Ohio State head coach Ryan Day may have just delivered the boldest statement of his career—and, in the process, may have reignited the most storied rivalry in college football with a firestorm of confidence. Speaking at a recent event with players and alumni, Day didn’t mince words when he addressed the Buckeyes’ championship ambitions and where he envisions them celebrating their next national title. “The next parade,” Day said, with a steely calm, “will be held in Ann Arbor.”
The crowd erupted, and the quote spread like wildfire across social media. For Buckeye Nation, it was music to their ears. For fans in Ann Arbor, it was gasoline on the flames of a rivalry that has recently tipped in Michigan’s favor. But more than a soundbite, Ryan Day’s statement represents a cultural shift in Columbus—a declaration that Ohio State is not only aiming to reclaim the Big Ten, but to do so with swagger, resolve, and vengeance against the very team that has denied them the conference crown three years running.
To fully appreciate the weight of Day’s declaration, one must understand the context behind it. The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry isn’t just a football game—it’s a war that defines seasons, legacies, and sometimes entire careers. For much of the 2000s and 2010s, Ohio State dominated the series. But since 2021, Michigan has flipped the script, rattling off three consecutive wins against the Buckeyes, each more demoralizing than the last for the scarlet and gray faithful.
Last November’s loss in Ann Arbor, in particular, was a gut punch. It wasn’t just another defeat—it was the culmination of three straight years of frustration, each one serving as a growing indictment of Ohio State’s ability to finish, to assert themselves physically, and to win when it matters most. Despite an immensely talented roster and perennial College Football Playoff expectations, the Buckeyes have watched Michigan take the Big Ten crown and advance to the playoff in their place.
For Ryan Day, whose tenure began with sky-high expectations, those losses have taken a toll on his legacy. Despite a stellar overall record, including a dominant 56-8 mark since taking over in 2019, Day’s critics have grown louder with each loss to Michigan. Fair or not, he’s been painted as a coach who excels against everyone but his biggest rival.
That’s what made his recent proclamation so powerful—and so necessary. Day’s message wasn’t just a throwaway line to excite fans; it was a pointed statement of intent. A message to his players. A challenge to his staff. And a warning to Michigan. He’s not backing down. In fact, he’s doubling down.
By saying the next title parade will be held in Ann Arbor, Day is daring to dream bigger than just a win over “That Team Up North.” He’s envisioning total domination. He’s imagining a scenario where Ohio State wins not only The Game but rides that momentum all the way to a national championship—and then, metaphorically or perhaps even literally, celebrates it on enemy turf.
That image—a parade in Ann Arbor for an Ohio State title—might sound absurd, blasphemous even. But it’s also a perfect encapsulation of the kind of competitive audacity that has defined the greatest moments in Buckeye history. Think back to 2002, when Jim Tressel famously told a packed crowd at halftime of a basketball game, “I can assure you that you’ll be proud of our young people, in the classroom, in the community, and most especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan.” He backed it up with a win that started a new era of dominance.
Day’s words feel cut from the same cloth—only now the stakes are even higher.
The question, of course, is whether he can back it up.
Ohio State enters the 2025 season loaded once again. Quarterback Devin Brown is poised to lead an explosive offense loaded with talent, including a reloaded receiver corps and a backfield that blends power with speed. On defense, the Buckeyes return a host of veteran playmakers and added key transfers to fortify their front seven. In many ways, this team might be more complete and battle-tested than any since their 2014 national championship squad.
And yet, the looming presence of Michigan continues to cast a shadow over the program. For all the talent on the roster, the pressure to finally beat Michigan is more intense than ever. Day’s tenure, fair or not, is increasingly being measured not by playoff berths or regular season wins, but by what happens on that one Saturday in late November. Fans remember the losses more than the wins. The national media constantly brings it up. Recruits notice. Boosters talk.
Which is why Day’s bold statement may be exactly what Ohio State needed. In a sport dominated by narratives and momentum, planting your flag matters. Confidence matters. Vision matters. And for a coach who has often been seen as stoic or overly polished, this was a glimpse into the fire that burns beneath the surface.
It also serves a dual purpose: motivating his own locker room while getting into the heads of the opposition.
Michigan, for its part, isn’t likely to take the comment lightly. While head coach Sherrone Moore has handled his transition from Jim Harbaugh with poise, this adds fuel to the fire. The Wolverines, too, will circle November 29 on their calendars with even greater intensity. Day just raised the stakes. He’s not just coming to win—he’s coming to celebrate. In their house.
Of course, no one is literally expecting a parade down State Street if Ohio State wins it all. But the symbolic weight of that image is clear: it’s about reclaiming pride, restoring dominance, and turning Michigan’s recent success into a footnote in the greater Ohio State narrative. It’s about saying, “You’ve had your moment—now it’s our turn.”
And make no mistake: Day knows what this year means for his future. Another loss to Michigan, and the chorus of criticism will reach deafening levels. But a win—especially one that leads to a Big Ten title and a national championship—would not only silence the doubters but could cement Day’s place alongside Ohio State’s most revered coaches.
He knows the path forward is narrow. He also knows it runs through Ann Arbor.
That’s what makes the image of a “parade” so compelling. It’s not about confetti or convertibles—it’s about closure. It’s about a declaration that the standard is not merely to compete but to conquer. That second place is never good enough in Columbus. That the scoreboard in The Game will determine the success of an entire season. And that for this Ohio State team, anything short of winning the national title—and beating Michigan along the way—is unacceptable.
As college football continues to evolve, with expanded playoffs and shifting conference dynamics, some traditions risk being diluted. But not this one. Not The Game. If anything, it’s more important than ever. And Ryan Day, with all the pressure of history on his shoulders, has chosen to embrace it rather than retreat from it.
Whether his words prove prophetic or premature remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the 2025 season just gained a lot more intrigue. The countdown to November has officially begun. And the road to redemption, to a title, and maybe even to a symbolic parade in Ann Arbor, has never been more sharply drawn.
Ohio State fans are ready. The team is locked in. And their head coach just issued the most important challenge of his career.
Now, all that’s left is to go do it.
