Karma always hits back. This time Ohio State Buckeyes’ HC Ryan Day took on that role. Soon after Penn State HC, James Franklin threw a wrench in the 2024 CFP winners’ plans by poaching defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Day had made his move to galvanize his staff, who had ties with Franklin. Ohio State is going through some major shifts in their staff, this new hire was made hours after announcing Brian Hartline’s promotion to take the OC duties after Chip Kelly’s departure to the Raiders.

This is like Ryan Day is on a 5-star recruiting trial of coaches. With Ohio State already sitting on the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, Day doesn’t have to worry about talent knocking on his door. What he does need, however, is to make sure the right minds are in place to maximize that talent. He might just do that. Ohio State is set to hire Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen as its next offensive line coach. FootballScoop first reported the news. The OSU insider on his podcast JUCK ON BUCKS added spice by revealing his dark Franklin ties. Justin Frye formerly held the O-line coach position with the Buckeyes, but he left the program to take the same position with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

The hire might seem like just another solid addition to the staff, but the real intrigue lies in Bowen’s past. “He’s from Georgia, 35 years old, 6’7”, 310 pounds by the way,” Juck said. “He ends up being recruited out of high school to go play up at Maryland, so he played for the TPS under Ralph Friedgen and offensive coordinator James Franklin, who was instrumental in his career journey. Immediately after graduating from Maryland, he stays there for a couple years as a GA, so immediately gets into coaching, has a little quick stop at Towson after that before he gets the call up to Penn State when James Franklin took over.” The way he laid it out, it almost sounds like Bowen was groomed in Franklin’s coaching tree, making his move to Ohio State all the more intriguing.

A 35-year-old Georgia native, Bowen played his college ball at Maryland, where he was recruited by none other than Franklin himself. He had three stints at Penn State, first as a graduate assistant in 2014, then as tight ends coach and offensive recruiting coordinator from 2018 to 2019, and then as the interim offensive coordinator during the 2019 season. Now, in a twist of fate, Bowen is heading to Columbus to help fortify Ohio State’s offensive line—a move that, whether intentional or not, has some serious “payback” energy.

But it’s not just about history—Bowen brings serious recruiting chops to the table, something that’s crucial for a program like Ohio State. Juck took a deep dive into Bowen’s recruiting background, noting that his biggest wins have come from the Mid-Atlantic region. “Tyler Bowen, from a recruiting standpoint, his five biggest recruits ever—let’s pull them up. We’ve got only Maryland, Windsor, Ontario, Walford, Maryland, Hyattsville, Maryland, and Scranton, PA. So this guy’s got a recruiting base in the DMV, in Maryland, in the Northeast. Now he comes to Ohio State—he can own the Midwest. I really like that.” That’s a significant shift for the Buckeyes, who typically pull their offensive line talent from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding Big Ten footprint. Bowen could help expand their reach even further, strengthening a pipeline that has already been among the best in the country.

With the Buckeyes looking to reshape their offensive identity under Hartline’s play-calling, solidifying the offensive line is non-negotiable. If Day is putting his faith in Bowen, it’s because he believes the guy can win at the highest level. Day’s latest hire is more than just a strategic move—it’s a statement. Franklin may have struck first, but Day’s response feels like a masterstroke, poaching a coach with deep ties to his rival while simultaneously strengthening a unit that needed a boost.

After losing so many of his elite staff members, now it seems at least one piece of Ryan Day’s puzzle has been put into place.

Ryan Day has bold claims handling over “play calling”

One of the biggest offseason shake-ups at Ohio State wasn’t just about player personnel—it was about who’s calling the shots on offense. Ryan Day made a bold move by stepping down as the Buckeyes’ primary playcaller, handing those reins to newly hired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. And according to Day, that shift has already paid dividends.

Speaking on The Joel Klatt Show, Day reflected on how stepping back from playcalling has allowed him to embrace a more CEO-style approach as a head coach. “Probably not,” Day said when asked if he missed the playcalling duties. “But I also think I was able to go back and forth a little bit as well. Involved in every special teams meeting. Midway through the season, much more involved on the other side of the ball on defense, and then able to kind of comeback.”

A major advantage of bringing in Chip Kelly? The trust factor. Day and Kelly go way back, having worked together before, so Day didn’t hesitate in handing over the headset. With Kelly now gone, only time will tell will he have the same connection with OSU’s new hires.