Ohio State's Ryan Day on first CFP rankings: 'It's for the fans'

Ryan Day is a first-year head coach, so he’s still relatively new to speaking in front of the media. That means he might be more willing to speak freely and candidly, which honestly, is a breathe of fresh air compared to other coach’s press conferences.

On Tuesday, Day flat-out said the first College Football Playoff rankings, which come out Tuesday night, mean nothing, simply stating that the rankings, at this point in the season, are “for the fans.”

Day on CFP rankings coming out tonight: "I think it's for the fans. I don't think it means anything to us. If we lose this week, we're not going to be in the top four."
Asked if he was curious, "Not really because it doesn't really matter if we don't continue to win."

— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) November 5, 2019

Day isn’t even curious where his team might land in the first rankings because if the Buckeyes lose, then they won’t remain in playoff contention when it matters most — at the end of the season.

“It doesn’t mean anything for us,” Day said of the college football playoff rankings. “If we lose, we’ll be out of the top four. What matters is if we’re in the top four at the end of the regular season."

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 5, 2019

Day is absolutely right, and more than likely, all Power 5 coaches feel this way, but they don’t often come out and say it. For example, two years ago, Wisconsin and Miami were ranked outside the Top 5 in the first playoff rankings because their early-season schedules were weak, and it seemed to bother those programs.

But they were in the same situation as Ohio State is in now. Undefeated Power 5 teams will not get left out of the playoff. If the Buckeyes keep winning, then they’ll be involved in the race for a national championship at the end of the season.

For a first-year coach, Day understands this so well, and he isn’t afraid to say it. Never change, Day.