It has been 11 days since Ohio State coach Ryan Day took home his first national title. He led the Buckeyes to a 34-23 victory against Notre Dame to conclude a rollercoaster-type season that went from good to bad to jubilant in a month.
The Columbus Dispatch’s Joey Kauufman reported Monday that the ending to an otherwise heroic college football story was far from perfect.
Ohio State AD Ross Bjork admitted the university overspent, leading to a steep decline in vast areas.
“While last year’s budget impact is not ideal and there were unique circumstances at play, we have a robust expense and revenue plan that has been implemented and have made great progress in this ever-changing landscape of college athletics,” a statement from Bjork read.
According to Kaufman, more details were discovered within the Buckeyes’ budget, which saw them splurge into royalties, ticket sales, and even a buyout for then-men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann.
“The revenue from football tickets was $47.9 million, a drop-off of $16.5 million from when they had eight home games in 2022,” Kaufman wrote. “The department was also down $8.7 million in royalties, licensing, and sponsorships and $5.3 million in contributions, which include donations made to purchase tickets.”
Of course, much of Ohio State’s budget was spent on football. After all, it reportedly had a roster worth over $20 million, led by star-studded talent on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Will Howard, linebacker Jack Sawyer, and Jeremiah Smith, Howard's big-play receiver.
Day told Dan Patrick last week that NIL offers for players like Smith should be taken with a grain of salt and never more.
“I think the first thing you have to [do] is bring in great people and great families,” Day said. “But, you also have to value them and try to do everything you can to get what they deserve and what’s fair. There is also something to be said for being around a program like ours. “You think if it’s all equal, we’ll have a chance to get our share of guys, but it is different, there’s no question. I think as coaches, we’re all looking for a little bit more guidelines on this.”
Nevertheless, despite Ohio State’s financial difficulties, it plans to emerge from its financial hole as more athletic funds roll in.
For now, it can celebrate knowing that its football team can call itself the best in the sport. It will have a chance to prove this again this August.