Ryan Day has instilled a championship mindset at Ohio State. The Buckeyes came close to a title last season while maintaining a strong overall record. However, his tenure in Columbus has also featured some setbacks that continue to shadow his coaching journey.
Ohio State Coach Ryan Day Reveals the Moments He Can’t Escape
Day recently joined the “Not Just Football With Cam Heyward” podcast, where he reflected on the games he still thinks about most. When asked which game he would most want back, he pointed to two major losses that continue to stick with him.
“The 2019 Clemson game,” Day said. “That one and then obviously the Peach Bowl against Georgia. Those two games to this day, you know, you remember the losses, you know what I mean? The wins kind of just come and go, and they’re relief, but those losses haunt you.”
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“Because I felt like both of those teams were good teams,” Day continued. “And if we were able to move on to the next game, we would have been playing LSU and Joe Burrow, which would have been just a monster game, which would have been great. Then the other year we’ve been playing TCU. So that’s where I got the mantra of leave no doubt.”
The 2019 clash with Clemson ended in a tight 29-23 loss for Ohio State. It was Day’s first season as head coach, and many believed the team was among his most complete. Several big moments swung the outcome, including a controversial overturned fumble return touchdown and a late-game miscommunication between Justin Fields and Chris Olave that led to a game-ending interception. It often feels like a game Ohio State controlled but let slip away.
If missed opportunities defined 2019, the 2022 Peach Bowl against Georgia brought another devastating finish. Ohio State played near-perfect offense for stretches and led by 11 points in the fourth quarter, but momentum shifted after key moments went against them.
One play that still stands out for Day is the controversial targeting decision involving Georgia’s Javon Bullard on Marvin Harrison Jr., which was ultimately overturned. Harrison’s injury on the hit also changed the flow of the game.
“It can’t come down to one call,” Day said. “You know, either of those games, you think about the shot on Marvin, which would have been a huge play that they didn’t put the flag on, where if that was a personal foul, we score and go up to two scores, and that game’s over, or the multiple calls that happened in the ’19 game. But, like, nobody cares. We can’t leave it up to one call. We have to leave no doubt.”
For Day, the frustration isn’t just about losing; it’s about games that felt within reach slipping away in crucial moments. Ohio State secured the national championship in 2025, and hopes are high for 2026. PFSN gives the Buckeyes a 67.6% chance of making the College Football Playoff in the upcoming season.
