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Ryan Day, Ohio State 'At the Very Top of the Sport,’ Says Big Ten Coach

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kyle Wood | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 8:00 AM ET

Ohio State coach Ryan Day faced immense backlash last November after his Buckeyes suffered another loss to rival Michigan. But less than two months later, the Buckeyes were crowned national champions, ending a decade-long title drought and dispelling concerns that Day might not be the man for the job.

Day signed a seven-year contract extension in February that made him the second-highest-paid coach in the country after Georgia’s Kirby Smart and keeps him in Columbus through 2031. Heading into 2025 with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs back, the reigning champs could start the season ranked No. 1 for the first time since 2015.

“The resilience of Day and his staff is really, really remarkable,” an anonymous Big Ten assistant coach said in Athlon Sports’ 2025 College Football Preview magazine. “I don’t think they get enough credit from the public for how they managed the playoff run after losing to Michigan.

“The calls for his job were absolutely ludicrous. Do they need to beat Michigan? Yeah, sure. But this program is at the very top of the sport because of the head coach.”

These comments were made in Ohio State's exclusive scouting report in Athlon’s annual magazine, which is available for purchase online and at newsstands nationwide.

Day is 70-10 across seven seasons with the Buckeyes. That sterling record includes two Big Ten championships and now a national title. However, four of those losses have come against the Wolverines, whom Ohio State haven’t beaten since 2019.

The Buckeyes saw defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly leave for Penn State and the Las Vegas Raiders, respectively, so there is brain drain from the title-winning staff to deal with. And then there’s the matter of replacing a record-tying 14 NFL Draft picks, including four first-rounders.

Ohio State reloaded with another top-five recruiting class and by adding key pieces in the transfer portal. The Buckeyes also return All-Americans on both sides of the ball as they attempt to repeat as national champs.

“Year in and year out, this is the most talented program in the league and one of the most talented in the nation,” the Big Ten coach said. “The question every season is just if they can arrange that talent the right way.”

That task ultimately falls to new Ohio State coordinators Brian Hartline and Matt Patricia. Hartline, the Buckeyes’ former receivers coach, has elite pass-catching talent at his disposal in Smith, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and transfer tight end Max Klare (Purdue).

“Whoever wins the quarterback battle has one of the best receiver rooms in the country,” the anonymous assistant said.

All indications are that it will be former five-star prospect Julian Sayin, who appeared in four games in 2024 after transferring from Alabama. The first test for the sophomore will be at home against Texas, a fellow national title contender that could challenge Ohio State for the top spot in the preseason poll.

Patricia also has weapons to work with, including Downs, linebacker Sonny Styles and transfer defensive lineman Beau Atkinson (North Carolina)

“The defense is stocked,” the Big Ten coach said. “Defensive tackle might be their question mark, but they’re going to dominate in league play.”

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

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