What's at stake for Ryan Day, Ohio State against Michigan

The past three seasons have been a whirlwind of frustration for the Buckeyes. Each loss to Michigan has come with a new layer of sting. In 2021, it was Michigan’s physicality in the trenches, overwhelming Ohio State in a snowy showdown.

In 2022, it was explosive plays and an inability to stop Michigan's relentless rushing attack in Columbus. Last season, Michigan proved it could win no matter the venue, beating Ohio State at "The Big House."

These losses haven’t just been defeats; they’ve been turning points. Ohio State’s program, once synonymous with winning, has faced questions about toughness, culture and leadership.

Michigan's wins, though tainted by the sport's biggest sign-stealing scandal, have sparked calls for change within Ohio State. Even former Buckeye players have urged the program to reflect and consider leadership adjustments. For a team used to setting the standard, the sting of being second best in its most heated rivalry is unbearable.

First-year Ohio State QB Will Howard, a transfer from Kansas State, gets it.

"This one is for the guys who came back. This one is for Buckeye Nation," he said Saturday about the upcoming game against Michigan.  

For head coach Ryan Day, who is 66-9 overall but 1-3 against Michigan, this game may be the most significant of his career. Despite an impressive overall record and three playoff appearances, his legacy is becoming intertwined with his performance against Michigan. Fair or not, Ohio State fans judge their coach by one metric: how well he fares against the Wolverines. Three losses in a row have led some to question if Day is the man to restore the Buckeyes’ glory.

Motivated by those losses, Ohio State went all-in on NIL in the offseason.  "Buoyed by a name, image and likeness war chest this year of $20 million, according to [Ohio State Ross], the Buckeyes struck gold in the transfer portal," ESPN's Jake Trotter wrote in August. Among the additions was former Alabama safety Caleb Downs, who returned a punt 79 yards for a TD in Saturday's 38-15 win over Indiana.

From the locker room to the fan base, Ohio State enters this game united by a common goal: to end the streak and reclaim the rivalry. The players have heard the criticism. They’ve felt the weight of expectations. But adversity has a way of forging resilience. This team isn’t just playing for a title or a trophy — it is playing for each other, for their school and for the Buckeye Nation that bleeds Scarlet and Gray.

As the clock ticks down to kickoff, the stakes couldn’t be clearer. All that stands in Ohio State's way now is Michigan — the team that has haunted it for three straight seasons. On Saturday, the Buckeyes have a chance to rewrite the narrative, restore their dominance and remind everyone why "The Game" is the greatest rivalry in sports.

This isn’t just football. This is Ohio State’s moment of redemption.