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Ryan Day, Will Howard, Simon Involved in Golf Cart Crash on Video After OSU Wins CFP

Adam WellsJanuary 21, 2025

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 20: Head Coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes on the sidelines during the Ohio State Buckeyes versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.   (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

On a night when most things went right for Ohio State, there was one moment after its 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff Championship Game that didn't go as planned.

A golf cart carrying head coach Ryan Day and quarterback Will Howard crashed into a wall inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Patrick Greenfield @PCGreenfield

Some lady just crashed the golf cart carrying Ryan Day and Will Howard in the Mercedes-Benz tunnel after they won the National Championship <a href="https://t.co/o3UqM5ZhrO">pic.twitter.com/o3UqM5ZhrO</a>

The good news is no one seemed to be injured in the incident. It appeared the driver just underestimated how wide this golf cart, which is longer than the traditional four-person cart, takes turns.

Will Howard discussed the viral moment Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show:

Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow

"I felt so bad for that poor girl driving the cart because she did a great job of getting us off the field..<br><br>She crashed right into that wall" 😂😂<a href="https://twitter.com/whoward_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@whoward_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMSLive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMSLive</a> <a href="https://t.co/1MTHn3UIwl">https://t.co/1MTHn3UIwl</a> <a href="https://t.co/lQLgQG3JAe">pic.twitter.com/lQLgQG3JAe</a>

Everyone seemed to be in good spirits about the moment. The Ohio State players seated behind Day, including Howard and linebacker Cody Simon, are seen laughing about what happened.

Monday night was the crowning achievement of Day's tenure with the Buckeyes. They dominated most of the game, building a 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

Notre Dame did claw back with 16 unanswered points to make it a 31-23 score with 4:15 left to play. The Buckeyes iced the game with a field goal with 26 seconds remaining four plays after Jeremiah Smith's 56-yard reception on a third-and-11.

SportsCenter @SportsCenter

WELCOME TO THE JEREMIAH SMITH SHOW‼️<br><br>CLUTCH 🥶 <a href="https://t.co/EYWg7yzrsw">pic.twitter.com/EYWg7yzrsw</a>

The victory gave Ohio States its ninth national title in program history and first since 2014. Day, whose job status was being questioned after losing to Michigan in the regular-season finale, got the team back on track in the playoff by defeating Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame by an average of 17.5 points.

Day has amassed a 70-10 record (46-5 in Big Ten play) during his tenure as Ohio State head coach.