Ryan Day, who led his Ohio State team to a national title in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, knows a thing or two about postseason success. However, he’s not entirely convinced the tournament format has it all figured out yet.
While on The Triple Option podcast recently, Day discussed areas where he believes the lead-up to the tournament could use some fine-tuning. He noted that bowl games traditionally offer players a fun, engaging experience—something he feels is lacking in the current playoff setup.
“We really need to take a closer look at the player experience,” Day emphasized. “I believe there’s room for improvement in making the event feel special for the players. Back in the day, these games were run by bowls and came with loads of events and activities. That’s just not happening anymore.”
Day argues that enhancing the playoff experience is crucial to making it more memorable. This could mean organizing more activities for the players ahead of the games or providing them with tangible keepsakes from their journey.
“It feels like an away game where we arrive a day earlier, but we’re not going out to events or leaving the hotel,” Day explained. “Maybe moving hotels away from bustling cities would help. Focusing on secluded locations could benefit everyone, especially the players. We need to channel resources into their experience.”
“These guys put in the hard work, so we owe them the best conditions—top-notch food and unique mementos that aren’t about money but create lasting memories,” Day added.
Today, the essence of bowl games seems to have faded, with many events offering little beyond the match itself. Perhaps there’s a lesson here for the College Football Playoff to enhance player engagement. It’s still early days for the playoff system, after all.
What do you think would make the playoff experience better in the future? Suggestions are always welcome as the system evolves.
In related news, keep an eye out for Ryan Day’s announcements regarding Ohio State’s quarterback plans for 2025.
