The feud between Ryan Day and Lou Holtz reappears as Notre Dame gets ready for Ohio State in the championship game.

As Notre Dame and Ohio State prepare to square off in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship, the intense rivalry between these two storied programs has once again been fueled by a heated feud that dates back to earlier in the season. The rivalry between the Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes is already one of the most electric in college football, but this year, an additional layer of drama has emerged thanks to a war of words between Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and Notre Dame legend Lou Holtz.

The roots of this feud trace back to Week 4 of the 2025 season, when Ohio State traveled to Notre Dame for an early-season matchup that was billed as one of the most anticipated games of the year. It was a game that lived up to the hype, with Ohio State edging out Notre Dame in a thrilling victory that ended with a last-minute touchdown. However, the aftermath of that game saw tensions between Day and Holtz reach a boiling point, reigniting a bitter rivalry that has only grown in intensity as both teams march toward the national championship game.

In this article, we’ll break down the key moments of this feud, explore how it has impacted the teams involved, and assess how the drama might play into the championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame. From the origins of the conflict to the most recent flare-up, we’ll examine the storyline that has captured the attention of college football fans and raised the stakes heading into this high-stakes battle for the national title.

The Origins of the Feud: Lou Holtz’s Criticism of Ryan Day

The feud between Ryan Day and Lou Holtz began during the highly anticipated regular-season clash between Ohio State and Notre Dame in 2025. The game was billed as a potential playoff preview, as both teams entered the matchup with strong records and aspirations of securing a playoff spot. It was a game that would have major implications on the road to the national championship, and the tension was palpable from the opening whistle.

After a thrilling, hard-fought contest that saw Ohio State come from behind to defeat Notre Dame 31-28, the post-game atmosphere was charged with emotion. As both teams celebrated their respective performances, Holtz, the Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to its last national championship in 1988, made some pointed remarks that quickly garnered attention. Holtz, a vocal critic of Ohio State in the past, took issue with Ryan Day’s leadership and style, claiming that the Buckeyes had “underachieved” in recent years and that their success was more about talent than coaching.

“Ryan Day is a good coach, but I think Ohio State has been living off the reputation of Urban Meyer for far too long,” Holtz said in a post-game interview. “They have a lot of talent, but they haven’t won the big one under Day. He needs to show he can win the big game if he wants to be considered elite.”

Holtz’s comments were immediately controversial, and many saw them as an unwarranted shot at Day, who had led Ohio State to multiple Big Ten championships and playoff berths. Day, known for his calm demeanor and measured responses, did not take kindly to Holtz’s remarks. In a press conference following the game, Day responded by defending his coaching ability and his team’s accomplishments.

“I respect Coach Holtz for all that he’s done in the game, but I think his comments are misguided,” Day said. “This program has won national championships, played in big games, and developed some of the best players in the country. We’re building something special here at Ohio State, and we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished. If Coach Holtz doesn’t see that, that’s his prerogative, but I know what this team is capable of.”

The verbal sparring continued in the days following the game, with both sides taking jabs at each other in interviews and public statements. Holtz, not one to back down, doubled down on his criticism of Day, calling out Ohio State’s inability to win a national championship since Meyer’s departure. He further implied that Day was not the coach capable of bringing the Buckeyes back to the pinnacle of college football.

“It’s easy to win when you inherit a program that’s already built,” Holtz remarked. “But can Ryan Day do it on his own? That’s yet to be seen.”

Day Fires Back: Defending Ohio State’s Success

Ryan Day, determined to defend the reputation of his program and the success of his coaching staff, continued to fire back at Holtz’s comments. As the weeks passed and Ohio State continued its successful season, Day’s retort became more pointed, emphasizing the achievements of his team and the strides they had made under his leadership.

Day pointed to Ohio State’s back-to-back Big Ten championships and their playoff appearance as evidence of his ability to lead the program to success. He also noted that the Buckeyes were among the nation’s top teams in recruiting and had developed a culture of excellence on both sides of the ball.

“It’s one thing to win with a stacked team, but it’s another to keep that success going year after year,” Day said in one particularly fiery interview. “We’ve done that, and we’re going to continue to do it. Notre Dame is a great program, but they’re not the only team that’s been successful. We’ve got a long way to go, but I believe in this team, and I believe in what we’ve built.”

Day’s comments, while confident, did little to quell the growing tension between the two coaches. As the Ohio State-Notre Dame rivalry intensified, Holtz’s remarks only seemed to fuel Day’s desire to prove the doubters wrong. As the season went on, it became clear that this feud was far from over.

The 2025 College Football Playoff: A Championship Rematch

By the time the 2025 College Football Playoff was set, the stage was perfectly set for another Ohio State vs. Notre Dame showdown. Both teams had survived grueling seasons, and each had earned its place in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Notre Dame had made it to the title game for the first time in several decades, while Ohio State was looking to win its ninth national championship and reassert itself as one of college football’s premier programs.

The championship game offered a chance for Ryan Day to silence the critics, including Holtz, once and for all. A victory in this game would not only secure Ohio State’s place in college football history but would also vindicate Day’s leadership and prove that he could win the big one without Meyer’s shadow hanging over him.

For Notre Dame, the game was an opportunity to prove that it belonged on the same stage as Ohio State and other elite programs. Lou Holtz, who had spent decades building the Notre Dame brand, had spoken publicly about his belief in the Fighting Irish’s potential to capture another national championship. But in the back of his mind, there was no doubt that Holtz also saw this as an opportunity to vindicate his long-standing criticism of Day and Ohio State.

In the lead-up to the game, the media buzzed with anticipation as the feud between Day and Holtz continued to dominate the headlines. Fans of both teams embraced the drama, knowing that this championship game had more than just the title on the line. It was a battle of legacies—of a coach attempting to prove his worth against a legend who had his doubts.

The Feud Continues: A Tense Championship Game

As the championship game began, the tension between the two programs was palpable. Fans filled the stadium, not only to cheer on their teams but to witness the culmination of a season that had been defined by the drama surrounding Ryan Day and Lou Holtz. Every move, every play, and every decision made by Day was scrutinized, with many wondering whether this game would prove Holtz’s criticisms right or wrong.

As the game unfolded, it was clear that both teams were evenly matched. Ohio State’s offense, led by quarterback Kyle McCord and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., went toe-to-toe with Notre Dame’s physical defense, led by linebacker JD Bertrand and cornerback Benjamin Morrison. On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame’s offense, spearheaded by quarterback Tyler Buchner and running back Audric Estime, tried to move the ball against Ohio State’s opportunistic defense, featuring linebacker Cody Simon and defensive end JT Tuimoloau.

As the final seconds ticked away, the outcome of the game would come down to the very last play, and the championship was still very much in the balance. Fans of both sides were on the edge of their seats, knowing that this game wasn’t just about the title—it was about redemption for Day and a potential vindication for Holtz’s long-standing critiques of Ohio State.