Ohio State Coach Ryan Day ‘Has a Michigan Problem,’ Kirk Herbstreit Admits

The beleaguered Buckeyes boss dropped to 1–3 against the Wolverines Saturday.

This week, the two sides of Ohio State coach Ryan Day’s record have jumped off the page like never before: 1–3 against Michigan, 55–4 against everyone else.

By virtually any other program in the country's standards, Day would be bulletproof. However, beating the Indianas and Marylands of the world is rarely enough in Columbus, and a 30–24 loss to the Wolverines Saturday has Ohioans soul-searching for the third consecutive year.

Even ESPN analyst and former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit—usually a flag waver for the less exacting side of the Buckeyes’ fan base—conceded on Pardon My Take Wednesday that the Michigan game had become a serious impediment to Day.

“I think there’s two things that can be true here,” Herbstreit said. “Number one … I wouldn’t even consider even talking about firing Ryan Day, like I wouldn’t. Number two, he definitely has a Michigan problem.”

Ohio State coach Ryan Day “has a Michigan problem,” former Buckeyes quarterback Kirk Herbstreit said on a podcast appearance :: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network

In his first year leading Ohio State, Day crushed the Wolverines 56–27 in 2019. The game was a pandemic casualty in 2020, and in the last three seasons the Buckeyes have lost it 42–27, 45–23 and 30–24.

“The reality is when we watch the game, it feels like the Michigan team plays as a group where they play like with a chip on their shoulder and they’re mad at the world and they play with something to prove,” Herbstreit said. “And in the last three years that has been more than what Ohio State has brought to the table in that game.”