Will Howard and OSU to avoid anger against Raiola, Nebraska as fans debate Ryan Day’s future | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 12: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes on the field for warmups before a game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

Brandon Sloter/Sports Image/Getty Images

Despite holding on to beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 21-17 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, many fans took to social media to call for the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes to fire head coach Ryan Day.

Ohio State took a 21-17 lead in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass from quarterback Will Howard to Quinshon Judkins, and the defense sealed the deal, when Jordan Hancock intercepted Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola with just 1 :16 remaining.

The Buckeyes kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive by improving to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play, while the Huskers fell to 5-3 with a 2-3 conference mark. Nebraska is now 0-27 against ranked teams dating back to 2016.

Over parts of seven seasons at OSU, Day has compiled a 62-9 record, but some members of the Buckeyes fan base suggested Saturday that they were fed up with the team not consistently performing at the high level expected of it. they:

Jonathan Smith @DegenerateTBosseous

You lose on the road, you have two weeks to think about it, you show up to homecoming and you play like that against Nebraska?
Ryan Day doesn’t have it. I don’t know what other information we need here.

Jake @JSamulakCLE

I would legitimately fire Ryan Day after this game. How much more poor performance do we need to see to realize this guy is garbage? Who has been so talented and underperformed year after year?
It’s a fraud!!!!

Nick Davis @NickEDavis

I’m officially over the “if they fire Ryan Day, who will they pick to replace him?” argument.
I don’t mind! It’s not my job to find out!
Just like Ryan Day’s job is to not be a horrible head coach and he is FAILING at it!

Chad Six Nine @ChadSixNine

The end of the Ryan Day and Jim Knowles era is upon us, friends

Billy M. @BillyM_91

There have been a lot of embarrassing Ryan Day games. This is near the top. Comic

Brennan powers @BrennanPowers17

This team is really so pathetic and soft. Ryan Day has ruined the culture of Ohio State

OhioStateMan @elOSUman740

Ryan Day needs to go, but I don’t know who would replace him.

cliff paul burner @ch0sen_truth

Ryan Day ruined the Buckeye football culture. He has to go.

Ohio State led 14-3 midway through the second quarter thanks to quarterback Will Howard’s 40- and 60-yard touchdown passes to Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, respectively:

However, things started to go wrong from there, as the Buckeyes missed a 42-yard field goal with just over two minutes left in the half, allowing Nebraska to respond with a successful field goal from 54 yards before going to the locker room.

As the half ended, the Buckeyes gave up another field goal to cut the lead to 14-9, and their first three drives of the second half couldn’t have been much worse.

Howard threw an interception when Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. caught an airmailed pass and returned it to the OSU 7-yard line:

However, the defense bailed out Ohio State’s offense by stopping the Huskers on a fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line.

However, OSU went three-and-out on its next two drives, and Nebraska finally took the lead early in the fourth quarter when running back Dante Dowdell scored from a yard out. With a successful two-point conversion, Nebraska took a 17-14 lead:

The pressure was firmly on the Buckeyes’ shoulders after Nebraska took the lead, but Howard rallied in the clutch, orchestrating an eight-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a nine-yard touchdown pass to running back Quinshon Judkins. to put OSU back. on:

While Day’s coaching has often been questioned in recent years, he has also been praised for his ability to bring major recruits and transfers to the program.

Two of the biggest additions during the offseason came through the transfer portal in Howard and Judkins, so it was fitting that they connected on the go-ahead touchdown.

Aside from the major mistake, Howard had another strong game, going 13 of 16 for 221 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, but defense was what made the biggest difference for OSU.

The Buckeyes held Nebraska to 273 total yards in the game, and quarterback Dylan Raiola struggled mightily, going 21 of 32 for 152 yards with no touchdowns and Hancock’s game-sealing interception:

Although the Buckeyes fell to No. 1 Oregon in their last game and didn’t play anywhere near their best on Saturday, Ohio State seems highly unlikely to be a coaching state, meaning Day is almost certain to be at the helm for the crucial match next weekend. Clash with Penn State along the way.

Penn State entered Saturday with a perfect 6-0 record, and the winner of next week’s game against Ohio State will have the advantage in the CFP race.