COLUMBUS — It almost certainly was the first time a drag racing analogy was used to describe the Ohio State-Michigan football game.

OSU coach Ryan Day returned often to a theme of being focused and prepared and also addressed the role of emotion during a Tuesday press conference to preview Saturday’s game between No. 1 Ohio State (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) and Michigan (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) in Ann Arbor.

There is no shortage of emotion in the OSU-Michigan game any season, but four straight losses to Michigan has added even more of it to the game on the Ohio State side of the rivalry this season.

Day said emotion needs to be used properly and in the right quantity.

“You have to play with emotion but you can’t let it play with you. And you have to learn to use it as nitrous (oxide) and not as a primary fuel source,” he said, referring a fuel additive drag racers use to boost horsepower, acceleration and speed.

“I think that’s where our guys have to continue to focus on how they prepare for games. They’re going to have enough emotion when they get into the game. We don’t need to incite any more of that.

“They know how important this is. They know our No.1 goal is to win this game every year. That will be our focus (Saturday). If you start to get overemotional you can get distracted and get yourself out of wack and not do your job,” he said.

Some other thoughts from Day:

… HIS MESSAGE TO SAYIN: Day said his message to quarterback Julian Sayin is, “Just win. Just win. To continue to do what he has done and lead his team to a victory.”

“What does that look like? It depends on how the game plays out. But he’s got to make great decisions and ultimately be the guy who leads the team to victory. That’s the No. 1 goal, the rest of it is gravy. He’s got to be at his best.”

… STATUS OF SMITH AND TATE: Carnell Tate has missed OSU’s last three games because of an unspecified injury and Jeremiah Smith was held out of last Saturday’s 42-9 win over Rutgers because of an injury.

Even though Smith said he thinks he will be able to play this week on teammate Caleb Downs’ podcast, Day did not say anything definite about the status of Ohio State’s two best receivers.

“They’re doing everything they can to play in the game. We’ll see how today (Tuesday) goes, but they’re working really, really hard to get back on the field,” he said.

“That’s probably something for the medical staff to figure out. When they give us the thumbs up we’ll go. They will be getting physical and mental reps (repetitions) all week. In the end we’ll look to the medical staff to give us the thumbs up or not. But they are going to do everything they can to get on that field.”

… NO KELLY REUNION NOW: Day’s mentor and friend Chip Kelly, who was Ohio State’s offensive coordinator last season, was fired from his job as the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator on Sunday.

When Day was asked if any thought had been given to using Kelly in a consultant’s role, he said, “I would say I’m not thinking about that now. There’s too much going on,” Day said.

“I think right now we have great chemistry. We’ve got to be on our game as a coaching staff. That’s not something I’d thought about and right now we’re going to stick with what we’ve got.”

… DEFINING FUN: Asked if it is fun to be Ohio State’s coach the week of the Ohio State-Michigan game, Day said, “Like I say, fun is kicking a–, and that’s what we want to do on Saturday. We’re preparing to do that and that’s it. The fun part is winning.”