The Ohio State Buckeyes are knocking on the door of college football history, and if they can finish the job, they’ll join a very exclusive club. With a College Football Playoff title this season, Ohio State would become just the second program to repeat as national champions in the CFP era-joining Georgia-and only the fourth to go back-to-back since the BCS era began in 1998. That’s rare air, and the Buckeyes look equipped to breathe it.
Let’s start with the obvious: this team is absolutely loaded. At quarterback, they’ve got Julian Sayin, a Heisman Trophy finalist who’s been as poised as he is precise.
Sayin’s command of the offense has been a major reason why Ohio State has looked like a juggernaut all year. And when you’ve got a target like Jeremiah Smith-arguably the best wide receiver in college football-it’s no wonder Sayin has been able to shine.
Smith has been a matchup nightmare all season, combining elite speed, route-running, and hands that seem to vacuum in anything thrown his way.
But what really sets this Buckeyes team apart is the defense. Giving up just 8.2 points per game?
That’s not just good-that’s historically dominant. They led the nation in scoring defense this season, and it’s not hard to see why.
From sideline to sideline, this unit flies to the football, tackles with discipline, and rarely gives up big plays. In a playoff field filled with explosive offenses, that kind of defensive consistency could be the difference between a title and an early exit.
Still, there’s a notable change heading into the CFP: offensive coordinator Brian Hartline is no longer in the building. He’s taken the head coaching job at USF, replacing Alex Golesh, who’s now at Auburn. That leaves head coach Ryan Day stepping back into the play-calling role for the postseason.
Now, this isn’t unfamiliar territory for Day. Before taking over as head coach in 2018, he was the offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer-and a highly respected one at that.
While it’s been eight years since he’s been the primary play-caller during games, make no mistake: Day has had his fingerprints all over this offense. Everything Hartline did this season ran through Day’s headset.
This isn’t a coach dusting off an old playbook; it’s a coach stepping back into a rhythm he never really left.
And if you’re looking for a second opinion, how about one from Nick Saban? The legendary coach-turned-analyst weighed in on the situation during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, and he’s not concerned.
“It’s Ryan Day’s offense,” Saban said. “They sort of transitioned last year a little bit with the coordinator they had.
They took some of that stuff and Ryan Day applied it. I don’t think it’s going to be a big issue, because he’s an offensive guy and he’s used to calling plays.
He’s called plays a lot before. I don’t think it will be a problem.”
That’s high praise from someone who knows a thing or two about the challenges of being both a head coach and a play-caller. Saban, who built his reputation as a defensive mastermind, admitted that balancing those duties became difficult as his career progressed. But he sees Day’s situation differently.
“It was hard for me to (call plays) and call defenses and still be the head coach once I got used to not having to do it,” Saban added. “So, I think it wouldn’t be a big problem because it’s only been a little while since Ryan Day has done it.”
So, what’s next for the Buckeyes? Their first CFP test comes against the Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl-a quarterfinal matchup that’s shaping up to be a slugfest.
Miami just held a high-octane Texas A&M offense to three points in a gritty 10-3 win during the first round. That defense is for real, and it’ll be a serious challenge for Day’s offense, especially with him back in the play-caller’s chair.
But if there’s a team that can rise to the moment, it’s this one. The Buckeyes have the talent, the defense, the quarterback, and now, a head coach who’s ready to take the reins of the offense again in the biggest games of the year. The path to history is never easy-but Ohio State looks ready to make a run at it.