Despite criticism, Ryan Day secured a national title and a top-tier coaching ranking from Joel Klatt, solidifying Ohio State's consistent dominance.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day received much criticism before the College Football Playoff in 2024.
Day had suffered another humbling to Michigan. There was chatter the Buckeyes could fire Day if he didn't win the national championship.
Day and Ohio State responded to the loss to the Wolverines, winning for CFP games, including a convincing win over Notre Dame in the national title game.
The Buckeyes started off the 2025 campaign hot, winning 12 games before falling to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. OSU would then lose in the CFP quarterfinal to Miami in the Cotton Bowl.
Day's job is safe after winning a national championship and taking care of business against Michigan in 2025.
Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt recently ranked Day as the No. 2 best coach in the nation.
“He is excellent. Absolutely excellent," Klatt said of Day. "He has reached the top two in the AP poll at some point in every single season that he's been a head coach.
"He's never lost more than two games in a season. He got his national championship in 2024. And he had the number one team in the country for most of the season this last year until they ran into Indiana."
There was no shame in losing by three points to the Hoosiers in the Big Ten championship. IU went on to win the national championship over Miami, the other program that beat Ohio State last season.
Klatt praised Day for brining stability to OSU. He claimed the Buckeyes have the most consistent program in college football.
"Ohio State is the most consistent program in college football. Full stop through the eras," Klatt said. "And we are seeing one of the great eras of Ohio State.
"So you've got this entity, right? And it's, you could make an argument that there is not a more consistent, in particular in the last three decades, let's call it. There's not a more consistent college football program in America.”
Day is 82-12 during his time with Ohio State. He's won two Big Ten championships (2019 and 2020).