Ohio State coach Ryan Day took over play calling duties for the first time since 2023 for the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff quarterfinals matchup against Miami, and it didn’t go to plan in the first half.
Day took over the responsibility from offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, who has been pulling double duty in recent weeks after becoming the head coach at South Florida.
Day, of course, is far from inexperienced as a play-caller. He was Ohio State’s offensive coordinator in 2018 before he was promoted to head coach and called plays as head coach from 2019-23 before hiring Chip Kelly last season. The Buckeyes won the 2024-25 CFP national championship with Kelly leading the offense.
Ohio State was held scoreless in the first half against Miami at the Cotton Bowl, gaining 154 total yards, 67 of which came on the final drive of the second quarter before Jayden Fielding missed a 49-yard field goal attempt with a second left. The Buckeyes finally got on the board with a methodical drive in the second half to cut the score to 14-7.
The Buckeyes will certainly hope a few halftime adjustments can flip the script as they face a 14-0 deficit.
Who’s calling plays for Ohio State?
Day is calling plays against Miami in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31. Kelly called plays for the Buckeyes in 2024 before receivers coach Brian Hartline was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2025.
Hartline, who’s still coaching at Ohio State throughout the remainder of the CFP, was hired as the next head coach at USF after the regular season, prompting Day to take over as play caller.
‘Right now, as we move forward, (Hartline’s) coaching the receivers,’ Day told reporters in the days leading up to the game. ‘It’s a lot on his plate. It’s a lot to manage. So, we’re kind of taking it day-to-day right now as we move forward. Going into the game, it will be a group effort. … Everybody will be involved with the play calling. Ultimately, it’ll be my decision.’
Ohio State’s offensive struggles aren’t solely on the play-caller. The Buckeyes have been held to 10 points in their last six quarters, dating back to their 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Conference Championship game — with Hartline calling plays.
