‘This is what was meant for him’ — Buckeyes Thrilled For Ryan Day

In the moments of euphoric chaos following Ohio State’s 34-23 win over Notre Dame to capture the College Football Playoff National Championship, players and coaches were looking for any familiar face they could find.

They just wanted to celebrate.

It was in those moments that fifth-year senior safety Lathan Ransom and senior cornerback Denzel Burke found Buckeye head coach Ryan Day.

“What they gonna say now, Coach Day?” Ransom said smiling.

“They can’t say shit!” replied Burke.

After such a tumultuous season with two difficult losses and then a dominating run through the playoffs, words don’t necessarily need to be said. But after everything this team has been through — and the unique criticism that Day had been receiving over the last four years, the players themselves wanted to speak their minds.

Especially in defense of their head coach.

“Oh, man, he deserves it,” said senior defensive end JT Tuimoloau. “What he’s been through, what we’ve been through, the leadership he has just continued to show throughout the whole year, offseason, all the sacrifices he made. That’s all love out of him. He doesn’t have to do that, but he chooses to. He’s the best coach in college football, and I’m glad to be on his side.”

It wasn’t just the long-time Buckeyes who were happy. Running back Quinshon Judkins has only been at Ohio State a year. He transferred in after two years at Ole Miss, but fit right in as a Buckeye, and Day helped make that happen.

“I’m so happy for him, man, because he’s such a great coach,” Judkins said. “He has great leadership and the guys take a great liking to him and we all follow his lead and he preaches great things and not only about football but about life as well and I think everybody appreciates that and we’re all happy for him to get this.”

What was Day like in the locker room after the game?

“He was so happy, man,” Judkins said. “I think that’s probably the first smile I’ve seen on his face in a long time, so I’m happy to see him get it.”

As the postgame cigar smoke billowed in the locker room, some players could be found just sitting at their lockers soaking it all in.

Senior defensive back Jordan Hancock was one of those players. Hancock has been through his own ups and downs as a Buckeye, but has been a stellar piece as Ohio State’s nickel back the last two years. Ryan Day had a vision for Hancock during recruiting, and Hancock was currently living out that vision.

“It means everything. We had a long four years,” Hancock said. “I was there first day with him. Just to get him a national championship is insane. It still hasn’t hit me yet, but I’m super thankful for Coach Day and this university, man. I’m a Buckeye for life.”

Another player who has been with Day for four years is wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka ended his career in the record books as Ohio State’s all-time receptions leader.

He also ended it as a national champion.

Egbuka could have left for the NFL last year, but he chose to come back. One of the reasons he came back was to win a national title, and to win it for Ryan Day.

“It feels amazing,” Egbuka said. “He’s the best head coach in the nation. And, you know, not everyone sees it, but everyone on this team knows what we have here. Just a special person.”

Sophomore safety Caleb Downs knew it while he was being recruiting by Day. Ohio State finished second to Alabama for Downs’ services a year ago, but when legendary Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban decided to retire following the 2023 season, it didn’t take long for Downs to decide he wanted to play for Ryan Day.

And now, having spent a year with Day as a Buckeye, there was no mistaking what this title meant to Day.

“He said when we was up on the stage, he said, ‘Man, I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.’ So that was probably his birthright to get to this point,” Downs said. “Through all the ups and downs, through all the people saying so much about him. Even though that doesn’t matter, because their opinions are just the opinions of random people. It doesn’t matter. This is what was meant for him.”

Ryan Day is now the fifth Ohio State head coach to win a national title. He joins College Football luminaries Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel, and Urban Meyer.

There aren’t many lists more impressive than that.

And that fact is not lost on the Buckeyes.

“I’m just happy for him,” Burke said. “He’s always been scrutinized, always been hated on, but now he’s a legend forever.”

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