The Ohio State football team hasn't had issues winning big games. Ryan Day put that narrative to bed for good after winning the national championship last year. Even before then, he had won several big games, including victories over Penn State, Clemson, and Utah.
Day still has an issue beating Michigan, but that is the only team he seems to have an issue with. He's one of just three active coaches to have won a national championship. Meanwhile, James Franklin has not come close to achieving the heights that Day has.
After Franklin lost to Oregon on Saturday, some pundits have been trying to compare Franklin to Day, saying that Franklin is close to breaking through. Let's set the record straight right now: Franklin is nothing like Day. Day knows how to win close games against good opponents.
Ryan Day's success with Ohio State is far better than Franklin has had with Penn State
Franklin now has a 4-21 record against top-ten teams, which is the third-worst winning percentage since the polling era started in 1936, according to ESPN. While Day has lost four straight to Michigan, he's never had a record that bad at any point while he's been with the Buckeyes.
The Ohio State Buckeyes may have unlocked their demons against TTUN after winning a national title last year. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions have shown no signs of changing their behavior under Franklin. Franklin has issues with multiple teams, not just one.
There's a good chance that Franklin has to deal with critics on this issue again at the beginning of November when they travel to Columbus. The Buckeyes look like the best team in the league, and beating them at home is going to take a monumental effort.
Anyone comparing Franklin to Day needs to stop. It's insulting to all that Day has accomplished so far in his coaching career with the Buckeyes. Until Franklin beats a good team, he's nowhere close to the status that Day has.