Ryan Day Breaks Silence on Ohio State Player Pay—The Surprising Move Everyone’s Talking About

Ohio State just wrapped up a thrilling 2024 campaign—national champs once again—but don’t be fooled into thinking that victory means they’ll be rolling out the red carpet for anyone chasing dollar signs. Ryan Day made it crystal clear this week: if your primary motive is to get paid, Ohio State isn’t your playground. Sure, the Buckeyes boast one of the most loaded rosters in college football, investing reportedly upwards of $20 million through Name, Image, and Likeness deals—but Day’s message is sharper than ever: “If money is the first thing you’re looking for, this isn’t the right place for you.” That’s a bold stance in an era of booming NIL cash, especially for a powerhouse program. Is loyalty to the jersey becoming a relic? Or is Day onto something deeper—crafting culture over checks? Either way, the Buckeyes are preparing for another title run in 2025, underlining they want passion, not paychecks, leading the way. Curious how this philosophy plays out in a sea of money-fueled competition? LEARN MORE.

Ryan Day has made his mindset clear when it comes to paying Ohio State football players.

The Buckeyes are coming off a national title-winning season in 2024. Ohio State went 10-2 in the regular season, losing games to Oregon and Michigan. The Buckeyes then went on to take down Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame, en route to a College Football Playoff national championship.

Ohio State had one of the country’s most loaded rosters in 2024, landing big-time transfers like quarterback Will Howard and safety Caleb Downs. Meanwhile, Day’s program recruited some of the best recruits in the country, like five-star freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

The same is expected to be true in 2025. Ohio State is projected to be one of the country’s top three teams in 2025. The Buckeyes could contend for a College Football Playoff national championship repeat.

But Day has made his mindset clear when it comes to paying Ohio State players.

Day made it clear this week that while Ohio State’s players will get paid through Name, Image and Likeness like every other major program in the country, the Buckeyes will not be taking anyone who’s major priority is getting paid.

The national title-winning head coach sent a clear message to future players on Tuesday.

“If money is the first thing you’re looking for, this isn’t the right place for you,” he said.

“If money is the first thing you’re looking for, this isn’t the right place for you”

Ryan Day says if they have to talk a player into coming to OSU it’s not the right fit.

Ohio State wants players who want to be Buckeyes.

Zero scholarship players are transferring this spring: pic.twitter.com/exRYQt36Mr

— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) April 29, 2025

Of course, it’s fairly easy to say that when you have one of the most robust Name, Image and Likeness operations in the country.

The Buckeyes were rumored to have spent about $20 million on their roster in 2024, but a lot of those payments were to players that Ohio State had already recruited and developed. It costs a lot to retain elite talent and the Buckeyes had plenty of it.

Ohio State’s roster will surely cost a lot of money once again in 2025, but Day has made it clear that he won’t be paying anyone who has money as their No. 1 priority when picking a school to play college football at.