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In the Ohio State Buckeyes camp, Wednesday nights call for a routine. Ryan Day’s players get on the gridiron after sunset to prep themselves for the week’s opponent. And one person is spotted shadowing players turn by turn, and that’s Matt Patricia, their first-year defensive coordinator. Patricia goes on swapping roles from being the entertainer, to listening to the players’ problems, to talking through their problems. Just like that, to the Buckeyes’ defensive tackle, Kayden McDonald he holds a special role other than being the defensive coordinator. On October 29, Ohio State beat writer Dan Hope shared a snippet of McDonald’s take on Patricia. “I don’t call him my defensive coordinator, I call him my mental coach. He helps me with stuff off the field, and everything on the field’s already taken care of,” said the defensive tackle. Patricia stepped in at a difficult time in Columbus. Back in February 2025, Jim Knowles chose to swap wagons and board Big Ten rival Penn State, leaving Day and co. in a sticky spot. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Contract disputes were seemingly at the heart of the fallout. After Knowles’ defense led the Buckeyes to winning a Natty, Day wanted someone of championship pedigree. And Patricia fit the criteria, having won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. He spent much of his coaching career working under Bill Belichick. But doubts remained since Patricia hadn’t coached collegiate football since 2003. But it did not take the coach long to crush the doubts. Under him, Day’s Buckeyes are ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, yards allowed per game, and third-down defense. The Buckeyes are the only team in America allowing under 10 points a game and rank first in total defense at 216.9 yards. But as McDonald claims, the success has got to do more than teaching the players the game scheme. With Patricia, the players feel heard, their emotional needs taken care of. That’s what makes them give their 100% as leading the nation in defense takes a collective effort. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad There exists a feeling of mutual respect between Patricia and the players. Just like McDonald, Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain opened up about the bond he shares with the defensive coordinator. “The first day he was here, I had a conversation with him. The relationship has been growing ever since. I love him. He loves me back, you know what I mean? I like playing for him,” the player confessed. And Patricia’s trust in the safety is reflected in his stats. The freshman has recorded 26 tackles this season, 21 of them solo, coming off as a threat to the rivals. For this, he again credited the coach for not overcrowding their plates with too many things at once. “He puts a lot on our plate that we can handle,” he said. While the coach has already won hearts, his award list is also increasing. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports The Matt Patricia Effect in the Buckeyes camp On October 17, Pro Football Focus made a major announcement for Patricia. The tweet read, “PFF’s CFB Midseason Best Assistant Coach Award Winner: Matt Patricia. Ohio State has allowed just 6.8 points per game this year.” Talking about Patricia’s power? Not to forget, when he stepped into Columbus, he was welcomed by a program whose defense lost 8 NFL Draft picks. So, analysts were super sure that Ohio State would have a slow start, only to find out that they began the year by beating preseason No. 1 Texas 14-7. And how did Patricia sprinkle his skills to revamp Ohio State’s defense? ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad He used linebackers in more versatile ways. Ohio State has upgraded its defensive blueprint. After relying on a standard four-man front last year, Patricia exposed them to the “penny” front- four linemen up front with one linebacker flexed out on the edge, a setup popular among NFL defenses. It can be presumed that his commitment to Ohio State comes from the deep love he feels for the program. Talking about the Buckeyes, one could already sense Patricia’s respect for the program, “It’s been unbelievable. This place is amazing. The fans are great, the stadium atmosphere, and my kids are in awe. They’ve seen some really cool things in sports, but this has been unbelievable.”
