Ohio State coach Ryan Day finds himself at a crucial juncture. After a fourth consecutive loss to rival Michigan, questions abound about his future with one of college football's most prominent programs. Despite entering as a 20-point favorite, OSU fell 13 - 10 to UM. One day after the defeat, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork aimed to calm the situation.

Stability and Focus

Bjork emphasized program stability, noting that Ohio State has the No. 3 class in 2025 ahead of Signing Day. Donor support is also strong, with a $20 million roster. He believes in supporting Day as he prepares for the playoff rather than dwelling on the recent loss. "Our program is built to last, and Coach Day has done that," Bjork said. "He has put us in a great spot."

Coaching Record and Rivalry

In his six full seasons as coach, Ohio State is 63 - 10 (45 - 5 in the Big Ten). However, 40% of those losses have come against Michigan. Another loss to the Wolverines clearly affected Day. The 45 - year - old, who considers the string of losses to Michigan on par with the death of his father in terms of family hardships, was emotional after the game. "We're very disappointed. Never thought this would happen right here," Day said. "We're expecting to win this game and go play in the Big Ten Championship Game, but neither of those things happened."

Recruiting Success

Recruiting has been a bright spot under Day. The team's strong recruiting class in 2025 showcases the program's continued appeal. Bjork pointed to this as evidence of the program's health. "We have a great team made up of talented players and great young men. Coach Day does a great job leading our program," he said.

Playoff History

Ohio State has made the playoff three times under Day (2019, 2020, 2022). This demonstrates the program's ability to compete at the highest level. However, the recent losses have raised doubts about their playoff prospects. "We don't know what's going on now. It's just too soon to try to figure out what's next. But once we have more information in about a week, we'll figure that part of it out," Day added.