Ryan Day Reclaims Play-Calling Duties as Buckeyes Brace for Miami’s Defense
Ryan Day is back in the driver’s seat of Ohio State’s offense-and not a moment too soon. With the College Football Playoff heating up and a showdown against a red-hot Miami defense looming, Day has officially taken over play-calling duties once again.
The move comes as Brian Hartline, who had been calling plays, shifts back into a more traditional wide receivers coach role. It's a clear signal: Day wants full control of the offense as the stakes rise.
Hartline, who recently accepted the head coaching job at South Florida, now has one foot out the door. And while the timing of the move is notable-just days before the Buckeyes take on a Miami Hurricanes defense that just smothered Texas A&M in the CFP opening round-it might be exactly what this Ohio State team needs.
Miami's Defense Is No Joke
Let’s be clear: the Hurricanes didn’t just beat Texas A&M-they suffocated them. Miami gave up 326 total yards, but held the Aggies to just three points. That kind of bend-but-don’t-break performance is tough to pull off, but Miami did it by capitalizing on TAMU’s special teams miscues and forcing mistakes in key moments.
Now, that same defense is lining up against an Ohio State offense that’s been searching for rhythm. And that’s where Day comes in.
Back to What Works
During his earlier tenure as the Buckeyes' primary play-caller, Day built a reputation as one of the sharpest offensive minds in college football. His offenses thrived on tempo, precision, and relentless aerial pressure. The hope now is that by reclaiming that role, Day can recapture some of the offensive fluidity that’s been missing in recent weeks.
As CBS Sports' Brad Crawford noted, “Day can get back to the basics that made him one of the game's best… pressuring opposing defenses through the air while trying to control tempo.” That’s exactly what this Buckeyes squad will need if they’re going to break through Miami’s aggressive front and disciplined secondary.
A Missed Opportunity-Now Corrected?
There’s a case to be made that Day should’ve made this call weeks ago. The Buckeyes’ offense looked out of sync in the Big Ten Championship Game, where they fell 13-10 to Indiana in a game that raised more questions than answers. Execution was sloppy, red zone efficiency was lacking, and the play-calling lacked the kind of edge you’d expect from a playoff-caliber team.
That loss didn’t just cost Ohio State a conference title-it reshaped their CFP path. Instead of drawing a more favorable matchup like Indiana or Georgia, they now face a Miami team that’s peaking at the right time. But with Day now pulling the strings again, the Buckeyes may finally have the offensive direction they’ve been missing.
Pressure Off, Focus On
With the unbeaten streak gone, some of the weight has lifted from this team’s shoulders. There's no more talk of perfection-just survival and advancement.
That could actually work in Ohio State’s favor. Redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin might play with more freedom.
The defense, which has been solid all year, can stay aggressive without the burden of carrying an undefeated record.
And sometimes, a gut-punch loss like the one to Indiana is what it takes to shake things up in the right way.
What’s Next
Ohio State enters this next CFP matchup with a new (or rather, familiar) voice calling the shots on offense, a quarterback looking to make his mark, and a defense that’s been steady all season. The challenge ahead is steep-Miami’s defense just proved it can shut down a top-tier SEC offense on the road. But this is the kind of test that defines championship runs.
Ryan Day has taken the wheel again. Now we find out if that’s enough to steer the Buckeyes back on course.