Ohio State AD 'absolutely' confident Day returns in 2025

Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said he expects head coach Ryan Day to remain with the program regardless of how the team performs in the College Football Playoff.

"Absolutely," Bjork said during an interview with 97.1 The Fan when asked if he thought Day will be on the sideline for Ohio State's 2025 season opener against Texas, according to The Columbus Dispatch's Bill Rabinowitz. "Coach Day and I have just hit it off so well. I've been really, really impressed. Every single time I talk to him, I learn something. He's innovative. He recruits at the highest level. He's got a great staff."

Day has drawn the ire of Ohio State fans after the team lost its fourth consecutive game to bitter rival Michigan in November. The Buckeyes entered the contest favored to win against the unranked Wolverines, but costly mistakes led to a 13-10 defeat. Day is now 1-4 against the school's rival from up north, with his only win coming in 2019.

The two teams became embroiled in a postgame melee after Michigan players attempted to plant their flag in the middle of the Buckeyes' field. Both schools were fined $100,000 for roles in a brawl that resulted in players being pepper sprayed.

Despite his struggles against Michigan, Day owns a 66-10 record for an .868 winning percentage, the highest among active coaches.

Bjork added he expects there to be tweaks to the program in the future but wouldn't elaborate on what they would be. He also expressed focusing on the process as opposed to being fixated on a "championship or bust" motto that the Buckeyes adopted this season.

"To me, I think we've got to maybe change some conversations a little bit. I think we need to maybe approach things a little differently," Bjork said.

The Buckeyes (10-2) will host Tennessee at Ohio Stadium in the first round of the expanded 12-team playoff Dec. 21.