Ryan Day and Ohio State Facing an Uncomfortable Reality: Deadspin Says Losing Sayin Isn’t the Answer

A program under pressure

Ohio State is described as reeling, with a subdued atmosphere in Columbus. The article contrasts the current mood with the program’s prominence under Urban Meyer, when its stars and reputation made it feel like a major force in college football.

The piece acknowledges that college football has changed, but says the present concerns go beyond those shifts. It argues that losing Sayin is not an adequate explanation for the team’s week-to-week collapse.

Day’s uneven record

In 2024, Ohio State lost its fourth straight rivalry game against Michigan. The article says the team then rallied behind Day, won the national championship and went undefeated through a difficult College Football Playoff schedule. The earlier seasons brought a series of setbacks: a title-game loss to Alabama in 2020, no playoff berth in 2021, a semifinal defeat to Georgia in 2022, and another playoff absence in 2023.

Talent and future prospects

Jeremiah Smith is identified as a star wide receiver who should enter the NFL Draft. The article says he could realistically be selected first overall. Despite the team’s troubles, the piece describes Ohio State as a desirable program. It presents Smith’s potential draft position as evidence of the talent associated with the school, even as it questions the current direction under Day.