Ryan Day is no stranger to the spotlight or the pressure that comes with running a perennial college football powerhouse like Ohio State. But in the ever-growing media circus of college football, even Day has to compete with more than just opponents on the field—he’s also in a battle for national attention and cultural relevance. Enter Deion Sanders, aka Coach Prime, the headline-making head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes whose brash persona, social media savvy, and NFL Hall of Fame resume have captured imaginations across the country. Yet, despite Sanders dominating media cycles and owning much of last season’s narrative, Ryan Day may be on the verge of knocking him off center stage once again—and not just with wins and rankings, but by reasserting what a stable, elite program really looks like.
Deion Sanders burst onto the college football scene like few others in history. His arrival in Boulder was met with frenzied anticipation, celebrity appearances, and wall-to-wall coverage. After leading Jackson State to considerable success, his move to Colorado—once a proud program turned perennial underachiever—was viewed as a revolutionary pivot. Within months, he turned the Buffaloes from an afterthought into a must-watch program. But last year’s rollercoaster season, filled with both exhilarating highs and crushing losses, showed that flash alone won’t get it done at the Power Five level. And that’s where Ryan Day comes in.
While Sanders draws headlines for his bold speeches and high-profile recruits, Day quietly continues to build a juggernaut in Columbus. The contrast between the two couldn’t be starker: one is a throwback to the NFL bravado of the ’90s, draped in sunglasses and soundbites; the other is a buttoned-up technician whose every move is calculated for championship efficiency. And as the 2025 season looms, Day has been putting the pieces together to launch one of the most formidable campaigns of his career—one that could relegate Sanders and Colorado to the margins once again, despite all the noise.
Let’s not forget how quickly Colorado fell out of favor last season. After a thrilling start that saw them take down TCU and Nebraska, the Buffs plummeted back to earth, finishing with a losing record and serious questions about the viability of Sanders’ all-transfer portal strategy. Meanwhile, Ryan Day endured his own criticism—especially after another loss to Michigan—but still managed to keep Ohio State squarely in the national championship conversation. While Coach Prime’s team looked like a pop-up shop trying to survive in a big-box world, Day’s Buckeyes remained a model of consistency, discipline, and NFL-bound talent.
This offseason, the disparity between the two programs has only grown more evident. While Sanders continues to flip his roster like a reality TV makeover, Day has brought in top-tier transfers, blue-chip recruits, and, perhaps most importantly, retained a core group of players who know what it means to win at the highest level. His offensive arsenal is deeper than ever, and the defense—long a sore spot for the Buckeyes—has been shored up by strategic additions and a full season under coordinator Jim Knowles. Day isn’t reinventing the wheel; he’s refining a Ferrari.
And that’s what may ultimately irritate Sanders the most. Despite all of his efforts to change the narrative, he could once again be playing second fiddle—not just to Alabama or Georgia, but to an Ohio State program that doesn’t care about glitz. The media may try to keep the Deion storyline alive, but it’s performance on the field that ultimately writes the final script. And Ryan Day is preparing to deliver a story that ends in the College Football Playoff, not press conferences.
There’s also the issue of recruiting, where the tension between the two could become even more pronounced. Sanders has made headlines by luring elite athletes with his charisma and NFL pedigree. But Day has countered with something that Sanders can’t yet offer: a proven track record of developing talent and sending players to the league as first-round picks. While Colorado celebrates verbal commits, Ohio State prints NFL Draft invitations. For many top recruits, the allure of Sanders is real—but so is the pull of stability, structure, and a realistic shot at a national title. And right now, Day wins that battle almost every time.
There’s already been some quiet tension between the two coaches. Last season, Sanders bristled at perceived slights and lack of respect from across the college football landscape. Day, never one to indulge in drama, simply kept winning games. But it’s easy to see a scenario in which their paths cross more directly, either through recruiting or even a future bowl game matchup. Should Day’s Buckeyes dismantle a team like Colorado on a national stage, it would be more than just a win—it would be a declaration that substance still beats style.
This isn’t to say that Sanders doesn’t have a plan or that he won’t eventually find success at Colorado. He’s already done more for the program’s visibility in one season than his predecessors did in a decade. But college football is a cruel, results-driven business. And with the expanded College Football Playoff looming, there’s less room for pretenders. If Sanders can’t deliver more wins—and quickly—the attention will inevitably shift back to those who can. And Ryan Day, by quietly positioning Ohio State for a deep playoff run, may be the one to force that shift.
The irony is that Day’s success might actually serve as the perfect counter to everything Sanders is trying to sell. While Coach Prime promotes change, disruption, and personality, Day offers a reminder that tradition, discipline, and development still win championships. And if the Buckeyes go on a tear this season, making their way to the title game with an offense firing on all cylinders and a defense that finally lives up to expectations, it may make Colorado’s flash feel more like a fad.
None of this is personal, of course—at least not from Day’s perspective. He isn’t trying to outshine Deion Sanders. He’s trying to win football games. But in doing so, he could end up doing exactly that. Because in today’s college football landscape, attention is currency—and the more Day wins, the more it devalues everything else. Even a coach as magnetic as Deion Sanders can’t compete with winning.
