Welcome to the Skull Session.
College football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner celebrated his 70th birthday this week.
Happy 70th, Archie Griffin
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) August 21, 2024
We're celebrating with the 2x @HeismanTrophy winner & @OhioStateFB icon's 239-yard effort in his second game as a freshman. #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/L9AragvgcH
He's the GOAT!
Have a good Thursday.
THAT’S A HIGH BAR. Caleb Downs called his shot on Tuesday.
When asked how Ohio State's defense has performed in preseason camp, the Alabama transfer safety said the Silver Bullets have contained the Buckeyes' powerful offense, which features Will Howard, TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Emeka Egbuka and even more talented athletes. Should Ohio State continue to swallow up its opponents in the regular season, Downs believes the Buckeyes' defense could be one for the ages.
"We can be one of the most elite defenses to ever play in this game," Downs said. "I feel like if we play at the level we should, then everything will get handled, and the plays will be made."
Though he could share Downs' optimism, Lathan Ransom refrained from bold claims during his press conference. Instead, the veteran safety shared a simple message he wants his teammates to adopt this season: "Just get the job done."
"Everyone is hungry to get to a place that we haven't been in the last couple of years and then finish the job," Ransom said. "The last three years, we've been hyped up as a great defense, a great team. We were expected to win the natty and stuff like that, but we didn't finish the job. As a defense this year – a lot of veterans, a lot of dudes who know what they're doing and have been playing together for two years – (we need to) go in there and just get the job done."
Just beat Michigan.
Just win a Big Ten title.
Just win a national championship.
Just get the job done.
THE CHOSEN ONES. This week, Adam Rittenberg of ESPN revealed what he's heard about college football's top freshmen in preseason camp. After he shared the latest updates on Georgia defensive back Ellis Robinson IV, Alabama cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe and Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, Rittenberg discussed the latest intel surrounding Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Vitals: 6-3, 215 pounds
ESPN recruiting rank: No. 4 overall, No. 2 wide receiver, No. 2 in Florida
Position outlook: Ohio State's receiving corps went through turnover as the program revamped one of the nation's most talented rosters during the offseason. The Buckeyes lost Biletnikoff Award winner Marvin Harrison Jr. to the NFL (No. 4 overall pick), and Julian Fleming — Ohio State's fourth-leading pass catcher last fall — transferred within the conference to Penn State. Senior Emeka Egbuka stands as the Buckeyes' top returning pass catcher while Carnell Tate is expected to step into a larger role after hauling in 18 passes in his freshman season.
How he projects: As the Buckeyes return slim production behind Egbuka and Tate, Smith has the opportunity to assert himself as a feature wide receiver.
Smith arrived on campus with college-ready size and physicality, and coaches have lauded his work ethic and competitiveness going up against an ultra-talented Ohio State secondary during strong spring and fall camp showings. Wide receivers coach Brian Hartline highlighted Smith's development in the mental side of the game as a key piece of the progression he's made since joining the program as an midyear enrollee in January.
"We're going to put him in positions to be successful, but I can't really tell you anything that he doesn't do well," Hartline told ESPN. "He's a guy that's going to be highly relied upon."
Quarterback Will Howard and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly are a pair of newcomers driving the Buckeyes offense. Smith, with elite athletic ability, is another fresh face who projects to take on a prominent role this fall in a critical season in Columbus.
Oh, man. That quote from Hartline.
Ohio State will put Smith "in positions to be successful" because there's nothing "he doesn't do well." Oh, and the freshman wide receiver will be "highly relied upon" for the Buckeyes' offense to have success in 2024.
The expectations for Smith's first college football season are massive, but a quote like this from Hartline – the preeminent recruiter and developer of wide receivers at the college level – makes me think Smith will meet or exceed those expectations this fall. I can't wait to see that come to fruition.
Later in the article, Rittenberg also discussed Ohio State quarterback Juilan Sayin. In addition to his comments about Smith, Hartline told Rittenberg that Sayin is "probably the most talented I've seen as a freshman coming in here as a quarterback." Hartline added that C.J. Stroud and Dwayne Haskins were both excellent as first-year signal callers, but Sayin is "pretty talented, and I'm excited about the upside."
Sheeeeeeeeesh.
Sayin and Smith are gonna be a deadly duo for years to come.
FACES OF THE FRANCHISE. When I was a freshman at Ohio State, some friends and I booked a room at the Ohio Union to prepare for midterm exams. However, from the moment we entered the room to the moment we left, no preparation occurred. Instead, we spent an entire hour in a heated debate over a simple question: What is the best BBQ-flavored potato chip?
Some said Lays. Others said Kettle Brand. But one friend – let's call him Andrew because that's his name – claimed Grippo's BAR-B-Q chips were the best in the business.
As a Cincinnati native, Andrew explained how the Grippo Potato Chip Company was a staple in his hometown. Since the rest of us had never tried the Queen City's finest deep-fried, thin-sliced spuds, we embarked on an adventure to another Cincinnati-based company: United Dairy Farmers, also known as UDF. There, we purchased a massive bag of Grippo's BAR-B-Q chips and shared them on a walk around The Oval. I've been a fan of the chips ever since.
Nostalgic college stories aside, Grippo's dove into the Ohio State football name, image and likeness scene in 2023, as the brand partnered with Marvin Harrison Jr. and placed the star wide receiver on bags of their new Hot Honey BAR-B-Q chips. In 2024, Grippo’s will continue the tradition with Howard and Tate.
Ohio State Football stars @whoward_ and @carnelltate_ are bringing their game to your snack time! Catch them on every bag of Hot Honey Bar-B-Q Grippos chips across Ohio! pic.twitter.com/9w9qvxGbys
— The 1870 Society (@the1870society) August 20, 2024
Siri, directions to the nearest UDF, please.
(There's one literally across the street from my apartment.)
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. According to a document Eleven Warriors obtained on Wednesday, Ryan Day could receive over a million dollars in performance-based incentives this season following a series of updates to his contract.
The contract amendments, which require approval from the Ohio State Board of Trustees, would allow Day to receive up to $1.55 million in bonuses this fall. The sixth-year head coach had a previous bonus maximum of $800,000, according to a contract Eleven Warriors obtained in 2019.
Ohio State officials told The Dispatch that Day's increased incentives are a result of the expanded Big Ten and College Football Playoff. In previous seasons, Day could have received a $100,000 bonus for a Big Ten title and a $350,000 bonus for an appearance in the CFP final. Now, the head coach could receive $250,000 for winning the Big Ten championship and $1 million for winning the CFP championship.
In addition to those incentives, Day could also receive bonuses for winning Big Ten Coach of the Year and the Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year. Off the field, Day could earn a bonus for his team's academic performance.
All of those incentives combine to create the potential $1.55 million Day could earn on top of his almost $10 million annual base compensation this season.
So – if the math is mathin' – Day could earn over $11.5 million in one year... is that good?
SONG OF THE DAY. "Money, Money, Money" - ABBA.
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