The Week 7 college football slate did not disappoint, especially when Ohio State football visited Autzen Stadium to face the Oregon Ducks in a top-five clash. The Big Ten battle contained nearly 1,000 yards of offense, three fourth-down conversions, and a walk-off Oregon win on the final play from scrimmage. With just a tad under two minutes remaining in regulation, Ohio State had an opportunity to take the lead, trailing 32-31, but ran out of time despite finishing the matchup with one unused timeout.
During the final drive, Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard linked up with pass-catcher Jeremiah Smith for a significant gain. Still, the play did not stand following an offensive pass interference call. The head referee started the clock after OSU got set on offense for the ensuing play, a common practice that seemed foreign to Howard and head coach Ryan Day, with the clock moving from 0:28 to 0:15 in between plays. College football fans were furious with Day following Ohio State football’s brutal loss, taking aim at the leadman for his poor clock management during the final offensive drive of the contest.
Ohio State Football’s Ryan Day Clock Management Leaves Fans Dumbfounded
According to Radio show host Seth Staskey of WKKX:
Ryan Day didn’t know the timing rule about the clock winding on the OPI. Unbelievable! And this loss honestly means very little in the new world of college football. Every goal except an undefeated season is in front of OSU.
Per the college football rulebook, the game clock continues to tick following an offensive pass interference. With a timeout remaining and Ohio State football sitting at the Oregon 43-yard line, Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day did not use his team’s final timeout or rush his signal-caller Will Howard but instead let a significant portion of time drain off the clock. Facing a 2nd-and-25, Howard threw an incomplete pass, with the ball not hitting the turf until 15 seconds remained in regulation. On the final play, trailing 32-31 and outside field goal range, Howard scrambled for 12 yards, but the clock expired before the Buckeyes could burn their final timeout.
Ohio State football’s loss will not eliminate them from the College Football Playoff, with the field expanding to 12 teams and their lone loss coming against an undefeated and highly ranked Oregon Ducks squad. However, Ryan Day moves to 1-7 against top-five opponents, and football fans blame Saturday’s narrow defeat on the frontman:
First and 10 at the Oregon 28 and you somehow lose the game. Ryan Day’s America.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) October 13, 2024
Don't let Will Howard sliding the clock to 0:00 distract you from the fact that Ryan Day kept throwing the ball in FG range with a timeout.
— #DoomSayer (@MrBill11) October 13, 2024
Ryan day serious? U know with 6 seconds left you can’t run another play
— year 22 (@johnrivers131) October 13, 2024
Ryan Day might still be a war criminal as well for that clock managememt
— Sir Yacht (@SirYacht_) October 13, 2024
Can’t put Jeremiah Smith as the single X in that late game, last drive situation. Too easy to double!
Put him in a bunch and hit whoever has 1 on 1 coverage out of him and Egbuka!
Will Howard, Ryan Day and Chip Kelly all played CRUCIAL roles in those late game clock and…
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) October 13, 2024
If I had two nickels for every time Ryan Day mismanaged the clock down by 1 point and only needed a field goal, I would only have two nickels but weird it has happened twice now.
— wes (@wesj_42) October 13, 2024
Not SEC related but that’s fireable clock management from Ryan Day.
— Barstool SEC (@SECBarstool) October 13, 2024
Ryan Day melting under pressure in big moments. Again.
Almost like it's a theme. How does he not know the clock will start on the penalty? How does he not tell Howard to chuck it out of bounds after a beat if nothing is open?
Not championship level coaching.
— Jonathan Smith (@DegenerateTBone) October 13, 2024
Will Howard sliding down was less egregious than Will Howard and Ryan Day not understanding the clock starts after an offensive penalty.
— Jeremy Marks-Peltz (@JMP1063) October 13, 2024
Terrible clock management by Will Howard and Ryan Day.
Ohio State loses a heartbreaker against Oregon. Wow.
— Notre Dame Recruiting (@NDrecruiting01) October 13, 2024
Ryan Day has never won a big game in his entire life
— Gridiron Gage (@gridirongage) October 13, 2024
I want to know why Ryan day has so many supporters when we never look ready in big games? Can someone pls tell me why he does?
— 𝙻̷𝚞̷𝚜̷ 📯 (@Theylovelus) October 13, 2024
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