A loss, at residence no much less, to the bitter rival.
Requires the top coach to be fired or resign. One other season with out a Huge Ten championship.
Questions concerning the toughness and character of the group.
Are we speaking concerning the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes? Sure and no.
It was two years in the past when the identical state of affairs unfolded for the Buckeyes after Michigan bullied its option to a 45-23 shellacking in Ohio Stadium (fortuitously, there was no flag-planting melee) for a second straight win in The Recreation following a seven-game shedding streak to the Buckeyes.
After that stunning defeat, the Buckeyes nonetheless made the four-team Faculty Soccer Playoff because the No. 4 seed to face top-ranked Georgia.
There was no Hollywood ending as a result of the Buckeyes, who led 21-7 within the first half and 38-24 within the fourth quarter, misplaced 42-41 after lacking a 50-yard discipline aim with three seconds left.
Georgia then waxed TCU 65-7 within the title recreation, an final result that possible would have been related if it have been the Buckeyes as an alternative of the Bulldogs.
Whereas Ohio State has moved previous the unsavory ending of the Georgia recreation, it’s germane to the present state of affairs and gives the pathway to responding to the 13-10 loss to the Wolverines on Nov. 30 in one of the vital embarrassing video games in program historical past for a group that was favored by 20 factors.
Practically all of the starters from 2022 are gone, however the one fixed is the person in cost—Ryan Day.
He should as soon as once more rally his gamers because the Buckeyes (10-2) seem set below the brand new playoff system to host a first-round recreation on Dec. 20 or 21, presumably in opposition to Tennessee.
It doesn’t actually matter who they play, effectively, in addition to Michigan. However when it comes to the 11 different playoff groups, they will compete with any of them. Simply ask probably the most oddsmakers who’ve them with the second- or third-best odds to win the nationwide championship.
Now, if solely Day can coach like he needs to win a recreation moderately than not lose it, as was his bullheaded method vs. Michigan.
He and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly have been adamant about working between the tackles regardless of a number of weeks earlier shedding a pair of potential All-American candidates in middle Seth McLaughlin and left sort out Josh Simmons to season-ending leg accidents.
The offensive line was in shambles, but Day and Kelly determined to assault the one power of Michigan—the line of defense. It was a disastrous transfer. Ohio State gained 77 yards on 26 carries for a 3.0 common. Quinshon Judkins had 17 of these yards on one carry.
It wasn’t solely the working recreation that was affected. Will Howard was pressured and threw two interceptions, and extremely, star freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith was focused simply two occasions within the second half with one catch for 3 yards.
It’s no surprise there was reportedly a gathering between the gamers and the coaches within the aftermath of the loss the place the group closely criticized the workers’s methods.
Day foremost should regain the gamers’ belief, or it will likely be a fast exit from the playoffs. If he can regroup and convey Ohio State its first nationwide title since 2014, the sting of the Michigan debacle will likely be lessened however not forgotten.
No matter occurs within the coming weeks, Day appears secure. Athletic director Ross Bjork has already acknowledged his help, and primarily based on most nationwide recruiting rankings, which have Ohio State ranked from third to fifth after the early signing day on Wednesday, there was no quick harm to the fame of Day or this system.
In actual fact, one of many signees was five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair from Bellefontaine, Ohio, the primary in-state scholarship QB to decide to the Buckeyes since Joe Burrow in 2015.
Additionally, two days following the loss to Michigan, the 247Sports No. 2 ranked quarterback within the class of 2027, Brady Edmunds from Huntington Seashore, Calif., selected Ohio State over the likes of Michigan, Oregon and Penn State.
Possibly by the point he arrives, Day will understand that stubbornly working the ball right into a brick wall will not work.
