Leave no doubt.
That was the message delivered by Ohio State coach Ryan Day over the summer after having months to stew over a third straight loss to Michigan in November 2023.
The Buckeyes were driving in the final minute for a potential winning touchdown until Kyle McCord threw an interception. It was another failure at the end of a big-time game, much like asking his kicker to make a career-long 50-yard field goal to defeat Georgia in the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal. He didn’t.
Those two games, as well as the 32-31 loss to Oregon on Oct. 12 and the stunning 13-10 failure against a weak Michigan team on Nov. 30, seemed to hinge on defining moments.
“Well, it’s easy to say that it comes down to a play or two, but that’s not really the case,” Day said in July. “What we need to do is leave no doubt. No doubt. Don’t leave it to one play, don’t leave it to one call, don’t leave it to one stop. Leave no doubt when you’re on the field.”
Or, in his case, off the field with the firestorm surrounding Day’s status in question as the Buckeyes host Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday.
Is it really possible that a coach who’s 66-10 (.868 percent) with a 20-9 record vs. ranked opponents, an 11-8 mark against top-10 teams and has captured two Big Ten titles while guiding the only program to make the CFP in four of the past six seasons be in trouble?
If you’re making a living doing that in Columbus, then the answer is yes. At least among a fan base that mistakes passion for hysteria. That group already has former Ohio State linebacker and Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel sitting in Day’s (former) office if the Buckeyes as a 7 1/2-point favorite lose to the Vols, dismissing the fact that this is the most evenly matched of the four first-round games.
Leave no doubt. That’s what Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork thought he did with his numerous post-Michigan interviews in which he gave his unequivocal support for Day.
From a financial perspective, it would be a costly firing with Day receiving a $37 million buyout. Bjork, who has been on the job for six months, would be hesitant to unload Day, but in November 2023, as AD at Texas A&M, he had no problem jettisoning Jimbo Fisher even though the university is paying him $75 million through 2031 not to coach the Aggies.
If Bjork wavers on Day, money should not be an object to firing him. A bigger reason is what could happen. Day is an outstanding recruiter who runs a clean and successful (by rational standards) program.
How many of the star players would jump ship if he left and not be replaced by like quality? Alabama had a change, albeit Nick Saban retired after the 2023 season, but Ohio State benefited greatly from the mass exodus from Birmingham. Center Seth McLaughlin and safety Caleb Downs became All-Americans this season for the Buckeyes, and five-star quarterback Julian Sayin is the presumptive 2025 starter.
Let’s be clear: Day has his faults. Four straight losses to Michigan and a 4-6 record against top-five teams have widened the door to his criticism, and he’s shown a tendency to play not to lose in marquee games, but his body of work should not be judged by what he does against Tennessee.
Unfortunately for him, even a victory won’t satisfy many. Advance and win the national championship, and all will be forgiven, right?
We’ll see. There would still be a segment that would harp on the latest Michigan debacle because their entire well-being for a year revolves around a game on the last Saturday in November.
It’s sad, really. But Ryan Day’s first step toward redemption begins Saturday in angst-ridden Ohio Stadium.
Leave no doubt.
