© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA
After five-plus seasons of varying success in Columbus, Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day is still considered a top 10 college football coach per ESPN.
Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day took over for Urban Meyer in August of 2018 as acting head coach before being given the full-time job in December.
Now, six seasons into his tenure he’s still considered one of the best.
Mar 7, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day watches players stretch
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA
ESPN writers took on the task of ranking the top 10 college football coaches on a number of undisclosed criteria. The only two coaches to appear on all ballots were Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer.
“Points assigned based on our reporters’ votes (10 points for first place, nine for second place and down to one point for 10th place), here are the complete rankings.”
Where does Day stand? According to ESPN, he comes in at No. 10.
“Day’s teams are 39-3 in Big Ten play the past five-plus seasons, 56-8 overall and played in a New Year’s Six bowl game or the CFP in each of his full seasons. The Buckeyes won back-to-back Big Ten titles in his first two seasons (2019 and 2020) and are 18-8 against AP top-25 opponents under Day.
“Unfortunately, those Big Ten losses came against that “Team Up North,” Michigan, in each of the past three seasons, leaving some Ohio State fans to wonder if Day should be on the hot seat. Whether he can reverse the Buckeyes’ losing streak to the Wolverines, especially now that former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is in the NFL, will go a long way in determining his future.”
ESPN goes on to praise Day’s offenses, which have ranked in the top three in FBS scoring three times and in total offense four times.
But Day’s lack of success in bowl games (2-4) at Ohio State hurts his cause here.
As Day has turned over play-calling to new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly for 2024, those offensive stats could get even better.
