Ohio State didn’t just replace an offensive coordinator this offseason. It made a clear bet on experience, and on a coach who has spent years steering offenses at the highest level.
Former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is now running the Buckeyes’ offense after Brian Hartline left to become the head coach at the University of South Florida. Ryan Day could have taken a simpler route and elevated someone already on staff, then handled the play-calling himself. Instead, he went in a different direction.
That choice matters for Ohio State. With Smith in place, Day can focus on managing the entire program instead of living squarely on the offensive side of the ball. Smith brings a long NFL résumé to Columbus, and the expectation is that he’ll operate the offense with the kind of big-picture authority that frees Day up elsewhere.
Smith’s path to Ohio State includes time as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2020, a run as the Atlanta Falcons head coach from 2021 to 2023, and the last two seasons as the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator.
The move fits a pattern Day leaned into a year ago. When Jim Knowles left for Penn State, Day didn’t promote from within. He brought in another veteran NFL voice in Matt Patricia, and Ohio State’s defense responded right away by playing like one of the best units in the country.
Day appears to be applying the same thinking on offense now. Ohio State’s 2024 national championship run came with former NFL head coach Chip Kelly in charge of the offense, which gave Day the room to stay in his lane as the head coach while the Buckeyes rolled through Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.
That kind of setup is the point. Ohio State needed another sharp offensive mind, especially after last season’s issues against better opponents.
The Buckeyes didn’t face a huge number of marquee tests, but against Texas, Indiana and Miami, they had trouble finishing drives and generating enough points. Across those 12 quarters, Ohio State scored just 38 points and lost two of the three games.
Smith now gets the chance to bring some of the ideas he used in the NFL into Day’s system. If that takes, it could help push Ohio State’s offense back toward the level it reached in 2024.
In Other News...
Ohio States 2028 Recruiting Run Might Not Be Done Yet
Ohio States 2028 recruiting class is already shaping up as one of the earliest power statements in the cycle, with three five-star commits headlined by quarterback Christopher Vargas. Even with that kind of early momentum, the Buckeyes have not stopped pushing, and the class still has room to grow if the staff can keep building on the buzz it has created on the trail.
Two of the most intriguing names still watching closely are wide receiver Braylon Clark and defensive lineman Tyzon Swann, both of whom have drawn strong interest from Ohio State while also holding multiple offers from other programs. Their level of attention around the Buckeyes suggests the class could get even more impressive, but for now Ohio State is still in the waiting game as the next decisions loom. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Made A Huge Statement About Its QB Future
Ohio State added a major piece to its future on the recruiting trail with the commitment of Christopher Vargas, the No. 1-ranked quarterback in the 2028 class. Vargas picked the Buckeyes over Oregon, Virginia Tech and other schools, a significant win for a program that has long sold itself as one of the sports premier destinations for elite passers.
Vargas pointed to the coaching staff, the culture and the development opportunities under Ryan Day as the biggest factors in his decision, and that makes this more than just another early pledge. Day has built a strong reputation for grooming quarterbacks, with several of his former players going on to become first-round NFL draft picks, and landing a talent like Vargas only reinforces how powerful that pitch has become in Columbus. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fall Camp Is Heating Up Behind Two Key Starters
Fall camp is starting to sort out a few of Ohio States early depth-chart questions as the Buckeyes turn toward their opener against Ball State. At running back, Isaiah West and Bo Jackson both entered camp after missing spring work because of shoulder injuries, and the early reps have been a good sign that both are back in the mix as the staff evaluates the room.
Wests offseason has given him a real foothold, while Jackson still has time to make up ground before the job is settled. The same kind of competition is playing out at receiver, where Jeremiah Smith looks lined up for the top spot and the battle for No. 2 is taking shape among Brandon Inniss, Chris Henry Jr. and transfer McCuin. [Read more 🡒]