COLUMBUS, Ohio — How two new coordinators would perform was among the biggest questions facing reigning College Football Playoff national champion Ohio State entering this season.
Their demeanor this week as the top-ranked Buckeyes take a breather from the first month of the season probably said all anyone needed to know about how it’s going so far.
But if there was any doubt, offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia actually said it out loud, too.
“I think that it’s been awesome,” Hartline said. “I think I’ve really enjoyed it. I think I love the connection with the guys. I love the interaction I have across the board with the personnel.”
The team’s full-time receivers coach since 2019, Hartline had the title of offensive coordinator for the past two years, but this is the first season he is calling plays on game day. That was still head coach Ryan Day’s duty two years ago, and Chip Kelly handled it last season en route to the program’s ninth national title before leaving to become the offensive coordinator for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.