Ryan Day Wastes No Time Firing Ohio State Assistant After Oregon Loss Dents Playoff Hopes
feom Essentially College Football
After Ohio State’s blowout loss to Oregon, head coach Ryan Day promised “accountability”, making it clear that any changes would start with the coaching staff. Well, it didn’t take long for him to follow through on that promise.
Ohio State is moving on from special teams coordinator Robby Discher, with CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz first reporting that Discher is out after just nine games with the Buckeyes.
This move doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given he was hired in January to address the team’s ongoing special teams problems, and yet that segment has been a headache for them. Even after his arrival, Ohio State has continued to struggle in almost every phase of the game.
The final straw, though, came against Oregon on Saturday.
Ohio State had built a 14-3 lead and appeared to have forced the Ducks into a punting situation in the second quarter. However, Oregon caught the Buckeyes completely off guard with a fake punt.
Teitum Tuioti took the snap, drew the coverage towards him, and tossed the ball to Matayo Uiagalelei, who had slipped downfield completely uncovered. The 30-yard gain put Oregon in Ohio State territory and changed the afternoon.
The Ducks scored a touchdown on that drive. They added another before halftime. Suddenly, a 14-0 OSU lead disappeared, and Oregon eventually walked out of the Horseshoe with a 41-28 win.
Speaking after the game, Day made it clear that the coaching staff would be held accountable for the team’s struggles.
“I think it all starts with the staff. And then it goes to the players. So there needs to be accountability for all of it,” Day said.
Unfortunately for Ohio State, the fake punt was only part of a much bigger pattern.
Ohio State’s Special Teams Struggles Go Beyond Oregon
The most obvious earlier example came against USC on October 31. Ohio State allowed a 44-yard punt return that helped set up a Trojans touchdown. After the game, Ryan Day did not hide his frustration with the coverage.
“That was a disaster, that whole play, to put it kindly,” he said. “That really cost us. They were doubling the gunners there, so we need to get more hang time … And we didn’t cover it well enough.”
There had been other issues, too. Against Texas, kicker Connor Hawkins missed a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that would have given the Buckeyes a two-score lead.
Moreover, in the game against Iowa, a short punt gave the Hawkeyes favourable field position, while another punt that Phillip Bell did not field rolled all the way to the Ohio State 2-yard line.
Day had addressed the broader problem in October, saying he could not claim the unit had improved. He also made clear that responsibility did not stop with Discher.
Day had already addressed the broader problem in October, admitting that he could not claim the special teams unit had improved. He also made it clear that responsibility did not stop with Discher.
“It’s not just Rob,” Ryan Day said. “Rob is the coordinator, so he’s in charge, but I’m in every meeting.” The latest change, though, suggests he has decided that a new voice is needed in that role.
Day’s concerns were certainly reflected in the numbers. Ohio State ranks 86th nationally in net punting (38.7 yards), 113th in punt return average (5.9 yards) and 118th in kick return average (17.4 yards). For a program with championship expectations, those numbers are simply not good enough.
And that makes Discher’s departure even more significant, considering the expectations that came with his arrival in Columbus.
Discher joined Ohio State in February 2026 after spending three seasons at Illinois, where he served as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. His units had actually produced some impressive results there, ranking 16th nationally in ESPN’s special teams efficiency metric in 2024 and 30th in 2025.
His appointment was significant for Ohio State, too. Discher became the program’s first full-time special teams coordinator since 2023, following two seasons in which responsibilities had been divided among position coaches. Less than a year later, Day has decided to move on from him.
Of course, Discher was not responsible for the entire defeat against Oregon. For starters, Ohio State’s defense allowed 38 unanswered points, and the offense struggled to regain control after the Ducks’ comeback began. But the special teams gave Oregon a significant opening, and it was not the first time this season the unit had put the Buckeyes in trouble.
Discher’s Firing Could Be Just the Beginning of Ryan Day’s Staff Changes
Now, Day will have to figure out what comes next for the unit. Whether Ohio State hires another full-time special teams coordinator or returns to dividing responsibilities among its assistants remains to be seen. But for now, it does seem that Discher could just be the first domino to fall.
There are already questions surrounding other members of Day’s coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia have also faced scrutiny following Ohio State’s recent struggles.
Patricia’s defense has given up 71 points over the last two games, while Smith’s offense has struggled to find consistency, particularly in the running game.
Still, Day may decide to wait until the end of the regular season before making any additional changes. Discher’s departure shows that he is willing to make an in-season move, but whether Smith or Patricia, we cannot assume.
Day also refused to put the blame entirely on one group following the Oregon defeat.
“I’m not going to sit here and point fingers at one group of guys that are coming up short,” Ryan Day said after the Oregon game. “Because we’re all coming up short.”
For now, Discher is the first coaching casualty following Ohio State’s latest defeat. The Buckeyes have dropped to 6-3, and with three regular-season games remaining, Day has plenty of work ahead if he wants to get the program back on track. Do you think, more coaching changes are to follow?