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It was a quiet first year for Ohio State’s freshman class of 2022, but many of those Buckeyes are candidates for breakout seasons in 2023. That’s what we spend most of our time discussing on this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays. First, we talk about the impact of a couple of Ohio State football news items that dropped over the past week: The addition of transfer offensive lineman Victor Cutler and the return of sixth-year safety Josh Proctor. Then, we talk about all 21 members of Ohio State’s 2022 class and discuss their outlooks going into their second year as Buckeyes. The full rundown of this week’s show: 1:13: Victor Cutler isn’t the transfer addition we expected, but it’s an addition that makes sense once you dig into it 6:41: Cutler’s addition could keep Matt Jones at guard, but expect Ohio State to experiment with different combinations during the spring 9:37: Ohio State has already added more transfers than ever before, and that total could increase in May 13:07: With Josh Proctor returning, Ohio State has a lot of options to fill its starting safety spots this year 17:24: Proctor wouldn’t return if he didn’t think he’d be a starter, but he’s going to have to earn that job 20:51: All three returning sixth-year seniors could provide significant value for the 2023 Buckeyes 22:32: C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles have the skill sets to bolster the defense as linebacker/safety hybrids  28:31: Devin Brown has a chance to be Ohio State’s most important second-year Buckeye in 2023 30:14: Caden Curry looks poised to be the No. 3 defensive end; Kenyatta Jackson and Omari Abor should have opportunities, too 32:05: Second-year wide receivers will need big springs to earn playing time on loaded depth chart 35:33: Dallan Hayden played the biggest role of any freshman in 2022, yet his role could decrease in 2023 38:26: Buckeyes need Tegra Tshabola, George Fitzpatrick, Carson Hinzman to provide offensive line depth 41:11: Bennett Christian has a lot of competition at tight end, but his blocking ability gives him a chance to climb depth chart 44:37: Gabe Powers, Ryan Turner among freshmen who will have to battle to climb depth chart on defense 47:04: Jyaire Brown may be the frontrunner to start opposite Denzel Burke at cornerback 49:23: Hero Kanu well-positioned to earn spot on defensive tackle two-deep 51:47: Lack of playing time for freshmen in 2022 could hurt the Buckeyes in 2023

We now know which Ohio State players will be entering the 2023 NFL draft and which draft-eligible Buckeyes will be wearing scarlet and gray for another year. C.J. Stroud left us in suspense until Monday morning as to which camp he would be a part of, but he ultimately made the decision we expected all along when he opted to go pro. He now headlines a 2023 NFL draft class for Ohio State that includes three sure-fire first-round picks (Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba), three more projected early-round choices (Zach Harrison, Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler) and several others who also have a good chance of hearing their names called. That said, there were also numerous key Buckeyes who announced over the past week that they will remain at Ohio State for another year including offensive lineman Matt Jones, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and safety Lathan Ransom, joining a group of returning draft-eligible Buckeyes that also includes Miyan Williams, Cade Stover and Steele Chambers, among others. We start this week’s episode by talking about why Stroud made the only business decision that really made sense by entering the draft and our initial expectations for the Kyle McCord vs. Devin Brown battle that will now ensue to replace him as Ohio State’s starting quarterback. After that, we take a look at Ohio State’s 2023 NFL draft class as a whole and discuss the impact of Jones, Eichenberg and Ransom’s returns. Later in the show, we discuss our expectations for Brian Hartline in his new role as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, how we’ll remember Kevin Warren’s three years as Big Ten commissioner and the outlook for Ohio State men’s basketball after a four-game losing skid. The full rundown for this week’s episode: 0:36: C.J. Stroud made the right decision by entering the 2023 NFL draft 4:10: There’s no shortage of potential landing spots for Stroud high on the draft board 9:56: 75% of 11W readers expect Kyle McCord to win the starting job, but we expect a close battle 14:12: What Griffin learned from talking to McCord and Devin Brown before the Peach Bowl 15:20: How much of a factor will running ability be in the quarterback competition? 18:36: Tristan Gebbia’s addition is a depth move that provides insurance for a possible future transfer 20:42: A look at the draft stock for each of Ohio State’s 14 declared NFL draft prospects 30:42: Kamryn Babb is stepping away from football, but he’ll always have a moment to remember 33:14: No official word from Tyler Friday, Josh Proctor and Palaie Gaoteote, but it looks unlikely they’ll return 35:45: How many Buckeyes will be drafted this year? Setting the over/under at nine 36:45: Luke Wypler’s decision to leave makes Matt Jones the most important returning draft-eligible Buckeye 41:00: It’s good news Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers are returning, even though Ohio State needs to find a role for C.J. Hicks if he’s ready 43:43: It’s also good that Lathan Ransom is returning even though Sonny Styles and Kye Stokes are promising 46:05: Retention and recruiting two likely factors in Brian Hartline getting the OC nod over Justin Frye 49:44: No other staff changes appear imminent, though Larry Johnson and Parker Fleming are on expiring contracts 51:10: Should Ryan Day delegate playcalling duties to Hartline? There’s arguments for both sides 52:20: Kevin Warren will be most remembered for the COVID year, but his impact on Big Ten will live on through USC and UCLA 55:36: Ohio State men’s basketball has gone from a major Big Ten contender to an NCAA Tournament bubble team in just two weeks 59:28: It’s not time to write this team off yet, but the Buckeyes need to start winning some close games 1:02:09: Ohio State isn’t getting enough production from its transfers and its bench 1:04:26: Women’s basketball now ranked second in the country, but two huge tests loom next week

The 2023 college football offseason is officially underway, and the outlook for Ohio State’s roster next season is starting to become more clear. The 2022 college football season officially ended Monday night with Georgia’s 65-7 shellacking of TCU in the national championship game, and we start this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays by sharing our reactions to Monday night’s blowout. We can’t help but think Ohio State would be celebrating a national title right now if a couple more plays had gone its way in the Peach Bowl, and the Bulldogs’ performance against the Horned Frogs certainly makes the Buckeyes’ performance against Georgia look more impressive – though we (or at least Dan) don’t disagree with Ohio State being fourth in the final rankings. With the 2022 season now over, though, it’s time to start looking ahead to 2023, and that’s what we spend most of this week’s show doing. First, we discuss the Buckeyes’ transfer addition of former Syracuse safety Ja’Had Carter and explain why Ohio State’s track record of limiting transfer attrition remains impressive. We also discuss the impact of Cade Stover, Miyan Williams and Xavier Johnson all opting to return to Ohio State for another season and the NFL draft decisions the Buckeyes are still waiting on. (Note: This episode of Real Pod Wednesdays was recorded before Luke Wypler and Matt Jones announced their NFL draft decisions.) Then, we do a rundown of how Ohio State’s 2023 roster currently stacks up at every position, taking a look at where the Buckeyes are loaded with depth and where they enter the offseason with significant question marks. Finally, we talk about the week that was for Ohio State basketball, why Ohio State’s lack of big men isn’t entirely a bad thing and how Brice Sensabaugh is looking more and more likely by the week to be a first-round NBA draft pick next year. The full rundown of topics discussed this week: 0:30: Picking TCU to cover was not our best prediction 1:42: It sure looks like Ohio State would have been the national champion if it beat Georgia 4:20: Ohio State’s defensive performance doesn’t look quite as awful after Georgia carved up TCU 8:17: Most 11W readers think Ohio State should be ranked second, but Dan agrees with the poll voters 10:12: Ohio State is behind Michigan and Penn State in some early 2023 rankings 13:26: Why Ja’Had Carter is a valuable addition for Ohio State’s secondary 15:50: It’s a win for Ohio State if it loses only five transfers during the first transfer window, and none of the outgoing transfers are shocking 20:25: Offensive tackle remains Ohio State’s biggest transfer need by far, but the Buckeyes might be out of options in this transfer window 22:00: Cade Stover and Miyan Williams are back, and don’t sleep on the impact of Xavier Johnson’s return 27:55: Kyle McCord vs. Devin Brown looks like a real competition, and Lincoln Kienholz has promise for the future 32:06: Ohio State has a lot of depth to manage at running back and wide receiver, but that’s a good problem to have 36:53: Stover’s return makes Ohio State’s tight end depth chart look a lot stronger 38:10: Ohio State has lots of bodies but few proven commodities on the offensive line 41:42: Defensive line features strong top-end talent but some depth questions 44:54: Buckeyes could return both starting linebackers, but could get a coverage boost from C.J. Hicks (or Sonny Styles) 47:26: Ohio State needs young cornerbacks to step up, but its talent at the position is promising 50:10: Plenty of candidates to fill vacated starting spots at safety 53:40: Zed Key’s absence exposes Ohio State’s lack of big man depth, but smaller roster could be more suited to win in March 57:42: Brice Sensabaugh is looking more and more like a one-and-done candidate with his consistent scoring 1:00:36: Ohio State women’s basketball is off to its best start ever and showing lots of resiliency

Ohio State’s 2022 season came to an end against Georgia, but the Buckeyes weren’t far off from advancing to the national championship game. That made Saturday’s loss in the Peach Bowl both devastating but also encouraging to a degree, as the fourth-seeded Buckeyes went toe-to-toe with the No. 1 seed and could be playing for a national championship on Monday if even one more play went their way. They proved they belonged in the CFP, leaving a far less negative vibe about the state of the program than after their previous loss against Michigan. Still, Ohio State isn’t a program that’s going to celebrate moral victories, leaving plenty to digest about why the Buckeyes came up short of their championship goals once again. A second straight poor defensive performance to conclude the season had a lot to do with that, so we spend a good amount of our time on this week’s Real Pod Wednesdays discussing what went wrong defensively and what Jim Knowles and the Buckeyes must do to fix that. With the 2022 season now complete, we discuss how the season should be graded as a whole and make our picks for Ohio State’s best player, biggest surprises and most memorable moments this year. Additionally, we talk about the possibility of Ryan Day giving up offensive play calling, Jim Harbaugh exploring NFL opportunities again, how we expect Monday night’s national championship game to play out and what we expect to see from Ohio State men’s basketball against No. 1-ranked Purdue on Thursday. The full rundown of topics covered on this week’s show: 0:54: The game’s outcome wasn’t shocking, but that doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking 5:53: Better vibes around Ryan Day, Ohio State even after the loss 7:28: Ohio State’s defense got exposed in the final two to three games of the year 10:40: Jim Knowles isn’t going anywhere, but he has work to do to earn his $1.9 million salary 15:34: There were a lot of close calls and bad breaks that swung the game in Georgia’s favor 16:50: Ohio State’s defensive personnel could use upgrades, but Knowles has done more with far less talent 20:00: Ohio State’s safeties weren‘t good enough down the stretch for the Buckeyes’ “safety-driven defense” 21:55: This year’s secondary was a disappointment, but no secondary looked great in the CFP semifinals 27:50: Ohio State’s offense, especially C.J. Stroud, played at a championship level against Georgia 32:48: C.J. Stroud isn’t one of Ohio State’s top two all-time quarterbacks, but he’s in the conversation after that 35:35: It’s logical for Ryan Day to give up play calling, but he has to pick the right offensive coordinator 42:43: Noah Ruggles shouldn’t be blamed for Ohio State’s loss 46:04: Jayden Fielding has a bigger leg than Ruggles, but asking him to kick a game-winning field goal would have been a tough call 48:24: 54% of Eleven Warriors readers gave Ohio State’s season a B grade, and that makes sense 51:34: We both agree Marvin Harrison Jr. was Ohio State’s best player this season 53:12: Revolving door at running back, Tommy Eichenberg’s rise among biggest surprises of 2022 54:49: Kamryn Babb’s catch, J.T. Tuimoloau at Penn State among year’s most memorable moments 57:44: What we make of the latest Jim Harbaugh-to-NFL rumors 1:00:34: Why we think Georgia will win but TCU will cover in the national championship game 1:03:36: This year’s semifinals were the best pair of games in the CFP era 1:04:10: How Purdue will test Ohio State and how the Buckeyes could beat the Boilermakers 1:09:02: Ohio State women’s basketball has now tied its best start in program history

Five weeks after its loss to Michigan, Ohio State will finally return to the field to play for a national championship game berth when it faces Georgia in the Peach Bowl on Saturday. Having already been in Atlanta for a couple of days for the start of bowl week, Dan and Griffin share their final thoughts entering the game, break down what Ohio State must do well and who must step up on both sides of the ball and make their predictions for whether the Buckeyes actually will beat the Bulldogs on this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays. A rundown of topics we discuss on our Peach Bowl preview edition of RPW: 0:42: Georgia beat writers don’t think a Bulldog win is a sure bet 2:46: Beating Georgia will be tough, but we think the Buckeyes will at least be competitive 3:51: It feels like the Buckeyes are playing with house money (kinda), which could be a good thing for Ohio State 5:37: Vibes from the first two days of interviews (Note: This podcast was recorded before Wednesday’s interview sessions) 8:51: Miyan Williams is expected to play, but Chip Trayanum’s appearance at Tuesday interviews hints at him playing an increased role 12:54: Ohio State is embracing the underdog role, and it’s one that’s often suited the Buckeyes well 16:06: Georgia’s defense is excellent, and because of far more than just Jalen Carter 19:04: Nothing’s going to come easy for Ohio State’s offense, but it shouldn’t have to 20:43: This is another legacy-defining game for C.J. Stroud 24:04: Ryan Day can shut down the criticism of the last five weeks – or it will just grow louder 25:49: What constitutes a good day for Ohio State’s offense? How many points the Buckeyes need to score 28:17: Luke Wypler, Cade Stover, Julian Fleming among Buckeyes who need to step up on offense 30:46: Ohio State’s offense needs to do what it does best and attack downfield 32:51: Georgia’s offense is similar to Michigan, so the Buckeyes need to have a better defensive game plan 38:20: Georgia’s offense might give Ohio State more trouble than its defense 39:41: Jim Knowles must find correct balance between scheming for Georgia and playing to Ohio State’s strengths 41:57: What the Buckeyes must hold Georgia to on the scoreboard to have a good chance to win 44:10: Ohio State’s defensive line must make its mark on the game like it did in OSU’s last CFP win 45:43: Linebackers and safeties will be crucial in pass coverage 48:08: Score predictions for Saturday’s game (and why Dan picking Georgia might be good news) 53:02: Why we think a rematch of The Game is imminent if Ohio State wins

It’s National Signing Day, which means we’re focused on recruiting and how Ohio State is building for the future on this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays. Eleven Warriors recruiting analyst Garrick Hodge for the entirety of this week’s episode as we start out by looking at Ohio State’s new class of signees for the 2023 recruiting class, then take a look ahead to the 2024 class and discuss the impact of Dylan Raiola’s decommitment on the Buckeyes’ future at quarterback. We also talk about the roster additions Ohio State is still trying to make through the transfer portal. (Disclaimer: This podcast was recorded on Tuesday afternoon, so some players referenced may not yet be officially signed.) Later in the show, we talk about what we learned from talking to 20 different Ohio State players at last week’s on-campus media day as we continue to look ahead to Ohio State’s College Football Playoff matchup with Georgia at the Peach Bowl, which is now only 10 days away. Finally, we spend a few minutes discussing Ohio State men’s basketball’s overtime loss to North Carolina and take stock of how the Buckeyes fared in non-conference play. The full rundown of everything we discussed on this week’s show: 0:54: Well wishes for Avery Henry 2:06: Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class is good but not great by Ohio State standards 7:18: Predicting which new signees will make the biggest immediate impact 12:00: It’s the first time in seven years Ohio State has only signed one five-star recruit 13:10: Ohio State achieved one key objective by locking down the state’s top talent 14:44: Predicting which lower-ranked prospects will end up becoming Ohio State stars 18:07: What Lincoln Kienholz will bring to Ohio State’s quarterback room 21:10: The impact of losing Dylan Raiola and how Ohio State moves forward without him in 2024 27:02: Jeremiah Smith continues Ohio State’s run of five-star wide receiver commitments, and he might be the best one yet 30:25: Even without Raiola, Ohio State’s 2024 class is off to a promising start with one year to go 33:43: Offensive tackle is clearly Ohio State’s top priority in the transfer portal 37:33: Buckeyes are also looking at tight ends and cornerbacks, but they can be more selective there 40:20: There will likely be more transfer movement after the season ends, but the coaches probably have a good idea of who else will leave 42:03: The biggest things we learned from Ohio State players at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center last week 48:30: Not everyone loved C.J. Stroud’s comments last week, but we appreciate his candor 53:40: Steele Chambers made us laugh, and we agree Marvin Harrison Jr. should’ve won the Biletnikoff 58:00: Chris Holtmann’s teams have had a reputation for struggling to finish games, and it happened again vs. UNC 1:00:58: Brice Sensabaugh might already be Ohio State’s best player 1:03:16: Ohio State’s non-conference play has been decent, but it won’t give the Buckeyes much of a résumé boost in March

At the exact halfway point between Ohio State’s regular-season finale against Michigan and the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff game against Georgia, we thought today would be the perfect time to have Kyle Jones on Real Pod Wednesdays to break down what happened against the Wolverines and what could happen against the Bulldogs. Eleven Warriors’ scheme expert joins us right from the jump of this week’s episode to dive into more than 30 minutes of X’s and O’s chatter, and we don’t beat around the bush, starting right off the bat with a conversation about what didn’t work in the loss to Michigan and why Ohio State used the game plan it did against the Wolverines. We also discuss whether Ryan Day should (and why he probably won’t) give up offensive play calling and evaluate the overall progress of Ohio State’s defense in Jim Knowles’ first year before looking ahead to the impending matchup with Georgia and assessing the Buckeyes’ chances of beating the Bulldogs. In the second half of the show, Dan and Griffin discuss all of the other headlines surrounding Ohio State football this week including the hiring of Keenan Bailey as tight ends coach, why Gene Smith felt compelled to make a statement calling for “additional support” of NIL collectives and what questions remain for Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class with one week to go until the early signing period. The rundown of topics discussed on this week’s show: 0:55: Most of Ohio State’s game plan against Michigan was actually sound despite the results 6:58: Ohio State’s offense played not to lose, which it can’t do in big games 10:00: It doesn’t look like Ryan Day will give up play calling, but there’s a case that he should 15:27: Jim Knowles’ defensive turnaround was always going to be a multi-year process 17:45: Ohio State ran a different defensive scheme against Michigan rather than being who it’s been all year 19:12: Georgia is a great team, but its film isn’t as impressive as many of Ohio State’s previous CFP opponents 22:24: Ohio State’s receivers should have opportunities to make plays against Georgia, but they have to take advantage 25:25: Georgia’s offense isn’t necessarily spectacular in any area, but it’s extremely well-coached 28:33: Ohio State must make Georgia throw deep and must know where Jalen Carter is at all times 31:59: The Buckeyes are capable of beating Georgia, but they can’t play the way they did down the stretch 33:50: Keenan Bailey’s promotion is well-deserved 35:47: Ohio State won’t name a new offensive coordinator until after the season, but an internal promotion appears likely 38:15: Most of Tuesday’s Ryan Day press conference wasn’t about Georgia, which speaks to how crazy December is 42:58: Ryan Day says NIL has become “the conversation” among recruits, and it’s telling that Gene Smith felt the need to make a statement 47:20: Fans deserve more answers about where the NIL collective money is going, and they don’t deserve guilt trips if they don’t donate 53:47: Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class could use another jolt of star power 57:25: Marvin Harrison Jr. should have won the Biletnikoff Award, but being a unanimous All-American ain’t bad 58:56: C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields and Dwayne Haskins are three of Ohio State’s best quarterbacks ever, but none will have a tree in Buckeye Grove 1:00:03: Ohio State’s win over Rutgers was still a good win even if Tanner Holden’s three shouldn’t have counted 1:02:22: The Buckeyes might actually be favored to beat North Carolina on Saturday

Ohio State will make its first-ever trip to the Peach Bowl when it faces Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal. For a look at what awaits the Buckeyes and everyone else who makes the trip to Atlanta, Peach Bowl CEO Gary Stokan joins the show to talk about what it means for the Peach Bowl to finally host Ohio State, what makes the Peach Bowl unique and where fans need to visit while they’re in town for the game. That interview starts at the 30-minute mark of the show. Before that, though, we start by digging into the on-field matchup that awaits the Buckeyes with a first look at the tough test they’ll face from the No. 1 seed Bulldogs and what Ohio State will need to do to have a chance to upset Georgia and advance to the national championship game. This week’s Real Pod Wednesdays also includes discussions on Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s decision not to play in the College Football Playoff and how that impacts Ohio State’s chances of beating Georgia, Kevin Wilson’s departure and how the Buckeyes could replace him and a few players who entered the transfer portal over the last two days that could be Ohio State targets. A full rundown of the topics we talk about this week: 1:10: The College Football Playoff selection committee got the seeding right 5:14: Georgia is the toughest possible matchup, but Ohio State may be able to play looser than a Michigan rematch 14:50: It’s disappointing that we’ll never get to see a fully healthy Jaxon Smith-Njigba this season, but the Buckeyes need to find a way to make up for it if they’re going to beat Georgia 20:33: Ryan Day’s goal of scoring 49+ points against Georgia is very lofty, but it’s good he has that mindset 24:13: Georgia’s defense gets the attention, but its offense is really good, too 26:57: Georgia should be the favorite, but Ohio State is capable of winning if everything comes together 30:00: Peach Bowl CEO Gary Stokan discusses excitement to host Ohio State for first time 35:04: The Peach Bowl could break an attendance record, and Stokan expects a big Ohio State fan turnout 42:04: How Ohio State could replace Kevin Wilson as offensive coordinator 47:56: Keenan Bailey is a strong candidate to take Wilson’s place on staff as tight ends coach 50:55: Fentrell Cypress, Dasan McCullough among transfer portal names to watch for Ohio State 53:38: Jaylen Johnson and Teradja Mitchell are only Ohio State’s outgoing transfers so far, but there will surely be more to come after the CFP 58:16: C.J. Stroud probably isn’t going to win the Heisman Trophy, but Marvin Harrison Jr. deserves the Biletnikoff Award 1:04:10: Both Ohio State basketball teams are showing promise and Ohio State women’s volleyball plays in the Sweet 16 this week

For the second year in a row, Ohio State and its fans are left trying to figure out what went wrong against Michigan. While Michigan didn’t dominate in one phase of the game quite the way it did in the run game in 2021, the Wolverines ended up beating the Buckeyes by an even bigger margin this year as they scored five touchdowns of 45-plus yards while Ohio State mustered only three points of its own in the second half. Why did Saturday’s game snowball away from the Buckeyes and how do they move forward from another devastating loss to their rivals? And how good of a chance does Ohio State have to still make the College Football Playoff? We assess all of that on this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays, plus spend a few minutes reviewing Ohio State basketball’s performance at the Maui Invitational and previewing Wednesday night’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge clash with Duke. A rundown of topics discussed on this week’s show: 1:25: There were excuses for last year’s loss, but there’s no good excuses this year 3:30: Ryan Day talks about responding when it gets punched in the mouth, but that didn’t happen 5:15: We had concerns about Ohio State’s pass defense all year long, and it cost them against Michigan 6:10: Jim Knowles has been lauded for his aggressiveness, but he overdid it in this game 9:32: J.J. McCarthy continues the trend of mobile quarterbacks giving Ohio State problems 12:39: Griffin had no confidence Ohio State’s offense would score in the second half, which should never be the case with an offense this talented 14:43: We shouldn’t have scoffed at Ryan Day giving up play-calling duties, and it’s probably time now 17:23: Ohio State missed Jaxon Smith-Njigba throughout the second half of the season, especially in The Game 18:40: Michigan consistently dropped seven or more defenders in coverage, and Ohio State struggled to adjust 19:45: C.J. Stroud may not have been fully healthy, but his lack of running hurt Ohio State’s offense 22:04: Ohio State’s rushing offense wasn’t the problem, but the Buckeyes never fully committed to it 25:21: C.J. Stroud is one of Ohio State’s greatest passers ever, but his résumé lacks signature wins 29:53: Jim Harbaugh quickly went from a laughingstock to having Ohio State’s number 31:05: This is the first time (yes, we’re young) we’ve really felt like Michigan controls the rivalry 32:20: Beating Michigan next year won’t be any easier with Ohio State set to lose key players 34:55: It’s harder to pinpoint what Ohio State needs to change this year than it was last year 36:00: Ohio State is supposed to bring its A-game against Michigan, but it hasn’t for two years 37:53: Ohio State is recruiting more highly touted players than Michigan, but it’s not yielding results in The Game 41:13: Ryan Day isn’t getting fired this year and probably not next year either, but the pressure is turning up 45:55: Ohio State will probably make the College Football Playoff if USC loses (and maybe if TCU loses) 51:08: It was a good week for the basketball Buckeyes in Maui, especially for Justice Sueing 52:07: Brice Sensabaugh might already be on the Malaki Branham one-and-done track 56:37: Fellow true freshman Bruce Thornton is also hitting his stride at point guard 57:37: Will Ohio State beat Duke? One of us says yes, one of us says no 58:55: Ohio State women’s basketball is dominating but faces its own big test Wednesday against Louisville

It’s finally time for The Game we’ve all been waiting for. Following a full year of buildup for Ohio State’s shot at revenge after last year’s loss in Ann Arbor, the Buckeyes will look to prove they’re a different team than they were a year ago when they host Michigan at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. And the stakes couldn’t be higher, as the second-ranked Buckeyes and third-ranked Wolverines both enter the game with 11-0 records with a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and a likely College Football Playoff berth on the line. As we always do, we start this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays by looking back at Ohio State’s game from the previous weekend – a game that was more competitive than anticipated at Maryland. All of our analysis regarding the 43-30 win in College Park and the weekend that was in college football, though, ties back into the season-defining game to come Saturday. In the second half of the podcast, we turn our full attention toward this week’s game and discuss why this is the most important game of Ryan Day’s career and why we believe Ohio State should have a slight advantage in this year’s game – even though we both expect a one-score game that comes down to which team can make the clutch plays in the fourth quarter. The full rundown of topics we’re discussing this week: 0:14: It’s the week we’ve all been waiting for, and it doesn’t get any bigger than this 1:49: Ohio State gets a bigger scare from Maryland than we expected, but that shouldn’t come as a shock 3:57: Who we expect to play the most at running back against Michigan after Dallan Hayden’s 146-yard, three-touchdown game against Maryland 11:53: Dawand Jones showed why he’s Ohio State’s starting right tackle, but OSU could have a tough decision to make at right guard 14:27: Lathan Ransom and Tommy Eichenberg continue to play like All-Americans despite injuries 16:46: Zach Harrison continues to play the best football of his career 18:48: The passing defense remains Ohio State’s biggest concern entering the biggest games of the year 22:45: Ohio State’s defense continues to make plays in clutch moments, which is a reason for optimism this week 23:52: How Ohio State plays the week before The Game isn‘t predictive of how Ohio State will play in The Game – and none of the top teams looked great last weekend 29:00: We don’t know who will win this game – and that’s the way it should be in this rivalry 30:12: Three reasons why Dan is 60% confident Ohio State will beat Michigan 32:14: Both teams have injuries at running back, but that hurts Michigan more than Ohio State 33:19: Why this is the most important game of Ryan Day’s tenure as Ohio State’s head coach 36:40: Michigan’s offensive line will give Ohio State’s run defense its biggest challenge of the year 37:42: Michigan’s defense is elite, but it has faced very little top competition 39:50: Neither team has a clear-cut advantage on either side of the ball 41:20: A legacy-defining game for C.J. Stroud, who has his chance for a Heisman Moment 44:47: Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s status for this week remains a mystery, though signs haven’t been promising 48:20: The Buckeyes we think will step up in a big way in The Game 51:19: If Ohio State wins, will Ryan Day issue a response to Jim Harbaugh’s “third base” trash talk? 53:28: We’ll see a bunch of notable Buckeyes play their final home game Saturday 56:59: Our score predictions for The Game – and why the only score that matters is who wins

We had to start by talking about Kamryn Babb’s emotional touchdown, a moment that epitomized the brotherhood Ohio State often talks about. But Babb was far from the only Buckeye who impressed us against the Hoosiers, as we were also struck by Xavier Johnson’s playmaking ability, Marvin Harrison Jr.’s latest spectacular catch and Lathan Ransom’s continued elite play among other standouts. We also address the one big concern coming out of this past weekend’s game – the health of Ohio State’s running back room – and discuss whether Maryland will present any real threat to the Buckeyes this weekend, who we think we will emerge as the winner of the Big Ten West and why Ohio State women’s basketball and women’s volleyball are two other Buckeye sports teams you should be paying attention to right now. A rundown of the many topics we’re talking about this week: 1:20: Why Kamryn Babb’s touchdown was so special 7:44: Running back health is a major concern, though there are reasons to be optimistic 11:24: Xavier Johnson is more than just a feel-good story, he’s a real weapon 14:53: Which Eleven Warriors staff member would be the best emergency running back? (Neither of us) 17:55: Should Ohio State add another running back to its 2023 recruiting class? 19:39: Short-yardage running remains an issue. Will the Buckeyes have to pass in those spots vs. Michigan? 23:20: Marvin Harrison Jr. builds his case for being the nation’s best receiver – and Ohio State’s best player 27:20: Josh Fryar had a strong first start, but that doesn’t mean he should replace Dawand Jones 29:40: Lathan Ransom and Ronnie Hickman are both playing at an elite level at safety 32:36: It sounds like Ty Hamilton will continue to be a starter, partially because Mike Hall is banged up 34:32: Ohio State’s cornerback unit appears to be in the best place it’s been all season 36:36: Tommy Eichenberg is on his way to being an All-American linebacker 37:16: Jack Sawyer plays well, but the Jack linebacker package will likely remain situational 41:11: Maryland’s recent struggles make this week’s game look far less likely to be a trap game, but it’s still a step up in competition 49:55: Purdue looks well-positioned to win the Big Ten West 52:42: Why TCU, Tennessee and USC join Georgia and Ohio State in our College Football Playoff predictions 57:45: Zed Key’s dominance stood out in Ohio State men’s basketball’s win over Charleston Southern 59:57: Ohio State women’s basketball and women’s volleyball look like Final Four contenders

That’s the big question we seek to answer on this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays. We were in Evanston on Saturday and experienced firsthand just how windy it was, so we know it’s no excuse to say the weather had a major impact on the game. Still, there are some valid concerns to be raised by the Buckeyes’ struggles to pull away from Northwestern – most notably, the run game struggling for the third week in a row and the potential for Ohio State to have to play in more bad weather as November continues. There were also positives to take away from Saturday’s game, though – namely, C.J. Stroud showing he can be a weapon with his legs if and when Ohio State needs him to be – and we think it’s important to keep a lackluster performance in perspective, as the Buckeyes are still the only team in the country that’s won every game it’s played this season by double digits. The full rundown of what we’re talking about on this week’s show, in which we also preview the upcoming game against Indiana, discuss the outlook of the College Football Playoff race after losses by Tennessee, Clemson and Alabama and share our takeaways from Ohio State men’s basketball’s season-opening win over Robert Morris: 0:21: Admittedly, we underestimated just how bad the weather would be, but it had a big impact on the game 4:26: What we make of another underwhelming day for Ohio State’s rushing offense 11:07: Ryan Day admits he doesn’t usually want C.J. Stroud to run – but he might want Michigan to hear that 19:25: Slow starts another troubling trend Ohio State’s offense must overcome 21:11: Ohio State holds Northwestern to seven points, though its defense showed some vulnerabilities 25:24: J.T. Tuimoloau, Taron Vincent, Ronnie Hickman, Jesse Mirco among top performers vs. Northwestern 29:27: Giving credit where due – Northwestern put up a much better fight than we expected 32:04: Ohio State is still undefeated, OSU still has the nation’s No. 1 offense and C.J. Stroud is still the Heisman frontrunner 34:55: A tight game is a wake-up call for Ohio State not to look past its next two games before Michigan 36:05: Why we think Ohio State will blow out Indiana this week 42:20: How this past weekend changed the College Football Playoff race 46:58: Where the Ohio State/Michigan loser might fit into a hierarchy of one-loss teams 51:06: Updated CFP picks 53:59: Justice Sueing and Zed Key start the season strong as Ohio State men’s basketball’s best players 57:48: Isaac Likekele could be a Kyle Young-esque “glue guy” for this year’s Buckeyes 1:02:00: Ups and downs for Ohio State’s freshmen in game one

Penn State gave Ohio State a little bit more trouble than we expected, which raised some concerns about the Buckeyes’ national championship hopes even though there was still plenty to like. Most importantly, Ohio State found a way to beat Penn State for the sixth year in a row, earning a 44-31 win in a series that has been decided by 13 points or fewer in seven straight seasons. J.T. Tuimoloau and Marvin Harrison Jr. were both spectacular, and the Buckeyes improved to 8-0 with the win, setting them up to earn the No. 2 spot in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. The Buckeyes faced more adversity against Penn State than they had all year, though, as they needed a fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Nittany Lions. Against the best competition Ohio State had faced all season, the Buckeyes’ imperfections were on display as both their rushing offense and passing defense struggled. We discuss all of that on this week’s show along with previewing this week’s game against Northwestern and sharing our takeaways from Ohio State men’s basketball’s exhibition game against Chaminade. The rundown of topics discussed this week: 0:17: The win didn’t come easy for Ohio State, but the Buckeyes showed how quickly they can turn a game around 7:38: Marvin Harrison Jr. makes his case for being the best wide receiver in the country 11:50: The rise of Farmer Gronk continues 14:17: Ohio State’s run game struggles for a second straight game, making it a concern that can’t be ignored 18:09: Why the Buckeyes’ passing defense remains their biggest question mark 24:55: Ryan Day draws scrutiny for play calling, leaving points on the table at end of the first half 30:51: Injuries to key players made a bigger impact against tougher competition 34:09: J.T. Tuimoloau had one of the best individual defensive performances we’ve ever seen 37:26: The last two weeks showed Ohio State has more than just one “alpha dog” on the defensive line 40:07: Ohio State should blow out Northwestern because Northwestern is really bad 44:36: The Buckeyes’ No. 2 ranking shows how much they’ve impressed the CFP selection committee so far 48:02: Why we both think Tennessee can beat Georgia this weekend 50:26: Could we see an upset in Alabama at LSU or Clemson at Notre Dame? 54:28: Biggest takeaways from the Ohio State men’s basketball exhibition game

Ohio State wasn’t perfect against Iowa, but its defense sure came close. Even though the Buckeyes didn’t have their best offensive day against Iowa, they still scored more points than a Kirk Ferentz-led Hawkeye team has ever allowed. Given that, the good certainly far outweighed the bad in Ohio State’s 54-10 win over Iowa, especially on defense – where Dan’s prediction that the defense would outscore Iowa’s offense came true – though there are reasonable questions to be asked about Ohio State’s rushing offense after the Buckeyes struggled in that regard on Saturday. We spend the first half of this week’s show sharing our thoughts on the Buckeyes’ performance against the Hawkeyes before looking ahead to the biggest game of the season to date this week at Penn State. How much of a threat do the Nittany Lions really pose? We discuss the ways in which Penn State will challenge Ohio State and where the Buckeyes should have the advantage. Finally, with less than two weeks to go until the start of basketball season, we draft dueling lineups from the Ohio State men’s basketball team for a hypothetical head-to-head game of Buckeyes vs. Buckeyes. The full rundown of what we’re talking about this week: 0:00: A new introduction courtesy of Jim Knowles 0:57: We expected the defense to dominate Iowa, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t impressive 4:47: Is Zach Harrison another alpha dog on the defensive line? He sure played like one Saturday 8:24: Ohio State’s new defensive coaches are getting the best out of players like Harrison, Tommy Eichenberg and Lathan Ransom 11:49: Denzel Burke seems to have turned a corner in Ohio State’s last two games 13:27: Ohio State had one of its worst running games in the last decade against Iowa 17:21: Does C.J. Stroud need to run the ball more to keep defenses honest? Ryan Day might not want him to 22:07: Jaxon Smith-Njigba wants to play as much as he can, but he needs to be healthy to actually help 28:31: Caden Curry goes from playing high school defensive tackle to covering kickoffs in one year 29:42: Penn State’s performance against Minnesota showed we can’t write off the Nittany Lions, particularly their passing offense 34:15: Penn State’s secondary might be the best Ohio State has faced this year 36:49: The Nittany Lions’ run defense looks vulnerable to a bounceback performance for Ohio State’s rushing offense 38:29: Why we both think Ohio State will cover against Penn State (with nearly identical score predictions) 41:31: Why we’re both currently picking Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson and another SEC team to make CFP 47:10: Where Dan thinks Ohio State will be in the initial CFP rankings if it beats Penn State (which might make Buckeye fans mad) 48:13: Drafting dueling lineups from the Ohio State men’s basketball team

It was a quiet weekend for Ohio State football, but it certainly wasn’t a quiet weekend across college football. No Buckeye game gave us the opportunity to watch many of college football’s other top teams play on an eventful Saturday in which Tennessee took down Alabama, Michigan blew out Penn State and Utah upset USC. We spend the first half of this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays talking about our observations from the weekend, including why Tennessee might present the most dangerous hypothetical College Football Playoff matchup for Ohio State and why we think it’s likely both the Buckeyes and Wolverines will bring 11-0 records into The Game. In the second half of the show, we talk about the Buckeyes’ upcoming game against Iowa and why we’re both putting our money on the under, then project what Ohio State’s men’s basketball starting lineup will look like this season after watching the Buckeyes practice and attending Big Ten Media Days last week. A rundown of the main topics we’re discussing this week: 1:05: Why Tennessee might be the toughest matchup for Ohio State of any potential CFP opponent 7:30: Alabama’s lack of discipline is surprising, and it might keep the Crimson Tide out of this year’s CFP 10:48: Michigan is looking like Ohio State’s biggest test of the regular season by far 17:30: Maryland might be Ohio State’s second-biggest test (because Penn State didn’t look good in Ann Arbor) 22:04: Illinois looks like the team to beat in the Big Ten West 24:52: Our current CFP picks and why another SEC vs. Big Ten debate could be on the horizon 32:00: Iowa’s offense is terrible, but the defense will give Ohio State’s offense a legitimate test 37:20: Score predictions: Only one of us thinks the Buckeyes will cover, but we‘re both taking the under 40:16: What stood out to us at Ohio State basketball’s open practice and Big Ten Media Days last week 50:14: Projecting who will start for Ohio State men’s basketball this season 55:33: Ohio State women’s basketball should be a real contender this year

Ohio State looked like a national championship-caliber team during the first half of the regular season. The Buckeyes have been the most dominant team in college football so far this year, winning all six games before their bye week by an average of 33.2 points, the highest in the country. Ohio State currently ranks in the top 15 nationally in scoring offense (1st), total offense (2nd), passing offense (14th), rushing offense (14th), total defense (7th), scoring defense (15th), passing defense (8th) and rushing defense (15th). As a result, Ohio State has emerged as the betting favorite to win this year’s national championship, and based on what we’ve seen so far this season, we believe there’s a great chance the Buckeyes will be hoisting the national championship trophy at the end of the year. Only one of us went as far as to predict the Buckeyes will actually win it all, and our one reservation about Ohio State’s early success is the Buckeyes haven’t played anyone that’s currently a top-25 team. But we both agree that Ohio State should be the No. 1-ranked team in the country right now and that the Buckeyes appear capable of beating anyone they play in 2022. The rundown of what we talked about this week: 1:10: Ohio State cruises to another blowout win in its first road game of the year at Michigan State 3:07: C.J. Stroud becomes the clear-cut Heisman favorite after another fantastic performance 6:48: Marvin Harrison Jr. is well on his way to becoming one of Ohio State’s all-time great wide receivers 9:32: Emeka Egbuka is having a spectacular season, too, and Julian Fleming continues to impress 12:30: TreVeyon Henderson looked motivated to remind everyone what he can do 18:11: Ohio State got creative in the run game without Miyan Williams, and Xavier Johnson looked legit at RB 21:11: The defensive line dominated in East Lansing, especially Mike Hall on his seven snaps 26:10: Cornerback remains a position of concern halfway through the season 30:25: Safeties have been the unsung heroes of Ohio State’s defense 33:15: Why Dan now believes Ohio State will win the national championship 38:12: Why Griffin isn’t quite ready to say the Buckeyes will win it all 45:20: Midseason Superlatives: Most impressive players, biggest surprises and who needs to step up most 52:39: It’s a great weekend to watch some teams other than Ohio State play college football

It no longer feels like a hot take to say Miyan Williams is Ohio State’s best running back. Williams hasn’t just been Ohio State’s best running back this season, he’s been one of the best running backs in college football this year. TreVeyon Henderson remains great, too, but after Williams’ 189-yard, five-touchdown performance against Rutgers, we’ve become increasingly convinced that the Cincinnatian is Ohio State’s RB1 right now. That’s just one of many topics we cover on this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays as we also share our thoughts on Jesse Mirco’s run and the subsequent Ryan Day/Greg Schiano confrontation that got everyone talking, standout performances by Steele Chambers and Zach Harrison, Michigan State’s struggles going into this week’s game against Ohio State, the surprising firing of Paul Chryst and the mess that is the Big Ten West. The rundown of the topics discussed on this week’s show: 0:16: Ohio State vs. Rutgers wasn’t the most thrilling game we’ve ever watched, but it was pretty much what we expected 1:16: The case for Miyan Williams being Ohio State’s best running back and one of the best running backs in the entire country 7:46: Why it’s dumb for anyone to be mad about Jesse Mirco running instead of punting – or running up the score in general 16:15: Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg are thriving at linebacker 20:11: Zach Harrison shows he can be a difference-maker as a situational defensive tackle 24:04: Ohio State’s red zone play calling was a little weird, but you can’t complain about going 5-for-5 28:36: Should Ohio State be getting the backups more playing time in blowouts? 30:52: A look at what’s gone wrong for Michigan State as the Spartans have lost three straight games 35:37: Score predictions for Saturday’s game in East Lansing 38:29: We were shocked Wisconsin fired Paul Chryst so soon, but we understand why it happened 44:30: The Big Ten West is struggling, and the Big Ten is probably wishing it eliminated divisions before this season 47:50: Ohio State is now the betting favorite to win the national championship, but still third in the polls 53:14: A Clemson/USC swap in our College Football Playoff picks – and how Ohio State and Michigan could both make the CFP 57:07: Dan explains what his day covering an Ohio State football game is like 1:02:31: Why we expect Brice Sensabaugh to win the Ohio State basketball dunk contest this week

While both of us expected Wisconsin’s defense to make life a little more difficult for Ohio State’s offense than Toledo could, the Buckeyes kept things rolling against the Badgers, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions to race out to a 28-0 lead before ultimately cruising to a 52-21 victory. There were no shortage of standout performers for the Buckeyes in Saturday night’s conference opener, from Miyan Williams, Cade Stover and the entire run-blocking unit on offense to Jyaire Brown, JK Johnson, Tanner McCalister and Tommy Eichenberg on defense. Of course, there are still a couple of lingering health-related questions for the Buckeyes after star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and starting cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Cameron Brown both missed the game with injuries. We talk about all of that in the first 40 minutes of this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays, then look ahead to this week’s game against Rutgers, make our one-month-in picks for who will make the College Football Playoff and share our takeaways from Monday’s Ohio State basketball media day. The full rundown of what we’re talking about this week: 0:50: Ohio State exceeds our expectations again with a dominant offensive performance 5:25: Miyan Williams might be Ohio State’s best running back, and that’s no knock on TreVeyon Henderson 10:42: Ohio State’s run blocking has been great, and that’s a credit to Justin Frye, his offensive line, the tight ends and the wide receivers 14:50: Farmer Gronk is showing the value of actually throwing to the tight end 22:15: Ohio State needs to be cautious with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but don’t assume this is a Nick Bosa situation 30:37: Jyaire Brown and JK Johnson stepped up nicely at cornerback 34:52: The pass defense still hasn’t really been tested, and it’s probably going to be a while before it actually is 37:38: Tanner McCalister shows why Ohio State brought him in as a transfer 39:31: Tommy Eichenberg continues to establish himself as Ohio State’s best defensive player 41:55: Why we‘re expecting another blowout win vs. Rutgers 48:45: Should Ohio State be ranked higher than third in the polls? 51:07: Our picks to make the College Football Playoff one month into the season 53:58: Minnesota looks like the Big Ten West frontrunner, and Michigan State might be this year’s Indiana 58:43: What we learned from Ohio State men’s basketball media day 1:09:20: Dan and Griffin compliment players chosen by a random number generator

Ohio State’s offense couldn’t have been much more impressive in its win over Toledo. The Buckeyes dominated by both air and ground against the Rockets, scoring 77 points on 763 yards – the second-highest total in school history. In the process, Ohio State went from being ranked 40th in the country to total offense to leading the entire country in yards per game, while Toledo plummed from fourth to 80th in total defense. We begin this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays by discussing all the ways Ohio State’s offense impressed us against Toledo. Later in the show, we talk about why we aren’t overly concerned with how the Buckeyes performed on defense – even though Jim Knowles wasn’t happy about it – before turning the page to Wisconsin, which we believe will present a similar matchup for the Buckeyes this week as Notre Dame did in the season opener (which could be a good thing). Finally, we talk about our takeaways from the weekend that was elsewhere in the Big Ten and break down what the commitment of Taison Chatman means for Ohio State men’s basketball recruiting class of 2023. The full rundown of what we’re talking about this week: 0:45: How Ohio State’s offense made a statement against Toledo 2:24: There were no shortage of standouts among Ohio State’s offensive players, and the coaches were in their bag 4:09: Ohio State’s depth of receiving weapons was on full display, but don’t discount the impact Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s presence made 9:15: Dallan Hayden and TC Caffey turn Ohio State’s running back depth from a concern into a strength 16:56: The offensive line was great too, especially Dawand Jones 18:25: Ohio State’s defense struggled to contain Dequan Finn, but it wasn’t awful 21:12: Will Graham Mertz be the best quarterback Ohio State has played? We’d take Finn 22:02: Lingering questions about Ohio State’s passing defense, particularly at cornerback 26:48: Javontae Jean-Baptiste and other defensive standouts against Toledo 32:30: Similarities between this week’s game against Wisconsin and the season opener vs. Notre Dame 34:20: Stopping Braelon Allen will be a challenge, but the Buckeyes have been dominant against running backs so far 37:52: Wisconsin’s defense is good, but will injuries in the secondary doom the Badgers? 40:45: Ryan Day says injured players will return this week, but Ohio State fans are understandably skeptical 44:30: Why one of us thinks Ohio State will cover against Wisconsin, and one of us doesn’t 46:58: Keon Keeley headlines another big recruiting weekend for Ohio State football 49:06: The Big Ten’s most impressive (Penn State, Minnesota) and disappointing (Michigan State, Northwestern) teams from Week 3 56:21: What Taison Chatman will bring to the Buckeyes and how he compares to decommit George Washington III 59:00: Why Chatman, not Bronny James, will likely be the final high school recruit in Ohio State’s 2023 class 1:00:54: Who we’re looking forward to talking to at next week’s Ohio State men’s basketball media day 1:04:26: Come see us at the Eleven Dubgate on Saturday

On this week’s Real Pod Wednesdays, we give our overall assessment of Ohio State’s 45-12 over the Red Wolves, which Buckeyes stood out in their second game of the season and why a wild second weekend of college football should serve as a reminder to appreciate what was ultimately a convincing win. We also look ahead to Saturday’s game against Toledo, which we think might also be at least a slightly more competitive game than the point spread suggests. A rundown of some of the many topics we talk about this week: 1:45: Grading the win over Arkansas State 3:54: Ohio State’s passing offense returns to form, showing how special it could be when Jaxon Smith-Njigba is healthy 7:25: Why it’s dumb to be miserable after a 33-point win (even though there are some things to clean up) 11:14: The defense hasn’t been fully tested yet, but it’s been excellent so far, especially in the red zone 14:03: Mike Hall is a star, but don’t discount the defensive ends’ role in helping him make plays 17:17: Denzel Burke’s slow start, what might be leading to that and why we think he will bounce back 21:27: Arkansas State might prove to be a better team than we thought 23:04: JK Johnson had a solid showing, but he still might be behind Jordan Hancock when healthy 25:15: Caden Curry, Dallan Hayden and Jyaire Brown among freshman standouts vs. Arkansas State 28:30: Cody Simon, Josh Proctor, Lathan Ransom, Gee Scott Jr., Mitch Rossi among under-the-radar standouts vs. Arkansas State 35:10: Why Toledo looks like a step up in competition from Arkansas State 43:50: Julian Fleming and Jaxon Smith-Njigba could both be back this week, but it’s important for Fleming to be on the field 46:23: Ohio State vs. Toledo score predictions 48:40: Why TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams will likely continue to split carries evenly 49:57: How Ohio State’s season-opening win loses some luster with Notre Dame’s loss to Marshall 53:45: Nebraska had no choice but to fire Scott Frost 55:46: It was a bad weekend all the way around for the Big Ten West 57:41: Michigan and Michigan State look like Ohio State’s top competition in the Big Ten 59:20: How our preseason confidence rankings Ohio State will win each game would change now 1:01:36: Ohio State should be ranked ahead of Alabama after Crimson Tide barely beat Texas