Head coach Ryan Day of Ohio State recently viewed a Netflix docuseries concerning prehistoric reptiles, and his reflections quickly shifted to the realm of collegiate football.
The game has undergone significant transformations in recent times, impacting even the most prominent and formidable university teams such as Ohio State, with athletes constantly moving through training facilities and compensation expectations increasing. Day perceives the struggle for top-tier national programs as bearing resemblances to the predicament dinosaurs encountered eons ago.
“Those prehistoric creatures that managed to evolve persevered, while others perished,” Day stated on Tuesday. “Perhaps that’s a bit drastic, yet I believe it mirrors the situation in collegiate football. Individuals adept at adjusting will progress, whereas those who fail will perish. Therefore, despite the pervasive frustration, and as much as we all desire to express exasperation and acknowledge the utter absurdity of it all… one must either adapt or face demise.”
Following the 2025 season, Ohio State saw over thirty athletes depart through the transfer portal; while many were backups, key contributors such as running back James Peoples and offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola were also among them. Concurrently, the Buckeyes acquired several prominent transfers, notably including Alabama defenders Qua Russaw and James Smith.
During Ohio State’s pro day, Day recently conversed with National Football League personnel, who queried his rationale for persisting in collegiate football. Having secured its inaugural national championship under Day in 2024, Ohio State suffered a defeat against Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals that December. Day holds an 82-12 record over seven seasons as the Buckeyes’ head coach.
“This represents a fresh stage of the situation,” Day remarked. “Half of your squad comprises new faces who haven’t participated in a single play here, and we face an expectation of perfection. Consequently, we will adapt; we will not perish.”