Ryan Day’s CEO era has reached its final form. The Ohio State head coach, after years of white-knuckling the offensive play sheet, confirmed this week that he is stepping back further than ever.
Why Ryan Day Is Handing the Offensive Reins to Arthur Smith
Day recently appeared on “Lantern TV” and talked about the addition of Arthur Smith. Smith joins on a two-year deal worth $1.5 million in 2026, jumping to $2 million in 2027. By hiring Smith, Day has successfully insulated his roster with $5.25 million worth of former NFL head coaching experience at the coordinator positions alone.
Confirming the expectations for Smith, Day said, “The last thing for Arthur is that, you know, when you’re in the NFL, every game goes down to the fourth quarter in the NFL. And so, situational football is critical. And I think that Matt brought that on the defensive side of the ball this year. And count on Arthur to bring that to the offense this season for sure.”
Where does it leave Day? He said that while he would help Smith plan and prepare, the ultimate play-calling responsibilities would be Smith’s.
Day said, “Yeah, Arthur will call the plays and but he’s been through it before. He’s been a head coach. You know, we’ll sit down and go through the game plan leading up to it and have conversation within the game, but ultimately Arthur will call it.”
Smith is not the last piece of the puzzle. Day has expanded the staff to 12 full-time assistants, slowly modeling the Ohio State coaching room into something that mirrors an NFL hierarchy. Position coaches like James Laurinaitis (LBs) and Carlos Locklyn (RBs) can now focus 100% on development, while Smith and Patricia handle the high-level strategy.
As a result, the expectations in Columbus have never been higher, fueled by a roster that looks more like an All-Star team. With Heisman finalist Julian Sayin returning under center and a reloaded defense, the Buckeyes are the preseason favorites to reclaim the Big Ten crown.
Ohio State finished No. 26 in total offense in 2025. With Smith’s run-heavy, play-action-heavy scheme (which ranked top 10 in scoring during his Titans tenure), Day expects a jump into the top five.
So, for Day, the 2026 season isn’t just about winning. It’s about proving that his new CEO model, and the multimillion-dollar staff behind it, is the definitive blueprint for modern college football dominance.
