Ohio State is moving one of its most recognizable football traditions away from the game that matters most to its fans. The Buckeyes will celebrate Senior Day during their Sept. 5 season opener against Ball State rather than waiting for their Nov. 28 regular-season finale against Michigan.
Ryan Day believes the change will help his team avoid “distractions” when the rivalry takes center stage. Fans, however, are not exactly lining up behind the decision.
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The Buckeyes’ administration and Day officially shifted the annual Senior Day ceremony to Week 1. Instead of combining the celebration with the emotional buildup of the Michigan game, Ohio State will honor its senior class before the season even reaches its most critical stretch.
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Day wants to keep rivalry week centered entirely on Michigan, without adding another major event to the buildup. He also believes the transfer portal has changed what Senior Day means, particularly when some players may spend only one season with a program.
The move reportedly received support from Ohio State’s 23 seniors. Still, the reaction from some fans was anything but quiet.
James Dinaso, an X user, argued that the change takes away a special opportunity for Ohio State’s seniors. “That’s a baby move. What’s better to go out as a senior than to beat your rival,” he wrote.
WickedAfterlife, another X user, questioned whether the move showed too much concern about Michigan. “What a stupid thing lol can’t lose that Michigan game no matter what huh,” the user wrote.
Adam Chadrick, an X user, offered a more measured criticism. He pointed toward the possibility of seniors missing the finale because of injury, but still questioned whether that justified changing the tradition.
“Honestly, outside of seniors getting hurt and maybe missing the last game, this makes no sense… come on Ryan,” Chadrick wrote.
The backlash soon shifted from the scheduling decision to Day’s coaching record and approach. CJ, an X user, took aim at Day’s standing as Ohio State’s coach, writing, “For a guy with one of the top 5 jobs in college football, what an absolute beta.”
Greyson Borg, an X user, tied the decision to Michigan’s coaching changes and suggested Day is feeling the pressure. “The man saw that Michigan has an actual coach again and has already started sweating,” Borg wrote.
Another user, Joe, pointed to Ohio State’s coaching staff dynamics. “For the record, Ryan Day never stopped being soft. He just had Chip Kelly carry him to a natty,” Joe wrote.
MGORINGS, an X user, focused on the rivalry itself. “I was told THE GAME doesn’t matter in Columbus anymore?” the user wrote.
Day’s decision reflects a systematic effort to streamline rivalry week. In recent years, Ohio State has adjusted other traditional schedule items leading up to the game, including shifting the timing of the Senior Tackle and replacing its traditional bus trip to Ann Arbor with a flight.
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While Day guided the Buckeyes to a national championship and snapped a four-game losing streak to Michigan with a road win in Ann Arbor last season, Ohio State has not defeated the Wolverines inside Ohio Stadium since 2018.
For Ohio State fans, Senior Day remains an integral part of the home finale. Moving the ceremony to September eliminates a long-standing pregame tradition ahead of “The Game.”
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.