Ohio State need not fear the cold.

Just look at last year’s first-round College Football Playoff game against Tennessee, which Ohio State won 42-17. That’s what linebacker Sonny Styles is doing. The temperature dropped below 20 degrees at points in that game, and the Buckeyes dominated with plenty of production in the passing game.

Styles said weather “shouldn’t really impact The Game at all” during Ohio State’s interviews with a trio of team captains on Wednesday, as he was joined by left tackle Austin Siereveld and safety Caleb Downs. Siereveld took it a step further to say “I love it” when talking about the cold weather forecasted in Ann Arbor, Michigan this Saturday, while Downs said the key for the Buckeyes will be “staying consistent” with what they’ve done all season.

LB Sonny Styles

“That game last year was pretty cool, the last one, Tennessee, I think (the temperature was) in the teens. I mean, a lot of guys, we were fine in that game. It shouldn’t really impact the game at all.”– Sonny Styles on the cold weather expected in Ann Arbor on Saturday

On the message Ryan Day has shared with the team this week: “I think the biggest message from Coach Day is just sticking to our routine, sticking to our mindset that we come into every game with and what we do and who we are. Obviously, you respect the rivalry, you respect that it’s The Game, and you know how big it is, but you can’t go into the game thinking about the stakes and what’s on the line. You go into the game, you do what you do. Trust your fundamentals, trust your training, and see what happens.”

On Michigan running back Jordan Marshall: “I think he’s a physical runner. I think a lot of times you get those guys that are a little shorter, he’s pretty muscular, low center of gravity, stuff like that. But I mean, I think all their backs are pretty good. They all do a good job.”

Styles sees great traits in Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood: “I think he’s kind of like Nico (Iamaleava) in a way. Obviously, we didn’t get to play him, but we played him last year. … He’s tall, maybe not as tall as Nico, but kind of similar speed, he’s got great arm talent. You got to just be aware of him at all times, got to keep him in the pocket, got to be aware on third downs, seeing him QB run, scrambling, stuff like that.”

Styles praised Matt Patricia for the game plans he creates for the Buckeyes. “I think every game plan Coach Patricia comes up with is elite. There’s always — everyone understands the game plan. It’s clear. We know what the message is, what we need to stop, what are the musts. I think he’s always kind of planning ahead.”

On what The Game means to him: “Being a kid from Columbus, knowing how big it is and how everyone’s watching, how cool it is to be in the moment. But I think at the end of the day you gotta go out there — it’s a game. You gotta do what you do. Like I said, trust your training.”

S Caleb Downs

“You got to spend a year with him at least like me, and you got to pretty much ask him multiple times and remind him when he says yes.”– Caleb Downs on how to get Jeremiah Smith on your podcast

Downs joked that he didn’t break any Jeremiah Smith injury news on his podcast but was “just giving the people what they wanted.”

Downs said the Michigan game carries weight in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Still, he wants to beat the Wolverines just like every other opponent on Ohio State’s schedule. “I want to win every game, and that’s how I play football. But I want to win and I want to win every play, win every snap possible. That’s what we’re gonna do.”

When asked about Matt Patricia’s game plan for Bryce Underwood, Downs said the Michigan freshman quarterback has “played at an elite level the whole year.” Downs said Patricia has “a lot of experience” but Underwood is “going to be a challenge either way.”

On how extensive Patricia’s game plan can be: “I’m assuming in his 10, 20, 30-year career, he has some stuff in the bag. I mean, he has some tricks in the bag left. … He’s got a lot of binders and stuff that he could pull out.”

Downs said the key for Ohio State this week is “staying consistent.” He added, “We’ve been talking about it all year. It doesn’t matter who we play. Just go out and prepare and put yourself in a position to play well on Saturday. We’re just trying to prepare and put ourselves in the best position.”

LT Austin Siereveld

“Yeah, I love it. Cold, windy, snow, whatever it is. It’s gonna be a challenge for us. We’re ready and we’ll be prepared for it.”– Austin Siereveld on the cold weather expected in Ann Arbor on Saturday

“As a left tackle, you protect the blind spot of the quarterback, and especially this week, being on the road, being on the silent count with the edge rushers they have is gonna be a challenge for us.”

Siereveld said Julian Sayin has “been growing each week, getting better.” Siereveld said this is Sayin’s offense and “he’s running the show.” He said Sayin knows what to do in the huddle and how to keep the chains moving.

Siereveld said it’s “very important” for Ohio State to win its first pair of Gold Pants since 2019. “We just gotta go out and play.”

Siereveld said Ohio State’s offensive line knows how important it is to run the ball in The Game and is excited for the challenge of blocking Michigan’s defensive front. “We know what the deal is. We gotta be able to run the ball in these types of games and we’ve been practicing for this.”

Siereveld said Ohio State’s coaches and players “gotta control our emotions” in The Game. “We can’t let one play and a penalty affect us. One play can hurt you a lot and hurt a drive and all that stuff. We just gotta be under control.”