Ohio State football coach Ryan Day wants to keep his roster intact. In the world of lucrative NIL deals, that means having enough money in the coffers to be able to afford top-tier talent.
In a meeting with about 100 members of Columbus' football community Thursday, Day named his price: $13 million.
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Day hoped to drum up local business interest in his players. It's a mutually-beneficial relationship, according to Day. Local businesses get to use a player's likeness to sell products in football-crazed Columbus while players get their just rewards for balling out on the gridiron.
The discussion between Day and community members outlined how the Buckeyes — and other high-profile programs — are adjusting to this new age of collegiate athletics.
"If the speed limit's 45 miles per hour, and you drive 45 miles per hour, a lot of people are going to pass you by. If you go too fast, you're going to get pulled over," Day said, via the Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Doug Lesmerises.
Day estimated that Ohio State would need about $2 million to convince top-shelf quarterback recruits to take their talents to Columbus. Per Day, elite pass rushers and offensive lineman are pricey, too, worth about $1 million.
"One phone call, and they're out the door," Day said. "We cannot let that happen at Ohio State. I'm not trying to sound the alarm, I'm just trying to be transparent about what we're dealing with.
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The issue of NIL has engulfed the sport over the past year. The enforcement of the NCAA's rules, which state NIL agreements cannot be used to recruit high school athletes, remains non-existent to date. Programs are rushing to meet player's demands amid growing competition for their signatures. Some, like Alabama coach Nick Saban, have been frustrated by the recent changes, arguing that it has made it that much more difficult to retain talent.
The transfer portal has become a more enticing option for players in recent years. According to 247Sports, some nearly 3,000 FBS players entered the transfer portal during the offseason.
The NCAA created this era of uncertainty by not getting ahead of the state laws allowing NIL deals with college athletes. Now, it has to live with it.
And for Day and the Buckeyes' business associates, that looks like footing a $13 million bill.