Admittedly, the question is ridiculous. Ohio State is hours away from meeting Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff championship game, capping a season that just in the past eight weeks has seesawed between the depths of another loss to Michigan and the potential high of claiming the program first championship since the debut of the four-team format a decade ago.

Day and the Buckeyes were beaten by their bitter rivals and booed off their home field less than 2 months ago. Now they have a shot at winning it all.