This is something that Day is massively underappreciated for. I think a lot of people just say "well he should beat middling and bad teams, that is easy".
If it was easy, everyone would do it. Ask Pete Carroll how easy it is. He had multiple NC contenders derailed by WTF losses.
Closer to home, ask Urban Meyer how easy it was to beat middling Iowa and Purdue teams in 2017/2018.
Day is 53-8 as full-time HC (not counting 3-0 filling in for Urban in 2018). The eight losses:
- Three were to that season's NC
- One was to the team that lost that season's NCG
- Two were to playoff teams
- Mizzou finished 2023 at 11-2 and #8
- Oregon finished 2021 at 10-4 and #22
Day is crushing recruiting, crushing his coaching hires- he's about as good as it gets- and he's in serious jeopardy this year- which is
kinda f'ing nuts to me.
Ohio State *should* absolutely 10000% win THE GAME- they just return way more experience- have way more staff continuity- and it's in Columbus. BUT- sh*t happens. Michigan should have a lights out D and that'll keep them in every game- and Donovan Edwards is a big-time play-maker who seems to always make big plays in big games. COULD Michigan win THE GAME? Sure. They could. Is it likely to happen? I think not. Odds are in Ohio State's favor, and I think I'd have them as at least a TD favorite right now- and that's before we know how Michigan's QB/OL situation is going to shake out.
Day SHOULD be safe in '24 and '25 regardless of what happens in the Michigan games. But his seat is going to be in flames if he loses at home this year to Michigan. And it's kind of bullsh*t and it's definitely crazy, because he's so good- but that game is
everything at both schools. COVID saved Jeem from a beatdown in it in 2020 and from the firing block.
