“I don’t know.”
Embattled Ohio State coach Ryan Day’s blunt but brutally honest response could have been the answer to a myriad of questions, including why they can’t beat Michigan.
How could such a talented group look so weak against the Wolverines, a less impressive team that was a three-touchdown underdog?
What does this mean for your future?
Those are all good questions, but he specifically asked how the No. 2 Buckeyes were heading back into the playoffs (not for long) after one of the most devastating upsets in the storied rivalry’s history. I was asked if they would rally together. That’s saying something considering how many times the Wolverines have spoiled it.
Saturday’s 13-10 loss at Ohio Stadium prevented the Buckeyes from getting revenge against Oregon State in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 7. On Oct. 12, the top-ranked Ducks won 32-31 in Eugene, Oregon, for their first-ever victory. Because Ohio State knew they had to win to achieve that goal. So what did the Buckeyes do?
They went to Happy Valley and defeated fellow Penn State No. 4 Nittany Lions. Ohio State’s loss to Michigan means they will face Oregon in the conference championship, giving another embattled coach (James Franklin) a chance to redeem himself. Ah, the irony.
Ohio State impressively defeated No. 5 Indiana, an overrated team heading into the game against the Wolverines, who needed a win over Northwestern in the penultimate game to qualify for a bowl. Everything seemed to be focused on.
So, again, what will happen to Ryan Day? A $20 million program To attract or retain players this season, he brought back more than a dozen players even though he didn’t have to, said his priority was winning against Michigan, not the national championship, and now three weeks after the game. He said he will prepare for an unknown opponent in an unknown location. A demoralizing setback?
“I don’t know. I just came out of the game, so I don’t really have an answer to that,” Day said. “We’re disappointed. We never expected something like this to happen here.”
“We were hoping to win this game and get to the Big Ten Championship Game, but neither of those things happened…It’s too early to know what’s next.”
He wasn’t the only one shocked. Officials say OSU police planned to have fans destroy the goal posts after the Buckeyes’ first win over their rival since 2019.
Instead, Michigan players tried to plant a flag at midfield, but the Buckeyes objected, and they used pepper spray to quell the scuffle for some time after the game.
This is a travesty, but it’s another example of the NCAA’s incompetence in having no governance over paying athletes tens of millions of dollars before they even set foot on campus to “get an education.”
Just like the NCAA, they turn a blind eye when fans crowd the fields and courts. So who cares about taunting the entire stadium with such a big bad flag?
Of course, all the Buckeyes needed to shut Michigan up was a win. Now, they face the prospect of possibly losing their home field in the first round of the playoffs, but Day’s heat will skyrocket over the next three weeks until the playoffs begin.
Just ask the crowd of fans whose parents and families were waiting outside the home locker room area, chanting “Fire Ryan Day” at the top of their lungs.
After another disaster in Michigan, hosting a national championship game might not be enough to mollify them. For those who were promised so much and received so little, it’s doom and gloom.
Ohio has an embarrassing amount of wealth. Saturday was just embarrassing.
