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Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 395 — “Course Correction” Hosts: Mark Rogers (OhioStateVOCFB) & Steve Helwagen (Bucknuts247) Date/Air: Tuesday, ~4 p.m. ET Focus: Ohio State’s collapse after losses to USC and Oregon; remaining playoff/Big Ten Championship math; QB situation; Oregon game breakdown; special teams/coaching changes; Jeremiah Smith’s frustration; path forward with three games left. Opening / Big Picture (00:00–~03:00) Mark frames the season as not the one most expected. Playoff hopes now look like a “pipe dream” unless Ohio State wins its final three convincingly and widespread chaos occurs. Steve (at Ryan Day’s press conference earlier) maps the standings: Ohio State is in a six-way tie for third in the Big Ten. They hold head-to-head wins over Iowa and Illinois (two of the teams they’re tied with). Path to Indianapolis (last Big Ten Championship game before the format change): Win out and get help from Indiana (needs at least one more loss; OSU beat them), Oregon, Wisconsin, and USC. Direct head-to-head vs. Indiana would help, but Indiana plays USC this week — a USC win helps the Trojans more than OSU in a potential tiebreaker. Remaining Schedule Reality Check (~03:00–~06:30) Final three: Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan. All have issues. Northwestern (excellent season overall) lost to Iowa without QB Aiden Childs/Shiles. Nebraska has lost 4–5 in a row after early marginal wins. Michigan was essentially shut out by a depleted Michigan State (lost at home, scoring only a safety or very little). Glass-half-full: These are winnable. Glass-half-empty: No style points or résumé builders. If OSU can’t win these three, they don’t belong in the playoff conversation. UCLA (~68%) and Indiana (~65%) currently lead Big Ten Championship probabilities in the models discussed. Oregon Loss Deep Dive — The Collapse (~06:30–~16:00+) Steve provides a detailed on-site/press-box style breakdown of the 41-28 home loss to Oregon: OSU jumped to a 14-0 lead with two strong drives and early defensive stops. Oregon then scored 38 straight points. Key sequence late in the second quarter: Dropped interception opportunities (including one by McClain that looked like a pick-six). Dan Lanning’s fake punt (up-back/Teuti Tietem or similar #44 defensive end fakes run then jump-passes to another DE Mateo Galele for ~30 yards). “Air came out of Ohio State.” Luke Fahey interception into triple coverage with ~1:15 left in the half (Oregon takes over in good field position). Oregon converts multiple long third downs (including 3rd-and-11s) with no pass rush + soft zone coverage. Dylan Rayola had clean pockets and receivers sitting in soft spots. Swinging-gate/creative goal-line play for a TD on the last play of the half. Oregon takes a 17-14 halftime lead. Second quarter numbers: Oregon 178 yards / 17 points vs. OSU 17 yards / 0 points (146 passing yards for Oregon; 11 yards + INT for OSU). OSU offense went eight straight possessions without scoring across the middle two quarters. Jeremiah Smith was not targeted during that stretch. Late fourth-quarter TDs (including one to Smith) were “lipstick on a pig” against Oregon’s backups; the game was long decided. Comparisons: Worst regular-season back-to-back losses since 2011 (Fickell). First back-to-back losses to unranked teams (AP Poll context) since 1992. Likely 3+ losses for the first time since 2011. This team does not appear headed for a top-5 finish or major bowl the way past “bad” OSU teams (e.g., 2017 Iowa, 2018 Purdue) still did. Quarterback Situation & Ryan Day Comments (~16:00–~25:00+) Luke Fahey: 36/50 (72%), 360 yards, but much of the production came after the game was decided. Missed open receivers (including a wide-open Henry and a wide throw to McEwen on a critical down). Running game was largely ineffective outside a couple of Bo Jackson TDs. Ryan Day on Tavian St. Clair: Doesn’t think “his moment is right now,” even with the game lost late. Hosts disagree strongly — end of St. Clair’s second full season; perfect low-stakes window (Oregon backups, down big) to see what he can do. Not playing him risks him transferring without ever getting meaningful snaps. Consensus: Fahey isn’t solely to blame for the losses (many other issues), but he also hasn’t made the plays needed to win. Everything else has collapsed around him. Jeremiah Smith Frustration & Broader Context (~28:00–~33:00) Cameras caught Smith visibly frustrated late in the third quarter (temper tantrum moment that drew “petulant child” criticism from one reporter). Steve’s take: Understandable. Smith is a national champion who returned to win another one. Down 38-14 (or 31-14), the dream is gone. Few current teammates are at the level of the 2024 title team. Emotion got the best of him in a public moment. Mark agrees: Humans are human; elite competitors care. Better to show frustration than quit. Still, the program needs him engaged for the final three games. Heisman/Biletnikoff context: Still elite statistically (leading or near the top in TD catches and yards/game). Numbers can still be strong even if the team’s season isn’t. Coaching / Special Teams / Other Issues (~36:00–~42:00) Robbie Disher (special teams coach hired from Illinois) was let go. Hosts note it was low on the priority list of problems but “a start.” Long-standing special teams issues under Day (and previously Meyer to a lesser degree). Fake field goal / punt return TDs gifted to opponents. Acceptance that catastrophic special teams plays are “baked in.” Offensive line issues: Multiple pre-snap penalties and a snap over the QB’s head from veteran Carson Hensman; sixth different OL combination with Ian Moore out and Serevelde moving to LT. Defensive issues: No pass rush, soft zone coverage exploited by Rayola/Oregon. Patricia’s scheme/calls under scrutiny (similar complaints after USC). Arthur Smith gets some patience given the backup QB and lack of a lead back (Jacoby Jackson also out), but overall attention to detail is lacking. Rankings, Outlook & Closing Thoughts (~33:00–end) AP/coaches polls moved OSU significantly (roughly 11 → 21 range). Hosts note the team is essentially two different teams (with Julian Sane vs. without). Playoff committee evaluation is tricky: Earlier wins (Iowa, Illinois, Texas) still look strong; the last two games look like a mid-tier team. USC’s win over this version of OSU may be devalued; Oregon’s win may not carry as much weight if OSU finishes poorly. Realistic path: Win the final three (including Michigan), go 9-3, and likely end up in the Citrus Bowl (first time there since 1995). A 10-4 with a bowl win is possible but the playoff is a long shot requiring massive help. Broader reflection: A generation of fans isn’t used to this level of failure. Three phases all complicit the last two weeks. Soul-searching required. Next year can still be strong (potential Sane return + portal additions), but the present is grim. Quick Clip-Friendly Timestamps 00:00–00:56: Season framing / pipe-dream playoff math. 01:15–03:00: Steve’s Big Ten standings doodle / Indiana-Oregon-USC scenarios. 07:30–14:30: Oregon second-quarter collapse + fake punt + no-pass-rush soft zone breakdown. 16:30–18:30: Day’s comments on not playing St. Clair + hosts’ pushback. 29:00–32:30: Jeremiah Smith frustration reaction and context. 36:30–40:00: Special teams coach firing + long-term special teams problems. Overall tone: Frustrated but analytical. Small mathematical hope remains for Indianapolis, but the hosts treat a playoff berth as highly unlikely and focus on the immediate problems (QB, pass rush, run game, special teams, attention to detail) and the reality of a down season. 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Ohio State Primetime LIVE 109 Presented by Kalshi Hosts: Garrison Gaddy & Riley Burnett (Denzel out sick) Topic: Coaching Hot Seats & Change At QB?! | Post-Oregon Loss Recap + Northwestern Preview Air Date Context: Monday after Ohio State’s loss to Oregon (approx. early-to-mid November 2026) Episode Structure & Key Segments 00:00:33–01:27 | Open & Setup Welcome to Ohio State Primetime Live. Denzel is out (sick); well-wishes sent. Riley attended the Oregon game in person. Standard call for likes/shares/subscribes. Riley’s immediate post-loss check-in with Navy friend group (“I’m alive”). 01:27–05:00 | In-Person Oregon Game Recap (Riley) Atmosphere started strong: lots of scarlet, solid run-out, all-scarlet uniforms (mixed feelings vs. past kits; preferred 2021 red-sock look). First quarter went well: Bo Jackson looked good early; O-line improved after the opening drive (timing better). Energy drained after Oregon’s fake punt and subsequent unanswered points. Left the game down big (referenced ~38-14 at one point). Main gripe: Linebackers (specifically calling out Peyton and another) played poorly—slow, always a beat behind, no alertness in the middle of the field against Oregon’s zone scheme. Younger guys showed more aggression when in; preferred that over passive play. Overall: Grateful to be at the Shoe, but far from the desired result. 05:00–08:30 | Offense vs. Defense Blame Riley puts more blame on the defense (experience level, repeated failures, no adjustments to modern Oregon scheme; credits Lanning’s staff). Garrison leans more toward the offense. Drive chart after Q1: mostly 3-and-outs, punts, one INT, then a string of stalled drives before a late TD. Offense’s inability to sustain drives sapped defensive effort/confidence (common but unacceptable). Defense lacks confidence without Julian San. Everyone around Luke Fahey must play better; Fahey should have been pulled mid-3rd quarter. Not solely Arthur Smith or Ryan Day—deeper staff/prep issues. 08:30–13:40 | Julian San Appreciation & Luke Fahey Struggles Riley’s emotional post-game social post (read on air): Julian was the single most underappreciated player on the team (and maybe in the country). He provided timing/juice the offense needs. Even in a rough stretch pre-injury, Julian kept the offense on schedule, gave the defense rest, and pushed the ball downfield (especially with Jeremiah Smith). Fahey double-hitched on key throws (e.g., underthrow to Jeremiah); Julian would have let it rip due to trust. National/outside fan bases (including a Michigan friend) see the drop-off clearly. Not just blaming Fahey—coaching staff, weekly reps, and preparation share responsibility. Offense as a whole didn’t give Fahey the best chance the last two weeks. 13:40–15:20 | Kalshi Ad Read College football prediction markets (playoffs, conference titles, national champ, Heisman). Jeremiah Smith currently has solid Heisman odds; example payout discussed. Code BLEAV for $25 when trading $25. 15:20–16:20 | Jeremiah Smith Heisman Outlook Still 100+ yards and a TD vs. Oregon despite limited early targets. Hosts believe he can still win it based on voter perception of him as the best player + remaining production. Fahey eventually found him late. 16:20–21:00 | Robbie Disher Fired (Special Teams Coordinator) Fired after the last two games. Not solely responsible for the losses, but special teams flipped momentum in both (USC punt return issues; Oregon fake punt/sequence). Field goal kicking was solid earlier; firing tied to recent special teams breakdowns. Discussion of scapegoat vs. legitimate accountability in a fast-moving CFB landscape. Riley notes lack of on-the-fly adjustments across the staff. Garrison acknowledges other coaches are on hotter seats (larger “bonfires”). 21:00–28:30 | Coaching Hot Seats Deep Dive Preseason “watch list” (not formal hot seat): Keenan Bailey and others. Keenan Bailey (TEs / co-OC): Was WR coach under Hartline; TE room is poor. Bad evals (e.g., Jelani Thurman elsewhere looking better). Unclear “why” for the role. Billy Fessler (QB development focus): Issues with Luke Fahey’s footwork/pocket movement (choppy backpedal vs. conventional drop). O-line better in pass pro than run. Questions about development of young QBs and why the younger option hasn’t earned a look. Broader theme: Coaches must have a clear “why”; standard at Ohio State is elite. Position coaching and player talent both under scrutiny (hand-in-hand problem). 28:30–34:10 | CFP Expansion Discussion New expanded format (starting ~2027): 19 at-large bids for Power conferences, no automatic Notre Dame guarantee, selection from top 25 (with weekly top 30 rankings). Conference championships remain. Hosts generally supportive: Similar to lower divisions; makes top-25 meaningful; reduces opt-outs with more meaningful games/money. Money/TV dollars driving it (Saban’s point). ESPN exclusive rights. Potential late-season ranking concentration. Doesn’t bother them; fans will still watch/buy regardless. Funds university athletics. 34:10–46:10 | Can the Season Be Saved? Individual awards path: Jeremiah Smith still has a strong Heisman case (competitive nature; hosts reject “shut it down” talk as disrespectful). Damien Harris comments called out. Team path: Ranked ~21st. Needs help (Oregon, Iowa, USC, etc., to lose) for any playoff shot as a 3-loss team. Big Ten title out of realistic reach. Minimum salvage: Win the final game (Michigan). Hosts believe Ohio State wins The Game even in a down year. Hypothetical of losses to Northwestern/Nebraska then beating Michigan still discussed in context of narrative flips. Record context: Michigan’s recent series struggles noted. 46:10–55:00 | Northwestern Preview Noon kickoff on Fox at the Shoe. Spread moved from 10.5 to 12.5. Hosts expect an Ohio State win but not a comfortable cover. Northwestern: Experienced QB (Aiden Childs—low turnover, improved decision-making; Chip Kelly influence). Backup performed last week vs. Iowa. Possession receivers/TEs; not as explosive as recent opponents. Defense opportunity: Pick-me-up game vs. less athletic skill players. Secondary (especially outside corners) can show metal; middle of the field (LBs/safeties) has been the bigger issue. Suggested lineup tweaks: More snaps for younger/hungrier LBs (Sincere Johnson, etc.); less for certain veterans. Jay Timmons highlighted as the best/most aware defender. Offense: Assuming Fahey starts—need heavy Bo Jackson usage (18-25 touches; he was underused vs. Oregon despite early success). O-line must help the run game more. Confidence tied to getting the ball to Jeremiah + Bo frequently. Younger QB (Tavian) should get a look if Fahey continues to struggle. 55:00–End | Best Bets + Close Garrison’s bets: SMU -1.5 vs. #6 Wake Forest (road test for Wake). Oregon -11.5 vs. Michigan (hammer; Oregon hitting stride with Raiola). Texas moneyline at LSU (better talent). Riley mostly on board (slight devil’s advocate on Texas/LSU with Gio Lopez). Upcoming schedule reminders: Fridays (call-in with Denzel), Sundays (postgame), Mondays with Riley. Closing: “Only up from here.” OH-IO. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ohio State Primetime Live Postgame Uncomfortable Conversations & Should Heads Roll? | OHIO STATE vs. Oregon Hosts: Garrison Gaddy & Denzel Jones Presented by Kalshi | OhioStateVOCFB Final Score: Oregon 41, Ohio State 28 (home loss / essentially a playoff elimination game) Overall Takeaways Consensus: Ohio State lacked leadership, fight, heart, and effort from roughly 11 minutes left in the 3rd quarter onward. The offense put the defense in a bad spot repeatedly; the defense made almost no adjustments (especially with pass rush/blitzing). Luke Fahey’s second start was rough — poor decision-making, not looking off Jeremiah Smith for long stretches, double-hitching throws, and drifting out of the pocket. Strong criticism of position coaches and the three-headed monster (Ryan Day, Matt Patricia, Arthur Smith). With the season effectively over for playoff purposes, both hosts want to play young talent the rest of the way. Segment Breakdown 00:00:32 – 00:02:20 | Opening & Overall Thoughts Cold, hurting Sunday after the home loss. Denzel: From ~11 minutes left in the 3rd, the team “pretty much gave up.” No leadership, fight, or heart. Jeremiah Smith barely targeted for long stretches. Run game and defense looked lackluster. Coaching didn’t fix problems or send extra pressure. Garrison largely agrees. Effort looked lacking after the second quarter. First quarter felt high; then it cratered. 00:03:23 – 00:06:05 | Defense Breakdown Soft linebackers who aren’t “smacking” anyone. Timmons started with juice but faded (likely still hurt). Earl Little matched up against a much bigger Jamari Johnson (Oregon TE) — size mismatch. Matt Patricia made zero visible adjustments. Scheme looked identical all game. No blitzes despite front four not generating pressure. 00:06:06 – 00:11:00 | Offense’s Impact on Defense + Drive Chart Garrison reads the post-2nd-quarter drive chart: mostly short drives ending in punts, interceptions, or failed fourth downs. Argument that the defense stopped trusting the offense/quarterback because they kept getting put back on the field with no rest or success. Key missed opportunity: Play before a failed fourth-down try, a receiver (called JJ in the moment) was wide open and Fahey didn’t look that way. Dan Lanning took risks that paid off; Ohio State’s risks didn’t. 00:11:00 – 00:16:10 | Jeremiah Smith Targeting & Fahey Decision-Making Smith had 7 catches for 133 yards and a TD, but most of it came late/garbage time. Long stretches where he wasn’t targeted. Debate: Was it Fahey ignoring him, arm-strength limitations to the outside, or coaching? Both lean toward Fahey not looking him off or making the right reads. Garrison: No way the coaches told Fahey to stop going to Smith. Denzel: Fahey should have been pulled around the 38-14 mark in the third. Some of the worst quarterbacking he’s seen (stats be damned). 00:16:25 – 00:19:20 | Offensive Line & Running Game O-line missed a lot of run blocks. Pass protection was better — Fahey often had time. Bo Jackson: 11 carries for 48 yards. Five of those came in the first quarter (four on the opening drive). Only 8 touches the rest of the game. Question why Bo disappeared after the early success and why Isaiah Weston came in on the next drive after Bo scored. 00:19:20 – 00:26:55 | Coaching & Position Coach Critiques Garrison’s list: James Leranitis — linebacker rotation needs fixing. Keenan Bailey — tight end room is terrible; questions his role as co-OC. Billy Fessler — what is he teaching the quarterbacks? (Fahey drifting out of the pocket, double-hitching). Arthur Smith — why stop giving the ball to Bo? Ryan Day — why didn’t you pull Fahey? Denzel’s biggest eyes: Billy Fessler and Keenan Bailey. Leadership vacuum: No one on the sideline or on the field holding people accountable the way Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs did last year. Peyton Pierce and Jalen McClain specifically called out for not looking like the players they were expected to be. 00:27:00 – 00:29:30 | Effort, Missed Tackles & Scheme Defense lacked effort in the second half (tied back to no confidence in the offense). Linebackers dropping too deep and getting out of their zones on third downs. Missed tackles were a major issue. DNs dropping and not being replaced cleanly all year. 00:29:30 – 00:34:20 | Fahey Context, Tavian, & Next Year QB Denzel: Unfair to expect a true freshman in his second start (against Oregon and USC) to be great. Most Ohio State QBs get a cupcake early. Both still believe Fahey should have come out. Discussion on why Tavian St. Clair didn’t get a look — implies he must be significantly worse in practice. Garrison wants a competent backup/competitor in the portal even if Sayin returns and looks good. Debate over whether Ohio State will or should go get a portal QB (names floated but no strong consensus). 00:36:00 – 00:39:15 | Denzel’s Look-Ahead (Young Talent) Play every young player with potential the rest of the year for 2026 building blocks. Specific names: Sincere Johnson (lots of snaps), Wilder (even if run defense is a concern), Guilford, Chris Henry (target him more as a potential No. 1), Sam Greer on the O-line, Legend Bay in the slot for creativity. O-line needs different combinations and portal help. Most current starters are replaceable except possibly Montgomery. 00:40:00 – 00:51:00 | Listener Comments & Caller (Wesley) Comments on next year’s QB room (Fahey, Edmonds, Sayin + portal depth). Wesley (caller): Matt Patricia not putting players in position to succeed; strange alignments (e.g., seven players to one side on a big run). Art Smith and Day get some credit for using more 11 personnel and adapting, but the Fahey checks at the line of scrimmage are a big loss compared to Sayin. Garrison agrees Patricia’s refusal to blitz after it worked vs. Indiana is a major issue. Jalen McClain discussion: Not bad, but nowhere near the All-American/second-round expectation in year three without Caleb Downs next to him. 00:53:45 – End | Close Next show: Monday 7 p.m. ET with Riley joining for more on this game and a Northwestern preview. Go Buckeyes. Notable Quotes Denzel: “From about eleven minutes in the third quarter… this team lacks leadership, fight and like heart.” Garrison: “When the defense feels as though they cannot trust the offense… sometimes your play can lack.” Denzel on Fahey: “That was some of the worst quarterbacking I have seen. Damn the stats.” Garrison: “A lot of your mistakes are void of the coaching problems.” (on players) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 394 – Oregon Week Aired on OhioStateVOCFB Hosts: Mark Rogers (Voice of College Football), Steve Helwagen (Bucknuts247 Senior Editor), Tony Gerdeman (Buckeye Weekly co-host) Guest: Erik Skopil (Oregon Football & Women’s Basketball beat writer, Duck Territory / 247 Sports) Episode Overview Ohio State hosts Oregon in a 3:30 p.m. ET CBS game at Ohio Stadium. What was expected to be a top-five matchup in the preseason has become No. 11 Ohio State vs. an unranked, 5-3 Oregon team. The Buckeyes are coming off a 30-18 loss at USC and still control their Big Ten destiny (tiebreaker over Indiana). Oregon’s season has unraveled with three losses, a midseason OC change, and major offensive struggles. Heavy favorite status at home, but the hosts stress that another poor performance puts the playoff and conference title hopes in serious jeopardy. Key Takeaways USC loss primarily on defense and special teams: Big plays (Mosley TD, 70-yard TE hurdle, 40-yard punt return + late hit) accounted for most of USC’s points. Defense had been solid most of the season but unraveled on a handful of explosive plays and penalties. Luke Fahey did not lose the game: Mixed reviews — some good drives and decision-making under pressure, but missed open receivers downfield, RPO reads, and red-zone execution. Running backs and receivers dropped key passes. Two-point conversion debate: Hosts strongly preferred the extra point to keep it an 8-point game with ~2:11 left + two timeouts (chance to get the ball back and force OT without needing an onside kick). Analytics said go for two; human logic and “keep hope alive” favored the kick. Play call was criticized as lacking creativity. Oregon’s issues: Offense has been the biggest problem (OC Drew Merringer fired midseason; Jay Johnson now calling plays). O-line continuity only recently established. Dylan Raiola has been inconsistent (excellent vs. Northwestern, poor vs. Illinois and UCLA). Injuries and off-field issues (receivers, QB Dante Moore season-ending) have compounded problems. Defense has individual talent (edge rushers, Bear Alexander) but mixed results overall. Stakes: Ohio State is favored (~72% on Kalshi at the time of the show). Failure to bounce back at home against a team whose playoff hopes are essentially gone would be a major red flag for the rest of the stretch (Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern). Timestamped Notes 0:00–10:00 | Intro + USC Loss Breakdown Mark opens noting the preseason 1-vs-2 matchup has lost its luster (now 11 vs. unranked) but remains critical for Ohio State’s playoff path. Steve and Mark dissect the USC game: defense gave up two long pass plays early (Mosley TD on the second play of the game to freshman Simeon Caldwell with Jay Timmons out; 70-yard TE play where the TE hurdled Jalen McLean). Punt return coverage breakdown (multiple players focused on downing the ball inside the 5 instead of covering the returner) + Bo Atkinson late-hit penalty (questionable but by the letter of the law) set up easy USC points. Three big plays essentially produced three touchdowns. Otherwise the defense was mostly solid. Offensive line protection and pass rush both issues. Fahey’s performance was mixed given the environment and supporting cast. 10:00–19:30 | Fahey, Red Zone, Coaching Decisions Discussion of the late-game two-point attempt (down 9 with 2:11 left). Steve and Mark argue strongly for the extra point to make it 8 and preserve a realistic path to OT. Analytics favored going for two (chance to win in regulation), but the hosts say “analytics aren’t flesh and blood” and that keeping hope alive for the players mattered more. The play call itself was criticized as unimaginative (straight drop, little creativity; Fahey flushed and Jeremiah Smith tried to work free). Red-zone struggles noted (multiple field goals, shotgun runs that got stuffed, including a play that had failed earlier against MAC teams). Suggestion that Ohio State should use bigger personnel and more physical short-yardage concepts (including possible tush-push style looks). Fahey wasn’t inaccurate overall; sustained drives between the 20s but couldn’t finish. Drops by Bo Jackson, Devin McEwen, and others hurt. 19:30–25:30 | Tony Gerdeman Joins + Oregon Transition Tony agrees the USC loss was a bad look and that failing to handle business at home against a backup-QB Oregon team would be damning. They note Ohio State still controls its destiny and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with Indiana. Transition to Erik Skopil for the Oregon side. 25:30–40:00 | Erik Skopil on Oregon’s Season and Offense Erik details the Northwestern win as the first real signs of life after the OC change to Jay Johnson (from Michigan State). Offense simplified; more downfield shots for Raiola; better max-protect looks. Drew Merringer (first-time play-caller, former Ohio State GA with Tom Herman) was let go after seven games amid struggles. Staff is young overall (many assistants in late 20s/early 30s). O-line has finally settled on a starting five after constant shuffling and injuries. Raiola is a different player with time in the pocket but has been boom-or-bust (strong second half vs. USC earlier, disastrous start vs. UCLA with turnovers, excellent vs. Northwestern). Run game has been inconsistent; perimeter blocking and screens have struggled. Receivers are talented but undersized. Injuries (Dante Moore out for the year, multiple receivers, RBs) and off-field issues have hurt. Erik notes the fan base still trusts Dan Lanning’s recruiting and Saturday coaching but is questioning staff construction after losing both coordinators and the young internal promotions. 40:00–51:00 | Oregon Defense, Key Players, Matchup Notes Oregon edge rushers (Mateo and Tatum) are productive and top-5 in the conference in sacks; hosts flag them as a concern against Ohio State’s tackles. Bear Alexander (DT) is the best individual defensive player and jumps off the tape. Devin Jackson (LB) is a freak athlete finally starting to put it together. Naeim Offord is a starting corner (former Ohio State commit). Other former Buckeye targets (Trey McNutt, Dorian Brew, Aaron Scott Jr.) have not cracked the two-deep meaningfully. Coy Parrish has been underwhelming relative to hype. Erik says max-protect looks that worked vs. Northwestern may be harder to sustain against Ohio State’s athletes; Raiola is not a threat to run if the play breaks down. Run game has home-run potential if gaps open but has not been consistent. 51:00–End | Broader Context, Chaos Scenarios, Closing Hosts note Oregon is almost certainly out of the playoff unless total national chaos occurs (possible 9-3 Big Ten team could sneak in given the number of 9-3 SEC teams). Ohio State cannot afford another loss and still feel confident about the Big Ten title game or playoff. Discussion of extreme Big Ten chaos (theoretical multi-team ties). Brief notes on other weekend games (Notre Dame-Miami highlighted) and the first CFP rankings reveal. Closing plugs for Buckeye Insiders, Buckeye Weekly, and Bucknuts247 content. Notable Quotes Steve on the USC defense: “Three big plays amounted to three touchdowns… otherwise they did a pretty good job on the other sixty-three plays.” Mark on the two-point decision: “Analytics aren’t flesh and blood… you don’t end the game and basically tell your players you’re down by nine with two minutes left, the game’s over. You keep hope alive.” Erik on Lanning’s staff: “The fan base buys what Dan Lanning is as a coach on a Saturday… I think there’s a real reckoning right now about his decision-making in terms of the staff.” Tony on the stakes: “If Ohio State doesn’t get back on track against a team whose season is essentially over, then I think that’s a pretty big statement.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ohio State Primetime LIVE 109 “Are Problems Fixable? & Must Win Versus Ducks!” Presented by Kalshi Hosts: Garrison Gaddy, Denzel Jones, Riley Burnett Aired on OhioStateVOCFB (Monday post-USC recap / Oregon preview) Episode Overview The hosts break down Ohio State’s loss at USC, focusing on the disconnect between coaching and execution, offensive-line and special-teams issues, linebacker/tackling problems, the impact of missing Julian Sayin and Jay Timmons, and whether the problems are fixable before a must-win home game against Oregon. They also preview the Ducks (Dylan Raiola, explosive skill players) and make score predictions. Key Themes Out-coached and poorly executed vs. USC (special teams, penalties, timing). Coaching accountability (OL coach Tyler Bowen, LB coach James Laurinaitis, special teams) vs. player accountability (drops, footwork, effort, penalties). Luke Fahey’s first start graded as average (grace given; pressure, decision-making, footwork issues noted). Offensive line looked unprepared and undisciplined; cadence/pocket issues tied to Sayin’s absence. Defense: tackling regression (bye-week effect?), soft/inconsistent linebacker play, zero sacks, Jalen McClain “lack of effort” comment. Oregon is a new-age rivalry / must-win; hosts still pick Ohio State but express low-to-moderate confidence. Timestamped Notes 0:00–2:30 — Open & USC framing Garrison welcomes the group. They set up Riley’s recap of the Memorial Stadium loss to USC and preview discussion of coaching/execution disconnect, running backs (Luke Fahey, possible TSC involvement), and the upcoming “Buck-Duck Bowl” vs. Oregon. 2:30–4:30 — Riley’s recap (positives then the loss) Riley starts with positives: Jermaine Matthews played great; Mason Williams solid (found openings). Overall, Ohio State was out-coached. USC’s staff had their “backs against the wall” version of Lincoln Riley. Decision-making looked a half-beat slow on both sides of the ball and especially special teams. The 44-yard punt return + Bo Atkinson penalty + coverage breakdown is called the play that summed up the game. 4:30–9:00 — Coaching vs. player accountability / Fahey’s start Denzel leans more toward coaching (preparation, adjustments). Garrison pushes back on pure player issues (Chris Henry Jr. drop, Bo drop, Fahey misses, Austin Sarabelle getting blown up, repeated penalties). Discussion of 28 pressures on Fahey (highest of his career; adjustments needed—pocket movement, line changes). Riley: Fahey did not play a bad game given weather/pressure, but took too many ball-pats / too long to decide (inexperience). Footwork criticized (compared to Bryce Underwood level). Consensus: average first start; grace given, but standard still applies. Hosts note they miss Julian Sayin. 9:00–14:30 — Offensive line deep dive Blame centered on Tyler Bowen / position group. OL was the worst unit, responsible for a high percentage of penalties, looked confused and undisciplined. Cadence issues discussed as a factor (tied to Sayin’s absence—OL used to his pocket movement). Veterans (including national-championship starters) have no excuse. Riley: unprepared, half a step behind, leading to penalties when trying to catch up. Idea floated of rotating pure run-blockers with pass-blockers if they can’t mesh both. 14:30–19:00 — Defense issues (second-play breakdown, tackling, bye week) Second play of the game heavily criticized (safety/LB miscommunication; Peyton Pierce blamed in part). Two plays accounted for a large portion of USC’s offense. Tackling has regressed after looking improved post-Illinois; bye week cited as a possible cause (thud-only practice, lost habits). Missing Jay Timmons called highly impactful (second-most important or most important defensive player). Jalen McClain had a poor game. 19:00–23:00 — Jalen McClain “lack of effort” comments Hosts play/react to McClain audio admitting a lack of effort / “nobody was trying.” Riley links it to overall lack of urgency or panic. Discussion of playing with neither urgency nor panic. 23:00–29:00 — Linebackers & special teams Linebacker group (Pierce, Allegro, Pettyjohn, Caldwell) described as soft/finesse rather than violent; not getting off blocks. Pierce stuck on heels; others inconsistent or scheme-confused. Comparison to last year’s more physical play. Special teams under Ryan Day called consistently poor (returns, blocks, coverage). Debate over how much falls on Day vs. the special-teams coach. Hosts note the kicking game has improved with Connor Hawkins, but the rest of the unit remains a problem. 29:00–42:00 — Oregon preview & defensive keys Oregon fired OC recently but had success; Dylan Raiola (arm talent, dink-and-dunk + deep shots), Decorian Moore/DK, Evan Stewart, strong RB duo (Jordan Davison, De’Ara Hill). Keys: pressure the QB / disrupt timing, tackle, play more man + pressure, avoid giving Raiola time, get creative up front (stunts over pure bull rushes), involve better edge players (Wilder, etc.). McClain’s effort comments and overall tackling are major concerns. Hosts emphasize Ohio State is now a desperate team if it wants the playoff. 42:00–1:02 — Offensive adjustments for Oregon Trust Fahey more (scheme has been too conservative; let him play). More zone-read/RPOs, bootlegs, QB draws, crossing routes. Work on downfield touch and back-foot throws. Offensive line must hold up against a strong Oregon front. Continue run-game progress (Bo and Isaiah West showed flashes; ball security for West). More targets for Chris Henry Jr.; use him with Jeremiah McEwen as “Twin Towers.” Arthur Smith’s red-zone play-calling criticized; need better creativity/spacing. Hosts want Fahey in space more. 1:02–1:05 — Score predictions Denzel: Ohio State 28–21 Riley: Ohio State 31–28 Garrison: Ohio State (fanboy 30–20 range; rivalry framing) Consensus still on Ohio State at home, but confidence is tempered (roughly 50–55% range from some). Special teams (Hawkins) could decide a close game. 1:05–end — Betting segment, shout-outs, close Garrison’s best bets (BYU-Utah over, Minnesota +5.5 vs. UCLA, Texas A&M -7.5 at South Carolina). Shout-outs to chat (Grimm, Two-Tone, Ed Rogers, Jar of Happiness, etc.). Kalshi promo (code BLEAV). Closing O-H. Notable Quotes Riley: “We just got flat-out out-coached.” Denzel on OL: “They looked terrible. They were the worst unit on the field.” On Fahey: Graded as average first start; “you got to give him some grace.” On McClain audio: “Why do you have a lack of effort?” Garrison on Oregon: Frames it as a rivalry / must-win; still picking the Buckeyes. Clip-Worthy Moments 4:00–4:30: Special-teams play that summed up the USC loss. ~19:00–21:30: Reaction to Jalen McClain “lack of effort” comments. ~7:00–9:00: Fahey footwork / first-start evaluation. ~1:02–1:05: Score predictions and rivalry framing for Oregon. Red-zone and OL coaching critiques throughout the middle third. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ohio State Call-In Show 84 (Presented by FanDuel) – Episode Notes Hosts: Garrison Gaddy & Denzel | OhioStateVOCFB | ~52 minutes Intro & Halloween Banter (00:00:33–00:01:25) Garrison and Denzel open the show. Denzel is ready for the weekend after a long week and plans to hand out candy (and jokingly eggs/apples) to kids. Garrison recalls handing out mini toothpaste one year. Quick transition to the big game: Ohio State at USC tomorrow at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Miami ACC Realignment Talk (00:01:25–00:08:40) Garrison reads a CBS Sports report: Miami president (Echeverria) says the ACC is college football’s “second tier” and discusses possible moves to the SEC or Big Ten. Key quotes: “You cannot lock us into a conference.” They maxed out ACC revenue sharing last year despite winning at a high level; other Big Ten/SEC programs make similar money with different investment levels. Miami lines up with Big Ten as an AAU research institution; independent is an option as a national brand but tough for non-football sports. Denzel’s take: Would love Miami in the Big Ten for the competition and fun, but thinks the SEC makes more geographic/sense sense. Big Ten already has West Coast teams, so Miami wouldn’t be the biggest stretch. Garrison’s take: Has wanted Miami (and previously Clemson/FSU) in the Big Ten for years (dating back to ~2018). It would toughen the conference and force Florida teams to travel north. Ohio State already has a strong Florida recruiting pipeline. Believes it would make the Big Ten clearly the best conference. Chat (Aaron): Wouldn’t mind Notre Dame either as a Midwest power. Both hosts note ND will never join. Garrison would enjoy watching them struggle on a full Big Ten schedule; Denzel thinks they’d still be fine if healthy (strong talent at QB CJ Carr, WR, OL, defense). Quick hypothetical on ND vs. Northwestern and Ohio State vs. Northwestern (Chip Kelly factor). Overall consensus: Miami + FSU in the Big Ten would be exciting and competitive. Call-In Show Reminders (00:08:41–00:09:00) Encouragement for viewers to call in with thoughts or drop questions/comments in the chat (Aaron and Daniel specifically tagged). “Respecting Other Teams” Debate (00:09:00–00:13:10) Chat critique (Aaron): Garrison “respects other teams too much.” Garrison’s philosophy: He loves football more than just being an Ohio State fan. He evaluates programs as a former player/coach. Ohio State hasn’t won a Big Ten title since 2020, so other teams deserve respect. Specifically on Miami: They beat Ohio State badly in the playoffs last year and have elite talent this year (QB, RB, WR, OL, DL). He doesn’t hate-watch through pure fan goggles. Denzel pushes back on the “kicked our ass” framing of the Miami game (play-calling issues, Hartline as OC, OL struggles, low yards per carry, time of possession, etc.). Both agree Miami is strong but will lose another game. Stats recap of last year’s playoff game is cited (rushing disparity, third-down efficiency, turnovers, etc.). Next Week’s Week 10 Schedule Preview (00:13:14–00:14:50) Top-25 focused slate: UCLA at Minnesota, Cincinnati at Houston, Iowa at Northwestern, Michigan-Michigan State, BYU at Utah (Holy War — both lean Utah), Texas at Missouri, Oregon at Ohio State, Kentucky at Tennessee, Miami at Notre Dame, Georgia at Ole Miss, Oklahoma at Florida. Called a “full slate” and “really fun week.” Bold Predictions: Ohio State vs. USC (00:14:53–end of relevant sections) Garrison’s predictions: Whichever QB starts (Luke Fahey or the other) throws for 200+ yards. Reasoning: Brock Boyd out; Brandon Ennis out → Jeremiah Smith, Chris Henry Jr., and Devin McEwen form the best WR trio. Chris Henry Jr. has been open and reliable; needs more targets. Devin Sanchez finally gets an interception (with some YAC). Has watched All-22 — corners are coached to play off; Ohio State leads the country in yards per catch. Wants more ball-hawking secondary play. Pressure rate discussion: USC QB Jaden Maiava pressured on ~27% of dropbacks in Big Ten play. Ohio State’s pressure rate is poor (90s–100s nationally). Something has to give — opportunity for Kerry Wilder and others to get after the QB. USC passes a ton (especially on second down ~71%). Run defense has been solid enough to let pass rushers hunt. Denzel’s predictions: Similar pressure/pass-rush thoughts; agrees Wilder should play more in a pass-heavy matchup. Chris Henry Jr. scores 2 TDs (~65 yards). Jeremiah and McEwen fill in the rest. Bo Jackson goes for 100+ yards (if 22+ carries, over 110). Isaiah West over 60 yards. USC’s front is soft (Wisconsin ran for ~153 yards). Final score range: Ohio State 24–28 points. Additional score/chat takes: Aaron’s prediction of 31-13 called “doable.” Discussion that a blowout of USC would have Garrison fully back on the national championship train (he had previously said a 40-10 win would do it). Secondary & Devin Sanchez Expectations (interwoven ~00:17:30–00:31:00) Long back-and-forth on Sanchez. Denzel wants more plays on the ball and less off-coverage on third-and-medium. Garrison notes Sanchez is a sophomore still developing; compares trajectory to Igbin Nelson’s early years. DPI calls are often ticky-tack. High school ranking doesn’t guarantee college dominance (examples: Bryce Underwood, Terrell Pryor). Chat pushback on “average” corners and high expectations. Consensus: Sanchez is solid/good but not yet All-American level; lofty expectations breed disappointment. Cam Calhoun viewed as a clear drop-off. Secondary overall still ranked among the best in the country; safeties are excellent. Julian Sayin Toughness & Running Conversation (00:31:30–00:43:00) Triggered by Chris Drew (Dead Air Sports) comments. Garrison questions whether the offseason “make Julian tougher / run more” emphasis was overdone and may have taken away from his precision/accuracy strengths. Hits accumulate, and his body may not be built for heavy designed runs. Denzel: It was necessary. Last year’s Big Ten Championship vs. Indiana and playoff vs. Miami showed moments where he shied away from contact (QB sneaks, some throws). This year’s runs put toughness on film. Even knowing it led to injury, he’d still do it. Garrison’s preseason stance: If Sayin got hurt, the championship window closed. He’s not ready to fully reverse that with a true freshman or redshirt freshman under center (only Trevor Lawrence precedent comes up). Neither backup is a top-10 NFL pick yet, but development is unknown (Joe Burrow example). Chat takes: Julian was more mobile this year but running still looked forced at times (“forcing a kid to eat broccoli”). Both want whoever starts tomorrow to succeed. Ohio State still has championship talent (WRs, improving RBs/OL, defense) if they lean into the run and the defense holds. Offensive Line & Closing Notes (00:49:00–00:51:55) Austin Siereveld expected back at tackle. Projected OL: Siereveld, Montgomery, Hensman, Gabe VanSickle, etc. Preference debate: Phillip Daniels or Ian Moore at right tackle. Both have had inconsistent seasons (Moore missed assignments/slow off the ball; VanSickle better in run than pass). VanSickle praised for run blocking. Outro: Hope for a win tomorrow. Reminder of Monday Primetime Live Show (Garrison, Denzel, Riley). Sign-off with “OH-IO.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 393 – USC Week OhioStateVOCFB | Host: Mark Rogers | Panel: Steve Helwagen (Bucknuts 247), Tony Gerdeman (Buckeye Weekly) | Special Guest: Ryan Abraham (Inside Troy) Focus: Preview of Ohio State at USC (Coliseum) with deep dive into USC’s Wisconsin loss, Lincoln Riley’s status, defensive personnel, historical rivalry notes, OSU quarterback/injury updates, and broader Big Ten/CFB context. Opening & Wisconsin Recap (0:00–10:30) Helmet-game framing for OSU-USC; nostalgia noted but emphasis on current stakes. Ryan Abraham on returning from Madison: USC scored only 7 points (first time in Lincoln Riley’s 10 years as head coach). Wisconsin’s pressure (often 7- or 8-man looks) dominated; USC had -17 rushing yards and could not protect Jaden Maiava. OL issues: Interior struggled with assignments/chipping; even with Elijah Page back and a true freshman LT who handled Penn State well, protection collapsed. Maiava’s two early INTs (one tipped, one late over the middle) and lack of “juice” after a dropped open throw on the first series stood out. Not typical of his body of work. Wayman Jordan was a healthy scratch (not on injury report). King Miller has been the better back overall; younger backs showed some early flashes. Running game inconsistency (hesitation in holes) remains an issue. Clip-ready: Ryan on “seven points is the first time” (~2:25) and the Wisconsin pressure scheme details (~4:50–6:30). Travel Toll, Riley Job Security & Program Outlook (10:30–15:00) Third multi-time-zone road trip east of the Rockies (Rutgers, Penn State, Wisconsin). Oregon won the Big Ten in Year 1 of realignment, but the cumulative travel is real. Fanbase has already “fired” Riley. Contract was heavily favorable to him (large buyout, estimated $60-70M range). Jen Cohen/AD in a tough spot—creative math and booster calls would be required. Preseason “playoff or bust” messaging and new $200M+ football facility contrast with losses to a mid Oregon (backup QB) and a Wisconsin team that threw for only 58 yards. Upcoming schedule includes Indiana and other top-10 teams. Clip-ready: Ryan on the buyout reality and booster dynamics (~12:50–14:00); “math doesn’t work” on more West Coast home games (~11:45). Defensive Assessment & Key Players (15:30–19:00) Gary Patterson moved to the box after Oregon; communication issues (wristband looks at the snap) reduced and defense has been better the last three games (Washington, Penn State, Wisconsin). Still not dominant, but improved. Front is the strength: Judea Basiri (interior), Jakeem Stewart (playing through injury, athletic with burst), Luke Wafle (true freshman, consistent pressure). Back seven less consistent. Albert Hill (true freshman CB, Ohio guy) has been solid in the rotation despite occasional penalties. Johnson Williams (Iowa State transfer) is a corner to watch vs. Jeremiah Smith. Safeties and LBs have not stood out consistently. Clip-ready: Ryan naming the three DL to watch (~17:20–18:20). Historical Rivalry Notes (19:30–25:00) 24 previous meetings (second-most non-conference opponent for OSU historically). First Big Ten matchup. USC had dominated for stretches; OSU snapped a 7-game skid in the 2017 Cotton Bowl (JT Barrett over Sam Darnold, 24-7). OSU has not scored a TD at the Coliseum vs. USC since 1949 (or possibly 1943—clarification sought on air). Combined 9 points in the four games since. 1989 (42-3) and Tressel-era 35-3 losses remembered as miserable. Point-spread discussion: OSU favored by ~7. Time-zone travel and bounce-back potential after a flat performance are factors. USC has been better at home. Clip-ready: Steve’s historical TD drought and Cotton Bowl reflection (~20:30–22:00); spread and “nothing would surprise me” tone (~23:00–24:30). Culture Concerns & Program Trajectory (32:00–37:00) On-field celebrations and lack of urgency noted (e.g., dancing after plays while trailing or near the goal line). Lincoln Riley timeout/delay-of-game sequence vs. Wisconsin cited as a microcosm—hesitation, then blaming the official. Comparison to Ryan Day’s “no blame, complain, and defend” standard. USC has talent but has not consistently become a “team.” Best Big Ten win since joining remains last year’s Michigan team (or Iowa). Relevance since Pete Carroll era has been limited (no playoff appearances; last serious national-title run was 2008). Clip-ready: Culture critique and Riley timeout moment (~32:30–34:20). Ohio State Quarterback & Injury Updates (39:30–48:00) Ryan Day non-committal on starter. Both Luke Fahey and Tavian St. Clair practiced well; extra work Sunday. Consensus expectation is Fahey, with St. Clair possibly getting a first-half series for evaluation. Day has repeatedly noted Fahey was ahead before the competition intensified. Austin Searveld practicing and expected back (likely right tackle). Health management required. Kenyatta Jackson and Jay Timmons status monitored—Timmons particularly valuable in coverage. Jacoby Jackson out for the regular season (Lisfranc surgery). Running-back duties fall more to Isaiah West (flashes vs. Indiana) and Legend Bay (still looking for consistent role). Need for other skill players (Ennis, McEwen, Parker, etc.) to step up beyond Jeremiah Smith. Heisman chatter for Jeremiah Smith noted; bye week cooled momentum in some media circles. Clip-ready: Day’s QB comments and Fahey/St. Clair framing (~40:00–41:30 and ~46:40–47:30); Jackson injury and RB implications (~43:30–44:30). Closing Thoughts & Broader Context (50:00–end) Parity is extreme (high percentage of Big Ten conference games have been Vegas upsets). Nothing would surprise on Saturday given backup QB, travel, and USC home environment. OSU still viewed as clearly the better team overall, but execution and supporting cast must elevate. Promos for BuckeyeInsiders.com, Buckeye Weekly Podcast, and Bucknuts.com coverage. Quick Takeaways USC’s Wisconsin performance was an outlier offensively under Riley, driven by OL and Maiava issues, but defensive front has playmakers. Riley’s buyout and fan fatigue create a fragile situation heading into a tough stretch. Historical Coliseum struggles for OSU are extreme; first Big Ten meeting carries extra weight. OSU expects Luke Fahey to start with St. Clair in the mix; several skill/OL pieces returning or still working back. Culture and consistency remain the open questions for USC; OSU’s talent edge is clear but the environment and QB situation make the spread interesting. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ohio State Primetime LIVE 108 “Buckeyes & The USC Trojans’ Last Stand!” Presented by FanDuel | OhioStateVOCFB Hosts: Garrison Gaddy, Denzel Jones, Riley Burnett Guests: Crash “Crashlit” Collier & Nolan Ezzett (USCVOCFB) Air date: Monday night (pre-Ohio State @ USC) Episode Overview Hosts break down recent Big Ten chaos, recap last week’s Best Bets, preview Ohio State’s trip to the Coliseum (first win there since 1946), dive deep into the Buckeyes’ QB situation after Julian Sayin’s injury, analyze USC’s poor showing vs. Wisconsin, and bring on USC voices Crash and Nolan for a full cross-network discussion. Score predictions and final thoughts close the show. Key Segments & Timestamps 00:00:34 – 01:10 — Intro & Welcome Garrison welcomes Denzel and Riley. Denzel is hyped after Minnesota’s win. Call for likes/shares/subscribes + shout-out to Mark Rogers’ Wednesday show. 01:25 – 04:55 — Big Ten & National Recap Illinois big win over Oregon. Northwestern continues to handle smaller Big Ten teams. Wisconsin blows out USC 24-7 in Madison. Michigan loses to Indiana again. Iowa beats Minnesota (Denzel’s view: Iowa “won” regardless of the scoreboard; discussion of Minnesota QB Hocklinski being benched). Riley highlights BYU’s loss and UCF (former national champs) storming the field vs. BYU in a long OT game. Rare back-to-back weeks of heavy top-10 losses. 04:57 – 08:48 — Best Bets Recap (FanDuel) & This Week’s Picks Last week: 2-3. Michigan +41.5 cashed (early). Iowa/Minnesota under 40.5 cashed (12-23). Ole Miss -3.5 lost. This week’s picks: Michigan/Rutgers under 46.5 (triple down). North Dakota State/UTEP over 43.5. Missouri -9.5 vs. Arkansas. 08:48 – 11:15 — Ohio State @ USC Opening Thoughts Line moved from -7.5 to -6.5 (Ohio State). Game on CBS at 3:30 ET. Ohio State hasn’t won at the Coliseum since 1946. Denzel: USC’s D-line looked completely lost on RPOs vs. Wisconsin — “high school vs. college.” If Ohio State establishes the run, the game is over. Riley: Keep it simple on offense; stay on schedule. USC still averages ~32 PPG and Maiava has ~2,300 yards. 11:15 – 19:45 — Ohio State QB Situation (Julian Sayin out) Focus on true freshman Luke Fahey vs. Tavion St. Clair. Riley & Denzel lean Fahey: better mental processing, quicker to the playbook (Arthur Smith’s pro-style), more consistent. Size concerns exist but he’s handled it. St. Clair has a stronger deep ball and more “exciting” plays when he connects, but more inconsistent. Discussion of Urban Meyer publicly preferring St. Clair. Hosts push back — developmental edge and playbook grasp matter more than star rating or in-state status. Fahey’s high-school schedule (Mission Viejo) was elite. Garrison has Fahey penciled in as the starter. 19:45 – 28:55 — USC Home/Road Splits, Defense, & Ohio State D USC is dramatically better at home (36 PPG home vs. 26 road; 24 TDs home vs. 10 road). Rain in the forecast. Hosts debate whether Wisconsin’s performance travels or if USC will respond as a “cornered animal.” Ohio State defensive stats under Matt Patricia (impressive despite heavy portal losses). Front seven has flipped the script after early struggles. 28:55 – ~1:09:20 — Guests: Crash Collier & Nolan Ezzett (USCVOCFB) Crash: First Coliseum game of the year for him; big redemption opportunity for USC after the Wisconsin disaster. They must capitalize on Ohio State’s QB situation and keep their playoff hopes alive. Nolan: Lincoln Riley’s “one run play per series” rule is real (exception on 3rd-and-long). Maiava is the engine; when he’s off, the offense collapses. Trent Mosley is the true WR1 when healthy; Caden Dixon-Wyatt has emerged. Mark Bowman is a freak TE. Both guests stress USC must get pressure on the young QB and not let Jeremiah Smith take over. Score Predictions Crash: USC 28-24 Nolan: Ohio State 24-17 Riley: Ohio State 27-21 Denzel: Ohio State 24-10 (culture concerns with USC; doesn’t buy the “they’ll bounce back” narrative) Garrison: Ohio State 27-21 ~1:09:20 – End — Final Thoughts & Close Expect short/quick game early for Fahey, then open it up if he’s comfortable. Lean on the run game (Isaiah West, Bo Jackson, etc.). Secondary concerns if Jay Timmons is out (Cam Calhoun vs. Simeon Caldwell discussion). Shout-outs to Pit Boss grills. Next show Friday (call-in; possible early/late start due to high school playoff duties). Clip-Friendly Timestamps (Short-Form / Social) 02:22–02:28 — Denzel on Michigan losing to Indiana (“Couldn’t have saw that coming”). 05:03–05:15 — USC’s terrible drive chart vs. Wisconsin. 09:57–10:16 — Denzel’s RPO/D-line rant on USC. 13:30–14:20 — Fahey vs. St. Clair mental processing debate. 46:00–46:40 — Nolan’s “Lincoln Riley rulebook” (one run play per series). 59:18–1:00:00 — Crash’s USC 28-24 prediction. 1:02:00–1:02:20 — Denzel’s culture critique of USC. Key Takeaways QB: Hosts are riding with Luke Fahey as the starter — better playbook grasp and consistency over St. Clair’s higher ceiling/inconsistency. USC Defense: Looked lost vs. Wisconsin; Ohio State should be able to run the ball and keep it simple. USC Offense: Still dangerous at home with Maiava, Mosley, Dixon-Wyatt, Bowman, and King Miller. Betting Lean: Hosts mostly like Ohio State to win and cover the ~6.5, though they expect a competitive game. Tone: Ohio State side is confident but respectful of USC’s home environment and desperation. USC side sees a must-win redemption spot. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

HANGING IN THE BALANCE? / Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 392 OhioStateVOCFB Host: Mark Rogers (Voice of College Football) Guest: Steve Helwagen (Bucknuts247 Senior Editor) Air date context: Post-Ohio State 19-15 win at Indiana (bye week ahead; Julian Sayin injury dominates) Episode Overview The show centers on the massive uncertainty created by Julian Sayin’s injury. Ohio State escaped Bloomington with a 19-15 win that felt like a loss because of the quarterback situation. Helwagen and Rogers break down the game’s officiating controversies, defensive standouts, offensive line and running-game shortcomings, Sayin’s uneven play before the injury, and how the staff should prepare Luke Fahey (and possibly Tavion St. Clair) during the bye for a tough road trip to USC. Tone is realistic-to-cautiously-optimistic: the defense is elite, but the offense has clear issues and the QB situation is fluid. Timestamped Key Segments 0:00–2:20 | Opening & Sayin injury status High standard of QB play at Ohio State; Sayin met it for ~1.5 seasons. Now out “at least several weeks.” Helwagen has no inside info and says prepare for the worst-case scenario (possible transfer or NFL draft decision). Nothing is off the table. Day expected to give a briefing after practice; HIPAA limits what can be said. Take it one week at a time. Luke Fahey (true freshman) was not ready when dropped into a top-5 road game vs. a top-10 defense after limited prior snaps. 2:20–5:55 | The 19-15 win felt like a loss Late-game management with Fahey was questionable (asking a true freshman to throw instead of running to burn clock). Win came at a huge price (Sayin injury). Pessimists say the season is over; optimists note the talent and defense. Reality is somewhere in the middle. Bright spot: bye week gives two weeks to prepare Fahey as the starter for USC. 5:55–12:20 | Officiating: penalties called and not called Roughing the passer/targeting on Jermaine Matthews (targeting later removed); announcers questioned the call. Multiple non-calls of pass interference on Jeremiah Smith (photographic evidence of early contact, including on a tipped interception that gifted Indiana a short field and their only TD in the first three quarters, and a bomb down the middle). Estimated 10–14 point swing from these plays. Ryan Day repeatedly talks to officials about it, but it continues. Holding on Carson Hinzman was correctly called (negated a big Bo Jackson run). Riley Pettijohn held on the final Indiana play (egregious non-call that could have ended the game earlier). Rogers notes the “step and a half” standard for pass rushers and the limited target area (above the waist, below the neck). 12:20–16:10 | Final drive details & historical context Pettijohn forced pressure and batted a pass earlier in the series. Bo Atkinson’s tackle for no gain on 3rd down set up 4th-and-4. Nick Marsh catch was out of bounds (left foot clearly out); angle of the stadium made it hard to see live. Game of inches throughout. Indiana could have won it in other iterations. Landmark outcomes: snapped Indiana’s 22-game win streak; first home loss for Cignetti in 20 games; rematch of Big Ten Championship; last two national champions playing each other. Ohio State has only beaten a top-5 team on the road twice in the last 20 years (Penn State 2024 and this game). 16:10–22:15 | Defensive performance & standouts Defense played lights-out; limited Indiana to one sustained TD drive. Jay Timmons (nickel, #25): forced a fumble, multiple tackles, left with concussion (wanted to return). Named National Freshman of the Week (247Sports) and Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Future star / building block. Riley Pettijohn flashing consistently (pressure, batted pass). Jalen McClain’s fingerprints on all four Big Ten wins; dropped pick was a deflection that changed trajectory at the last moment. Neither team established the run. Charlie Becker had a big day (9 for 165) vs. Devin Sanchez in coverage, but overall TD prevention was excellent. Matt Patricia’s plan worked. 22:15–29:00 | Quarterback situation: Fahey vs. Tavion St. Clair St. Clair has comparable (or more) practice reps to what Sayin had before starting vs. Texas last year. Helwagen saw St. Clair in high school at Bellefontaine (smaller-school league). Family later moved brother to Upper Arlington for better competition. St. Clair has not seen Big Ten-level defenses consistently. Coaches have a year-and-a-half of practice tape on him. Not ruled out. Recommendation: build packages for both QBs, get both live reps in the bye, and consider playing both early at USC. Don’t go into the Coliseum with only one prepared option. USC is playing for its playoff/Big Ten Championship life after a home loss to Oregon. 29:00–35:00 | Offensive line, running game, and Sayin’s play Running game and offensive line are not Big Ten Championship caliber right now. Missing Jacoby Jackson’s physicality. Bo Jackson and Isaiah West (off the bench) did what they could, but the line struggled (depth issues finally showed; Phillip Daniels returning after four weeks missed vs. a strong Indiana front). Daniels’ early release contributed to the sack/fumble that injured Sayin. Two holds, two false starts, three sacks (some on Sayin indecision). Sayin was off: 5-for-14 in the first half, inaccurate (overthrew Smith for a pick), indecisive on earlier sacks, improved in the second half but still not sharp. This was roughly his 20th–21st start. Need more production from veteran receivers (Devin McEwen, Brandon Ennis, Kyle Parker) and tight ends. Early TE success on the first drive wasn’t sustained. Positive: Arthur Smith’s goal-line sequence (Smith drawing defenders, then easy pitch to Bo Jackson for the TD). Seventh time this year they’ve scored a TD in the final 30 seconds of a half. Chris Henry’s route-running and catch highlighted. 35:00–end | Looking ahead, odds, and wrap-up Bye week is critical for Fahey (and St. Clair) preparation. USC road game (Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC) will be difficult. Helwagen expects Ohio State to still be a slight favorite (previously would have been larger). Big Ten Championship odds (FanDuel) still have Ohio State as the favorite at -125; three remaining home games help. Helwagen notes past Ohio State struggles scoring TDs in the Coliseum vs. USC historically. Closing: check Day’s comments for any Sayin update; next week is the full USC preview. Key Takeaways Sayin injury is the dominant storyline. “Several weeks” minimum; season-ending or transfer/NFL scenarios are not being ruled out. Prepare for Fahey as the starter. 19-15 win was costly. Defense carried the day, but the offense looked limited even before the injury, and the late-game plan with Fahey was conservative to a fault. Officiating was a major factor. Multiple uncalled PIs on Jeremiah Smith and at least one clear holding non-call on the final series. These shaped the final score. Defense is the strength. Timmons, Pettijohn, McClain, and the unit overall played at a high level and limited a strong Indiana offense. OL and run game are concerns. Not currently at championship level; depth and consistency issues showed against Indiana’s front. Supporting cast must elevate if Fahey (or St. Clair) starts. Bye-week plan should include both QBs. Get Fahey and St. Clair live reps and packages. USC is a hostile environment and a must-win type game for the Trojans. Season outlook remains open. Defense + talent + schedule (home games remaining) keep Big Ten Championship odds favorable, but QB play and the run game will decide how far they go. Notable Quotes / Lines Helwagen on the win: “It felt like a loss. It looked like a loss.” / “Take your win.” On Fahey’s late snaps: Questioning why they asked a true freshman to throw instead of running to burn clock. On officials: Repeated frustration with early contact on Jeremiah Smith that went uncalled. On the OL: “Offensive line’s a disaster right now.” On Sayin: He “was off” and “so indecisive” in key moments; still one of the top 5–10 QBs in the country when healthy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ohio State Primetime LIVE 108 Presented by FanDuel Hosts: Garrison Gaddy, Riley Burnett, Denzel Jones Title: BIG Win In Bloomington & QB Questions Looming! Aired: OhioStateVOCFB Intro & Betting Recap (00:00:31–00:03:45) Hosts open with the win in Bloomington. Garrison recaps his bets from the previous week: Florida-Texas under 52.5 (hit at 51 total), Western Michigan moneyline over Central Michigan (21-14), and Michigan-Penn State under 41.5 (hit at 39). This week’s bets: Indiana at Michigan under 41.5 (likes Michigan’s front against the run), Iowa-Minnesota under 40.5, and Ole Miss +3.5 at Texas. Weekend Chaos Across College Football (00:03:45–00:05:53) Alabama gets “dog-walked” by Tennessee (hosts cite roughly 26-10/26-12). Auburn beats Georgia. BYU beats Notre Dame at home. UCLA beats Wisconsin; hosts note UCLA is technically first in the Big Ten at that moment. Hosts enjoy seeing Alabama and Georgia (previously viewed as top-tier) lose, and enjoy Notre Dame’s loss. Riley notes Auburn stepped up in big moments (Evan McPherson’s brother “Money Mac” hits a clutch kick). Alabama’s offense looked out of sync; Keelan Russell uncomfortable. Other QBs Struggling + Michigan Situation (00:05:53–00:09:24) Garrison highlights that Ohio State survived Julian’s poor game while other high-profile QBs also struggled: Keelan Russell: 19/29, 150 yards, 2 INT, 1 fumble. Gunner Stockton: 22/34, 2 TD, 2 INT, 1 fumble. C.J. Carr: 27/49, 261 yards, 1 fumble. Michigan pulls Bryce Underwood for Tommy Carr at half vs. Penn State. Hosts note Michigan fans had high expectations after the five-star QB arrival; Underwood has struggled. Tommy Carr comes in but still throws for under 50 yards. Michigan gets its first Big Ten win. Garrison jokes that whoever starts for Ohio State vs. USC will throw for more than 50 yards in a half. Ohio State 19-15 Win at Indiana (00:09:24 onward) Final: Ohio State (then No. 4) beats No. 5 Indiana 19-15 on the road in Bloomington. Hosts call it an ugly, gritty win. Initial reactions: Denzel immediately praises the defensive line (held Indiana under 100 rushing yards) and the run defense. Riley notes that when other teams win ugly it is framed as “gritty/empowering,” but Ohio State gets criticized for the same result. Garrison references the Buckeye Space at halftime full of criticism while Ohio State was up 3 on the road against the No. 5 team with a struggling QB. Defense Breakdown Defensive line / Front seven: Hosts call this the deepest defensive tackle room of Ryan Day’s tenure (John Walker III, Andrew Houston, Jason Moore, Will Smith Jr.). Edges and front seven played well against one of the better RB tandems in the country. Peyton Pierce has his best game of the year, including a key pass breakup in the end zone. Transfer linebacker from Wisconsin gets praise after earlier skepticism. No. 12 (Cleve Mike) gets the critical sack that forces fourth-and-4 late. Hosts note the “praise as loudly as we critique” rule. Secondary & Devin Sanchez debate (extended segment): Denzel argues Devin Sanchez is overrated relative to the hype and five-star pedigree. He cites multiple first downs given up, including a contested catch by Charlie Becker, and says Sanchez has not lived up to the aura or the “All-American” expectations. He compares unfavorably to prior corners (e.g., Igbinosun). Garrison and Riley push back: Ohio State played a lot of man coverage (islands). Charlie Becker is a top-3/top-5 receiver with elite contested-catch ability. One deep contested catch by Becker is offset by a breakup; the ball simply wasn’t thrown his way often enough to evaluate fully. Riley emphasizes how difficult it is to play the boundary against Curt Cignetti’s RPO-heavy offense (slants, quick game, stacked box). Other secondary notes: Jay Timmons is repeatedly called a difference-maker and “the best player on the defense” / “playing like the best safety in America.” Nickel play is strong. Overall, the defense held Josh Hoover to roughly 50% completion on 40 attempts. Hosts note the defense is better than expected and compare points allowed historically (this year’s unit around 13.4 PPG). Offense & Julian’s Performance Julian has his worst game of the career. Hosts note uncharacteristic misses and pressure issues. Indiana sent pressure and Julian looked flustered. QB situation going forward (major discussion): Hosts lean toward giving Fahey (smaller, quicker, better escapability on early runs) the full opportunity and first-team reps. Tavion has size (6'5") and a year of experience but has not developed as expected. Leash should be short if the starter struggles in upcoming games. Isaiah West’s emergence as a runner is viewed as helpful for the QB situation (takes pressure off). Garrison stresses running the ball, slants, and crossers until the offense stabilizes. Jeremiah Smith’s Heisman case is put “on the back burner” for now; win with the run game and defense. Other offensive notes: Bo Jackson and Isaiah West got tough yards against a strong Indiana front. Arthur Smith’s fourth-down flat route to Bo is praised as a strong call in a high-leverage spot. Special teams (Connor Hawkins field goals) and Phillip Daniels’ fumble recovery are credited as game-saving. Rankings & Closing Discussion Hosts review the new top 5/top 8 and their own power rankings. Debate on Ohio State not being No. 1 (Garrison wants them higher; Denzel prefers them at 3 so they “play better”). Miami at No. 1 draws criticism (schedule). Notre Dame at 4 draws criticism (only real loss so far, weak résumé). Indiana should still be higher in some views. Utah’s top-10 ranking questioned due to schedule. Garrison’s updated CFP-style rankings emphasize consistency and wins (Ohio State has two top-10 road wins). Big Ten standings briefly reviewed. Show closes with thanks, reminder of Friday call-in show, and Pit Boss sponsorship. Notable Clip-Worthy Moments Garrison’s betting hits and new under bets (early). “Win by any means necessary / sometimes ugly” framing of the Indiana win. Full Devin Sanchez debate (roughly 00:19–00:29). Jay Timmons praise as the best defensive player. Fahey vs. Tavion QB discussion and short-leash comments. “Jeremiah Smith Heisman on the back burner — win with the run game and defense.” Phillip Daniels fumble recovery and special teams credit. Ryan Day reaction shot after Julian’s sack (emotional, doesn’t look at his QB). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ohio State Call-in Show 82 Presented by FanDuel Hosts: Garrison Gaddy & Denzel Jones | Guest: Bradley Loomis (IndianaVOCFB) OhioStateVOCFB | Focus: Ohio State at Indiana (Big Noon Kickoff) preview, 14-team CFP reaction, injury report, player predictions, matchup analysis, and other Week games. 00:00–02:30 | Open & Weather Banter Garrison welcomes everyone to the Ohio State Call-in Show, presented by FanDuel, with Denzel. Tomorrow’s game is Ohio State at Indiana. Call-in link and chat are open. Light free-for-all energy. Denzel notes it’s too cold; both are Michigan-born Buckeyes. Banter about northern Michigan toughness, lake effect, and not being ready for the weather yet (kids not outside, rainy/windy). 02:30–09:30 | 24-Team CFP Discussion Vote has passed for a 24-team playoff. Denzel: Middle of the road. Excited for more upsets (March Madness style) and more football, but skeptical of the ESPN money angle. Good and bad for the sport. Garrison: Truly doesn’t care. Sport changes daily; better to move with the times than whine (no vote that matters). Reads his earlier tweet points: ~138 FBS teams → 17% make the playoff (not a lot). Every other level (FCS, D2, D3, NAIA, JUCO) already has this. Ranking the top 3–5 should mean something. Get over it — you’ll still watch, buy tickets/jerseys. Older fans more resistant (nostalgia); younger fans generally fine with more football. Hypothetical 2025-style first-round matchups (Utah-Michigan, BYU-Oregon, Vanderbilt-Virginia, Alabama-Duke, Tulane-Texas) would be watchable. Ohio State “will never have to worry about this.” 09:30–14:00 | Injury Report & Early Game Feel Ohio State injury report raises anxiety for Garrison (already a little fearful/anxious of the matchup). Key names discussed: Jacoby Jackson (prefers him available as a quality Big Ten back), missing best OL, Philip Daniels (big if healthy so Austin Cervo can slide), Gabe Insickle (excellent in run game), Brock Boyd (questionable), Turbo (in and out), Isaiah West (questionable but expected to play), Kerry Wilder (injured), Deontay Armstrong (third-string guard). Indiana strengths noted: edge rushers get attention, but defensive tackles are the better part of the unit; LBs (Hardy top-3 Big Ten/nation) are dogs. Denzel: Not overly worried — wants to see what Bo Jackson does. “This is where you make your money.” 14:00–26:00 | Player Predictions & Offensive Outlook Denzel’s list (he has six): Devin Sanchez gets a pick (feels like his game; wakes up against good receivers). Jeremiah Smith: ~120 yards + 2 TDs (around FanDuel line of 132.5). Rest of the team eats — Chris Henry Jr. ~60 yards + TD (solidifies as clear No. 2; breakout week). Bo Jackson: 105 rushing yards (all rushing emphasis in the moment; long of 20). Plus defensive notes (Edrick Houston mentioned). Garrison: If the OL holds up vs. Indiana’s D-line, Julian Sayin has time → potential legacy game for him + Bo Jackson “legacy game part two” (references true freshman spark in the Michigan win). Jeremiah gets the ball moved around (boundary/slot). Other WRs (Chris Henry Jr., Devin McEwen, Kyle Parker, Brandon Ennis) get touches; room getting healthier at the right time. Bo can also contribute in the receiving game. Score feel: Denzel roughly 28-13/17 range (Ohio State capitalizes where Nebraska missed red-zone chances). OL is currently the weakest offensive unit; Indiana’s strength is the D-line (especially interior). Pass rush overall has been light (9 sacks on the season). Props: Bo Jackson over/under 75.5 rushing yards. FanDuel plug for props. 26:00–31:20 | More Predictions & LB Notes Garrison expands on WR room progress and health. Chris Henry Jr. confidence built from early-season ups and downs (including the early INT-turned-TD stretch) plus blocking. Peyton Pierce and Raleigh Pettijohn need their best tackling games of the season (Indiana will run the ball). Garrison’s “you better play f*****g good” message to Pierce — fair-weather support acknowledged; coverage questions remain but run-support/tackling is non-negotiable. Pettijohn had a rough tackling day previously and isn’t on the injury report. 31:20–59:00 | Guest: Bradley Loomis (IndianaVOCFB) Brad joins (brief mute issue). Mutual respect. Score predictions: Denzel originally higher (around 34-something), now 26-20. Brad: 21-17 Indiana at home (changed from earlier). Brad’s confidence levels: Most confident — D-line (waves, true freshman Blake Smythe stepping up; top-5 pressure rate with low blitz rate; can get home with four). Least confident — secondary. Matchup framing: Battle of heavyweights (national level: Alabama/Georgia, Ohio State/Indiana). Stats-out-the-window game. Indiana has gotten better as the season goes (pattern from year one). Talent gap from 2024 is gone. Garrison: Nervous. Offensively better than last year, defensively not. Somewhere between 2024 and 2025 Indiana. Tackling issues for both; Indiana’s RBs more explosive. Strength of Indiana D is the interior line + LBs. Ohio State will try to get the ball out quick. WRs should be fine vs. Indiana DBs (Jeremiah is different; others can eat). Brad: Trenches favor Indiana; outsides favor Ohio State (composite). Secondary is the weakness; Jeremiah is the best player in college football. Game of the year potential, fourth-quarter type. Other notes: Josh Hoover “due” for a turnover but Brad isn’t overly worried (character, confidence, support system; might throw a pick but they’ll get one back). Curt Cignetti is a buzzsaw. Ohio State in “wounded animal” mode (Ryan Day different). Home environment will be loud (Autzen-style noise). Both teams top-4 caliber; opinions won’t shift much on a close result either way. Chris Henry Jr. comparison to Charlie Becker (late-bloomer who cooked in a big spot). Northwestern/Nebraska games as measuring sticks for Indiana. Brad’s final: 21-17 Hoosiers. It’s a “who shows up” game. 59:00–1:04:50 | Other Games & Bits Quick hits: Purdue vs. Washington — Denzel takes Purdue (Washington cooked). Wisconsin at UCLA — Wisconsin (Nico out; UCLA season derailed). Nebraska at Oregon — Mixed; Garrison leans Nebraska (Oregon missing receivers, inconsistent D, struggles vs. mobile QBs); Denzel takes Oregon. Penn State at Michigan — Excitement/hope for the underdog. Personal notes (wedding, outfit, etc.). FanDuel/spread work mentioned earlier in network context. 1:04:50–end | Close Like, share, subscribe, hit the hype button. Sunday noon recap show with Denzel on tomorrow’s game. O-H / I-O. Quick takeaways: Heavy focus on the Ohio State–Indiana trenches (OL vs. Indiana D-line/interior) as the key matchup. Bo Jackson and Jeremiah Smith are the offensive swing pieces. Hosts split between optimism (Denzel) and caution (Garrison). Brad brings the Indiana perspective: D-line strength, secondary concern, close 21-17 pick. 24-team CFP treated as “it is what it is.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 391 – Indiana Week Voice of College Football (OhioStateVOCFB) Host: Mark Rogers Guests: Steve Helwagen (Bucknuts247), Tony Gerdeman (Buckeye Insiders / Buckeye Weekly Podcast), Jared Kelly (Peegs.com / 247Sports) Opening / Framing the Matchup (0:00–2:50) Ohio State travels to Bloomington for a high-stakes Big Ten showdown with implications for conference control and CFP positioning. Indiana is the defending national champion, undefeated, and on a 22-game win streak—one win from tying Urban Meyer’s 2014-15 Ohio State team for the longest Big Ten win streak in the CFP era. Indiana is no longer viewed as a flash-in-the-pan under Curt Cignetti; the program has repeatedly reloaded via the portal (e.g., Marsh replacing Surratt; Hoover replacing Mendoza). Hoover has 17 TDs and 0 INTs through six games. Maryland Recap & Ohio State’s Current Form (3:00–6:40) Maryland was treated as a “get the job done” game (55-0). Rain contributed to turnovers (interception returned for TD + fumble leading to FG); 10 of Maryland’s 16 points came directly off Ohio State turnovers. Ohio State rushed for over 200 yards; Bo Jackson had the team’s first 20+ yard run since Week 1 (25-yard TD). Steve: Ohio State has played better overall than Indiana this season despite the Texas loss; Indiana’s schedule has been lighter. Tony: Maryland was a means to an end—rested players, avoided major injuries. “The season finally begins” against Indiana after the Texas loss raised the stakes. Indiana’s Close Calls & Schedule Context (6:40–12:30) Indiana has been pushed by Northwestern and Nebraska. Nebraska dominated for ~3 quarters (led 17-6 late) before Indiana exploded via two Nick Marsh long TDs (including a 4th-and-1 pitch-and-catch). Wind heavily affected the Nebraska game (sustained 20 mph, gusts to 50). Tony notes the circular logic in ranking: close games vs. Indiana are used to argue Nebraska/Northwestern are good, which then boosts Indiana. Steve: Nebraska earned more respect in the loss than in many recent wins; questions remain about whether they have a higher ceiling or a “Charlie Brown” inability to close. Jared Kelly Segment – Indiana Outlook (17:00–44:00) Rivalry status More edge than in the past due to proximity, recent results, and Cignetti’s past comments. Still early to call it a full rivalry until Indiana wins more games against Ohio State. Both programs sit atop the Big Ten; Oregon’s struggles have clarified the hierarchy. Cignetti’s approach Highly prepared and respectful of Ohio State (praised Jeremiah Smith extensively). Uses media availability to message his own team. Short and businesslike post-Nebraska. Josh Hoover Has exceeded expectations after turnover concerns at TCU. Zero INTs so far; cleaned up accuracy while retaining poise in the fourth quarter at Nebraska. Different skill set than Mendoza/Rourke (smaller, more mobile). Another level remains possible. Not yet at Mendoza’s level, but trajectory is strong. Secondary concerns D’Angelo Pons was the hardest player to replace. AJ Harris (Penn State/Georgia transfer) has been limited by injury and only returned in the second half vs. Nebraska. Safeties have been inconsistent (Preston Zachman from Wisconsin has coverage lapses). Secondary has not faced a true downfield passing attack. This is the clearest area of vulnerability against Ohio State’s receivers. Defensive front Strong overall (top-tier in yards/points allowed and sacks). Stephen Daley and Tobias Osasomny each have five sacks. Brian Haynes dials up exotic pressures—Ohio State struggled with these in last year’s Big Ten Championship. Run defense has been excellent except against dual-threat QBs (not a major issue vs. Julian Sayin). Team identity vs. last year Possibly more talented on paper, but lacks the same cohesion and leadership intangibles of the 2025 championship team. Inconsistencies (especially tackling and secondary) persist longer than they did a year ago. Close wins vs. Northwestern and Nebraska are more a reflection of those teams being solid than Indiana playing down. Environment & tickets Memorial Stadium will feel different with national championship branding. Crowd split is the big unknown—historically Ohio State fans have taken over; IU fans appear more likely to hold tickets this year. Get-in prices are high (~$440+). Ohio State fans should expect a more competitive, less hospitable atmosphere than in past decades. Betting, X’s & O’s, and Closing Thoughts (45:00–end) Ohio State is a 3.5-point road favorite (FanDuel). Tony viewed it closer to 1.5–2.5 pre-line; still comfortable with Ohio State as favorite given Indiana’s close calls. Key factors: establishing the run, stopping the run, third downs, red zone, and turnovers. Jeremiah Smith is one TD shy of Braylon Edwards’ Big Ten career record. Ohio State’s receivers (Smith + supporting cast) present a bigger challenge for Indiana’s secondary than Texas did. Indiana’s Becker/Marsh duo is viewed as a step up from Texas’s receivers. GameDay chose BYU-Notre Dame over this matchup (noted as a head-scratcher given the stakes). Broader Big Ten notes: Michigan-Penn State and other bottom-of-the-league games; Purdue’s surprising start; coaching struggles at multiple programs. Key Takeaways Both sides acknowledge this is the most meaningful Ohio State-Indiana game in decades. Ohio State enters healthier and more balanced offensively after Maryland; Indiana’s secondary and overall cohesion are the main question marks. Hoover has been excellent but untested against elite competition; pressure on him and protection for Sayin will be decisive. Crowd and atmosphere in Bloomington are the biggest unknowns. Consensus lean: Ohio State slightly better on paper and preferred as a small road favorite, but Indiana is dangerous at home and capable of winning if it cleans up recent inconsistencies. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ohio State Primetime Live 107 Presented by FanDuel Hosts: Garrison Gaddy, Denzel Jones, Riley Burnett Topic: Maryland recap + Ohio State at Indiana preview (“Will the Buckeyes Avenge the Loss?”) Maryland Recap (Opening Segment) ~00:56 – 05:15 Riley: Solid but not spectacular win. Offensive line was banged up with timing miscues; both running backs (“the Jackson Two” — Bo Jackson and Jacoby Jackson) played well and complement each other. Jeremiah Smith got early touches and made them count. Defense was mostly solid (7 of Maryland’s points came from OL miscues). Garrison pushes back lightly on the “no clear RB1” take, noting Bo’s 25-yard TD run (best blocked run of the season) and arguing the backs are even. Denzel leans toward Jacoby looking strong. Consensus: both backs are running hard; no need for a strict RB1/RB2 hierarchy right now. Ryan Day looked fired up on the sideline (“Cocaine Day” energy). Key takeaway: Good win to move to 10-0 all-time vs. Maryland, but the team still has key pieces to get healthy before the real Big Ten stretch. Indiana Preview — Overall Outlook & Defense ~05:15 – 25:00+ Biggest remaining Big Ten game is now at Indiana (top-5 matchup in Bloomington). Oregon has fallen off; this is the clear top test left. What they want to see from Ohio State: Continue leaning into the run game (best run blocking of the year vs. Maryland; backs hit holes cleanly). A consistent second receiver to step up alongside Jeremiah. Defense to win man-to-man vs. Indiana’s elite skill players. Indiana’s weapons highlighted: WRs: Charlie Becker (~529 yards, 8 TDs) and Nick Marsh (~528 yards, 6 TDs). RBs: Turbo Richard (~597 yards, 8.4 YPC, 5 TDs) and BB Junior (~531 yards). Garrison called them arguably the best WR and RB duos in the country (with some pushback in chat). Nebraska blueprint: Nebraska’s front stuffed the run early and covered Becker well for most of the game but forgot about Marsh in the second half (especially in trips/slot). Ohio State should take the same approach but execute better because they have superior talent. Do not let Indiana stretch the field early with quick game or explosives. Secondary confidence: Mixed. Jermaine Matthews needs a “get-back” game vs. Becker. Devin Sanchez is still inconsistent (has given up TDs to big receivers); mid-season is time for him to step up. Safeties (McClain more in the box, Earl Little versatile) have been better. Need Jay Timmons’ energy if available. Win the ones. Front seven vs. run game: More confident after Nebraska showed the blueprint. Fresh bodies, stunts/twists, and emerging players (Edrick Houston, Quay Russo, etc.) should help. Don’t let Indiana get the run game going early in Bloomington. Josh Hoover: Average game manager who fits Cignetti’s system. Ohio State’s low sack rate is noted, but hosts expect Patricia to dial up pressure (blitzes, stunts) and make him uncomfortable. Hoover is “due” for a turnover. Odds, Props & Score Predictions ~18:00 – 42:00 Line: Ohio State -3.5 (was +1.5 earlier in the season). Over/under ~50.5. Most lean under on the total. Indiana rushing over/under 123.5: Under (hosts want Ohio State to hold them well under 150). Ohio State rushing: Over. Hoover passing: Mixed (some under, some over if OSU controls the clock and forces throws). Julian Sayin: Over. Score predictions: Riley: Ohio State 28, Indiana 17. Denzel: Ohio State 28, Indiana 13. Garrison: Ohio State 35, Indiana 20 (late score separates them; competitive classic, not a blowout). Tempo discussion: Want a healthy dose of tempo (especially early) to stress Indiana’s defense and keep Cignetti from dictating pace. Don’t gas the OL, but mix it in because Ohio State’s skill players should win those matchups. Offense Notes Lean into the run (Bo + Jacoby). Target Chris Henry Jr. more (size + speed; has been underutilized as a decoy). Tight ends (Nate Roberts, etc.) for blocking and occasional big plays. Julian Sayin needs cleaner decision-making (protect the ball, less panic). Arthur Smith’s offense is humming. Special Teams Improved last week (returns, FG). Still some nerves. Indiana’s kicker is perfect so far. Want more commitment to blocking punts (Urban Meyer style) — a block could swing a close game (referenced Caleb Downs return two years ago). Best Bets (Presented by FanDuel) Mississippi State at LSU Over 59.5 (no defense). Florida at Texas Under 52.5. Western Michigan Moneyline (pure emotion from Garrison). Penn State at Michigan Under 41.5 (ugly game expected). Second-Half Expectations & Position Groups If Ohio State beats Indiana, run the table. No fear of USC, Oregon, Michigan, Northwestern, etc. Indiana is the toughest remaining Big Ten test. Best position groups so far: Wide receivers (blocking + Jeremiah) and safeties (consistent, sure tacklers, Earl Little is a dog). Worst / needs elevation: Defensive line (started slow, finding itself recently) or corners (too many easy completions). O-line also needs to take another step. Other notes: Second-half identity talk (offense has one; defense needs more killers). Iowa jumped in Garrison’s Big Ten rankings after beating Washington. Light trash talk on Minnesota vs. Iowa. Closing Shout-outs, subscribe, Mark Rogers show Tuesday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

OhioStateVOCFB – Ohio State vs. Maryland Postgame Live Hosts: Garrison Gaddy & Denzel Jones Chapter 1: Maryland Game Analysis (0:31–2:04) 0:31–1:10: Intro. Ohio State defeats Maryland 45-6. Box-score look suggests a clean blowout, but the hosts note it was messy. 1:10–1:50: Key issues: penalties, offensive line injuries (right guard/tackle out; Austin Serville also out). Defense overall solid but had areas to clean up. 1:50–2:04: Denzel’s take — game was “real sloppy.” Run blocking was strong and backs ran hard, but too many penalties (example: two consecutive all-size penalties on a rushing TD drive). Chapter 2: Offensive Performance (2:04–5:19) 2:04–2:24: 8 penalties for 65 yards. Young players got snaps (Sincere Johnson, Chris Henry Jr., Brock Boyd). 2:31–3:01: Pass game felt secondary. Julian limited early; team ran the ball ~47 times. Julian finished 13-of-21. 3:01–3:44: Jeremiah Smith limited targets (4 catches). Nate Roberts 68-yard TD. Chris Henry Jr. long catch — Julian’s throw to the outside shoulder was the right placement; Henry adjusted well. 4:12–4:52: Brock Boyd dropped a ball early; Julian appeared to go away from him afterward (noted as a Peyton Manning-style tendency). Boyd still blocked well and did his job. 4:52–5:19: Tight ends involved positively. Nate Roberts has been strong the last 2–3 games. Hosts want more tight-end usage in the pass game to elevate the offense. Chapter 3: Running Back Discussion (5:19–15:30) 5:28–6:28: No true RB1 needed; both backs complement each other. Pushback on “Bo Jackson should be RB1” narrative — RB1 implies 20+ carries with a big gap over RB2. 6:37–7:05: Bo Jackson: 23 carries, 107 yards (4.7 ypc), 2 TDs (one goal-line), long of 25 (explosive). Jacobe Jackson: 14 touches, 76 yards (5.4 ypc), long of 15. Jacobe’s value is breaking tackles and making defenders miss after contact. 7:14–8:22: Both played well. Run blocking excellent — big holes. Bo hit the 25-yard hole cleanly and exploded. Praise for consistency since the Texas game (rush yards and ypc trending up). 8:22–9:41: Isaiah West missed a block that put Julian in danger on a play. Julian has been taking hits all season; need better protection. Pick-six was “fluky.” 9:47–11:07: Pass pro average; run game strong even with two starting OL out. Gabe Sickle had his best game. Right-side blocks on Bo’s 25-yard TD were excellent (perfect block play of the season). 227 rush yards on 48 attempts (4.7 ypc). Maryland’s D-line is solid — good test. 11:17–15:30: Jeremiah Smith one-handed catch in the rain was nasty. Quick aside on #1 overall composite QBs since 2020 — Julian is the only one to “pan out” so far. Julian needs better ball security (careless throw into coverage, fumbles). Scrambles and designed runs looked better; he’s averaging ~15–20 rush yards recently. Sacks in the stat sheet understate his running impact. Chapter 4: Special Teams Review (15:30–17:46) 15:39–16:29: Special teams was the best unit. Philip Bell solid punt returner (secure hands). Legend Bay good on first kick return. Punter had a strong boot (downed inside the 5). Connor Hawkins made field goals. 16:33–17:46: Fake punt awareness was good (prevented momentum). Hawkins making kicks builds confidence after past struggles. Punter looking improved. Encouraging that the unit is going after returns more aggressively (even with a penalty). Ryan Day special teams have been poor for years — this was a step forward. Chapter 5: Defensive Breakdown (17:46–23:44) 17:46–18:20: Maryland scored only 10 offensive points. 3-for-12 on third down, 146 total yards (64 passing at 2.6 ypa, 82 rushing at 2.9 ypc). Strong against Mike Locksley’s offense. 18:20–18:49: Secondary solid. Devin Sanchez and Jaylen McClain had strong games. Earl Little Jr. active. Overall defense played well. 18:51–19:42: Denzel: “good, not great” (Maryland isn’t elite). D-line stepped up — Houston played with more energy/nastiness. Wanted more pressure and turnovers. Safeties filling holes well. 19:46–20:28: Linebackers could be more aggressive. Rotation concerns (Payton Pierce still seeing too much time). Petty John limped; wanted more Sincere/Petty John looks. Sincere played well but missed one gap. 20:28–22:47: Defensive tackle depth exceeding expectations. Jason Moore continues to impress. Will Smith Jr. and Quay Russo (Alabama transfer) pleasant surprises. Front four looking set (Kenyatta Jackson and Quay outside). Bo Aon needs to be limited after mistakes. Inside: Edric Hill and John Walker strong; Carrie needs development for big games. 22:57–23:44: Carrie is the most disruptive pass rusher — need him ready for Indiana, Oregon, Michigan. Whatever it takes (playbook or otherwise) to get him going. Chapter 6: Big Ten Landscape (23:44–31:02) 23:53–24:48: Clean up penalties before Indiana. Need a true WR2 to emerge (McClain, Henry Jr., Boyd, or Roberts). Jeremiah will get his, but someone else must step up. 24:57–26:24: FanDuel bets recap. Iowa upset Washington (Higginbotham looked good; prior QB battle talk was a sham). Iowa is a real threat. 26:24–28:30: Iowa could push for 10–11 wins. Remaining schedule favorable enough for playoff talk if they stay clean. Denzel sees them dropping one (possibly Northwestern). 28:30–31:02: Indiana-Nebraska. Nebraska dominated early but got too high; QB (Raiola) missed throws and opportunities. Indiana fortunate but made the plays. Cignetti stayed calm. Nebraska should be top-25. Ohio State still favored by double digits next week vs. Indiana. Chapter 7: Oregon’s Upset Loss (31:02–40:32) 31:08–32:38: Ohio State should stop Indiana’s run game and control the matchup. Standing firm on double-digit win prediction. 32:38–35:04: Secondary matchups (Germaine vs. Nick Marsh; Dominic Kelly/Cam Calhoun notes). Simeon Caldwell playing well in Jayden’s absence. 35:15–36:36: Oregon lost to UCLA with multiple turnovers (Raiola 2 INTs + fumble; others fumbled). Not primarily a coaching failure — rare clean “players lost it” game. 36:36–39:21: Oregon now in danger of missing the playoff. Remaining schedule includes Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan, Washington. 5–6 losses possible. Dan Lanning unlikely to be fired but seat gets hot. Defense has struggled; mobile QBs (Childs, Raiola, Julian) could cause problems. 39:21–40:32: Big Ten not “wide open” for everyone. Ohio State still the clear top team. Chapter 8: National College Football (40:32–46:33) 41:00–42:35: Georgia-Alabama classic. DeBoer called out a player who cost them. Both top-tier SEC teams; high-leverage game. Garrison has Alabama and Georgia both top-3/5 nationally. 42:35–44:48: Ohio State’s loss to Texas early doesn’t define them. Oklahoma beat Texas with two defensive TDs — not the best win. Texas offense/Arch Manning has regressed badly (year 4). Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia would likely have blown Texas out in that stretch. 44:48–46:33: Arch is average right now. Ohio State’s body of work (Iowa win, consistency) should rank them above Texas. Chapter 9: Rankings (46:33–52:07) 46:44–48:55: Big Ten power rankings (notable moves): Indiana up, UCLA up (Oregon win), Iowa up 6 spots, Northwestern in, Oregon down 5, USC down, Purdue enters. Top of list solid. Iowa/UCLA/Northwestern clustered. 48:55–51:58: CFP top 15: Georgia #1, Ohio State #2, Alabama #3 (adjusted live after rewatch), Miami/Notre Dame debate, Kentucky over Texas, Iowa #12, UCLA #14, USC #13, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech. Consistent with Big Ten view. Chapter 10: Lookahead to Next Week (52:07–55:52) 52:07–54:14: Indiana game is the biggest for the Big Ten race. Winner likely heads to Indianapolis. Oregon no longer the same threat. Michigan still the rivalry game but not the conference shaper this year. 54:14–55:52: Fear factor: USC offense is real but defense is bad. Northwestern could be competitive early. Oregon not feared (expected 30-something to 14-ish). Michigan: fear the game more than the team. Closing — tune in tomorrow for Ohio State Primetime with Garrison, Denzel, and Riley. Overall takeaway: Ohio State handled Maryland 45-6 but left meat on the bone with penalties and a pass-game that stayed quiet. Run game and special teams were bright spots; defense was solid against a lesser opponent. Eyes are already on Indiana as the next true test. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 390 — Maryland week notes. OhioStateVOCFB. Host Mark Rogers with Bucknuts247’s Steve Helwagen, Buckeye Weekly’s Tony Gerdeman, and Inside Maryland Sports’ Jack Sheehan. Aired after Ohio State’s second straight Big Ten win at Iowa, with Maryland next in Columbus and Indiana the week after. Final at Kinnick: Ohio State 31, Iowa 14 (or 31-6 before a late Iowa score while OSU was managing the clock). OSU 484 total yards. Largest margin by a visitor in Iowa City since 2013, per the show. Iowa won the toss, took the ball, and lost it two plays later. Iowa recap — 1:12 to ~35:00 Opening sequence (3:06). Iowa’s decision to receive backfired. Kenyatta Jackson stripped the quarterback; Julian Sayin hit Devin McEwen for a TD. 7-0. Early lull after that: 7-3, 10-3, 10-6, plus a missed long field goal. Defense calibrated early in the second quarter. Iowa went five real possessions without a score (not counting the half-ending kneel). OSU scored before the half, again in the third, and the game was effectively over at 24-6 / 31-6. Hank Brown missed elementary throws and is not viewed as a Big Ten-caliber quarterback. OSU’s last drive: 16 plays, about 9:30, only ~55 yards, clock killed. Children’s Hospital wave noted; Helwagen and Stephen Means were the only press-box people waving. Tony’s read (1:32). Expected script. If Sayin has time, it is not close — and it still was not close when he did not. Jeremiah Smith plus generally accurate Sayin, plus enough run game. Jacoby Jackson and Bo Jackson stayed on schedule; count RPOs as rush yards. Defense “fixed” some Illinois issues, but holding Iowa to 14 means little until it is tested by a real offense. Maryland is a soft test. Indiana is the real one: they will run it at you. Smith workload (7:10–13:00). 15-ish targets vs. Iowa after 16 vs. Illinois — running-back volume. Back-to-back 200-yard receiving games, first in OSU history, both against Big Ten teams, eight days apart. Bill Landis stat: six 200-yard receiving games in the first 135 years of OSU football; Smith just did it twice. Tony’s line: his amazing is now his average. Helwagen’s Mount Rushmore framing (Ari Wasserman): Orlando Pace, Archie Griffin, Jeremiah Smith; Chic Harley as the fourth. Helwagen calls him the 1-2-3 Heisman vote as of Oct. 6 and says no one else needs to show up in New York. Tony’s caveat: against Maryland he may only play a half if it is 28-3, with Indiana next. Devin McEwen (7:26). Four catches, 80 yards. Tony’s point: this cannot be only Smith, same way 2019 was not only J.K. Dobbins with Wilson and Olave also there. Triple-coverage catch (15:22). Sayin threw into double and triple coverage. Smith lightly tapped the defender in front, jumped, caught it between three, then ran ~30 more into the red zone. Drive ended in the doinked field goal. Kicking / special teams (16:18–22:00). Connor Hawkins hit the upright from ~55; missed by about nine inches, not 20 yards wide. Also missed the end-of-Texas kick. Tony: fan PTSD is real; punting has been average for three years; Day talks about wanting better and accepts average. Nick McLarty never got consistent; they did not portal a punter. Return game is non-existent by design — fair catch, start at the 25. Devin McEwen fair-catches because Legend Bey is not trusted back there. Iowa pinned OSU at the 4; OSU’s answering punt from near midfield went to the 24. Helwagen’s counter: Michigan has lost two straight in part because of special teams (100-yard Iowa kick return; muffed punt vs. Minnesota). Penalties. Four pre-snap on offense, one on a punt, two PI on Devin Sanchez, a hold. Loud building. False starts included Van Sickle, Searveld, and Will Kacmarek jumping with Searveld so he was not singled out. Run game (31:26–35:00). About 160 net rushing. Jacoby Jackson not tackled in the backfield, finds creases. Bo Jackson finished with the most carries and ran well late. Isaiah West (about 6 for 26) got the drive from inside the 5 — trusted with the ball, and that drive scores only ~10% of the time, so no need to spend Bo or Jacoby. No run longer than 17 yards in four straight games since Ball State. Day wants explosives; Tony wonders how many “run-game” explosives are actually Smith RPOs. OL run-blocking graded A-minus / B-plus by the hosts. Front rotation (29:23). Three to five new defensive linemen checked in on many snaps, including before the first play. Stephen Means: no way you have that much depth. Production spread (Earl Little around six tackles; Edric Houston active at DT). Subbing also slows the opponent. Injury / availability and the Day lecture — 22:00 to 29:20 Kyle Parker (LSU transfer WR): missed first five games, has been warming up, trying to go this week. Jay Timmons (nickel): warmed up, shut down, in uniform, did not play. Hosts felt the nickel spot missed him. Phillip Daniels (RT): getting closer. Gabe Van Sickle has been outstanding at guard per Luke Montgomery; what Daniels’ return does to the line is unsettled. Kari Wilder and Legend Bey: both warmed up, neither played vs. Iowa. Day went ~two minutes on Wilder without specifics: boxes must be checked, position coaches hold players accountable, players hold themselves accountable. Asked later if Bey falls under the same description, Day said yes. Hosts read it as standards, not a major culture problem — late to study table, class, practice, or simply not ready on the field. They will not hand snaps to keep a portal guy. Counterexamples who do play: Simeon Caldwell (true freshman LB in dime), Timmons won the nickel, Bo Jackson, Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd out-snapping senior Brandon Innis. Day has said they want more explosion in the run game and are taking applications at DE — and the five-star answers are on the bench because they have not earned it in practice. Wilder’s usage has been “go get the quarterback” in the speed package, no real gap assignment. Maryland is the last soft chance to get young guys live reps. Everyone else left on the schedule has a winning record. Maryland guest — Jack Sheehan, ~36:00 to 50:30 Mike Locksley. Seat was hot, now piping hot. AD Jim Smith (did not hire him; former OSU marketing director under Andy Geiger, Crew, Falcons president) gave a public vote of confidence and money last offseason. Program retained Malik Washington and a large starter group and added portal pieces — “push the chips in.” Result: three straight losses, two blowouts, back-to-back 4-8 seasons, tracking toward 3-9. Home loss to UCLA 54-3 is the kind of result programs do not come back from. They were in the Nebraska game (led by 9-10 in the first half; 28-23 entering the fourth) before a pick-six — third pick-six in two weeks. Consensus: when, not if. Bye after Rutgers is the logical window. Buyout savings from waiting until season’s end is under $1 million. Staff can already be building portal lists. Why it got worse with 16 starters back. Defense did not live up to the returners (lost Zaheer Mathis; Sydney Stewart, freshman All-American with 7-8 sacks last year, has only about two this year). Run game stalled, OL is not good, RB injuries forced a walk-on into carries. Everything landed on Washington, still young: accuracy issues, poor touch on deep balls, rocket arm and athleticism, turnovers. Chris Derr is second nationally in receptions and the best Maryland receiver since D.J. Moore. Locksley said Washington is about where they expected; the fan base does not want to hear that. Next coach. Sheehan wants an X’s-and-O’s coach more than a recruiter. Maryland will not out-recruit Ohio State, Penn State, or others for DMV talent (Chase Young, Dwayne Haskins, etc.). Preference is an established head coach; a first-time coordinator is higher risk but possible (Will Stein model). Manny Diaz is a name he has thought about. Maryland DL. Luke Montgomery called it the best DL OSU has seen, even without Mathis. Edges: Sydney Stewart (get-off, motor) and five-star freshman Zion Ely (raw, flashes, about two sacks). Interior is bigger and deeper than Maryland has been. UCLA and Nebraska still ran on them. Talent is ahead of the results. Sheehan’s site: maryland.247sports.com. No site staff expected in Columbus except possibly publisher Jeff Ermann. Series notes and Big Ten board — 50:40 to end OSU’s average margin vs. Maryland is about 32. Two wins by 59 (including 73-14 and 62-3). 2018 in College Park: 52-51 in OT; Urban Meyer blacking out on the sideline; Maryland’s two-point try failed with a man open; Haskins threw for 405; Maryland ran for 339 (394 if sacks removed) on 48 carries and threw only 14 times. Pete Thamel’s cyst story followed; Meyer was in the NFL a year later. 2023 in Columbus: 37-17, Josh Proctor pick turned it. Last trip to College Park was tighter until a Lathan Ransom blocked punt. Day is 56-5 in the Big Ten after the Iowa win; Meyer was 54-4. Under Day, home losses are Oregon and Michigan twice. Helwagen: Nebraska 5-0 and unranked, Indiana 5-0 and around 6th-7th, settled Saturday in Lincoln — “Super Bowl” for Matt Rhule. If Indiana gets through that, next week in Bloomington is the game of the year. Hosts do not think looking ahead to Indiana matters against Maryland; OSU is about a five-touchdown favorite. Conference oddities: Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Illinois, Washington all 0-2 in the Big Ten; Wisconsin and Minnesota 2-0. About a third of Big Ten games so far have been upsets. Northwestern (David Braun, Chip Kelly, Aiden Chiles) beat Penn State at the new Ryan Field despite missing three top DBs, a tight end, and playing a third-string left guard. Empty purple seats between the 20s in the first half blamed on secondary-market prices. Clip timestamps 1:32 — Tony: if Sayin has time it is not close, and it still was not. 3:06 — Iowa takes the ball, strip-sack, Sayin to McEwen, 7-0. 9