Paul Finebaum suggests Ryan Day should lose his job if Ohio State loses to Michigan in 2024

Ryan Day has been incredible against Big Ten teams since taking over the Ohio State program, with the exception being he has struggled against Michigan. The Buckeyes have lost three straight games to the Wolverines, with last year’s defeat leading to Michigan winning the national title.

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum acknowledges that Ryan Day has done an excellent job overall, but he feels that the losses to Michigan must stop. In fact, Finebaum said on ESPN First Take Tuesday morning that if Ohio State loses to Michigan again, Day should be fired.

“Here’s the problem with talking about Ryan Day. You look at his record… it’s gaudy. Nobody has a record like him. Except you can’t choke the biggest game of the year,” Finebaum said. “And to me, if he can’t beat Michigan this year when he’s got probably the best team in the country, along with Georgia, after Harbaugh leaves, after all those great players depart after a national championship, he ought to be gone. It’s as simple as that. That’s the biggest game of the year in the Big Ten.”

To his credit, Ryan Day isn’t shying away from the pressure. Day appeared on Get Up Tuesday morning and said that a lot of his players who could have been drafted returned to Ohio State for the 2024 season for a chance to beat the Wolverines.

“One of the biggest struggles that we have is that when you lose a game like that, you have to wait a whole year to get back into that game,” Day said. “We had about 12 guys that made the decision to come back. That was one of the big reasons why they decided to come back. … When you come to Ohio State, you’ve gotta win that game.”

Finebaum sees a problem with those comments, though, because Ohio State had the same motivation after the last two years, too.

“I have no idea what he’s talking about. I mean he’s lost that game three years in a row and he’s talking about how his players are motivated to come back and play,” Finebaum said. “Well, I heard that three years ago, two years ago and last year and you stunk in all three games. I mean what are you talking about?”

Ryan Day is 53-8 overall since taking over the Ohio State program ahead of the 2019 season, including a 38-3 mark in Big Ten play. He has reached the College Football Playoff three times, including advancing to the 2020 national championship game.

But if the Buckeyes don’t have an excellent year in 2024, including a win over Michigan, Finebaum believes it’s time for Ryan Day to go.

“I realize that Ohio State played for a national championship a couple of years ago against Alabama – only lost by 28 points. They’ve been to the playoffs. But that program hasn’t won a national championship since 2014 when Urban Meyer was there. So quit making excuses, Ryan Day. Quit acting like your players have given up something to come back,” Finebaum said. “Three years ago they came back, two years ago they came back and one year ago they came back. And it’s been the same result.”