The 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl turned into a dismal affair for the Ohio State Buckeyes, culminating in a 14-3 defeat to the Missouri Tigers. To compound matters, a video circulating on the internet alleges that Ryan Day’s son, RJ, was involved in an incident where he appeared to steal a towel from a Missouri player along the Buckeye sideline, further tarnishing Ohio State’s image after the loss.
The potential involvement of RJ Day in the incident has caught the attention of many online, and the connection is being widely discussed. If confirmed, this episode would represent an unforced error from a public relations perspective for Ohio State, especially at a time when the program is grappling with the aftermath of a significant loss.
The woes for Ohio State extend beyond this incident. In November, the team suffered a third consecutive loss to arch-rival Michigan. Quarterback Kyle McCord, boasting an 11-1 record with 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions for the year, subsequently announced his entry into the transfer portal, eventually committing to Syracuse.
The Cotton Bowl saw backup Devin Brown take the starting role, but the offense struggled, and Brown exited the game with a lower leg injury. True freshman Lincoln Keinholz, who was playing high school football in South Dakota just a year ago, found himself thrust into the Cotton Bowl, showing glimpses but unable to spark a productive offense. With only 203 yards of total offense against the Missouri defense, the Buckeyes faced growing dissatisfaction among their fanbase.
RELATED: Maurice Clarett Unleashes Hell On Ryan Day Over Ohio State Cotton Bowl Loss
The frustration in Columbus is palpable, with the program seemingly trailing behind Michigan in the Big Ten hierarchy and lacking a College Football Playoff victory since 2020. Expectations are high for a rebound against Michigan next year, but failure to achieve that could spell the end of Ryan Day’s tenure at Ohio State.
RJ, who played as a freshman quarterback at St Francis DeSales High School this season, showcased promise on the field. However, his current association with an incident involving the alleged theft of a towel from Tigers defensive back Kris Abrams-Daine has overshadowed his on-field achievements.
In summary, it has indeed been a challenging few days for the Days.