Ryan Day sent job warning after Ohio State head coach went viral for reaction to violent Michigan loss
Ohio State’s Ryan Day is on the verge. One of the most coveted jobs in college sports may soon be vacant after the Buckeyes head coach was issued a warning following the brutal loss to Michigan.
The then second-ranked Buckeyes fell to their archrival Wolverines on Saturday, costing them a spot in the Big Ten Championship game and possibly a home game in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
The defeat was made worse by a late-game brawl with Michigan, instigated by Wolverines players who planted a flag at midfield in Columbus.
Day went viral after watching one of his defensive stars, Jack Sawyer, grow increasingly angry at Michigan over the flag planting, over his reaction to Sawyer, or lack thereof.
Day’s fourth straight loss to Michigan, and just one national championship game since the start of his tenure, has Buckeyes fans irked by the results.
With the College Football Playoff starting in three weeks, Day could be coaching for a living.
A violent brawl broke out in Columbus at the end of the Michigan-Ohio State game on Saturday
Ryan Day watched as one of his defensive stars, Jack Sawyer, was outraged by the events
Day’s job could be in jeopardy due to a lack of postseason success despite a 66-10 record
‘He needs to make a deep run, I would say. Winning the national title, no, I don’t think that’s fair. But going to the national championship game? I think this is an important conversation.” ESPN’s Heather Dinich said.
“If the selection committee agrees with me on selection day, and Ohio State has a home game in the first round, can you imagine if they were eliminated early and ended their season with two home losses, one against Michigan? We’re talking about his job being 100 percent in jeopardy if that were the case.”
Dinich’s colleague, Paul Finebaum, agreed with the sentiment that Day’s employment is in limbo, pointing out that Buckeye athletic director Ross Bjork previously fired a highly paid football coach, along with Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M.
“He needs some serious running, like Heather said,” Finebaum continued. ‘Knockout in the first round, I would sack him on the pitch before he reaches midfield. I still think he should probably go. This man has been a very good coach. He’s 66-10 (overall).”
“But if you lose to your rival four times in a row every year, so we’re talking three revenge matches, and the same result happens, especially this year, then it’s time to start packing.”
The final CFP rankings, and with them the national championship rankings, will be announced on Sunday.
The Buckeyes have no doubts about making the 12-team tournament, but are unsure whether to host a first-round match or not.
Most projections have Tennessee and Ohio State in line for Nos. 8 and 9, which would be the lowest-seeded host or highest-seeded team going on the road in the first round.
If Ohio State fired Day, he would be at fault $37.2 million for termination for no reason.
The candidate pool for the Buckeyes to replace Day would be enormous, as they would likely have their choice of high-level incumbent conference coaches.