With no game Saturday, Buckeyes enter 'improvement week' after 2-0 start

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State doesn't have a game to prepare for this week. But that doesn't mean the work stops for coach Ryan Day and the team.

Day isn't calling this open week a bye week. Instead, he sees it as an "improvement" week.

"Especially this early in the season, these guys are hungry. They don't want to rest right now. They feel like they have momentum coming out of this game," Day said. "At the same time, we're not practicing on Saturday or Friday so they do get an opportunity to catch their breath."

The third-ranked Buckeyes are coming off a 56-0 win over Western Michigan. Six of their eight touchdowns came from the run game, with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins each scoring twice. Quarterback Will Howard accounted for two touchdowns, one through the air when he connected with freshman Jermaine Smith and another when he ran one in.

"They understand how important it is, how early it is this early in the season. And they don't want to lose their edge either. They know they have to get better," Day said. "When you have a group of veteran guys who understand we're only two games in and we've got a long way to go, they get that. They embrace it."

The defense also shined, limiting the Broncos to fewer than 100 yards of total offense, a first for the program since 2017. Knowles' unit has yet to allow a touchdown this season.

"It comes down to fundamentals. All those things in matchup games that are going to be critical," Knowles said. "When I watch the tape, I can see how we can fix certain things or be on top of certain things. Slight adjustments here or there. Because it'll be critical when you get to the match-up games."

Ohio State will return to the field Sept. 21 when it plays Marshall at Ohio Stadium. The kickoff time for that contest was announced on Monday.