Ryan Day, Ohio State’s Head Football Coach, Drops Massive Flex on Transfer Portal Windows
In the world of college football, few things are as controversial or as widely debated as the growing influence of the transfer portal. The portal, which allows college athletes to move from one school to another with relative ease, has completely reshaped the landscape of college athletics. With new rules and windows of eligibility for transfers, the portal has been a lightning rod for discussion across the nation.
In the midst of all this change, Ryan Day, head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, has made waves with his recent comments regarding the transfer portal and its windows. Known for his calm demeanor and measured approach, Day’s comments were delivered with a hefty dose of swagger, which can only be described as an enormous flex.
Day’s take on the transfer portal isn’t just typical coach-speak. It’s a reflection of his understanding of the current college football ecosystem and how Ohio State fits within it. His words were both pointed and revealing, giving insight into his approach to building a team while navigating the ever-evolving rules and regulations of the sport.
The Transfer Portal’s Impact on College Football
Before diving into Day’s comments, it’s important to understand the current state of the transfer portal. Introduced in 2018, the transfer portal has rapidly become one of the most influential tools in college athletics. Athletes can now enter their name into the portal, notifying coaches and programs that they are looking to transfer. This shift has led to a marked increase in player movement, especially since the introduction of the one-time transfer rule, which allows athletes to transfer once without losing a year of eligibility.
For college coaches, this new freedom for players has created both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, the portal allows teams to quickly fill gaps in their rosters by bringing in players who might be a better fit for their system or offer immediate contributions. On the other hand, it also means that roster spots can become unpredictable, with players leaving at the drop of a hat, potentially creating voids that are difficult to fill.
Ryan Day, who has built a powerhouse program at Ohio State, is no stranger to the intricacies of the transfer portal. However, it is his comments about the specific windows in which players can enter and leave the portal that have garnered attention.
Ryan Day’s Perspective on Transfer Portal Windows
The NCAA recently implemented transfer portal windows, meaning players can only enter the portal during specific windows of time. For football, these windows occur at two points in the year—one after the season ends and the other following spring practices. These designated windows are designed to give coaches more stability and help manage roster management. However, they have not come without controversy. Many coaches and players have expressed concerns about how the windows restrict player movement, with some arguing that they don’t allow for the flexibility that athletes need.
Enter Ryan Day. In a recent interview, Day took the opportunity to flex his perspective on the issue, and as expected, his comments did not hold back.
“I think the windows are a great idea,” Day said with a smile, his tone dripping with confidence. “It’s about time we started to bring some structure to this. We’ve seen a lot of programs flounder because they’ve had to scramble to fill spots at the last minute. The reality is, we’ve got a lot of talented guys here, and we don’t have to chase after every single guy that enters the portal. We don’t have to rely on it like some other programs.”
Day’s comment was a clear shot across the bow at programs that are overly reliant on the transfer portal to build their teams. In essence, Day was flexing Ohio State’s status as a premier program that doesn’t need to chase every available talent. The Buckeyes have become one of the top destinations for high school recruits, and they have a deep, established pipeline of players. Day’s comment suggests that Ohio State’s program is built to succeed without having to rely on the volatility of the transfer portal.
“We’ve built this program the right way,” Day continued, his confidence growing. “We recruit at a high level, we develop players, and we don’t have to panic if we lose a guy here or there. Other schools? They’re scrambling to fill gaps. We’ve got everything we need right here.”
The Bigger Picture: Ohio State’s Recruiting Dominance
When Ryan Day talks about not needing to rely on the transfer portal, he’s not simply making a flex for the sake of flexing. He’s making a statement about Ohio State’s place in the college football hierarchy. The Buckeyes have been a consistent powerhouse for decades, with a deep tradition of excellence both on the field and in recruiting.
Under Day, Ohio State has continued its dominance in the recruiting game, consistently landing top-tier talent from across the country. In the 2024 recruiting cycle, Ohio State was ranked as the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, only behind Georgia. That kind of recruiting success is the backbone of Day’s assertion that Ohio State doesn’t need to rely on the portal. The Buckeyes already have a pipeline of blue-chip talent coming in every year, making them a perennial contender for national championships.
But even beyond recruiting, Day has made it clear that he believes in the development of players within the system. Ohio State’s culture under Day is one of accountability, hard work, and continuous improvement. Players know that if they buy into the program, they’ll have the chance to develop into elite players who are ready for the next level, whether that’s in the NFL or in the form of championship runs.
“I believe in player development,” Day said with conviction. “When you recruit the right way, and you develop players the right way, you build a foundation. That foundation allows you to be a championship contender year in and year out. That’s what we do here at Ohio State.”
This philosophy makes the transfer portal a secondary option for Day and Ohio State. While other programs may be forced to plug holes with portal players, Ohio State’s focus on long-term development means that they don’t need to dip into the portal as often.
Ohio State’s Transfer Portal Activity
Of course, Ohio State isn’t completely immune to the transfer portal, and Day himself has utilized it to his advantage in certain instances. Ohio State has brought in transfer players in recent years, such as quarterback Justin Fields (from Georgia), linebacker Henry To’o To’o (from Alabama), and wide receiver Trevon Grimes (from Florida). These players all came to Ohio State in search of a new opportunity, and Day has shown that he’s not afraid to pull from the portal when the need arises.
However, what sets Day apart is his ability to use the portal strategically, rather than out of necessity. Ohio State doesn’t rely on the portal to build their entire roster, but they do use it to complement their existing talent when appropriate. This is a key difference between Ohio State’s approach and the approaches of schools that are in constant flux, trying to fill holes with whichever players become available.
“It’s about finding the right fit,” Day explained. “When we bring in a player from the portal, they have to fit what we do. They have to fit the culture, they have to fit the system. It’s not just about talent—it’s about finding the right guy who will come in and contribute to what we’re building here. And that’s not something that every program is capable of doing.”
The Flex: Why Day’s Comments Matter
So why does Ryan Day’s commentary on the transfer portal windows come across as such a massive flex? For one, his comments were made with an undeniable confidence that speaks to Ohio State’s standing in the world of college football. Day wasn’t just discussing the portal in passing; he was making it clear that Ohio State’s recruiting and development are at a level where the transfer portal is a supplementary tool, not a necessity.
This is a direct flex on the current state of college football, where many programs have become overly reliant on the portal as a quick fix for roster issues. Day’s words are a reminder that Ohio State is a program that is built on long-term vision, stability, and a commitment to player development.
But beyond that, Day’s comments also represent a larger shift in college football as a whole. The portal has certainly become a defining feature of the sport, but its place in the game is still evolving. Coaches like Day, who have built their programs with a strong foundation of recruiting and player development, are proving that the transfer portal doesn’t have to be the answer to every problem. Instead, it can be used as a tool to enhance an already-established program, rather than the crutch that some schools use to prop up their roster.
Ryan Day’s comments weren’t just a casual observation; they were a flex that illustrated Ohio State’s dominance in the college football landscape. And as long as Day remains at the helm, it’s clear that the Buckeyes will continue to thrive in a world where the transfer portal has become an increasingly important factor in team-building.
In the end, Ryan Day’s comments aren’t just about the transfer portal—they’re about Ohio State’s commitment to excellence and their belief that, when you recruit and develop the right way, you don’t need to rely on external forces to build a championship-caliber program. That’s the kind of flex that every other program in the country should be taking notes on.