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Lou Holtz jabs that Notre Dame loss would be 'to preserve Ryan Day's job'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•about 9 hours•

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Legendary Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz
© RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

The last time Notre Dame and Ohio State squared off, Lou Holtz was at the center of the matchup following comments made about Ryan Day – and the ensuing reaction. As the two teams get ready to square off in the national championship on Monday, the legendary Fighting Irish coach took another jab.

Holtz said Notre Dame would want to “preserve” Day’s job if it loses in the College Football Playoff national title game. He also said he wasn’t originally planning to be at the game in-person, but is now changing his tune.

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Holtz was responding to a clip from The Pat McAfee Show about whether he would appear at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the matchup. Based on his post, that’s now the plan.

“If Notre Dame doesn’t win, it’s because we want to preserve Ryan Day’s job,” Holtz wrote on X. “I was originally going to be at the game in spirit, but now I’ll be dragging my body along as well.”

Holtz’s initial comments about Day came in September 2023 when Ohio State was preparing to take on Notre Dame in one of the biggest games of the season. He questioned the Buckeyes’ toughness in big games under Day’s leadership, sparking a strong response from the head coach after OSU’s 21-17 victory over the Fighting Irish thanks to a late touchdown. Notre Dame only had 10 players on the field for the play.

“I’d like to know where Lou Holtz is right now,” Day said on the NBC broadcast following Chip Trayanum’s game-winner. “What he said about our team – I cannot believe. This is a tough team right here. We’re proud to be from Ohio. It’s always been Ohio against the world. It will continue to be Ohio against the world. But I will tell you what. I love those kids and we’ve got a tough team.”

Speaking with reporters via Zoom ahead of the national championship, Day said he hasn’t spoken with Holtz since those comments. It’s just one of the storylines entering Monday’s game, though, as Ohio State and Notre Dame get ready to square off in the national championship.