Ryan Day Looks to Silence Doubters Again as Feud with Lou Holtz Reignites Ahead of Title Game
As Ohio State prepares to face Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 20, 2025, the long-standing feud between Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz has resurfaced. This time, Day is in a prime position to prove his critics wrong once and for all.
The animosity dates back to September 2023 when Holtz, appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, questioned Ohio State’s physicality and toughness under Day’s leadership. Holtz boldly predicted a Notre Dame victory, claiming that Ohio State lacked the grit to win against elite competition. “You look at Coach Day… everybody that beats him does so because they are more physical than Ohio State,” Holtz said.
Day, however, had the last word that season. In a thrilling 17-14 victory over the Fighting Irish, Ohio State not only proved their mettle but also showcased their resilience in one of the most memorable finishes in recent college football history. Following the game, Day delivered an impassioned postgame statement, defending his program: “I’d like to know where Lou Holtz is right now. What he said about our team, I cannot believe. This is a tough team right here.”
Since that moment, Ohio State has only solidified its reputation under Day’s leadership. The Buckeyes have now earned their second CFP title game appearance in four years, a testament to the program’s strength and consistency.
When asked this week if he had reconciled with Holtz, Day curtly replied, “No.” The two have not spoken since the infamous comments, and Day seems determined to let the results on the field speak louder than words.
This championship clash gives Day the opportunity to cement his legacy and silence lingering doubts. While Notre Dame seeks its first national title since 1988, Ohio State is vying for its first since 2014, with Day at the helm.
Given his success against top-tier programs and his fiery response to critics, Ryan Day enters the title game with momentum and an edge. If his Buckeyes deliver another dominant performance, Day will have done more than just secure a national championship—he’ll have written the final chapter in a rivalry he never asked for but has handled with unflinching resolve.
