The Ohio State Buckeyes underperformed during the 2025 season, running the table during the regular season but unraveling when offensive coordinator Brian Hartline took the USF Bulls head coaching job. Then, OSU choked in the Big Ten Championship Game against the Indiana Hoosiers before being outclassed by the Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
It's natural to wonder if the other coordinator is next. Matt Patricia's future is in question, with many connecting him to an NFL return after a major rehabilitation stint in Columbus. ESPN's Tom Luginbill may have revealed Patricia's future nonchalantly.
While discussing former Florida State Seminoles safety Earl Little Jr.'s transfer to Ohio State, Luginbill discussed his fit within Patricia's defense.
"Caleb Downs thrived in Matt Patricia's defensive scheme and now ranks as one of the top overall 2026 NFL draft prospects. Little, who played a similar rover role at Florida State, arrives with a lot of the same physical attributes. He's a versatile, physical safety who thrives as an enforcer in the box and led Florida State with 76 tackles. He also has enough range and coverage skills to make plays on the ball, picking off a team-high four passes this season. Patricia's disruptive and complex scheme can be demanding, but Little's experience and skill set will help fill the void of Downs' departure," Luginbill wrote.
Patricia explained last year why he wanted to return to College Football, which may put some of the NFL rumors to bed.
"We went to eight straight AFC Championship games, and you’re kind of just in that mode." Patricia said. "I had the year to look back and say, ‘Why did I get into coaching?’ I got into it to help teach and mentor young men. And I think that’s what the draw was to come back to college."
Could he go back on his word, or even justify leaving for the pros again by saying he needed the one year to refresh himself? Sure, but there's far less Patricia smoke than there was with Hartline before he jumped to USF.
The Buckeyes appear to be running it back with a coach who looked like a glove fit. We'll see if these early January assumptions age well.