Ryan Day Declares Big Ten as College Football’s Best: “Look at the Results and National Championships”
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has reignited a familiar debate in college football by declaring that the Big Ten Conference is the top league in the nation. Speaking to On3’s Pete Nakos, Day made a strong case for the Big Ten’s dominance, citing the conference’s depth, recent postseason performance, and multiple national titles as key indicators of superiority.
“I think we’ve got some really good teams,” Day said. “Our play over the last couple of years has spoken for itself. Look at the results and national championships from the league.”
His comments come at a pivotal time for college football, with conference realignment, playoff expansion, and NIL changes fundamentally reshaping the sport. But Day’s remarks were clearly intended to make a statement: that despite the SEC’s long-standing reign and the recent rise of other conferences, the Big Ten is now college football’s most competitive and accomplished league.
A League in Transformation — But Also Ascendancy
Day’s claim that the Big Ten is “the best league in college football” isn’t just a matter of pride — it’s rooted in recent outcomes.
In the past two seasons alone, the Big Ten has placed three different teams — Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State — into the New Year’s Six bowl games and College Football Playoff contention. Most notably, Michigan won the national championship in 2024, defeating Washington and Alabama on its way to its first title since 1997. That accomplishment marked a major turning point for the league, not just in perception, but in performance.
Day’s own Buckeyes narrowly missed the 2023 title game, falling to eventual champion Georgia in a thriller in the Peach Bowl CFP semifinal. That game, a 42–41 loss, arguably featured two of the best teams in the country — further proof, in Day’s mind, that the Big Ten is consistently at the sport’s pinnacle.
Now, as the conference expands to 18 teams — adding powerhouses like USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington in 2024 — the Big Ten’s future looks even stronger. Day pointed to that depth as a reason for optimism moving forward.
“Week in and week out, the competition is fierce. You’re going to face NFL talent across the line of scrimmage in conference play. That’s what separates us,” Day said.
Challenging the SEC’s Throne
While the SEC has long been lauded as college football’s toughest and most decorated league — winning 13 of the last 17 national championships, including back-to-back titles with Alabama and Georgia — Day believes the balance of power is shifting. He’s not alone.
Michigan’s championship last season snapped the SEC’s streak of four straight national titles. The Wolverines also knocked off Alabama in the 2024 Rose Bowl semifinal, a result Day referenced indirectly by encouraging fans and media to “look at the results.”
And while the SEC still boasts elite programs like Georgia, Alabama, and LSU, the Big Ten’s collective rise — including Wisconsin’s resurgence and Iowa’s perennial defense-driven consistency — has elevated the league to the national spotlight.
Even off the field, the Big Ten has outpaced the SEC in media rights value, securing a $7 billion TV deal with FOX, CBS, and NBC that will begin paying out upwards of $100 million per school annually by 2025.
Day’s Confidence in Ohio State’s Position
Though Michigan has taken the conference crown the past three seasons, Day remains bullish on Ohio State’s standing within the Big Ten and nationally. The Buckeyes return one of the country’s most stacked rosters in 2025, including transfer quarterback Julian Sayin, star wideout Emeka Egbuka, and All-American defensive end JT Tuimoloau.
After falling just short of a playoff berth in 2024 following a narrow loss to Michigan, Day emphasized that the Buckeyes are poised to reclaim their spot atop college football’s hierarchy.
“We respect everyone in this league, but our goal is to be the best. That means winning the Big Ten — and it means winning it all,” Day said.
Looking Ahead to a New Era
As the 12-team College Football Playoff launches this season, conferences like the Big Ten will be positioned to send multiple contenders to the postseason. In 2024, under the new format, it’s possible that Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, and Penn State could all qualify.
Day believes that will only further prove the league’s strength.
“Once we’re in the playoff, we’ll have a chance to show it again — on the field. That’s where the real statements are made,” he said.
In a sport where regional bias, tradition, and rivalries often dictate the conversation, Ryan Day’s declaration of Big Ten supremacy adds a bold voice to the evolving college football landscape. And with a loaded schedule and a championship-or-bust mentality in Columbus, it won’t take long to see if his words hold true.
Leave a Reply