Nothing wakes you up quicker than a stiff punch in the face. Or, in Ohio State’s case, three (losses to arch rival Michigan in a row) will definitely do the trick.
As confetti remnants still swirl amid the frozen streets of Ann Arbor following Michigan’s College Football Playoff National Championship win over Washington, Ryan Day and Ohio State have been hard at work preparing for the 2024 season. It feels odd to point out the Buckeyes enjoyed a successful week during the same seven-day span in which the Wolverines won their first national title since 1997. But, the fact is they did.
When the clock hit zero in Houston last Monday and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was dodging a Gatorade bath, Quinshon Judkins, the top running back in the transfer portal, announced his commitment to Ohio State. More good news followed as key members of the Buckeyes such as cornerback Denzel Burke, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson and defensive ends J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer all announced they’d be putting their NFL dreams on hold for another year in favor of a return to Columbus, Ohio. They join a number of other contributors returning for next season.
Yes, there are departures. Big ones. Marvin Harrison Jr. will be terrorizing NFL cornerbacks next season. Kyle McCord will be wearing a Ryan Day-sized chip on his shoulder as he takes over at quarterback for Syracuse. But things could’ve been far worse. Day could’ve been heading into the 2024 season on one of the hottest seats in the country while having to prepare an entirely new roster.
Make no mistake, though: Day is on the hot seat. It seems ludicrous that a coach with a 56-8 record would have something to prove, but it’s the reality of college football amid the level at which Ohio State competes. Especially so when the only three Big Ten games Day has lost among the 42 he’s coached have all come to Michigan. It should matter that Day and the Buckeyes are a missed field goal against Georgia away from a possible national title in 2022 (imagine how different things would be if that kick had gone through the uprights), but it doesn’t. The situation at Ohio State is only more complicated as a well-known athletic director steps onto the scene to replace a longtime administrative fixture.
Judging by Day’s actions this offseason, he realizes what’s at stake. Replacing McCord with Kansas State transfer Will…
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