Ryan Day says Ohio State has 'to make some hard decisions' after collapse vs. Texas

Ohio State coach Ryan Day is ready to “make some hard decisions” after his team’s shocking loss to Texas on Saturday. Despite leading the Longhorns by 20 points in the fourth quarter, Ohio State gave up 21 unanswered points to lose the contest.

It was a stunning defeat, one that resulted in Ohio State losing its No. 1 ranking in the AP poll. The team dropped down to No. 6, with Texas claiming the No. 1 spot after the victory.

On Tuesday, Day expressed frustration his team couldn’t close out the game in the final quarter, per ESPN.

“We had an opportunity certainly to finish the game and knock them out there in the third quarter,” Day said. “It didn’t happen. Then we lost momentum and couldn’t get it back.”

“We had an opportunity certainly to finish the game and knock them out there in the third quarter,” Day said. “It didn’t happen. Then we lost momentum and couldn’t get it back.”

While it was a disappointing result, Day managed to find a reason for optimism moving forward. The coach believes Saturday’s loss will force Ohio State to address the issue now, and not at a point where a loss results in the team’s season ending prematurely.

“If we win that game, then we’re not probably having those conversations,” Day said. “So as much as this hurts and is miserable, we have to move forward with it.

“And the plan is to be a better, stronger team … and making sure that as we get ourselves in that situation again, we’re able to finish the game the way we should.”

“If we win that game, then we’re not probably having those conversations,” Day said. “So as much as this hurts and is miserable, we have to move forward with it.

“And the plan is to be a better, stronger team … and making sure that as we get ourselves in that situation again, we’re able to finish the game the way we should.”

Ohio State actually had a chance to put points on the board in the final quarter. With a little over four minutes to play, Buckeyes kicker Connor Hawkins missed a 45-yard field goal that would have put the team up two scores. That deficit may have been too much for Texas to overcome at that time in the game.

But Hawkins’ miss opened the door for Texas to claim the lead. It took the team 12 plays, but they got it done, scoring with just 25 seconds left on the clock. That wasn’t enough time for Ohio State to answer back.

While Day didn’t outline specific “hard decisions” he plans to make moving forward, he won’t have much time to get things right. Starting in Week 5, Ohio State will take on four ranked opponents in a span of five weeks. The team’s performance in those games could determine whether the team earns a spot in the CFP at the end of the regular season.