BREAKING NEWS: Ryan Day, Ohio State Agree On a New Seven-Year Contract Valued at $12.5 Million Per Year.READ MORE BELOW 👇🏽 👇🏽 
Ryan Day has a new contract.
Ohio State announced Thursday that Day and the school’s athletic department have agreed in principle to a new seven-year contract, worth $12.5 million in total annual compensation, that will keep the head football coach in Columbus through the 2031 season. Terms of the contract, which add three years to his current agreement, still require approval from Ohio State’s Board of Trustees.
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.
“Ryan has not only kept Buckeye football as the preeminent program, but he also guides young men into leaders, instilling values that extend far beyond the game. Stability at the head coaching position is crucial in today’s evolving college football landscape, and this new contract guarantees continued momentum in recruiting, player development, and overall program success.
“It is a great pleasure to work side by side with Ryan and we know that his vision and leadership will continue to bring championship success and pride to our program for years to come.”
Day’s contract comes two weeks after the Buckeyes won their ninth national championship with victories over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff. It makes Day the second-highest-paid coach in the sport behind Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who receives $13.28 million in annual compensation via a 10-year contract he signed after the 2023 season.
In addition to his base pay, Day will also remain eligible for a multitude of bonuses based on his team’s performance, as listed below:
$50,000 for a team GPA of 3.0 or higher, which increases to $100,000 if GPA is 3.3+ and $150,000 if GPA is 3.5+
$50,000 for a Big Ten Championship Game appearance, which increases to $250,000 for a Big Ten Championship Game win
$100,000 for a College Football Playoff appearance, which increases to $250,000 for a quarterfinal appearance, $300,000 if Ohio State earns a first-round bye into the quarterfinals, $350,000 for a semifinal appearance, $500,000 for a national championship game appearance and $1 million for a national championship game win
$50,000 for a Big Ten Coach of the Year award
$100,000 for a national coach of the year award
Should Ohio State fire Day without cause, it would owe Day a buyout of $11.5 million per year for each remaining year on the contract, though he would be required to pursue other work and those buyout payments would be reduced by his pay in his subsequent job.
Day would owe Ohio State a $6 million buyout if he left Ohio State before Jan. 31, 2026. That buyout decreases to $4 million on Feb. 1, 2026 and by $500,000 for every subsequent year thereafter, down to $2 million if he leaves Ohio State after Feb. 1, 2030 and no buyout if he leaves Ohio State after Feb. 1, 2031.
Through six seasons, Day has led the Buckeyes to a 70-10 record and has an FBS-best .875 winning percentage. In 2024, he became one of five Ohio State head coaches to win a national championship with the program, along with Paul Brown (1942), Woody Hayes (1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970), Jim Tressel (2002) and Urban Meyer (2014).
“I want to thank President Ted Carter, Director of Athletics Ross Bjork and the Board of Trustees for the confidence and trust they have in me to oversee this program,” Day said in a statement. “My family and I are incredibly grateful to be a part of the Ohio State community, this football program and Buckeye Nation.
“I want to thank my assistant coaches and the entire staff for the tireless effort they put in to keep Ohio State positioned as one of the elite programs in the country … on and off the field. And I especially want to thank and commend all the young men, and their families, who are a part of this football program. This is a team of tough and determined individuals who drive our culture of respect, commitment and love.”
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