Urban Meyer Waffles on Ryan Day’s Job Status After Third Straight Ohio State Loss to Michigan

Former Ohio State football coach and Fox analyst Urban Meyer had a puzzling stance on Ryan Day’s job status after the Buckeyes’ loss to Michigan.

Is Ryan Day on the hot seat? It’s a question many college football fans have after Michigan defeated Day’s Ohio State for the third straight time on Saturday. It’s also a question that was posed to former Buckeyes head coach and current Fox analyst Urban Meyer, who offered some wishy-washy analysis on Day’s job security in the aftermath of The Game, per CBS Sports. 

“No, he is not under fire. As far as job security, no, he’s not,” Meyer said, before changing course. “Reality is, is he under fire? Yeah, he is. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, and he’s the Ohio State head football coach. And that’s real. You just feel for the families, you feel for Ryan Day’s family. But it’s a big-boy business. He’s a big boy. He’ll handle it, come back, and you know what, go back in January, get back to work, find a way to beat the Wolverines. That’s the whole focus.” 

Ryan Day served as Ohio State offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer, before becoming the program’s head coach :: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network

In the same sentence, Meyer said that Day is not under fire and is, in fact, under fire. It sounds nonsensical, but there is at least some sense in what Meyer is saying. Day, who has gone 56–7 and has made it to the College Football Playoff three times as the Buckeyes’ head coach, should not be on the hot seat. 

But his seat is seemingly a warmer one, given that many of his losses, such as the three to the Wolverines, have come in the biggest moments where everyone is watching.