Eric Boggs
As Ohio State prepares for the College Football Playoff, Ryan Day is returning to a role that helped define his rise in Columbus. The Buckeyes’ head coach announced that he will reclaim play-calling duties for the postseason, taking the responsibility off offensive coordinator Brian Hartline as Hartline prepares for his upcoming head coaching opportunity at South Florida. The move brings Day back to the center of the offense at a critical moment, as Ohio State looks to sharpen its execution heading into the Cotton Bowl.
Day emphasized that play-calling will remain a collaborative effort, with input from the entire offensive staff. Tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, who has continued to ascend within the program and was named co-offensive coordinator this season, is expected to play a particularly significant role. Bailey has spent increased time working with the wide receivers during playoff preparations, a development highlighted by Jeremiah Smith earlier this week. While the staff’s voices will be heard, Day made it clear that final decisions will rest with him.
When Ohio State faces Miami in the CFP quarterfinals, it will mark the first time Day has formally called plays since the 2023 Cotton Bowl. That night ended in a 14-3 loss to Missouri, a game defined by offensive line struggles and the Buckeyes being forced deep into their quarterback depth chart. Since then, Ohio State has adjusted its structure, first bringing in Chip Kelly to call plays in 2024 before Hartline took over those duties in 2025. Now, with the postseason at hand and Hartline juggling multiple responsibilities, Day has chosen to step back into his offensive comfort zone.
Historically, Day’s reputation as a play-caller and offensive architect is among the strongest in college football. His first season calling plays as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator in 2018 produced one of the most prolific passing attacks in program history, with Dwayne Haskins setting school records that still stand. That success carried over when Day became head coach, as Ohio State consistently ranked among the nation’s elite scoring offenses, including a No. 1 finish in 2019 and multiple top-three finishes in the years that followed.
Day acknowledged that resuming play-calling will slightly alter his in-game perspective. Calling plays requires a deeper focus on the call sheet, reducing the ability to scan the entire field and manage other aspects of the game in real time. To compensate, Day stressed the importance of strong communication and efficiency from the coaches upstairs, including Bailey, Billy Fessler, Tyler Bowen, and Hartline, ensuring adjustments can be made quickly and decisively.
Ultimately, the Buckeyes are still running Day’s offense, but his more direct involvement could prove valuable as Ohio State looks to correct the offensive issues that surfaced during its narrow loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. With the Cotton Bowl set for Dec. 31, the return of Day as the primary play-caller represents both a strategic shift and a familiar foundation, one the Buckeyes hope will help guide them deeper into the playoff and closer to another national championship.
