Will Howard and OSU avoid upset against Raiola, Nebraska as fans debate Ryan Day's future | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day on the field for warmups prior to a game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images

Despite beating the Nebraska Cornhuskers 21-17 on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, many fans took to social media to call for the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes to fire head coach Ryan Day.

Ohio State took a 21–17 lead in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass from quarterback Will Howard to Quinshon Judkins, and the defense sealed the deal, as Jordan Hancock intercepted Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola with just 1:16 left.

The Buckeyes kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive by improving to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play, while the Huskers fell to 5-3 with a 2-3 conference mark. Nebraska is now 0-27 against ranked teams dating back to 2016.

Over parts of seven seasons at OSU, Day has compiled a 62-9 record, but some members of the Buckeyes fan base suggested Saturday that they were fed up with the team not performing at the consistently high level expected of them:

Jonathan Smith @DegenerateTBone

You lose on the road, have two weeks to think about it, show up for homecoming and play Nebraska like that?
Ryan Day isn’t having it. I don’t know what other information we need here.

Jake @JSamulakCLE

I would legit fire Ryan Day after this game. How much more underachievement do we have to see to realize this guy is a piece of shit? Who has ever had so much talent and performed so poorly year after year?
He is a fraudster!!!!

Nick Davis @NickEDavis

I’m officially on the “if they fire Ryan Day, who would they get to replace him?” argument.
I don’t care! That’s not my job to find out!
Just like Ryan Day’s job is not to be a terrible head coach, and he’s failing!

Chad Seisnueve @ChadSeisnueve

The end of the Ryan Day and Jim Knowles era has arrived

Billy M @BillyM_91

There have been many embarrassing Ryan Day games. This is near the top. Comical

Brennan powers @BrennanPowers17

This team is really so pathetic and soft. Ryan Day has destroyed the culture of Ohio State

OhioStateMan @deOSUman740

Ryan Day needs to go, but I don’t know who would replace him.

Cliff Paul Brander @ch0sen_truth

Ryan Day ruined Buckeye football culture. He has to go.

Ohio State led 14-3 about halfway through the second quarter thanks to touchdown passes of 40 and 60 yards, respectively, from quarterback Will Howard to Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith:

However, things started to go south from there, as the Buckeyes missed a 42-yard field goal with just over two minutes left in the half, allowing Nebraska to respond with a successful 54-yard field goal before advancing to the went to the locker room.

Coming out of the half, the Buckeyes allowed another field goal to cut the lead to 14-9, and their first three offensive series of the second half couldn’t have gone much worse.

Howard threw an interception when Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. caught an airborne pass and returned it to the OSU 7-yard line:

However, the defense saved Ohio State’s offense by stopping the Huskers on a fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line.

However, OSU went three and out on its next two drives, and Nebraska finally took advantage early in the fourth quarter when running back Dante Dowdell scored from one yard out. With a successful two-point conversion, Nebraska went up 17-14:

The pressure was firmly on the Buckeyes’ shoulders after Nebraska took the lead, but Howard came through in the clutch and orchestrated an eight-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a nine-yard touchdown pass to running back Quinshon Judkins to put OSU back to put. top:

While Day’s coaching has often been questioned in recent years, he has also been praised for his ability to bring big-name recruits and transfers to the program.

Two of the biggest additions during the offseason came through the transfer portal in Howard and Judkins, so it was fitting that they connected on the go-ahead touchdown.

Aside from the one major miscue, Howard had another strong game, going 13-of-16 for 221 yards with three touchdowns and one pick, but the defense was the biggest difference maker for OSU.

The Buckeyes held Nebraska to 273 total yards in the game, and quarterback Dylan Raiola struggled for the most part, going 21 of 32 for 152 yards with no touchdowns and the game-clinching interception for Hancock:

Although the Buckeyes fell to No. 1 Oregon in their last game and didn’t play near their best Saturday, it seems highly unlikely that Ohio State would achieve coaching status, meaning Day will almost certainly be at the helm for the crucial match next weekend. clashing with Penn State on the road.

Penn State entered Saturday with a perfect 6-0 record, and the winner of next week’s game against Ohio State will have the upper hand in the CFP race.