Welcome to the Skull Session.
Four more sleeps.
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 26, 2024
Have a good Tuesday.
“RYAN DAY IS A REALLY GOOD COACH.” This offseason, Ohio State returned almost a dozen starters from 2023, landed six talented transfers and hired four new full-time assistant coaches. Each of those developments combined made the Buckeyes the second-ranked team in the AP and Coaches polls and earned them the second-best odds to win the College Football Playoff behind Georgia.
Question: Will Ohio State win the College Football Playoff this season?
Answer: We will find out in November, December and January.
Until then, we can (and will) discuss the Buckeyes' chances. That's what former Alabama head coach Nick Saban did on Friday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show, which broadcast live from a pub in Dublin, Ireland. When asked if he “feels bad for” Ryan Day because the Ohio State head coach faces immense pressure this season, Saban cast a vote of confidence in Day.
"I personally think Ryan Day is a really good coach & I think he'll do a really good job with his roster..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 23, 2024
If he has the best roster who do you think got them there..
The fans should appreciate the fact that they have one of the best teams in the country"
Nick Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/vbk8lpaaHG
“I've lived this life for 17 years. For 15 years, we were expected to win every game,” Saban said. “It's hard for me to take the position to put that kind of pressure and expectations on any coach, Ryan Day included, because you never know what's gonna happen. You don't know if the quarterback's gonna get hurt. You don't know if you're gonna lose the corners on defense and you can't cover anybody. You have to be able to improvise and adjust and do the best you can. I personally think Ryan Day is a really good coach. I think he'll do a really good job with this roster.”
As Saban continued, he credited Day for his role in building what some (me, you, others) consider the best roster in college football.
“If he has the best roster, who got the roster there? Who was responsible to get them there? He got them there,” Saban said. “That counts for something. ... The fans should appreciate the fact that they have one of the best teams in the country and they do their part to be positive and cheer him on in a positive way and create a lot of positive energy.”
I think Saban wants Ohio State fans to be positive.
There's good reason to be.
The Buckeyes are battle-tested and experienced, talented and skilled. After three consecutive seasons of heartbreak, Ohio State cannot rewrite the past, but it can learn from it.
Question: Will Ohio State learn from it?
Answer: We will find out in November, December and January.
THE “BIGGEST GAME IN OREGON HISTORY”? If Ohio State wins a Big Ten title and national championship, it will have beat Oregon once – or twice or perhaps even thrice. When looking at the one guaranteed matchup between the Buckeyes and Ducks this season, Urban Meyer said Dan Lanning told him this offseason, “It's the biggest game in Oregon history.”
“Dan Lanning had me come out. I spent a day with him, watched practice and talked to the team and staff,” Meyer said last week on The Triple Option. "What a great place Oregon is. It was the first time I had spent that much time out there. When (Oregon) hosts Ohio State, I heard Coach Lanning say, ‘It's the biggest game in Oregon history.’ That stadium only seats 65,000, but I'm told that it's the most difficult place to play in."
While I think Lanning's comment is bold – after all, Oregon competed in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game and 2014 College Football Playoff final (losing to Auburn and Ohio State) – the head coach communicated how seriously he views the chance to knock off the Buckeyes in year one as a Big Ten team.
As Meyer's segment on Oregon continued, the former Ohio State head coach called Lanning and his assistants a thorn in the side of each FBS team across America.
“Their staff is the best pain-in-the-ass staff in the country,” Meyer said. “We would always do whatever the defense didn't want to see. I'd sit in defensive rooms, and I'd ask them, 'What drives you nuts?' Whatever did, I put it on offense. I did the same on the other side of the ball. When I watch Oregon, that's them. They're a pain in the ass all over the field. I love watching them plan. I'm a big fan of Oregon. Every one of their plays has a purpose.”
Looks like Ohio State-Oregon will be cinema, folks. Make sure to have your cabinets stocked with popcorn on Oct. 12.
ARCHIE GRIFFIN'S ENDURING LEGACY. When Ohio State faces Akron in the 2024 season opener, the school will honor Archie Griffin with a statue outside of Ohio Stadium. The two-time Heisman winner will also dot the 'i' in Script Ohio for TBDBITL and participate in other celebrations and festivities.
Archie Griffin
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 26, 2024
Celebrating years of his 1st Heisman pic.twitter.com/LId6Yn0Cmz
Before the weekend arrives, Joey Kaufman of The Columbus Dispatch released an article about Griffin titled, "Why Ohio State's Archie Griffin endures as a popular icon 50 years after his first Heisman". While the article includes Griffin's incredible statistics on-field accomplishments, it also includes quotes from some of his Ohio State teammates. I believe one of those quotes provided the best description of Griffin's legacy.
"He's the most famous person who doesn't know he's famous," former Ohio State running back Pete Johnson told Kaufman.
That's perfect.
In four seasons at Ohio State, Griffin collected 5,463 scrimmage yards and 26 total touchdowns, becoming a three-time All-American and two-time Heisman Trophy winner. Then, he went on to have a seven-year NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals and a 19-year career as a member of Ohio State's athletic administration.
Throughout all that time, Griffin was more than famous. He was an icon. But he never acted like one. That's what made him special – and continues to make him special now.
For that reason (and more), I cannot wait to see him honored on Saturday. He deserves it.
THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD. This week, Max Olson and Eli Lederman of ESPN ranked the top 100 newcomers in college football. Four Buckeyes headlined the top 100 transfers and freshmen, including defensive back Caleb Downs (No. 1), running back Quinshon Judkins (No. 2), wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (No. 10) and quarterback Will Howard (No. 11).
No. 1 - Caleb Downs
Downs claimed a starting role during his debut season with the Crimson Tide and went on to become the first freshman to lead Alabama in tackles (107) since at least 1970. The Freshman All-American entered the portal after Nick Saban's retirement and surprised many by picking the Buckeyes. He's an elite addition in the Ohio State secondary who will be looked upon as a key playmaker within a team that harbors nation title aspirations.
No. 2 - Quinshon Judkins
The two-time first-team All-SEC selection racked up 2,725 rushing yards and scored 34 touchdowns in his two seasons at Ole Miss. This fall, Judkins will partner with senior TreVeyon Henderson to form one of the nation's most dynamic running back duos. The veteran rushers have bonded quickly in Columbus, and they'll be expected to lead a fearsome Buckeyes offense.
Note: Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Texas A&M defensive end Nic Scourton, Georgia running back Trevor Etienne, Miami quarterback Cam Ward, Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, Texas defensive end Trey Moore and Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond took spots No. 3 to No. 9.
No. 10 - Jeremiah Smith
Smith was hyped as a generational talent at receiver coming out of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Florida and has played like one in his first preseason with the Buckeyes after joining as a midyear enrollee. As Ohio State receivers coach Brian Hartline put it, there isn't anything Smith doesn't do well. The gifted true freshman joined a loaded room led by Emeka Egbuka and plenty of blue-chip talent but has an opportunity to immediately assert himself as one of college football's top young playmakers.
No. 11 - Will Howard
Howard authored the best season of his college career last fall when he completed 61% of his passes for 2,643 yards and 24 touchdowns. Now the fifth-year passer takes the reins at Ohio State under new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Ryan Day's track record with quarterbacks is strong, and Howard is surrounded by elite talent as he prepares to shoulder the pressure of playing quarterback at Ohio State amid sky-high expectations.
Soooooo... Ohio State has four of the top 11 newcomers in college football. Is that good?
Combine those newcomers with TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Gee Scott Jr., Josh Simmons, Donovan Jackson, Josh Fryar, Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton, Cody Simon, Sonny Styles, Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock, Davison Igbinosun, Lathan Ransom and a handful of other Buckeyes with considerable experience and talent, and – well, yes, that looks really good.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Master of Puppets" - Metallica.
CUT TO THE CHASE. A child was reported missing. A TV news helicopter crew spotted him on the roof playing hooky... US national parks are receiving record-high gift of $100 million... Fanatics expands lawsuit against Marvin Harrison Jr. to include Marvin Harrison Sr. as a defendant... Ultra-processed foods are everywhere. How bad are they?
