COLUMBUS, Ohio — When the confetti fell from the sky in Miami, it signaled the end of an Ohio State season like none other.

To put it simply, Ohio State didn’t have enough to stop Alabama.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio State lost to Alabama 52-24 in the 2021 National Championship game

  • Ryan Day was proud of the effort by his guys, but admitted it simply wasn’t enough to get the job done

  • The game is likely the last in Justin Field’s OSU career

  • Day says the team will take time to process this season

Head coach Ryan Day said the team needs time to process this outcome before going back to the drawing board in the spring.

“We’ll unwind for a little while, have an opportunity to reflect on what this season has been and then get back into it,” Day said. “You can’t just go back to work here. There needs to be some time to rest and reflect.”   
 
The Buckeyes were banged up coming into the game. Star Quaterback Justin Fields was nursing a hip-pointer injury suffered in the Sugar Bowl win over Clemson, and 13 players were declared out just before the game. But the Buckeyes aren’t using anything as an excuse for their poor performance.

But Day knows this is probably the last time Ohio State fans see Fields play for the Buckeyes.

“He was not 100% tonight,” Day said. “He’s an unbelievable player. I love him to death, and we’re really gonna miss him.”
 
Fields didn’t declare for the draft immediately after the game, but the anticipated move leaves Ohio State looking to rebuild next year without its best player. 

“I mean, yeah, these last few years have been great,” Fields said. “Made a lot of friendships, made a lot of relationships, made a lot of brothers. I’m always gonna miss the seniors because this was their last game. I know they definitely wanted a different outcome. I’m gonna miss everybody.

The defense didn’t have any answers for Heisman Trophy winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith — something Ryan Day was not happy with.

“Yeah I mean, I don’t know if I’ve seen one better than that,” Day said on Smith. “Tremendous ball skills, Heisman Trophy winner and well deserved. He’s a great player.”
 
And although the Bucks fell short of the ultimate goal, Day is extremely proud of all they accomplished in a challenging year. 
 
“This whole program has learned about what our culture is all about,” Day said. “I’m very, very proud of that. For the guys in our locker room are gonna be coming back, they have something to motivate them in the offseason. That feeling of coming off the field, we felt that way coming off the field last year against Clemson. Now we feel the same way coming off the field against Alabama. So, I’m gonna use that as motivation in the offseason.”