Ohio State coach Ryan Day made it clear at his weekly press conference Tuesday that the team will not be fixating on the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee’s initial rankings, which are set to be released later tonight. Following the undefeated Buckeyes’ dominant second-half performance against Penn State, Day emphasized that the rankings hold no significance this early in the process and only serve as a distraction from the team’s ultimate goal.
The Problem with ‘Window Dressing’
Day adopted a sharp, focused tone when questioned about where the 8-0 Buckeyes—who are currently the consensus No. 1 team in both the Associated Press and Coaches Polls—might land in the CFP’s inaugural top 25.
“It doesn’t matter,” Day stated simply. “We talk to our team all the time: there is no value in what happens tonight. It’s window dressing. All that matters is the final ranking in December. If you start letting the hype and the noise and the rankings into your preparation, you lose focus on the job at hand.”
Day’s philosophy is rooted in the hard truth of the selection process: only the final rankings matter, particularly now that the College Football Playoff has expanded to 12 teams. The top four seeds, which earn a crucial first-round bye, are the only spots with immediate strategic value. For an Ohio State team that is expected to be a lock for one of those top spots, the current ranking reveal is merely a mid-season talking point.
Avoiding the Trap of External Validation
The coach’s emphasis on blocking out the noise is not just motivational; it’s a strategy born from experience. Day wants his players concentrating solely on their next opponent—Purdue—and avoiding the trap of seeking external validation from the committee or the media.
Ryan Day’s response to the first College Football Playoff rankings being released on Tuesday: “Whatever.” pic.twitter.com/wuGnrW23W7
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 4, 2025
He highlighted that the goal is not to be the highest-ranked team in November, but to be the best, healthiest team in January. This approach mirrors the one used last season, where the Buckeyes played with intentional game management and controlled the clock throughout the regular season to ensure they peaked in the College Football Playoff, where they ultimately won the national championship.
The message to his team is unequivocal: every ranking between now and the final selection is irrelevant. Ohio State, which has already proven its mettle with wins over then-ranked opponents like Texas and Washington, controls its destiny. As Day concluded, the only ranking that commands his attention will be the one released on Selection Sunday, Dec. 7.
