The end of the college football regular season brought some final moves in the coaching market. Among them, Brian Hartline abruptly left his offensive coordinator at Ohio State, in the midst of a national title run, to take up his first head coaching job at the South Florida Bulls.
Now, who could take over the role as the Buckeyes look to win the Big Ten championship and try to repeat as national champions?
Top 5 Offensive Coordinator Candidates for Ohio State?
#5 Jerry Neuheisel
Ryan Day chatting with Jerry Neuheisel postgame pic.twitter.com/WYiC0m1qr4
— Stefan Krajisnik (@skrajisnik3) November 16, 2025
This would be a bold choice for the school, selecting one of the biggest surprise storylines of the 2024 season. Neuheisel was promoted this year to offensive coordinator for the UCLA Bruins midseason, and under his watch, they had victories over Penn State, Maryland, and Michigan State. Despite the otherwise disappointing UCLA season, he was a definite bright spot.
#4 Kevin Wilson
Wilson was Ohio State’s head coach between 2017 and 2022, originally under Urban Meyer and then for a bit under Ryan Day. He went on to be a head coach at Tulsa, but that ended after just one season. He helped the Buckeyes make three trips to the CFP and win two Big Ten championships. However, he doesn’t seem to be as in touch with modern football as another former Ohio State offensive coordinator we are about to bring up.
Ncaa Football Indiana Hoosiers At Ohio State Buckeyes
#3 and #2 Keenan Bailey and Tyler Bowen
This would seem like the logical option for Ohio State, at least until the end of the College Football Playoff. Don’t rock the boat too much, give Bailey or Bowen a chance, and see how it works during the postseason. If it turns out well, they can give him a full season as a test run for a long-term commitment.
Bailey would seem to be in pole position, as he’s currently the team’s co-offensive coordinator.
#1 Chip Kelly
It worked completely once before. Why not again? Chip Kelly has been without a job for a few weeks now, having been fired by the Las Vegas Raiders as an offensive coordinator following a disastrous season so far. While that might not seem like an auspicious start to the relationship, the partnership of Ryan Day and Kelly has already been proven.
Day worked several times under Kelly in college and the NFL. Then, in 2024, following Kelly’s dismissal as UCLA’s head coach, he joined the Buckeyes, and he was the final piece in the puzzle to take the team to a national championship. Which also means he already knows the system and the players.
Also Read:
- “This Is Harbaugh To Michigan”: Colin Cowherd Gets Brutally Honest On Lane Kiffin’s $90M LSU Move Despite Securing CFP Spot
- “Handed Him a Used Rolls Royce”: Colin Cowherd Minces No Words on Hardships Behind Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama Takeover From Nick Saban
- Is Brian Hartline Leaving Ohio State? Debunking Latest Rumors Linking OC To USF In The Middle Of CFP Run
- Colin Cowherd Drops 2-Word Comment As Ryan Day’s Ohio State Faces Major Recruiting Blow After Brian Hartline Exit
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