Ohio State's Day to call plays vs. Miami
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day will handle offensive play-calling duties for the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff matchup against Miami on Dec. 31, he announced Monday, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter.
Day said he made the decision to lighten offensive coordinator Brian Hartline's workload. Hartline, who will continue to prepare Ohio State's wide receivers, was hired as USF's head coach earlier in December but will remain with the Buckeyes for their CFP run.
"Ultimately, it will be my decision what calls go into the game," Day said.
Ohio State averaged 34.9 points per game in Hartline's only season as the team's offensive coordinator. Former coordinator Chip Kelly handled those duties in 2024, with Day's last time calling plays coming in 2023 when the program averaged 30.5 points per contest. Kyle McCord was the Buckeyes' quarterback during the 2023 campaign.
Ohio State will face Miami in the Cotton Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 31. The Buckeyes enter the contest with a 12-1 record, their only loss a 13-10 defeat to Indiana in the Big Ten title game.