Coming off the ultimate high of a National Championship win, you’d expect Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes to be basking in glory, sipping celebratory champagne, and planning their victory parade through Columbus. But instead, Day finds himself thrown into an unexpected, high-stakes coaching chess match that could determine the future of Ohio State’s defensive dominance. With Jim Knowles bolting to Penn State for a hefty $3.1 million-per-year deal as their new defensive coordinator, Day is scrambling to find a high-profile replacement.
Day swung for the fences by targeting Joe Cullen, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive line coach—a grizzled NFL veteran with nearly two decades of experience. But just when it seemed like Cullen might be packing his bags for Columbus, the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run and Cullen’s own NFL ambitions derailed the move. Now, Ryan Day has pivoted, setting his sights on a name that’s got everyone in the college football world buzzing: Matt Patricia.
Why Matt Patricia? The Hidden Agenda Behind Day’s Pursuit
On the surface, Ryan Day’s interest in Matt Patricia seems… puzzling. Patricia, after all, is best known for his time with the New England Patriots, where he spent six seasons as Bill Belichick’s defensive coordinator, crafting the kind of suffocating defenses that haunted opposing quarterbacks’ nightmares. But his college coaching experience? Pretty much nonexistent. So why would Day risk bringing in a coach with zero familiarity with the college football landscape?
Enter RJ Young from The Number One College Football Show, who’s convinced there’s more to this story than meets the eye. According to Young, Day isn’t just looking for a long-term defensive coordinator. This is about maximizing immediate returns, even if the hire is temporary.
“Matt Patricia is the Chip Kelly kind of hire—you get him for maybe a year, win a National Championship, and he bolts back to the NFL because that’s where he really wants to be,” Young theorized.
In other words, Day sees Patricia as a one-year mercenary, a tactical mastermind who can inject NFL-level schematics into Ohio State’s defense just long enough to run it back for another championship before inevitably heading back to the pros. It’s a bold, calculated move—high risk, high reward.
The Patricia Gamble: Can NFL Success Translate to College Glory?
There’s no denying Matt Patricia’s NFL pedigree. From 2004 to 2017, he helped orchestrate some of the Patriots’ most dominant defenses, playing a pivotal role in their Super Bowl dynasty. Most recently, he served as a senior defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. His ability to outthink offenses and create defensive chaos is well-documented. But here’s the rub: college football is a different beast.
Unlike the pros, where players are seasoned veterans, college football requires a coach to nurture raw talent, navigate recruiting battles, and build relationships with 18-year-old kids who are juggling playbooks with midterms. Patricia’s lack of college experience raises legitimate questions about whether he can adapt to this environment.
Still, RJ Young remains cautiously optimistic:
“Matt Patricia, like Bill Belichick, is a master at making the most out of limited talent. Imagine what he could do with the sheer athleticism and raw ability at Ohio State.”
And that’s the tantalizing prospect. The Buckeyes are loaded on defense. With elite returning players like safety Caleb Downs, linebacker Sonny Styles, and defensive lineman Kayden McDonald, plus incoming 5-star recruits like cornerback Devin Sanchez, the cupboard is far from bare. Patricia wouldn’t be tasked with building from scratch—he’d be fine-tuning a Ferrari.
The Joe Cullen Setback: A Missed Opportunity or a Blessing in Disguise?
Before the Patricia pursuit heated up, Ryan Day had his eyes locked on Joe Cullen, whose reputation as an NFL defensive guru made him the perfect candidate on paper. According to Dave Biddle of Bucknuts 247Sports, there was plenty of smoke surrounding Cullen’s potential move to Ohio State:
“There was a lot of chatter that Joe Cullen could be coming here in some capacity… but now, I’m hearing it’s probably not gonna happen.”
The Chiefs’ Super Bowl run didn’t just delay talks—it effectively killed the deal. But was missing out on Cullen actually a blessing in disguise? While Cullen’s NFL expertise is undeniable, Ryan Day may have realized that bringing in someone like Patricia—a coach with a Super Bowl-winning defensive mind—could elevate Ohio State’s defense to legendary status, even if it’s only for a season.
What If Patricia Says No? Day’s Contingency Plan
Of course, there’s a chance Matt Patricia could pull a Joe Cullen and decide that NFL Sundays are more appealing than Big Ten Saturdays. So what’s Plan B? Ryan Day isn’t leaving anything to chance.
Two prominent names have emerged as backup options:
- Randy Bates: A Ohio State alum and current Pitt defensive coordinator, Bates has been leading Pitt’s defense since 2018. He knows the ins and outs of college football and would bring a level of familiarity and consistency to the program.
- Matt Guerrieri: The Buckeyes’ safeties coach has been quietly building a stellar reputation within the program. Promoting Guerrieri would provide continuity and ensure the defensive philosophy that limited opponents to just 254.6 yards and 12.9 points per game last season remains intact.
Both are solid choices, but neither comes with the headline-grabbing clout that Patricia brings. Day knows that if he wants to keep Ohio State at the pinnacle of college football, he needs more than just a solid coach—he needs a game-changer.
Replacing Jim Knowles: The Pressure is On
Let’s not sugarcoat it—replacing Jim Knowles is no small task. The man transformed Ohio State’s defense into one of the stingiest units in college football, and his departure leaves a gaping hole. The Buckeyes can’t afford to stumble in this hire. The expectations in Columbus are clear: win championships or bust.
Whether it’s Matt Patricia bringing his NFL genius to the college game, Randy Bates offering a steady hand, or Matt Guerrieri maintaining the status quo, Ryan Day knows the clock is ticking. The wrong hire could derail the Buckeyes’ shot at back-to-back national titles. The right one? It could cement Ohio State’s status as the most dominant program in college football.
Final Thoughts: A Calculated Gamble or a Risky Bet?
Ryan Day isn’t just looking for a defensive coordinator—he’s hunting for a difference-maker. The interest in Matt Patricia isn’t just about filling a vacancy; it’s about seizing the moment. Ohio State has the talent, the momentum, and the national spotlight. All they need is the right mind to orchestrate their next defensive masterpiece.
But here’s the big question: Will Patricia bite? And if he doesn’t, does Day have the aces up his sleeve to keep Ohio State at the top?
Buckle up, Buckeye Nation. The coaching carousel is spinning fast, and Ryan Day’s next move could make or break Ohio State’s dynasty aspirations.
