What Nick Saban Said About Ohio State's Ryan Day Before Oregon Ducks Matchup

The Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes have a showdown in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. A lot of negative energy has been surrounding Buckeye coach Ryan Day following their loss to Michigan to finish the regular season. College football icon Nick Saban says Buckeyes fans should be rallying around Day.

Nick Saban talks on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the College Football Playoff first round game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Tennessee Volunteers in Columbus on Dec. 21, 2024. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes will play in the Rose Bowl on January 1st. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day has been under fire from college football fans all over the country for failing to beat Michigan for a fourth straight season. Despite losing to the Wolverines again, Ohio State still finds themselves in a position to win the national championship.

College football coaching legend Nick Saban commented on Ohio State fans that are frustrated with Ryan Day at the helm. 

Nick Saban Supportive of Ryan Day 

Dec 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day celebrates the win as he carries a rose after the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images / Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Nick Saban is arguably the greatest college football coach of all time. In his time coaching at LSU and Alabama, Saban won an astounding seven national championships. He retired from Alabama after the 2023-2024 season and now makes regular appearances on ESPN shows such as College Gameday.

As for his thoughts on Day and the Buckeyes, Saban is adamant that Ohio State fans need to be supportive. Especially with them still having a chance to win the national title. This is what Saban said on College Gameday last week.

“They have an opportunity to win the national championship,” Saban said. “Everybody ought to be supporting the hell out of them so that they have the best opportunity to do it and quit all this negative b.s.”

Ohio State opened up the College Football Playoff with a 42-17 first round thrashing over the Tennessee Volunteers. Now, they get another crack at Oregon in the Rose Bowl for a spot in the semi-finals.

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Ducks and Buckeyes Rematch in Playoff

Oregon Ducks tight end Terrance Ferguson carries the ball for the Ducks as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon and Ohio State played in one of the greatest games of the 2024 regular season in October. It was a back and forth affair that ended up with a 32-31 Ducks victory at Autzen Stadium. 

In the final seconds, Ohio State was driving for a game winning filed goal, but time ran out as quarterback Will Howard slid down. The Oregon fans stormed the field as Ohio State walked off the field dejected. 

A rematch was shaping up to be in the Big Ten Championship game, but the Ohio State loss to Michigan gave Penn State a path and they ended up getting in over them. 

After all of the chaos in losing to Michigan, the fight that broke out on field after the Wolverine players “planted a flag” on the field, Ohio State can still end up hoisting the ultimate trophy in college football.

Arguably the most anticipated game in the quarterfinals is between Ohio State and Oregon in an old-school Rose Bowl battle in the 'Granddaddy of them all.'

Kickoff for Oregon vs. Ohio State is set for 2 p.m PT on January 1st. 

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