Okay, a little early for Christmas parodies, but none the less...
How much longer do you think o$u fans will continue to tolerate Ryan Day squandering games they should have won? Imagine they lose yet again to UM after we beat them and they finish with a 9-3 record. For a guy with such a high winning percentage, he somehow manages to lay eggs in big games save for their NC run a couple years ago.
Bucknuts roasting on an open fire?
Citrus Bowl instead of Rose?
This game was Exhibit A for the argument that it's unwise to schedule marquee matchups early in the season. The matchup last year in Columbus (Texas was on the wrong end of a 14-7 score) came back to bite Sark in the ass on Selection Sunday and it's possible (although unlikely - - more on that in a second) the same could happen to Day this December.
OSU sends a boatload of guys to the NFL every year. This past draft was no exception, except the losses for the Buckeyes were huge including three defensive standouts (edge Arvell Reese, LB Sonny Styles and S Caleb Downs) who went 5th, 7th and 11th in the first round. Sure, OSU reloads with massive talent every year but, even in the portal era, talent doesn't always equate with the requisite experience. It takes a while, and at least a few games, for the new guys to get up to speed and gel.
I expect the Buckeyes to regroup, have an outstanding season, and make the CFP. I don't think they'll lose to anyone else except maybe us. In any event, it's W-A-A-Y too early to be writing their obituary.
at Iowa; at IU; at USC; v. Oregon; at Neb; v. Michigan.
That looks like 2 losses. .75 + .45 + .65 + .75 + .70 + .75 = 4.05 wins
Okay, a little early for Christmas parodies, but none the less...
How much longer do you think o$u fans will continue to tolerate Ryan Day squandering games they should have won? Imagine they lose yet again to UM after we beat them and they finish with a 9-3 record. For a guy with such a high winning percentage, he somehow manages to lay eggs in big games save for their NC run a couple years ago.
Bucknuts roasting on an open fire?
Citrus Bowl instead of Rose?
This game was Exhibit A for the argument that it's unwise to schedule marquee matchups early in the season. The matchup last year in Columbus (Texas was on the wrong end of a 14-7 score) came back to bite Sark in the ass on Selection Sunday and it's possible (although unlikely - - more on that in a second) the same could happen to Day this December.
OSU sends a boatload of guys to the NFL every year. This past draft was no exception, except the losses for the Buckeyes were huge including three defensive standouts (edge Arvell Reese, LB Sonny Styles and S Caleb Downs) who went 5th, 7th and 11th in the first round. Sure, OSU reloads with massive talent every year but, even in the portal era, talent doesn't always equate with the requisite experience. It takes a while, and at least a few games, for the new guys to get up to speed and gel.
I expect the Buckeyes to regroup, have an outstanding season, and make the CFP. I don't think they'll lose to anyone else except maybe us. In any event, it's W-A-A-Y too early to be writing their obituary.
I got on their 11 Warriers site and was surprised that there was not more panic. A lot of comparison to other OSU collapses under Day but more analytical than anything.
I don't agree with your view of them as a favorite for the title. There have been so many big games where they look unbeatable, and the next thing you know they are finding ways to lose the game. It appears to me that Day tightens up in the clutch, and his anxiety is reflected in the resulting play of the team. Remember that even in the '24 NC game against ND, ND was coming on strong and OSU had to hit the long bomb to Smith to put the game away. Had they not connected, that game would have gotten very interesting, as ND had all the Mo.
I'm not necessarily dissing on Day. He does an outstanding job of getting, managing, and motivating talent. I think it's more a reflection of how weird that OSU job is. It's not every job where not only the HC, but also his wife & son, get death threats after big losses. The HC has a security detail at his house. That will get your attention.
I think the OSU team itself has some issues, the biggest being a non-dominant OL & running game, and the lack of a standout WR to compliment Smith. Henry, the highly touted true freshman, hasn't yet made an impact. It just reflects what I think is a given with Day---he needs overwhelming talent to win the big game, regardless of what big game you're discussing.
I think the final two this year will feature one or two of the 3 'bad boys'....Cig, Kiffin, or Cristobal, with ND under Freeman being the 4th possibility. ND will have the physicality that OSU lacks. I don't think TX gets there either because Sark lacks the "it" factor.
https://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/futures/
Ohio St. planned stadium upgrade.
Okay, a little early for Christmas parodies, but none the less...
How much longer do you think o$u fans will continue to tolerate Ryan Day squandering games they should have won? Imagine they lose yet again to UM after we beat them and they finish with a 9-3 record. For a guy with such a high winning percentage, he somehow manages to lay eggs in big games save for their NC run a couple years ago.
Bucknuts roasting on an open fire?
Citrus Bowl instead of Rose?
This game was Exhibit A for the argument that it's unwise to schedule marquee matchups early in the season. The matchup last year in Columbus (Texas was on the wrong end of a 14-7 score) came back to bite Sark in the ass on Selection Sunday and it's possible (although unlikely - - more on that in a second) the same could happen to Day this December.
OSU sends a boatload of guys to the NFL every year. This past draft was no exception, except the losses for the Buckeyes were huge including three defensive standouts (edge Arvell Reese, LB Sonny Styles and S Caleb Downs) who went 5th, 7th and 11th in the first round. Sure, OSU reloads with massive talent every year but, even in the portal era, talent doesn't always equate with the requisite experience. It takes a while, and at least a few games, for the new guys to get up to speed and gel.
I expect the Buckeyes to regroup, have an outstanding season, and make the CFP. I don't think they'll lose to anyone else except maybe us. In any event, it's W-A-A-Y too early to be writing their obituary.
at Iowa; at IU; at USC; v. Oregon; at Neb; v. Michigan.
That looks like 2 losses. .75 + .45 + .65 + .75 + .70 + .75 = 4.05 wins
It's way too early to make these calls, IMO. Last year at this time, almost everyone believed IU would lose one or both of @Oregon and @Penn State.
Okay, a little early for Christmas parodies, but none the less...
How much longer do you think o$u fans will continue to tolerate Ryan Day squandering games they should have won? Imagine they lose yet again to UM after we beat them and they finish with a 9-3 record. For a guy with such a high winning percentage, he somehow manages to lay eggs in big games save for their NC run a couple years ago.
Bucknuts roasting on an open fire?
Citrus Bowl instead of Rose?
This game was Exhibit A for the argument that it's unwise to schedule marquee matchups early in the season. The matchup last year in Columbus (Texas was on the wrong end of a 14-7 score) came back to bite Sark in the ass on Selection Sunday and it's possible (although unlikely - - more on that in a second) the same could happen to Day this December.
OSU sends a boatload of guys to the NFL every year. This past draft was no exception, except the losses for the Buckeyes were huge including three defensive standouts (edge Arvell Reese, LB Sonny Styles and S Caleb Downs) who went 5th, 7th and 11th in the first round. Sure, OSU reloads with massive talent every year but, even in the portal era, talent doesn't always equate with the requisite experience. It takes a while, and at least a few games, for the new guys to get up to speed and gel.
I expect the Buckeyes to regroup, have an outstanding season, and make the CFP. I don't think they'll lose to anyone else except maybe us. In any event, it's W-A-A-Y too early to be writing their obituary.
at Iowa; at IU; at USC; v. Oregon; at Neb; v. Michigan.
That looks like 2 losses. .75 + .45 + .65 + .75 + .70 + .75 = 4.05 wins
It's way too early to make these calls, IMO. Last year at this time, almost everyone believed IU would lose one or both of @Oregon and @Penn State.
Sure...it's just speculation at present.......
Ohio State has lost 3 of their last 4 games.
Day plays “not to lose” in the biggest moments versus Cignetti’s style of going for the W in the biggest moments…
Day’s wealth of talent allows him the luxury to operate that way until they meet a near peer and then it costs him…
Cignetti punted vs Notre Dame in 2024 when that seemed a weak choice.
Hasn't done it since though. But we haven't been getting the tar beat out of us and faced that decision. In fact, we haven't lost. 
Day plays “not to lose” in the biggest moments versus Cignetti’s style of going for the W in the biggest moments…
Day’s wealth of talent allows him the luxury to operate that way until they meet a near peer and then it costs him…
Here's some more history:
Day is 1-5 as an underdog. The single win was in 2020 v. Clemson. The losses were 2019 v. Clemson; 2020 v. Bama; 2022 v. GA; 2023 v. Michigan & 2026 v. TX.
Here are some cases of lost leads and/or collapses:
--2019 v. Clemson. Clemson favored by 2 1/2 pts. OSU up 16-0 with 7 minutes left in 1st half. OSU ahead 16-14 at half. OSU lost 29-23
--2022 v. Michigan. OSU 7 1/2 favorites at home. OSU ahead 23-21 at half. OSU loses 45-23.
--2022 v. Georgia. OSU a 7 pt dog. OSU ahead 38-14. Lose 42-41.
--2024 v. Michigan. OSU favored by 20.5 at home. OSU scoreless in 2nd half and loses 13-10.
--2025 v. ND. OSU favored by 9.5 in NC game. Leading 31-7 at one point....lead down to 8 points with 2 minutes left, when JS catches a deep pass. They do not score a TD, but kick a FG. OSU wins 34-23.
--2026 v. Indiana. OSU favored by 4 points. Up 7 early. Day attempts a tying FG late in the game (Thanks coach). IU wins 13-10.
He's 83-13. He doesn't lose often as a favorite. Looks like those losses were Oregon in '21 (35-28); Michigan in '21 (48-45); Michigan in '22 (45-23); Michigan in '23 (30-24); Missouri in '23 (14-3); Oregon in '24 (32-31); Michigan in '24 (13-10); Indiana in '25 (13-10); Miami in '25 (24-14)....a total of 9.
So......in conclusion.....He doesn't win as an underdog. He doesn't lose to bad teams as a favorite. Against good teams, rather as a favorite or as a dog, his teams frequently implode.
I like our chances in 2026.
Day plays “not to lose” in the biggest moments versus Cignetti’s style of going for the W in the biggest moments…
Day’s wealth of talent allows him the luxury to operate that way until they meet a near peer and then it costs him…
One thing I'd like to ask Cig if I ever got a chance: Why the punt late in the game v. ND? My thought is that he knew he had a broken QB, and there was no point making it easier for them to add a late TD. It went against the coaching grain.
Day plays “not to lose” in the biggest moments versus Cignetti’s style of going for the W in the biggest moments…
Day’s wealth of talent allows him the luxury to operate that way until they meet a near peer and then it costs him…
One thing I'd like to ask Cig if I ever got a chance: Why the punt late in the game v. ND? My thought is that he knew he had a broken QB, and there was no point making it easier for them to add a late TD. It went against the coaching grain.
Damn Wheel, I didn't see your post before I wrote this........great minds think alike, I guess. I think he just didn't want that team embarrassed any further when there was no point in it. I don't think it was an ego thing, although I could be wrong....
Day plays “not to lose” in the biggest moments versus Cignetti’s style of going for the W in the biggest moments…
Day’s wealth of talent allows him the luxury to operate that way until they meet a near peer and then it costs him…
One thing I'd like to ask Cig if I ever got a chance: Why the punt late in the game v. ND? My thought is that he knew he had a broken QB, and there was no point making it easier for them to add a late TD. It went against the coaching grain.
Damn Wheel, I didn't see your post before I wrote this........great minds think alike, I guess. I think he just didn't want that team embarrassed any further when there was no point in it. I don't think it was an ego thing, although I could be wrong....
He was asked about this after the game. His answer was something along the lines of: we looked outclassed on both sides of the ball, so I didn't like either option. Wasn't confident we'd convert, so the punt was the choice that didn't hang my defense out to dry and run up the score.
I remember disagreeing at the time, but whatever, made no difference.
I thought it was worrisome not playing to win there, but he explained that seemed like the way, slim as it was. But it did sound defeatist. which isn't him.
He did say Ohio State and Notre Dame games taught him that, "I need some more dogs."
I guess he got them!