Ryan Day contract details: Salary, buyout for the Ohio State football coach

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football has inked an agreement with coach Ryan Day, extending him through the 2031 season with an annual compensation of $12.5 million.

He will become the nation’s second-highest paid head coach, pending an approval of the deal by OSU’s board of trustees.

Only Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who made $13.28 million last season, is slated to earn more.

On Friday, cleveland.com obtained a copy of the term sheet for Day’s new deal via public records request. Here are the details of the agreement.

Ryan Day’s salary

Day’s updated base salary is $2 million.

A majority of his compensation ($7.25 million) will come from media services. Day will also earn $1 million for sponsorship services.

Every Jan. 31, he’ll earn another $1 million as a retention award for media and sponsorship services.

Day will also get $1.25 million annually for apparel, shoe and equipment services.

Ryan Day’s incentives

Day’s incentives are not changing from the updated terms he received prior to the 2024 season in which the 12-team College Football Playoff was introduced.

Big Ten

Day will receive only the highest obtained:

• Conference championship game appearance: $50,000 OR
• Conference championship game win: $250,000

College Football Playoff

Day will receive only the highest obtained:

• CFP round one participation: $100,000 OR
• CFP round two participation: $250,000 OR
• CFP round two participation with first-round bye: $300,000 OR
• CFP semifinal participation: $350,000 OR
• CFP final participation: $500,000 OR
• CFP championship: $1,000,000

Awards

• Big Ten coach of the year: $50,000
• National coach of the year: $100,000

Academics

Day will receive only the highest obtained:

• Team GPA of 3.0: $50,000 OR
• Team GPA of 3.3: $100,000 OR
• Team GPA of 3.5: $150,000

If Day is still Ohio State’s coach on Jan. 31, 2027, he’ll receive $250,000.

Ryan Day’s buyout

If Ohio State elects to terminate Day without cause, it’ll be costly.

The Buckeyes will owe Day $11.5 million annually for each year left on his deal. The terms subject Day to “diligently attempting to find and secure work” if he is fired.

Day will owe Ohio State $6 million if he chooses to terminate the contract before Jan. 31, 2026. The figure dips to $4 million the following year and drops by $500,000 every ensuing year.

Other details of Ryan Day’s contract

Day will receive 12 lower bowl tickets and five press box credentials, if needed, to each home football game. His wife, kids and guests will also have use of a suite for each home game.

He can also purchase up to 20 more tickets at face value.

Day also gets two free tickets for each home men’s basketball game.

For recruiting and other Ohio State business, Day will have access to private flights for up to 75 hours per year. He also gets another 50 hours of private flights each year for personal reasons.