Paul Finebaum, Heather Dinich on 'enormous' pressure Ryan Day faces in 2024: 'The weight of the world is on his shoulders'

Ryan Day comes into this season with as much pressure as any coach who has ever had a win percentage of .875. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum and Heather Dinich agree on that too because of what this year looks like at Ohio State.

Finebaum and Dinich assessed the weight on Day and the Buckeyes during a joint appearance on ‘Get Up’ on Tuesday. Finebaum began by saying it is a now-or-never year for him. That’ll certainly be so if they were to lose their fourth consecutive in The Game.

“Yes it is, Greeny, because of the new circumstances,” said Finebaum. “First of all, I think everyone and I think everyone agrees they’re going to get into the playoffs. But, really, the critical game of the season for Ryan Day is that Michigan game. You can’t survive as the Ohio State coach and lose four straight to Michigan, especially when, this year, you clearly have the better team.”

However, 2024 is also more than just about That Team Up North for Ohio State. In the opinion of many, they have the kind of roster that’s more than capable of winning a conference and national title. Those are their expectations and he’ll have to make good on them in the expanded playoff this fall.

“In fact, nobody in the country, including Georgia, has a better roster per se than Ohio State. I think it’s essential that they find a way not only to beat Michigan but to go far,” Finebaum added. “This isn’t a team that just gets in the playoff and is satisfied. We all know when the last time Ohio State won a national championship – 10 years ago, Urban Meyer was the coach.”

Heather Dinich then agreed about the sheer amount of duress on Day. It’s nothing that he himself doesn’t realize, though, based on her conversations with him and what he has done to change things again this offseason.

“It’s enormous pressure,” said Dinich. “The weight of the world is on his shoulders but he knows this. I’ve talked to him every offseason about this for about the past three years. He told me there’s noise out there. They’re not trying to focus on that.”

“He told me they’re about a play or two away the past couple of seasons from reaching their goals. In the offseason, you step back and you evaluate. That’s why he brought Chip Kelly in to call the plays this year,” Dinich continued. “There are definitely pieces in place.”

This is the case because, again, Ohio State enters the year with one of the best overall teams in the sport. That’s why Dinich expects them to handle their business over the course of the season – at least for the most part besides one game she noted.

“Paul is right. They have a better team than Michigan,” Dinich added. “The conversations can get more serious if he loses a fourth straight time. But I would not pick against the Buckeyes in the Big Ten – unless it’s October 12th and they’re playing Oregon. That could be tricky in Autzen.”

The assignment, although massive, is clear for Ohio State – beat Michigan, win the Big Ten, and be victorious in the College Football Playoff. Depending on how they grade out on those tasks will then decide where Day stands after the year in Columbus.