Ohio State football coach Ryan Day had a prediction before the Week 13 matchup against Indiana. He emphasized that the Ohio Stadium crowd could pose challenges for the visitors. The Hoosiers used a clapping cadence, and Day believed that if the OSU faithful was engaged enough, it could disrupt IU's rhythm. And he was right.

Spot On with Crowd Impact

IU coach Curt Cignetti admitted postgame that they had expected to handle the crowd noise with their normal cadence based on reports. However, some linemen could hear while the center couldn't, forcing them to go silent. This showed the power of the Ohio State crowd.Ohio State found itself in a classic look-ahead situation, even against a top-five ranked Indiana team. The Hoosiers came to Columbus a week before the Buckeyes hosted rival Michigan, and it was the fifth of six straight noon kickoffs. One might have thought it could lead to a sleepy crowd, but that wasn't the case. The Ohio State fans made life miserable for Indiana.On Saturday, they have another chance to raise the energy level. Ohio State hosts Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff with an 8 p.m. kickoff, marking their first home night game since a Week 2 win against Western Michigan.

Showcasing Ohio Stadium

Ohio State has an opportunity to highlight something it has been longing to showcase all year. Can Ohio Stadium be on full display against Tennessee? There will be aspects similar to an on-campus NCAA Tournament game in women's basketball or baseball. While the teams are at home, the location technically hosts a neutral event, which is why both bands are present, advertising is limited, and intro videos play for the visiting team.A decrease in advertising will allow the video boards to be used in different ways, including creating a light show. Athletic director Ross Bjork promised a drone show and pyrotechnics during his appearance on 97.1 The Fan last week. He said, "We want to go all in."

Home Environment and Recruiting

When the first-round game schedule was announced, Ohio State posted a meme on its social media channels showing a man breaking shackles off his arms. The shackles represented the noon kickoffs. Coach Day said, "We're going to feed off the fans. The fans are going to feed off us. These players are going to give everything they possibly have in that game. I know it's going to be an electric atmosphere."Saturday gives Ohio State a chance to impress recruits from afar. Tennessee's Neyland Stadium is known for its great atmosphere and is often on display with fireworks and light shows due to ESPN's rights to airing SEC games. It allows Tennessee's creative team to showcase their product for recruits. Ohio State now has a rare opportunity to do the same with its first-ever December home game.