Ohio State’s loss in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve ends their 2025 season in the worst possible way. The team that went undefeated in the regular season lost its last two games, finishing 12-2. The defeat to Miami exposed some shortcomings, and one such flaw prompted a former Buckeye to make a public plea to Ryan Day.

Towards the end of the first half against Miami, Ohio State was trailing by 14-0. Their last drive of the half could have put up three points on the board and given them some momentum going into the second half, but Jayden Fielding missed a 49-yard field goal. For some Ohio State fans, the fact that it was New Year’s Eve evoked memories of the heartbreaking Georgia loss, where they had missed a similar field goal.

However, in the context of the current season, it was a sight that they had become accustomed to seeing. Ohio State alum Garrett Wilson took to X with a simple request.

“I just woke up, it is 2026,” wrote Garrett Wilson on X. “We gotta have the best kicker onna continent in Columbus from here on out… #GoBucks”

Even in the Big 10 Championship game, where Ohio State lost to Indiana, Jayden Fielding had some poor field goal kicking. Fielding missed a 28-yard field goal at the crucial time. Despite failing to score in the conference title game, Ryan Day named him as the starting kicker for the Cotton Bowl game against Miami.

“We’re going to go with Jayden in this game,” said Ryan Day in the pregame press conference. “But [Courville] has had an opportunity every day in practice to kick, and we will keep a close eye on it, but we’re going to go with Jayden to start the game.”

The decision backfired.

The game could’ve easily been tied 17-17 in the 4th quarter had Fielding converted his field goal. Instead, the Buckeyes were left to chase the game. That doesn’t mean there were not other aspects of the game that the head coach must address. The play-calling in the first half could have been better. Even Ryan Day‘s decision not to take a timeout before the two-minute warning puzzled many, but the postmortem must address Ohio State’s continuous failings at the kicker position.

Ryan Day’s decision to back Jayden Fielding

If you take a broader look, the senior kicker Jayden Fielding has a history of struggling in big games throughout his tenure with the Buckeyes. At the same time, he’s one of the most accurate kickers in the Big Ten. In three seasons as the starter, Fielding has missed only one extra-point conversion, completing 178 of 179 kicks. On the other hand, he has a 78.9% success rate when it comes to field goals, having scored 45 out of 57 attempts.

His struggle to score in big games came to light when Fielding missed two field goals against Michigan last year, which ultimately cost them the game. The same issue arose this year in the last two games, which not only ended their conference title hopes but also dashed their national title dreams.

However, the worst part is that Ryan Day had a kicker option, Jackson Courville, waiting on the sidelines. Courville, the Ball State Cardinals’ transfer, showcased some better plays last season with an 84.6% success rate. However, the lack of experience against the Power Five and the limited field time would have made Day keep Courville seated on the bench.

Since Fielding is a senior, the Buckeyes do not have to worry about him next season. However, Day is in a position to ensure that they have the right kicker by next year. Though Courville is on the roster, Ohio State now has an opportunity to look for a better kicker from the transfer portal.