The 2023 college football season is around the corner as an important season awaits the Ohio State Buckeyes. But could Ryan Day’s future in Columbus be in jeopardy?

Ryan Day is entering his fifth season as the head coach of the Ohio State football team. He boasts a record of 45-6 with two Big Ten Titles and three College Football Playoff appearances, including a berth in the National Championship in 2020. Day also has Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl victories. 

Day’s teams are consistently among the top offenses in the sport. However, the defense has been the missing piece lately, costing key matchups against Alabama, Oregon, and Michigan. The young head coach is 1-2 against the archrival Wolverines on the heels of Urban Meyer’s legendary 7-0 run. 

While Meyer’s success was virtually unsustainable, Day’s record needs to include more victories because that’s the game you’re judged on in Columbus. 

After losing in each of the past two seasons to Jim Harbaugh and Michigan, Ryan Day faces a must-win game in 2023. The Wolverines return the bulk of their team and, on paper, have their best roster in recent memory. On top of that, The Game is in Ann Arbor.

Fans began calling for Ryan Day to be fired following a dreadful fourth-quarter collapse by the defense last November. Another loss this year will only intensify the heat and pressure to move on from Day if he cannot beat Michigan and becomes John Cooper 2.0. 

Should Gene Smith and Ohio State move on from Day if he’s unable to win on the road in Ann Arbor this year? Before I answer that question, let’s consider who Ryan Day is as a coach and his situation overall:

Coaching History

The former 2019 Big Ten Coach of the Year earned those honors in his first-ever season as a head coach. Let’s unpack that sentence. Ryan Day’s first head coaching position is the one he currently holds at Ohio State. 

Day climbed the ranks through Temple and Boston College as a WR Coach and OC, brief stints coaching QBs in the NFL for Philadelphia and San Francisco, before heading to Columbus as the OC and QB guru.  

Ryan Day is cutting his teeth as a head coach under the brightest lights in collegiate sports. He’s only held the office for four seasons, including the Covid year, where his Buckeyes played for the National Title. 

He is still learning and choosing what style of coach he is and what kind of program he wants to run. Being 45-6 in four seasons on the biggest stage in college football is impressive and couldn’t be duplicated by many other coaches around the sport. 

Day’s teams do not get upset, either. Yes, I know the Buckeyes have lost games as the betting favorite. But they haven’t been shell-shocked by Purdue or Iowa like in years past. His only losses have come against Clemson, Alabama, Oregon, Michigan (twice), and Georgia. He’s also a missed field goal away from arguably winning a national championship and this narrative never even swirling.

Ohio State is in good hands with Day, who is a dominant 31-2 against Big Ten competition. Work with him and be patient. He takes an aggressive approach and isn’t afraid to make necessary changes to right the ship. Day is one of the top coaches in college football with a bright future and career in Columbus. 

Most importantly, whether this year or next, he will fix his Michigan problem and begin beating the Maize and Blue again. He understands it’s war and means everything to Buckeye Nation and the state of Ohio. 

Verdict

His future should not be in jeopardy with a loss this season. Trust Ryan Day and buy into his system. If the past is an indicator, we’ll see more of the Peach Bowl version of him going forward.