The Ohio State Buckeyes are undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country, but their biggest threat might not be on the field. A major loss to his staff could complicate head coach Ryan Day’s perfect 2025 season, as first-year offensive coordinator Brian Hartline is being linked to a head coaching job at a key Big Ten rival.
With coaching legend Urban Meyer publicly endorsing the move, the question is no longer if Hartline is ready, but when he will leave Columbus.
Will Urban Meyer’s Support Push Brian Hartline from Ohio State to Penn State?
Following the departure of long-time coach James Franklin, several names have been mentioned for the Penn State head coaching job. Nebraska’s Matt Rhule and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady have all been linked, but so has Hartline, according to reports.
Hartline presents an interesting case for the role, as 2025 is his first year as a college offensive coordinator. He previously served as Ohio State’s wide receivers coach from 2018 to 2024. While Hartline may not have the typical resume for a program like Penn State, former Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer believes he is more than capable of leading a program.
When asked about Hartline’s name surfacing in head coaching rumors, Meyer explained that he thinks his former assistant is ready for a head coaching role after gaining plenty of experience working under both him and Day.
Despite eight Power 4 schools looking for head football coaches, including Penn State, LSU, and Florida, Urban Meyer is not interested in getting back into coaching.
I also asked if #Buckeyes OC Brian Hartline is ready to be a head coach and he said yes.
“big Brian Hartline… pic.twitter.com/mGSHKAubiq
— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) October 31, 2025
“I do. I’m a big Brian Hartline fan, always have been, and he just needed experience,” Meyer said. “I’m glad he stayed here. He had a chance to leave, and he learned from us and learned from Coach Day, so I think he’s ready.”
Meyer’s assessment of Hartline’s readiness appears well-founded. Through seven games this season, the Ohio State offensive coordinator has led the Buckeyes’ offense to become the sixth-best in the country, according to PFSN’s CFB OFFi metric.
In his previous role, he helped develop a string of elite wide receiver talent, including Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jackson Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Emeka Egbuka, among others. Hartline has proven himself to be a strong recruiter, talent developer, and now play-caller, making him an enticing candidate for the Penn State job.
For his part, Day has already stated that he wants his assistants to get head coaching opportunities. This suggests he likely won’t stand in the way if a conference rival tries to poach his top offensive mind.
With Meyer’s public endorsement, the speculation surrounding Hartline’s future is only likely to grow. Whether he leaves for the Penn State job or another coaching role, his eventual departure would undoubtedly be a significant blow to Day and the Buckeyes.
