Bobby Knight was arguably the best Big 10 basketball coach in conference history.  The same sentiment cannot be conferred on Ryan Day.  Somehow, the Buckeyes coughed up a 23-3 fourth quarter lead in Austin.  The Buckeye defense in its shocking, fourth quarter pratfall was lacking as Texas converted a 4th and 6 and a 4th and 9 as the Longhorns got up off the mat.

Still clinging to a 23-17 lead, “Hook Em Hawkins” missed a game-sealing field goal.   That hook was not Ryan Day’s fault.  However, let’s rewind to the first half.  Both Texas and Arch Manning had got off to a horrid start.  With momentum clearly on the OSU sideline, Day unwisely went for a first down on 4th and 2 from the 13 in the first half.  Stuffed.  Why not tack on 3 points in a game you are dominating?

Why Ryan Day gets the accolades he does is a mystery to the Odyssey.  During his infamous 4-game losing streak to That Team Up North, how many of those OSU teams had inferior talent to the hated Wolverines.  ZERO would be a good answer.  The Buckeyes were fortunate that the playoffs had just expanded from 4 to 12 teams in 2024.  Otherwise, their shocking pratfall as a 23-point favorite to the Maize and Blue would have nixed any chance for their subsequent national championship.

Reflect on what team that Day has faced with superior talent during his reign.  Perhaps Georgia in the 2022 playoff.  Perhaps.

Despite losing 3 of his last 4 games, Ryan Day is not a truly terrible coach.  You could almost convince the Odyssey that he rises to the level of mediocre.  But he does not belong in the same time zone as the Curt Cignetti’s of the world.