Welcome to the Skull Session.
I wanna go back to O-HI-O...
A peaceful Sunday morning at Mirror Lake. pic.twitter.com/ocKF2pOMZO
— Ohio State (@OhioState) October 20, 2024
Have a good Monday.
WHAT IN THE BLUE BLAZES? Ohio State now has the ball at the Oregon 20-yard line with 20 seconds left, down 32-31…
That could have been the situation had the Ohio State fans inside Autzen Stadium tossed their trash on the field, delaying the game and allowing referees to overturn their controversial offensive pass interference call on Jeremiah Smith.
Alas, that did not happen.
But it did happen at Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
After officials penalized Jahdae Barron for pass interference, reversing an interception he returned to the Georgia 9-yard line, Texas fans booed the call while watching replays on the stadium’s jumbotron. Some threw their water bottles into the north end zone, stopping play for a few minutes. While staff members and security cleaned up the bottles, officials conferred again and overturned the call.
Chaotic scene in Austin:
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 20, 2024
A Texas interception vs Georgia was -- *initially* -- negated after the officials ruled defensive pass interference on the play.
Texas fans then threw bottles onto the field, leading to Longhorns HC Steve Sarkisian pleading with the fans to stop. pic.twitter.com/v5yJQMSqol
According to some mouth readers on social media, Kirby Smart screamed, “You can’t do that! You can’t do that! … That’s bulls—!”
In a statement released on Sunday, the SEC said officials “gathered to discuss the play, which is permitted to ensure the proper penalty is enforced.” According to the conference, “the calling official reported that he erred, and a foul should not have been called for defensive pass interference, and consequently, Texas was awarded the ball at the Georgia 9-yard line.”
OK… so… basically.
The next time officials make an incorrect call on Ohio State, just toss your trash on the field and the referees will overturn it.
That’s how it seems, at least.
“We’ve set a precedent that if you throw a bunch of stuff on the field and endanger athletes, you’ve got a chance to get your call reversed,” Smart said after the game. “And that’s unfortunate because, to me, that’s dangerous. That’s not what we want. That’s not criticizing officials. That’s what happened.”
Texas did receive a $250,000 fine for their fans’ actions on Saturday. The SEC said the fine was for “interrupting the competitive opportunity for both teams and endangering contest participants.” It also requires Texas to “use all available resources” – including security, stadium and television video – to identify those who threw trash on the field or at Georgia’s players and prohibit them from attending athletic events for the rest of the academic year.
The SEC also said it will require Texas to review its game management procedures and alcohol sales policies moving forward. The Longhorns will also need to provide reports to the league office on how it identified and penalized offenders, as well as its plan to prevent future incidents.
“We appreciate the support of Longhorn Nation and are confident that, moving forward, we will continue to represent our university with pride and respect,” the statement read.
HOOSIER DADDY? Gus Johnson said it best. Indiana has a football team now. But it’s even more than that. Indiana has a football team that’s a Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff contender. And for the first time in forever, the Hoosiers feel like a legitimate threat to Ohio State – one that will arrive one week before Ohio State faces Michigan in the 120th edition of The Game.
On Saturday, Indiana obliterated Nebraska 56-7 to improve to 7-0 on the season. With the 49-point win, the Hoosiers tied their school record for the largest margin of victory against a Big Ten opponent. They also recorded 495 yards of total offense (!) and forced five Cornhusker turnovers.
Through eight weeks, Indiana ranks 12th in SP+ with the nation’s No. 12 offense, No. 22 defense and No. 12 special teams. The Hoosiers rank No. 3 nationally in points per game (44) and No. 8 in points allowed per game (15.5); No. 8 in yards per game (482.8) and No. 11 in yards allowed per game (286.2); and No. 6 in yards per play (7.2) and No. 4 in yards allowed per play (4.4).
In other words, Indiana is good.
Like, really good.
I never – ever! – thought I would write that sentence.
But here we are.
As I mentioned above, Ohio State hosts Indiana on Nov. 23, one week before the Buckeyes host the Wolverines in Columbus. Before Saturday, the Hoosiers looked like a possible trap game. Now, the Hoosiers look like one of Ohio State’s toughest tests of the entire season.
Outside of its top 10 (?) matchup with Ohio State, Indiana will face Washington (W), Michigan State (W), Michigan (W) and Purdue (MASSIVE W). Mark IU down for 11 wins (#11WINDIANA) as the Hoosiers look to make the College Football Playoff, where I promise you that no team – not even a team from the big, bad SEC – wants to face them in the first round of the 12-team tournament.
PENN STATE PROBLEM(S). With all due respect to Indiana, it’s clear that Penn State — the No. 3-ranked team in the latest AP Poll – is the No. 1 threat left on Ohio State’s regular-season schedule.
This past week, several friends have asked, “How concerned should we be with Penn State?” My answer has been short and sweet: “They (the Buckeyes) will be fine.”
Beaver Stadium gets loud, but several Ohio State fans have told me that Autzen Stadium was the loudest venue in college football. Because of that experience in Eugene, I think the Buckeyes will be better prepared for what they’ll see in State College.
Now, I don’t mean to make it seem like the environment is all Penn State has to offer in terms of the challenge it will pose for Ohio State. The Nittany Lions have looked far more creative on offense this season with Andy Kotelnicki as their offensive coordinator. Tyler Warren’s emergence has also been impressive, with the tight end’s most recent performance being a 17-catch, 224-yard, one-touchdown effort in Penn State’s come-from-behind win over USC last weekend.
Beyond Warren, however, Penn State’s top receivers are Harrison Wallace III (17 catches, 283 yards, two touchdowns), Omari Evans (11 catches, 236 yards, two touchdowns), Liam Clifford (11 catches, 206 yards, one touchdown) and former Buckeye Julian Fleming (nine catches, 132 yards).
That doesn’t seem all that threatening to me.
No, not at all.
As for Penn State’s defense, well, that does seem threatening. Safety Jaylen Reed is legit. Linebacker Kobe King is legit. Fellow linebacker Tony Rojas is legit. More than all of them, defensive end Abdul Carter is legit. Even still, the Nittany Lions’ defense is worse than it was last year, and Ohio State’s offense is far, far better.
In a matchup between 2024 Ohio State and Penn State, I’d pick the Buckeyes nine times out of 10. They’re the better team. They’re more talented. They’ll win.
DUBGATE SZN. Before Ohio State faces Nebraska on Oct. 26, Eleven Warriors will host its 12th annual Eleven Dubgate behind the Varsity Club on Tuttle Park Place and Norwich Avenue.
Eleven Dubgate XII will be held 10/26 prior to Ohio State's game with Nebraska. Great news, you're invited! https://t.co/5WAS3GsL2Z
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 14, 2024
What’s awesome about Eleven Dubgate? One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event will go to Special Olympics Olentangy, which provides year-round sports competitions and training for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. What else is awesome? There is food. There are drinks. There is music. Oh, and there are some of the best people in Buckeye Nation in attendance – you!
In 2021 and 2022, the Eleven Dubgate raised thousands of dollars for Special Olympics Olentangy and helped fund the nation’s first centralized and dedicated biobank for Down Syndrome research. For those who plan to (or don’t plan to) attend this year’s Dubgate, we ask you to please consider a $20 cash donation or a Venmo transaction to Special Olympics Olentangy (@OSSOSTORM) so we can continue to help the non-profit organization thrive.
Thanks in advance to all who donate – and thanks in advance to all who will attend the 12th annual Eleven Dubgate.
SONG OF THE DAY. "The Pool" - Stephen Sanchez.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Greek man convicted of causing disturbance by entering neighbors’ properties to smell their shoes... Funeral home in Poland apologizes after a corpse falls out of a hearse in traffic... A wild cat native to Africa and Asia is captured in a Chicago suburb... Browns QB Deshaun Watson carted off with likely season-ending Achilles injury... Inside a CT speakeasy disguised as a 90s video store.
STILL HERE? The midseason Buckeye 20 is now live on Eleven Warriors. A full post and video on the updated rankings are coming later this morning, but you can get a sneak peek at the top 20 on our player rankings page right now. Here’s a spoiler for this release: Jeremiah Smith checks in as Ohio State's top player ahead of Caleb Downs, Emeka Egbuka and other stars. Make sure to look at the latest edition and tell us what you think about our staff's rankings!
