Ryan Day and Ohio State had seen what Trey Sermon could do back in 2017, when Sermon accounted for 85 yards of total offense and a touchdown in leading Oklahoma past the Buckeyes 31-16 in just the second game of his college career.
"I remember everything about that game," Sermon said. "To me it felt like my first big college game, so I remember it vividly. I mean, I just remember just being able to make plays. It was just an exciting moment."
Followed by three straight conference games with at least 90 rushing yards, the first half of Sermon's freshman season seemed to signal the start of a brilliant college career.