Ryan Day is expected to have Ohio State in the CFP, despite losing quarterback Julian Sayin for the season with a throwing shoulder injury.
USA Today's Blake Toppmeyer doesn't believe Day has the excuse of needing to lean on a freshman quarterback to explain away a scenario where the Buckeyes don't win four of their next five games and make the CFP.
Toppmeyer also believes there's no excuse for a possible loss to TTUN at the "Shoe" given how bad potential one-and-done Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham's team is.
"Michigan’s offense is so bad this year, Day couldn’t excuse a loss in The Game next month, no matter who’s quarterbacking the Buckeyes. He’s armed with enough talent that we can fairly expect Ohio State to make the playoff without Sayin," Toppmeyer wrote.
Ryan Day has the toughest job in college football right now
The combination of events that led Day to the exact scenario he's in right now might make him the unluckiest head coach in college football this season.
If his program were undefeated and No. 1 in the polls, Ohio State would be in a position where winning just three of its last five games would be acceptable. Unfortunately, that loss to Texas puts some pressure on winning out or losing just one game with Luke Fahey and/or Tavien St. Clair running the offense.
Had the loss been to Indiana instead of the Longhorns, there'd be a bigger chip on the team's shoulder for the rest of Big Ten play. Beating the Hoosiers has most expecting this team to steamroll the rest of the way, even though that win was flawed and was Nick Marsh's foot being in bounds on the last Indiana offensive play away from being a loss.
Meanwhile, Day did a great job of building a deep running back room and brought back a veteran offensive line, but his receiving corps lacks a spark beyond Jeremiah Smith. JJ's chemistry with Sayin was carrying the offense for most of the season. Sayin's injury loss was the one, besides Smith, that the offense couldn't afford.
With a defense that's had key players like EDGE Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and nickelback Jay Timmons suffer injury setbacks in recent weeks, Day can't rely on the excuse that Matt Patricia's defense isn't healthy enough either. He is supposed to be the one who builds depth and leaves minimal roster holes.
If you're looking for the guy with the toughest job in college football down the stretch, it's Day. Bringing on great talent doesn't always make a great team, and with NIL making rosters cost a fortune, there is more for coaches to deal with for not winning at the richest schools in the country.
Heading into the season, Day had one of the most enviable seats in the sport. Now, circumstances have made it a tough one to navigate during the toughest portion of the schedule. That doesn't mean that he can't do it, though. This Buckeye team has a lot of talent around the quarterback.
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