Ohio State looks like a program that needs a complete culture reset.
After losing quarterback Julian Sayin, the Buckeyes have dropped back-to-back games to then-unranked USC and No. 23 Oregon.
Ryan Day’s program is reeling. The vibe in Columbus feels hollow. It’s a shell of the legendary, iconic program that dominated college football with Urban Meyer.
Of course, this is a weird year in college football. It truly doesn’t look like there are any elite teams.
Shouldn’t the Buckeyes be afforded a down year?
Almost all hyper-elite college football programs have some down years after winning national championships. But this is different.
In 2024, after losing their fourth consecutive rivalry matchup against Michigan, Day’s team bullied him into winning a national championship. They came together and ran the table against a very difficult schedule in the College Football Playoff.
Before then?
In 2020, they lost the National Championship against Alabama. In 2021, they missed the College Football Playoff entirely. In 2022, they lost a CFP semifinal game to Georgia. In 2023, they missed the College Football Playoff again.
This isn’t an Ohio State program that’s been as dominant as their record suggests since the global pandemic. They’ve been paper tigers. They’ll dominate AP polls with easy regular season wins over cupcake opponents, but when adversity hits, they fold up.
And that’s what happened in back-to-back seasons.
Last year, Ohio State was flattened by a talented Miami Hurricanes defense that would ultimately go all the way to the national championship.
This year, they don’t have many excuses, even after losing Sayin.
The defense has regressed under defensive coordinator Matt Patrica. Of course, Ohio State graduated several defensive first-round picks to the NFL Draft, but with the Buckeyes’ recruiting advantage, they should be able to plug those holes.
Under Meyer’s watch, everything about Ohio State felt bigger. The superstar players, the brand. You just knew it was a serious football program. College football has changed a bunch since then, and that’s worth noting. But the current vibe in Columbus is off – and losing Sayin is no excuse for the collapse unfolding for Day’s team each week.
If it were to become available, Ohio State would instantly have the top head coach opening in college football.
Even though superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith should undoubtedly head to the NFL Draft, where he could realistically be the No. 1 overall selection, this is a desirable program.
Maybe firing Day in a down year is premature. But the sky is falling in Columbus.
