Ohio State Coach Addresses Gus Johnson's NIL Comments

Jake Diebler says not all information about Ohio State's NIL situation is accurate.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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After Fox analyst Gus Johnson made comments about Ohio State's name, image and likeness (NIL) situation during a game against Virginia, Buckeyes men's basketball coach Jake Diebler responded, cautioning against reading too much into Johnson's claims. Diebler said the university is working to create more NIL opportunities for its athletes, but acknowledged that details about NIL deals are often inaccurate or hidden from the public.

Why it matters

NIL has become a major factor in college sports, with programs vying to provide the best financial opportunities for their athletes. Diebler's comments provide insight into how Ohio State is navigating this new landscape and working to support its student-athletes, even as details about NIL deals remain opaque.

The details

During the Ohio State-Virginia game, Gus Johnson said "The difference between UVA and Ohio State is that UVA paid for it. Ohio State, they've given all the money to (football coach) Ryan Day." Diebler responded by saying "not all information is accurate information" when it comes to NIL, and that the university is working to create more opportunities for its athletes, especially in men's basketball. While football gets the largest share of NIL revenue, Diebler said men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball also receive payments from the university, with the rest coming from third-party deals.

  • On February 14, 2026, Gus Johnson made comments about Ohio State's NIL situation during a game against Virginia.
  • On February 16, 2026, Ohio State men's basketball coach Jake Diebler responded to Johnson's comments.

The players

Gus Johnson

A Fox sports commentator who made claims about Ohio State's NIL situation during a game.

Jake Diebler

The head coach of the Ohio State men's basketball team who responded to Gus Johnson's comments.

Ryan Day

The head football coach at Ohio State, who Gus Johnson claimed the university has given "all the money" to for NIL deals.

Ross Bjork

The athletic director at Ohio State, who Diebler said he has been working with to create more NIL opportunities for the men's basketball program.

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What they’re saying

“The difference between UVA and Ohio State is that UVA paid for it. Ohio State, they've given all the money to (football coach) Ryan Day.”

— Gus Johnson (Fox)

“First and foremost, not all information is accurate information. There's an element to NIL that's hidden, so everything you see or read, regardless of who it's from, there's a lot of inaccurate information out there.”

— Jake Diebler, Ohio State Men's Basketball Coach (The Columbus Dispatch)

“There are things in motion that can't impact the here-and-now but are exciting about the future. I'm appreciative of what Ross and his team, how we've been able to work together. It's a fight. It's a battle, and we're fighting it together and I'm appreciative of that.”

— Jake Diebler, Ohio State Men's Basketball Coach (The Columbus Dispatch)

What’s next

Diebler said the focus is on the upcoming game against Wisconsin on February 17, 2026, and securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament, rather than diving into the financial details of NIL deals at this time.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities around name, image and likeness in college sports, with information often being incomplete or inaccurate. Ohio State is working to create more NIL opportunities for its athletes, but the full picture remains opaque to the public.