Report: Ohio State’s Ryan Day Eyed for Texas A&M HC Opening to Replace Jimbo Fisher

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Ahead of Ohio State’s showdown with Michigan on Saturday, Ryan Day’s name has popped up as a potential option to become Texas A&M’s new head coach.

On Big Noon Kickoff, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic and Fox Sports said the Aggies are “optimistic” about Day at least being willing to speak with them if the Buckeyes lose to Michigan.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel added that Kentucky’s Mark Stoops is “one name that’s expected to emerge” in A&M’s coaching search.

Texas A&M fired Jimbo Fisher on Nov. 12 after a 51-10 win over Mississippi State. Thamel noted the move would likely cost the program $76 million based on the terms of Fisher’s contract buyout.

There has been some increasing chatter of late about Day potentially going to College Station. Billy Liucci of TexAgs Radio (starts at 5:15 mark) said on Wednesday there is “smoke” around the Ohio State head coach, but he’s “skeptical” it’s real and not an agent trying to drum up interest to increase leverage in extension talks.

It will be interesting to see how aggressive Texas A&M is in trying to find a new coach.

In a story by Feldman, Sam Khan Jr. and Max Olson about Fisher’s failings with the Aggies, one former assistant on the coaching staff said the program should have “sky-high” expectations “because of the resources they have.”

Given how much money Fisher is still owed and what it will take to land a marquee name, Texas A&M will have to go deep into its pool of financial resources to make it happen.

Feldman, Khan and Olson cited Duke’s Mike Elko, UTSA’s Jeff Traylor, Kansas’ Lance Leipold and Arizona’s Jedd Fisch among the names that have been connected to Texas A&M.

Day is under contract to Ohio State through the 2028 season and is making $9.5 million per year. His buyout is currently $5 million, though it decreases by $500,000 annually on Jan. 31.

The Buckeyes named Day acting head coach in August 2018 after Urban Meyer was placed on administrative leave. He took over the job full-time starting with the 2019 season.

Day has a 56-6 record and led the program to Big Ten titles in each of his first two seasons. The Buckeyes have made the College Football Playoff in each of the past four seasons.

Ohio State has lost its last two games against Michigan. The Buckeyes haven’t lost three straight against their Big Ten rival since 1995 to ’97.