Ryan Day is looking to become the first coach in Ohio State history to lead the Buckeyes to back-to-back national football championships, and the road to that goal starts with the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
The Buckeyes finished the 2025 regular season undefeated before losing 13-10 to Indiana in the Big Ten championship, landing them the No. 2 seed for the playoff and a spot in the Cotton Bowl against No. 10 seed Miami on Dec. 31.
With Ohio State being awarded a bye, unlike last year when the Buckeyes were the No. 8 seed, Day has secured the first of multiple bonuses he can earn during the playoff.
Here’s what to know about Day’s quarterfinal bonus.
How much does Ryan Day make?
Day’s base salary is $12.5 million, with his total pay (sum of actual school pay and athletically related compensation from non-university sources) being $12,575,000 before bonuses.
Ryan Day contract details, bonus amounts
Day can make up to $1,550,000 in bonuses this year, and has already earned a $300,000 bonus for earning a bye into the quarterfinal as an at-large bid.
The contract extension Day signed in February was for seven years, running through 2031.
Highest paid college football coaches in 2025
Day is the second-highest paid coach this season, ranking only below Georgia’s Kirby Smart. Here are the top five highest-paid coaches.
- Kirby Smart, Georgia (13,282,580 total pay)
- Ryan Day, Ohio State (12,575,000 total pay)
- Lincoln Riley, USC (11,537,560 total pay)
- Dabo Swinney, Clemson (11,447,025 total pay)
- Steve Sarkisian, Texas (10,800,000 total pay)
When does Ohio State play next?
The College Football Playoff quarterfinals are scheduled for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. The Buckeyes and Hurricanes play in the Cotton Bowl on Dec 31. at 7:30 p.m.
College Football Playoff schedule 2025-26
National championship: Jan. 19
First round: Dec. 19 and 20
Quarterfinals: Dec. 31 and Jan. 1
Semifinals: Jan. 8 and 9
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