'That's Not Me': Charlie Becker Tracked Down Ryan Day After a Heartbreaking Loss to Apologize for Last Year's Viral Taunt

What happened in one sentence

Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker lost a heartbreaker to Ohio State on Saturday, then walked through a crowd of Buckeyes players to find head coach Ryan Day — not to talk about the game, but to apologize for a viral taunt from last season.

That midfield moment, caught on camera after Ohio State's 19-15 win at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, is now the clip college football fans cannot stop sharing. Not because it was loud. Because it was quiet, direct, and completely voluntary.

What Charlie Becker said to Ryan Day

Becker had just played a huge game against his childhood team: nine catches for a career-high 165 yards in the loss. He had every excuse to head straight to the locker room.

Instead, WCMH-TV cameras captured him seeking out Day at midfield. FOX Sports quoted him saying: "That was uncharacteristic of me. I've been thinking a lot about it, and I'm sorry to you and Ohio State." The Bloomington Herald-Times captured a similar version: "I'm really sorry about that. That's not me, and I'm saying sorry to you and Ohio State."

Day listened, then gave Becker a friendly slap on the helmet as he walked away — a small gesture coaches reserve for a player they respect.

The viral taunt he was apologizing for

Last December, Indiana beat Ohio State 13-10 to win the Big Ten Championship. Becker was brilliant that day too, with six catches for 126 yards. Then, during the trophy celebration, he joined the famous O-H-I-O chant — and finished it with an F-U toward Buckeye fans instead of I-O. The broadcast caught it, the clip went viral, and it followed him into this season's rematch.

Becker did not run from that history on Saturday. He owned it, in person, to the head coach of the team he taunted, minutes after that team had just beaten Indiana in the same stadium.

Why this apology is blowing up

First, the timing. Apologies are easy in a press conference a week later. This one happened on the field, after a painful 19-15 defeat, when Becker's own stat line could have been the whole story.

Second, the family story. Becker did not grow up hating Ohio State. He grew up loving it. His father, Dave Becker, played linebacker for the Buckeyes in 1995, and Charlie grew up in an Ohio State household. As he told ESPN this week: "We had Ohio State posters up. You name it, we had it. Every Saturday, we'd be sitting down, watching Ohio State play ball... That was a dream: to play for them or play against them."

The Herald-Times notes the extra sting: Ohio State never gave him real recruiting interest. He became a star at Indiana instead — the Hoosiers' top playmaker — and still carried regret about how he celebrated beating them.

Third, fans on both sides reacted the same way. Coverage quickly filled with the same phrases: "class kid" and "winner for life." In a sport that rewards bravado after wins, a star apologizing after a loss stood out because nobody asked him to do it.

Key facts

• The game: Ohio State beat Indiana 19-15 on Saturday, October 17, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
• Becker's line: 9 catches, 165 yards — a career high — in the loss.
• The original moment: Indiana beat Ohio State 13-10 in last December's Big Ten Championship; Becker's altered O-H-I-O chant went viral during the celebration.
• The apology: Becker sought out Ryan Day at midfield; it was filmed by WCMH-TV's Joe Nugent and shared widely on social media.
• The connection: Becker's father Dave played linebacker at Ohio State in 1995; Charlie grew up an Ohio State fan.

What's next

Bleacher Report noted Ohio State moves to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten, with a bye week before visiting USC on Halloween. Indiana, also 6-1 and now 3-1 in the conference, travels to face Michigan next Saturday.

For Becker, the football story continues — he was Indiana's best player Saturday. But the reputation story may have changed. The clip shared last December showed a celebration he regretted. The clip shared this weekend shows what he did about it, face to face. That is why this is not really about a chant. It is about a player deciding the last impression mattered more than the first — and making sure he left a better one.

Sources

• FOX Sports — Indiana's Charlie Becker Makes Amends With Ryan Day
• Bleacher Report — Charlie Becker Apologizes to Ryan Day
• The Herald-Times — Becker apologizes to Ohio State coach Ryan Day
• Heavy — Ryan Day Receives Unexpected Apology From Indiana Player

FAQ

Why did Charlie Becker apologize to Ryan Day?

Becker apologized for a viral gesture during Indiana's Big Ten Championship celebration last December, when he altered the O-H-I-O chant to direct an obscene finish at Ohio State fans. He told Day it was uncharacteristic and he had been thinking about it.

What was Charlie Becker's stat line against Ohio State?

Becker caught nine passes for a career-high 165 yards in Indiana's 19-15 loss to Ohio State on October 17 at Memorial Stadium.

How did Ryan Day respond?

Day listened at midfield and gave Becker a friendly slap on the helmet as he walked away, a gesture widely read as acceptance and respect.

What is Charlie Becker's connection to Ohio State?

His father, Dave Becker, played linebacker for Ohio State in 1995, and Charlie grew up in an Ohio State household as a fan of the program before starring at Indiana.