Ryan Day wants to Ohio State to be the 'hardest-playing team in the country'

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Preseason camp has just begun for Ohio State, and coach Ryan Day already knows how his Buckeyes want the season to end.

"There's a lot of guys who want to finish the season with some hardware," Day after the first practice Tuesday. "That's important."

The Buckeyes are coming off an 11-2 season in which they finished 10th in the rankings and lost their final two games, to Michigan and then to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. This season brings an expended College Football Playoff in addition to a larger Big Ten, with four teams joining the conference.

"I know what I want our team identity to be -- and I told the team -- to be the hardest-playing team in the country," Day said. "When someone watches the Buckeyes this year, they should see that."

Watch: Coach Ryan Day on opening day of preseason camp

The Buckeyes have dealt with a offseason of change, with former starting quarterback Kyle McCord transferring away to Syracuse and Will Howard coming in from Kansas State. Day has yet to select a starter.

Other incoming transfers include running back Quinshon Judkins from Mississippi and safety Caleb Downs from Alabama, joining returning standouts including receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson, and defensive end JT Tuimoloau.

Day hired a longtime coaching companion Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator. Day will step away from play-calling duties and turn those over to Kelly, a former head coach at UCLA, Oregon and in the NFL.

The season opens at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 31 against Akron at Ohio Stadium.