Ohio State just won a national championship, yet here we are, barely a month into the offseason, and the Buckeyes are already losing key pieces. First, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles dipped to Penn State. Now, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly moving to Las Vegas Raiders had Jeremiah Smith in shambles. And just like that, Ryan Day is staring at a massive dilemma—because guess what? Play-calling is back on his plate. The same play-calling he willingly gave up last season for the sake of his program. The same play-calling that, if it goes sideways, could turn his head coaching gig into a full-blown disaster. So, what’s Day’s take on losing Kelly? And more importantly, can he juggle both roles without burning himself out?

Jeremiah Smith ain’t feelin’ the news that Chip Kelly bounced to the NFL. He kept it short on X with a simple “Nooooo (broken heart emoji)” — ain’t no hiding how upset he is. The freshman outta Chaminade-Madonna was a straight beast under Kelly, racking up 76 catches, 1,315 yards, and 15 touchdowns in his first season. All-American, Big Ten Freshman of the Year — WR1 was putting up numbers. Now, with Kelly gone, Smith’s got every reason to be heated. The offense just won’t be the same without him, and you can bet that’s weighing heavy on his mind.

February 2nd, on “The Joel Klatt Show,” Ryan Day finally broke his silence on Kelly’s departure. “We talked about it,” Day said. “The fact that, you know, we had a really good group here, and you know, the dream would be to win a national championship, and then, you know, he decides whether he wants to stay or have an opportunity to go to the NFL, and it’s exactly what happened.”

He didn’t sound shocked. He didn’t sound upset. If anything, he sounded like a guy who saw this coming a mile away. Kelly took the job at Ohio State with an unspoken understanding—win a title, then bounce back to the league. And that’s exactly what he did. Day brought in Kelly last offseason to fix the offense while he shifted into more of a CEO-esque role. The results? A national title. The Buckeyes’ offense, once low-key inconsistent under Day’s dual role, became an efficient, well-oiled machine.

With Kelly at the helm, they went from looking shaky to looking like the most balanced attack in college football. And now, with Kelly gone, the question isn’t just who replaces him—it’s whether Day is willing to go back to his old ways or take another risk in hiring an OC who fits his vision. Let’s keep it real—coaching at Ohio State is one of the most diabolical jobs in America. And when it comes to calling plays for the Buckeyes, the stakes are even higher. This ain’t some mid-tier program where you can experiment and get away with it. This is THE Ohio State University. The expectations? Perfection. The consequences? Immediate backlash if things go south.

Ryan Day’s play-calling duty

Ryan Day is one of the best offensive minds in the game. That’s not up for debate. But what is up for debate is whether he should take back the play-calling reins. Last year, he made a bold move by giving them up. He realized that being both the head coach and the play-caller was holding Ohio State back. And guess what? That decision won him a national championship.

Fox analyst Joel Klatt broke it down perfectly. “That was the key difference this season,” Klatt said on his podcast, last week. “I don’t think Ohio State gets through all the adversity that they were able to get through unless Ryan Day can be the CEO.” He’s right. The team’s defense improved, the offensive rhythm was better, and Day was able to focus on the bigger picture. But now, with Kelly gone, is Day really about to double down and go back to play-calling?

“That is the No. 1 skill of a head football coach in our sport; it’s to build the roster, talent acquisition,” Klatt continued. “He did that, and I don’t think he can do it as effectively if he’s worrying about calling plays all the time.” And therein lies the problem. If Day takes back play-calling, does he risk losing the very edge that got him to this level?

At this point, Ohio State needs an offensive coordinator. Period. It’s not about whether Day CAN call plays—it’s about whether he SHOULD. Taking back play-calling duties isn’t just about X’s and O’s. It’s about balance. It’s about managing a program that just won a national championship and figuring out how to sustain that success without getting caught up in the weeds. Day has always been a play-caller at heart. He loves the chess match of designing plays, and the thrill of dialing up the perfect call. But at what cost? If he spends all his time focused on the offense, does the defense take a step back? Does recruiting suffer? Does his overall leadership waver? These are the questions he has to answer.

With the 2025 season approaching, all eyes and noses are on Columbus. Will Day roll the dice and go all-in as the play-caller again? Or will he make the tough call and find a new OC to take the reins? One thing’s for sure—if he doesn’t figure it out fast, that national championship glow could fade real quick. And in a place like Ohio State, there’s no room for missteps. This isn’t just about play-calling. This is about the future of the Buckeyes’ dynasty.