Why Ryan Day’s Bold Answer About Beating Michigan Could Define His Legacy and Ohio State’s 2025 College Football Season
Ohio State football coach Ryan Day delivered a simple answer when he was asked about beating Michigan. For some, it was refreshing. For others, it was overdue. But for everyone paying attention to the state of the rivalry and the pressure cooker that is Columbus, Ohio, his words hit like a shot of adrenaline to the heart of Buckeye Nation. Beating Michigan, Day said, is the priority — it always has been, and always will be. That clarity matters, not just because of what has happened the last three years, but because of what’s at stake this fall.
This rivalry has always been more than just a game. Ohio State versus Michigan is tradition, hatred, legacy, and pride all rolled into one Saturday every November. It defines seasons, launches Heisman campaigns, destroys coaching tenures, and determines who gets to play for championships. And for Ryan Day, the stakes have never been higher. He is 1–3 against Michigan — a mark that is, quite frankly, unacceptable by Ohio State standards. The Buckeyes don’t just want to beat Michigan — they demand it. Every coach since the days of Woody Hayes has been judged by that measuring stick.
So when Ryan Day stood up this offseason and stated unequivocally that beating Michigan is the focus, he was doing more than answering a question. He was making a promise, to the fans, to his players, and maybe even to himself. In that moment, there was no ambiguity, no deflection, no philosophical sidestep about “the bigger picture” or “taking things one week at a time.” There was just resolve. Day knows that no matter how many games he wins, no matter how many five-stars he recruits, and no matter how many points he scores, it all comes down to that last Saturday in November.
The pressure to beat Michigan didn’t used to be this intense for Day. When he took over from Urban Meyer in 2019, he inherited a team on an unprecedented winning streak in The Game. Ohio State had dominated Michigan for nearly two decades. For years, the Buckeyes looked faster, deeper, and more physical. The rivalry had become one-sided, and while no one in Columbus took the Wolverines lightly, the expectation was that Ohio State would win — and win big. Day continued that trend in his first year, pasting Michigan 56–27 in Ann Arbor.
But everything changed in 2021. Michigan broke through, finally overpowering Ohio State with a physical, bruising running game and a smothering defense. The Wolverines didn’t just beat the Buckeyes — they manhandled them. It was shocking, and for many in the scarlet and gray world, unacceptable. Surely it was a one-off, they thought. Surely Ohio State would respond. But 2022 brought more of the same, this time in Columbus. Then 2023 came, and again, Michigan found a way to win, even amid off-field distractions and a coaching suspension. Three straight losses. Three straight seasons where Ohio State’s national title hopes ended at the hands of their greatest rival.
For Ryan Day, each loss has added a new layer to the scrutiny. He’s 56–8 as Ohio State’s head coach. He’s made a national championship game. He’s recruited at a top-three level. And yet, in the minds of many fans, those achievements ring hollow because of the Michigan problem. At a school where the margins between success and failure are razor-thin, that record against the Wolverines casts a long shadow.
Day’s answer about beating Michigan wasn’t just about calming the fanbase — it was also about embracing the identity that this rivalry demands. For too long, it seemed like Ohio State had become more focused on national aspirations than the regional war with Michigan. The program’s culture had shifted toward the playoff chase, the NIL arms race, the quarterback carousel. Michigan, meanwhile, doubled down on toughness, on run-first football, and on old-school trench dominance. And for three years in a row, it worked.
This offseason, Day made moves that reflect his renewed focus. He brought in Chip Kelly as his offensive coordinator, a savvy, high-level mind who can help balance the offense and take pressure off the quarterback. He lured key transfers, including Kansas State quarterback Will Howard and Alabama safety Caleb Downs. He made changes on the offensive line, upgraded the defensive line depth, and doubled down on physicality. These weren’t just roster tweaks — they were strategic moves rooted in a single goal: beating Michigan.
Inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, players have spoken openly about the rivalry. There is no more pretending that it’s just another game. Veteran leaders like JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, and Emeka Egbuka have made it clear that Michigan is the focus. Every rep, every lift, every film session is being framed in the context of that game. That’s how it used to be under Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer, both of whom went 7–1 against the Wolverines. That mindset is what made Ohio State the dominant force in the rivalry for so long. And Day appears determined to recapture it.
Of course, talk is cheap. Buckeye fans don’t want promises — they want results. Beating Michigan isn’t just about motivation. It’s about execution. It’s about winning in the trenches. It’s about stopping the run, protecting the football, and rising to the moment when the game hangs in the balance. Ohio State has had the talent to beat Michigan each of the last three years. What they’ve lacked is edge — that chip-on-the-shoulder grit that the Wolverines have worn like armor. Day knows this. That’s why his answer was so important. It wasn’t tactical — it was emotional. It was personal.
This fall, Ohio State enters the season as one of the top title contenders. They have a loaded defense, a veteran quarterback, an explosive group of receivers, and a manageable schedule that positions them for a late-season run. But none of that matters if they can’t beat Michigan. The Wolverines are reloading after losing head coach Jim Harbaugh and several key starters to the NFL. But they remain dangerous — fast, physical, confident, and built to beat Ohio State until proven otherwise.
The 2025 game will be in Ann Arbor again, setting up a brutal road test for the Buckeyes. But with the expanded College Football Playoff field, there’s at least the possibility that both teams make it to the postseason, regardless of what happens in The Game. Still, for Ohio State, that’s not enough. Making the playoff is nice. Winning a national title is the goal. But beating Michigan? That’s the bedrock. That’s the law. That’s the first, second, and third bullet point on every coach’s job description.
Ryan Day isn’t running from that anymore. His answer was simple because the truth is simple. If he beats Michigan, he controls his destiny. If he loses again, even with a strong record, his seat will grow hotter. That’s the reality of coaching in Columbus. You don’t just have to win. You have to win that game.
What makes this upcoming season even more compelling is the pressure on both sides. Michigan wants to prove it can sustain success after Harbaugh. Ohio State wants to prove it can take the rivalry back. The rest of the Big Ten — now featuring USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington — adds even more volatility. But when it all shakes out, the Nov. 30 matchup in Ann Arbor will likely define the season again.
And maybe that’s exactly how it should be. College football is changing fast — NIL, the transfer portal, conference realignment, playoff expansion — but rivalries still matter. In fact, they might matter more than ever. They remind us what this sport is about. They give us stakes. They give us heart. And for Ohio State, nothing cuts deeper than losing to Michigan.
Ryan Day’s simple answer was a reminder of that. It was a message to his team, to his staff, and to the fans who live and die with every snap. There is no more hedging. No more rationalizing. No more hiding behind playoff scenarios or national rankings. This season is about one thing — reclaiming the rivalry, and in doing so, reclaiming Ohio State’s identity.
The months leading up to that game will be full of analysis, speculation, and anticipation. Every win will be scrutinized, every mistake magnified. But make no mistake: the path is clear. Beat Michigan. That’s the mission. That’s the bar. That’s the only thing that matters. And Ryan Day, finally, has said it out loud.
