underdog. According to him, whether they are favorites or underdogs, they “remain focused as we have always done”.

• On Trevor Lawrence: “He’s as good as ever for sure. He’s the biggest winner I’ve ever known. He’s 34-1. He’s been amazing.”