Ryan Day opts to make major decision involving Brian Hartline ahead of the College Football Playoff game against Miami
Ryan Day is turning back the clock a bit when Ohio State and Miami play in the College Football Playoff.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have had a busy last few weeks even though they have played just one football game during that time, the Big Ten Championship loss to the Indiana Hoosiers.
Leading up to that game, Ohio State was dealing with plenty of stuff that had nothing to do with the team ahead. Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline took his first head coaching job at South Florida days before the Buckeyes lost 13-10 to Indiana. Now to begin the College Football Playoff run, head coach Ryan Day has made a change ahead of playing the Miami Hurricanes.
Ryan Day is taking over offensive play-calling from Brian Hartline
Day revealed on Monday that he will be calling plays for the Buckeyes, and it’ll be his first time doing it since the 2023 season. Chip Kelly was the first play caller that Day gave up the duties to last season, then Hartline took over the role this season. Now that Hartline is on his way out, Day is going to call the plays for the Buckeyes.
“Right now as we move forward, he’s coaching the receivers. It’s a lot on his plate, it’s a lot to manage,” Day said on Monday afternoon. “Going into the game, it’ll be a group effort. Keenan [Bailey] will be very much involved, everyone will be involved with the play calling. Ultimately, it’ll be my decision what calls go into the game. Kind of wanted to take that off of Brian’s plate as we go into the playoffs because he has so much going on with what he’s trying to do.”
The NCAA calendar is the biggest problem here
Because when the transfer portal and signing day fall, teams must rush into the hiring process right at season’s end to make sure they can put rosters together. As a result, we often see coordinators being poached from competing teams in the College Football Playoff before the season ends. Even if the coaches stay with the program through their playoff run, it’s impossible for their full focus to be on the task at hand. For example, Hartline has been in South Florida recently putting a coaching staff together.
Ohio State will still have Hartline involved in the play calling but to put this on his plate any longer seems like the wrong move. Day made the correct call taking the play calling back in my opinion. If the Indiana game showed anything, it’s that Ohio State had real issues in the red zone that need to be ironed out. Now, that blame will fall on Day if the Buckeyes come up short for that reason.
Ohio State Buckeyes News
Jeremiah Smith reacts to the Ohio State Buckeyes learning that they will play the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff
The superstar wide receiver is ready to dominate for the Buckeyes.
