Ryan Day blew it with Kyle McCord ousting, offensive overhaul that came up short yet again versus Michigan

The sport’s most expensive roster was built to avoid a result like this.

An offseason overhaul that saw Ryan Day give up play-calling duties to his mentor Chip Kelly and aggressively pursue some of the nation’s top portal options — the No. 1 overall player in Caleb Downs, the No. 1 running back in Quinshon Judkins, for starters — should have managed more than 10 points in a losing effort against a 7-5 Michigan team. 

Everyone in the sport knew why Ohio State went on its offseason shopping spree. After watching its archrival Michigan win the national championship last season, Ohio State’s power players tried to do everything in their power to prevent it from happening again. They wanted that glory that comes with sitting atop the sport. The total price to try to ensure that was more than $20 million for this 2024 version of the Ohio State Buckeyes, according to athletic director Ross Bjork. Judkins, the transfer from Ole Miss, committed to Ohio State the night of Michigan’s national championship win, if it gives you any idea of the desperation to send a message. 

That included raiding the SEC for two first-team all-SEC players (Judkins, Downs) and a starting center (Seth McLaughlin). The Buckeyes also added the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit, Jeremiah Smith, a freak receiver who OSU had to fight Miami late to hold onto. 

But, perhaps, the most important decision Day made was jettisoning Kyle McCord, last year’s starting quarterback, in the favor of a transfer portal option that turned out to be Kansas State QB Will Howard. 

In a poetic sense, Saturday’s action showed how Day erred there. 

McCord was badly maligned last season as critics believed he was holding back OSU’s all-star cast which included first-round receiver Marvin…

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Author : John Talty

Publish date : 2024-12-01 16:56:00

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