Scarlet Sunrise: Where does PFF rank Ryan Day among nation’s best head coaches?

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Where does PFF rank Ryan Day among nation’s best head coaches?

Pro Football Focus recently released a list of its top-25 current college head coaches. Ohio State’s Ryan Day clocked in at No. 7, notably four spots behind Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, who is ranked No. 3.

Here’s PFF’s complete top 10:

Nick Saban (Alabama)Kirby Smart (Georgia)Jim Harbaugh (Michigan)Dabo Swinney (Clemson)Lincoln Riley (USC)Brian Kelly (LSU)Ryan Day (Ohio State)Kyle Whittingham (Utah)Luke Fickell (Wisconsin)James Franklin (Penn State)

That puts Day second among four Big Ten coaches ranked in the top 10, a group that also includes former Ohio State nose guard, co-DC and interim head coach Luke Fickell, who is now the head coach of Wisconsin after a monumental run heading Cincinnati’s program.

Day is in his fifth year with the Buckeyes. He’s approaching a prove-it season. PFF college football analyst Max Chadwick outlines why:

“Even though Day has three Playoff appearances in four years as Ohio State’s head coach, he hasn’t quite lived up to the level of success that his predecessor, Urban Meyer, had.

“Ohio State has now lost to Michigan twice in a row, which hasn’t happened in 22 years. The Buckeyes have also gone two years without winning the Big Ten after winning the conference four-straight times. If Day doesn’t get either of those monkeys off his back this year, some uncomfortable conversations could happen in Columbus concerning his job security.”

Max Chadwick, PFF College Football Analyst

Day was facing serious outside noise after Ohio State lost to Michigan in Columbus for the first time since 2000 last season, but he bounced back with one of his best coaching performances to date in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia. For the most part, Day didn’t hold back with his play-calling, and it resulted in his offense piling up 467 yards and nearly knocking off the eventual repeat national champions.

Aside from Day’s Michigan blemishes — which, naturally, take precedence — his regular season success is noteworthy. In fact, his only other regular season defeat was an early-season setback against Oregon in 2021. He is 45-6 overall as head coach of the Buckeyes.

Since replacing Meyer full-time, Day has helped develop a pair of Heisman Trophy finalist and first-round NFL quarterbacks in Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. Plus, before taking over the lead role, Day was the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. While holding those posts, he mentored fellow Heisman finalist Dwayne Haskins Jr. as well as Joe Burrow, who won the Heisman after transferring to LSU. Both the late Haskins and Burrow went on to be first-round NFL Draft picks, too.

What’s more, Day has had a top-five recruiting class every year he’s been Ohio State’s head coach, according to On3.

What commitment of Air Noland means for Ohio State

Ohio State lost a commitment from Class of 2024 top overall prospect Dylan Raiola back in December, but the Buckeyes rebounded.

Air Noland, the No. 4 quarterback this cycle according to On3, pledged to the Buckeyes Saturday night. The four-star Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes quarterback chose Ohio State over Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Miami, Oregon and Texas A&M.

Noland is the Buckeyes’ ninth commit in their 2024 class, which is still third nationally in the On3 Industry Rankings. It’s a group that features a pair of five-star wideouts and, now, according to On3, a top-five signal caller.

Lettermen Row has more on what Noland’s commitment means for Ohio State. Check it out here.

Air Noland, the No. 4 QB in the 2024 class according to @On3sports, has committed to Ohio State.

Here’s a peek at what the #Buckeyes are getting in the lefty from Langston Hughes in Fairburn, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/mYgQ5HurHl

— Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom) April 9, 2023

Buckeyes quarterbacks take ‘step in the right direction’ at competitive Friday practice

Before the weekend, Ohio State held its 11th practice of spring ball. After practice, Day spoke with the media. He was asked about the quarterback battle between junior Kyle McCord and redshirt freshman Devin Brown. Day said that the competition is still ongoing, but he was complimentary of his signal callers, in regard to how coachable they were during Friday’s practice.

“We had some fun today,” he said. “I liked the way the quarterbacks competed. I thought it was good day. I was getting after them today, but they both embraced it. And I thought it was fun. We had a blast. Every rep wasn’t great. But you know, when they allow you to coach them hard, man, you can get a lot better.

“And I thought they did that today.”

That’s a step in the right direction, according to Day.

For the latest on the Buckeyes’ quarterbacks, go here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 145 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 229 days

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The post Scarlet Sunrise: Where does PFF rank Ryan Day among nation’s best head coaches? appeared first on On3.