Ryan Day Reflects on Playoff Losses Shaping Philosophy

Ohio State University head football coach Ryan Day opened up about the lingering impact of two playoff losses during a recent appearance on the "Not Just Football" podcast hosted by former Buckeyes standout Cam Heyward, revealing how those defeats shaped his coaching philosophy and reinforced the program's relentless pursuit of excellence.

Day, entering his eighth season at the helm in Columbus, pinpointed the 2019 Fiesta Bowl semifinal against Clemson and the 2022 Peach Bowl against Georgia as the games that still haunt him. In the 2019 matchup, Ohio State fell 29-23 to the Tigers after a controversial overturned fumble return touchdown by safety Jordan Fuller in the third quarter. Officials ruled the play an incomplete pass, a decision later questioned by the Big Ten's supervisor of officials and the national coordinator. The Buckeyes, who trailed 21-16 at the time, never fully recovered, allowing Clemson to seal the win with a late touchdown pass from Trevor Lawrence to Travis Etienne Jr. Day noted that victory would have pitted his team against a dominant LSU squad led by Joe Burrow in the national championship.

The 2022 Peach Bowl proved equally agonizing, with Ohio State...