Ohio State’s four straight losses to Michigan? Yeah, that’s definitely haunting them still, even though they’re in the semis facing Texas. Enter Nick Saban, as he doesn’t think that loss is in any way going to define them. Instead, he’s giving Ryan Day some ‘clutch advice’ on how to turn that Michigan debacle into a springboard for championship glory. Who wouldn’t want to turn lead into gold? Can Ohio State truly overcome their past setbacks, or is this just another case of a Groundhog Day moment? You know how it goes.

Now, let’s talk about Bama’s Ohio State-Michigan-like moment. Remember their matchup against Auburn back in 2017? It gave us that unforgettable game where Bama got absolutely crushed by Auburn 26-14. Just like Ohio State, they had their ups and downs that year. But then they went on to win the national championship, and now nobody even remembers that embarrassing loss to their in-state rivals Auburn in the Iron Bowl. So, it’s pretty much clear that Saban thinks that the same could happen with Ohio State. Looks like he already picked his favorites.

Nick Saban knows how it feels to be at that spot as he advises Ryan Day to stay calm and focus in his game. “Does anybody here know that we lost to Auburn, which is like Ohio State losing to Michigan, and then we won the National Championship? Yeah, and nobody remembers that we lost to Auburn, and nobody’s going to remember that they lost to Michigan,” he said. Yeah, it’s just been a while since the Buckeyes lost to Michigan, and it’s still tough to shake off. But that loss ended up being a perfect learning lesson for them.

Picture this: Ryan Day’s Ohio State offense transformed into a disaster movie when they faced Michigan. The run game? Completely non-existent. Pass protection? Even worse. The offensive line crumbled under the pressure, allowing 17 pressures and turning the quarterback’s dropbacks into a chaotic battlefield. With the quarterback constantly getting hit, it’s no surprise that things quickly went downhill. Michigan recognized this weakness and took full advantage, capitalizing on every mistake.

It’s now evident that Ohio State’s offensive line was a major topic of discussion throughout the year. However, by the middle of the season, the Buckeyes’ top players were dominating the nation in offense and even earning spots as Joe Moore Award semifinalists, which recognizes the best offensive lines in the country. Remember how Jeremiah Smith caught 7 passes against the Ducks? But what caused this sudden turnaround?

Can the $20 million investment help Ryan Day and his team win?

Now there is a notion buzzing around CFB that the Buckeyes’ $20 million investment in their roster is the sole reason for their success. But is it so? Well, this past year, they raised a jaw-dropping NIL amount to boost their squad, which is also reportedly the highest in the sport. Plus, they ranked 3rd in recruiting last year, which makes sense given the star power on their roster with guys like Jeremiah Smith, Jack Sawyer, and more. This strategy of stacking talent, developing it, and then paying players is bound to pay off big time for them this season.

So, while Nick Saban was out there giving Ryan Day the benefit of the doubt based on past performance, Kirk Herbstreit also dropped some serious takes on the $20 million master plan: “This perception that they went out and spent 20 million on players, nine of their 11 starting defensive players, or three-year starters—they’ve been there for three years; they’ve lost some tough games—that’s what I think is interesting about this team.” Well, that’s what worked for the team: they train them, they keep them, and then they pay them. Isn’t it smart?

Let’s get this straight: if Ryan Day and the team hadn’t worked this way, they would still be trailing behind in maintaining a strong offensive line. And the race for the championship title? Don’t even think about that.

So it’s the strategic moves, like shifting Donovan Jackson to left tackle and bringing Carson Hinzman into the left guard position, that paid off big time. Without these changes and all the talent they’ve stacked up, this team wouldn’t be where it is today. Now, let’s see if they can make it all the way!