Ohio State To Host More Than 60 Top Recruits For Notre Dame Game

With a top-five opponent coming to Ohio Stadium for a highly anticipated matchup under the lights, it doesn’t get much bigger than Ohio State’s season opener against Notre Dame. 

Nobody understands that more than the Buckeyes’ coaching staff, which is why they're set to welcome more than 60 of the nation’s top-rated prospects to campus this Saturday.

“We are going to have a big number here, and I think most of the conversation leading up to the game has been had,” head coach Ryan Day said during his press conference on Tuesday afternoon. “Now it's time to go play the game and just allow them the opportunity to see what an atmosphere at Ohio State is like.

“It's a top-10 matchup, ESPN game, the whole atmosphere. Just take it all in and then picture themselves being on that field. I think a lot of guys are really excited.”

Of course, there’s a balancing act when it comes to weekends such as this, as the coaches will be focused entirely on beating the Fighting Irish. That's where general manager of player personnel Mark Pantoni and his recruiting staff come into play.

Then, on Sunday – potentially basking in the glow of a victory – the coaches will get some one-on-one time with the prospects and their families before they depart Columbus.

“All the focus is going to be on the game,” Day said. “We have a great recruiting staff that's going to do everything they can to make sure they put on a great show and be great hosts for our recruits, but (our) time will be limited. Maybe after the game on Sunday, we'll have some time to catch up, but we’ve got to focus on Notre Dame. 

“Every time you come to visit, it's a different experience. This one is about watching the atmosphere and watching the game at Ohio State. When they come in the spring or winter, we get to spent more one-on-one time. That’s typically the focus. But this week, it’s about seeing the environment, watching the atmosphere and then visualizing yourself on that field playing for the Buckeyes.”

That said, BuckeyesNow has compiled a list of all of the prospects expected to be in attendance this weekend. We'll continue to update this list until kickoff as new prospects announce their intention to visit or change their plans at the last minute.

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