I will provide you with live updates when the press conference begins at 12:30 p.m.
* Sarkisian started by mentioning the fires in Los Angeles and what occurred in New Orleans. He shared his thoughts and prayers for everyone dealing with that difficult time.
* Ohio State coach Ryan Day this new format has allowed teams to grow throughout the season. He said Texas has grown throughout the year when you turn on the film. Said they've adapted and changed and been resilient.
* Sarkisian said Ohio State has been extremely explosive on offense. In addition, he said with this NFL playoff format, it's not about who is the best team, it's about who is playing the best football this time of year. He said what Ohio State has done since Michigan is tremendous.
* Sarkisian said he has a tremendous amount of respect for Jay Hartzel. Said they were dealing with COVID and social injustice. He said Hartzel took a risk on him and he'll be missed.
* Sarkisian was asked if he scripts plays in the playoffs and said he doesn't change week-to-week. He said good programs believe in their formula and part of their formula is opening scripts.
* Day said he has a tremendous amount of respect for Sarkisian and his staff. Said they have tremendous weapons, but they aggressively attack you on offense.
* Both coaches were asked why they wanted to keep the Texas vs. Ohio State game next year.
Day said, "Well, I would say this, I just think it's great for our team now, with the way that this is set up, I think that you're allowed a loss or two throughout the season to learn and to grow and to build as a team, where, in the past, if you were to lose a game like that, your whole season was ruined. And I think it's healthy. I think it's great for our players. I think it's great for the coaches. I think it's great for the game."
Sarkisian said, " I think one thing that's interesting, when you look at these Final Four teams, none of the Final Four teams played an FCS opponent this year. I think there's a reason you come to Texas, there's a reason you go to an Ohio State, there's reason you go to a Notre Dame, a Penn State. It's you want to play in these those games. I think that as much as everybody's trying to stockpile wins. I think the players we recruit, they want to go against the best."
* The coaches were asked in the league championships will be diminished in the future because of the playoffs. Sarkisian said there is a lot of history and tradition in the conferences, but there is another carrot out there. He hopes it will not be diminished in the future.
* Sarkisian was asked if he would consider switching kickers. He said, "I think ultimately, there's a psychological approach that we've tried to use, and there's obviously the physical approach. And then we'll monitor that thing through pregame and make a decision and go.
* Sarkisian was asked what he learned from his mentors approaching a big game. He said consistency approaching those games, but you have to add new wrinkles because the opposing coaches are really good.
* Sarkisian on Quinn Ewers: "His journey has been unique to him. You know, it's almost like he's the new era of college football. Here's a guy that goes to one school, transfers to another, and ends up playing that school in the semifinals ... But it has not been an easy journey for him. There's been ups, there's been downs, there's been injuries, there's been great moments, there's been tough moments. There's been playing his best when his best was needed in critical moments. Last week was no different. But at the end of the day, he's always stayed true to who he is. The guy's been a really. He's been a steady sea for us."
* Sarkisian said RT Cam Williams will play against Ohio State.
The press conference is over.
* Sarkisian started by mentioning the fires in Los Angeles and what occurred in New Orleans. He shared his thoughts and prayers for everyone dealing with that difficult time.
* Ohio State coach Ryan Day this new format has allowed teams to grow throughout the season. He said Texas has grown throughout the year when you turn on the film. Said they've adapted and changed and been resilient.
* Sarkisian said Ohio State has been extremely explosive on offense. In addition, he said with this NFL playoff format, it's not about who is the best team, it's about who is playing the best football this time of year. He said what Ohio State has done since Michigan is tremendous.
* Sarkisian said he has a tremendous amount of respect for Jay Hartzel. Said they were dealing with COVID and social injustice. He said Hartzel took a risk on him and he'll be missed.
* Sarkisian was asked if he scripts plays in the playoffs and said he doesn't change week-to-week. He said good programs believe in their formula and part of their formula is opening scripts.
* Day said he has a tremendous amount of respect for Sarkisian and his staff. Said they have tremendous weapons, but they aggressively attack you on offense.
* Both coaches were asked why they wanted to keep the Texas vs. Ohio State game next year.
Day said, "Well, I would say this, I just think it's great for our team now, with the way that this is set up, I think that you're allowed a loss or two throughout the season to learn and to grow and to build as a team, where, in the past, if you were to lose a game like that, your whole season was ruined. And I think it's healthy. I think it's great for our players. I think it's great for the coaches. I think it's great for the game."
Sarkisian said, " I think one thing that's interesting, when you look at these Final Four teams, none of the Final Four teams played an FCS opponent this year. I think there's a reason you come to Texas, there's a reason you go to an Ohio State, there's reason you go to a Notre Dame, a Penn State. It's you want to play in these those games. I think that as much as everybody's trying to stockpile wins. I think the players we recruit, they want to go against the best."
* The coaches were asked in the league championships will be diminished in the future because of the playoffs. Sarkisian said there is a lot of history and tradition in the conferences, but there is another carrot out there. He hopes it will not be diminished in the future.
* Sarkisian was asked if he would consider switching kickers. He said, "I think ultimately, there's a psychological approach that we've tried to use, and there's obviously the physical approach. And then we'll monitor that thing through pregame and make a decision and go.
* Sarkisian was asked what he learned from his mentors approaching a big game. He said consistency approaching those games, but you have to add new wrinkles because the opposing coaches are really good.
* Sarkisian on Quinn Ewers: "His journey has been unique to him. You know, it's almost like he's the new era of college football. Here's a guy that goes to one school, transfers to another, and ends up playing that school in the semifinals ... But it has not been an easy journey for him. There's been ups, there's been downs, there's been injuries, there's been great moments, there's been tough moments. There's been playing his best when his best was needed in critical moments. Last week was no different. But at the end of the day, he's always stayed true to who he is. The guy's been a really. He's been a steady sea for us."
* Sarkisian said RT Cam Williams will play against Ohio State.
The press conference is over.
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