The Ohio State Buckeyes are looked upon as one of the clear favorites to win the national title this season.
Ryan Day’s squad – along with Georgia, Texas and Oregon – seem to be a clear notch above everyone else as we inch closer to the start of what is sure to be an exhilarating college football season.
With expectations higher than ever, Day knows it’s put-up or shut-up time.
At most programs, a coach with the resume of Day would be sitting on a throne – not a hot seat.
But as everyone knows, Ohio State is not just any program.
With zero national titles during his tenure and a painful three-game losing streak to the hated Michigan Wolverines, there is no better time for Day to finally break through and “earn his stripes” in Columbus.
Speaking of hot seats, down south in the SEC you could a very strong argument that no seat is hotter than that of Florida head coach Billy Napier.
Gator fans are not too thrilled with Napier’s relative lack-of-success in Gainesville and are wondering if he has what it takes to bring the program back to the top.
If Florida doesn’t see clear and significant results this season, Napier is sure to be a goner.
Interestingly, there have been some rumors swirling that if Napier fails, Florida could look to aggressively go after Day as a replacement.
Of course, there’s the whole Urban Meyer connection in the middle of the whole thing. Having said that, Meyer is undoubtedly more of a Buckeye than he’ll ever be a Gator.
But perhaps if he sees the writing on the wall for Day in Columbus and thinks it’d be best for his protégé to jump ship and head down south, maybe, just maybe, he’d nudge him along.
Could that possibly mean that Meyer would then take back the reigns of the Buckeyes???
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum has chimed in on the matter.
Love him or hate him, Finebaum is well-connected in the SEC world, and he just doesn’t see Florida going after Day, regardless of what happens this coming season.
“No, I don’t,” Finebaum stated in an interview with Athlon Sports.
“I think Ryan Day is somebody who is either suited for the Midwest or the NFL. I don’t see a scenario where he would come south.”
Day spent the 2005 season as a graduate assistant under Meyer at Florida.
He then bounced around before teaming back up with Meyer in 2017 at Ohio State.
When Meyer surprisingly “retired” following the 2018 season, he pinpointed Day as his successor.
Day has compiled an impressive 56-8 record with the Buckeyes. However, his critics will quickly point to his 1-3 record in the College Football Playoff.
Throw in that three-game losing streak to Michigan and that explains the high temperature in Columbus.
What are your thoughts on Day and the Buckeyes as we head into the new season?
Do you think he’s on the hot seat? … Or is that a narrative that’s being way overblown?
Meyer has called this year’s Buckeyes one of the most talented teams in recent memory … Do you agree with that statement?
Finebaum threw cold water on the idea – but do you think deep down there is ANY chance Day would leave Ohio State for Florida???