Advertise on podcast: The Tim May Show featuring Clay Hall

Until the come-from-ahead loss to Oregon last weekend, Ohio State had not lost three regular season games since 2011 when Luke Fickell was interim coach in the bridge between Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer. But here the Buckeyes sit, coming off a second straight double-digit fall, and of course Ryan Day and staff are trying to overhaul the jalopy, except for Robby Disher, who was relieved of special teams coordinator duties earlier this week by Day . Days after the loss, questions persist. How did All-America receiver Jeremiah Smith disappear from the target list for half the game, how did the defense get washed again, and of course the special teams thing? Plus Bill Bender of the Sporting News drops in for national perspective, including on the CFP, now and next year, when it moves to 24 teams. Relax. Take a pain reliever.

There can be all kinds of explanations for what went wrong with Ohio State that brought about the third loss - and probable elimination from CFP consideration - of the 2026 season, but Tim says the Buckeyes' self-censor of Jeremiah Smith, the most dangerous offensive player in the country, from the plan for the two quarters when the game was decided has no plausible explanation. Matt Wilhelm adds his thoughts, and speaks of the challenge Ryan Day and staff face now of simply rallying a team's belief after everyone concerned - players AND coaches - were outplayed and outcoached in all three phases of a second straight double-digit loss.

Even Ryan Day will tell you, it's time to quit talking about the potential of the 2026 Buckeyes. For the players and coaches, it's time to walk the walk as Ohio State welcomes Oregon into Ohio Stadium for a late afternoon showdown. Jeff Snook has his takes, both on the debacle of OSU's loss at Southern California last week, and the potential of this week. And by takes, he includes criticism of Day and the coaching staff for what's gone down in the red zone in like-talent games the last couple of seasons, and other things. Ironically, Ohio State and Oregon were projected in August to be the cream of Big Ten, what with their talented, highly paid rosters. Instead, Oregon already has three losses, which likely leaves it out of the College Football Playoff mix while the Buckeyes, with 2 L's, are clinging to their hopes. You can hear the sirens from here!!

With a suddenly rejuvenated Oregon on the way to town on Saturday, Ohio State – coming off an iceberg collision of a loss at USC – has no time to feel sorry for itself or dwell on the gravity of that setback. Coach Ryan Day made that point in his media session this week instead of the myriad of things that need correcting from a loss that saw the Buckeyes out-gained the Trojans by 140 yards, and whose struggles to score TDs in the red zone continued against like competition, and whose season-high 11 penalties were killers. Dillon Davis joins Tim for their weekly chat, and Davis still had his sand blaster turnt up. The bottom line is, with two losses, the Buckeyes playoff begins this week. Tighten the hatches, it's gonna be a hell of a ride.

Penaltiy after penalty, drops, drives unfinished, two huge pass plays given up and then that punt coverage fiasco - what was that? The list is long and distinguished of the ways Ohio State did the opposite of supporting its first-time freshman starting quarterback Luke Fahey in the rain at Southern California in the 30-18 loss. Going in, USC was the team reeling. Now, Ohio State is reeling after its second loss. Matt Wilhelm makes his regular appearance with Tim to talk about all that and more. And Double Down Double D Dillon Davis gives his regular post-game reaction, and he puts the Buckeyes on blast. Autopsies are never for the squeamish.

Luke Fahey was a bonafide playmaking quarterback for Mission Viejo High School, and his high school head coach, Chad Johnson, thinks he will be the same for Ohio State. Whether that happens fully on Saturday night when Fahey makes his first collegiate start against USC in the Los Angeles Coliseum remains to be seen. But Johnson, the ninth-year coach at Mission Viejo – just an hour or so down the road from the Coliseum – watched the sophomore Fahey lead his team to a comfortable California Division I-AA state championship victory over storied Concord De LaSalle in the fall of 2023. He talks with Tim about what he thinks of his former pupil and how the moment wont be too big for him. Plus, Jeff Snook makes his weekly appearance as he and Tim talk Ohio State at USC and other games of the week. Make sure your ear buds are charged and cranked!

Maybe most signs point to freshman Luke Fahey gaining his first collegiate start for Ohio State when the No. 2 Buckeyes play at reeling USC on Saturday night, but coach Ryan Day hasn't said so yet. Second-year Tavien St. Clair is in the competition as the Buckeyes move on from the right arm injury suffered by Julian Sayin two weeks ago. Fahey has been the backup all season, though, and Dillon Davis of DelGazette.com joins Tim to talk about what they think is coming and other things. Plus some comments from Day. Then Tim plays the conversation the media had with Ohio State veteran center Carson Hinzman, who this week was named a finalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, which goes annually to college football's top scholar/athlete.

After a week to absorb and move on from the throwing arm injury to Julian Sayin, No. 2 Ohio State dives into deep preparation for the trip to Southern California with freshman Luke Fahey the young man in the breech. Former OSU linebacker, national champion and Super Bowl champion Matt Wilhelm tells Tim it's time for the whole team to rally in support of Fahey. Wilhelm discusses the challenges and the opportunities for Fahey, and how the offense is going to be a little different as the Buckeyes feature what better suits the freshman. Plus they talk a little defense, a little officiating, and USC, which is coming off a loss to resurgent Wisconsin. It's a potpourri!

Ryan Day is going to keep his quarterback cards close - Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair - to his vest headed toward the Ohio State season resumption Halloween night at USC, though Tim believes it's going to be Fahey, just because he already was the backup. Plus Tim and his good buddy Jeff Snook get into it, per usual. Or as they call it, just another night of talking football. The only problem this time was Jeff having no idea of what the word "like" means. Hahaha!

No matter what happens, life moves on quickly for a college football team in the midst of a season. Ohio State has lost its former Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Julian Sayin "indefinitely" after the elbow injury suffered during the win at Indiana last week. It's on to freshman Luke Fahey, or will it be sophomore Tavien St. Clair. Ryan Day left the quandary hanging out there this week, though Fahey won the backup job during preseason camp. Will St. Clair assert himself during this off week and prove he deserves consideration for the job when the season resumes at Southern California on Oct.31? Stay tuned. Day and OC Arthur Smith with thoughts on rolling with the punch, plus Day on the frustration of seeing Jeremiah Smith often interfered with but with no calls coming his way for two seasons now. And Tim talks with former Dispatch cohort now Sub Stack fixture Bill Rabinowitz on when they witnessed OSU ride a QB quick change to the 2014 national championship, and Tim has his weekly conversation with Dillon Davis of DelGazette.com on all things OSU football. Adjust those ear buds accordingly.

Julian Sayin is out for at least "several weeks," Ohio State coach Ryan Day confirmed right after his Buckeyes' stirring 19-15 win at Indiana - the victory boosting OSU up to No. 3 in the Associated Press poll and snapping reigning national champion Indiana's 22-game win streak. But the OSU win came with the loss of 2025 Heisman finalist Sayin for the near future with what insiders say is a right elbow injury. That means it's going to be the Luke Fahey show for the time being, and though he struggled somewhat in his relief role at Indiana, the freshman now has some time to settle in before the Buckeyes play at USC on Oct 31. "The bye week being now is such a gift," says Tim's regular early week co-host Matt Wilhelm. They talk about the big win for OSU, some of the adjustments they expect with Fahey at the helm, plus the craziest weekend in the history of ranked teams, what with a record five of the top seven going down, including No. 1 Georgia to unranked Auburn. There's a lot to talk about. Bye-Bye Indiana, Hello Bye Week

Ohio State is gonna win at Indiana, maybe big. That's what Jeff Snook and Bill Bender of The Sporting News say here. Show host Tim agrees. Reigning national champion Indiana is hosting arguably its greatest home game in school history, and this time, maybe for the first time, the vast majority of the red-clad crowd is expected to be Hoosier backers. The Buckeyes are challenged with some injuries and illnesses, so that adds intrigues, while Indiana coming off a come-from-behind win at Nebraska, looks vulnerable. We know, talk is cheap. But that's what we do here. Enjoy.

You have to admit, from individuals to squads to schemes, Ohio State has been on the upswing the past three games. Ryan Day talked about a few of those things, but always with the caveat that the No. 4 Buckeyes need to take another major leap Saturday when they play at No. 5 Indiana. Poo-poo the Hoosiers' schedule to date and throw in a couple of those wins could easily have flipped (Northwestern and Nebraska), but truth is Indiana hasn't lost a Big Ten game since late 2024 at Ohio State. It is the reigning national champion. The Buckeyes meanwhile have found some confidence in their run game, their short-yardage approach - heck, Julian Sayin now runs occasionally as a matter of course. And the defense had gained more cohesion. So kick as Day, Sayin, LB Payton Pierce and DelGazette.com's Dillon Davis help Tim through this. Earbuds turnt UP!!

The college football regular season is just half over, and after the latest weekend of wreckage, there's sure to be more as the second half ensues, as Matt Wilhelm infers. He joins Tim for their weekly confab, during which they talked about Ohio State coming off a dominant with over Maryland, headed toward Indiana and the showdown of the latest two CFP champions at noon Saturday in Bloomington. But that means they talked about the Hoosiers' rally/escape from Nebraska, also. Plus they talk some refereeing snafus in Georgia's win over Alabama, the telling UCLA victory at Oregon, the go-for-2 times two madness Kentucky pulled in the upset over LSU, and much more. Wilhelm has thoughts, man, and Tim does, too.

Former Buckeye great Chris Sanders talks the receiving talent of Heisman & Biletnikoff candidate Jeremiah Smith, who holds the triple crown of receiving records at Ohio State. We also cover Chris' track exploits, where he was a 10-time 1st team All-American. Colorful & entertaining, this won't be Sanders only appearance on the Tim May Show.