It's hard to believe, but on Saturday, Ryan Day will surprise Urban Meyer for longevity as the Ohio State head coach.
Ryan Day has been in the shadow of Urban Meyer ever since he took over the Ohio State head coaching job. Ever since the moment that Meyer "passed the sticks" to Day and handed him the greatest program in America, Day has always been working to outlast Meyer's shadow.
It has never helped that Meyer will float around the sideline and will always be lurking when something big is afoot, but all of that ends on Saturday.
When Day and the Buckeyes take the field against the Ball State Cardinals, it will mark the beginning of his eighth full season, and it will mark his 92nd game. These numbers exclude the three games that Day coached in 2018 when he took over during Meyer's absence.
Meyer's tenure in Columbus lasted 7 full seasons and 92 total games.
Day will officially eclipse Meyer's game total against Texas in week two, but the eighth season is more than Urban's time for the Buckeyes.
It shouldn't be hard to believe, but it is. From the day that Ryan took over the Ohio State program, he took the baton out of Meyer's hands and didn't even break stride.
He has become one of the best coaches in the history of the sport in his first eight years as a head coach. His 79-12 record is good for an 86.8 win percentage, which is jockeying with legend Knute Rockne for the greatest win percentage of all time.
Day will need four wins this year to overtake Meyer's win total and be well on his way to chasing down Jim Tressel, John Cooper, and Woody Hayes to become the winningest coach in the history of the program.
There has been no indication that he is stopping anytime soon. He seems to be in great health, and for nearly a decade, he has avoided any semblance of a scandal. His program is operating as a well-oiled machine, and really, for as long as he wants to put up with the NIL era, he will be the coach of the Buckeyes.
Day will eclipse this significant milestone in front of the home faithful in Columbus. Saturday, in front of Buckeye Nation inside Ohio Stadium, is going to be one for the record books.
Day passes Meyer, Tressel gets inducted into the Ring of Honor, the seniors are honored with an early Senior Day, and football season officially kicks off in Columbus, Ohio.
The year that Day eclipses Meyer is the year that is going to require his best work. If the Buckeyes want to get to a College Football Playoff run, they will need the best from Day.
I'd be willing to bet that he has that instore for us.
