Welcome to the Skull Session.
Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Oh, yes!
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 11, 2024
Have a good GAMEDAY.
OHIO AGAINST THE WORLD. I no longer want to write about Ohio State-Oregon. You no longer want to read about Ohio State-Oregon. Alas, the Gameday Skull Session posts 14-and-a-half hours before kickoff at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, so I have to write, and you have to read more about the Buckeyes and Ducks. (Well, you don’t have to — you choose to – and for that, I am thankful.)
When Ohio State faces Oregon on Saturday, I see three possible outcomes: Ohio State drills Oregon, or either the Buckeyes or Ducks win close. I’d rank the likelihood of those outcomes two, one, three.
Yes, I think Ohio State wins the top-three showdown in Eugene. I think the Buckeyes accomplish that feat behind the combined strength of college football’s best running back duo, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and college football’s best secondary, Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, Lathan Ransom and Caleb Downs.
For Ohio State’s offense to thrive on Saturday, Judkins and Henderson both need 15 touches. I see the former with 20 and the latter with 15. I see both surpassing 100 scrimmage yards. And I see both scoring a touchdown. On defense, I expect Burke, Igbinosun and Hancock to be on the line of scrimmage on most snaps – less of that 10 yards off the ball nonsense – as Ransom and Downs help over the top when Dillon Gabriel drops back to pass. If Gabriel turns and hands the ball off to Jordan James or another Oregon ballcarrier, expect Ransom and Downs to lock on like a missile and blow them up behind or at the line of scrimmage.
2014 national champion Cardale Jones narrates Ohio States Oregon Game Trailer
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 10, 2024
You want to see greatness? You want to leave a legacy? It's time to let it all go ... The past has paved the road of greatness in the spirit of scarlet and gray.
pic.twitter.com/LEgfaYTbAx
While I believe those seven Buckeyes could be difference-makers in a win, please know that I also see other areas where Ohio State could find success.
Will Howard as a runner is one of them, given his almost 1,000 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns in 39 appearances. Another is Zone 6 vs. Oregon’s secondary. The trio of Emeka Egbuka (6-foot-1), Jeremiah Smith (6-foot-3) and Carnell Tate (6-foot-2) have size and speed that could prove to be too much to handle for the Ducks, whose five tallest corners are 5-foot-11 or shorter. The final area is Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton against Oregon’s interior offensive line. If TNT can clear lanes for Ohio State’s linebackers, Ransom and Downs to stop the run and get to Gabriel, it could be a loooooong night for the Ducks’ offense.
Look at me. I said I no longer wanted to write about Ohio State-Oregon. Then I went ahead and wrote 400 words about it. After all of those words comes the prediction, and here it is:
Ohio State 28 - Oregon 24
Ohio Against the World.
THE MENU. Oct. 12 is here.
- No. 1 Texas vs. No. 18 Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN
- No. 4 Penn State at USC at 3:30 p.m. on CBS
- No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Oregon at 7:30 p.m. on NBC
- No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 13 LSU at 7:30 on ABC
Oh, and Tigers at Guardians, Game 5, at 1:08 on TNT.
I hope you don't have a wedding to attend.
| MATCHUP | TIME (ET) | TV / STREAMING |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Missouri at UMass | 12:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Washington at Iowa | 12:00pm | FOX |
| Wisconsin at Rutgers | 12:00pm | BTN |
| South Carolina at 7 Alabama | 12:00pm | ABC/ESPN+ |
| 10 Clemson at Wake Forest | 12:00pm | ESPN |
| Georgia Tech at North Carolina | 12:00pm | The CW |
| UAB at Army | 12:00pm | CBSSN |
| Ball State at Kent State | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Toledo at Buffalo | 12:00pm | ESPNU |
| Miami (Ohio) at Eastern Michigan | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Akron at Western Michigan | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Cincinnati at UCF | 3:30pm | ESPN2 |
| Memphis vs USF (in Orlando, FL) | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| NIU at Bowling Green | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Old Dominion at Georgia State | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| San Diego State at Wyoming | 3:30pm | CBSSN |
| San Jose State at Colorado State | 3:30pm | truTV/Max |
| Louisville at Virginia | 3:30pm | ACCN |
| 1 Texas vs 18 Oklahoma (in Dallas, TX) | 3:30pm | ABC/ESPN+ |
| Purdue at 23 Illinois | 3:30pm | FS1 |
| 4 Penn State at USC | 3:30pm | CBS/Paramount+ |
| Stanford at 11 Notre Dame | 3:30pm | NBC/Peacock |
| California at 22 Pitt | 3:30pm | ESPN |
| Arizona at 14 BYU | 4:00pm | FOX |
| Ohio at Central Michigan | 4:00pm | ESPNU |
| Mississippi State at 5 Georgia | 4:15pm | SECN |
| Southern Miss at ULM | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Air Force at New Mexico | 7:00pm | truTV/Max |
| Arkansas State at Texas State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Washington State at Fresno State | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| Florida at 8 Tennessee | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| UTSA at Rice | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| North Texas at Florida Atlantic | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| 2 Ohio State at 3 Oregon | 7:30pm | NBC/Peacock |
| 9 Ole Miss at 13 LSU | 7:30pm | ABC/ESPN+ |
| Oregon State at Nevada | 7:30pm | CBSSN |
| Appalachian State at Louisiana | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Vanderbilt at Kentucky | 7:45pm | SECN |
| Marshall at Georgia Southern | 8:00pm | ESPNU |
| 11 Iowa State at West Virginia | 8:00pm | FOX |
| Syracuse at NC State | 8:00pm | ACCN |
| Minnesota at UCLA | 9:00pm | BTN |
| 18 Kansas State at Colorado | 10:15pm | ESPN |
| 17 Boise State at Hawaii | 11:00pm | CBSSN |
MY PICKS. The sportsbooks! They can't let me get hot! After a 3-6 start to the season, I have recorded back-to-back 2-1 weeks and improved to 7-8 on the year. I hope to keep the momentum this week with a slate that includes one SEC, one Big Ten and one Big 12 matchup.
- No. 1 Texas (-14.5) vs. No. 18 Oklahoma: With a massive two-touchdown line in favor of Texas, I wanted to pick Oklahoma here. But then I remembered the Sooners moved off of Jackson Arnold and will instead start Michael Hawkins Jr. against the Longhorns, making Hawkins the first true freshman to start for Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. Texas' defense has recorded seven interceptions and allowed just one touchdown in five games, which doesn't bode well for Hawkins or the Sooners. Hook 'em.
- No. 4 Penn State at USC (+5.5): James Franklin? Big Game James? ... ** cue the Undertaker bell ** ... Kidding. Kind of. Penn State looks like one of the best teams in college football this season thanks to a resurgent Drew Allar and a Abdul Carter-led defense. I think Penn State takes care of business against USC, who suffered an unthinkable loss to Minnesota last week. However, I think the Trojans have enough firepower to keep it close and cover the spread in Los Angeles.
- Arizona at No. 14 BYU (-3.5): This week, I return to the Mormon well and pick the Cougars to cover the spread against the Wildcats. A preseason College Football Playoff contender in the Big 12, Arizona has been all out of whack as Noah Fifita continues to turn the ball over (he has six interceptions; the same number of picks he threw all last season). I think the Wildcats will find their footing eventually — just not on the road in Utah.
BACK TO THE BUCKEYES. Another reason I think Ohio State wins on Saturday? The Buckeyes are more talented than the Ducks – and if I am honest, I don't think the Ducks are even close. This week, Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked the top 30 2025 NFL draft prospects in the Ohio State-Oregon game. Four of the top five and eight of the top 10 were Buckeyes.
No. 1 — Tyleik Williams
Williams looked like the best draft-eligible prospect for the Buckeyes over the summer, and I’m not ready to abandon that yet. He missed two games due to injury but returned against Iowa last weekend and looked outstanding, especially defending the run.
No. 2 — Josh Simmons (!)
One of the biggest risers this season, Simmons has been playing at a high level (zero penalties, zero sacks allowed). Give me nimble blockers with smooth body control and finishing skills — that description sums up Simmons. The Oregon defensive line will be his toughest challenge yet.
No. 3 — JT Tuimoloau
Tuimoloau hasn’t been dominant against average competition this season, but he frequently gets the “Bosa treatment” with constant double-teams and is still leading the team in tackles for loss (4.0) and sacks (3.0). He often plays his best on the biggest stages. We’ll see if that happens Saturday.
No. 4 — Jack Sawyer
He probably doesn’t have NFL star potential, but Sawyer is an easy prospect to like because of his high floor. A team captain, he rushes with physical hands to create movement and never quits before the whistle. Sawyer is playing his best football in 2024 and leads the Buckeyes in pressures (18).
No. 5 — Derrick Harmon, Oregon DT
The highest-ranked Ducks prospect on the list, Harmon has 25 pressures in 2024, which not only leads Oregon but also tops all FBS interior defensive linemen. The Michigan State transfer has disruptive quickness and is a tough guy to keep blocked. He could be a surprise first-rounder.
No. 6 — Emeka Egbuka
As a blocker and receiver, Egbuka is the straw that stirs the Buckeyes offense. His veteran presence shows in his routes and at the catch point, and he already has more receiving touchdowns this season (five) than in 10 games last year (four).
No. 7 — Quinshon Judkins
Coming over from the SEC, Judkins has lived up to the hype, averaging 7.8 yards per carry this season. He is quick to read the blocking geometry at the line of scrimmage and shows athleticism and balance to pick through traffic. NFL scouts still want to see more from him as a blocker and pass catcher.
No. 8 — TreVeyon Henderson
Although his vision and tempo between the tackles can run hot and cold at times, Henderson is an elusive runner due to his wiggle and ability to hit the turbo boosters when presented with a lane. He also has stepped up in pass protection and is dependable as a pass catcher.
No. 9 — Denzel Burke
He doesn’t have elite size or speed, but Burke is an alert, pesky cover man with two interceptions already this season. Though the Arizona native has given up 10 catches so far, he has kept everything underneath and has yet to allow a reception of more than 20 yards.
No. 10 — Jordan Burch, Oregon DE
Weighing in at 292 pounds for scouts, Burch is a put-together athlete who moves like a smaller lineman. Although he lacks deception in his pass rush, he attacks with power and has strength in his hands to put blockers in reverse. Burch has the useful traits to be a Day 2 pick.
The Rest
- No. 11 — Donovan Jackson
- No. 12 — Sonny Styles
- No. 13 — Evan Stewart. Oregon WR
- No. 14 — Davison Igbinosun
- No. 15 — Terrance Ferguson, Oregon TE
- No. 16 — Bryce Boettcher, Oregon LB
- No. 17 — Jordan James, Oregon RB
- No. 18 — Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon LT
- No. 19 — Jordan Hancock
- No. 20 — Lathan Ransom
- No. 21 — Ajani Cornelius, Oregon RT
- No. 22 — Ty Hamilton
- No. 23 — Tez Johnson, Oregon WR
- No. 24 — Tegra Tshabola
- No. 25 — Will Howard
- No. 26 — Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon DT
- No. 27 — Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon CB
- No. 28 — Seth McLaughlin
- Np. 29 — Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon LB
- No. 30 — Dillon Gabriel, Oregon QB
Wait...
Is Ohio State gonna drill Oregon?
It could happen!
SONG OF THE DAY. "The Duck Song" - Bryant Oden.
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