by Kyle Golik
Potentially the final pass quarterback that Kyle McCord will throw in the scarlet and gray was a game-sealing interception to Michigan’s Rod Moore which thwarted a golden opportunity for Ohio State. Since that game, McCord and 13 other Buckeyes, including former 2020 five-star wide receiver Julian Fleming, have entered the transfer portal. The only other Top 25 team to have more players hit the portal was NC State with 16.
“That made no sense,” former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said of McCord entering the transfer portal. “I’m still trying to comprehend it. I tried to take a position of Kyle or even Ohio State, and it just doesn’t compute.”
What doesn’t compute with McCord, who guided the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record behind McCord completing 66% of his passes for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns, is why he would enter the portal.
Leading up to The Game, McCord said, “Obviously, the implications are huge. But like I said earlier, at the end of the day, it’s just a football game. I’m just doing everything I can to help my team win,” McCord said on Nov. 21. ”I think there’s a lot of noise around it, I think there’s a lot of hype around it, and rightfully so. But I think the biggest thing is focusing in on what’s important, and that’s watching the film and doing the small things during the week that’ll give you the best chance to succeed.”
The key part of the quote that drew the ire of the Buckeye community was McCord referencing the rivalry game against Michigan, “It’s just a football game,” notably from former Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry said on Bally Sports’ “The Rally”, “I do not want to hear another quarterback – C.J. Stroud said it, Kyle McCord said it – that says it’s just another game, it’s not. So stop saying that.”
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What transpired between McCord’s final pass to his action entering the transfer portal is anyone’s guess. We can assume in between McCord met with his head coach Ryan Day. We have to assume McCord wanted to know where he stood and potentially what assurances or securities Day could offer.
Whatever was said obviously didn’t sit well with McCord. But Day, who is the first Ohio State coach to preside over three consecutive defeats to Michigan since John Cooper, knows he missed a golden opportunity to deliver a significant blow that would resonate for years to come.
When you consider where Michigan was at, a suspended Jim Harbaugh, the integrity and merit of their undefeated season in question, Ohio State could have deflated that program with a win.
A victory would have given Ohio State plenty of leverage in the recruiting space as the stigma of how it was able to dominate would be on the program. Harbaugh, with a loss, would have a split sympathy support saying his suspension was the reason but he would face the harshest critics asking whether Michigan’s success was all based on the espionage perpetuated by Stalions.
For boxing aficionados, Day is like Billy Conn, who for 12 rounds in his 1941 fight with the immortal Joe Louis, had outmaneuvered and outpointed Louis. Entering Round 13, instead of sticking to what got Conn to a decisive advantage over Louis, Conn went for the knockout and got burned when Louis was able to connect a punch on Conn that would knock him out.
Like Conn, Day wasn’t able to knock out Michigan, and now Day is against the ropes in Columbus. Ohio State isn’t going to fire Day, his enormous success outside of Michigan going 55-4 against the rest of the nation is a significant reason why the Buckeyes won’t sever ties with Day.
When Day most likely met with McCord, Day realized he wasn’t going to coddle McCord or give an answer that would pacify him.
Day’s seat is on fire, right or wrong, and he wasn’t going to give McCord any easy feelings.
Day isn’t content.
Keep in mind, Day once said to his team during a meeting, “Michigan better hope there’s a mercy rule because we’re going to hang 100 on them,” Day understands the dagger missed.
He wanted to return to Columbus like a conquering Roman general after battle, with a decisive victory, with all the pomp and fanfare. Instead, with 14 players in the portal and a golden opportunity missed, Day is now trying to figure out what is next move for his team, but more importantly for now he may be looking to upgrade in the portal at quarterback.
Whoever Day has behind center next season, the burning desire to beat Michigan has to be a prerequisite. It’s not ‘just another game,’ the emphasis to beat Michigan has to demonstrated and said by that quarterback because it burns through Day.
Whatever happens to McCord, the mass exodus in the transfer portal, whether McCord exits or returns, and with a first-year starter next season either being a seasoned transfer or a highly touted recruit in Air Noland, Day will be motivated by this missed opportunity to bury Michigan.
