Overall, Ryan Day has done a great job as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. In fact, he has the highest winning percentage of any active college football coach, boasting an impressive 56-8 record.
Nevertheless, there are some flaws in Day’s resume.
First, Ohio State has lost three straight games to the Michigan Wolverines under his leadership, which is unacceptable in Columbus. Additionally, the Buckeyes have not been particularly successful in bowl games during Day’s tenure, going just 2-4.
So how much pressure is on Day as he looks ahead to 2024?
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes his job could be on the line.
“But if he loses to Michigan and then gets knocked out early in the playoffs, despite his record, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets fired,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic In the Morning.
Day is 39-3 against Big Ten opponents, meaning it hasn’t lost to a non-Michigan team within the conference. The 39-0 record in all those other games (including a win over the Wolverines in 2019) is mighty impressive. But the three consecutive losses to Michigan make those other wins seem almost meaningless.
One could argue that the win over Michigan is just as important – if not more more important – than winning a national title in the land of the Buckeyes.
Before 2021, Ohio State had won eight straight games against the Wolverines. Since then, the script has obviously changed, and Day was right in the middle of it.
The Buckeyes have arguably the most talented roster in the country this season. Michigan, meanwhile, is essentially rebuilding after losing head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback JJ McCarthy to the NFL.
Maybe Ohio State will finally end its losing streak against the Wolverines and win its first national championship since the 2014-15 season.
If Day can accomplish at least one of these tasks, his job in Columbus is almost certainly secure.
