Urban Meyer weighed in on the development, describing it as a reflection of college football’s evolving financial landscape. “They are full-time. They’re no different than the NFL. So I think it’s a great hire,” Meyer said on the January 28 episode of The Triple Option. He added, “There are no salary pools,” arguing that schools can now hire top coaches by funding their salaries rather than operating under traditional college constraints.
Meyer also highlighted Ryan Day’s plan to emulate an NFL template, noting Day views Matt Patricia as a benchmark for the staff’s direction. With Smith reportedly joining, Meyer suggested Ohio State will have two former NFL head coaches on its offense and defense, a configuration he described as appealing and indicative of a shift toward pro-style staffing.
Smith’s collegiate coaching experience is limited—his only prior college stint was a defensive intern position at Ole Miss in 2010—but his offense has long emphasized run game and tight ends. That emphasis aligns with a historical preference for a balanced attack that can complement Day’s passing-centric approach.
Observers note the potential strategic impact: pairing Smith’s run-focused expertise with Day’s aerial framework could help the Buckeyes regain national contention. Ohio State’s last national championship came when a coordinator with run-game depth guided the attack, a model some perceive as potentially relevant again.
The reported hire underscores Day’s intent to build an NFL-caliber staff and signals that OSU is prioritizing pro-style schemes and stability over traditional recruiting-heavy college staffing. As with all such moves, an official confirmation would clarify roles and responsibilities for the 2026 season.
