Buckeyes Finally Break Through Against Michigan, But Ryan Day’s Eyes Are Still on the Bigger Prize
The celebration was loud, proud, and long overdue. After four straight years of heartbreak, Ohio State finally got the monkey off its back with a win over Michigan - its first since 2019. The postgame atmosphere at Michigan Stadium was electric, with Buckeye players and coaches soaking in a victory that had eluded them for far too long.
For head coach Ryan Day, this one carried weight. A lot of it.
While his overall record and recruiting success have never been in question, the inability to beat Michigan had become the one lingering asterisk on his résumé. That narrative shifted on Saturday.
But if you think Day is ready to exhale and take his foot off the gas, think again.
“He’s always on the chase,” said OSU co-captain Sonny Styles after the win. “As soon as we won the championship last year and came back in for our meetings to start the next season, you could tell he was already locked in, ready to get back to where we had just come from.”
Styles’ comments paint a clear picture of a coach - and a team - that isn’t satisfied with just checking one box. Beating Michigan was a major milestone, no doubt.
It was one of the team’s three stated goals heading into the season. But it’s also just one step in a larger journey.
“This game feels good,” Styles admitted. “It’s been a few years since we got this one, and it means a lot.
But now it’s about what’s next. We’ve got bigger goals ahead.”
One of those goals? A Big Ten championship - something Ohio State hasn’t claimed since 2020.
That opportunity comes next, and it comes fast. The Buckeyes will head to Indianapolis this Saturday night to face Indiana for the conference title.
For Day and his team, the mission is clear: keep climbing. Beating Michigan was a breakthrough, but the chase isn’t over. Not even close.