Will Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate Play for OSU vs. Michigan? Ryan Day Provides Update

As Ohio State fans hold their breath waiting to see if star wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate will play in Saturday's showdown against archrival Michigan, head coach Ryan Day provided a somewhat encouraging update Monday.

"They are," he said when asked if the receivers were trending in the right direction, per Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors. "They're going to continue to get some rest tonight, had a good day of rehab. So we'll wake up in the morning and see how they're doing, but nobody wants to play more than those two guys."

That wasn't the only encouraging development for the Scarlet and Gray, as Smith himself said during an appearance on teammate Caleb Downs' podcast, "I'm feeling good. Dealing with a little situation injury-wise. But I should be good to go Saturday."

As far as Day's comments go, it should be noted they are largely reflective of what he has been saying about the receivers over the course of the last week-plus.

He told reporters following Saturday's win over Rutgers, "The only thing I'll say really is that they are day-to-day. The staff and those guys are working really hard to get ready to play next week."

Ohio State offers little public information on injuries other than the availability reports it releases prior to kickoff, so it isn't exactly known what the specific ailments are for the playmakers. Both were on the sidelines but not in uniform for the win over Rutgers.

Tate has missed the last three games against Purdue, UCLA and Rutgers, while Smith didn't play in the second half of the win over the Bruins and was sidelined against the Scarlet Knights. Smith was also walking with a noticeable limp as he left the field during the matchup with the Bruins:

The Buckeyes are the reigning national champions, undefeated and the favorites to take home the title for the second year in a row. Their roster is loaded with star power, and anything short of another championship would be seen as a disappointment by many of their fans.

But whether they can accomplish that goal largely rests on the health of their receivers.

Smith is arguably the best player in the entire sport, while Tate is in line to be the next first-round receiver drafted from the program. Having them both on the field at the same time puts opposing defenses in impossible situations where they have to pick their poison and decide where they will focus the majority of their attention.

And there is quite the dropoff when they aren't on the field, as no wide receiver had more than 23 yards through the air in Saturday's win over Rutgers.

Then there is the entire Michigan angle of the situation, as Ohio State has lost four in a row to its hated rival after going 15-1 in the previous 16 showdowns. What is more important between beating the Wolverines or winning the national title is an ongoing debate within the Buckeyes fanbase, especially after losing four in a row.

Even Smith himself told The Athletic during the offseason, "I didn't want to go to Ohio State and lose to that team up north. I just hate them. Just something about them. For the next two years, I promise you, I will not lose to them. I can't lose to them in the next two years."

If nothing else, he will surely be motivated to do whatever he can to be on the field.