Friday, October 16, 2026

Ohio State Coach: Buckeyes Need $13M to Compete

  • Ryan Day said Ohio State will struggle to compete with other programs that are paying players directly.
  • Schools and their athletic programs aren’t allowed to pay athletes directly, per NCAA rules.
Adam Cairns/USA TODAY NETWORK

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Ohio State football coach Ryan Day believes it will take $13 million in collective endorsement deals to keep his championship-seeking roster intact, according to a report by Cleveland.com. 

Day said Ohio State — winner of eight national championships and 39 Big Ten titles — will struggle to compete with other major college football programs that are paying players directly following the start of the name, image, and likeness era in July 2021. 

Schools and their athletic programs aren’t allowed to pay athletes directly, per NCAA rules, but the rules aren’t being properly enforced, according to Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith.

  • Day predicts top-level quarterbacks will soon require $2 million in NIL earnings.
  • He also believes offensive tackles and defensive ends could make roughly $1 million.  

The Buckeyes ranked No. 1 in NIL compensation and in the number of athletes who have signed at least one NIL deal. 

Piece of the Pie 

Football and basketball players on scholarship at institutions in Power 5 conferences could pocket a minimum of $50,000 each year, according to Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence. 

In May, the NCAA announced updated guidelines to its NIL rules that help hinder boosters from providing or even offering NIL deals to recruits.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ohio Gov. Issues Executive Order Challenging NCAA Eligibility Policy

The EO may not have teeth, but it could still impact eligibility.

Belichick, UNC Score Biggest Win Yet After Rocky Offseason

Belichick’s revamped UNC roster is beginning to show signs of progress.
Oct 1, 2026; New York, NY, USA; St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino speaks at 2026 Big East Media Day at Marriott Marquis.

St. John’s Booster Repole Says Team Better Make the Final Four

Mike Repole has contributed seven-figure sums to his alma mater’s NIL program.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/16/26 – Aikman Eyes Free Agency, CFP Nears 24 Teams, Stoudemire Becomes Cop

0:00

Featured Today

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena
October 12, 2026

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
Oct 12, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts relieves pitcher Kris Bubic (40) during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game two of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field.

As Dodgers’ NLCS Hopes Fade, Game 3 Ticket Prices Drop

Get-in pricing for Dodger Stadium games is falling sharply.
October 11, 2026

John Harbaugh’s Giants Are Contenders, Even With an Odd Tie

The Giants lead the NFC East.
October 12, 2026

Atlanta Dream Likely to Host WNBA Finals at Tiny Home Arena

The Dream will play their home games at State Farm next year.
Sponsored

The State of AI in Sports 2026

Front Office Sports and Teamworks reveal how AI is reshaping sports in the first industry-wide report on adoption, investment, and impact.
October 11, 2026

Deshaun Watson’s Revived Play Raises Questions About Future

Watson is in the fifth and final year of his contract.
October 8, 2026

Titans Fire Three Business Execs Amid Another Ugly Start

The moves are just the latest high-level exits and shifts in recent years. 
October 7, 2026

Buss Siblings: Jeanie Can’t Block Sale of Lakers Stake

Jeanie is acting purely out of self-interest, her siblings say.
First at FOS
October 7, 2026

Yankee Stadium Quietly Suffered a Summer Peanut Shortage

The Yankees mysteriously ran out of peanuts this summer.