Former Ohio State QB Kyle McCord Was Asked If Ryan Day Criticism Is 'Unfair'

12/06/2024 02:29 PM

It's been a week to forget for Ohio State head coach Ryan Day.

His team was embarrassed at home by its fiercest rival Michigan on Saturday, the fourth time in a row they've defeated the Buckeyes. The loss knocked Ohio State out of this week's Big Ten championship game, preventing them from accomplishing one of their goals this season.

Several fans have called for Day's firing, with some even suggesting other coaches to replace him before the program parts ways with him. It's the life of a major college football coach, especially one at a program like Ohio State.

One of Day's former players was asked if the criticism he's faced is unfair, and the player essentially said that Day knew what he signed up for.

"That's how it is there," said Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord, last year's starting quarterback for the Buckeyes.

"I remember when I first got there, some of the fans were saying to me: it doesn't matter if we lose every single game. If we beat Michigan, it's a solid year."

McCord acknowledged that Michigan is a good team and that they're on a run of recent success, but that the expectation never changes in Columbus.

"That's just part of the job responsibility," said the quarterback. "Beat them."

Ohio State has failed to do that since 2020, losing their last four meetings against Michigan for the first time since the late 1980s and early 90s. To make matters worse, Michigan defeated Ohio State last season en route to a national championship-winning perfect season.

Ohio State hasn't won the national championship since 2014, a standard that Day has also been held against.

We'll see what Ohio State can do in this year's College Football Playoff, where they will almost certainly be in as an at-large team. If Day wants to stay as Ohio State's head coach, he'll need to at least win one game to inspire confidence for the future.

If the Buckeyes are one-and-done in the first-ever 12-team playoff, it could spell the end of his tenure as head coach.

Related: Ohio State Legend Maurice Clarett Takes Clear Stance On Ryan Day After Michigan Loss