Ryan Day on loss vs. Oregon: ‘We’re going to own it’

Ryan Day and his Ohio State team aren’t shying away from criticism following their heartbreaking loss to Oregon inside Autzen Stadium over the weekend.

One point was all that separated the Buckeyes from the Ducks, but it was all that Dan Lanning’s team needed to secure their biggest win under the young Oregon leader. Afterwards, Day was candid during his post-game press conference, elaborating on why Ohio State will own the loss, and it’ll make them better in the long run.

“Couldn’t quite get the stops we needed to and couldn’t finish it,” Day said, following Ohio State’s loss in Eugene while speaking with the media. “We talk about leaving no doubt and not coming down to one play, and that’s what happened in this game.

“We can sit here and talk about one play here, one play there, or complain about a call, but we’re not going to do that. We’re going to own it, and we’ve got to get it fixed.”

Due to the fact that Oregon and Ohio State are conference foes now, and the expanded College Football Playoff, there’s a solid shot the Buckeyes could get to face the Ducks again. Additionally, their rematch likely wouldn’t come on the Ducks home field, which could work to Day’s team’s advantage.

It certainly stings to feel the pain of a loss, but Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes know it’s not the nail in the coffin it used to be in college football. The program still has all of their goals in front of them, and their disappointment against Oregon might refocus them and lead them where they need to go to reach them.

Ryan Day provides injury update on Josh Simmons, others

Meanwhile, Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons will likely miss the remainder of the 2024 season after being carted off the field against Oregon on Saturday, according to Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day.

Simmons’ injury is a massive blow to the offensive line, Simmons is one of a few Ohio State players to be hurt during before the game ended. Day gave an initial update to his injured players during his postgame press conference.

“The injury to Josh Simmons hurt,” Day told reporters postgame. “And Zen [Michalski] did a good job of coming in and competing. Tegra [Tshabola] went down for a little bit there, and so Austin [Siereveld] had to go in. I thought those guys competed. 

“I hope to get the update on Simmons, but it doesn’t look great in terms of him being able to come back this season. So that’s a that’s a big hit for us. But i thought those guys came in and competed in the game, so we’ll have to get all that identified figure out you know exactly what happened to Will Kacmarek and go back to work next week.”

While Simmons was unable to return to the game, starting right guard Tshabola did. As for Kacmarek, he came out of the game after hauling in a 32-yard reception on the Buckeyes’ opening touchdown drive. Day did not have an update for him at the time. 

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this article.