Brian Hartline is going back to something old before he heads off for something new

“It’ll always have a special place in my heart. It’s never going to change. Ohio State operates at a level that other schools want to operate at, and it makes it a special place.”

ARLINGTON, Texas — Brian Hartline is going home Wednesday.

He’ll be back on the sideline for the Cotton Bowl against Miami, providing input on the offense but doing in person what he’s done best and longest at Ohio State.

Coaching receivers.

“I love being on the field,” Hartline said Monday at the team media day before this College Football Playoff quarterfinal. “If I could have my way, I would love to be on the field, but Coach hasn’t made the final decision.

What does he want to do down there?

“Look the guys in the eyes,” Hartline said. “I know headsets are great, but I would love the opportunity to be down there with Coach.”

Coach is, of course, Ryan Day, and at the head coaches news conference Tuesday afternoon, Day announced the final call. He and Hartline had been discussing it, and Hartline will return to the sideline, while tight ends coach Keenan Bailey will move to the coaching box upstairs with quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler to provide the high-level view of things while Day calls plays. Hartline previously had been up there this season as a first-time play caller.

Hartline said it will be like last season, when he was on the field and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was the play caller upstairs.

“That’s what we’re chasing,” Hartline said of that offensive structure and flow from a year ago.