Buzz Builds Around Ryan Day After Latest Ohio State Coaching Praise

Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes put together a magical run during the 2024 college football season. After losing to the arch-rival Michigan Wolverines in the final game of the regular season, many Ohio State fans were calling for Day to be fired.
At that point in time, the Buckeyes' season was viewed as over by many. Few of their own fans gave them a chance to make a run to a championship in the College Football Playoff.
Despite the criticism and hate from fans, Day helped lead his Ohio State team to a national championship win. He led wins over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame along the way.
Now, looking ahead to the upcoming 2025 college football season, Day has received major praise.
USA Today analyst Paul Myerberg has ranked Day as the No. 1 coach in the Big Ten for the 2025 season. Behind him are Penn State's James Franklin at No. 2, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz at No. 3, and Oregon's Dan Lanning at No. 4
"While he has come under fire for the Buckeyes losing four in a row against Michigan, Day enters his seventh year as the full-time coach with an overall record of 70-10 and a 46-5 mark in Big Ten play," Myerberg wrote. "If he maintains that pace through his 10th year, Day’s winning percentage of 87.5% would rank second all-time among FBS coaches, trailing Notre Dame’s Knute Rockne."
Ohio State Buckeyes head football coach Ryan Day.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORKIn 2025, Day will have his work cut out for him. He will need to replace loads of talent that headed off to the NFL.
Among the players departing are quarterback Will Howard, running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, offensive linemen Donovan Jackson and Josh Simmons, cornerback Denzel Burke, and pass rushers Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau.
He will enter the 2025 season as the top-ranked coach in the Big Ten and can improve his legacy even more if he can take a new-look roster back to the College Football Playoff and compete for another national championship.
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