Betting Big on Buckeyes: Ohio State Invests Heavily in Coaching, But Is It Enough?
80,000 people came to Ohio Stadium on Saturday to watch Ohio State, which has the best squad money can buy. Can the Buckeyes take the lead in the Big Ten after they have paid the price? That is still to be determined.
The Ohio State athletic administration will pay $11.425 million for the coaching staff that head coach Ryan Day has put together. That is $2 million more than Alabama pays and $1.3 million more than Georgia pays its assistant coaching staff. Furthermore, it is $2 million more than Ohio State spent even a year prior.
With the $2 million-per-year hire of Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator, Day will no longer be in charge of playcalling for the first time since taking over as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator eight years prior.
The Buckeyes will have two of the greatest coordinators in the league coaching the most talented team in the league thanks to the retention of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Highly recruited freshmen Jeremiah Smith and Air Noland join stars Devin Brown, TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, JT Tuimoloau, and Jack Sawyer. A number of valuable transfer portal pickups, including quarterbacks Will Howard and Julian Sayin, running back Quinshon Judkins, center Seth McLaughlin, and safety Caleb Downs, are also included.
The Buckeyes have adjusted to this new era of “free agency,” despite those lamenting the plight of collegiate football in the age of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness—factors that have caused unprecedented player movement.
“At Ohio State, you’ve got to beat the Team Up North and win every other game,” Day told The Athletic. “If that’s the expectation every year, you like your chances a lot more when you have good players. So, might as well get the best.”
Downs was the most sought-after portal entry of the previous cycle, having topped the country in tackles made by rookie defenders with 107. However, none has had as much of an impact as standout rookie wide receiver Smith.
Ohio State football spring game highlights
Smith is the most impressive rookie player Mickey Marriotti, the strength coach for the Buckeyes, has seen since former Florida great Percy Harvin. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said during the FOX broadcast that Smith is the best first-year player Buckeyes general manager Mark Pantoni has ever seen.
“He’s got a chance to be special,” Day said. “He really does … He’s talented, disciplined and skilled.”
With Marvin Harrison Jr. out of the picture, the wide receiver group will need to find a new go-to target. Day will have little trouble selecting from a broad range of quality candidates as the Buckeyes open their 2024 season with a huge red circle over their Nov. 30 meeting with Michigan.
Day has gathered all of the resources at his disposal to be ready for 2024, the year that will define his legacy at Ohio State, following three straight losses to the Wolverines. He is aware that he cannot afford to lose to Michigan again and that his squad must remain unbeaten going into The Game in order for a victory over the Wolverines to have greater significance on a national level.
There has never been a greater need for the Buckeyes’ roster to be deep and healthy. In what is expected to be the most exciting regular season in Columbus since 2014, they must be healthy and competitive in November in order to win a Big Ten championship.