Ryan Day addresses his future after fourth loss to Michigan

Following a fourth straight loss to Michigan on Saturday, Ohio State coach Ryan Day had to know the questions were coming about his job status and security.

He went into the season facing a considerable degree of heat for a coach who has done nothing but win a ton of football games. But that’s the reality when you’re at Ohio State and you can’t beat Michigan.

Ryan Day, now 66-10 overall and 46-5 in Big Ten play over the span of six years, was asked about his job status.

He didn’t answer directly about himself, but rather acknowledged the frustration of falling to Michigan yet again.

“I mean everybody wants to win this game in the worst way,” Ryan Day said. “Nobody wants to win it more than we do. It’s our No. 1 goal every year, and so when you don’t do that there’s disappointment and frustration. So I don’t blame anybody for being upset. I’m upset more than anybody. Those players are too, and the coaches, and everybody who goes at it. We know what we’re getting ourselves into here.”

What they’re getting into is obvious.

When you create a roster as loaded as Ohio State’s and spend as much as you do on both NIL and coaching staff, the expectation is to win in a major way. Not just win, but compete for championships.

Saturday’s loss took one such championship off the table; Ohio State won’t be in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game now.

It also made another — the national championship — even more difficult. Instead of a possible first-round bye or home playoff game, Ohio State is likely to find itself on the road in the playoffs now.

All in all, it’s just not what Ryan Day had hoped for going into the year. And whether it’s enough to bring more pressure down on his head — the kind that can see coaches fired — remains to be seen.

But suffice it to say Saturday was not a pleasant development for Ryan Day at Ohio State.