Ryan Day vs. Lou Holtz beef explained: Why Ohio State coach went after Notre Dame coaching legend

"Where is Lou Holtz?" 

That question is going to be asked all week leading up to the College Football Playoff championship game between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 8 Ohio State at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday. 

Holtz became the target of Ohio State coach Ryan Day’s post-game rant after the Buckeyes beat the Irish 17-14 on Sept. 23, 2023. Why did Day – who is trying to lead Ohio State to its first national championship since 2014 – target Holtz – who led Notre Dame to its last national championship in 1988? 

Day was asked about the beef in a different fashion at his CFP teleconference Monday: "Have you and Lou Holtz ever talked since then, either patching things up or comments between you?"

"No, no," Day said. 

A look at the beef between Day, Holtz and whether it will continue when the Buckeyes meet the Irish on Monday.

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Why did Ryan Day ask 'Where is Lou Holtz?'

Ohio State beat Notre Dame 17-14 last season on a 1-yard TD run by Chip Trayanum with one second remaining at Notre Dame Stadium. In the post-game interview Day launched into a rant that started with an unlikely target. 

"I'd like to know where Lou Holtz is right now," Day said in the interview with NBC. "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, and it will continue to be Ohio against the world. But I’'ll tell you what: I love these kids. We've got a tough team."

And here’s Ryan Day fired up over Lou Holtz: pic.twitter.com/kYkGAn5BAt

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 24, 2023

Day continued the rant in the post-game press conference with reporters and took more shots at Holtz. 

"I'm really upset and disrespected by what Lou Holtz said publicly about our team and Ohio State, Buckeye Nation," Day said. "We're not going to stand for that. That's not even close to true. We had one bad half a couple years ago in Ann Arbor. We did — that second half. Every game we play, we're physical. I don't know where that narrative comes from. That ends tonight."

All of this became instant social-media material for the next several days. Why was Day so mad about Holtz?

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What did Lou Holtz say about Ryan Day? 

Holtz made a guest appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" the day before the Ohio State-Notre Dame game, and he predictably took Notre Dame in the game. Holtz, however, offered more than a prediction. 

"You look at coach (Ryan) Day — and I coached at Ohio State under Woody Hayes," Holtz said. "We won the national championship when I was there. I'm proud of that. However, he has lost to Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Michigan twice. And everybody (that) beats him, does so because they are more physical than Ohio State. I think Notre Dame will take that same approach."

Holtz – like current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman – has strong ties to Ohio State. Holtz was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, and was an assistant under Hayes in 1968 – when the Buckeyes finished 10-0 and won the national championship. 

At the time of Holtz's comments, Day was coming off a second straight loss to Michigan in the 2022 season – a 45-23 loss at Ohio Stadium. That was a shot at Day’s reputation against ranked teams, and the Buckeyes swept a home-and-home with Notre Dame in the process. Ohio State also beat the Irish 21-10 on Sept. 3, 2022. 

Day's comments Monday suggested the two have not necessarily patched this feud up.  

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Will Lou Holtz be at CFP championship game? 

Holtz is predicting a Notre Dame victory and plans to attend the CFP championship game Monday. 

— Lou Holtz (@CoachLouHoltz88) January 15, 2025

Holtz, who turned 88 on Jan. 6, led Notre Dame to its last national championship in 1988. Rece Davis, who worked with Holtz for several years, took this picture of the legendary coach at his birthday celebration. 

Memorable fun night celebrating @CoachLouHoltz88 88th birthday. @HoltzHeroes out in full force. So many Irish legends there. Thanks for letting me be a part of it! We missed you @mark_may pic.twitter.com/kdCk6uBMYk

— Rece Davis (@ReceDavis) January 12, 2025

Holtz was complimentary of Ohio State and Day in an interview with The Columbus Dispatch. He empathized with the notion Day was on the hot seat after the regular-season loss to Michigan on Nov. 30 – the fourth straight against the Wolverines. 

"One day you're drinking the wine and the next day you're picking the grapes," Holtz told The Dispatch. "You have to stay in the present moment, because you have an obligation to your players to give them every chance to win."

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Holtz also was complimentary of Ohio State, which will try to win its national championship under Day.

"When you look at it, Ohio State is the best team," Holtz said. "They have an explosive offense and their defensive coordinator (Jim Knowles) has done a tremendous job. They’re something like a nine-point favorite. However, in a one-game, winner-take-all, anything can happen. I like Notre Dame's culture. They're very physical, but they have to keep it close by forcing Ohio State's offense off the field."

Holtz will never pick against Notre Dame. Yet it sounds Holtz is over the feud with the Ohio State coach, even if Day is not saying much in return.