Ryan Day draws a hard line in the sand for Ohio State players: “You're coming in to be a first-round draft pick”

Ryan Day's Ohio State Buckeyes are the reigning college football champions. The Buckeyes have picked up from where they left off in the 2025 season and are 10-0 entering Week 13.

A reason for the Buckeyes' dominance is Ryan Day's mentality. The reigning national championship-winning head coach said,

"You're coming in to be a first-round draft pick, and if that's not your expectation, you probably should go somewhere else."

That is the standard Ryan Day's Ohio State Buckeyes set. It has led to them having some of the best offenses and defenses at the collegiate level during Day's tenure.

Ryan Day's Buckeyes are cruising this season, and they remain unbeaten deep into the business end of the campaign. Next up for the program is a Week 13 showdown against Rutgers.

Ryan Day's Ohio State Buckeyes had four first-rounders in the 2025 NFL Draft

Four members of the Ohio State Buckeyes national championship-winning squad were selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. They were:

• Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (No. 19 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Guard Donovan Jackson (No. 24 by the Minnesota Vikings)
• Defensive Tackle Tyleik Williams (No. 28 by the Detroit Lions), and
• Offensive Tackle Josh Simmons (No. 32 by the Kansas City Chiefs)

Months later, most of the picks seem to be aging like fine wine. Emeka Egbuka is an Offensive Rookie of the Year contender with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Donovan Jackson is contributing to the Vikings' offensive line, Tyleik Williams is having a mixed start with the Lions, and Josh Simmons is proving to be a savvy pick by the Chiefs at the end of the round.

Furthermore, the Buckeyes made collegiate football history in 2025 by becoming the first program to win a national championship in the new 12-team playoff era. They followed up this accolade by seeing 14 of their stars selected in the draft.

Here's a look at the players selected on Days 2 and 3:

• Running back Quinshon Judkins (No. 36 by the Cleveland Browns)
• Running back TreVeyon Henderson (No. 38 by the New England Patriots)
• Defensive lineman JT Tuimoloau (No. 45 by the Indianapolis Colts)
• Linebacker Cody Simon (No. 155 by the Arizona Cardinals)
• Defensive back Lathan Ransom (No. 122 by the Carolina Panthers)
• Defensive end Jack Sawyer (No. 123 by the Pittsburgh Steelers)
• Defensive tackle Ty Hamilton (No. 148 by the Los Angeles Rams)
• Defensive back Jordan Hancock (No. 170 by the Buffalo Bills)
• Cornerback Denzel Burke (No. 174 by the Arizona Cardinals)
• Quarterback Will Howard (No. 185 by the Pittsburgh Steelers)

Edited by Nick Igbokwe