In what may be the weirdest beef in the college football world, the Lou Holtz/Ryan Day saga continues, with the legendary Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach firing social media shots in the build-up to the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Ryan Day vs. Lou Holtz
Responding to a clip from “The Pat McAfee Show” where McAfee alluded to Holtz coming to the title game, Holtz said, “If Notre Dame doesn’t win, it’s because we want to preserve Ryan Day’s job. I was originally going to be at the game in spirit, but now I’ll be dragging my body along as well.”
If Notre Dame doesn’t win, it’s because we want to preserve Ryan Day’s job.
I was originally going to be at the game in spirit, but now I’ll be dragging my body along as well. https://t.co/VF6WOuNzhB
— Lou Holtz (@CoachLouHoltz88) January 15, 2025
This beef started in 2023 when Holtz pointed out that Ohio State was losing games vs. top-tier programs because they were getting out-physicaled.
Ryan Day’s Buckeyes went on to beat Notre Dame shortly after Holtz made his original comments.
After the game in an interview, Day said, “I’d like to know where Lou Holtz is right now. What he said about our team — what he said about our team, I cannot believe. This is a tough team right here. We’re proud to be from Ohio. It’s always been Ohio against the world.”
Since then, it has been clear that the two have not gotten along. Day confirmed this ahead of the National Championship this year when he was asked if he and Holtz had squashed the beef. His one-word answer? No.
Holtz later doubled down on his comments via X.
Ohio State has the talent, but Notre Dame has the heart, the culture, and the defense to win this game.
Stay patient, run the football, and trust the process.
Notre Dame wins a close one—by 3.
Remember, we’re Notre Dame and they ain’t! pic.twitter.com/uDKng78jNe
— Lou Holtz (@CoachLouHoltz88) January 15, 2025
“Ohio State has the talent, but Notre Dame has the heart, the culture, and the defense to win this game. Stay patient, run the football, and trust the process. Notre Dame wins a close one — by 3. Remember, we’re Notre Dame and they ain’t!”
With so much at stake in the upcoming College Football Playoff National Championship Game, the beef between the coaches only adds fuel to the fire.
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