Every sports team, regardless of level or ability, loses at some point.
The Ohio State Buckeyes had their version this past Saturday, falling short in the Big Ten title game to the Indiana Hoosiers in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium 13-10.
All hope was not lost following the defeat despite the Buckeyes failing to secure a Rose Bowl bid. As such, they still qualified for the postseason as a one-loss team which has allowed coach Ryan Day to use moments of adversity as a springboard for the future.
Just like this past season.
“We’re going to respond like men," Day said Sunday after his team was bumped down to No. 2: We lost. We were not at our best. Everybody, including myself, the coaches, everybody...You’ve got to address the problems and get them fixed.”
Day said he still believe's the team's potential is limitless.
“The committee recognized the body of work...We’re excited about where we are and going down to Dallas again and playing against a really good opponent, and going from there," Day said.
The Buckeyes would play either the Miami Hurricanes or Texas A&M Aggies in the Cotton Bowl.
Day said third-down efficiency near the goal line will undergo necessary tweaks.
"I don’t think there was anything that we did that was unsound. Certainly that didn’t happen. There’s a lot that goes with that...Put it on the coaches to make sure our guys are better prepared to execute.”
And despite Jayden Fielding failing to keep the Buckeyes in the game with a back-breaking missed field goal, Day still trusts his kicker.
"There’s a reason why we put him in there," Day said. "We’re not putting guys in the game that we don’t believe in.”
Nonetheless, Day intends to have his words ring true. From here on out, it's win-or-go-home.
And the Buckeyes don't want to end their season empty-handed.
Come New Year's Day, we'll find out.