College football has a funny way of reminding us that, no matter what we think we've learned, we can't predict everything. On the first weekend of October,…
Will Howard, OSU Avoid Upset vs. Raiola, Nebraska as Fans Debate Ryan Day's Future
Oct 26, 2024
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 12: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes on the field for warm ups prior to a game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)
Despite hanging on to beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 21-17 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, many fans took to social media to call for the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes to fire head coach Ryan Day.
Ohio State took a 21-17 lead in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass from quarterback Will Howard to Quinshon Judkins, and the defense sealed the deal, as Jordan Hancock intercepted Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola with just 1:16 remaining.
The Buckeyes kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive by improving to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play, while the Huskers fell to 5-3 with a 2-3 conference mark. Nebraska is now 0-27 against ranked teams dating back to 2016.
Over parts of seven seasons at OSU, Day has compiled a record of 62-9, but some members of the Buckeyes fanbase suggested Saturday that they were fed up with the team not performing at the consistently high level expected of them:
You lose on the road, have two weeks to think about it, show up for homecoming and play like this against Nebraska?
Ryan Day doesn't have it. I don't know what other information we need here.
I would legitimately fire Ryan Day after this game. How much more underperforming do we need to see to realize this guy is trash? Who’s ever had this much talent and underperforms this severely year in and year out?
Ohio State led 14-3 about midway through the second quarter thanks to touchdown passes of 40 and 60 yards from quarterback Will Howard to Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, respectively:
BUCKEYES GO DEEP FOR TATE! 😤@OhioStateFB strikes first 🌰
Things started to go south from there, though, as the Buckeyes missed a 42-yard field goal with just over two minutes remaining in the half, which allowed Nebraska to respond with a successful 54-yard field goal before going to the locker room.
Coming out of the half, the Buckeyes allowed another field goal to shrink the lead to 14-9, and their first three offensive series of the second half couldn't have gone much worse.
Howard threw an interception when Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. snagged an airmailed pass, and he returned it to the OSU 7-yard line:
The defense bailed out Ohio State's offense, though, by stopping the Huskers on a fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line.
OSU went three and out on its next two drives, however, and Nebraska finally took advantage early in the fourth quarter when running back Dante Dowdell scored from one yard out. With a successful two-point conversion, Nebraska went up 17-14:
The pressure was firmly on the Buckeyes' shoulders after Nebraska took the lead, but Howard came through in the clutch, orchestrating an eight-play, 75-yard drive culminating in a nine-yard touchdown pass to running back Quinshon Judkins to put OSU back on top:
While Day's coaching has been questioned often in recent years, he has also been lauded for his ability to bring big-time recruits and transfers to the program.
Two of the biggest additions during the offseason came via the transfer portal in Howard and Judkins, so it was fitting that they connected on the go-ahead touchdown.
Aside from the one major miscue, Howard had another strong game, going 13-of-16 for 221 yards with three touchdowns and one pick, but defense was the biggest difference maker for OSU.
The Buckeyes held Nebraska to 273 total yards in the game, and quarterback Dylan Raiola largely struggled, going 21-of-32 for 152 yards with no touchdowns and the game-sealing interception to Hancock:
Although the Buckeyes fell to No. 1 Oregon in their last game and didn't play anywhere near their best Saturday, it seems highly unlikely that Ohio State would make a coaching state, meaning Day will almost certainly be at the helm for next weekend's pivotal clash with Penn State on the road.
Penn State entered Saturday with a perfect 6-0 record, and the winner of next week's game against Ohio State will have the upper hand in the CFP race.
Video: Syracuse HC Jokes He Should Send Ryan Day Champagne for Kyle McCord Transfer
Sep 1, 2024
SYRACUSE, NY - DECEMBER 05: New Syracuse Football Head Coach Fran Brown is introduced to the Syracuse crowd at a break during the first half of the College Basketball game between the Cornell Big Red and the Syracuse Orange on December 5, 2023, at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The new football era at Syracuse is off to a 1-0 start thanks to Saturday's 38-22 victory over the Ohio Bobcats, but it was another team from the Buckeye state that was on head coach Fran Brown's in the aftermath.
"I should send Ryan Day a bottle of champagne for allowing us to get him," he told reporters (4:26 mark) when discussing quarterback Kyle McCord, who transferred from Ohio State to Syracuse this past offseason.
McCord played well in his debut for the Orange and went 27-of-39 for 354 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He helped the ACC team overcome a slow start that saw the Bobcats jump out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter and then largely put things away with touchdown passes to LeQuint Allen and Trebor Pena in the third quarter.
Allen also ran for 98 yards on 15 carries.
Syracuse made a number of changes this past offseason, but the most notable ones were hiring Brown as the head coach and bringing in McCord as the quarterback. Both are accustomed to the biggest stages college football has to offer, as Brown was a coach on the Georgia staff and McCord played at Ohio State.
They will be tasked with establishing Syracuse as a contender in the ACC, as the program was just 24-37 the last five seasons.
McCord played well from a statistical standpoint during his one season as Ohio State's starter and completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. It helped throwing to the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Co., but he made a number of impressive plays.
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they still fell short of their goals in part because of his struggles in the Michigan game to end the regular season. He threw two interceptions with one coming deep in Ohio State's own territory to set up a touchdown and the other ending its final drive with a chance to win.
He ended up transferring before the team's ensuing Cotton Bowl.
Day and the Buckeyes went a different direction this offseason and brought in transfers Will Howard (Kansas State) and Julian Sayin (Alabama) to the quarterback room. They once again have high expectations and are hoping to compete for a Big Ten and national title.
Perhaps McCord and Syracuse can surprise and join them as a College Football Playoff contender if the quarterback continues to play well.
OSU's Jeremiah Smith to Start vs. Akron; WR Was No. 1 Overall Recruit in 2024 Class
Aug 27, 2024
COLUMBUS, OHIO - AUGUST 01: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes takes the field before the start of fall camp the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on August 01, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, a true freshman, would be one of the team's starters in Saturday's season-opening matchup against the Akron Zips.
Asked if he expects Jeremiah Smith to be on the field for the first snap on Saturday, Ryan Day gives a succinct response: “Yes.”
He says Brandon Inniss is “right there” with Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate and Smith and all four wide receivers will play.
Smith was the top overall recruit in the Class of 2024 and was described as "one of the top prospects to come out of South Florida in the modern recruiting era and the type of wide receiver that will give opposing defenses fits given the rare combination of his size, speed and hands" by 247Sports' Andrew Ivins.
Returning senior Emeka Egbuka—who recorded 66 catches for 1,039 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022 before missing a number of games last season due to an ankle injury—will be expected to be the top option in the passing game.
But Smith, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss should all be given significant roles as well for yet another loaded Buckeyes' receiver room.
Ohio State has long been something of a receiver pipeline for the NFL.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was a first-round pick this past year. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was a first-rounder in the 2023 draft. Both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave were first-round selections in 2022. K. J. Hill was a seventh-rounder in 2020. Parris Campbell (second round) and Terry McLaurin (third round) went in the 2019 NFL draft. Curtis Samuel (second) and Noah Brown (seventh) were selected in 2017. Michael Thomas (second) and Braxton Miller (third) went in 2016. Devin Smith (Devin Smith) and Evan Spencer (sixth) came off the board in 2015.
And that's just looking back at drafts over the past several years.
Whether Smith continues that long line of receiving talent remains to be seen, though he certainly has the upside to become the next superstar Buckeyes' wideout. Earning a major role as a true freshman, at a school famous for its receiving prestige, is no small feat.
But Smith isn't letting that get to his head.
"I know it's a big expectation for me because I'm the No. 1 player in a country coming in and all the hype around me," he told reporters earlier in August. "So, I mean, I just try to block out all that stuff and just focus on the main thing, just the team and our receiver room and the locker room. And when the first game comes, and if I don't exceed the expectations that y'all have for me, I mean, I don't really care. I just want to go out there and win the game."
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Dillon Gabriel Spoke with Ohio State's Ryan Day About QB Job Before Oregon Transfer
Jul 25, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 25: Oregon Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel speaks during the 2024 Big Ten Media Days on July 25, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Dillon Gabriel will lead Oregon against Ohio State on Oct. 12 in one of the most highly anticipated games of the 2024 college football season, but there was a time when he at least explored the option of being on the other sideline.
Gabriel confirmed Thursday that he had a "good" conversation with Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day about potentially transferring to Ohio State this past offseason before he ultimately settled on the Ducks, per Audrey Snyder of The Athletic.
The quarterback said he didn't want to drag out the transfer process while Day wanted to see how quarterback Devin Brown performed in Ohio State's Cotton Bowl matchup against Missouri.
As a result, Gabriel chose to transfer to Oregon well before the Buckeyes even took the field for that game. It is a decision that Day might regret given the benefit of hindsight, as Brown suffered an injury in the first half of that game and never really had the opportunity to prove himself.
Kyle McCord had already transferred to Syracuse, so the Scarlet and Gray had to dip well into the depth chart with Lincoln Kienholz and ended up losing the game.
"I don't even know," Gabriel said when asked if he would have chosen Ohio State if Day was willing to commit to him in December. "That's in the past. I'm focused on the now."
Gabriel started his collegiate career at Central Florida before transferring to Oklahoma ahead of the 2022 campaign. He completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 3,660 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 373 yards and 12 scores on the ground in his final season with the Sooners.
Given the talent that will surround him in the Oregon offense, it wouldn't be a surprise if Gabriel is realistically contending for a Heisman Trophy this season.
Ohio State had something of a contingency plan, as it landed Kansas State transfer Will Howard and Alabama transfer Julian Sayin this offseason. Day has not revealed who will start at quarterback, but Howard is a veteran option who seemingly will be given every opportunity to win the job.
But Gabriel will surely be looking to make Buckeyes fans think about what could have been when they face each other on Oct. 12.
As coaches and players took the microphones in Charlotte and Indianapolis, the ACC and Big Ten media days provided a unique juxtaposition about the state of…
Ryan Day Stresses Importance of OSU Winning Big Ten Title: 'It Just Means So Much'
Jul 24, 2024
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA - OCTOBER 14: Head Coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State University Buckeyes talks to his coaches on his headset during a timeout in the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 14, 2023 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images)
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day says he wants to keep conference championship games in college football, despite the challenging schedule conference runner-ups will face in the newly-expanded College Football Playoff.
"I think what that's meant to college football, the tradition of college football and playing in this stadium, the electricity of that weekend and what it means to win the conference, especially having 18— it just means so much," Day said, per ESPN's Heather Dinich. "To take that away would be a challenge. When you look at it practically from a wider lens of the playoff, I can see the argument on both sides. But I'd like to play for the Big Ten championship. You can't replicate it. It's one of those things you don't forget."
The five highest-ranked teams to win conference championships receive automatic CFP berths under the new format, while the top four receive first-round byes.
Any team that loses a conference championship game but qualifies for the CFP, however, would miss out on the bye and could only win the national championship by finishing off a 17-game season with four straight wins.
Of those seven teams looking to earn an at-large bid to the CFP, the programs that did not qualify for their conference championship— and therefore did not play an additional game at the end of the season— may have an easier route to the national title.
Day said he had spoken with Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti about the impact of the conference championship games on the playoff, per Dinich.
During Big Ten media days earlier this week, Petitti also sounded confident about the future of conference championship games as he discussed moving future contests around the country after another four-year stint at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis wraps up in 2028.
"I think it's really important to make sure that markets around the country are able to experience Big Ten Championships," Petitti told reporters, per Tim Prangley of Trojans Wire. "It's a really good way to connect the conference. I think that over time you will start to see the geographic footprint expand, keeping in mind competitive issues."
Day has coached Ohio State since 2019. He became the first coach in program history to win two conference titles in his first two years as coach as the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship game both in 2019 and during the shortened 2020 season.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart expressed concern last week that some teams might try to purposefully avoid playing in their conference championship game in order to gain an easier path to the national title, per Dinich. But Day's experience winning Big Ten championships appears to have convinced him that is a risk worth taking in order to allow players the chance to win a conference title.
