Ohio State’s Ryan Day Faces Critical test Against Michigan Amidst Troubling Statistical Trend
ANN ARBOR, MI – Ohio State head coach Ryan Day enters Saturday’s highly anticipated matchup against Michigan with his career trajectory potentially hanging in the balance. Despite a stellar overall record, Day has consistently struggled against the Wolverines, a pattern underscored by a series of stark statistical discrepancies. The No. 1 ranked Buckeyes (11-0) will face No. 18 Michigan (10-1) in a game that could determine the Big Ten Championship and Collage Football Playoff positioning.
This year’s contest marks the 50th time since the Associated Press Poll debuted in 1936 that both Ohio State and Michigan have been ranked heading into “The Game,” with Michigan holding a slight edge in ranked matchups at 23-22-4. However, history offers little comfort to the Wolverines when facing a No. 1 team; they are 3-18-1 overall against AP No. 1 opponents, including a 1-3-1 record specifically when Ohio State held the top ranking. Currently, Michigan is on a nine-game losing streak against AP No. 1 teams.
But the broader narrative centers on Day’s difficulties in securing a victory over Michigan, a fact that looms large despite a national championship appearance. Here’s a breakdown of the key numbers highlighting those struggles:
Zero: the Buckeyes’ pass rush has been virtually non-existent in recent clashes with Michigan. Ohio State has been held to zero sacks in two of the last four games (2021 and 2024) – a dramatic shift considering they had only experienced such a drought twice between 1996 and 2019. In total, the Buckeyes have recorded just four sacks against Michigan during the Day era.
Four: Despite winning a national championship under day, Ohio State has lost four consecutive games to Michigan. Last season’s upset was particularly stinging, with the No.2 Buckeyes falling 13-10 to an unranked Michigan team as 21-point favorites – the largest point spread in the rivalry since 1978. A fifth consecutive loss woudl be ohio State’s longest losing streak to Michigan since a six-game skid from 1922 to 1927, falling short of the all-time longest losing streak of nine games from 1901 to 1909.
Day’s overall record as Ohio State coach stands at an extraordinary 81-10 over eight seasons. However, his record against Michigan is a stark 1-4, translating to a 93% win percentage against all other opponents and a mere 20% against the Wolverines.
52: The offensive disparity is important. ohio State’s offense averages 52 fewer total yards,66 fewer rushing yards,and one yard per play less against Michigan compared to their performance against all other teams under Day. The scoring output also plummets, with the Buckeyes averaging 13 fewer points – culminating in a season-low 10 points in last year’s defeat, their fewest in the rivalry since 1996 and their fewest in any game since 2011.
112: The defensive impact is equally pronounced. Since 2019, the Buckeyes defense allows 397 total yards per game against Michigan, compared to 285.4 against all other opponents - a difference of 112 yards.
The outcome of Saturday’s game will not only determine Big Ten supremacy but could also define Day’s legacy at Ohio State.
ESPN Research contributed to this story.
