Heavy is the head that wears the crown. For Ryan Day, being the custodian of bluebloods, Ohio State is perpetually going to be a poisoned chalice. He’s never going to get beyond scrutiny or the pressure to deliver. Now, Coach Day has managed to dissipate a lot of heat enveloping him from both inside and outside Columbus. However, he’s perhaps not in the clear just yet. The National Championship has afforded him enough grace for now. A maize and blue cloud, though, could still rain on his parade. 

If you see reports of strong winds down in Columbus, it’s not the freezing cold. They probably rose from Ryan Day taking the biggest sigh of relief ever. Coach Day was under duress to save his sanctity, his reputation, and his reverence within the Buckeyes faithful. The season ended with a “happily ever after.” However, at one point, it seemed like the clock would strike midnight before their fairytale accomplishment. Coach Day and everybody of an Ohio State persuasion probably want to flush this out of their collective memories now. But one fateful Saturday in November, his self-proclaimed “worst thing that’s ever happened” took a familiar form. 

For the 4th straight time, Ryan Day had to live out a transcendent horror. Ohio State was about a 3-touchdown favorite to finally snap their losing streak to arch-nemesis Michigan. They came up short once again. This time, though, it cut deeper than ever. The two teams were worlds apart on paper. The Buckeyes being a 3-touchdown favorite is a proponent of this. Well, the games are played on the gridiron and not on paper after all. In the grand scheme of things, that mishap at The Shoe was perhaps what instigated a fire under the belly of the Buckeyes and propelled them to a Natty. It was a necessary evil. Like winding a toy car back before it can speed forward. However, one Michigan loyalist reckons this 0-4 record will keep coach Day on a leash despite the hardware.

Over “The Wolverine” YouTube channel, Michigan insider Anthony Broome acknowledged the achievement but had to get some jabs in. “[Ryan Day] has got a Natty in hand now. Which, you know, give credit. It was won and well-earned. But I feel like a couple more losses to Michigan [and] they might run this guy out of town. Because that will wear off eventually,” he said. Broome also implied that Michigan’s 4 consecutive wins in the Game supersede a Natty. Given his team also won a Natty, he’s somewhat entitled to feel that way.

“When you look at the totality of the last four years, compared to what Ohio State did in four weeks. I think what Michigan did trumps all that. Just my opinion, if you want to compare, a Natty is a Natty. You get to live with that forever. But you want to compare what the last few years have been like? I still give Michigan the upper hand,” said Broome. A lot to delve into here.

Right off the bat, these comments need to be taken with a pinch of salt. There is a level of bias involved, and Broome will not shy away from that. But is there a sliver of truth to it? Not only does Michigan still hold bragging rights, but the Natty count in the last 4 years is equal. That makes his opinion about Michigan being more successful in that period valid. However, not both championships were equal. Ryan Day had to beat out a 12-team CFP field for starters. He blew out most of the competition, too. But alas, comparing the two programs is futile. How about that other remark, though? That coach Day might get “run out of town” with a couple more losses to the Wolverines. That’s worth dissecting.

Ryan Day remains in a precarious position unless he overcomes his Kryptonite

Losing to Michigan is something no Ohio State coach has ever been absolved of. Not Urban Meyer, not Jim Tressel. Certainly not Ryan Day. The aftermath of that loss turned ugly. Forget the skirmish and flag-planting fiasco that ensued. The conversation around Coach Day, including some very lamentable d**th threats, goes to show the magnitude of the 4 straight losses. That said, there are signs pointing to him being well-safe in his capacity.

Ryan Day has just signed a 7-year extension with Ohio State. That vote of confidence from AD Ross Bjork goes a long way. So does Day’s fresh $87.5 million contract. The fans have also naturally warmed up to Coach Day in the past couple of months. As aforementioned, the Michigan loss allowed him to reassess and recalibrate his plans before the CFP. The domination in the passing game in many ways stemmed from Coach Day moving away from it on that last Saturday in November.

Is Ryan Day the most secure head coach in college football? He never will be. That comes with the territory of being at OSU. But has he elongated the proverbial rope he’s hanging by? Absolutely. One thing is still true. He needs to get the monkey off his back and win the next iteration of The Game. He cannot afford to sink further, as that one result can push all his progress right back to square one.