Trust is a big thing in college football, and no position requires and receives more of it than the quarterback. Kyle McCord didn't lose the Michigan game by himself; he made some critical mistakes and didn't play at his best, but ultimately it's up to everyone at Ohio State (from Ryan Day on down) to get the Buckeyes over the hump against Michigan.
With that said, it's also easy to see why Ohio State played so conservatively against the Wolverines from the jump, in a game when they absolutely couldn't afford to do that. With an offensive line underperforming against a touch defensive front, and a quarterback not able to go through his progressions, it was incredibly difficult for Day to be creative.