‘Going to Eat This Guy for Lunch’ — Michigan Superfan Dave Portnoy Clowns Ryan Day After Controversial Call in Ohio State’s Loss to Texas
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Ryan Day had a choice with Ohio State’s game against Texas slipping away: trust his defense at the goal line or let the Longhorns score and preserve time for Julian Sayin. He chose the defense.
Dave Portnoy, unsurprisingly, found that decision hilarious.
The Michigan superfan seized on Day’s explanation after Ohio State blew a 23-3 fourth-quarter lead and lost 24-23 in Austin. Interestingly, Portnoy’s punchline looked ahead to November, when new Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham will get his first shot at Day in The Game.
Dave Portnoy Trolls Ryan Day Over Late-Game Decision
Texas reached first-and-goal at the Ohio State 1-yard line with 1:23 remaining and the Buckeyes still leading 23-17. Day could have used his final timeout and instructed his defense to concede a touchdown, giving Sayin more than a minute to answer with a potential field-goal drive.
Instead, Ohio State tried to make the stop.
“Well, it didn’t work, so the answer is yes,” Day said when asked afterward whether he should have let Texas score. “You know, we win the game, then it would have been the right decision.”
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Day explained that the team discussed allowing a touchdown, but he decided to “try to hold the line” and trust his defense.
Portnoy responded in avideo post with a blunt Michigan-centric forecast: “Kyle Whittingham is going to eat this guy for lunch.”
It was the latestPortnoy criticism of Day after the Texas collapse. He had already mocked Ohio State’s coach for “lucking his way” to a national championship after the Buckeyes surrendered 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points.
Ohio State Left Its Offense Almost No Time
The decision almost worked. Ohio State stopped Texas on first and second down, but Hollywood Smothers scored from one yard out on third down with 25 seconds remaining. By then, the Buckeyes had no timeouts.
Sayin’s final possession lasted only two offensive plays before Texas intercepted him to finish the comeback.
That limited opportunity makes Day’s choice so easy to second-guess. Sayin threw for 278 yards and a touchdown in the loss, and his current 88.0PFN QB Impact Score ranks No. 10 nationally after two games.
The quarterback struggled in the second half, completing only five of 16 attempts, but Ohio State still had a capable passer in Jeremiah Smith, who finished with eight catches for 164 yards.
Portnoy’s reference to Whittingham added rivalry fuel to the criticism. Michigan hired the longtime Utah coach this offseason, and the Wolverines visit Ohio Stadium on Nov. 28.
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Notably, Day ended Michigan’s four-game winning streak in the rivalry last season, but one controversial decision against Texas has already given Portnoy fresh material.
If a similar clock-management decision comes in November, Portnoy has made it clear who he expects to top in the coaching battle.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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