Ohio State's Day feeling 'more relaxed' after winning CFP title

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is feeling a lot more at ease after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship.

"I'm definitely more relaxed. ... Let's call it like it is," Day said Monday, according to Eleven Warriors' Andy Anders. "But that doesn't change the approach."

Day compared winning the national title to how he initially felt when Ohio State hired him as head coach, recalling the long line of great Buckeye sideline bosses who preceded him, such as Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel, and Urban Meyer.

"It's the same thing with winning a national championship. Some days you wake up, and you almost forget you won it because life just moves on," Day said.

"Winning just gives you an opportunity to keep having an impact on people's lives."

Day appeared firmly on the hot seat in November after Ohio State dropped its fourth consecutive game to rival Michigan. But the Buckeyes rallied around their coach to reel off statement wins against Tennessee and Oregon before defeating Notre Dame in the CFP title game. Day has compiled a 70-10 record with Ohio State ahead of his seventh full season as head coach.

However, the Buckeyes will have a different look next season.

The team lost offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to the Las Vegas Raiders soon after defensive coordinator Jim Knowles accepted the same role at Penn State. Ohio State promoted receivers coach Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator and hired Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator.

The Buckeyes are holding a competition to name the starting quarterback, with last year's starter Will Howard heading to the NFL draft. Redshirt freshman Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz split first-team reps Monday. Freshman Tavien St. Clair is also competing for the starting role.

The reigning national champions will conduct 14 practices before hosting a spring showcase at Ohio Stadium on April 12. Ohio State is among several teams opting against holding a traditional spring game.

The Buckeyes open their 2025 campaign against Texas on Aug. 30.