It’s a huge gamble — with potentially greater reward.

When Ryan Day hired Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator at Ohio State, he essentially punted on years of elite passing offenses to find a way to beat Michigan and win a national title.

Day then used some of Ohio State’s reported $20 million NIL budget for football to land the best running back (Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss) from the best league (SEC) in college football, and signed dual-threat transfer quarterback Will Howard from Kansas State, too.

Howard hasn’t been an elite thrower, but he’s a tough, willing runner who can make throws when needed. Translation: The days of quarterbacks throwing for 40 TDs are over in Columbus.

It’s time for ground and pound with Howard, Judkins and RB TreVeyon Henderson, and a talented offensive line. Whatever it takes to beat Michigan, which has imposed its will on Ohio State in 3 straight victories.

OSU is all-in on Kelly making that difference, and helping the Buckeyes win a national title for the first time since 2014.

Is he the best college football offensive coordinator in 2024?

Let’s take a look at the Top 25.

25. Joe Sloan, LSU

Sloan played a critical role in the development of Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as LSU’s quarterbacks coach. Now Brian Kelly says he believes this offense, with QB Garrett Nussmeier, could be as good or better than the 2023 offense that led the nation in scoring at 45.5 points per game.

24. Zach Kittley, Texas Tech

Had prolific offenses at FCS Houston Baptist and at Western Kentucky before joining Texas Texas last season. When QB Behren Morton took over for injured Tyler Shough, the offense got better (and protected the ball), and Behren was 6-2 as the starter.

23. Jeff Grimes, Kansas

A finalist in 2021 for the Broyles Award when Baylor won the Big 12, Grimes was fired last season after a season of regression. He walks into a strong situation at Kansas, not only with HC and staff strength, but an elite quarterback in Jalon Daniels.

22. Casey Woods, SMU

Reunited with SMU coach Rhett Lashlee in 2022 (both were at Auburn under Gus Malzahn), and his offenses have averaged 37.2 and 38.7 ppg. — with different quarterbacks each season. Preston Stone quietly had a big season in 2023 (28 TDs, 6 INTs), and will only get better this fall with a loaded offense.

21. Nick Sheridan, Alabama

Sheridan was the QBs coach at Washington last season under coach Kalen DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb. He would have been Washington OC in 2023 had Grubb accepted the Alabama job. Played a big role in the development of QB Michael Penix Jr.

20. Mack Leftwich, Texas State

Just 29, the former UTEP QB is one of the hottest young coaches in the game. Leftwich’s offenses at FCS Incarnate Word and last season at Texas State have been prolific. JMU transfer QB Jordan McCloud should have a huge season for the Bobcats.

19. Jake Spavital, Baylor

Spavital brings Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense (the Bear Raid) to Waco, with the program in desperate need of an offense to balance out the defense-heavy philosophy of coach Dave Aranda.

18. Eric Bieniemy, UCLA

Bieniemy made an odd move not only from the NFL to college football, but to UCLA — a wayward program for more than 2 decades moving into an elite conference with uncertainty at quarterback. There is a lot of work to do, especially considering the Bruins averaged just 26.5 points per game last year.

17. Chip Lindsey, North Carolina

There was little drop-off in 2023 under Lindsey in his first year as OC — and that was with Drake Maye. But now comes the big question: Can Lindsey put up big numbers with QB Max Johnson — who was inconsistent in games that matter at LSU and Texas A&M?

16. Collin Klein, Texas A&M

One of the best hires of the offseason, and not just because Klein is a fast riser in the business. New Aggies coach Mike Elko got Klein to not only lead his alma mater — but also develop rising (and potentially elite) QB Avery Johnson.

15. Dirk Koetter, Boise State

When Koetter left Boise State in 2000, the program elevated OC Dan Hawkins to head coach. Hawkins hired Chris Petersen from Oregon as OC. And now it’s full circle, with Koetter running the offense again after numerous stops in college football and the NFL.

14. Tim Cramsey, Memphis

In 6 seasons under Cramsey, Memphis has averaged 36.5 ppg. (twice over 40 ppg.), and its quarterbacks have thrown 174 TD passes. The Tigers finished 6th in the country in scoring last season (39.4 ppg) and were recently picked to win the American Athletic Conference. If they do that, they could earn an automatic bid to the Playoff.

13. Kendal Briles, TCU

The offense was revamped (personnel and scheme) in 2023, and freshman QB Josh Hoover played at times like a first-year starter. The staff expects a big jump this season, which could move TCU back into Playoff contention.

12. Phil Longo, Wisconsin

Don’t focus on last season. The offensive line play was shaky, and the QB (Tanner Mordecai) never felt comfortable. The receivers have another year in the system, and now Miami transfer QB Tyler Van Dyke gets his shot to transform the Wisconsin offense.

11. Mike Bobo, Georgia

Who wouldn’t want to call plays with all of that talent? But Bobo has proven year after year at Georgia (including before coach Kirby Smart arrived) that his offenses are prolific and his quarterbacks elite. Nothing should change in 2024, when Carson Beck has some of the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy.

10. Andy Ludwig, Utah

Ludwig is a perfect fit for the Utah program. A smart, organized teacher who doesn’t panic (see: HC Kyle Whittingham), and he found ways to win games the past 2 seasons despite multiple injuries to key players (including QB Cameron Rising).

9. Garrett Riley, Clemson

There’s a narrative that Riley underperformed last season. That’s laughable. The offensive line was a mess (29 sacks allowed, its most per game since 2013), the receiving corps was wrecked by injury and Clemson had poor ball security (22 turnovers). QB Cade Klubnick will be better in Year 2 as a starter, and so will the offense.

8. Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State

Fantastic hire for Penn State coach James Franklin, who can’t seem to get the OC job right. The only question with Kotelnicki: The past 11 seasons have been with Lance Leipold, a Top 25 head coach. Franklin is elite, too, but what happens when Kotelnicki gets away from the comfort of all those years together?

7. Chip Kelly, Ohio State

The Buckeyes will run the ball. A lot. Think of Oregon under Kelly in the 2000s, and the devastating inside iso runs. Kelly changed the way offenses were run back then, and everyone followed. If he rekindles that magic, Ohio State will win it all.

6. Kirby Moore, Missouri

Moore walked the delicate line of reshaping an offense run by the head coach — and making it better. Missouri won games because of QB Brady Cook, not with him. And WR Luther Burden III became an elite player after he moved inside to the slot.

5. Charlie Weis, Jr., Ole Miss

Weis has turned down multiple college and NFL job offers to stay at Ole Miss with coach Lane Kiffin. He knows the nuances of the game and how to develop quarterbacks, and is unmatched organizationally. Only 31, he’ll soon be an FBS head coach.

4. Mike Denbrock, Notre Dame

He’s not your typical OC. A tight ends coach who knows how to attack defenses, and has a rare feel for calling plays. If he fits with QBs coach Gino Guidugli like he fit with Sloan at LSU, new Irish QB Riley Leonard will have a big season.

3. Bob Petrino, Arkansas

He ran the Texas A&M offense last year in title only. He’ll have full control of the Arkansas offense and his personal choice for quarterback, Boise State transfer Taylen Green.

2. Warren Ruggiero, Wake Forest

The offense never got moving under QB Mitch Griffis. Transfer QB Hank Bachmeier has big arm talent, and Ruggiero’s Slow Mesh RPO offense — devastatingly effective with the right QB — should look more like it did with the record-setting Sam Hartman.

1. Will Stein, Oregon

The thought of Dillon Gabriel running Stein’s offense and adding to his 151 career TDs (125 passing, 26 rushing) is tantalizing. Stein passed on Group of 5 head coach opportunities to stay in Oregon, and could have the best offense ever at the school. That’s saying something: Last year, Bo Nix led the country with 45 TD passes and the Ducks finished 2nd overall in scoring 44.2 points per game.