Ryan Day weighs in on Big Ten realignment, CFP expansion, more

Some big-time changes are on the horizon for the entire college football landscape in 2024, but more specifically the Big Ten conference, which will be managing adding two new teams to their conference, getting rid of divisions, and adjusting to a 12-team College Football Playoff model.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was asked about these changes when he joined analyst Greg McElroy on a recent episode of ‘Always College Football’, as the Buckeyes’ headman broke down what residual impact he expects to see in the future as a result.

“I think it’s gonna change because of the change with no divisions, that certainly is a significant change,” Day said. “Also adding the UCLA and USC component to it with the travel and two very good programs, but when you add all those into the mix it’s exciting to think about what the different possibilities are and the two top teams making the Big Ten championship game in Indy.”

With Ohio State and rival Michigan winning the last six conference championships, it’s hard not to fantasize about the two teams potentially squaring off in a Big Ten Championship game someday. But the two teams facing off in a high-stakes playoff game would also up the stakes even higher of the box office matchup.

There’s no doubt that the new changes are exciting and add even more intrigue to the 2024 football season, but within the Ohio State facilities there won’t be many changes according to Day.

“So it doesn’t change our goals, it doesn’t change anything here other than the fact that you want to be playing your best football at the end of the season, you want to make sure that you’re in the playoffs, but it’s gonna be important to get a bye,” Day said. “I mean that’s going to be a major advantage for the teams that get that week off and let the two other teams play. It’ll be an advantage for the team that hosts in that first round for the ones that don’t get that bye.”

The new College Football Playoff format will give the top four teams in the nation a bye and the No. 5 – No. 8 ranked teams home-field advantage in their first-round games.

The Buckeyes have finished the last nine seasons ranked at least within the six of the College Football Playoff Rankings to end the year, hypothetically placing them in a 12-team playoff in each of their seasons under Day and beyond.

So if they just maintain their winning ways despite the onslaught of changes surrounding them, the future should continue to be bright in Columbus for years to come.

“So interesting, all new landscape here but I’m excited for our players and something new for sure, but it’s not going to change how we go about our day-to-day,” Day concluded.