Even after winning a game against a top five team by 23 points, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day couldn’t avoid some pointed criticism.
In fact, the Buckeyes’ margin of victory was precisely why some people were angry at Day, who pushed for a late touchdown on a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Will Howard with 35 seconds remaining. Ohio State was up 31-15 before the Howard score, which put the finishing touches on a 38-15 win.
“We said leave no doubt,” Day said after the game. “These guys want to finish the game the right way. [Running back] TreVeyon [Henderson] did the right thing going down at the one-yard line. We ate up the clock. We don’t want to put the defense back out there. You just never know in games like this, it’s a top-five matchup. We wanted to finish it the right way and make sure that everybody knows that this is the Ohio State Buckeyes.”
While some fans and media thought it was a “classless” move by Day, a former player from Ohio State’s biggest rival disagrees.
Former Michigan tight end and current Big Ten Network color analyst Jake Butt defended Day on X/Twitter Sunday.
“I refuse to believe that the small but loud minority of people, who get mad about teams scoring late in games, actually represent a majority. Did we not all love Cignetti calling his shots? This is football, not a tea party. No one is owed anything. Period,” Butt said.
One of Butt’s followers made note that Indiana, down 31-7, drove the field to score, went for two and kicked onside, meaning the Hoosiers were still competing as if they had a chance.
“Exactly,” Butt responded.
Come Saturday, Butt and Day will not be on the same side of things when the Buckeyes take on Michigan in their annual rivalry game. Today though, they are unlikely allies.
Related: Indiana Journalists Are Very Mad At Ohio State Coach Ryan Day