Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes made an improbable run to a national championship win last season. It was a magical season that fans will never forget in Columbus.
After losing the final game of the regular season at home to the arch-rival Michigan Wolverines, fans were done with Ohio State. Day was facing an immense amount of hateful comments and calls for him to be fired. That did not get him or the team down.
Instead, the Buckeyes pulled closer together through the outside noise and prepared for the College Football Playoff. They were able to defeat Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and finally Notre Dame to pull off the championship win.
In recent years, Day has been viewed as one of the best head coaches in college football. He has found a lot of success, which has led to his name being thrown into the NFL rumor mill.
Read more:Texas QB Arch Manning Receives Head-Turning 2026 NFL Draft Prediction
Day has not seemed terribly interested in coaching at the NFL level. However, there is always a chance that he could be intrigued by the right offer.
Now, after a new suggestion from Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated, Day's name is being linked to the NFL once again. Orr believes that Day is included in a group of college coaches whom professional teams could try to convince to come to the NFL.
Orr has predicted that at least two of the following college coaches will receive aggressive interest from NFL teams for head coaching opportunities.
"Texas's Steve Sarkisian, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman, Ohio State's Ryan Day, Iowa State's Matt Campbell, Colorado's Deion Sanders, David Shaw and USC's Lincoln Riley are among the names to watch," Orr wrote. "It's important to note that the odious Urban Meyer regime in Jacksonville is now far in the distance, Jim Harbaugh is successful and Chip Kelly is getting another run as a play-caller at the NFL level, which is a sign that attitudes are again shifting."
Read more:Ohio State HC Ryan Day Has Ruled One QB Out of Starting Competition
During his tenure with Ohio State, Day has been impressive. He has compiled a 70-10 career record and now has the national championship win in 2024 on his resume.
His previous and current players have gushed about how he handles himself and how he coaches. That will add to potential NFL interest.
While it would be surprising to see Day leave his job with the Buckeyes, it's something to keep an eye on as jobs start opening up.