Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day told the media this week that the recent court rulings allowing former NFL players to return to college football have created a “different world” for the sport. He said the uncertainty over when rosters must be locked is “frustrating” and could force current Buckeyes to compete with athletes who have already trained in NFL camps.

Calls for roster deadlines

Day urged the Big Ten and other conferences to establish a firm deadline for finalizing rosters. “Once some of these guys become available, adding them to the roster is going to provide advantage for certain teams,” he said, noting that Ohio State is already having conversations with conference officials, including commissioner Tony Petitti.

He acknowledged that while he does not like the idea of former NFL players returning, Ohio State must consider the option to stay competitive. “Do I like anything about it? Absolutely not, but we gotta do what’s right for Ohio State,” Day said.

Potential impact on competition

The coach warned that allowing NFL veterans to re‑join college teams could be unfair to current players who might lose scholarships or playing time. He compared the situation to the transfer portal and NIL market, where schools that fail to adapt risk falling behind.

Day also referenced LSU head coach Lane Kiffin’s recent announcement that the program had secured a former NFL tight end, describing the development as evidence that “we are definitely in a different world now.”

Looking ahead

Day concluded that strong, consistent leadership from the conference will be needed to prevent the trend from spiraling out of control. He said the discussion is ongoing and that Ohio State will continue to adapt as the situation evolves.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.