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Ryan Day explains why he is against facing another team in spring practice

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•04/01/25•

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Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ryan Day is against practicing against another team in the spring, but the Ohio State coach is not going to stop others from doing so. The headline of this is Colorado and Syracuse being denied permission to scrimmage each other for spring practice or even for a spring game.

Deion Sanders and Fran Brown were ready to make it happen, but the NCAA said no. Day personally wouldn’t do it, but he’s all for teams getting different looks during that time of the year.

He just has concerns for his team, personally. Day makes a logical argument and the guy just won a national title, so he can at least back up his argument.

“I think if teams, you know, want to do that, I think the rules committee should take a look at that and allow folks to do that, if that’s what they want to do” Day said of joint spring practices or games. “For us, you know, I’d be concerned about health, because when you practice, there’s certain rules of engagement that have to happen. And so one of the things we really have to teach our players is how to practice. And you know, 7-on-7 teamwork, you know, if we’re not tackling people at the ground, what is the tempo? And you start talking about thud and different things, and we don’t take side shots. 

“When receivers are in the air, you know, we don’t take their legs out and do those types of things. I’d be very, very concerned with practicing against another team when the rules of engagement aren’t clear, or you’re not going against one of your teammates you’re trying to take care of.” 

It seems like more coaches are on board with the college football calendar looking like the NFL preseason, except you know, in the spring. Day still preached the health aspect.

“I think we all understand what that could be like,” Day said. “But you know, when you’re playing a now-16 game season, you know, we feel like we need to do a little bit better job of making sure, especially with a 105 man roster, looks like they were headed towards here this summer.

“Health is one of the most important things we head to the preseason. So, for me right now, it’s not something that I would consider, but for those who want to do it you know, I think they should be able to.”