The Ohio State football team improved on defense this year from the best defense in the country last season. Matt Patricia came in and didn't just keep the standard set by Jim Knowles; he elevated it. It was clear that Ryan Day did a fantastic job with this hiring.
Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough for the Ohio State Buckeyes to beat Miami in the Cotton Bowl. That was mostly an offensive issue, but it was still a disappointing loss. Regardless of that result, the Buckeyes are trying very hard to keep Patricia at all costs.
That doesn't mean that they are going to be able to, though. Several defensive coordinator opportunities have opened in the NFL. In fact, Patricia has been linked to a DC opening with one of the most famous sports franchises in the world, which is bad news for Ohio State.
Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia linked to Dallas Cowboys DC opening
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, an Ohio State alum and noted Buckeye fan, has mentioned that Patricia could get interest from the Dallas Cowboys for their open defensive coordinator position. That would be a big issue for the Buckeyes, because the Cowboys are a premier team in the NFL.
Money is not going to be an object for Ohio State when it comes to trying to retain him. It seems that they are willing to break the bank to keep him in Columbus for as long as possible. His results on the field speak for themselves. His players also talked about how much they loved him all year, as well.
It's likely that Patricia will take some interviews for defensive coordinator positions in the NFL. Whether or not he ends up getting those jobs is up for debate. Day knew they likely weren't going to be able to keep him for very long, but he was hoping to get more than a year out of him.
This is something that could drag on for a few more weeks before there is a resolution.