Charlie Becker has apologized to Ryan Day after Indiana's 19-15 loss to Ohio State on Saturday, offering a clear and public reset after the receiver's viral taunt at last year's Big Ten Championship Game.
The apology came after a game in which Becker still produced a career-high 165 receiving yards, but the postgame focus quickly shifted to the broader storyline. Last year's trophy presentation, when Indiana beat Ohio State and Becker joined the O-H-I-O chant, had made this latest meeting carry an extra edge.
Becker: 'That was uncharacteristic of me'
After the game at Memorial Stadium, Becker made no attempt to deflect from the incident. “That was uncharacteristic of me,” he said, before adding, “I’ve been thinking a lot about it, and I’m sorry to you and Ohio State.”
It was a notable moment because the apology was not simply about a rivalry gesture. Becker also has family and childhood ties to Ohio State, which made his explanation carry extra weight. He said, “We had Ohio State posters up. You name it, we had it,” and added, “Every Saturday, we’d be sitting down, watching Ohio State play ball, kicking everybody’s butts.”
Why the apology matters
That background helps explain why the exchange with Ryan Day stood out. This was not a routine postgame comment. It was a player acknowledging that a moment of celebration last year crossed into something he did not fully recognise as himself.
Becker framed the whole experience as part of a long-held dream. “That was a dream: to play for them or play against them,” he said, underlining how personal the Ohio State connection has been for him.
For Indiana, the football result remains the headline after a 19-15 defeat. But Becker's apology ensures the game will also be remembered for the way he chose to address the earlier taunt directly, rather than let it linger around the rivalry any longer.
As for Ryan Day, the available detail is that Becker apologised to him after Saturday's game. The broader significance is that the two sides have now moved from a viral celebration moment to a far more measured ending, even if the competitive edge between Indiana and Ohio State will not disappear any time soon.
