The Ohio State Buckeyes' Ryan Day was recognized by CBS Sports' Chip Patterson as the No. 2 head coach in the College Football Playoff field. Patterson doesn't believe the Georgia Bulldogs' Kirby Smart has the firmest grasp on the No. 1 spot, though.
In fact, Patterson believes Day would rightfully take that title if the Buckeyes were able to win their second straight CFP this January after winning three more games and finishing with an even better record in 2025 than 2024.
"While Smart can win this debate on résumé alone, he also deserves credit for the coaching job we've seen this year in Athens. Georgia opened the season with significant youth and inexperience across the depth chart, and that depth has been tested by injuries throughout the year -- especially on offense. Yet the Bulldogs have remained resilient, showing a competitive DNA that powered a half-dozen comeback wins in SEC play. That kind of resiliency and in-season growth is crucial to a deep playoff run and underscores the importance of the coach who sets the tone," Patterson wrote.
"The last 12 months have been pretty great for Ryan Day. While there's obvious disappointment in falling short with a 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship, Day has come a long way since entering last season's CFP fresh off the sting of a fourth straight loss to Michigan. Since then, he is 16-1 with wins over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, Notre Dame, Texas (again), Penn State, and -- most importantly -- Michigan.
"Day lost a bevy of NFL Draft picks from last year's team plus both coordinators, yet the 2025 Buckeyes have been one of the country's best from start to finish. This season has showcased the strength of Ohio State's development, and his hire of Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator mirrors the earlier addition of Chip Kelly -- another example of Day's ability to integrate high-level coaching talent into his program."
"Like Kirby Smart, Day has a nearly impeccable résumé (82-11 overall) and is making his fifth College Football Playoff appearance. He's just missing that second title ring to match Smart in the debate for the sport's top coach, but the next six weeks could change that if the Buckeyes use the Indiana loss as fuel for a deep playoff run."
Ohio State can have more impressive CFP repeat than Georgia's
Smart has back-to-back title wins, in 2021 after losing one time all season and avenging that SEC Championship Game loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the national championship game, and in 2022 following a 15-0 run and a 65-7 rout of the TCU Horned Frogs in the title game. Ohio State's 42-41 Peach Bowl loss to UGA was the closest anyone played the Dawgs that year.
There's no doubt about it, though: the Buckeyes' 2024/2025 run was more impressive than either of the Bulldogs'. And a second straight win with one fewer loss, and this time, complete with a win in "The Game," would be even more impressive than last year.
It'd be sweeter for Ohio State if that road to redemption ran through Georgia in the semifinals, and the Indiana Hoosiers, who just beat the Buckeyes 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship Game.
No one would be able to say a thing about OSU's place in history at that point.