Welcome to the Skull Session.
Alexa... what is aura?
Eyes open, I can see it clear pic.twitter.com/Sj1zpBvfXk
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 21, 2024
Have a good Tuesday.
A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE. Oh, man. What do we have here?
In a Netflix documentary set to release on Aug. 27, Connor Stalions will share "his side of Michigan's alleged sign-stealing scheme that turned him into a viral villain." https://t.co/3LopamLCmM
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) July 22, 2024
That will be full of LIES! DECEPTION! Nevertheless, I will be seated with popcorn in hand as I watch Connor Stalions attempt to (skunk)weasel out of punishment for his crimes against Ohio State and the college football world.
PREDICTION SZN. Over the next 72 hours, representatives from the Big Ten’s 18 football programs will be at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the conference’s annual media days.
On Monday, Big Ten reporters at The Athletic, including Scott Dochterman, Audrey Snyder, Austin Meek, Cameron Teague Robinson and Jesse Temple, previewed the event. Before commissioner Tony Petitti takes the podium at 11 a.m., I wanted to answer some of the same questions those reporters did in their article.
Which coach are you most interested in hearing from and why?
There are several good ones to choose from, but I’ll have to go with Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti. Soon after the Hoosiers hired Cignetti, he attended an IU basketball game and said, “I’ve never taken a back seat and don’t plan on starting now. Purdue sucks, but so does Michigan and Ohio State.” For a coach who inherited a program that went a combined 9-27 in the past three seasons, that was… bold. We’ll see if Cignetti has that same confidence in his press conference and breakout session on Thursday.
Which player are you most interested in hearing from and why?
I’m interested to hear Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel explain his decision to transfer to Oregon this offseason. Now entering his sixth season following three years at UCF and two years at Oklahoma, Gabriel is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football. That experience could make all the difference as the Ducks look to contend for a Big Ten and national championship in 2024.
Who would you select as your offensive player of the year and why?
Gabriel has to be the pick here as well. In five college seasons, Gabriel has completed 63.1% of his passes for 14,865 yards, 125 touchdowns and 26 interceptions while running for 1,060 yards and 26 scores. In other words, the man can ball — and notice I said man, not kid, as Gabriel is almost 24 years old. I expect Gabriel to thrive in an Oregon offense that features James Jordan at running back, Traeshon Holden, Evan Stewart and Tez Johnson at wide receiver and Terrance Ferguson at tight end.
Who would you select as your defensive player of the year and why?
This award will come down to Buckeyes and Wolverines, namely Caleb Downs and JT Tuimoloau from the former and Will Johnson and Mason Graham from the latter. Of those four, I’ll take Downs. He was the best defender at Alabama in 2023, and he’ll be the best defender at Ohio State in 2024 – even with all the NFL talent the Buckeyes possess on that side of the football.
Which under-the-radar team deserves more consideration and why?
This could shock some, but I’ll choose Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights somehow managed to avoid having Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan and Penn State on their 2024 schedule, leaving a 12-game slate of Howard, Akron, Virginia Tech, Washington, Nebraska, Wisconsin, UCLA, USC, Minnesota, Maryland, Illinois and Michigan State. I think there is a chance Greg Schiano’s program will win nine games this season. Is that outcome probable? No. But it is possible. To me, that makes the Scarlet Knights the Big Ten’s under-the-radar team in 2024.
Who will play for the Big Ten championship and why?
Ohio State and Oregon are the Big Ten’s best teams. When the Buckeyes and Ducks meet in Eugene on Oct. 12, one team will win and one team will lose – thanks, Captain Obvious – and I expect that whoever loses that contest will have that one loss if and when they meet again in the Big Ten Championship Game. For what it’s worth, I’ll take Ohio State in those games. Both victories will come by one score, just like how Washington beat Oregon in the regular season and Pac-12 Championship Game last season.
AWARDS SZN. On Monday, Kings of the North host Doug Lesmerises shared results from a Big Ten football media poll he conducted with 33 of the conference’s reporters, including Eleven Warriors editor Dan Hope. Ohio State received 27 of 33 votes to win the Big Ten Championship Game. We posted that result and more here.
Cleveland.com and USA TODAY Sports also released preseason Big Ten media polls on Monday, with Ohio State receiving 21 of 27 votes to win the conference in the former and 8 of 13 votes in the latter. USA TODAY Sports also compiled votes for a preseason All-Big Ten team, which included seven Buckeyes: TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, Donovan Jackson, Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams, Denzel Burke and Downs. Moreover, voters picked Ryan Day to win Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Here is a look at the USA TODAY preseason All-Big Ten teams:
Offense
- Quarterback: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon* (Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year)
- Running back: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
- Running back: Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
- Wide receiver: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State*
- Wide receiver: Tez Johnson, Oregon
- Tight end: Colston Loveland, Michigan
- Offensive line: Logan Jones, Iowa
- Offensive line: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
- Offensive line: Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
- Offensive line: Josh Priebe, Michigan
- Offensive line: Sal Wormley, Penn State
Defense
- Defensive line: Mason Graham, Michigan
- Defensive line: J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
- Defensive line: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
- Defensive line: Abdul Carter, Penn State
- Linebacker: Jay Higgins, Iowa
- Linebacker: Nick Jackson, Iowa
- Linebacker: Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
- Defensive back: Will Johnson, Michigan (Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year)
- Defensive back: Denzel Burke, Ohio State
- Defensive back: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- Defensive back: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
Special Teams
- Kicker: Dragan Kesich, Minnesota
- Punter: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
- All-purpose: Zachariah Branch, USC
Ohio State’s seven USA TODAY Sports All-Big Ten selections are the most in the conference. Michigan has the second-most selections with four, followed by Oregon and Iowa with three, Penn State with two and Purdue and Rutgers with one.
The Buckeyes look like the team to beat!
MEKKA DON SZN. When I was in eighth grade, former Ohio State walk-on wide receiver Chukwuemeka Nnamdi Onyejekwe, also known as Mekka Don, visited my middle school to discuss his career with the Buckeyes and perform his new song “Juice.”
You’ve heard the tune.
Juice… Juice… Juice… Who got it?
Juice… Juice… Juice… I got it.
Juice… Juice… Juice… We got it.
Eleven years later, here I am again, listening to another Mekka Don track, “Buckle Up,” which he released on Sunday after a hiatus from the rap game.
Eleven years later, here I am again, a Mekka Don track stuck in my head.
Goin’ to the top…
Goin’ to the top…
Goin’ to the top…
SONG OF THE DAY. "Ophelia" - The Lumineers.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Ernest Hemingway fans celebrate the author’s 125th birthday in his beloved Key West... Olympic marketing deal hopes to meet young fans where they are — on Roblox... Carpenter bees sting, but here’s why you’ll want them to keep buzzing around your garden... LeBron James to be the U.S. male flag bearer at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
