The Weekender: Justin Fields and Company Gear Up for the Draft, Men's Basketball Puts in Work at the Ol' Transfer Portal, and Post-Spring Game Observations

A Draft in the Air

We're not sure if you were aware of this, but the NFL draft is coming up this week, and we will finally all be free from the endless speculation and mock drafts from giant ding-dongs who live for endless drama and made-up garbage. We reported on Justin Fields' management of his epilepsy condition (which thus far has been under control and not impacted his playing ability, obviously), but that won't stop people like Dennis Dodd from wringing their hands all the way up until Fields signs on the dotted line.

We'll be so glad when Justin's name is finally, mercifully called on Thursday.

NIL Drama Proceeds Apace

At some point collegiate athletes will be able to profit off of their name, image, and/or likeness, and it feels like that point is coming sooner rather than later. Both Texas and Mississippi are paving the way for college athletes to profit off of being super cool as heck and being admired by millions, and the only real questions that remain are when the NCAA will catch up with the rest of the sporting world on this, and if Ohio (the state) will allow players from Ohio State (the university) to avoid missing out on this opportunity. From the Clarion Ledger:

"Just bringing in different people so that you have a program in place," [Ole Miss coach Lane] Kiffin said. "Where it’s just not coaches. You’re able to set these things up and manage things so that the players are getting the most they can out of the rules but at the same time it’s not major distractions for them."

That's true! They should do it.

Two Titans Tussle, Thanks to “The”

A play in two acts:

Ohio State University and Marc Jacobs are now in a legal battle over who owns trademark rights in the word "THE."@OhioState filed a 'Notice of Opposition' to block Marc Jacobs' trademark filing for the word "THE", claiming that the University is the rightful owner.#OhioState pic.twitter.com/N0HeB0w89U

— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) April 23, 2021

UPDATE: Ohio State spokesman says that the University and Marc Jacobs have reached an agreement to co-exist and both own a trademark registration on the word "THE."

However, it will still be up to the USPTO as to whether or not the arrangement can be allowed.

— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) April 23, 2021

NBCNews.com thinks this is all very funny and cute, but we're breathing a sigh of relief that this was settled without pistols at noon.

Ohio State University—pardon, The Ohio State University— said Friday it had reached an intellectual cease fire with fashion brand Marc Jacobs regarding their trademark battle over the word "THE."

The university said an agreement filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will allow both parties to use "THE" on their products until the office makes "further rulings" on the matter, according to a statement from Ohio State spokesman Benjamin Johnson.

We're not sure who this Marc Jacobs guy is but he seems tough.

Maybe Eight, Maybe 12, Maybe 16, Maybe Go to Hell

The College Football Playoff Committee has discussed expanding the playoff, but, you know, maybe, maybe not, and maybe not until we're all ruled by evil robots who harvest our brainwaves to mine for Bitcoin. Per ESPN.com:

CFP executive director Bill Hancock told ESPN that nothing is imminent.

"There will not be a new format this season or next season," Hancock said. "The timetable is certainly an important detail, but it hasn't been determined yet. It's too soon to predict the timing, but even if the board decides to alter the format, it may well not occur until after the current agreement has expired, which isn't until after the 2025 season."

Cool, great, neat. Some people are cool with this non-change because the CFP hasn't really had a "good" product for years, but the playoff consisting of the same pool of 6 or so teams every season is wearing pretty freaking thin as it is.

ICYMI

FOOTBALL CAN BE FUN

For instance, how about Chris Olave wanting to be both the very best and a national champion? Or Justin Fields signing an endorsement deal with an energy drink company?

Plus, check out our look at the status of various position battles coming out of spring camp, as well as a peek at how we expect the depth chart to shake out if the first game were to be played tomorrow.

CHRIS HOLTMANN DOESN'T REST

Oh, and while the men's basketball team lost Musa Jallow (he's headed to Charlotte), we give you some great insight into new Buckeye and Penn State transfer Jamari Wheeler, who is stoked at everything that Ohio State has to offer.

Up Next

• Starting Thursday: the NFL Draft! Here's how to watch it.
• Thursday at 12:30 on BTN: Relive Ohio State's most recent B1G championship and Trey Sermon's recording setting game.
• Thursday, September 2: Ryan Day's Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Minnesota to open the season.
• Saturday, November 27: The Game. Ann Arbor, Michigan.