Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State HC Ryan Day is chasing just one big name on list of top head coaches in college football

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated May 26, 2025 2:50 PM ET

When Ohio State won its most recent National Championship, Ryan Day became just the third active head coach to win it all, joining Dabo Swinney and Kirby Smart.

Although the Buckeyes lost to Michigan in the final game of the regular season, they went on one of the most impressive postseason runs in college football history.

Victories over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame were major statements from the Buckeyes. In a recent ranking of the top head coaches in college football, Day earned a spot that reflects his accomplishments.

Ohio State HC Ryan Day Ranks Just Behind One Coach in CBS Sports Head Coaching Rankings

Day trails only Georgia’s Kirby Smart in the CBS Sports rankings. The two coaches last faced off in the College Football Playoff a few years ago, when a missed field goal sealed a narrow win for Georgia.

Who are the best college football coaches in the Power Four conferences?

The Top 25: https://t.co/Gl7wRabJWi pic.twitter.com/XI2H64Gdmx
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) May 22, 2025

“Ryan Day finished second in our rankings last season despite losing to Michigan again, but a lot of it was due to Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh leaving the sport. Now Day has a national title to his name, but it wasn’t enough to vault him to the top spot. Perhaps a second would do the trick? Either way, what is there to say? While he needs to get the Michigan monkey off his back, Day is 70-10 at Ohio State, and nobody expects this program to drop off any time soon. He’s never lost more than two games in a season! 2024 rank: 2 (0), High: 2, Low: 3.” — Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports

Ohio State has one of the top coaches in college football, with Day having lost just 10 games over six full seasons. That’s an impressive resume, and given his relatively young age, his legacy at Ohio State could still be in its early chapters—if things continue to go his way.

The next task for the Buckeyes is to defend the National Championship they won earlier this year and attempt to run it back in 2025.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: