It is sometimes tough to accept reality, as it is too hard to grasp. Something similar is happening with Ryan Day keeping in mind the kind of pressure that is there on him this coming season. The fact that Ohio State Buckeyes have put in all this season and they lose it this time might be a scary dream for Ryan as AD Ross Bjork might lose his brain.

OSU has put in a $20 Million roaster this time, the players are all set and the game is on. Let us see what the speculation is leading us to. Will it be the last season for Ryan Day with OSU or he might be able to turn the table this year after 3 years of continuous disappointment?

Ryan Day’s job is in danger this 2024 season

It is not something unusual to witness a program being stuck in neutral. But if the situation continues for too long, it is a difficult situation to be in for a head coach who is responsible for the team’s performance in all manners. Ohio State Buckeyes last won a national championship in the 2014 season, which was a decade ago. If we speak of Ryan Day himself after he took OSU’s command in 2019, forget them winning a National Championship, OSU did not even win against their arch-rivals Michigan under his guidance. The fact that OSU has invested $20 Million in NIL this year, the expectations are high, in performance and also the probability of winning. On July 26th, RJ Young, host of the Number One College Football Show, came up with an angle on the money spent by OSU on NIL for the Buckeye roster. He mentioned. “This is also a year in which Ross Bjork is probably going to evaluate Ryan Day by the results he sees on the football field.”, speaking of the effect of Ryan’s possible loss after this season, as Ross has his eyes on him.

Ross Bjork has done it before too as RJ Young mentioned in his show, “he (Ross) is the guy who found the money to fire Jimbo Fisher, to pay Jimbo Fisher more than $76 million to go away, to go mow his lawn”. During Ross’s time in Texas A&M University as an AD there, due to Fisher not meeting his expectations, he fired Jimbo Fisher back in the year 2023. Ross in the year 2023, after firing Fisher, was heard saying in a news conference, “We are not in the championship conversation and something was not quite right about our direction and the plan. We should be relevant on the national scene.” Well, he might have the same thought process this year too if Ryan is not able to put in all and show the results, despite of the $20 Million investment made.

How much money did the OSU players bag in NIL?

The zeal to win is so on the top for everyone at OSU this year. Ross, during an interview on July 24th, accepted their aggressive spirit this year by saying, “I know how aggressive everyone wanted to be in the offseason. So this is where we are.” That aggressiveness is clear in the $20 Million spent on OSU on NIL this year. They have not left a single bolt loose. From hiring new players to retaining the players by not letting them join the NFL deals, to offering huge amount of money. All of it with one goal in mind – to WIN. Players like Will Howard a QB from Kansas State, Eddrick Houston who is a 5-star freshman recruit, and key returning players like TreVeyon Henderson who is an RB, J.T. Tuimoloau, and Jack Sawyer both as defensive ends who will provide a strong pass-rush presence, and many more are going to be in total a wonderful stake for the team to rely on this season.

The players are required to receive NIL compensation and disclose their agreements within 30 days which would give the administrators a clearer picture of the whole landscape. The amount spent is no joke. Bjork was also heard saying in an interview last month that they might enhance the figure to $22 million, keeping in mind the increase by percentage points over the decade. With that amount of money spent and the key players that OSU has retained or the players that they have won from other programs might be their way out this season, as the expectation grows with the figure. Let us see what is yet is come. Will Ryan be able to prove his worth with every bit in his favor? Let us get ready to witness it all!