In a not-so-subtle sound bite from Ohio State’s spring game, Ryan Day knows his Buckeyes are close to a breakthrough. He appears ready to pull the cover off to reveal what’s under the hood. Day’s banking on 2024 as this program’s launching point with the end goal being its first national championship in 10 seasons as the top qualifier in the expanded College Football Playoff.
As the leader of the Buckeyes, close results in pressure, and despite 56 wins over his first 64 games in Columbus, two Big Ten titles and a couple final four appearances, it hasn’t been good enough.
“We’ve been a play away or a drive away from reaching our goals each year,” Day said during the first half of Saturday’s final scrimmage, a clear reminder of Ohio State’s near misses against Michigan, Georgia and Alabama in recent years.
That’s not an excuse from Day — he’s right.
Ohio State held a double-digit lead in the second half of its semifinal playoff loss to Georgia a couple seasons ago and narrowly missed ending a multi-game losing skid to Michigan in November, a setback in Ann Arbor that squandered the Buckeyes’ perfect regular season. Better execution in late-game situations and we’re likely talking about Day as the nation’s top coach alongside Kirby Smart exiting the spring in the post-Nick Saban era.
Since finishing No. 10 in last season’s final poll, the first time the Buckeyes haven’t been inside the top 5 under Day, Ohio State’s offseason under Day has generated serious momentum. The Buckeyes signed the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class, headlined by No. 1 overall player Jeremiah Smith, and welcomed several high-end transfers who should provide an immediate boost.
The addition of five-star Alabama signee Julian Sayin to one of the nation’s most-talented quarterback rooms makes Ohio State the best at the position in the Big Ten. Caleb Downs, a freshman All-American last season for the Crimson Tide, strengthened his NIL dealings by coming over to the Buckeyes along with Ole Miss superstar ballcarrier Quinshon Judkins.
Negative opinions associated with the Buckeyes’ perceived lack of spending in NIL were proven untrue and the program’s substantial booster backing necessary to win big with this expansive roster resulted in considerable upgrades this offseason.
Convincing Chip Kelly to leave UCLA as a sitting head coach to become the program’s new offensive coordinator was another power move from Day. That gives Ohio State two of college football’s mastermind scheme artists on both sides of the football and heightens the likelihood this team will not be handcuffed at times in the passing game as it was in 2023.
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Ohio State is recruiting at supernova status and based on the focus shift around NIL, the Buckeyes are serious about vying for a national title this fall. It’s obvious this roster will be one of the nation’s most talented and playoff expansion means the Buckeyes should be a virtual lock to get there.
