Skull Session: Eddie George Says Tennessee Beat Ohio State “Fair and Square” in the Citrus Bowl and Ohio Stadium Will Become a Winter Fortress for the College Football Playoff

Welcome of the Skull Session.

Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow.

Let it Snw pic.twitter.com/YtmIDgwY9w
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 11, 2024

Have a good Thursday.

BIG NOON KICKOFF(S). Ohio State’s 2025 schedule became official on Wednesday.

Ohio State's 2025 schedule is here https://t.co/i0N4I3aiOy pic.twitter.com/zmiIAOQVFk
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 11, 2024

After I received that news, I checked in with an accurate, dependable source to learn when the Buckeyes’ kickoff times will be for their 12 regular-season matchups... It’s me… I’m the source… The information I am about to present is satire:

Texas – Noon on FOX
Grambling – 7:30 p.m. on BTN, for some reason
Ohio – Noon on FOX
OFF – Noon, somehow
At Washington – 7:30 p.m. on NBC
Minnesota – Noon on FOX
At Illinois – 3:30 p.m. on CBS
At Wisconsin – 7:30 p.m. on NBC
OFF — Noon, somehow
Penn State – Noon on FOX
At Purdue – 3:30 p.m. on CBS
UCLA – Noon on FOX
Rutgers – Noon on BTN
At Michigan – Noon on FOX

And there we have it.

Save for FCS Grambling State, all of Ohio State’s home games will be at noon. The Buckeyes will also hit the road to face Michigan at noon, Illinois and Purdue at 3:30 p.m., and Washington and Wisconsin at 7:30 p.m.

“Seems fair.” – the executives at FOX... probably.

In all seriousness, I hope Ohio State will have fewer noon games next fall than this fall. It was ridiculous that the Buckeyes ended the season with six straight afternoon kickoffs. You know it. I know it. Ohio State knows it…

And FOX knows it, too. I think?

Here’s something I don’t think but know: Texas has to be a night game. It has to be. Ohio State fans deserve it!

“THEY BEAT US FAIR AND SQUARE.” On Jan. 1, 1996, Ohio State and Tennessee faced off in the Citrus Bowl. The 11-1 Buckeyes had Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George. The 10-1 Volunteers had future Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning… and some illegal cleats?

During New Year’s Eve 1995 and New Year’s Day 1996, Orlando experienced torrential rain that left the Florida Citrus Bowl with a soaked field. The surface led 19 Volunteers to wear soccer shoes with cleats longer than the NCAA allowed.

Some believe that made the difference in Tennessee’s 20-14 win over Ohio State.

George isn’t one of them.

“I would never use that as an excuse. They beat us fair and square,” George told Mike Organ of the Nashville Tennessean this week. “It was what it was. We’ve talked about it and laughed about it a few times over the years. (Former Vols receiver) Joey Kent was on our (Oilers/Titans) team, and I got a chance to talk with him about it. It’s an ongoing joke.”

George rushed for 1,826 yards and scored 24 total touchdowns in the 1995 regular season, winning the Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award and Heisman Trophy.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound bruiser continued to shine in the Citrus Bowl, collecting 104 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries. However, when Ohio State faced 4th-and-1 at midfield with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, George never received his chance to make a difference. Bobby Hoying pitched a ball intended for George off the helmet of Matt Calhoun, George’s lead blocker, and Tennessee defensive back Tori Noel recovered the football.

Ohio State and Tennessee have only met one previous time in the 1996 Citrus Bowl. That game featured Peyton Manning and Eddie George. The Volunteers won 20-14. pic.twitter.com/UVMcTBlium
— Dave Holmes (@DaveHolmesTV) December 8, 2024

“That was our final drive, and that was all she wrote,” George said.

Now the head coach at Tennessee State, George is looking forward to attending the Ohio State-Tennessee game on Dec. 21. He was in Columbus earlier this season for the Buckeyes’ homecoming game against Nebraska, which came during an off week for the Tigers.

“This is going to be a tough battle for Ohio State,” George said. “Tennessee can throw it all over the yard. I don’t think the weather will be much of a factor, to be honest. I think it’s going to be a really, really good ballgame. Of course, I’m pulling for the Buckeyes, but it would not surprise me if Tennessee went in there and got a victory.”

A WINTER FORTRESS. When Ohio State hosts Tennessee, the Horseshoe will become a Winter Fortress.

This week, Sheridan Hendrix of The Columbus Dispatch interviewed Ohio State football spokesperson Jerry Emig to learn more about how the school has prepared to host a College Football Playoff matchup (and the NHL Stadium Series matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings in March, for that matter).

Emig told Hendrix that Ohio State had repaired all existing heat traces for cold water piping and added 96 portable heaters to concession stands. The school plans to add more heat traces and sanitary drops in B, C and D decks, as well as more permanent heaters in the near future.

Ohio Stadium will also have university and contracted plumbers at the game and on call in case of an emergency, Emig said. If it snows, the school has purchased the necessary equipment for snow removal on the field and in the stands.

Here are a few more interesting notes from Hendrix’s article:

Emig said Ohio State will not receive revenue from ticket sales, as all revenue goes back to the CFP. However, the Buckeyes will keep all proceeds from concession and parking sales.
The Athletic reported that schools can hold their usual home game rituals, including run-out music and third-down crowd prompts (Hell’s Bells!), while the road team can also use its traditional run-out with music and video. I’m unsure if Ohio State will be allowed to hold a Skull Session, but I’ll find out an answer soon enough.
Marching bands from both schools will have six minutes and 30 seconds to perform during the 22-minute halftime.
College Football Playoff officials will place the CFP logo somewhere on the home field, The Athletic reported. The CFP will also control digital signage and in-game entertainment.

I don't think we are ready for the atmosphere in this one. It will be electric!

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY… MONEY! According to a recent report from USA TODAY Sports, Ohio State ranks first among public FBS schools with an assistant coach salary pool of $11.43 million. The Buckeyes are ahead of Georgia ($10.33 million) and Clemson ($9.68 million) in the category.

Ohio State’s No. 1 ranking is due to the program's multimillion-dollar assistants. Jim Knowles ($2.2 million), the third highest-paid assistant in college football, and Chip Kelly ($2 million), the ninth highest-paid assistant, lead the group. However, Brian Hartline ($1.6 million), Larry Johnson ($1.4 million) and Tim Walton ($1.4 million) aren't too far behind.

Speaking of which, Hartline interviewed for West Virginia’s head coach opening this week, so he could receive a raise – probably a significant one – when he returns to Ohio State in 2025 to coach wide receivers and co-coordinate the offense with Kelly.

The USA TODAY report features base annual salaries but does not include additional incentives or postseason bonuses. Ryan Day and his assistants are due to receive over $1.24 million in combined bonuses for their College Football Playoff berth. They could receive more depending on how far the Buckeyes make it in the postseason tournament.

College football coaching… it’s a good job if you can get it!

SONG OF THE DAY. “2001” - FINNEAS.