Ohio State’s Ryan Day is on the hot seat. One of the most coveted jobs in college sports may soon be vacant after the Buckeyes head coach was sent a warning following the violent 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 compounded by a brawl with Michigan at the conclusion of the game, instigated by Wolverines’ players planting a flag at midfield in Columbus.
Day went viral after watching one of his defensive stars, Jack Sawyer, become increasingly upset at Michigan for the flag-plant, for his reaction to Sawyer, or lack thereof.
Day’s fourth straight loss to Michigan, and only making one national championship game since his tenure began, is leaving Buckeyes’ fans agitated with results.
As the College Football Playoff starts in three weeks, Day could be coaching for his job.
A violent brawl broke out at the end of the Michigan-Ohio State game on Saturday in Columbus
Ryan Day watched on as one of his defensive stars, Jack Sawyer, was incensed by the events
Day’s job is thought to be in jeopardy due to a lack of postseason success despite a 66-10 record
‘He has to make a deep run, I would say. Win the national title, no I don’t think that’s fair. But get to the national-championship game? I think that’s a significant conversation,’ ESPN’s Heather Dinich said.
‘If the selection committee agrees with me on selection day, and Ohio State has a first-round home game, can you imagine if they got knocked out early and ended their season with two home losses, one to Michigan? We’re talking about his job being in jeopardy 100 percent if that were the case.’
Dinich’s colleague, Paul Finebaum, agreed with the sentiment of Day’s employment being in limbo, pointing out that Buckeye athletic director Ross Bjork has fired a well-paid football coach before, with Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M.
‘He has to make a serious run as Heather said,’ Finebaum continued. ‘First-round knockout, I’d fire him on the field before he gets to the midfield. I still think he probably ought to go. This guy has been a very good coach. He’s 66-10 (overall).’
‘But when you lose to your rival every single year, four straight, so we’re talking about three revenge games, and the same result happens, especially this year, it’s time to start packing.’
The final CFP rankings, and there for the national-championship bracket, will be revealed on Sunday.
The Buckeyes are not on the bubble to make the 12-team tournament, but are on the bubble for whether they will host a first round game or not.
Most projections have Tennessee and Ohio State in line for the Nos 8 and 9 seeds, which would be the lowest-seeded host, or the highest-seeded team going on the road in the first round.
Should Ohio State fire Day, it would owe him $37.2million for termination without cause.
The candidate pool for the Buckeyes to replace Day would be huge, as they would likely have their pick of sitting high-level conference coaches.
