COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State coach Ryan Day leans back into the leather couch in his office, days away from the season-opening showdown against top-ranked Texas.

Behind him, the Rose and Cotton Bowl trophies from last year’s playoff run gleam on a shelf. Across the room, a black-and-white photograph captures Jeremiah Smith‘s game-clinching grab against Notre Dame — the play that sealed the Buckeyes’ first national championship in a decade.

That thrilling victory vaulted Day into exclusive company: only two other active college football head coaches — Clemson‘s Dabo Swinney and Georgia‘s Kirby Smart — have won national titles.

“We’ve won a lot of games, but when you haven’t won the whole thing, you don’t necessarily get the benefit of the doubt with everybody,” says Day, who took over for Urban Meyer in 2019 after just two seasons on his staff. “You’ll never get the benefit of the doubt with everybody, I guess. But winning one certainly gives a lot of credibility to what we’re doing.”

Nine months earlier, Day faced the fiercest scrutiny of his career — the result of a fourth straight loss to Michigan. As the final seconds ticked away in the 13-10 defeat at the Horseshoe, Ohio State students chanted “F— Ryan Day.”

The jeers escalated into death threats. Armed guards had to be stationed at the Day home, as they had been after past Michigan losses. Day’s wife, Nina, even received threatening text messages and calls on her phone.

“Fans were yelling at his wife in stores, his kids were getting messed with at school,” said 2024 Buckeyes captain Jack Sawyer, who’s now a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers. “The things that he and his family had to go through were just absurd — it’s just insanity.”

But Day and his family remained resolute. So did the Buckeyes, who came together during a pivotal three-hour meeting a couple of days later with just Day and the players.

It began with screaming and tears. It ended with everyone clasping hands in prayer.

“It got real in there,” said then-quarterback Will Howard, also with the Steelers. “But it made us closer — and turned us into a different animal when the playoffs came.”

The Buckeyes bounced back with a fury. They destroyed Tennessee 42-17 at home in the College Football Playoff first round, then annihilated undefeated Oregon at the Rose Bowl 41-21, avenging their only other loss during the regular season.

Sawyer’s fourth-quarter strip-sack and score clinched the Cotton Bowl win over Texas, setting up Smith’s heroics against the Fighting Irish in Atlanta.

As confetti fell upon the championship presentation stage, Day hoisted the trophy and roared, letting the emotion pour out of him.

“Take all the components of what you’d want in a head coach — and Coach Day has all of that,” said Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork. “Maybe it took the national championship for people to really see it. But deep down, I think now people realize we’ve got the right guy.”

BEFORE LAST YEAR’S Michigan game, Day said that aside from his father’s suicide when he was 8 years old, losing to the Wolverines was “for my family, the worst thing that’s happened.”

When the New Hampshire native arrived in Ohio in 2017, he was an outsider to the rivalry. Now, Day feels the fervor that consumes the fan base.

“This is a big chunk of our life — we’ve put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this place,” said Day, noting his kids have grown up in Ohio. “There’s a lot of weight with this job and a lot of people counting on you to do this job because of what the Block O means. You’ve got to have a thick neck and be able to handle it.”

That was put to the test last November when Michigan stunned the Buckeyes as nearly three-touchdown underdogs — one of the rivalry’s biggest upsets. Afterward, the Wolverines planted their flag on the Block O at midfield and a brawl erupted between the two teams. Police ended it with pepper spray.

“When you lose, and when you lose certainly that game, it hurts — it hurts nobody more than me and my family, trust me,” Day said. “It’s our life. And we understand what comes with it — the anger, the frustration for everybody. It’s real because the passion is so strong.”

In the aftermath, Day was so sickened he could barely eat. Bjork called to reassure Day that he and the administration had his back. Sawyer, Day’s first verbal commitment in 2019 and a Columbus product, also called to say he was sorry for what Day was going through.

“He cut me off: ‘I’m a grown man, I can handle this stuff — this is what comes with the job,'” Sawyer recalled Day telling him. “He’s one of the most resilient, toughest people I’ve ever met in my life — and they’ve got one of the toughest families that I’ve ever been around.”

Day said he gave himself one day to wallow. But he couldn’t let his family or players see him feeling sorry for himself. He told his three kids — R.J., a star quarterback at St. Francis DeSales, and daughters Grace and Nia — that school in the coming days wouldn’t be easy: “‘You’re going to have to be tough — and you’re going to find out who your true friends are,'” he said.

As the Buckeyes reconvened at the Woody Hayes facility to prepare for Tennessee as the No. 8 seed, the players called a closed-door meeting. They invited Day — no assistants.

Sawyer spoke first; Howard, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson and linebacker Cody Simon followed.

Players critiqued the playcalling, the schemes and individual players and coaches. They called out the entire offensive line, which, down starters Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin, had gotten dominated by the Wolverines.

“Guys are fighting, guys are in tears, Coach Day’s getting challenged, he’s challenging guys. You could’ve cut the intensity with a knife,” Sawyer said. “But it was the most special meeting I’ve ever been a part of.”

The first half hour was heated, but eventually, everyone — Day included — took accountability for the Michigan loss. They concluded with prayer and a collective objective — go win it all.

“It was a great lesson,” Day said. “When things aren’t right, you’ve got to have honest conversations — even if it’s uncomfortable.”

WHEN THE BUCKEYES took the field to face Tennessee, they saw swaths of orange coating the Horseshoe. Still disgusted with the Michigan defeat, many Ohio State fans sold their tickets and thousands of Tennessee faithful gobbled them up.

“Our backs were against the wall,” Day said. “When you came out of the tunnel and saw the crowd, you could feel it.”

Day and Howard briefly considered using a silent snap count to combat the visiting crowd noise before opting against it.

The Buckeyes were unfazed — and quickly dispelled any predictions of a Michigan hangover. Ohio State scored touchdowns on its first three drives. By the third quarter, the orange swaths had thinned into empty seats.

“We knew this was our last chance to make things right for us, for Coach Day,” Howard said. “And we all rallied around him.”

Before Oregon, Day showed the team a clip of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant looking angry in a news conference after going up 2-0 in the 2009 NBA Finals.

“What’s there to be happy about?” Bryant famously said. “Job’s not finished.”

The Buckeyes played that way in Pasadena.

The Ducks couldn’t cover Smith and almost every pass Howard threw was on point. Ohio State’s revamped offensive line — overpowered by Michigan and maligned in the team meeting — paved the way for the running game.

The Buckeyes led 34-0 in the second quarter.

“Things were moving in slow motion for us,” Day said. “The buy-in was right, the mojo was right, the tempo was right — we were hitting on all cylinders.”

Even in that moment, Day wasn’t satisfied. On the field after the win, Bjork tried to hand Day a long-stemmed rose to commemorate the memorable victory. Day turned it down.

“He said, ‘I’m not taking that,'” Bjork recalled. “‘We still got two games left.'”

Back in Columbus, the Buckeyes were going over the game plan for Texas when Day paused the conversation.

“I’ve never had so much fun coaching a group of guys — and I’ve never loved a group of guys as much as you guys,'” Sawyer recalled Day telling them.

On Jan. 20 — the anniversary of his father’s death — Day joined Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel and Meyer as the Ohio State coaches to win national championships. When he reflects on that title now, Day thinks first of his players — and the generations of Buckeyes fans who got to experience the run together.

“I can’t tell you how many people have come up to me and said, ‘I watched that last game with my grandfather before he passed away,’ or ‘My son and I went through an ice storm to get to Dallas to watch Jack run the ball back,’ or ‘We were out at the Rose Bowl and it’s one of the greatest first halves I’ve ever seen,’ or ‘We were in the stadium for the first half against Tennessee and it was one of the best memories I’ve ever had,'” Day said, before reeling off other similar stories. “That’s what this is all about. … That’s the responsibility here. And it’s bigger than any one of us.”

LEANING FORWARD FROM his office couch, Day notes that his biggest fear isn’t losing games — it’s losing the opportunity to impact players.

“That’s the No. 1 goal and focus,” he said. “And you have to win in order to continue doing that. It’s not about the championships, as much as so many people want to focus on that — that’s just the prerequisite.”

This offseason, he had his players read “Chop Wood, Carry Water,” which teaches that big successes stem from a commitment to completing a series of simple, mundane tasks.

The Buckeyes face a big task Saturday. The Longhorns are hungry for revenge after Ohio State ended their last postseason run.

Day knows better than anyone the Buckeyes can’t bask in their national title.

“We lose the first [game],” he said, “and we’re going to be hearing about it real fast. … That’s the way it goes here — more here than anywhere else.”

Day welcomes it. He also welcomes the pressure that comes with the Michigan game. Through four straight losses, he sees an “unbelievable opportunity” ahead.

“That’s it, man,” he said with a big smile. “Gotta go win that game — and I can’t wait to play it.”

True freshman Bryce Underwood is expected to be named Michigan‘s starting quarterback, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

The other Michigan quarterbacks were informed Sunday that Underwood will start, a source said.

Underwood was ESPN’s No. 1 overall recruit in this year’s signing class, flipping his commitment from LSU to Michigan last November.

Underwood, from nearby Belleville, Michigan, beat out Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene for the job. Davis Warren is still recovering from the torn ACL in his right knee that he suffered in last season’s bowl win.

The 6-foot-4, 228-pound Underwood won two state championships with Belleville and won 38 straight games in high school.

“He’s grown every single day he’s been on campus,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said during Big Ten media days. “And he does everything the right way.”

The No. 14 Wolverines open the season Saturday against New Mexico before traveling to Oklahoma on Sept. 6 to face the No. 18 Sooners.

CBS Sports first reported that Underwood would be named the starter, which could come in an official announcement as soon as Monday.

With the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup wrapped up, the unofficial start of the 2026 NHL draft scouting season has begun. Junior teams kick off training camp in the next few weeks, NCAA players are settling into campus, and hockey season is right around the corner.

As was the case last year, certain players will dominate the conversation atop the class. Because of rule changes, we’re seeing players make the jump from Canadian major junior play to the NCAA. It will be interesting to track how those players develop — and the impact that older competition has on them.

NHL teams made it clear in the 2025 draft that big defensemen and skilled forwards with bite are valued at a high premium. There is no shortage of right-handed defensemen who will be in the top-10 discussion this season, and a few highly skilled forwards many teams will be tracking closely. These are the players worth familiarizing yourself with, especially if your team is not expected to be a Stanley Cup playoff contender this season.

Note: This list is in alphabetical order with the exception of the odds-on favorite to be the top pick in the 2026 draft in the first spot.

Gavin McKenna
LW, Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA)

This is the obvious name on the list. The hubbub around his decision to play in the NCAA led “SportsCenter” — a testament to the star quality of this prospect.

McKenna was one of the best players in the Canadian Hockey League last season, and he will be one of the best — if not the best — players in the NCAA this season. Making the jump to Penn State, McKenna is a bring-you-out-of-your-seat offensive dynamo. A playmaker first, McKenna is usually the best player on the ice.

He draws defensive coverage, makes plays at full speed and turns every skater on the ice with him into a threat to score because of his elite puck-distribution skill. Expect him to be among the NCAA’s best players in transition, turning defenders into pretzels and playing in every key situation.

The NCAA will give McKenna the opportunity to add to his lean frame and learn to play against bigger, stronger opponents as he prepares to compete in the NHL next October. You could say he’s one to watch, but the reality is he is the one to watch in this class, and he will be all over the highlight reels.

Ethan Belchetz
LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

A mammoth winger playing for the Spitfires, Belchetz’ 6-foot-5 frame will be impossible to miss. He has developed the ability to physically impose himself to impact the game, which was evident at the recent Hlinka-Gretzky Cup for Canada. He’s learning to use his body along the wall to protect pucks, bump players off balance and bully his way to the dangerous areas of the ice.

Given his physical package and willingness to engage physically, it is easy to understand why teams are excited about him. He’s a powerful winger with above-average puck skill and shooting ability. If he can add speed and bite to his play style, it won’t be surprising to see teams target him with a top-10 pick — the way they did with Brady Martin and Porter Martone in the 2025 class.

Viggo Björck
C/W, Djurgårdens (J20)

It is generally a good sign when you break scoring records and are moved out of your age group (Hlinka) to play in the World Junior Summer Showcase.

Björck fits the bill. He’s a highly skilled center who possesses quality playmaking ability. His creative playstyle showcases elite hockey sense, and he has the ability to control the game with a package of good acceleration, a quick release and above-average puckhandling skill. He’s strong on pucks, defensively sound and a projectable NHL center.

If he grows a couple of inches, there is a real chance he will hear his name called in the top five in June.

Tynan Lawrence
C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

Coming off a Clark Cup MVP season in the USHL as a 16-year-old, Lawrence will be a fascinating watch in his final junior season. He’s committed to Boston University for 2026-27.

Having success as a young center in the USHL is no easy task, and Lawrence was more than up to it. He has excellent instincts on both sides of the puck, allowing him to thrive on the penalty kill and power play. I expect he will be in the top units of both for Muskegon this season.

Offensively, he has a smooth catch and release and can let pucks fly once he gets to the middle of the ice. He should be one of the top creators in transition this season with his ability to make plays at speed off the rush. Lawrence will be a key play driver for the Lumberjacks and will be tasked with winning his minutes offensively while playing sound defensive hockey. Scouts like his work rate and instincts, and there’s a path to being a top-10 pick if he dominates the way some believe he can.

Ryan Lin
D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

He won’t bring you out of your seat with razzle-dazzle the way some players on this list will, but there is arguably not a more well-rounded defenseman in the draft. Lin is the type of player who often goes unnoticed because he doesn’t make mistakes.

He shuts plays down early with proper angles, a good stick and excellent reads. His hockey sense and decision-making are two of his best qualities, allowing him to make the simple play and start his team up the ice with a quality first pass. He plays in every situation, including the penalty kill and power play, and should be the engine of the Giants this season.

His offensive numbers don’t jump off the page, but with some development to his skating he has the potential to be an elite, two-way defender who dictates the game on both sides of the puck. Lin is going to play 30 minutes per game for Vancouver this season and have every opportunity to thrive offensively and defensively. If he grows a few inches — he’s 5-11 — it will only help his draft stock.

Mathis Preston
C/W, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

One of the most exciting players to watch at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, Preston is a crafty playmaker with smooth skating and elite hockey sense.

His offensive instincts constantly have him in the right spot at the right time, drawing defenders toward him before making a play that creates a high-danger chance for a teammate. He’s evasive, makes good decisions with the puck and uses his quick hands to execute with ease.

He’s going to be one the biggest offensive producers this season as a draft-eligible player. If he continues to develop his offensive toolbox, he’ll be a top-10 pick because of his ceiling as a high-end winger in the NHL. Given his late-July birthday, I would expect him to star at the U18 world championship next year if he’s not in the WHL playoffs. Wherever he’s playing, he will catch your eye with his highlight-reel skill.

Chase Reid
D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Reid’s development curve has been fascinating to watch, and he will have every opportunity to lead the Greyhounds’ blue line this season.

The right-handed defenseman is a good blend of smooth mobility, high-end offensive instincts, quality transition play and enough raw talent to mold into a legitimate top-pairing defender. He will undoubtedly be of the OHL’s best defensemen this season and will be relied upon to play heavy matchups in key situations, producing offense.

It is rare that a defenseman produces a point per game in the Division I season, but Reid did, and it put him on a lot of NHL radars. If his defensive game keeps improving and he becomes elite on both sides of the puck in transition, he will be a hot commodity in the upcoming draft.

Ryan Roobroeck
C/W, Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL)

Roobroeck will be one of the most intriguing prospects to watch this season with many scouts wondering where he will play. He has a late-September birthday, so he’ll be in his third OHL season after leading Niagara in scoring in his D-I year.

The real question is whether Roobroeck will play at center or on the wing as he did in his first two seasons. At 6-4 with good skating, reliable special teams play and an NHL-quality shot, his value will significantly increase if he can prove his capabilities as a play-driving center. If he develops his playmaking in the middle of the ice to become more of a dual threat and more physically engaged, there is every reason to believe he will be a top-10 pick.

There is a lot of potential for Roobroeck, and it will be interesting to track where he is positioned and how that impacts his ability to drive the action.

Daxon Rudolph
D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

Rudolph’s development took off in the back half of last season, and he should be the leader of the Prince Albert blue line this season.

With more opportunities, Rudolph is likely to put up offensive numbers with his ability to beat defenders and find open teammates for high-danger scoring chances. He’s a well-rounded player with good skating that allows him to defend the rush well with gap control. He has thrived when elevated to higher-leverage matchups, and it will be interesting to see how he owns that role for the entire WHL season in his draft year.

Teams will be watching closely to see if he can continue to control play on both sides of the puck and produce offensively as a right-handed blueliner.

Ivar Stenberg
LW/RW, Frölunda HC (SHL)

An ace in transition and with the ability to play both wings, Stenberg has turned heads regardless of the level at which he plays.

He looked like the best player at the world junior showcase as an underaged player after torching the J20 league in his 17-year-old season. He was two weeks from being draft-eligible in 2025 and is on the inside track to be a lottery pick in the upcoming draft.

Playing in the SHL in your draft year is no joke, and Stenberg has the skating, creativity and skill to thrive with Frölunda. His ability to make his teammates better by running a power play, facilitating offense in transition with speed along with elite playmaking and above-average instincts make him an attractive player. At this stage, he projects to be a top-line NHL winger, and he will only improve his value if he continues to develop his play off the puck.

Keaton Verhoeff
D, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks (NCAA)

A 6-4, minutes-eating, right-handed defenseman with leadership qualities? You know that’s got the attention of the NHL scouting world.

There are some who believe Verhoeff will challenge McKenna for the top spot in the upcoming draft. On skill alone, that’s a tough case to make. But given Verhoeff’s size, ability to impact the game and the fact that he’s a right-handed defenseman, it would not be surprising if some teams felt that way.

He is a go-to player in every situation and should be a key member of the North Dakota blue line this fall. He makes a good first pass to exit the zone, his shot is NHL-caliber, and he has the hockey sense to facilitate offense in the zone.

Defensively, he’s further along than others in this draft class, and that will only improve against tougher competition in the NCAA. If he can improve his skating to match pace, defend in transition and quickly move to offense, he will be drafted in the top three.