Even after leading Ohio State to a historic victory, Ryan Day criticizes the new CFP format.
In the world of college football, few coaches have had as much success and influence as Ryan Day, head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Day, who took over as head coach in 2018, has led Ohio State to multiple Big Ten championships, prestigious bowl game victories, and even a College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship appearance. His tenure has been marked by consistent excellence, an ability to adapt to the modern game, and an unwavering commitment to developing top-tier talent. However, despite his accomplishments and the continued success of his team, Day has been outspoken about his concerns with the newly implemented CFP format.
In this article, we will explore the factors that led Ryan Day to critique the changes to the College Football Playoff system, how his concerns impact the broader landscape of college football, and what implications these issues may have for the future of the sport. Ohio State’s historic victory and Day’s role in that success will serve as a backdrop to better understand why, even in light of a major triumph, Day remains critical of the evolving playoff structure.
The Historic Victory: A Landmark Achievement for Ohio State
Before diving into Day’s concerns with the new CFP format, it’s important to briefly touch on Ohio State’s recent triumph under his leadership. The Buckeyes have long been a powerhouse in college football, and under Ryan Day, their dominance has continued. Day’s leadership has been marked by the development of elite quarterbacks, such as Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud, both of whom have impressed on the national stage. Ohio State’s victory, particularly when competing at the highest levels of college football, was a testament to his ability to manage and motivate a team full of future NFL stars.
In the most recent contest, Ohio State delivered a dominant performance, showcasing their ability to compete with the best teams in the nation. The Buckeyes defeated a top-ranked opponent in a way that displayed both offensive firepower and defensive resilience, characteristics that Day has consistently instilled in his team since taking over for Urban Meyer.
However, despite this achievement, Day’s public stance on the new College Football Playoff format was far from celebratory. His criticisms of the current system stem from a deeper concern regarding the future of college football and what this shift in playoff format could mean for the sport’s landscape.
The New College Football Playoff Format
In 2024, the College Football Playoff (CFP) will expand from a four-team format to a 12-team format. Under the new setup, the top six conference champions will earn automatic berths, and the remaining six spots will be filled by at-large selections. The new format is designed to include more teams, increase the excitement around the playoff, and, ideally, create a more inclusive system that rewards teams from all conferences and regions.
Supporters of the new format argue that the expansion allows more teams to participate, providing greater opportunities for teams outside of the traditional powerhouses to compete for a national championship. The inclusion of automatic bids for conference champions is seen as a way to ensure that all conferences are represented and that deserving teams have a chance to compete for a national title.
However, not everyone is on board with the changes. Ryan Day, who has led Ohio State to consistent success in the current four-team format, has publicly criticized the expansion. Although Day acknowledges the benefits of creating a more inclusive playoff system, he has expressed reservations about how the new structure will affect the sport, especially in terms of competitiveness, fairness, and the health of the players.
Day’s Criticism: Key Concerns with the New Format
Ryan Day’s concerns with the new CFP format are rooted in several key points. Below, we will examine the primary aspects of his critique and how they relate to both his experience as a coach and the broader college football landscape.
1. Dilution of the Regular Season’s Importance
One of Day’s primary concerns with the 12-team playoff is that it could significantly diminish the importance of the regular season. Under the old four-team system, every regular-season game carried immense weight, especially for teams vying for a spot in the CFP. A single loss could severely damage a team’s chances of making the playoffs, placing greater emphasis on every matchup.
Day has pointed out that with the expanded field, more teams will have a chance to secure a spot in the playoff even if they suffer one or two losses. While this may seem like a positive change for teams with tougher schedules, Day fears it will undermine the competitiveness of the regular season. In the past, teams were forced to bring their best every week because the margin for error was slim. With 12 teams now qualifying, there is a risk that teams will not push themselves to the same degree as they might have in the previous system.
As Day put it, “The regular season used to matter, and every game was critical. Now, with the expansion, you might be able to lose a couple of games and still make the playoff. What does that do to the motivation of teams to put everything on the line every week?”
2. Risk of Overloaded Schedules and Player Health
Another area of concern for Day is the potential physical toll the expanded playoff could have on players. The new system involves not only more teams but also the possibility of more games in a compressed period of time. Teams that qualify for the playoff will now have to participate in more rounds of competition, which increases the potential for player injuries, fatigue, and burnout.
College football is already a grueling sport, with players often playing through injuries and dealing with an intense, physically demanding schedule. Day, who has always emphasized player welfare during his tenure at Ohio State, fears that the expanded playoff will put additional stress on athletes, potentially leading to more long-term health issues. The prospect of playing in multiple rounds of playoff games on top of a regular-season schedule could exacerbate these problems.
For a coach like Day, whose program prides itself on developing athletes for the professional level, this is a significant concern. He has always been a staunch advocate for taking care of players and ensuring they have a proper balance between their academic, athletic, and personal lives. Day worries that the expanded playoff could make it harder to maintain that balance.
3. The Impact on Smaller Conferences and Group of Five Teams
Despite the inclusion of automatic bids for conference champions, Day has expressed doubt about whether the new system will provide fair opportunities for teams from smaller conferences. The Group of Five teams, which consist of schools from conferences like the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, and the Sun Belt, have long fought for respect in the College Football Playoff conversation.
While the expanded format does allow for a greater number of teams, Day is skeptical about whether the system will truly level the playing field. He has pointed out that, even with automatic bids for conference champions, teams from the Power Five conferences are still likely to dominate the playoff rankings. These teams, including Ohio State, have consistently had deeper rosters, better facilities, and more resources, making it difficult for smaller schools to compete.
Day’s critique isn’t necessarily about denying these smaller programs a chance; rather, it’s about the practicality of creating a truly fair system. As a coach who has competed against top-tier programs year after year, Day is aware of the disparity between conferences and how the quality of competition can vary widely. While he supports the idea of giving more teams a chance to compete, he questions whether the new format will truly help the cause of parity in college football.
4. The Impact on the Prestige of the National Championship
Ryan Day has also raised concerns about the potential devaluation of the national championship itself. Under the current four-team format, the playoff has been viewed as the ultimate goal for college football teams. The process is rigorous, and the teams that make it to the final four are often regarded as the best in the country.
With 12 teams now qualifying, Day is concerned that the playoff could become too “crowded,” diluting the significance of winning the national title. Teams that finish with two or three losses might now have a shot at the championship, and while the idea of more teams getting a chance is appealing, Day questions whether this will make the path to a national title feel as exclusive and prestigious as it once did.
As he explained, “The College Football Playoff has been a grind to get into, and the teams that have earned those spots have done so through sheer determination and excellence. I’m not sure the same can be said about a system where more teams can slip in with losses.”
Ryan Day’s Unwavering Commitment to the Sport
Despite his critiques of the new College Football Playoff format, Ryan Day remains one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in college football. His success at Ohio State is a testament to his leadership, his ability to adapt to changing trends in the sport, and his dedication to building a winning culture.
Day’s criticism of the CFP expansion reflects his deep commitment to the integrity of college football. His concerns are rooted in a desire to preserve the elements of the sport that make it so special: the intensity of the regular season, the fairness of the playoff process, and the health and well-being of the athletes.
As the sport continues to evolve, it’s clear that Day’s voice will remain a vital one in the conversation about college football’s future. Whether or not the new format succeeds, Ryan Day will continue to lead Ohio State with a focus on the values that have made the program a perennial powerhouse. And as long as he’s at the helm, the Buckeyes will remain a force to be reckoned with, regardless of how many teams make it into the playoff.
