It would make sense for Ryan Day to leave Ohio State (and the rivalry with Michigan) for a position in the SEC.

Why Ryan Day May Leave Ohio State for the SEC: A Look at the Rivalry, Challenges, and Opportunities

The coaching landscape in college football is constantly shifting, and the trajectory of head coaches’ careers can take unexpected turns. One name that has recently been the subject of discussion is Ryan Day, the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Day has had a highly successful tenure at Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to multiple College Football Playoff appearances and consistently contending for Big Ten titles. However, as with any high-profile coaching job, there are pressures and expectations that come with the role.

In this piece, we explore the possibility of Ryan Day leaving Ohio State, a program with deep ties to tradition and a fierce rivalry with Michigan, to take a position in the SEC, arguably the most competitive and financially lucrative conference in college football. While this might seem like an unlikely move for a coach who has built a strong foundation in Columbus, there are compelling reasons why Day could consider making the switch to the SEC.

The Michigan Rivalry and Its Impact on Ryan Day’s Tenure

One of the biggest storylines of Ryan Day’s coaching career at Ohio State has been his rivalry with Michigan, particularly the intense focus on The Game, the annual showdown between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines. Historically, Ohio State has dominated Michigan, but since Day took over as head coach in 2019, the rivalry has taken on new significance. In his first two years as head coach, Day maintained Ohio State’s dominance over Michigan, securing big victories that kept the Buckeyes firmly in the national championship hunt.

However, the 2021 season brought a stunning loss for Ohio State to Michigan in Ann Arbor, marking the first time in 10 years that the Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes. This loss was not just significant in terms of the win-loss column but also because of the added pressure it placed on Day. Ohio State fans and boosters, accustomed to dominance, viewed the rivalry with Michigan as paramount to the program’s success. A loss in this game is more than just a loss in the standings; it is a potential career-altering event.

In 2022, Day’s Buckeyes had another opportunity to restore the rivalry’s balance, but after a brutal defeat in the Big Ten Championship and a subsequent College Football Playoff exit, questions began to emerge about his ability to consistently defeat Michigan and win national championships. The pressure to beat Michigan, particularly as Jim Harbaugh‘s Michigan Wolverines gained strength, continues to build. The intensity of this rivalry may wear on Day, especially if he feels he has taken Ohio State as far as he can while facing such immense pressure from fans and the media.

The Growing SEC Powerhouse

Another key factor that could entice Ryan Day to leave Ohio State for the SEC is the increasing dominance of the SEC in college football. The SEC has long been considered the most competitive conference in the country, boasting powerhouse programs like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Florida. With a rich tradition of winning national titles, the SEC has built a reputation as a conference where only the best thrive. Every year, the SEC produces multiple playoff contenders, and the level of competition in the conference is unmatched by any other league in college football.

One of the most notable changes in recent years is the SEC’s expansion, which will soon include Texas and Oklahoma, two programs that will further elevate the league’s profile. With the SEC’s wealth of resources, powerful television contracts, and state-of-the-art facilities, it has become the gold standard in college football. For a coach like Ryan Day, the SEC could represent an opportunity to compete in the most challenging environment and further solidify his place among the elite coaches in the sport.

The ability to recruit against and compete with the best of the best in the SEC is a major draw. Coaches in the SEC regularly navigate the toughest schedules in college football, facing top-ranked teams week after week. For Day, the challenge of managing a program in the SEC could be appealing, as it would present opportunities for further growth and a chance to prove himself in the most competitive conference.

Financial Incentives: The SEC’s Pay-to-Play Model

While Ohio State has long been one of the wealthiest and most lucrative football programs in the country, the SEC is in a league of its own when it comes to financial resources. The SEC’s television contracts, driven by the popularity of its programs, are among the most lucrative in all of college sports. Networks like ESPN and CBS pay vast sums to broadcast SEC games, which directly benefits the schools in the conference. This financial windfall means that SEC programs are able to pay top dollar to coaches, providing them with salaries that often surpass those offered by other conferences.

For Ryan Day, the financial incentives of moving to the SEC could be significant. SEC schools regularly offer head coaches salaries well above the $9-10 million per year mark, a figure that Ohio State, despite its wealth, may not be able to match. If Day were to receive an offer from an SEC program, particularly a top-tier school like Alabama, Georgia, or LSU, the financial package could be enough to sway him to make the move.

In addition to the higher salaries, the SEC’s revenue-sharing model ensures that even mid-tier programs have access to substantial resources, making them more attractive to potential coaching candidates. As the SEC continues to grow in financial power, the salary and compensation packages available to coaches will only become more enticing.

SEC’s Access to the College Football Playoff and National Championships

Ohio State has long been a contender for the College Football Playoff (CFP) and has won national championships under Urban Meyer. However, one challenge facing Ryan Day is the increasingly competitive nature of the Big Ten. Teams like Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin have become formidable opponents, and it has become more difficult for Ohio State to dominate the conference year after year. Additionally, the rise of other programs in the Big Ten makes it harder for Day to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff, which, in turn, makes it more difficult to contend for national titles.

In contrast, the SEC offers coaches a more direct path to the College Football Playoff and national championships. With the consistent dominance of Alabama and Georgia, and the rise of schools like LSU and Florida, the SEC features multiple teams that are playoff contenders on a yearly basis. For Ryan Day, joining a program in the SEC would provide him with a higher probability of making it to the playoff and ultimately winning a national title. Additionally, the SEC’s representation in the CFP is unrivaled, giving its coaches a better chance to claim college football’s ultimate prize.

The Prestige of Coaching in the SEC

For many coaches, the prestige of coaching in the SEC is a major draw. The SEC is home to some of the most historic programs in college football, with teams like Alabama, LSU, and Auburn possessing storied histories and passionate fanbases. The conference’s exposure, its fan-driven culture, and its high profile on national television broadcasts make it the ultimate destination for many coaches. To be able to say that you coach in the SEC is to be part of college football’s elite fraternity.

If Ryan Day were to leave Ohio State for the SEC, he would be joining a group of coaches who are widely regarded as the best in the business. The opportunity to compete against legends like Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, and Ed Orgeron (in the past) would be a major career boost, offering Day the chance to prove himself in an even more high-profile, competitive setting.