Welcome to the Skull Session.
Here we go.
Work Week Done pic.twitter.com/fbdYH7TETY
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 31, 2024
Have a good Saturday.
YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. No introduction this week – just some words from Herm Edwards that I've had on my mind since last Saturday.
We're all angry and frustrated but all hope isn't lost. Here's the famous "you play to win the game" rant by @HermEdwards which happened after the Jets fell to 2-5 in 2002.
— New York Jets History (@nyjetshistory) October 21, 2024
The @nyjets had just blown a 21-3 lead at home to Cleveland to fall to 2-5 and the season looked over. pic.twitter.com/0iP0KPWFfL
You play to win the game... so go win the game...
Ohio State 24 - Penn State 21
THE MENU. There's No. 4 Ohio State at No. 3 Penn State (Noon on FOX) and No. 18 Pitt at No. 20 SMU (8 p.m. on ACCN). Those are the two ranked-on-ranked matchups on the slate this weekend. You'll watch the former. You'll maybe watch the latter. But what else will you watch? Take a look at the TV schedule below and make some appointments for the remainder of Saturday:
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force at 21 Army | 12:00pm | CBS/Paramount+ |
| Virginia Tech at Syracuse | 12:00pm | The CW |
| Toledo at Eastern Michigan | 12:00pm | ESPNU |
| Minnesota at 24 Illinois | 12:00pm | FS1 |
| Memphis at UTSA | 12:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Buffalo at Akron | 12:00pm | CBSSN |
| Stanford at NC State | 12:00pm | ACCN |
| Duke at 5 Miami (FL) | 12:00pm | ABC/ESPN+ |
| 19 Ole Miss at Arkansas | 12:00pm | ESPN |
| 4 Ohio State at 3 Penn State | 12:00pm | FOX |
| Northwestern at Purdue | 12:00pm | BTN |
| Vanderbilt at Auburn | 12:45pm | SECN |
| Maine at Oklahoma | 2:30pm | SECN+/ESPN+ |
| Tulsa at UAB | 2:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Old Dominion at Appalachian State | 2:30pm | ESPN+ |
| ULM at Marshall | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Middle Tennessee at UTEP | 3:30pm | CBSSN |
| Texas Tech at 11 Iowa State | 3:30pm | ESPN |
| 17 Kansas State at Houston | 3:30pm | FOX |
| Arizona at UCF | 3:30pm | FS1 |
| North Carolina at Florida State | 3:30pm | ACCN |
| Florida vs 2 Georgia (in Jacksonville, FL) | 3:30pm | ABC/ESPN+ |
| UCLA at Nebraska | 3:30pm | BTN |
| 13 Indiana at Michigan State | 3:30pm | Peacock |
| 1 Oregon at Michigan | 3:30pm | CBS/Paramount+ |
| Navy at Rice | 4:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Wyoming at New Mexico | 4:00pm | truTV/Max |
| Coastal Carolina at Troy | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UMass at Mississippi State | 4:15pm | SECN |
| Hawaii at Fresno State | 7:00pm | CBS47/Spectrum PPV |
| Arizona State at Oklahoma State | 7:00pm | FOX |
| USC at Washington | 7:30pm | BTN |
| Wisconsin at Iowa | 7:30pm | NBC/Peacock |
| 10 Texas A&M at South Carolina | 7:30pm | ABC/ESPN+ |
| Louisville at 11 Clemson | 7:30pm | ESPN |
| Georgia Southern at South Alabama | 7:30pm | ESPNU |
| Kentucky at 7 Tennessee | 7:45pm | SECN |
| 18 Pitt at 20 SMU | 8:00pm | ACCN |
| TCU at Baylor | 8:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Colorado State at Nevada | 8:00pm | CBSSN |
MY PICKS. Well, consider me humbled.
I was HOT, HOT, HOT. Then, I was COLD, COLD, COLD. Last week, I went 1-2 on picks. Notre Dame drilled Navy, and Oregon drilled Illinois. Thank the Maker Vanderbilt took Texas down to the wire and covered its 18.5-point spread. This week, I hope to be yes and not no, in and not out, up and not down.
- No. 1 Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan: Yes.
- UCLA at Nebraska (-6.5): Poor UCLA. The Bruins are 2-5 and have to face a Nebraska team coming off a 49-point loss to Indiana and a four-point loss to Ohio State. I think the Cornhuskers punch the Bruins in the mouth from Jump Street and never look back, beating UCLA in blowout fashion in front of what will be another sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium.
- Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State: Screw it. I'll make this week an all-Big Ten slate. Kurtis Rourke will be back under center for Indiana when it travels to East Lansing. While Michigan State kept it close with Michigan this past weekend, I don't foresee the same outcome when the Spartans host the Hoosiers, as I expect Curt Cignetti and Indiana to continue their incredible season with a dominant win over Jonathan Smith and Co.
BACK TO THE BUCKEYES. I had to talk about him at some point...
- SUBJECT: JT Tuimoloau
- AGE: 22 years old
- HEIGHT: 6-foot-5
- WEIGHT: 269 pounds
- CODE NAME: The Lion Tamer
- CHANCES OF CONTAINMENT: None
On Oct. 29, 2022, JT Tuimoloau had one of the best individual performances ever in college football: six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, two interceptions – including one pick-six – and one pass breakup that led to a Zach Harrison interception.
6 TKL
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 29, 2024
3 TFL
2 SK
1 FF
1 FR
2 INT
1 TD
J.T. Tuimoloau posted an all-time performance in @OhioStateFB's last trip to Beaver Stadium #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/5VlpVm7TvX
That combination of statistics, which Tuimoloau collected alone, had been recorded from the entire Ohio State defense in only eight games since 1976, and likely ever: Northwestern (1981), Iowa (1984), BYU (1985), West Virginia (1987), San Diego State (2003), Northwestern (2006), Tulsa (2016) and Michigan State (2020).
On Oct. 21, 2023, Tuimoloau continued his dominance over the Nittany Lions. No, he did not collect the same stats he did the season before, but he recorded a sack and a pass breakup and had six total pressures according to Pro Football Focus.
NFL evaluators want to see a players best against the best.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 22, 2023
Ohio State edge JT Tuimoloau was excellent yesterday, including some critical pass rush reps against the best OL in college football Olu Fashanu a top 5 pick in April.
Tuiomolaus got serious power pic.twitter.com/ZkjQxuWIl3
The Lion Tamer needs to be at his best on Saturday.
I think he will be.
I know he will be!
SONG OF THE DAY. “All Along The Watchtower” - Jimi Hendrix.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Tourists toss coins over a makeshift pool as Rome’s Trevi Fountain undergoes maintenance... Dodgers to celebrate World Series victory with parade and stadium celebration... Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade will feature Ariana Madix, T-Pain, Gabby’s Dollhouse and pasta... Target transforms stores into Fantastical Forest to kick off holiday shopping season.
