Ryan Day, Overlooked Again? Why the Buckeyes' Head Coach Might Be the Most Dangerous Man in the Playoff
Ohio State spent nearly the entire regular season as the team to beat. They opened the year by knocking off then-No.
1 Texas and never looked back-until the Big Ten Championship. That’s where the Buckeyes finally stumbled, falling to Indiana in a game that shook up the College Football Playoff picture and, apparently, reshaped the national perception of Ryan Day.
That loss dropped Ohio State from its perch atop the rankings and opened the door for critics and skeptics to reemerge. But here’s the thing: one loss doesn’t erase a season of dominance. And it certainly shouldn’t erase what Ryan Day has built in Columbus.
Yet, as the Playoff field gets set and the spotlight intensifies, a recent poll of college football coaches revealed something surprising-maybe even a little telling. When asked who they believed was the best coach in this year’s Playoff, not a single one named Day.
Not one.
That’s despite the fact that Day is just a year removed from winning a national championship. Despite the fact that his Buckeyes have been consistently elite under his leadership. Despite the fact that he’s turned Ohio State into a pipeline to the NFL and a perennial Playoff contender.
Now, to be fair, the other coaches in the Playoff are no slouches. These are some of the sharpest minds in the game, and they've earned their place on this stage.
But it’s hard to ignore the omission of Day from that conversation. Whether it’s recency bias following the Big Ten title game loss or just plain underestimation, the lack of recognition is striking.
And if history tells us anything, it’s that Ryan Day doesn’t need external validation to get results. In fact, this kind of slight might be exactly what fuels him and his team heading into the most important stretch of the season.
Let’s not forget what Day has accomplished since taking over for Urban Meyer. He didn’t just maintain the Buckeyes' status as a national power-he elevated it.
He’s developed quarterbacks at an elite level, kept Ohio State in the thick of the title race every year, and brought home a national title. That’s not just good coaching; that’s sustained excellence.
So, sure, maybe he didn’t get a vote in that anonymous poll. But don’t mistake silence for insignificance. Ryan Day is still very much a force in this Playoff, and if the past few years are any indication, he’s more than capable of using this perceived disrespect as fuel.
The Buckeyes have been counted out before. And more often than not, that’s when they’re at their most dangerous.
Let’s see what happens when the games begin.