The Ohio State football program won the national championship just one year ago. That win helped seal up Ryan Day's legacy for years to come. Day put himself on the Mount Rushmore of Ohio State coaches. Only five coaches have ever won a national title with the Buckeyes.
That title in 2024 ensures that fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes will love him forever. However, he still does have a losing record against TTUN. The win this year was a good start, but he needs to bank a few more of those before the entire fan base has rallied behind him.
Day needs an offensive coordinator for next season. He still hasn't hired one, despite the job being vacant for a month and a half. Whoever he hires next could be the one who solidifies his legacy as either a truly all-time great head coach or an Ed Orgeron type.
Ryan Day needs to hit the offensive coordinator hire out of the park
At this point, it's pretty clear that Day is looking for someone from the NFL. He hasn't made an effort to replace that coaching vacancy with anyone from the collegiate ranks, so he must have someone in mind from the NFL. It's unclear who that is at the moment, but he needs to be a solid hire.
The offense is what kept the Buckeyes from winning a national championship this season. Their inability to finish drives in the red zone was a massive issue throughout the entire year. Day needs someone who can clean up that issue, along with problems on the offensive line.
A great hire could have the Buckeyes competing for a national championship again as soon as next season. A bad one could see them slide behind new powerhouses in the Big Ten. Perhaps that's why Day is taking his time with this hire. He understands how important it is.