Ryan Day: It'll cost Ohio State $13 million in NIL deals to keep roster

Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day wants his team to make the moves necessary to keep up in the competition for players via name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Day says it'll take about $13M to do the trick.

According to Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Day spoke to be around 100 members of the business community in Columbus on Thursday and unveiled an NIL Corporate Ambassador Program. The program seeks to connect local businesses with Buckeyes players for endorsement deals, and Day hopes there will be plenty.

"One phone call, and they're out the door," Day said, via Lesmerises. "We cannot let that happen at Ohio State. I'm not trying to sound the alarm, I'm just trying to be transparent about what we're dealing with.

"If the speed limit's 45 miles per hour, and you drive 45 miles per hour, a lot of people are going to pass you by. If you go too fast, you're going to get pulled over."

Day estimated it'll cost about $2M for a top-shelf quarterback and about $1M for high level edge rushers and offensive tackles. The total for the players the Buckeyes can't live without will likely be around $13M, according to Day.

In Dec. 2021, top quarterback recruit Quinn Ewers transferred to Texas after spending one season with Ohio State. Ewers reportedly received an NIL deal worth over $1M upon joining the Buckeyes, and it is believed he received a significant deal to join Texas.