Ohio State Buckeyes football coach Ryan Day bought himself at least another year of goodwill in Columbus after winning the 2024/2025 CFP title.
His new hires, internal promotion offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, do not have the same rope after replacing two coaches, Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles, respectively, who got raises in the NFL, and with perhaps the biggest threat to an Ohio State repeat, the Penn State Nittany Lions.
ESPN's Bill Connelly claimed the two need to "earn their salaries" during the Buckeyes' 2025 title defense.
Given OSU's expensive roster, Connelly's remark reads like a threat to get results quickly or get out of the way.
"In terms of raw recruiting rankings, Ohio State is going to have more talent than every team on its regular-season schedule except maybe Texas in Week 1. (The Buckeyes will have more than almost anyone they might play in the CFP, too.) In Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs, the Buckeyes might have the best offensive and defensive players in the country. Talent wins, and Ohio State will win a lot this season. But at some point, two new coordinators will be asked to earn their salaries," Connelly wrote.
"On offense, Ryan Day is handing the reins to Brian Hartline, who served as coordinator -- with Day still calling plays -- in 2023 when the Buckeyes crashed to 34th in offensive SP+. When Day decided to give up playcalling, he brought in Chip Kelly to take the job and won a national title with him. With Kelly off to the Las Vegas Raiders, it is Hartline's turn again. We'll have no idea if he's ready to be a master playcaller until we see him calling plays. And when Jim Knowles left for Penn State, Day replaced him with Matt Patricia. As I wrote in my Big Ten preview, 'he has loads of NFL experience and was mentored by Bill Belichick, but the last time he performed well in any capacity (from a statistical standpoint) was 2016.' Is he ready?"
Hartline's success largely depends on if Julian Sayin is ready for the QB1 reins. Sayin believes playing behind Will Howard on last year's champions is the experience he needed to be.
As for Patricia, he'll need to ensure the offense isn't asked to put up 40+ points when the Buckeyes take on the Texas Longhorns in Week 1, the Illinois Fighting Illini in Week 7, and Penn State in Week 10.
And, obviously, Michigan during rivalry week. But that goes without saying.
Hartline and Patricia aren't on any hot seat. Yet. But NIL powerhouses don't get fat and happy after winning a title these days.
Dynasties are the goal. We'll see if Day hired dynastic assistants after losing two this offseason.