WAS RYAN DAY “BORN ON THIRD BASE”?

Is Ryan Day truly an elite coach, or did he inherit Ohio State’s success? As questions rise following Ohio State’s tight win over Nebraska, explore Day’s record against top teams, his legacy compared to Urban Meyer, and the mounting pressure from Buckeye Nation. Can Day finally lead the Buckeyes to a national championship and step out of Meyer’s shadow?

Ryan Day is one of the most successful coaches in college football today, or is he? After the Buckeyes underwhelming win in Columbus this past Saturday versus the Nebraska Cornhuskers, people are questioning just how good Coach Day is, and can he be the man to lead the Buckeyes to a national championship?

If you just take the numbers at face value, it will appear that Day is an amazing coach. His current record is 66 – 9 overall, with all nine of his losses coming to nationally ranked opponents. He is also 44 – 4 versus the Big Ten conference with the only blemishes being three straight losses to Michigan, and one loss this season at current #1 Oregon. His resume boasts an 18 – 9 record versus top 25 teams, all impressive numbers for a first-time head coach. While the numbers seem impressive overall, break down the numbers, it gives some credibility to the accusation that Ryan Day was “Born on third base.”

While he is 18-9 versus the top twenty-five, his record is 16 – 3 versus teams ranked six thru twenty-five, but only 2 – 6 versus top five teams and he is 2 – 4 in bowl games. Going even further in depth, in his first two seasons he was 9 –2 versus the top twenty-five and 1 – 2 against the top five. During those first two seasons, Day fielded a team composed of players largely recruited and developed by Urban Meyer. Over the last three plus seasons, when the teams are primarily comprised of recruits and transfers brought in and developed by Day and his staff, the team is 9 – 7 versus the top twenty-five and 1 – 4 versus top five teams. Even worse Day’s Buckeyes have lost three consecutive games to Michigan and two straight to The Oregon Ducks who are now a member of the Big Ten conference as well.

Under Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel before him Ohio State was 16 – 1 versus Michigan, won 9 Big Ten titles, and two national championships.  And while Ryan Day has won two Big Ten titles, he did it with squads primarily made up of Urban’s players. While Ryan Day is a good coach, there is no doubt he capitalized on the legacy of Urban Meyer. Coach Meyer laid the groundwork, and Day’s early success was an extension of Meyer’s efforts.

Day now is facing some significant challenges. The pressure to maintain Ohio State’s elite status is immense, especially in a competitive Big Ten landscape. Day must adapt and evolve, incorporating new strategies while remaining true to the program’s storied traditions. And the clock is running out for Day. Buckeye Nation is becoming impatient. Recent shortcomings, lackluster performances, and failure in big games has the Buckeye faithful calling for Day’s job. The fans and boosters will no longer simply accept top tier recruiting classes, lesser bowl victories, and winning the off season as success for Day. If Ryan Day intends to be the head coach in Columbus after this season, he is going to have to display leadership and an innovative approach, that instills confidence in both his team and the fans. He is going to have to develop the swagger and an edge we have not seen since Urban Meyer patrolled the sideline in The Shoe. He is going to have to win games and do so in a manner that “leaves no doubt” to quote Coach Day. And he is going to need to win out, bury Michigan, win the Big Ten, and bring home a national championship if he wants to move out of the shadow of Urban Meyer and establish himself as an elite coach and not simply the guy who was “born on third base.”