Ryan Day Ohio State contract, buyout clause: Here's how much Buckeyes owe coach if fired
It might seem insane to fire a coach who has gone 56-7 over five seasons as coach at Ohio State.
But expectations are high in Columbus, and a far more important record has made and broken Buckeyes coaches: Their wins and losses vs. Michigan. Urban Meyer went 7-0 vs. the Wolveries, for example. His successor, Ryan Day, is having a much more difficult team against "That Team up North."
Day's record vs. the Wolverines fell to 1-3 on Saturday after Michigan's 30-24 win in Ann Arbor gave the Buckeyes their third-straight loss in the rivalry under Day. And the latest defeat has earned him some scrutiny from. Despite a lot of off-field controversy leading to the suspension of Jim Harbaugh from "The Game," Michigan sealed a 30-24 win with a Rod Moore interception of Kyle McCord.
Meyer, for his part, said Day wasn't under fire for job security on the Fox postgame show. But some in the fan base are vocally asking whether Day is the right man for the job.
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Which begs the question: What would Ohio State owe Day if the university ultimately decided to cut ties after the 2023 season? Here's everything you need to know about his contract, buyout clause and the money he would be owed if he's fired:
Ryan Day Ohio State contract details
Contract length: 5 years
Contract value: $47.5 million
Ohio State gave Day a two-year extension early in the 2022 season, bringing his average annual salary to $9.5 million, up from $7.5 million, and extending his contract through 2028.
Day received an additional 5.25% pay raise in early 2023, bringing his annual compensation for the year to $10.2 million. Day is eligible for pay raises annually after Feb. 1. He also earns a $250,000 retention bonus if he is still the head coach at Ohio State after Jan. 31, 2024.
REQUIRED READING: 'Something has to change': How former OSU players are reacting to Ohio State vs. Michigan
What is Ryan Day's buyout if fired?
If Ohio State fires Ryan Day in 2023, it will owe Day $46.22 million. That ranks as the ninth-highest buyout in college football, and third in the Big Ten.
2023: $46.22 million
Ryan Day year-by-year record
Below is Ryan Day's year-by-year record at Ohio State:
2018: 3-0 (interim coach)
2019: 13-1 (Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff berth)
2020: 7-1 (Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff berth)
2021: 11-2
2022: 11-2 (College Football Playoff berth)
2023: 11-1
Overall: 56-7
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ryan Day Ohio State contract: Here's what Buckeyes owe coach if fired
