ESPN analyst and College GameDay host Kirk Herbstreit made some noise during the College Football Playoff Selection Show on Sunday with a bold take that likely left Ohio State fans unhappy.
While breaking down a home playoff game conversation on the show, Herbstreit pointed to a bad hypothetical situation for Ohio State fans when they host Tennessee in the first round of the playoffs.
“After the way Ohio State’s season ended against Michigan, I don’t know if it wouldn’t have been better for Ohio State to go on the road to get away from their home crowd that will be booing after their third down not converting and their punter comes out, booing Ryan Day,” Herbstreit said during the show. “They’ll have to rally and have a good start to that game, or it could turn sideways with the home crowd, in my opinion.”
Ohio State’s last appearance in Ohio Stadium was a fourth consecutive loss to rival Michigan and a second loss in that span in its home stadium. The next time the Buckeyes hit the field in Ohio Stadium will be for a first-round playoff game against Tennessee.
More from RTI: What Ohio State HC Ryan Day Said About Facing Tennessee In College Football Playoffs
As great as Ohio State has been under Ryan Day, the Buckeyes can’t seem to beat Michigan, which has seemingly infuriated a large section of Ohio State fans. The most recent game on rivalry weekend ended with a police-involved two-team brawl at midfield after the Wolverines planted their flag on the logo.
Herbstreit believes that there are enough angry Ohio State fans to potentially turn things “sideways” if things don’t start out well against the Volunteers. That’s also making a big assumption as to whether Tennessee can come out of the gates swinging as they did against Georgia, though. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was asked about the comments on Sunday and responded with an interesting deflection.
“Well, that happens sometimes on a three-and-out anyway, so we’re good,” Day said. “We’re used to it. No. I mean, we’re fired up to be at home. We can’t wait to be at home. It’s gonna be a great atmosphere, and our guys are fired up to go finish the season with a win in Ohio Stadium.”
8-seed Ohio State will host 9-seed Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoffs on Saturday, Dec. 21, in the Buckeyes’ Ohio Stadium.
