Ohio State head coach Ryan Day may not have a national title ring to wear yet, but he’s still had a pretty good run with the Buckeyes as the man calling the shots. In fact, Day has made the College Football Playoff three out of four years, has one Big Ten championship, and a CFP National Championship game appearance.
His predecessor, Urban Meyer, also had quite the tenure in Columbus, having won the first ever College Football Playoff national championship, two Big Ten titles, and garnering appearances in two College Football Playoffs.
That means Day, just in his fifth full season, has more CFP appearances than Meyer did in the five seasons the playoff was in place during his time (didn’t begin until the 2014 season).
And now, if things hold true on Saturday, Day may have one other stat over Meyer, and that’s becoming the leader in best all-time winning percentage by an Ohio State football head coach. Currently, Meyer is the leader with a record of 83-9 (.9022). Day currently sits just behind with a record of 55-6 (.9016) after the win last week over Michigan State. A victory over Minnesota at home would put him at .9032 and slightly above Meyer for the all-time lead.
Now, that’s all fine and great, but of course, the stat that most fans aren’t happy about with Day is the record against Michigan. While Meyer never lost to That Team Up North in seven tries, Day has a 1-2 record with losses in two-straight. Those sad tales have also kept OSU from heading to Indianapolis and winning a Big Ten championship during that time.
This is also like measuring a snowfall before the storm is over. Day could very well win this week vs. Minnesota, then lose again to Michigan next week and fall back below Meyer with a .889 winning percentage with a 56-7 record. The postseason would also factor in.
In fact, without getting into the math, Ohio State would have to win out and take home a national title for Day to continue to have the edge of Meyer in winning percentage when the curtain comes down on the 2023 season.
We’ll all be rejoicing if that happens, even Meyer himself.
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