Ryan Day sends message to Ohio State fans ahead of home College Football Playoff game

Ryan Day has heard all the noise about his allegedly tenuous future in Columbus.

Especially when it came in the form of audible boos from Ohio State‘s own fan base in the closing minutes of Michigan‘s shocking 13-10 upset inside the Horseshoe on Nov. 30, Day’s fourth-consecutive loss in The Game rivalry series.

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But as Day and the No. 6 Buckeyes (10-2) ready for Saturday night’s College Football Playoff first-round home game against ninth-seeded Tennessee (10-2), the embattled Ohio State head coach is focusing on the historic nature of the matchup and less on its impact on his future in Columbus. Kickoff is set for 8 pm ET with the game televised on ABC and ESPN.

“I’m excited for our players, but I’m excited for our fans to get back together this Saturday in the ‘Shoe in a historic event,” Day said Monday. “This is, right now, the first time it’s ever happened before. And I think for everyone to get back together is exciting, and I know our players feel that way.”

Day specifically cited what one more game inside Ohio Stadium means for the Buckeye seniors and their families, as well as the diehard Ohio State fans in attendance Saturday.

“For (the Ohio State players) to get an opportunity to play at home in something like this is great. But it’s just as exciting for our fans,” Day added. “And just like our players, the fans are invested in this in a big, big way. So, it’s going to be an exciting night, 8 o’clock kickoff, and this week of work for us is just going to continue to build toward Saturday.”

Paul Finebaum: Ryan Day’s future at Ohio State ‘not fine’ with loss to Tennessee

Ryan Day‘s future at Ohio State is very murky, according to Paul Finebaum. Well actually, it’s “not fine,” as Finebaum said during his SportsCenter segment Monday afternoon.

If Ohio State were to lose to Tennessee, Day might not be around in 2025, at least if Finebaum had a say in the matter.

“Not fine,” Finebaum said Monday on ESPN. “And nobody likes a call for the head of a coach as successful as Ryan Day. But let me remind the world who isn’t aware, and I don’t think there are many who are not aware, that Ryan Day has completely blown this season by losing again to Michigan. That is four in a row. And should this game Saturday night go haywire for him, I think he’s gonna have a very hard time keeping his job. That stadium could erupt negatively against him, and even though the athletic director has given him a vote of confidence. I don’t think it means anything.”

Finebaum wasn’t the only one to suggest the Ohio State crowd would be restless when it came to Day. Kirk Herbstreit said Ohio State could’ve benefited from a road game in the playoff.

Nick Kosko contributed to this report.