To the Throne of Titans, Ohio State, You Shine Like a Diamond! You remain the gold standard, the crown jewel, the dream coaching destination. And now, CBS Sports has simply confirmed what the college football world has known for decades—Ohio State isn’t just a great job; it’s one of the very best. In fact, according to CBS Sports’ latest coaching job rankings, the Buckeyes have been placed in the rarest of tiers: the “Diamond Level.” This distinction isn’t just a nod to history. It’s a glowing, well-earned recognition of an institution that continues to define excellence on and off the gridiron.
Ohio State doesn’t just win. It dominates. It recruits at an elite level, develops NFL-ready talent, generates extraordinary fan and financial support, and upholds a culture that demands—and delivers—sustained greatness. There are very few programs in the country where the coaching job feels as big as the university itself. Ohio State is one of those. When you step into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, you aren’t just entering a football facility—you’re walking into hallowed ground, surrounded by the echoes of legends, modern marvels, and the unrelenting pressure of championship expectations.
What separates Ohio State from nearly every other program isn’t just its winning tradition or recruiting reach, though both are enormous. It’s the combination of elements—resources, infrastructure, talent access, history, alumni support, and fan dedication—that make the job a throne rather than just a position. From the Big Ten’s elevated financial ecosystem to the limitless media exposure granted to Buckeye Nation every fall Saturday, coaching Ohio State is like being handed the keys to a Ferrari. You don’t need to build a machine from scratch—you inherit one already built for greatness, with the expectation that you only make it faster.
And yet, being a Buckeye head coach isn’t just about managing excellence. It’s about elevating it. That’s why this is the ultimate challenge. When CBS Sports slotted Ohio State into the top tier alongside the likes of Alabama and Georgia, it wasn’t just comparing wins and titles. It was spotlighting programs where the floor is already the ceiling for most others. Diamond Level means not just being good—it means being a national title contender every year, no excuses.
Let’s talk about the lineage of coaching greats who’ve sat on this throne. Woody Hayes transformed Ohio State into a national power, giving the program its unmistakable identity. His toughness, discipline, and passion laid the foundation. Then came Earle Bruce, John Cooper, Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer, and Ryan Day—each bringing something unique, and each carrying the burden of unmatched expectations. At Ohio State, winning 10 games isn’t enough. Making the College Football Playoff is an annual objective, not a dream. Beat Michigan or risk losing your legacy. Win the Big Ten or face scrutiny. That’s the double-edged sword of greatness. But any coach who truly wants to be measured by titles and greatness knows the brightest fires forge the sharpest steel. And that steel is scarlet and gray.
CBS Sports’ rankings factor in key metrics such as recruiting territory, facilities, fan support, history, administrative alignment, and pressure. And Ohio State checks all the boxes with gusto. The Buckeyes boast one of the largest and most loyal fanbases in the world. Ohio Stadium, “The Horseshoe,” stands not just as an architectural marvel but a coliseum where legends are born. The fan support is relentless, educated, and national in scope. No matter where you travel in the country, you’re likely to see someone proudly sporting that iconic Block O.
Financially, the Buckeyes sit atop the college football food chain. With consistent top-three athletic department revenue, elite coaching salaries, robust NIL support, and a highly engaged alumni network, Ohio State’s machine is turbocharged in every facet of modern football operations. The infrastructure here is so advanced that it gives any coach the immediate ability to win now, not later. You’re not building a house—you’re walking into a mansion and just being asked to keep the lights on and host championship galas every year.
Recruiting? It’s a dream. Ohio is a talent-rich state, and Ohio State has historically dominated in-state recruiting while maintaining national pipelines to states like Texas, Florida, Georgia, and California. The Buckeye brand carries weight in every living room across the country. From Chase Young to C.J. Stroud, from Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State’s player development pipeline is elite and NFL-proven. That makes the job more attractive not just to coaches but to the next generation of superstars eager to play under the brightest lights.
And then there’s the rivalry—the heartbeat of the sport. Michigan vs. Ohio State isn’t just the best rivalry in college football; it’s arguably the greatest in all of American sports. And no matter what’s on the line nationally, “The Game” always means everything. For any coach, winning that war is worth more than most conference titles elsewhere. The magnitude of that annual clash helps solidify why Ohio State’s coaching position is unlike any other. The pressure is real. But so is the glory.
Another critical component CBS Sports considered is alignment—from the boardroom to the locker room. Ohio State’s leadership, from its athletic directors to university presidents, has long demonstrated a firm commitment to football success. They aren’t just supportive—they’re active facilitators of a championship culture. That level of backing is vital in today’s ultra-competitive landscape where coaching changes, NIL dynamics, and conference realignment can destabilize even historically strong programs.
The elevation to Diamond Level in CBS’s hierarchy comes during a time of massive transition in college football. With the sport hurtling into the era of superconferences, NIL economics, and expanded playoffs, stability and consistency have never been more critical. And that’s precisely what Ohio State offers. It’s a program that isn’t afraid of evolution. Whether it was embracing the spread offense, utilizing the transfer portal strategically, or being among the first to organize NIL collectives, Ohio State leads rather than follows.
When you compare this coaching job to others, the case becomes even more airtight. Take schools like Texas or USC. They may have the market size, history, and money, but they’ve struggled with consistency and administrative cohesion. Or consider LSU, where expectations are sky-high, but patience is short and alignment fluctuates. Even Alabama, as it heads into the post-Saban era, now has question marks about long-term sustainability. But Ohio State? It remains steady. The Buckeyes don’t have to sell themselves. They’re already the finished product—a cathedral of winning, prestige, and purpose.
Coaching at Ohio State isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires someone who understands that second place is first loser in Columbus. That 11-1 isn’t always enough. That playing in the Rose Bowl, once the sport’s crown jewel, can be seen as a consolation prize. But that’s also what makes the job Diamond Level. The bar is set higher because it can be. Greatness isn’t just pursued—it’s demanded. And if you’re a coach who thrives in the fire, there’s no better place to stake your name.
Ryan Day’s tenure has demonstrated both the blessings and burdens of leading the Buckeyes. He’s guided the team to multiple playoff appearances, developed Heisman-caliber talent, and maintained elite recruiting. Yet even a single loss to Michigan can tilt public perception. That’s the power—and peril—of this job. But any coach worth their salt will want that pressure. They’ll want to be in a place where every win matters, where tradition and innovation meet, and where you never stop chasing perfection.
