Ryan Day has done it. He’s finally a national champion. As after years of heartbreak, his OSU squad kicked down the door in the first-ever 12-team CFP. And they shook off a brutal loss to Michigan, found their fire, and finished the fight. But even as confetti falls, Day isn’t satisfied. And the system—it’s got flaws. But the seeding and the byes—there’s work to do. So, after just one season, he’s already looking ahead. Looks like true champions don’t just win—they push for more.

See, Urban Meyer and Mark Ingram of FOX joined Ryan Day on The Triple Option podcast on Wednesday to talk about a variety of subjects. Meanwhile, Meyer questioned Day about his preferences for future changes to the CFP halfway through the interview. And according to Day, the player experience could be “much better.” He proposed relocating hotels for the pre-championship games to more remote locations and away from major towns since, as Day explained, the Playoff games, which were organized by bowl games, lacked pre-game activities. And following that, he focused on the seeding procedure.

Here comes the blunt playoff take. And Day isn’t holding back. He’s calling out the system, along with a point. “I think it was clear this year that the automatic byes were a little out of whack. When you see how it all shook out, I think they need to rethink that. I understand why, in the first year, it was done that way. But I think that if you win your conference, sure, you should get in. But you get a bye? I think that’s a little much,” said Day. Safe to say, Day isn’t just celebrating a title—he’s challenging the system. Because in his eyes, the CFP still needs work.

As of now, Ryan Day has a fix for the CFP. Forget conference titles—he believes the top 4 teams in the selection committee’s rankings should get the byes. It’s plain and simple. And if that system had been in place last season, Georgia, Ducks, Texas, and PSU would have earned the extra week of rest. Meanwhile, the first round would have been stacked Notre Dame vs. Clemson. OSU vs. ASU. Vols vs. SMU. and Indiana vs. Boise State. More balance, better matchups and a fairer path to the title, as per Day.

But instead, in 2024 CFP, OSU and Vols battled their way into the 8-9 showdown after ASU and Boise State fell in the quarterfinals. And the stakes? Higher than ever. Honestly, the Buckeyes’ win secured them a spot in the next round to play for the B1G championship. As of now, while Day may have pushed for an easier title path, but fans weren’t having it. They fired back, calling out OSU’s championship run and making sure the Buckeyes saw the truth in the mirror.

Ryan Day is under pressure

When the CFP bracket dropped in Dec, OSU was staring down the toughest road to a title. No breaks, no shortcuts, and just a brutal gauntlet. Well, the Buckeyes took on Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Texas in the Cotton Bowl, and Notre Dame in the national title. And before all that? A first-round battle against Vols at home. Four wins and one historic run. But even after conquering it all, Ryan Day isn’t done tweaking the system. He believes the CFP and its bowl games can do more. Because winning is one thing—building a better future is another.

And just like that, the fans came swinging at Ohio State’s head coach. One fan didn’t hold back, firing off, “Bro you didn’t even play for your conference championship. Relax 😅.” One came in Day’s defence saying, “People in these comments seem like they’re actively TRYING to misunderstand him 😂.” But they didn’t stop there.

But the criticism kept rolling in, proving once again—when it comes to CFP debates, the internet never misses a chance to throw a punch. According to Ryan Day, if his proposed bye system had been in place, OSU would have hosted ASU before facing Texas, likely in the Peach Bowl. But not everyone was buying it. And following that, one frustrated fan fired back, “As an Oregon fan, I wish we didn’t have a bye. We came out flat and rusty. Last thing he should be complaining about.” And another didn’t hold back, saying, “100% would have been fired without this playoff format but okay sis.” Clearly, not everyone is shedding tears over Day’s complaints.

And here come the fans, already debating Day’s future at OSU. One fan didn’t hold back, saying, “Bro would be unemployed if it was still a 4 team system 😂.” Another doubled down, adding, “Bro wouldn’t have a job if the new system wasn’t in place.” To be honest, harsh? Maybe. But the message is clear—some fans believe Day’s success is more about the format than the coaching.

Now, the real question is: Will Day’s push for CFP changes actually shake up the CFB landscape? Or will it all play out the same way next year? Only time will tell.