Ohio State coach Ryan Day saw the writing on the wall prior to offensive coordinator Chip Kelly leaving for the Las Vegas Raiders. Opportunities arise after wins and the Buckeyes’ historic run through the expanded College Football Playoff led Kelly for a return to the NFL.
“That was great,” Day said of his relationship with Kelly with Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt. “We talked about the fact that we had a really good group here and the dream would be to win a national championship and then he would have an opportunity to decide whether he wants to stay or go to the NFL. That’s exactly what happened.”
Kelly will be the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator at $6 million annually with the Raiders.
“To be able to have a beer in a few years and talk about the year that we had together is gonna be special,” Day said. “Because we all started together and this is where I started with him and we went and did that. What a great story. I know so many people back home in New Hampshire are excited for him and for the story. It’s pretty special.”
Kelly left UCLA as its head coach for a chance to call plays for the Buckeyes, a move that escalated his chance at getting back to the professional ranks where he previously coached the Philadelphia Eagles.
Day now has to fill both coordinator spots and an offensive line vacancy coming off the historic run in the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff. He presumably has his pick of top candidates as one of the national title frontrunners in 2025.
Ohio State finished fourth in the Big Ten in total offense (429.4 yards per game) and No. 14 nationally in scoring offense (35.7 points per game) under Kelly. It was an improvement from the 407.9 YPG and 30.5 PPG the Buckeyes averaged in 2023. Ohio State averaged 36.3 points in four College Football Playoff games en route to the program’s first national championship since 2014.
Ohio State replaces Will Howard at quarterback along with both of its top rushers, but does return Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss at wide receiver along with promising depth along the offensive line.
If Day does not promote from within offensively, he’ll have his pick of potential options given the quality of job available in Columbus.