Ohio State Braces for Physical Big Ten Battle with Minnesota as Former Gopher Returns to Face Old Team
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Top-ranked Ohio State continues its Big Ten campaign on Saturday night at home against Minnesota, with head coach Ryan Day expecting a bruising matchup against the Golden Gophers.
“Well, they’ve always been a very physical team against the run — and they still are,” Day told reporters Monday. “I thought Rutgers had a solid plan going in last week, but Minnesota’s well-coached, they play hard, and they’ve got good players.”
Minnesota (3-1) is coming off a narrow 31–28 win over Rutgers on Sept. 29, a result that continued P.J. Fleck’s consistent success in conference play. Fleck has compiled a 61–40 record at Minnesota, guiding the program to seven straight bowl victories and postseason appearances every year since 2017, with the lone exception of the 2020 COVID season.
“I’ve got as much respect for P.J. Fleck and his staff as anyone in the country,” Day said. “They’re a tough, disciplined team, and when you face Minnesota, you don’t just expect to line up and run the football. You’ve got to earn every yard.”
Former Gopher Phillip Daniels Set to Face His Old Squad
One Buckeye will have extra motivation this weekend — offensive tackle Phillip Daniels, who transferred to Ohio State from Minnesota in 2024. The Cincinnati native will line up against familiar faces when the Gophers come to Columbus.
“He’s made tremendous progress,” Day said. “Being an Ohio guy, he takes a lot of pride in wearing that Block ‘O’. But nothing’s handed to you here — he’s earned his spot.”
Day praised Daniels’ toughness and intensity: “He plays right on the edge, and as a coach, you love that — until there’s a flag,” Day joked. “But we love his passion and physicality. He gives us a real edge.”
The head coach added that Daniels’ best football is still ahead of him: “He’s still growing technically, and his ceiling’s really high. This is a big week for him — he’s got to prepare the right way, and I know he will. The guys appreciate what he brings every day — that blue-collar mindset and toughness.”
Buckeyes Return Home After Handling Huskies’ Hostile Crowd
Ohio State enters the matchup following a 24–6 road win over Washington on Sept. 27, a test of composure in a loud environment. Day credited his team’s preparation for managing the noise.
“We spent a lot of time those two weeks before the game blasting music — our facilities crew helped with some monster speakers,” Day said with a grin. “It made practice frustrating at times, but it paid off. The guys were able to communicate and stay poised.”
Though pleased with his team’s composure, Day emphasized that improvement is still the focus: “You’re always looking at what needs cleaning up, but overall, I thought our guys handled the environment really well.”
Now back at the Horseshoe, the Buckeyes will look to keep their perfect season rolling — and their physicality tested — in what promises to be a gritty showdown with Fleck’s hard-nosed Gophers.