Ryan Day Has Blunt 1-Word Response to Lou Holtz Drama Before Ohio State-Notre Dame

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andrew McCarty | Last updated Jan 13, 2025 11:07 AM ET

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz don't exactly get along.

Their feud dates back to the 2023 season when Holtz questioned Ohio State's "toughness" ahead of a matchup between the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish. Immediately following Ohio State's 17-13 win over Notre Dame, Day called out Holtz in his postgame interview - not even waiting for the postgame press conference.

"I’d like to know where Lou Holtz is right now," he said at the time.

Holtz later apologized to head coach Marcus Freeman for putting him in a "bad position" but didn't take back his comments.

“I put him in a bad position, maybe. I don’t feel bad about saying it because I believe it...Notre Dame was a better football team,” he said. “Three times, Ohio State had fourth and one, ran the ball, couldn’t make it. Other than the one long run, they averaged less than two yards a carry. If I was coaching, I would have went to our team and said it and I would have went to our team and said, ‘I think you’re better. I think you’re more physical. I think you’re more talented. Coach Day doesn’t believe so, so go prove him wrong and prove me right.’"

Now, with Ohio State and Notre Dame set to play in the national title game, a reporter asked Day about his relationship with Holtz.

“Speaking of that, I’m just curious, have you and Lou Holtz ever talk since then, either patching things up or comments between you two,” the reporter asked.

“No,” Day said bluntly.

Ahead of the College Football Playoff, Holtz predicted Ohio State would lose to Tennessee. Now his beloved Irish are set to go up against his new rival.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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