For Ryan Day and Ohio State, expectations have reached their peak and the pressure is mounting with a matchup in Oregon

It's fair to say that Ryan Day is the first coach in college football history to post a 61-8 record, but he still has something to prove. And not just on a national level, but also among his own intense and sometimes desperate fan base.

It's never easy to succeed a larger-than-life legend, a billing that fits Urban Meyer. So Day knew the challenges that came with getting the keys to the Buckeyes' Lamborghini.

He was mocked for being born at third base because he got his first head coaching job at Ohio State University, but he is a former New Hampshire quarterback who overcame his father's death by suicide at age 9 and fought his way to the top.

Six seasons later, Day, 45, was successful. Well, except for the part where some people point to those eight losses more than those 61 wins.

The day is 1-6 against teams in the top 5 of the College Football Playoff rankings. He is 1-3 overall against Michigan, including losses over the past three years. He is 1-3 in the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State has a reputation for overwhelming weaker opponents. Day has never lost to an unranked team and is undefeated against every Big Ten team not based in Ann Arbor. This isn't nothing.

It may even occasionally beat a top-ranked team, but the joy doesn't seem to last. In 2020, it defeated Clemson in the College Football Playoff … only to be eliminated by Alabama in the title game.

Last season it won late at Notre Dame, ranked No. 9 at the time, but no one was overwhelmingly impressed since the Irish also rarely win big games and Day spent the postgame seemingly challenging Lou Holtz to a fight.

And even though Ohio State (5-0) has beaten Akron, Western Michigan, Marshall, Michigan State and Iowa 230-34, doubts remain both in Columbus and across the country.

Sure, the Buckeyes can be bullies, but can they bully a bully? Can this team win it all?

No. 3 Oregon expects what appears to be a fair fight for the Bucks on Saturday in Eugene. It matters in the race for a Big Ten title, a playoff spot and a playoff berth. And it will count on Ryan Day's reputation near and far.

“There’s a lot at stake this weekend and that’s exactly what we want,” Day said.

Nothing will be decided on Saturday, but it's fair to watch and be amazed. If not this year, then when? If not with this team, then why not?

The Buckeyes are always talented and Day has proven to be the elite recruiter that Meyer was in every way, especially at the national level. But no matter how good the squad looks, this year is something very special.

Over the summer, Meyer declared that this was “perhaps the best squad in college football of the last decade.” As bold as that statement was, nothing she has shown so far suggests that Meyer is wrong.

Ohio State followed Michigan's playbook this year and used NIL money to encourage NFL-caliber players to skip the draft and return to campus for a national title game.

That meant players like running back TreVeyon Henderson, cornerback Denzel Burke, wideout Emeka Egbuka and defensive linemen JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer — among others — all returned from an 11-1 regular-season team.

Then Day hit the transfer portal to add quarterback Will Howard (Kansas State) and Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss) with more running back depth.

The Buckeyes' two best players are actually freshmen – safety Caleb Downs, who came from Alabama after Nick Saban retired, and Jeremiah Smith, a true freshman wide receiver that Ohio State signed last February ahead of Miami and Florida State .

It's a stunning collection. Anything can happen at Autzen Stadium, but one of those “anythings” is a show of force that leaves the rest of the country wondering if Ohio State can be defeated. The Buckeyes are 3.5-point favorites.

So Day goes into another big game exuding confidence. He likes to say that it's about Ohio State, not who Ohio State is playing. Internally, he's probably right. But externally?

“I think you always try to make sure you identify the things that fit the team,” Day said. “You know, suddenly you're not changing just because it's a big game without quotes. They are all big.

“If we say it's about us all the time, then games like this are about us, and it is. So we will continue with the same routine.”

Ryan Day did a great job at Ohio State, but not great enough for some. On Saturday he has the opportunity to prove he can reach that final level.

He definitely has the team to get there.