Will Howard, OSU avoid upset of Raiola, Nebraska as fans debate Ryan Day's future | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes on the field to warm up before a game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images

Despite defeating the Nebraska Cornhuskers 21-17 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, many fans took to social media to call on the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes to fire head coach Ryan Day.

Ohio State took a 21-17 lead in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass from quarterback Will Howard to Quinshon Judkins, and the defense sealed the deal when Jordan Hancock intercepted Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola with just 1:16 left.

The Buckeyes kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive by improving to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play, while the Huskers fell to 5-3 with a conference mark of 2-3 . Nebraska is now 0-27 against ranked teams from 2016.

Over parts of seven seasons at OSU, Day compiled a 62-9 record, but some members of the Buckeyes fan base suggested Saturday that they were fed up with the team not producing the consistently high level of performance expected of them became:

Jonathan Smith @Degenerated bone

You lose on the road, have two weeks to think about it, show up for the home game and play like that against Nebraska?
Ryan Day doesn't have it. I don't know what other information we need here.

Jake @JSamulakCLE

I would rightfully dismiss Ryan Day after this game. How much more underperformance do we need to see to realize this guy is trash? Who ever had so much talent and underperformed so badly year after year?
He is a fraudster!!!!

Nick Davis @NickEDavis

I'm officially over the question “If they fired Ryan Day, who would they replace him?” Argument.
I don't care! It's not my job to find out!
Just like Ryan Day's job is to not be a terrible head coach, and he fails at that!

Chad Seisnueve @Chad Seisnueve

The end of the Ryan Day and Jim Knowles era is upon us

Billy M @BillyM_91

There were a lot of embarrassing Ryan Day games. That's at the top. Funny

Brennan Powers @Brennan Powers17

This team is really so pathetic and soft. Ryan Day ruined Ohio State's culture

OhioStateMan @theOSUman740

Ryan Day has to go, but I don't know who would replace him.

Cliff Paul Burner @ch0sen_truth

Ryan Day ruined Buckeye football culture. He has to go.

Ohio State led 14-3 about midway through the second quarter thanks to touchdown passes of 40 and 60 yards from quarterback Will Howard to Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith:

Things went downhill from there, however, as the Buckeyes missed a 42-yard field goal with just over two minutes left before halftime, allowing Nebraska to respond with a successful 54-yard field goal before going in went to the locker room.

After halftime, the Buckeyes allowed another field goal to cut the lead to 14-9, and their first three offensive series of the second half couldn't have ended much worse.

Howard threw an interception when Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. caught an airmailed pass, and he returned it to the OSU 7-yard line:

However, the defense saved Ohio State's offense by stopping the Huskers with a four-and-goal at the 2-yard line.

However, OSU hit a three-pointer on the next two drives and Nebraska finally took advantage early in the fourth quarter when running back Dante Dowdell scored from one yard out. With a successful two-point conversion, Nebraska went up 17-14:

The pressure was heavily on the Buckeyes' shoulders after Nebraska took the lead, but Howard prevailed, orchestrating an eight-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a nine-yard touchdown pass to running back Quinshon Judkins, to bring OSU back above:

While Day's coaching has often been questioned in recent years, he has also been praised for his ability to attract top recruits and transfers to the program.

Two of the biggest additions of the offseason came through the transfer portal in Howard and Judkins, so it was only fitting that they met on the go-ahead touchdown.

Aside from the one big mistake, Howard had another strong game, going 13 of 16 for 221 yards with three touchdowns and a pick, but defense was the biggest difference for OSU.

The Buckeyes held Nebraska to 273 total yards in the game, and quarterback Dylan Raiola struggled mightily, going 21 of 32 for 152 yards with no touchdowns and the game-winning interception for Hancock:

Although the Buckeyes fell short in their last game against No. 1 Oregon and didn't have anywhere near their best performance on Saturday, it seems highly unlikely that Ohio State would appoint a coach, meaning Day is almost certainly at the helm for the key game Next weekend will clash with Penn State on the road.

Penn State entered Saturday with a perfect 6-0 record and the winner of next week's game against Ohio State will maintain the upper hand in the CFP race.

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