Even as many Ohio State fans turned on Ryan Day, his players never wavered in their support of the coach who would lead them to the national title.

Ohio State entered the postseason as the No. 8 seed in the bracket and beat Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame, all by double digits

Ryan Day deserved to feel vindication when he won a national championship less than two months after it seemed his Ohio State job was on the line. That relief only lasts so long. Day made that clear when it was suggested to him on Tuesday morning that Monday night's 34-23 national championship game victory over Notre Dame meant he would feel less pressure to win big in the 2025 season.