From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about taking a stand and proving your point. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Make the Case” articles here.
When Ryan Day spoke at his introductory press conference after succeeding Urban Meyer as the Buckeyes’ head coach, he mentioned that his family understood the expectations that come with this job. One of those expectations is to beat
The Team Up North.
Unfortunately, more often than not, Day has not led the Buckeyes to wins against the Maize and Blue. Yes, Ohio State won in Ann Arbor last year, but Day has not yet led the Buckeyes to a home win over Michigan.
Can you imagine what would happen if Ohio State falls to Michigan at home… again?! It’s happened twice already. That means there is still a proverbial monkey on the back and a huge weight on Day’s shoulders. There is an expectation to beat Michigan every year, especially in years when The Game is played at The Shoe.
Now, I think that we are past the point where Day is coaching for his job when the Buckeyes host the Wolverines this season. Winning a national title (following a rivalry loss, no less) and the expansion of the College Football Playoff have changed the expectations and importance of the regular season finale. But nonetheless, this rivalry will never not be a big deal in Columbus.
The Buckeyes have, historically and especially this century, been Michigan’s bigger, stronger, and faster brother. However, upon taking the reins, after a Year 1 victory and then Jim Harbaugh faking COVID on his team to get out of playing in Year 2, Day became responsible for four straight losses to Michigan. To Ohio State fans, it’s unacceptable — especially with the standard Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer set when it comes to beating The Team Up North.
Whether you think it’s sane or not, beating Michigan can feel like life and death to Buckeye fans; to some, it matters more than winning the National Championship. Should that be? Probably not. But this is Ohio State. It’s different.
After all, it’s called “The Game” for a reason.
That’s why the outcome of this year’s edition of “The Game” may have major implications for Day’s future in Columbus. Win, and everyone in Buckeye Nation will continue to be on the Day Train, especially if it comes at the end of a strong regular season against a killer schedule, featuring Texas, Indiana, and Oregon. Lose, however, and Day will be 2-5 against Ohio State’s rival, and that’s not a good place to be.
The Buckeyes haven’t beaten Michigan at home since 2018. That’s eight years. Yes, there have only been two games in The Shoe between the two teams, but that’s still two losses. Not to mention, the Buckeyes looked terrible in both games on their home field.
If Ohio State loses at home to Michigan this season, there will undoubtedly be fans who will call for his job, regardless of whether or not the Buckeyes go on to win another national title or not.
Again, that may be unfair to pin everything about a head coach against one opponent, but this is Ohio State. It is different. Ryan Day knows that. Now, it would take much, much more for Ross Bjork to fire Day than simply losing to Michigan — think scandals of epic proportion — but that doesn’t mean that the outcome of the regular season finale won’t impact his status at the head of his program.
Another loss to Michigan could not only impact OSU’s playoff chances but also fan sentiment for the head coach, recruiting prospects, and much more. So, for all of our sake, I think Ryan Day and the Buckeyes should just go out and beat Michigan the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so we don’t have to deal with any of this.
