### Ohio State Coach Advocates for More Automatic Qualifiers in Expanded College Football Playoff

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who recently led the Buckeyes to a national championship in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP), is pushing for a significant change in future playoff structures. He believes the expanded CFP should guarantee at least four automatic spots for Big Ten teams.

"We're part of the Big Ten, which boasts 18 teams and some of the best programs in the nation," Day expressed to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. "I truly feel we deserve no fewer than four automatic qualifiers."

This perspective comes on the heels of SEC coaches and athletic directors proposing a model for the expanded CFP to feature automatic entries for the top five conference champions along with 11 at-large berths, extending the playoff from 12 to 16 teams. While the Big Ten has not yet committed to a specific model, discussions have leaned towards a structure accommodating four Big Ten and SEC teams each, two from the ACC and Big 12, and one team from the top Group of Five champion.

Although the ACC and Big 12 have resisted this model, Day remains a proponent. "With 18 teams, especially the caliber we have, it makes sense to have multiple representatives from the Big Ten," he told Rittenberg.

Day further argued that a CFP model favoring more automatic qualifiers could enhance college football by encouraging stronger non-conference games. This is particularly relevant given the variances in conference game scheduling. For instance, Ohio State's 2025 season opener against Texas is a highly anticipated rematch of the previous year's Cotton Bowl, set to air at noon on FOX.

"If automatic qualifiers aren't in place, scheduling high-profile games like our upcoming match against Texas becomes less attractive because it doesn't align with our goals," Day noted. He emphasized the disparity, pointing out, "We play nine conference games in the Big Ten, unlike the SEC. So, it's not a level playing field."

In the 2024 season, Ohio State played 16 games, including 12 regular-season and four CFP contests. Day, who hopes to maintain a challenging non-conference schedule against teams like Texas, Alabama, and Georgia while striving for deep playoff runs, also voiced concerns about the physical toll of lengthy seasons with shrinking roster sizes, a potential issue linked to the forthcoming House-NCAA settlement.

"I'm worried about the impact of 16 or 17 games on a 105-man roster," Day stated. "Even with 120 players, it's a tough grind. Staying healthy is crucial, and a couple of injuries could derail a long season. Unlike the NFL, where you can pick up players from waivers, college football doesn't have that luxury. This season length with 105 players is concerning."