Skull Session: Buckeye Offense Can Still Improve, NCAA Could Allow Multiple Immediate Transfers, and Pat Narduzzi Blasts Big Ten

It's the weekend. You have made it. Congrats!

Word of the Day: Stupefy.

OPEN SEASON. Remember all that talk of a one-time transfer? You're about to be able to throw all that out the window because the NCAA is considering allowing players to transfer as many times they want and always get immediate eligibility.

This, coupled with transfer windows, would allow athletes to compete right away at their new school as long as they have academic eligibility + provide notification of the intention to transfer during the transfer window.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) July 21, 2022

There's a little give and take here since the transfer window will force players to make these moves at specific times and not like, in the middle of a season. But for those of you who were concerned that college football was turning into free agency – it's here.

ARE YOU SURE? Pat Narduzzi led Pitt to its best season in decades last season, but it still ended in a postseason loss to the third-best team in the Big Ten. Somehow, Narduzzi has decided that game is a perfect example of why Pitt would win the Big Ten every year.

No, not just last year. Not just next year. Narduzzi sincerely suggested that the Panthers would win the Big Ten every year.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said he believes if quarterback Kenny Pickett played in that game, it would’ve been a completely different game.

“He’s a 21 point difference, ok. Michigan State gets their butt kicked in,” Narduzzi said on Bazzy’s Black and Gold Banter. “It’s at least a 14-point difference if Nick Patti plays the whole game.”

...

“You talk about Big Ten and SEC and ACC, If that’s one of the best Big Ten teams, let’s go to the Big Ten and win it every year,” he said. “I don’t want to hear about this Big Ten dominance and SEC dominance.”

It's totally fair to want to play the "what if?" game about Kenny Pickett, but Narduzzi conveniently forgets to mention that Michigan State also had multiple starters out, including Kenneth Walker III, who won both the Doak Walker and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

Also, do you know what the actual best team in the Big Ten does when it has to play its third-string quarterback in a game that matters? They sure don't lose and complain about it six months later.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT? Ohio State is returning a Heisman Trophy finalist at quarterback, the most productive receiver in program history, two top-five offensive tackles and a running back that finished second in the country in yards per carry last season.

And yet, with all those pieces returning, there's still one very clear area where the offense can improve.

When spring practice began in March, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson acknowledged some of the unit’s deficiencies from the previous season.

Wilson pointed to toughness as one area. He mentioned it was needed in order to “punch it in and drive down the field.” Inconsistency in finishing drives kept them from being an elite offense.

“Right now, we’re a good stat offense,” Wilson said. “But to be an elite offense, we've got to be more consistent.”

The Buckeyes did often stall in the red zone. Their red zone touchdown percentage of 64.4% ranked No. 45 in the FBS.

Last season, there were times when I earnestly felt like it was more likely Ohio State was going to score on a play from 60 yards than they were when they were inside the 10. I'd rather not do that again.

WHERE DO I SIGN? There are a million reasons why a teen would sign on the dotted line to play football at Ohio State, but I tell you what, these facilities are probably damn near the top of that list.

The Recruitment Center at @OhioStateFB is gearing up for the new season #DeliveringExperiences x @OhioStAthletics #OhioStateBuckeyes #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/PfFIUQrBWk
— Forty Nine Degrees (@49__degrees) July 20, 2022