Notre Dame is getting set to host annual powerhouse Ohio State on Saturday in one of the biggest games South Bend has seen in quite some time.

In Columbus, they’re preparing for a trip they’ve made just twice previously, and not at all since September of 1996.  Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day met the media for his regular availability on Tuesday.

What did he have to say about his team as they prep for their first real test of 2023?  And what are his impressions of Marcus Freeman now that the Ohio State graduate has been on the job more than a year?

Here are the key things Day had to say about the Notre Dame-Ohio State showdown on Tuesday.

Buckeyes Building to This Game

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“I think you build up in these first few games to figure out where you are going into this game. And you go from there. I think we got some confidence going into this game. We got a rhythm. We got to have a great week of practice. It’s going to come down to winning the line of scrimmage, for sure. It’s going to come down to the fourth quarter and who’s going to be there in the end.

Praising Notre Dame

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“They have a really good team. Marcus (Freeman) does a great job. They have a great staff. We got to go win a top 10 game on the road. Our guys are really excited for this game. You could see it Sunday. You could see it yesterday. Guys buzzing around. So now we have to have a great week of practice, and it’s going to come down to who wants to compete more.”

Games like this is why players come to Ohio State

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“Again, top 10 game on the road. These are the kind of games why you come to Ohio State. This is an exciting series because it’s not something that happens often. Ohio State, Notre Dame, two of the bigger teams in the Midwest getting together for a home and home….