Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeye football team get the countdown to run out and face the Cornhuskers before the game Saturday. Credit: Liam Ahern | Lantern Photographer
It may be difficult to fathom, but a fourth consecutive loss to Michigan would mark a seismic shift for Ohio State football.
It would shake fans’ confidence, reinforce the intense scrutiny of head coach Ryan Day and cast a somber shadow over the class of 2021, whose members may graduate without ever earning their gold pants. For a program grounded in dominance over its archrival, another defeat could signal a crossroads moment, challenging the Buckeyes’ position in college football’s upper echelon.
Adding fuel to this metaphorical fire, the 2024-25 Michigan team is far from the powerhouse of recent years — the defending national champions have stumbled this season, suffering a blowout loss at home to Texas, as well as disappointing road defeats to Illinois and Washington.
Still, as history has shown, none of that may matter; the rivalry runs too deep, and the Wolverines could very well give Ohio State a highly competitive game.
The last time Michigan beat Ohio State four times in a row was from 1988-91. These were considered slump years for Buckeye football, and expectations were not close to those of teams in the last few years.
John Cooper, Ohio State’s head coach at the time, had a career 2-10-1 record against Michigan and certainly hasn’t gone down as a Buckeye legend. But coaches like Urban Meyer (7-0), Jim Tressel (9-1) and Woody Hayes (16-11-1) will forever be cherished for their triumphs over the Wolverines.
So, that leaves Day.
In 2019, Day took the reins of dominance over Michigan from Meyer, crushing the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Michigan 56-17. Since then, it’s been heartbreaking losses in three straight years for the Buckeyes, with some fans even calling for Day’s termination.
A fourth straight loss to this year’s Michigan team would raise more doubt about Day’s ability to lead Ohio State to a ninth national championship.
To avoid another loss, Day made several changes to his coaching staff following last year’s crushing defeat, such as demoting offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and hiring his former mentor Chip Kelly.
To make matters worse, Day was forced to replace running back coach Tony Alford, who left Columbus to head to Ann Arbor. Subsequently, the Buckeyes brought in Carlos Locklyn from Oregon to fill the spot.
With these staffing changes happening after the Buckeyes’ third straight loss to Michigan, fans can bet that even more — and potentially more significant — changes will be made if they lose again.
But how much fault can realistically be placed on the coach?
The class of 2021 features star players Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, Denzel Burke and a longer list of current starters.
These players have yet to earn the cherished golden pants, awarded to Buckeyes who defeat Michigan.
After last season’s 30-24 loss, Day expressed his frustration postgame.
“We’re all disappointed. We know what this game means to so many people,” Day said. “And, to come up short is certainly crushing, not only just because you invest your whole year in it, but we know at Ohio State what this game means. And so, there’s a locker room in there that’s devastated.”
Many wonder if this legacy will remain in the minds of Ohio State fans for years to come, reminiscent of Cooper’s early ‘90s teams.
Even if these Buckeye classes have racked up countless wins, impressive stats and multiple College Football Playoff appearances, does it really matter if they can’t beat That Team Up North?
For many fans, it just doesn’t.
In the lead-up to the top-three matchup in Ann Arbor last year, Day said he and his team have scars from recent Michigan dominance.
“That drives you every day to work harder and to make sure you do everything you possibly can to win this game,” Day said.
As the rivalry looms again, the pressing question is whether Day and his team can bear another one of these “scars,” or if it will mark a significant turning point for the program’s future against Michigan.
