Overview
- Day confirmed he will take over offensive play-calling for the Dec. 31 Cotton Bowl quarterfinal versus No. 10 Miami, per the Associated Press.
- Brian Hartline, hired as South Florida’s head coach on Dec. 3, remains on Ohio State’s staff through the playoff and continues coaching wide receivers.
- Starting right guard Tegra Tshabola is expected to miss multiple weeks, with Gabe Van Sickle and Josh Padilla preparing to fill in, according to team availability reports.
- Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, a Miami-area native, referenced the 2002 title game discourse and said the Buckeyes “have something coming” for the Hurricanes on New Year’s Eve.
- Blowout first-round defeats for Group-of-Five teams James Madison and Tulane have renewed scrutiny of the 12-team format, as coaching transitions also feature double-duty cases like UCLA’s Bob Chesney finishing James Madison’s run.