Ryan Day mentioned Wednesday that he expects to be Ohio State’s coach for the foreseeable future.
After Saturday’s 13-10 loss to Michigan — the Buckeyes fourth in a row within the rivalry — there have been many questions on whether or not Day is able to taking Ohio State to the heights it expects to succeed in and whether or not he even needs to be the top coach going ahead because of all of the stress he’s underneath. He put a lot of the latter to relaxation on Wednesday at a recruiting early signing interval information convention.
Requested if he expects to be at Ohio State subsequent yr, he merely mentioned, “Sure.”
Day is 66-10 as Ohio State’s head coach, however he has obtained arguably as a lot criticism as any coach of the nation due to his 1-4 file in opposition to Michigan. Ohio State hasn’t gained a Huge Ten championship since 2020 and hasn’t been previous the School Soccer Playoff semifinal spherical since dropping to Alabama 52-24 within the nationwide title sport that very same yr. Every of the earlier three Michigan groups to beat Ohio State gained Huge Ten championships, however this yr’s Wolverines are 7-5 and entered Saturday’s sport in Columbus as 21-point underdogs.
Day mentioned he understands the frustration the fan base has however that his focus is on getting Ohio State a nationwide championship this season. The Athletic’s projections mannequin nonetheless provides Ohio State the third-best nationwide title odds behind Oregon and Texas.
“Now we have to go ahead,” mentioned Day, whose 2025 recruiting class ranked No. 5 within the 247Sports Composite as of Wednesday afternoon. “The mindset is to go win the entire thing now. You’ll be able to’t return and second guess issues at this level. Now we have to maneuver ahead.”
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The newest School Soccer Playoff rankings got here out Tuesday night time and Ohio State (10-2) is No. 6 within the High 25 and the No. 8 seed within the bracket. That places it in place to host a first-round sport, with an opportunity to rise to as excessive because the No. 6 seed relying on this weekend’s convention championship sport outcomes. The ultimate bracket can be revealed on Sunday afternoon.
Day takes blame for efficiency vs. Michigan
There’s no sugarcoating how dangerous Ohio State’s outing in opposition to Michigan was Saturday.
The Buckeyes scored simply 10 factors, the bottom output in opposition to an unranked opponent for the reason that 10-7 loss to Michigan State in 2011. They went scoreless within the second half and have been criticized for his or her sport plan, which included operating the ball between the guards, proper at Michigan’s stout defensive position, an excessive amount of. Ohio State rushed for simply 77 yards.
“The share was too excessive operating it inside, that’s clear,” Day mentioned.
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Although Ohio State threw the ball 33 instances, its second-most move makes an attempt this season, Day mentioned the Buckeyes ought to’ve discovered methods to get the ball on the perimeter extra. Standout freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, who had 5 catches for 35 yards and a landing, was not focused within the fourth quarter. Emeka Egbuka, who had 4 catches for 51 yards, was focused simply as soon as, whereas Carnell Tate, who led the group with 58 yards, was focused as soon as within the second half, as nicely.
Ohio State’s energy is its playmakers on the skin, not a patchwork offensive line that has had damage issues. Previously, Ohio State has discovered methods to get the ball to its receivers in much less conventional methods, like bubble screens, reverses or backfield handoffs. Day considers these performs an extension of the operating sport, however Ohio State confirmed none of it on Saturday.
“I feel if you look again on it, there’s methods we might’ve bought the ball to the perimeter,” Day mentioned. “It’s the coaches’ job to place the fellows in the most effective positions to achieve success, and that didn’t occur on Saturday.”
The loss hasn’t been straightforward on Day, who has been open about how onerous it has been dropping to Michigan. Saturday’s loss was the worst of all of them.
However Day mentioned he has no plans to go away this system and has by no means had that thought.
“This can be a great place,” he mentioned. “I’ve among the finest jobs in America. I’m disillusioned greater than anyone. We’ll proceed to maneuver and determine what it’s and overcome this impediment.”
The query stays: Is Day the best particular person to steer Ohio State to the nationwide championship — and previous Michigan subsequent season?
Whereas he didn’t wish to give a gross sales pitch for himself, he mentioned the Buckeyes are going to take their finest crack on the Playoff as doable, very similar to they did within the 2022 Peach Bowl in opposition to Georgia, once they got here up simply in need of a nationwide title sport spot regardless of dropping to Michigan.
“There’s no solution to defend dropping 4 years in a row, however I can let you know this, we’re going to play actually onerous on this sport,” Day mentioned. “We’re going to swing as onerous as we presumably can. … I get the frustration, I do know what comes with this job, however we’ve gained quite a lot of video games round right here too, we’ve misplaced some key ones, however we’re proper there. If you find yourself actually shut and really feel annoyed, you must push by way of.”
What’s happening with the offensive line?
Ohio State has struggled to run the ball since beginning middle Seth McLaughlin tore his Achilles earlier than the Nov. 23 Indiana sport. Ohio State averaged lower than one yard earlier than contact in opposition to Michigan and Indiana, per TruMedia, and Day mentioned the group is evaluating each choice up entrance.
The offensive line appears to be the one place that may maintain Ohio State again within the postseason, and it wouldn’t be a shock if the Buckeyes take the sphere within the Playoff with a brand new lookup entrance.
Ohio State has been beginning left guard Donovan Jackson at left sort out since Josh Simmons went down in opposition to Oregon, and Carson Hinzman, who stepped in at left guard, moved again to middle when McLaughlin went down. The thought of getting them play alongside one another once more, placing Jackson again at guard and even bringing in new faces equivalent to Luke Montgomery and Joshua Padilla are all on the desk, Day mentioned.
“We’re considering some rolling on the very least,” Day mentioned. “We thought of that within the sport, it was an enormous sport, and we didn’t assume it was the best factor to do on the time, however trying again we must always’ve tried one thing.”
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(Photograph: Jason Mowry / Getty Pictures)