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Last November, the Ohio State Buckeyes lost to the Michigan Wolverines for the fourth straight time, and Ryan Day's seat was never hotter. But then, Day led Ohio State on a national championship run, and all was forgiven. Or was it? Read more: Arch Manning, Texas Hit With Major Prediction Amid Winning Streak There are still some who cannot get over the fact that a loaded Buckeyes squad lost to a rather pedestrian Michigan team in 2024, so much so that there are those who still question Day's job security. No, seriously. Stewart Mandel of The Athletic was asked which programs definitely won't be firing their coaches in a recent mailbag, and he somehow did not include Ohio State among the locks. You can probably guess why. "Georgia seems pretty set. Indiana. Iowa. BYU. Vandy. Ole Miss. Texas A&M. Louisville. Georgia Tech. Arizona State. Iowa State. Virginia," Mandel wrote. "Everyone else is fair game, including the coach of the No. 1 team in the country, because, well, Michigan." The Buckeyes will face the Wolverines in their season finale on Nov. 29. The talent gap is not nearly as significant this time around (Michigan is actually pretty good), and unlike last year when the game was in Columbus, Ohio State will have to travel to Ann Arbor as it attempts to end its losing streak to its most bitter rival. So let's say the Buckeyes lose to the Wolverines again. Does there exist a world in which Day — who guided Ohio State on a dominant championship run less than a year ago — could actually lose his job? Maybe in some sort of bizarro world, but in this reality, it seems absolutely ridiculous. The Buckeyes are 8-0 so far this season, and while they have not exactly played a daunting schedule, they are still the top-ranked team in the nation, and Day now owns a lifetime record of 78-10. That represents the highest winning percentage of any active coach in college football. Read more: College Football Coach Flagged Auburn for Job Before Hugh Freeze’s Firing Day is also 39-4 against the Big Ten throughout his career, so he has never lost to any Big Ten squad other than Michigan. Sure, it's unfortunate that Day has been unable to defeat the Team Up North, but to act like his job hinges on what Ohio State does against the Wolverines in the last game of the regular season is silly.
