OHIO State head coach Ryan Day has received a massive bonus for reaching the College Football Playoff national championship.
Day’s squad defeated the Texas Longhorns by a score of 28-14 in the semifinal game from the Cotton Bowl.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day celebrates from the podium after winning the Cotton Bowl over the Texas Longhorns last week[/caption]
Day seen reacting after a first-quarter touchdown during the CFP semifinal game[/caption]
In 2022, the 45-year-old Day signed a seven-year, $66.5 million contract extension that runs through the 2028 campaign.
The deal also included a large amount of incentive bonuses – and one of them kicked in last week.
After Friday’s win and advancing to the national championship, Day has earned an extra $150,000.
The two-time Big Ten champion has now received a CFP performance bonus total of $500,000.
Day can still be handed $500,000 if the Buckeyes win the national title.
He was given $100,000 for reaching the first round of the CFP, an additional $150,000 for making the quarterfinal, and an extra $100,000 for reaching the semifinal before an extra $150,000 for winning the Cotton Bowl game.
Day’s wallet was already plenty full before his earned bonuses.
He has made roughly $10 million in 2024, including his base salary.
Day also has multiple endorsement deals, including Coca-Cola and the retail company Kroger.
Ohio State has also been given great news in the money department.
It was revealed by Boardroom, a sports, media, and entertainment company brand, that the college has topped the rankings for Most Valuable College Athletic Programs with a valuation of $1.32 billion, per CNBC’s Instagram account.
“It’s no surprise the top of the list has been dominated by SEC and Big Ten schools considering the massive media rights deals they’ve managed to land,” the caption read on the social media platform.
“The Ohio State Buckeyes had $280 million in revenue in 2023, the most of any school.
“These top programs rely on their large alumni/fan bases, booster donations, and massive attendance turnouts, per @cnbc.”
Coincidentally, the University of Texas fell behind to second position, with a $1.28 billion valuation.
The Buckeyes’ domination comes after three double-digit wins against Top-10 teams, including the then-unbeaten and top-ranked Oregon Ducks.
They had overcome a brutal loss to the Michigan Wolverines in November that led to naysayers calling for Day’s job.
Day and the Ohio State squad will square off against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the CFP national championship on January 20 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Notre Dame beat Penn State by a score of 27-24 in the Orange Bowl.
