Ohio State coach Ryan Day confirmed Tuesday that the key third-quarter play that went viral during Saturday’s victory over Penn State—a play that saw Day himself scream “GOT EM!” from the sideline—was not a pre-designed scheme but a brand new concept diagrammed and installed just minutes earlier during halftime.
The play in question, a successful deep pass to wide receiver Carnell Tate that ignited the Buckeyes’ second-half surge, provided the first major chunk of yardage needed to break open what had been a tense, three-point game at the intermission. The television broadcast’s sideline microphone captured Day’s exuberant reaction as Tate broke free from the defense.
A Chalkboard Coup
Speaking to reporters, Day revealed that the play was a direct response to how the Penn State secondary was attempting to cover Ohio State’s prolific receiving corps during the first two quarters.
“We saw how they were playing our guys in the first half—the safety depth and where their corners were sitting,” Day explained. “We knew we had to adjust our vertical route concepts. We literally drew up that adjustment at halftime, showed it to Julian [Sayin] and the receivers, and said, ‘If we get this look, we’re taking the shot.’ That’s football.”
The successful execution of the freshly installed concept speaks volumes about the offensive staff’s ability to adjust quickly, as well as the immediate intelligence of quarterback Julian Sayin and the athleticism of Tate. The play demonstrated the offensive unit’s trust in improvised schemes, a necessity in high-stakes rivalry games.
Ryan Day yells “got em” from the sideline when Carnell Tate is five steps into his route on the 57-yard pass in the third quarter pic.twitter.com/uzxdKXeZyn
— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) November 2, 2025
The Power of the Mid-Game Adjustment
The anecdote immediately became a talking point, emphasizing the strategic chess match that takes place behind the scenes. In previous seasons, Day’s offense has occasionally been criticized for a perceived lack of mid-game flexibility. This season, however, the ability to capitalize on defensive tendencies at halftime—and for the players to execute a completely new concept coming out of the locker room—underscores a renewed commitment to offensive adaptability.
The play was a turning point in the game, providing the offensive spark needed for Ohio State to pull away for a 38-14 rout. Day, usually measured, confirmed that the “GOT EM” yell was pure emotion.
“When you see a guy that wide open on a concept you literally drew up 20 minutes ago, yeah, you feel like you got ’em,” Day said with a smile. “That’s why you invest in smart players. It was a great team execution.”
Just another reason why Day is considered one of the best coaches in college football.
