Ryan Day’s $20M Gamble That Delivered Ohio State a National Championship
After years of chasing the title, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day finally led the Buckeyes to a national championship in the 2024 season. Their success was a result of carefully constructed recruitment, relentless preparation, and significant financial investment—nearly $20 million to be exact. While the number raised eyebrows and drew criticism in the media, there’s more to the story than just money.
It all started back in June 2022 when Day addressed over 100 Columbus-area business leaders. The new NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) era had just begun, and Day saw what was coming: if Ohio State didn’t adapt quickly, top talent would go elsewhere. He estimated at the time that $13 million would be needed to retain the existing roster. In that meeting, Day made a now-famous remark: “If the speed limit is 45 miles per hour and you drive at that speed, many people will pass you by. If you go too fast, you’ll get pulled over.” That statement captured his strategic mindset—aggressive but balanced.
Over the next two years, Day partnered with major NIL collectives like The Foundation and The 1870 Society to assemble a championship-caliber squad. Among the key players he brought in were Quinshon Judkins and Will Howard. Even with this high-stakes approach, Day emphasized that the Buckeyes’ core values—loyalty, resilience, and hard work—would remain unchanged.
In a recent interview, Day pushed back on the criticism of the $20 million figure, insisting that the value of playing at Ohio State comes from more than NIL payouts. “The value of being an Ohio State football player is because of the brand, because of the market, and because of our fan base,” he said. He added a bold statement that summed up his philosophy: “Ohio State is not for everybody.”
Most of the 2024 championship team was made up of homegrown talent. While Judkins and Howard were brought in from other programs, the majority came through Ohio State’s own pipeline. Day said that their recruitment focused on players with “something to prove.” That drive, along with team culture, played a decisive role in the decision-making process—sometimes outweighing better financial offers from other schools.
Even former UCLA coach Chip Kelly, now part of OSU’s staff, echoed this sentiment. He praised Day’s emphasis on building relationships over blindly chasing talent.
The QB Puzzle After Howard
With Will Howard now in the NFL after an impressive season—over 4,000 yards and a 73% completion rate—the Buckeyes are left with three contenders for the starting quarterback spot: Julian Sayin, Lincoln Keinholz, and freshman Tavien St. Clair.
Day gave a detailed assessment of the current QB competition, noting that Sayin and Keinholz are ahead of St. Clair, who is still adjusting after just 15 practices. While Keinholz had the edge going into spring camp, Day admitted Sayin had a stronger spring game, creating a back-and-forth competition between the two.
Sayin completed 17 of 24 passes for 175 yards in the spring game, while Keinholz followed closely with 12 completions for 158 yards. St. Clair, a promising five-star freshman, threw for 116 yards and completed 11 of 15 passes but may need more time to develop.
With Howard’s departure and a fierce QB competition underway, Ryan Day’s vision for Ohio State remains clear: stay competitive, stay exclusive, and build from within—no matter the cost.