While there has been much discussion surrounding the compensation of college athletes, particularly with the advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and recent legal developments, as of my last update on May 1, 2025, Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day has not announced a specific decision regarding Ohio State directly paying its players in the traditional sense of employment or salary.
Here’s a breakdown of the current situation:
Current Landscape of College Athlete Compensation:
* NIL is in effect: Since 2021, NCAA rules and Ohio state law (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3376 and Governor’s Executive Order 2021-10D, later Executive Order 2024-08D) allow college athletes to earn compensation from third parties for the use of their Name, Image, and Likeness. This means athletes can sign endorsement deals, appear in commercials, and monetize their social media presence.
* Schools cannot directly pay for NIL currently: Under the existing NCAA framework, universities like Ohio State are prohibited from directly compensating athletes for their NIL. These opportunities must come from external entities such as brands, collectives, or individual sponsors. Ohio State’s policy emphasizes that the university itself cannot directly compensate student-athletes for NIL activities.
* Potential for direct pay in the future: A significant development is the proposed settlement in the House v. NCAA antitrust lawsuit. If finalized, this settlement, anticipated in the spring of 2025, would allow NCAA Division I institutions to directly compensate student-athletes for their NIL rights through revenue sharing, potentially starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. Institutions that opt into the settlement could potentially allocate up to 22% of their average shared revenue for direct payments and additional scholarships.
* Ohio Executive Order: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2024-08D in November 2024, which allows Ohio colleges and universities to “directly compensate” their college-athletes for NIL. However, this order specifies that state-allocated funds cannot be used for such compensation and does not classify athletes as employees. This order is intended to remain in effect until the NCAA settlement becomes fully operational.
Ryan Day’s Stance (Likely):
While Coach Day hasn’t made a specific announcement about directly paying players, his focus has likely been on navigating the existing NIL landscape and ensuring Ohio State’s athletes have robust opportunities within those rules. Given the potential changes on the horizon with the NCAA settlement and the Ohio executive order, his approach would likely be one of preparation and strategic planning.
It’s reasonable to assume Coach Day and the Ohio State athletic department are closely monitoring these developments and considering how they might adapt their approach to athlete compensation if direct payments become permissible under NCAA and state regulations. Their priority would likely be to remain competitive in recruiting and retain top talent while adhering to all applicable rules.
In conclusion, as of May 1, 2025, Ryan Day has not announced a decision to directly pay Ohio State football players in a way that would constitute employment or salary from the university itself. The current framework allows for NIL compensation from external sources, and potential future changes stemming from the House v. NCAA settlement and the Ohio executive order could open the door for direct institutional payments, a situation that Ohio State is likely preparing for.
