College Football Rival Fans Get the Last Laugh as Another Top Staffer Jumps Ship After Playoff Cinderella Run

Ryan Day and the Buckeyes feasted on a national championship win, but that victory banquet is looking more like a famine these days. It’s like they won the lottery and then immediately got hit with a massive tax bill. First, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles bounced, then OL coach Justin Frye dipped, and now another offensive cornerstone is gone. It’s a full-blown exodus! Day’s scrambling to patch things up, but the leaks are springing faster than he can plug them. They’re losing coaches and players faster than Thanos snapped his fingers. Can Day rebuild, or will this championship hangover turn into a full-blown collapse? But this ain’t just a rebuild; it’s a full-on demolition derby, and Day’s gotta navigate it without crashing and burning.

But who made this move? None other than Buckeyes offensive mastermind, Chip Kelly. Yes, you read that correctly. After a disappointing 4-13 season, Pete Carroll wasted no time in assembling his Raiders staff, making a cunning move by hiring Chip Kelly as the offensive coordinator. There were rumors that former Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell was in the running for the job, according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson. However, Carroll opted for Kelly, who is making his return to the NFL after spending one season at Ohio State. Known for his fast-paced offense, Kelly is now tasked with revitalizing the struggling Raiders attack.

Chip Kelly’s got the coaching chops, no doubt. Remember when he turned Oregon into a national powerhouse, going 46-7 and nearly winning it all in 2010? His NFL record might be a mixed bag (28-35 with the Eagles and 49ers), but the guy knows offense. After six seasons at UCLA (35-34), he capped it all off by helping Ohio State win the national championship 34-23 against Notre Dame. Kelly’s a proven winner.

4,010 passing yards and 35 touchdowns! That’s what Will Howard put up in just 16 games at Ohio State under the brilliant offensive mind of Chip Kelly. Now, both Howard and Kelly are gone. Can Ryan Day find someone to keep that Buckeyes offense humming?

Now one option that stands out is Brian Hartline, Ohio State’s co-offensive coordinator, who stands as an internal option. Brian’s exceptional recruiting skills are also well-known, and he has successfully developed elite wide receivers. However, there are some concerns regarding his play-calling abilities, as Ohio State’s offense struggled in the 2023 season, ranking 45th nationally in scoring, which is a far cry from the dominance fans expect. But for now, things are not looking good for the Buckeyes.

Chip Kelly’s move becomes a laughing stock among fans

Well, Chip Kelly’s move to the Raiders? Huge for him, but brutal for Ohio State. And Jeremiah Smith’s heartbroken “Nooo 💔” says it all. The 19-year-old wide receiver shredded defenses under Kelly, racking up 1,311 yards and 15 TDs—second-most ever for a Buckeye freshman. Now, with Kelly gone, the offense loses its mastermind. Amidst this mess, rival fans are having a field day, with one writing, “You can come to Michigan, Jeremiah, no worries (just joking, calm down).”

Michigan fans are getting more enjoyment out of Ohio State’s coaching carousel than their four-game win streak against the Buckeyes. And they’re not the only ones. Fans everywhere are piling on, with one wag even joking, “COME TO MIAMI JEREMIAH.”

Now, after decades, a win knocks on Ohio State’s door and cut to the next moment, misery is all they are left with. It’s weird to see how people can not stick with a team that just won a championship title. Plus, Chip Kelly made this move within a year. That’s the more shocking part. Even haters feel it’s “the cost of success.” Or just a mere representation of how NIL and the transfer portal are ruining the teams?

Jim Knowles chasing that $3.1 million/year bag at Penn State was just the beginning. Now, coaches are ditching for NFL paychecks, and it’s clear money talks. Despite the natty win, the Buckeyes just dropped a bombshell—a nearly $38 million athletic department deficit in 2024. As one fan put it, “OSU got gutted. OC, DC, OL coach.”

Ryan Day’s gotta be feeling the heat as his staff vanishes faster than a magician’s rabbit. Ohio State’s supposed to be a top-tier program, but with this much turnover, it’s hard not to wonder if the ship is taking on water. And if it is so “different” being a Buckeye, as some claim, why does it feel like they’re getting picked apart while other teams are loading up? The most brutal take? “I guess it’s not ‘just different’ being a Buckeye.” Ouch. Can Day pull off a miracle recovery?