The Ohio State Buckeyes have been in a frustrating position for the past three seasons. They haven’t been able to break through in the big games. While head coach Ryan Day has a great record with the Buckeyes, his record against the elite teams in college football leaves something to be desired. It isn’t for lack of trying or a lack of talent on the roster. In a recent interview, Buckeyes AD Ross Bjork revealed the massive amount the program spent on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in 2023.
Ohio State Buckeyes NIL Bill
Yahoo Sports Ross Dellenger reported that Bjork estimated a total of “around $20 million” was paid out to players in NIL last season. While Dellenger didn’t have solid numbers, he guessed this is likely the highest in the country. Players like Marvin Harrison Jr. probably have a hefty price tag. The Ohio State Buckeyes program has continued to bring in top-tier talent, which points to a strong flow of NIL money.
This price tag becomes frustrating after a season where the program had to watch their arch-rivals, the Michigan Wolverines, defeat them for the third straight year and win the national championship. However, it didn’t stop the program from bringing in many talented players from the transfer portal. Furthermore, they were able to convince certain players to stay rather than declare for the NFL Draft. While this is great, it does put even more pressure on Ryan Day this season.
Under Pressure
Making it to the College Football Playoff seems likely for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2024. Their schedule has many winnable games, and the expansion to 12 teams means that winning out isn’t necessary to have a shot at a national championship. However, the amount that donors and the program are spending on NIL means there is demand for a title. People are much less willing to dish out massive amounts of cash only to lose to Michigan and miss out on the Big Ten Championship.
Ultimately, it’s Ryan Day who is under the most pressure. He needs to show he can beat the elite teams. He is 1-6 against teams ranked in the top five of the College Football Playoff rankings, which is the complete opposite of his predecessors. There is no denying that he is a great recruiter, which is important in this era of college football. However, pulling down top classes and then failing to even win the conference means people start to question you much sooner.
Championship Or Bust
The Ohio State Buckeyes have all the pressure on them this year. While other programs expect to win the national championship, their coach is not at risk if they don’t. Georgia isn’t going to fire Kirby Smart if he loses in the semi-finals. At the very least, Ryan Day has to beat Michigan this year. Jim Harbaugh is gone, and Sherrone Moore has taken over. While Moore was technically coaching last year’s matchup, it was still Harbaugh’s team.
If the Buckeyes fail to even beat the Wolverines this year, it likely means huge changes are coming in Columbus. This is one of the premiere college football programs in the nation. With the money they are spending, the trophy case should be filling up rapidly.
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