Ohio State’s first National Championship in a decade certainly eased some of the heat off Ryan Day, at least temporarily. The HC has received criticism for his performances against Michigan and for not quite being able to get past the playoff hurdle. But, as any Buckeye will also tell you, the pressure’s never really off in Columbus. For some, the 2025 season will not be deemed successful unless OSU beats the Wolverines and has another deep postseason run. On the field, the largest narrative going into the 2025 season is at quarterback. With Will Howard off the roster, all attention is on the battle between sophomore Julian Sayin, a former five-star recruit, and junior Lincoln Kienholz, another blue-chip prospect.
Not one scholarship player departed Columbus during the spring transfer window, and that says a lot about the culture Day is creating. How does all this momentum carry over into recruiting, though? Pretty well. OSU’s 2025 class loads up, ranking fourth in the 247Sports composite rankings and including three five-star signees and 18 four-star commits. The class is led by quarterback Tavien St. Clair (No. 7 overall, No. 3 QB) and cornerback Devin Sanchez (No. 8 overall, No. 1 CB), both of whom can be cornerstones in the future. However, there are a few teams in the SEC who are pulling up their recruiting socks to reach the Ohio State level.
Penn State and Oregon are both having serious recruitment runs this year, and it’s beginning to seem like they are catching up to Ohio State. Ducks analyst Spencer McLaughlin presents some compelling arguments on OSU’s B1G rivals in today’s episode of Locked on Ducks. He states, “Here’s why I like Oregon, it comes back to the recruiting for me. Penn State’s a good recruiting school, to be sure.” McLaughlin noted, before pointing out that Oregon has outpaced the Nittany Lions in both star power and NIL capacity. He adds, “Tell me if I’m underselling Penn State’s recruiting there, but Oregon recruited over the last several years and continues to recruit at a way that goes toe-to-toe with Ohio State.” Spencer hints that this might be one of the many reasons why “Oregon was able to beat Ohio State this year.”
The Ducks have the money, partly due to Nike’s support and an active NIL apparatus, to construct what they are referring to as a “$40 million roster” in the coming years, though the exact figures remain speculative. Penn State has prioritized depth and consistency, particularly in the trenches. This year, they are deep at the offensive line, and they have one of the top roster retention percentages in the Big Ten. Their NIL war chest still isn’t at Oregon and OSU’s level.“Dan Lanning went out and pulled in back-to-back top-five classes, and certainly we’ll push for another top 10 class in this upcoming cycle. 2023 was a top 10 class, that’s where I think Oregon separates from Penn State in the race to you know get to Ohio State’s level,” remarks Spencer.
Oregon has been on a relentless recruiting trail under Lanning. The Ducks have begun immediately bringing in top-shelf talent, and it’s not an isolated incident. Oregon added a consensus top-10 recruiting class in 2023, led by five-star receiver Jurrion Dickey and five-star edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei. In 2024, however, the class was even better, ranked No. 3 by 247 Sports, featuring five-star linebacker Elijah Rushing at the forefront of a class featuring 13 four-star prospects. Penn State’s been consistent, typically finishing up in the 10-15 range, but hasn’t always brought in the quantity of five-star, game-altering signees like Oregon. The Ducks’ recruiting success isn’t solely due to star power, however.
Lanning’s has built deep units, particularly along the defensive line, with 16 D-linemen inked in just his first two cycles. For Ryan Day, this is the end of the era where he can coast through the Big Ten with Michigan as the lone threat. The Buckeyes will need to fight off not only a replenished Michigan but also an Oregon program that’s recruiting dollar-for-dollar with them and a durable Penn State team that’s constructed to survive the Big Ten grind.
Brian Hartline’s playbook challenge
For years, Brian Hartline‘s been churning out NFL players like it’s going out of style. But now that he’s officially the primary offensive coordinator, the stakes are elevated. Hartline’s elevation is not merely a nod to years of excellent work. It’s an explicit ultimatum. He’s got to keep the offense running at an elite pace, build the next generation of stars, and—perhaps most crucially—show he can handle the full extent of game-planning and play-calling.
But dealing with that much talent is a “balancing act”. You can’t just focus on your stars; you’ve got to keep the entire room ready, because one injury or transfer can throw everything into chaos. Ohio State’s numbers in the spring game under Hartline were pretty impressive. The Buckeyes averaged 7.1 yards per play. QBs Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair combined to go 40-of57 (70.1%) for 449 yards and four touchdowns.
Sayin has the talent, but he hasn’t endured the rigors of a full college season. Facing Texas in an early-game matchup, the spotlight is on both Sayin and Hartline. With a talented roster and backing of HC Ryan Day, Hartline will be closely watched as he tests his ability to lead the highest level of college football? Can Hartline craft an offense that empowers Sayin to build momentum? Or will the pains of growth be too severe?
The post Tensions Rise for Ryan Day as OSU’s Biggest Threats Announced After Brian Hartline Receives Stark Wake-Up Call appeared first on EssentiallySports.
