Despite his otherwise stellar record as Ohio State football coach, Ryan Day has lost three straight games to archrival Michigan, and a fourth loss in that streak, coupled with a subpar performance in the new College Football Playoff, could force a change at the top.
That’s the view of analyst and commentator Paul Finebaum, who speculates that Ohio State may be forced to make a change in the crucial 2024 season, which will see conference realignment and playoff expansion.
“His biggest hurdle is Michigan. And that’s only because this game was rated so highly because of three losses in a row,” Finebaum said on WJOX.
“If he beats Michigan and has a good run in the playoffs, maybe not the championship, I think most people will move on. But if he loses to Michigan and then suffers a loss early in the playoffs, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets fired, despite his record.”
That decision might seem hasty given Ohio State’s success under Day’s leadership, which includes a 56-8 overall record and a 39-3 record against Big Ten opponents.
Day has led the Buckeyes to three College Football Playoff appearances, his team was a finalist in the 2020 season and could have been just one point away from defeating Georgia in the 2022-23 postseason.
But if you ask any Ohio State fan, it’s the team’s performance against Michigan that makes a season a true success or determines whether it’s viewed as somehow tainted.
And over the last three years, Ohio State has given up a total of 117 points to Michigan and lost those games by an average of more than two touchdowns.
Day took an aggressive approach to retaining and remodeling his roster during the offseason, keeping several notable players on both sides of the ball, including on the Buckeyes’ second-best defense.
Transfer acquisitions such as quarterback Will Howard, former Alabama safety Caleb Downs and former SEC rushing champion Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss are important reinforcements for the program.
According to these figures, Ohio State is considered the second favorite to win the national championship by most bookmakers, which is why the 2024 season is of utmost importance for Day to get the team back in the race.
(WJOX)
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