Former Ohio State national champion addresses Penn State Brian Hartline rumors — ‘I don’t want to see him go’
Tyvis Powell breaks down what Brian Hartline’s potential move to Penn State could mean for Ohio State’s title run.
In the wake of Penn State’s decision to part ways with James Franklin, multiple candidates have emerged as potential successors to lead the Nittany Lions. When the former Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell and current 97.1 The Fan host talked about Brian Hartline’s name surfacing for the job, his tone was measured, but he was also unmistakably aware of what it could mean for the program. “I’m always here for seeing young, up-and-coming OCs get their shot,” Powell said. “I just feel like Brian Hartline would love to have that shot.”
What Brian Hartline’s move to Penn State would mean for Ohio State’s title run
Powell, who lived the championship culture that Hartline now helps to sustain, framed the conversation through empathy — not panic. He acknowledged the natural appeal of career advancement while also recognizing how deeply Hartline’s work has shaped Ohio State’s identity. “I don’t want to see him go because of what he’s done here with the wide receivers, what he’s done in recruiting,” he said. “But I can understand why Penn State would want those things.”
Powell wasn’t defending Hartline’s potential move so much as he was contextualizing it. Penn State’s weakness, he noted, has long been its wide receiver play and recruiting edge. From that lens, Hartline fits perfectly. “They have to do two things at Penn State,” Powell said. “Win the press conference and get the players.” Hiring a Buckeye assistant who built the country’s best receiver pipeline would check both boxes.
But Powell also understood how the move could cost the program. “What if, in the midst of a national championship run, Penn State hires Brian Hartline?” he asked. “Would you be mad at Brian Hartline then if the Buckeyes don’t win the national championship and maybe the offense looks in flux during the playoffs?” The question wasn’t rhetorical. Instead, it reflected the anxiety felt by Ohio State fans after hearing this rumor circulate.
He reminded listeners that the offense is still Ryan Day’s, that Ohio State has weathered turnover before, and that “we’d be okay because we always make it work.” Yet his words also hinted at what makes Hartline irreplaceable: the relationships he’s built and the trust he commands among recruits and players.
Powell understands why Penn State would call, and why Ohio State would dread answering. For him, it isn’t about loyalty or betrayal. It’s about timing, ambition, and the price of building something so successful that everyone else wants to steal it.
Penn State Nittany Lions News
Penn State interim HC Terry Smith says he ‘could be portrayed as the substitute teacher’ as the team tries to regain its identity
Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith leans into his new role as he works to keep the Nittany Lions united ahead of their daunting road matchup against No. 1 Ohio State.
