Football
Ryan Day
- Position:
- Head Coach
- Alma Mater:
- New Hampshire '02 / Boston College '04
- Hometown:
- Manchester, N.H.
- Year in Coaching:
- 22nd (7th at Ohio State; 5th as head coach)
Ryan Day has established himself as one of the defining coaches in college football during his seven seasons leading Ohio State, guiding the Buckeyes to championship success, national prominence and remarkable consistency across every phase of the program.
Since taking over as head coach in 2019, Day has compiled an 82-12 record, the best winning percentage among active FBS head coaches, and he has led Ohio State to five College Football Playoff appearances, more than any other program during that span. His teams have won 10 championships, including the 2024 College Football Playoff national title, two Big Ten championships, three Big Ten East Division titles, two Rose Bowl victories, a Sugar Bowl win and a Cotton Bowl win.
Day’s greatest accomplishment came in 2024, when he guided Ohio State through the first 12-team College Football Playoff format and into the program’s ninth national championship. Over a 31-day stretch, the Buckeyes beat Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame to become the first FBS team to defeat five top-five opponents in a single season and the first to win four CFP games in one year. That run capped a 14-win season and cemented Day’s place alongside Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer as an Ohio State coach to win a national title. He is also one of only four active head coaches with a CFP championship.
Ohio State has been dominant in nearly every statistical area under Day’s leadership.
The Buckeyes have ranked No. 1 nationally in scoring offense and total offense, and they have also finished No. 1 in total defense, passing defense and scoring defense in multiple seasons under his watch. His teams have been especially dangerous in high-stakes games, going 27-11 against ranked opponents, 16-10 against top-10 teams, 8-7 against top-five teams and 8-6 in postseason play. He also was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year award in his first season in 2019, when the Buckeyes won 13-straight games by an average of more than 36 points and became the first Big Ten team to win three-consecutive outright conference titles.
Day’s impact has extended well beyond wins and losses.
He has coached 27 first-team All-Americans, seven Heisman Trophy finalists and multiple major national award winners, including Caleb Downs, Julian Sayin, Chase Young, Marvin Harrison Jr., C.J. Stroud and J.K. Dobbins. Under his direction, 69 Buckeyes have been selected in the NFL Draft, including 20 first-round picks. Ohio State’s program-wide success has also shown up in the classroom, where Day’s teams have set records for Scholar-Athletes and Academic All-Big Ten honorees, while posting consecutive record Graduation Success Rate figures and one of the nation’s top APR marks.
Before becoming head coach, Day built a strong reputation as an offensive coach and developer of quarterbacks. He spent 2018 as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after serving as co-offensive coordinator the year before, and he briefly served as acting head coach for the first three games of the 2018 season.
Prior to Ohio State, he coached at Boston College, Temple, Florida, the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, and he also held earlier collegiate roles at New Hampshire. A native of Manchester, N.H., Day played quarterback at New Hampshire, earned a degree in business administration and later completed a master’s in administrative studies at Boston College.
He and his wife, Christina, known as Nina, have three children: Ryan Jr. (RJ), Grace and Nia.
Ryan Day’s Ohio State Legacy
- The Start of the Ryan Day Era
- Coach Day was named Ohio State’s head coach by then-Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith on Dec. 4, 2018, but his path to the full-time job began well before that. Day had already served as Ohio State’s acting head coach for the first eight weeks of the 2018 season, guiding the Buckeyes to wins over Oregon State, Rutgers and No. 15 TCU and opening his head coaching record at 3-0.
- His official tenure as head coach began after Ohio State’s 28-23 win over Washington in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2019, when retiring head coach Urban Meyer placed the whistle around Day’s neck in front of the team. Technically, Day’s first official day on the job was Jan. 2, but that moment in the locker room before more than 124 players — including over 100 who would be part of his first team — marked the true beginning of his era.
- At 46, the Manchester, N.H., native became the 25th head coach in the history of one of college football’s most storied programs.
- 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship
- In one 31-day stretch, Coach Day led his team and coaching staff on the greatest and most difficult journey to win a national championship in college football history.
- Between Dec. 21, 2024, and Jan. 20, 2025, Day’s Buckeyes defeated No. 7 Tennessee, 42-17, in a College Football Playoff game at Ohio Stadium, No. 1 Oregon, 41-21, at the Rose Bowl, No. 3 Texas, 28-14, in a quasi-road game in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl, and No. 5 Notre Dame, 34-23, in the CFP championship game at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
- Ohio State’s dominant run through that difficult gauntlet secured the program’s ninth national championship, third of the century after titles in 2002 and 2014, and capped a record-tying 14-win season.
- Day joined Paul Brown (1942), Woody Hayes (1954-57-61-68-70), Jim Tressel (2002) and Urban Meyer (2014) as Ohio State coaches to win a national championship, and he joined Meyer as the only Ohio State head coaches with multiple seasons of at least 13 wins.
- Among active head coaches, Day is one of only four to have won a College Football Playoff national championship. The others: Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Indiana’s Curt Cignetti.
- Day’s leadership during this NCAA record, 16-game 2024 season enabled Ohio State to set some monumental records, including:
- Becoming the first FBS school to defeat five opponents ranked in the Top 5 in one season;
- Winning a record four CFP games in one season; and
- Claiming two bowl wins in one season, one of only three schools to do so.
- Win-Loss Record Breakdown (as of June 15, 2026)
- In addition to his sterling, 82-12 career record as coach of the Buckeyes, Day’s teams are also:
- 27-11 all-time vs. Top 25 teams
- 16-10 vs. Top 10 teams
- 8-7 vs. Top 5 teams
- 8-6 in all postseason games
- Coach Ryan Day’s .872 winning percentage (82-12) in 94 games at Ohio State ranks No. 1 nationally among all Division I head coaches and is currently No. 2 all-time. In 93 of those 94 games, his team has been ranked in the AP Top 25, and in 93 it has been ranked in the Top 5.
- In addition to his sterling, 82-12 career record as coach of the Buckeyes, Day’s teams are also:
- Championship Tradition
- Day has led Ohio State to more College Football Playoff appearances over the last seven years than any other program, with five. In 2024, he accomplished something no team had done before, guiding the Buckeyes through four wins in a 12-team playoff bracket on the way to the program’s ninth national championship.
- In seven seasons as head coach, Day has guided Ohio State to 10 championships, including the 2024 College Football Playoff national title, back-to-back Big Ten championships in 2019 and 2020, Rose Bowl wins in 2022 and 2024, Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl victories in 2022 and 2024, and three Big Ten East Division titles. He is also the only coach to lead his team to the College Football Playoff five times since the format began in 2019.
- Year-By-Year Recap
- Under Ryan Day, Ohio State has consistently ranked among the nation’s best teams on both sides of the ball, with the Buckeyes producing elite offenses, dominant defenses and a steady run of postseason success. From 2019 through 2025, Day’s teams were defined by efficiency, explosiveness and balance, and each season featured either a nationally elite offense, a nationally elite defense, or both. That sustained excellence helped turn Ohio State into one of college football’s most complete programs and a perennial College Football Playoff contender.
- Specifically, Day’s teams have been among the best offensive teams in the nation, ranking in the Top 3 nationally in scoring three times and Top 10 in total offense four times. Ohio State was No. 1 in the nation in both total offense and scoring offense in 2021. Additionally, Ohio State has been No. 1 in the nation eight times on defense: in total defense in 2019, 2024 and 2025; in passing defense in 2019, 2023 and 2025; and in scoring defense in 2024 and 2025.
- 2019
- In Day’s first full season as head coach, Ohio State finished 13-1, won the Big Ten championship and reached the College Football Playoff before falling to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal.
- The Buckeyes were dominant offensively, averaging 42.5 points per game behind quarterback Justin Fields, who was one of the nation’s top players and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Running back J.K. Dobbins became the first Buckeye to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, while a loaded receiving corps featuring K.J. Hill, Chris Olave, Binjimen Victor and Garrett Wilson gave Ohio State one of the country’s most dangerous passing attacks.
- Defensively, the Buckeyes were just as impressive, finishing No. 1 nationally in total defense and ranking among the top five nationally in passing defense, scoring defense, red-zone defense and pass efficiency defense. Individually, Chase Young anchored that unit with one of the greatest seasons in school history, winning the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Ted Hendricks Award and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors while also becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist. He set the program record with 16.5 sacks and ranked second in program history with 21.0 tackles for loss.
- 2020
- In this COVID-shortened season, Ohio State went 7-1, won its fourth-straight Big Ten championship and advanced to the national championship game after defeating Clemson in the Sugar Bowl.
- Fields again led the offense and earned his second-straight Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honor, while Trey Sermon emerged as a late-season breakout star in the run game including a memorable, record-breaking 331 rushing yard performance in the Big Ten Championship Game. Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson continued to give the Buckeyes elite playmakers on the perimeter.
- Defensively, Ohio State finished with one of the nation’s top rushing defenses and posted a strong turnover margin, while the defensive line earned widespread recognition for its depth and production.
- Ohio State had several major All-America honorees, led by OG Wyatt Davis as a unanimous first-team selection. CB Shaun Wade and DT Haskell Garrett also earned first-team recognition, while a trio of Buckeyes received second-team honors.
- 2021
- Ohio State’s 2021 team might have been Day’s most explosive offense before the playoff run in 2024. The Buckeyes finished 11-2, closed the season with a Rose Bowl win over Utah and averaged 45.7 points per game, the highest mark in the country.
- Individually on offense, C.J. Stroud took over at quarterback and delivered one of the best passing seasons in program history, throwing for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns while finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy voting and earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the Big Ten in receiving yards, RB TreVeyon Henderson provided balance in the backfield, and the offense remained one of the most efficient in the sport.
- Defensively, Ohio State tied for ninth nationally in turnover margin, and had five Buckeyes earn All-Big Ten honors.
- 2022
- Day’s offense again ranked near the top of the national leaderboard. Ohio State finished 11-2, reached the College Football Playoff and nearly knocked off top-ranked Georgia in the semifinal.
- Individually on offense, Stroud threw for 3,688 yards and 41 touchdowns, finishing third in the Heisman voting while Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Emeka Egbuka formed one of the country’s best receiver groups, and RB TreVeyon Henderson remained a key playmaker. Overall, The Buckeyes averaged 44.2 points per game, which ranked second nationally, and all five starting offensive linemen earned All-Big Ten honors.
- That same season, Ohio State's defense had five All-Big Ten honorees, including a pair of First Team selections with DE JT Tuimoloau and LB Tommy Eichenberg.
- 2023
- Ohio State finished 11-2, won its first 11 games and returned to the New Year’s Six stage in the Cotton Bowl.
- While the Buckeyes’ offense was more balanced than in previous seasons, it still averaged 30.5 points per game and relied heavily on its passing attack. Quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 3,170 yards in the regular season, Marvin Harrison Jr. finished with 1,211 receiving yards, and tight end Cade Stover became a major part of the offense with 41 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns. Harrison finished fourth in the Heisman voting that season and won the Biletnikoff Award.
- On defense, Ohio State remained one of the nation’s most efficient units, finishing first in passing defense, third in total defense, second in scoring defense, and seventh in rushing defense.
- 2024
- Day guided Ohio State through one of the greatest postseason runs in college football history, culminating in the Buckeyes’ first national championship of the 12-team playoff era. Ohio State finished 14-2 and averaged 36.3 points per game across four CFP wins, while the full-season offense ranked among the nation’s best under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
- Defensively, the Buckeyes were outstanding, finishing No. 1 nationally in both scoring defense and total defense under Jim Knowles.
- 2025
- Ohio State remained elite on both sides of the ball, finishing 12-0 in the regular season and earning a second straight CFP berth.
- The offense was led by redshirt freshman Julian Sayin, whose precision passing and efficiency helped the Buckeyes remain one of the nation’s most productive teams, while the tight end group added depth and balance to the attack. Sayin finished fourth in the Heisman voting.
- On defense, Ohio State again ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense, passing defense and scoring defense under Matt Patricia, while also leading the country in opposing red-zone percentage and first downs allowed per game. Ohio State allowed just 9.3 points per game in the 2025 season which was the fewest by any FBS team in the CFP era (2014-Present).
- All-Americans
- Day has coached 27 first-team All-Americans:
- 2019:
- DE Chase Young
- CB Jeff Okudah
- OG Wyatt Davis
- RB J.K. Dobbins
- 2020:
- OG Wyatt Davis
- CB Shaun Wade
- DT Haskell Garrett
- 2021:
- WR Chris Olave
- WR Garrett Wilson
- OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
- OT Thayer Munford
- K Noah Ruggles
- 2022:
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
- OT Paris Johnson Jr.
- OT Dawand Jones
- 2023:
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
- 2024:
- C Seth McLaughlin
- S Caleb Downs
- OL Donovan Jackson
- WR Jeremiah Smith .
- 2025:
- LB Arvell Reese
- WR Jeremiah Smith
- DT Kayden McDonald
- S Caleb Downs
- DE Caden Curry
- OL Carson Hinzman
- LB Sonny Styles
- In 2025, Day’s Buckeyes set a program record with seven first team All-Americans, three of whom were unanimous selections.
- 2019:
- Day has coached 27 first-team All-Americans:
- Heisman Trophy Finalists:
- Day has coached seven Heisman Trophy finalists:
- 2018:
- QB Dwayne Haskins
- 2019:
- DE Chase Young
- QB Justin Fields
- 2021:
- QB C.J. Stroud
- 2022:
- QB C.J. Stroud
- 2023:
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
- 2025:
- QB Julian Sayin
- 2018:
- Day has coached seven Heisman Trophy finalists:
- National Award Recipients:
- Day has coached six national award recipients:
- 2019:
- DE Chase Young – Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Ted Hendricks Award
- RB J.K. Dobbins – Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
- 2023:
- WR Marvin Harrison -- Biletnikoff Award
- 2024:
- C Seth McLaughlin – Rimington Trophy
- 2025:
- S Caleb Downs – Jim Thorpe Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy
- QB Julian Sayin – Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year
- 2019:
- Day has coached six national award recipients:
- Big Ten Position-Specific Award Recipients:
- Day has also seen his players win six Big Ten Quarterback of the Year honors, six Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors, four Chicago Tribune Silver Football awards, four Wide Receiver of the Year honors, three Freshman of the Year honors, and defensive player, linebacker, tight end, offensive lineman and defensive lineman awards.
- Developed Here: NFL Draft Success
- At the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, 69 Buckeyes have been selected, including 20 first-round picks during the Ryan Day era (2019–present).
- Overall, Ohio State had 11 Buckeyes taken during the 2026 NFL Draft, which was the most of any school in the country.
- WR Carnell Tate, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Tennessee Titans
- LB Arvell Reese, 5th Overall, Round 1 – New York Giants
- LB Sonny Styles, 7th Overall, Round 1 – Washington Commanders
- S Caleb Downs, 11th Overall, Round 1 – Dallas Cowboys
- DT Kayden McDonald, 36th Overall, Round 2 -- Houston Texans
- TE Max Klare, 61st Overall, Round 2 – LA Rams
- CB Davison Igbinosun, No. 62 Overall, Round 2 – Buffalo Bills
- TE Will Kacmarek, No. 87 Overall, Round 3 – Miami Dolphins
- DE Caden Curry, No. 214 Overall, Round 6 – Indianapolis Colts
- OL Ethan Onianwa, No. 231 Overall, Round 7 – Atlanta Falcons
- Ohio State is the only school in the seven-round draft era (1994–present) to have at least three NFL Draft classes with 12 or more players selected, most recently in 2025 when 14 Buckeyes were drafted.
- Additionally, the Buckeyes have had 25 players selected over the last two years which is tied for the most in consecutive drafts in the seven-round draft era (1994-Present).
- Georgia is the only other school to accomplish this feat (2022-23).
- All 11 defensive starters from Ohio State’s 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship win over Notre Dame are now NFL Draft picks, with none selected lower than the fifth round.
- That doesn’t include the aforementioned Arvell Reese, who was in the rotation as a backup.
- Ohio State tied its own program record with seven selections in the first two rounds in 2026.
- The Buckeyes previously accomplished that in 2016 and 2025.
- Additionally, Ohio State’s eight selections through the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft were the most of any school in the country.
- Ohio State had four Buckeyes taken in the top 11 in the 2026 NFL Draft and became the first program since the NFL merger to accomplish that feat (Previously: 1956: Notre Dame – 4 // 1967: Michigan State – 4).
- Overall with Carnell Tate, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles all taken in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft, Ohio State has now had three Buckeyes taken in the top 10 of the NFL Draft for just the second time in program history and is the only program to accomplish this feat multiple times:
- 2016:
- Joey Bosa, 3rd Overall, Round 1 – San Diego Chargers
- Ezekiel Elliott, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Dallas Cowboys
- Eli Apple, 10th Overall, Round 1 – New York Giants
- 2026:
- Carnell Tate, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Tennessee Titans
- Arvell Reese, 5th Overall, Round 1 – New York Giants
- Sonny Styles, 7th Overall, Round 1 – Washington Commanders
- As noted above, Oklahoma (2010) and Alabama (2021) are the only other programs to accomplish this once.
- 2016:
- Ohio State has had a pair of Buckeyes taken in the top five of the NFL Draft on four occasions over the last 30 years (since 1996) and is the only school in the country who has achieved this milestone this multiple times:
- 1997:
- Orlando Pace, 1st Overall, Round 1 – St. Louis Rams
- Shawn Springs, 3rd Overall, Round 1 – Seattle Seahawks
- 2016:
- Joey Bosa, 3rd Overall, Round 1 – San Diego Chargers
- Ezekiel Elliott, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Dallas Cowboys
- 2020:
- Chase Young, 2nd Overall, Round 1 – Washington Redskins
- Jeff Okudah, 3rd Overall, Round 1 – Detroit Lions
- 2026:
- Carnell Tate, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Tennessee Titans
- Arvell Reese, 5th Overall, Round 1 – New York Giants
- With that, Alabama (2023), Oklahoma (2010), Auburn (2005), Texas (2002), Penn State (2000) and Illinois (1996) have all accomplished this on one occasion.
- 1997:
- Since Ryan Day officially was named Ohio State’s head coach on Dec. 4, 2018, Ohio State has had 23 alumni declare for the NFL Draft early and forgo their final year of eligibility and all of them have been drafted with 14 being picked in the first round.
- 2019:
- Nick Bosa, 2nd Overall, Round 1 – San Francisco 49ers
- Dwayne Haskins, 15th Overall, Round 1 – Washington Redskins
- Michael Jordan, 136th Overall, Round 4 – Cincinnati Bengals
- 2020:
- Chase Young, 2nd Overall, Round 1 – Washington Redskins
- Jeff Okudah, 3rd Overall, Round 1 – Detroit Lions
- J.K. Dobbins, 55th Overall, Round 2 – Baltimore Ravens
- 2021:
- Justin Fields, 11th Overall, Round 1 – Chicago Bears
- Tommy Togiai, 132nd Overall, Round 4 – Cleveland Browns
- 2022:
- Garrett Wilson, 10th Overall, Round 1 – New York Jets
Nicholas Petit-Frere, 69th Overall, Round 3 – New Orleans Saints
- Garrett Wilson, 10th Overall, Round 1 – New York Jets
- 2023:
- C.J. Stroud, 2nd Overall, Round 1 – Houston Texans
- Paris Johnson Jr., 6th Overall, Round 1 – Arizona Cardinals
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 20th Overall, Round 1 – Seattle Seahawks
- Luke Wypler, 190th Overall, Round 6 – Cleveland Browns
- 2024:
- Marvin Harrison Jr., 4th Overall, Round 1 – Arizona Cardinals
- Mike Hall Jr., 54th Overall, Round 2 – Cleveland Browns
- 2025:
- Josh Simmons, 32nd Overall, Round 1 – Kansas City Cheifs
- Quinshon Judkins, 36th Overall, Round 2 – Cleveland Browns
- 2026:
- Carnell Tate, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Tennessee Titans
- Arvell Reese, 5th Overall, Round 1 – New York Giants
- Caleb Downs, 11th Overall, Round 1 – Dallas Cowboys
- Kayden McDonald, 36th Overall, Round 2 -- Houston Texans
- Max Klare, 61st Overall, Round 2 – LA Rams
- 2019:
- Ohio State extended its currently active streak of at least one Buckeye being selected in the first round, which dates back to 2016. That is the longest streak in the Big Ten and the second longest in the NCAA, trailing only Alabama who trace their streak back to 2009.
- Position-Specific Notes from 2026 NFL Draft:
- Linebackers:
- Arvell Reese was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the fifth pick and Sonny Styles was taken seventh overall by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Those historic selections mark the first time that an Ohio State linebacker was taken in the first round since Darron Lee went 20th overall to the New York Jets in 2016.
- Additionally, they are the first pair of Ohio State linebackers to both be selected in the first round since A.J. Hawks (5th Overall, Green Bay Packers) and Bobby Carpenter (18th Overall, Dallas Cowboys) were taken in the 2006 NFL Draft.
- Linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles marked the first time a program has had two linebackers selected in the top 10 of the same NFL Draft.
- Arvell Reese was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the fifth pick and Sonny Styles was taken seventh overall by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Defensive Line:
- Kayden McDonald was selected by the Houston Texans with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
- He became the highest drafted Ohio State middle-of-the-line defensive tackle since Johnathan Hankins went 49th overall in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft to the New York Giants.
- Caden Curry joined a long line of successful defensive ends at Ohio State to be drafted as he was picked by the Indianapolis Colts with the 214th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
- The Buckeyes have now had at least one defensive lineman drafted each year since 2018.
- The 2026 NFL Draft marked the second-straight year that Ohio State had at least two defensive linemen taken in the same draft. The last time Ohio State had two-straight years of multiple defensive linemen taken was 2019-2020.
- Kayden McDonald was selected by the Houston Texans with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Defensive Backs:
- Caleb Downs was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He became the first safety to be selected this high since 2018 when Minkah Fitzpatrick was also selected with the 11th pick. Additionally, he is the highest drafted Ohio State safety since Malik Hooker was taken 15th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2015. Overall, he is the first safety in the Ryan Day Era (2019-Present) to be selected in the top 13 picks of the NFL Draft.
- Davison Igbinosun was selected 62nd overall in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday night by the Buffalo Bills. Igbinosun became the highest drafted cornerback for Ohio State since Damon Arnette (19th Overall) and Jeff Okudah (3rd Overall) went in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
- With Caleb Downs (Dallas Cowboys), Davison Igbinosun (Buffalo Bills) and Lorenzo Styles Jr. (New Orleans Saints) all be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, it marked the third time in the Ryan Day era (2019-Present) that the Buckeyes had three defensive backs taken in a single year.
- Ohio State (2026, 2025, 2020) is one of two schools (Miami – 2026, 2024, 2019) to have at least three defensive backs selected in the same draft during that span.
- The three defensive backs selected in 2026 ranks tied for first in this year's class with Arizona and Miami.
- Tight Ends:
- Ohio State became the first school this decade to have two tight ends selected in the same NFL Draft, with Max Klare going 61st overall in Round 2 to the Rams and Will Kacmarek going 87th overall in Round 3 to the Dolphins.
- They were also the first tight end duo in school history to be drafted in the same class.
- Additionally, with Ohio State tight end Max Klare being selected in the second round by the LA Rams. Klare and Kacmarek became the fourth and fifth tight ends drafted during the Ryan Day era:
- Luke Farrell (2021: 145th Overall, 5th Round – Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Jeremy Ruckert (2022: 101st Overall, 3rd Round– New York Jets)
- Cade Stover (2024: 123rd Overall, 4th Round – Houston Texans)
- Max Klare (2026: 61st Overall, 2nd Round – LA Rams)
- Will Kacmarek (2026: 87th Overall, 3rd Round – Miami Dolphins)
- Ryan Day has now had the most tight ends selected in the NFL Draft of any head coach during his tenure at Ohio State.
- Ohio State is one of two schools in the country to have three tight ends selected over the last three drafts.
- Offensive Line:
- Ethan Onianwa was selected 231st overall in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Onianwa was the 12th Buckeyes offensive lineman drafted during Ryan Day era (2019-Present).
- Wide Receivers Selected in 1st Round Since 2022:
- Since 2022, all five Ohio State wide receivers that were drafted have gone in the first round, with an average draft position of 11.3. Additionally, the Buckeyes have had the highest receiver taken in three of five NFL Drafts.
- Carnell Tate in 2026 (No. 4 to the Tennessee Titans)
- Marvin Harrison in 2024 (No. 4 to the Arizona Cardinals)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2023 (No. 20 to the Seattle Seahawks)
- With Carnell Tate’s selection to the Tennessee Titans with 4th pick, it marked the first time in Ohio State history that a wide receiver was selected in the first round in five straight drafts. He also became Ohio State’s sixth wide receiver in the last five years to have his name called in the first round.
- Since 2022, all five Ohio State wide receivers that were drafted have gone in the first round, with an average draft position of 11.3. Additionally, the Buckeyes have had the highest receiver taken in three of five NFL Drafts.
- Linebackers:
- Academic Records
- In the classroom, Day’s Buckeyes have set program records for number of OSU Scholar-Athletes (101 in 2025-26) and Academic All-Big Ten Conference honorees (61 in 2025). The program has had four consecutive years of record Graduation Success Rate scores including the December 2024 score of 89.
- Six Buckeyes have earned Academic All-America honors during Day’s tenure, including 2025 honoree Carnell Tate.
- Also, in the fall of 2024, the football program was one of just two programs nationwide with an Academic Progress Rate score of 1,000, Harvard being the other. The APR accounts for academic eligibility, retention and graduation.
- Coach of the Year
- Day was the first Ohio State coach in 40 years to be named Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 2019 – his first year as a head coach – by coaching, developing and leading one of the best teams in school history. His 2019 Buckeyes were dominant, winning 13 consecutive games by an average of over 36 points per game while ranking in the Top 5 of 12 major NCAA statistical categories.
- His 2019 Buckeyes became the first Big Ten team ever to win three consecutive outright Big Ten titles (and his 2020 team extended that run to four consecutive outright titles) and the team advanced to the College Football Playoffs for the third time in the six-year playoff history. Day’s 13 victories in 2019 are tied for the most by a first-year FBS head coach and he is the first coach to win 13 games without the benefit of a bowl victory. The Buckeyes were ranked among the nation’s Top 5 in 14 of 16 weeks.
- Recruiting
- Day’s strong relationships with prospects and their families, combined with his meticulous attention to detail and the leadership of his GM Mark Pantoni and the entire staff, Ohio State annually secures Top 5 recruiting classes. This includes five consecutive Top 5 classes in the 247Sports rankings (#4 in 2025, #5 in 2023, #4 in 2022, #2 in 2021 and #5 in 2020), a No. 2 ranking in 2018, and a 2017 class that produced the highest per-player average in 247Sports Composite history.
- Under his guidance, Ohio State also secured the nation’s fifth-ranked transfer portal class for the 2026 season. During Day’s tenure, the Buckeyes have consistently been at the forefront of identifying and landing impact transfers, including two-time All-American safety Caleb Downs (the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys), quarterback Will Howard, who transferred from Kansas State and led Ohio State to the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, and quarterback Julian Sayin, who transferred from Alabama after the 2023 season before starting in 2025 and finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.
Prior Positions at Ohio State (2017-18)
In 2018, Day was Ohio State quarterbacks coach, and the team ranked second nationally in total offense and passing yards, and No. 8 in scoring. It established Big Ten Conference records for offensive yards per game (535.6), passing yards (5,100), passing yards per game (373.0), touchdown passes (51), completions (396) and total plays (1,131).
Individually, quarterback Dwayne Haskins was a Heisman Trophy finalist who became just the sixth player to throw 50 touchdown passes in a season. Haskins went on to be a first-round pick by the Washington Redskins
The 2017 season was Day’s first in Columbus, and it also proved to be a success. His starting quarterback, J.T. Barrett, was a finalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year Award and he was named the Big Ten’s quarterback of the year after a season in which he set seven school single season records and broke the Big Ten Conference career mark for touchdowns responsible for with 147.
Coaching Background Prior to Ohio State
As an NFL quarterbacks coach, Day worked with Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert in 2016 with the 49ers and he helped Sam Bradford to a record-setting 2015 season with the Eagles as he completed 65 percent of his passes – an Eagles single-season record – and threw for 3,725 yards. Both figures were career highs at the time for Bradford.
In addition to his two NFL seasons as a quarterbacks coach, Day has 15 years of collegiate coaching experience, including offensive coordinator positions at Temple and Boston College, as well as positions with Florida – as a graduate assistant under Urban Meyer – and at his alma mater, New Hampshire.
He coached receivers for a year under Al Golden at Temple University (2006) and for five seasons at Boston College (2007-11). Day worked three years as Steve Addazio’s offensive coordinator: in 2012 he ran the offense and coached receivers at Temple and in 2013 and 2014 he was quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Boston College.
Playing Career
Day, who was announced as a UNH Hall of Famer in 2026, was a three-year starting quarterback and team captain as a senior in 2001. A Granite State native, Day set nine school records during his Wildcats career, including marks for career completions, touchdown passes, completion percentage and total offense, while becoming the first UNH quarterback to attempt more than 1,000 career passes.
At the time of his graduation, Day ranked among the top passers in school history in nearly every major category. He threw for 7,670 yards, completed 653 passes and accounted for 53 touchdown passes, while his total offense of 8,492 yards reflected both his passing production and his impact on the program. He also still holds the UNH record for pass attempts in a game, setting the mark with 65 against Delaware in a memorable 2000 comeback win.
Day’s best single-season numbers came in 2001, when he was the Wildcats’ leader and team captain. He finished his career with multiple seasons among the school’s all-time best passing performances, including top-10 marks in completions, attempts and yardage.
Education
Day earned his degree in business administration in 2002 and he has a master’s in administrative studies from Boston College (2004).
Family
Day, and his wife, Christina, whose nickname is “Nina,” have three children: Ryan Jr. or “RJ”, Grace and Nia.
Ryan Day Quick Facts
In 2018, Day was Ohio State quarterbacks coach, and the team ranked second nationally in total offense and passing yards, and No. 8 in scoring. It established Big Ten Conference records for offensive yards per game (535.6), passing yards (5,100), passing yards per game (373.0), touchdown passes (51), completions (396) and total plays (1,131).
Individually, quarterback Dwayne Haskins was a Heisman Trophy finalist who became just the sixth player to throw 50 touchdown passes in a season. Haskins went on to be a first-round pick by the Washington Redskins
The 2017 season was Day’s first in Columbus, and it also proved to be a success. His starting quarterback, J.T. Barrett, was a finalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year Award and he was named the Big Ten’s quarterback of the year after a season in which he set seven school single season records and broke the Big Ten Conference career mark for touchdowns responsible for with 147.
Coaching Background Prior to Ohio State
As an NFL quarterbacks coach, Day worked with Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert in 2016 with the 49ers and he helped Sam Bradford to a record-setting 2015 season with the Eagles as he completed 65 percent of his passes – an Eagles single-season record – and threw for 3,725 yards. Both figures were career highs at the time for Bradford.
In addition to his two NFL seasons as a quarterbacks coach, Day has 15 years of collegiate coaching experience, including offensive coordinator positions at Temple and Boston College, as well as positions with Florida – as a graduate assistant under Urban Meyer – and at his alma mater, New Hampshire.
He coached receivers for a year under Al Golden at Temple University (2006) and for five seasons at Boston College (2007-11). Day worked three years as Steve Addazio’s offensive coordinator: in 2012 he ran the offense and coached receivers at Temple and in 2013 and 2014 he was quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Boston College.
Playing Career
Day, who was announced as a UNH Hall of Famer in 2026, was a three-year starting quarterback and team captain as a senior in 2001. A Granite State native, Day set nine school records during his Wildcats career, including marks for career completions, touchdown passes, completion percentage and total offense, while becoming the first UNH quarterback to attempt more than 1,000 career passes.
At the time of his graduation, Day ranked among the top passers in school history in nearly every major category. He threw for 7,670 yards, completed 653 passes and accounted for 53 touchdown passes, while his total offense of 8,492 yards reflected both his passing production and his impact on the program. He also still holds the UNH record for pass attempts in a game, setting the mark with 65 against Delaware in a memorable 2000 comeback win.
Day’s best single-season numbers came in 2001, when he was the Wildcats’ leader and team captain. He finished his career with multiple seasons among the school’s all-time best passing performances, including top-10 marks in completions, attempts and yardage.
Education
Day earned his degree in business administration in 2002 and he has a master’s in administrative studies from Boston College (2004).
Family
Day, and his wife, Christina, whose nickname is “Nina,” have three children: Ryan Jr. or “RJ”, Grace and Nia.
Ryan Day Quick Facts
- Hometown: Manchester, N.H.
- High School: Manchester Central
- Alma Mater: New Hampshire
- Degree: Business administration
- Master’s: Administrative studies (Boston College)
- Year in Coaching: 25th (10th at Ohio State; Eighth as Head Coach)
- Wife: Christina (“Nina”)
- Children: Son R.J., and daughters Grace and Nia
- Overall: 82-12
- Home: 46-3
- Away/Neutral: 36-9
- Versus Top 5: 8-7
- Versus Top 10: 16-10
- Versus Top 25: 27-11
- Versus Big Ten: 55-5
- Big Ten Championships: 2 (2019, 2020)
- CFP Appearances: 5 (2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025)
| Season | School | Bowl Game | Opponent | Result |
| 2025 | Ohio State | Cotton Bowl | Miami | L, 24-14 |
| 2025 | Ohio State | Big Ten Championship Game | Indiana | L, 13-10 |
| 2024 | Ohio State | CFP Playoff National Championship | Notre Dame | W, 34-23 |
| 2024 | Ohio State | Cotton Bowl | Texas | W, 28-14 |
| 2024 | Ohio State | Rose Bowl | Oregon | W, 41-21 |
| 2024 | Ohio State | CFP Playoff First Round | Tennessee | W, 42-17 |
| 2023 | Ohio State | Cotton Bowl | Missouri | L, 14-3 |
| 2022 | Ohio State | Peach Bowl | Georgia | L, 42-41 |
| 2021 | Ohio State | Rose Bowl | Utah | W, 48-45 |
| 2020 | Ohio State | CFP Playoff National Championship | Alabama | L, 52-24 |
| 2020 | Ohio State | Sugar Bowl | Clemson | W, 49-28 |
| 2020 | Ohio State | Big Ten Championship Game | Northwestern | W, 22-10 |
| 2019 | Ohio State | Fiesta Bowl | Clemson | L, 29-23 |
| 2019 | Ohio State | Big Ten Championship Game | Wisconsin | W, 21-13 |
| 2018 | Ohio State | Rose Bowl | Washington | W, 23-13 |
| 2018 | Ohio State | Big Ten Championship Game | Northwestern | W, 45-24 |
| 2017 | Ohio State | Cotton Bowl | USC | W, 24-7 |
| 2017 | Ohio State | Big Ten Championship Game | Wisconsin | W, 27-21 |
| 2014 | Boston College | Pinstripe Bowl | Penn State | L, 31-30 |
| 2013 | Boston College | AdvoCare V200 Bowl | Arizona | W, 42-19 |
| 2010 | Boston College | Fight Hunger Bowl | Nevada | L, 20-13 |
| 2009 | Boston College | Emerald Bowl | USC | L, 24-13 |
| 2008 | Boston College | Music City Bowl | Vanderbilt | L, 16-14 |
| 2008 | Boston College | ACC Championship Game | Virginia Tech | L, 30-12 |
| 2007 | Boston College | Champ Sports Bowl | Michigan State | W, 24-21 |
| 2007 | Boston College | ACC Championship Game | Virginia Tech | L, 30-16 |
| 2005 | Florida | Outback Bowl | Iowa | W, 31-24 |
| 2004 | Boston College | Continental Tire Bowl | North Carolina | W, 37-24 |
| 2003 | Boston College | San Francisco Bowl | Colorado State | W, 35-21 |
Coaching History
| Seasons | School/Team | Title/Position Coached |
| 2019-Present | Ohio State | Head Coach |
| 2018 | Ohio State | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks |
| 2017 | Ohio State | Co-Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks |
| 2016 | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterbacks |
| 2015 | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterbacks |
| 2013-14 | Boston College | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks |
| 2012 | Temple | Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers |
| 2007-11 | Boston College | Wide Receivers |
| 2006 | Temple | Wide Receivers |
| 2005 | Florida | Graduate Assistant |
| 2003-04 | Temple | Graduate Assistant |
| 2002 | New Hampshire | Tight Ends |
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