Big Ten pocket book: Ohio State’s new Chip

In late July, the heat is on almost everywhere.

But in Columbus, Ohio, the heat has been on Ohio State head coach Ryan Day since 2021.

Losing three straight rivalry games to Michigan will leave a fan base ticked at the coach who’s being paid millions not to lose those games.

With Chip Kelly running the Buckeyes’ offense in 2024, Day might just beat Michigan and give new athletic director Ross Bjork a few million reasons not to look for a new coach. Kelly as offensive coordinator seems about as overqualified for a job as a college professor might be to instruct middle schoolers on, say, history.

However, overkill might be the thing Ohio State needs to take the next step under Day. In a culture and a program that grades solely on whether you win it all, Day is 0-for-5.

That’s where Kelly comes in.

You can debate just how good a coach Kelly was with UCLA and at two stops in the NFL. And if you wanted to fall on the side of “not worth the paycheck,” you’d probably be right.

But it can’t be debated that Kelly was brilliant at Oregon and that he should be able to take the Buckeyes’ offense from 0 to 60 quicker than their fans were melting down on social media during three consecutive losses to the hated rivals from the north.

“He’s one of the best play-callers in the history of college football,” Day said of Kelly on Tuesday at the first of three Big Ten Conference media days in Indianapolis. “It allows me a little more peace of mind … there’s a lot of trust here. I trust him with my life.”

While the conference doesn’t do a preseason media poll, cleveland.com does. Of the 27 folks they polled, 21 believe Ohio State will emerge from the 18-team taffy pull as the champion.

Not that it takes much to create great expectations for a program with a national fan base and fanatical followers. But pairing Kelly’s brilliant offensive mind with some of the most talented players in the sport equals even more outsized hopes.

“He would tell you he’s very excited with what he has,” Day said. “My job as the head coach is to make sure it fits complementary football across the board.”

Also heard from Big Ten coaches on Tuesday:

–Illinois coach Bret Bielema led off the session by saying there isn’t a more exciting time in his life to be the school’s head coach.

That might catch some by surprise, given that the Fighting Illini are ranked 13th in the preseason after regressing from a good 2022.

–Rutgers’ Greg Schiano said it’s “time to get going. It’s time to make a mark.”

The Scarlet Knights are picked ninth and Schiano feels good about his squad, comparing it to his good teams from his first run in the mid-2000s that had a spate of future NFL players.

–Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell is high on Miami transfer quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, saying that he has “done a phenomenal job and that I expect him to grow in his leadership role.” If Van Dyke plays to his capability, the Badgers could outperform their predicted seventh-place finish.

–Northwestern’s David Braun said the challenge this year is to duplicate last year’s success, when the Wildcats went from 1-11 to a surprising 8-5 mark.

“Can we find the same level of leadership within our team?” he asked.

–Purdue’s Ryan Walters said he’s more comfortable in his second season on the job. Walters has 37 new players on the roster, which isn’t expected to do much.

The Boilermakers are picked for 18th and last place in the league.

–Bucky Dent, Field Level Media