What’s next for Ohio State? Breaking down futures for Ryan Day, Jeremiah Smith after upset loss to Miami

What’s next for Ohio State? Breaking down futures for Ryan Day, Jeremiah Smith after upset loss to Miami originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Ohio State had hopes of back-to-back national championships, but that came crashing down on New Year's Eve as Miami upset the Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl, 24-14.

Instead of Ohio State preparing for a semifinals matchup, they will now have to dissect what went wrong in the College Football Playoff. From coaching decisions to replacing key players headed to the NFL, Ohio State has many questions to answer ahead of the 2026 season.

While Ohio State does have the national championship from last season in hand, the Buckeyes have not won a Big Ten title since 2020. Here's a look at what's next for the powerhouse Ohio State program.

MORE: Where does Miami's upset over Ohio State rank in CFP history

Who will Ryan Day hire as OC?

Perhaps the biggest question regarding the Buckeyes will be who replaces Brian Hartline as the team's offensive coordinator. Hartline is officially taking over as South Florida's head coach, leaving the Buckeyes with a vacancy on their coaching staff.

In the Cotton Bowl, Ryan Day took over responsibilities from Hartline and called plays on offense, but that backfired. In 2024, Chip Kelly was the team's OC, but he left for the NFL and was most recently hired as Northwestern's new offensive coordinator.

Day will certainly get questions about his decision to call plays during the Buckeyes' final game, and it will linger into the offseason.

MORE: Why Ryan Day called plays in the Cotton Bowl

Will Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin return to Ohio State?

The Buckeyes end the season in disappointment, but they still have many key players returning. That list is headlined by QB Julian Sayin and WR Jeremiah Smith, both of whom are the biggest cornerstones on offense. RB Bo Jackson is another big piece of the team who will be back in 2026, as all three players can't go to the NFL yet.

Ohio State had four different starting quarterbacks in the last four years, but Sayin's return will end that streak. Smith will once again enter the season as a Heisman favorite, with many already considering him the best player in the country.

MORE: Arch Manning enters the offseason with much-earned hype

Which Ohio State players will be in the NFL draft?

The Buckeyes will likely see many of their best players leave for the NFL. On defense, DB Caleb Downs, LB Arvell Reese and LB Sonny Styles are all expected to declare for the NFL draft, while WR Carnell Tate is the biggest offensive piece making the jump. Those are only a few of the names on this talented roster that will leave.

In fact, Ohio State has a chance to have the most players taken from a single school in the 2026 NFL draft.