The Ohio State Buckeyes are 2025 National Champions in college football, but since the fall of confetti on the evening of Jan. 20, the Buckeyes have encountered some issues.
Chip Kelly, Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, and Jim Knowles, the Buckeyes’ DC, have both left Columbus for other jobs. Kelly is headed back to the NFL as the Las Vegas Raiders’ new OC and Knowles took the DC position at Penn State.
Shannon Dawson, the Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator, is one of the first names being thrown around regarding the Buckeyes OC position. On Monday, On3Sports published a list of the top candidates to replace Kelly. Dawson is one of the first names listed.
The 2024-25 season was Dawson’s second year with the Hurricanes and just his second at the Power 4 level. Dawson’s previous coaching stops include Houston, Southern Mississippi, West Virginia, and Wingate — his alma mater. A former quarterback himself, one of Dawson’s biggest strengths is nurturing QBs and he spent much of his career as a QBs coach.
This past season is a fantastic example of Dawson’s prowess leading QBs. In 2024, Hurricanes QB Cam Ward completed more than two-thirds of his passes, threw for 4313 yards, and led the country in passing touchdowns with 39. Miami finished the season 10-3 and boasted one of the top offenses in college football.
Without Dawson, Ward may not have even played in college this season. Before he committed to Miami in the 2023-24 winter transfer window, Ward declared for the NFL Draft. Dawson didn’t stop recruiting the former Washington State QB and convinced him to come to Miami for his final season. Now, Ward is projected by many to be the No. 1 pick.
Losing top assistants is an unfortunate reality that comes with success in football, and Kelly’s move to the NFL will affect far more than just the Buckeyes. If Dawson doesn’t take the Ohio State job, another high-profile coach will. The Buckeyes have a marquee program with a lot of pull, and they are sure to make a splash with this hire.
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