Let’s start with props. It took Ryan Day almost 7 years, 4 heartbreaks against Michigan, and a whole lot of heat from the Buckeye faithful to finally get that monkey off his back. The man just delivered Ohio State’s first national championship in a decade, and for a brief moment, all was well in Columbus. The hot seat? Ice cold. The doubters? Silent. The Michigan trolls? Crying in the corner. But in the blink of an eye, the Buckeyes’ coaching staff started evaporating like a Thanos snap, and now Day finds himself in a crisis that could define his entire tenure at OSU. Insider warns about a ‘bad deal’ that would put Ryan Day out of sleep.

On February 4th, On3’s J.D. Pickell didn’t sugarcoat it: “What’s next for Ryan Day at Ohio State? I’m not talking about the coordinator hires. That’s not what I’m getting at here. Ohio State has lost a lot in the course of the last few weeks since winning the national championship.” He ain’t lying. Jim Knowles, the mastermind behind the No. 1-ranked total defense, packed his bags for Penn State, securing a record-setting $3.1 million payday.

Chip Kelly, Day’s mentor and the offensive architect behind OSU’s national title run, jumped ship to the Raiders for a fat $6 million as the highest-paid OC in the NFL. If that wasn’t enough, offensive line coach Justin Frye bolted for the Arizona Cardinals. Three key coaches were gone in a flash. Ryan Day’s honeymoon period’s over.

And it’s not just the coaching staff that’s leaving town. Pickell pointed out the exodus of top talent: “Will Howard, Emeka Egbuka, he’s gone. Several leaders on your defense—Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau—& both running backs.” That’s the price of winning big: players go pro, coaches get poached, and suddenly, the national championship high turns into a brutal offseason hangover. “I think some folks will see what’s happening and say, ‘See, Ohio State, it’s just, it’s a bad deal out there. It’s a bad deal. They won their national title, and that thing’s imploding from the inside,’ which I guess is what imploding means. And this is tough. It’s never great to lose both coordinators and all that you lost to the NFL draft.”

It’s a ‘bad deal’ for Day, as Pickell warns, because while winning the natty was supposed to be his ticket to untouchable status, losing this much talent and coaching firepower puts his job security back in question. And let’s be real—Ohio State fans don’t do ‘patience.’ If the Buckeyes struggle next season, the same crowd that called for his head before the natty will be back, louder than ever.

The hunt for Ryan Day’s next offensive coordinator

So, what’s next? Day doesn’t have time to sulk—he needs an OC, and he needs one fast. Losing Chip Kelly wasn’t just a gut punch; it was a system shock. Ohio State’s offense wasn’t the best in the country, ranking 14th in scoring and 30th in total offense, but it worked when it mattered most. Now, Day has to find someone who can keep that machine rolling. Here are the top candidates:

Brian Hartline (Ohio State co-OC) The obvious in-house choice. Hartline’s a Buckeye through and through, a recruiting beast, and a WR whisperer. But let’s be honest—his work as OC in 2023 was mid at best. OSU finished 45th in scoring offense, and the passing game wasn’t as electric as it should’ve been. If Day trusts him with full play-calling duties, it’s a gamble. Will Stein (Oregon OC/QBs Coach) This man’s cooking in Eugene. Stein has back-to-back seasons orchestrating top-20 offenses and turned Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel into Heisman contenders. He’s young (35) and has roots closer to Ohio. If Day wants a high-flying, QB-friendly system, Stein is an intriguing option.

Joe Moorhead (Akron HC, Former Penn State OC) Moorhead knows the Big Ten and is a proven offensive mind. He schemed up one of Penn State’s most explosive offenses with Saquon Barkley, Trace McSorley, and Chris Godwin. His head coaching stint at Akron has been rough (8-28), but that’s Akron. If he’s looking for a fresh start, Columbus could be calling.

Then, Mike Shanahan (Indiana OC/WRs Coach) Surprise name? Maybe. But Indiana, not Ohio State, had the highest-scoring offense in the Big Ten last season (41.3 PPG, 2nd-best in the FBS). Shanahan’s worked under Curt Cignetti for years, and if Day wants a play-caller who can maximize weapons, he’s an under-the-radar candidate. Other names to watch: Jeff Nixon (Syracuse OC), Kevin Wilson (former OSU OC, now Tulsa HC)

Let’s be real—Day just won a national championship, so he’s got some breathing room. But in Columbus, that air gets thin real quick. He’s gotta replace three major coaches, keep recruiting on point, and make sure Ohio State doesn’t take a step back in 2025. The talent exodus is normal after a natty, but losing this many coaches? That’s different. Day is already a $10 million man, but now he’s gotta prove he’s worth every dime. The pressure’s on. And in Buckeye Nation, pressure either makes diamonds—or it gets you fired.