Ohio State football: 5 takeaways from Ryan Day’s weekly press conference

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Ryan Day spoke about that and more Tuesday as the team begins preparations for a trip to Rutgers.

1. Day did not have an update on Young’s status, but there was something that might qualify as good news.

“I just know that (the investigation) is going on right now, and we’re gonna prepare for him to be back this week,” Day said. “And he’ll practice this week, and once we find out more information we’ll go from there.”

The Athletic reported late Friday night Young’s indefinite suspension stems from Young borrowing money to fly his girlfriend to California for the Rose Bowl in December and that the money had been paid back.

After a university spokesperson shot down an ESPN report Saturday the school was expecting him to be handed a four-game ban, the Toledo Blade reported Monday he is facing a maximum suspension of two games.

2. Young’s teammates remain supportive of him.

“He’s just been exactly the same as he was before,” fellow defensive lineman DaVon Hamilton said. “He’s supported us from afar. Obviously he’s going through a situation.

“We always support him no matter what. No matter the situation, you’re still family at the end of the day.”

While Young was unable to take the field Saturday, cornerback Jefrey Okudah said the team captain has remained a leader for the defense since he was sidelined, especially for young defensive ends Tyrke Smith, Zach Harrison, Tyler Friday and Javontea Jean-Baptiste.

“They have been using him as a great resource and that showed as those guys stepped up on Saturday,” Okudah said of a group that combined for three sacks against the Terrapins.

3. Day is proud of what Joe Burrow has done at LSU.

“Really happy for him, seeing the way he’s playing and competing,” Day said of the Ohio State transfer who led the Tigers to a 46-41 win over Alabama on Saturday. “He’s a tremendous competitor. Watching him go into Alabama and win like that was really cool.”

Burrow completed 31 of 39 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns against the Crimson Tide to help the Tigers remain undefeated.

Despite absorbing five sacks, he also ran for 64 yards.

4. Seeing Burrow leave was still was not easy, though.

Day confirmed seeing Burrow leave last year after he was unable to beat out Dwayne Haskins for the starting spot vacated by J.T. Barrett was difficult, but he also knows that is the way of the world these days.

“You think about that that room, you had J.T., you had Dwayne and Joe,” he said. “One is one of the more decorated players in the history of the Big Ten (Barrett). The other guy is playing in the NFL (Haskins). Other one is probably the leader for the Heisman right now.

“They all can’t play. That is the thing about being a quarterback. That’s what’s hard and sensitive about college football right now, that very situation.”

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes have another Heisman contender in Justin Fields, who transferred from Georgia in January.

“It all works out in the end,” Day said. “We got a great quarterback we feel good about now who is playing at a high level. I think that’s just part of the culture right now, just the environment of college football, and certainly quarterback play.”

5. Day is happy with Chris Chugunov.

Burrow’s exit created an opening in the quarterback room in the summer of 2018.

Chugunov, a New Jersey native and graduate transfer from West Virginia, filled it and has ascended to No. 2 quarterback behind Fields.

He is coming off an extended look against Maryland in which he completed 8 of 11 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s a guy that’s been around a lot of football, smart,” Day said. “He’s a guy you can count on, know what I mean? Understand what’s going on. He throws a good ball. He’s got good touch. He’s very intelligent. He can handle a lot without getting a ton of reps. That’s hard to do.”

Chugunov has played in eight of the nine games this season and completed 20 of 27 passes for 214 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

“I think the good thing, he’s played a decent amount of football this year,” Day said. “I don’t know how many attempts he’s had. When he’s gone in there, he’s competed and done well.”

SATURDAY’S GAME

Ohio State at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m., BTN, 1410