Buckeye Battle Cry Roundtable: The Arthur Smith hire. Good or bad?

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It's been a revolving door at the offensive coordinator position at Ohio State over the last few years, but the Buckeyes seem to have their man going forward with the hire of former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

The hire didn't excite too many in Buckeye Nation because of what we've seen from the Steelers offense over the last couple of years, but Smith is a very experienced play caller and former NFL head coach to go along with his time at the highest level of the game, similar to what we have with Matt Patricia at defensive coordinator.

If you've followed us here at Buckeyes Wire, you know about our Buckeye Battle Cry roundtable, where we have our writers weigh in on important topics surrounding OSU athletics, and this one seems to fit that bill. Here's what our writers say about the hiring of Smith and what it means going forward for Ohio State.

Phil Harrison, editor and featured writer

It's easy to look at the lack of production from the Steelers' offense over the last two years and think this is a questionable hire. But that would be short-sighted. Arthur Smith has been in the NFL a long time, has a good track record calling plays with the Tennessee Titans, and also has head coaching experience. If you can get a guy who has that much experience at the game's highest level, that's going to play well over an up-and-coming name every time.

Smith has seen and experienced a ton during his time, including the most complex schemes from NFL defenses, and there won't be much he can't solve for when it comes to both putting a game plan together and making adjustments on the fly. We have to remember, too, that the NFL has more parity than college football, and he's going to have an advantage in talent with OSU's roster almost every time out.

I like the hire of Smith because of those reasons and his ability and history of scheming up the run game first and foremost, using zone blocking and the RPO game, which almost has to be a part of things in this day and age. Bottom line: Many criticized the hire of a former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator when Ryan Day made the hire for the defensive coordinator last offseason, and that one turned out really, really good. There's a good chance we see the same on the offensive side of the ball.

Mark Russell, Featured Writer

When I first heard about the hire, I was somewhat unimpressed. Mainly because I had turned my attention to guys who had more college experience and success at that level, like Brian Daboll and Todd Monken. There was also the wave of negativity flooding social media, especially from many Pittsburgh Steelers fans, who had nothing kind to say about Smith and his stint in the Steel City.

But then I started doing a little research on my own, and I agree with you, Phil, this is going to be another homerun hire, much like Matt Patricia. Smith does tend to lean toward the run game more, but let's be honest: there is no way Ryan Day is going to abandon the passing game. And it's still true in football that an effective running game makes the passing attack all the more effective. We witnessed it in 2024. A combination of Chip Kelly and Ryan Day innovation did wonders for Will Howard. Imagine the opportunities it will open for a guy like Julian Sayin.

I love Brian Hartline and will always be thankful for what he did at Ohio State, but getting an offensive coordinator with six years of NFL playcalling experience can be seen as nothing but an upgrade for the Buckeye offense. Could the hire fall flat and be a disaster? There's always a chance, but Ryan Day has more home runs than pop-outs when it comes to adding to his staff, so I'll choose to trust Arthur Smith is the right fit.

Griffin Dreifaldt, Featured Writer

I, like many of my colleagues, was skeptical when the news broke that Ohio State had hired Arthur Smith to fill its offensive coordinator vacancy. But after sitting with it over the weekend, the move makes much more sense, and it further clarifies what Ryan Day’s philosophy has become when it comes to staff hires. Get the best football minds in the building.

Last offseason, Ohio State fans felt the same uneasiness when Matt Patricia was brought in to replace Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator. That skepticism quickly faded as Patricia’s scheme unlocked the Buckeyes’ defensive talent and helped turn the unit into the best defense in the country. Maybe it’s time for fans and analysts alike to trust Ryan Day when it comes to these decisions.

College football in 2026 is no longer about simply visiting recruits in their living rooms and trying to sell them on a vision. The landscape has shifted to NIL resources, player development, and on-field production. Players want to get paid, but they also want to put up numbers, and those numbers are what ultimately lead to NFL opportunities. Arthur Smith brings a proven track record and real NFL experience, which makes this hire especially intriguing when you consider the talent he’ll be scheming for, including Julian Sayin, Bo Jackson, Jeremiah Smith, and others.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Buckeye Battle Cry: Our writers discuss the Arthur Smith hiring

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