Fans express strong disapproval of Ryan Day and Ohio State University’s poor offensive performance during their Cotton Bowl defeat against Missouri.
The No. 7 Ohio State football team faced a significant setback on Friday, failing to score a touchdown for the first time in seven years in their 14-3 defeat to the No. 9 Missouri Tigers at the Cotton Bowl.
Both quarterbacks, Devin Brown (who left early due to an ankle injury) and Lincoln Kienholz, struggled, completing only 10 of 23 passes for a total of 106 yards. The running game was equally challenging, managing just 2.9 yards per carry with 33 yards gained out of 97 attempts. Ohio State only found the end zone in one of its 11 drives, leaving eight consecutive drives empty after an initial first-quarter field goal.
Following the game, fans and analysts directed criticism at Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who has been a consistent target of scrutiny over the years. One major point of contention is Day’s team’s struggles against top-tier opponents.
The Buckeyes have suffered three consecutive losses to Michigan since 2021, with Ohio State entering each game as the No. 2 team in the nation. Two of these losses resulted in Ohio State being excluded from the College Football Playoff, including the current season. Under Day’s leadership, postseason success has proven elusive, marked by losses in the CFP semifinals in 2019 and 2022 and a lopsided defeat to Alabama in the 2020 final.
While the 2021 campaign ended on a positive note with a Rose Bowl win over Utah, the conclusion of this year was notably bleak, resembling the offensive struggles not seen since the 2016 CFP semifinals against Clemson, where Ohio State was shut out 31-0. Notably, this marked the lowest scoring output for Ohio State since that Clemson game.
It’s fair to note that Ohio State faced challenges entering the Cotton Bowl, missing key players like wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who opted out, presumably in anticipation of declaring for the 2024 NFL draft. The departure of starting quarterback Kyle McCord to Syracuse, wideout Julian Fleming’s transfer portal move, and running back Chip Trayanum’s departure to Kentucky also contributed to the team’s shorthanded situation. However, despite the remaining talent, Ohio State failed to score any points in the final three quarters, prompting widespread criticism of Day and the Buckeyes’ performance.
