After Ohio State’s shocking loss to Michigan to end the regular season, Kirk Herbstreit stood strong in Ryan Day’s corner as the criticism mounted. The Buckeyes then put together a redemption story for the ages, capped by the program’s first national title in a decade – and Day’s first as head coach.

After Ohio State put the finishing touches on that win over Notre Dame, Herbstreit reflected on Day’s journey over the last two months. He continued to defend the Buckeyes headman, whom he considers a friend.

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Herbstreit didn’t just look back on Day’s journey on the field, though. He knows what he’s dealt with away from the gridiron after his fourth straight loss in The Game, and he specifically credited how Day carried himself through it all.

“I hear the stories behind the curtain, I know what he and his wife and his family go through. It’s really, it’s tough. It’s tough to be a coach at a premium school where you’re expected to win every game. He handled it with such class.” – Kirk Herbstreit on Ryan Day getting over… pic.twitter.com/5jbguxPH6r

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 21, 2025

“I’m a friend of his,” Herbstreit said in the final minutes of Monday’s title game. “Very objective and try to be as fair as I can be. I hear the stories behind the curtain. I know what he and his wife and his family go through.

“It’s tough. It’s tough to be a coach at a premium school where you’re expected to win every game. He handled it with such class. He gets on top of the mountain.”

This story will be updated.