This season’s been a total whirlwind for Ryan Day, getting roasted as “the definition of zero aura” after that Michigan loss, then flipping the script and leading OSU to the semifinals. There aren’t many coaches who can pull this off. Sure, it all started rough with the Ducks, but the Bucks made a strong comeback and got their revenge by eliminating them from the league. Although the loss to Michigan still hurts for fans, there’s no need to worry because their AD, Ross Bjork, has a $20M master plan in place to secure a promising future. Don’t believe it?

See, this past year, the Bucks raised $20 million as NIL to develop their team, which is also allegedly the highest number in the sport. They were 3rd in the recruiting class, plus the number doesn’t surprise a bit, knowing their high-end roster is filled with players like Jeremiah Smith, Jack Swayer, and many more. Now this clever planning of filling up talented players in the roster, developing them, and then paying them is going to do wonders for the team in the next season, as Josh Pate believes that,

“Ohio State just did this, and it’s not even realized, because people keep paying attention to a couple of the big portal acquisitions. You really think they spent 20-plus million dollars on a few portal guys? No, they spent it on the guys they recruited out of high school and developed in-house. They’re paying a lot of their guys more.” Just think what went wrong against Michigan. Ohio State’s offense had a rough outing. Their run game couldn’t get going, and pass protection was just as bad. Plus, the offensive line gave up 17 pressures, leaving the QB under fire on 50% of his drop backs.

Now it’s pretty evident that Ohio State’s offensive line came into concern this past year. By mid-season, the Bucks’ top players were among the nation’s best and were Joe Moore Award semifinalists. Then again, injuries made it tough for them to survive in the game. Remember when the Bucks lost their left tackle Josh Simmons to a season-ending ACL tear against the Ducks?

However, despite all of this, the Bucks are now in the semifinals with an improved offensive line. But what gave their offensive line a push? That’s because they have a strong set of roosters to rely on. In early November, Donovan Jackson moved from left guard to left tackle. Then Carson Hinzman, who started 12 games at center last season, stepped in at the left guard position. So now you can understand what kind of development Josh Pate is talking about. Who knows, maybe it’ll happen again next season! But for now, there is a major concern swirling around the team future.

Ryan Day’s increasing concern

With the Cotton Bowl just days away, Ryan Day and Ohio State find themself under pressure as 10 transfers, including QBs Air Noland and Devin Brown, have shaken up their offense at a critical time. The departure of WRs Jayden Ballard and Kojo Antwi has also created gaps in their receiving corps. To compound matters, the Buckeyes are also facing potential losses at offensive tackle and linebacker, further adding to their concerns. It is undeniably a challenging situation to be in before such an important game.

However, it is worth noting that these players have had limited playing time this season, so the impact on the team is not catastrophic. While the loss of depth is less than ideal, it is not significant enough to jeopardize their playoff chances. Nonetheless, it will be fascinating to see how everything unfolds.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that the changes extend beyond the offense. The defense of Ohio State may encounter some challenges following the departure of their pass rusher, Mitchell Melton, who has entered the transfer portal. While Ryan Day and the Buckeyes remain the frontrunners, the absence of key players could potentially disrupt their strategies. It will be interesting to witness the development of events and discover what lies ahead for this team.