COLUMBUS, Ohio — Before Urban Meyer walked out of St. John Arena on Saturday to lead his team into Ohio Stadium to play Tulane, he said what he has been saying since the day he took over at Ohio State more than six years ago: “The best thing about being 3-0 is the chance to go 4-0.”



Ohio State was 3-0 because of Ryan Day.



Important people know that. A person close to the program told The Athletic that senior university officials have begun discussions about a “coach-in-waiting” arrangement, meaning he would be Meyer’s eventual successor as Buckeyes coach. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the discussions are in progress. Day doesn’t have any head-coaching experience but did have a three-game trial run as Ohio State’s interim coach.



Day, 39, received a three-year deal and a raise before this season, which isn’t typical for Buckeyes assistants. That was Ohio State’s attempt to...