Paul Finebaum outlines path for Ryan Day to save job after fourth-straight Michigan loss

Google searches for Ryan Day‘s buyout skyrocketed immediately following Ohio State‘s demoralizing 13-10 loss to unranked archrival Michigan on Saturday – the Buckeyes’ fourth consecutive in The Game.

For the record, Day would be owed $37.28 million if he would be fired without cause, according to USA TODAY’s college football head coaches salaries database.

Given that hefty price tag, and a show of support from Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork, speculation about Day’s job status has tapered off slightly in the last few days. Certainly helping matters is the expectation the Buckeyes (10-2) will earn an at-large bid and potential first-round home game in the upcoming 12-team College Football Playoff, giving Ohio State fans plenty to hope for.

But that just begs the question: is Ryan Day’s position as the Buckeyes coach dependent on winning a national championship this season?

While he wasn’t ready to go that far, SEC Network host Paul Finebaum believes Ohio State needs to make a deep Playoff run – at least to the national championship game in Atlanta – to secure a seventh season in Columbus.

“It feels that way. This season was about beating Michigan. He failed to do that for the fourth time. That’s the biggest game of the year,” Finebaum said Tuesday morning on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “I feel like if he doesn’t make a run, probably getting to the championship game, they’re going to take a long look. The AD yesterday said ‘we’re behind Ryan Day’ but we hear ADs say that all the time. I think Ryan Day’s job is on the line.”

Does a first-round Playoff exit mean the end for Ryan Day?

ESPN insider Heather Dinich agrees, but suggested a first-round Playoff exit could be the nail in the coffin for Day.

“He has to make a deep run, I’d say. Win the national title? No, I don’t think that’s fair, but get to the national championship game, I think that’s a significant conversation,” Dinich said Tuesday morning on ESPN’s Get Up. “Because consider this, if the selection committee agrees with me on Selection Day, and Ohio State has a first-round home game, can you imagine if they got knocked out early and ended their season with two home losses – one to Michigan? We’re talking about his job being in jeopardy 100-percent if that were the case.”

Finebaum doubled down at that suggestion.

“A first-round knockout? I’d fire him on the field before he gets to midfield (for the postgame handshake),” Finebaum added on Get Up. “I still think he probably ought to go. This guy has been a very good coach, he’s 66-10, but when you lose to your rival every single year, four straight – so we’re talking about three revenge games and the same result happens, especially this year – it’s time to start packing.”

Ohio State AD focused on CFP: ‘Let’s go make a run in the Playoff’

Bjork reaffirmed Day’s status as the Buckeyes’ head coach with The Columbus Dispatch on Sunday.

“Our full focus right now is on the College Football Playoff and making a strong run,” Bjork said. “We have a ton to play for. We have a great team made up of talented players and great young men. Coach Day does a great job leading our program. He’s our coach.

“There’s going to be plenty of time to dissect what happened in the rivalry game the last couple years,” Bjork continued. “But right now, we have to keep the main thing the main thing, and that’s focus on the values of the program, focus on why we lead the young men, focus on the mission and the Playoff.”

Still, Bjork isn’t worried about that right now. He’s focusing on what Day and the Buckeyes can do from wherever they now find themselves in the CFP.

“We’re disappointed (with Saturday’s loss), but he’s our coach,” said Bjork. “I’m focused on supporting our players and our coaches and continuing to get to know our fan base and our donor base and leading through this disappointing time.

“Let’s go make a run in the Playoff. That’s all I’m going to say,” Bjork continued. “Let’s go make a run in the Playoff. That’s what we’ve got to do.”

Sam Gillenwater contributed to this report.