Ryan Day’s Stunning Admission Reignites the Narrative That He ‘Was Born on Third Base’ and Simply Inherited a Powerhouse at Ohio State
Ryan Day has been at the center of one of college football’s most persistent narratives—one that suggests he was handed the keys to a luxury sports car and merely asked not to crash it. The idea that Day “was born on third base” has followed him since he took over the Ohio State football program, and his recent comments have done little to dispel that notion. Instead, his admission has only poured fuel on the fire, giving critics more ammunition to claim that he’s merely a caretaker of a program he didn’t build.
It’s a storyline that has followed him ever since Urban Meyer, the architect of Ohio State’s modern dominance, retired and passed the baton to him. And despite multiple Big Ten championships, College Football Playoff appearances, and an impressive overall record, the critics have remained relentless. Every loss to Michigan, every postseason shortcoming, and every moment where the Buckeyes fail to meet their lofty expectations is used as evidence that Day is merely riding the coattails of what Meyer built.
But is that really fair? Or is Day being unfairly judged by a standard that would make it impossible for any coach to truly win over the skeptics?
Ryan Day’s Admission Adds More Fuel to the Fire
Recently, Day made an admission that, to his critics, might as well have been a confession. He acknowledged that when he took over Ohio State, the program was already in an elite position—something that few would dispute. But by openly stating it, he inadvertently reinforced the very narrative that has been used to diminish his accomplishments.
This statement plays right into the hands of those who believe Day’s success is more about inheriting a well-oiled machine than his own coaching acumen. From the moment he stepped into the head coaching role, he had five-star talent across the board, a winning culture already established, and a recruiting pipeline that had been meticulously cultivated by Meyer.
The problem for Day is that the perception of him as a coach who “was born on third base” has been amplified by recent struggles. While his record remains strong, he has yet to capture the ultimate prize—a national championship. And worse yet, he has now lost to Michigan in three consecutive seasons, something that would have been unthinkable during Meyer’s tenure.
Why the ‘Born on Third Base’ Narrative Exists
The phrase “born on third base” is often attributed to Barry Switzer, who once used it to describe people who inherit success rather than earn it. In the case of Ryan Day, it implies that he didn’t have to build Ohio State into a powerhouse—it was already one when he arrived.
Urban Meyer had transformed Ohio State into a juggernaut, leading the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2014 and making them a fixture in the College Football Playoff conversation. He recruited at an elite level, developed NFL-caliber talent at an unprecedented rate, and reestablished Ohio State as the dominant force in the Big Ten.
When Meyer stepped down in 2018, Day didn’t take over a rebuilding project. He inherited a team that was already stocked with blue-chip recruits, a staff full of top-tier assistants, and a program that had been meticulously built to compete for national titles.
For his first few years, Day seemed to be proving the doubters wrong. He led Ohio State to the College Football Playoff in his first full season as head coach in 2019, then guided the Buckeyes to the national championship game in 2020. Even in 2021, after losing Justin Fields to the NFL, he still managed to keep Ohio State in the playoff hunt.
But then, the losses to Michigan started piling up. And for Ohio State fans, nothing is more unforgivable than losing to “That Team Up North.”
The Michigan Problem: A Defining Issue for Ryan Day
In many ways, Ryan Day’s legacy at Ohio State may ultimately be defined by his struggles against Michigan. The rivalry is the measuring stick by which Buckeye coaches are judged, and right now, Day is failing the test.
Urban Meyer never lost to Michigan. Jim Tressel dominated the Wolverines. Even John Cooper, who had a stellar career at Ohio State, is largely remembered for his inability to consistently beat Michigan.
For Day, the last three seasons have been brutal. In 2021, Ohio State was physically dominated by Michigan, leading many to question whether the Buckeyes had lost their edge. In 2022, Michigan did it again, this time in Columbus, raising serious concerns about the direction of the program. And then came 2023, a game where Ohio State had a chance to erase the doubts—but instead, they lost again.
Each Michigan loss has added more fuel to the narrative that Day isn’t the right man for the job. Critics argue that he inherited a program designed to beat Michigan but has failed to uphold that standard.
Recruiting and Development: Is Day Keeping Up?
One of Urban Meyer’s greatest strengths was his ability to recruit at an elite level. He brought in top-five recruiting classes year after year and developed those players into NFL stars.
Day has continued to recruit well, but there are signs that Ohio State is losing ground in some key areas. While the Buckeyes continue to bring in highly ranked players, their development—particularly along the offensive and defensive lines—has come into question. Michigan, by contrast, has built a tough, physical team that has overwhelmed Ohio State in the trenches.
In the past, Ohio State dominated the Big Ten with superior athleticism and skill players. But as Michigan has shifted the rivalry back in its favor, it’s become clear that the Buckeyes may need to rethink their approach.
Does Ryan Day Deserve More Credit?
For all the criticism Ryan Day faces, it’s worth asking whether he is judged too harshly. His overall record is outstanding, and he has kept Ohio State firmly in the national title conversation every year. Most programs would love to have a coach with Day’s level of success.
The challenge is that Ohio State isn’t “most programs.” The expectations in Columbus are sky-high, and simply being good isn’t enough. The Buckeyes expect to beat Michigan. They expect to win Big Ten titles. And they expect to compete for national championships.
Day has kept Ohio State competitive, but in the eyes of many fans, he hasn’t done enough to prove that he can elevate the program beyond what he inherited. And every time he acknowledges the advantages he had when taking over, it only strengthens the argument that he’s merely a caretaker rather than a true program-builder.
What’s Next for Ryan Day?
As Ohio State looks ahead, Ryan Day faces a critical juncture in his coaching career. The 2024 season will be pivotal in determining his long-term future with the Buckeyes. If he can finally break through and win a national championship, much of the criticism will fade. But if he loses to Michigan again or falls short in the postseason, the pressure will only intensify.
There’s also the looming reality of an expanded College Football Playoff, which will give Ohio State more opportunities to compete for a title. But with greater opportunity comes greater scrutiny—every loss will be magnified, and the expectations will only grow.
At some point, Ryan Day will have to prove that he isn’t just maintaining what Urban Meyer built, but that he’s capable of taking Ohio State to new heights. Until then, the narrative that he “was born on third base” will continue to follow him.
And with every Michigan loss, every missed playoff opportunity, and every comment that acknowledges the advantage he inherited, that perception will only grow stronger.
Final Thoughts
Ryan Day’s admission about inheriting an elite program was honest—but it also played right into the hands of his critics. Whether fair or not, the narrative that he “was born on third base” has stuck, and it will take more than regular-season wins to change it.
At Ohio State, the expectations are clear: beat Michigan, win Big Ten titles, and compete for national championships. Until Day proves he can consistently deliver on all three, the questions about whether he was the right hire—and whether he can truly elevate the Buckeyes—will remain.
His legacy is still being written, but in the high-stakes world of college football, perception can often become reality. And right now, Ryan Day is fighting against a perception that refuses to go away.
