(Photo credit: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Brian Hartline is near a deal to become head coach at USF but is delaying formally filling the role until after No. 1 Ohio State competes in the College Football Playoff.

According to multiple reports, Hartline accepted the position on Wednesday and was hoping to convince co-offensive coordinator Keenan Bailey to join him in Tampa.

USF coach Alex Golesh was named head coach at Auburn on Sunday.

'Brian has been successful in every football capacity for which he has been engaged,' Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said in 2024.

Day said Hartline 'recruited as well or better than anyone in the country' when elevated from a position coach to a co-coordinator role two years ago.

The 39-year-old Hartline was a wide receiver at Ohio State and seven seasons in the NFL, but has never been a head coach at any level. An assistant coach for the Buckeyes since 2017, he was promoted to become a first-time offensive coordinator prior to the 2025 season when Chip Kelly left to join the Las Vegas Raiders.

Hartline also continued his role coaching wide receivers. Under his watch, the Buckeyes have had five first-round NFL draft picks in the past four years - Chris Olave (2022), Garrett Wilson (2022), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2023), Marvin Harrison Jr. (2024) and Emeka Egbuka (2025).

'Brian did some of his best coaching this past season,' Day said in February, when Hartline was promoted from the role of co-offensive coordinator to replace Chip Kelly. 'His loyalty and patience are going to pay off, and I think he's going to be the best coordinator in the country.'

Bailey was an offensive intern working with Ohio State's wide receivers in 2017 when Hartline was hired as a quality control coach working with the same position.

Bailey has been an Ohio State assistant for eight seasons and is from Pompano Beach, Fla.

Losing Hartline, and possibly Bailey, could open the door for Day to bring back Kelly. Kelly coached Day at New Hampshire and they remain in close contact after the Raiders fired Kelly as offensive coordinator last month.

--Field Level Media