Ohio State is gearing up to defend its crown, and the pressure is sky-high. For Buckeye Nation, the 2025 season can’t come soon enough—though some might wish the glory days lasted even longer. After the natty-winning heroics led by Will Howard, things have shifted. Now, Julian Sayin steps in as QB1, and all eyes are on his ability to lead the offense. But the quarterback battle is just one part of the challenge. Massive shifts on both sides of the field, along with a revamped coaching staff, bring a mix of promise and unpredictability. And if that weren’t enough, a college football insider has pointed out that history looms over Ryan Day’s bold $1.6M move. Was it a masterstroke or a costly mistake?
The story starts with a noticeable change at the helm of OSU’s defensive and offensive strategy. The champions’ glory began to fade early on when key figures—offensive and defensive masterminds—jetted off from Ohio State. First, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left for Penn State, lured by a $3.1 million cash bag. Replacing him is none other than Matt Patricia, whose move from the pros to a college squad has left many wondering how much of OSU’s defensive identity will remain intact. Then there’s Chip Kelly, who moved on to the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, leaving the offensive coordinator spot open. In his place, Brian Hartline, long known for his work with wide receivers, has been promoted to offensive coordinator.
In the Feb 23rd episode of Ohio State Football at Buckeye Scoop, hosts Kirk Barton and Nevadabuck dove deep into the coaching staff shake-up. When Barton asked, “What is your second biggest question mark after the quarterback position?” Nevadabuck didn’t hesitate. He replied, “I’m gonna say Brian Hartline as a first-time playcaller. What in the he-k is that going to look like? And Matt Patricia, you know, coming from the pros to a college squad. How similar is the OSU defense going to look to last year and the years gone by? What type of little tricks is he going to bring from his years of experience with Bill Belichick? So, to me….just the whole coordinator thing is going to be amazing to watch.” That casual yet candid assessment really set the tone for what lies ahead.
Nevadabuck continued, raising a serious point: “Because, I mean, I can’t remember—can you ever remember Ohio State having a coordinator that had never coordinated before as the coordinator? Like Brian Hartline? I mean, this is kind of rare air, right? Like, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this before.” Buckeye fans, always passionate and vocal, are clearly in for a wild ride this season.
Sep 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brain Hartline talks to the team before the game against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Kirk Barton didn’t sugarcoat the situation either. He stressed, “You got to do something significant like Brian has done with recruiting and developing the wide receiver room……I talked to Brian a couple years ago. We were at Town Hall, and I said, ‘Look, you got to go, you got to call plays, dude. Like, you can’t just be a position coach.’ And he was like, ‘Well, that’s Ryan’s deal.’ Well, dude, if you ever want to be a head coach, you got to actually be good at something other than recruiting wide receivers. So, I mean, you got to learn how to be a playcaller.” For most of his career, Hartline’s focus has been on receivers, and that expertise has helped the Buckeyes churn out some of the best talent at the position.
But here’s the reality—OSU fans are ruthless. Barton warned, “So, he’s going to learn how to do that. Now, it’s not ideal to do it at Ohio State for the first time. Because, as we know, our fans will eat their own, and I fully expect our fanbase to turn on Brian Hartline and hate him.” History has shown that every offensive coordinator has been in the crosshairs of Buckeye Nation, and Chip Kelly is a case in point. Yet this time, the challenge is different. At 38, Hartline—a former Ohio State and NFL wide receiver—has been promoted to offensive coordinator while still coaching wide receivers. Under his watch, the Buckeyes have produced four first-round NFL draft picks in the past three years: Chris Olave (2022), Garrett Wilson (2022), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2023), and Marvin Harrison Jr. (2024). But can he surpass Chip Kelly’s run at OSU? Well, he’s got to.
Barton summed it up perfectly: “It’s a whole different ball of wax when you go from being a receivers coach—who, again, he’s done an incredible job recruiting, developing, all that jazz, it’s all great—but now the offense has your name on it.” And if that wasn’t enough, it’s pretty clear that both Brian Hartline and Matt Patricia are going to face a lot of scrutiny this season. With no seasoned veteran like Will Howard under center this year, the pressure on Julian Sayin to deliver will be immense. When things get tough, patience will be in short supply, and history could be unkind to the offensive coordinator—and even to Ryan Day himself.
Can Ryan Day and Co. weather the storm again?
Speaking of Ryan Day, his past has not been without controversy. Last season, when Ohio State fell to Michigan, Day faced intense scrutiny from fans and analysts alike. That loss was a gut punch in one of college football’s fiercest rivalries and ignited widespread frustration across Buckeye Nation. Critics began questioning his ability to win the big games, and the pressure even took a toll on his family. It was his fourth straight loss to the Wolverines, and his wife, Nina Day, opened up about the toll it took on their lives: “They saw a lot of people come at their dad. They saw a lot of people attack him and attack our family… I think it was really wonderful to see my kids see him win these last three games.” The situation escalated to the point where threats were made against the Day family, forcing them to live under around-the-clock police protection.
Yet, despite the backlash and the relentless pressure, Ohio State managed to bounce back in spectacular fashion. The Buckeyes demonstrated their dominance by crushing the Vols 42-17 in the first round of the playoffs, ending Oregon’s undefeated season with a commanding 41-21 win in the Rose Bowl, and then making a bold statement by defeating Texas in the CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl. Day’s resilience shone through as he led Ohio State to a national title, proving that adversity isn’t a roadblock—it’s just fuel for the fire.
Now, with a fresh season on the horizon, history might be on the verge of repeating itself—or perhaps it will take a new turn. Brian Hartline’s promotion to offensive coordinator comes with a hefty price tag of $1.6 million annually, a 68.4% increase from the $950,000 he earned as passing game coordinator in 2022. This costly, bold move is one that could either solidify OSU’s status as a college football powerhouse or put Ryan Day back under the microscope if things go sideways.
Already, there’s chatter about Matt Patricia, who has become somewhat of a laughing stock given his mediocre NFL career and some personal controversies. With all the warnings in place, Hartline better find a way to steer Ohio State to a safe place, or the backlash could be swift and brutal.
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