Ryan Day and Ohio State adopted Nick Saban's approach in their latest attempt to return to the national championship game for the first time since 2020-21.
The Buckeyes on Thursday hired Bill O'Brien, who served as the Patriots' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022 and was Alabama's offensive coordinator the previous two seasons, as their offensive coordinator. According to ESPN.
The outlet announced Day's latest news after another loss to rival University of Michigan, another loss to the College Football Playoff, and a campaign marked by criticism and growing uncertainty over his future with the program. He added that the hire could remove play-calling from the list of responsibilities. .
All of this makes 2024 a pivotal season for Day, with O'Brien playing a key role in what's to come.
O'Brien's coaching career began with Brown in 1993, and after playing five years with the Patriots from 2007 to 2011, he served as Penn State's head coach for two seasons before entering the NFL as head coach of the Texans. I'm back.
O'Brien led Houston to wins in six of his first seven seasons and reached the divisional round of the playoffs twice, but was fired after four losses to start 2019.
Saban hired him as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2021, and the Crimson Tide, led by quarterback Bryce Young, reached the title game before losing to Georgia.
Then, last season, O'Brien ran the offense and Young won the Heisman Trophy.
However, O'Brien's return to the NFL did not have the same success.
The Patriots had trouble using former first-round pick Mac Jones as quarterback, but then benched him and turned to Bailey Zappe.
At one point, NFL Network captured O'Brien yelling at Jones on the sideline during the Colts' loss to the Patriots in Germany, to which O'Brien responded, “That's my coaching.” .
The Patriots finished the regular season tied for the fewest points per game (13.9, tied with the Panthers) and tied for the third fewest yards per game (276.2). After the Ohio State hire, New England will need a new offensive coordinator in head coach Jerrod. Mayo was hired after the team and longtime coach Bill Belichick parted ways.
Ohio State started the 2023 season 11-0 heading into a matchup with the eventual national champion and second-place Wolverines, but the Buckeyes lost 30-24 and lost a top-four spot in the CFP. fell off from.
After the game, former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett criticized Day.
“I love you brother but I have to go,” Clarett wrote in a post to X after losing three straight in the show's rival showdown. “This is why you get paid millions. You can't get paid by nine o'clock and lose three in a row.”
The Buckeyes were selected to play in the Cotton Bowl, but lost to Missouri State 14-3.
