Kirk Herbstreit Criticizes "First Take" Over Ryan Day Speculation
Recently, Kirk Herbstreit, a prominent voice in college football, took a pointed jab at ESPN’s First Take for fueling a controversial narrative about Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. As Ohio State prepared for their College Football Playoff showdown against Tennessee, conversations surrounding Day’s job security took center stage. Fresh off a tough loss to Michigan, many pundits speculated that another defeat could spell the end of Day's tenure in Columbus. Even the highly influential First Take panel, led by Stephen A. Smith, joined the chatter, openly discussing potential replacements for Day.
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The game against Tennessee, however, proved to be a statement performance for Ohio State. With a commanding victory, the Buckeyes silenced critics and earned a spot in the Rose Bowl against Oregon. During the waning moments of the fourth quarter, Herbstreit took the opportunity to call out First Take for their premature conclusions about Day’s future. “ First Take tried to fire him,” Herbstreit remarked. “They thought he was done. So, I’ll be excited to see what they talk about on Monday after this performance. They had him out, trying to find replacements. But here he is—still got his hat on, still coaching.”
Stephen A. Smith, alongside guest analysts like Paul Finebaum, had made bold claims earlier in the week, suggesting that Ohio State should seriously consider paying Day’s hefty $37 million buyout to bring in a high-profile replacement like Deion Sanders. Finebaum, often known for his fiery takes, deemed the Tennessee matchup a “must-win” for Day, adding that losing in the CFP first round could be a “death sentence” for the coach despite the financial hurdles.
Now, with Day leading Ohio State to a dominant victory, the pressure momentarily eases, but the ultimate goal—a national championship—still looms large. Herbstreit, like fans across the nation, is eager to see how First Take shifts its narrative following Day’s resurgence. Monday’s episode promises to be an intriguing reflection on how quickly opinions can change in the world of college football.
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