With a new hire, Ohio State gets more serious about special teams than it ever has ... and Ryan Day is not messing around

The Buckeyes are adding special teams coach Robby Discher from Illinois.

Jan 31, 2026

∙ Paid

Jayden Fielding missed this 27-yard field goal at the end of the Big Ten Championship Game, among the Ohio State special teams mistakes in the 2025 season. (Screen shot courtesy of Fox)

COLUMBUS — In the summer of 2024, the NCAA passed a rule that allowed football teams to have unlimited coaches at practice. Previously, only 10 assistants and a head coach were supposed to do hands-on coaching. Other staffers weren’t technically allowed to engage players that way.

College football staffs had been growing, but it was a lot of analysts. Most were paid at a much lower scale.

One restriction remained — only 10 assistants and the head coach can recruit off-campus. But when it came to ball, and making your team better on the field, the limits were gone. Teams could let it rip.

Ohio State is doing that this offseason.

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