Ryan Day’s national title ‘temporary pardon’ until next Michigan loss, per Ben Maller

Ryan Day was finally about to get the Ohio State Buckeyes over the hump and win their first National Championship in over a decade.

Despite reaching the peak of the sport, Fox Sports Radio host Ben Maller doesn’t expect the constant criticism that Day has received to stop anytime soon.

Day’s reputation has been a constant talking point heading into Monday’s matchup. Whether fair or unfair, the sixth-year head coach received the “can’t win the big one” label when it came to beating Michigan or winning in the College Football Playoff.

Most would assume that Ohio State’s national title win would go a long way in shifting that narrative. After all, a championship is the goal that every program in the country is working toward.

However, Maller shared a different opinion on his radio program, The Ben Maller Show, likening Day’s championship victory to a “temporary pardon” that will end should Ohio State lose to Michigan for the fifth consecutive year next season.

“What does this win do now for the much-maligned Ohio State football coach Ryan Day? What does this victory do?” asked Maller. “So Day, we all know because we talked about it after the Michigan game briefly, he had a toasty tushy. He had a toasty tushy after that game. This win is a nice fire extinguisher on the old hot seat for now.

“But I know the theme of the last 24 hours in Washington D.C. has been pardons. Everyone is getting a pardon. Preemptive pardons, all that. So this is like a pardon but it’s a temporary pardon. It’s a temporary pardon until the Buckeyes lose to the Wolverines again coming up in late 2025. And then we can get the laser printer and we’re back to square one.”

📺 @benmaller connects the dots from yesterday’s College Football Championship and Presidential Inauguration and what it means for Ryan Day’s future at Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/C4Rh5Wegrg

— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) January 21, 2025

Maller isn’t the only sports media personality who has pointed to Day’s lack of success against Michigan. Desmond Howard notably called out Ohio State fans on Monday’s edition of College GameDay for having a “psychotic obsession” with Michigan.

Maybe Maller is right and Day’s job still isn’t entirely safe even after his National Championship win. But on the surface, it sure seems like the radio host is diminishing Ohio State’s victory over Notre Dame as some small reprieve instead of the massive accomplishment that it would be considered for every other coach in the country.