The Ohio State Buckeyes received the luxury of a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff despite losing to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship. The No. 2 Buckeyes will now prepare for the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes in a Cotton Bowl quarterfinal matchup.
Ohio State has been one of the most consistent teams in the country all season, with the lone loss coming against the Hoosiers. What awaits the Buckeyes next is an ACC opponent with one of the best defenses in the nation.
That’s where this matchup starts to get interesting, particularly when it comes to Ohio State’s offense facing Miami’s stifling defense — the same unit that held Texas A&M to just three points at Kyle Field in the first round.
On December 22, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day announced he would take back over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Brian Hartline for the remainder of the playoff run, according to On3’s Brett McMurphy.
Why Ryan Day Took Back Over Play-Calling Duties
Day’s decision to reclaim play-calling responsibilities isn’t all that surprising, especially considering Hartline was recently named the new head coach at USF. The timing, however, raised some eyebrows.
Hartline was officially hired by the Bulls on December 3, which gave Day ample time to announce the change. Instead, the move became public 19 days later — and just two days after Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl opponent was finalized.
This was Hartline’s first season as Ohio State’s primary play-caller, despite being with the program since 2017. He’s long been known for his recruiting prowess, particularly at wide receiver, helping the Buckeyes land elite talent year after year.
Statistically, Ohio State’s offense held its own under Hartline. The Buckeyes rank No. 17 nationally in scoring offense at 34.9 points per game. They are 29th in total offense (411.3 yards per game) and 16th in yards per play (6.4). Quarterback Julian Sayin, in his first year as a starter, even emerged as a Heisman finalist.
Still, the Big Ten title game may have been the final push. Ohio State managed just 10 points against Indiana, rushed for only 58 yards, and converted 4 of 12 third-down attempts.
That performance could have carried extra weight with Miami looming — a Hurricanes defense that ranks sixth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 13 points per game.
Ryan Day’s Track Record as Ohio State’s Play-Caller
The Cotton Bowl will mark the first time Day has called plays for Ohio State since the 2023 season. During the 2024 offseason, Day made the significant decision to hand those duties over to Chip Kelly, who he lured away from being the head coach at UCLA.
That move paid off in a big way. Ohio State went on to win the national championship, defeating Notre Dame while averaging 35.7 points per game. The Buckeyes finished that season with the No. 13 scoring offense, posting 263 rushing yards per game.
There’s also reason for optimism based on Day’s past postseason success as a play-caller. The last time he handled play-calling duties in a playoff game, Ohio State put up 41 points against Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. A missed field goal was the only thing keeping the Buckeyes out of the national title game that year, falling 42-41.
Now, with Miami’s defense standing in the way, Day’s return to the controls adds another layer of intrigue to an already fascinating Cotton Bowl matchup.
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