A thought hasn't escaped my head since looking at the comments of my Wednesday Skull Session.
Ohio State will wear its white uniforms on Saturday, and they will look cleannnnnnnnn.
I'll talk about that game later in today's Skully. Before we get into it, I only have one thing left to ask: Let's have a good Thursday, shall we?
ALL RISE. New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was recently at the center of attention in the sports world as he approached the American League record for home runs in a single season with 62.
For some reason, ESPN chose to cut away from college football games in Week 5 to show Judge take at-bats that could result in him sending homers over the wall to tie and eventually break the record. It was an unmitigated disaster from the worldwide leader in sports, and it made several football fans upset that the 6-foot-7 slugger interrupted their viewing experience.
I wondered what would be the most inconvenient time for an Aaron Judge cutaway during a historic Ohio State football game, and I think I found the answer.
Ezekiel Elliott runs 85 yards through the heart of the South, but Aaron Judge hits his 62nd home run. pic.twitter.com/YOcCn9DqqV
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) October 5, 2022
Imagine if you missed Ezekiel Elliott running 85 yards through the heart of the South to watch a man wearing pinstripes blast a homer. I know ESPN wouldn't interrupt a College Football Playoff semifinal for baseball, but I think you get the picture.
BUMPS IN THE ROAD. In Tuesday's Skull Session, I included a clip of Jim Knowles explaining how he drinks six cups of coffee daily. It's a lot of caffeine, but I wouldn't say Knowles needs it to carry himself from sunrise to sundown.
But I imagine Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker needs the caffeine this week as he prepares his team for its impending doom as 27-point underdogs to Ohio State on Saturday.
That's at least the picture Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press paints for me:
Mel Tucker walked to the podium Monday and set an energy drink next to the water bottle already there waiting for him.
It’s that kind of work week for Michigan State football, in the throes of a three-game losing streak with No. 3 Ohio State coming to Spartan Stadium on Saturday.
“The most important thing is what we do next,” Tucker said Monday. “Anger, frustration, woulda-coulda-shoulda – all those things – they don't really help you move forward, because it's all about what we have to do right now. So you learn from the past, whether it's good or bad, and you own it.”
Tucker's words are those of a man who hasn't slept well in recent weeks. Michigan State is in the middle of its first three-game losing streak during his tenure and the Spartans' longest skid since dropping five in a row in the 2019 season, which can create a need for some caffeine-created energy.
To make matters worse for Tucker, the Buckeyes come to town this weekend, and it's not likely that the Spartans will snap that losing streak.
"We're all adults here, we know everything's not always peaches and cream," Tucker said. "There's bumps in the road, and some are severe and some not so much. But there's adversity. It doesn't get any easier as you go. If you sit and waiting here for the easy bus to come around, the easy bus isn't coming."
Ohio State holds a 233-64 scoring edge since its last loss against Michigan State in 2015. The previous two matchups have favored the Buckeyes 108-29, including last year's game, where they scored 49 points and racked up over 500 yards by halftime.
Those numbers would indicate that Ohio State is probably one of the severe bumps in the road Tucker was referring to, but who is to say? Whether or not he thinks that (and I believe he does), the bump is there, and the Spartans are hitting it on Saturday.
Tucker better hope his team is wearing their seat belts because it will be a nasty collision. But I'll discuss that more in the Game Day Skull Session later this week.
NOTHING GETS PAST PARIS. Paris Johnson Jr. was the No. 1 tackle prospect and No. 9 recruit overall in the class of 2020. However, he spent as a swing offensive lineman and his second at guard. When he moved back to tackle in 2022, many wondered how Johnson would transition into his natural position after some time off.
As it turns out, that transition wasn't hard for Johnson, who has dominated his competition through the first five games. According to Pro Football Focus, he's been one of the best offensive linemen in the FBS this season, adding that Johnson has been a dependable blocker for the Buckeyes since he arrived in Columbus.
Paris Johnson Jr hasnt allowed a sack since the 2020 season
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 5, 2022
611 consecutive pass-block snaps without allowing a sack pic.twitter.com/BQq3LaX18m
Now, you might want to take the 611 snaps with a grain of salt, as it's not too common that an interior offensive lineman, which Johnson was for 13 games last season, is the primary reason a defense brings down the quarterback. However, that number takes this season into account for Johnson, too, revealing that he hasn't allowed a sack this season while protecting C.J. Stroud's blindside.
Ryan Day on Paris Johnson Jr.:
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) October 4, 2022
"He's done a great job, but he's got some bigger challenges coming," he said. "There's been bright spots, flashes and good plays."
Day added that Ohio State's offensive line has been a strong unit collectively in 2022.
As one of the top draft-eligible tackle prospects for the 2023 NFL draft, Johnson will continue creating an impeccable resume for professional scouts with a metric like this one.
#Wisconsin LB Nick Herbig #19 played really well vs. the run on Saturday, but was quiet as a pass rusher (zero pressures).#OhioState LT Paris Johnson Jr. pitched a shutout in pass pro and has lived up to the 1st round hype so far in 2022. pic.twitter.com/zZdaCu2JL1
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 26, 2022
But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. There are still football games to be won, and that 611 number will need to keep increasing if Ohio State wants to accomplish its goal of winning a title.
OLYMPIC VILLAGE. Ohio State women's basketball was selected to finish near the top of the Big Ten in the conference's annual preseason rankings on Wednesday. The Buckeyes were picked to finish second by the coaches and third by the media.
1 @IowaWBB voted atop the #B1GWBBall Preseason Rankings by conference coaches and a select media panel! https://t.co/4zSjisSf6I pic.twitter.com/ilgvF8Q1q5
— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) October 5, 2022
Ohio State guards Jacy Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell were named to the preseason All-Big Ten team by the coaches and media. Sheldon and Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, the Big Ten preseason player of the year, were the only unanimous selections to both teams. It is the second season in a row that Clark has earned the honor.
The Buckeyes were picked to finish second by the @B1Gwbball coaches and third by the media as @JacySheldon and @TMikesell23 were also selected to both preseason teams!!
— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) October 5, 2022
: https://t.co/Q5UqcQWJtF#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/sgCMjyeOR2
Ohio State starts its season on Nov. 8 with a matchup against Tennessee in Columbus. However, you can see the women's basketball team compete over a month earlier at the Buckeyes on the Blacktop event, which will be held at the RPAC outdoor courts next to Ohio Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Buckeyes on the Blacktop returns this Thursday night at 7PM at the RPAC outdoor courts
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) October 3, 2022
Meet the Mens and Womens hoops teams as we compete in a 3-point shootout, Slam Dunk contest, and full court 5-on-5 scrimmage. See you there, its basically gonna be extremely fun. pic.twitter.com/BzgPZ1wz6x
SONG OF THE DAY. "JT" by Jon Bellion.
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