Podcast Summary: The Bill and Doug Show — Ohio State Around the Shoe

Episode: Offensive coordinator plans, Brian Hartline dropoff, Miami surprise
Date: January 5, 2026 | Host: Blue Wire
Guests: Dylan Davis (Delaware Gazette), Cameron Teague Robinson (The Athletic), Bill Landis, Doug Lesmerises

Main Theme & Episode Overview

This episode tackles Ohio State’s future following an unexpected playoff loss to Miami, with the conversation centering on the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator search after Brian Hartline’s departure, concerns about potential drop-off in receiver play, transfer portal strategies, and the national college football landscape as viewed through this year’s Final Four. The hosts, seasoned Ohio State beat writers and guests, provide sharp insights, debate strategic direction, and blend a light-hearted, fan-focused approach with big-picture analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Future of Ohio State’s Offensive Play Caller ([01:15]–[12:02])

Should Ohio State hire internally or externally?

• General Consensus: Go outside the program for an established play-caller, rather than promote from within.
• Dylan Davis:
  • "I think it’d be hard pressed to hire within and promote somebody after what we saw offensively. ... I just don't know if Ryan Day can afford to turn that over to another guy who's never really called plays before." ([01:45])
• Cam Teague Robinson:
  • "I don't think Ryan can afford to keep calling plays next year. ... You cannot have a first-time play-caller calling plays for them in that run." ([02:57])
• Bill Landis:
  • "Ryan Day needs his offensive version of Matt Patricia or Jim Knowles ... who can allow Ryan to be the CEO. That guy just isn’t in the building." ([05:33])
  • Advocates for an outsider with proven play-calling experience to inject new ideas and relieve Day.
• Doug Lesmerises:
  • Cites Ryan Day’s willingness to bring in someone like Bill O’Brien as an example and points toward NFL coaching movement as an opportunity.
  • "It's not like, 'Oh, well, I looked around and there was nobody worthy.' Somebody will be there." ([07:48])
• Recruiting Limitations:
  • The “non-recruiter OC” position is seen as palatable and even attractive to NFL candidates.

What kind of candidate fits?

• Experienced, proven play-caller; not just a scheme guy from a good staff.
• Ideal: Stability, but willingness to become a "rehab spot" for talented, available coaches (Nick Saban model) is viewed positively.

Notable Segment

• Bill Landis: "You can design all the great plays you want ... but if that young quarterback is getting sacked a second after he gets the snap, like, there's only so much you can do." ([19:18])

2. Post-Mortem on the Loss to Miami ([12:29]–[21:34])

How surprised were the panelists by the Miami loss?

• Cam: 6.5 out of 10 — "I just really thought Ryan Day would have ... a better plan to go against that defensive line." ([12:29])
• Bill: 6.7 — "I had a really hard time seeing anybody score three touchdowns on Ohio State's defense, let alone Miami." ([14:39])
• Doug: 8 — “The 20 [percent chance of losing] is if they can't block them. And then they couldn't block them.” ([16:08])
• Dylan: 6 — “Not shocked ... but definitely surprised. That offensive line for Ohio State was, you know, prime to be taken advantage of.” ([17:24])

Key Observations

• Miami’s D-line dominance and coaching adjustments highlighted deficiencies on Ohio State’s O-line.
• Lack of offensive adjustment, especially reliance on silent count, was criticized:
  • "They went into the game knowing, like, we're going to start this game with the silent count. ... Just wild to me with a first-time starter at right guard." (Cameron, [20:58])

3. Advice to Ryan Day for 2026 ([21:34]–[30:18])

Let the Offense Rip:

• Bill:
  • "Let it rip on offense. ... The idea of gaining control and balance is for Iowa ... not for teams that recruit the quarterback and receiver position the way Ohio State does." ([21:46])
• Doug:
  • Cautions against over-“NFLization”; wants to keep some college football unpredictability and looseness.
• Dylan:
  • Half-jokingly suggests Day donate to the “talent acquisition fund” for portal depth, but mainly: “Scrap the methodical, slow roll through the season—find your identity earlier by opening up.” ([26:38])
• Cam:
  • "Be open to outside feedback ... you have to get a [coordinator] who's not just one of your mentees." ([30:18])

Memorable Moment

• On playing slow:
  • "It was efficient ... But then you got to be perfect, and you get one holding call and your season's over." (Cam, [29:45])

4. Brian Hartline’s Departure and Receiver Room Drop-Off ([31:14]–[41:43])

How much will WR performance actually drop?

• Doug: 25% decline — "That room was so good, it probably had sort of hit its peak ... regardless of whether Brian Hartline was staying." ([33:25])
• Dylan: 30% — "Hartline was elite at both recruiting and development; it's not fair to ask anyone to maintain that absurd standard." ([33:25])
• Cam: 20-25% — "Post-Hartline, can you close the deal when you're not relying on money? We'll see—Ohio State fans are not patient." ([35:57])
• Bill: 30% — "This was inevitable, as NIL and talent disperses ... maybe OSU is just one of a few strong receiver programs, not the one." ([38:34])

Recruiting & Development Shifts

• Consensus: Ohio State will still recruit and develop great receivers—just not at the extraordinary pace/level of past years.
• Key quote:
  • "Receivers aren’t going to wait to see who Cortez Hankton takes anymore." (Cam, [40:53])
  • "Maybe you have one superstar receiver instead of three." (Doug, [41:43])

5. College Football’s Final Four: What Does It Say About the Sport? ([42:10]–[53:45])

How do you describe this year’s playoff semifinalists?

• Dylan: "Improbable but fun ... For a college football fan, it’s great—Indiana with a chance, Oregon with a chance, Miami as a sleeping giant." ([42:46])
• Cam: "The new age ... You have to hit the portal, pay for talent, and adjust. High school recruiting is only part of the equation now." ([44:12])
• Bill: "Transformative ... It's going to get much harder to identify contenders in preseason. Transfer models, head coach turnover, unpredictable upsets—wide open." ([48:03])

SEC Rant & Big Ten Validation

• Doug:
  • "SEC is mid ... The best team left is coachless. This is embarrassing." ([50:17])
  • "Iowa would have won the SEC."
• Dylan: "Huge stain on the SEC ... It’s hard to see how that narrative continues." ([52:28])
• Bill: "The idea that expanding the playoff just delays the inevitable? That’s been proven untrue." ([49:12])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You cannot have a first-time play-caller calling plays for [this team] in that run.” – Cam ([02:57])
• “Sometimes it can be as simple as that. ... If that young quarterback is getting sacked a second after he gets the snap, there’s only so much you can do.” – Bill ([19:18])
• “If you don’t know if you have the gas pedal when you hit the playoffs, it doesn’t matter.” – Dylan ([26:59])
• “This was fantasy land—five or six years of it; welcome back to reality.” – Doug ([41:43])
• “You have got to go get the guy who’s going to put up production for you. Culture is good, but you can’t hide from the portal.” – Cam ([47:16])
• “Impossible to predict now—there’s a coachless team in the semis!” – Bill ([49:12])
• “The SEC is mid. The best they have left is coachless.” – Doug ([50:17])
• “Iowa would have won the SEC.” – Doug ([53:32])

Important Segment Timestamps

• OC Search Starts: [01:15]
• Should it be an outsider?: [02:43]–[06:39]
• NFL Fires & Coaching Carousel: [06:39]–[09:08]
• Surprised by Miami Loss: [12:29]
• O-line Issues & Silent Counts: [20:28]
• Advice for Ryan Day: [21:34]
• Hartline Departure & WR Drop-Off: [31:14]
• WR Recruiting Shifts: [40:53]
• Transfer Portal Final Four Analysis: [42:10]
• Transfer/Recruiting Impact: [46:15]
• SEC Rant & Big Ten Validation: [50:17]–[53:45]

Takeaways

• Ohio State must aggressively pursue an outside, veteran OC—internal promotions or “play-calling apprenticeships” are not an option for 2026, given the schedule and talent.
• Brian Hartline’s exit means a significant, but not catastrophic, drop at receiver—return to “excellent” instead of “legendary.”
• Lack of adaptability hurt Ohio State in their Miami loss, especially on the offensive line and in-game planning.
• The transfer portal and new team-building models have democratized contention—preseason kings are no longer guaranteed playoff relevance.
• The traditional SEC superiority narrative is battered; the Big Ten is currently the more robust league at the top.
• Ohio State needs to remain nimble, modern, and willing to “let it rip”—both strategically and philosophically—if they hope to compete at the top going forward.

For more coverage, follow Doug and Bill at Bill and Doug OSU Substack, Dylan Davis at Delaware Gazette, and Cameron Teague Robinson at The Athletic.