Cue the victory parade, right? After nearly seven grueling years, four gut-wrenching defeats against Michigan, and a mountain of criticism tall enough to cast a shadow over the Horseshoe itself, Ryan Day finally did it. He delivered what every Buckeye fan had been craving—Ohio State’s first national championship in a decade. For a fleeting moment, Columbus was basking in the euphoria of victory. The critics? Silenced. The infamous hot seat? Frozen solid. Michigan fans? Probably somewhere in a dark room, softly weeping.
But if college football has taught us anything, it’s this: glory is fleeting.
Just as Day was settling into what should’ve been his long-overdue honeymoon period, reality hit harder than a Jack Sawyer sack. The coaching staff started disappearing faster than snacks at a tailgate party. In the blink of an eye, the Buckeyes found themselves in the middle of a full-blown coaching exodus, leaving Ryan Day staring down a crisis that could either cement his legacy—or shatter it entirely.
The Dominoes Fall: Ohio State’s Coaching Staff Vanishes Like a Magic Trick Gone Wrong
On February 4th, On3’s J.D. Pickell sounded the alarm with the subtlety of an air raid siren:
“What’s next for Ryan Day at Ohio State? I’m not talking about the coordinator hires. That’s not what I’m getting at here. Ohio State has lost a lot in the course of the last few weeks since winning the national championship.”
And oh boy, he wasn’t kidding.
First to jump ship was defensive mastermind Jim Knowles, the architect behind Ohio State’s ferocious, No. 1-ranked total defense. He didn’t just leave—he sprinted to Penn State, lured away by a record-shattering $3.1 million paycheck. Buckeye fans barely had time to process that gut punch before the next one landed.
Enter Chip Kelly, Day’s mentor, offensive guru, and the genius behind the Buckeyes’ title-winning offense. Kelly didn’t just dip—he cashed out, snagging a $6 million deal to become the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the entire NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders.
But wait, there’s more! Like a bad late-night infomercial, the hits just kept coming. Offensive line coach Justin Frye decided the Arizona Cardinals looked a little too tempting to resist, packing his bags faster than a freshman heading home for winter break.
Three key coaches. Gone. In. A. Flash.
Suddenly, Ryan Day’s national championship felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by a coaching crisis spiraling out of control.
Not Just Coaches—The Talent Exodus Hits Hard
If losing top-tier coaches wasn’t enough to give Day heartburn, the player exodus added a whole new layer of stress. J.D. Pickell laid it out plain and simple:
“Will Howard, Emeka Egbuka—gone. Leaders on defense like Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau—gone. Both running backs? Yep, gone too.”
It’s the price of winning, sure. Big programs expect to lose talent to the NFL. But this? This is different. It’s like hosting the best party ever, only to wake up the next morning to find your house trashed, your friends missing, and your wallet nowhere in sight.
The national championship high has turned into an offseason hangover of epic proportions. The once-unstoppable Buckeyes now look vulnerable, their roster and coaching staff riddled with holes.
The ‘Bad Deal’ That Could Cost Ryan Day Everything
Why is this such a big deal for Ryan Day? Because, as Pickell bluntly put it, this is the kind of “bad deal” that keeps head coaches up at night.
Winning a national championship was supposed to be Day’s golden ticket—proof that he belonged among the elite, a shield against criticism. But in Columbus, success has an expiration date, and it’s shorter than you’d think. The same fans who wanted his head on a platter before the natty? They’ll be back if the Buckeyes stumble next season. Louder. Angrier. Hungrier.
Ohio State isn’t a program that tolerates mediocrity. One bad season, and the $10 million man could find himself squarely back on the hot seat.
The Hunt Begins: Who Will Be Ohio State’s Next Offensive Mastermind?
Ryan Day doesn’t have the luxury of time. The clock is ticking, and he needs to find an offensive coordinator who can keep the Buckeyes’ machine humming. Losing Chip Kelly wasn’t just a setback—it was a system shock.
Here are the names circling the Buckeye rumor mill:
- Brian Hartline (Ohio State Co-OC): The in-house favorite. A Buckeye through and through, Hartline is a recruiting wizard and wide receiver whisperer. But let’s be real—his OC debut in 2023 was lukewarm at best. The offense ranked 45th in scoring, and the passing game lacked its usual sizzle. Handing him the keys to the offense is a gamble.
- Will Stein (Oregon OC/QBs Coach): This guy’s been cooking in Eugene. Back-to-back seasons with top-20 offenses, plus a knack for turning quarterbacks into Heisman contenders? Yes, please. If Day wants an explosive, QB-friendly system, Stein’s a hot commodity.
- Joe Moorhead (Akron HC, Former Penn State OC): A Big Ten veteran with a proven track record. He crafted one of Penn State’s most dynamic offenses with Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley. Sure, his head coaching gig at Akron has been a train wreck, but hey—it’s Akron. A fresh start in Columbus might be just what he needs.
- Mike Shanahan (Indiana OC/WRs Coach): The surprise candidate. Indiana (yes, Indiana) had the highest-scoring offense in the Big Ten last season. If Day wants a play-caller who knows how to light up the scoreboard, Shanahan could be the dark horse.
Other names to keep an eye on: Jeff Nixon (Syracuse OC) and Kevin Wilson (former OSU OC, now Tulsa HC).
The Bottom Line: Pressure Makes Diamonds… or Gets You Fired
Ryan Day just climbed the mountain. He reached the summit, planted the flag, and basked in the glory of a national championship. But in Columbus, the air gets thin real quick.
Now, he faces the ultimate test:
- Can he rebuild a coaching staff gutted by NFL poachers?
- Can he replace elite talent lost to the draft?
- Can he silence the doubters—again—before they start banging the drums for his departure?
The stakes couldn’t be higher. In Buckeye Nation, pressure isn’t just part of the job—it is the job. It either forges legends—or buries them.
For Ryan Day, the clock is ticking. And in Columbus, it’s always fourth-and-goal.
