Ryan Day seems to have a very selective memory. His Ohio State Buckeyes have not beaten the Michigan Wolverines since COVID, having lost all four of the most recent renditions of The Game. Ohio State may be 11-0 on the season and a lock for the College Football Playoff, but why is he saying something like this in a press conference? It should have Michigan fans feeling a certain way.
There is bulletin-board material, and there is what Day said at the podium with a big smirk on his face. "Like I say, fun is kicking ass, and that's what we want do on on Saturday." For the last four years, Day and Ohio State have done anything but that when taking on Michigan. Ohio State has been held under 30 points in each of their last four losses to Michigan. This year's game will be in Ann Arbor.
It may not be Michigan on Saturday, but somebody is going to humble this team in hilarious fashion.
“Like I say fun is kicking ass and that’s what we want to do on Saturday”
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) November 25, 2025
Ryan Day said the Buckeyes need to out there and “just win” this week.
He said the fun of coaching in this week comes in celebrating in the locker room and the team has a good bounce in their step. pic.twitter.com/r09ycddaCw
Through the first 13 weeks of the season, Ohio State's three best wins are over 8-3 Texas, 8-3 Washington and 7-4 Illinois. Michigan may very well be the best team Ohio State faces during the regular season. The two other undefeated teams in college football have better signature wins than Ohio State. Indiana beat Oregon by 10 points in Eugene. Texas A&M beat Notre Dame in South Bend.
To be smirking like this after how the last four rivalry games have all gone was certainly unexpected.
Michigan should use Ryan Day's disparaging comments to its advantage
Day's comments about Saturday run counter to what Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said. Moore spoke glowingly about the Ohio State offensive personnel. Although the Buckeyes do have one of the best offenses in the country, they have not played a defense like Michigan's up to this point. Outside of Texas, Washington and Illinois, Ohio State has played a lot of Purdues and UCLAs.
Let's make one thing perfectly clear about this year's rendition of The Game. If it devolves into a shootout, Ohio State is going to win it more often than not. However, with it being in The Big House and in the last weekend of November, a low-scoring affair may be in the Wolverines' cards here. Even in the post-Jim Harbaugh era, Michigan still has a great ethos of playing a physical brand of football.
Overall, you have to take everything one game at a time, especially at this stage of the college football season. Ohio State may be thinking of a College Football Playoff repeat. Michigan is thinking about getting five in a row past Ohio State. Should the Wolverines pull off the home upset, they will have an outside chance at making the playoff. What if they drew Ohio State again in the postseason?
For now, the Michigan football program should play this clip on infinite repeat to serve as motivation.