The winds of change are howling through Columbus, but Ryan Day isn’t scrambling—he’s doubling down. After leading Ohio State to a national championship, the Buckeyes head coach is dealing with a mass coaching exodus. Chip Kelly bolted for the NFL, defensive mastermind Jim Knowles had his “champagne problems” so went for Penn State, and several others followed suit. But instead of panicking, Day is making a power move—handing the offensive keys to newly promoted OC, Brian Hartline and daring the rest of college football to keep up.

After losing several of his staff to the NFL and one to their rivals, in an interview with WBNS 10TV he said, “When something like this happens and, you know, it’s part of the business and some great opportunities out there.” Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day appeared to suggest that Hartline will be directly calling plays on offense starting this fall. “Here’s a guy who, he was named coordinator, and I ended up calling plays that year,” Day said, referring to the 2023 season. “But he grew that year. And then we decided to bring in Chip, and he had to take a step back. But he learned from Chip, and I thought down the stretch, he did some of his best work as a coach.”

Hartline’s promotion to full-time offensive coordinator hasn’t been formally made official as of Wednesday night, but Ryan Day is certain that he is Kelly’s heir. This isn’t just a promotion for the sake of continuity—it’s a strategic shift. Day, who has long been one of college football’s sharpest offensive minds, is entrusting the play-calling to Hartline in an era where Ohio State’s identity has revolved around explosive passing attacks and NFL-caliber talent at receiver.

That’s no accident. Hartline has been the architect behind what might be the most dominant wide receiver room in college football over the past five years. His track record is staggering. Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jameson Williams, Chris Olave, Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, Jaxon Smith-Njigba—the list reads like an NFL first-round watchlist. Now, the man who developed those stars is getting the chance to shape the entire Buckeyes offense, and Day is making it clear he expects the same magic.

Some coaches might have left in frustration after being passed over for play-calling duties, but Hartline’s loyalty hasn’t wavered. “Some guys would say, wait a minute, I’m going somewhere else. He didn’t name me the coordinator,” Day acknowledged. But Hartline stayed, biding his time, learning from Chip Kelly in 2024, and waiting for the right moment.

That moment is now. “Now, he’s going to be coordinator. Now he’s going to call plays,” Day declared of his recruiting wizard, emphasizing that Hartline’s patience and loyalty are about to pay off in a big way.

The former Buckeye wideout turned elite recruiter has been a force in developing star receivers, and now he’s set to bring that same magic to the entire offense. “I think he’s going to be the best coordinator in the country,” Day added, sending a loud and clear warning to the rest of the Big Ten.

Ryan Day has found his ‘next Knowles’ after giving the keys of offense to Brian

Brian Hartline has been the mastermind behind Ohio State’s elite wide receiver room, and honestly, the man just keeps outdoing himself. After starring for the Buckeyes as a player, he’s built a pipeline of NFL-ready talent in Columbus, and the 2025 recruiting cycle is proving to be more of the same.

Hartline played a key role in securing a commitment from five-star wide receiver Quincy Porter, adding yet another blue-chip playmaker to Ohio State’s already-loaded rotation. And let’s not forget—Jeremiah Smith is sticking around for at least two more years. So, unless something absolutely wild happens, OSU’s WR corps will continue to dominate under Hartline’s watch—even with his new coaching role.

But Wednesday wasn’t just about Hartline’s continued recruiting dominance. Ohio State also made waves on the defensive side, announcing that ex-NFL coach Matt Patricia will be their new defensive coordinator. Patricia, who last served on the Philadelphia Eagles’ staff in 2023, brings years of NFL experience and defensive expertise to the Buckeyes. Are you excited for the next season? Let us know in the comments below.