'Starts With Me,' Ryan Day Takes Blame for OSU's CFP Upset Loss vs. Miami

Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day took responsibility for the Buckeyes' slow start in their shocking, 24-14 upset loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday.

While discussing OSU's surprisingly early ouster from the CFP, Day told reporters, "We worked really hard ... to come out of the gates and win the first quarter, win the first half and be ready to go. I thought we had an excellent plan. But at the end of the day, we didn't get it done. That starts with me."

The Hurricanes took a 14-0 lead into halftime on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Mark Fletcher Jr. and a 72-yard pick six from Keionte Scott.

Ohio State answered with a touchdown in the third quarter and shrunk the deficit to 17-14 early in the fourth quarter, but the Buckeyes were unable to complete the comeback.

Despite never losing more than two games in a single season, questions persisted about Day and his long-term viability as Ohio State's head coach entering last season's CFP.

Day went into the CFP having lost a fourth consecutive rivalry game to Michigan, and there was speculation that he was perhaps on the hot seat.

Those talks were quickly quieted, though, when Day led Ohio State to four consecutive wins in the CFP, taking down Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame en route to a national title.

Day seemed to have the Buckeyes on track for back-to-back championships this season, as they started 12-0 and finally got the better of Michigan.

However, OSU was thoroughly outplayed by Indiana in a Big Ten Championship Game loss, and it happened again in Wednesday's loss to Miami.

Miami controlled the ball of offense by rushing for 153 yards, and the pass-rushing tandem of Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor made Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin uncomfortable throughout, as Sayin was sacked five times and threw two interceptions.

Few could have anticipated Ohio State exiting any earlier than the semifinals of the CFP, but one of the top contenders to win it all is already out of the running.

Day likely still has a grace period of sorts after winning a national title last season, but bowing out so unceremoniously this season will put added pressure on Day and the Buckeyes to bounce back in 2026.