Ohio State’s Ryan Day Issues Strong Warning to College Football: The Buckeyes Are Built to Dominate in 2025 and Beyond
The 2025 college football season is already simmering with anticipation, and no voice has been louder—or more intimidating—than that of Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. With a commanding presence and a program stacked with elite talent, Day is sending a clear and chilling message to the rest of the college football world: the Buckeyes are not just aiming to win—they are preparing to dominate.
This isn’t just coach-speak or preseason bravado. Day’s recent comments, team developments, and strategic roster moves all point toward a calculated and highly dangerous resurgence in Columbus. After falling short of their goals in recent years—most notably losing to Michigan three seasons in a row and missing out on a national title—the Buckeyes are treating 2025 as a campaign of redemption. And they are doing it with the intensity of a team that knows its moment has come.
Ryan Day has always been a man of measured tone and focused vision, but his recent demeanor has shifted. Gone is the cautious optimism. In its place is something more resolved, more determined, and frankly, more unsettling for opposing coaches. Speaking with media earlier this month, Day made no attempt to soften the blow: “We’re not just preparing to compete,” he said. “We’re preparing to take over.”
That message has echoed across the sport like a warning shot. With the Big Ten expanding, NIL changing recruiting dynamics, and playoff stakes higher than ever, Day appears to be seizing the moment with full force. And it’s not hard to see why he’s confident.
Ohio State’s 2025 roster is a juggernaut on paper. The return of quarterback Will Howard, the Kansas State transfer who brings experience and poise, is just the beginning. The Buckeyes are also expected to unleash wide receiver phenom Jeremiah Smith, the No. 1 overall recruit from the 2024 class, who many believe could be the best WR prospect since Julio Jones. Alongside him are returning playmakers like Emeka Egbuka, assuming he remains healthy, and standout sophomore Brandon Inniss, forming what could easily be the most dangerous receiving corps in the nation.
But offense is only part of the equation. Day and his staff have completely recalibrated the Buckeyes’ defensive identity over the past two seasons. Under coordinator Jim Knowles, the Silver Bullets have quietly transformed from a liability into a championship-caliber unit. With the return of veterans like Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, and rising linebacker C.J. Hicks, Ohio State’s defense looks fast, physical, and fearless. This is a team built to punch you in the mouth on both sides of the ball.
In the offseason, Day also made several critical staffing moves that signal a “win-now” mentality. The addition of Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator, after his departure from UCLA, gives Ohio State an NFL-level brain trust to scheme matchups and attack defenses in ways few college programs can emulate. Kelly’s experience, creativity, and familiarity with Day (the two worked together at New Hampshire and later at various coaching stops) make them a dangerous duo.
This convergence of coaching brilliance and on-field talent has fans and analysts buzzing. But it’s also put the rest of the college football elite on high alert. Programs like Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, and even upstarts like Texas and Oregon, now have to account for a fully retooled Ohio State that no longer seems content with moral victories or near-misses. Day’s message, both in words and in how he’s building his team, is unmistakable: The Buckeyes are coming for it all.
It’s also worth noting that Day is operating under immense pressure. Despite an overall stellar record since taking over in 2019, his inability to consistently beat Michigan has become a point of contention among fans and boosters. Three straight losses to their bitter rival have cast a shadow over otherwise strong seasons. In Columbus, losing to Michigan—no matter how competitive the game—is simply unacceptable.
That pressure, however, seems to be fueling Day rather than breaking him. Insiders say his offseason approach has been more focused than ever. Practices are reportedly more intense, player accountability is at an all-time high, and the level of internal competition is bordering on ruthless. This is a program that feels like it’s teetering on the edge of something great—or something historic.
What makes Day’s message even more unsettling to rivals is that it’s rooted in realism, not hype. There’s no need for smoke and mirrors when your program is this deep. Ohio State’s recruiting has remained elite, consistently pulling in top-three classes. The pipeline at nearly every position is loaded. Day has also embraced the transfer portal with precision, using it to patch weaknesses rather than overhauling the roster. It’s this balance—between recruiting dominance and portal savvy—that gives Ohio State an almost unfair edge.
The Buckeyes’ schedule in 2025 is not without challenges. A high-stakes clash with Michigan remains the focal point of the regular season, but other marquee matchups—including Penn State, Iowa, and a rising USC team—will test Day’s squad along the way. But unlike past seasons, where the Buckeyes sometimes coasted through weaker Big Ten slates before stumbling against elite competition, this year feels different. There is a quiet menace in the way this team is being prepared. They aren’t just training to beat teams—they’re training to break them.
Day’s message has also resonated with his players. Quotes from team leaders echo the same unwavering belief. Veteran linemen have spoken about the “all business” tone of offseason workouts. Younger players have called the environment “electric” and “different.” Even off the field, the Buckeyes have been making strategic moves, from improved NIL collectives to enhanced player support programs, all designed to position Ohio State as not just a contender—but the contender.
This holistic approach is part of what makes Day’s warning so ominous. This isn’t just about talent or playbooks—it’s about culture. It’s about attitude. The Buckeyes are embracing a siege mentality, one where the only acceptable outcome is domination. And when that mindset takes root in a team this talented, the rest of college football had better take notice.
For Day, 2025 represents more than just another season. It’s a referendum on his tenure, a chance to silence doubters, and possibly a defining moment in his coaching career. It’s also a chance to reclaim Ohio State’s place at the top of the sport, not just as a perennial top-five team, but as the team. The standard. The benchmark everyone else is chasing.
If Day and the Buckeyes can deliver on that promise, the implications are massive. Reasserting dominance over Michigan would stabilize his legacy. A national title run would etch his name alongside the likes of Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel. And perhaps most importantly, it would shift the balance of power in college football at a moment when change is sweeping the sport.
In the end, Day’s message isn’t just a statement of intent—it’s a call to arms. The Buckeyes are tired of waiting. Tired of coming close. Tired of hearing about Georgia and Alabama. They believe their time is now. And they’re preparing like it.
Whether or not they succeed remains to be seen. But one thing is crystal clear: Ryan Day has made his intentions known. The rest of college football would be wise to listen.
Because when Ohio State speaks this loudly, history usually follows.
