Booger McFarland: Ohio State has 'lost their identity' vs. Michigan under Ryan Day

No. 1 Ohio State is the defending national champion and undefeated entering the final weekend of the regular season. In fact, the top-ranked Buckeyes (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) own college football’s longest active win streak with 15 consecutive victories dating back to start of last year’s College Football Playoff.

But the one glaring flaw on Ohio State’s otherwise perfect narrative is its inability to win The Game against hated rival Michigan. Entering Saturday’s 121st all-time meeting between the two Big Ten powers, which kicks off at Noon ET in Columbus, the 15th-ranked Wolverines (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) hold a commanding four-game win streak against the Buckeyes and sixth-year head coach Ryan Day.

In fact, Day’s 1-4 career record in The Game remains the lone deficiency on an otherwise sterling head coaching resume that includes owning college football’s best all-time winning percentage at 89% (81-10). During a segment between games Friday on ABC, ESPN analyst Booger McFarland suggested the reason for Day’s troubles with Michigan is Ohio State’s propensity to get away from its “identity” as a pass-first offense.

“Ryan Day has struggled in this rivalry mainly because, I think, in this game they’ve lost their identity. When the best players on your team are wide receivers, throw the football. Ryan Day, if you’re listening, throw the football tomorrow,” McFarland said during prior to ABC’s coverage of the Texas-Texas A&M game Friday night. “Throw it to (Carnell) Tate and throw it to Jeremiah Smith. Last year they tried to run between the tackles right at Mason Graham, the big defensive tackle that was drafted fifth overall by Cleveland.

“The game plan has to be that of a passing team tomorrow,” McFarland continued. “And I get it, there’s going to be snow flurries and it’s going to be nice and cold. But if you’re Ohio State, dictate the tempo of the game. Because, if (Day) doesn’t win this game tomorrow, even though he won the national championship last year, the noise will still be loud.”

That “noise” McFarland is referring to was the rampant hot seat speculation that plagued Day and the Buckeyes all last season. Of course, winning a College Football Playoff national championship goes a long way to quiet the critics.

Still, Buckeyes fans remain bitter over Day’s inability to win The Game, and if Ohio State’s perfect 2025 season gets derailed because of a fifth consecutive loss to Michigan, don’t be surprised when those hot seat rumors return with a vengeance.