Josh Dooley
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You’re Nuts: Could Ryan Day save his job with a deep College Football Playoff run?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
How far do the Buckeyes need to make it in the postseason for the head coach to return in 2025?
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
The 2024-25 College Football Playoff rankings – AKA the first ever 12-team field – were revealed this past weekend, and wouldn’t ya know it... people were/got mad online. And offline. And especially in certain parts of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. All over, really. Which can only mean one thing: It is postseason time for America’s most dysfunctional and unorganized sport!
Personally, I think that the selection committee got things mostly right. Did they do so intentionally? Not a chance in hell! But Georgia and SMU (by way of a buzzer-beating loss) bailed them out, leaving very little for the committee to actually do. Warde Manuel and the gang only had to make a choice between SMU and Alabama, and then decide how much to punish Notre Dame for believing that the Fighting Irish are somehow special and refusing to join a conference.
The only thing that really annoyed yours truly about the seeding(s) is that Penn State drew arguably the easiest path or route to a semifinal... But why, exactly? Because the committee values good losses over ANY win!? The Nittany Lions defeated exactly zero good teams and finished two spots ahead of an Ohio State team that beat them (PSU) at home.
That being said, we are talking about a James Franklin-coached team here, so maybe I shouldn’t be too upset. Also, hammer SMU and the points.
With that out of my system, let’s talk Buckeyes. OSU drew the 8-seed, meaning they will host 9-seed Tennessee on Dec. 21. And for the first time in months, Ryan Day’s squad will be kicking off at a time other than “Big Noon”. The Buckeyes and the Vols drew the primetime Saturday night slot, so we got that going for us, which is nice.
Not so nice is the vibe around Columbus, as it pertains to Ohio State’s embattled head coach. Day has been the subject of intense scrutiny since suffering his fourth consecutive loss to TTUN, a team that came into Columbus with a 6-5 record and without a functioning offense. But we’re not here to dwell on the past. Instead, we’re here to look into and talk about the future — or lack thereof for Day.
Many OSU fans are already out on Urban Meyer’s replacement and have been for some time. That’s kind of the deal when one fails to beat TTUN and/or win games of real consequence (B1G titles, bowl games, etc.). But this CFP seems like it might decide Day’s coaching fate once and for all. Either the Buckeyes will rise up and save his job, or... Well, you know I’m getting at.
So what does Day need to do in order to keep his job at Ohio State, if he even wants it (which I think is a real conversation)? That is what Gene and I decided to debate today, and I have a feeling that our opinions will differ quite a bit. Because, ya know, Gene hates Day with a fiery passion.
For me, it comes down to whether Day can exercise at least one of his coaching/football demons. I’m talking about Oregon. Day’s Buckeyes lost to the Ducks in 2021, before they even joined the Big Ten. Then Phil Knight’s fantasy team knocked off OSU in October of this year, in a back-and-forth affair that I think most Scarlet and Gray fans were “ok” with.
But then, Oregon poached 2025 recruit Na’eem Offord and won the Big Ten Championship Game, further establishing dominance over Day and the Ohio State program. Well, guess what. OSU fans and boosters don’t deal well with being an afterthought in their own conference. Let alone for four years! Which is why I believe that Day must end top-seeded Oregon’s season and exact his own football vengeance if he hopes to retain his job in Columbus.
Of course, to get to the Rose Bowl and face Oregon, the Buckeyes must first defeat Tennessee. And I’m not forgetting or assuming anything about the Vols. It’s just that if Ohio State loses a home playoff game, then this whole argument or conversation is null and void. If OSU loses to UT, I think Day is gone before Christmas.
But if he and the Buckeyes advance to the second round/quarterfinals and get revenge against Oregon, then I believe that Day will be the head coach at Ohio State for at least another season. Not only that, but if OSU gets past the Ducks, I also believe that Day and the boys can then win the whole CFP. I’m not ready to confidently predict such a thing, but I am confident in the talent of/on this team.
Long way to go in a short period of time, but here’s hoping Day and the Buckeyes can shock the world. Go Bucks.
I was out on Ryan Day after the 2022 loss to Michigan, and I am even more out now. The Ohio State head coach was handed one of the best rosters in college football from his predecessor, and in his now sixth year at the helm he has amassed only a single Big Ten title with a 1-4 record against the Wolverines and a 1-3 record in the College Football Playoff. Simply put: this is not working, and the results are not nearly good enough when accounting for the level of talent in Columbus.
For me personally, there is no outcome in this year’s College Football Playoff that would change my opinion of Day. Under his leadership, the Buckeyes seem far more likely to become a first round exit as opposed to a national champion. Day’s team’s constantly underperform in big games, whether as a result of lack of preparation, stubborn game plans or conservative play calls. Even if Ohio State was to overcome all of Day’s obvious flaws and stumble their way into a national title, I think the best course of action would be a mutual parting of ways that lands Day in the NFL and the Buckeyes with a new headman.
That being said, I know the powers that be probably don't want to have to fire Ryan Day, and will look for any excuse to keep him around for at least one more seasonto further deteriorate the program. As a result, like my counterpart Josh, I think a win over Oregon to advance to the CFP semifinal would likely be enough to stem the tide for at least a little bit longer and get Day into 2025 — unless Mike Vrabel is available, in which case you cut ties regardless and begin a new era.
Oregon has been eating Ohio State’s lunch for the past few years, completely flipping the script from the historical dominance of the Buckeyes in the matchup, which included a 9-0 all-time record and a national title victory over the Ducks in 2015. Since then, Oregon has won each of the last two meetings, and has become the new premier program atop the Big Ten. Dan Lanning’s group is dominating on the field and on the recruiting trail, and there are no signs that Oregon won’t reign supreme over the conference for years to come.
A win for Ohio State over the Ducks in the second round would do far more than just advance the Buckeyes to the next stage of the College Football Playoff. It would send a message that Ohio State can still be the team to beat in the league when they are playing their best football, and could maybe even earn them some clout in recruiting battles between the two schools. As Josh laid out, it would also exercise one of Day’s many demons, getting revenge for each of the head coach’s last two one-score losses to the Ducks.
If Day was to make a deep CFP run and remain Ohio State’s head coach in 2025, there would need to be a ton of other staff moves made to prevent another letdown season — one that, if ended with a loss to Michigan, would 100% be his last. That starts with cutting ties with a number of bad coaches and staffers, from Mark “Megachurch” Pantoni and Mick “Soft Tissue Injury” Marotti to Justin “No Offers” Frye and Larry “Please Retire” Johnson, just to name a few. The Buckeyes cannot maintain status quo at the top heading into a new season and expect different results without cutting the fat.
Even despite my negative view of the whole situation, there is a real chance that Ryan Day could actually turn things around if he makes the necessary changes. He needs to cut the big game “toughness” bullshit and call the offense that made him successful as Ohio State’s coordinator in the first place. If he can get back to his roots and find a way to win a few playoff games — and maybe even the whole damn thing — then he might find himself with a chance to put together a competent staff this offseason and change the narrative entirely heading into next season.
I won’t hold my breath, though.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
How far do the Buckeyes need to make it in the postseason for the head coach to return in 2025?
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: How many College Football Playoff wins would it take for Ryan Day to save his job?
Josh’s Take
The 2024-25 College Football Playoff rankings – AKA the first ever 12-team field – were revealed this past weekend, and wouldn’t ya know it... people were/got mad online. And offline. And especially in certain parts of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. All over, really. Which can only mean one thing: It is postseason time for America’s most dysfunctional and unorganized sport!
Personally, I think that the selection committee got things mostly right. Did they do so intentionally? Not a chance in hell! But Georgia and SMU (by way of a buzzer-beating loss) bailed them out, leaving very little for the committee to actually do. Warde Manuel and the gang only had to make a choice between SMU and Alabama, and then decide how much to punish Notre Dame for believing that the Fighting Irish are somehow special and refusing to join a conference.
The only thing that really annoyed yours truly about the seeding(s) is that Penn State drew arguably the easiest path or route to a semifinal... But why, exactly? Because the committee values good losses over ANY win!? The Nittany Lions defeated exactly zero good teams and finished two spots ahead of an Ohio State team that beat them (PSU) at home.
That being said, we are talking about a James Franklin-coached team here, so maybe I shouldn’t be too upset. Also, hammer SMU and the points.
With that out of my system, let’s talk Buckeyes. OSU drew the 8-seed, meaning they will host 9-seed Tennessee on Dec. 21. And for the first time in months, Ryan Day’s squad will be kicking off at a time other than “Big Noon”. The Buckeyes and the Vols drew the primetime Saturday night slot, so we got that going for us, which is nice.
Not so nice is the vibe around Columbus, as it pertains to Ohio State’s embattled head coach. Day has been the subject of intense scrutiny since suffering his fourth consecutive loss to TTUN, a team that came into Columbus with a 6-5 record and without a functioning offense. But we’re not here to dwell on the past. Instead, we’re here to look into and talk about the future — or lack thereof for Day.
Many OSU fans are already out on Urban Meyer’s replacement and have been for some time. That’s kind of the deal when one fails to beat TTUN and/or win games of real consequence (B1G titles, bowl games, etc.). But this CFP seems like it might decide Day’s coaching fate once and for all. Either the Buckeyes will rise up and save his job, or... Well, you know I’m getting at.
So what does Day need to do in order to keep his job at Ohio State, if he even wants it (which I think is a real conversation)? That is what Gene and I decided to debate today, and I have a feeling that our opinions will differ quite a bit. Because, ya know, Gene hates Day with a fiery passion.
For me, it comes down to whether Day can exercise at least one of his coaching/football demons. I’m talking about Oregon. Day’s Buckeyes lost to the Ducks in 2021, before they even joined the Big Ten. Then Phil Knight’s fantasy team knocked off OSU in October of this year, in a back-and-forth affair that I think most Scarlet and Gray fans were “ok” with.
But then, Oregon poached 2025 recruit Na’eem Offord and won the Big Ten Championship Game, further establishing dominance over Day and the Ohio State program. Well, guess what. OSU fans and boosters don’t deal well with being an afterthought in their own conference. Let alone for four years! Which is why I believe that Day must end top-seeded Oregon’s season and exact his own football vengeance if he hopes to retain his job in Columbus.
Of course, to get to the Rose Bowl and face Oregon, the Buckeyes must first defeat Tennessee. And I’m not forgetting or assuming anything about the Vols. It’s just that if Ohio State loses a home playoff game, then this whole argument or conversation is null and void. If OSU loses to UT, I think Day is gone before Christmas.
But if he and the Buckeyes advance to the second round/quarterfinals and get revenge against Oregon, then I believe that Day will be the head coach at Ohio State for at least another season. Not only that, but if OSU gets past the Ducks, I also believe that Day and the boys can then win the whole CFP. I’m not ready to confidently predict such a thing, but I am confident in the talent of/on this team.
Long way to go in a short period of time, but here’s hoping Day and the Buckeyes can shock the world. Go Bucks.
Gene’s Take
I was out on Ryan Day after the 2022 loss to Michigan, and I am even more out now. The Ohio State head coach was handed one of the best rosters in college football from his predecessor, and in his now sixth year at the helm he has amassed only a single Big Ten title with a 1-4 record against the Wolverines and a 1-3 record in the College Football Playoff. Simply put: this is not working, and the results are not nearly good enough when accounting for the level of talent in Columbus.
For me personally, there is no outcome in this year’s College Football Playoff that would change my opinion of Day. Under his leadership, the Buckeyes seem far more likely to become a first round exit as opposed to a national champion. Day’s team’s constantly underperform in big games, whether as a result of lack of preparation, stubborn game plans or conservative play calls. Even if Ohio State was to overcome all of Day’s obvious flaws and stumble their way into a national title, I think the best course of action would be a mutual parting of ways that lands Day in the NFL and the Buckeyes with a new headman.
That being said, I know the powers that be probably don't want to have to fire Ryan Day, and will look for any excuse to keep him around for at least one more season
Oregon has been eating Ohio State’s lunch for the past few years, completely flipping the script from the historical dominance of the Buckeyes in the matchup, which included a 9-0 all-time record and a national title victory over the Ducks in 2015. Since then, Oregon has won each of the last two meetings, and has become the new premier program atop the Big Ten. Dan Lanning’s group is dominating on the field and on the recruiting trail, and there are no signs that Oregon won’t reign supreme over the conference for years to come.
A win for Ohio State over the Ducks in the second round would do far more than just advance the Buckeyes to the next stage of the College Football Playoff. It would send a message that Ohio State can still be the team to beat in the league when they are playing their best football, and could maybe even earn them some clout in recruiting battles between the two schools. As Josh laid out, it would also exercise one of Day’s many demons, getting revenge for each of the head coach’s last two one-score losses to the Ducks.
If Day was to make a deep CFP run and remain Ohio State’s head coach in 2025, there would need to be a ton of other staff moves made to prevent another letdown season — one that, if ended with a loss to Michigan, would 100% be his last. That starts with cutting ties with a number of bad coaches and staffers, from Mark “Megachurch” Pantoni and Mick “Soft Tissue Injury” Marotti to Justin “No Offers” Frye and Larry “Please Retire” Johnson, just to name a few. The Buckeyes cannot maintain status quo at the top heading into a new season and expect different results without cutting the fat.
Even despite my negative view of the whole situation, there is a real chance that Ryan Day could actually turn things around if he makes the necessary changes. He needs to cut the big game “toughness” bullshit and call the offense that made him successful as Ohio State’s coordinator in the first place. If he can get back to his roots and find a way to win a few playoff games — and maybe even the whole damn thing — then he might find himself with a chance to put together a competent staff this offseason and change the narrative entirely heading into next season.
I won’t hold my breath, though.
Continue reading...