Ohio State Buckeyes College Football Pregame Quote, 12/26/2023

Q. How long did it take to get over the last game?

DT TY HAMILTON: It took a while. Still not over it.

Q. How much of this game is finishing 2023 on the right note? How much is momentum for 2024? You were around with what that Rose Bowl meant for the following year. What’s your take on that? What’s the balance?

DT TY HAMILTON: I mean, I think it’s a little bit of both. We’re here for the brotherhood, here to play for each other. It gives a lot of experience for the younger guys who will be here next year. And it’s good for them and the rest of the team going to be here and playing for each other.

Q. Conversations being had today, let’s all come back and let’s do this the right way. Let’s try to win a national title, are those conversations happening?

DT TY HAMILTON: A lot of people have big decisions coming up. I can’t say for a lot of people, but focus on this game.

Q. Where do you feel there’s more room in your game?

DT TY HAMILTON: Right now, I would say probably is pass rush, getting more exposure, getting back in the back field more.

Q. Seemed like you started doing that more in the middle of the year.

DT TY HAMILTON: Yeah, the progression I’ve been going through, working on that since the beginning of the year and trying to get better at it.

Q. If you guys can keep that group together you and Tyleik [Williams] and Mike [Hall Jr.], you can do other things. If you could keep that nucleus together at tackle, what could this group look like in a year’s time? I mean, I know you want to win on Friday, but are you thinking at all what that could become with another year?

DT TY HAMILTON: That would be special. If the guys come back, we thought we were good this year, but having an extra year would be a bonus.

Q. I wanted to ask you just about the Cotton Bowl. You guys are typically playing for the CFP (College Football Playoff) and stuff like that. But why is it important that you guys are here and want to win? You have no opt outs on defense. Why is this an important game?

DT TY HAMILTON: I think it’s an important game because it’s the last show of this team being assembled. It’s super important. We want to go out with a bang and don’t want to give any impression we’re down or not a good enough team to play. I think if we finish strong, it will show the world.

Q. When you look at the Missouri team, they’re kind of on the rise. Haven’t really played too many big games like this. So what do you guys see? I know from their point of view, it’s a marquee game, and a marquee venue versus a marquee team. What do you guys see when you look at Missouri?

DT TY HAMILTON: We see a great team. We don’t take any opponent lightly. We’ve going to go out there and give it everything we have. We’re going to go out with a finish. We’re going to play as hard as we can on the field.

Q. Let me ask you, you were talking just a few seconds ago about playing, have a lot of decisions to make, a lot of that has to do with Name, Image, and Likeness and the NFL choices.

DT TY HAMILTON: Yes, sir.

Q. Does that distract from preparation? Everybody keyed in here, big arena, big game, marquee game, everybody focused?

DT TY HAMILTON: Everybody is focused. It’s one of the few things teams have. We’re bonded and a lot of the outside things are not as big as it is here.

Q. (Missouri running back) [Cody] Schrader, good back, good hands, catching out of the backfield. 5’9″ built low, brings power. He can break tackles and he’s got a few moves. What are your thoughts on Schrader?

DT TY HAMILTON: He’s a good back, great back. So much like a lot of backs we played this year, and I feel like just making sure that we stop him before he gets going. Going to be one of the crucial things we do. Just making him, slowing him down. That’s the biggest part of what we have to do.

Q. He’s a big part of their offense. You stop him, do you think you can slow them and control the game?

DT TY HAMILTON: I think pretty sure to control the game. Be able to slow him down, because he’s the biggest part of the offense, slow him and the quarterback down.