By: Jay Berry
Fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes were stunned and angered as they left the shoe on Saturday after another loss to the Wolverines.
Ohio State came into the game with just about everyone expecting them to win and get ready for a rematch with Oregon and the Big Ten championship game.
The Buckeyes came into the game 10-1 and Michigan 6-5. The 13-10 final wasn't the only battle on Saturday afternoon.
A midfield brawl followed the game as Michigan tried to plant its flag at midfield. The camera pans around to Ryan Day, who is standing there shell-shocked, watching and asking a player who is passing by, "What Happened?"
Fans immediately called for him to be fired and escorted from campus. Here's why that shouldn't happen.
Moving on from Day would be an expensive endeavor for the Buckeyes. Austin Curtright of USA Today reported that it would cost north of $37 million to buy out his contract -- a high number but "manageable" if the Buckeyes were sufficiently motivated.
However, Ohio State's boosters are still deciding whether to make such a drastic move. New York Times author John U. Bacon observed that boosters are not particularly keen on making such an expensive commitment.
"Apparently, Day's buyout is going viral in Ohio media," Bacon wrote in a post on X. "It's $37 million, and insiders tell me that OSU boosters have little interest in pursuing it, given the demands related to NIL, among other factors."
After the game, Day seemed shocked at another Michigan loss when he said.
"I don't know," Day said. "We're fresh off The Game. I don't really have the answer to that. We're very disappointed. Never thought this would happen right here."
Ryan Day joins a list of Buckeyes coaches who lost to Michigan at least four times, including Ohio State legend Woody Hayes.
During his 28-year tenure at Ohio State, Hayes lost to Michigan 11 times. However, his leadership led the Buckeyes to five national titles, three of which were named consensus national championships. Under Hayes, the team also claimed 13 Big Ten titles.
Firing Ryan Day after a 10-2 season is an overreaction, particularly given the implications of his buyout, NIL money, and the new 12-team playoff format. The team still has a pathway to qualify and make a championship run. If they had defeated Georgia in the semifinal game two years ago and won the national championship, the fans would have forgiven him for that season.
I get it; the team up north is the most important game on their schedule. It comes down to a question of what you would rather have: a team that's always in contention for the playoffs and has a national championship, quality talent, or a team that consistently misses the playoffs but beats Michigan.
Oregon will play Penn State in the Big 10 championship game, and the Buckeyes still have a path to the playoffs. They made it to a four-team playoff when they lost to Michigan, but they didn't make the conference championship game.
Yes, that Michigan team was also a playoff team. The Buckeyes have more to claim this year, with 12 teams qualifying for the playoffs. Their brand name stands out amidst parody, as several teams with multiple losses compete, yet no powerhouse has emerged.
Don't climb a bridge just yet. After all, there's no guarantee you'll find a coach who will go 11-1 or 10-2 every season and make the playoffs.