It would make sense for Ryan Day to leave Ohio State (and the rivalry with Michigan) for a position in the SEC.
Ryan Day could go on his horse and get away from all of this. Painting a magnificent sunset into which he could ride Silver is just two victories away.
Why would he? Why ought he to?
Even though he has been under unimaginable pressure as Ohio State’s coach for the past few seasons, failing to deliver on the demands of his supporters—victories against rival Michigan—while defeating almost everyone else, Day would be far too young at 45 to resign from coaching.
In any case, Day is approaching a career high. Why give up now?
Six weeks earlier, Day was surrounded by Ohio State’s posse after he lost to Michigan for the fourth time in a row, this time in a way that was the most puzzling yet. Tennessee fans purchased Buckeye tickets for a first-round playoff game at the Horseshoe as Ohio State supporters and media analysts discussed potential replacements for an unfilled position.
Day started hiding aces under his sleeve as the playoffs got underway. Before crushing undefeated Oregon, Ohio State crushed Tennessee. He only needs two significant victories to get the upper hand.
One day before his team plays Texas in the Cotton Bowl, Day stated on Thursday that “every single week, a slate is wiped clean, and you have to start from scratch again.”
Although that is a positive mindset for a coach, Buckeyes supporters will never forget Day’s failures against Michigan.
Here, Day relishes the authority. He will reach the pinnacle of his career if he wins the next two games, at which point he can either stay at Ohio State or look for other options.
How should that hand be played if Day wins the national championship? Perhaps he ought to get ahead of the posse.
I’m not referring to retiring or switching to the NFL, where Day was a quarterback coach in the past.
With no Michigan and big-time jobs that could potentially arise next season, the SEC comes to mind.
Ryan Day might resurrect the SEC and leave Ohio State at the top.
I’m being serious, sir.
Day should focus on the South because, even if he wins a national championship in less than two weeks, he would be in serious trouble again if he loses to Michigan the following season.
Who requires that? Not today.
Although there aren’t any SEC positions available this offseason, Day would only have to wait roughly nine months for a possible wave of top positions to become available. After this season, he might resign from his position at Ohio State, take a mental vacation, refuel, and bide his time until his phone rings. It would indeed ring. When your winning percentage exceeds 87%, such as
In 2025, half of the SEC’s coaches will have crucial seasons. Brent Venables of Oklahoma, Billy Napier of Florida, Hugh Freeze of Auburn, Brian Kelly of LSU, and Kalen DeBoer of Alabama are on that list.
These five big-boy positions are held by coaches who haven’t qualified for the playoffs and are starting their second, third, or fourth year.
And just speculating, if Oklahoma’s relationship with defensive-minded Venables doesn’t work out—and it hasn’t been working out—the Sooners might want to switch back to a coach who trains NFL quarterbacks, someone who grew up with two of the best offensive minds in the league, Chip Kelly and Urban Meyer.
(All right, so Oklahoma will play Michigan for the next two seasons, but no Wolverines after that.)
At Ohio State, Day has access to resources that are envied. He has an exceptional staff and a roster that is reputedly worth $20 million in NIL wealth, but the SEC is not a place for the poor, and Day would draw top players. Both before and after NIL, he shown his skill as a recruiter. He may not be the coach of the fans, but he is the coach of the players.
Earlier in the postseason, senior defensive end JT Tuimoloau declared, “I adore that coach.” “My coach is that.”
