The highly anticipated national championship game is fast approaching, with Notre Dame set to face off against Ohio State on Monday night. These two teams previously squared off during the 2023 season in South Bend, where Ohio State emerged victorious in a thrilling finish. However, the drama surrounding the game wasn’t limited to just the action on the field—it was also fueled by comments exchanged between Ohio State’s head coach, Ryan Day, and former Notre Dame coach, Lou Holtz. Now, the tension between them is once again in the spotlight.
The rivalry between Day and Holtz stems from a series of critical remarks both men made about each other. In the lead-up to that game, Holtz had voiced his concerns about Ohio State’s toughness, feeding into a narrative that had gained traction after the Buckeyes lost back-to-back games to Michigan. This storyline, which questioned Ohio State’s grit, angered Day, who took issue with Holtz’s comments.
Fast forward to the present, and the feud is far from over. As the national title game draws near, Holtz made headlines once again with his provocative remarks. In a post on Wednesday, Holtz stated, “If Notre Dame doesn’t win, it’s because we want to preserve Ryan Day’s job,” and added, “I was originally going to be at the game in spirit, but now I’ll be dragging my body along as well.” These comments clearly reignited the animosity between the two figures, especially considering the context of their previous interactions.
After Ohio State’s victory over Notre Dame in 2023, Day had a strong response in his postgame interview. He expressed disbelief over Holtz’s criticism of his team and made it clear that he believed his players were tough and deserving of respect. “I’d like to know where Lou Holtz is now,” Day remarked. “What he said about our team… I cannot believe. This is a tough team right here. We’re proud to be from Ohio. And it’s always been Ohio against the world. It’ll continue to be Ohio against the world.”
Despite the loss, Holtz maintained that Notre Dame had been the more physical team and that they should have won the game. Later, he acknowledged his controversial comments, apologizing to Day for any offense caused. He also reached out to Notre Dame’s current coach, Marcus Freeman, apologizing for putting him in an uncomfortable position. “I don’t feel bad about saying it because I believe it,” Holtz said. “Notre Dame was the better football team… I think they were more physical and talented.”
However, Holtz wasn’t finished. He once again criticized Ryan Day, particularly for his struggles against Michigan, noting that the Buckeyes had lost to their rivals in the last two seasons. Holtz suggested that Ohio State’s coach would rather avoid discussing the Wolverines, a sentiment that now feels even more relevant with Michigan having defeated Ohio State in four consecutive seasons.
The renewed tension between Holtz and Day has once again taken center stage, and with the national championship game on the horizon, the drama promises to continue. Fans are eagerly watching to see if this rivalry will once again spill over into another heated postgame exchange.