COLUMBUS — It’s mostly coincidental, maybe a bit poetic, that these moments for Ryan Day have all happened after a loss to Oregon.
In 2021, 2024, and now 2026, an Ohio State loss to the Ducks has left Day at a crossroads with his defensive coordinator. Kerry Coombs got demoted, Jim Knowles got “re-engineered,” and now it’s Matt Patricia’s turn.
But Day is using a different tack this time around.
Indulge me in a brief history lesson.
Here’s what Day said about the defense after a 35-28 loss to Oregon in which Coombs’ defense allowed 10 explosive plays:
“Now, it’s not just a single game; it’s a little bit of a pattern. We took a long, hard look at the last 48 hours and what’s going on, and we’re certainly gonna make some adjustments here, not only how we’re attacking other offenses, but structurally how we’re doing our day-to-day operations.”
Here’s what Day said about the defense after a 32-31 loss to Oregon in which Knowles’ defense allowed 10 explosive plays:
“I’m not happy with anything right now, but certainly we want to get more pressure on the quarterback. There’s no question. It’s the coaches’ job to make sure we put our players in an environment where they can be successful … I think it’s a combination of scheme and coaching.”
Here’s what Day said this week after a 41-28 loss to Oregon in which Patricia’s defense allowed 10 explosive plays:
“The first thing is the explosive plays the last two weeks have been glaring. It’s put us in a bad spot … But I know the type of coach Matt is, and I know he’s working his tail off to work with the staff to get this thing right. I believe he can do it. I’ve seen him do it before.”
See? Little different.