Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is under intense scrutiny despite leading the Buckeyes, ranked No. 6, to the second round of the College Football Playoff with a dominant 42-17 victory over No. 7 Tennessee. Much of the criticism stems from Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to rival Michigan in Week 14. This marked Day’s fourth consecutive loss to Michigan, leaving his record against them at 1-4. The rivalry’s intensity means even an otherwise successful season can feel like a failure if it includes a loss to Michigan.
On ESPN’s First Take, analyst Stephen A. Smith addressed the backlash against Day. He stated that the expectations at Ohio State are clear: beat Michigan and remain in contention for the national championship. Smith noted that while the playoff win over Tennessee was impressive, Day’s failure to secure a Big Ten title or improve his record against Michigan remains a glaring issue.
Smith emphasized that Ohio State boasts significant resources, including a $20 million NIL payroll and numerous NFL-caliber players, making such shortcomings unacceptable. He added that if the Buckeyes had been eliminated early in the playoffs, Day’s position would have been in serious jeopardy.
While acknowledging Day’s playoff success thus far, Smith issued a warning: failing to reach the national championship game or losing again to Michigan could lead Ohio State to consider a coaching change. The Buckeyes will face the No. 1-ranked Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl on January 1, a critical test for Day and his
team.