Ryan Day: Big Ten should consider moving Michigan-Ohio State rivalry game

INDIANAPOLIS — With the Big Ten set to introduce a new football schedule next year, Ryan Day says talks need to happen about playing the annual Michigan-Ohio State game earlier in the season.
The Buckeyes’ head coach made the comments Wednesday at Big Ten Media Days, when he was asked about the league’s new division-less format that includes protected rivalries for each school and the addition of Southern Cal and UCLA.
“I’m glad we still have the rivalry game,” Day, who is set to enter his fifth year as head coach at Ohio State, said. “I do think we should consider when we play it, just because you may end up playing them on back-to-back weeks.”
Under the Big Ten’s modified schedule beginning in 2024, that very scenario would have played out last year — when Michigan and Ohio State, both unbeaten and ranked in the top-5 of polls nationally, played in Columbus during the final week of the regular season.
Michigan won the game, 45-23, clinched the Big Ten’s East Division title and earned a berth into the league title game against Purdue. If the conference was simply taking the two schools with the best records, a rematch would have taken place in Indianapolis.
“Which would be awkward,” Day continued. “We need to consider tradition — but I think it’s worth a conversation when it’s significant to how the season plays out.”
More: AD Warde Manuel wants to keep Michigan-Ohio State right where it’s at
Michigan and Ohio State have played in mid-to-late November every year since 1933, save for the canceled game in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and moving the game off the final week of the regular season would be a significant departure.
Last month, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel — during an interview on the school’s “Conqu’ring Heroes” podcast — said both schools have agreed to keep the typical Noon kickoff time for the rivalry game, set for Nov. 25 of this year in Ann Arbor.
But he also acknowledged talks with Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith about potentially moving the game week, to which Manuel said publicly he would be against.
“If we’re fortunate enough to do that (play Ohio State a second time), I look forward to playing them again a week later,” Manuel said. “That brings out the excitement of college football.”
Day, however, believes moving the game off the final week of the season is worth a “long discussion” based on how last season played out.
“Could it minimize The Game? That’s my concern,” Day said. “If you play it in Week 11 or Week 10, no matter what it’s going to matter. But if you know you’re playing them in the Big Ten championship game already, it could be something that we haven’t experienced before.
“I know that they’re talking about it. I don’t think any hard decisions have been made; I don’t think they’re going to be made here real soon. I just want to be part of those conversations.”