The Ohio State football program was hoping to keep Matt Patricia on staff after he helped the Buckeyes have the best defense in the country in 2025. A year after Jim Knowles left to be the highest-paid DC at Penn State, Patricia came in and kept the defense playing at an elite level.
Unfortunately for the Ohio State Buckeyes, they still weren't able to win back-to-back national titles. They lost the last two games of the year to Indiana and Miami. In 2026, the Buckeyes will lose a lot of talent off that team. There's a potential that they could have four first-round picks in the NFL Draft next month.
Patricia ended up staying with the Buckeyes, signing a contract extension that will pay him a boatload of money. With that extension, he is tied to Ohio State for the next couple of years. He recently revealed why he decided he wanted to be in Columbus.
Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia explains why he stayed in Columbus
Patricia had a lot of good things to say about the program and the community, as well.
“Well, obviously Ohio State is such a special place. Not only just the history, the tradition, the football program, the school, but the people that are here. The kids that are here and Coach Day. It’s hard when you got to move your family around, your kids, and going to school and all that. We had an unbelievable experience settling into Columbus. Everybody’s been so nice and welcoming, and it feels like home.”
Patricia fit like a glove in Columbus after some initial apprehension about bringing him in. He more than proved that he was the right hire for Ryan Day. The Buckeyes need him to coach the defense even harder this season with fewer first-round picks at his disposal.
Ohio State will continue to use the spring to determine who the new starters on that side of the ball will be.