COLUMBUS, Ohio – The first time Ross Bjork saw Ohio State coach Ryan Day was two days after the Michigan Wolverines paraded through Ann Arbor with the national championship trophy in January. Bjork was in Columbus finalizing a deal to become Ohio State’s next athletic director when Day revealed a plan that ultimately produced one of the most productive offseasons in college football history. Day has a remarkable 53-8 record as an active FBS coach since taking over as Ohio State’s head coach five years ago; the only other active coach with a higher winning percentage during that time is Georgia’s Kirby Smart. However, that hasn’t nearly enough for the Buckeyes, as Day has failed to win a national championship and, even worse, three straight losses
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two days following the Michigan Wolverines’ January victory parade through Ann Arbor with the national championship trophy, Ohio State coach Ryan Day first met Ross Bjork. At the time, Bjork was in Columbus finalizing an agreement to become Ohio State’s next athletic director. It was there that Day unveiled a strategy that would ultimately result in one of the most productive offseasons in college football history. Since taking over as Ohio State’s head coach five years ago, Day has an incredible 53-8 record; among active FBS coaches, only Georgia’sTyvis Powell has a better winning percentage during that time. However, that hasn’t nearly enough for the Buckeyes, as Day has yet to win a national championship. Even worseJust two years ago, Day informed boosters that the Buckeyes would need to raise $13 million in NIL money in order to assemble their team. Tyvis Powell, the director of player engagement for Ohio State’s other collective, the 1870 Society, stated that previously the Buckeyes had to pass up players they desired due to a lack of NIL money, but that in the present, industry sources indicate that Ohio State is one of college football’s largest NIL spenders. Powell and Jones, two former teammates, said that losing to the Wolverines once more and then seeing them win a national championship “lit a fire under more people’s butts” to become involved in NIL contributions. “This was the first year that people were very generous donating money to collectives,” Powell, the defensive MVP.
