Head Coach Ryan Day To Call Plays For Ohio State Throughout College Football Playoff 

In the wake of Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten championship, as well as wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline accepting a head coaching position at South Florida, the Buckeyes are switching up their offensive play-caller.  

In his press conference on Monday, Buckeyes’ head coach Ryan Day said that with Hartline taking on expanded duties between Ohio State and USF, Day will return to the team’s offensive play-calling responsibilities, while still incorporating input from the rest of the offensive staff.

“As we move forward, (Hartline) is coaching the receivers,” Day said. “It’s a lot on his plate to manage. So we’re kind of taking it day to day right now. Going into the game it’ll be a group effort. (Tight ends coach) Keenan Bailey will be very much involved. Everybody will be involved with the play-calling, but it will ultimately be my decision.” 

Reflecting on his time with Hartline and former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly calling plays from the box, Day said he felt the experience without the responsibility gave him a broader perspective of the games he coached. 

“When you’re not calling plays, your eyes aren’t down on the call sheet, you just have more eyes,” Day said. “You’re seeing the defense. You’re watching the offense, you’re watching the other side. You’re watching what’s going on more, as opposed to being down on your call sheet. 

Day continued, adding that as he returns to playcalling, it won’t be an individual effort. 

Day said he’ll need more help than ever from offensive staff, including Bailey, offensive line coach Tyler Bowen, and quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler, among other members of the coaching staff, to help Ohio State’s offensive play-calling be as efficient as possible on gameday.

“I think that’s where we got to be good upstairs, that’s where I really need Keenan, Billy, Tyler and (Hartline) to be on their stuff, so that we can move quickly,” Day said. “Billy will get the call to the quarterback, because to have your eyes down the whole time as a head coach, to me, it’s not the right fit. It just allows you to overall have a better handle on your team and what’s going on. It won’t just be me, it’ll be everybody involved with it and we need everybody to be.”