Ryan Day is currently sitting on a pile of money and a mountain of expectations.
Honestly, being the head coach at Ohio State is like trying to keep a 747 in the air while the passengers are arguing about the color of the napkins. It’s never enough. You win a National Championship in 2024? Great. You go 12-0 in the 2025 regular season and finally beat Michigan? Awesome. But then you lose to Miami in the Playoff quarterfinals on New Year’s Eve, and suddenly, the "hot seat" chatter starts bubbling up again in the local Columbus diners.
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People are fickle. Especially Buckeyes fans.
Right now, in January 2026, Ryan Day Ohio State is at a weird crossroads. He’s got that massive $12.5 million-a-year contract extension that runs through 2031, making him the second-highest-paid guy in the sport. He’s proven he can win the big one. But the way the 2025 season ended—a 24-14 thud against the Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl—left a sour taste. It’s a "what have you done for me lately" world, and Day is currently staring at a wide-open vacancy sign on his coaching staff that might define his next three years.
The Brian Hartline Void and the NFL Hunt
For years, Brian Hartline was the golden boy. He recruited receivers like he was picking groceries off a shelf—just elite talent after elite talent. When he left for the USF head coaching job right before the Big Ten Championship last December, it wasn't just a loss of a coach; it was a loss of a lifestyle.
Day hasn't replaced him yet.
It’s January 17th. Most programs have their staff locked in. But Day is playing a dangerous game of "wait and see" with the NFL coaching cycle. Rumors are flying about Brian Daboll, who’s out in New York and looking for a landing spot. Some fans are even whispering about J.T. Barrett coming back in some capacity.
The reality? Day needs a "CEO" setup.
In 2024, when the Buckeyes took home the trophy, Day stepped back from the play-calling. He let his coordinators run the show. In 2025, during that loss to Miami, things felt... cluttered. The offense stalled. The tempo was off. If Day wants to live up to that $12.5 million price tag in 2026, he has to find an OC who he can trust with the keys to the car.
The Michigan Narrative Has Shifted (Slightly)
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: 1-4.
That was Day’s record against Michigan heading into the 2025 edition of "The Game." It was a weight around his neck. It was the only thing people talked about. But he did it. He walked into 2025, beat the Wolverines, and finished the regular season undefeated.
Does that erase the four straight losses from 2021 to 2024? No. But it stopped the bleeding.
Most people get this wrong: they think Day’s problem is "toughness." It’s not. It’s a math problem. When you play a team that shortens the game and hits you in the mouth, you have to be perfect. Day’s teams are built for track meets. When the weather gets cold and the grass gets muddy, the track meet turns into a wrestling match.
The Roster Exodus and the Bo Jackson Relief
If you’ve been following the transfer portal this month, you’ve probably had a minor heart attack. About 30 players from the Ohio State roster hit the portal after the Miami loss.
Thirty.
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That’s a staggering number, even in the NIL era. High-profile wideouts like Mylan Graham walking away stings. It makes you wonder if the "culture" is as rock-solid as the PR department says it is.
But there’s a silver lining. Bo Jackson—the true freshman sensation who just put up nearly 1,100 yards—confirmed he’s coming back for 2026. He’s the centerpiece. He’s the guy who can keep this offense afloat while Julian Sayin continues to develop his downfield consistency.
Why the 2026 Outlook is Actually Terrifyingly High
Despite the portal losses, the talent floor in Columbus is still higher than almost anywhere else.
- The Secondary: Still elite, though they need to find a way to stop "leaking" big plays in the fourth quarter.
- The Run Game: With Jackson returning, the Buckeyes have a legitimate bell-cow back.
- The Money: With Ross Bjork at the helm of the athletic department, the NIL war chest isn't going anywhere.
Day is 82-12 as a head coach. That is a .872 winning percentage. If you fired him today, he’d have a new job by tomorrow afternoon. But at Ohio State, 82-12 can still feel like 12-82 if the twelve losses happen in the wrong months.
What Most People Get Wrong About Day
There’s this idea that Ryan Day is just "riding the wave" that Urban Meyer built. That’s nonsense. Meyer left a program that was elite but fractious. Day has modernized it. He’s handled the transition to the 12-team playoff better than almost any of the "old guard" coaches.
He’s also been incredibly vocal about mental health, which has changed the way players view him. He’s not a drill sergeant; he’s a CEO. Sometimes, though, a CEO needs to know when to fire himself from the small tasks.
If he tries to call plays again in 2026? He’s toast.
He needs to stay at 30,000 feet. He needs to manage the boosters, the NIL collectives, and the massive ego of a roster filled with five-stars. Let the new OC worry about whether to run a jet sweep on 3rd and 2.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you’re a fan or a bettor looking at the Buckeyes' future, keep your eyes on these specific triggers over the next few weeks:
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- The OC Hire: If it’s an NFL name like Daboll, expect a more pro-style, balanced attack that leans on Bo Jackson. If it’s a "safe" internal or college hire, expect more of the same high-variance spread.
- The Defensive Identity: Matt Patricia’s comments about "new things" against Miami didn't go over well. Look for Day to demand a return to a more aggressive, simplified "Silver Bullet" philosophy.
- The Spring Portal Window: Ohio State needs defensive line depth. If they don't land at least two high-end interior tackles by May, the 2026 run might end exactly like the 2025 one did.
Ryan Day isn't going anywhere. Not with that buyout. But the version of Ryan Day we see in 2026 needs to be the one that doesn't hold the clipboard. It’s time to be the boss, not the coordinator.
Next Step: Monitor the final NFL playoff results; once the Super Bowl is set, expect Day to announce his new offensive coordinator within 48 hours.