Following Ohio State's heartbreaking 29-23 loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinal, Ryan Day's offseason started precisely 16 days sooner than he wanted it to.
The Buckeyes waltzed through the regular season and Big Ten on their way to the Fiesta Bowl, but the Tigers prevailed in Glendale, Arizona and sent Ohio State into its 2020 offseason.
With the focus shifting to 2020, what is Day's top offseason priority?
Finding New Co-Coordinators for Both Offense and Defense
Ohio State lost co-offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Should filling the Buckeyes' openings in the coaching staff be Day's top priority?
Finalizing the Recruiting Class
Ohio State already has signed letters of intent from 24 players in a 2020 class that ranks third nationally. Day has a verbal pledge from 4-star athlete Cameron Martinez and a few prospects remaining on the board.
Helping the non-seniors make the right NFL decision
Several non-seniors like Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, J.K. Dobbins and Shaun Wade have NFL decisions to make this offseason. Day and the coaching staff need to help these non-seniors make the right decision for their respective futures.
Getting the Returning Players to Bounce Back Mentally
Ohio State lost a heartbreaker to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl, but there's a silver lining to the loss. Each of the last four national title winners lost a heartbreaker in the previous year's College Football Playoff. Can Day and the Ohio State coaching staff use the loss to Clemson as motivation for 2020?
