Jerod Smalley commentary: Ohio State's Ryan Day dilemma

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ryan Day’s Ohio State program, as it is currently constructed, cannot beat Michigan.

Ryan Day’s Ohio State program, as it is currently constructed, can win the national championship.

They’re both true. And that’s why the modern OSU program could not be in a weirder state.

Let’s start with Day’s future as coach and the program’s short-term goals.

National signing day is Wednesday.

Playoff pairings are announced Sunday.

Making a move right now doesn’t help this team or the program in the short term.

Day has $37 million reasons not to resign, and Ohio State paying him $37 million to go away hurts NIL resources and the school at large.

They’re stuck with each other for the moment. In a way, they’re together “for the children.”

In Day’s defense, he didn’t throw two irrational interceptions Saturday in a 13-10 loss to the Wolverines. He didn’t miss tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He didn’t miss two reasonable (more like gimme) field goals. His players did that. If any of those things happened, we’re talking about how Ryan Day finally got Michigan off his back.

For people saying OSU has the most talent in the country … do they? The offensive line development continues to lag, and despite the glimmer of hope at end of the Penn State game, you can also cite the performances against Nebraska and Michigan and wonder how the Penn State game happened.  Injuries to Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin are certainly an explanation for the struggles, but both of them were transfers. In terms of linemen OSU recruited and developed, that development has yet to materialize in the most physical moments.

The defense has consistently folded in fourth quarters. On Saturday, Michigan had the ball 13 MINUTES of the fourth quarter! In fact, Michigan has not punted in the fourth quarter in any of the past four meetings, all Michigan wins. The young men, many of whom are now paid like professionals, can handle the criticism. They’re likely harder on themselves than any outside observer will ever be. They want to be great and certainly work like they’re chasing greatness.

They have some elite individuals on the roster, but as a team they’re unwilling to dictate the terms of a game. That’s a coaching flaw. You’re allowed to throw 60 passes if it’s the best way to move the ball with your best talent. Doing otherwise is stubbornness at best and ego at worst. No one cares who rushes for more yards. That’s not how they keep score, and if they did Army would win the national title most years. Just trying to run the ball to prove a point when it does not play to your strengths seems like a bold strategy. People only care that you score one more point than the opponent.

Now … here is why Ohio State fans should still be optimistic. These setbacks happen to teams at all levels, and good NFL teams can finish 9-8 in the regular season. They lose, reset and go again. And with the new College Football Playoff, with 12 teams receiving invites starting this year, you can achieve the biggest goal in the sport without beating your rival or winning every game along the way. That was not the case in the 1990s and Ohio State coach John Cooper endured the wrath of those results. OSU clearly is desperate to win every game it plays, and in particular against the rivals from Ann Arbor. But In the modern game there are other avenues to win at the highest level.

Should fans, boosters, players coaches and administrators be frustrated? Without question. Expectations are not being met, and OSU’s leadership in the biggest regular season game of any season is failing.

Being a real fan means you’re willing to wear disappointment to enjoy the good times. And, man, Buckeyes fans are carrying that weight like a boat anchor. However, no program in America has won more consistently for more than six decades than Ohio State. Disappointments are still far less frequent at OSU than almost anywhere else.

Ohio State’s leadership supports Day. He is not getting fired. He also has to know he’s lost a major bloc of the fan base. He will have another opportunity to prove doubters wrong. And those doubters have the right to remain doubtful.

Dilemma, indeed.

Jerod Smalley, anchor of First at 4 and NBC4 at 5, was NBC4's sports director from 2006 to '23.