Spring football is akin to a loose brush stroke that strayed too far from the painting but ended up bringing it together like a masterpiece. The sheer idiosyncrasy of this quirky, abstract phenomenon makes it a CFB staple. Exactly 15 days of practice, 2 of which must be non-contact by law. No practice can exceed beyond the stipulated 4 hours permissible. Followed by an inter-program spring game for fresher faces, like a Julian Sayin, to get a taste for in-game scenarios and warm themselves to the fans. Before heading back to the classroom and attending lectures. Waiting for the fall and football season to properly roll about. This quirky wrinkle etched in the sport’s tradition is slowly fading away. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are one of many reasons why.

Ryan Day’s tryst with fate is complete. He’s delivered on his promise to bring the National Championship back to Columbus. For bluebloods, Ohio State going a decade without one only made the triumph sweeter and the hardware shinier. Winning the Natty in the inaugural 12-team playoff has got to be extra special. That said, this unprecedented feat exacted an unprecedented cost.

In order to win what was the longest season in college football history, the Buckeyes needed to play the most games. Additionally, since they didn’t have a first-round bye, on top of the extra regular season game, Coach Day and co. took a very scenic route to success. Naturally, players are exhausted. Injury concerns are higher than usual, and a little extra time to switch off from football is requisite. Something had to give to balance the scales. Unfortunately, it’s the spring game that became victim to Ryan Day treading on the side of caution with his players.

Over his aptly named “The Number One College Football Show” on YouTube, FOX contributor and analyst RJ Young did a video relaying every Power team’s status as to whether they are and aren’t holding a spring game this year. A straightforward premise. However, Young’s answer pertaining to Ohio State was rather cryptic. As aforementioned, the reasons for coaches and programs to refrain from holding a spring game are multifaceted.

Some, like Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, are citing tampering concerns. Others, like Steve Sarkisian’s Texas, are citing the same reasons as Ryan Day. After all, the Longhorns, too, played a gauntlet of games during their own deep playoff run. But why is RJ Young’s answer deemed cryptic, in what was a series of simple yes and no responses?

“Ohio State…sure? [On] second thought, no. No [for] Ohio State,” said Young. The truth is, Ryan Day has indeed opted not to hold a spring game. However, the Buckeyes are hosting a “spring showcase.” This is intended to serve as a bit of a middle ground. Fans can show love to the players who delivered them the Natty. As well as new ones that will carry the baton forward. All while the risks of playing an actual game of football are mitigated from an injury and preparation standpoint.

The likes of Julian Sayin, who’s in the midst of a quarterback battle for a spot atop the depth chart, could do with alleviating some of the pressure. Pressure that keeps racking up. A new caveat has potentially rendered the succession of NFL-bound Will Howard even more difficult for what is an inexperienced QB room.

Ryan Day’s in-house promotion breeds potential problems for Julian Sayin and the rest of the offense

As stereotypical as it sounds, football teams only go as far as their quarterback takes them. This remains the case even for a roster brimming with talent across the board, like OSU. The 1-year, stopgap solution of bringing Will Howard in via the transfer portal bred success. But the options at Ryan Day’s disposal are on the complete opposite spectrum. Not in terms of talent, far from the case. But in terms of experience. Going from a fully vetted senior statesman to deciding between 3 players with a grand total of 15 completions between them is no enviable task. 

On a positive note, Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair are bona fide 5-star recruits, top 3 in the nation in their respective classes of ‘24 and ‘25. With Lincoln Kienholz no slouch himself as a 4-star and 13th-rated QB in the class of ‘23. That said, their transition and adaptation have become more difficult than what Howard had to contend with. Ohio State has lost their OC Chip Kelly to the NFL. Now, wide receivers coach Brian Hartline holds the moniker. Inclusive of play-calling duties. This changeover has led to concerns about whether the Buckeyes have taken one too many steps in the opposite direction.

Ohio State insider and content creator BuckeyesScoop said, “Brian Hartline is fully committed to coaching the wide receivers. He’s said repeatedly that nothing will change in the wide receiver room in terms of his coaching… How does he handle running that room and coordinating the offense? I think that that’s going to be interesting… I think it is somewhat uncommon to have a wide receivers coach as the offensive coordinator.” Well, it’s understandable why Hartine will continue coaching receivers and why Ryan Day will endorse it. The Buckeyes’ best player, Jeremiah Smith, doesn’t need to be disturbed in his development. Maintaining Hartline’s synergy with the 19-year-old phenom is key. Even to help settle the new QB in.

It may not culminate in a spring game in the traditional sense. But don’t sleep on how important this camp is for Ryan Day’s Buckeyes. A new-look offense needs to gel and only has limited practices to do so. Their season opener on August 30 is against the mighty Texas. Who just got named the most hated team in the sport. Perhaps another reason why both teams are working on modified spring schedules. Going into that big-time fixture ready will be key. It’s not like Texas’ own prep is going swimmingly, either. Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian, both with new QB1s, will seek to gain an edge and hit the ground running.