Ryan Day has given his Ohio State players the most fun homework to prepare for this season

In anticipation of the most critical season in recent memory for the Ohio State football program, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day has given his team a unique homework assignment. On Tuesday's Big Ten opening media day, Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer gave away the secret sauce for Ohio State's preparation.

Sawyer said Day instructed his team to start playing College Football 25 as a learning tool to get used to their opponents.

College Football 25 has taken the gaming and sports world by storm. Even our staff loves the immersive aspects and detail brought to the current generation of systems. It's hard and flawed but incredibly fun.

Although Day's recommendation might be more tongue-in-cheek than serious, there is some merit for the Buckeyes to refer to the uploaded rosters as a preparation tool. College Football 25 used PFF and advanced stats to rate the nation's best players.

If playing in free time means someone is more aware of their opponent's strengths, then everyone wins. And if it's a contributing factor to the Buckeyes' title quest, then Day will become a beloved face of the program forever.

Ohio State's schedule isn't filled with powerhouses, but a few matchups should be circled on every Buckeye's calendar. Playing at Oregon, then home against Nebraska, and at Penn State rounds out a difficult stretch from mid-October to early November. By that point, Ohio State should be 5-0.

The Ducks are especially fast, and College Football 25 highlights this effectively. The Buckeyes will have the more physical team on paper, but Oregon ousted them in Columbus the last time they faced off. Ohio State wasn't prepared for a top-tier offensive line bulldozing huge rushing lanes.

It could happen again, but Ohio State's defense is now much more stout. Sawyer, at Big Ten media day, confirmed he's already played Oregon several times and has taken out his frustrations against Michigan.

"I did some of that [playing Michigan], getting ready for it," said Sawyer. "Like Coach Day said, we should play as ourselves against the teams we're going to play against to better understand them."

It's certainly unique. We'll see this fall if it works out for the Buckeyes, who have the second-best odds to win the 2024-25 National Championship.