The pressure is mounting on Ryan Day, and it’s reaching scorching levels akin to a blazing Fourth of July grill. Following Ohio State’s punishing defeat against Michigan, fans are clamoring for a shake-up. However, dismissing Day is not a simple task; it’s akin to walking into a hornet’s nest. Privately, those in the know are murmuring about a hefty price that would even make a cowboy lose their hat. The Buckeyes find themselves faced with a critical choice that could both drain their finances and damage their pride, leaving them caught between a rock and a hard place.

What else can you expect after losing against the Michigan Wolverines for the fourth time in a row? Even if you ignore the rivalry game, it still hurts because of the effect it has on the playoff chances. The Bucks’ loss against Michigan gave an open door to Penn State to play their first Big 10 game against the Oregon Ducks, which is not what everyone expected. However, losing is a part of the game, and it should not make a direct impact on Ryan Day’s tenure. Even analyst Joel Klatt says the same thing on the December 5th episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd’s show saying,

“I also think, and I know that people say, “Oh, everyone has money,” but it would cost a significant amount of money. Probably, you’re looking at upwards of $45 to $55 million just to buy out the current coaching staff. You would need to then go and hire somebody and then spend money in the NIL. You’re looking at another $20 to $25 million to do that. So you’re in the neighborhood of $75 to $85 million to make that decision.” 

Well, $85 Million is a huge amount and Ross Bjork might not take that chance. Plus, we can also not overlook that this is the same person who led the Bucks through a win against the Indiana Hoosiers. Moreover, the team’s playoff chances remain intact, despite their upcoming first-round CFP game against Tennessee; however, the 12-team bracket is still undetermined. And this could be a deciding factor for Ryan Day’s position with the team. Whether they go for talent or consistency as one more loss might kill Ohio State in every aspect.

Increasing hate for Ryan Day

Ohio State’s loss against Michigan not only took away their chances to play in the Big 10 championship but also put Ryan Day into a very tough situation in terms of his tenure within the team. Since that moment, Coach Day has been getting ridiculed back and forth. His position with the team is at stake and fans can’t digest the fact that the team which gave tough competition to the undefeated Oregon Ducks lost against the unranked Wolverines. Now, while he survives all the hate coming his way, he still has a tough job ahead of him to get the team back at its full potential for the CFP after such an embarrassing loss.

How is it possible for Ryan Day to withstand this level of hatred? Is it ignorance, or is he just waiting for the right time to show his real caliber? Well, it’s his ultimate focus on the target of winning the national championship game as he talks about all the frustration coming his way, saying, “I don’t think I need to have a sales pitch. I feel their frustration. There’s no way to defend losing four years in a row. Sometimes, when you’re really close and feel frustrated, you got to push through. And that’s what we’re going to do.” That’s some winner kind of speech. Although they lost badly, the game served as a valuable learning experience, propelling Ryan Day and his team closer to their playoff aspirations.