Ohio State Football’s Surprising Secret: How They’re Dominating Both the Field and the Classroom

In the world of college football, victories often steal the spotlight — touchdowns, tackles, and trophies dominate the chatter. But hang on, there’s a quieter victory brewing off the gridiron, one that’s just as impressive if you stop to think about it. Ohio State’s football program, under the sharp eye of its head coach, didn’t just conquer opponents last season; they set a sterling standard in academics that’s usually reserved for the Ivy League. Imagine leading a team that not only chops down defenses but consistently graduates its athletes with flying colors. That’s no small feat in today’s intense “win at all costs” environment.

You might’ve heard about APR scores—they’re the NCAA’s way of making sure schools keep their athletes on track in the classroom, not just on the field. Well, Ohio State stands alone with an unblemished 1000 APR score, a perfect mark that even the likes of Northwestern, Duke, and Stanford can’t claim. This is a program that balances fierce competitiveness with genuine educational commitment, and trust me, that’s something we don’t shout loud enough about. It’s a rare blend of grit and grace, and it places Coach Day’s leadership in a league of its own.

Curious to see how the Buckeyes climbed to this unparalleled peak? LEARN MORE

Ohio State football head coach led the team to a College Football Playoff national championship this past season — his first — but he simply doesn’t get enough credit for what his teams do in the classroom. Winning on the field will always come first in the minds and perceptions at a place like Columbus, but when you can do both, it’s quite remarkable.According to a social media post from the Ohio State football program, the Buckeyes were the only Division I (FBS) program to have a perfect 1000 APR score. That means teams like Northwestern, Duke, Vanderbilt, and Stanford can’t even lay claim to that quote. It’s quite remarkable when you think about it, and needs to be advertised more than it is.Day sure is doing a lot of things right. He’s winning on the field, has kids working hard in the classroom, is second to none in dealing with the media, and is an advocate off the field for many things, not the least of which is his efforts with mental illness.There’s winning on the field and then there’s winning in the classroom. You know — with the whole college experience of being a student-athlete and all.

And yeah, OSU stands alone at the mountaintop. Harvard (makes sense) was tied with Ohio State for No. 1 last season, but has dropped to third under the current multi-year measurement. Believe it or not, Alabama is No. 2, so credit due there as well.

The formula isn’t that complicated but it does deserve some background. Each program’s Academic Progress Rate is “based on the academic eligibility, retention and graduation of its scholarship athletes.” As it stands today, the measurement of the current multi-year APR scores are based on a multi-year average of each team’s rates from the 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.

If you follow the college game much at all, you are more than likely familiar with APR scores. Those were instituted a few years ago to hold athletic programs accountable when it comes to schooling vs. a “win at all costs” mentality. Ohio State has been awfully good at both, and now news has dropped that should make anyone tied to the program awfully proud.And that’s exactly where Day is today.