Ohio State Fans and Ryan Day: From Love to Hate to Love Again, with an Asterisk – The Athletic
The relationship between Ohio State fans and head coach Ryan Day has been anything but simple. From the moment Day took over for the legendary Urban Meyer in 2019, he was tasked with not just continuing Ohio State’s legacy of excellence, but also facing the immense expectations that come with leading one of the most storied programs in college football. The journey from admiration to criticism and, finally, a return to affection, with an asterisk, has been one of the most dramatic narratives in recent college football history. In this article, we will explore how Ohio State fans’ feelings toward Ryan Day have evolved over the years, and the factors that have shaped their changing perceptions.
Ryan Day’s Arrival at Ohio State: A Hero’s Welcome
When Ryan Day was named head coach of Ohio State in December 2018, it was under the shadow of a coaching legend. Urban Meyer, who had led the Buckeyes to a national championship and numerous Big Ten titles, was retiring amid health concerns, leaving behind a program that was widely regarded as one of the best in college football. Day, who had served as Meyer’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, was well-respected and had already proven his prowess as a play-caller. His tenure as interim head coach during Meyer’s suspension in 2018 also showed he had the leadership chops to guide the team.
From the outset, Day was seen as a natural successor. His reputation as an offensive mastermind, his success in recruiting, and his ability to adapt to modern football trends were all qualities that had endeared him to fans. In his first full season as head coach in 2019, Day exceeded expectations, guiding the Buckeyes to an undefeated regular season, a Big Ten Championship, and a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP). Ohio State’s offense was explosive, and quarterback Justin Fields, whom Day had helped develop, was one of the best in the country. It was clear that Ryan Day was not just a placeholder – he was capable of building on Urban Meyer’s legacy.
The Early Days: Championship Expectations and Early Success
As Ryan Day led Ohio State to success on the field, fans fell in love with his demeanor, his ability to relate to players, and the high-powered offense he orchestrated. His cool and collected personality contrasted with Meyer’s fiery style, and that seemed to resonate with fans who appreciated Day’s calmness under pressure. He embraced the culture at Ohio State, focusing on developing talent and building a team-oriented program. The Buckeyes’ continued success under his leadership only reinforced his status as a potential long-term fixture at the helm of the program.
However, the expectations that came with Day’s early success quickly became a double-edged sword. The bar was set incredibly high. A national championship was seen as not just an eventual goal, but as an inevitability. Fans expected that Day would be able to keep Ohio State near the top of college football, and that included dominating rival teams like Michigan, maintaining Big Ten supremacy, and making regular appearances in the CFP.
For a while, Day appeared to be living up to those lofty expectations. The 2020 season, in which the Buckeyes went undefeated and reached the CFP National Championship Game, was seen as the culmination of all of Day’s efforts. Although Ohio State ultimately lost to Alabama, the season confirmed that Ryan Day had taken Ohio State football to new heights. The Buckeyes’ offense, led by quarterback Fields and a slew of talented playmakers, was one of the best in the country. But this success also led to a growing sense of impatience among some fans. It wasn’t enough for Ohio State to be good – they were expected to be great every single year.
The Tide Shifts: Pressure Builds with Inconsistent Performances
As the years passed, and especially in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the tone of the relationship between Ryan Day and Ohio State fans began to shift. While the Buckeyes remained competitive, there were growing concerns about their performance in big games. The 2021 season saw Ohio State falter in critical moments. A loss to Michigan in the regular season, ending a long winning streak against their archrival, was a gut punch to Ohio State fans. The 2022 season featured similar frustrations, with the Buckeyes failing to win the Big Ten Championship and falling short of expectations in the CFP.
The two primary criticisms that emerged were Day’s inability to get the team over the hump in big games, particularly against rival Michigan, and his team’s defensive shortcomings. Despite boasting one of the most potent offenses in the nation, the defense, which had been a hallmark of previous Ohio State teams, was often porous. Fans began to question Day’s ability to lead the team to a national title without making significant changes to his coaching staff, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
As the criticism grew louder, some Ohio State fans started to turn on Day, questioning whether he was the right person to lead the Buckeyes to their next national championship. The frustration reached a boiling point after the loss to Michigan in 2022, and the once-adoring fanbase began to express their doubts.
The Love-Hate Relationship: Day in the Crosshairs
With the increasing pressure on Day, the love from Ohio State fans began to shift into resentment. Fans pointed to his inability to beat Michigan and his failure to deliver a national championship as reasons for their frustration. Ryan Day, who had been embraced as the successor to Meyer, was now facing a chorus of criticism from those who felt that he was not measuring up to the program’s lofty standards. The media also began to play up the love-hate dynamic, with narratives focusing on whether Day was “too soft” or whether he had lost control of the program.
In this tense environment, Day had to respond not just to the external pressures of the media and fans, but also to the internal expectations of a program that demanded excellence year after year. Many Ohio State fans, who had grown accustomed to championship-caliber teams under Meyer, were starting to feel that Day had failed to live up to that standard.
The Redemption Arc: Ohio State’s Return to Glory
By the 2023 season, Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes had begun to find their rhythm once again. The team was back in the College Football Playoff, and Day was working hard to show that he could win the big games. The 2023 season, which featured strong performances from key players such as quarterback Kyle McCord and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., was a redemption story of sorts for Day. The Buckeyes had a dominant regular season, including a resounding win over Michigan, and their playoff appearance reaffirmed that they were a force to be reckoned with in college football.
Although they fell short in the CFP National Championship Game, losing to Georgia, Ohio State’s impressive run throughout the season showed that Ryan Day had the ability to coach his team to greatness. The turnaround in performance, particularly against Michigan, allowed fans to embrace Day once again, albeit with an understanding that the job was never truly complete until a national title was in hand.
Ohio State fans’ perception of Day now reflected a more tempered optimism. While they continued to demand excellence, the anger from earlier seasons had dissipated in favor of a more balanced perspective. Fans recognized that Day had managed to bring Ohio State back into the conversation of national championship contenders, but they also understood that the ultimate goal – a national championship – was still elusive.
Ryan Day: The Asterisk of Love
Despite the ups and downs of Day’s tenure at Ohio State, one undeniable truth remains: his ability to keep Ohio State among the elite of college football. He’s recruited at an exceptional level, maintained a high level of success in the Big Ten, and built an offense that is feared nationwide. But the lingering asterisk that remains next to his legacy is his inability to win the one thing that truly matters to Ohio State fans: a national championship.
Heading into the 2025 season, the pressure on Ryan Day to deliver a championship will only grow. But as Ohio State fans have learned over the years, their relationship with Day is not just defined by wins and losses. It’s defined by the highs and lows, the love and the hate, and the complexity of managing expectations at one of the most storied programs in college football.
Ultimately, whether Day leads Ohio State to another national championship or not, the journey of his relationship with the fanbase will continue to evolve. In the end, Ohio State fans’ feelings toward Ryan Day will be as complicated as the game of college football itself.
