**Ohio State Buckeyes Legend Speaks on Ryan Day After Michigan Loss**
In the aftermath of Ohio State’s heartbreaking loss to Michigan in the 2024 **Big Ten Championship Game**, the state of Ohio and its football community found itself in a familiar position: grappling with the bitter taste of defeat to their archrival. The loss, a crushing blow to the Buckeyes’ hopes for a college football playoff berth, once again turned the spotlight on head coach **Ryan Day**. Day, who has been at the helm of Ohio State football since 2018, now finds himself at the center of renewed scrutiny, especially regarding his record against Michigan.
One of the most vocal figures in the conversation about Ohio State’s future is former Buckeyes star and **Ohio State football legend**, **Chris Olave**. Olave, a standout wide receiver who left an indelible mark on the program, has spoken candidly about the current state of the team, Ryan Day’s leadership, and what the future holds for the Buckeyes after another crushing loss to Michigan. Olave’s words, informed by both his personal experience and deep connection to the program, offer valuable insight into the challenges facing the Buckeyes in the post-Urban Meyer era.
### Ryan Day’s Record Against Michigan: A Defining Issue
Ryan Day’s tenure at Ohio State has been marked by many successes, including a **national championship appearance** in 2020, a **Big Ten championship** in 2020, and multiple 10-win seasons. However, there has always been one glaring blemish on his record: his struggles against Michigan. Since taking over for Urban Meyer, Day’s Ohio State teams have struggled to beat their most bitter rivals, especially in key matchups.
Entering the 2024 season, Day’s record against Michigan stood at 3-3, which includes a loss in the **2021 College Football Playoff** semifinal and a critical loss in the **2022 regular season**, which handed Michigan their first victory in **Columbus** in nearly two decades. The 2024 loss to Michigan, coming in a game that many viewed as a “must-win” for the Buckeyes to secure a place in the playoff, has reignited discussions about Day’s performance in “The Game.”
While Day’s overall coaching record is impressive, with strong recruiting classes, dynamic offenses, and consistent high rankings, the inability to consistently beat Michigan has created a growing sense of unease among some fans and former players alike. **Chris Olave**, who played under Urban Meyer and helped the Buckeyes win the **2019 Rose Bowl**, has echoed the sentiments of many Ohio State fans, acknowledging that Day’s future as the head coach could be tied to his success against Michigan.
### Chris Olave on Ryan Day: A Supportive but Honest Perspective
Despite the frustrations surrounding Ohio State’s repeated losses to Michigan, Olave remains largely supportive of Ryan Day, understanding the complexities of coaching a major program like Ohio State. However, he did not shy away from addressing the key issue head-on.
**”It’s a tough pill to swallow for everyone in that program, especially for Coach Day,”** Olave said in a recent interview, reflecting on the Michigan loss. **”The rivalry is everything in Ohio State football. It defines your legacy. You can win every other game, but if you can’t get that one, it’s going to stick with you. And I know Coach Day is aware of that.”**
Olave, who played during a period of Ohio State dominance over Michigan under Meyer, knows firsthand the pressure that comes with wearing the scarlet and gray, especially when it comes to the annual clash with Michigan. The rivalry between the two teams is one of the most intense in all of sports, and for the players and coaches, it’s not just about a game—it’s about pride, tradition, and legacy.
While Olave maintains a level of empathy for Day, he also expressed his belief that **“the expectations at Ohio State are higher than anywhere else, especially when it comes to Michigan.”** Olave continued, **”At the end of the day, it’s about getting that win. The fans expect it, the alumni expect it, and as players, we always expected it. Coach Day knows that, and it has to eat at him every day.”**
### What Needs to Change for Ohio State?
In the wake of yet another disappointing loss to Michigan, the question arises: what needs to change for Ohio State to reclaim its dominance in the rivalry? Olave, who now works as a professional player in the NFL with the **New Orleans Saints**, offered his thoughts on what the Buckeyes need to do moving forward, both on the field and off.
**”It’s about more than just X’s and O’s,”** Olave remarked. **”It’s about mentality. That Michigan game isn’t just another game. It’s everything. You have to have a mindset of going in there and fighting, playing with emotion, and leaving everything on the field. We’ve seen that Michigan team bring that kind of energy in recent years. I think that’s something Ohio State needs to tap into.”**
Olave went on to note that the leadership within the locker room is also crucial in building the right mentality heading into such high-stakes games. **“It’s about the culture within the team,”** he said. **”When I was at Ohio State, we had leaders who made sure everyone knew how big that game was. There was no taking it lightly. Right now, I think Ohio State needs to have that kind of leadership and drive every year leading up to Michigan. The players have to own it, too.”**
While Day has certainly been able to attract top-tier talent to Ohio State, Olave believes the focus needs to shift toward fostering that intangible quality of hunger, passion, and grit that the rivalry demands. He also acknowledged that much of the pressure will fall on **Day’s leadership** to find a way to bring that intensity to the field year in and year out.
### The Bigger Picture: Is Ryan Day’s Job in Jeopardy?
With Ohio State’s failure to beat Michigan in back-to-back seasons, the question arises: is Ryan Day’s job in jeopardy? While Day has had an undeniably successful tenure at Ohio State, including consistent **top-10 rankings**, **multiple Big Ten championships**, and the development of players like **Justin Fields** and **CJ Stroud**, the rivalry loss looms large in the minds of fans and alumni. Many believe that until Day can consistently beat Michigan, he will be under pressure.
Olave, however, doesn’t believe that the Michigan losses should define Day’s entire tenure. **“It’s a huge part of the job, no doubt, but I think Ryan Day has done a lot of great things for Ohio State. He’s recruited well, built a solid program, and put us in position to compete for championships every year. If he can make the adjustments and change that one thing—beating Michigan regularly—he’ll be fine.”**
Ultimately, Olave remains optimistic about the future of Ohio State football, even as tensions mount around Day’s tenure. **“There’s no doubt Coach Day is feeling the weight of the rivalry, but he’s also the right guy to turn things around. Ohio State’s too good of a program to stay down for long.”**
### Conclusion: The Road Ahead for Ryan Day and Ohio State
As Ohio State reflects on yet another painful loss to Michigan, the pressure is mounting for Ryan Day to deliver a victory in “The Game.” The Buckeyes’ legendary players, including Chris Olave, have shown a mix of support and candid honesty about what needs to happen to reclaim the rivalry. While Day’s job may not be in immediate jeopardy, the focus is now squarely on whether he can finally break through and deliver a victory over Michigan—something that will ultimately define his legacy at Ohio State. The road ahead is challenging, but as Olave and others have pointed out, with the right adjustments and leadership, Ohio State has the talent and drive to return to dominance in college football.
