NIL Chaos: Is Ryan Day capable of preventing ‘poachers’ from plundering Ohio State?

The confetti has settled, the trophy is tucked away, and Ohio State’s 2024 championship season is officially in the books. Ryan Day’s squad proved their dominance on the field, but the real battle may just be beginning. In today’scollege football landscape, winning a national title doesn’t guarantee you keep your best players-it just makes them more valuable to the highest bidder.

Two of the biggest names in Columbus right now are wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Smith, a freshman phenom, was electric in the championship game, racking up 88 yards and a touchdown. He’s already being talked about as a Heisman candidate for 2025. Tate, a sophomore, put together an impressive season of his own, finishing with 52 receptions for 733 yards, despite being the third option in the Buckeyes’ offense.

Now, both are reportedly on the receiving end of massive NIL offers from unnamed programs-$5 million for Smith and over $1 million for Tate, according to On3 Sports. And here’s the kicker: neither player is in the transfer portal. These negotiations aren’t happening in the open; they’re unfolding behind closed doors, a reality of the modern college football ecosystem.

Former Ohio State linebacker AJ Hawk weighed in on the situation on The Pat McAfee Show, expressing skepticism that either player would leave. “It doesn’t make a ton of sense to walk away from a national championship team,” he said, adding that the Buckeyes can likely match any offer on the table. But as DJ The Sports Blerd pointed out on YouTube, NIL deals aren’t just about football-they’re life-changing money for young athletes and their families.

The price of staying on top: Ryan Day’s $13 million NIL battle

Ryan Day knows this, and he’s already been vocal about how much Ohio State needs to invest to keep its roster intact. Last year, he estimated it would take $13 million in NIL deals to keep the Buckeyes competitive. That number might be even higher now.

So where do things stand? Smith and Tate have both given indications they’re staying put. Smith even shared a fan post dismissing the rumors, and multiple sources close to Tate suggest he’s committed to returning in 2025.

But this is the new normal. Championships don’t end seasons anymore-they kick off a high-stakes, behind-the-scenes battle to hold rosters together. And for Ryan Day, keeping his biggest stars might be just as tough as winning that trophy in the first place.