In a rare moment of candor during a recent press conference, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day responded with palpable frustration to a question that has been hanging over his program for years — one that fans, analysts, and critics alike have posed repeatedly: Why hasn’t Ohio State won a national championship under your leadership yet?
“Are you kidding me?” Day responded, visibly exasperated. “This program has won multiple Big Ten titles, has produced Heisman contenders, and has sent a countless number of players to the NFL. But this question? It’s the same thing year after year. I don’t have time for it. We’re working our tails off, and our guys are giving everything they’ve got. That’s all I can control.”
The Pressure of Unmet Expectations
It’s no secret that Ohio State, one of the most storied programs in college football, carries a significant burden when it comes to national championship expectations. With a tradition of excellence, a massive fanbase, and elite recruiting, the Buckeyes are always in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. Since Ryan Day took over in 2019, Ohio State has been a constant contender — but one thing has remained elusive: the national title.
In his first season as head coach, Day led Ohio State to the College Football Playoff, where they fell to Clemson in a controversial semifinal. The next year, in 2020, the Buckeyes reached the national championship game, only to be soundly defeated by Alabama. Since then, Day’s teams have continued to dominate the Big Ten but have often fallen short in crucial postseason games, including losses to Georgia and Michigan in recent years. Despite the program’s consistent success, fans and analysts alike continue to demand more.
A Legacy of Success, but No Championship
Under Day’s leadership, Ohio State has thrived offensively, producing some of the best quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs in the country. Players like Justin Fields, CJ Stroud, and J.K. Dobbins have been staples of a high-powered offense, and Day’s coaching style has been praised for modernizing Ohio State’s attack.
However, the Buckeyes’ inability to capture that elusive national championship has led to an undercurrent of dissatisfaction in some circles. While the Buckeyes have dominated the Big Ten, securing conference championships year after year, the College Football Playoff has not always been kind to them. Whether it’s been a late-game collapse or a less-than-ideal matchup, the final hurdle has remained a tough one to overcome.
After Day’s bold response, many are wondering if the pressure is starting to take its toll on the head coach. After all, Ohio State is a program where anything less than a national title is considered a failure. For a coach who has achieved so much in such a short time, the expectations have perhaps grown to a point where even minor setbacks lead to intense scrutiny.
Is Ryan Day Feeling the Heat?
When asked later in the press conference about his team’s focus heading into the 2025 season, Day tried to shift the focus back to his players, emphasizing their talent and the work they’re putting in to get better. “We’ve got one of the best recruiting classes in the nation, and our guys are working harder than ever. This is a championship-caliber program, and we’re doing everything in our power to bring home that trophy,” Day remarked.
Despite his fiery response, Day’s frustration with the question may reflect a deeper issue in the Ohio State football program: the suffocating expectations placed on the head coach. Day has accomplished nearly everything short of winning the ultimate prize, but college football fans — and the program’s rabid supporters — have made it clear that “almost” doesn’t cut it in Columbus.
The Road to Redemption
As Ohio State heads into the 2025 season, all eyes will be on Ryan Day and his ability to finally bring the national title back to Ohio State. The team has all the tools to make it happen: a Heisman-caliber quarterback in Dylan Hargrove, an elite defense that has been bolstered by top-tier recruits, and the usual deep roster of talented skill players. But as Day himself knows all too well, the road to a championship is full of obstacles, and one loss — one slip-up — can send you crashing out of contention.
The questions will likely continue to be asked as long as Ohio State remains without a national title under Day’s watch. Will 2025 be the year that Ryan Day and the Buckeyes finally break through? Only time will tell.
For now, the clock is ticking, and the expectations are higher than ever.
