The noise in Columbus never really stops. It's a constant hum. If you’ve spent any time around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center lately, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The 2025 season was a wild ride—a 12-0 start that felt like a runaway freight train, followed by a crashing halt in the Big Ten Championship and a disappointing exit in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Now, everyone is asking the same thing: Is Ryan Day leaving Ohio State?
Honestly, the answer isn't a simple yes or no. It's messy. It's "college football in 2026" messy.
The Reality of the Ryan Day Leaving Ohio State Rumors
Let’s get the facts straight first. As of mid-January 2026, Ryan Day is still the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. He hasn't resigned. He hasn't been fired. In fact, he’s currently in the middle of a massive staff overhaul, trying to plug the holes left by Brian Hartline’s departure to South Florida.
But the rumors aren't coming from nowhere.
When Ohio State lost 24-14 to the Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, something shifted. Fans who were chanting his name after the 2024 National Championship win suddenly started looking at the NFL coaching cycle. The pressure in Columbus is different. It’s a pressure cooker that never turns off.
Why the NFL Talk Won't Die
The New York Giants have an opening. Brian Daboll is out, and the Giants are looking for someone who can develop Jaxson Dart. Naturally, Day’s name popped up. He has NFL experience—remember his stint with the Eagles and 49ers?—and his offensive mind is still highly respected in pro circles.
But here’s the thing: Day signed a massive extension through 2031 just a year ago. We're talking $12.5 million a year. That is a lot of "staying power" money. If he were to leave before January 31, 2026, he’d owe the school a $6 million buyout. After February 1, that number drops to $4 million.
It’s a chess match.
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What’s Actually Happening in the Building?
If Day were truly packing his bags, he probably wouldn't be grinding this hard on the coaching staff. He just pulled off a major heist by hiring Cortez Hankton away from LSU to replace Hartline as the wide receivers coach. You don't make a move like that if you’re planning to be in East Rutherford by February.
Still, the roster is in flux.
- Over 30 players entered the transfer portal after the Miami loss.
- Trajen Odom, a promising freshman, is gone.
- The Buckeyes are struggling to keep five-star recruits like Jamier Brown from looking at other schools.
It feels like a program at a crossroads. Day has been criticized for his play-calling lately. Against Miami, the offense looked stagnant. 1.9 yards per rush? That’s not Ohio State football. That’s why the "CEO-type" coach model is being pushed so hard right now. The fans want Day to hire a heavy-hitter offensive coordinator and step away from the headset.
The "Fan Hot Seat" vs. Reality
Is the seat actually hot? Sorta.
Athletic Director Ross Bjork has been public about his support, citing the 2024 title as proof that Day’s culture works. But Buckeye Nation is a "what have you done for me lately" kind of crowd. Beating Michigan in 2025 helped—a lot—but the December collapse wiped out much of that goodwill.
People forget that Day is one of only three active coaches with a national title ring (alongside Kirby Smart and Dabo Swinney). That usually buys you more than a year of patience. Usually.
Misconceptions About the Transition
A lot of folks think Ryan Day leaving Ohio State is inevitable because of the "stress."
Look, coaching at OSU is a 365-day-a-year grind. Day has been open about the mental toll. Last year, he mentioned how much he values the impact he can make on college kids compared to the NFL. But he also said he'd "never say never" to the league.
That "never say never" is what fuels the message boards.
The most likely scenario? Day stays, but the version of the Buckeyes we see in 2026 looks radically different. He’s already brought in James Smith from Alabama to beef up the defensive line. He’s biding his time on an offensive coordinator, likely waiting for the NFL playoffs to end to see if he can snag a big name like Brian Daboll (the irony, right?) or maybe an internal promotion.
Moving Forward: What to Watch For
If you're trying to track whether a move is actually happening, stop looking at the "insider" tweets and start looking at the calendar.
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- February 1st: Watch the buyout. If he’s still here on Feb 2, the financial incentive to stay increases.
- The OC Hire: If Day hires a "big fish" offensive coordinator who requires a multi-year guarantee, Day is staying. No top-tier coordinator takes a job for a lame-duck coach.
- The Transfer Window: If the "re-entry" portal results in Ohio State landing a veteran QB or more O-line depth, it’s a sign the boosters are still all-in on Day’s vision.
The 2026 season is going to be a referendum on the Ryan Day era. He’s proved he can win the big one, but he’s also proved he can lose the locker room in December if things go sideways.
For now, he's a Buckeye. But in this sport? Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Monitor the buyout dates: The drop from $6M to $4M on February 1st is a key window for NFL teams to make a move.
- Follow the staff hires: The Cortez Hankton hire is a massive win for recruiting stability; keep an eye on who takes the OC role.
- Check the 2027 commitments: Recruits like Jamier Brown are the "canary in the coal mine." If they start decommitting en masse, the coaching staff's future is officially in doubt.
- Ignore the "flight tracker" hype: Most of it is noise. Real moves happen through agents and behind closed doors at the Senior Bowl in Mobile.