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The Ohio State football program is fresh off a national championship win over Notre Dame. Still, Michigan fans won’t let Ryan Day forget about his regular season loss to the Wolverines.
The head coach was in New York City this week to make an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. He spoke on his team’s incredible playoff run a day after the Buckeyes‘ title celebration.
.@ryandaytime reacts to @OhioStateFB winning the College Football Playoff National Championship! #FallonTonight #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/L7R7SY1O2j
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) January 28, 2025
Ohio State was dominant in the postseason, winning four straight matchups over Top 10 teams. They averaged more than 36 points a game in that run. Each win came by double digits as they became the first champ in the 12-team playoff era.
It represented a stark contrast to what was seen in the squad’s rivalry matchup with the Wolverines. The Buckeyes scored just 10 points in that season-ending loss. The setback kept the program out of the Big Ten title game while eliminating its chances of a first-round playoff bye.
It did not, however, keep the Buckeyes out of the College Football Playoff completely, leading to that four-game streak in which Ohio State lived up to its billing as the nation’s most talented team. Michigan fans are now leaning heavily on that regular season win to cope with their rival’s status as national champions.
While in NYC, Ryan Day stopped into Smith & Wollensky steakhouse to enjoy a meal. Before he was able to step foot inside the restaurant, he was greeted by a Michigan fan.
Go blue!!!!!!!! Extend him!!!! @stoolpresidente pic.twitter.com/Jmt0jFh9vz
— Jake (@strudelicous) January 28, 2025
The fan approached Day covertly to hide his Wolverine affiliation. He asked the coach for a photo before hitting him with a four-bomb.
Michigan has now beaten Ohio State four times in a row. Just last year, it was the Wolverines that hoisted the championship trophy. They were able to again grab rivalry bragging rights, which many Buckeyes will gladly trade for the national title.
Ryan Day was able to turn the tables after that disappointing defeat. Ohio State finished the year at 14-2 while Michigan went 8-5. UM is holding on tighter than ever to that rivalry win. This likely won’t be the last run-in Day sees with the Wolverines this offseason.