Ryan Day’s Ohio State entered Saturday’s matchup against Rutgers facing a major challenge — playing without two of its premier wide receivers, as Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, dynamic playmakers who have been central to the Buckeyes’ offensive identity, did not dress for the game.

Yet the Buckeyes still rolled to a convincing victory, putting up 42 points without either star on the field. With ‘The Game’ against Michigan looming the following week, the conversation quickly shifted to the availability status of Smith and Tate. Ryan Day was asked directly after the win, offering only the standard injury guidance the program typically provides.

“Yeah, I mean, the only thing I’ll say really is that they are day-to-day, and the staff and those guys are working really hard to get ready to p

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