You know what really cranks up the heat on a head coach’s seat? It’s the towering expectations. And nobody knows that better than Ohio State’s Ryan Day. It took him just one loss against their archrivals, Michigan, in 2024, to fall prey to the fans’ rage. Forget him; even Day’s family was not spared. The Buckeyes’ fandom was even ranked as the No.1 toxic fanbase in college football. Now, he absolutely cannot afford any mistakes in the 2025 chapter. He already drew side-eyes over quarterback uncertainty, but now he’s found his guy in Julian Sayin. Then came more big news on the recruiting trail for him: Sayin’s new go-to guy is heading to Columbus. Already, Day has sent jitters across 133 FBS teams with his ‘RELOAD.’ 

“They’re young. We need them to be tough. We need them to be a leader.” Day has set out clear expectations for his quarterback. So, the ceiling is already high for Sayin. However, the young chap has already left his mark.  Not getting enough chances to play, he racked up a 41.7% completion rate. Plus, his effortless hand gestures and being a pro at moving around the pocket got him the spotlight. With this, he got himself some positive tags like “effortless runner” and the “smartest quarterback that we’ve ever had.” And guess what? Day’s quarterback has already found himself a spot in the Heisman buzz after having racked up 7,824 yards passing and 85 touchdowns, back in Carlsbad High School. However, doubts prevailed to loom because of his lack of experience.

Plus, his height might also pose him challenges. Ryan Day and Ohio State typically favor quarterbacks who stand at least 6-foot-3. Will Howard measures 6′ 4″, just like Dwayne Haskins did, while Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, and Kyle McCord all came in at 6’3.″ However, Sayin stands at 6’1”. While Day can’t help his quarterback with the height, he focused on bringing in a key weapon for him. That’s none other than Mater Dei wideout Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.

The WR got to witness some main character energy as he got over two dozen offers. 30 to be exact. However, Dixon-Wyatt came up with his Final Five list that featured Alabama, Ohio State, USC, Texas, and Oregon. On March 15, he shared that Oregon led the race. But soon, the tables turned. He announced his commitment to Day’s squad on May 4. Finally, Hayes Fawcett came with a big update on May 9. 

The caption read, “BREAKING: Ohio State WR commit Kayden Dixon-Wyatt has shut down his recruitment 🌰.” Looks like he has found clarity. “I know where home is. The coaches, the culture, and the opportunity to develop at the highest level—there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I’m locked in. Go Bucks.” Now this must be news of respite for Day, who had been having sleepless nights ever since Emeka Egbuka flew off to the NFL. Meanwhile, Day’s Buckeyes might just be causing sleepless nights for the rest of the FBS programs. 

Ryan Day’s confidence is hitting the roof, leaving others panicked

Even though Day could cool down his hot seat, signing an extension, by lifting the Natty, the wheels of his players’ roster fell off. Courtesy? The Buckeyes lost 14 players to the 2025 NFL Draft. Then came the transfer portal that snatched away 15 players this offseason. But amidst these tough times, Day plays a big role in keeping the program tight as one team without panicking. Rather, he thought of spreading panic among other teams. 

The head coach has expressed his confidence in the players he’s seen step up during spring training. Out of all, two particular positions seem to lift Day’s morale. They are the tight end and receiver positions, which he believes will be a strong suit for the Buckeyes’ offense in 2025. Along with this, the five-player deep running back room can be the game-changer for the Buckeyes’ 2025 blueprint.

Day came up with a detailed look at his upcoming season’s warriors. “It starts at tight end, where we have more options there, probably than we’ve ever had since I’ve been here. So that’s exciting. We have some different styles of wide receivers, and we’re building some depth at running back as well. So that part is fun.” The ones Ryan Day is counting on are running backs James Peoples, CJ Donaldson, Sam Williams-Dixon, paired with Isaiah West and Anthony Rodgers. With a packed backfield, the Buckeyes look poised and powerful, ready to steamroll their way through the season.