COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ryan Day will now coach Ohio State into the next decade.
According to the university, Day has agreed in principle on a new, seven-year contract through the 2031 Buckeyes season. The agreement comes just over two weeks after Ohio State won its ninth national championship, a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the 2025 College Football Playoff final
Ohio State says the deal will give Day a $2 million base salary, with a value of $12.5 million in total annual compensation.
This agreement, essentially a three-year extension, adds to Day’s current contract, and requires approval from OSU’s Board of Trustees before it is finalized. The approval is expected to take place later this month.
Day is now one of three active coaches with a national championship, alongside Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney.
“Ohio State Football has long been defined by excellence and, under Ryan Day’s leadership, that tradition has not only continued, but thrived,” said Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork.
In a span of 31 days, the Buckeyes defeated No. 7 Tennessee, 42-17 at Ohio Stadium in a first-round playoff game. They then dismantled top-ranked Oregon, 41-21, in a CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl, followed by No. 3 Texas, 28-14, in a semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.
Against No. 5 Notre Dame the Buckeyes led by as much as 24 points before holding of the Irish at Atlantas’ Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
According to USA Today, Day previously made just over $10 million in 2024, which was fifth highest among 2024 college football coaches. His new salary places him just behind Smart’s annual salary of more than $13 million, which ranks first in the nation among college coaches.
Day joins 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. He and Meyer are the only Ohio State coaches with multiple seasons of at least 13 wins.
The Buckeyes continue to shore up its coaching staff after the team promoted receivers coach Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator. Hartline replaces veteran coach Chip Kelley, who joined Pete Carroll in Las Vegas to lead the Raiders offense.
The Buckeyes are still looking to fill their defensive coordinator position vacated by Jim Knowles, who accepted an offer from Penn State to serve in the same role. Ohio State is also set to hire Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen as its next offensive line coach, per NBC4’s sister station in Roanoke, Virginia. Bowen would replace Justin Frye, who took the same position with the Arizona Cardinals.
