Welcome to the Skull Session.
Over the weekend, TBDBITL received some attention from Historic Vids, an X account with 3.9 million followers.
Ohio State's marching band always finds a creative way to trash Michigan. pic.twitter.com/4BP4OkrUkJ
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) January 15, 2024
You love to see it.
Have a good Tuesday.
“I AM BLESSED.” Former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard committed to Ohio State on Jan. 4. When he did, Howard told Pete Thamel of ESPN he wanted to beat “That Team Up North,” win a Big Ten championship and a national title with the Buckeyes.
That was the last we’d heard from him.
For 10 days, the 6-foot-5, 242-pound quarterback had been radio silent as he moved from Manhattan, Kansas, to Columbus. Then, on Monday, Howard appeared on THE Podcast, where he discussed his decision to transfer to Ohio State and several other topics with Austin Ward, Bill Landis and Jeremy Birmingham.
Here’s the video of Howard’s appearance and a transcription of some comments Howard made while on the show:
On his decision to transfer to Ohio State
“I took my time with it. I ended up where I was meant to be. I feel good about where I am now. When I came across the opportunity to play quarterback at Ohio State, it was hard to turn down. I am blessed to be in this position and have this opportunity. The portal was crazy, but I kept telling myself it was a good problem to have. It was stressful. It was a lot. But it was a lot of good options that I had.”
On whether he looked at entering the NFL draft
“When I first entered the portal, I didn’t think I would go to another school. I was pretty sure I would go to the NFL. The draft was a really high option for me. I was getting a lot of feedback, third to fifth-round grades. I felt like my talent was better than that. I thought if I could go somewhere where I could improve my draft stock, it would be a no-brainer. I still have goals that I want to accomplish in college – winning a national championship and other things I didn’t get to do at Kansas State. … What I was looking for was somewhere where I felt like I could improve my draft stock and win a national championship. It aligned perfectly here at Ohio State. … I was thinking NFL. It was down to the wire. It was probably Ohio State or the NFL. A couple of days before I announced, I got a Senior Bowl invite from Jim Nagy, which was a huge honor. But I couldn’t turn down this opportunity, and I felt like in my heart of hearts that this is where I wanted to be. I am completely at peace with my decision. I told Jim, ‘Hey, I’ll see you down there next year, but not this year.’”
On Lincoln Riley and Ryan Day recruiting him out of the portal
“That was a cool experience. … As stressful and as much work as the portal was, I tried to pinch myself and sit back and appreciate what it was. Some of the top coaches in the country were coming and calling. It was a blessing. It felt good to feel like my work had paid off. When I went to Kansas State, I thought I was underrecruited out of high school. I was raw. It took me a little bit to develop at Kansas State. But it was cool to feel that love from the coaches and feel like my work had paid off in this process. … All the opportunities were great. I really couldn’t have gone wrong with anything I decided. But being at Ohio State is, without a doubt, where I need to be and where I want to be.”
On the talent returning to Ohio State next season
“Everywhere I looked had good pieces, but I think the roster here at Ohio State is, on paper, (one of the best in the country), if not the best in the country. (After I committed), thing after thing kept happening. Coach Day wanted me to talk to (the Buckeyes' draft-eligible players) and get them to come back, but I really didn’t have to do much convincing. All of them wanted to come back and do this thing again. That was really cool for me to see as a guy coming in who doesn’t know much about the culture at Ohio State yet. Seeing how many guys are bought into this and aren’t ready to leave yet because they feel like we still have more to accomplish – that’s really cool. That’s something I want to be a part of. That’s something I was looking for in the portal.”
On the pressure of being Ohio State’s quarterback
“A lot of people have said that to me – the pressure and all these expectations. I love that. I thrive on that kind of stuff. When I went to Kansas State, I was underrecruited and wasn’t really expected to do much. I won a backup spot in my freshman year. My first two years didn’t go very well. I got recruited over. They took a transfer quarterback. I had to win the job. It wasn’t an easy road for me there. I know the stakes are ten times higher here. But I feel like with those trials and tribulations I went through at Kansas State, I developed a real hard head. I had to develop an internal confidence that can’t be shaken by what people say about me. I think, over the years, I’ve learned a lot and matured a ton. I was ready for this opportunity and this challenge. I know that being the quarterback at Ohio State comes with a lot of expectations. The first of those is beating the 'Team Up North,’ winning every single game and winning a national championship. The stakes are high, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I thrive on those expectations and being an underdog. That’s who I am.”
With Howard’s 5,786 yards and 48 touchdowns at Kansas State, he had my curiosity.
With Howard’s comments on THE Podcast, he now has my attention.
An experienced, mature quarterback who thrives under pressure with weapons like TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and Jeremiah Smith around him?
Yeah, he has my attention.
AN ALL-AMERICAN COACH. The “Mad Scientist” Jim Knowles performed at an All-American level in 2023.
According to Dave Bartoo of Matrix Analytical Solutions, the Ohio State assistant was the second-best defensive coordinator in college football this past season behind Phil Parker of Iowa. As such, Bartoo named Knowles a “second-staff All-American.”
| Pos. | Name | 2023 Stats |
|---|---|---|
| DT | TY HAMILTON | 38 TACKLES, 4.5 TFL, 2 SACKS |
| DT | TYLEIK WILLIAMS | 53 TACKLES, 10 TFL, 5 PBU |
| DE | JACK SAWYER | 48 TACKLES, 10 TFL, 6.5 SACKS |
| DE | JT TUIMOLOAU | 38 TACKLES, 7 TFL, 5 SACKS |
| MLB | CODY SIMON | 57 TACKLES, 3 TFL, 2 PBU |
| WLB | SONNY STYLES | 53 TACKLES, 4.5 TFL, 2 SACKS |
| CB | DENZEL BURKE | 24 TACKLES, 1 INT, 9 PBU |
| CB | DAVISON IGBINOSUN | 59 TACKLES, 1.5 TFL, 5 PBUs |
| NB | JORDAN HANCOCK | 41 TACKLES, 2 INT, 5 PBU |
| SS | LATHAN RANSOM | 34 TACKLES, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT |
| FS | MALIK HARTFORD | 10 TACKLES, 2 PBU |
| * RETURNING STARTERS IN BOLD | ||
Knowles scored a 94.2 MAS score for his performances in the Buckeyes’ 13 games this past season. His 43.2% progression rate from 2022 to 2023 – that is, Ohio State’s improvement in passing efficiency defense and rushing defense over the past two seasons – was the best percentage in America. It ranked ahead of Parker, who received a 98.1 MAS score as the “first-staff All-American” defensive coordinator.
Ohio State’s defense will return nine of 11 starters from last season, including JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Tyleik Williams, Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, Sonny Styles and Lathan Ransom. The two starters lost – Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers – will be replaced with Cody Simon and Malik Hartford. The former has started in several contests for the Buckeyes, while the latter made one start as a freshman this past season.
The defense’s returners accounted for 82% of the 2023 defense’s tackles for loss, 91% of its sacks, 88% of its interceptions and fumble recoveries and 82% of its pass breakups.
That said, Knowles should be Bartoo’s first-staffer All-American in 2024 if Ohio State’s defense can reach (or at least come close to) its generational potential.
THE BASKETBUCKS. Ohio State men’s basketball fell to Michigan, 73-65, in Ann Arbor on Monday. The defeat dropped the Buckeyes’ record to 12-5 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten competition.
*inhales*
*exhales*
Ohio State needed to leave the Crisler Center with a win.
It didn’t.
Still, Chris Holtmann will remain Ohio State’s head coach. I am confident the program would need to have another free fall for athletic director Gene Smith to move on from Holtmann. One, because Smith is about to retire. Two, because Ohio State would owe Holtmann $20 million if it replaces him before next season.
While Holtmann will stick around (for now), the hundreds of comments on the Eleven Warriors recap from the Michigan game – as well as its associated posts on Facebook, Instagram and X –indicates the seventh-year head coach continues to lose the support of Buckeye Nation with each loss. And there have been a lot of losses over the past 365 days.
Last season, Ohio State went 16-19 overall and missed the NCAA Tournament as it suffered separate losing streaks of five and nine that spanned from January to March. This season, the Buckeyes are 12-5 overall and in the middle of a three-game skid.
If the Buckeyes couldn’t beat “That Team Up North,” how can I believe Ohio State will win vs. Penn State, at Nebraska, at Northwestern and vs. No. 10 Illinois in January? How about at Iowa, vs. Indiana, at No. 11 Wisconsin and vs. No. 2 Purdue in February? Of those teams, the Nittany Lions, Hoosiers and Badgers have defeated the Buckeyes this season. Meanwhile, those other teams are contenders for the Big Ten title in 2023-24.
Ohio State will need to finish the regular season 8-6 to reach 20 wins. The last time the program went back-to-back years with less than 20 wins was 2002-03 and 2003-04, the final seasons of Jim O’Brien’s tenure.
With Ohio State’s remaining schedule, an 8-6 record will be hard to accomplish.
Yet, Holtmann believes his squad is capable of reaching it – and perhaps surpassing it – as the Buckeyes dive deeper into the second half of the season.
“Our story is far from over,” Holtmann said on Monday. “You’ll see what this group can grow into. Not many people will feel that now, but I certainly do. I know our staff does. And I know a lot of guys in our locker room do.”
GOODBYE, FOUR-TEAM CFP. The four-team College Football Playoff featured many memorable matchups, with Ohio State featured in several of them. This week, The Athletic’s Manny Navarro ranked all 30 CFP games from the past decade. Here is where each of Ohio State's contests ranked:'
22. 2016 semifinal — No. 2 Clemson 31, No. 3 Ohio State 0
Dabo Swinney’s Tigers recorded only the second shutout in CFP history and earned some redemption for their national championship loss to Alabama a year earlier by upsetting Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes. It was the first time Ohio State had been shut out since 1993 and the first time a Meyer-coached team had been shut out.
Note: We don't talk about 2016 Ohio State-Clemson. This is the first and last time it will be mentioned (comments included, people).
20. 2020 championship — No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24
Alabama exploded for 28 second-quarter points behind three touchdown catches by Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith and easily covered the 9-point spread in Miami. The title game featured 11 future NFL first-round picks in the starting lineup between the teams. It was the second-smallest TV audience to watch a CFP championship game (18.653 million viewers).
17. 2020 semifinal — No. 3 Ohio State 49, No. 2 Clemson 28
Only 3,000 ticketed spectators were allowed into the Sugar Bowl because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but 19.149 million viewers tuned in to watch. They saw Ryan Day’s team explode for 21 second-quarter points in the upset of Dabo Swinney’s 10-1 Tigers. Justin Fields threw six touchdown passes, including two to future first-round pick Chris Olave as Ohio State rolled up 639 yards of total offense.
Note: Justin Fields. King.
13. 2014 championship — No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20
The Buckeyes’ upset run through the first College Football Playoff ended in Arlington, Texas, as Meyer won the last of his three national championships. Future Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott scored the second of his four touchdown runs on the final play of the third quarter to extend Ohio State’s lead to 28-20 before the Buckeyes pulled away in the fourth quarter. It remains the most-watched College Football Playoff game to date (34.148 million viewers).
10. 2019 semifinal — No. 3 Clemson 29, No. 2 Ohio State 23
The Tigers, defending national champions and 2.5-point favorites, fell behind 16-0 in the Fiesta Bowl before Lawrence rallied them with a stunning 67-yard touchdown run late in the first half. There was certainly some controversy involved. Ohio State defensive back Shaun Wade was ejected for targeting on a sack of Lawrence in the first half, and Clemson scored on the same drive. Later, a review negated a fumble recovery and score by Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah that would have put Ohio State ahead 23-21 in the third quarter. Despite all that, Ohio State still had a chance late to win, but Fields was intercepted in the end zone by Nolan Turner with 43 seconds remaining.
Note: We don't talk about 2019 Ohio State-Clemson. This is the first and last time it will be mentioned (comments included, people).
9. 2014 semifinal — No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 1 Alabama 35
Third-string quarterback Cardale Jones, who took over for injured backup J.T. Barrett in the Big Ten Championship Game, helped rally the Buckeyes from a 21-6 second-quarter deficit in the Sugar Bowl. His 47-yard third-quarter touchdown pass to Devin Smith gave Ohio State a 27-21 lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Jones later converted a crucial third-down play with a spinning, 1-yard dive with the Buckeyes clinging to a 34-28 lead. On the next play, Elliott broke a tackle and ran 85 yards for the game-clinching touchdown. Alabama launched a desperation heave into the end zone on the final play that was intercepted by Tyvis Powell.
3. 2022 semifinal — No. 1 Georgia 42, No. 4 Ohio State 41
The Bulldogs rallied twice from a 14-point deficit and took the lead for only the second time in the game with 54 seconds left on a Stetson Bennett-to-Mitchell 10-yard touchdown pass. Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, who threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns, led the Buckeyes down the field to set up a 50-yard field goal attempt, but Noah Ruggles’ attempt sailed wide left as the clock struck midnight on the new year at the Peach Bowl.
Sometime in the future, Navarro (or some other reporter for The Athletic) will write about the top X games of the 12-team CFP era. Hopefully, more of them feature Ohio State winning the national championship.
I'd like that.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Everytime” - boy pablo.
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