Ryan Day Focused on Playoff Run as Michigan Turns the Page with New Head Coach
ARLINGTON, Texas - As Ohio State gears up for a high-stakes College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Miami at AT&T Stadium, head coach Ryan Day has his eyes firmly on the task in front of him. But 1,100 miles away in Orlando, his biggest rival just made a major move that could reshape the Big Ten landscape.
Michigan has hired Kyle Whittingham - the longtime Utah head coach - to lead the Wolverines into a new era. Whittingham, who squared off with Day in the 2022 Rose Bowl, brings a wealth of experience and a reputation for building tough, disciplined teams. It’s a significant hire for a program looking to maintain its national relevance after a period of transition.
For Day, though, the focus remains on the present - and on Miami.
“We’ve been focused on this game, really,” Day said during Cotton Bowl Media Day on Monday. He briefly acknowledged Whittingham’s arrival in Ann Arbor, recalling their Rose Bowl clash with mutual respect.
“Had the experience in the Rose Bowl. That experience was great.
He was a gentleman.”
Whittingham’s résumé speaks for itself. He took over at Utah in 2005, stepping in after Urban Meyer departed for Florida.
Over nearly two decades, Whittingham turned the Utes into a consistently competitive program - first in the Mountain West and then in the Pac-12 - earning a reputation as one of the most respected coaches in the country. His teams were known for their physicality, discipline, and ability to punch above their weight.
That 2022 Rose Bowl matchup between Utah and Ohio State was a memorable one - a shootout that tested both coaches’ mettle and showcased their ability to adjust in real time. It’s the kind of game that leaves an impression, and it clearly did on Day.
There’s also a bit of symmetry between the two coaches’ journeys. While Whittingham was settling into his role at Utah in 2005, Day was just getting started as a graduate assistant at Florida - working under none other than Urban Meyer.
That connection would come full circle years later when Day joined Meyer’s staff at Ohio State in 2017. Two years after that, Day took over the Buckeyes' top job.
Now, as Day prepares to lead Ohio State into a playoff battle, he does so knowing that the rivalry with Michigan just took on a new dimension. Whittingham brings credibility, stability, and a proven track record to a program that’s been searching for long-term leadership.
But don’t expect Day to get distracted. With a CFP quarterfinal on deck, his attention is locked in - and rightfully so.
Come January, the rivalry will be waiting. For now, it’s all about the next 60 minutes of football.