Ryan Day Explains Shocking First-Half Field Goal Decision v. Michigan

The Ohio State Buckeyes fell to the Michigan Wolverines in a heartbreaker on Saturday afternoon, dropping their first game of the season and their third consecutive to their archrivals.

One of the most contentious aspects of that defeat was head coach Ryan Day’s choice to run out the clock at the end of the first half and settle for a 52-yard field goal.

Day chose to use nearly 40 seconds of game time before calling a timeout and attempting the field goal, which sailed wide left and sent the Buckeyes into the locker room trailing 14-10.

After the game, Day spoke with the media and defended his judgment.

“Well, I felt like at 52 yards, it was worth a field goal there,” Day went on to say. “It was either fourth and two or fourth and three. You receive no points if you don’t get the fourth down. I thought it was worth the chance to kick the field goal there. That seemed like the appropriate decision to me.”

That choice, clearly, did not sit well with fans or commentators, many of whom thought that day should have been more aggressive, with a touchdown and a field goal in his pocket as a backup plan.

To be fair, there is something to be said. After all, 40 seconds is an eternity in game time, and you have a chance to bring your kicker closer for a last-ditch kick.

Day, on the other hand, has a distinct perspective.

“I thought that was the right thing to do to get some points at the end of the half, especially starting on the 2-yard line,” said Day. “I thought it was the right decision.” You’ll feel amazing if you make it. You don’t if you don’t.”

The Buckeyes would eventually lose 30-24, but if they had hit the field goal, they would have been in a much better position to tie the game on their final drive.