Skull Session: Ohio State's Financial Incentive To Schedule Big Out-of-Conference Games, Nick Bosa Tabbed as Top Newcomer, and Tate Martell Dreams Big

Well, it's another dang Friday, and Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class could get better today (if you can believe that).

Wyatt Davis, a five-star OL from St. John Bosco in California, commits to one lucky school at 6 p.m. ET. Davis just completed a Midwest visit swing, and the two finalists are thought to be Notre Dame and Ohio State.

The Lord of Whispers predicts Davis will pledge fealty to Ohio State, so plan your boom.gifs accordingly.

This week's NSFW ANTI-WORK #BANGERS:

• This profane back-and-forth between a judge and accused killer.
• The lost history of "the booty call."
• Video: Ecstatic Cleveland man reveling in Cavs festivities eats two hearty bites of horse shit.

 DITCH THE CUPCAKES. Ohio State is one of those rare schools that can sell out a 105,000-seat stadium whether it plays the University of Miami or Miami University. In a shocking turn of events, however, Ohio State can earn more money playing other Power 5 opponents rather than a middling MAC school.

From sbnation.com:

Ohio State's ticket prices have shot upward in recent years. Face value went up 90 percent from 2013 to 2014, and premium game pricing was part of the equation.

Schools that charge more for tickets to watch big-time opposition have a lot more to lose by playing paycheck games against lower-tier teams. Consider Ohio State in 2014[.]

The Buckeyes made $4.1 million more for a 2014 home game against Virginia Tech than they did against Kent State, a fourfold increase in the difference over similar games four years prior. That difference would've helped ease the financial regret if OSU had missed the Playoff because of a loss to an out-of-conference opponent (the Buckeyes did lose to VT, but won the Playoff anyway).

Few teams are capable of filling out their stadiums no matter who they play. For those that can, it's a balancing act between easy spots and leaving money on the table, or riskier games and filling up the coffers.

The other drawback, obviously, is tougher opponents lead to a tougher schedule, which makes for a harder path to the playoffs, which is the true rainmaker of the sport.

There was a time, short as it was, when people swore playoffs would dilute the regular season. It will actually increase competition because the playoff committee doesn't respect schools that dine at cupcake smorgasbords. Makes you think.

 BOSA TABBED FOR IMPACT. Nick Bosa is ahead in his knee surgery rehab and is expected to see the field in 2016. Though Ohio State has some depth at defensive end, Bosa is expected to make an impact for the Buckeyes.

From espn.com:

This pick comes with a couple of caveats. First, Bosa suffered a knee injury last year that cut short his final high school season, so there may still be some recovery time. And secondly, there's no clear path to playing time at the moment, since Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis have the starting defensive end spots locked down.

But ... this is a Bosa. If he's anything like his brother, who announced himself as a star right away, then Nick Bosa will force his way into the lineup sooner rather than later. Urban Meyer has made no secret of the fact that he expects an immediate impact from Bosa 2.0.

"He's playing,” Meyer said earlier this year. "He had the knee injury, but he's well ahead of schedule. Looks fantastic, and he's a little ahead of his brother at this time."

I'm loathe to bet against the Smaller Bear, but my unsolicited pick is still wide receiver Austin Mack, who I have yet to hear or read a negative thing about. Plus, there are less established players and more opportunities at wide receiver than defensive end. (I suppose Larry Johnson could deploy Bosa along the interior, but that's a tall task for any freshman, no matter the genes.)

 MARTELL WANTS ALL THE FIVE-STARS. Tate Martell, the No. 1 dual-threat QB of 2017 and an Ohio State commit, is the type of recruit who will go out and get other recruits, which makes it easy to see why Urban Meyer wants him to lead his offense one day.

With Wyatt Davis perhaps joining the class later today, Martell is hoping to check a name off his big board:

Hopefully I'll be able to put a on my white board next to Wyatt Davis name after tomorrow! #GoBucks @wyattdavis53 pic.twitter.com/X6ICrSLCOO

Tate Martell (@TheTateMartell) June 23, 2016

Ohio State won't get all of those names (I hate the Buckeyes, I know), but the wild thing is they'll be in the hunt for everyone on the list. And what a list it is: 

Tate's wish list ranges from California to Texas to Maryland to Detroit, Michigan to Utah. That's a reach that would make Lord Baelish shake with envy.

 MILLIONAIRE CATCHES LIFT FROM MOM. Eli Apple, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to the New York Giants, signed a $15.1 million contract last month.

It doesn't mean he is above his mom, Annie, from dropping him off at his first organized team activity and boasting about it on Twitter:

Eli's first day as a NY Giants. It's hard to turn off the mommy meter at these pivotal moments. Corny & proud. #tbt pic.twitter.com/uA3WpoxAFA

— Annie Apple (@SurvivinAmerica) June 23, 2016

I don't know what slays me more, Annie calling the security guard "Eli's little security guy" or Eli's face when he realizes he's on camera:

You're a better son than me, Eli. You're a better son than me. (***Somewhere in Marion my mom nods her head wistfully***)

 THOSE WMDs. How R.J. Bell turned a sucker's game into an industry... Ancient naval bases discovered in Athens' Piraeus Harbor... The best Senior Yearbook quotations of 2016... The pressure on creatives to win awards leads to scam... Home is where the fraud is.