Ryan Day Gets Hit With Harsh Put-Down After Flexing Against Nick Saban

Ryan Day (Image Credits: Imagn)

Ryan Day Gets Hit With Harsh Put-Down After Flexing Against Nick Saban

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Vipul Dhawas | Last updated Apr 23, 2026 10:34 PM ET

The rise of Ryan Day at the Ohio State Buckeyes football has been hard to ignore. Whether it’s his transfer portal strategy or consistent performances over the past couple of seasons, Day has pushed Ohio State back into the elite tier of college football.

A national championship run recently only strengthened that image. And even in a season where the Buckeyes fell short of the title, beating arch-rival Michigan Wolverines football was enough to win over plenty of supporters.

But success in college football comes with an unspoken rule—confidence is celebrated, until it crosses paths with greatness. That’s where things took an interesting turn.

During a light-hearted moment ahead of the NFL Draft, Day appeared to flex his recruitment of Caleb Down in front of Nick Saban, as Down left Alabama for OSU. While the exchange wasn’t meant to be taken too seriously, it didn’t take long for the moment to gain traction. And once it did, the reactions followed quickly.

Enter Dave Portnoy. Known for his unfiltered takes, Portnoy didn’t hold back, delivering a sharp critique that quickly grabbed attention. His argument?

Portnoy said, “Coach, coach, coach can you explain how you have 5 of the top 10 picks and you still can’t win the Big 10?”

Conference titles and strong seasons don’t carry the same weight as national championships—especially when you’re indirectly stacking yourself against someone like Saban. It’s a harsh standard—but not an uncommon one in this sport.

In the end, this isn’t just about one viral moment or one analyst’s take. It’s about perception versus reality. Ryan Day has built a winning program—but in college football, the bar isn’t just winning.

Does Ryan Day Have What It Takes to Surpass Nick Saban’s Legacy?

When the Ohio State Buckeyes football team won the national championship, many believed that Ryan Day had already established himself as one of the best coaches the program has ever had.

In fact, heading into the following preseason, some even started calling him the best head coach of the season. But the real question is—can he ever surpass Nick Saban or even come close to his legacy?

Ryan Day (Image Credits: Imagn)

That comparison, however, is just as flawed as calling a college football player better than Tom Brady simply because he won the Heisman Trophy.

There’s no doubt that Ryan Day has immense capability. But Nick Saban is the GOAT. In the current situation, even Ohio State Buckeyes football fans likely understand that no matter how good Ryan Day becomes, reaching the level of Nick Saban will take a long time—or might even be impossible.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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