What Ryan Day said following first regular-season loss as HC at Ohio State

Oregon didn’t have its best player. It had to travel across the country to Columbus for an early kickoff. It was a packed house at The Horseshoe.

You’d think Oregon wouldn’t be as sharp, right? Think again.

The Ducks went into Columbus and stunned No. 3 Ohio State 35-28 Saturday afternoon. It’s a huge upset that will shake up the CFP picture down the stretch.

Buckeyes quarterback CJ Stroud went 35-for-54 passing for 484 yards, 3 touchdowns and a late interception. But the Ducks stole the show, led by running back CJ Verdell’s 161 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.

Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown went 17-for-35 passing for 236 yards, 1 touchdown and no interceptions. It was quite the day for the Oregon offense, which made a statement with the victory.

Here’s what Ohio State coach Ryan Day had to say after his team’s upset loss.

Ryan Day says Josh Proctor’s injury looked “not good” on the field. Sends his prayers to him.

— Katie Gilhooly (@katiegilhooly) September 11, 2021

Ryan Day on the defense: "It needs to get fixed.”

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) September 11, 2021

On tension with Coombs on the sideline, Day says it was just a heat of the moment thing. Day says the defense stepped up and got stops late. "There's enough blame to go around here."

— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) September 11, 2021

Asked specifically about Kerry Coombs, Ryan Day says: “Ultimately, it comes back on me, because I'm the head coach.”

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) September 11, 2021

Ryan Day on defense: If it's the scheme we gotta get it fixed, if it's the coaching we gotta do it better if it's the personnel we gotta switch it up. #OhioState

— Whitney Harding (@WhitneyNBC4) September 11, 2021

"When you go through adversity, you find out a lot about your team, you find out a lot about your leadership." Day says in times like this, there's a lot of "finger-pointing" that goes on. "This is not fatal, but it certainly hurts."

— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) September 11, 2021

Day on today's loss: "It's unacceptable and we've got to get it fixed." @nbc4i #OhioState

— Whitney Harding (@WhitneyNBC4) September 11, 2021

Ryan Day on Ohio State allowing Oregon’s offense to exploit the Buckeyes on the edge and finding significant gaps in the middle of the field the whole game. pic.twitter.com/0vBoOed06E

— Justin Holbrock (@JustinHolbrock) September 11, 2021

Ryan Day said the Noah Sewell hit was reviewed for targeting, but the officials told him Sewell turned his head just before the hit.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) September 11, 2021

Nick Schultz

Nick Schultz is a columnist and breaking news writer for Saturday Tradition. A 2020 graduate of Loyola Chicago, he covered the Ramblers' 2018 Final Four run from beginning to end and has worked at NBC Sports Chicago. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSchultz_7.