Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer Claims Major Ryan Day Criticism ‘Couldn’t Be More Wrong’

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has taken some serious criticisms over the past few seasons.

Losing three straight games to your arch-rival is certainly the main factor there - but to any fans alleging that Day simply "doesn't care," Ohio State star Jack Sawyer has a clear message.

That specific line of criticism couldn't be more wrong.

During Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday, the Buckeyes' all-conference defensive end defended his head coach while also putting some of the blame onto himself and other OSU players.

"A bunch of junk came out after we lost to those guys a couple of times, about him not caring, which couldn’t be more wrong,” Sawyer said. “He does get unfairly criticized at times, but he knows what he signed up to do and we all signed up to do the same thing and we’ve fallen short as well.

"If anything, it doesn’t come back on him, it comes back on us as players."

Sawyer, who recorded 6.5 sacks and 48 tackles (10 for loss) in 2023, feels he let not only Day but the city of Columbus down after failing to defeat Michigan in his first three attempts.

"I felt like I let not only Ryan Day down, but I let the city down," Sawyer said. "We all feel the same way, too. We weren't going to leave here without having one more shot at doing this the right way."

Considered preseason Big Ten favorites by many in the college football world, Ohio State's No. 1 goal this coming season will be snapping its longest losing streak to Michigan since the mid-1990s.

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