After winning their first national title since the 2014 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes have agreed to terms on a monster extension with head coach Ryan Day.
“Ohio State Football has long been defined by excellence and, under Ryan Day’s leadership, that tradition has not only continued, but thrived,” Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said in a statement. “As a leader, mentor and coach, Ryan has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the success and well-being of our players, both on and off the field. His leadership has maintained our position of national prominence each year and winning the 2024 national championship validated his program’s culture of excellence, integrity, and perseverance.”
The Buckeyes just capped a 14-2 season with a 34-23 win over Notre Dame to win the program’s ninth national championship.
Day, a two-time Big Ten Champion and now national champion, has agreed to a new contract that will keep him in Columbus, Ohio, through the 2031 season, and will increase his pay substantially—to around $12.5 million per year.
But, is that enough to make Day the highest-paid coach in the country? Let’s take a look at where he stands after his latest contract extension.
| Rank | Coach | School | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $13,282,580 |
| 2. | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $12,500,000 |
| 3. | Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $11,132,775 |
| 4. | Lincoln Riley | USC | $10,043,418 |
| 5. | Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | $10,000,000 |
It’s close, but Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is still the top dog when it comes to salary, at $13.2M per year.
Day is 70-10 (.875) over his first six seasons with Ohio State, while Smart is 105-19 (.848) in nine seasons—the difference is that Smart is a three-time SEC champion and a two-time national champion.
