Ohio State Avoids B1G Championship Consequences as Ryan Day Sacrifices Michigan Game for a Bigger Picture

Ryan Day needed a win against the Michigan Wolverines, having lost the last three rivalry games. He understood the stakes and even compared the pain of losing to Michigan to what he felt after his father’s death. However, the 120th edition of The Game brought no respite for the No. 2 Ohio State and Ryan Day. But is there a silver lining for the program despite the crushing defeat against the Wolverines?

Saturday’s noon kickoff at Columbus was simply not in Day’s control. The team that came fresh off a spectacular week 13 win against the Hoosiers looked completely numb, motionless against a tight Wolverines defense. The offensive play calling came off as pretty average. The Wolverines ran for 172 yards while the Buckeyes tallied 77 rushing yards, marking one of their worst since 2021.

A totally underwhelming O line didn’t help QB Will Howard, whose worst numbers possibly poised a death blow to the shaky team game. Whatever Day tried to do to push the offense hard seemed to backfire in the opponent’s favor. The defense did a decent job, but it was certainly not enough to stop the run machine of Dominic Zvada and other giants alike of the Wolverines. The 13-10 defeat meant Sherrone Moore’s side continued to build momentum, but where does it leave OSU?

For starters, with this loss, OSU has avoided an Oregon face-off in the Big 10 championship game. Ohio State will not be making a trip to Indianapolis next week after No. 4 Penn State routed Maryland 44-7 to earn the date with the Ducks. But Ryan Day’s program is still in playoff contention

CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm believes Ohio State’s playoff chances remain strong, with the team’s floor being ranked above the Indiana Hoosiers. “Buckeyes will likely still find a place in the College Football Playoff come Sunday, Dec. 8 when the field is announced,” Palm wrote on Saturday. “The absolute floor for Ohio State in the College Football Playoff Rankings is No. 10 Indiana despite the fact the Buckeyes will potentially finish with one more loss than the Hoosiers. They have two top-10 wins, one of which was a dominant 38-15 victory over Indiana just last week. “

Judging all the odds, they are still in a position to earn a bye week and host a home playoff game in the best-case scenario. Despite missing out on the B1G Championship game, it looks like OSU will be back for post-season. Yet, this should not take away from what happened at Ohio Stadium.

Ohio State was a 21-point favorite entering the game against the Wolverines. Despite restricting Michigan to just 235 total yards, they were unable to end their hoodoo against their rivals. This defeat once again puts Day’s role as HC under the spotlight after failing in a high-profile game once again.

But is there still any chance left for Day to prove his worth this season and save his tottering career?

How can Ryan Day save OSU’s season and his position

Fans already started ranting about how Day failed to hold the program to its usual status and suggested the ideal replacements for him, but Ryan Day can still salvage the season if wins a national championship. This defeat was difficult to gulp for Day having looked solid all season. But now it could all unravel right before his eyes.

“We’re very disappointed,” Day said on Saturday. “Never thought this would happen right here. We were expecting to win this game, and then go play in the Big 10 championship game, and neither of those things happened.”

We know it’s hard to imagine at this point in time, but if the OSU is able to bounce back strongly and stay in national championship contention and possibly win the title, it would go a long way to restoring Day and the program’s reputation.

The math is simple, either it’s a national title or bust! Remember, this roster is worth over $20 million.