New York, NY – January 29, 2025 – Ohio State head coach Ryan Day made a special appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, one week after leading the Buckeyes to victory in the national championship game. Day, who brought the coveted trophy along for the trip, joked about the hefty hardware during his lively segment.
“Thanks for bringing the trophy with you and congratulations,” Fallon greeted Day, before pointing out the weight of the championship prize.
“It’s not exactly light – it’s about 50 pounds,” Day replied.
“Yeah, it’s very, very heavy,” Fallon laughed. “I can’t even lift it. I’m not joking, I can’t lift it.”
“You gotta get in the weight room,” Day joked back, keeping the mood light.
Fallon then shared a picture from the postgame celebration at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where over 45,000 Ohio State fans gathered to celebrate the Buckeyes’ victory. Day reflected on the moment and what it meant to the team.
“(Sunday) we had a huge celebration in the stadium, and that’s when it really sunk in,” Day said. “It’s the first time we had the 12-team playoff format, and we played 16 games, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. But our guys showed resilience, and to hoist that trophy with everybody there, it means a lot.”
The conversation shifted to the viral moment following the game – a video of a golf cart crash that involved Day, players Will Howard and Cody Simon. Fallon played the clip, prompting Day to explain.
“You’re stressed during the game, and you finally take a deep breath to relax,” Day began. “We get on the golf cart to head to the press conference, and we’re gunning it through the field, dodging people. I’m holding on tight, and then we took the corner too fast and hit the wall. Will and Cody were laughing, and I’m thinking, ‘Are you kidding me right now?’”
He continued, “It’s amazing how quickly you come back down to earth just 20 minutes after the game.”
“That’s like a scene from Austin Powers,” Fallon said.
“That’s exactly what I said!” Day replied, chuckling. “I said, ‘We’re in an Austin Powers movie right now.’”
Later in the segment, Day spoke about the team’s journey to the championship, particularly how they bounced back after a tough loss to Michigan on November 30.
“I think that’s the story of this team,” Day said. “We have an unbelievable group of guys, and many decided to come back and forego the NFL. At the end of the year, nobody thought we were going to do it, but this group of guys decided they were going to make it happen.”
The segment was full of laughs, but also moments of reflection on the hard work and determination that led Ohio State to claim the championship title.
