Ohio State may be in offseason mode, but that doesn’t mean things have gone quiet in Columbus. Far from it. With the Buckeyes turning the page toward 2026, one of the biggest questions on fans’ minds is about the future of Matt Patricia - the man who engineered the nation’s top defense in 2025.
Patricia, who returned to the college ranks last season after more than two decades in the NFL, made a strong impression in his first year back on campus. His unit was dominant from start to finish, leading the country in multiple statistical categories and setting the tone for a team that had championship aspirations. And while the season ended earlier than Ohio State had hoped - with a quarterfinal loss in the College Football Playoff - Patricia’s impact on the program was undeniable.
So, what’s next for Matty P?
While there’s been no official word yet on a contract extension, Patricia's recent appearance at the Broyles Award ceremony in Hot Springs, Arkansas, certainly turned some heads. The award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football, ultimately went to Indiana’s Bryant Haines. But Patricia’s presence - and his comments on stage - gave fans a glimpse into how much his return to college football has meant to him personally and professionally.
“Ohio State’s a special place,” Patricia said during an on-stage interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “And the fanbase and, man, the Shoe in that first game, that was unbelievable. I’ve been on some pretty big stages, but that was amazing.”
That’s not just coach-speak. Patricia has seen it all - Super Bowls, playoff runs, high-stakes NFL Sundays - but the Horseshoe on a fall Saturday clearly left an impression.
And it wasn’t just about the football. For Patricia, this move back to college was as much about family and mentorship as it was about Xs and Os.
“For me to come back to college after about 25 years, it was just something that I really wanted to change,” he said. “I wanted to get back to that environment and I wanted to get back to teaching and mentoring and helping kids develop.”
That’s a key piece of the puzzle. Patricia didn’t just bring schematic brilliance to Ohio State - he brought a teacher’s mindset. And that’s something that resonates in a locker room full of young talent trying to take the next step.
He also shared a personal note that likely hit home for a lot of Buckeye fans: “I have three kids… they have never seen the college atmosphere before. And game day for college football is unlike anything. And that was really special for me to be able to show my kids and watch my kids see that through their eyes… So to be able to share that with my family was really cool.”
That kind of connection - to the program, to the players, and to the moment - is what makes Patricia’s potential long-term future in Columbus so intriguing. He’s not just a coach passing through. He’s someone who seems to have rediscovered a passion for the game in one of the sport’s most tradition-rich environments.
So while no extension has been announced yet, it’s clear Patricia has found something meaningful at Ohio State. And if the Buckeyes can lock him in for the long haul, it could be one of the most important moves they make this offseason.