Lou Holtz appears to be back at it again.
Someone alert Ryan Day.
Last week, the former Notre Dame coach renewed his “friendship” with Day with a jab in a quote tweet from ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.” Holtz also appeared to announce his plan to be in attendance for Monday’s CFP championship game vs. Ohio State.
“If Notre Dame doesn’t win, it’s because we want to preserve Ryan Day’s job,” Holtz said on X (formerly Twitter). “I was originally going to be at the game in spirit, but now I’ll be dragging my body along as well.”
If Notre Dame doesn’t win, it’s because we want to preserve Ryan Day’s job.
I was originally going to be at the game in spirit, but now I’ll be dragging my body along as well. https://t.co/VF6WOuNzhB
— Lou Holtz (@CoachLouHoltz88) January 15, 2025
Holtz’s feud with Day began during an appearance he made on “The Pat McAfee Show” the day leading into last year’s game between Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Being interviewed by Ty Schmidt, one of Pat McAfee’s co-hosts who was impersonating Holtz, the now 88-year-old coach took a shot at Ohio State and Ryan Day. The shot was an added thought to Holtz answering Schmidt’s question whether the Irish’s 2023 roster reminded him in any ways of his 1988 championship roster at Notre Dame.
“Defensively, our defensive line is better. You look at Coach Day. I coached at Ohio State under Woody Hayes. We won the national championship when I was there. I’m proud of that,” Holtz said. “However, he has lost to Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and Michigan twice. Everyone that beats him does so because they’re more physical than Ohio State. I think Notre Dame will take that same approach.”
Notre Dame, of course, lost that game to Ohio State last season in South Bend. Appearing to be on their way to a victory, after Sam Hartman threw a touchdown to put the Irish up 14-10, Notre Dame’s defense gave up a 15-play, 65-yard touchdown drive in the final 1:25 of the game to lose 17-14.
In his postgame interview with NBC’s Kathryn Tappen, it didn’t take long for Day call out Holtz and his comments.
“I’d like to know where (former Notre Dame coach) Lou Holtz is right now? What he said about our team, I cannot believe,” Day said.
In a separate post on X on Wednesday, Holtz picked the Irish to win Monday. If that does happen, it would be the first national championship for Notre Dame since 1988, which came under Holtz. In his prediction, Holtz pointed to Notre Dame’s culture under Marcus Freeman for what will help them come out on top.
“I believe the University of Notre Dame will prevail in this football game. Not because we have the best football team but I think we have the best culture. Culture will beat talent each and every time,” Holtz said Wednesday.
He added: “We have the best defense in the country. Ohio State has a great defense but I don’t think it is as good as the University of Notre Dame. Our secondary is absolutely outstanding.”
Ohio State has the talent, but Notre Dame has the heart, the culture, and the defense to win this game.
Stay patient, run the football, and trust the process.
Notre Dame wins a close one—by 3.
Remember, we’re Notre Dame and they ain’t! pic.twitter.com/uDKng78jNe
— Lou Holtz (@CoachLouHoltz88) January 15, 2025
Notre Dame and Ohio State will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 20 in the College Football Playoff championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Irish are currently a 8.5 point underdog in Monday’s game according to BetMGM.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Lou Holtz takes shot at Ohio State’s Ryan Day, picks Notre Dame to win CFP
