Ryan Day, Curt Cignetti and a case of who needs a win more between Ohio State and Indiana Nov 21, 2024

Ohio State's top-three matchup with Indiana will be a clash of the titans as the two teams try to claim Big Ten supremacy. But is there more at stake?

It's time to take the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers and their head coaches to court in this interesting debate. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss who this game means more to in a creative way. Stefan makes the case for Indiana, Andrew makes the case for OSU and Stephen sits in as the judge navigating a conversation.

The question is, who makes the best case?

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How Seth McLaughlin's injury impacts Ohio State football's offensive line and CJ Hicks' potential new role Nov 20, 2024

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Predicting Ohio State football's 2025 recruiting class Nov 19, 2024

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An early impression of Ohio State's next top five opponent Indiana Nov 18, 2024

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Evaluating Ohio State football’s 31-7 win over Northwestern Nov 17, 2024

Ohio State got out of a 31-7 win over Northwestern what it needed without adding any extra problems.

It challenged its quarterback's only lingering question, continued to build continuity on the offensive line, and pushed its limits on defense.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down the win while shifting the conversation forward. Using a survey sent out to the Buckeye Talk text subscribers, the trio discusses where OSU is heading into a pivotal stretch.

Plus a quick convo about OSU's most recent commits.

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Previewing Ohio State football's game against Northwestern Nov 15, 2024

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's game against Northwestern and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed:

What do you want to see from Ohio State's offense and defense in a game where the talent is so lopsided?
The trio returns to make their game picks.
Plus a look at some non-OSU games that might matter to the Buckeyes.

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Ranking the best Ohio State wide receiver seasons of the Ryan Day era Nov 14, 2024

Ohio State has been blessed with plenty of dominant seasons from wide receivers since Ryan Day took over the program, but which one reigns supreme?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis rank the six best individual versions of wide receivers who've called Ohio Stadium home over the past six years. Where does Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 2023 season rank compared to his 2022 season? How does Jaxon Smith-Njigba's record-breaking 2021 compare against Chris Olave's 2020? Plus, have Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka's 2024 season already made a case for being on this list?

These are the questions that need answers and your favorite trio is here to do just that.

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Ryan Day, Will Howard and Ohio State football's noon game problem Nov 13, 2024

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A conversation with an Ohio State national championship-winning running back Nov 12, 2024

This episode of Buckeye Talk is a break from the serious football talk for a special guest.

Former Ohio State running back Maurice Hall once helped the Buckeyes win a national title in 2002. Now he's trying to take over Hollywood.

Hall's transitioned into the acting world in 2009 making a name for himself Now he's taking on a new challenge with a movie starring him and written by him called "A Heart for Christmas." The movie releases this Friday on Pluto TV and the Roku Channel.

Hall joins Stephen Means as the two talk about his journey, the movie and his thoughts on the 2024 Buckeyes.

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Has Ohio State lived up to expectation in 2024? Nov 11, 2024

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Evaluating Ohio State football’s 45-0 win over Purdue Nov 10, 2024

Ohio State handled its business with a 45-0 win over Purdue on a day when plenty of other teams around the country didn’t.

In the process of doing so, it also gained something in the win by playing as many people as possible and experimenting with different looks. It used a game where it could essentially name its score to find ways to still get better even if it wasn’t playing the best competition.

On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss why the shutout win was so important for the 2024 season and beyond.

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Previewing Ohio State football’s game against Purdue Nov 08, 2024

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down OHio State's game against Purdue and make their picks.

Instead of breaking down. the opponent, the trio instead discusses the future of OSU football by discussing a few under-the-radar players we could see on Saturday as the program could get a chance to play some of its depth.

We left the in-depth discussion about the Boilermakers to somebody else as an old friend makes an appearance to start off the show.

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Who is Ohio State football's most valuable player? Nov 07, 2024

There is a big difference between being a team’s best player and its most valuable, though sometimes those two things can collide, especially for Ohio State.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis try to figure out if that’s the case by ranking the team’s nine most valuable players. They consider the Subtext subscribers’ opinions while going in depth about each spot. Listen along to see who makes the list and who may have just been left off.

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Ryan Day, Jim Knowles and and reacting to Ohio State’s spot in the College Football Playoff rankings Nov 06, 2024

The first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2024 season are out putting Ohio State in a favorable place.

The Buckeyes debuted in the No. 2 spot behind Oregon in the first rankings of the new 12-team era.

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break down what that means going forward. Then Andrew Gillis joins in as the trio reacts to everything Ryan Day, Jim Knowles and Will Howard said as OSU prepares to face Purdue on Saturday.

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Will Howard, Ryan Day and the impact of Ohio State’s most important win of the season Nov 05, 2024

Ohio State heads into the final month of the regular season in complete control of its destiny using a 20-13 win over Penn State to reclaim the right to do so.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means takes questions and comments from the Subtext subscribers as he looks ahead to November discussing the most important topics. That ranges from the offensive and defensive lines, Ryan Day, the College Football Playoff and an honest conversation about quarterback Will Howard. Plus much, much more.

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Predicting Ohio State football's spot in the first 2024 College Football Playoff rankings Nov 04, 2024

Ohio State football's resume for the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2024 season is set.

It heads into Tuesday night with a 7-1 record, a road win over a top-five opponent and a one-point loss to another top-five opponent in another road game. That should be enough to contend for a spot as high as No. 2, right?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik try to predict what those rankings will look like and what it could mean for OSU going forward.

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Evaluating Ohio State football’s 20-13 win over Penn State Nov 03, 2024

Ohio State is back in control of its destiny thanks to a 20-13 win over Penn State.

On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis breakdown the importance of the win and what it means heading into November. They also discuss quarterback Will Howard who though made some costly mistakes, ultimately led OSU to a victory.

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Previewing Ohio State football’s game against Penn State Nov 01, 2024

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's game against Penn State and make their picks. Here’s what gets discussed:

The six most important Buckeyes in the game
A conversation with Pennlive.com's Johnny McGonigol about the Nitty Lions
The trio returns to make their game picks.

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Ryan Day, James Franklin and who the Ohio State-Penn State game matters more to Oct 31, 2024

Ryan Day and James Franklin each come into Saturday's matchup between Ohio State and Penn State at a bit of a crossroads.

Each has been questioned about their ability to win big games, specifically top-five matchups where everything is equal. Day is 2-6 in those games while Franklin is 1-12. Saturday is a big opportunity for both. But which one needs a win more and who else might need it just as much?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss the six people who have the most on the line on Saturday.

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Ryan Day, Jim Knowles and Ohio State football's uninspiring first impression heading into Penn State week Oct 30, 2024

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Jahkeem Stewart, Na'eem Offord and the latest on Ohio State football's recruiting efforts Oct 29, 2024

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Breaking down Ohio State football’s 21-17 win over Nebraska Oct 28, 2024

Buckeye Talk’s in-season Monday pod is back where Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik break down the game looking at Ohio State's 21-17 win over Nebraska. Each week the breakdown will be broken up into three categories:

Quarterback Talk: Discussing the best and worst thing we saw from the QB and if his upside flashed in any capacity
Offensive Talk: What’s the best and worst play from the offense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
Defensive Talk: What’s the best and worst play from the defense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
A big-picture conversation about the Big Ten heading into conference play.

Then they’ll close things out every week by answering one question: Did the Buckeyes look like a College Football Playoff team?

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Evaluating Ohio State football’s 21-17 win over Nebraska Oct 27, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State football's 21-17 win over Nebraska.

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Previewing Ohio State football’s game against Nebraska Oct 25, 2024

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's game against Nebraska and make their picks. Here’s what gets discussed:

What do you want to see from Ohio State’s offense and defense?
The trio returns to make their game picks.
Plus a look at some non-OSU games that might matter to the Buckeyes.

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Dylan Raiola, Quinn Ewers and the biggest Ohio State football 'What Ifs' of the Ryan Day era Oct 24, 2024

Ohio State will face a Nebraska team featuring a quarterback that was once supposed to be a future Buckeye which brings up an interesting conversation.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis take a trip down the hypothetical road with a game of 'What if' inspired by Dylan Raiola. The trio looks at some of the biggest 'What ifs' of the Ryan Day era ranking each and deciding how different things would've have been had they played out differently.

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Why Ryan Day is so unhappy with Ohio State's defense Oct 23, 2024

Angry Ryan Day is back as Ohio State prepares to face Nebraska to start the second half of the season.

The topic of the Tuesday press conference was defense, even if OSU's offensive-minded head coach was the only coach who spoke about it. And his tone was one of a head coach who has spent the past two weeks irritated with a defense that gave up 31 points to Oregon without much of a fight.

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State football discuss all of it.

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Ryan Day, Jim Knowles and the issues with Ohio State football's defense Oct 22, 2024

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Mapping out Ohio State football's potential path to the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff Oct 21, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik dive back into Ohio State football as it comes off of its second bye week ready for the home stretch.

OSU holds a 5-1 record and still in a prime position to compete for a Big Ten and national title, but that road was made a little more difficult thanks to a loss to Oregon. Now it must figure out what went wrong while ensuring it gets a rematch in Indianapolis on Dec. 7.

Stephen and Stephen spend the next hour unpacking flaws, breaking down the back half of the schedule and figuring out whether the Big Ten is destined to once again have the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

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Breaking down Ohio State football's Oregon loss and its bigger picture meaning about the Ryan Day era Oct 17, 2024

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Midseason report card: Grading Ohio State football’s position groups, coaches Oct 15, 2024

Highlights:

Will Howard has been solid, earning a B+ grade.
The running backs have been outstanding, with an A grade.
Wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka are top performers.
Tight ends have had a limited impact this season.
The offensive line has shown strength but has areas for improvement.
Injuries have affected the performance of the offensive line.
Cornerbacks struggled against Oregon, raising concerns about their consistency.
Ohio State's offense ranks highly in yards per play and points per game.
Caleb Downs is exceeding expectations as a safety.
Chip Kelly's offensive strategies have revitalized the team's performance.
Ryan Day's leadership is under scrutiny after the Oregon game.
Ohio State's defense needs to improve to meet high expectations.
The team's performance against Oregon raises questions about their elite status.
Overall, the team is meeting expectations but has room for improvement.

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Presenting midseason awards for the Buckeyes - from most impressive to most disappointing Oct 14, 2024

Highlights:

With a bye week upon us, Andrew and Stefan present some midseason awards for the Buckeyes so far in 2024.
The defense has not met expectations, especially against tougher opponents.
The offensive line has shown significant improvement compared to last season.
Seth McLaughlin has been a stabilizing force.
Expectations play a crucial role in determining what is considered impressive or disappointing.
The hosts discuss the impact of injuries on the offensive line's performance.
How Chip Kelly's offensive strategies have revitalized Ohio State's run game,
Justin Frye has effectively managed the offensive line despite injuries.
Carnell Tate is poised for a breakout second half of the season.
Why the tight end position will become increasingly important due to offensive line struggles.
CJ Hicks may see more playing time as a blitzer in the second half.
Brandon Innis is likely to play a significant role going forward.

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Will Howard, the defense and what's the most concerning part of the Buckeyes' loss to Oregon Oct 13, 2024

Highlights:

Ohio State's loss to Oregon was an instant classic.
Will Howard's performance was solid but marred by key mistakes.
Coaching decisions significantly impacted the game's outcome.
Injuries to key players like Josh Simmons raise concerns.
Ohio State's offensive line depth is a major issue moving forward.
The defense struggled against Oregon's offense, allowing 496 yards.
Ohio State's defense did not meet the high expectations set before the season.
The team still has a chance to achieve its goals despite the loss.
Mistakes in the final moments of the game were costly for Ohio State.
What the Buckeyes can do to address some of their issues going forward.

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Previewing Ohio State football’s game against Oregon Oct 11, 2024

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's game against Oregon and make their picks. Here’s what gets discussed:

What do you want to see from Ohio State’s offense and defense?
The trio returns to make their game picks.
Plus a look at some non-OSU games that might matter to the Buckeyes.

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Ryan Day, Dan Lanning and a case of who needs a win more between Ohio State and Oregon Oct 10, 2024

Ohio State's top-three matchup with Oregon will be a clash of the titans as the two teams try to claim Big Ten supremacy. But is there more at stake?

It's time to take the Buckeyes, the Ducks and their head coaches to court in this interesting debate. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss who this game means more to in a creative way. Stefan makes the case for OSU, Andrew makes the case for Oregon and Stephen sits in as the judge navigating a conversation.

The question is, who makes the best case?

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Ryan Day, Chip Kelly and Will Howard's potential flaw that Oregon could exploit Oct 09, 2024

As Ohio State prepares to face Oregon in a top three matchup, Ryan Day, Chip Kelly and Will Howard discuss where things stand.

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss everything the trio had to say.

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First impressions of Ohio State and Oregon heading into a top 10 matchup Oct 07, 2024

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How ready did Ohio State football look for Oregon during win over Iowa? Oct 06, 2024

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Previewing Ohio State football’s game against Iowa Oct 03, 2024

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's game against Iowa and make their picks. Here’s what gets discussed:

What do you want to see from Ohio State’s offense and defense?
The trio returns to make their game picks.
Plus a look at some non-OSU games that might matter to the Buckeyes.

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Ryan Day, Sonny Styles and nitpicking Ohio State football's 2024 defense Oct 02, 2024

As Ohio State prepares to face Iowa in its first Big Ten home game, Ryan Day, Chip Kelly and and Jim Knowles discuss where things stand.

For the head coach, that meant an overview of the program after four games. For the offensive coordinator, that meant discussing how an impressive offense can continue to build. For the defensive coordinator, that meant cyphering through what are real problems, and what's just being nitpicky.

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State football discuss all of it.

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What's wrong with Ohio State football's defense? Oct 01, 2024

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How many Ohio State football figures belong on our 40 most influential list? Sep 30, 2024

In this episode of Buckeye Talk, guest host Jimmy Watkins joins Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis to discuss Cleveland.com's 40 most influential Cleveland sports figures list, focusing on the impact of Ohio State football within the Cleveland sports landscape. They explore the rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan, the dynamics of the Ohio State quarterback position, and the influence of head coach Ryan Day. The conversation also touches on the future of Ohio State football, highlighting potential stars like Jeremiah Smith and the implications of the NIL era on college sports.

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Can Jeremiah Smith have the greatest freshman season in Ohio State history? Sep 30, 2024

Jeremiah Smith is putting himself in rare company with how he's started his Ohio State and it's easy to get hyperbolic when discussing him, so that's what we'll do.

But you have to do it responsibly. Smith has been impressive as a true freshman, but he's not the first Buckeye to establish himself this early in his career. So that means it's time for another addition of Buckeye Talk's Mount Rushmore.

This time around Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik are discussing the greatest freshmen seasons in OSU history and whether Smith is on pace to one day make the list.

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Evaluating Ohio State football’s 38-7 win over Michigan State Sep 29, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State football's 38-7 win over Michigan State.

It's a short late-night conversation about what we're supposed to make of a team still two weeks away from its first matchup game. OSU's far from a perfect team, but so far it's made it not matter what those flaws are as it rips through its schedule. Is there anyone who can change that? The trio try to make sense of it.

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Previewing Ohio State football’s game against Michigan State Sep 27, 2024

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's game against Michigan State and make their picks. Here’s what gets discussed:

What do you want to see from Ohio State’s offense and defense in a game where the talent is so lopsided?
The trio returns to make their game picks.
Plus a look at some non-OSU games that might matter to the Buckeyes.

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Evaluating the Big Ten and the strength of Ohio State football's conference schedule Sep 26, 2024

Ohio State enters Big Ten play this week on the road against Michigan State providing a chance to take a look ahead.

Four weeks into the season it's clear that the conference is destined to have multiple teams make the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff. But how many have a realistic chance of achieving that?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis evaluate all 18 teams placing each into tiers. Then they look at which teams fall into what team on OSU's schedule and what is says about the road ahead.

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Ryan Day, Jim Knowles and Ohio State coach's dissatisfaction with the defense Sep 25, 2024

Ryan Day and Jim Knowles didn't seem very happy coming off Ohio State football's 49-14 win over Marshall.

The offense was great, but the defense had its least impressive game since probably the 2023 Michigan loss. That led to an interesting tone from the two on a Tuesday press conference heading into Big Ten play.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis breakdown what they heard.

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A 5-star cornerback, a potential quarterback commit and Ohio State's potential in-state recruiting haul Sep 24, 2024

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Breaking down Ohio State’s football's 49-14 win over Marshall Sep 23, 2024

Buckeye Talk’s in-season Monday pod is back where Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik break down the game looking at Ohio State's 49-14 win over Marshall. Each week the breakdown will be broken up into three categories:

Quarterback Talk: Discussing the best and worst thing we saw from the QB and if his upside flashed in any capacity
Offensive Talk: What’s the best and worst play from the offense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
Defensive Talk: What’s the best and worst play from the defense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
A big-picture conversation about the Big Ten heading into conference play.

Then they’ll close things out every week by answering one question: Did the Buckeyes look like a College Football Playoff team?

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Evaluating Ohio State football’s 49-14 win over Marshall: Buckeye Talk podcast Sep 22, 2024

Ohio State improved to 3-0 on the season in a 49-14 win over Marshall where the offense was elite but the defense left some things to be desired

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss what they learned about OSU after Week 4. They discuss the positives from an explosive day on offense and a fiery Ryan Day. Then they discuss the absence of defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and the latest problem on special teams.

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Previewing Ohio State football’s game against Marshall Sep 20, 2024

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's game against Marshall and make their picks. Here’s what gets discussed:

What you want to see from Ohio State in its final non-conference game.
What you are 100% confident you will see from Ohio State in its final non-conference game.
The trio returns to make their game picks.
Plus a look at some non-OSU games that might matter to the Buckeyes.

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Analyzing the impact Chip Kelly's had on Ohio State football's 2024 offense Sep 19, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, we analyze the impact Chip Kelly has had on Ohio State football's 2024 offense.

Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis look at every angle of why it was so important that the first person Ryan Day gave up play-calling duties to is his former mentor and what that says about the program overall. In doing so, they answer a series of questions:

Where Kelly's influence is felt the most in terms of offensive philosophy
Where Kelly's influence is felt the most in terms of position group
What's OSU's fastball offensively?
The biggest difference between Day now and a year ago
Was Kelly the perfect hire?
What if Bill O'Brien never left for Boston College?
What this hire says about how Day has evolved in terms of his hiring practices.

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Donovan Jackson's return and Will Howard's evolution as Ohio State's starting quarterback Sep 18, 2024

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Will Howard, offensive line progression and what Chip Kelly's brought to Ohio State's offense Sep 17, 2024

Ohio State resumes its 2024 season when it returns to the field on Saturday to face Marshall.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means takes rants from the Subtext subscribers on how they feel about OSU after seeing two games and spending the bye week watching the rest of the nation. Comments were put into two categories:

Something you've loved about Ohio State.
Something that still makes you nervous about their national title chances.

The responses provided a variety of answers all of which were discussed in detail.

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Evaluating the biggest threats to Ohio State football and a rant on its national title odds Sep 16, 2024

Buckeye Talk's in-season Monday pod is back where Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik break down the game.

With Ohio State on a bye week, we instead look around the country at some of its top competition for the national title. Things are broken into these categories:

Which teams have actually looked like threats to Ohio State this year?
Which teams aren’t you as afraid of as you thought you’d be?
A team you have your eye on that’s percolating in the background.
A rant from Stephen on OSU's championship odds.
What we want to learn about Ohio State coming out of the bye week.

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Evaluating Ohio State football's first two games and a new prediction for 2024 Sep 12, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, we evaluate the first two weeks of the Ohio State football season breaking things down into a few categories while also making a few more predictions.

Among the things Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss:

The Biggest Surprise
One thing we got right and wrong
Most underrated player
A new Mark it Down prediction and
Driving a second bus.

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Ryan Day, Jim Knowles and Ohio State football’s goals during its ‘Improvement week’ Sep 11, 2024

Ryan Day and Jim Knowles spoke as Ohio State heads into its first of two bye weeks of the 2024 season, which Day has classified as an ‘Improvement week.’

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik break down everything they had to say heading into the first Bye Week

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Breaking down Ohio State's 56-0 win over Western Michigan Sep 09, 2024

Buckeye Talk's in-season Monday pod is back where Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik break down the game looking at Ohio State's 56-0 win over Western Michigan. Each week the breakdown will be broken up into three categories:

Quarterback Talk: Discussing the best and worst thing we saw from the QB and if his upside flashed in any capacity
Offensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the offense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
Defensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the defense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
A look at why Texas' win over Michigan matters so much to the Buckeyes.

Then they'll close things out every week by answering one question: Did the Buckeyes look like a College Football Playoff team?

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Evaluating Ohio State football's 56-0 win over Western Michigan Sep 08, 2024

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Previewing Ohio State football’s game against Western Michigan Sep 06, 2024

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State’s Week 2 opponent Western Michigan and make their picks. Here’s what gets discussed:

What do you want to see from Ohio State’s offense and defense in a game where the talent is so lopsided?
The trio returns to make their game picks.
Plus a look at some non-OSU games that might matter to the Buckeyes.

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Julian Sayin, Devin Brown and who Ohio State fans should root for between Texas and Michigan Sep 05, 2024

This Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions about practically everything under the sun.

Among the topics discussed by Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis:

Biggest flukes the first week of the college football season
Comparing Will Howard to Kyle McCord
How long Devin Brown can hold off Julian Sayin for QB2
Is Jeremiah Smith already OSU's best wide receiver
A rival vs the SEC
Plus plenty more

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Cody Simon, Donovan Jackson and Ohio State's turning its once weak link into a weapon Sep 04, 2024

Ryan Day, Chip Kelly and Will Howard spoke as Ohio State prepares for its Week 2 opponent Western Michigan on Saturday.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik break down everything they had to say heading into Week 2.

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Two new Ohio State commitments and what Will Howard can tell us about Tavien St. Clair’s potential Sep 03, 2024

Ohio State's been busy on the recruiting trail even with the start of the 2024 season.

Over the past two weeks, its top-rated 2025 recruiting class added two more members putting the class at 26 commits. That makes it the largest class of the Ryan Day era passing his 2020 class which held 25.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis break down the latest additions and what they bring to the class. Then they have a lengthy conversation about five-star quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair and how his growing superstardom is preparing him for the SU spotlight. Plus, a look at two 2026 five-stars who may reclassify and who Andrew thinks could commit to Ohio State next.

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Breaking down Ohio State's 52-6 win over Akron Sep 02, 2024

Buckeye Talk's in-season Monday pod is back where Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik break down the game starting with the season-opener against Akron in which Ohio State won 52-6. Each week the breakdown will be broken up into three categories:

Quarterback Talk: Discussing the best and worst thing we saw from the QB and if his upside flashed in any capacity
Offensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the offense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
Defensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the defense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
A look at the game's around the country that matter to Ohio State

Then they'll close things out every week by answering one question: Did the Buckeyes look like a College Football Playoff team?

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Evaluating Jeremiah Smith, Will Howard and Ohio State football’s 52-6 win over Akron Sep 01, 2024

Ohio State opened up the 2024 season with a 52-6 win over Akron that started slow but ended with plenty of points on both sides of the ball

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss what they learned about OSU after Week 1. They discuss the positives and negatives from an up-and-down day on offense. Then on defense, highlight the players that immediately stood out.

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Previewing Ohio State football's 2024 season-opener against Akron Aug 30, 2024

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's season-opener against Akron and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed:

What do you want to see from Ohio State's offense and defense in a game where the talent is so lopsided?
The trio returns to make their game picks.
Plus a look at some non-OSU games that might matter to the Buckeyes.

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Evaluating what makes Ohio State's 'Natty or bust' mentality so unique in 2024 Aug 29, 2024

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What Ryan Day, Will Howard and Ohio State expect from its 2024 season opener Aug 28, 2024

Ryan Day, Jim Knowles and Will Howard spoke as Ohio State prepares for its 2024 season-opener against Akron on Saturday.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik breakdown everything they had to say heading into Week 1.

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Will Howard, Kyle McCord and why Ohio State’s offensive line will be better in 2024 Aug 27, 2024

Ohio State will begin its journey toward winning a national title in 2024 when it opens its season against Akron on Saturday.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means takes questions from the Subtext subscribers on what to expect from OSU after a month from fall camp which featured the chance to watch five practices. Among the questions include comparing Will Howard to Kyle McCord, the future of the quarterback room, the offensive line and much more.

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Is Ohio State football destined to face Georgia in the National Championship? Mark It Down Monday Aug 26, 2024

The 2024 college football season has arrived, and Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis are making their playoff picks on the final Mark It Down Monday before the Ohio State Buckeyes open the season against Akron on Saturday.

The conversation starts by discussing what they think OSU's 12-game regular season record might be and whether they think it win the Big Ten Championship. Then they discuss who gets the top four seeds in the College Football Playoff and who makes the Final Four.

Finally, they reveal who they think will win the national title.

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Analyzing Ohio State football's offensive line depth and its recruiting issues heading into the season Aug 23, 2024

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Can Ohio State football's defensive line be dominant even if it doesn't pile on the sacks? Aug 22, 2024

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Ohio State' tight end rotation, safety depth and a way too early Heisman Trophy conversation Aug 21, 2024

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Ranking Ohio State’s top 24 players heading into the 2024 season Aug 20, 2024

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis Gillis decide who Ohio State's top 24 players are in the only way they know how, by drafting.

The top of the list is heavy on defense even being headlined by two players who’ve yet to even take a snap as Buckeyes. But the most intriguing part of the conversation was figuring out where to put WIll Howard on this list in the preseason and whether he needs to continue to move up it if OSU hopes to maximize its national championship chances.

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Can Ohio State add to its run of Heisman Trophy finalists? Mark It Down Monday Aug 19, 2024

It’s another Mark It Down Monday, and as the 2023 college football season draws near, it’s time for Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis to check in with some major predictions.

In this episode, it’s the Heisman Trophy and Ohio State recent history of finalists. Since Ryan Day arrived in 2017, OSU has had at least one finalist in all but two years. Three have been quarterbacks plus a wide receiver and a defensive end. Can that run continue in 2024?

They each provide who they think will be the top four for the award and why they picked the winner. Plus a conversation about whether a third non-quarterback could join Chase Young and Marvin Harrison Jr. by doing so.

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Ohio State has named its next starting quarterback, what's next? Aug 16, 2024

Ohio State has finally picked its starting quarterback.

Ryan Day announced on Thursday that Will Howard has won the job even suggesting that he's created a ton of space between him and the next guy.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss what naming Howard the starter means. Then they have a conversation about another quarterback battle that impacts the position's future.

Then they close with a conversation about OSU's offensive line halfway through fall camp.=

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12 non-Ohio State football games that Buckeye fans should pay attention to in 2024 Aug 15, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, the hosts discuss the most important non-Ohio State football games for Ohio State fans.

Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis take a look around the country discussing games of different levels of national importance that still matter to OSU. Some of them have a direct impact on their path to a Big Ten title. Others are about looking ahead to potential College Football Playoff matchups. Then there are others that are just about personal interest during the two bye weeks.

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What the preseason AP Top 25 Poll says about Ohio State football's 2024 season Aug 13, 2024

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Predicting Ohio State’s 2024 first-team All-Americans: Mark It Down Monday Aug 12, 2024

It's another Mark it Down Monday as Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss who they think will be the next Ohio State players to earn trees in Buckeye Grove as first-team All-Americans. As part of the discussion the three talk:

Will a defensive player earn the honor after not having a single player do so for the past three seasons?
OSU has constantly had elite quarterback play, but had one earn a tree since 2006. Does that drought end in 2024?
How many first-team All-Americans will Ohio State have and which side of the ball will have more?

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Is Ryan Day on the verge of naming Ohio State's next starting quarterback? Aug 09, 2024

Ohio State could be one step closer to naming a starting quarterback following its seventh preseason practice.

Head coach Ryan Day spoke like someone close to making a decision using some language similar to the last time he narrowed in on a guy during fall camp back in 2021. As OSU heads into its first scrimmage on Saturday, what are the chances by this time next week the quarterback battle is over?

Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss that plus the health of the offensive line room

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Jim Harbuagh's punishment, Ohio State's linebacker and the most intense coach ever Aug 08, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss Jim Harbaugh and Michigan's first punishment along with Ohio State's running backs and linebackers.

They look at the NCAA's ruling on the Wolverines' recruiting violation and what that could mean for its sign-stealing allegations. Then they discuss what they learned from James Laurinaitis' linebackers and Carlos Locklyn's running backs.

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Updating Ohio State’s quarterback battle and a new philosophy on how to maximize the position Aug 07, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, we discuss Ohio State's quarterback battle.

Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss the idea of the Buckeyes using whoever wins the job more in the run game. Then a conversation about the benefits of continuing to roll guys during the early days of preseason camp.

Plus, a conversation about whether the battle is actually over and the real competition is for a different role.

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Predicting Ohio State football 2024 stats, from a potential game-wrecker to the leader in receiving yards Aug 05, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis make some interesting stat predictions for Ohio State's 2024 season. Here are the stat topics the trio discussed:

How many passing yards and touchdowns will the starting quarterback have?
The combined yards of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins
OSU’s leader in receiving yards. How many 1,000-yard receivers will there eye?
How many carries will Dallan have
Tight end receptions
Yards per play for both the offense and defense
The defense’s sack and tackle leaders
A record we predict will be broken

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Ohio State starts 2024 fall camp: Day 1, what we saw and heard Aug 02, 2024

Ohio State went through its first day of fall camp practice and the media was able to watch all of it.

Right after head coach Ryan Day spoke at the start of camp meaning Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis had a ton to talk about. Among the things discussed:

Is Tegra Tshabola making a push to start?
How the defense is deploying a deep cornerback room
What's up with the linebackers?
Who flashed on Day 1
Day's plan for picking a starting quarterback

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Driving the bus for Ohio State Buckeyes ready to break out in 2024 Jul 31, 2024

The time has come once again on Buckeye Talk to drive the bus as Ohio State prepares for the 2024 season.

Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik, Andrew Gillis and the text subscribers offer up the Ohio State football players they believe in the most for the 2024 season. Which players will pop? Which backups will earn more playing time? Which good players will be great? Which great players will become legends?

Each gives their player, plus whether or not their crazy predictions for the season align with the texters.

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Evaluating Ohio State's recruiting wins and losses plus its most important remaining targets Jul 30, 2024

Ohio State heads into fall camp with the nation's top recruiting class, having landed many of those members over the past two months.

OSU has once again used June to host the bulk of its official visits and find success because of it. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss some of those wins, plus some of the losses among the 33 undecided players who took an official visit in June. Then they look ahead to what's next for a class close to being full.

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Predicting Ohio State’s 22 starters vs. Akron: Mark It Down Monday Jul 29, 2024

It's a Mark It Down Monday on Buckeye Talk, and this one deals with Ohio State's season-opener against Akron on Sept. 1.

Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis mark down start for the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball in that game.

It's a way for the trio to talk about the Ohio State position battles while also putting them on the spot for a prediction: Name the 11 players who will take the first snap on offense and the 11 who will take the first snap on defense.

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What’s up with Ohio State’s old rival and a new one that could be forming? Jul 26, 2024

Day 3 of Big Ten Media Days featured discussions about Ohio State's oldest and potentially newest rival.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Andrew Gillis and Jimmy Watkins discuss Michigan’s new head coach, Sherrone Moore, and the challenges he faces in replacing Jim Harbaugh. There were questions about how Moore can rebuild the Harbaugh culture without trying to replicate it while asking whether or not Moore can afford a honeymoon period.

The conversation shifts to Dan Lnning and Oregon, as a program that could finally be a worthy adversary to what OSU has built. The game between Ohio State and Oregon on October 12th will set the tone for what’s to come.

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Chip Kelly, Lincoln Riley and a discussion on the Big Ten's biggest threats to Ohio State football Jul 25, 2024

Day 2 of Big Ten Media Days is headlined by Penn State, Nebraska, and USC as three teams looking o make a statement in 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis look at the present-day versions of those programs plus what is to come. The goal: determine which of these programs presents the biggest threat to Ohio State from now on.

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A conversation with an Ohio State veteran and the most interesting things Ryan Day said at Big Ten Media Days Jul 24, 2024

Ohio State headlined Day 1 of Big Ten Media Days with head coach Ryan Day, Denzel Burke, Emeka Egbuka and Jack Sawyer in attendance.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis discuss updates in the quarterback battle and everything else Day said as OSU prepares for the 2024 season. Plus a special guest joins the pod to talk about his relationship with Day, journey as as Buckeye and the players we should be talking about more on the 2024 roster.

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Ryan Day talks Ohio State's quarterback battle, the new Big Ten and the upcoming 2024 season Jul 23, 2024

Ryan Day is preparing for his sixth season as Ohio State football's head coach in a year where he's essentially maximized the roster with returners, transfer portal additions and a highly-rated recruiting class.

As part of Big Ten Media Days, Stephen Means sat down with Day to discuss the upcoming season, the pending quarterback battle and how Day deals with the pressure and attention that comes with being OSU's head coach.

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Breaking down the 2024 Big Ten Preseason Poll and how many teams could make the College football Playoff Jul 23, 2024

The 20204 college football season has officially arrived in the midwest with the arrival of Big Ten Media Days and with that comes a chance to do something the Big Ten won’t.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis reveal their ballots as three of the 27 voters in Cleveland.com’s preseason Big Ten Media Poll. The trio share where they ranked Ohio State and who they picked to win Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year.

They also discuss who could win Coach of the Year and how many teams the conference will get in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.

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Ohio State football, Dan Lanning and the most interesting storylines at Big Ten Media Days 2024 Jul 22, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik discuss the upcoming Big Ten Media Days and the pressing questions surrounding Ohio State football.

They look at the most important things to learn from Ryan Day, Denzel Burke, Emeka Egbuka and Jack Sawyer as they preview the 2024 season. They also touch on the new era of Big Ten football with the conference now featuring 18 teams. Plus a conversation about what the expected minimum number of expected College Football Playoff teams the Big Ten should have annually.

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What a video game says about Ohio State football’s quarterback battle Jul 19, 2024

This episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you by three guys in their mid-to-late-20s who were brought back a little bit of joy in their lives.

EA Sports College Football 25 has arrived once again allowing a generation of video gamers to play with their favorite college football players. Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis take this opportunity to share their thoughts on the game, where the developers got things right and which Ohio State football players may not yet be featured.

Plus a sort of serious conversation about the future of the business of college sports. And a completely unserious conversation about what the game means for OSU's quarterback battle.

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Are Ohio State’s safeties on the verge of achieving an elusive goal? Jul 18, 2024

The 2024 season is right around the corner as Ohio State enters a pivotal year of the Ryan Day era.

It’s the perfect time to set a tone and discuss what Day has accomplished as head coach, using that to project what the future holds, especially in a season where OSU has clearly pushed all its chips into the middle of the table. In doing so, we at Buckeye Talk will spend the next two weeks breaking down the program position by position looking at its past, present and future under Day.

Up next, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the safeties as Matt Guerrieri tasks over the position.

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Does Ohio State's cornerback revival mean 'BIA' is back for good? Jul 17, 2024

The 2024 season is right around the corner as Ohio State enters a pivotal year of the Ryan Day era.

It’s the perfect time to set a tone and discuss what Day has accomplished as head coach, using that to project what the future holds, especially in a season where OSU has clearly pushed all its chips into the middle of the table. In doing so, we at Buckeye Talk will spend the next two weeks breaking down the program position by position looking at its past, present and future under Day.

Up next, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss Tim Walton and the cornerbacks.

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Why Ohio State's latest potential home run coaching hire is so important Jul 16, 2024

The 2024 season is right around the corner as Ohio State enters a pivotal year of the Ryan Day era.

It’s the perfect time to set a tone and discuss what Day has accomplished as head coach, using that to project what the future holds, especially in a season where OSU has clearly pushed all its chips into the middle of the table. In doing so, we at Buckeye Talk will spend the next two weeks breaking down the program position by position looking at its past, present and future under Day.

Up next, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis talk linebackers as former three-time All-Ameerican James Laurinaitis takes over.

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A productive 2024 and what a loaded recruiting class says about the future of Ohio State's defensive line coach Jul 15, 2024

The 2024 season is right around the corner as Ohio State enters a pivotal year of the Ryan Day era.

It’s the perfect time to set a tone and discuss what Day has accomplished as head coach, using that to project what the future holds, especially in a season where OSU has clearly pushed all its chips into the middle of the table. In doing so, we at Buckeye Talk will spend the next two weeks breaking down the program position by position looking at its past, present and future under Day.

Up next, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the defensive line and the war Larry Johnson continues to fight.

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Can Ohio State's offensive line make a statement, setting up a brighter future? Jul 12, 2024

The 2024 season is right around the corner as Ohio State enters a pivotal year of the Ryan Day era.

It’s the perfect time to set a tone and discuss what Day has accomplished as head coach, using that to project what the future holds, especially in a season where OSU has clearly pushed all its chips into the middle of the table. In doing so, we at Buckeye Talk will spend the next two weeks breaking down the program position by position looking at its past, present and future under Day.

Up next, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the offensive line and the statement Justin Frye must make.

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Following an explosive season for Ohio State’s tight ends, what’s next? Jul 11, 2024

The 2024 season is right around the corner a Ohio State enters a pivotal year of the Ryan Day era.

It’s the perfect time to set a tone and discuss what Day has accomplished as head coach, using that to project what the future holds, especially in a season where OSU has clearly pushed all its chips into the middle of the table. In doing so, we at Buckeye Talk will spend the next two weeks breaking down the program position by position looking at its past, present and future under Day.

Up next, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss Keen Bailey and the safeties.

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Is the best of Ohio State's historic wide receiver run still to come? Jul 10, 2024

The 2024 season is right around the corner as Ohio State enters a pivotal year of the Ryan Day era.

It’s the perfect time to set a tone and discuss what Day has accomplished as head coach, using that to project what the future holds, especially in a season where OSU has clearly pushed all its chips into the middle of the table. In doing so, we at Buckeye Talk will spend the next two weeks breaking down the program position by position looking at its past, present and future under Day.

Up next, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis talk wide receivers and Brian Hartline’s run.

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What the past tells us about the challenge ahead for Ohio State's new running back coach Jul 09, 2024

The 2024 season is right around the corner as Ohio State enters a pivotal year of the Ryan Day era.

It’s the perfect time to set a tone and discuss what Day has accomplished as head coach, using that to project what the future holds, especially in a season where OSU has clearly pushed all its chips into the middle of the table. In doing so, we at Buckeye Talk will spend the next two weeks breaking down the program position by position looking at its past, present and future under Day.

Up next, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss running back as Carlos Locklyn takes over as the new position coach.

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Is Ohio State prepared to defend its quarterback status in a new Big Ten? Jul 08, 2024

The 2024 season is right around the corner as Ohio State enters a pivotal year of the Ryan Day era.

It's the perfect time to set a tone and discuss what Day has accomplished as head coach, using that to project what the future holds, especially in a season where OSU has clearly pushed all its chips into the middle of the table. In doing so, we at Buckeye Talk will spend the next two weeks breaking down the program position by position looking at its past, present and future under Day.

Up first, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss quarterbacks and how a change in standard dictates how we talk about the group.

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Comparing the Big Ten vs. the SEC and a new member to the Ohio State football coverage team Jul 01, 2024

A new era of Buckeye Talk has officially arrived.

Stephen Means is joined by the newest member of the show Stefan Krajisnik as they share their excitement and discuss his background in covering college sports. Then the conversation shifts to the SEC and how teams view Ohio State as a prominent program in the North, the new 12-team College Football Playoff and other various topics related to Ohio State football.

Get to know Stefan as the Buckeye Talk crew prepares for a new era of college football with a new era of your favorite podcast.

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A run of commits, in-state recruiting and who could be Ohio State football’s next commit? Jun 26, 2024

Commitment season is upon us and Ohio State seems to be taking full advantage of it having watched its 2025 recruiting class grow significantly and it might not be done.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss at OSU’s latest successes. Among includes more success in Alabama thanks to Nick Saban’s retirement, a few cool in-state recruiting stories of perseverance and a look at who could be next up to join the top-ranked class. Plus a discussion of whether Ohio State is trending in the wrong direction in search of a third running back commit.

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Previewing Ohio State football’s final week of June 2025 official visitors Jun 21, 2024

It’s Week 3 of official visit season for Ohio State, meaning another group of important 2025 targets will be on campus.

This first weekend features 11 players with five-star recruits Devin Sanchez, Na'eem Offord and Tavien St. Clair plus four-star Nate Roberts headlining as the commits. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss them all.

The two discuss the importance of the visits, what they could potentially bring to the class and how many of the seven undecided they would need to land to make this a successful second weekend eventually.

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Is Ohio State on the verge of signing its largest recruiting class ever under Ryan Day? Jun 20, 2024

Five months after taking a first shot at predicting Ohio State's 2025 recruiting class, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis are here to update it.

A lot has changed since that first prediction in February with new options emerging while others may be fading into the background. We're six months away from Signing Day and it seems the OSU is on pace to sign its largest class of the Ryan Day era to replenish a roster expected to see a significant number of players leave after the 2024 season. On this episode, Stephen and Andrew look at where Andrew was right and wrong the first time, then look forward to his 2025 class prediction 2.0.

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A 5-star offensive wrinkle and Ohio State’s ongoing recruiting momentum Jun 19, 2024

Ryan Day teased at the idea of Caleb Downs potentially playing some running back for Ohio State in 2024 and so of course we had to talk about it.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis explore whether Downs' offensive usage is a realistic thing to expect or just a good idea in the middle of the summer. One person decides to have some fun with it. The other chooses the boring route.

Plus, views from OSU's second 7-on-7 camp featuring a few important 2025 recruiting targes with looming decisions.

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Two new commits and breaking down Ohio State football’s final June recruiting camp Jun 18, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the most interesting things observed and heard at Ohio State's final June recruiting camp.

The two discuss four-star running back Bo Jackson choosing to come work with Carlos Locklyn a week after joining the 2025 recruiting class. Then discuss the potential of five-star wide receiver Chris Henry as the top player in the 2026 class. Plus a conversation about where OSU turns for a 20206 quarterback to following five-star Dia Bell's Texas commitment.

But first, they analyze the latest 2025 commitments in four-star wide receiver Quincy Porter and three-star running back Isaiah West.

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Can Ohio State’s latest 5-star add to its quarterback legacy at Elite 11? Buckeye Talk podcast Jun 17, 2024

Ohio State has quite a history with the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback competition and will try to add to that this week.

There have been 11 players who've gone on to be Buckeyes who had the opportunity to succeed in the competition by earning the honor. Five-star 2025 commit Tavien St. Clair will look to join them. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis look back on OSU's Elite 11 success, what St. Clair can accomplish and his chances of wining MVP

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Previewing Ohio State football’s third week of 2025 official visitors Jun 14, 2024

It’s Week 3 of official visit season for Ohio State meaning another group of important 2025 targets will be on campus.

This first weekend features 11 players with four-star recruits Carter Lowe and London Merritt headlining as the lone commits. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss them all.

The two discuss the importance of the visits, what they could potentially bring to the class and how many of the seven undecided they would need to land to make this a successful second weekend eventually.

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Inside Ohio State football’s third June 2024 recruiting camp Jun 12, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the most interesting things observed and heard at Ohio State's third June recruiting camp.

The two discuss OSU five-star quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair showing up for the second time this summer and what he had to say about his development. Then they talk about two 2026 quarterbacks who camped Tuesday as Ohio State shifts its focus to that class. Plus a few other noteworthy players in attendance.

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Inside Ohio State football's second June recruiting camp Jun 10, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the most interesting things observed and heard at Ohio State's second June recruiting camp.

The two discuss OSU's two 2025 commits in five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair and four-star tight end Nate Robert. But after they discuss a four-star recruit in the 2026 class who used an impressive day to not only earn an offer but perhaps market he beginning of a potential great story.

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A 5-star target and previewing Ohio State football’s second weekend of official visitors for the 2025 recruiting class Jun 07, 2024

It’s Week 2 of official visit season for Ohio State meaning another group of important 2025 targets will be on campus.

This first weekend features 10 players with four-star recruits De and DeShawn Stewart headlining as the lone commits. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss them all.

The two discuss the importance of the visits, what they could potentially bring to the class and how many of the seven undecided they would need to land to make this a successful second weekend eventually.

But first a conversation about 2026 five-star defensive lineman Jahkeim Stewart who was at OSU’s second June camp and how realistic they think it is for him to one day end up in Columbus.

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Inside Ohio State football's first June recruiting camp Jun 06, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the most interesting things observed and heard at Ohio State's first June recruiting camp.

They look at which recruits may have earned an offer after an impressive first day which ranges from rising senior offensive in the 2025 class to speedy wide receivers in the 2027 class going into their second year of high school. They even discuss the lone five-star who was in town and could be the answer to its safety drought on the recruiting trail.

But first, a conversation about the newest member of OSU’s 2025 recruiting class, four-star running back Bo Jackson.

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Ryan Day's son, renovating the Woody and should Ohio State run up the score more? Jun 05, 2024

This Friday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions.

Among the Ohio State topics discussed by Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis:

Can an elite defense impact a team's offensive aggressiveness?
Changing the recruiting calendar
Ryan Day's son as a quarterback prospect
Which walk-ons would you give a scholarship to in 2024?
Renovating the Woody Hayes Athletic Center
Should OSU run up the score more?
Michigan's potential backslide.

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Previewing Ohio State football's 2024 recruiting camps schedule and what to expect Jun 04, 2024

The conversation revolves around the upcoming camp week for Ohio State, focusing on the recruitment process and the evaluation of high school athletes.

Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the value of this period for building relationships, identifying new talent, and making offers to potential recruits. The conversation covers a range of topics related to Ohio State football, including early offers to young players, the upcoming camp season, and the vision for recruiting and player development. It also delves into specific players and their potential impact on the team. The discussion provides insights into the coaching staff, the recruitment process, and the ongoing evaluation of talent.

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Chip Kelly, Jeremiah Smith and 6 other impactful newcomers to the Big Ten Jun 03, 2024

There is a ton of new in the Big Ten as the conference heads into a new era.

It's gotten rid of divisions opening up the possibilities for the conference championships game. It's also expanded its team total to 18. That expansion mixed with a few highly-rated freshmen, big-time transfers and some coaching hires has brought a ton of new faces to the conference as well.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis take a look at some of the most impactful newcomers to the Big Ten which includes a few people inside the Ohio State football program.

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Previewing Ohio State football’s first weekend of official visitors for the 2025 recruiting class May 31, 2024

It’s officially official visit season and Ohio State is set to host its first group of 2025 targets.

This first weekend features 10 players with four-star recruits TJ Alford and DeShawn Stewart headlining as the lone commits. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss them all.

The two discuss the importance of the visit, what they could potentially bring to the class and how many of the eight undecided they would need to land to make this a successful first weekend eventually.

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Ohio State's 7 transfer portal additions and what it says about its 2024 offensive line May 30, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State's transfer portal activity, focusing on the players brought in, their impact on the team, and the decision-making process behind the transfers.

It also delves into evaluating the offensive line and the significance of not adding more transfers. The discussion provides insights into the team's strategy, player development, and overall confidence in the offensive line for the upcoming season. The conversation covers an in-depth analysis of Ohio State's offensive line and its performance against top teams. It also delves into the impact of the transfer portal on Ohio State's roster, including the addition of key players and the overall grade for the transfer portal activity

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A decommitment, two 5-star targets and where Ohio State's recruiting stands heading into the summer May 29, 2024

On this latest episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis catch up on what’s been happening on the recruiting trail for Ohio State.

It’s been about three weeks since the last deep dive into the 2025 class which ranks second nationally. Since then, the Buckeyes suffered a third commitment and a second from a cornerback. It’s also seen another highly-rated wide receiver target reopen his recruitment just as he's set to take his official visit to Columbus.

Stephen and Andrew discuss at all the latest recruiting news and it impacts OSU heading into the summer as it hopes to continue putting together yet another elite class.

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A final goodbye and reflecting on Ohio State football’s first five years of the Ryan Day era May 28, 2024

This Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk is a bittersweet one as we take a break from discussing Ohio State football.

After five years, Nathan Baird is leaving us to head back to Indiana to cover Purdue. So he and Stephen Means spend the next hour reflecting on the past five seasons covering the early stages of the Ryan Day era. They look at the high moments, the low moments and take questions from the Subtext subscribers.

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A new era of the Ohio State-Michigan game and how fans value it going forward May 24, 2024

The Game has fundamentally changed forever.

No longer does the Ohio State-Michigan game hold so much weight regarding either team's football future. But that doesn't change the fact that it's still the biggest rivalry in sports. But does it change how fans will view the consequences of any potential loss?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis explore that idea alongside the Subtext subscribers.

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Ranking the top 20 players in the 2024 Ohio State-Michigan game May 23, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird, Andrew Gillis and Jimmy Watkins continue with Day 4 of May-chigan week.

The quartet used this episode to rank the 20 best players taking part on the 2024 Ohio State-Michigan game. As they make their way through the list, they discuss the lopsided reality of how many Buckeyes are on the list in comparison to Wolverines and what that could mean come the final week of the season.

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Ohio State, Michigan and the fundamental difference that separates their approach to building a contender May 22, 2024

Ohio State and Michigan take very different approaches to putting together a college football roster.

Stars matter to one program as it's constantly sitting near the top of the recruiting rankings. The other relies on the diamonds in the rough often overlooked in those same rankings. On paper, it's clear which approach should result in a national title, but it's the other approach that's gotten the job done not only in The Game the last three years but on the national stage in 2023.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis explore why by looking a the contrasting styles, then discuss where they might collide in the future

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Could Ohio State football's 2024 roster have beaten Michigan's 2023 national championship team? May 21, 2024

Last season Michigan put together an uber-experienced roster hoping to maximize its championship window and now Ohio State is doing the same hoping for a similar result.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird, Andrew Gillis and Jimmy Watkins take a look at the Wolverines' 2023 roster and decide whether OSU's 2024 roster could beat the team that beat it 30-24 last season in this hypothetical conversation.

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Ohio State-Michigan: Who needs to win the 2024 version of The Game more? May 20, 2024

It is officially ‘May-chigan Week’ as we are six months away from the 2024 Ohio State-Michigan game which heads into a new era.

The College Football Playoff has expanded forever changing the stakes of The Game in terms of the consequences for winning and losing. But the cultural impact remains as the Wolverines enter Year 1 under Sherrone Moore and OSU enters Year 6 under Ryan Day.

On this episode of BUckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and rivalry reporter Jimmy Watkins explore how these two teams reached what might be the most pivotal game for both sides in quite some time. Most importantly, the trio answers the most important questions this far away from the Nov. 30 game, which team would a win in 2024 mean more to?

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What Ryan Day's only Michigan win says about how Ohio State could approach The Game in 2024 May 17, 2024

Ryan Day’s introduction to the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry as a head coach resulted in success in such a way that he even publicly admitted gave him a feeling of relief.

Back in 2019, OSU got a 56-27 win in Ann Arbor that suggested its dominance in the rivalry would continue into the Day era while Jim Harbaugh was the coach who couldn't get over the hump. Now here we are five years later and oh, how things have changed.

On this episode of Buckeye Talks Stephen Means and Nathan Baird look back at the game discussing a different time in the OSU-Michigan dynamic. As they run through their typical ReTalkable category, they also take a chance to use this game as a potential guideline for how the 2024 game could potentially play out as Day looks to get back in the win column.

Plus, Nathan has an announcement about his future.

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How much longer could Ryan Day's Ohio State head coaching tenure realistically be? May 16, 2024

This Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions.

Among the Ohio State topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis:

Could OSU have two 1,000-yard running backs in 2024?
How long will Chip Kelly be at Ohio State?
Which non-staters could have a big impact in 2024?
Could Ryan Day realistically be in Columbus for another decade?

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Which former Ohio State football player of the Ryan Day era would you add to the 2024 roster? May 15, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss adding former players to Ohio State football's 2024 roster.

The trio analyzes the potential impact of these additions and discusses the current roster's strengths and weaknesses. Then they select players who once played for Ryan Day's OSU program who could instantly fill a potential hole on the 2024 team. Each selects three players the first two picks both being quarterbacks. But which former Day quarterback is the better fit for what this year's offensive makeup is?

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9 most dangerous people on Ohio State football’s 2024 national championship path May 14, 2024

In this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the most dangerous opponents on Ohio State's path to winning a national title in 2024.

They rank the potential threats, including coaches, players, and teams. They identify several coaches and players from opposing teams who could pose a challenge to the Buckeyes.

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Evaluating the quality of Ohio State football’s recruiting classes in the Ryan Day era May 13, 2024

Ohio State has signed five recruiting classes since Ryan Day took over the program each having things to be excited about.

But what should we think of them years later now that players have gotten on the field?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break down Day's recruiting classes trying to figure out if the way we viewed them on Signing Day held up years later. Which classes lived up to the hype? Did any overachieve? And what it says about Day's program.

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Why Gene Smith is leaving Ohio State football with one final gift on his way to retirement May 10, 2024

As Gene Smith enters his final days as Ohio State's athletic director, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird decided to sit down with him for an hour-long conversation.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, the two recap the enlightening conversation. They cover everything from Smith's background, his decisions as athletic director and how he's setting up OSU's athletic department for the future. Plus a look at how Smith views Ryan Day's first five years as the Buckeyes' head coach and why they went 'all-in' on the 2024 season.

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6 Ohio State football records in jeopardy of being broken in 2024 May 09, 2024

In this episode of Buckeye Talk, the hosts discuss Ohio State football records and potential records that could be broken in the 2024 season.

OSU has already broken its fair share of both individual and team records since Ryan Day took over the program in 2019 and a few more may be on the table this season. After looking back at some of those records, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look ahead to what could be the longest season in school history and predict a few that could potentially fall.

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A surprise 5-star visit and the most impactful Ohio State recruits of the Ryan Daye era May 08, 2024

Oho State got a surprise visit from David Sanders Jr. over the weekend as it continues to quickly build momentum for the five-star offensive lineman.

Landing the nation’s No. 2 player and top tackle would not only be a major win for OSU’s 2025 recruiting class but would also be the type of recruiting win it’s long hoped to get from offensive line coach Justin Frye ever since he was hired in 2022. Its impact would sit among some of the other high-level wins during the Ryan Day era, at least at first glance.

On this episode of Bucikeye talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis look at what the most impactful wins of the Day era — 2019-present — have been. then they decide whether a potential win in the Sanders recruitment — which has gone from longshot to real possibility — could join that list someday.

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Revealing the most valuable person to Ohio State football's 2024 national title hopes May 07, 2024

It’s the five most valuable Ohio State Buckeyes for the 2024 football season on this Thursday Buckeye Talk.

They run through the top five, which includes both coaches and players and hits both offense and defense. They covered the Buckeyes ranked 10 through six on Monday.

Players and coaches are combined in this ranking, and it’s not a best-of list. It’s value. It’s importance.

Stephen, Nathan, Andrew and the Ohio State text subscribers each ranked their top 20 Buckeyes, and the lists were then combined to rank this top 10.

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Ranking the top 10 most value people to Ohio State football’s championship hope May 06, 2024

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis begin to unveil their rankings of the 10 most valuable Buckeyes to Ohio State football's 2024 season.

This podcast covers the players who just missed the top 10, plus Nos. 10 through six. The top five will be discussed on Tuesday.

Players and coaches are combined in this ranking, and it’s not a best-of list. It’s value. It’s importance.

Stephen, Nathan, Andrew and the Ohio State text subscribers each ranked their top 20 Buckeyes, and the lists were then combined to rank this top 10.

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Seven Ohio State transfers and what a still loaded quarterback room says about the program May 02, 2024

The second transfer portal window wasn't quite as explosive for Ohio State football as the first as it only lost seven players none being players considered to win a starting role this season.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down OSU's roster retention heading into the summer and whether there is any impact to the few losses. Then the trio has a conversation about the Buckeyes holding on to all four scholarship quarterbacks and what that says about the mentality of the room and the type of recruit who'd signed up to be part of something like that.

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Justin Hill, Eli Lee and a 4-star running back recruit who feels burned by Ohio State football May 01, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the latest developments in Ohio State football recruiting.

Andrew spent his Sunday up in Canton, Ohio, attending the Under Armour Camp Series where he spoke with OSU commit Eli Lee along with targets Justin Hill, Bo Jackson, Talyn Taylor and Marquise Davis. The Buckeyes seemed to be still in the running for each of these players and potentially sitting in the lead. But has the door already shut on one thanks to the departure of an assistant coach?

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How may Ohio State players will go in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft? Apr 30, 2024

The 2024 NFL Draft is now in the review mirror as we focus on a 2025 class sure to be filled with Ohio State football players following a year where only four were drafted.

The Buckeyes had only one first-round pick this spring, but could they be on the verge of not only setting a program record, but the national record in 2025? On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis explore the 2025 NFL Draft and project the number of first-round picks OSU could have.

They also compare the program's NFL Draft development to when Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer were in charge to see whether Ryan Day is already ahead of the curve. Plus, predicting when Ohio State will surpass 100 first-round draft picks.

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What Ohio State football's small 2024 NFL Draft class tells us about the potential fireworks on the way Apr 28, 2024

The 2024 NFL Draft is over, and on this Buckeye Talk episode, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird wrap up the final picks for Ohio State.

OSU just experienced its smallest draft number in over a decade, but could it come with a silver lining? Following a year where only four players heard their name called — of the nine hoping to — the program could be gearing up for fireworks in 2025 with one more thing to check off over the next year.

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What Ohio State football's latest first-round NFL Draft pick says about its future Apr 26, 2024

For the third straight year, Ohio State football has produced a first-round NFL Draft pick.

Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave started the trend in 2022 followed by Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2023. Now Marvin Harrion Jr. has joined them going higher than an OSU wide receiver has ever gone as the No. 4 pick to the Arizona Cardinals.

Harrison will join Paris Johnson Jr. as Buckeyes-turned-Cardinals first-round picks giving Kyler Murray a true No. 1 wide receiver. He also serves as a historic accomplishment for Brian Hartline’s wide receiver room. A room that might not even be close to being done putting out first-rounders.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break down what Harrison being drafted means for the program, what Arizona is getting and what could be coming down the line. Plus a reaction to the final time J.J. McCarthy could show Ryan Day up for picking Kyle McCord over him as Ohio State’s future quarterback.

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Predicting where Marvin Harrison Jr. and other Ohio State Buckeyes will be picked in the 2024 NFL Draft Apr 25, 2024

The 2024 NFL Draft has arrived with a few Ohio State football players expected to be taken over the next three days.

That means it's time for our annual Buckeye Talk NFL Draft prediction pod. OSU has nine players in this year's draft and Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis reveal how many of those players will hear their name's called.

Then they wrap things up by looking forward at a 2025 class which explains why the number in 2024 is so low.

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NFL Draft first round mock: We make all 32 picks Apr 24, 2024

The NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night and we're getting you ready with a full first round mock draft.

For the third year in a row, the Orange and Brown Talk and Buckeye Talk crews got together and made every pick in the first round. Nathan Baird, Tim Bielik, Andrew Gillis, Dan Labbe, Stephen Means and Jimmy Watkins were all assigned teams and they worked their way through the first 32 picks, making trades and filling needs along the way.

While the first pick was a no-brainer, things got interesting after that and included discussions on Justin Fields in Pittsburgh and which Buckeyes player could be the first to go in their class next year.

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Is Ohio State football’s 2025 recruiting class on the verge of making history? Apr 24, 2024

Ohio State football's 2025 recruiting class is currently the number one class in the country with 13 commits, including three five-star recruits as it’s gotten off to a hot start.

But the question is whether it’s on track to reach heights that the Buckeyes have only reached one other time by making history. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis map out what would need to happen for the 2025 class to match the success of the 2021 class. That class featured 24 players, with seven being five-stars and seven others being top 100 recruits as the nation’s No. 2 class behind Alabama.

But first, a conversation about OSU’s latest representation at the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback competition.

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Ranking Ohio State football’s 12 best NFL Draft prospects Apr 23, 2024

Ohio State football's 2024 roster is littered with future NFL prospects and the same can be said of the players in its recruiting classes.

But which one is the best of them all?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis search through the roster along with the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes to rank the best future prospects. The rankings are done regardless of the potential draft class each player could be apart of.

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Evaluating Ohio State football’s NFL Draft development success under Ryan Day Apr 22, 2024

The 2024 NF Draft is just days away with Ohio State expecting to again be well-represented potentially on all three days, but how good has it been at ensuring that happens annually?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the program's ability to develop draft picks since Ryan Day took over as head coach. They evaluate the position groups and assign them star ratings based on their success in producing draft picks. The rankings were based on the number of draft picks and the overall success of those picks.

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NIL’s impact, Jeremiah Smith and what Ohio State football’s summer schedule looks like Apr 19, 2024

This Friday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions.

Among the Ohio State topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis:

Has NIL impacted the way freshmen athletes interact with the media and build their personal brands?
Real life doppelgängers.
Which football players could make the basketball team?
Comparing Jeremiah Smith to other versions of great OSU wide receivers.
What the summer months look like for the current roster
Could a dominant defense hold the offense back?
How good would Ohio State be if it had to start its second-string defense all season?

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Why Ohio State football fans should care about Michigan's spring game Apr 18, 2024

This episode of Buckeye Talk is all about getting to know thy enemy, which matters when discussing the greatest rivalry in sports.

Ohio State closed out its spring session last week with the first nationally televised spring game, and now Michigan is set to become the second on Saturday. In preparation, Stephen Means is joined by Jimmy Watkins as the two discuss what's going on in Ann Arbor as the Wolverines embark on a new era under Sherrone Moore.

Plus, an unnecessarily long conversation about why JJ McCarthy was the perfect OSU villain and how Michigan plans to follow that up.

Lastly, they look at the reasons why the Wolverines could still be a threat in 2024.

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An Ohio State stock watch, two early transfers and who should be the 2024 starting quarterback Apr 17, 2024

This Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions.

Among the topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis:

The impact of Ohio State's first two losses to the post-spring transfer portal window.
Players and people within the OSU athletic department they’d love to interview knowing they’d get 100% honesty.
Which position group would they buy stock in?
What are their favorite sports teams and how they became passionate about them?
Is the defensive line’s success more about its upside or problems with the offensive line?
Who would they start at quarterback if it were up to them?

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Two new commits and Ohio State’s most important positions left on the recruiting board Apr 16, 2024

Ohio State's 2025 recruiting class is off to a strong start, and its class added two more members over the weekend.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis break down OSU’s latest commitments and what they bring to the program. Then the two look ahead for a class featuring 13 commits and sitting in the top spot in the recruiting rankings.

While Ohio State has started great, it's far from finished putting together its 2025 class. As it heads into the next few months where recruiting in the only priority, the two look at what are the most important needs still left on the board.

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Ohio State spring game rewatch and pending roster moves Apr 15, 2024

This Monday episode of Buckeye Talk features a rewatch of Ohio State's 2024 spring game.

Stephen Means and Nathan Baird look back at the performances of quarterbacks Will Howard, Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, Julian Sayin and Air Noland looking at how they played and what comes next. Plus a transfer portal conversation on how many quarterbacks they think will still be on the roster in the fall.

Then a conversation about the bevy of options Jim Knowles and the defense previewed and whether they think OSU needs to find another offensive lineman in the transfer portal

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What Ohio State’s spring game revealed about its quarterback battle, dominant defense and 2024 season Apr 13, 2024

Ohio State wrapped up Phase One of its quest for a national title with the spring game providing a first public look at its 2024 roster.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down where OSU stands following the spring and what they saw in the game. They start with a discussion on the quarterback battle between Will Howard and Devin Brown and which player is in the lead heading into the summer. Then they look at the other three quarterbacks involved.

After the break, they discuss the offensive line as the only significant question mark on offense heading into the summer. Then they wrap things up with a glowing review of the defense led by a secondary who spent the afternoon getting the better of the wide receivers.

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Jeremiah Smith, a quarterback battle and everything else Ohio State should showcase in the Spring Game Apr 12, 2024

Ohio State will wrap up its spring practice schedule on Saturday with the 2024 Spring Game providing fans the first chance to see its roster.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means takes rants from the Subtext subscribers on everything they want to see from the Buckeyes on Saturday. That list includes everything from what the quarterbacks look like, the development of the offensive line freshman Jeremiah Smith and even a few thoughts on what OSU can do to add to the game's environment.

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Could a true freshman win Ohio State’s starting quarterback job? Apr 11, 2024

Is a third player beginning to emerge as a candidate to win Ohio State football's starting quarterback job?

Ryan Day spoke highly of Julian Sayin as the five-star has turned heads since he arrived as a transfer from Alabama. So on this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means asks Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis to follow him into his hypothetical world and map out what it would look like for him to beat out Will Howard and Devin Brown to win the job.

But first, the three give their initial impressions on new running backs coach Carlos Locklyn along with a discussion about the potential post0spring attrition OSU could see in the transfer portal.

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Ohio State 2024 spring game draft: Putting together the best starting defense Apr 10, 2024

Everyone is healthy and ready to play Saturday in Ohio Stadium in this version of an Ohio State spring game draft from Buckeye Talk.

There are two full 22-player teams to be drafted, and Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis go head-to-head with their selections while Stephen Means moderates. With so many options on both sides of the ball, we’re splitting things up and doing just the starting 11 on defense.

This should tell you something about the 2024 Buckeyes with spring football winding down, it should help get you ready for Saturday, plus drafts are always fun.

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Ohio State 2024 spring game draft: Putting together the best starting offense Apr 09, 2024

Everyone is healthy and ready to play Saturday in Ohio Stadium in this version of an Ohio State spring game draft from Buckeye Talk.

There are two full 22-player teams to be drafted, and Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis go head-to-head with their selections while Stephen Means moderates. With so many options on both sides of the ball, we’re splitting things up and doing just the starting 11 on offense.

This should tell you something about the 2024 Buckeyes with spring football winding down, it should help get you ready for Saturday, plus drafts are always fun.

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Previewing Ohio State football's recruiting visitors for the 2024 Spring Game Apr 08, 2024

Ohio State's gearing up for its 2024 Spring Game, and there are several important players visiting campus.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis take a look at the visitor list for the final practice of the spring session. The two discuss who Andrew thinks are the most important or most interesting people expected to. be in Columbus and why.

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Ohio State's linebacker rotation, safety depth and how Caleb Downs feels about so-called Alabama rumors Apr 04, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State football's linebackers, safeties and running backs.

They discuss the possibility of rotating four or five linebackers during the season and the challenges of finding the right combination of players. They also talk about the transition of Caleb Downs to Ohio State and his commitment to staying with the team. The conversation highlights the importance of building depth at safety and mentions several players who could contribute to that position. Plus what the running backs think of new coach Carlos Locklynn on his first day and offensive lineman Joshua Simmons going through his first full offseason at OSU.

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What Ohio State's recent recruiting success says about the potential of its 2025 class Apr 03, 2024

Ohio State football's 2025 recruiting class is off to a strong start, with 11 commits, including seven top 100 players.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the latest commitments in four-star defensive lineman Lononn Merrit, four-star linebacker TJ Alford, four-star wide receiver De’zie Jones and four-star safety DeShawn Stewart.

They also discuss recent three-star safety Cody Haddad’s decommitment from Wisconsin and what that could mean for OSU. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the significance of early commitments and the importance of landing big recruits to maintain a strong recruiting class.

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Ryan Day’s new running back coach and if Ohio State’s offensive line is already set Apr 02, 2024

Ohio State has finally found a replacement for Tony Alford following his departure for Michigan with Carlos Locklyn taking over as the new running backs coach.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Biard and Andrew Gillis explore Locklynn’s background and coaching career, as well as the potential impact he could have on the team. They also delve into the challenges of recruiting running backs in the 2025 class and the importance of maintaining a strong running back room. Additionally, they analyze the projected starting offensive line

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Inside Ohio State football’s eighth spring practice and the true freshman who stole the show Mar 30, 2024

Ohio State invited its student body to get a sneak preview of its 2024 football team for spring practice No. 6 and Buckeye Talk is here to tell you what happened.

Stephen Means, Natha Baird and Andrew Gillis analyze the hierarchy of the quarterbacks, with Devin Brown and Will Howard emerging as the top two contenders. They also discuss the performance of freshman quarterback Julian Sayin and his potential impact in the future.

Then they shift their attention to the offensive line, noting that while the defensive line had a strong performance, there were signs of improvement compared to last year. They discuss the potential starting lineup and the importance of cohesion among the offensive linemen. The episode concludes with a hyperbolic conversation about five-star freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith before wrapping things up with Stephen’s theory on what the offensive philosophy could be this fall.

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Crucial spring for Ohio State tight end, defensive line depth Mar 29, 2024

Ohio State lost its best tight end and one of its top defensive tackles to the NFL Draft. The Buckeyes have candidates to replace both, though this spring will answer a lot of questions. Nathan and Andrew discuss what they heard from tight ends, defensive tackles and defensive ends after Ohio State's seventh practice of the spring.

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What three vital decisions mean for Ohio State football’s recruiting efforts: Buckeye Talk Podcast Mar 28, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State football's 2025 recruiting class.

They start by discussing the implications of losing four-star wide receiver Jayvan Boggs and who the other potential targets are. Then they discuss where OSU pivots to next after losing out on its top 2026 quarterback target Jared Curtis who committed to Georgia over the weekend. Then they wrap things up by previewing the decision of four-star linebacker TJ Alford and the Buckeyes’ chances of landing him.

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Larry Johnson, Keenan Bailey and Ohio State football's depth at two key positions Mar 27, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew discuss Ohio State football's tight and defensive line positions.

They highlight the different vibes from the defensive line coach and the tight ends coach when discussing their position groups. While one group seems to be confident about its options heading into a 2024 season where OSU could play as many as 17 games, the other is still trying to figure out how to replace the production of a two-year starter, who's off to the NFL.

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Brian Hartline, Jeremiah Smith and a discussion about Ohio State football’s 2024 wide receiver room Mar 25, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss the wide receiver room at Ohio State.

They compare the current group to the 2022 wide receiver room and highlight the confidence Brian Hartline has in the young players. They also discuss the importance of culture and mental toughness in the wide receiver room. The conversation touches on Bryson Rogers’ decision to return to Ohio State and the potential breakout seasons of Brandon Innis and Carnell Tate. They also discuss the impact of Chip Kelly’s presence on Brian Hartline and his development as a coach.

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C.J. Hicks, Sonny Styles and how Ohio State's cornerbacks are challenging the wide receivers Mar 22, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss the back seven of Ohio State's defense.

The discussion highlights the cross-training and position flexibility of players like Sonny Styles and CJ Hicks. The depth and competition in the linebacker room are explored, as well as the handling of expectations and the development of CJ Hicks. The conversation also delves into the competition between cornerbacks and wide receivers, and the impact of Jim Knowles’ defensive scheme and the talent at Ohio State.

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What Ohio State football’s Pro Day revealed about its 2024 quarterback battle Mar 21, 2024

Ohio State's 2024 Pro Day for the NFL Draft featured a smaller list of participants than most would've expected a year ago, with Marvin Harrison Jr. choosing not to participate in the draft process.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Harrison's approach and speculate on his potential draft position. They also analyze the quarterbacks' performance at Pro Day even if Will Howard and Devin Brown weren't the players being evaluated by NFL scouts. Plus a conversation about OSU's star defensive ends and which one could end up going higher in the 2025 NFL Draft.

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Replacing Tony Alford and Ryan Day’s new approach to Ohio State’s special teams Mar 20, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird, and Andrew Gillis discuss Ryan Day’s first interview since Tony Alford’s departure as Ohio State’s running backs coach.

They analyze Day’s demeanor and approach to the situation, emphasizing the need to move forward and focus on finding a replacement. The conversation also delves into the importance of recruiting and player development for the running back position. The hosts speculate on the timeline for hiring a new coach and discuss potential candidates.

They also provide updates on the offensive line battle and the depth at the tight end position. The episode concludes with a discussion on Day’s special teams discussion with a former Ohio State coach.

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What Ohio State’s new basketball coaching hire could tell us about the future of the football program Mar 19, 2024

Jake Diebler was hired as the Ohio State basketball team’s head coach after closing out the season in an interim role

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss incoming athletic director Ross Bjork’s decision to hire Diebeler and how it impacts the program’s future. They also discuss whether Bjork’s decision was the best possible choice and if the way he came to this decision tells us anything about how he would handle having to one day hire a new football coach.

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What non-Buckeye would you add to Ohio State football's 2024 roster? Mar 18, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss adding players to the Ohio State football's roster.

The trio analyzes the potential impact of these additions and discusses the current roster's strengths and weaknesses. They each select one player from outside the roster to add to the team on both offense and defense. The offensive selections include an offensive lineman, a tight end, and a quarterback. While the defensive sections include two defensive linemen and a linebacker.

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Mapping out Ohio State basketball's improbable path to the NCAA Tournament Mar 15, 2024

The Ohio State basketball team is in the middle of turning around its season after firing Chris Holtmann with interim coach Jake Diebler leading the way.

That means it's time for a rants pod here on Buckeye Talk.

On this episode, Stephen Means takes some thoughts from Subtext subscribers to talk about the most pressing issues around OSU's hoops team. He also takes a look at what it might take for a team that's suddenly built momentum to sneak its way into the NCAA Tournament.

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How the loss of Tony Alford impacts Ohio State football’s running back room Mar 13, 2024

Michigan's hiring of Tony Alford as their run game coordinator and running back coach has caused a stir in the Ohio State football realm.

Alford's departure from Ohio State after nine years was unexpected, especially during spring practice. While it is not unprecedented for coaches to leave for rival teams, the timing and the personal impact on the players make it significant. The departure raises questions about the future of Ohio State's running back room and the need for a replacement. Ryan Day has options for finding a new running back coach, and the decision-making process will be crucial.

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A new commit and ranking the most important states to Ohio State's recruiting efforts Mar 13, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew discuss the most important states for Ohio State in terms of recruiting.

They start by talking about the changing landscape of college football and the criteria they used to create the list. They then count down the top five states. They discuss the impact of the expanding playoff and the national nature of college football on recruiting strategies. Finally, they touch on the potential impact of West Coast schools entering the Big Ten.

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Does Ohio State have a challenger for quarterback supremacy in the Big Ten? Mar 12, 2024

The conversation focuses on the quarterback situations in the Big Ten, particularly at Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and USC. It is noted that many teams in the conference have new starting quarterbacks, and the discussion revolves around the potential impact of these quarterbacks on their respective teams. The conversation also touches on the importance of quarterback play in relation to the overall talent on the roster and the strength of the defense. Overall, the discussion highlights the uncertainty and potential for change in the quarterback landscape in the Big Ten. The conversation focuses on evaluating the quarterbacks in the Big Ten conference and the uncertainty surrounding some teams. The discussion covers the performances and potential of quarterbacks like Drew Allar at Penn State, Dylan Raiola at Nebraska, and the quarterback situation at Michigan. The conversation also explores the changing landscape of college football and the potential impact on quarterback recruiting in the Big Ten. Overall, the middle class of quarterbacks in the conference has improved, narrowing the gap between Ohio State and the rest of the teams.

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Denzel Burke, Jeremiah Smith and a discussion about Ohio State’s best position group Mar 11, 2024

In this episode, the hosts discuss updates on various Ohio State football players, including Lathan Ransom's injury and recovery. They also delve into the relationship between the cornerback and wide receiver rooms, highlighting the competitiveness and growth of the cornerback group. The conversation then shifts to comparing the two position groups and the strength of the cornerback room. The hosts also discuss the development of freshman starters and the expectations surrounding Jeremiah Smith. The conversation revolves around setting expectations for Jeremiah Smith, building depth at defensive tackle, and the mindset of the Ohio State defense.

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Devin Brown's growth, Jim Knowles' ideas and inside Ohio State’s second spring practice Mar 08, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State's spring practice and the performance of the quarterbacks. They also highlight the impact of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and his innovative ideas for the defense.

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Will Howard, Sonny Styles and which new Ohio State player loses his black stripe first Mar 07, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis answer questions from Subtext subscribers on Ohio State football.

Among the things discussed:

Could Sonny Styles and CJ Hicks be on the field as linebackers at the same time?
What’s more when putting together a defeensive game plan: matchups or having tour best 11 on the field?
Who are Ohio State’s potential team captains for the 2024 season?
Which newcomer will lose his black stripe first?
If Will Howard has the type of season Bo Nix had for Oregon this past season, will Ohio State win the national championship?

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Ryan Day, Chip Kelly and inside Ohio State’s first spring practice Mar 06, 2024

Ohio State's first day of spring practice focused on the quarterback situation and the defensive changes. Devin Brown showed promise, but Will Howard is expected to be the starting quarterback. Sonny Styles made a position change to linebacker, which seems permanent. The offensive line configuration featured Luke Montgomery at guard, emphasizing athleticism. Chip Kelly's role as quarterbacks coach and his relationship with Ryan Day were discussed. The importance of competitive periods and performance in spring practice was highlighted. The conversation covers various topics related to the Ohio State football team, including the offensive line and run game, the wide receiver position, the physical readiness of young players, and the importance of the quarterback position.

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Will Howard, Devin Brown and previewing the start of Ohio State football's spring session Mar 05, 2024

Spring football has begun at Ohio State, and the focus is on the quarterback situation.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis preview the start of spring practice based on conversations with OSU's top three quarterbacks and three returning offensive starters. Among the things discussed:

The quarterback competition at Ohio State is heating up, with Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and Will Howard all vying for the starting position.
Brown is determined to prove himself and is not backing down from the competition, while Keenholz is focused on his long-term development.
Howard, a transfer from Kansas State, is expected to be the starting quarterback, but Brown is looking to make it an interesting competition.
There is a shift in the dynamics of the quarterback room, with Ryan Day stepping back and Chip Kelly taking on a more prominent role.

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NFL combine Day 2 and Ohio State football’s top 5 position battles of the spring Mar 01, 2024

This episode of Buckeye Talk is once again split up into two parts, bringing together both Ohio State football's recent history and its present.

Things start off with Stephen Means and Nathan Baird talking about the second day of interviews at the NFL Combine featuring Cade Stover and Josh Proctor. Each player had interesting careers, taking the long route to the pros. Stover began his career as a linebacker, moved to defensive end then flirted with linebacker one more time before settling in as a tight end where he became the most productive player at the position potentially ever. Proctor arrived with all the potential in the world in 2018 but various situations turned what could’ve been a three-and-done career into one lasting six years for the safety.

Then Andrew Gillis subs in for Nathan as he and Stephen discuss the six most important position battles of the spring. Some of those are quite

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Day One from the NFL Combine and projecting Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class 1.0 Feb 29, 2024

This episode of Buckeye Talk is split up into two parts bringing together both Ohio State football's recent history and its future.

Things start off with Stephen Means and Nathan Baird talking about the first day of interviews at the NFL Combine discussing what Steele Chambers, Tommy Eichenberg and Michael Hall Jr. had to say. Each looks back at their time as Buckeyes with Hall revealing why it was a no-brainer for him to join Marvin Harrison Jr. as the only third-year players not to return in 2024. Chambers and Eichenberg discuss the future of the OSU linebacker room led by James Laurinaitis.

Then Andrew Gillis subs in for Nathan and he and Stephen take their first crack at projecting OSU's 2025 recruiting class leading to an interesting discussion. This first of three projections over the next nine months features one of the highest-rated classes of the Ryan Day era but comes with a few surprises.

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Faheem Delane, Blake Woodby and Ohio State's potential recruiting success in a Big Ten territory Feb 28, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the latest updates in Ohio State recruiting focusing on its efforts in the Maryland and Washington DC area.

The conversation centers around five-star safety Faheem Delane whom Andrew went to see last week to get an update on his status. They discuss how the recent coaching changes may have impacted his recruitment and what a potential timeline for a decision looks like.

The two also discuss four-star cornerback commit Blake Woodby plus a few other potential targets in the region.

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Marvin Harrison Jr., Cade Stover and an Ohio State NFL Combine preview Feb 27, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State’s eight players invited to the NFL Combine.

Among the things talked about

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s decision not to participate in drills in Indianapolis and how that impacts — or doesn’t impact — his draft status.
Who are the most interesting Buckeys other than Harrison this week?
Which Ohio State player can turn some heads in Indianapolis?
Michigan got 18 invites to the combine this year. Can OSU surpass that in 2025?

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Ranking Ohio State football's top 15 'do your job' players in 2024 Feb 26, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis rank Ohio State football's top 15 players based on their ability to do their job.

This isn't a discussion about talent, upside or any of the other typical ways to figure out who the Buckeyes' best players are. This is simply about what the tape tells us. In doing so it reveals a stark detail about this team heading into 2024 and a conclusion of what needs to happen for OSU to compete for a national title.

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Sonny Styles, Ohio State's defense and mapping out the 2024 quarterback battle Feb 23, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis answer questions from the Subtext subscribers.

Among the questions discussed:

Could Sonny Styles be a positionless player for Ohio State's 2024 defense?
Who can make the most of the NFL Combine?
How many points will the Buckeyes give up in the first four weeks of the season?
What we need to see from OSU’s offense this spring.

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The 9 most interesting Ohio State football players heading into spring practice Feb 22, 2024

On this Thursday episode of BUckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look ahead to the start of Ohio State spring football practice.

To do that, they are drafting the nine Buckeyes that intrigue them the most for spring, from early-enrolled freshmen, to veterans battling for jobs, to players who might be ready to take a step toward stardom.

There will be a lot of OSU coverage from the NFL Combine next week, but spring practice will start before you know it. So let’s get ready now.

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C.J. Hicks, Sonny Styles and what two new assistant coaches bring to Ohio State’s defense Feb 21, 2024

In this conversation, Andrew Gillis and Stephen Means discuss the recent coaching changes at Ohio State.

They focus on the introduction of James Laurinaitis as the linebackers coach and Matt Guerrieri as the safeties coach. They explore Laurinaitis' process of transitioning from a graduate assistant to a full-time coach and the expectations for CJ Hicks in the linebacker room. They also discuss Guerrieri's reunion with Jim Knowles and the familiarity he brings to the safety room. Plus a conversation on where Sonny Styles could end up between linebacker and safety.

Also, they do this while switching up the dynamic with Andrew hosting since technically Stephen was the only one there.

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8 Ohio State football players that could've been on the cover of a video game Feb 20, 2024

A college football video game is headed back into stores for the first time in over a decade with different football programs getting in on the promotion.

In the wake of the news, Ohio State football was among the numerous teams to create a concept for the game's cover featuring elite players from the last decade. That sparked this episode of Buckeye Talk where Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss which OSU players could've made a case for being on the cover at any point since the game's last edition in 2013.

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What James Laurinaitis’ promotion means and the biggest threats to Ohio State’s 2024 national title hopes Feb 19, 2024

Ryan Day has finally finished off Ohio State football's 2024 coaching staff by promoting James Laurinaitis from graduate assistant to full-time assistant coach.

Doing so gives the former three-time All-American full reign over the linebacker position just a year after returning to the program. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what that means for the Buckeyes going forward.

Then the trio gets into the meat of what this episode of Buckeye Talk is all about.

OSU has a roster made to win the first national title of the Ryan Day era. But what are the biggest obstacles both within and outside the program that could prevent it from doing so?

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TreVeyon Henderson, Will Howard and a conversation about Ohio State's 2024 defense Feb 15, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis answer questions from the Subtext subscribers.

Among the questions discussed:

The 5+7 model for the college football playoff is being discussed and there is a vote scheduled to approve it.
What sporting events they would cover if they could go back in time.
Ranking the best running backs in Ohio State history.
Who will be the offensive and defensive MVPs in 2024?
Who's the fasted Buckeye?
The art of asking questions during press conferences.

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How firing Chris Holtmann impacts Ohio State basketball Feb 14, 2024

Ohio State is moving on from Chris Holtmann as its basketball coach opting to fire him despite having four years still left on a contract extension signed in 2022.

Despite the remaining years, the decision doesn’t come as a surprise as the Buckeyes are in the midst of yet another disappointing season that looks destined for them to end on the outside of the NCAA Tournament. Ripping off the band-aid now starts the process of current athletic director Gene Smith and incoming athletic director Ross Bjork finding his replacement.

On this emergency episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break down this decision and what it means for OSU basketball.

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Chip Kelly's recruiting impact and the 5 most important undecided Ohio State football targets Feb 14, 2024

Ohio State continues to put together its 2025 recruiting class which ranks fourth nationally with eight commits including two from five-star recruits,

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis explore five of the most important targets left on the board and what landing them would say about the program. They also have a quick conversation about new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and his potential impact on OSU's quarterback recruiting efforts.

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What Chip Kelly brings to Ohio State's 2024 offense: Buckeye Talk Podcast Feb 13, 2024

Ryan Day pivoted to Chip Kelly as Ohio State's offensive coordinator after losing Bill O'Brien and he might have found the perfect fit.

The Buckeyes' offensive personnel features plenty of players Kelly has been known to maximize in the past across multiple places in college football. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis explore the impact of Kelly as Ohio State's offensive coordinator and the potential changes to the run game.

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How Ryan Day hiring Chip Kelly as Ohio State's new offensive coordinator impacts the Buckeyes Feb 09, 2024

Ryan Day worked quickly to find a replacement for Bill O'Brien when Ohio State's new offensive coordinator left for Boston College three weeks after getting the job.

The abrupt change provided a chance for Day to come full circle in his coaching career as he is expected to bring in Chip Kelly from UCLA. The two have a long-standing relationship with Kelly being Day's offensive coordinator at New Hampshire, then hiring him onto his staff at multiple stops. Now Day's former mentor is expected to head to Columbus to take over the offense at a time when Day feels it's necessary to step away from playcalling.

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis take a look at the new hire and its impact on Ohio State.

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What Bill O'Brien's departure means for Ohio State football Feb 09, 2024

Ryan Day hired Bill O'Brien to run Ohio State football's offense and now O'Brien is walking away just a month after getting to Columbus.

Choosing to hand the offense over to someone else was a significant step in Day's growth as a head coach. He admitted it wasn't something he wanted to do, but would have to do for the sake of the program. He thought he'd found the perfect person to hand things off to in O'Brien. But now he'll have to find a Plan B.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the impact of O'Brien's departure and where OSU turns to news to find an offensive coordinator.

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Where Ohio State, Michigan and the new Big Ten teams rank in the college football hierarchy Feb 09, 2024

Before the 2020 season the Buckeye Talk crew took the time to map out the college football landscape and where Ohio State fit into it.

Doing so led to a deep discussion about the tiers of the sport in deciding which teams have realistic championship expectations, who could never dream of having those and everyone else in between. A lot has changed since then (even the makeup of the Buckeye Talk pod). All of that change made this the perfect time to update that list as the sport heads into a 12-team College Football Playoff and two conferences have started bringing many of the sports national powers.

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look at all 69 Power Five programs in the 'Tiers Pod 2.0' as the sport heads into a new era.

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A new signee, Ryan Day’s quarterback plan and handling the potential departure of Bill O’Brien Feb 08, 2024

A Wednesday press conference was supposed to be Ryan Day's first chance of 2024 to talk about all of the good things happening around the Ohio State football program over the past month or so.

Instead thanks to a recent job opening at Boston College, it turned into a day filled with questions on whether Day would have to go out and make a decision about the future of his program that he already wasn't completely excited to do. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss Bill O'Brien being potential departure just weeks after being hired as OSU's offensive coordinator. They also talk about why Day chose that now was the perfect time to give up playcalling, a position battle on the right side of the offensive line and what the quarterback battle could look like.

Then Stephen and Andrew Gillis talk about Dominic Kirks as the only player in the Buckeyes' 2024 recruiting class who was still unsigned heading into this week.

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Evaluating Ryan Day and the evolution of his coaching staffs at Ohio State Feb 07, 2024

Ryan Day is entering his sixth season as Ohio State football's head coach and his coaching staff has seen a ton of turnover through the years.

He's still relatively young in terms of head coaching experience but these years have shown how Day likes to go about building a staff and where his philosophy is potentially evolving. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look at Day's hiring practices and what it says about his ability to do that part of the head coaching job.

The discussion highlights the difference in building his offensive and defensive staff in a mix of successful and unsuccessful hires, with some coaches being retained and others being promoted from within. The offensive coaching staff has seen more stability, while the defensive coaching staff has experienced more turnover.

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Does Ohio State's 2024 defense have as much NFL talent as Georgia's 2021 defense? Feb 06, 2024

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis answer questions from the Subtext subscribers.

Among the questions discussed:

How should Ohio State deploy a coaching staff in a world where you're allowed to have 15 people?
Which freshman quarterback is a better fit for the Buckeyes' offense;
What it takes to be a good recruiter and why Tim Walton and Brian Hartline have been so successful;
How the Buckeyes' 2024 defense stacks up against Georgia's unit in 2021;
Why Signing Day still matters.

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9 ways to fix college football Feb 05, 2024

College football is in this weird place right now where a lot is going on and all of it is happening on top of each other.

It's what happens when you try to combine a multi-billion dollar sport with the traditional standards of academia. It needs to be fixed and in this hypothetical scenario, Buckeye Talk has been tasked with fixing it.

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis try to fix the sport by each giving the three things they'd change if they were put in charge of college football.

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Ohio State, Michigan and a unique way to rank the Big Ten 2024 hierarchy Feb 02, 2024

The Big Ten is expanding to 18 teams which means 17 teams are standing in the way of Ohio State's goals of winning the conference in 2024.

As a way to figure out the conference’s new hierarchy, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis use this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk to discuss the new-look conference in a way inspired by a question from one of out Subtext subscribers:

‘Can we get a big ten power rankings but explained in terms of fast food?’

This episode gets a little weird but in the best way possible. It’s a pod about football, in a nonsensical fashion, which has always been at the heart of what Buckeye Talk is supposed to be.

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3 things Ohio State can accomplish on the recruiting trail heading into spring Feb 01, 2024

In this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the most important things Ohio State needs to do on the recruiting trail for its 2025 class.

Among those topics is a conversation about the defensive line and offensive line recruiting. Plus a discussion on the health of OSU's NIL situation and how the 2024 roster provides proof of that.

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Caleb Downs, Will Howard and why 5 new transfer chose Ohio State Jan 31, 2024

In this episode of Buckeye Talk, the hosts discuss the recent interviews with new Ohio State players.

Among the things Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss

Why Will Howard’s role as a runner at Ohio State may be different from his time at Kansas State, as he emphasized his development as a pocket passer;
Why Quinshon Judkins chose Ohio State and pairing with TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield;
Seth McLaughlin on his snapping issues last season and the coaching staff’s plan to address them;
What influenced Caleb Downs’ decision to transfer to Ohio State after leaving Alabama and;
How Howard handled his first public appearance as an Ohio State quarterback.

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8 Ohio State football players with something to gain this offseason Jan 30, 2024

Winter works are in full swing as Ohio State prepares for the 2024 football season.

The Buckeyes are bringing back a ton of talent on offense and defense while also making some key additions in the transfer portal. But the offseason is just as much about young guys looking to turn heads in a way that eventually turns into something on the field.

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis take a look at some of those players. This isn’t a conversation about the already-established stars of the team. But instead one about a few players that can use this winter and spring to gain something important. Whether it pays off in 2024, or in laters seasons.

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A new commitment, a postponed decision and what Tavien St. Clair thinks of Ohio State's new offensive coordinator Jan 29, 2024

Ohio State's 2025 recruiting class has been busy in recent weeks as it starts to rack up the commitments.

But many of those lately have come on defense which has been a positive change of pace. Now it seems the offense is getting in on the actions with a commitment from fou-star offensive lineman Carter Lowe.

On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss what Lowe brings to the class plus a bevy of other happenings in the recruiting world for OSU.

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Projecting Ohio State football’s 2024 offensive starters 1.0 Jan 26, 2024

Ohio State failed to live up to the standard that had been set in the Ryan Day era offensively even with what Marvin Harrison Jr. achieved.

That resulted in making a few changes at key positions mixed with a few returns from guys who probably came into the season expecting it to be their last. That combination makes for an interesting offseason featuring a few position battles and a few more interesting questions across the board.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis project the offensive starters.

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Projecting Ohio State football’s 2024 defensive starters 1.0 Jan 25, 2024

Ohio State is bringing back practically every major piece from one of the nation's best defenses while also bringing in a major addition by way of the transfer portal.

As the Buckeyes head into winter workouts and prepare for the 2024 season, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use this episode to dive into what things may look like. That starts by looking into Nathan's projected depth chart and using it to have a deeper conversation about a unit that might give defensive coordinator Jim Knowles more options than he's ever had.

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Why Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan departure impacts Ohio State football Jan 25, 2024

Jim Harbaugh was hired in 2015 to fix Michigan and flip the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry back in the Wolverine’s favor and now he’s gone nine years later able to say the mission was successful.

Harbaugh leaves Ann Arbor with an 86–25 record (60–17 Big Ten), three conference titles, a 3-5 record against the Buckeyes and a national title. But those championships and rivalry wins all happened over the past three years just as the program was starting to hit its stride.

Now he’s gone and that can be viewed as both positive and negative for OSU.

On this emergency episode of Buckey Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Harbaugh’s decision and what it means for Ohio State.

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C.J. Stroud, the return of a video game and Ohio State football's 2024 expectations Jan 24, 2024

This episode of Buckeye Talk provides a chance for a rapid-fire pod as Ohio State continues to work through the early stages of the offseason.

Among the questions from Subtext subscribers discussed:

Who's a former player we drove the bus for early and were right?
Could Alabama suffer the same fate as other former dynasties following Nick Saban's retirement?
Did Ohio State fail C.J. Stroud?
How many OSU players will have a rating of at least 90 when the new college football video game comes out this summer?
What will the pod look like as we head into the offseason?

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Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and a conversation about Ohio State's up coming quarterback battle Jan 23, 2024

Ohio State enters a 2024 spring with five quarterbacks on its roster in what will be the most interesting offseason the position's seen under Ryan Day.

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis try to make sense of what things could look like. The conversation covers everything from what they think the hierarchy will be on Day 1, what the rep distribution could look like and the potential outcomes of trying to manage a room with five different personalities.

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How adding Julian Sayin impacts Ohio State football’s quarterback room Jan 21, 2024

Ohio State continues to put together an impressive offseason while setting up the most interesting quarterback situation in the country.

The Buckeyes had already pulled in Kansas State's Will Howard as a transfer to join a room-returning Devin Brown and Lincoln Kienholz while also singing five-star Air Noland. Now Noland won't be the only five-star freshman joining the room this spring as OSU has added Julian Sayin as well. Saying started his career at Alabama but Nick Saban's retirement opened the door for the nation's top quarterback to explore his options. Now he'll join safety Caleb Downs and center Seth McLaughlin as Crimson Tide players that have transferred to OSU.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the impact of this move and what it can mean for the future of the position at Ohio State.

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Buckeye Talk emergency pod: What landing Caleb Downs in the transfer portal means to Ohio State football Jan 20, 2024

Ohio State just landed the best available player in the transfer portal and added him to a defense that was already trending toward being historical.

The fight for Caleb once he left Alabama following Nick Saban's retirement came down to the Buckeyes and Georgia and heading into the end of the week it felt like the Bulldogs were in the lead. But then a few OSU coaches took a trip down to his home in Georgia to see the former five-star safety and did just enough to keep that from happening. Now a player it once finished second for on the recruiting trail, is finally calling Columbus his home.

On this emergency episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the impact of Caleb Downs' decision.

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Devin Sanchez, Caleb Downs and why Ohio State's defensive recruiting is off to such a hot start Jan 19, 2024

Ohio State's 2025 recruiting class currently sits fifth nationally with most of that weight being carried by its defense.

That’s a much different place than we’ve grown accustomed to seeing in Columbus under Ryan Day where it’s typically taken some time for defensive recruits to jump aboard while the offense thrives. But coming off a year where OSU had arguably the nation’s top defense, it now has proof of what it can be when talking to the nation’s top recruits.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the early success on the recruiting trail. Plus, a discussion on Alabama transfers Caleb Downs and Kadyn Proctor and the potential value each would bring to the Buckeyes if they were to come.

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Buckeye Talk emergency pod: What hiring a new offensive coordinator says about Ryan Day and Ohio State football’s 2024 season Jan 19, 2024

Ryan Day is entering a new phase of his career as Ohio State football's head coach as he's chosen to give up play-calling duties after five seasons.

Day has decided to bring in Bill O'Brien as OSU's new offensive coordinator with all the responsibilities that come with that job title. That includes play-calling, overseeing the offensive gameplan and running the quarterback room.

This is one of the most pivotal decisions Day has made during his tenure and on this emergency episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down why.

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Ohio State’s new athletic director, president and how a potential new mindset impacts the football program Jan 18, 2024

Ohio State's new athletic director Ross Bjork spoke publicly for the first time following his hiring and left quite an impression.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis gives their reactions to Bjork, OSU president Ted Carteer and the direction the athletic department could be headed in under their new leadership. Are the Buckeyes preparing for a more aggressive approach to attacking a constantly changing landscape of college sports? PLus, what does Bjorj thing of football head coach Ryan Day?

That and more on this latest episode. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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The 9 most important things that have happened since Ohio State's loss to Michigan Jan 16, 2024

A ton has happened since Ohio State's season essentially ended following a 30-24 loss to Michigan.

Some of it has been positive, some of it negative and some of it indifferent. But it all has an impact on where OSU could be headed in 2024 as it hopes to end its losing streak to the Wolverines and end ten Big Ten title drought. It'll do so while also entering a new era of college football with the 12-team playoff.

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss all of those things and which ones are the most important to Ohio State.

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How we did on our Mark It Down Monday predictions for Ohio State's 2023 season Jan 15, 2024

Ohio State finished its season with an 11-2 record and a loss to Michigan for the third straight year while also failing to make the College Football Playoff for the second time of the Ryan Day era.

The disappointing finish sent the Buckeyes into the offseason with a different vibe understanding that numerous changes needed to be on the horizon. On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis revisit their Mark It Down Monday statistical leaders prediction episode from last summer.

Once again injuries got in the way of some predictions while others were done so by pleasant surprises on both offense and defense.

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James Laurinaitis, Ryan Day and how Ohio State could take advantage of Nick Saban’s retirement Jan 12, 2024

Another Friday episode of Buckeye Talk provides a chance for a rapid-fire pod as Ohio State continues to work through the early stages of the offseason.

Among the questions from Subtext subscribers discussed:

Could Nick Saban's retirement be a good thing for Ohio State?
Would Alabama and Ryan Day hypothetically make a good fit?
Would Dan Lanning be a bigger threat staying at Oregon or if he would've replaced Saban at Alabama?
A preview of a future conversation about the updated tiers of college football.

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Ohio State's new assistant coach and what a potential program-changing decision says about Ryan Day Jan 11, 2024

Ryan Day has made his second and third alterations to Ohio State's coaching staff in what could be a major makeover to the 10-man group.

After choosing not to retain Perry Eliano as safeties coach, Day has brought Matt Guerrieri who originally followed Jim Knowles to Columbus as a graduate assistant in 2022 before leaving to help coordinate Indiana's defense in 2023. Now he returns as a full-time assistant coach. Plus Parker Fleming has officially been fired after another lackluster year from the special teams.

After that, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look at an offensive coaching staff that might be on the verge of its first major overhaul of the Day era. A pivotal change may be brewing and it says something about Day's growth as a head coach.

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How Michigan’s national championship impacts Ohio State football Jan 10, 2024

Ohio State is now living in a world where its rival Michigan is the reigning national champion.

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis explore that reality and its impact on the program. But the question going forward is whether this harsh truth will be short-lived as the Wolverines enter a potentially pivotal offseason of their own.

Ryan Day is busy trying to find the right mixture of coaches while putting together a roster capable of ending a three-game losing streak in The Game. Michigan is just trying to figure out what its next steps are as it could lose its coach and a large portion of its most important players while still possibly waiting for further punishment for a sign-stealing scandal that was revealed during the season.

That plus a conversation about OSU’s later transfer running back Quinshon Judkins, who announced his commitment just minutes after the National Championship Game concluded.

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Ryan Day's first staff change, a couple of opt-ins and a potential transfer running back target Jan 09, 2024

Ryan Day is expected to make significant changes to his coaching staff following Ohio State football third straight Michigan loss and the first one has been revealed.

Day has decided not to retain safeties coach Perry Eliano whose contract expires after the 2023 season. This is expected to be the first of a few moves.

While Day continues to figure out his 2024 staff, his 2024 roster is also still coming together as a few more players decided to return putting off the NFL for another year. Plus, Could the Buckeyes be in the market for a running back who spent the last two seasons running for 1,000-plus yards in the SEC?

On this Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss all of that. Thanks for listening.

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A deep dive into Will Howard and what he brings to Ohio State’s quarterback room Jan 07, 2024

Ohio State has added a fourth quarterback to its 2024 roster in Will Howard by way of the transfer portal.

Howard spent the first four years of his career at Kansas State as a multi-season starter completing 58.8% of his passes for 5,786 yards and 48 touchdowns. He led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship in 2022 and is coming off his best statistical season in 2023. Now he’ll join a room in Columbus where the future was in question as the player now considered the front-runner to be the starter.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look at the transfer quarterback from every angle. They’ll evaluate his career at Kansas State through the lens of some of his best games then discuss how he fits into Ohio State’s offense and what things could look like with him under center.

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Projecting Ohio State football’s 2024 defense starters Jan 05, 2024

The calendar year has turned and the Ohio State football program has shifted its focus toward preparing for the 2024 season.

The defense took significant strides in 2023 and could be in a prime position to build on that success going forward depending on the decision of a handful of players eligible for the NFL Draft

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what that unit could look like in 2024.

The trio go through all 11 spots and decide whether they think the potential starter is already on the roster or could be eventually occupied by someone OSU gets from the transfer portal.

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Buckeye Talk emergency pod: How Will Howard's transfer impact Ohio State's 2024 quarterback room Jan 05, 2024

For the second time in the Ryan Day era, Ohio State has brought in a quarterback from the transfer portal with the idea that he could one day be its starter.

Day's first transfer quarterback was Justin Fields from Georgia in 2019, now he's brought in Will Howard from Kansas State to join a battle that will include Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and five-star freshman Air Noland.

On this emergency episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down the addition of Howard and how it impacts OSU's quarterback room. Plus a look at Day and what a decision like this could be signaling in how Day is approaching a vital offseason.

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Projecting Ohio State football’s 2024 offensive starters Jan 04, 2024

The calendar year has turned and Ohio State has shifted its focus toward preparing for the 2024 season.

Offensively that could mean spending the next five months making drastic improvements to a unit that didn't play up to standard for the first time under Ryan Day. On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what personnel changes could be coming because of that reality.

The trio go through all 11 spots and decide whether they think the potential starter for that spot is already on the roster or could be eventually occupied by someone OSU gets from the transfer portal.

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Evaluating Ryan Day and the state of the Ohio State football program heading into a new era of college football Jan 03, 2024

We're almost a week removed from Ohio State ending its season with a loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl while its rival Michigan is preparing to play in a National Championship Game against Washington, which also joins the Big Ten next year.

It's a new world to live in where a fan base isn't completely confident in what the future will look like heading into Year 6 under Ryan Day. On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis provide a space for the Subtext subscriber to express how they feel about the future of the program using four distinct questions:

How do you feel about the direction of Ohio State under Ryan Day?
How do you feel about Ohio State's chances of winning an expanded Big Ten next season?
Watching Michigan and Washington play for a national title next week makes me feel
What should Ohio State's bare minimum College Football Playoff performance be going forward?

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An NFL decision, transfer portal news and how Michigan’s national title game impacts Ohio State football Jan 02, 2024

A lot has happened since Ohio State closed out its season with a 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gilliss are here to break it all down. Among the topics discussed:

How Michael Hall Jr. declaring for the NFL Draft impacts OSU;
Expectations for Ohio tight end transfer Will Kacmarek;
Looking at the losses of Bryson Rodgers and Noah Rogers to the transfer portal and the state of the wide receiver room;
Who will replace Jesse Mirco after the punter entered the transfer portal and;
Reacting to Michigan and Washington reaching the National Championship Game and what it means for Ohio State’s standing as it enters Big Ten expansion and a 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024.

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Reacting to Ohio State’s 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl and what’s next Dec 30, 2023

Ohio State is ending its season with an 11-2 record for the third-straight season and a second-straight year.

It’s also the second straight season where the Buckeyes head into the offseason coming off back-to-back losses one being to your rival and the other an SEC school. Only this time a 14-3 loss to Missouri may sting a little bit more given what they now must head not the offseason dealing with.

On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis react to the loss and where OSU goes from here.

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Previewing Ohio State’s game against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl: Dec 29, 2023

Ohio State will close out the 2023 season with a game against Missouri in what will be the third time in the past four years that its final game will be against an SEC opponent.

Only this time that game won't come in the College Football Playoff instead as just the second time of the Ryan Day era. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis give their final thoughts on the Cotton Bowl by discussing two big-picture targets:

What can this game mean for Devin Brown and OSU’s quarterback situation?
How does a win or a loss impact a program looking for reasons to have optimism?

Then Tyler Shoemaker joins the pod as usual to provide some of the best bets of the Cotton Bowl and a few other games left to be played this bowl season. Then Nathan and Andrew rejoin Stephen as the trio gives their game picks.

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What’s up with TreVeyon Henderson, Cade Stover and Ohio State’s offensive prep for the Cotton Bowl? Dec 27, 2023

Ohio State is in Dallas, Texas, preparing to face Missouri in the Cotton Bowl to close out the regular season and revealed it’ll have two important members of its offense.

Treveyon Henderson and Cade Stover state that both will play on Friday. For Stover, it’s a chance to end a college career that began as a linebacker, then a defensive end before settling in at tight end where he became a John Mackey Award finalist. For Henderson, all that remains it figuring out what he will do after the game as another member of a 2021 recruiting class that has a decision to make after the season on whether he will head off for the NFL or be back in 2024.

After that, OSU offensive coordinator Brian spoke with the media along with a handful of defensive players. On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what Nathan saw and heard in Dallas.

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What’s up with Marvin Harrison Jr., Denzel Burke and Ohio State’s defensive prep for the Cotton Bowl? Dec 26, 2023

Ohio State is in Dallas, Texas, preparing to face Missouri in the Cotton Bowl to close out the regular season and may be without an important member of its offense.

A small portion of the Buckeyes' Tuesday practice was open to the media revealing that Marvin Harrison Jr., though in attendance is not actually participating in practicing hinting that his college career may be over. So far, he is the only Buckeye expected to opt out of the New Year's Six bowl game.

After that, OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles spoke with the media along wth a handful of defensive players. On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what Nathan saw and heard on down in Dallas heading into Friday.

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Grading Ohio State football’s 2023 coaching staff using Ryan Day’s criteria Dec 23, 2023

Ryan Day revealed his criteria when evaluating the jobs of Ohio State's coaching staff every year.

His evaluation comes down to how each assistant coach performs in three distinct categories/

Recruiting: “That’s the No. 1 thing. You’ve gotta recruit your position. You’re the head coach of your position. You’ve gotta make sure that room is strong year in and year out. We have a certain amount of depth at each position and then it’s your job to make sure that you have the best room in the country.”

Development: “How they perform on the field. What type of production are you getting out of your unit? A big part of that is the development. If you recruit really well and then you’re developing your players are usually going to get production.”

Scheme: “What do you bring schematically to the field? Are you putting your guys in a situation to be successful?”

Day is heading into a pivotal offseason in terms of how his staff is structured following a third-straight loss to Michigan. There will — or at least shout be —difficult conversations had. On this Saturday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use Day’s criteria to do their own evaluations on the staff giving each member a grade.

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Devin Brown, Carnell Tate and seven other Ohio State players to watch in the Cotton Bowl Dec 22, 2023

With Signing Day in the review, Ohio State shifts practically all of its focus on its matchup against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl to close out the 2023 season.

That game provides a chance to give an otherwise disappointing season a more positive ending. It’s also a chance to build momentum for 2024 plus the various other reasons why this game is so important. It’s why even a New Year’s Six bowl game that’s not part of the College Football Playoff can still have a ton of intrigue.

A few players have something to gain from the Dec. 29 game in Dallas, Texas. On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis take a look at who some of those players may be and what makes this game so important to both them and the program.

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Jeremiah Smith, Eddrick Houston and Ohio State football’s 2024 recruiting class Dec 21, 2023

Ohio State signed the nation's No.4 recruiting class nationally on a Signing Day that was anything but easygoing.

Ryan Day took the podium on Wednesday afternoon still unsure about arguably his two most important commits and the world got to see in real time how emotional getting good news can be.

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis recap Signing Day for the 2024 recruiting class looking at where OSU succeeded and potentially came up short. Plus a conversation about whether the class has a quarterback capable of starting as a true freshman.

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What's up with Larry Johnson, Ohio State's recruiting efforts and how it's approaching NIL? Dec 20, 2023

Signing Day has arrived as Ohio State looks to put the finishing touches on a 2024 recruiting class that sits second nationally.

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis will join the rest of the beat in speaking with head coach Ryan Day later this afternoon. Still, in the meantime, the trio uses a Wednesday Buckeye talk to answer a few questions from the Subtext subscribers:

Do stars still matter?
Is the recruiting tracking industry dead?
What's the deal with Ohio State's NIL situation?
Who's planning to enroll early?
Plus much more including a little Christmas talk.

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Breaking down the defensive commits in Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class Dec 19, 2023

Ohio State is on pace to sign the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class with a 2024 group that features 23 commits and five of them being five-star recruits.

Ryan Day will finally talk about that group publicly on Wednesday once they sign their Letters of Intent. On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis will look at the nine defensive players in the class and how they fit into the roster as a way to preview Signing Day.

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Breaking down the offensive commits in Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class Dec 18, 2023

Ohio State is on pace to sign the nation's No. 2 recruiting class with a 2024 group that features 23 commits and five of them being five-star recruits.

Ryan Day will finally talk about that group publicly on Wednesday once they sign their Letters of Intent. On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis will look at the 13 offensive players in the class and how they fit into the roster as a way to preview Signing Day.

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A look at Ohio State’s offense vs. Missouri’s defense in the Cotton Bowl Dec 15, 2023

Ohio State will close out its 2023 season by playing Missouri in the Cotton Bowl hoping to get something positive out of a year where it failed to make the College Football Playoff.

But it’ll have to do so against an opponent it doesn’t have a strong history against with this being just the 12th meeting between the two schools and the first since 1998. Basically, these two sides don’t know a ton about each other.

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down the Tigers’ defense and how they may try to stop OSU.

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A look at Ohio State’s defense vs. Missouri’s offense in the Cotton Bowl Dec 14, 2023

Ohio State will close out its 2023 season by playing Missouri in the Cotton Bowl hoping to get something positive out of a year where it failed to make the College Football Playoff.

But it’ll have to do so against an opponent it doesn’t have a strong history against with this being just the 12th meeting between the two schools and the first since 1998. Basically, these two sides don’t know a ton about each other.

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down the Tigers’ offense and how they may try to attack OSU.

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Emeka Egbuka, Denzel Burke and what Ohio State's roster will look like for the Cotton Bowl Dec 13, 2023

Ohio State is getting a big boost in the Cotton Bowl as some important players have decided that their college careers aren't over quite yet.

Multiple third-year players most thought would be off to the NFL after this season aren't ready to announce whether that will still be the case. On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis react to what Denzel Burke, Emeka Egbuka, Jordan Hancock, Donovan Jackson, Jack Sawyer and Tyleik Williams had to say about their status and the idea that maybe all of them could be back next season.

Plus a discussion about Devin Brown getting his chance to finally get his first start at quarterback.

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How should Ohio State State football attack the transfer portal this offseason? Dec 12, 2023

Transfer portal season continues around college football with more names seemingly going into it every day and Ohio State has seen its fair share as well.

But instead of focusing on who's leaving, on this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, we focus on who should be coming. OSU has some holes to fill this offseason and will need to be even more active in the transfer portal than in years before. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis take a look at Ohio State's roster and what positions are in need of portal help the most.

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Ohio State's mass number of transfers, Ryan Day's quarterback resume and a year of cinema Dec 11, 2023

This Monday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the Subtexter community askiing questions.

Among the topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis:

Who's still in Ohio State's running back room after a week of departures?
Was Kyle McCord's decision to transfer an overreaction on either side?
What matters more to Ryan Day's QB reputation between C.J. Stroud's NFL success and McCord's college shortcomings
Plus plenty more including what we thought were our favorite movies for 2023.

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A deep dive into Ohio State's Lincoln Kienholz and a special guest comes to visit Dec 08, 2023

Ohio State is entering its third quarterback battle of the Ryan Day era following the departure of Kyle McCord and two players are getting an early start.

Once again the battle features a third-year player looking to finally win the job and a second-year player getting his first shot at doing so. But is the scenario the exact same for Lincoln Kienholz as a player who's always been on a different development plan than we're used to seeing?

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look at the Kienholz what this offseason may look like. Can he do the impossible by somehow going from fourth in the pecking or to being at the head of the room? Or does the drastic change not impact his timeline at at?

After that lengthy discussion, a special guest joins the pod.

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A deep dive into Devin Brown and his case to be Ohio State's next starting quarterback Dec 07, 2023

Kyle McCord's departure has once again created a situation where Ohio State is once again looking for a starting quarterback in what will be the third battle of the Ryan Day era.

For two players, that battle started the moment McCord went into the transfer portal as they'll use the Cotton Bowl to start making a case to be the guy to replace him. For Devin Brown, that means going through a second-straight offseason where he's involved the battle though this time he'll do so as the oldest player in the room. At least with how things stand right now.

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look at the third-year quarterback from every angle starting with his recruitment and finishing with a discussion of why this is a significant offseason for him and the program.

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Jordan Seaton, a flurry of transfers and how a president's proposal potentially impacts Ohio State football Dec 06, 2023

Ohio State has started its preparation for its matchup with Missouri in the Cotton Bowl, but the focus seems to be on everything but for those outside of the program.

Whether it's the barrage of transfers leaving the program with the season essentially over, the need to still land some important piece on the recruiting trail with Signing Day approach or major subjects like NCAA preside Charlie Baker introducing proposals that could mean fundamental changes to the structure of Divison I sports.

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis get into all of those things. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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What Kyle McCord entering the transfer portal means for Ohio State’s quarterback room Dec 04, 2023

Kyle McCord spent one season as Ohio State's starting quarterback and now he's decided to enter the transfer portal.

The former five-star quarterback was once the first offensive player to commit to the Buckeyes with Ryan Day as their head coach spending his first two years in the program as C.J. Stroud's backup. Then he took over the starting role in 2023 leading them to an 11-1 record with the one loss being to Michigan. Overall he's 12-1 as a starting also stepping in for an injured Stroud in 2021 against Akron.

McCord is only the latest transfer for OSU, but he's also its most prominent as his departure leaves even more questions for Day to answer about a program that is sitting outside of the College Football Playoff. Is the guy who will replace McCord already on the roster, an incoming freshman or will there be a need to bring in a transfer as Ohio State goes through yet another quarterback battle this offseason?

On this emergency episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss all of that and more.

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The transfer portal, staff changes and how Ohio State will handle its quarterback situation in the Cotton Bowl Dec 04, 2023

Ryan Day spoke for the first time since Ohio State's third-straight loss to Michigan as he reacted to his team being selected to face Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.

That matchup with the Tigers was far from the most important topic of discussion. Day instead discusses the state of his quarterback room, how OSU may handle a bowl prep where his team could look very different on Dec. 29, potential staff turnover, the transfer portal and much more.

On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down everything Day had to say.

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Ohio State's All-Big Ten offense honors and what must happen for it to make the College Football Playoff Nov 30, 2023

Ohio State no longer controls its own postseason destiny, but that doesn't mean it can't still make the College Football Playoff.

As they did last season, the Buckeyes have positioned themselves to potentially make the postseason as a one-loss non-conference champion if a few dominoes fall in their favor this weekend.

After revealing which OSU offense players earned All-Big Ten honors, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis map out that path. A year ago it only needed one thing to happen. But this time it'll need help from various teams whether that be in the form of a few higher seeds taking care of business or a few lower causing a few upsets.

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Ohio State's All-Big Ten defensive honors, Ryan Day and a rant about Kyle McCord Nov 29, 2023

As Ohio State continues to wait to find out if it has any chance of making the College Football Playoff, its fan base awaits in limbo alongside it.

After revealing which OSU defensive players earned All-Big Ten honors, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis answer more questions from Texters in a rapid-fire episode of Buckeye Talk. Today's questions include:

• How many more times can Ryan Day lose to Michigan before he's on the hot seat?

• Which team was better between Ohio State's 2022 and 2023 rosters?

• A rant about a Kyle McCord quote being taken out of context

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Grading assistant coaches, another quarterback battle and how Ohio State should attack the transfer portal Nov 28, 2023

As Ohio State awaits to find out if it has any chance of making the College Football Playoff, its fan base awaits in limbo alongside of it.

In the meantime, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis answer questions from Texters in a rapid-fire episode of Buckeye Talk. Today's questions include:

• Grading the performances of Ohio State's assistant coachees

• Is Kyle McCord the unchallenged starter in 2024 and should he be?

• How should the Buckeyes attack the transfer portal this offseason?

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Breaking down why Ohio State lost a third-straight game to Michigan: Buckeye Talk Podcast Nov 27, 2023

Two days after watching Ohio State's 30-24 loss to Michigan, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird sit down to rewatch The Game and go through everything that went wrong.

And they literally go through everything as two used a Monday episode of Buckeye Talk to discuss a program that is now dealing with the reality of being on a three-game losing streak to its rival.

The first segment deals with Kyle McCord and whether they think his ceiling is high enough to eventually be the quarterback Ohio State needs him to be long-term. But the better question is whether he's capable of ever getting to that ceiling, at least during his time in Columbus as his flaws finally cost Ohio State a game.

Following the break they dive into everything Ryan Day. His playcalling, how he's handled the rivalry, his staff decisions and much more on a head coach heading into a career-defining offseason.

They wrap things up with some defensive talk and some thoughts on a wide receiver room that didn't quite live up to expectations this season.

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What Ohio State's third-straight loss to Michigan means for the program Nov 26, 2023

Ohio State has now lost three straight games to Michigan as it once again watched its season end at the hands of its rival.

So where does this program go now?

On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis react to the Buckeyes' 30-24 loss. That reaction includes a look into the psyche of the fanbase by way of the Texters in how they feel about a program that is now on the wrong side of the rivalry.

The trio also look at what this means for the program at large and the rest of the 2023 season give OSU's now-slim chances of making the College Football Playoff.

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Previewing Ohio State’s road game against Michigan Nov 24, 2023

The Game has finally arrived in what is yet another matchup between Ohio State and Michigan where both teams are undefeated.

Once again, this game will decide who heads to the Big Ten Championship Game next weekend and most likely locks up a spot in the College Football Playoff. It's also the final version of the rivalry game that will ever mean as much as it does this year. Plus some of the off-the-field drama only adds to the magnitude of the moment.

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis preview The Game from a football perspective.

Then Tyler Shoemaker joins the pod as usual to provide some of the best bets of the week both in relation to OSU and around the country. Then Nathan and Andrew rejoin Stephen as the trio gives their game picks. Plus some of the Texters give their best idea for what GameDay signs they would make.

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Ryan Day’s legacy, Jim Harbaugh and an Ohio State recruiting class’ last shot at beating Michigan Nov 22, 2023

This might be the biggest version of The Game that Ohio State and Michigan have ever been a part of.

Part of the reason for that is what is at stake on both sides with a win or a loss. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird, Andrew Gillis and the Texters get into every bit of it on this almost 2.5-hour episode of Buckeye Talk.

Ryan Day is trying to avoid losing three straight games to the Wolverines, even if there might one day be an asterisk next to the first two. His first full recruiting class in 2021 is trying to live up to the hype it arrived with while also trying to get their first pair of gold pants finally. Then there’s the Kyle McCord element of this in how much this can impact his legacy as OSU’s latest starting quarterback.

This episode is all about being hyperbolic leaving no room for middle ground. It’s a chance to find out where you stand even if you aren’t the most extreme version of that stance. As Ohio State heads into the biggest game it’s played in during the Day era, it’s time to see how a fanbase feels about its head coach and football program.

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Does Ohio State football respect the Michigan football program? Nov 21, 2023

Numerous members of the Ohio State football program spoke on Tuesday ahead of an all-important game against Michigan.

Head coach Ryan Day discusses how the Buckeyes are managing a week filled with a ton of emotions. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles discussed how much what happened last season is impacting how he’s planning for this season’s game. Then Kyle McCord, Marvin Harrison Jr., Cody Simon, Emeka Egbuka and Denzel Burke gave their thoughts on the rivalry game.

Burke was the only person amongst that group to show any level of emotion toward what’s coming on Saturday while everyone else tried their best to keep things vanilla.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the vibes around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and much more heading into The Game.

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Is the future of Michigan’s program on the line on Saturday against Ohio State? Nov 20, 2023

Jim Harbaugh spoke with the media on Monday to discuss the Ohio State-Michigan game and now it's time to talk about it.

Cleveland.com sent its rivalry reporter Jimmy Watkins up to Ann Arbor and afterward, Jimmy joined the rest of the Buckeye Talk crew to discuss the game from Michigan's perspective. That meant determining how healthy the Wolverines are heading into The Game and what the vibe is around a program that is trying to get ready for a rivalry game while also dealing with a scandal.

There are numerous reasons why this game matters to the Buckeyes and we will spend all week talking about it. But this might be the end of the line for the Harbaugh era and everything that's led up to it has made it just as significant for that side.

In what in many ways feels like the last dance, Jimmy joins Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis to discuss everything that's on the line for Michigan on Saturday.

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Ohio State vs. Michigan: Which team has more momentum heading into The Game? Nov 19, 2023

Ohio State closed out the home portion of its 2023 schedule with a 37-3 win over Minnesota and we spent almost no time talking about it.

The word 'Minnesota' was sad 10 times on this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk as Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis elected instead to start talking about Michigan and the most important game on the schedule.

How big of a deal is it that OSU could be close to full strength heading into Ann Arbor?

Is Ohio State peaking at the right time while the Wolverines may be trending in the wrong direction?

Which quarterback would you rather have: J.J. McCarthy or Kyle McCord?

These are the things the trio used a postgame pod to discuss to jumpstart a week filled with plenty of talking points surrounding the 2023 edition of The Game.

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Previewing Ohio State's final 2023 home game against Minnesota Nov 17, 2023

Ohio State wraps up the home portion of its schedule with a game against Minnesota which on paper is expected to be as lopsided as last week's win over Michigan State.

One team is trying to pull off an upset by potentially catching the other looking ahead to bigger things. The other side is trying to get through the game as seamlessly as possible without any hiccups. Those hiccups are mostly focused on a special teams unit that has made a habit out of making a noticeable mistake that eventually the right team will capitalize on.

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis preview The Buckeyes' Week 12 opponent while also discussing what special teams coordinator Parker Fleming had to say about the unit's problems.

Then Tyler Shoemaker joins the pod as usual to provide some of the best bets of the week both in relation to OSU and around the country. Then Nathan and Andrew rejoin Stephen as the trio gives their game picks. Finally, before closing things out, the crew takes one last look at the career of Josh Proctor who has been a constant topic of conversation over the past six years. PLus Nathan previews an upcoming story about the most important member of the defense.

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Is Marvin Harrison Jr. the greatest wide receiver in Ohio State history? Nov 16, 2023

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s time as an Ohio State football player isn't over quite yet and how much longer it goes will be decided next weekend in Ann Arbor.

But his accomplishments so far have made it abundantly clear that he deserves the right to be called one the best wide receivers in program history. Maybe even the best. That's why on this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, we've decided to update OSU's wide receiver Mount Rushmore.

It's an exercise we did two years ago across multiple positions, but so much has happened in the wide receiver room that it's fair to see how much has changed from a list that didn't feature anyone whose career takes place during the Ryan Day era.

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What’s up with Lathan Ransom, Tommy Eichenberg, and a potential change on Ohio State’s offensive line? Nov 15, 2023

Ryan Day and Jim Knowles spoke ahead of Ohio State's final home game of the 2023 season as it prepares to face Minnesota.

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis react to the various news that came out of the Tuesday press conference starting with the status of various players dealing with injuries.

Then after the break, the trio discuss whether they think OSU is planning to make some changes to its offensive line personnel 10 days out from its biggest game of the season against Michigan. Then they wrap things up by discussing how they think Day will handle the various questions about the Wolverines he will get next Tuesday now that The Game has finally arrived.

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Should Ohio State fans be worried about losing its 5-star 2024 wide receiver commit? Nov 14, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis answer questions from texters on Ohio State recruiting. The discussion points:

Would a third-straight Michigan loss impact OSU on the recruiting trail?
Is Ohio State in danger of losing five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith?
Thoughts on five-star quarterback commit Air Noland and the future of the quarterback room.
What players are the Buckeyes looking to flip between now and Signing Day?

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What Michigan’s win over Penn State means for Ohio State football and The Game Nov 13, 2023

The most important game of the season awaits Ohio State on Nov. 25 when it travels to Ann Arbor to face Michigan and everything leading up to that date is viewed through those eyes.

While the Buckeyes took care of business beating a below-average Michigan State team on Saturday the Wolverines finally played a top-tier opponent walking away with a road win over Penn State. But what did that game teach us about The Game?

Stephen Means and Nathan Baird use a Monday episode of Buckeye Talk to discuss what they learned about Michigan on Friday and whether it impacts how we view Ohio State’s chances of ending its two-game losing streak against its rival.

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Ohio State starts fast, pounds Michigan State 38-3: Postgame reaction Nov 12, 2023

Ohio State finally summoned the fast start it had been looking for, scoring touchdowns on five of six first-half possessions and rolling to a 38-3 victory. Nathan and Andrew recap the most significant takeaways, catch up on the injury issues and delve into another dominant performance by the defense.

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Buckeye Talk emergency pod: Ohio State fans on the Big Ten, Jim Harbaugh and The Game Nov 10, 2023

Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti has suspended Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh from being on the sideline for the final three regular-season games. The punishment had been looming for three weeks in the wake of the NCAA opening an investigation of Michigan's illegal in-person scouting operation. Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis jumped on Buckeye Talk shortly after the news broke to share their first impressions and discuss this through the eyes of Ohio State fans.

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Previewing Ohio State’s primetime game against Michigan State Nov 10, 2023

Ohio State has dominated Michigan State during the Ryan Day era winning by an average margin of 35.5 points.

Given the way both teams have looked this season, there is good reason to believe that Saturday will be no different when the Spartans come to Columbus to face the Buckeyes. One side will be looking to continue its march towards returning to the Big Ten Championship Game. The other just trying to get its second Big Ten win.

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis preview OSU’s Week 11 opponent. Then Tyler Shoemaker joins the pod as usual to provide some of the best bets of the week both in relation to OSU and around the country.

Then Nathan and Andrew rejoin Stephen as the trio gives their game picks. Plus they spend a few minutes giving their thoughts on Ohio State’s new alternate grey jersey which will debut Saturday night.

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How ready is Ohio State football to play Michigan? Nov 09, 2023

Ohio State is two weeks away from the most important game on its schedule when it travels to Ann Arbor to face Michigan.

Games against Michigan State and Minnesota until then are simply steps on that journey where the main goal should be walking away without any scares and not adding to its list of players already dealing with injuries. For the Wolverines, the goal is leaving Penn State with a win potentially setting up yet another edition the rivalry where both sides are undefeated.

All eyes are on that Nov. 25 matchup, including the guys at Buckeye Talk who will spend this Thursday episode looking at OSU’s roster. Which positions are ready for The Game and which still have reasons for concern with less than 14 days until kickoff?

The Texters give their answers in a survey with Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis providing their reactions and commentary.

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Kyle McCord’s growth, injury updates and who’s to blame for Ohio State’s special teams mistakes: Buckeye Talk Podcast Nov 08, 2023

Ryan Day spoke with the media ahead of Ohio State's primetime game against Michigan State and the topic of discussion came down to three issues:

Day provided insight — well, sort of — into the numerous injuries OSU is dealing with most of which are in its secondary;
Kyle McCord's growth and the need for this passing offense to take the next step and;
Why can't the Buckeyes special teams unit stop having negative plays that could one day cost them a game or even their season?

That's practically what every question asked to Day was about on Tuesday. So that's practically all that will be discussed on this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis.

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Looking at the differences in Ohio State and Michigan's recruiting standards and efforts Nov 07, 2023

We are two weeks away from Ohio State's matchup with Michigan which will be the deciding factor for a lot of things in the Big Ten.

But for right now Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis will use a Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk to discuss the future of the two programs by looking at their efforts on the recruiting trail. The two look at the difference in standards in class quality but also what a successful cycle looks like.

Then after the break they look at the quarterback commits on both sides and how the two are inadvertently linked together. For OSU that’s five-star commit Air Noland and for the Wolverines, four-star Jaydn Davis who was a five-star recruit at one point in his career.

Wrapping things up, Andrew reveals which commits on both sides he thinks have a chance to have an impact on the rivalry the earliest in their careers.

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TreVeyon Henderson, Kyle McCord and Ohio State's consistent special teams blunders Nov 06, 2023

It's a Buckeye Talk which means taking a look back at Ohio State's most recent performance in a 35-16 win over Rutgers.

Stephen Means and Nathan Baird first look back on yet another impressive day for running back TreVeyon Henderson along with an offensive line that may have figured things out in the run game. We've become accustomed to OSU relying on its passing attack to move the ball down the field but that could change in 2023 as long as Henderson is healthy.

Then after the break, Stephen and Nathan discuss a defensive line that's been at a quality level all season. But there's maybe an argument that the unit could benefit from a deeper rotation in the name of getting its best guys to the games that matter most.

Wrapping things up is yet another discussion about a special teams unit that keeps finding ways to make significant mistakes.

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Reacting to Ohio State’s 35-16 win over Rutgers: Buckeye Talk Podcast Nov 05, 2023

Ohio State improved to 9-0 following a 35-16 win over Rutgers that had a little bit of everything in it.

There was some good and bad on both the offense and defense while the special teams unit continued its streak of finding a way to have at least one thing go wrong each week.

On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis take a back seat to the Texters allowing them to guide the conversation on how they feel about a team whose still undefeated despite having plenty of flaws.

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Previewing Ohio State's road game against Rutgers Nov 03, 2023

Ohio State looks to extend its winning streak over Rutgers on Saturday even if its offense isn't on par with what it has been in recent years.

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis preview OSU's Week 10 opponent. Then Tyler Shoemaker joins the pod as usual to provide some of the best bets of the week both in relation to the Buckeyes and around the country.

Then Nathan and Andrew rejoin Stephen as the trio gives their game picks.

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Evaluating Kyle McCord's first eight games as Ohio State's starting quarterback Nov 02, 2023

Kyle McCord is eight games into being Ohio State's starting quarterback this season and his performance may have some mixed reviews among fans.

He’s had his fair share of quality moments on his way to 2,163 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 9.4 yards per attempt. Those numbers are paired with an 8-0 record which features two wins over top 15 opponents while leading a team that debuted at No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings.

But he’s also had some no-so-good moments that have often directly led to points not being on the board and resulting in a 64.1 completion percentage which has become uncharacteristic for OSU quarterbacks.

Eight games in, how should fans feel about their new quarterback?

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis take a step back while allowing the Texters to carry the podcast with their thoughts on McCord.

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Kyle McCord, Miyan Williams and reacting to Ohio State’s spot in the College Football Playoff rankings: Buckeye Talk Podcast Nov 01, 2023

The first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2023 season are out putting Ohio State in a favorable place.

For just the second time in the playoff era, the Buckeyes debuted in the No. 1 spot followed by Georgia, Michigan and Florida State.

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird breakdown what that means going forward. Then Andrew Gillis joins in as the trio to react to everything Ryan Day and Jim Knowles said as OSU prepares to face Rutgers on Saturday.

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Breaking down five-star commit Justin Scott and the future of Ohio State's defensive line room Oct 31, 2023

It's another recruiting conversation on Buckeye Talk with this episode featuring a conversation about Ohio State five-star commit Justin Scott.

Andrew Gillis went to go watch the nation's No. 12 player and No. 3 defensive linemen last Friday to get an idea of how he fits in the defensive line room and how he ended up committing to the Buckeyes in the first place.

After that, he and Stephen Means take a look at the future of the defensive tackle position at Ohio State knowing that there's a chance that the top three players in the hierarchy could all be gone after this season. Is the interior of Larry Johnson's defensive line room in good hands?

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Breaking down Ohio State's 24-10 win over Wisconsin Oct 30, 2023

Ohio State improved to 8-0 following a 24-10 win over Wisconsin, but not all the members of Buckeye Talk were there to see it live.

Stephen Means had a wedding to go to so the rewatch served as more of an initial reaction to the 14-point win. Stephen had a lot of those. Then again so did Nathan Baird who was getting to see it a second time:

First, the two look back on what might've been the best game of TreVeyon Henerson's career;
Then they breakdown the rest of the offense which includes a short conversation on Marvin Harrison Jr.'s Heisman Trophy case;
The second segment is an almost 40-minute-long discussion about yet another dominant performance by a defense that has still yet to give up more than 17 points;
Closing things out is a discussion about Kyle McCord's most fatal flaw that continues to an issue, but also on just how healthy the first-year starting quarterback is.

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Postgame reaction from Ohio State's 24-10 victory at Wisconsin Oct 29, 2023

TreVeyon Henderson returned and responded with his best game of the season. The Buckeye defense continue to roller over Big Ten opponents. Ohio State won 24-10 at Wisconsin in what may have been the final major test until it heads north to face Michigan in the regular-season finale. Nathan and Andrew take a quick run through the highlights in this postgame pod from the road.

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Can Ohio State avoid the ‘trap game’ against Wisconsin? Oct 27, 2023

Ohio State's next game is probably the closest thing on the schedule that resembles the idea of a trap game.

OSU is coming off a hard-fought, emotional win over a top-10-ranked Penn State team and now will head on the road for a night game against a Big Ten West opponent. Wisconsin comes into Saturday night’s game with a 5-2 record in the first year under long-long Buckeye Luke Fickell looking to put up a better fight than the first time he faced his alma mater in 2019 as Cincinnati’s head coach.

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use this Fridau episode of Buckeye Talk to preview Ohio State’s Week 9 opponent and whether it can shut down another quality Big Ten running back in Braelon Allen. The Tyler Shoemaker joins the pod as usual to provide some of the best bets of the week both in relation to OSU and around the country. That includes whether or not to continue hammering home the point that maybe Las Vegas is a little too low on tight end Cade Stover’s production.

Then Nathan and Andrew rejoin Stephen as the trio gives their game picks, followed by Nathan giving Stephen a hard time for his conservative fake betting practices this season.

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Can Marvin Harrison Jr. continue Ohio State's run of Heisman Trophy finalists? Oct 26, 2023

Marvin Harrison Jr. has picked up where he left off last season as clearly the nation's best wide receiver but can Ohio State's best weapon take it a step further?

The Heisman Trophy field still seems to be wide open and Harrison is coming off yet another dominant performance against a Penn State team that arguably has the nation's best defense. He could not only be building his case to win a Fred Biletnikoff Award that some felt he deserved last year but also be in contention for college football's most prestigious award.

Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis use this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk to explore how realistic his chances are of being a finalist and what the path looks like over the next month to make that happen.

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Why Ryan Day's taking the right approach in dealing with Michigan's recent drama Oct 25, 2023

Michigan became the biggest topic of conversation late last week, but Ohio State d coach Ryan Day didn’t have to deal with discussing it until after getting a chance to celebrate a 20-12 win over Penn State,

Then Tuesday hit and even he knew that his thoughts on what was going on with the Wolverines was going to be the first thing everyone wanted to know. He didn’t take the bait instead declining to comment. Is that the right way for him to go about this as OSU continues its 2023 season knowing its rival awaits it at the end of the year?

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk to discuss, whether Day plans to still use the red zone package without Devin Brown, the injury status of a few key plays and much more.

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Jayvan Boggs, Eli Lee and thoughts on Ohio State's big recruiting weekend Oct 24, 2023

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis look back at Ohio State's big recruiting weekend.

Then after the break they discuss some recent recruits and targets Andrew got to see in person one what is one of the more high-profile games in Northeast Ohio High School football. To close things out, they preview a trip to Chicago where Andrew Gillis will visit with five-star commit Justin Scott.

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Did Ohio State's win over Penn State provide the blueprint to beating Michigan? Oct 23, 2023

Another Monday Buckeye Talk means another chance to break down an Ohio State win with Penn State being the victim this time.

Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break down the Buckeyes' 20-12 win over the Nittany Lions looking at the dominance of the defense, the pros and cons of the offense and two underrated special teams moments that may have decided the game.

OSU's offense will surely need to keep improving over the next four games before Nov. 27. But did the defensive play potentially provide a blueprint for how it can snap its two-game losing streak to Michigan?

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Can Ohio State win a national title on the back of its defense? Oct 22, 2023

Ohio State just got its second big win of the season beating Penn State at home 20-12 and it did so on the back of its defense.

On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss whether OSU’s defense has reached the point that it can be the catalyst behind the reason this team can win a national title. Plus a conversation about McCord’s continued progression including one major deficiency that keeps popping up even if it has yet to be costly.

All that and more on this postgame episode. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Previewing Ohio State's top 10 matchup against Penn State Oct 20, 2023

Ohio State's second big game of the season has arrived with a top-10 matchup with Penn State on the docket. That means a packed episode of Buckeye Talk:

First Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis react to the latest trouble OSU's rival Michigan finds itself in;
Then they discuss the game at hand;
Stephen is then joined by PennLive.com's Johnny McGonigal to get an inside look at the Nittany Lins;
Then as always, Tyler Shoemaker provides his insight from a betting perspective on a game expected to be a rock fight where the defenses control the pace;
Then Stephen, Nathan and Andrew wrap things up with their game picks plus a discussion on who a win would mean more for.

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Emeka Egbuka, Denzel Burke and the most important factors in Ohio State's game against Penn State Oct 19, 2023

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, the crew gets back to their roots while discussing Ohio State's upcoming top-10 matchup with Penn State.

It's been a while since the podcast has had an episode go for almost two hours but a game with significant Big Ten and College Football Playoff implications makes it well worth it. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Saturday's game using six simple questions that sum up everything that will matter:

Should Ohio State still be trying to redshirt Dallan Hayden given the state of the running back room?
How ready is Kyle McCord for his second big game as starting quarterback?
What's the best unit between OSU's offense and defense and PSU's offense and defense?
What's the most important positional matchup in deciding who will win the game?
Who is an Ohio State offensive and defensive player who can use this game to make a name for himself?

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Dallan Hayden, Kyle McCord and the status of numerous injuries on the Ohio State roster Oct 18, 2023

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis react to the comments from Ohio State's head coach Ryan Day and Jim Knowles as OSU prepares to face Penn State. Among the things discussed:

Should Ohio State still be trying to redshirt Dallan Hayden given the state of the running back room?
How ready is Kyle McCord for his second big game as starting quarterback?
Could Jermaine Mathews step up as a freshman cornerback if Denzel Burke can't play?
Is there a rotation forming at Will linebacker?

Plus much more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk

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What the commitments of Leroy Roker and Blake Woodby mean for the future of Ohio State’s secondary Oct 17, 2023

Ohio State spent last weekend retooling its secondary for the future, but it also brings up a question of what that future will look like.

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis take a look at the commitments of 2024 safety Leroy Roker and 2025 cornerback Blake Woodby. The two additions may paint a of picture of how different the two parts of OSU’s secondary recruiting have gone.

Tim Walton has gotten off to a hot start on the recruiting trail, fueled mostly by an uptick in in-state talent. But landing Woodby proved his ability to go national with his efforts as the fifth top-100 recruit he’s landed despite this being only his second year on the staff.

Perry Eliano was brought in as a young coach with a potentially high upside both as a developer and a recruiter. The development has been there as his starting trio of Josh Proctor, Lathan Ransom and Sonny Styles have played at a high level this year. He even has freshman Malik Hartford ahead of schedule as a guy on pace to win a starting spot in 2024. But the recruiting trail hasn’t been as kind to him as he’s struck out on his top options in back-to-back classes

The future for the cornerback room is high. But should OSU be worried about its safety room?

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Breaking down Ohio State’s 41-7 win over Purdue: Oct 16, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird look back at Ohio State's 41-7 win over Purdue. Among the things discussed:

A review of OSU's first game on Peacock;
Was that Kyle McCord's best game as QB1?;
Did the offensive line finally show progress;
An uncharacteristic day by Marvin Harrison Jr. and the wide receivers;
How the Buckeyes could deploy the cornerbacks if Denzel Burke can't play;
The uptick in defensive line production

Plus plenty more as Ohio State turns its attention toward preparing for a top 10 matchup with Penn State.

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Did Ohio State's win over Purdue prove it's ready to play Penn State? Oct 14, 2023

Ohio State got out of Purdue still undefeated. Now it can shift all of its focus solely on a top-10 matchup with Penn State. But its 41-7 win over the Boilermakers still provides some interesting topics to discuss that might matter down the road.

The Buckeye debut a new role for backup quarterback Devin Brown in the form of a red zone pack that can help fix the problems in the run game;
Once again Dallan Hayden was called upon to be the guy as the running back room continued to deal with injuries. Do they need to forget trying to redshirt him and give him a real role?
Did OSU show enough to let you feel confident in what they'll perform like next Satuday.

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss that and more on this postgame episode. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Do Ohio State's coaches have the most to prove in its game against Purdue? Oct 13, 2023

Ohio State heads into its sixth game of the season on Saturday in the form of a road matchup against Purdue streaming exclusively on Peacock.

Every game provides a chance for some element of the Buckeyes' team to prove itself and often you look at the roster to find such. But is there an argument to be made that no one has more to show than the coaches, especially those on offense as OSU tries to figure out how to improve a limited offensive line? Perhaps a trip to West Lafayette, Indiana, a place that has been known to be a death trap for Ohio State provides the perfect environment to do such before heading into a top-10 matchup next week.

After a lofty discussion, Stephen again kicks Nathan and Andrew off the pod to bring in Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the best bets in a game where OSU is a 19-point favorite. Then Nathan and Andrew return as the two join Stephen in making their game picks.

Lastly, Nathan takes us down memory lane of his days covering Purdue as the only one of the trio who covered the game the last time the Boilermakers hosted Ohio State in 2018.

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How differently would we view Ohio State's season if the 12-team College Football Playoff started in 2023? Oct 12, 2023

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, the guys take a trip into the future by bringing the new 12-team College Football Playoff into the present.

The expanded playoff will start next season which will bring along with it a different path to a national title. For a program like Ohio State that has constantly been in the playoff discussion even in years where it's been on the outside looking in, the expansion should change the conversation a bit. The Buckeyes will more than likely no longer be so concerned about its chances of playing in the postseason. So how does that impact the way we talk about them on a weekly basis?

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis try to take a run at what that would look like evaluating OSU's 2023 season through five games as a way to get ready for a change that's right around the corner.

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What's up with Dallan Hayden, Emeka Egbuka and Ohio State's lingering offensive problem Oct 11, 2023

Ryan Day and Jim Knowles spent Tuesday's presser in preparation for Ohio State's matchup with Purdue providing plenty of things to talk about.

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use a Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk to discuss all of it. That starts with a conversation about whether OSU needs Emeka Egbuka on Saturday after the star wide receiver left a win over Maryland with an injury. Then we discuss Day revealing why Dallan Hayden has had practically no role this season and why that may be a good thing for OSU's future.

But the bulk of the discussion is centered around the ongoing issues on the offensive line as the most prominent thing about the 2023 roster. Does Ryan Day think things can get better, or will it one day be the downfall of the season?

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Ohio State's latest 2025 commit and a high priority offensive line target Oct 10, 2023

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the latest Oho State recruiting updates centered on the most recent addition to the 2025 class.

The Buckeyes added Jayvan Boggs as a three-star recruit who could be the latest example of Brian Hartline getting in on a wide receiver early.

Then Andrew breaks down his impressions of offensive tackle target Carter Lowe and what the four-star recruits think of the Buckeyes. Finally, Stephen and Andrew give their impressions of OSU’s first big visitor weekend of the fall.

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Rewatching Ohio State football's performance in a 37-17 win over Maryland Oct 09, 2023

On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird take a look back at Ohio State's 37-17 win over Maryland.

That means looking at everything that went right and the few things that went wrong that might be bigger issues against better teams. Much of that is centered around the Buckeye's offensive line which continues to be the most pressing issue for an offense still looking to hit its stride. Those problems compounded against Maryland as OSU struggled for most of the first half until finally putting it together halfway through the third quarter. Meanwhile, the defense continues to trend upward with arguably its most complete performance of the season.

Stephen and Nathan spent almost an hour critiquing the offense. But they spent just as much time talking about all the good things that happened for a defensive unit that's clearly coming into its own.

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What Ohio State's 37-17 win over Maryland says about the Buckeyes' championship ceiling Oct 08, 2023

Ohio State returned to the field to face an undefeated Maryland team and walked away with a 20-point win even if it took some time for the offense to get going. So Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis used a postgame Buckeye Talk to try to make sense of it.

Should you be worried about how long it took the offense to start clicking while being held under 40 points for the fourth time this season? Or should you focus on what is clearly an improved defense starting to trend toward being elite?

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Marvin Harrison Jr., Miyan Williams and what a game against Maryland can teach us about Ohio State Oct 06, 2023

Ohio State returns to the field for the first time since a big win over Notre Dame to host Maryland in what is the Buckeyes' seventh-straight game against an undefeated opponent heading back to last season.

This Friday episode of Buckeye Talk is about getting OSU prepared to face the Terrapins. But first a quick discussion about the status of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and whether we should expect to see more of running back Miyan Williams going forward.

That’s followed by Stephen once again kicking Nathan and Andrew off the pod to welcome Tyler Shoemaker, as the two discuss the game’s best bets.

Then Nathan and Andrew return as the trio wraps things up with their game picks, plus a short discussion on whether Maryland could play spoiler for any of the top three teams in the Big Ten East.

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What helps Ryan Day’s resume more: another College Football Playoff win or a Heisman Trophy? Oct 05, 2023

This Thursday Buckeye Talk is brought to you by an important question in discussing which head coach has been better between Ohio State's Ryan Day and USC's Lincoln Riley.

One of our loyal text subscribers has asked Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis to discuss the two while having a deep discussion about what is more important to a resume: A Heisman Trophy winner or a College Football Playoff win:

The discussion kicks off with the trio deciding which coach they feel has been better;
The topic shifts to breaking down what either Kyle McCord winning a Heisman or Day getting his second CFP win would do for Day's resume;
Finally, they decide which holds more weight for Day who has made it clear that OSU's identity under him is being a program that competes for championships while producing elite quarterbacks.

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Kyle McCord's growth, Jim Knowles' aggressive and Ohio State's offensive shortcomings Oct 04, 2023

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what Ryan Day and Jim Knowles had to say as Ohio State prepares to face Maryland.

The conversation includes a look at where quarterback Kyle McCord can take his next step as OSU's starter and Day's frustration with the inability to convert in short-yardage situations. Then after the break, the trio talks defense and how the lack of aggressiveness in Knowles' play-calling hasn't prevented the unit from being among the nation's best so far.

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Marc Nave, offensive line recruiting and Ohio State's quests for a recruiting crown Oct 03, 2023

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis take recruiting questions from our text subscribers. Given the recent decisions of both commits and other targets, of course, the entire conversation was all about the future of the offensive line. That includes discussing the decommitment of three-star Marc Nave, four-star target Jordan Seaton plus a conversation about whether Ohio State could ever have the nation's No. 1 recruiting class.

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J.J. McCarthy, Drew Allar and Ohio State's fight to remain at the top of the Big Ten's quarterback hierarchy Oct 02, 2023

Ohio State's 2023 schedule is filled with opponents featuring quality options at quarterback so Stephen Means and Nathan Baird used this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk to break down them all down. Kyle McCord beat the first name on that list in Notre Dame's Sam Hartman but still to come are Maryland's Taulia Tagovailoa, Penn State's Drew Allar and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.

Where does Kyle McCord rank among those players heading into his fifth game as a starter? What are the chances he's the better quarterback on the field by the time each game arrives? Does OSU need him to turn into the Big Ten's best quarterback for it to achieve its goals?

All those questions are discussed to start off a week where the Buckeyes will return to the field after an off week.

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Mylan Graham, Jeremiah Smith and the future of Ohio State's wide receiver room Sep 29, 2023

Before covering Ohio State's 17-14 win over Notre Dame last week, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis stopped to watch five-star wide receiver commit Mylan Graham. So on this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, the two discuss what they saw or didn't see.

Then they wrap things up with a conversation about the future of OSU's wide receiver room which could lose its top four players after the 2023 season leaving room for anyone to claim a starting spot next season. That includes the three commits in the 2024 class the latest highly-rated recruits Brian Hartline has landed.

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Kyle McCord revealed his special trait against Notre Dame, so what's next for Ohio State's QB1? Sep 28, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Kyle McCord coming off his first big win as Ohio State's starting quarterback. McCord agreed with the idea that one of the things that might make him special is his poise and that was on display during a game-winning drive against Notre Dame. But how did he develop that trait?

The trio discuss McCord plus provides an update on an important Buckeye wide receiver who left South Bend, Indiana, with an ankle injury even if he was able to finish the game.

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A review of Ohio State's offense and defense four games into the 2023 season Sep 27, 2023

Ohio State played just four games before heading into the off-week with a 4-0 record, ranking fourth in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. It'll return on Oct. 7 to host Maryland, but the first four weeks provided a decent enough sample size to take a bigger picture view of things about this roster.

On this Wednesday pod, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird, Andrew Gillis and the Buckeye Talk text subscribers review OSU's performance so far this season breaking things into the offense and defense and answering these questions:

Who are the offensive and defensive champions through 4 games?
Rank the offensive and defensive position groups from most to least confident in going forward
Rank the assistant coaches based on performance & recruiting.

After a lengthy discussion on the two sides of the ball, the trio wrapped things up by revealing what they think this team's ceiling is plus a conversation of which regular season opponent is the biggest threat to Ohio State.

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Rewatching Ohio State football’s defensive performance in a 17-14 win over Notre Dame: Buckeye Talk Podcast Sep 26, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look back on Ohio State's 17-14 win over Notre Dame. Among the things discussed:

The high-level play of the secondary through four weeks;
How the defensive line held up against a quality Fighting Irish offensive line and a change in philosophy in how Larry Johnson rotates;
What to take from the low Pro Football Focus grades from the linebackers;
OSU’s defense was clearly the better unit the first four weeks of the season, but is there anything to still be worried about on that side of the ball?

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Rewatching Ohio State football's offensive performance in a 17-14 win over Notre Dame Sep 25, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look back on Ohio State's 17-14 win over Notre Dame. Among the things discussed:

Are the offensive line actually fixable after four games of struggle;
Notre Dame's success in taking away Marvin Harrison Jr. and how the Buckeyes can combat it going forward;
Ryan Day's play-calling in the red zone;
Can Kyle McCord still continue Ohio State's streak of first-year starting quarterbacks who've been Heisman Trophy finalists?

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Ohio State's thrilling 17-14 victory at Notre Dame brings out Mad Ryan Day Sep 24, 2023

The defense set the foundation, Kyle McCord, Emeka Egbuka and Chip Trayanum came through with clutch plays on the final drive, and Ohio State escaped Notre Dame with a 17-14 victory. In this episode hastily recorded in a Trader Joe's parking lot, we gave our instant reaction to Ryan Day's fired-up comments after the game, what Kyle McCord showed in that final drive and what this win means for a defense whose time may have arrived.

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Is Notre Dame's Sam Hartman really a threat to Ohio State? Sep 22, 2023

It's Friday which means it's time to break down Ohio State's primetime road matchup with Notre Dame. After discussing the two programs all week, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis have just two more things to discuss:

During his Friday radio show, Ryan Day stated that the Buckeyes' offense is "gonna let it rip" against the Fighting Irish after using the first three games to build up to this one.

Following a lengthy discussion about what OSU's offensive plan to be aggressive really means, the trio talk about Notre Dame's starting quarterback and how big of a threat he truly is on Saturday. To do so, they — with the texters' help— look at the past nine quarterbacks who have beaten Ohio State to figure out how he measures up.

That's followed by Stephen once again kicking Nathan and Andrew off the pod to welcome Tyler Shoemaker as the two discuss the game's best bets, of which there are plenty, unlike the past three weeks.

Then Nathan and Andrew return as the trio wrap things up with their game picks plus a short discussion on ranking the best teams on the Buckeyes' 2023 schedule.

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Ryan Day, Marcus Freeman and 5 others with something to prove in the Ohio State-Notre Dame game Sep 21, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis take a unique angle in discussing Ohio State's primetime matchup with Notre Dame.

This is the first like-minded opponent either side has played this season in a matchup that could end up having significant implications for the College Football Playoff. But there are also a few individual storylines that are just as important. We're trying to figure out which of those people have the most to prove on Saturday.

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What Ohio State's loss to Georgia taught us about how Ryan Day will handle the Notre Dame game Sep 20, 2023

When Ohio State back-doored its way into the College Football Playoff last season Ryan Day vowed that the world would see a more aggressive side of him and his program. Then he backed it up against Georgia, even if it still led to a one-point loss. But that game breathed new life into the program's future under Day while also setting a new standard for what to expect from his teams. The first three games haven't required that version of him to come out. But heading into a top-10 matchup with Notre Dame on the road, it may be finally time to bring that side out.

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Bard and Andrew Gillis talk about Day's approach to Saturday's game plus a discussion about what else Day and Jim Knowles may be ready to unleash in a talent-equated matchup.

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Tavien St. Clair and a conversation about Ohio State's in-state quarterback legacy Sep 19, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State's 2025 quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair.

Even before Ryan Day showed up the Buckeyes had had an impressive run of in-state quarterbacks who would go on to do impressive things in Columbus, some of them turning into Heisman Trophy winners and others leading the team to national titles. But can St. Clair one day develop into both as a fast-rising prospect that could one day earn five-star status?

Plus a look ahead to what the quarterback room could look like by the time he arrives.

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Kyle McCord or Sam Hartman: Who has the better quarterback between Ohio State and Notre Dame? Sep 18, 2023

The level of competition on Ohio State's schedule is about to take a significant step up as the program got through its first three weeks 3-0.

Wins over Indiana and Youngstown Sta were about the Buckeyes figuring out the rest of its two-deeps specifically at the starting quarterback spot where Kyle McCord and Devin Brown’s battle continued on. A 63-10 win over Western Kentucky on Saturday was about solidifying that two deep and building momentum toward the future.

That mission can be deemed a success. Now it’s time to find out how good this team can be with an early test in the former of a primetime, top-10 matchup with Notre Dame. On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird take a look back at OSU’s win over the Hilltoppers while also getting an early look at its next opponent: The Fighting Irish.

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What Ohio State's dominant win over Western Kentucky tells us about its matchup with Notre Dame Sep 17, 2023

Ohio State spent the past week picking a quarterback and taking the necessary steps toward preparing for a schedule that was about to get much tougher.

Those actions showed in a 63-10 win over Western Kentucky where the offense looks closer to what we’ve come to expect from the Buckeyes and the defense wreaked havoc for 60 minutes. It was a good way to punctuate the end of what has felt like the college football version of a preseason.

But that’s over now and all that matters is figuring out what we can take from the dominant win and apply to what is coming next Saturday when OSU heads to Notre Dame. On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis explore just that.

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Ohio State's secondary gets challenged while the offense rallies behind Kyle McCord against Western Kentucky. Sep 15, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's home game against Western Kentucky and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed:

The bulk of the conversation is centered around a question from a text subscriber: 'What should we consider success against this WKU high-powered offense?'
Then we flip that question around on the offense discussing what success looks like for a unit that is locked in on Kyle McCord being its starting quarterback
Then per usual, Stephen kicks the two off the pod and invites Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the game from a gambling perspective.
Then the trio returns to make their game picks.

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Ohio State rapid fire: Kyle McCord, Devin Brown and a threat to the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff resume Sep 14, 2023

This Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions about practically everything under the sun.

Among the topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis:

Kyle McCord is Ohio State's starting quarterback in 2023. But does that mean he’s guaranteed to keep it in 2024 if he comes back?
Are the new play clock rules costing the Buckeyes’ “styles points” on their College Football Playoff resume?
Our thoughts on Devin Brown’s explosiveness as a runner, or lack thereof;
Jim Knowles’ new “feast or famine” philosophy;
Where to rank the winner of the Ohio State-Notre Dame game;
Plus plenty more including bagel preferences, journalism journeys and thoughts on the OSU fan base.

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Will naming Kyle McCord the starting quarterback result in Ohio State's offense getting back to being explosive? Sep 13, 2023

Ryan Day has finally named an official starting quarterback for the 2023 season. Kyle McCord started the first two games but was still technically in a battle with Devin Brown to win the role. Now that competition has concluded and Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what that means for Ohio State's offense going forward. Afterward, they react to Day's displeasure with the offensive execution, especially on third down. Then they wrap up with what Jim Knowles had to say about the defensive line and a freshman safety who had been turning heads all offseason.

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Ohio State’s cornerback recruiting success is being built by homegrown talent Sep 12, 2023

It's another Tuesday Buckeye Talk which means that Stephen Means and Andrew Giillis talk Ohio State recruiting.

The bulk of the conversation is around 2025 target Dorien Brew as the latest in what's been a run of talented cornerbacks in the Buckeyes backyard. Andrew went to watch the five-star prospect to get an idea as to what OSU would be getting if it lands him.

After that, we get inside the mind of Andrew Gillis providing yet another opportunity for the listeners to get to know him with a little football talk.

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Breaking down Ohio State's 35-7 win over Youngstown State Sep 11, 2023

Stephen Means and Nathan Baird are back with another Monday podcast that still doesn't have a name, but has a purpose. They will break down Ohio State's 35-7 win over Youngstown State. Per usual, breaking down the home opener is broken up into three categories:

Quarterback Talk: Discussing the best and worst thing we saw from Kyle McCord and Devin Brown and if their upside flashed in any capacity
Offensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the offense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
Defensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the defense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game

Then they'll close things out every week by answering one question: Did the Buckeyes look like a College Football Playoff team?

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Kyle McCord, Devin Brown and Ohio State's quarterback battle that's already over Sep 10, 2023

Ohio State improved to 2-0 after its 35-7 win over Youngstown State, but the more important detail comes down to one spot: quarterback.

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use this postgame Buckeye Talk to discuss the status of the ongoing quarterback battle between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown is still that. Or if McCord used the first two weeks to solidify what the trip already thought coming into the season. Whether Ryan Day is ready to publicly admit it or not.

That drives most of the conversation plus a small discussion on the offensive line's progress — or lack thereof — and on the play of the defense.

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Can anything meaningful come out of Ohio State's game against Youngstown State? Buckeye Talk Podcast Sep 08, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's home opener against Youngstown State and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed:

The conversation starts by trying to figure out how to talk about a matchup between one of the nation's most prominent programs and a middle-of-the-pack FCS school
Then the trio discuss what OSU can show on offense and defense to let them know there was improvement coming off Week 1, even if it won't be easy to see it actually play out.
Then again Stephen kicks the two off the pod and invites Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the game from a gambling perspective.
Then the trio returns to make their game picks.

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Devin Brown, C.J. Hicks and 13 other Ohio State football players to watch in the home-opener: Buckeye Talk Podcast Sep 07, 2023

Ohio State football’s home opener is against a middle-of-the-pack FCS school which means it’s probably going to win by 50.

The services of its stars, starters and established players won’t be needed for very long for OSU to walk away with a win over Youngstown State. So Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis aren’t going to spend any time talking about those guys.

Instead, they’ll be talking about the players behind them who will each be getting extended playing. Maybe those extra snaps lead to something more this season, or maybe it’s just a preview of what is to come. Either way, the Thursday pod is all about the future as the trio drafts the players they’re most interested in watching against the Penguins

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Is Ohio State football's quarterback competition actually still a competition? Sep 06, 2023

Ryan Day isn’t planning on changing his approach to the quarterbacks when Ohio State plays its home opener against Youngstown State on Saturday.

Once again Kyle McCord will start with the plan being for Devin Brown to play. Given the opponent, it is fair to assume Brown will play more than the seven snaps he was allotted against the Hoosiers. But will it actually mean anything or is the quarterback competition already over?

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss that on this Wednesday Buckeyes Talk plus Day’s thoughts on the offensive line play which he stated wasn't something he felt wasn't correctable.

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Breaking down Ohio State's top offensive line commit Ian Moore Sep 05, 2023

Prior to covering Ohio State's season-opener against Indiana, Andrew Gillis spent Friday night watching 2024 offensive line commit Ian Moore and Stephen Means wants to know what he saw.

Moore is rated as the nation’s No. 128 player and No. 7 interior offensive lineman out of New Palestine High School in Indiana. The Buckeyes have recruited him as a tackle. On this Tuesday’s recruiting Buckeye Talk, Stephen and Andrew broke down OSU’s highest-rated offensive lineman and how the four-star recruit fits into the program’s future.

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Breaking down Ohio State's 23-3 win over Indiana Sep 04, 2023

Buckeye Talk's in-season Monday pod is debuting a new format where Stephen Means and Nathan Baird the game starting with the season-opener against Indiana in which Ohio State won 23-3. Each week the breakdown will be broken up into three categories:

Quarterback Talk: Discussing the best and worst thing we saw from the QB and if his upside flashed in any capacity
Offensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the offense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
Defensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the defense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game

Then they'll close things out every week by answering one question: Did the Buckeyes look like a College Football Playoff team?

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Kyle McCord's debut, a dominant defense and Ohio State’s potential Achilles Heel: Buckeye Talk Podcast Sep 03, 2023

Ohio State got its 28th-straight win over Indiana opening up the 2023 season with a 23-3 win on the road and now it is time to talk about it.

On this postgame Saturday pod, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis start by reacting to Kyle McCord’s second start as a Buckeye and first start against a Big Ten — or even a Power Five — opponent where he threw for 239 yards but failed to throw a touchdown. They also discuss the usage — or lack thereof — of Devin Brown as QB2.

Following some quarterback talk, it’s time to talk about the defense that limited the Hoosiers to a field goal and 153 yards. Then they wrap up by discussing the one part of this roster that might end up being its Achilles Heal if it’s not fixed over the next two weeks.

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Can Indiana keep up with Ohio State? Buckeyes Game Preview Sep 01, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's season-opener against Indiana and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed:

The conversation starts by getting to know the Hoosiers and their dozens of newcomers by way of the transfer portal.
Then Stephen asked Nathan and Andrew a simple question: What can OSU show on offense and defense to let you know the rosters on a national championships trajectory?
Afterward, Stephen kicks the two off the pod and invites Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the game from a gambling perspective.
Finally, the trio returns to make their game picks. But not before a lengthy discussion about milkshakes because who doesn't like a good milkshake?

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Ohio State rapid fire: new play clock rules, the offensive line and getting to know a new host Aug 31, 2023

This Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions about practically everything under the sun.

Among the topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis:

How Ohio State can adapt to the new play clock rules in college football;
What a successful day looks like in the Buckeyes’ season-opener against Indiana for the offensive line;
What the world can learn about OSU, Penn State and Michigan in Week 1 given all three are heavy favorites;
Explaining why Ohio State uses its best and most veteran weapons as return specialists;
Pressbox go-toes when it comes to food and;
A handful of questions that are directed at Andrew as the texters still get to know Buckeye Talk’s newest member.

Plus there is a quick journey down memory road to a time when Stephen once thought he was invincible. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State has named its next starting quarterback, for now Aug 30, 2023

Ohio State has finally picked its starting quarterback...well, sort of.

Ryan Day announced on Tuesday that Kyle McCord will take the first snap in the season opener against Indiana, but that the plan is for Devin Brown to also play meaningful snaps. So of course Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis had to break down what that means and what that could look like. Then Stephen puts Nathan and Andrew in the shoes of Day asking them how they would handle the quarterback situation to start the season given the current known facts.

That carries the bulk of the pod, but there's also a short discussion about the defense based on Jim Knowles revealing that there is still one position battle taking place in the secondary.

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Discussing Ohio State's remaining recruiting targets Aug 29, 2023

On this Tuesday pod, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State's 2024 recruiting class which heads into the fall with 22 commits and the nation's No. 2 class.

Most of the work for the class has been one, but there are still a few targets left on the board that the Buckeyes hope to land by Signing Day.As OSU shifts its main focus to preparing for games every Saturday, Stephen and Andrew discuss those targets while figuring out its chances of finishing with the nation’s top class.

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Will Ohio State end the four-team College Football Playoff era the same way it began? Mark It Down Monday Aug 28, 2023

The 2023 college football season has arrived, and Stephen Means, Nathan Bard and Andrew Gillis are making their playoff picks on the final Mark It Down Monday before the Ohio State Buckeyes open the season on the road against Indiana on Saturday.

The conversation starts by discussing which team's odds they'd be willing to take on winning the national title. Then it's on to sharing all four of their playoff teams before picking the winners of those semifinals and picking College Football National Champions.

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Ranking Ohio State's top 15 defensive players heading into the 2023 season Aug 25, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Bard and Andrew Gillis (with the help of the text subscribers) complete the second part of its two-day process of deciding who Ohio State's best players are coming into the the 2023 season.

On Thursday that meant figuring out the top 15 players on offense headlined by Marvin Harrison Jr. being the clear top choice. Now it's time to do the same on defense though this time there was more of a competition for No. 1. In fact, there were a few places where multiple people had claim for why they deserved to be on the list.

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Ranking Ohio State's top 15 offensive players heading into the 2023 season Aug 24, 2023

On this Thurday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Bard and Andrew Gillis (with the help of the text subscribers) decide who Ohio State's top 15 offensive players are in the only way they know how, by drafting.

Marvin Harrison Jr. was the obvious choice for the top spot on this list, but that doesn’t mean he was the unanimous choice. But the most intriguing part of the conversation was figuring out where to put Kyle McCord or Devin Brown on this list given neither has won the starting quarterback job yet. The topic created a spicier conversation than you might have anticipated.

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A new president, freshmen wide receivers and Ryan Day wants to keep calling plays: Buckeye Talk Podcast Aug 23, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss a wide range of topics:

First Stephen poses a question about whether any of Ohio State's freshman wide receivers can carve out a role even though the top four are all back
Then a discuss about OSU's reportedly new president hire Ted Carter and what it means in finding Gene Smith's replacement as Athletic Director
Finally, the trio talk about Ryan Day's decision to continue calling plays for the 2023 season.

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Is Ohio State going to start the season playing two quarterbacks? Aug 22, 2023

Ohio State has to play a football game in less than 14 days and it still doesn't have a starting quarterback, but that doesn't have to be a negative. Kyle McCord and Devin Brown continue to battle to be the Buckeyes' next starter and coming out of their second scrimmage of fall camp Ryan Day still thinks its neck-and-neck, but for all the right reasons. Now there is a chance that he could be coming around on the idea of having the competition leak over into the first few weeks of the season.

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss that plus OSU solidifying its offensive line plus a few starters on defense. Then they get into a conversation about the jack and how much — or how little — Jim Knowles plans to use it this year.

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Can Ohio State continue its run of Heisman Trophy finalists? Mark It Down Monday Aug 21, 2023

It’s another Mark It Down Monday, and as the 2023 college football season draws near, it’s time for Stephen Means and Nathan Baird to check in with some major predictions.

In this episode, it’s the Heisman Trophy and Ohio State's recent history of finalists at quarterback. The last three starting quarterbacks have all made their way to New York at least once, but none have ever left with the trophy. Can that change this season regardless of who wins the quarterback battle between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, or will that streak finally end?

They each provide who they think will be the top three for the award, which includes one former OSU quarterback whose career in Columbus was limited to six months and two snaps. Then they reveal who they think will walk away with the award.

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Can Ohio State’s 2023 defensive line be the deepest it’s ever had? Buckeye Talk Podcast Aug 18, 2023

Larry Johnson has had some impressive rooms during his time as Ohio State's defensive line coach and many of those rooms were headlined by Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa or Chase Young. He's four years removed from having any of those players at his disposal and that's shown up in the room's production. But that may be on the verge of changing in 2023 but not because it has one superstar. Johnson's room is filled with potential stars who all may be ready to finally put it all together. Will that depth mean the return of elite defensive play in Columbus?

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Cade Stover, Joe Royer, Keenan Bailey and a discussion about Ohio State's 2023 tight end usage Aug 17, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, the discussion is all about the tight ends as Keenan Bailey enters his first season as a full-time assistant coach for Ohio State. Bailey pointed out that Cade Stover played 58 snaps per game last season (709 total) which is entirely too much in an offense that relies heavily on its tight ends. Stover returns as the proven commodity, but have a healthy Joe Royer and Gee Scott Jr. proven ready to help the fifth-year senior carry some of the load?

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss that, plus a random conversation about chain pizza restaurants and Stover's growing list of farmer euphemisms.

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Josh Simmons, Carson Hinzman, Luke Montgomery, Justin Frye and Ohio State's offensive line battles Aug 16, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis are talking offensive line after meeting with seven Ohio State offensive linemen and Buckeyes' offensive line coach Justin Frye on Tuesday.

The topics on this episode include:

OSU's tackle competitions and whether Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar have already locked up the starting jobs
Can Tegra Tshabola and Luke Montgomery set themselves up to be Ohio State's future
The ongoing competition between Carson Hinzman and Vic Cutler to be the Buckeyes' next starting center.

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Why Ryan Day feels there still isn't a leader in Ohio State's quarterback battle Aug 15, 2023

Ryan Day provided an update on how Ohio State's first scrimmage of fall camp went as it continues to prepare for the 2023 season.

No one expected him to name a starting quarterback, but there was a thought that he’d potentially reveal who may be starting to separate. Instead, he talked about what would need to happen for him to do so as Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis react.

Among the things the trio discussed on this Tuesday Buckeye Talk:

Neither Kyle McCord or Devin Brown have started separating n the quarterback battle, but should that be a reason for panic?
Day emphatic champions Treveyon Henderson as the former five-star running back enters his third season.
Day isn’t ready to name starters yet, but has OSU already found its best five on the offensive line
Where are the Buckeyes in the preseason Associated Press Poll and where would the BUckeye Talk crew have voted them?

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Ohio State football 2023 stat predictions, from TreVeyon Henderson rushing yards to Emeka Egbuka receiving yards: Mark It Down Monday Aug 14, 2023

On this almost two-hour-long Buckeye Talk Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis make some interesting stat predictions for Ohio State's 2023 season. Here are the stat topics the trio discussed:

Defensive tackles playing the most snaps
How many yards per play will the defense give up
TreVeyon Henderson's rushing yards
Miyan Williams' rushing attempts
How many carries will Dallan have
Emeka Egbuka's receiving yards
Julian Fleming's catches
Who will be fourth among receivers in catches
Cade Stover receptions
The passing yards and touchdowns of the eventual winner of the starting quarterback battle between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown
How many yards per play will the offensive average

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How many positions on Ohio State's roster are championship-caliber? Aug 11, 2023

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the 2023 Ohio State roster by deciding which positions they think are championship caliber. But first, they detail the second full practice they were able to watch, though the 12-period session was much shorter than normal as the Buckeyes prepare for their first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday. Then the debate begins breaking down the defensive line, offensive line, linebackers, running backs, wide receivers, cornerbacks, quarterbacks and tight ends.

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What Gene Smith’s retirement means for Ohio State football: Buckeye Talk Podcast Aug 09, 2023

Gene Smith is retiring and it could mean everything to the Ohio State football program. Smith has spent almost 20 years as OSU's Athletic Director becoming one of the more influential people in college sports in the process. He arrived in 2005 while Jim Tressel was head coach, placed Luke Fickell in charge in 2011 following 'Tattoo Gate', brought in Urban Meyer resulting in a national title in 2014 then found Meyer's successor in Ryan Day who's headed the program since 2019.

On this Thursday episode, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Smith's decision and what it means for the future of the Ohio State football program in a national landscape that seems to be changing by the year. Plus an update from Ryan Day as OSU heads into its first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday.

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Sonny Styles, Lathan Ransom and the potential depth in Ohio State's safety room Aug 09, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss their interviews Tuesday with safeties coach Perry Eliano and several Ohio State safeties.

Covered in this episode:

Have the Buckeyes already found its top three safeties?
Why the 2023 safety room can be better than the 2022 room
Can Sonny Styles contend for the title of being OSU’s best defensive player?

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How will Ohio State handle its deep, talented running back room? Aug 08, 2023

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis talked with Ohio State's running backs on Saturday as Tony Alford discussed what might be his deepest room since he joined the staff in 2015.

It also meant talking with Dallan Hayden, TreVeyon Henderson, Evan Pryor and Miyan Williams. Covered in this episode;

How does Evan Pryor fit into the equation after missing all of 2022 with an injury?
Has Dallan Hayden already claimed the role of RB3 and can he build on a quality freshman year?
Will Chip Trayanum's role extend past special teams?
What more can Miyan Williams show us this season?
Can TreVeyon Henderson complete the J.K. Dobbins arc with an All-American-level junior season?
Then the trio have a short convo on the vibe around Ohio State's recruiting after losing the battle for five-star safety K.J. Bolden to Florida State

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Predicting Ohio State’s 22 starters vs. Indiana: Mark It Down Monday Aug 07, 2023

It's a Mark It Down Monday on Buckeye Talk, and this one deals with Ohio State's season-opener against Indiana on Sept. 2.

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis mark down start for the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball in that game.

It's a way for the trio to talk about the Ohio State position battles while also putting them on the spot for a prediction: Name the 11 players who will take the first snap on offense and the 11 who will take the first snap on defense.

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What Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten means for Ohio State: Emergency Pod Aug 04, 2023

The Big Ten might be on the verge of expanding...again.A year after the announcement that USC and UCLA would be leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, reports have now come out that they may be bringing others.

In this emergency Friday pod, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the potential additions of Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten. Then three trio discuss the only important topic in this potential 18-team Big Ten: Does it actually matter to the Ohio State football program?

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Ohio State starts 2023 fall camp: Day 1, what we saw and heard Aug 04, 2023

Ohio State went through its first day of fall camp practice and the media was able to watch all of it.

Right after Jim Knowles and the rest of the linebackers spoke with a much healthier group than they had in the spring. That means there’s a lot to talk about. Among the things Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discussed:

Does Kyle McCord already have the edge over Devin Brown in the quarterback battle?
What’s the word on the starting offensive line?
Jim Knowles names the Buckeyes’ starting cornerbacks
There’s a second-year safety who may be ready to breakout
A captain on defense that’s changing positions

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Driving the bus for Ohio State Buckeyes ready to break out in 2023 Aug 03, 2023

The time has come once again on Buckeye Talk to drive the bus as Ohio State prepares for the 2023 season. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird, Andrew Gillis and the texters offer up the Ohio State football players they believe in the most for the 2022 season. But before getting into that, Stephen and Nathan provide updates from Ryan Day and the quarterbacks as they preview fall camp. Then the fun begins as the guys claim their buses and find out if their thought process aligned with the texters

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Previewing Ohio State’s defense heading into fall camp: Buckeye Talk Podcast Aug 02, 2023

Ohio State will open up fall camp on Thursday as it starts preparation for the 2023 season.

Jim Knowles enters his second year as defensive coordinator and brings back with him a ton of experience why also adding a few key pieces in the transfer portal. Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss OSU’s defense and some things they’re interested to find out.

As part of the discussion:

Will C.J. Hicks push for time with the starting linebackers?
How will the defensive line rotation play out?
Will Sonny Styles claim a starting safety role and who else will start alongside Lathan Ransom?
Is this the most depth Ohio State’s had at cornerback in the Ryan Day era?
Will the Jack finally make its proper debut thanks to a healthy Mitchell Melton?

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Previewing Ohio State’s offense heading into fall camp Aug 01, 2023

Ohio State will open up fall camp on Thursday as it starts preparation for the 2023 season.

While quarterback is the most interesting topic for the Buckeyes on offense as they replace C.J. Stroud, it’s not the other player where there are questions. Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss OSU’s offense and some things they’re interested to find out about.

As part of the discussion:

Things start with a discussion about what’s happening on the recruiting trail where the Buckeyes spent the past five days getting both good and bad news across multiple classes.
What will the offensive line look like on Day 1 and how will it evolve over the next month?
Cade Stover is the starting tight end. But in a room with six scholarship players is there legitimate depth behind him?
Brian Hartline returns all three starting wide receivers while a battle carries on behind them. Can anyone start making headway to be a starter in 2024?
With five talented options, how will Tony Alford handle things in the running back room?

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Predicting Ohio State’s 2023 first-team All-Americans: Mark It Down Monday Jul 31, 2023

It's another Mark it Down Monday as Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss who they think will be the next Ohio State players to earn trees in Buckeye Grove as first-team All-Americans. As part of the discuss the three talk:

Can Marvin Harrison Jr. repeat as a unanimous selection and if so, can another wide receiver potentially join him in Buckeye Grove?
Will a defensive player earn the honor after no having a single player do so for the past three seasons?
OSU has constantly had elite quarterback play, but had one earn a tree since 2006. Does that drought end in 2023?
How many first-team All-Americans will Ohio State have and which side of the ball will have more?

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Kenyatta Jackson, Luke Montgomery and the Ohio State players who might surprise you in 2023 Jul 28, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis wrap up the 2023 Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis while also answering a few questions from our texters Here’s what’s discussed:

Can Luke Montgomery push for a significant role on the offensive line as a true freshman? And the overall status of the offensive line.
Is Sonny Styles ready to claim a starting spot?
Will Kenyatta build on a quality spring on his way to carving out a role on the defensive line? And the overall status of the defensive line.
How will Ohio State handle a deep running back room?
What will be the most ‘exciting’ and ‘boring’ games on the Buckeyes’ schedule?
Which player and/or position group will surprise people this season?

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Jim Harbaugh vs. Luke Fickell: Who's the bigger threat to Ohio State's Big Ten future? Jul 27, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis are reporting from the second day of Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis. Here’s what’s discussed:

How would the Big Ten refs have handled Marvin Harrison Jr.’s non-targeting call in the Sugar Bowl?
Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines speak as the reigning Big Ten champion while Luke Fickell makes his official media day debut as Wisconsin’s head coach
Can Fickell make the Badgers a bigger threat to Ohio State's title hopes than the Wolverines?

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Is Ryan Day open to moving the Ohio State-Michigan game? Jul 27, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis are reporting from Big Ten media days in Indianapolis. Here’s what’s discussed:

What’s the status of the quarterback battle between Devin Brown and Kyle McCord?
Marvin Harrison Jr., Cade Stover and J.T. Tuimoloau serve as team representatives. What did each have to say about the upcoming season?
Ryan Day isn’t against moving the Ohio State-Michigan game once the 12-team playoff arrives. Does he have a point?

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Has Ohio State fallen behind Michigan as the face of the Big Ten? Jul 25, 2023

Once again the Big Ten refuses to put out actual preseason awards or season predictions. So for the 13th straight year, Cleveland.com takes on the responsibility with the annual Preseason Big Ten Poll. With that poll released, here’s what Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and newcomer Andrew Gillis discuss:

This is a poll that Ohio State has often dominated as the standard of the conference, but is that starting to change?
Marvin Harrison Jr. is clearly the Big Ten’s best offensive player, but is he best positioned to win the postseason award that goes along with the status?
Who will win Defensive Player of the Year in a season loaded with options?
Which team has the toughest road environment?

Thanks, as always, for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State loses a linebacker to Notre Dame and answering your questions about ... us Jul 24, 2023

Welcome to our first podcast with the new crew of Nathan, Stephen and Andrew Gillis. We start things off with a discussion of Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa's commitment to Notre Dame. He had been the first player Ohio State offered in the 2024 class, and until recently, he was considered a Buckeye lean. What does his decision mean for what OSU will do at linebacker now with two commitments already at the position? Also, what does his commitment mean in the ongoing recruiting battle with Notre Dame?

Then we get into our Buckeye Talk Subtext subscriber questions about the future of our podcast. Among the topics discussed:

• What, if anything, will change?

• Will the pods be shorter now?

• Who will do impressions of players and coaches around the country?

• What are Andrew's hot food takes?

• Is Andrew any good at picking games?

• Our reaction to OSU selling tickets to practices for NIL income

• What do we think of the alternate uniforms for the Michigan State game?

That and more as the season draws closer to its start and we embark on a new beginning.

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A goodbye, a hello, and fighting robots in Ohio State coverage Jul 21, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, a torch is passed. This is the final Buckeye Talk episode for Doug Lesmerises as a cleveland.com employee (maybe he'll be allowed back as a guest one day) and the first Buckeye Talk for a new addition to cleveland.com's coverage of Ohio State and this podcast.

How this ep goes down:

(0:30) Thoughts about covering Ohio State
(8:12) Introduction of the newest member of Buckeye Talk (you must listen to meet him!)
(15:29) What Joe Burrow is like in the NFL
(22:55) Balancing OSU coverage
(25:31) What will AI mean for the future of sports coverage? (This is the robot part)
(29:53) The role of Buckeye Talk in cleveland.com's OSU coverage
(49:12) The future of Buckeye Talk
(1:12:44) A final goodbye

Thanks, as always, for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Inside Ohio State's path to a national championship in 2023 Jul 20, 2023

Can the Ohio State Buckeyes win the national title this season? On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird dive into that question.

The idea isn't necessarily to answer it, though there are some playoff and national title picks at the end of the pod.

But the idea is to run through the real hurdles that Ohio State would have to overcome to win it all. And are those hurdles inside the program or outside it?

(0:30) First comes a look at Ohio State from 2019 to 2022 and what it was that kept the Buckeyes from winning it all those seasons
(23:46) Then it's a look into this year, with text subscribers chiming in about the chances of a title compared to last season
(1:06:07) Then Doug runs through recent history and what obstacles stopped the Buckeyes when they didn't win titles between 2005 and 2018
(1:13:20) Finally, it's time for some picks about this season.

This is Doug's penultimate Buckeye Talk, which is why it was time to talk national title right now. Thanks as always for listening.

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Favorite Ohio State memories and a Buckeye Talk announcement Jul 19, 2023

This Wednesday Buckeye Talk episode begins with an announcement and then continues with nearly three hours of appreciation.

Doug Lesmerises is leaving cleveland.com and Buckeye Talk. The pod will continue with Nathan Baird and Stephen Means and a potential addition, and you'll find Doug somewhere else out there in podcast land pursuing a chance he couldn't turn down.

Doug will be on two more episodes on Thursday and Friday, but on this episode he answers more than 40 questions from text subscribers about his favorite Ohio State games, players, coaches and memories, and his favorite episodes and aspects of Buckeye Talk.

This went super long, but there was a lot to remember, and a lot for Doug to be grateful about. This podcast audience has been the highlight of his career, and he wouldn't be where he is without these listeners.

So strap in for lots of memories ... or skip this one and look forward to next week and the new future of Buckeye Talk.

Thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your Ohio State fandom.

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Preseason preview with Phil Steele -- The Big Ten East has 3 of the 5 best teams Jul 18, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Phil Steele -- from Phil Steele's College Football Preview -- to talk about the 2023 college football season.

Among the subjects covered:

Why the Big Ten has four of the five best running back rooms in the country
Comparing Ohio State's receivers to everyone else
Michigan's offensive line
Penn State's defense
Wisconsin as a surprise team
How Western Kentucky and Notre Dame might fare against the Buckeyes
Are Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State three of the five best teams in the country?

Plus condolences at the end of the pod to Ohio State freshman receiver Carnell Tate on the death of his mother, Ashley.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Where should Ohio State be ranked in the preseason? Plus life as a tourist and restaurant etiquette on Monday Madness Jul 17, 2023

On this Monday Madness from Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are talking preseason polls and Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eating', Whatcha Thinkin'?

First, (0:30) they dive into Ohio State's history in the Associated Press preseason poll. How are the Buckeyes viewed with a returning QB vs. when they have a new QB? And what does that mean for the 2023 Buckeyes, who will have a new starting quarterback? Doug and Nathan predict where they will, and should be, ranked.

Then (21:41) it's a look at the bigger picture and who should be and will be No. 1 in the preseason poll. Where will Michigan be ranked compared to Ohio State? And in the cleveland.com preseason Big Ten poll that will drop next week, which team is the likely favorite?

Finally (42:31) it's talk about watching, eating and thinking.

That includes a boring movie and an exciting TV show; Pizza Hut in Paris; and whether being a tourist is a good or bad thing, and how you should handle an unsatisfactory meal in a restaurant.

Football and nonsense ... thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk.

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Change one game: The Ohio State loss to Georgia, Michigan State, Florida, Michigan, Clemson, etc. the Buckeyes would want to reverse Jul 14, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises are playing off the Thursday episode that dug into the 1998 Ohio State-Michigan State game. Was that the most devastating loss in Ohio State history? The one game that fans would want to reverse the outcome of?

Or would it be another game, maybe a loss by a great OSU team with national title hopes to an opponent like Michigan, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, USC or another team?

Doug made a top-10 list of the results he thinks the Buckeyes would most want to change, and Nathan gathered an array of answers from text subscribers to come up with their list of the most popular games to undo.

It makes for an interesting look at the long, successful history of Ohio State by examining how many times a single loss in a season kept them from a title.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Michigan State 1998 -- Pain and lessons from a great team's only loss on Buckeye ReTalkables Jul 14, 2023

It's another edition of Buckeye ReTalkables on Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird look back on and discuss Ohio State's 28-24 loss to Michigan State in 1998 season.

The Buckeyes were No. 1 coming into this game in this first year of the BCS, and this upset in Ohio Stadium was the only loss of the year for this John Cooper team.

Michigan State was an average team coming in, but was coached by legend in the making Nick Saban, and the Spartans had future high first-round picks on both sides of the ball.

Ohio State featured five future first-round picks on defense and a high-powered passing offense that makes for some interesting comparisons to the 2023 Ohio State offense, from Joe Germaine at quarterback to Michael Wiley at running back to David Boston at receiver.

This is a painful rewatch and discussion for Ohio State fans, but there's a lot of interesting college football history to discuss and maybe some lessons to be learned.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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The traffic pod: Merging, driverless cars, Ohio State gameday plans, and idiots on the road Jul 12, 2023

It's finally the traffic podcast you've been promised on this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises is joined by Ohio State professor Dr. Benjamin Coifman.

Dr. Coifman is a traffic expert who studies traffic flow and driver dynamics, among other things, and he's here to talk about all the things that drive you nuts on the road and the way we maybe can all be a bit better out there.

The topics:

(0:30) How people think they drive compared to other people
(9:05) Ohio State traffic on gameday and how the school handles it
(16:28) Leaving gaps at a traffic light
(23:06) Roundabouts
(28:24) Etiquette when merging in construction
(36:22) When traffic appears for no reason
(42:32) What individual drivers can do to help traffic
(48:15) The future of autonomous vehicles

We like the occasional off-topic offseason pod, and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Northwestern fires Pat Fitzgerald as college leadership stumbles again Jul 11, 2023

Pat Fitzgerald was fired as the head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats on Monday, and though this is Buckeye Talk and a podcast about Ohio State, that kind of Big Ten news merits a discussion. And there are Ohio State lessons involved with this from how the Buckeyes handled Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer in the past.

Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird discuss this mess from several angles:

(0:30) Reaction to the Fitzgerald firing
(10:05) How would Ohio State have handled this situation?
(22:06) The constant balance around the power of a football coach
(42:29) Where will the Northwestern football program go from here?
(50:00) A final wrap from Doug, including Fitzgerald's statement

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Tommy Eichenberg's legacy and Ohio State's leading tackler: Mark It Down Monday Jul 10, 2023

Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg ranked second in the Big Ten in tackles last season while earning second-team All-American. He's back, so will he lead the Buckeyes in tackles again?

On this Mark It Down Monday on Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about Eichenberg's potential place in Ohio State history, and then make their predictions on a tackle leader for this season.

(0:30) The player Eichenberg has been, and could be in 2023
(22:58) Other candidates to lead the Buckeyes in tackles
(33:26) Marking down predictions for Ohio State's tackle leader and how many he'll have

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The national title Ohio State should win; another recruit; the assistants to add; and more Jul 07, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are hitting several topics on the Ohio State Buckeyes:

(0:52) The addition of cornerback recruit Miles Lockhart
(13:55) Would the Buckeyes rather win the national title in 2023 or 2024?
(30:28) Which Buckeye would the guys most and least want to box?
(39:29) If and when schools can hire more assistant coaches, what will the Buckeyes do?
(1:00:03) What's on a player and what's on a program when it comes to development?
(1:15:08) With an increase in playoff games, what will happen to old records?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The 10 greatest threats to Ohio State football Jul 06, 2023

What are the greatest threats to the continued high-level success of Ohio State football? What are the internal issues that could trip up the Buckeyes? What Big Ten competition could make the future more difficult? How about changes on the evolving national college football landscape?

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, off a great suggestion from an Ohio State text subscriber, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means rank their 10 greatest threats to Ohio State football over the next five to 10 years.

And when it comes to those threats, how real are they? Doug and Stephen also discuss if they really believe there are multiple things that could shake the Buckeyes from their perch near the top of college football.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State's defensive recruiting standard, with Justin Scott in and Marquise Lightfoot out Jul 04, 2023

Justin Scott committed to Ohio State on Sunday, and Marquise Lightfoot picked Miami over the Buckeyes on Monday. It was two major defensive decisions as the Buckeyes try to get back to their old standard of recruiting on the defensive side of the ball.

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk (Happy 4th) Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means break down the state of talent acquisition on defense.

That starts with a long look at the decision of top-20 player and 310-pound defensive tackle Scott to choose the Buckeyes.

Then it's onto edge rusher Lightfoot picking the Hurricanes over Ohio State.

In that are long debates about the recruiting of defensive line coach Larry Johnson; of what the Buckeyes have done lately in the Chicago area (where both Scott and Lightfoot are from); and about the last time Ohio State landed a player like Scott.

The last part of the episode then focuses on comparing Ohio State defensive recruiting in 2024 to previous OSU defensive classes. And it outlines the major defensive targets still on the board for the Buckeyes, when they are scheduled to commit, and who the Buckeyes are recruiting against.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Does Ohio State need to throw more often? Mark It Down Monday Jul 03, 2023

On this Mark It Down Monday, the statistical prediction is a little more complicated. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means aren't looking at an individual stat -- they are marking down what percent of plays for the 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes will be pass plays, and how many will be run plays.

To do that, they look at run-pass OSU percentages of the recent past; they compare the OSU passing game to other successful throwing teams like Washington and Tennessee; and they wonder how much Brian Hartline calling plays, the presence of a quarterback competition and other factors will affect the run-pass balance.

And then they mark it down. Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Where Ohio State is 20 years ahead of Michigan Jul 01, 2023

On this weekend Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is talking about the new national focus for Michigan, which has reportedly instituted a Beat Georgia practice period.

Doug theorizes (0:30) that means Ohio State is 20 years ahead of Michigan in being a national program.

Then he (11:35) compares the top-10 wins in the histories of the two programs and what that tells us about their national ambitions and success.

Finally (24:16) it's what a bit of a Georgia focus by the Wolverines would mean for the Ohio State-Michigan game.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Weird that it's this short, eh?

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The most dominant part of Ohio State's offense Jun 29, 2023

What is the single most dominant aspect of Ohio State's offense? On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means give their answer to that question from an Ohio State text subscriber.

Doug is back from vacation (0:30) and ready to jabber, and that means everyone needs to be ready to give and defend their answers.

First Nathan (3:13), then Stephen (21:02), then Doug (48:38).

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Are Ohio State and Michigan destined for overtime in The Game in 2023? Jun 28, 2023

Ohio State and Michigan have played only one overtime game -- the 2016 classic that sent the Buckeyes to the playoff. Could they be destined for their second such outcome in The Game in Ann Arbor on Nov. 25? Tyler Shoemaker, Buckeye Talk's resident oddsmaker, joins the show to discuss his preseason power rankings. That includes a razor-thin margin for the regular-season finale at the Big House.

Tyler also discusses why Ohio State's offense remains so highly ranked despite many preseason questions, why the Buckeye defense is expected to be better and what his numbers say about the rest of the Big Ten Conference. While Tyler's numbers are meant to be compared to betting lines, what do they tell us about what we expect from the Buckeyes for reasons beyond the cold, hard numbers?

Discussion topics include:

• (1:30) Tyler explains the TSI and how he tweaked his system for 2023.

• (6:00) What the TSI predicts for Ohio State

• (7:45) Why the OSU-Michigan rankings caused Tyler to double-check his numbers

• (9:00) Why Tyler's numbers still predict OSU to have the nation's best offense despite new QB, offensive line questions, etc.

• (17:15) What TSI predicts for Ohio State's defense, and why

• (23:30) How TSI accounts for teams like Michigan that outperform their recruiting rankings

• (28:00) What TSI predicts for The Game against Michigan

• (36:30) How Ohio State's strength of schedule affects its win-loss prediction

• (43:00) How a Drew Allar breakout would affect Penn State relative to its expectations and other predictions around the Big Ten

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Predicting Aaron Scott, KJ Bolden, Eddrick Houston and more to complete Ohio State's 2024 recruiting class Jun 27, 2023

With two more commitments from last weekend's batch of official visits, Ohio State now has 16 for its 2024 recruiting class. How large will that class grow -- and more importantly, who will be in it? Stephen Means gives Nathan Baird his predictions for what could be one of the highest-rated Buckeye classes in recent history.

• (2:00) Did Ohio State need commitments last weekend to build momentum into the summer?

• (4:00) Is the Glenville pipeline to OSU "reopened" or was it simply not flowing for a while?

• (8:30) How crucial is the Bryce West commitment, and where is his long-term fit in this secondary?

• (11:00) Does OSU also need a commitment from Aaron Scott to call cornerback recruiting a win for this cycle?

• (12:30) Does landing West help OSU also get a commitment from Scott?

• (14:30) What is the best comparable for Demarion Witten as an OSU tight end?

• (16:00) Why did Ohio State need a two tight-end class for 2024?

• (17:45) Discussing Buckeye Talk Subtext subscriber survey results on offensive and defensive recruiting.

• (25:30) Who is the class' most important commitment so far?

• (26:30) What is the biggest recruiting "win" so far for this class?

• (29:20): Must underrated commitment to this point?

• (31:00) Toughest battle ahead to hold on to an existing commit?

• (32:15) Biggest positional need still unfilled?

• (36:45) How large will this class be, and why will OSU take that many?

• (38:15) Why does Stephen think the Buckeyes will get both KJ Bolden and Eddrick Houston from Buford, Georgia?

• (43:00) What are the fall-back options at safety if Bolden is unavailable?

• (46:30) Is edge rusher the biggest remaining need for this class and who will fill it?

• (50:00) Why is this trending to be a linebacker-heavy class?

• (52:20) Does OSU need two highly ranked offensive tackles in this class?

• (55:30) Predicting the final pieces of the class.

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Does Ohio State need a big-time sack leader this season, and who could it be? Mark It Down Monday Jun 26, 2023

Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall Jr. tied for the Ohio State team lead in sacks last season with 4.5. The year before, Haskell Garrett led the team with 5.5. In the last full season before that, Chase Young led the Buckeyes with 16.5.

That's quite a drop off.

So who will lead the Buckeyes in sacks in 2023, and how many will they have? Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means make their predictions on the latest Mark It Down Monday on Buckeye Talk.

(0:30) Does Ohio State need more sacks as a team to succeed?
(16:44) Discussing the candidates to lead the Buckeyes in sacks
(40:40) Marking down sack predictions for 2023

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State-Michigan 2016 and a stunning revelation on the rewatch: Buckeye ReTalkables Jun 23, 2023

It's time for another Buckeye Retalkables, and up on this episode of Buckeye Talk is Ohio State vs. Michigan from 2016, as the No. 2 Buckeyes hosted the No. 3 Wolverines.

This was Jim Harbaugh's second year as a head coach in the rivalry and the Wolverines, with a veteran team, had a real chance coming into Columbus. The Buckeyes prevailed 30-27 in double overtime thanks to Curtis Samuel, and in victory Urban Meyer considered this a legendary win for the Buckeyes.

More than six years removed, what do Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means think now?

There are all the usual ReTalkables categories, but this episode is really about two major revelations. Plus, there's some good Nick Bosa talk.

Thanks for listening to another ReTalkables on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Tavien St. Clair commits as Ohio State wraps up camp season Jun 22, 2023

Ohio State's summer camps wrapped up with a big commitment Wednesday. Bellefontaine's Tavien St. Clair completed his rise to the top of the Buckeyes' 2025 quarterback board. Stephen Means reports on how this commitment came together, what kind of player St. Clair is and how he fits in with the program's long-term quarterback project.

Stephen and Nathan also discussed former OSU 2024 quarterback commit Dylan Raiola's transfer from Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona, to Buford, Georgia. Not only is that the back yard of his future college program, Georgia, but it is the high school of two major OSU targets in the 2024 class. Where does the Buckeyes' pursuit of safety KJ Bolden and defensive end Eddrick Houston stand?

Finally, Stephen looks ahead to another round of official visits -- particularly a huge weekend for OSU's battle for two cornerbacks.

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Which young Buckeye will be Ohio State's 100th first-round draft pick? Jun 21, 2023

Podcasting and text surveys shouldn't feel like homework, but for this edition of Buckeye Talk, they sort of did. So instead of only looking at the past, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are also predicting the future of Ohio State in the NFL Draft.

The last section of this episode is the top 16 picks in the Ultimate Ohio State Draft from the text subscribers. Where are they similar and different to what Doug, Nathan and Stephen did on their two episodes of the Ultimate Draft?

But the first two parts of the pod look at when Ohio State will get to 100 first-round picks. The Buckeyes currently lead all colleges with 90 first-rounders. When will No. 100 come -- in 2026? 2027? And which Buckeye could be that No. 100?

Doug also has an idea for holding the NFL Draft in Columbus, and the guys look at whether 10 first-rounders in three years would be a stretch or in line with OSU draft history.

And then no more Ultimate Draft talk after this. For now, thanks for indulging in this exercise and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Garrett Wilson vs. David Boston vs. Chris Olave: Ultimate Ohio State Draft of NFL prospects, Part 2 Jun 20, 2023

Which Ohio State receiver is the best NFL Draft prospect ever at that position? That's one of the debates and discussions on Part 2 of The Ultimate Ohio State Draft of NFL draft prospects conducted by Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means.

Don't miss Part 1, in which Doug, Nathan and Stephen made Picks 1-16 on a previous Buckeye Talk episode. This episode is the continuation of that, and there are still plenty of all-time Buckeyes to come off the board, including Garrett Wilson, Eddie George, A.J. Hawk, David Boston and more.

The rules are that the real 90 Buckeyes who have been drafted in the first round in NFL Draft history are eligible to be picked. The guys then act like current NFL GMs and draft for the modern day based on the skills and draft places of Buckeyes across the decades.

Major Buckeyes like C.J. Stroud, Orlando Pace and Nick Bosa came off the board in the previous episode. Now it's time for the second half of this all-time first round, and that means the first receiver will be drafted. Is it Boston? Wilson? Olave?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State's greatest NFL Draft prospect ever: The Bosas, Orlando Pace, Justin Fields and The Ultimate Ohio State Draft Jun 19, 2023

Who is the greatest Ohio State draft prospect ever? How do the best Buckeyes compare to each other in how they were viewed by the NFL coming out of college?

On this Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means try to answer those questions with The Ultimate Ohio State Draft. This is the first of two parts as the guys make picks 1 through 16 from the 90 Ohio State Buckeyes who were actual first-round NFL choices.

Where will quarterbacks like C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields go in this Buckeye-only draft? Who is the first cornerback off the board? Where do the Bosa brothers fit in with Chase Young and other OSU defensive stars? How about all the great OSU offensive tackles, including Orlando Pace?

This is the difficult idea of drafting these Buckeyes as NFL prospects -- not based on how good or accomplished they were in college, or how much they succeeded in the NFL, but on how the pros viewed them at the time they were leaving Columbus.

Only those first-round players were eligible for this ultimate draft. Part 2 will follow soon, but for now, enjoy this start of The Ultimate Ohio State draft from Buckeye Talk.

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Air Noland vs. Dylan Raiola and Tavien St. Clair vs. Ryan Montgomery for Ohio State's QB future Jun 16, 2023

Air Noland and Dylan Raiola will forever be linked as Ohio State's quarterback commits in the 2024 class. They went head-to-head this week at the Elite 11 showcase, where Noland showed where he stands next to now-Georgia commit Raiola and the rest of the best.

Back home, in-state Class of 2025 quarterbacks Tavien St. Clair and Ryan Montgomery worked out for Corey Dennis and Ryan Day prior to one of OSU's summer camps. Both will be back on campus next week. Has St. Clair's physical development over the past year made him the likely front-runner to be the Buckeyes' QB in that class?

Finally, an update on in-state cornerbacks Bryce West and Aaron Scott, who are also both scheduled to camp with the Buckeyes next week. How big of a threat is Michigan to OSU pulling off a sweep of these top-100 prospects?

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Being an Ohio State fan isn't fun? Strong reactions to the joys and burdens of following the Buckeyes Jun 15, 2023

Are the expectations for Ohio State football creating a burden that fans feel, and that affects their enjoyment of their very successful program?

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises once again dives into talk about his joy initiative and the hope that all OSU fans can love following their team. Some texters are sick of this topic already, and maybe so are you. But there are some interesting survey answers in this episode to questions like:

Does the burden of expectations make rooting for the Buckeyes less fun at all?
Have you ever thought you cared too much about Ohio State football?
What is the best type of team to root for?
Is Ohio State the most successful team you root for?
Do you root for a second college football team?
On a scale of 1-10, what's your joy vs. angst when it comes to rooting for the Buckeyes?

There are comparisons made to the best teams in North American sports, and strong words on both sides when it comes to how OSU fans should view and handle expectations.

It's a feelings pod more than a football pod, which sometimes happens here. As always, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Talent vs. fit in the Ohio State defense, plus Marvin Harrison Jr., Mike Vrabel and more: Rapid Fire Jun 14, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird react to some recent texter questions and comments around the topics percolating on Buckeye Talk. The discussion points:

(0:30) How should the Buckeyes gather talent for this Jim Knowles version of defense and what can be learned from the players at Oklahoma State?
(37:19) More on the TV package for the Big Ten and the outcome for OSU fans
(43:32) Why Marvin Harrison Jr. could take a statistical step back
(48:02) The type of head coach, from a media perspective, the guys would want to cover
(59:05) More discussion of Mike Vrabel and Marcus Freeman as possible future OSU head coaches

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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5-stars in Columbus, and Buckeyes get a safety commit: Recruiting Camp Insider Jun 13, 2023

It's news and analysis from two days of Ohio State recruiting camps on this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

The Buckeyes hosted camps last Thursday and on Monday, and Stephen Means was there. He talks with Doug Lesmerises about:

(1:40) The 2024 commit the Buckeyes landed Monday from Jaylen McClain
(7:20) The defensive 5-stars Ohio State is targeting in this class
(11:10) OSU vs. Georgia recruiting battles
(14:05) 5-star linebacker Sammy Brown choosing Clemson
(17:30) Ohio State's ranking in the 2024 class
(19:00) How many more commits OSU should get this month
(20:02) The remaining recruiting camp schedule
(21:00) The official visitors at Ohio State
(22:14) The 5-stars in Columbus on Monday
(27:30) The opponents making it harder for OSU in recruiting
(38:02) The big target for OSU OL coach Justin Frye
(39:52) Young WR Chris Henry Jr. visits again
(45:00) Previewing OSU pledge Ari Noland at the Elite 11 camp

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. Expect a couple more camp update episodes over the next week.

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Faith in Ryan Day: The evolution of Ohio State's coach and how much fans believe in him Jun 12, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, it's a deep dive into Ohio State head coach Ryan Day with Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird.

With the help of a survey of Ohio State text subscribers, Doug and Nathan look at the evolution of Day as a head coach and discuss what might be different, better or worse for the OSU boss as he enters his fifth season. The first four years included three playoff appearances and a 1-2 record against Michigan, so how much do OSU fans believe in Day right now? And how much has he changed after his hiring for the 2019 season with no previous full-time head coach experience?

The topics covered include:

Ohio State's decision to hire Day as a rookie head coach
Comparing Day and Lincoln Riley
Day's changes for the Michigan game and what he felt he did wrong last year
The plan to hand over play calling to Brian Hartline
Overall faith in Day
Faith in Day against Michigan
A comparison for his final evolution as a head coach

And more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Is Ohio State’s new Big Ten schedule bad for the Buckeyes? Jun 09, 2023

The Big Ten released its football opponents for 2024 and 2025 in the new 16-team conference with no divisions. For Ohio State, it’s a new world of games, with teams like Penn State, Michigan State and Rutgers on the schedule less frequently, teams like Northwestern, Illinois and Iowa on the schedule more frequently, and USC and UCLA joining the ranks as new conference opponents.

Over the 24 regular-season games in 2024 and 2025 that had been scheduled for the Buckeyes previously, eight opponents have changed. That includes the Buckeyes no longer playing Penn State every season.

Is this better for Ohio State fans? Worse? Just different? Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird break all that down on the latest Buckeye Talk.

Thanks for listening.

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Ohio Stadium home-field advantage, QB plans, Notre Dame trolling and more: Rants Jun 08, 2023

It's time for more Ohio State rants on this Thursday Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises responds to the strong words of Ohio State text subscribers.

The topics, in order:

The future of freshman QB Lincoln Keinholz and the history of quarterbacks recruited by the Buckeyes
How Michigan should be covered on Buckeye Talk
Why Josh Simmons should start at right tackle
Home-field advantage at Ohio Stadium
Fat is flavor
Is Notre Dame trolling the Big Ten?
Mobile apps are annoying
Stop talking about Big Ten money

Thanks as always to the texters for their rants and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Who's the leading scorer? Will a terrible season pay off? Ohio State basketball reset Jun 07, 2023

Last season was a low point for the Ohio State basketball program as the Buckeyes finished 13th in the Big Ten. Will this season's team benefit from the growing pains of a year ago?

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means reset an Ohio State program that should have a rotation this season of three sophomores, three freshmen, three transfers and a senior. Will that work? How much will the rest of the Big Ten stand in their way? Is there an opening for the Buckeyes to take a big jump? All of that is included in this hoops discussion.

First (0:30) is a look at how the Buckeyes might fit in with the Big Ten considering what players other teams kept and lost.

Then (6:46) it's a look at the three big-time returning sophomores, headlined by point guard Bruce Thornton.

Then (19:08) it's a discussion of Brice Sensabaugh going to the NBA Draft.

Then (24:50) the potential freshmen contributors and the transfers (28:17).

Finally (46:04) what could the Buckeyes do better as program, (50:57) where does Chris Holtmann fit in among Big Ten coaches and how (56:30) should Holtmann's job status be viewed?

Thanks for listening to this basketball Buckeye Talk. Next episode is back to football.

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Ohio State rapid fire: Coaching succession plans, Big Ten divisions, Jim Knowles recruiting and more Jun 06, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, it's a load of Ohio State football questions in rapid fire and a little nonsense with Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means.

The topics:

(0:30) Will a Big Ten with no divisions be good or bad?
(27:35) Who's the next defensive line coach after Larry Johnson?
(40:59) What's wrong with freshmen offensive linemen playing?
(49:58) Eating food off the bone
(56:11) Greg Studrawa's health in his last years at OSU and what the effect was
(1:03:27) What to think of Jim Knowles' recruiting?
(1:13:44) Will any schools ever get punished over NIL?
(1:24:19) Eliminating hurdling over tacklers?
(1:32:00) Angry Bama vs. Angry Doug

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Will Marvin Harrison Jr. break Jaxon Smith-Njigba's receiving record? Mark It Down Monday Jun 05, 2023

Jaxon Smith-Njigba set Ohio State's single-season receiving record with 1,606 yards in 2021. Will Marvin Harrison Jr. break that record in 2023?

On this edition of Mark It Down Monday, where Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means make specific predictions for Ohio State's football season, the subject is MHJ receiving yards.

Last season he had 1,263 yards, the fourth-most in any Ohio State season. What will he do now?

The guys discuss everything that will affect his stats:

The quarterback play of Kyle McCord or Devin Brown
What the Buckeyes want their offensive style and strategy to be
The role of Emeka Egbuka, who had 1,151 receiving yards last season, and how that will affect Harrison's numbers
How much defenses will try to take Harrison away
How many times the Buckeyes targeted Harrison last season and if they'll do it more this season
How many games Harrison should play this season, whether it be 12, 14 or 15

And then Doug, Nathan and Stephen Mark It Down -- predicting the Marv yards and whether he'll top JSN's mark.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Is a national title Ohio State's standard of success? A fiery debate Jun 02, 2023

An Ohio State text subscriber asked Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means this question;

How should Ohio State (and by extension its fans) handle national championship expectations?

That question created a lot more questions, and that created a lot of debate on this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk.

Looking at Ohio State's history and Ohio State's current place in college football, Doug, Nathan and Stephen got into what fans should expect and how they should look at this recent run of Ohio State history, which in the last 52 seasons includes two national titles in 2002 and 2014.

With the help of some interesting survey answers from Ohio State text subscribers, the guys dug deep on whether a national title is the standard of Ohio State success.

This one got a little off the rails, which is nothing new, so thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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The latest from Ohio State assistants Brian Hartline, Justin Frye and Corey Dennis on the offense Jun 01, 2023

It's time to talk Ohio State offensive assistants on this Thursday Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss their conversations with staffers this week.

That starts (0:30) with offensive line coach Justin Frye and what he's thinking about the offensive line, including his first chance to discuss the offensive tackle the Buckeyes added in the portal after spring football, Josh Simmons.

Then it's onto (21:37) offensive coordinator and receivers coach Brian Hartline. That includes his few comments on the recent off-road vehicle accident that sent him to the hospital, plus the addition of his former NFL head coach, Joe Philbin, to the OSU staff.

Finally (56:00), it's quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis and his comments on the QB battle, plus check-ins with tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, running backs coach Tony Alford and special teams coach Parker Fleming.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Jim Knowles changes his mind, and 11 Tommy Eichenbergs May 31, 2023

Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has adjusted his view on at least one aspect of the Buckeyes' defense, and that was among the topics discussed when OSU coaches met with reporters on Tuesday.

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means debate everything they learned from the defensive coaches. The offensive coaches discussion will be on the Thursday pod.

That starts with (0:30) Knowles, the defensive coordinator, changing his view on something about the players who could be on the field. That relates both to linebacker C.J. Hicks and to (23:16) the safeties.

There's talk of defensive players added to the roster recently in Tywone Malone and Lorenzo Styles Jr.

And (51:12) there's another explanation from Knowles about last year's defense that tells you something about this year's defense. That's where the 11 Tommy Eichenbergs come in.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State football's next head coach? Here's the list May 30, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, an Ohio State text subscriber asked where Ohio State might turn if Ryan Day and the Buckeyes win the national title this season and Day is lured away to the NFL.

Doug Lesmerises thinks the next OSU head coach would come from this list. And he offered these categories for candidates:

Huge names you'd have to call
OSU connections who might not have the experience ... yet
Established coaches currently not working
Current head coaches who are winning but without direct OSU ties
Current head coaches with direct OSU ties

Maybe there's a name in your head that Doug doesn't mention, but the hope is that this list covers the bases, because an AD always needs to be prepared.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Michigan football recruiting -- How big is the gap? May 26, 2023

It's an Ohio State-Michigan recruiting discussion on this Buckeye Talk with Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means.

(0:30) An overview of where things stand in the 2024 class
(4:12) Buckeyes vs. Wolverines with their future quarterbacks
(15:19) How the teams landed their running backs in the 2024 class
(29:26) A lot of the offensive line recruits know each other
(36:32) Michigan recruiting efforts in Ohio
(44:44) The Buckeyes still generally recruit better than Michigan in the rankings, but how big is the gap?

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Jim Tressel, Kevin Warren, 9-3, and Michigan's mistake: Ohio State rants May 25, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is back with Ohio State rants ranging from Kevin Warren to Jim Tressel.

The topics:

(0:30) How much did former Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren confuse things with the new Big Ten TV deal and what does it mean for fans?
(16:40) Doug was wrong about a 9-3 season in 2019 -- but could it happen this season?
(26:48) Comparing this OSU offensive line to the 2014 offensive line
(33:54) Jim Tressel as a title-winning play caller
(44:09) Should Tressel dot the i against Youngstown State?
(48:06) What could the ACC's future mean for the Big Ten?
(53:28) Michigan making a hiring mistake

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State QB confusion -- What's normal and what's not? May 24, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking Ohio State quarterbacks.

Specifically, what should have fans concerned or confused about this OSU quarterback competition and where it stands, and what is an absolutely typical part of the process?

Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss the evolution of Kyle McCord, and how it compares to quarterback battles at places like Georgia and Alabama. And they look at some good teams with established quarterbacks, like Week 4 OSU foe Notre Dame, and ask if the Buckeyes should follow that plan, maybe with a transfer quarterback, or whether the way they are handling it is better for them with bigger upside.

This isn't as much about quarterback play -- it's about quarterback feelings. And it was time to analyze how OSU fans might be viewing this.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes as a super team -- Is it still possible? May 23, 2023

In July 2021, with five-star defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers among the major recruits just committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes, Buckeye Talk considered the idea of 2023 Ohio State as a national title team.

As a super team. As potentially one of the best teams in college football history.

Now, with the start of the 2023 season just over three months away, an Ohio State text subscriber wanted to know if Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means still thought that was possible.

If not, what changed? If so, what kind of season could these Buckeyes?

Over the last two years, the guys have referenced that 2023 super team pod a few times. On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, they dug back into.

The strength of that 2021 recruiting class, the players who are now preparing to be third-year Buckeyes, drove that conversation, and on this episode, Doug, Nathan and Stephen went back through all those recruits, how their careers have gone, and how the reality has compared to the initial perception.

From quarterback to cornerback, from defensive end to running back, and of course at receiver, how on track are the Buckeyes from what they were projected to be?

That’s the Tuesday Buckeye Talk. Thanks as always for listening.

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Does Ohio State football have a big game problem? May 22, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, it's a deep look into how Ohio State football has done in big games in the four years under head coach Ryan Day. To analyze that, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means have to look at the evidence from a lot of different angles.

What is a big game?
How does Ohio State's big game record under Day compare to teams like Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Clemson, Penn State and more?
How does Day's record in big games compare to past OSU coaches like Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, John Cooper and Woody Hayes?

And there are four questions asked of text subscribers and discussed, looking at whether the Buckeyes have the necessary qualities to win games. Do they have enough:

Elite talent
Smart coaching
Fundamentals
Motivation

This conversation plays off the Friday episode that relived the biggest win of the Day era -- the 2020 semifinal win over Clemson. So make sure you listen to that episode to pair with this one.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Clemson 2020 semifinal -- The best OSU QB game ever? Buckeye ReTalkables May 19, 2023

With revenge on their minds for a year, the Ohio State Buckeyes knocked off Clemson 49-28 in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the COVID-plagued 2020 football season, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take you through it on the latest edition of Buckeye ReTalkables.

This is the 16th episode of the ReTalkables on Buckeye Talk, as the guys relive the best games from Ohio State history with their categories that highlight great players, unsung heroes, game-changing plays and fun and odd moments from the game.

This game, the biggest win over the four-year Ryan Day era, includes a career-making performance from quarterback Justin Fields.

That means the discussion starts with two questions:

Is this Ryan Day's perfect game?
Is this the greatest single-game quarterback performance in Ohio State history?

This is one for the history books, for reasons on the field and off, and that makes it a great return for the first ReTalkables episode in 11 months.

Thanks for listening.

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Where's the line for Ohio State to fire a coach? Plus more rapid fire May 18, 2023

This Thursday Buckeye Talk opens (0:30) with a long and hotly debated discussion about where Ohio State's line is for firing a coach, and how that may or may not change in the looming world of the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss that for so long, there's no way this episode could be deemed a Rapid Fire. But they do take multiple interesting questions from Ohio State text subscibers.

Following that first topic are discussions about:

(43:23) What a Jim Harbaugh dream says about an OSU fan
(50:10) Whether Ohio State will play sophomore safety Sonny Styles or not
(57:07) The future of ESPN's College GameDay at Ohio State
(1:10:48) Why Ohio State revenge worked on Clemson and not against Michigan

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State recruiting risks -- What's worth it, what's not? May 17, 2023

It's a deep dive into Ohio State recruiting strategy on this Wednesday Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means drop a two-hour episode for the first time in a while.

There's a lot here, talking about the recruitments for players like Dylan Raiola, Quinn Ewers, Terrelle Pryor, Micah Parsons, Bronny James, Tate Martell and times where the Buckeyes did or didn't accept a certain amount of risk in a recruitment.

First (0:30) is a discussion comparing how much risk the Buckeyes should take in football recruiting compared to basketball recruiting.

Then it's on to five areas of potential risk in football recruiting and what Ohio State should do:

Players with a degree of celebrity (23:31)
Players who are focused on NIL (41:41)
Players who are national five-stars with no OSU connections who might easily change their minds (1:02:20)
Players with potential off-field issues (1;23:39)
Players who might create NCAA issues (1:38:29)

And last, a wrap up of fan thoughts and if the guys think Ohio State is handling risk correctly right now (1:46:55).

Ohio State text subscribers were surveyed to judge how they feel about each area of risk, and Doug, Nathan and Stephen dug into each one.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State mini rants: TV gouging, rooting for Iowa, OSU offensive line and more May 16, 2023

It's a mini version of Ohio State football rants on this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises runs through some thoughts from Ohio State text subscribers.

First (0:30), Doug shares his own view on the Big Ten television plan for football games, now that some networks and game times have been announced for 2023.

Then (15:24), it's more on the transfer of Ohio State receiver Kaleb Brown to Iowa and how OSU fans should view the Hawkeyes this season.

A discussion about redshirting (25:15) and how it should be viewed then follows.

Next (30:05) is more reflections and feedback on the Ohio State offensive line based on the podcast episode from a couple weeks ago.

Finally (41:02) there's a brief follow on college sports betting as texters share their thoughts.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State's 10 most dangerous opponents for 2023 May 15, 2023

Ohio State’s 2023 football schedule includes a handful of quarterbacks who can really throw the ball, one of the best edge rushers in the nation, a backfield combo to be reckoned with, and some head coaches and coordinators who will have some plans ready for the Buckeyes.

They are among those on the list of the 10 Most Dangerous Opponents for Ohio State’s 2023 season on this Monday Buckeye Talk.

Following two podcasts last week that laid out the 10 Most Important Buckeyes for 2023, as voted on by Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and the Ohio State text subscribers, Doug is back with this companion pod featuring those on the other side of the ball.

There are familiar foes from programs like Michigan, Penn State and Notre Dame, and there’s also an under-the-radar combo for OSU fans to keep their eyes on.

First (0:30), Doug runs through the 10 most dangerous players from Ohio State’s last 10 regular-season losses in normal years (excluding 2011). Nine of the 10 games had clear players and coaches that gave the Buckeyes enough trouble to knocl them off.

Then (11:34) it’s Nos. 10 through 6, starting with a quarterback, followed by (30:57) Nos. 5 through 1.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State football's future schedules -- Reasons to be curious, and maybe nervous May 12, 2023

USC and UCLA are joining the Big Ten in 2024 and that means the Ohio State Buckeyes will be playing the Trojans and Bruins on a regular basis. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means even see the slot in the schedule where they believe the Buckeyes will most likely visit the Trojans in the 2024 season.

But what about the long-range plans for Ohio State's schedules in this new world?

Will the Buckeyes have more tough games? Will that be good or bad for their playoff chances? And most importantly, what does adding USC and UCLA mean for Ohio State's major non-conference plans in future seasons with schools like Alabama, Georgia and Texas?

The guys look at the opponents officially added to Ohio State's future schedules this week, and there were several, and then theorize about what future schedules will look like -- and what could be changed.

Thanks for listening.

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Can Ohio State win a national title if the QBs play like Stetson Bennett? May 11, 2023

It's the five most important Ohio State Buckeyes for the 2023 football season on this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. No surprise, the quarterbacks and head coach Ryan Day are part of the top five, and that leads to some very deep discussions about the Buckeyes from Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means.

They run through the top five, which includes both coaches and players and hits both offense and defense. They covered the Buckeyes ranked 10 through six on the previous episode.

This importance discussion leads to a long debate about how good the quarterback play for Ohio State must be this season.

Must Kyle McCord and/or Devin Brown play at at a Dwayne Haskins/Justin Fields/C.J. Stroud first-round draft pick level? Or could something more like Georgia's Stetson Bennett, who was good but not the most important part of the Bulldogs during their two national titles, be enough?

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The value of JT Tuimoloau, Brian Hartline and Denzel Burke to Ohio State's season May 10, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means begin to unveil their rankings of the 10 most important Buckeyes to Ohio State's football season.

This podcast covers the players who just missed the top 10, plus Nos. 10 through six. The top five will be discussed on a separate episode.

Players and coaches are combined in this ranking, and it's not a best-of list. It's value. It's importance.

Doug, Nathan, Stephen and the Ohio State text subscribers each ranked their top 20 Buckeyes, and the lists were then combined to choose this top 10.

Thanks for listening.

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What the Quinn Ewers saga meant for C.J. Stroud and Ohio State May 09, 2023

C.J. Stroud said in a recent interview that he felt disrespected when Quinn Ewers arrived at Ohio State -- earlier than expected just before the 2021 season. On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird try to put that Stroud reaction into perspective and answer some questions now that Ewers is two seasons removed from the Buckeyes.

Was there any way Ohio State could have saved the Ewers situation considering how it went down?
What would have happened if Ewers had stayed on his expected timeline and arrived for the 2022 season?
Should Ohio State learn anything from Ewers that it can apply to quarterback recruiting?
Did the Ewers situation have a negative or positive effect on Stroud?
How should Ohio State stack quarterback recruits now?

It's not quite a BuckeyeFly Effect, but spurred by Stroud sharing his thoughts, it's a reason to revisit an odd chapter in OSU quarterback history.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Moving Ohio State-Michigan, college sports betting rules and first Cheetos: Monday Madness May 08, 2023

On this Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird dive into two ideas about Ohio State football and college football before getting to Whatcha Watchin’, Whatcha Eatin’, Whatcha Thinkin’ at the end of the pod.

First (0:30), it’s possible that the 12-team college football playoff starting in 2024 will eventually mean the entire college football schedule moves up, with the regular season starting and ending a week earlier. That would mean, among other things, Ohio State-Michigan sliding to the week before Thanksgiving instead the week of Thanksgiving? What do Doug, Nathan and the Ohio State text subscribers think?

Then (31:00) there's a brief conversation about calendars and whether people work more or sleep more in a week.

Then (39:28) there was a betting controversy with college sports that started with a bet placed in Ohio. What should and shouldn’t be legal when it comes to betting on college sports?

Finally (1:03:43) the guys run through ideas from baby birthday parties to a celebrity that annoys one of them.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State's offensive line and its uncertain future May 05, 2023

Ohio State's tackle situation is up in the air for 2023, but what happens after that? What will the Ohio State offensive line look like in 2024 and beyond, and what will it take to get the Buckeyes back on track with the development, recruiting and transfer portal additions they need on the offensive line?

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dive into all of that, and they find a comparison for a turnaround that should give Ohio State fans hope.

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Will Marvin Harrison Jr. be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft? Plus a Notre Dame breakdown May 04, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, it's time to dive into Marv again. And then it's a taste of Notre Dame football coming off spring, as the Ohio State Buckeyes look forward to a September visit to South Bend.

On this episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means start by diving into Marvin Harrison Jr. as an NFL Draft candidate. The guys predicted the entire 2024 draft for the Buckeyes in the previous episode, but MHJ required his own discussion.

So what other receivers does Harrison Jr. compare to as a prospect? (0:30) And what NFL teams might be most interested in him a year from now, and which teams might go after a quarterback like Caleb Williams instead? Could Harrison really go first? And could he wind up on the same team where his dad was a Hall of Famer, with the Indianapolis Colts?

Then (43:35) it's a visit from Eric Hansen on InsideNDSports.com on the Rivals network, as the Fighting Irish are done with spring practice and had some transfer portal movement. The Irish host the Buckeyes on Sept. 23, so this matters to OSU fans.

How did transfer QB Sam Hartman look this spring? What's the Notre Dame side of Lorenzo Styles transferring from Notre Dame to Ohio State? How good are the Irish on the offensive line and on defense? And what will Year 2 be like for former Buckeye Marcus Freeman as the head coach in South Bend? Eric has info on all of that.

It's a busy Buckeye Talk, and thanks as always for listening.

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Ohio State in the 2024 NFL Draft: Will the Buckeyes set a record? May 03, 2023

The 2023 NFL Draft just ended, which means it's time to look at what Ohio State might do in the 2024 NFL Draft. Clock is ticking.

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means begin by looking at what they projected would happen for the Buckeyes in the 2023 NFL Draft when they did this exercise a year ago.

Actually, they weren't too bad, although there was one major way in which they were off.

Then it's quickly to a player by player breakdown of projected draft position for 2024, with votes from Ohio State text subscribers joining what the guys have to say.

How many first-round Buckeyes do they project? How many total NFL Draft picks do they project for Ohio State? And could an NFL Draft record for a single team be within range for the Buckeyes?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State's final spring transfer moves: Did the Buckeyes do what was needed in the portal? May 02, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the latest names from the spring transfer window. The portal has now closed for players who want to go in, though they still have time to choose their destinations. The Buckeyes added two big names and lost one over the weekend.

This episode discusses:

(0:30) Portal news update
(2:41) Ohio State adding OT Joshua Simmons
(24:52) The passing of Ohio State PA announcer Bob Kennedy
(27:08) Ohio State adding CB Lorenzo Styles
(36:21) Ohio State losing WR Kaleb Brown
(42:07) Ohio State's roster numbers as they stand

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Ohio State NFL Draft wrap: Surprises, sure things, and where a talent dip showed up Apr 30, 2023

The 2023 NFL Draft is over, and on this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means wrap up the final picks for Ohio State after three Buckeyes went in the first round, which was covered on the Friday pod.

This is your Monday episode, but it's dropping early on Sunday, and it covers the final three OSU picks:

(0:30) Final draft numbers for the Buckeyes and the Big Ten
(12:41) Zach Harrison going in Round 3 to Atlanta
(18:38) Dawand Jones heading to the Browns in Round 4
(38:11) Luke Wypler also going to Cleveland in Round 6
(57:13) A final run through the undrafted Buckeyes

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Big Ten's big draft number, great Buckeye fits, and a complaint from the NFL Draft Apr 28, 2023

Three Ohio State Buckeyes were picked in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to break it all down.

First (0:30) C.J. Stroud to the Houston Texans at No. 2,

Then (27:34) Paris Johnson Jr. to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 6,

Then (43:36) Jaxon Smith-Njigba to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 20,

and finally (50:51) all the numbers and stats on the Buckeyes and the Big Ten in the first round.

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Is Emeka Egbuka the most underrated player in college football? Ohio State rapid fire Apr 27, 2023

On this Thursday edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means start out with more transfer news, and then get into rapid fire questions from Ohio State text subscribers.

The topics:

* How underrated and overshadowed is OSU receiver Emeka Egbuka?

* What does USC hiring Kliff Kingsbury mean for Ohio State?

* What’s the over-under on portal losses at different positions for the Buckeyes?

* Should OSU fans have football fever yet?

* Ohio State QB recruit Air Noland is left-handed -- what does that mean for the Ohio State program and his future teammates?

* Have we ever thought a recruit shouldn’t sign with Ohio State?

* Is rooting for a college football team with lower expectations more fun?

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The future of Ohio State's run game, plus transfer news Apr 26, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, transfer news opens (0:30) the pod -- one transfer that could affect teams that matter to Ohio State, plus one Buckeye leaving in the portal, and another that could be interested in coming in as a transfer.

Then (15:29) it's onto the main topic of the episode -- the Ohio State run game, how the Buckeyes use their running backs and how often, and what that might look like this year.

How will the OSU running backs factor into the offense compared to last season? Compared to J.K. Dobbins' 2,000-yard season in 2019? Compared to the run game history of Ohio State? Compared to how the pass game is used?

There are some numbers about the frequency of the running back usage a year ago that might surprise you. And Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dig in deep on this topic, as spurred on by text subscribers.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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4 trades, 4 top-10 QBs, 3 Buckeyes: Full first-round 2023 NFL mock draft Apr 25, 2023

This episode is a full first-round mock draft featuring eight cleveland.com reporters. It's a crossover pod of Buckeye Talk, Orange and Brown Talk, and Strictly Stripes, as the cleveland.com experts on Ohio State, the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals come together for one monster episode.

All 31 picks in the first round are here, and in this mock four trades are made (including one involving C.J. Stroud), five quarterbacks are taken in the first round, and a good time is had by all.

The drafters:

Nathan Baird, OSU writer
Doug Lesmerises, OSU writer
Mary Kay Cabot, Browns writer
Dan Labbe, Browns writer
Mohammad Ahmad, Bengals writer
Andrew Gillis, Bengals writer
Jimmy Watkins, Rivalry writer
Tim Bielik, NFL Draft writer

You'll find the same pod on our Browns and Bengals feeds. But for Ohio State fans wanting to get a feel before Thursday on how Stroud, Paris Johnson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba fit into the bigger picture, we think this is worth your time.

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Predicting where C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and other Ohio State Buckeyes will be picked in the 2023 NFL Draft Apr 24, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are going on the clock in the 2023 NFL Draft.

They're predicting where they think Ohio State players will be drafted this week. Listen to their picks for:

(0:30) C.J. Stroud
(30:49) Paris Johnson Jr.
(42:31) Jaxon Smith-Njigba
(52:32) Dawand Jones
(1:01:59) Zach Harrison
(1:12:00) Luke Wypler
(1:20:19) Ronnie Hickman
(1:27:17) Cam Brown and Tanner McCalister

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State football rapid fire: Spring stars, things to change about the Buckeyes, Brian Hartline reaction, and more Apr 22, 2023

It's time for a break from OSU-Michigan talk, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means get back to rapid fire questions about everything related to Ohio State football on this Saturday edition of Buckeye Talk.

First up, (0:30), who do the guys list as their stars of spring football?

Then (13:38) it's suggesting one thing they would change about Ohio State football.

Next (23:00) is a deep discussion about whether Ohio should have spring football in high school and what it would mean for the Buckeyes.

Then (41:14) the fallout from Brian Hartline's UTV accident is discussed, and what it might mean for Hartline and the Buckeyes, and how Ryan Day might handle it.

Next (57:35) is the ongoing discussion about offensive line options in the transfer portal.

Finally (1:02:20), would an OSU-UM national title game overwhelm the rest of the rivalry?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Trash talk and intangibles in the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry Apr 21, 2023

It's the final episode of our three-part Ohio State-Michigan miniseries here in April on Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Jimmy Watkins turn the discussion toward intangibles.

Part 1 was feelings in the rivalry.

Part 2 was football in the rivalry.

Part 3 is how the feelings affect the football.

First (0:30), the guys talk about Michigan's current trash talk in the series after two straight wins and what, if anything, Ohio State can do about it. That includes a discussion (25:14) about some social media words exchanged recently by recruits on both sides.

Then (32:44), it's what Ohio State might be like as an underdog in The Game this season, if that happens.

Then (35:29) comes a long discussion about what happens in the rivalry when the talent is pretty equal. That includes a look at history and the record in the series, since Woody Hayes, when both teams are ranked in the top 10.

Finally (1:06:53) there's an insider vs. outsider discussion, and a debate (1:13:45) on whether the last two wins for the Wolverines were more about what Michigan did right or what Ohio State did wrong.

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Why an Ohio State-Michigan national title game could happen this season Apr 20, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and cleveland.com rivalry reporter Jimmy Watkins are here for the second Ohio State-Michigan episode this week.

This pod is about the football -- the strengths and weaknesses of both teams on the field, how they match up, and why they both might be among the four best teams in the country again.

Off the bat (0:30) Doug asks the other three about his theory that these very well could be two playoff team.

Then (2:07) it's a discussion of Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy, what the Wolverines need from him, and how he compares to the Ohio State QBs and to other returning QBs around the country.

Next up are breakdowns of the offensive lines (32:03), running backs (38:44) and receivers (43:22) on both sides.

Answers from texters about how these teams compare (53:06) are then followed by a more thorough discussion (1:00:24) of whether an Ohio State-Michigan national title game is really possible this season.

Then it's a dive into both defenses (1:13:44) and which should be better this season.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk, and come back for part three of this OSU-UM series on Friday.

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Where the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry stands 5 months after The Game Apr 19, 2023

It's the start of a three-episode series on the Ohio State-Michigan game on this edition of Buckeye Talk. First up, Doug Lesmerises asked Ohio State text subscribers for their feelings about the state of the rivalry after the conclusion of spring football for both the Buckeyes and Wolverines.

The next pod on Thursday will deal with the football matchup between the two teams, and the Friday pod will focus on the intangibles within the rivalry. But first, the fans check in.

To do that, Doug focused on three areas with survey questions and responses from texters.

First (0:30), how much does the fact that Ohio State has lost the last two games to Michigan affect the everyday lives of OSU fans?

Then (35:46), are fans optimistic or worried about Ohio State's chances of winning in Ann Arbor in November, and how have their thoughts changed over the last five months?

Finally (1:04:31) what do fans think are some of the reasons that Michigan has won the last two games, and is Ohio State doing the right things to change that?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.co, and don't miss the next two episodes on The Game, as Doug will be joined by Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and cleveland.com rivalry reporter Jimmy Watkins.

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Ohio State spring game rewatch, pending roster moves, and waffles: Monday Madness Apr 17, 2023

On this Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are here with:

(0:30) Final points after rewatching the Ohio State spring football game on Kyle McCord, Marvin Harrison Jr., Sonny Styles, the offensive line and more.
(24:58) A look at Ohio State's roster management situation, with how many scholarships over the Buckeyes are on their roster count, and at which positions they could lose players or add players.
(1:07:24) Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Watchin' and Whatcha Thinkin', featuring waffles, live music shows, Jack Ryan, the baseball pitch clock and more.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State spring football postgame: QB battle continues, and defense rises up Apr 16, 2023

Spring football is over for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to wrap up what they saw at Ohio State's spring game Saturday, with more than 75,000 fans in attendance.

First (0:30), Ohio State added two football recruits on Saturday.

Then (6:29) it's into the game and how quarterback Kyle McCord looked. Devin Brown couldn't play because of an injury, but does the QB battle continue?

That continues into a discussion about the offensive line (46:35) and how that group looked.

Then it's the receivers (54:38) and the defense (57:19).

There are some final overall thoughts (1:04:00) from spring, then a final take on the play-calling handoff (1:11:45). Finally, the transfer portal (1:22:50) is open again.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State feeling better about recruiting: Strategy, NIL and momentum Apr 14, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk on the eve of the Ohio State spring football game, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking recruiting.

First (0:30), the guys check in on texter thoughts from two previous podcasts.

There are texter survey results on the idea of Haskins Heisman Hill in Buckeye Grove (3:30), and there are the answers about whether Ohio State could put together a mini-dynasty in the next decade (10:10).

Then it's onto recruiting (14:19) and whether Ryan Day is feeling momentum after six commits in the last three weeks.

One is quarterback Air Noland (20:46) and another is linebacker Payton Pierce (26:29). What do their pledges mean?

Then the guys get into a debate about the current offensive line recruiting strategy (35:07) and what needs to happen next at that position.

Finally (1:05:17) the talk turns to the latest collective and if it might be more effective in helping Ohio State get the NIL money to land some major national recruits.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk, and talk to you after the spring game on Saturday with a postgame pod.

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Ohio State spring game draft: 44 Buckeyes, 2 teams Apr 13, 2023

Everyone is healthy and ready to play Saturday in Ohio Stadium in this version of an Ohio State spring game draft from cleveland.com.

There are two full 22-player teams to be drafted, and Nathan Baird and Stephen Means go head-to-head with their selections while Doug Lesmerises moderates.

This should tell you something about the 2023 Buckeyes with spring football winding down, it should help get you ready for Saturday, plus drafts are always fun.

Thanks for listening to cleveland.com.

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Ohio State QB Devin Brown knocked out of spring game by injury Apr 12, 2023

Devin Brown had a procedure on one of his fingers on Wednesday and won't play in Saturday's spring game. What does that mean for Ohio State's quarterback competition? That's what Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss on the Wednesday Buckeye Talk.

First (0:30), they talk about what they know about the injury, what it means for Kyle McCord on Saturday, and how it affects the ongoing battle to be the OSU starter in the fall.

Then (28:40) they jump to the structure of Saturday's spring game, and why Ryan Day sounds so optimistic about the OSU cornerbacks.

Finally (37:46) it's the OSU offensive line, where questions clearly remain. How will the Buckeyes solve their issues at tackle?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Can Ohio State build a mini-dynasty in the future, or did the Buckeyes miss their chance? Apr 11, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means answer a great texter question:

Can Ohio State build a mini-dynasty in the future, or did the Buckeyes miss their window while Alabama, Clemson and Georgia capitalized on their chances?

The subject is addressed in three parts: offense, defense and the structure of the sport.

First (0:30), is there reason to believe that the Ohio State offense will continue to produce at a level that keeps the shot at a mini-dynasty alive?

Second, (22:35) on the defensive side, can the Buckeyes improve their recruiting and development enough to make it possible?

Finally (54:01) there's a look at the missed opportunities in the past for an OSU mini-dynasty (Doug identifies five eras) and then the talk turns to the 12-team playoff and whether it makes it more or less likely for an OSU mini-dynasty.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ryan Day on coaching the late Dwayne Haskins, and what Haskins meant to Ohio State Apr 10, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Ryan Day joins Doug Lesmerises for a half-hour interview on Dwayne Haskins, who died a year ago, on April 9, 2022.

Day talks about coaching Haskins, about the quarterback's greatest strengths, and about how he should be remembered as part of Ohio State history. Also discussed is the spring quarterback battle in 2018 between Haskins and Joe Burrow five years ago,.

Then it's on to audio clips from Haskins' career, as the quarterback in 2018 talks about his decision to come to Ohio State, that spring battle, and settling in as the starter. Clips are also included from Burrow and from Quincy Avery, Haskins' private quarterback coach.

Finally, Doug has a proposal for a way Ohio State could honor Haskins and a handful of other great players from this era who aren't in Buckeye Grove.

Consider this a Dwayne Haskins legacy podcast, adding to the previous C.J. Stroud episode in our Legacy Series on Buckeye Talk.

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Counting the game-changing dudes on Ohio State's defense Apr 07, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, it's time to look at the dudes, and potential dudes, on Ohio State's defense. There's always a lot of defensive scheme talk around Jim Knowles, but for this episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are counting players who change games. They are counting defensive dudes.

First (0:30) it's a look at the recent past, back to 2014, and how many defensive dudes the Buckeyes had each year.

Then (22:45) it's a look at last season and who fit that bill.

Then (37:20) it's a projection to this season and how many dudes there might be.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Lessons learned from TreVeyon Henderson and Cade Stover Apr 06, 2023

It's running backs and tight ends on this Thursday Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take you through what they learned from the latest round of Ohio State interviews. That includes interesting conversations with running back TreVeyon Henderson and tight end Cade Stover.

First (0:30), the guys talk through some tidbits and theories on a couple subjects.

Then (10:33) there's a deep dive into Henderson, what happened last season, and what he's thinking about this season.

That's followed (31:50) by more running back talk on Dallan Hayden, assistant coach Tony Alford and how the backs might be used this season.

Finally (57:24) there's tight end talk around Stover, freshman Jelani Thurman and new tight ends coach Keenan Bailey.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State rants: Discussing the Buckeyes' recruiting efforts heading into April Apr 05, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Stephen Means discusses Ohio State's recent surge on the recruiting trail and what it means.

The topics include:

Offensive Line recruiting issues
Tim Walton's potential impact on the cornerback room's present and futuree
The Ohio State-Michigan recruiting battles
The Buckeyes' quarterback recruiting and its overall approach

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Ohio State's safety battles, from Sonny Styles to Lathan Ransom to Josh Proctor Apr 04, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down another position group. This time it's the safeties, based off interviews with those players last week.

The pod breaks down into conversations about the competition at the three safety spots:

Nickel safety, with Cam Martinez and Ja'Had Carter (0:30)
Bandit, or strong safety, with Lathan Ransom and Sonny Styles (19:46)
Adjustor, or free safety, with Josh Proctor and Kye Stokes (41:35)

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State rants: Silencing Michigan, missing passion, Corey Dennis, peanut butter hamburgers and more Apr 03, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is running through rants about the football Buckeyes from Ohio State text subscribers. In section three, there's some Ohio State and Big Ten basketball talk, but the first hour is football.

The topics include:

Wearing Ohio State gear in Taipei
Wanting more football
Doug's WR depth rankings
Complaining about offensive line depth
Is Ryan Day too nice?
Feeling no OSU passion since the Georgia loss
Not believing in football or men's basketball
Corey Dennis
Marvin Harrison Jr. and safe and fair concussion treatments
No Michigan talk this spring
How to stop Michigan from talking
The OSU staff vs. the Michigan staff
Naming positions
Pronouncing words
Peanut butter hamburger
Sports betting
Doug is Aaron Craft
Celebrating OSU women's basketball
Needing a center and pizza
Big Ten men's basketball is down
Brice Sensabaugh

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Where Kyle McCord and Devin Brown can separate in Ohio State's quarterback competition Apr 01, 2023

Ohio State quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Devin Brown struggled to move the ball in Saturday's eighth scrimmage as the offensive line had trouble keeping the defensive line out of the backfield. Could such days help determine who will win this quarterback competition?

Nathan and Stephen discuss what they saw from both quarterbacks and reassess where the battle stands halfway through the spring. They also ran down an injury update, discussed that uneven competition in the trenches and singled out one receiver who has helped himself a lot the past two weeks.

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NFL Network's James Palmer, an Ohio State grad, on how the NFL views the Buckeyes Mar 31, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by special guest James Palmer, a reporter and host at the NFL Network since 2015. He covered Ohio State's Pro Day and he's also an Ohio State grad, and he's hear to talk about Ohio State's NFL reputation and how OSU draft prospects are viewed this year.

The topics:

How Palmer got to Ohio State (0:30)
How the NFL views Ohio State (15:13)
Will C.J. Stroud be the No. 1 pick? (25:36)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (38:23)
Marvin Harrison Jr. (47:48)
Paris Johnson (57:36)
Dawand Jones (1:02:35)
Justin Fields (1:06:05)

Thanks to James for his time, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State cornerback talk, from Denzel Burke to Davison Igbinosun to Jyaire Brown Mar 30, 2023

On this Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are reacting to their conversations with Ohio State cornerbacks on Thursday. (They also talked to safeties, but they'll get to them next week.)

On this episode, the focus is on three corners:

Denzel Burke (0:30)
Davison Igbinosun (24:04)
Jyaire Brown (37:14)

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Ranking Ohio State position groups by depth -- Which room is deepest in talent? Mar 29, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are ranking Ohio State's nine position groups, and assigning a depth rating to each. The result? A final ranking, in order, of the deepest positions for the Buckeyes.

The groups discussed, in order:

Offensive line (0:30)
Running backs (8:10)
Receivers (16:16)
Tight ends (29:19)
Quarterbacks (35:02)
Defensive line (42:05)
Linebackers (47:13)
Cornerbacks (49:48)
Safeties (53:10)

And a wrap up (56:22).

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Jim Knowles says dominate the 2s, Brian Hartline says relax on play calling Mar 28, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, sorry that it got up late, but blame the podcast company for screwing up the audio files.

But Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to discuss their conversations with Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline on Tuesday.

Knowles has an idea for how young players can impress him.

Hartline has an idea on how we should view, for now, the play-calling changeover.

It's mostly Knowles for the first part, until about the 50:46 mark, and then it's Hartline to wrap up.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Inside Ohio State's Saturday scrimmage: Who stood out and what we learned Mar 25, 2023

On this Saturday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down everything they learned and all the players who flashed in Ohio State's two-hour Saturday practice, which included a lot of scrimmaging.

Topics and players covered include:

Quarterbacks (0:52)
Sonny Styles (20:54)
Kenyatta Jackson (28:19)
Gabe Powers (35:13)
Jayden Ballard (41:47)
Carnell Tate (44:18)
Davison Igbinosun (48:59)
Offensive line (49:55)
Jelani Thurman (51:34)
Ryan Day (54:08)

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Ohio State’s offensive line -- The battles and the answers Mar 24, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through the entire Ohio State offensive line after talking to Buckeyes’ offensive linemen on Thursday after the fourth practice of spring football.

That starts (0:30) with Josh Fryar and left tackle and then goes to:

* Donovan Jackson and left guard (15:31)

* Carson Hinzman and center (28:51)

* A brief stop at right guard and established starter Matthew Jones (38:43)

* Right tackle with Zen Michalski and Tegra Tshabola (39:31)

* A last look at how offensive line coach Justin Frye is feeling (53:34).

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The NFL invades Ohio State Mar 23, 2023

The NFL swarmed Ohio State for Pro Day on Wednesday, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were there to take it all in.

On this Thursday episode, they break down what the feeling was like inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center with so many NFL head coaches and general managers in attendence.

They they run through what the day was like for OSU players such as C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Dawand Jones, Paris Johnson, Zach Harrison, Tanner McCalister and more.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ryan Day explains what he wants in an Ohio State quarterback Mar 22, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through three topics that Ohio State coach Ryan Day discussed Tuesday after the Buckeyes' third practice of spring football.

First (0:30), it's the quarterback battle, as Day broke down what he wants from mobility and reading defenses and everything in between. What does that tell us about the Kyle McCord-Devin Brown competition, and what does it tell us about how this OSU offense will be different after C.J. Stroud?

Then (39:49) it's the OSU offensive line, and the willingness of the Buckeyes to be honest in their evaluation.

Finally (56:23) it's more discussion about the competitive fire of the defense and how Ohio State is emphasizing that this spring.

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Bonus Drop: Nick Saban swings at collectives and John Ruiz challenges the NCAA, with UCLA quarterback Chase Griffin Mar 21, 2023

In this week's episode of NIL Now, Kevin and Lauren assess Nick Saban’s latest NIL comments about collectives paying players to attend their schools. The hosts then discuss whether or not LifeWallet CEO John Ruiz should be considered a “booster,” after he said he’ll file a lawsuit against the NCAA over his mislabeling as a Miami “booster.”

Reddit CFB’s Bobak Ha’Eri brings Reddit's comments on Isaiah Foskey’s claim that he would’ve played somewhere other than Notre Dame if NIL was a big deal in recruiting when he played high school football and the Reddit community’s take on what college football will look like in 5-10 years.

Chase Griffin, a quarterback at UCLA and a two-time recipient of the NIL Male Athlete of the Year Award at the NIL Summit, shares his story and thoughts on the importance of using NIL to uplift communities around him.

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Big Ten football rises as Big Ten men's basketball fails Mar 21, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is here with one thing to say:

He used to think the Big Ten was a basketball conference. He doesn't anymore. It's definitely a football conference.

The two sports are going opposite directions, and Doug spells out how it's happening and then looks at coaching and talent to see why football is up in this league and men's basketball is down.

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Ohio State future football rivals, Buckeyes' coaching salaries and more Mar 20, 2023

On this Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird wrap up with a modified version of Whatcha Watchin' and what the Big Ten failures in the NCAA Tournament tell us about Ohio State football.

But first (0:30) they discuss the new football schedule starting in the Big Ten in 2024 and what permanent rivals Ohio State should have. Who and how many? And what Big Ten games have to be protected? And what's the best way to work USC and UCLA into the league?

Then (36:28) the talk moves to the recent raises for the Ohio State assistant football coaches. What's the money balance on the staff and what does it tell us about the Buckeyes?

Finally (1:10:02), Doug and Nathan talk about Purdue losing as a No. 1 seed to a No. 16 seed in the tournament, and the Boilermakers continued shortcomings on the national scene. How would Ohio State handle similar failures in this day and age and what does that say about the two schools?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Does Ohio State have any 2024 worries? Plus Buckeyes' future at QB vs. other Big Ten teams: Rapid Fire Mar 17, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are taking another bunch of Ohio State football questions from text subscribers.

There are two main themes, however.

First, (0:30) the discussion is on the 2024 Buckeyes and what might happen if the roster undergoes its assumed overhaul after 2023 with so many players expected to be heading to the NFL. Several questions and answers deal with that.

Then (28:14) it's talking the future and present of Ohio State quarterbacks compared to other Big Ten teams.

Finally (1:01:17) there's a question about the Ohio State defense, one about dreams, and one about running a 5K or 10K.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Football rapid fire: Buckeyes better or worse this season; plus TreVeyon Henderson, Jack Sawyer, Julian Fleming and more Mar 16, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking rapid fire Ohio State football questions from text subscibers. The subjects:

(0:30) Will the Buckeyes be better in 2023 or possibly headed toward two or three losses?

(25:50) Will Julian Fleming and Jayden Ballard be battling for playing time?

(37:12) Do the Buckeyes need to play linebacker C.J. Hicks if they don't want to lose him?

(48:48) What are the expectations for running back TreVeyon Henderson?

(1:00:57) What is Jack Sawyer's best position?

(1:03:15) Meshing Jim Knowles and Larry Johnson on the defensive staff

(1:07:29) Looking for and writing about BA players on the football team

(1:16:00) Does Doug do cringey interviews?

(1:19:54) NFL corner Jamel Dean's brief history as a Buckeye

(1:23:23) Will C.J. Stroud be the first pick in the NFL Draft?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Fond March memories and real standards for Ohio State basketball Mar 15, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, which took an extra day to get up, Doug Lesmerises is talking about Ohio State basketball, but not the 2022-23 version of Ohio State basketball.

No, the conversation here is memories and standards.

So, to start (0:30), Doug looks at the history of the NCAA Tournament and explains where Ohio State ranks in the country in tournament appearances, tournament wins, Sweet 16 appearances, Sweet 16 appearances since 1985, and more. The point? Ohio State has a history that says it should be good at basketball.

Then, (13:30) the talk turns to favorite OSU memories in the NCAA Tournament, from 1960 to 1992 to 1999 to 2007 to 2012 and more.

Finally (57:10) there's a brief discussion of the end of this Ohio State season and what missing the tournament does for fan's enjoyment of March Madness.

Back to football on Thursday. For now, thanks for listening.

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What a potential draft record in 2024 could say about Ohio State in 2023; plus Penn State, Wisconsin and Cocaine Bear Mar 13, 2023

On this Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird discuss an Ohio State issue, a national college football issue, and Whatcha Thinkin', Eatin', and Watchin'.

First, (0:30) there's a long breakdown of whether Ohio State football could break the record for NFL Scouting Combine invites next year. Doug and Nathan go through all the players who could be combine candidates in 2024, and then analyze what it might mean for the Buckeyes in the fall if they have so many draft possibilities next winter.

That takes quite a while. Then (1:01:55) there's a debate over whether Wisconsin or Penn State should be the third-best Big Ten team in 2023.

Finally, (1:15:51) the Whatcha discussion includes standing in line, Swiss Steak and Cocaine Bear.

Thanks for listening.

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Maximizing Marvin Harrison Jr. -- What is college football's best receiver chasing? Mar 10, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are discussing Marvin Harrison Jr., what's ahead for him in 2023, what he's chasing and how the Ohio State Buckeyes should go about bringing out the best in him.

Everything MHJ takes up the first 60 percent of the pod, and then at 45:05 the talk moves to other receivers getting a chance this spring, like Jayden Ballard, Kojo Antwi, Kaleb Brown and Kyion Grayes.

But this is a deep dive into how MHJ thinks and how the Buckeyes think about him. Thanks for listening.

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Bonus Drop: NIL Now on Livvy Dunne’s controversial deal and author’s tips for how all athletes can benefit from NIL Mar 10, 2023

In this week's episode of NIL Now, Kevin and Lauren preview NCAA president Charlie Baker's first 100 days in office. The hosts then react to LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne's controversial NIL deal with Caktus AI, an artificial intelligence tool that forced LSU to issue a statement.

Reddit CFB’s Bobak Ha’Eri brings his thoughts and Reddit's comments on Baker's mission as the NCAA's leader, and what he predicts the relationship between the NCAA and boosters, such as Miami's John Ruiz, will look like in the future.

Mark Koesterer, the founder of The Players NIL and author of "NIL For ALL: A 30-Minute Guide to NIL," details where the NCAA went wrong with NIL and explains the importance of athlete education.

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Brian Hartline's new world as Ohio State's offensive coordinator Mar 09, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are bringing you the latest from Ohio State's second practice of spring football on Thursday morning.

For this episode, that means describing Brian Hartline's new role as the Buckeyes' offensive coordinator, and what that means for him in practice.

How is he different from Ryan Day? How might they complement each other? What's Hartline's coaching future?

At the end of the pod, Doug goes on a rant about the Big Ten Network and its basketball coverage, but this is football pod about an important Buckeye in a new role. Thanks for listening.

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Jim Knowles' plan to fix things, plus Sonny Styles, Davison Igbinosun and more: Ohio State spring practice defense Day 1 Mar 08, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, it's time to talk Ohio State defense from the first day of spring practice. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means do that, in this order:

(0:30) Sonny Styles, Davison Igbinosun, Denzel Burke and the secondary
(22:20) C.J. Hicks and the linebackers
(38:29) The future of the Jack position in Jim Knowles' defense
(49:42) What didn't work for the OSU defense last season and how Knowles plans to adjust

Don't miss the offensive breakdown from Day 1 on the Tuesday podcast. And thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State offense, First day of spring practice: QB battle, RT battle, young WRs and more Mar 07, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking about the first day of Ohio State football spring practice after watching a portion Tuesday and then talking with Ryan Day and quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Devin Brown.

A podcast all about the defense from the first day of spring will drop Wednesday morning.

For now, the guys start (0:30) with the quarterback battle.

Then it's receivers (35:48), tight ends (45:57), running backs (53:05) and the offensive line (55:45).

Position battles, players to watch, insight from coaches, audio clips from quarterbacks -- it's all part of this Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State winners from the NFL Scouting Combine Mar 06, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are wrapping up their coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. That includes running through the interviews and workouts of the three Buckeyes they haven't talked about yet -- offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler.

First (0:30), Doug and Nathan go through some combine notes, including the measurements of several Buckeyes.

Then (15:36), it's Johnson and the case he made to be the first tackle drafted.

Then (27:25) it's Jones and his extraordinary size and first-round prospects.

Then (33:28) it's to Wypler and if his Indy performance can get him into the second round.

Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's outstanding testing and drills (44:47) got a lot of attention, and Doug and Nathan go through that next, as JSN may have confirmed his status as wide receiver one in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Finally, (1:00:10) it's C.J. Stroud and how he threw the ball Saturday night.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba and C.J. Stroud at the NFL combine: Futures and regrets Mar 04, 2023

On this Saturday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are discussing two big-time Ohio State Buckeyes at the NFL Scouting Combine. On Friday, quarterback C.J. Stroud and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba spoke with reporters. They'll work out on Saturday.

First (0:30), Doug and Nathan discuss Smith-Njigba and the hamstring injury that held him to 60 snaps in 2022. Speaking to reporters for the first time since the injury, he said he regretted trying to come back as fast as he did.

Then (30:12), Doug and Nathan talk about Stroud, how close he came to staying at Ohio State, and what he said about running the ball with the Buckeyes.

In the final segment (1:06:15), the talk turned to the teams where Stroud might best fit and how those might try to grab him in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Zach Harrison, Ronnie Hickman, Cam Brown at the combine; plus, will Ohio State's cornerback NFL Draft success return? Mar 03, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are discussing the first three Ohio State Buckeyes they interviewed at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

First up (0:30) is cornerback Cam Brown. The guys discuss where he ranks in this cornerback draft class, the dip in OSU cornerback prospects and why that happened, and the testing numbers that Brown could put up to help himself.

Then it's safety Ronnie Hickman ( 30:51) and where he fits among the 10 best safeties in the draft. He had a lot of turnover in defensive coaches at Ohio State, and what will that mean for him in the NFL?

Finally, it's defensive end Zach Harrison (48:58) and his very long arms. Doug and Nathan discuss his consistency and upside and how he compares to some edge rusher OSU draft prospects of the recent past.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. There will be more combine interviews and discussion in the days ahead.

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Must a coach be a badass to win at Ohio State? Mar 02, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is asking a question spurred by his four conversations with winning Ohio State coaches across various sports.

Must a coach be a badass to win at Ohio State?

Doug has thoughts, and he asked Ohio State text subscribers to share their views as well. It's kind of an obvious question, but it's one that Doug also found clarifying when it comes to assessing OSU teams.

Plus, Doug talks a bit about Jalen Carter and Georgia football, and the circumstances around the two tragic deaths in the program in January. And then he finishes with a bit to say about Ohio State basketball, after the Buckeyes got their second straight win.

Thanks for listening.

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Explaining Ohio State's sports standards with wrestling coach Tom Ryan and men's tennis coach Ty Tucker Mar 01, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, but it's not yet time to talk about what's been learned here. That will come later in the week.

For this pod, Doug wanted to wrap up two more interviews with Ohio State head coaches. This time it's wrestling coach Tom Ryan and men's tennis coach Ty Tucker. Last week featured a pod with women's hockey coach Nadine Muzerall and women's basketball coach Kevin McGuff.

The goal for both pods was to discuss the standard for Ohio State sports, and how these coaches built their winning programs. There is culture and strategy here that applies across sports, and they are just some good stories shared as well.

It'll be back to football soon, but for now, we hope you enjoy this Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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The 9 most interesting Ohio State Buckeyes for spring football Feb 28, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are looking ahead to the start of Ohio State spring football practice, which begins in a week.

To do that, they are drafting the nine Buckeyes that intrigue them the most for spring, from early-enrolled freshmen, to veterans battling for jobs, to players who might be ready to take a step toward stardom.

There will be a lot of OSU coverage from the NFL Combine this week, but spring practice will start before you know it. So let's get ready now.

Thanks for listening.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Paris Johnson Jr., C.J. Stroud and an Ohio State NFL Combine preview Feb 27, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are joined by Max Chadwick, the college football analyst from PFF, to preview the eight Ohio State Buckeyes taking part in the NFL Combine this week.

Nathan and Doug will be two of the cleveland.com reporters in Indianapolis to cover the combine, so get ready for more combine podcasting later in the week. And this pod will get you ready.

First, they interview Max, and then Doug and Nathan share their most interesting questions for the combine and the eight Buckeyes who will be there: C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones, Luke Wypler, Zach Harrison, Ronnie Hickman and Cam Brown.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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2 Bosas and other wrinkles in a Ryan Day Era Defense Draft Feb 24, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back to do the defensive version of the offensive draft they did a week ago.

It's drafting 11-player units from the four-year era with Ryan Day as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, with the same twist: each unit must include one player from the Urban Meyer era and one player from the Jim Tressel era.

Stephen gets the first pick in this one, so who does he take? And who did the Ohio State text subscribers choose as the winner of the offense draft?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Winning a title, chasing a title at Ohio State: Women's hockey coach Nadine Muzerall and women's basketball coach Kevin McGuff Feb 23, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is beginning the discussion about the standards and expectations for sports at Ohio State.

In that pursuit, he's interviewing head coaches of other successful OSU programs, and this episode has two great talks to kick that off.

First up is Nadine Muzerall, the head coach of the women's hockey team. The Buckeyes won their first national title in women's hockey last year and are the No. 1 team again this season heading into the postseason. Muzerall explains how that happened, and discusses her coaching philosophy.

Then it's Kevin McGuff, the head coach of the women's basketball team. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten last season and reached the Sweet Sixteen. This year, Ohio State is once again a top-25 team and with one game left in the regular season, another Sweet Sixteen run looks possible.

Thanks to these coaches for their time, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Inside Kyle McCord’s preparation for Ohio State’s spring football QB battle Feb 22, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss third-year Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and the battle he is preparing for this spring to replace C.J. Stroud.

Nathan has been reporting a story on McCord for a while, and part of this discussion centers on how McCord as a young QB and in high school started readying himself for a moment like this.

The guys also look at McCord’s style and why Ryan Day recruited him, and at the end of the podcast they run through the recent history of first-year Ohio State starting quarterbacks and what should be expected of them.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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2 Fascinating Buckeyes: Interviewing an Actor and a Space Scientist Feb 21, 2023

On this Buckeye Talk edition, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two very special guests. One is an actor, one is a space scientist, and both of them are Ohio State grads.

In two 35-minute interviews, the hope is to give you a look into two interesting lives of former Buckeyes.

First up is Otis Winston, who is in the movie "Plane," which is currently out in theaters. He's been in several other movies and TV shows after an athletic career at Ohio State that included both basketball and high jump. Otis was one of the captains of the 1996-97 OSU basketball team.

He talks about filming "Plane," making an acting career while living in central Ohio, and transitioning from sports to the big screen.

Then it's a 35-minute interview with James Bullock, the dean of the School of Physical Sciences at the University of California-Irvine. James was involved with the James Webb Space Telescope, which is currently taking awesome photos of the universe.

He talks about space exploration, how much should be invested in space research, whether he thinks there is other life out there, and more. James is also a Buckeye Talk listener, so he knows the deal.

Thanks to both Otis and James for sharing these interesting insights into their lives. And thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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A hard look at Ohio State football special teams -- Are the results worth the effort? Feb 20, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, it's time for an in-depth look at Ohio State special teams. This is worth the time since three major special teams played affected the end of Ohio State's season -- the miscommunication on what should have been a fake punt vs. Michigan; the fake punt that was stopped by a timeout vs. Georgia; and the missed field goal to end the Georgia loss.

To get at those issues, Doug Lesmerises spent 20 minutes interviewing OSU specials teams coordinator Parker Fleming when he was available a few weeks ago. In what was almost a one-on-one interview, Doug dug in more on special teams than Buckeye Talk has done in a long time.

On this podcast, Doug shares his thoughts on whether Ohio State should have an entire assistant coach devoted to special teams, and gets at what didn't work for the Buckeyes. He does that while sharing audio clips from Fleming in that interview.

We think this was a worthy dive into this part of the game, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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A Ryan Day Era Offense Draft -- with a Meyer and Tressel twist Feb 17, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back to do one of their favorite things on this podcast -- drafting teams against each other.

For this exercise, they each drafted an 11-player offense made up of Buckeyes from the last four season -- Ryan Day's four years as head coach. But there was one twist -- each of them had to draft one player from the Urban Meyer era and one player from the Jim Tressel era.

That added an extra level of strategy -- and made sure each team got a good quarterback.

So listen to this 11-round draft to find out which 27 Day players, which three Meyer players and which three Tressel players made the cut.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk. And expect a defensive version of this draft next week.

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What you love about Ohio State and being a fan of the Buckeyes: Anti-rants Feb 15, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is here late with what was supposed to be a Valentine's Day episode.

Why did it make sense for Valentine's Day? Because it's about love.

Instead of rants this week, Doug asked Ohio State text subscribers for anti-rants. That is, he wanted stories and explanations from fans about what they love about the Buckeyes and what they love about being a fan of them.

And that's what people sent. From Ohio State's history of winning to the bonds forged with family, Doug runs through anti-rant after anti-rant about love for this program.

Sorry it's a day late, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Can C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields be Super Bowl quarterbacks? Feb 13, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are reacting to the Super Bowl, and thinking about whether an Ohio State quarterback will get there one day.

First (0:30), on this Monday Madness edition, Doug and Nathan do Whatcha Watchin’, Whatcha Eatin’, Whatcha Thinkin’?

They are watching the Super Bowl, eating Super Bowl food, and thinking about flag football, bad radio and worse Ohio State basketball (32:54), among other things.

Then (44:29), they discuss Justin Fields and the Bears, as the former OSU QB is preparing for Year 3 in Chicago. Does Fields have any similarities to Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, and what should the Bears do to best set up Fields for success? Can he be a Super Bowl QB?

Finally (1:09:23) it’s onto C.J. Stroud and the best landing spots in this NFL Draft for the former Buckeye. Will he go in the top two picks? Which teams might trade up for him? And what might be the best places for Stroud to succeed? Can he be a Super Bowl QB?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Can Ohio State football change its recruiting strategy? Mark Pantoni has ideas Feb 10, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means discuss the latest views on Ohio State recruiting based on last week’s interview with Mark Pantoni, who has overseen the recruiting operation for the Buckeyes for more than a decade.

First (0:30), Doug and Stephen discuss Ohio State’s latest ideas about NIL and how it affects Ohio State’s recruiting.

Then (9:35) they dive more specifically into one possibility in this recruiting world -- the Buckeyes focusing more on in-state recruits.

Finally (47:47), it’s some changes in the OSU recruiting department and what Pantoni’s main duties are now.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Sonny Styles, Kye Stokes, Jermaine Mathews and spring chances available in Ohio State's secondary Feb 09, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, it's time to talk about the Ohio State secondary.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss what OSU cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and safeties coach Perry Eliano said last week.

First, (0:30) the guys talk about the eight Buckeyes invited to this year's NFL Combine and what that says about Ohio State's 2022 team.

Then (12:47) they talk about Walton, what was said about the OSU corners and the wide-open competition that could occur this spring.

Then (33:53) it's the safeties, Eliano and how young safeties Sonny Styles and Kye Stokes could factor into the 2023 season.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Jim Knowles’ mood; young LB opportunities; and James Laurinaitis in the rivalry Feb 08, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking about Ohio State linebackers after speaking with Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jim Knowles and new OSU grad assistant James Laurinaitis last week.

Covered in the three sections on this episode:

* (0:30) How Knowles felt about his first year running the defense and what the focus will be in spring football

* (25:20) The chances that young linebackers C.J. Hicks, Gabe Powers and Reid Carrico should get in the spring

* (38:36) The role Laurinaitis should play in recruiting and ... might play in Michigan prep?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State DL coach Larry Johnson's future, and is Jack still a Jack? Feb 07, 2023

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means continue to work their way through interviews with Ohio State assistant coaches and staffers last week, and up now is defensive line coach Larry Johnson and his room.

First up (0:30), the guys talk about the 71-year-old Johnson, a legend as a college football assistant, and discuss what his future is in Columbus and how the Buckeyes are handling it.

Then (22:42) it's onto the defensive ends, and how Johnson rotates his players and how much J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer will play this season. Plus, will Sawyer still play that stand-up Jack position and move around the line, or will he be a pure defensive end with his hand on the ground?

Finally (45:22) it's defensive tackle talk, plus a brief discussion of a defensive lineman who could be on the Marvin Harrison Jr. career trajectory.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The problems with Ohio State basketball, and the answer: Buckeye Talk Rants Feb 06, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are here to take rants from Ohio State text subscribers and discuss the state of Buckeye basketball, after Ohio State fell to 11-12 overall and 3-9 in Big Ten play with a loss to Michigan on Sunday.

First (0:30), Doug and Stephen look at things on the horizon, including how the incoming recruiting class should affect the view of Chris Holtmann and whether Bronny James can come save the Buckeyes.

Then (22:19) it's rants and talk about this edition of the Buckeyes, how Holtmann built the roster and why it's not working in what is looking like a season that will produce Ohio State's worst Big Ten record in 25 years.

Finally ( 1:21:47) Doug wraps it up with some solo rants about what should be done, other coaches the Buckeyes should look at, how Gene Smith has handled this, and what Holtmann's future really is.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State disputes the Marvin Harrison Jr. call; plus Tony Alford, Keenan Bailey and more Feb 03, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means open with what turns into a very long talk about the non-targeting call on Marvin Harrison Jr. in the Peach Bowl. This talk was spurred by Ryan Day revealing his conversations with officials about the call.

Then the guys get into:

Ohio State injuries for spring football
Running backs coach Tony Alford and the running backs
New tight ends coach Keenan Bailey

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com

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Ryan Day's big change, plus quarterback and offensive line battles: News from Ohio State coaches Feb 02, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are bursting with info after interviewing 13 Ohio State staff members on Wednesday as part of the late National Signing Day (even though the Buckeyes didn't add any recruits.) That group was head coach Ryan Day, all 10 assistants, plus recruiting coordinator Mark Pantoni and new defensive staffer James Laurinaitis.

You'll hear more about all of those talks on future Buckeye Talk episodes.

But for now, the guys focused on three areas:

The discussion around Day maybe giving up play calling
What to expect on the offensive line
The quarterback battle to come in the spring

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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A transfer cornerback; James Laurinaitis; roster management; chicken bones and more: Slow Fire Q&A Feb 01, 2023

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Ohio State text subscribers ask questions and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means answer them in not very rapid fashion.

The topics include:

The transfer cornerback Ohio State added Tuesday
Roster numbers for each position
The Jim Knowles defense in Year 2
Ohio State hiring James Laurinaitis
Bones or no bones in your chicken of choice
Is Ohio State really at an NIL disadvantage?

Plus back scratching, Dawand Jones at the Senior Bowl, and more.

Thanks for listening.

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Buckeye Talk Legacy Pod: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud Jan 31, 2023

Buckeye Talk unveils a new podcast form with this first episode in what is hoped to be a series of Buckeye Talk Legacy pods looking back on the careers of recent Ohio State stars.

First up is quarterback C.J. Stroud, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk through Stroud's arrival in Columbus and his three years in the program and two years as a starter.

To help tell that story are clips from two Stroud interviews, one from February 2020 when he was an early enrollee freshman looking forward to his OSU career, and another from November 2022 when he was looking back and knowing that he was nearing the end of his OSU career.

Along the way, Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss these aspects of Stroud's career:

How he got here
Year 1 as a Buckeye
Low Point
High Point
Turning Point
What if he hadn't been a Buckeye
Describe him in one word
Did he exceed, meet or not quite reach expectations?
Where he fits in Ohio State history

We hope you enjoy our first Buckeye Talk Legacy attempt. Thanks as always for listening.

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Ohio State national title odds; coordinator value; and grumpy lessons from a Hall of Famer: Monday Madness Jan 30, 2023

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are back with a Monday Madness. That means talking Ohio State football, national college football, and a round of Whatcha' Watchin', Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Thinkin'.

First (0:30), Doug and Nathan look at the early national championship odds and how Ohio State fits in with Georgia, Alabama, Michigan and other national powers.

Then (28:40) theres's a discussion of Miami firing former Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and what that tells us about the value of coordinators.

Finally (47:30), it's food, Oscar talk and what Doug thinks of a player he covered decades ago getting elected to the Hall of Fame.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State QB battle insights, embracing Joe Burrow, and riding a horse up a volcano: Buckeye Talk Rants Jan 27, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is taking rants from Ohio State text subscribers. (Join by sending a text to 614-350-3315).

Among the topics covered:

Info to be gleaned from the looming OSU QB battle
Putting Troy Smith and Terrelle Pryor in different offenses
Will Buckeye tight ends have to block more?
The week-long break Buckeye Talk took
When Doug is a jerk
How to embrace Joe Burrow as a Buckeye
Concerns with the OSU turf
How to better talk about injuries
More Heisman tweaks
Bloodlust lessons from the Georgia loss
Hiring Oklahoma State assistants
Solving load management
And finally ... lots of horse riding reaction

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Should Ezekiel Elliott have a Heisman Trophy? Jan 26, 2023

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises wants to know -- Have you ever ridden a horse?

But mostly Doug takes a long look at the 2014 Heisman Trophy race and what would have happened for Ezekiel Elliott if the voting was after the playoff, which it what Doug thinks should happen when the playoff moves to 12 teams in 2024.

Would Elliott have won the 2014 Heisman if it was a postseason award, instead of voted on in December? As it happened, Elliott didn't even finish in the top 10.

This episode is playing off the latest College Football Survivor Show, where Doug and and Shehan Jeyarajah debated this strenuously in a larger, general context. Check out that show wherever you listen to Buckeye Talk.

Thanks for listening.

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Ohio State's 2023 defensive depth chart: Making room for young talent, corner questions and DL upside Jan 25, 2023

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down Ohio State's defensive depth chart after doing the offensive depth chart on the Tuesday podcast. Once again, they reference their July 2021 podcast that predicted how good this 2023 team might be.

First (0:30), they look at the defensive line.

Then (26:43) it's time for the safeties, and then the cornerbacks.

Finally (1:01:00) they get to the linebackers.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State's 2023 offensive depth chart: Running back rotation, offensive line questions and QB what-ifs Jan 24, 2023

Buckeye Talk is back after a week away, and that means it's time to move on and dive into the 2023 college football season.

To do that, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at the offensive depth chart for the fall. They also reference their July 2021 podcast that potentially projected the 2023 Buckeyes as a college football powerhouse. How much was right and wrong?

First up (0:35) they look at the quarterback battle with Kyle McCord and Devin Brown and what might be happening if Quinn Ewers was still in Columbus.

Then (30:25), they talk about what another year of C.J. Stroud would have been like, and then they move on to the offensive line for next season, where the Buckeyes have some holes to fill.

Finally (1:20:12), it's time to talk tight end, receiver and running back.

It's good to be back, and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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How we did on our Mark It Down Monday statistical predictions for Ohio State's 2022 season Jan 16, 2023

Ohio State football ended up right where it expected to be at the end of the season -- back in the College Football Playoff and going toe to toe with Georgia for a shot at the national championship.

The route the Buckeyes took to the get there, especially as it pertained to offensive production, deviated from our expectations. Nathan, Doug and Stephen revisit their Mark It Down Monday statistical leaders prediction episode from last summer.

Injuries derailed some predictions. Others were thrown off when new stars emerged. What did the final stat leaders tell us about what the Buckeyes will look like in 2023?

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Brian Hartline named Ohio State's offensive coordinator, plus OSU Rants Jan 13, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises opens with a discussion of Brian Hartline's promotion to offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

After that, it's rants.

Thanks for listening.

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Ohio State's 2023 QB season: Kyle McCord, Devin Brown and the better-than-usual quarterbacks they'll face Jan 12, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking all about Ohio State quarterbacks in 2023 and the quarterbacks the Buckeyes will face in 2023.

That includes:

* Well, it’s not actually all quarterbacks, because the pod starts with OSU center Luke Wypler heading to the NFL Draft and Matthew Jones likely moving from right guard to center.

* The recent history of Ohio State quarterbacks earning first-team Big Ten honors and a look at whether Kyle McCord or Devin Brown should do that again in 2023.

* The rash of transfer quarterbacks in the Big Ten West and how good they might be.

* The two five-star recruits expected to start for Michigan and Penn State in the Big Ten East.

* The veteran quarterbacks at Notre Dame and Western Kentucky who could challenge Ohio State in non-conference play.

It’s (almost) all 2023 quarterback talk, and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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What Georgia's national title told us about Ohio State, and a remarkable run of AP poll finishes Jan 10, 2023

On this Tuesday/Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means react to Georgia's domination in the national title game from an Ohio State perspective.

First, they run through a survey of OSU text subscribers about how that Georgia win made them feel, and what it said about Ohio State's future.

Then, they congratulate the winner of the Buckeye Talk bowl pool.

Then there's a discussion about the latest Buckeyes making NFL Draft decisions.

Then it's onto where Ohio State finished in the final AP poll, how Nathan voted and Ohio State's streak of high AP finishes in the last two decades.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Burying what might have been Ohio State's best loss in 18 years: Buckeye Talk Rants Jan 09, 2023

On this late Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is here to bury Ohio State's loss to Georgia, even though it took him two-thirds of the way through the pod to realize that's what he was doing with this rants pod.

To start, Doug puts all 26 Ohio State losses (not including the 7 losses in 2011) that he has covered into six different categories to figure out where the Georgia loss fits. He only has two other losses in its group.

Then, a texter sends the 10 most-heartbreaking losses of his parents' lifetime and Doug runs through those to get more context on the Georgia loss.

That's followed by a comparison of Urban Meyer's last four years and Ryan Day's first four years, and what Day may have learned from the end of this season.

Finally, there are a few more heartfelt reactions from after the game, including one about a sick parents and another about taking your 11-year-old to a playoff game.

To conclude the pod, Doug makes his national title game pick.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State's 5 perfect drives against Georgia and why it wasn't enough: Peach Bowl OSU offensive analysis Jan 06, 2023

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back to break down Ohio State's offense in the Buckeyes' 42-41 Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Georgia.

They did the same for the OSU defense on the previous episode of Buckeye Talk.

The discussion starts (0:30) with the idea of Ohio State's five perfect drives against Georgia, and then moves into the limited use of the OSU run game.

Then (17:55) it's a discussion of C.J. Stroud's big game. That's followed (29:14) but how the Buckeyes handled Georgia All-American defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Then comes talk (33:57) of the OSU receivers vs. the Georgia secondary.

Miyan Williams talk (36:15) then pops in, before the guys start digging into every OSU drive (38:09).

Marvin Harrison's injury and the targeting call that was reversed on the play gets an interlude (49:57) before things return (59:50) to Ohio State's final drives of the game.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Analyzing Ohio State's defense vs. Georgia: Lessons learned, Jim Knowles' strategy, and a fingernail away Jan 05, 2023

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are looking back at Ohio State's defense vs. Georgia in their College Football Playoff semifinal.

Was it better or worse than it seemed right after the game?

First, (0:40) they talk about a defender lost and a defender added in the transfer portal.

Then (13:15) they look at how the defensive line played and how often defensive coordinator Jim Knowles made aggressive play calls and how often he was more conservative.

Lastly, (51:24) the big plays given by the Buckeyes are dissected to find which ones were great Georgia plays and which were issues with Ohio State.

The next pod will do the same thing with the offense. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ryan Day giving up play calling? Plus fake punts, and are Ohio State fans more hopeful or angry? Jan 03, 2023

On this Buckeye Talk episode for Monday evening/Tuesday morning, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means continue to react to Ohio State’s loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff with the help of the results of a text subscriber survey. (Try the texts at 614-350-3315).

Here's the rundown:

Some brief news and a discussion of the fake punt Ohio State tried vs. Georgia
(10:37) What if Ryan Day does give up play calling, as a report said he is considering?
(51:28) Pondering C.J. Stroud and Jim Harbaugh working together in the NFL
(1:02:27) The results of the texter survey, as the guys discuss how fans feel about the Buckeyes, the coaching and this season

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State loses to Georgia postgame: What a 42-41 heartbreaker means for the Buckeyes Jan 01, 2023

On this postgame Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are ringing in the New Year in the wee hours after Ohio State lost to Georgia 42-41 in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Peach Bowl on Saturday night.

The guys focus on three main areas, knowing there are many conversations ahead on later episodes to discuss every aspect of this game.

Part 1: What this game means for the OSU program

Part 2: (18:36) Why Ohio State lost and the specifics of what the Buckeyes did well and not so well

Part 3: (1:05:59) Thinking about how fans will feel about this game

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk. The season is over, but the pod will continue.

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Ohio State-Georgia game preview and picks: Can the Buckeyes pull off the upset over the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff? Dec 30, 2022

Stephen Means, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are joined by Tyler Shoemaker as the quartet gives their final thoughts on Ohio State's College Football Playoff matchup against Georgia and provides their picks.

With they go along with what many around the country as starting to believe, as the Bulldogs are seen as the overwhelming favorite, or will they pick the underdog Buckeyes?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Dallan Hayden; Kirby Smart's lessons for Ryan Day; the Big Ten's back; New Year's Eve conflicts; banana flavor; Debra Winger and more: Ohio State rants Dec 30, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is discussing rants from Ohio State text subscribers in preparation for Saturday's Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal between the No. 4 Buckeyes and the No. 1 Gerogia Bulldogs.

Among the topics covered:

Whether the passion of Ohio State fans is on the line
Is the Big Ten back?
Bananas
Does Ohio State seem tight?
New Year's Eve conflicts
Running back updates
Just wanting Ohio State to not get blown out, cautious optimism, impending doom and every possible view of how the game might go and what it would mean for the program

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Is Georgia's offense or Georgia's defense a bigger issue for Ohio State? Dec 29, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means check in after talking to Ohio State defensive players and coaches and Georgia offensive players and coaches on Wednesday.

The pod starts with an Ohio State injury update from a quick practice viewing, then (5:00) it's on to what happened at Georgia practice.

The guys then dive into their interview with Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (9:05). Then things move on (25:25) to a comparison of Georgia's offense to Michigan's offense.

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett and Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken (33:00) then get an analysis, before a debate ensues (45:40) about what will be a tougher test for Ohio State -- the Georgia offense or Georgia defense?

Finally, what was said by Ohio State defenders like Tommy Eichenberg, Lathan Ransom and Jack Sawyer is discussed (49:41).

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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What a roof means for Ohio State, and vibes from the OSU offense and Georgia defense Dec 28, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means share their thoughts after talking to Ohio State offensive players and coaches and Georgia defensive players and coaches on Tuesday.

And, not surprisingly, Doug has a theory.

Topics covered on this episode include:

Chip Trayanum, Miyan Williams and the Ohio State running back situation
(6:10) Kevin Wilson's career at Ohio State and how the OC is balancing his new role as Tulsa's head coach plus his duties with Ohio State
(22:24) What playing indoors might mean for the Ohio State offense
(39:00) Players to watch on the Georgia defense
(50:10) How C.J. Stroud was feeling and thinking
(58:34) What Ohio State needs from its defense

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Ohio State arrives in Atlanta and gets ready for Georgia Dec 27, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about the arrival of Ohio State at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta to face Georgia in a College Football Playoff semifinal.

Doug, who is putting this podcast up, has no other information because he drove to Atlanta all day Monday and couldn't make the pod, and no one gave him any other specifics about the topics.

So you can probably figure out the rest. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk!

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Right and wrong picks on Ohio State All-Americans, the Heisman, and the playoff: MIDM recap Dec 26, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking a quick look back before their podcast coverage begins from Atlanta for the Ohio State-Georgia matchup in the Peach Bowl. Buckeye Talk for the rest of the week will be coming to you from the College Football Playoff semifinal.

But on this episode, Doug, Nathan and Stephen look back on three Mark It Down Monday predictions from the preseason.

First, they discuss the absences of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and TreVeyon Henderson and whether they've been factored into the view of Ohio State's season enough.

Then (11:20) it's a look at their College Football Playoff picks and where they were right and wrong.

Next up (34:25) are their Heisman Trophy predictions and there they were right and wrong.

Finally (54:44) it's the Ohio State players they predicted would be first-team All-Americans this season, and which ones they got right.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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An Ohio State bet vs. Georgia, liking Big Ten bowl teams, and sports betting in Ohio is almost here: Betting the Buckeyes Dec 23, 2022

It's the last full Betting the Buckeyes episode of the season on Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker go back to their regular-season formula for one last round of college football gambling advice.

First, TShoe suggests another Ohio State bet, and guess what? It's familiar. The usual Buckeye angle is back for Ohio State vs. Georgia, and Doug and Tyler explain why.

Then (16:12), it's to the New Year's Six Bowls. That means bets from both Tyler and Doug:

Clemson-Tennessee in the Orange Bowl
Alabama-Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl
USC-Tulane in the Cotton Bowl
Penn State-Utah in the Rose Bowl
Michigan-TCU in a Fiesta Bowl playoff semifinal
Ohio State-Georgia in a Peach Bowl playoff semifinal (although, FYI, they aren't ready to give their full picks in this one)

Finally (43:47), TShoe offers one last best bet in another bowl game. And then Doug and Tyler talk about the arrival of legal sports gambling in Ohio on Jan. 1 and discuss the rise of sports betting and what it means for sports fans.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk all season.

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Ohio State National Signing Day recap: Potential early starters, some costly misses, and the state of OSU recruiting Dec 22, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird react to Ohio State's 2023 signing class, which the Buckeyes locked in Wednesday. By average star rating, it is the No. 3 class in the 247sports.com composite rankings. Nineteen players signed, with the Buckeyes waiting on one more committed player they were expecting to land.

To start off, the guys look at Ohio State's class ranking overall nationally, and then they dive into the 10 offensive players who signed with the Buckeyes.

Then (56:10) it's to the other side of the ball and the nine players (and one more they were waiting on) for on defense.

In the final segment (1:17:01) they look at the highly-rated recruits the Buckeyes went after and didn't sign, and discuss the effect of NIL on the class and how things might look for Ohio State recruiting in the future.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State-Georgia film expert breakdown: Why the Buckeyes' offense should go fast Dec 21, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, welcome cleveland.com football film expert Lance Reisland to the show for the first time.

Lance has appeared on Orange and Brown Talk to discuss the Browns many times, and has written film breakdowns on both the Buckeyes and Browns, but on this episode he joins Doug Lesmerises to discuss the Ohio State-Georgia matchup.

The focus at the start of the pod is on the areas where Lance feels the Buckeyes can best attack Georgia's defense, and later, the talk turns to OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and how aggressive he should be in this matchup, and what kind of coverage the Buckeyes should play.

A former college quarterback and a high school head coach for more than two decades, Lance offers a great breakdown of this Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal, and as always, thanks for listening.

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Ohio State defense vs. Georgia offense: Breaking down J.T Tuimoloau, Stetson Bennett and more Dec 20, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down the matchup between the Ohio State defense and the Georgia offense.

Don't miss the pod lat Friday when they did the Ohio State offense vs. the Georgia defense.

First, they look at the Bulldogs that will matter most as Georgia moves the ball.

Then (43:23), it's the OSU defenders that need to stand out as the Buckeyes try to slow down the Bulldogs.

Finally (1:02:24), they look at how they think this matchup might go, and discuss how digging in on these rewatches affected their overall view of the game.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State's QB future and the decommitment of Dylan Raiola Dec 19, 2022

Dylan Raiola, the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the Class of 2024, decommitted from Ohio State over the weekend.

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to break down what that means for:

The state of the Ohio State football program
The Buckeyes' overall recruiting
Their QB recruiting strategy
The future of the OSU QB room

There's a lot to discuss, and we're glad you're part of this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State offense vs. Georgia defense: Breaking down Emeka Egbuka, Jalen Carter, a secret plan suggestion, and more Dec 16, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are offering their first in-depth breakdown of the matchup in the Peach Bowl between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Georgia Bulldogs. This one is Ohio State vs. Georgia defense.

Ohio State defense vs. Georgia offense will be an episode next week.

First up -- the Georgia defensive players that jump out, starting with All-American defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

Then (41:49), a look at the Buckeyes that need to have big games on Dec. 31, starting with receiver Emeka Egbuka. Doug also reveals his secret plan suggestion for the Buckeyes in this section.

Finally ((1:06:04), it's what the Buckeyes need to do to have a chance to pile up some points on the most talented defense in college football the last two years, and that leads to a long conversation about Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Miyan Williams’ health, Buckeyes shouting at the USC-Utah game, and more from Ohio State players Dec 15, 2022

Ohio State football held its bowl season media day on Wednesday, which meant 20 Buckeyes were available for interviews, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were there to talk with them.

And then Doug, Nathan and Stephen jumped on this Thursday Buckeye Talk episode to share the most interesting things they learned from Miyan Williams, C.J. Stroud, Jordan Hancock, Mike Hall Jr., Steele Chambers, Tommy Eichenberg, Zach Harrison, Ronnie Hickman, Marvin Harrison Jr. and more.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Advice on college football bowl picks, and a Buckeye Talk bowl pool Dec 14, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker from the Betting the Buckeyes weekly episode of Buckeye Talk are here to prepare you for your bowl pools, offering advice on the games in which you can have the most confidence.

You could then use that advice in our Buckeye Talk Podcast bowl pool on ESPN's Bowl Mania. You can sign up here: tinyurl.com/3frh29hx.

The group is private, though, and the password will be sent to Buckeye Talk text subscribers. You can get a two-week free trial as a text subscriber by texting 614-350-3315.

Even if you don't plan to join a bowl pool, TShoe and Doug will give you a good overview of some of the most interesting bowls, with the first bowl game kicking off Friday night.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State's starters vs. Georgia; Paris Johnson; Caleb Downs; and more: Rapid fire Dec 13, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking rapid fire questions from Ohio State football text subscribers.

Among the topics covered:

* A weird dream about the Buckeyes, Browns and Georgia

* Paris Johnson Jr’s impact as a potential first-round pick

* Are the Buckeyes their own worst enemy?

* Comparing the 2020 Buckeyes to now

* Would Georgia be a Kourt Williams game is he was healthy?

* Who are the expected OSU starters vs. Georgia on both sides of the ball?

* Still wondering why Dallan Hayden didn’t play more vs. Michigan

* Are Doug, Nathan and Stephen fans of the Buckeyes?

* What’s the latest with Ohio State’s attempts to flip Caleb Downs?

* Diaper advice

* Ryan Day and hiring assistants with not much outside experience

* How did Jim Harbaugh improve at Michigan and what could be learned from it?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Fixing the Heisman, NIL frustrations, staff changes and cake batter: Ohio State rants Dec 12, 2022

On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is back with rants covering three primary areas:

First, his Heisman vote and why it was difficult, Lincoln Riley vs. Ryan Day quarterbacks and the Heisman, and how the Heisman Trophy could be fixed in future years.

Then (20:45), it's a discussion about the latest Ohio State coaching move -- the promotion of Keenan Bailey to replace Kevin Wilson. Plus, a cake batter rant slips in there.

Finally (40:20) it's a look at where Ohio State is right now in the Name, Image and Likeness world, and why fans might be frustrated about it.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The Heisman Trophy and C.J. Stroud's unfinished Ohio State legacy Dec 09, 2022

C.J. Stroud is back in New York City this weekend as a Heisman Trophy finalist. How does being one of only three Ohio State players to twice finish in the top-four of the award's voting factor into his legacy? Can winning a national championship erase an 0-2 record against Michigan? Also, to whom is he passing the torch of being the next Buckeye to make it to the stage in New York?

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9 Ohio State Buckeyes who could pop in bowl prep, from Sonny Styles to Jayden Ballard Dec 08, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are drafting nine Ohio State players they think could show out during December practices and set themselves up for leaps in 2023 -- if not before.

That means a lot of of young Buckeyes in here who haven't played much, but there's at least one very familiar player who could be looking for even more.

The whole pod is the draft -- one through nine. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Inside the numbers on Ohio State-Georgia, plus how our bets fared this season: Betting the Buckeyes Dec 07, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker bring you another Betting the Buckeyes, and this one uses some gambling numbers to analyze the playoff semifinal between Ohio State and Georgia.

First, Doug and TShoe look at the betting lines for both College Football Playoff semis -- first Michigan-TCU, and then Ohio State-Georgia -- and then talk about the overall national title odds for all four teams.

Then (21:25) they look at TShoe's power ratings for the Buckeyes and Bulldogs and how they compare to a year ago. Then Doug brings out some other numbers to analyze Ohio State and Georgia on both sides of the ball and get a sense for the matchup. For Tyler, in one way, this is No. 1 vs. No. 1.

Finally (43:17), they run through their bets for the year and let you know how they did on their Power 5 conference picks, plus on Tyler's Best Bets, Upset Special and Ohio State Bet of the Week.

Thanks as always for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba out, Kevin Wilson gone, C.J. Stroud a Heisman finalist, transfer portal options and more: Ohio State rants Dec 06, 2022

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk Rants, Doug Lesmerises is covering four main topics off the top and then running through rants from text subscribers.

First, (1:32) Jaxon Smith-Njigba's Ohio State career is officially over as the star receiver will not recover from his hamstring injury to be able to play in the Buckeyes' playoff semifinal against Georgia.

Then (17:20), offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson is leaving to be the new head coach at Tulsa. What does that mean for the OSU coaching staff?

Then (25:39), C.J. Stroud is one of four Heisman Trophy finalists. What did Doug think about during his voting process?

Finally (45:10), hundreds of players went into the transfer portal on Monday. Could any of them interest the Buckeyes?

With those topics done, Doug went through several rapid fire rants from fans, first with complaints about the pod (51:33), then about football (55:00).

The last section (1:14:04) is fans sharing thoughts on the best way to emotionally handle a playoff spot after a Michigan loss.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State makes the College Football Playoff, assumes one of its greatest underdog roles Dec 05, 2022

The Ohio State Buckeyes are in the College Football Playoff, and on this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking about the Buckeyes as the No. 4 seed against No. 1 Georgia and as underdogs after it looked like their season was over.

The discussion turns to how this underdog roles compares to other OSU underdog moments of the past. In the back third of the pod, the guys run through a survey of text subscribers to figure out where fans are one week removed from the Buckeyes' loss to Michigan, with the Buckeyes now one of four teams with a shot at the national title, and with a potential rematch with Michigan in the national title game looming.

You know what's in here -- it's playoff stuff.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State lives: Emergency Pod Dec 03, 2022

Utah beat USC on Friday night, in much the same way Michigan beat Ohio State last week. The result?

The Ohio State Buckeyes are likely back in the College Football Playoff.

With the way the selection committee described it last week, the Buckeyes were probably in with a USC loss, especially when the Trojans blew a 17-3 lead and fell 47-24, showing continued issues with their defense.

The 11-1 Buckeyes aren't perfect, but they will almost certainly be the choice as the No. 4 seed in the playoff when the playoff bracket is announced Sunday.

But you know that. On this emergency pod, you can talk along as Doug Lesmerises tells you things you already know.

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Still betting Ohio State to win the national title; picks for USC and TCU: and a MAC Championship best bet Dec 02, 2022

On this Friday edition of Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker still have a lot to talk about with Ohio State football from a betting perspective, even though the Buckeyes aren't playing this weekend. Plus, they make their usual national picks.

In the first segment (0:30), Doug and Tyler talk about why Ohio State's national title odds went way up after the Buckeyes lost to Michigan, then came back down after bettors started betting them. Now Ohio State is 10-1, and is that a good bet, given their chances of making the playoff? Plus, TShoe talks about what the lines might look like for an Ohio State-Michigan rematch, and an Ohio State-Georgia semifinal.

Then (22:34), the guys make their picks for the conference championship games in the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12. There are several games Doug and Tyler agree on, which might be bad for Tyler.

Finally (41:42), TShoe has one best bet this week, and it's the MAC Championship. Then the advice centers on fighting the urge to bet more in a small week of games.

Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Ohio State's playoff limbo; Buckeyes on the All-Big Ten team; and more Dec 01, 2022

On this Thursday episode, Buckeye Talk comes to you in three parts.

First, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about the Ohio State Buckeyes who made the All-Big Ten team, starting on the offensive side, then going (17:27) to defense, and then (35:45) looking at individual awards.

Then Doug (42:42) goes through a few topics on his own, including Brian Hartline interviewing at Cincinnati.

Finally, (58:47) Nathan and Stephen discuss Ohio State's playoff situation, which seems to be coming down to USC losing to Utah on Friday night.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Jim Tressel, rivalry coach; transfer cornerbacks; and more suggestions Ohio State can use to beat Michigan Nov 30, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, the call went out to Ohio State text subscribers to send in concrete suggestions that Ohio State could try to help the Buckeyes prepare for Michigan next season.

From adding players to changing assistants to a different offensive focus to play calling responsibilities, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means ran through about 15 of the best and most interesting suggestions that were sent in.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State-Michigan rants: From play calling to Ohio players to social media and more Nov 29, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises took in everything Ohio State text subscribers had to offer for the last two days and decided on these 10 points to hit on this slightly different version of a rants pod:

6:30 -- Ohio State losing to Michigan for the first time in the social media age

18:22 -- Whether stability breeds winning, or winning breeds stability

21:42 -- Play calling issues for Ryan Day and Jim Knowles

45:30 -- Ryan Day in equal talent games

50:00 -- How Ryan Day is in the opposite place of Jim Tressel

58:21 -- The right balance of Ohio players on the roster

1:03:46 -- Is recruiting bringing in enough talent at all positions?

1:11:54 -- OSU fans eventually get mad at all coaches

1:19:11 -- This loss was worse because it was unexpected

1:23:37 -- Comparing Ryan Day to Mark Helfrich

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Ohio State's slim playoff chances; Luke Fickell to Wisconsin; mashed potatoes; and more Nov 28, 2022

On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are taking a bit of a step back from Ohio State's loss to Michigan to look at the Buckeyes in the national picture and to discuss Big Ten coaching. The pod will get back to what happened in The Game and the state of the rivalry in the next few days.

Here, Doug and Nathan start by discussing if Ohio State could back into the College Football Playoff as a No. 4 seed and how the selection committee might view the Buckeyes vs. USC right now.

Then (31:56) it's onto Big Ten coaching and the surprise hiring of Luke Fickell by Wisconsin. Who will be the best coaches in the Big Ten in two years? Where does Ryan Day fit? And, just to get a read on fans, texters were asked if they'd fire Day right now if they were in charge. Doug and Nathan discuss those survey results.

Finally, (1:21:31) it's Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin' and Whatcha Thinkin' as Wakanda Forever, Thanksgiving food (again), Nathan's cough and if everyone will be happier in a 12-team playoff are discussed.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Ohio State loses to Michigan postgame: What went wrong for the Buckeyes, and what to do now Nov 27, 2022

On this postgame edition of Buckeye Talk after Ohio State's 45-23 loss to Michigan, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down Ohio State's second straight loss in The Game and what it means for both programs.

First (0:30), the discussion is about where Ohio State's defense failed against Michigan's offense. That includes the idea that the Wolverines were propelled by two players who could have been Buckeyes.

Then (40:30), the discussion turns to the Ohio State offense, which scored just three points in the second half. From play calling to personnel, why didn't the Buckeyes score more?

Included in that is a discussion (1:18:30) about whether Ryan Day should have gone for it on fourth-and-5 in the third quarter.

The final discussion (1:37:49) is all about Day and where the coach and program go from here.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Ohio State-Michigan game preview and picks: The effect of emotion, surprise players and injuries Nov 25, 2022

On this game preview edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dig in deep on the matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan, while Michigan writer Aaron McMann stops by for a segment to lend his expertise.

First, the guys start (0:45) on the Ohio State offense vs. the Michigan defense. Will C.J. Stroud provide some magic? Will Dallan Hayden carry the rushing load? And is the Michigan pass rush a problem?

Then (40:43) it's a quick look at potential surprise players for The Game, as the guys give their choices.

Then (47:54) it's Ohio State defense vs. Michigan offense. Will the Jim Knowles plan work? And might Michigan wind up relying on quarterback J.J. McCarthy more than ever?

Then it's a visit from McMann (1:02:30), who provides a look at what Michigan might be like if star running back Blake Corum is out or severely limited.

Finally (1:32:28), Doug, Nathan and Stephen make their picks for The Game.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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How to bet rivalries, and how often Ohio State and Michigan coaches beat the spread in The Game: Betting the Buckeyes Nov 24, 2022

On this week's version of Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are back to talk about Ohio State football and national college football from a betting perspective.

First, (1:00) they discuss how to bet rivalries and how intangibles factor into a bet. Then they talk about the 7.5-point spread for Ohio State-Michigan and how much more Ohio State was favored by several weeks ago. Tyler gives his numbers for the game, and the guys agree on which side of the total they like, and Doug suggests a parley. Finally, TShoe suggests his Ohio State bet of the week.

Then (17:38) it's onto the Power Five conferences with Doug and Tyler each making five bets there. Doug is very excited about his record last week.

In the final segment (40:06), Tyler picks his upset special and gives out his three best bets of the week after going 3-0 on best bets last week. Then it's time for another gambling tidbit, and this one is a little more sophisticated.

Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Broken hands; rushing smart; jumping Georgia; setting back Michigan; and how chippy will The Game be? Rapid fire Nov 24, 2022

On this Thanksgiving Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking rapid fire questions from text subscribers about Ohio State football and the The Game. Among the topics covered:

How should Ohio State rush JJ McCarthy?
Will CJ Stroud remember Desmond Howard and take it out on Michigan?
Tommy Eichenberg's broken hands
Jaxon Smith-Njigba expectations
How chippy will The Game be?
Could Ohio State jump Georgia with a win?
How does the media feel this week?
Could Jayden Ballard play a role Saturday?
Ryan Day can't overthink or be too conservative
A draft of Thanksgiving side dishes
How much would a loss set Michigan back?
Should OSU fans rush the field with a win?
What base was Jim Harbaugh born on?
Would OSU fans accept a new version of The 10-Year War?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. And Happy Thanksgiving.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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Jack Sawyer; a toughness battle; delays of game; and cherishing the rivalry: Ohio State rants Nov 23, 2022

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk rants, Doug Lesmerises takes another list of rants from text subscribers (sign up for free texts at 614-350-3315) and runs through what's on the mind of Ohio State fans and what matters the most during Ohio State-Michigan week.

Topics discussed include:

How Jack Sawyer might be used
Don't get trapped in a toughness battle
Wishing The Game wasn't Thanksgiving week
Cherishing the privilege of the game in what might be the last, best version of it
Comparing Michigan to Tresselball
Homefield for Ohio State
How Doug says im-por-tant
Divulging little tidbits about The Game
Kicking off at noon
Predicting this game would be 11-0 vs. 11-0
Paris Johnson getting just one year at left tackle
Stop spoiling The College Football Survivor Show
Ohio State's issue with delays of game
Is Tim Walton the next Bill Davis?
Does Ryan Day get too much criticism?
Hating weather talk

And more. Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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What Michigan does, from pass rush to run blocking, and how Ohio State can handle it Nov 22, 2022

Welcome back to a bonus Buckeye Talk, as Ohio State-Michigan week means a Tuesday pod when there usually isn't one.

Doug Lesmerises kicks off this pod with his breakdown of the Wolverines, first discussing three aspects of Michigan's offense (1:30), then looking (18:53) at three parts of Michigan's defense. There will be a Michigan writer on the pod later this week, but this was a look at the Wolverines through the lens of the Buckeyes.

Then, Doug is joined (28:06) by new cleveland.com writer Jimmy Watkins. His beat is rivalries and that means on his first day on the job Monday he was in Ann Arbor for Michigan interviews. He checks in with the vibe and news from Jim Harbaugh and Michigan players.

Finally, (46:32), Nathan Baird has an interview with L. Jon Wertheim, one of the producers of a new documentary on the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.

Many more pods to come this week. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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The perfect Big Ten season helped create 11-0 Ohio State vs. 11-0 Michigan Nov 21, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are thinking all about Ohio State vs. Michigan -- and maybe a little bit about Thanksgiving food.

First, they offer an appreciation (4:30) for both the Buckeyes and Wolverines getting through the regular season undefeated so far to make this matchup happen.

Then (9:20), they talk about the polls, where the Buckeyes have always been clearly ahead of the Wolverines.

Then (14:03), it's back to the idea of both Ohio State and Michigan making the College Football Playoff, which is more real after Tennessee's loss.

Then (26:36) the five best teams in the Big Ten are compared to the five best teams in the other major conferences to spark a discussion about quality depth and what's good and bad about it.

Ryan Day's thoughts on Ohio State and Michigan maybe playing back-to-back games someday (41:56) are discussed, before a brief discussion about Iowa (50:28) taking control of the race in the Big Ten West.

Finally, (52:54), it's Whatcha Thinkin', Eatin' and Watchin', where Doug has a theory about this more national version of The Game, and Thanksgiving plans are shared.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Ohio State beats Maryland postgame: Will Dallan Hayden play a major role in an undefeated version of The Game? Nov 20, 2022

On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are in the Maryland press box to break down Ohio State's 43-30 win over the Terrapins on Saturday. But everything about this OSU win pointed toward what will now be a showdown of undefeated teams in a week, as both Ohio State and Michigan improved to 11-0.

In the first segment, text subscribers share their level of confidence in the Buckeyes right now, while Doug, Nathan and Stephen break down the OSU run game and talk about the role freshman tailback Dallan Hayden could play next week.

In the second segment (35:55), the talk turns to the Ohio State passing game, C.J. Stroud and the number of targets the receivers are getting.

In segment three (47:54), it's on to the Ohio State and how much it can be trusted in a big game, and which defensive stars could show up next week.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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How a half-point move affects our Ohio State bet, plus a formula for sagging teams: Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk Nov 18, 2022

On this episode of Betting the Buckeyes, Tyler Shoemaker and Doug Lesmerises talk about Ohio State football and national college football from a gambling perspective, as they always do. Doug has a microphone issue on this one, but TShoe is loud and strong and the content is great, so thanks for hanging in.

First, they talk about Ohio State-Maryland, what Tyler's formula would set as the line for this game and how to adjust for teams that are sagging down the stretch. Then it's the Ohio State bet of the week and how a half-point move may or may not change the angle.

Then (16:43), it's on to Power 5 picks, where, honestly, neither Doug nor TShoe has done that well this year. Why? Then it's picks on USC, Texas, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest, Purdue and other teams.

Finally (38:14), TShoe gets into the weeds with his upset special and his three best bets, and he offers a tidbit of gambling advice.

Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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Ohio State-Maryland preview and rapid fire: A Marvin Harrison Jr. Heisman case, Taron Vincent, Lathan Ransom, game picks and more Nov 18, 2022

On this Friday game preview edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means make their picks for the Ohio State-Maryland game on Saturday. But first they discuss some interviews with Ty Hamilton and Dallan Hayden and share some news about Ohio State practicing in the snow and how C.J. Stroud looked this week.

They also take several questions from text subscribers, including on:

Marvis Harrison Jr. as a Heisman candidate
The Jaxon Smith-Njigba outlook
Overlooking Taron Vincent
Lathan Ransom's style of play
How they talk about Ryan Day and what angered some listeners
Some thoughts on the pod

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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Josh Fryar; C.J. Stroud picked a challenge; hospital food; injury questions and more: Ohio State rants Nov 17, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is sorry the rants took so long this week, but they're finally here.

Topics covered include, in order:

What's affecting the national view of Ohio State?
Josh Fryar ready to help
Up-tempo offense
A lack of Heisman interest
Hospital food
Football in context
A Block O moment
Angering Iowa
C.J. Stroud picking a challenge
The wrong shade of scarlet
College hoops interest in November
Reacting to big plays
James Franklin and Chris Holtmann
Ohio State's injuries

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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C.J. Stroud's Heisman path and the player who could stand in his way; plus an Ohio State-Michigan doubleheader; and crypto and bass clarinets Nov 14, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are here to:

Break down the Heisman Trophy race (1:15) and where Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud stands in it. What one other player has the best chance to derail Stroud's Heisman path, and what are the numbers inside the race?
Then (40:40) it's a look at the Big Ten West battle and what would have happened if the Big Ten had already done away with divisions like the Pac-12.
Finally it's time for (1:01:49) Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin' and Whatcha Thinkin' with a look at TBDBITL through fresh eyes, Unsolved Mysteries, bass clarinets and crypto.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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Ohio State beats Indiana postgame: C.J. Stroud gets right, RB injuries, Kam Babb's moment and more Nov 13, 2022

On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break down Ohio State's 56-14 win over Indiana.

To open, did someone pick the score exactly right? Huh. Weird.

Then, should the postgame pods be more raw? (2:45)

How did it feel for Nathan, who was sick, to watch the game at home? (4:43)

Then, a dive into the OSU short-yardage issues. (7:48)

Then a deeper look at the running back injuries for the Buckeyes. (30:30)

Then how bad Indiana football is right now. (42:00)

Then a reason to subscribe to the texts. (52:04)

A look at how the cornerbacks played and what the rotation might be in the future. (54:38)

How Josh Fryar did starting at right tackle and what it means. (1:00:10)

The defensive line rotation. (1:03:43)

Marvin Harrison Jr. is wild. (1:08:40)

The C.J. Stroud and Kam Babb connection and Babb's big moment after his touchdown. (1:11:00)

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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Back to a reliable Ohio State bet, plus advice on parlays and Bielema belief: Betting the Buckeyes Nov 11, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Betting the Buckeyes is back after a week off. That means Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are discussing Ohio State and national college football from a gambling perspective.

In the first segment, TShoe and Doug scout out an Ohio State bet of the week and talk about how to bet in bad weather, like the Buckeyes faced last week.

Then the middle segment has their picks from the Power 5 conferences, with playoff contenders Georgia, Tennessee, Oregon and TCU all in the gambling mix.

Then it's the final segment and the upset pick of the week, as well as TShoe's three best bets. Finally, the advice tidbit is Doug asking Tyler how to handle parlay bets, because Doug recently lost one and it made him mad.

Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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Ohio State vs. Indiana preview and rapid fire: DL rotation, game picks and more Nov 11, 2022

On this Friday game preview Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means make their picks for Ohio State hosting Indiana on Saturday, with the Buckeyes favored by 39.5 points.

But first, because they are expecting a blowout, they take questions on a variety of topics, including:

Is Ohio State now a defense-first team?
What's with the defensive line rotation?
Keeping listeners sane
Advice for a first OSU game
Receiver drops
C.J. Stroud running the ball
Kyle McCord playing time
Why the offense seems like it's getting worse
Comparing OSU to Michigan running backs
What texters say about their balance of football and men's basketball passion

And then they make their picks for the game. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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Is Ohio State or Michigan on top? Big Ten fan satisfaction rankings Nov 10, 2022

This Thursday Buckeye Talk episode is homework that nobody actually wanted.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means created their own Big Ten fan satisfaction rankings for each of the 14 schools, combining how good the schools are at football and men's basketball and how much fans care about each of the two programs.

The formula is this:

Each school was broken into two percentages that equal 100 to show how much football matters at that school compared to men's basketball. A school might be an even 50-50, or it might be 90 football and 10 men's basketball, or 75 men's basketball and 25 football. That's a way of showing how much fans care about each of those two sports compared to each other.
Then, each of the 28 football and men's basketball teams was ranked on a scale of 1 to 14, with 1 being very unsatisfied and 14 being completely happy.
Each of those rankings was then multiplied by the caring percent. And then the two numbers were added together to get that schools satisfaction rating. For instance, a team given an 8 in men's basketball that had a 40 percent care rating for basketball would get 320 points, and then a 6 in football for a 60 percent care rating would create 360 points, and overall, that team's satisfaction number would be 680.
See!? It's a math podcast!

Doug, Nathan and Stephen talk it out and reveal their 1-14 rankings. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Disclaimer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Ohio State rants: 2 real run game issues, and the key to making Buckeyes fans happier Nov 09, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is taking rants and strong takes from Ohio State text subscribers and then talking them out.

The topics covered, in order:

Whether Ohio State is the Kansas City Chiefs and all the issues that go into trusting the Buckeyes or not
The lack of running backs getting in the groove, why short yardsage is the real run game issue
The idea of the Buckeyes needing a humbling loss
Eating Chili's in the basement
Showering at night or in the morning
Getting sick of the soft label
Should Ohio State actually be an underdog to Michigan?
Are the right five guys playing on the offensive line?
Birthday parties at McDonald's
Michigan struggled for a half vs. Rutgers
Listening to Buckeye Talk during marathon training
A baseball comparison
The Buckeyes lacking one thing each year
Issues with our OSU YouTube videos
Apples taste good
Fans having trouble enjoying this season and what might change that

This pod was a little scattered -- Buckeye Talk. So thanks as always for listening.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

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Ohio State basketball preview: Buckeyes are 4 freshmen, 3 transfers and a season that could go anywhere Nov 08, 2022

Ohio State basketball opened the season with a 91-53 win over Robert Morris on Monday night, and on this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are using that first win to inform their discussion about what this 2022-23 season might be like for the basketball Buckeyes.

Three new transfers and four true freshmen were part of the nine-man rotation in the opener, which was a sign of things to come.

The breakdown of this episode:

* A look at the transfers and a discussion of expectations for this season (0:30).

* Rapid fire analysis of all 10 players who could be part of Ohio State’s rotation (17:05).

* The early OSU schedule and the strength/weakness of the Big Ten and what it all means for the OSU season (35:30).

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Back to football talk on Wednesday.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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Ohio State vs. Georgia; playoff race shakeup; Big Ten West mess; and getting hypnotized Nov 07, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are talking about the Ohio State Buckeyes on the national scene, and diving back into a part of Ohio State’s game Saturday.

This episode:

* The Georgia-Tennessee game and what it meant for Ohio State (1:19)

* Clemson and Alabama lose and create a shakeup in the playoff race -- what does it mean for the Big Ten? (14:45)

* Illinois loses and the Big Ten West race gets messier (31:33)

* Another look at the OSU run game from Saturday, and when the Buckeyes won and lost their battles up front (41:28)

* Whatcha Watchin’, Whatcha Eatin’, Whatcha Thinkin’, including Doug’s latest experience with getting hypnotized (53:25)

* A final discussion of Ohio State’s reality of potentially needing two styles of offense (1:12:19)

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Disclamer:

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Ends 11/20/23 @ 11:59pm ET. Stepped Up SGP: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

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Ohio State beats Northwestern postgame: What did the wind tell us about the Buckeyes? Nov 06, 2022

On this postgame Buckeye Talk from Evanston, Ill., Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dig into Ohio State's 21-7 win over Northwestern.

The Buckeyes said they had never played in wind like that, but why wasn't Ohio State able to run the ball earlier, even in very rough conditions?

That is discussed at length, as is what worked and didn't work in the passing game, how the OSU defense held up and held down the Wildcats, and more.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Northwestern preview: Denzel Burke, Miyan Williams, long snappers, bad weather and hot dog ice cream Nov 04, 2022

On this game preview Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to break down Ohio State at Northwestern on Saturday. No gambling pod this week, so this is the only Buckeye Talk that will appear in your Friday feed.

The breakdown:

How bad weather may affect the game (0:20)
Denzel Burke and the OSU cornerbacks (7:16)
Defensive tackle Mike Hall's emergence (14:49)
Defensive tackle Tyleik Williams coming off a big game (19:08)
The health of running back Miyan Williams (23:52)
A new long snapper (27:38)
Really good left tackles the last two weeks (29:49)
Northwestern's best offensive weapon (39:05)
The Wildcats' DC problem (42:21)
Why Georgia-Tennessee matters to Ohio State (44:45)
Our OSU-NU game picks (53:22)
Hot dog ice cream (1:00:54)

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Comparing C.J. Stroud to Justin Fields, a football team to face aliens, tunnel fight solutions and more: Ohio State rapid fire Nov 03, 2022

It is a giant rapid fire Buckeye Talk this Thursday, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means steer clear of Ohio State play-calling and answer questions related to everything else.

In order, the topics:

Picking a college football team to play aliens
Transfer portal balance
Saying talent-equated
Get rid of old stadiums
Is C.J. Stroud or Justin Fields better?
Year 2 Ohio State running backs
Offensive assistant titles
Could assistants leave after this season?
Is Burger King bad?
Getting the name right for J.T. Tuimoloau
Preventing tunnel fights
Tailgating at Penn State
Rental car insurance
"It is what it is"
More playoff games -- J.J. McCarthy or C.J. Stroud?
A Michigan doomsday question

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State rants: Debating Ryan Day's play-calling, Buckeyes are No. 2 in the playoff rankings and more Nov 02, 2022

On this Wednesday rants Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises gets stuck on one topic longer than usual. But it's a pretty important one -- the play-calling tendencies of Ohio State coach Ryan Day the last two weeks, especially in the run game. Maybe 60 percent of the 100-plus rants sent in were on this topic, so the pod breaks down this way:

Segment 1: Doug mostly lays the groundwork for the discussion with some stats and comparisons to other college offenses.
Segment 2: Rants from every angle about the play-calling.
Segment 3: A look at the initial College Football Playoff rankings for the season that have Ohio State at No. 2 behind Tennessee.

It's a different rant episode than usual, but thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Inside Ohio State's run game struggles, if OSU will be No. 1 for the playoff committee, and Renaissance Festivals Oct 31, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are back for the usual discussion. That means a deep dive into an aspect of Ohio State, a look at the national college football scene, and then a list of what's on their mind outside football.

First, (4:50), they talk about the bubble screens Ohio State ran against Penn State and why they didn't work.

Then (18:24) the discussion moves to the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season coming out on Tuesday night. Doug and Nathan predict where they think the Buckeyes will be and break down all the conflicting into for the committee.

Then (38:54) it's back to the run game, and what happened with scheme, the blocking and the running backs on the 19 primary run calls against the Nittany Lions.

Finally (1:15:38) the guys do Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Thinkin', which includes a healthy dose of the Ohio Renaissance Festival that Doug attended Sunday.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State beats Penn State postgame: JT and MHJ go wild, and the offense is ... what? Oct 30, 2022

It's the postgame Buckeye Talk from Ohio State's win over Penn State. But Doug is worried he's going to get locked in Beaver Stadium.

So he has to hurry:

Part 1: Offense good or bad?

Part 2: JT Tuimoloau, Marvin Harrison Jr, C.J. Stroud and Cade Stover shine

Part 3: Run game ... what do you think?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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A TreVeyon Henderson angle that could hit two ways for Ohio State: Betting the Buckeyes Oct 28, 2022

On this Friday episode of Betting the Buckeyes, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are, as always, looking at Ohio State football and college football from a gambling perspective.

First, Tyler suggests an Ohio State bet for this week and it may be a change from the old reliable Ohio State angle that had been cashing.

Then (13:37), Doug and Tyler each make a betting suggestion in each of the Power 5 conferences. Look out Illinois and Bret Bielema?

Finally (31:42), Tyler offers another upset special after hitting last week, gives his three best bets, and offers a tip about betting trends.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Penn State game preview: What will be the Buckeyes' plan of attack? Oct 28, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down Saturday's game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions.

First, they start with the most interesting things they heard from Ryan Day and Ohio State players on Wednesday and Thursday. That includes more discussion at Jaxon Smith-Njigba's health, Julian Fleming's return home for this game, and how C.J. Stroud views the Penn State defense.

Then (39:16) there's a crossover discussion with the Penn State podcast Blue-White Breakdown as Doug includes some segments of his visit there with Penn State reporters Bob Flounders and Dave Jones.

Finally (51:37), Doug, Nathan and Stephen return to make their picks for the game. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Some Kirk Ferentz talk, plus Ohio State's offensive line, Jim Knowles is underpaid and a Penn State Halloween party: Rants Oct 27, 2022

The rants are late this week, and for that Doug Lesmerises apologizes. But they are here, with Ohio State text subscribers sending in great thoughts to ponder. The topics:

The importance of the Ohio State offensive line and sticking with the run game
An Ohio State fan at a Penn State Halloween party
Letting a kid pick his or her favorite team, and will Bama still be good in 10 years?
Was Ohio State slow to change the offensive game plan against Iowa?
How great was the Jim Knowles hire?
Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt
Rapid rants, including standing at games and souffles
C.J. Stroud
Corey Dennis
Kirk Ferentz and what Doug thought of his multi-day arc with the Iowa coach

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Julian Fleming's role, hot players, staff improvements and the brotherhood: Ohio State rapid fire Oct 26, 2022

On this Wednesday episode, we're switching it up. Instead of Ohio State rants (which will come your way Thursday), this is a rapid fire Q&A with Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means taking questions from text subscribers.

In order:

(0:30) The 2023 OSU schedule

(7:30) Julian Fleming and his role this season

(18:05) OSU players that could get hot down the stretch

(23:43) How the coaching staff could improve

(32:16) Backing in to parking spaces

(41:13) How much the idea of the brotherhood affects Ohio State's performance on the field

That last one went long, so it wasn't very rapid. But thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. Rants back tomorrow.

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Will Ohio State dominate every remaining pass defense? And out of control head coach power Oct 24, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are back to break it down.

First, a look at the opposing pass defenses that the Ohio State Buckeyes could face in their quest for a national title. How might Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Clemson and Michigan fare in trying to slow down C.J. Stroud? Plus, a second look at how Iowa defended the Buckeyes, and an answer to whether the Ohio State offense is the best unit in the nation.

Then (47:53), based off Doug's column on Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, the discussion turns to when head coaches have too much power in college football and what can be done about it.

Finally (1:03:11), it's Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Thinkin', covering, among other things, an inaugural visit to The Cheesecake Factory and Doug's evolution as an athlete.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State beats Iowa postgame: Offense tested, while defense dominates sad sack Hawkeyes Oct 23, 2022

On this postgame Buckeye Talk from Ohio State's 54-10 win over Iowa in Ohio Stadium, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down how the OSU passing game got it rolling late and how the OSU defense smothered Iowa's desultory offense all game.

First, the guys look at C.J. Stroud and how he played almost two different games. The Iowa defense provided a real test early, but the passing game broke it open late. What part of the game told you more?

Then (28:41), the guys talk about the return of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, which didn't last all that long. Also, the Ohio State running game never got going against the Hawkeyes -- does that matter?

Finally (57:10), it's a look at the dominating day for the Ohio State defense against the stumbling Iowa offense. Can the defense carry the Buckeyes when needed? And could Penn State next week be a version of Iowa, but tougher?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The offenses for Ohio State and Iowa are such opposites, the betting line for this game is weird: Betting the Buckeyes Oct 21, 2022

On this episode of Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker start with a discussion of the gap between the offensive outputs of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Iowa Hawkeyes this season, and what that means for the gambling perspective of Saturday’s Ohio State-Iowa matchup.

TSHoe, as always, has a suggested Ohio State bet for that one.

Then it’s onto five picks from each of them, one each in the ACC, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and Big Ten. Doug is working out a theory this week -- nervous team unders. He picks out some overachieving teams playing big games and finds some bets to make on the under. Tyler, meanwhile, is letting the math lead his picks, including some more first-quarter bets where he’s been digging in to find more of an edge lately.

Then it’s the Underdog Pick of the Week, plus Tyler’s three best bets. And finally, the weekly tidbit of sports betting advice.

Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State-Iowa preview and picks: Buckeyes' passing attack vs. Hawkeyes' nepotism Oct 21, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are previewing Ohio State vs. Iowa on Saturday.

First, Doug is joined by John Steppe of the Cedar Rapids Gazette to break down what Iowa does pretty well and what Iowa does very poorly.

Then (25:47), Doug, Nathan and Stephen talk about the most interesting things learned from Buckeyes like C.J. Stroud, Marvin Harrison Jr. and J.T. Tuimoloau this week.

Then (54:58), the guys make their picks for the game, with Ohio State favored by 29.5.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State recruiting rapid fire: Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs, Matayo Uiagalelei, Brock Glenn and more: Oct 20, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are answering questions about Ohio State football recruiting from text subscribers.

Among the topics covered:

Is there any chance Tennessee flips OSU receiver commit Carnell Tate?
Which defensive line recruits from Damon Wilson, Matayo Uiagalelei and Keon Keeley might the Buckeyes land?
Could Ohio State flip safety recruit Caleb Downs back from Alabama?
What are the prospects for OSU 2023 QB recruit Brock Glenn?
How might the increasing success of teams like USC, Texas and Tennessee affect Ohio State recruiting?
Is there a personal relationship that might help safeties coach Perry Eliano land a 5-star?
And much more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Jim Knowles' Tennessee plan; beware the angry Buckeyes; ranked wins; and Iowa scars: Ohio State football rants Oct 19, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is again taking rants from Ohio State text subscribers. Topics covered, in order:

Iowa scars and what the Buckeyes should expect vs. the Hawkeyes
Ohio State's history of successful revenge
How wins over ranked teams should be counted
Giving Emeka Egbuka credit
Why passing is the way to win
Comparing Ohio State's history of NFL QBs to other programs
How Ohio State should view Tennessee, and what Jim Knowles thinks of the Vols' offense
Rapid rants, from cold baseball to nugget sauce
C.J. Stroud and the Heisman race
Is Michigan overrated or should the Wolverines be respected?

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Could Ohio State and Michigan both make the College Football Playoff? Oct 17, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are celebrating a wild weekend of college football that didn't include the Ohio State Buckeyes, who were off.

After several unbeaten teams lost, including Alabama, Doug and Nathan each give their projected four-team playoff bracket for the first time this season. Could both Ohio State and Michigan make the playoff if they're 11-0 when they meet? Doug and Nathan outline all the possibilities there.

At 27:45, they start to reveal their playoff brackets. At 42:20, they discuss the offenses that impressed Saturday and whether they could give the OSU defense trouble. Then there's a Heisman Troop discussion around C.J. Stroud.

In the final segment (59:46), it's Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eaten', Whatcha Thinking'?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Reranking Ohio State football’s 25 best players at the halfway point Oct 15, 2022

On this weekend Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking another look at the Ohio State football roster while the Buckeyes are off and splitting their regular season in half. They have six regular-season games to go, and they have collected six wins, thanks in large part to the skills of these 25 players.

In the preseason, Doug, Nathan and Stephen did a ranking of the OSU roster. Each of them assigned a value between 1 and 20 points for a player’s value to the team and another value of between 1 and 20 points for the player’s rare talent. Then the text subscribers (sign up for a two-week free trial at 614-350-3315) rated all the players on a 1 to 10 scale for a Q rating -- how good they think the player is and how much they like him.

The result was a 50-point rating for each player, and a top 25 list of the Ohio State football players with the most influence. And six games in, everyone did it again.

Four players dropped out of the top 25 and four players moved in. Several players moved up or down by more than 10 spots. All of that is detailed on Buckeye Talk to get you through the weekend until the preview of Ohio State-Iowa begins next week.

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Ohio State football’s odds to win it all, and Michigan and Alabama picks: Betting the Buckeyes Oct 14, 2022

On this Buckeye Talk episode of Betting the Buckeyes, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are diving in even without an Ohio State game this week.

In the first segment, they discuss TShoe's evolving strategy of betting the first quarter, as he continues to dig into the numbers on that. He's 5-1 on OSU bets like that this season, and even without the Buckeyes, he has a team to hit with a first-quarter bet. Then Doug and TShoe look at the odds for Ohio State and other teams to both make the playoff and win it all this season, and they discuss futures bets and how you should think about them.

In the second segment (18:19), the guys make their picks for five major games this week. They disagree head-to-head on the Penn State-Michigan game, so that battle is on.

Finally, (37:15) Tyler gives his upset pick and his three best bets for the week. The best bets have been consistent winners lately, and an old favorite team pops up again. At the end, they discuss how to read the market late in the week and how that should influence your betting.

Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State football midseason awards, from C.J. Stroud to Cade Stover to Mike Hall Jr. Oct 13, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk Podcast, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are joined by Richie Kyburz, a Buckeye Talk listener who won the Buckeye Talk NCAA Tournament bracket contest six months ago. A spot on the pod was one of the prizes and it took this long for Buckeye Talk to get itself together and get Richie on the show.

With Ohio State halfway through the regular season and off this week, this episode is handing out midseason awards and making a few predictions for the rest of the season. The rundown:

Offensive Player of the Year so far (6:53)
Defensive Player of the Year (15:28)
Offensive surprise (29:12)
Defensive surprise (38:12)
Best position coach (43:38)
Player you now think is a future star (54:45)
Biggest worry rest of the way (1:07:00)
Predicting first-team All-Big Ten players (1:19:25)
Outrageous Predictions for the second half of the season (1:28:02)
Richie's view on the 12-team playoff (1:37:55)

Thanks to Richie for joining the show, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Snakebitten Ohio State stars, SEC bias and the greatest WR room in history: Ohio State rants Oct 12, 2022

On this Wednesday edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is back with rants about college football and Ohio State football that he had saved up from test subscribers.

Topics covered in order:

Snakebitten Ohio State football stars through the years, like Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Is college football in a bad spot?
Ohio State's offensive line the best in years
Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Ohio State
Plural or singular sports usage
Ohio State's WR room among the best ever
Getting Dawand Jones to stay for next season
Playing young cornerbacks
How does the Big Ten's depth compare to other conferences?
SEC bias -- where it's earned and not earned

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Baron Browning, Alabama almost lost, the perfect backup QB and wings Oct 10, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird start with a conversation about backups quarterbacks around the country. Alabama almost lost with backup Jalen Milroe on Saturday and Kansas almost won with backup quarterback Jason Bean. Would the Buckeyes be able to win with backup Kyle McCord this season? And what makes the perfect backup QB? Plus, a look at how much all the best teams this season have played their No. 2 quarterback.

Then, (27:46) Nathan and Doug look more specifically at Ohio State and the offensive infrastructure that would aid a backup QB. That means receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, the offensive line, and the play calling of Ryan Day. Would all that make most backups look good?

Doug and Nathan then (46:10) look at how Baron Browning is succeeding in the NFL and once again lament how Ohio State didn't use him correctly.

Finally, (57:46) it's Whatcha Watchin', Eatin' and Thinkin', with thoughts on squeezing in movies, Abbott Elementary, wings places, driverless cars and TV spoilers on social media.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State beats Michigan State postgame rapid fire: Cornerbacks, running backs, backups and more Oct 09, 2022

On this postgame Buckeye Talk after Ohio State's 49-20 win over Michigan State, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take postgame questions from text subscribers. As a reminder, those questions usually aren't "Why is Ohio State so good?"

So the Buckeyes are 6-0 heading into their off week and very possibly playing like the best team in the country. But the majority of questions were centered around three topics:

With Miyan Williams out Saturday and TreVeyon Henderson leaving the game after hitting 100 yards with a minor injury, should OSU fans worry about the running back health? And how important are the running backs to a championship OSU season?
Why doesn't Ryan Day let the second-team offense, specifically backup QB Kyle McCord, do more?
Why are the cornerbacks continuing to struggle at times, what can be fixed there, and which opponents could take advantage of what looks like the weak spot in the defense?

Other topics covered include Mike Hall Jr, the explanation for Ohio State's pick-six, and kickoffs going out of bounds.

Again, Ohio State played very well and should inspire a lot of confidence in fans, but this is what was on the minds of the Buckeye Talk faithful halfway through the regular season.

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A rare good week to bet on both Ohio State and Alabama: Betting the Buckeyes Oct 07, 2022

On this Friday episode of Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk, Tyler Shoemaker (the official bookmaker of Buckeye Talk) and Doug Lesmerises break down Ohio State vs. Michigan State from a gambling perspective and make picks around college football.

First, TShoe and Doug discuss whether oddsmakers are late to the party on Ohio State's first-half and first-quarter offensive success, and what that means for betting Ohio State. Plus Doug tells a gambling story from college that involves baseball cards.

Then, (20:33) Doug and TShoe slide into their national picks, where they have a particular angle on Alabama this week. And Doug also has thoughts on Quinn Ewers and Texas.

The pod wraps up (33:03) with Tyler's best best and upset special, and if his upset pick hits, it'll change the College Football Playoff race. Tyler also coins the phrase Bet Peeves.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Michigan State game preview: Buckeyes’ angry offensive line ready to roll Oct 07, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means preview Saturday's matchup in East Lansing between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan State Spartans.

The guys drive right into a deep breakdown on both sides of the ball, first asking how Michigan State's still leaky pass defense can slow Ohio State, then looking at Michigan State's problems running the ball this season.

Then, (26:52) Nathan and Stephen divulge the most interesting conversations they had with OSU players this week, talking Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, Marvin Harrison Jr. and his cleats, and Luke Wypler.

Finally, (46:55) Doug, Nathan and Stephen make their picks, and discuss some good news for a loyal Buckeye Talk listener.

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Big Ten coaching roulette: Finding new jobs for Brian Hartline, Bret Bielema, Tony Alford and more Oct 06, 2022

Doug, Nathan and Stephen try something new on this Thursday Buckeye Talk. In the wake of the firing of Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst, it's time to spin the Big Ten coaching wheel.

Doug, Nathan and Stephen had to decide whether current Big Ten coaches kept their jobs based on the rules of this game:

3 coaches had to stay in the current jobs.
3 coaches had to move from one Big Ten job to another.
3 people associated with Ohio State (mostly current or former assistants) had to take over a Big Ten program.
3 other new hires had to be picked.
And the final 2 spots were wild cards that could be done in any of the four categories.

The result was a discussion of every Big Ten coaching job and whether the right person is currently in the job, but with a twist.

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Ohio State rants: Punt returns, super teams, injury load management and spoiled milk Oct 05, 2022

It's rant time again on this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, and here's what Doug Lesmerises and the Ohio State text subscribers covered about Ohio State football and a few other topics:

Injuries and load management
Punt return strategy
A better Ryan Day nickname
C.J. Stroud rhythm
OSU QBs in the NFL
Rapid fire rants, including on spoiled milk
Leading questions in news conferences
Don't worry about Paul Chryst
Could Ohio State be this season's super team?
A vote on Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson

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Miyan Williams' success, Paul Chryst's firing and fixing the Big Ten West Oct 03, 2022

It's Monday on Buckeye Talk, which means Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are hitting three big areas: Looking back on Ohio State's Saturday game, a larger view of college football, and Whatcha Watchin', Eatin' and Thinkin'.

First up, a deep dive into Miyan Williams and his huge rushing game Saturday in Ohio State's win over Rutgers. How he did it, what his role should continue to be and how he's made his mark on the Buckeyes.

Then (34:15) it's the Sunday night firing of Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst. Were the Badgers right to do it, who might replace him and what's wrong and can be fixed with the entire Big Ten West?

Finally, (59:25), Whatcha Watchin', Eatin' and Thinkin', which ranges from The Godfather to pancake advice.

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Ohio State beats Rutgers postgame: Ryan Day's angry finger, Zach Harrison's presence Oct 02, 2022

On this postgame Buckeye Talk after Ohio State's 49-10 win over Rutgers on Saturday, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are diving into three main areas, with a long discussion of Miyan Williams' big game coming on the Monday pod.

First on this one, a look at one of the best games of Zach Harrison's career and what his presence on the defensive line might mean in the second half of the season.

Then (24:03), a look at C.J. Stroud's night and how opponents are trying to focus on the OSU passing game and how the Buckeyes are handling it.

Finally (40:48), the on-field finger-pointing confrontation between Ryan Day and Greg Schiano and what it told us about Day. Plus, why it happened.

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Ohio State owns Rutgers against the spread, and there's a smart Buckeye bet again: Betting the Buckeyes Sep 30, 2022

It's Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk, and Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are here to talk Ohio State-Rutgers and national college football through a gambling lens and to offer some best bets for the week.

First, Doug and TShoe discuss Ohio State as a 39.5-point favorite over Rutgers and look at the history of the series, where the number is almost always big. Last year, Ohio State was only favored by 15 and Doug remembers how odd that was. TShoe has a particular bet he likes for Ohio State that fits with a fast start by the Buckeyes.

Then (19:09), it's time to make picks from every power conference, as Doug tries to bounce back from another week of struggles. Maybe LSU's Brian Kelly will save him.

At the end (40:17) Tyler offers his three best bets and a HUGE upset pick of the week. He's feeling good after hitting his upset special last week.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Rutgers preview: Forget feelings, allow the backups to let it rip Sep 30, 2022

On this Buckeye Talk game preview of Ohio State vs. Rutgers, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means do their best to make the Scarlet Knights seem interesting.

At the start, Doug mostly complains about how hard that is.

At 9:19, the game breakdown gets into Ohio State's current injury status and whether Jaxon Smith-Njigba might play; the few players on Rutgers to watch; and how OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles may attack Rutgers' third-string quarterback.

Then at 37:02, it's time for the game predictions, plus a look back at a preseason Mark It Down Monday and how Doug, Nathan and Stephen did with those predictions.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Heisman race reset, Keon Keeley, Ohio State's cool factor and is Penn State a threat? Rapid fire Sep 29, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back with rapid fire questions from text subscribers. Topics covered include:

Ohio State football's cultural relevance
The Keon Keeley recruitment
What if there's a three-way tie in the Big Ten East?
Are there any threats to Ohio State before the Michigan game?
What national teams should OSU fans be rooting for and against?
Could we ever cover Michigan?
Which OSU game next year will be streaming on Peacock?
A reset of the Heisman Trophy race, and is C.J. Stroud viewed as the front runner or not?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Kyle McCord, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the best OSU team in 50 years: Rants and takes on Ohio State Sep 28, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and the text subscribers are offering rants and takes on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The topics covered:

How backup QB Kyle McCord is used
Tommy Eichenberg as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
The success of offensive line coach Justin Frye
Rutgers stinks
Wisconsin stinks
LeBron James
Rapid fire rants
The future of Jaxon Smith-Njigba
C.J. Stroud in the Heisman race
This is the best Ohio State team since the Super Sophs in 1968

As usual, a lot of ground is covered and a lot of takes offered. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Should Ohio State be No. 1? Plus snap counts, bagels and the Big Ten's 4 good teams Sep 26, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are back to put Ohio State in the national context, reexamine Ohio State's win Saturday, and do Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Thinkin'.

First, for the opening 45 minutes, the national conversation:

Should Ohio State be No. 1 ahead of Georgia?
How did Nathan vote in the AP poll?
Discussing the 19 undefeated power conference teams and how many are good
How are Michigan and QB JJ McCarthy looking?
Is Minnesota the best team in the Big Ten West?

Then, at 45:02, the OSU discussion:

How Ohio State handled Nick Herbig, Wisconsin's best defensive player
Snap counts for the Ohio State defense against the Badgers
C.J Stroud's ranking among the national leaders in passing stats

Then, at 1:08:32, Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Thinkin':

Bo Burham, Keegan-Michael Key and gentle humor
Fast food bagels and air fried chicken
A smelly pooch mystery, and memories from the 1998 McGwire-Sosa home run race

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State Buckeyes beat Wisconsin with angels on their shoulders: Postgame Pod Sep 25, 2022

On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through No. 3 Ohio State's 52-21 win over Wisconsin in Ohio Stadium on Saturday night.

First up, the Ohio State defense, which proved that Graham Mertz isn't good and gang-tackled Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen all night. The Buckeyes held down the Badgers while missing their top three cornerbacks.

Then at 24:41, the talk turns to the Ohio State offense -- the two running backs, the offensive line, tight end Cade Stover, and the receiver play without Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Also discussed is Ryan Day's play-calling, which may have been as good as it has ever been.

Finally, at 1:00:08, the focus turns to quarterback C.J. Stroud, who threw five touchdown passes but admitted he has to make sure he doesn't get bored handing the ball off.

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Ohio State vs. Wisconsin is Jim Knowles vs. Graham Mertz: Game Preview Sep 23, 2022

Here's the preview for Ohio State vs. Wisconsin on Saturday night in Ohio Stadium, as the 3-0 Buckeyes will host the 2-1 Badgers.

In the first part of this pod, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at Ohio State's defense vs. Wisconsin's offense and theorize about how much the Badgers might need to throw the ball.

Then it's Part 2 (27:02) and the Ohio State offense vs. the Wisconsin defense. This is the usual question -- Can Wisconsin handle the Buckeyes' passing game?

In the third part of the episode (37:39), Doug, Nathan and Stephen make their picks, and then discuss the Wednesday practice absence of cornerback Denzel Burke.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Betting ratings have Wisconsin as a top-15 team, and prepare to live bet Ohio State Sep 23, 2022

On this episode of Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are talking about the possible live betting opportunity on Ohio State on Saturday night. TShoe's ratings have Wisconsin as a top-15 team, so the fact that Ohio State is favored by 18.5 points might be a bit high.

Might it take a quarter for Buckeyes' defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to adjust to Wisconsin? If so, a first-quarter Wisconsin score could set up a live betting chance on Ohio State, and Doug and TShoe discuss what that means.

Then, it's time for picks, with love of a Pac-12 team, belief in a Big Ten team, and expected mercy from an SEC team.

Finally, Tyler gives out his upset special and his three best bets of the week. Then there's a tip about betting over/unders, even as Doug messes up the advice by falling for a quarterback.

Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State rapid fire: Is 2022 the Buckeyes' best shot at a title? Plus third downs, I-formation and winning is fun Sep 22, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back to rapid fire topics presented by Ohio State text subscribers.

The topics covered in order are:

Is Ohio State's better chance at a title next season, or is 2022 the best collection of talent for a title?
What are the thoughts on the I-formation and new offensive looks?
Will Jaxon Smith-Njigba sometimes be a decoy?
How should the Will linebacker snaps by divvied up between Steele Chambers and Cody Simon?
Do the Buckeyes look like they're having fun? They should be
How is Ohio State on third-and-short this season? That leads into a look at how the Buckeyes stack up on third down in a lot of areas

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State football rants: Cornerback concerns, Sonny Styles, TreVeyon Henderson, renaming the defense and more Sep 21, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises one again entertains rants, takes and strong opinions on the Buckeyes from the cleveland.com Ohio State text subscribers.

The topics covered, in order:

A bad take heard at a bar
The OSU standard vs the Browns
Taking a grandpa to an OSU game
Alex Grinch
Night games
Feedback on Ryan Day or Urban Meyer
Ohio State puts out a wrong injury report
Are the defensive ends wrecking plays?
Michigan's quarterback revenge
Cornerback concerns
Sonny Styles
The defense isn't bend, don't break
How C.J. Stroud handles himself compared to past OSU QBs
Ryan Day vs. Kirby Smart
How should TreVeyon Henderson be viewed, used and counted on

That's a whole lot of rants and takes. Thanks for listening to them on Buckeye Talk.

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How Ohio State's defense stacks up nationally, what Nebraska can learn from the Buckeyes, and tasty squash Sep 19, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are breaking the pod into three segements.

First, from the start to 23:35, Ohio State football:

A rewatch of how the defense played vs. Toledo
A big-play breakdown for the OSU offense and defense
Snap counts for the linebackers, defensive ends and receivers
And more

Then, from 23:25 to 1:04:27, national college football and how the Buckeyes fit in there:

How Garrett Wilson played in his second NFL game Sunday
Where Ohio State's defense ranks compared to other top teams
The Michigan-Maryland matchup coming Saturday
Penn State's win over Auburn
What Nebraska should learn from Ohio State and whether Urban Meyer, Tom Herman or Brian Hartline could make sense for the Cornhuskers

Then from 1:04:27 until the end, it's Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Thinkin':

TV shows that are good and/or annoying us
Squash
Job interviews and what happened to Craig Kilborn?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State beats Toledo postgame: C.J. Stroud is smooth and in control Sep 18, 2022

On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to talk about Ohio State's 77-21 win over Toledo.

First, a discussion of C.J. Stroud and the passing game, which continues until the 41:33 mark,.

Then, it's onto the injury to TreVeyon Henderson and the OSU run game until the 1:00:11 mark.

And finally, it's the Ohio State defense and how it handled Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn until the end of the pod.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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An Ohio State first-half bet, and Mr. Math vs. Mr. Emotion: Betting the Buckeyes Sep 16, 2022

It's Betting the Buckeyes again on Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are back to talk Ohio State and college football from a gambling standpoint.

To start this episode, they run through the lines on Ohio State-Toledo and TShoe offers the bet he likes best around the Buckeyes. Then they talk about trying to get in a coach's head in the second half of a blowout.

Then, Mr. Math and Mr. Emotion each make a pick in each of the Power 5 conferences. The bets run from Iowa to Maryland, from LSU to North Carolina State, from USC to Baylor.

And then the pod ends with TShoe giving his Upset Pick of the Week and three best bets.

Tyler is rolling with his bets so far this season, so get on board. Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State vs. Toledo Game preview: Will Jaxon Smith-Njigba play? Sep 16, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means preview Ohio State's home game with Toledo at 7 p.m. Saturday night.

First, they run through the news and insight on Ohio State, including the latest on what Ryan Day said about the health of star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Then they look at Toledo's best players, Ohio State's history against Ohio teams, and how often Toledo has given a game to ranked opponents.

Then they make their picks, with the Buckeyes favored by 31.5.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Too critical of Ohio State? Struggling to put the Buckeyes in context after 2 games Sep 15, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking a cue from text subscribers and discussing how they try to evaluate the Ohio State Buckeyes early in a season like this.

Ohio State owns a 21-10 win over Notre Dame and a 45-12 win over Arkansas State, and what do those wins tell us about how good the Buckeyes are? What should it mean that star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba missed most of the first game and all of the second? How about the fact that Notre Dame was upset in Week 2 by Marshall?

Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss comparing the Buckeyes to their own high standard and to the best teams in the country, discuss what past seasons tell us about early-season evals, and pick out the individual player matchups and scheme successes that they think translate vs. all competition. Also, do the Buckeyes play down to their competition or not?

It's all on this Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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Ryan Day too nice? Too many night games? 10 Ohio State football rants and takes Sep 14, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, the Ohio State text subscribers and Doug Lesmerises are ready to rant again about the Buckeyes.

The topics covered, in order:

Where Toledo coach Jason Candle is wrong about Ryan Day
Ohio State football is playing too many night games
At The Shoe, there aren't enough bathrooms and the music is too loud
What the Notre Dame and Wisconsin losses do to Ohio State's schedule
Good Tommy Eichenberg
When C.J. Stroud will run it
Michigan should be ranked higher than Ohio State
Big non-conference games don't help the Buckeyes
Jaxon Smith-Njigba being out is helping Ohio State
Leaving Stroud in blowouts is driving some fans nuts
Ryan Day's niceness makes some people miss Urban Meyer

That's a lot. Hope you like it. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Did the four-team playoff format cost Ohio State more national championships? Sep 12, 2022

Ohio State has been on the playoff bubble more than any other national power during the eight years of that version of the postseason. How differently would the recent history have looked had the powers that be implemented a 12-team playoff in 2014?

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means went year-by-year through the actual brackets to see who the Buckeyes would have played. Did limiting the playoff to four teams cost OSU another national championship along the way? Or more than one?

Up front, Nathan recaps some highlights from taking a second look at the 45-12 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday. If this is a bend-don't-break defense, is that a positive at this stage considering the opponents? On the other hand, some components of this defense are playing very well, and the potential ceiling remains much higher than what the Buckeyes were working with a year ago.

In the final segment, Nathan looks at some national results with OSU interest. That includes Michigan's volcanic eruption against Hawaii and J.J. McCarthy's newly minted status as the Wolverines' starting quarterback.

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Ohio State beats Arkansas State 45-12: Postgame pod Sep 11, 2022

Ohio State did not really pull away from Arkansas State until early in the third quarter. Yet as we saw around college football on Saturday, that was not the worst possible outcome for the Buckeyes.

Nathan and Stephen give some context to the 45-12 victory through questions from our Buckeye Talk Subtext subscribers. How good will this offense be when Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming return, or will the production stay the same when the names change? What is going on with cornerback Denzel Burke? Has this receiving corps taken a step back in terms of speed, and does it matter?

Also, we react to Notre Dame's loss to Marshall and discuss where Ohio State should be ranked going into Week 3.

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Liking the Ohio State under, and will Michigan cover a huge Hawaii number? Betting the Buckeyes Sep 09, 2022

Betting the Buckeyes is back for Week 2 after last week's debut, as Tyler Shoemaker and Doug Lesmerises return to discuss the weekend in college football from a gambling standpoint.

First up on this episode, Ohio State is favored by 44.5 over Arkansas State and the total is 68.5. TShoe has a clear angle on one of those bets, and Doug and Tyler discuss getting inside the mind of a head coach in a blowout.

Then it's time for Doug and TShoe to each make one bet from each Power 5 conference. Last week, both went 3-2 on these picks, and this week, there's a direct disagreement on Michigan's big number vs. Hawaii. Plus, the USC-Stanford game feels a little fishy, and Doug forgets what conference Texas A&M is in.

Then, TShoe finishes the pod with his picks in the weeds, where he really hopes to make you some money. Ohio State will play Toledo next week. This week, the Rockets are part of one of his best bets.

Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.

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Ryan Day's offensive ego, and Arkansas State-Ohio State game preview Sep 09, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are previewing Saturday's game in Ohio Stadium, when Ohio State will host Arkansas State. But they're also discussing something Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said on Thursday.

On this episode:

From the start to 25:49, a discussion of Day saying ego can't get in the way of the run game and that starts with him
From 25:40 to 44:01, breaking down Arkansas State and their major players
From 44:01 to the end, making game picks and picking the Buckeyes that everyone should be most curious about on Saturday.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State rapid fire: Defensive line snaps, beat moves, practice updates and more Sep 08, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, it's rapid fire once again, and then the latest practice update at the end. But to start off, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are answering text subscriber questions and talking Ryan Day and chowder.

Topics covered were, in order:

Ranking what bothered the offense most Saturday
Tyleik Williams and defensive line snap breakdowns
What would getting Bronny James mean for the OSU basketball team and the football team?
Best game day traditions at Ohio State and what must you do if you attend a game
What should you watch for vs. Arkansas State on Saturday
How did Paris Johnson play in his first start at left tackle?
What if the Buckeyes had made two more plays and won 31-10 vs. Notre Dame?
Could Marvin Harrison Jr. still break the OSU touchdown record?
Advice for parents
Why does it seem like reporters on the Ohio State beat have changed jobs lately?

Then, Nathan and Stephen offer the latest updates from interviews after practice on Wednesday.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Miyan Williams, Ryan Day play calling and more: 10 Ohio State rants and takes Sep 07, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, it's time for more rants and takes on the Buckeyes as Doug Lesmerises welcomes 10 strong opinions from the OSU text subscribers (sign up for a free trial at 614-350-3315) and comments on all of them.

In order, the topics are:

C.J. Stroud
Band noise on broadcasts
Miyan Williams
Josh Proctor-Lathan Ransom
OSU vs. Notre Dame compared to Georgia vs. Clemson last year
Stroud running
Were we cranky on the postgame pod?
When to say Buckeye Talk jokes
Being an OSU fan can be exhausting
Ryan Day's play calling

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State compared to Georgia; Michigan's QB issues; and walking tacos Sep 05, 2022

It's the in-season Monday episode on Buckeye Talk and this is the plan this season as Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird will bring you this pod each Monday.

Part 1 is Ohio State; Part 2 is national college football, Michigan and OSU in context; and Part 3 is Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Thinkin'?

Part 1 in this episode looks at how many explosive plays Ohio State made compared to last year and discusses the Buckeyes defending their Kings of The North title.

Part 2 looks a bit at Georgia and Alabama, how Nathan will vote the Buckeyes compared to those two teams on his AP ballot, and what's up with Michigan.

Part 3 is bean fields, Urkel, sisters and keys in electric sockets.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State beats Notre Dame: Postgame Pod Sep 04, 2022

It's the first Ohio State football postgame pod of the 2022 season, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down the Buckeyes' 21-10 win over Notre Dame on Saturday night in Ohio Stadium.

It's late. You know how postgame pods work, right? They talk about what happened in the game and what it means?

You get it. Enjoy this weekend Buckeye Talk.

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A first-quarter angle on Ohio State's explosive offense vs. Notre Dame: Betting the Buckeyes Sep 02, 2022

We're trying something new on Buckeye Talk. We're not taking anything away, but we're adding something extra to the mix.

That's this weekly gambling show on Buckeye Talk called Betting the Buckeyes, and it brings in old friend Tyler Shoemaker as the official gambling expert for Buckeye Talk. He'll be here every Friday on this preview show with Doug Lesmerises to do three things:

Offer a gambling perspective on the OSU game, since Tyler is an OSU fan who understands balancing your heart and your money.
Make a gambling pick in each Power 5 conference, and Doug will do the same as they square off in a classic showdown of Smart vs. Not So Smart.
Offer best bets with the Upset of The Week, and some other best bets from around the country.

It's something new and fun in the Buckeye Talk feed as many states have legalized sports betting and Ohio prepares to do so on Jan. 1. If you gamble on college football, or if you are thinking you might want to try, this pod will appeal to you. If you don't have any interest in gambling, but you still like Ohio State and college football, there's some discussion in here that will interest you.

The breakdown this week:

Intro to 12:43: Breaking down the betting lines on Ohio State-Notre Dame, and Tyler offering a bet for the game that he likes the best.
12:43 to 21:39: How Tyler got into gambling and what's his method and success rate with his system.
21:39 to 35:27: Doug and Tyler each make a pick on a game in the Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC, SEC and Big 12.
35:27 to 45:11: Tyler gives his Upset of the Week and gets in the weeds to make some other under-the-radar picks he likes the best.
45:11 to end: Don't bet over your head.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk and thanks for giving this new episode a try. See you back for Betting the Buckeyes next Friday.

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Notre Dame can't cover Ohio State's receivers: Buckeyes Game Preview Sep 02, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to break down Saturday night's matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Notre Dame and make their picks for the Buckeyes vs. the Fighting Irish.

A separate pod on Friday with Doug and Tyler Shoemaker will discuss the OSU-ND game from a gambling perspective, and also make some picks from around the country.

But here, this is the lineup:

Start to 5:30: An OSU injury update
5:30 to 11:20: C.J. Stroud gave his teammates a gift
11:20 to 17:09: Where Ohio State ranks in the national composite of roster talent
17:09 to 22:18: 3 Buckeyes to watch
22:18 to 35:30: The Notre Dame offense vs. the Ohio State defense
35:30 to 41:02: The Ohio State offense vs. the Notre Dame defense
41:02 to end: Game picks

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Don't miss the postgame pod late after the game Saturday or early Sunday morning.

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Ohio State rapid fire: A title in the next 5 years, red-zone confidence and more Sep 01, 2022

This Thursday Buckeye Talk is a rapid fire and a news update to get you ready for the Ohio State-Notre Dame opener on Saturday night.

The last 15 minutes of the episode, starting at the 1:27:06 mark, is an update from Wednesday night interviews with Ohio State players, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means provide updates on what they saw and learned.

But most of the pod is rapid fire answers to rapid fire questions from OSU text subscribers.

In order, the topics are:

What's the play call the first time the Buckeyes are in a third-and-2 Saturday?
How big of a recruiting night will Saturday be?
Discussing OSU as a playoff No. 1 seed and No. 1 team in the AP poll
Are Ohio State's history of home non-conference losses a concern
How could C.J. Stroud seize Heisman Trophy momentum
Could the Buckeyes go, egads, 9-3?
What's our view on white pizza?
A possible explanation for why Ohio State has three kickers
Ohio State's lingering red-zone issues, how much must they improve?
How do we rate Ohio State's chances of winning a title in the next five years?

It's a great discussion thanks to great questions from texters. Thanks for listening.

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10 rants and takes on Ohio State football Aug 31, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is looking for a name for what this in-season episode is likely to be each Wednesday -- Doug and the Ohio State text subscribers combining to offer 10 rants and takes on the Buckeyes and what matters most with the football team.

For this first effort, here were the 10 topics covered, in order:

A Lathan Ransom breakout
What Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer will do vs. the Buckeyes
Should Jim Tressel dot the i?
When C.J. Hicks should start at linebacker
If a lack of cornerback depth will cost Ohio State a shot at a title
How often Ohio State should play Notre Dame
Whether the Buckeyes need to get four sacks Saturday
Ryan Day seeing an edge in his team
Whether Day will pass Nick Saban as the best coach in college football
Is the defense overrated or underrated and who are its playmakers?

We'll continue to work out (and eventually name) this format. As always, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Kings of The North -- Ohio State's rare place in college football Aug 30, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means attack a topic they've been talking around for years -- the idea of the Ohio State Buckeyes as The Kings of The North of college football.

What does that mean? How did it happen? And will it continue?

In the first segment through the 26:23 mark, Doug explains his first part of the series, how Ohio State is the only Northern team to win a national title this century, but Notre Dame, Michigan and Cincinnati may all be on the upswing.

In the second segment, from 26:23 to 47:23, Nathan explains the database of regional recruiting data he helped create, and what those numbers show about Ohio State's success in bringing recruits from the South and Southwest to retain their Northern supremacy.

In the third segment, from 47:23 until the end, Stephen looks at the recruiting battles ahead, talking teams like Penn State and Iowa, but especially Notre Dame, when it comes to schools challenging the Buckeyes in their backyard and going out into the world as other Northern draws for recruits from other regions.

You kind of have to listen to this pod or read the three-part series at cleveland.com to get the idea here. It's a theory, with some numbers and reporting to back it up. And with Ohio State hosting Notre Dame on Tuesday, it was time to finally do this.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Our College Football Playoff picks: Mark It Down Monday Aug 29, 2022

The 2022 college football season is here, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are making their playoff picks on the final Mark It Down Monday before the Ohio State Buckeyes open the season against Notre Dame on Saturday.

In this episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug, Nathan and Stephen start by sharing what they think will happen with Buckeyes. Will they make the playoff? And if so, what will their seed be?

Then it's on to sharing all four of their playoff teams.

And finally, they pick their College Football National Champions.

Thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your week, and don't forget to read cleveland.com/osu for even more Ohio State football coverage.

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Will Ohio State go 12-0, and which foe has the best chance to beat the Buckeyes? Aug 26, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises finishes his offseason project that was designed to arrive at a final percent chance of the Ohio State Buckeyes going undefeated during the 2022 regular season.

To discuss those numbers, Doug is first joined by Tyler Shoemaker, the officially unofficial bookmaker of Buckeye Talk who shares his own numbers on the chances of the Buckeyes winning each game and then getting 12-0.

Then Nathan Baird and Stephen Means join to go through all 12 games, agree or disagree on Doug's percent chance on each game, and discuss the final undefeated number. There's also a quick lesson on the undefeated history of the Buckeyes over the last 70 years and of other teams in the playoff era.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Brian Hartline on how Ohio State's receivers room will function Aug 25, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking Ohio State receivers.

Wednesday night, Brian Hartline and the OSU receivers met with reporters, and all of that is covered on this episode.

The topics discussed went in this order:

Start to 11:02: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
11:02 to 24;25: Marvin Harrison Jr.
24:25 to 35:23: The WR rotation
35:23 to 37:37: Emeka Egbuka
37:37 to 47:27: Julian Fleming
47:27 to 56:42: Special teams
56:42 to the end: Jayden Ballard

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com

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Lathan Ransom, Kourt Williams, Denzel Burke and growth in the Ohio State secondary Aug 24, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dive into their interviews Tuesday with cornerbacks coach Tim Walton, safeties coach Perry Eliano and several OSU cornerbacks and safeties.

The start of the pod through the 22:12 mark focuses on cornerbacks. Then from 22:12 to 44:38, the focus is on safeties. And then from 44:38 to the end of the pod, the discussion is Doug's obsession with Kourt Williams.

How is the top-end talent in the secondary? How is the depth? How is the health?

Get all that and more on the latest Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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Is the Michigan game a must-win for Ohio State this season? Aug 23, 2022

It's the final opponent preview podcast of the preseason, as it's time to talk The Game.

For this episode of Buckeye Talk on the 12th game of Ohio State's season, Doug Lesmerises doesn't have an opposing team beat writer as his co-host -- he has the Buckeye Talk text subscribers.

Doug sent a lengthy survey out to texters, and on this pod he runs through the answers and reads interesting takes on the game.

How good will Michigan's defense be without Aidan Hutchinson?

How intense are rivalry feelings for OSU fans right now?

And, most importantly, at the end, there's a discussion of whether this game qualifies as a must-win for the Ohio State football program and Ryan Day.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Will Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud win the Heisman Trophy? Mark It Down Monday Aug 22, 2022

It's another Mark It Down Monday, and as the 2022 college football season draws near, it's time for Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means to check in with some major predictions.

In this episode, it's the Heisman Trophy. And the major question is whether Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud will win it.

The pod starts with a discussion of the history of Ohio State and the Heisman, and some Buckeyes who have finished higher up in the voting since Troy Smith brought home Ohio State's last trophy in 2006.

Then Nathan, Doug and Stephen each mark down their top three players for the award. At the end of the season, Heisman voters pick a top three, and this is prediction of what that will look like.

Stroud is discussed at length. But there's another Ohio State player that also appears on one of the ballots.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Will C.J. Stroud run the ball more for Ohio State in 2022, and should he? Aug 19, 2022

C.J. Stroud said Thursday he feels stronger and healthier entering his second season as Ohio State's starting quarterback.

He also dropped the intriguing nugget that he is faster than he's ever been in his life. Does that mean the Heisman Trophy finalist will make more plays with his feet in the season ahead? Well, probably not, and Nathan and Stephen discussed what a little extra speed might truly mean for OSU's quarterback in 2022.

Also, Kyle McCord is excited about the progress he has made and is preparing as if he must start the next game. Freshman Devin Brown is still catching up to the speed of the game. All of that and more from the three scholarship QBs and assistant coach Corey Dennis.

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What the new Big Ten TV deal means for Ohio State fans Aug 18, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, news changed the plan. The Big Ten announced its new TV deal Thursday morning, and Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are here to react to it

First up is that initial discussion with Doug and Nathan on what the deal means, from the start of the show until the 18:55 mark.

Then Doug comes back to comment on what Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith had to say about the new deal. That goes from 18:55 to 29:03.

And then Doug reveals the answers to a texter survey on the new deal and networks, which goes until the end of the show.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Evan Pryor's season-ending injury and the Alpha Dog on Ohio State's defensive line Aug 17, 2022

Ohio State football's deep and talented defensive line sat down for their preseason camp interviews Tuesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

But a development on the other side of the ball dominated the day's conversation. Evan Pryor was expected to have at the least an enlightening redshirt freshman season. He showed some of his growth in the spring game and by many accounts was having a strong camp. But he suffered a season-ending knee injury Monday. Nathan and Stephen discuss the ramifications and what the Buckeyes will and won't do in response.

On the defensive side, we gathered Larry Johnson's reaction to retirement rumors, Mike Hall's big camp, where Tyleik Williams must improve and more about the tackles. We also learned who has been training the most at the Jack and some details on the fluctuating body sizes of Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau.

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Ohio State AP voting, run game, captains, tight ends and Whatcha Watchin'/Eatin' Aug 16, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are running through a lot about Ohio State football, and a little about life:

2:00 -- The AP poll, and where Nathan voted the Buckeyes, and what voting is like
17:19 -- Kam Babb picked to wear the Block O jersey
22:36 -- Ohio State named six captains
31:10 -- More on Nathan's bus guy, Mike Hall
32:50 -- What offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said about his future
39:05 -- How Wilson said the run game is looking so far this preseason
46:50 -- Cade Stover, Mitch Rossi as the top tight ends
55:12 -- What Doug and Nathan are Watchin'
1:00:09 -- What Doug and Nathan are Eatin'

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Ohio State football stat predictions, from C.J Stroud passing yards to Marvin Harrison Jr. TD catches: Mark It Down Monday Aug 15, 2022

This a big, beefy Mark It Down Monday, with Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means making stat predictions for all the things that matter in the 2022 Ohio State football season. Forcing a pick on numbers is a great way to zero in on your thoughts on the team, and that happens over and over again in this pod. Here are the stat topics discussed and when they come up on the podcast:

C.J. Stroud passing yards (9:08)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba receiving yards (25:00)
TreVeyon Henderson rushing yards (37:00)
Marvin Harrison Jr. touchdown catches (51:30)
Evan Pryor or Miyan Williams, who has more yards? (1:00:37)
Julian Fleming or Emeka Egbuka more yards? (1:05:01)
Cade Stover receptions (1:06:01)
Egbuka punt return touchdowns (1:10:05)
Defensive ends playing the most snaps (1:12:19)
Defensive tackles playing the most snaps (1:14:16)
Leader in sacks (1:16:53)
Leader in tackles (1:22:21)
Leader in interceptions (1;28:12)

This was a fun pod to record, hopefully it's just as fun to listen to. Thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your week.

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Watching a full Ohio State football practice and what we learned Aug 12, 2022

In this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are eager to share what they learned after watching Ohio State's full practice Thursday, which is a rare treat on the OSU beat.

First, you get to gather first-hand info about depth charts and position groups.

Second, you get to watch a bunch of football.

All of that is good.

So this pod is running through every position group with who the starters and backups look like, which guys might have popped, and where are the Buckeyes deep or maybe a little short.

In order, the discussions are:

6:36 -- Cornerbacks
12:29 -- Safeties
17:30 -- Linebackers
26:20 -- Defensive line
38:14 -- Receivers
49:10 -- Tight ends
55:30 -- Running backs
56:55 -- Special teams
59:43 -- Offensive line
1:05:18 -- Quarterback

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Driving the bus for Ohio State Buckeyes ready to break out this season Aug 11, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, it's time to get on the bus.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and the text subscribers offer up the Ohio State football players they believe in the most for the 2022 season. Which players will pop? Which backups will earn more playing time? Which good players will be great? Which great players will become legends?

That's the question, and the text subscribers answered that in a poll that gave then 34 players as choices and asked them to pick one player they believe in more than most fans, one guy for whom they are driving the bus. Doug, Nathan and Stephen then used that poll to work through almost all the bus driving options on the roster.

They each gave their bus picks. The read comments from texters about why they picked certain players. And they led up to a top 10, and then the No. 1 choice, for the most popular OSU bus players this season.

The whole episode is the bus, so there's no way to give real time stamps here. It's all football. It's almost every Buckeye that matters. And it's bus driving time.

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Jim Knowles breaks down the Ohio State defense, and inside the LB plan Aug 10, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are coming off interviews with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and five Ohio State linebackers, and there's a lot to discuss. Among the topics covered:

Start to 17:30 -- An injury at cornerback and the effect it could have
17:30 to 28:44 -- A role for Kourt Williams?
28:44 to 31:24 -- Crypto in a convenience store
31:24 to 38:48 -- The defensive line mix
38:48 to 41:14 -- The starting linebackers
41:14 to 48:30 -- Freshman safety Sonny Styles
48:30 to 55:35 -- The 2018 recruiting class
55:35 to 1:03:55 -- Middle linebackers Tommy Eichenberg and Cody Simon
1:03:55 to 1:11:16 -- Will linebackers Steele Chambers and Chip Trayanum
1:11:16 to End -- Knowles wants a top-5 defense

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Paris Johnson, Dawand Jones, Justin Frye and Ohio State's new offensive line Aug 09, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking offensive line after meeting with eight Ohio State offensive linemen and Buckeyes' offensive line coach Justin Frye on Monday.

The topics on this episode include:

Start to 3:20: Ohio State's ranking in the preseason coaches poll

3:20 to 11:18: The Buckeyes who made PFF's preseason All-Big Ten team

11:18 to 23:23: Frye, the first-year OL coach

23:23 to 39:59: Starting tackles Dawand Jones and Paris Johnson Jr.

39:59 to 44:52: Starting center Luke Wypler

44:52 to 54:53: Starting guards Donovan Jackson and Matthew Jones

54:53 to the end: The backup offensive linemen, especially Josh Fryar and Zen Michalski

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Predicting Ohio State's first-team All-Americans this season: Mark It Down Monday Aug 08, 2022

It's Mark it Down Monday, and Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are picking the Ohio State football players they think will be first-team All-Americans this season and earn trees in Buckeye Grove.

But first, they discuss check-in at the Ohio State team hotel on Sunday night and what some players wore. Then (8:59), a discussion begins about the latest Ohio State basketball recruiting commitment, which leads into a debate over whether the OSU football team or basketball team will finish with a higher-rated recruiting class for 2023. Both are currently No. 3.

Then, Doug has an idea (24:20) to expand Buckeye Grove to include quarterbacks who weren't first-team All-Americans, but did finish in the top 5 of the Heisman Trophy voting.

After that, the discussion about offensive skill players who could be All-Americans begins (35:40.) Then the debate moves on to the offensive line (57:54).

And then the podcast wraps up (1:09:45) by looking at which defensive players, if any, have the best All-American chances.

This Buckeye Talk gets into a lot, but it's smooth. As always, thanks for listening.

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Could TreVeyon Henderson be dominant this season? Aug 05, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, it's time to talk running backs.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means watched a part of the second practice of Ohio State's preseason Friday and then talked to members of Ohio State's running backs room.

That meant assistant coach Tony Alford and backs TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Evan Pryor and Dallan Hayden.

Covered on this episode:

How much better might Henderson be as a sophomore?
What might Williams as the complementary power back look like?
How will the Buckeyes figure out the Williams-Pryor rotation behind Henderson?
What's Hayden like?
What got Alford fired up Friday?
How did the Buckeyes really run the ball last year?
What will be the balance in playing younger defensive players this season?

And more.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State starts preseason camp: Day 1, what we saw and heard Aug 04, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dig into the first day of Ohio State football preseason camp. The Buckeyes practiced Thursday morning, and Doug, Nathan and Stephen were there to watch, react and then ask Ryan Day about it.

Topics covered in this episode include:

Who looked like the starters at every position in drills?
What's the word on the backup offensive line?
A linebacker who might have a bigger role than expected
A kicker on the move?
The breakdown at the safety position
A revelation about WR Julian Fleming
Day reacts to his top-10 defense comment

And more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Where Ohio State football is, and isn't, hitting recruiting home runs Aug 03, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird look at recruiting home runs. By their definition, those are roughly top-100 national recruits that aren't from Ohio and don't have pre-existing ties to Ohio State. These are national recruiting battles where the Buckeyes go and win, beating the best teams in the country for the best players in the country.

How many home runs are the Buckeyes hitting under Ryan Day compared to Urban Meyer?

How many of the recent home runs are at quarterback or receiver compared to other positions?

How many are on defense, and how might the Buckeyes hit more home runs on that side of the ball?

Doug, Stephen and Nathan dig into all of that, plus the flip of 2023 tight end Ty Lockwood from Ohio State to Alabama.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State football's recruiting slide, and looking ahead to Day 1 of preseason camp Aug 02, 2022

Since Thursday, Ohio State football saw targets commit to Alabama and UCF, saw one member of its 2023 class decommit, and also landed the quarterback it needed for the class. Oh, and the class of 2025 is officially underway with the commitment of Jontae Gilbert. Stephen and Nathan discuss that four-day stretch and try to put it in context.

Also, they look ahead to Thursday's first practice and, more importantly, the expected window of time that will be open to reporters. What will we have our eyes on when we have our first chance to watch the Buckeyes since the spring?

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Predicting Ohio State's 22 starters vs. Notre Dame: Mark It Down Monday Aug 01, 2022

It's a Mark It Down Monday on Buckeye Talk, and it's getting very specific about Ohio State's opener against Notre Dame on Sept. 3.

Who will start for the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball in that game?

This is a way for Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means to talk about the Ohio State position battles, as preseason camp prepares to start this week. But it also puts them on the spot for a prediction: Name the 11 players who will take the first snap on offense and the 11 who will take the first snap on defense.

This is a good exercise to run through the entire roster before practice starts. As always, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Betting the Buckeyes, QB dads and how the Big Ten laid a foundation Jul 29, 2022

On this Friday edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises visits with former Big Ten sportswriter Teddy Greenstein, who now is a senior editor at PointsBet, to talk about three college football topics:

Betting on Ohio State and the Big Ten this season, and the future of legalized betting in Ohio
The development of high school QBs and Teddy's new book, "Quarterback Dads"
How the Big Ten reached this position of strength in college football and how much former commissioner Jim Delany helped lay the foundation

These are three areas that should interest Buckeye fans, and as always, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Is Ohio State football's 2024 roster good enough after recent recruiting losses? Jul 28, 2022

Ohio State football's recent string of runner-up finishes for top defensive prospects have jarred some fans' confidence in the program's recruiting efforts.

Each of those decisions, though, involved an individual player considering his own unique needs and preferences. When you add them up, how much do they actually affect the team the Buckeyes will put on the field in the future.

Doug, Nathan and Stephen broke down the potential 2024 roster and simply asked if each position group was national championship caliber. The results were somewhat surprising, with more strength than expected at some positions but major questions lingering with some of the most important groups.

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Ryan Day expects a top-10 Ohio State defense this season. Can it happen? Jul 28, 2022

Ohio State coach Ryan Day put a number on how much improvement he expects from his defense under new coordinator Jim Knowles this season. Day said the standard is a top-10 performance, and regardless of what measurement you use, that is a big jump for a defense that limped through 2021. Doug, Nathan and Stephen discussed whether that is a realistic goal for the coming season and what that sort of turnaround would look like.

Also, what we learned from C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Ronnie Hickman as they took their turns at the mic before Big Ten Media Days wrapped up.

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Inside the minds of Jim Harbaugh and Kevin Warren at Big Ten media days Jul 27, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are reporting from Big Ten media days in Indianapolis.

Tuesday, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and half the league's coaches and featured players spoke, but it was kind of the boring half. No Ohio State, no Wisconsin, no Penn State, no Michigan State.

That meant the focus was on what Warren said about the future of the league, and what Jim Harbaugh and Michigan players said about the Wolverines after they beat Ohio State, won the Big Ten and reached the College Football Playoff last season.

First, the guys talk Harbaugh. They they talk Warren. Then they talk what to expect when Ryan Day and the Buckeyes talk Wednesday.

Thanks for listening.

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Where we voted Ohio State, C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba in our preseason Big Ten poll Jul 25, 2022

On this Mark It Down Monday edition of Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are marking down their Big Ten predictions for the season and unveiling the results of the 12th annual cleveland.com preseason Big Ten poll.

Thirty-six reporters from around the Big Ten voted in the poll, picking the order of finish in both the East and West Divisions, the Big Ten champion and the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

The guys discuss the overall voting in all those areas while also revealing their personal ballots. This is all a buildup to Big Ten Media Days, which start on Tuesday.

Cleveland.com will be there, and cleveland.com continues to produce the most official preseason poll for the league. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ryan Day's future, Notre Dame-Big Ten predictions, J.T Tuimoloau and more rapid fire Jul 22, 2022

It's a Friday rapid fire Buckeye Talk to wrap up the offseason as the Big Ten prepares to host its media days next week.

Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird take more than 15 questions from text subscribers, with topics including:

Whether a national title would make Ryan Day more or less likely to stay at Ohio State long-term
Recent recruiting misses and what it means for coaches like Jim Knowles, Tony Alford and Justin Frye
If Ohio State might be voted the No. 1 team in the country with a Week 1 blowout of Notre Dame
Predicting if and when Notre Dame will join the Big Ten
How a big J.T. Tuimoloau year might affect Ohio State's title chances
What will there be more of over the next three years -- Ohio State national titles or Ohio State losses to Michigan?

And more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Maryland scared Ohio State 4 years ago, could it happen again? Jul 21, 2022

It's the 11th game of the Ohio State season to be previewed here on Buckeye Talk, and Maryland football is about as interesting as it has ever been in the Big Ten.

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Ahmed Ghafir, the founder of Insidetheblackandgold.net, joins Doug Lesmerises to talk about Maryland football, which features one of the best QBs in the Big Ten (Taulia Tagovailoa) and two of the better receivers (Dontay Demus Jr. and Rakim Jarrett).

That offensive firepower could challenge a lot of teams in the Big Ten -- if the defense is just good enough to let the Terrapins hang around.

The matchup will be Nov.19 at Maryland. Since Ohio State's trip there in 2020 was canceled because of the pandemic, the Buckeyes haven't visited College Park since 2018, when they barely escaped with a 52-51 win.

Eleven previews down and one to go -- thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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C.J. Stroud and the top of the Most Influential Buckeyes list Jul 20, 2022

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means (with the help of the Ohio State text subscribrers) created a list of the 25 Most Influential Ohio State players for 2022, and this is the fourth and final podcast discussing those players.

The first pod dealt with players 25 through 17, the next with players 16 through 11, the next with players 10 through 5, and now on this Wednesday episode, it's the top four.

And of course, quarterback C.J. Stroud is among them.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Why Ohio State is the most desirable football program in the country Jul 19, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are talking desire and meatloaf.

Sports Illustrated created desirability ratings for college football conference purposes last week, and Ohio State was No. 1 on the list. Doug and Nathan discuss that rating.

Then in the second part of the episode, they draft a top 21 of all the Power 5 programs in the country when it goes to their desirability as a conference member.

Finally, it's another Watcha Watchin', Watcha Eatin' as Doug and Nathan catch up on TV and food.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk.

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Is Ohio State football a lock to win 11 or more games in 2022? Mark It Down Monday Jul 18, 2022

Ohio State football enters the season as a national championship contender in most estimations. But the sports books have only set the Buckeyes' over/under win total at 10.5 as preseason approaches. Why is that, and is OSU a virtual lock at that number? We brought on Buckeye Talk's favorite betting numbers guy Tyler Shoemaker to discuss whether OSU is a smart bet. We also used this Mark It Down Monday to each make five over/under win total picks from around college football. Is Doug down on Wisconsin again this year? Has Nathan come around on Cincinnati? Which national power does T-Shoe see as a sneaky playoff bet? This episode is loaded with futures betting talk.

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Where second-year Buckeyes like Marvin Harrison Jr., J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer fit in our Influential top 10 Jul 15, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk episode, it's the third installment of the top 25 Most Influential Ohio State football players for the 2022 season.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means previously covered players 25 through 17, and players 16 through 11, in two earlier episodes.

Now it's players 10 through five, and it's heavy on young guys. Five of the six players discussed in this episode are second-year Buckeyes from the 2021 recruiting class.

There's one more influential pod ahead next week, but for now, thanks for listening to this Buckeye Talk.

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Can Indiana compete with Ohio State after a miserable 2021 season for the Hoosiers? Jul 14, 2022

The preview of Ohio State opponents for the 2022 football season continues with the Indiana Hoosiers, who will visit on Ohio Stadium on Nov. 12.

That will be the 10th game of the season for the Buckeyes, and it may not be very competitive. Indiana is coming off a 2021 season that started with a lot of hope and ended with a 0-9 Big Ten record.

The two coordinators changed, quarterback Michael Penix transferred, a lot of players were added in the transfer portal, and this is a new version of the Hoosiers who will try to rebound.

Will it work? Zach Osterman of the Indianapolis Star joins Buckeye Talk to talk with Doug Lesmerises about that. Thanks for listening.

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Making Buckeye Talk better after 1,000 episodes Jul 13, 2022

On this Wednesday episode, Buckeye Talk is all about Buckeye Talk.

No football in here.

This podcast started in September 2015, and now seven years later, there have been somewhere around 1,000 episodes of Buckeye Talk. To acknowledge that, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means took this episode to talk all about the show and solicit feedback and comments.

Are the guys too negative about Ohio State? How many OSU podcasts do listeners follow? How many days a week do people listen? What type of episodes do they want more of and less of? Do they think Doug, Nathan and Stephen know what they're talking about, and are they fun?

And then two big questions -- does Doug talk too much and are the episodes too long?

The preseason is right around the corner, so this is a last detour before the football talk gets more in depth. As always, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk, and specifically, thanks for listening to a Buckeye Talk about Buckeye Talk.

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Where do Emeka Egbuka and Zach Harrison belong among the most influential Ohio State Buckeyes? Jul 12, 2022

On this Tuesday episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means continue to work their way through the most influential Ohio State football players for the 2022 season.

The list of the top 25 started on the Friday pod with players 25 through 17. Now six more players are discussed, going from No. 16 to the edge of the top 10.

Two players on this episode are fourth-year defensive end Zach Harrison and second-year receiver Emeka Egbuka, who are two examples of the differences in production, potential, opportunity and age that factor into a list like this.

Two more Influential pods are ahead. For now, enjoy this one, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Who will be Ohio State's second-leading receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2022? Mark It Down Monday Jul 11, 2022

Not since Michael Jenkins in 2022 has Ohio State entered a season with such a clear-cut No. 1 choice in its receiver corps. Jaxon Smith-Njigba already has one record-setting season behind him and could be en route to another. But who will emerge as the second most productive receiver in that corps this fall? Doug, Nathan and Stephen predict the runners-up in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches -- and a couple of surprise categories. It's the first Mark It Down Monday previewing the coming season.

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Ohio State football's most influential players for the 2022 season Jul 08, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back with a new project.

It's the most influential Ohio State football players for this season, and on this episode, the guys explain the concept and then run through players 25 through 17 on this list of the 25 most influential Buckeyes.

Doug, Nathan and Stephen each rated players in two categories -- their Value and their Specialness -- and then the text subscribers contributed their Q ratings of players as well. The result? The Buckeyes who will affect fans most this season, those who are the most interesting, exciting, talented, valuable, fun, productive players on the roster.

The nine players discussed in this episode range from kicker Noah Ruggles to backup quarterback Kyle McCord to transfer safety Tanner McCalister.

Thanks for listening.

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Why does Northwestern often hang around with Ohio State? Jul 07, 2022

We are up to the ninth game of the season in our Buckeye Talk preview of Ohio State's 2022 schedule, as Louie Vaccher joins Doug Lesmerises to talk about the Buckeyes' trip to Northwestern on Nov. 5.

Louie covers the Wildcats for WildcatReport.com in the Rivals network, and on this episode, he joins Doug to discuss

Northwestern's habit of hanging around with the Buckeyes. In their last five games dating back to 2013, the Wildcats have led in the second half of three games and been within three points in the second half of another.
Northwestern's quarterback problems and how they might or might not be fixed this season, and who should start at QB vs. the Buckeyes.
How much the Wildcats are missing their long-time defensive coordinator.
What Northwestern playing a close home game with Ohio State in 2013, on a day when ESPN broadcast GameDay from Evanston, meant to the program.

Then there's one more brief guest at the end of the pod. Three more games left to preview before the season starts, and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba, TreVeyon Henderson and the Ohio State football predictions we hit and missed in 2021 Jul 06, 2022

In May 2021, few if any expected Jaxon Smith-Njigba to have Ohio State football’s most prolific receiving season.

As late as June 28, no one would put their name on a potential Buckeye loss to Oregon on Sept. 11.

Yet by Aug. 16, in the middle of preseason camp, major questions were beginning to leak through about a potential lack of playmakers on the OSU defense. Sometimes even when the Buckeye Talk crew made an incorrect prediction, the discussion around that choice told us a lot about what unfolded in the following months.

As we prepare to resume our Mark It Down Monday season preview series, we looked back on the predictions we made in 2021. We made some very accurate statements: Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave as first-round draft picks, C.J. Stroud as a Heisman Trophy finalist, true freshman TreVeyon Henderson leading the team in rushing.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk

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Jim Knowles, Dylan Raiola, Tanner McCalister and more football rapid fire Jul 05, 2022

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means offer a shorter version of their typical rapid fire pod, taking nine questions from text subscribers over the course of an hour.

And they are all directly about Ohio State football. No conference realignment talk for the moment.

How long will Jim Knowles remain Ohio State's defensive coordinator?
How important is run-pass balance to the offense?
What are the expectations for Oklahoma State transfer Tanner McCalister?
What veteran defender could have a big 2022 season?
Should Ohio State have to worry about a flip from 2024 QB commit Dylan Raiola?

And more. Thanks for listening.

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Drafting former Buckeyes as future head coaches, from Terry McLaurin to Kenny Guiton Jul 04, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk celebrating the Fourth of July, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here with a draft.

This is based off the idea that 15 years ago, both Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and Ohio State receivers coach Brian Hartline were Ohio State football players. So now, let's took 15 years into the future, and imagine which people associated with the Buckeyes could be Ohio State's head coach, or a head coach at another Big Ten or major college football program, in 2037.

Doug, Nathan and Stephen each drafted six people, one each from these six categories, all of them either one-time Ohio State players or coaches:

Current head coaches anywhere
Current Ohio State assistants
Current assistants anywhere else
Current Ohio State players
Former Ohio State players not currently coaching
Wild card

Who went first? Who might surprise you? Listen to the latest Buckeye Talk to find out. Thanks for making us part of your week, and enjoy your Independence Day.

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The Big Ten wins the expansion game: News, surveys and answers on USC-UCLA fallout Jul 01, 2022

On this Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird report back from Friday morning's news conference with Kristina Johnson and Gene Smith on the Ohio State view of Big Ten expansion.

They discuss the future; why revenue sharing in the Big Ten will remain equal; Smith's brief, frustrated dalliance with Ohio State going independent; what text subscribers said about USC and UCLA in a survey; and whether the Big Ten won this whole expansion thing.

There are questions and answers, which makes it another Buckeye Talk.

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What USC and UCLA to the Big Ten means for Ohio State Jun 30, 2022

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back together for the big breaking news of the Big Ten preparing to add USC and UCLA.

As discussed on this episode ... "Whaatttt?"

The guys dive in on this Thursday Buckeye Talk. as college football continues to change.

Thanks for listening.

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Is Michigan blowing its chance at a recruiting surge off its Ohio State football win? Jun 29, 2022

Michigan is coming off its first win over the Ohio State football program in over a decade allowing the Wolverines to win the Big Ten Championship and make their College Football Playoff debut. It would be understandable to think that the program could build on that with a fruitful summer on the recruiting trail helping close the gap between them and the Buckeyes some. Instead the opposite has happened. OSU has continued building one of the nation's best classes while Michigan has just lost the only top 100 recruit its 2023 class had. Has Michigan missed its opportunity?

Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss that and more. Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Predicting Ohio State football’s 2023 recruiting class 2.0 Jun 28, 2022

Commitment season is upon us for Ohio State and the rest of college football.

Stephen Means is joined by the return of Nathan Baird from baby duty as the two project the Buckeyes’ 2023 recruiting class answering these important questions.

• How many 5-stars and top 100 recruits will the class have?

• Will Kayin Lee be the only commitment of the week?

• What’s going on with five-star Caleb Downs?

• Will this class end up with a quarterback.

And much more. Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Will Drew Allar or Sean Clifford be the QB when Penn State hosts Ohio State? Jun 27, 2022

We're up to Game 8 of the Ohio State season on our Buckeye Talk game previews for 2022. On this episode, Doug Lesmerises talks to Bob Flounders of Pennlive.com about Ohio State's trip to Penn State on Oct. 29.

What's the state of Penn State football and should the Nittany Lions be prepping soon for their own playoff season after watching Michigan last year?
How will Penn State plan to keep up with Ohio State in the NIL world?
Will veteran Sean Clifford or freshman Drew Allar be the quarterback by the time the Buckeyes come to town?
How major of a hire is new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz for Penn State?
Will freshman Nick Singleton solve the run game problems of a year ago?

And much more. Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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What if C.J. Stroud didn't pick Ohio State? BuckeyeFly Effect Jun 24, 2022

On this BuckeyeFly Effect, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means consider an intriguing What If.

What if quarterback C.J. Stroud didn't pick Ohio State late in the recruiting process in the Class of 2020?

Where might Stroud have gone?
What would Stroud's career look like right now?
What effect would that have had on OSU QBs Kyle McCord, Jack Miller, Quinn Ewers and others?
Would the Buckeyes have been a national contender last season, and a title favorite this season?
Would Ewers be getting ready to start for the Buckeyes in 2022?
Would the view of Ryan Day change at all?

There was no guarantee that the Buckeyes would get the Southern California quarterback. So this isn't a crazy idea. That means it's an interesting edition of BuckeyeFly Effect on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Brian Hartline or Marcus Freeman? Is this a make-or-break season for Ohio State football? And more Rapid Fire Jun 22, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are taking questions from text subscribers. Among them:

Is Marcus Freeman or Brian Hartline the more likely candidate to be Ohio State's next head coach?
Is this a make-or break-year for the Buckeyes in terms of their national status?
Is Emeka Egbuka or Julian Fleming more underrated entering this season?
Would we rather write a long story or record a long podcast?
What will Evan Pryor's role be?
How about Zach Harrison's role?
How about C.J. Hicks?
And what do we miss most about Nathan Baird, who will return next week?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Carnell Tate's commitment and the future of Ohio State's receivers room Jun 21, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises talk about the latest five-star pledge to the Buckeyes.

Ohio State landed a verbal commitment from receiver Carnell Tate on Monday, and he became the highest-rated player in Ohio State's 2023 recruiting class.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound receiver is ranked as the No. 3 receiver and No. 28 overall player in the 247sports composite ratings. Stephen and Doug discuss how Ohio State landed him, how he fits into the OSU roster, and what the Ohio State depth chart at receiver looks like over the next three years.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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What? Ohio State hasn't beaten Iowa in eight seasons? Jun 20, 2022

On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is joined by John Steppe of the Cedar Rapids Gazette and thegazette,com to preview Ohio State's seventh game of the 2022 football season -- against Iowa in Ohio Stadium on Oct. 22, with the Buckeyes coming off a bye.

Ohio State hasn't beaten Iowa since 2013, primarily because the teams have played just once since then, and the Hawkeyes upset the Buckeyes in Iowa City in 2017.

Iowa is coming off a 10-4 season that included a loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game. Kirk Ferentz is entering his 24th season as the head coach of the Hawkeyes. There's a quarterback decision to be made, and a search for some playmakers is on. But led by linebacker Jack Campbell and defensive coordinator Phil Parker, the defense should be pretty good again.

It's the Hawkeyes back in Columbus, and it's time to talk about it on the seventh episode of Buckeye Talk breaking down a 2022 OSU opponent. Thanks for listening.

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A 92-year-old Ohio State-Michigan game is the weirdest rewatch yet: Buckeye ReTalkables on Buckeye Talk Jun 17, 2022

Oh yeah, Buckeye Talk is really going back to 1930. On this Friday episode, it’s the first Buckeye ReTalkable in some time, as Buckeye Talk on occasion likes to rewatch and relive Ohio State football games of the past. But a game has never been this old before.

Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird on this episode break down the 1930 Ohio State-Michigan game, which was played in mid-October in Columbus and won by the Wolverines 13-0.

There are some stars of the era in this game, including Wes Fesler, the OSU All-American and future head coach. Also worth watching is Michigan quarterback Harry Newman, a three-year star for the Wolverines who might have won a Heisman Trophy if the award had existed then. The Heisman didn't debut until 1935.

There's also discussion about Ohio Stadium's history, and how close Notre Dame legend Knute Rockne came to coaching the Buckeyes.

This is different for sure, but we hope you enjoy this old-timey style of Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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QBs Ryan Montgomery and Tavien St. Clair, RB Donovan Johnson and other Ohio State recruiting targets to know Jun 16, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Stephen Means is back to talk with Doug Lesmerises, giving another recruiting report after watching two days of camps at Ohio State on Tuesday and Wednesday. Among the topics:

Two young in-state QBs set to make an appearance in Columbus this week
A 2025 running back who worked out with Tony Alford
The latest on the search for offensive tackle recruits
The Glenville pipeline returning? There are two major OSU targets at the Cleveland high school

And more. Thanks for listening.

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Drafting the 10 most important Ohio State recruits of the last 10 years Jun 15, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are drafting.

The draftees? The 10 most important Ohio State football recruits since Urban Meyer arrived in 2012. How good the player was for the Buckeyes, and how much he helped Ohio State win, does matter. But so does what the player represents, and whether he established something at Ohio State that led to more recruits following in his footsteps.

There are quarterbacks and defensive ends and running backs and more drafted here. But who is No. 1? Stephen and Doug agreed on that.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Does Michigan State have the second-best QB and WR in the Big Ten behind Ohio State? Jun 14, 2022

Ohio State's first road game of the 2022 football season won't come until Week 6 when the Buckeyes visit the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing. On this Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Matt Wenzel of MLive.com to discuss what could be a top-10 matchup, just like it was last season when the Spartans came to Ohio Stadium in late November.

Is Mel Tucker, making nearly $10 million a year, in for the long haul at Michigan State?
Can he make the Spartans a regular 10-win team and a thorn in the side of the Buckeyes like the Spartans were during the best days of the Mark Dantonio era?
Is Payton Thorne potentially the second-best quarterback in the Big Ten behind C.J. Stroud?
Is Jayden Reed potentially the second-best receiver in the Big Ten behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba?
Could Michigan State's last-in-the-nation pass defense be vastly improved?

The week-by-week schedule preview is now halfway home. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Inside the world of fast food, from Cane's to Wendy's, from Chick-fil-A to Piada Jun 13, 2022

Doug Lesmerises could not be more excited for this totally off-topic Buckeye Talk on this Monday. He welcomes The Wolf of Franchises, who runs a website, podcast and Twitter account dedicated to how franchises work, and that means writing and talking a lot about fast food businesses like Cane's, Chick-fil-A and Wendy's.

On this episode, Doug and Wolf discuss what kind of money the best franchises make, how much it takes to open a franchise, and then Doug throws out some local Ohio ideas that he thinks could go national.

Also, Doug wants to create a business that will buy back his guinea pigs.

If you've ever wondered how the business of fast food works, this is the pod for you. And on Tuesday, Buckeye Talk will be back to football. Thanks for listening.

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What if Ohio State had beaten Michigan last season? BuckeyeFly Effect Jun 10, 2022

It's time for another BuckeyeFly Effect on Buckeye Talk, where the past is reconsidered.

On this episode, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird (this was recorded before Nathan's paternity leave) look at the ramifications of Michigan's victory over Ohio State last season.

What if the Buckeyes had won instead?

Would Ohio State have gone on to win the national title?
Would C.J. Stroud have won the Heisman Trophy?
Would Ohio State have made the four assistant coaching changes it made after the season?
Would Jim Harbaugh still be the head coach at Michigan?
Would anything have changed Ohio State's motivation and mindset for a national title run this season?

And more. One win, a lot of possibilities. The Wolverines won 42-27 last season, their first win in The Game since 2011. How much changed because that happened?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Brandon Inniss, Caleb Downs and Ohio State's 2023 class plans and priorities: Recruiting Rapid Fire Jun 09, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means go back to their text subscribers to answer more questions about Ohio State's recruiting.

Among the specific players from the Class of 2023 who are discussed: WR Carnell Tate, WR Brandon Inniss, S Caleb Downs, RB Justice Haynes, OT Samson Okunlola, OT Olaus Alinen, CB Daniel Harris, S Joenel Aguero, LB Tackett Curtis, LB Arvell Reese, DE Keon Keeley, DT John Walker and more.

Among the topics covered:

Recruiting vs. Notre Dame
Are QBs starting to come to the Midwest?
How is Ohio State stacking up to Penn State and Michigan?
Is Ohio State having trouble recruiting on the offensive line? And why new OL coach Justin Frye needs some time
The 2023 QB battle

With a lot of official visitors coming to Ohio State over the next three weekends, these questions and answers should catch you up on where the Buckeyes are with their 2023 class.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Brian Hartline's excitement, Ohio State's future offensive line, and another QB offer: Buckeyes recruiting camp Jun 08, 2022

On this Wednesday episode from cleveland.com, Stephen Means brings his knowledge from watching two days of Ohio State recruiting camps on Monday and Tuesday to Buckeye Talk and discusses it with Doug Lesmerises.

What receivers did Brian Hartline get fired up about and have to offer?
What is Ohio State's 2023 quarterback recruiting strategy with another offer made to a QB this week?
How did the future interior of Ohio State's offensive line look?
What are we learning about Ryan Day as a head coach through these camps?

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk.

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The secret to great sportswriting, plus Rutgers has an interesting QB Jun 07, 2022

It's time for Week 5 as Buckeye Talk continues to devote an episode to each game of Ohio State's 2022 football schedule. On Oct. 1, the Buckeyes will host Rutgers for homecoming with a 3:30 kickoff, and on this Buckeye Talk, Steve Politi of nj.com is here to talk about that.

But there's only some Rutgers talk, including about quarterback Gavin Wimsatt, who is Rutgers' version of Quinn Ewers. He reclassified and enrolled in college early last year, but as the No. 202 overall recruit in that class, he stuck around. And he has a chance to be Rutgers' quarterback for a long time, and maybe the best quarterback Rutgers has seen in quite a while.

But Doug and Steve also talked about the process of sportswriting for a big chunk of the pod, talking about Rutgers coverage, writing about New York sports, and some of Steve's favorite stories he's ever done, from Mexico to The Masters to the Olympics.

And then Doug wraps up with why he thinks this once again won't be much of a game.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State's $13 million NIL ideas, Doug chickening out, and French Vanilla: Rapid Fire Jun 04, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk that is dropping early over the weekend, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means take a bunch of questions from Ohio State text subscribers, many of them centered around Ryan Day saying the Buckeyes need $13 million in NIL money available to them to keep their football roster together.

There's a lot of information shared there, but there are also discussions of:

Doug's potential new nickname
Why Doug didn't push a guest harder on a topic while Stephen was out
Ohio State's 2005 team
The effect of NIL on Ohio State's current recruiting class
Favorite cities to visit
Paris Johnson Jr

And more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Reasons to believe in Wisconsin as a legit opponent for Ohio State Jun 03, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, you may not believe it, but Doug Lesmerises is buying the Wisconsin Badgers this season.

Sophomore running back Braelon Allen could be a superstar.

Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has proven he's one of the best in the business.

And what if Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz, a former big-time recruit, is good?

On this latest opponent preview episode, Doug gets some tremendous insight on Wisconsin from Zach Heilprin, the sports director at 96.7 The Zone in Madison. They talk about the recent history of the OSU-Wisconsin series, whether the Badgers have any chance of defending the Ohio State passing game, how Allen stacks up in the history of Wisconsin running backs, and the hiring of new offensive coordinator Bobby Engram.

This is an opponent worth knowing for OSU fans, as the Badgers will be Ohio State's first Big Ten game of the season when the Badgers visit Columbus on Sept. 24. And Zach drops some great knowledge.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State recruiting camp breakdown: QB battle, offers earned and an 8th grader Jun 02, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means is back and he joins Doug Lesmerises to discuss the recruiting camp they attended at Ohio State on Wednesday.

What two 2023 quarterback prospects were there and who earned an offer?
What other players earned OSU scholarship offers, including one who had current Buckeyes shouting support?
Who was the player not yet in high school that came from Georgia to impress the coaches?

The Buckeyes have several more recruiting camps ahead in June, but there was some action at this one. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk break it down.

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Crunching the numbers on official visits, and what it means for Ohio State's top recruiting targets Jun 01, 2022

This Wednesday Buckeye Talk gets into the numbers of recruiting, as Doug Lesmerises is joined by Bud Davis, who has his PhD in Geology, but who also happens to find the data of college football recruiting rather interesting.

Doug saw some of Bud's work on official recruiting visits on Twitter and invited him on the pod to get deeper into the topic.

How important is it for a school to be the last official visit for a recruit? What percent of recruits commit to schools that aren't their last official visit? Is there something in the numbers that should inform schools on how they schedule visits, or should inform fans about how to read a prospect's visit schedule?

Also, Bud goes into the numbers on recruiting and building a championship roster, and the numbers on the transfer portal and what players are moving the most.

Then Doug looks at some of the prospects making official visits to Columbus in June and tries to apply Bud's data to get a read on what might happen with those players.

It's a different look at recruiting, and thanks for giving it a listen on Buckeye Talk.

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Ranking Buckeyes like Tyleik Williams, TreVeyon Henderson, Dawand Jones and Zach Harrison among the best players in college football May 31, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, friend of the pod Anthony Treash swings by to talk with Doug Lesmerises.

Anthony ranked the top 10 players at every position in college football this offseason, and a lot of Buckeyes made his lists. So where did he put players like defensive end Zach Harrison, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, offensive tackles Dawand Jones and Paris Johnson Jr., receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, quarterback C.J Stroud and running back TreVeyon Henderson?

And why?

Plus, a few Ohio State opponents for the 2022 season are discussed, as are some players on teams that the Buckeyes could meet in the College Football Playoff.

It’s a good overview in May of where the best Buckeyes are in the context of college football. Thanks for listening.

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Inside the world of comedy in Columbus May 30, 2022

Something totally different on this Monday Buckeye Talk, with a lot of football talk ahead for the rest of this week.

But for this episode, Doug Lesmerises is talking comedy.

First, he interviews Kyle Kazanjian-Amory, the founder of Don't Tell Comedy. That's a pop-up comedy brand that will have six shows in Columbus from Monday June 13 to Saturday June 18. Each show is BYOB and costs $25. Doug and Kyle discuss how he came up with Don't Tell Comedy, the state of comedy today and how you book people to tell jokes in a barbershop.

Then Doug talks to Simon Fraser, a 24-year-old stand-up from England who has lived in Columbus for several years and was recently named the funniest person under-30 in Columbus by a poll of about 15 people. Simon talks about becoming a comedian, how much Ohio knowledge he needs to be funny here, his process of writing jokes and what it's like putting together a tight hour of good material.

This dives into the process of comedy and hopefully you find it interesting. If not, catch you back for football talk on Tuesday. Thanks for listening.

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Will Urban Meyer coach again? And could Toledo be the latest MAC team to give Ohio State a game? May 27, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises gets in the same room with Kyle Rowland and Dave Briggs of the Toledo Blade for a live, in-person podcast and things get a little crazy.

Kyle and Dave are here to break down Ohio State's Week 3 opponent, the Toledo Rockets, who will be playing one of the biggest games in program history at night in Ohio Stadium on Sept. 17.

Could Toledo win the MAC this year? How often has Ohio State played a MAC team this good? How often should the Buckeyes play MAC schools? Who are the most dangerous Rockets on both sides of the ball?

And then it's time to get creative, as Doug, Dave and Kyle talk about Urban Meyer's coaching future -- and what if he restarted his head coaching career where it began two decades ago, in Northwest Ohio? Meyer spent two years leading Bowling Green ... what if he did that again?

This one's fun, and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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What Ohio State football needs to do to win a national title this season May 26, 2022

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, it's back into the file of podcasts recorded before Nathan Baird went on leave.

That means Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are together to draft the most important things Ohio State football needs to do to win a national title in 2022.

Yes, draft. This is possibly the most intangible draft done so far on Buckeye Talk, but there's a lot of specific football talk that lets you know what Doug, Nathan and Stephen think are the most important things on offense, defense and in the locker room (and about Ohio State's opponents) when it comes to Ohio State's coming season.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Big Ten Playoff Preview: Is Ohio State a playoff lock? And C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba as Heisman candidates May 25, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com ... it's actually The College Football Survivor Show.

That national college football podcast is being dropped in this feed for a day because it's filled with Ohio State talk and is certainly of interest to Buckeye Talk listeners.

Doug Lesmerises is joined by his Survivor Show co-host Shehan Jeyarajah and Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com to go through the leading playoff contenders from the Big Ten, the playoff dark horses, the Big Ten game of the year in the playoff race, the leading Heisman contenders in the Big Ten, the Heisman dark horses, and more.

Doug and Shehan do The College Football Survivor Show twice a week, and if you have listened, thank you. If you have not listened, this is a little taste and maybe you'll want to try The College Football Survivor Show wherever you find Buckeye Talk. Regardless, this episode matters to Ohio State fans, because every Big Ten playoff discussion is all about the Buckeyes.

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Ohio State president Kristina Johnson and AD Gene Smith on the future of college football May 24, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises talks about and plays clips from his Monday evening interview with Ohio State president Kristina M. Johnson and athletic director Gene Smith.

Johnson was recently named to the Big Ten's spot on the College Football Playoff Board of Directors, and Smith recently suggested that college football could be managed by the College Football Playoff instead of by the NCAA. That could give Ohio State a pretty big voice in shaping what's next for the sport.

Johnson and Smith talk about that, plus they share their views of the current use of outside collectives to give players money under NIL. And Doug talks about Smith's ideas on the future of football divisions in the Big Ten.

This is a little different Buckeye Talk, with more interview clips than usual. But it's worth hearing straight from Johnson and Smith. Thanks for listening.

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Ohio State football's greatest games of the century, with NFL insider and OSU grad Albert Breer May 23, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises welcomes a special guest while unveiling the new 64-game bracket of Ohio State football's best wins of the century.

Albert Breer from Monday Morning Quarterback on SI.com and Sports Illustrated, one of the best NFL reporters in the country, jumps on to discuss his life as an Ohio State football fan and OSU grad who entered school in the John Cooper era and left in the Jim Tressel era.

The best games of the 2002 and 2014 title seasons are discussed, including the game that helped get Albert fired from his first job. It's a 20-year journey through his best moments of OSU fandom, and it sets up the bracket that will now start to be voted upon by text subscribers.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk.

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The Nick Saban feud, and a Big Ten world with no football divisions May 20, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is back with his thoughts on the news of the day.

First, he tackles the public feud between Alabama coach Nick Saban and Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, what he likes and doesn't like about it, and why college football is living by the rules of the jungle.

Then it's on to the idea of the Big Ten giving up divisions. How would have Big Ten Championship Game matchups have looked in the past in that world? How often will this mean the Buckeyes vs. the Wolverines for a Big Ten title, and is that a good thing? And if the Big Ten goes to a few permanent rivals to play every year, who should those teams be for the Buckeyes?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com,.

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What raises for Ryan Day and Chris Holtmann tell us about Ohio State football and basketball May 19, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises looks at the raises and extensions for Ohio State football coach Ryan Day and Ohio State basketball coach Chris Holtmann announced this week, compares them to salaries for Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel and Thad Matta in the past, and tries to use the money to analyze the current state of the football and basketball programs.

First, it's the new deals for Day and Holtmann in context of each other.

Then it's a dive into Day's contract, why it happened and what it means for his future.

And then it's a look at Holtmann's extension, how it fits in the Big Ten and the nation, and what it means for how much patience AD Gene Smith may have with the basketball Buckeyes.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Drafting the Ohio State Buckeyes most likely to be All-Americans in 2022 May 18, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, the crew is back together as this podcast was recorded before Nathan Baird went on paternity leave.

That means Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan are taking turns drafting the Ohio State football players most likely to be named first-team All-Americans and first-team All-Big Ten choices this season.

Does that mean picking the best players in order? Not necessarily. The competition at some positions is steeper than the competition at others. But this draft will give you more info on what Nathan, Doug and Stephen are thinking about the best Buckeyes for 2022.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Imagine 11-win Coastal Carolina coming to play Ohio State -- Arkansas State used to be that May 17, 2022

It's another schedule breakdown for the 2022 Ohio State Buckeyes, and after discussing the Notre Dame opener last week, it's on to Week 2 and Ohio State's home game vs. Arkansas State.

Mitchell Gladstone of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette joins Doug Lesmerises to talk about Arkansas State and second-year coach Butch Jones, the former boss at Cincinnati and Tennessee. The Red Wolves come from the Sun Belt Conference, where they were dominating and winning league titles about eight years ago before falling on some tougher times.

But the Sun Belt plays good football -- imagine if fellow Sun Belt team Coastal Carolina, which has won 11 games each of the last two seasons, was coming to Columbus.

Doug and Mitchell talk Arkansas State's best players, the state of and hopes for the program, the Red Wolves defensive coordinator with Ohio State ties, and a little Ja Morant.

Hope you enjoy this schedule breakdown, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Will Ohio State basketball be better or worse after losing 86 percent of its points? May 16, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means look at the 2022-23 Ohio State basketball team, a 13-player roster that will include:

Two players from last season's rotation
Two injured players returning to health
Three transfers
One redshirt freshman
Five true freshmen

That's the team for Year 6 of the Chris Holtmann Era, and will it be good enough? That group includes the No. 5 recruiting class in the country, but only Zed Key and Eugene Brown from last year's contributors.

Doug was so confused and frustrated by the roster, he did a terrible podcast. But Stephen tried to hold it together.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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An NFL QB debate -- Would you take C.J. Stroud or Justin Fields? May 13, 2022

A week ago on Buckeye Talk, a draft of the best Ohio State players in the NFL right now led to another question.

Where would C.J. Stroud fit in that mix? And specifically, how would he stack up as an NFL quarterback compared to Justin Fields, who is entering his second season with the Chicago Bears?

So on this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means dug into that idea. Doug, Stephen and the OSU text subscribers each rated Stroud and Field in five categories as potential NFL franchise quarterbacks. Who came out on top when those ratings were added up?

And then in the simple question of which QB you'd take as an NFL GM, who won that vote?

These are two good NFL options with different styles, so dive in to this OSU NFL QB discussion. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Inside the brewing Ohio State-Notre Dame football recruiting battles May 12, 2022

Ohio State will open up the 2022 season against an opponent it will see enough of on the recruiting trail going forward in Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes have plenty of 2023 recruiting targets in common. OSU may have the upper hand in the head-to-head battles, but Notre Dame enters the summer with the nation’s top recruiting class and new momentum under new head coach Marcus Freeman

Stephen Means is joined by Kyle Kelly, who covers Notre Dame recruiting for Rivals, as the two discuss the ongoing battles between the two programs in their fight for Midwest supremacy and a national recruiting title.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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The Notre Dame matchup that could give Ohio State problems, and why the Buckeyes should still win May 11, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, it's time to start a weekly series that will take us through the end of July.

One by one we will break down every opponent on the Ohio State schedule, in order, by interviewing a writer that covers that team and getting down to the matchups and meaning of the game with the Buckeyes.

It's a big one to start -- Notre Dame. Eric Hansen, Ohio native and veteran writer now covering the Fighting Irish for InsideNDSports.com is the guest on this episode, talking everything about Notre Dame's best players, whether these teams should play more often and his memories of the last home-and-home series from the mid-90s.

There's a lot of info in a short amount of time, and then a final wrap from Doug with his view of the game. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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5-star quarterback Dylan Raiola commits to Ohio State football May 10, 2022

For the third time in the Ryan Day era, Ohio State has landed a five-star quarterback in Dylan Raiola out of Arizona. Raiola kicks off the Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting class while continuing the program’s run of successful quarterback recruiting.

Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means discuss the first member of Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class and what it means for the 2023 class still looking for a quarterback.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Everything we learned from Ohio State football assistant coaches May 08, 2022

On this early Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means take turns revealing the most interesting and important conversations they had with Ohio State football coaches on Friday.

The coaches who met with reporters were:

Receivers coach Brian Hartline
Running backs coach Tony Alford
Offensive line coach Justin Frye
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles
Special teams coach Parker Fleming
Strength and conditioning coordinator Mickey Marotti
Head coach Ryan Day

From Kourt Williams to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, from C.J Stroud to Zach Harrison, from TreVeyon Henderson to Noah Ruggles, there are a lot of tidbits to share. That's why this Monday pod is dropping a bit early.

Catch you back on the Tuesday episode from cleveland.com.

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Drafting the 32 best Ohio State players in the NFL: Buckeye Talk-Orange and Brown Talk crossover May 06, 2022

It's a first on Buckeye Talk and the Orange and Brown Talk podcasts as the two shows merge into one on this Friday, with the Ohio State podcast and Cleveland Browns podcast from cleveland.com coming together for a common cause:

Drafting the best former Ohio State players currently in the NFL.

To do that, Stephen Means of Buckeye Talk and Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe of Orange and Brown Talk joined Doug Lesmerises of both pods to go over the roughly 70 Buckeyes on NFL rosters right now. That includes veterans like Cameron Heyward and Johnathan Hankins, rookies like Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, defenders like Denzel Ward and the Bosa brothers, and offensive stars like Terry McLaurin and Ezekiel Elliott.

Eight rounds, four drafters, 32 Ohio State players picked.

Who went first? Who didn't get picked? Who won the various debates about players on the same teams or with similar resumes?

Thanks for joining us for this special episode, which is appearing in both podcast feeds. Whether you are a fan of the Buckeyes, the Browns, or both, thanks for listening.

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Why Ohio State's in-state 2023 offensive line recruiting is so important May 05, 2022

On the Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means look at Ohio State’s offensive line recruiting for 2023, spurred by the commitment on Wednesday of Austin Siereveld.

He’s the third Ohio State high school player on the offensive line to commit to the Buckeyes for 2023. How does that compare to recent years in OSU in-state offensive line recruiting?

Which of the three 2023 offensive lineman, as Siereveld joins Luke Montgomery and Joshua Padilla, could play the earliest?

And how does Ohio State’s overall 2023 class look now that it has reached 10 players?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State transfer talk -- Building an entire defense from departing Buckeyes May 04, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are once again talking transfers.

Players who want to be eligible to play at their new schools this fall needed to be in the transfer portal by May 1 (or get a waiver later), so the portal may calm down for a bit now that the deadline has passed.

So where do things sit with Ohio State?

Where does Ohio State place in national transfer rankings? How many Buckeyes have left compared to how many arrived, and how does that compare to Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, USC, LSU, Michigan, Penn State and others?

Which Buckeyes that left will be missed the most?

And what do you think of the entire starting defense you could build from OSU players who have left the program since August?

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Is Ohio State DBU? WRU? Edge Rusher U? And the lack of leadership in college sports: Tuesday Madness May 03, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises take on their usual structure for an offseason Madness episode.

There's an Ohio State topic, delving into which position or positions the Buckeyes rightly own when it comes to the NFL Draft.

Then there's a national college sports topic, this time focusing on the continued potential changes in the sport and the complete lack of leadership at the top of the NCAA. That means a few suggestions for a new NCAA president to replace the outgoing Mark Emmert.

And then Watcha Watchin', Watcha Eatin', as Nathan and Doug talk TV and theater, cilantro and peanut butter.

Thanks for listening to a Tuesday Madness on Buckeye Talk.

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An Ohio State record falls, and Haskell Garrett goes undrafted: NFL Draft Wrap May 02, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are here to talk through the final day of the NFL Draft and the two Buckeyes who were picked, and one who wasn't. And they run through the final totals for the Buckeyes and the Big Ten to put this draft and the modern draft era in context for Ohio State.

First, Ohio State didn't lead the Big Ten in draft picks. Who did?

Then it's time to discuss Tyreke Smith and Thayer Munford getting picked and Haskell Garrett not getting picked.

Finally, an OSU draft record fell. But where does Ohio State fit in the list of teams in the modern draft age?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Nicholas Petit-Frere and Jeremy Ruckert find fits, as Ohio State leads Big Ten in draft: Day 2 Wrap Apr 30, 2022

On this late Friday, early Saturday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means wrap up Day 2 of the NFL Draft for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Among the topics:

No Buckeyes in Round 2
How Nicholas Petit-Frere in Tennesse and Jeremy Ruckert with the New York Jets fit with their new teams after going in Round 3.
How Ohio State stacks up through three rounds to other programs around the country.
A big draft for Luke Fickell and the University of Cincinnati.
What Ohio State players might be picked on Saturday.
Nathan's last live pod for a couple months as he prepares for the arrival of a baby this weekend.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave picked back-to-back in Round 1: NFL Draft reaction Apr 29, 2022

On this late Thursday night Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means react to the Ohio State Buckeyes taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Garrett Wilson went No. 10 the New York Jets.

Chris Olave went No. 11 to the New Orleans Saints, who traded up for him.

And their former teammate Jameson Williams went No. 12 to Detroit.

How are their fits? What does the draft mean for Ohio State receivers coach Brian Hartline? And who made the best draft prediction?

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Predicting Ohio State in the 2023 NFL Draft -- Will C.J. Stroud be the No. 1 pick? Apr 27, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, it's draft talk during NFL Draft week -- but it's a year ahead.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look ahead to the 2023 NFL Draft and predict when current Buckeyes will be drafted.

Will quarterback C.J. Stroud be the overall No. 1 pick?
Will Jaxon Smith-Njigba be the first receiver drafted?
How many Buckeyes will go in the first round?
How many Ohio State players will be drafted overall?
Which OSU safety will be drafted higher, Ronnie Hickman or Josh Proctor?
Does WR Julian Fleming project as a draft pick a year from now?

All that and more as Doug, Nathan and Stephen peer into the future on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Can Ohio State still land two 2023 running backs? Apr 26, 2022

Ohio State football has only offered eight running backs in the 2023 recruiting class with hopes of landing two. Mark Fletcher was the first to come on board doing so in April but others on the list have committed elsewhere or cut down their options with the Buckeyes on the outside looking in. As the cycle heads into May, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird take a look at OSU's top remaining options, its chances of landing each and whether it should widen the field to reach its goals.

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Will players or coaches get more credit if Ohio State's defense improves in 2022? Monday Madness Apr 25, 2022

Ohio State football came out of the spring with a lot of optimism about the work it accomplished on defense. If the Buckeyes reverse the slide of last season, who will receive more credit -- the young players who might improve regardless in 2022, or the revamped coaching staff?

Doug and Nathan debate that on this Monday Madness-themed episode. Also, are coaches like Villanova's Jay Wright bailing on college sports because of the transfer portal and NIL? If so, what needs to change?

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Could Ohio State's offense possibly be overhyped? Rapid Fire Apr 22, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird answer more questions from text subscribers, starting with one texter who is worried about overthinking the Ohio State offense. Could the Buckeyes, with all that skill talent, be overhyped?

Doug and Nathan go through the reasons of why that could or couldn't be true as the idea applies to the receivers, to TreVeyon Henderson, and to C.J. Stroud.

Also, other topics include:

A breakout year for J.T. Tuimoloau?
Would you eat bread off the ground?
The best player on the team at doing his job
Attacking areas in recruiting where teams have a new coach
The potential weak spot of the defense
Developing a superstar tight end

And more.

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NFL Draft talk with PFF's Austin Gayle on Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Aidan Hutchinson, C.J. Stroud and more Apr 21, 2022

OK, maybe you don't want to hear a ton about a Michigan player on Buckeye Talk, but we wouldn't be bringing you this interview if we didn't think it provided value to Ohio State listeners.

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird interview Austin Gayle of PFF about the PFF four-part podcast series on Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson called "Hutch." And then Doug, Nathan and Austin discuss the draft prospects of several Buckeyes.

Among the topics in this episode:

How Ohio State tried to block Hutchinson last year
How Hutchinson compares as a prospect to Chase Young and the Bosa brothers
Garrett Wilson as a prospect and an area he could work on
Chris Olave and good NFL comp for him
What C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba could look like as draft prospects next year

And more.

Thanks for listening.

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Ohio State's 2022 NFL mock draft: Where Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jeremy Ruckert and others will be picked Apr 20, 2022

On this Buckeye Talk episode for Wednesday, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take up the annual tradition of doing a live draft for every Ohio State Buckeye who might get picked by the NFL.

The first round of the draft is Thursday, April 28, so Doug, Nathan and Stephen get down to the business of drafting:

WR Garrett Wilson
WR Chris Olave
OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
TE Jeremy Ruckert
DE Tyreke Smith
OL Thayer Munford
DT Haskell Garrett

There's also a discussion about the NFL possibilities for RB Master Teague. So get ready for the 2022 NFL Draft with this version of the draft on Buckeye Talk.

Thanks for listening,.

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Tough OSU transfer decisions, where safeties best fit, and sports we love and hate Apr 19, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, it's another round of questions from text subscribers focusing on three ideas:

How Ohio State players reach their decisions to transfer, what that tells us about a certain OSU recruiting class, and what is Ohio State's history in the portal so far?
Sports that Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird love to watch and cover, and sports they don't like so much
Fitting the right players together at safety for the Buckeyes this season

Doug and Nathan appreciate you listening and making Buckeye Talk part of your week.

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Most surprising and least surprising aspects of Ohio State's Spring Game Apr 18, 2022

Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird delve into a post-Spring Game rapid fire edition. Topics include:

• What about the Spring Game surprised us the most, and what development did not come as a surprise at all?

• Should OSU be concern about how the No. 1 defense looked vs. the No. 1 offense?

• What did we eat on Easter Sunday?

• What to make of Julian Fleming and Kourt Williams not being on the field Saturday.

And much more from our Buckeye Talk Subtext subscribers.

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Wrapping up Ohio State's spring game, and the best players and moments Apr 16, 2022

On this weekend Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss everything they saw and heard at Ohio State's spring game on Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

On offense that included a backup running back who could scoot.

On defense that included some second-year defenders showing they're ready for more action.

Off the field, that included a touching video tribute to the late Dwayne Haskins, and then some ideas about how to make the spring game even better.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk.

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Drafting Ohio State's best players for the Spring Game Apr 14, 2022

Stephen Means and Nathan Baird get to once again put their GM hats on as Ohio State football prepares for its 2022 Spring Game. With Doug Lesmerises serving as commissioner, Stephen and Nathan Draft a full starting offense and defense as they discuss who the Buckeyes' best players are when everyone's fully healthy. Listen along to see how the guys build their team, then sign up for the text (614-350-3315) to vote on which team you like better.

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Discussing Malik Hartford, Mark Fletcher and a potential 2023 Florida gold mine for Ohio State recruiting Apr 13, 2022

Ohio State's 2023 recruiting class started off in April by picking up commitments in back-to-back weeks as the program once again sets out to win a recruiting championship. Malik Hartford gave the class its second safety alongside Cedrick Hawkins while Mark Fletcher is the first of two potential running backs. Speaking of Fletcher and Hawkins, the 7-on-7 teammates could be the beginning of a significant haul for the Buckeyes in the state of Florida in a cycle where they've already offered 33 players.

Stephen Means and Nathan Baird talk Ohio State football recruiting as we enter the spring and summer months.

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Dwayne Haskins' 6-TD game as Ohio State dropped 62 on Michigan in 2018: Buckeye ReTalkable Apr 12, 2022

On this Tuesday episode, it's a Buckeye ReTalkable to celebrate Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who was killed over the weekend.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means rewatch and discuss Ohio State's 62-39 win over Michigan in 2018 in Haskins' one year as Ohio State's starter. The discussion goes beyond the game though to focus on Haskins' record-breaking season, as he threw for more yards and more touchdowns than any Big Ten quarterback in a single season.

In The Game, Ohio State won at home as a four-point underdog, with Haskins leading Paris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, freshman Chris Olave and the rest of the offense against what was the No. 1 defense in the nation coming in.

Thanks for joining us to celebrate this great Haskins game and season while remembering his legacy as a Buckeye.

Listen to the Monday Buckeye Talk for more personal remembrances about Haskins' entire path to and career at Ohio State.

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Remembering and celebrating Dwayne Haskins and his Ohio State legacy Apr 11, 2022

On this Monday episode, Buckeye Talk celebrates the legacy and impact of Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who was killed over the weekend at the age of 24 after he was struck by a vehicle.

Doug Lesmerises is joined by former Buckeye Talk co-host Bill Landis to talk about their time covering Haskins together, dating back to 2014 when they visited one of his high school games in Maryland when he was a junior.

Haskins had a fascinating and captivating career arc, from his recruitment, to his status as the backup in 2017, to saving the Michigan game that season, to his record-setting 2018 season.

Doug and Bill talk all about Haskins as a player and as a guy they greatly enjoyed interviewing and covering. At the end, Doug reads some remembrances from text subscribers about why Haskins was so special to Ohio State fans.

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Ohio State cornerbacks and safeties are getting aggressive in this defense Apr 08, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about what they learned from interviews with safeties and corners on Friday. Among the players discussed:

Josh Proctor
Jordan Hancock
J.K. Johnson
Tanner McCallister
Kourt Williams
Cam Martinez

And more. Plus, there's the introduction of Buckeye Talk Studios, and a reminder of why the Spring Game is worth the trip.

Thanks for listening.

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Ohio State football transfers yet to come, and assistant coaches making big money Apr 07, 2022

On this Thursday episode, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises take you through a Thursday Madness. That means an Ohio State football topic, then a topic of more national interest, and then Watcha Watchin', Watcha Eatin'?

First, Nathan and Doug discuss the current football roster numbers and where the needed transfers are likely to come from. At which positions do the Buckeyes still have too many players?

Then it's on to the raises for OSU assistants Brian Hartline and Tony Alford and where Ohio State ranks among assistant pay in college football.

Finally, what are Nathan and Doug watching and eating?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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C.J. Stroud's fascinating football brain and Kyle McCord's spring of clarity Apr 06, 2022

C.J. Stroud loves talking ball, and the Buckeye Talk crew kept hitting him with football film-watching questions at Wednesday's media session with the quarterbacks. Ohio State's returning starter provided some insight into how he sees the game going into his third year in the program. What did that conversation tell us about the kind of quarterback Ryan Day ultimately wants for this program?

Also, this once seemed like a crucial decision-making spring for Kyle McCord. Instead, he goes in knowing he must prepare to be ready on a moment's notice but also potentially setting himself up to be the clear starter in 2023. We discussed how things are lining up for the sophomore.

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Would an Ohio State-Michigan playoff game be awesome or too stressful? Plus transfer talk Apr 05, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means start off with a discussion of the transfers of Bryson Shaw and Lejond Cavazos. Plus, the winner of the Buckeye Talk NCAA Tournament bracket is announced, and the arrival of basketball transfer Tanner Holden is analyzed.

Then it's time to get into the main part of the pod -- what would happen if Ohio State and Michigan played in a College Football Playoff game? Duke and North Carolina just played in the Final Four in basketball. Would the Buckeyes and Wolverines in a football playoff game be a great experience or overwhelming?

A texter survey helps get a handle on the situation. And do Nathan, Doug and Stephen think it will eventually happen or not?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Resetting Ohio State football's depth chart, plus a little Thad Matta talk Apr 04, 2022

On this Buckeye Talk episode for Monday, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means cover a lot of ground on the football Buckeyes, and talk a little basketball at the end.

Leading off is a discussion of why Ryan Day might, in Year 4, have a team that really shows what he wants from an ideal football roster. Also, Day no longer has to be afraid of the unknown, because the bad stuff happened last season.

It's hard to explain, but the first 30 minutes is some good OSU football theory.

Then there is a rundown of the two-deep based off what Stephen observed at Saturday's practice, and based off what Day said Monday.

And finally, a discussion of Butler hiring Thad Matta as its basketball coach and whether OSU fans would want Matta back.

Good show. Thanks for listening.

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Talking Donovan Jackson, Paris Johnson, Cade Stover, Dawand Jones and more Apr 01, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through what they learned from talking to Ohio State offensive linemen and tight ends on Thursday.

Among the players and topics covered:

Donovan Jackson
Paris Johnson Jr.
Luke Wypler's anger at re-watching the Michigan game
Dawand Jones and his wingspan
Cade Stover on his move back to tight end
Matthew Jones
New OL coach Justin Frye

And more.

Thanks for listening.

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Ohio State basketball vs. Kansas in the 2012 Final Four: Buckeye ReTalkable Mar 31, 2022

It's the first basketball Buckeye ReTalkable here on Buckeye Talk, with good reason.

The Final Four is back in New Orleans this weekend, and the Kansas Jayhawks are there again as well. That's two of the three pieces from Ohio State's last Final Four trip in 2012. It was in New Orleans, and it was against Kansas.

And Ohio State should have won.

The Buckeyes haven't returned to a Final Four since then, so Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird rewatched and relived the last game.

Jared Sullinger. Aaron Craft. William Buford. Deshaun Thomas. Thad Matta.

They're all here, as is the 13-point lead Ohio State built in the first half and then gave up.

Before you watch this 2022 Final Four, join us for this look at the 2012 Final Four on another Buckeye ReTalkable.

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Rapid Fire: Are expectations for Jim Knowles' Ohio State's defense already unrealistic? Mar 30, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take questions from text subscribers for an hour.

Is there too much pressure on Jim Knowles to fix Ohio State's defense?
How much hype should the wide receivers have?
Can Tanner McCalister be Jordan Fuller-esque?
Could the OSU defense be a top-15 group this season?
Is Big Ten basketball outdated?
Who'd benefit more if Chris Holtmann ever left on his own?
Why don't Doug and Stephen like fishing?
Who has the more annoying celebrations in sports?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Two hours of pure, blissful Ohio State football talk Mar 29, 2022

Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson combined to talk football for 90 minutes during news conferences after Ohio State's sixth practice of the spring Tuesday.

It was glorious.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means felt like they gained so much insight, they talked for two hours about everything the coaches said about where the Buckeyes are right now. Among the players discussed:

C.J. Stroud
Jack Sawyer
Donovan Jackson
Paris Johnson Jr.
Cade Stover
Matthew Jones
Kourt Williams
Josh Proctor
Ronnie Hickman
J.T. Tuimoloau
Mitchell Melton
Javonte Jean-Baptiste
C.J. Hicks
Tommy Eichenberg
Reid Carrico
Ronnie Hickman
Teradja Mitchell
Steele Chambers
Chip Trayanum

And more.

The guys liked talking all football for a long pod. They hope you enjoy listening.

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What mock NFL Drafts tell us about why Michigan beat Ohio State: Monday Madness Mar 28, 2022

With the NFL Draft one month away as of Monday, Doug and Nathan reset where Ohio State's players sit in national mock drafts. What did we learn from Pro Day that suggests Buckeyes could move up or down?

Also, how do the first-round projections for the Big Ten compare to recent years? Is the conference's identity beginning to shift?

Finally, a round of Whatcha Watchin' Whatcha Eatin' that leads us to the Chris Rock-Will Smith Oscar altercation.

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Will Ohio State football's Jaxon Smith-Njigba have the greatest receiving season ever in 2022? Mar 25, 2022

Jaxon Smith-Njigba surprised many by turning in the most prolific receiving season in Ohio State history in 2021. Could he be on the verge of something even more history this fall?

Smith-Njigba would need to average 137.3 yards over 15 games, or 147.1 over 14 games, or 158.5 over 13 games to break the FCS record of 2,060 receiving yards. Since he averaged 157.1 over his last eight games of 2021, the question is worth asking. Is the Buckeye receiver set up for a record-shattering season, and what would that mean for his Heisman Trophy chances?

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Ohio State football's edge rushers and defensive tackles continue their friendly rivalry Mar 24, 2022

Ohio State football's defensive tackles and edge rushers already have a wager on the board for who will finish with more sacks in 2022.

What those players do this spring will help decide that question. On Thursday we updated the progress of J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Tyliek Williams, Mike Hall and several other defensive linement.

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Did C.J. Stroud make the biggest impression at Ohio State's Pro Day? Mar 23, 2022

C.J. Stroud threw at Ohio State football's Pro Day to give Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson some familiarity when running routes for NFL coaches, general managers and scouts. But he also acknowledged the experience gave him an early glimpse for when he gores through the process as early as next year, as well as a chance to showcase his own talents for those evaluators.

Nathan and Stephen discuss what they saw from the receiver drills as well as Master Teague's impressive performance, the potential of players like Tyreke Smith and Nicholas Petit-Frere and more.

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What we saw and heard at Ohio State football's third spring practice Mar 22, 2022

Doug, Nathan and Stephen were all at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center for Tuesday's third practice of the spring -- the first in full pads, and the first since spring break. What caught their eye during the periods open to reporters, and what did coach Ryan Day say they shed light on the team's progress?

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Ohio State's basketball season ends, should the Buckeyes be better next year? Mar 21, 2022

No. 7 seed Ohio State ended its basketball season Sunday with a 71-61 loss to No. 2 seed Villanova. The Buckeyes had opened the NCAA Tournament with a win over No. 10 seed Loyola on Friday.

On this Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises wrap up the Buckeyes' season.

Was this season an underachievement?
What's next for E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham?
What could Ohio State's team look like next and will the Buckeyes be better?

Ohio State hasn't made the Sweet Sixteen, and that drought is too long. When will it end?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Should Ohio State football be considered the national championship front-runner? Mar 18, 2022

Another Friday Fiasco (aka an off-season Monday Madness). Today's topics:

• Ohio State has the third-best betting odds right now to win the 2022 college football national championship. Should it actually be the front-runner?

• From Cinderella upsets to bracket pools to party atmospheres, March Madness is arguably the best American sporting event. Could a 12-team football playoff ever come close to matching it?

• A rundown of some of the best bracket names in the Buckeye Talk pool, including one with an extra special meaning.

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How long will Ohio State basketball last in the NCAA Tournament and other rapid-fire questions Mar 17, 2022

With football, basketball and real life all colliding this week, we decided to go rapid fire on today's episode?

• Who is Ohio State football's best defensive player right now, and who will it be at the end of the season?

• Could Jim Knowles debut with a top-10 defense?

• Does OSU need to change its approach to be better in the red zone?

• Is OSU basketball's recruiting class a big reason why Chris Holtmann has job security?

• Plenty of nonsense, including worst road trips, OSU football coach fashion trends and our pick for our emergency frozen food choice.

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Who has the best combined football and men's basketball programs in the Big Ten? Mar 16, 2022

Yesterday we drafted all of the Big Ten football and men's basketball coaches. Today we are taking another combined look at those sports. Which Big Ten school has the best current pairing of football and men's basketball programs? Also, where does Ohio State rank, and how much is basketball really holding it back? Doug, Nathan, Stephen and our Buckeye Talk text subscribers give their answers.

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Drafting the best Big Ten football and men's basketball coaches in one list Mar 15, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means smash the worlds of Big Ten football and Big Ten men's basketball together. They draft the 21 best head coaches from those two sports combined.

That means football coaches like Ryan Day, Mel Tucker and Jim Harbaugh are getting compared to basketball coaches like Chris Holtmann, Tom Izzo and Juwan Howard.

Who makes up the top tier? Where do Day and Holtmann fall in the pecking order? Which two Big Ten schools won't have either of their coaches drafted in the top 21?

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Ohio State basketball in the NCAA Tournament: Chance at a run, or another early exit? Mar 14, 2022

Ohio State basketball is a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament against No. 10 Loyola in Pittsburgh on Friday, and Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises are here to discuss it on the Monday Buckeye Talk.

Is E.J. Liddell a little frustrated with his team after the Buckeyes have lost four of five?
How healthy will Ohio State be for the game?
Loyola can shoot 3-pointers and play pretty good defense. Can Ohio State handle that?
How many points do Liddell and Malaki Branham need to combine to score for Ohio State to win?
Ohio State has been an NCAA Tournament quality team in all five of Chris Holtmann's seasons. Just seven other teams in the country can say that. But does it matter if the Buckeyes don't do anything in the tournament?

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Can Evan Pryor make a move in Ohio State's running back room this spring, and Harry Miller's important message Mar 11, 2022

Doug and Nathan recap what they learned from Ohio State's running backs after practice on Thursday. They also discussed offensive lineman Harry Miller's retirement and increased awareness for mental health struggles among college athletes. Then they wrap things up with a round of Whatcha Watchin' Whatcha Eatin', including discussion about a suitcase full of chicken tenders.

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Which Ohio State receivers are moving up the depth chart this spring? Mar 10, 2022

We know Jaxon Smith-Njigba will headline the Ohio State receiver room in 2022. Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss what else they learned from the rest of the players at that position after Thursday's spring practice. How big is Marvin Harrison Jr., really? How is Julian Fleming feeling this spring? At which receiver spots is Emeka Egbuka working out? What has it meant for Jayden Ballard to hear praise from Chris Olave and Ryan Day? A deep dive into where this group stands as spring begins.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Paris Johnson Jr., Donovan Jackson and offensive news from Ohio State’s first spring practice Mar 09, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means go over everything they learned about the Ohio State offense from the first day of spring football practice Tuesday. Among the topics and players covered:

Leadership
Paris Johnson Jr.
Donovan Jackson
Harry Miller
Joe Royer
Evan Pryor
C.J. Stroud
Kyle McCord
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Touching worms

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Who stood out on defense during Ohio State football's first day of spring practice? Mar 08, 2022

Ohio State football kicked off the spring practice schedule on Tuesday giving players their first chance to work with a coaching staff featuring four new members. That includes new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles who spoke about the first day and all the changes coming:

-Will Kourt Williams finally carve out a role at safety in his third season?

-Is Cade Stover officially back at linebacker ending his time at tight end?

-Are there any candidates for the new JACK/LEO role?

-What exactly is the name of all the positions in Knowles' knew defense?

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss all of these questions and more on this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk,

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Is Chris Holtmann the Andy Dalton of college basketball coaches? Mar 07, 2022

Is the Ohio State basketball team fun to watch?

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises ponders that question while taking some questions and comments from text subscribers as Ohio State finished the basketball season 12-8 in Big Ten play after Sunday's loss to Michigan.

Ohio State is a No. 6 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and looking like a No. 6 or No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament? Is that good enough in Year 5 for Chris Holtmann?

Or is he proving to be the Andy Dalton of college basketball coaches?

Listen as Doug talks it out on the latest Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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NFL Combine wrap on Perry Eliano, Thayer Munford, Haskell Garrett and more Mar 05, 2022

On this Saturday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird give their final thoughts on Ohio State at the NFL Combine before heading home.

How did Nicholas Petit-Frere and Thayer Munford do in testing for offensive linemen?
What did defensive linemen Haskell Garrett and Tyreke Smith say during their interviews?
What did Cincinnati cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant say about Perry Eliano, their former coach who has been hired at Ohio State?
Does the combine function like it's supposed to anymore?
And ... a question about Tate Martell?

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Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson run fast; NPF embraces combine; basketball wins big Mar 04, 2022

This Friday episode of Buckeye Talk is broken into three parts.

First, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird talk through the NFL Combine workouts for Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who both ran fast and helped their NFL causes on Thursday night. Doug also discusses his combine interviews with Thayer Munford and with a very enthusiastic Nicholas Petit-Frere.

Then, Doug talks with Diante Lee of PFF, who has been on Buckeye Talk before breaking down Ohio State film. They discuss the OSU receivers, Jim Knowles, Ryan Day, C.J Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and more.

Finally, Doug and Stephen Means talk through Ohio State's basketball win over Michigan State on Thursday night, which was led by a surprising performance from backup big man Joey Brunk.

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Talking Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jeremy Ruckert at the NFL Combine Mar 02, 2022

Ohio State hasn't seen a receiver drafted in the first round in 15 years. That's going to change in the 2022 NFL Draft.

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird report from Indianapolis after talking with Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jeremy Ruckert at the NFL Combine.

Doug and Nathan discuss what the players said about how they see themselves as NFL players, what their plans and hopes are for their combine testing, and there's also a brief discussion about why Doug couldn't sleep after Ohio State's bad basketball loss on Tuesday night.

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NFL Combine preview: What Garrett Wilson, Tyreke Smith and other Buckeyes hope to show this week Mar 01, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird run through the recent history of Ohio State at the NFL Combine and then look at the seven Buckeyes invited to Indianapolis this week: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Tyreke Smith, Jeremy Ruckert, Thayer Munford and Haskell Garrett.

Both Doug and Nathan will be in Indy this week to bring you more podcasts, texts and stories on the Ohio State players there. In this preview, they'll outline the one thing each Buckeye should be trying to accomplish in front of NFL decision makers.

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Basketball rapid fire: NCAA hopes, faith level in Chris Holtmann, the changing rotation and more Feb 28, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises answer almost 20 questions from text subscribers about the basketball Buckeyes, after a week that included a huge road win at Illinois and a disappointing road loss at Maryland.

What's the best and worst the Buckeyes could do in the NCAA Tournament?
What should be the starting lineup and rotation?
Should Ced Russell play more minutes?
How much better will the backcourt be next year?
Should Chris Holtmann try to rest some of his best players down the stretch?
Would it be better for the Buckeyes to lose early in the Big Ten Tournament?
What's the level of faith in Holtmann right now?
Are E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham one of the best duos in the country, and how far can they carry the Buckeyes?

This covered a lot of ground, so thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Cincinnati, 2002, and why it will never happen again: Buckeye ReTalkable Feb 25, 2022

Buckeye Talk is back with another Buckeye ReTalkable, this time reliving the 2002 Ohio State vs. Cincinnati game in Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

Why? Because Cincinnati is the football capital of Ohio right now with what the Bearcats and Bengals did this season, so Cincinnati football is hot. And this game, 20 years ago, would have been the biggest moment in Bearcats football history to that point if they had been able top pull off the upset.

Meanwhile, No. 6 Ohio State was without an injured Maurice Clarett for this game, the Buckeyes put Chris Gamble on defense for the first time in this game, and Craig Krenzel showed off his ability to make winning plays at quarterback at the right time.

The game can be watched in a shortened 38-minute version of YouTube, so watch that and listen to this on the latest Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Is Ohio State hurt by delaying playoff expansion? Feb 24, 2022

The College Football Playoff has announced it will remain at four teams for the next four years. What do Ohio State fans think of that, and is that a good or bad thing for the OSU football program?

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means examine what text subscribers said in a survey about their playoff feelings and what it means for the Buckeyes. This will give you a good handle on what fans of Ohio State think of the college football playoff format.

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What do Juwan Howard and Woody Hayes' punches have in common? Midweek Madness Feb 23, 2022

Doug and Nathan moved the Monday Madness format to Wednesday. Among today's topics:

• What does the Juwan Howard vs. Wisconsin incident tell us about sportsmanship in college sports?

• Should ESPN's preseason SP+ ranking raise expectations for the Buckeyes, internally and externally?

• Should OSU fans be disappointed that playoff expansion has not happened?

• Another segment of "Whatcha Watchin'? Whatcha Eatin'? ... Which delves into a crucial discussion on Wordle strategy.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk -- five days a week on Ohio State football throughout the offseason.

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How crucial is Richard Young to Ohio State's 2023 recruiting class? Buckeye Football Futures Feb 22, 2022

Nathan and Stephen are back with a rapid-fire edition of BFF. Among the topics:

• Should fans be worried that the Richard Young pursuit could leave OSU in a 2020-like running back situation?

• Are we making too much of positional fit with offensive linemen like Luke Montgomery?

• Where will Ryan Montgomery be ranked when the first 2025 rankings come out?

• Which top 2023 linebacker from the south is OSU more likely to eventually sign?

Thoughts on those issues and more on this recruiting-only episode.

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Would an all-Ohio State alum team contend for the Super Bowl? Feb 21, 2022

Doug and Nathan break off of discussing current Buckeyes to discuss the ones who have moved on to the NFL. Would a team made up of only OSU alums be a Super Bowl contender? Obviously few teams can match the pairing of edge rushers and secondary that the former Buckeyes could put on the field. But is the offense powerful enough, and more specifically, is Justin Fields ready to lead a team this talented in the playoffs? Listen in and join the debate by becoming a Buckeye Talk text subscriber.

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What does Luke Montgomery's commitment mean for Ohio State's 2023 class? Buckeye Football Futures Feb 18, 2022

Ohio State needed major offensive line prospects in its 2023 class, and it landed one Thursday in Findlay's Luke Montgomery. Stephen was there and brings back the details of Montgomery's decision, including the rule Justin Frye played in closing the commitment and what role Montgomery can play in growing the class. Also, we answer our text subscriber questions on LeBron James as an OSU recruiter, whether the 2023 class can end up ranked No. 1 overall and more.

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Life in the transfer portal as explained by a Buckeye currently in there Feb 17, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises interviews Ohio State defensive back Lloyd McFarquhar to get a first-hand look at what it's like in the transfer portal. McFarquhar joined the OSU program as a preferred walk-on in 2018 and after four seasons in scarlet and gray, he was interested in maybe finding a school where he could play more. So while he continues to work out with the Buckeyes, he has been talking with teams and thinking about a transfer for the fall.

What's the process of going in the portal? How did the OSU coaches handle it? Who were the receivers McFarquhar loved to match up with in practice while running on the scout team?

This is a portal peek and a fun conversation on Buckeye Talk.

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Does Gene Smith think college football should do away with conference championship games in favor of the CFP? Feb 16, 2022

Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith's hour-long press conference with the media discussing a wide range of topics:

-What are Smith's thoughts on College Football Playoff expansion?

-Does Name, Image and Likeness need federal regulation?

-Are he and Ryan Day discussing a potential contract negotiation?

-Should we reassess the value of the conference championship game?

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises discuss all of those things and more on this Wednesday episode.

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Could the 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes still be a super team? Feb 15, 2022

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means revisit a discussion they had last July, when they came to the very early conclusion that the 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes could be a super team.

Then, the idea of Quinn Ewers starting at quarterback for Ohio State in 2023 was a big part of that equation. Now, he's gone, so who will quarterback the Buckeyes in 2023, assuming C.J. Stroud is in the NFL?

The guys run through the potential starters at every position and decide if the super team idea still has merit.

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Does Ohio State have a better basketball program than Michigan? Feb 14, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises discuss Ohio State basketball's collapse against Rutgers and its statement road win over Michigan. Chris Holtmann is 4-1 against Juwan Howard since Howard was hired as the Wolverines' head coach in 2019. So that leads to a question: Despite already winning a Big Ten title and getting a team to the Elite Eight while Holtmann has failed to do either, does the head-to-head record make OSU the better basketball program?

We also touch on E.J. Liddell's National Player of the Year candidacy, new 2023 commit Austin Parks and give out thoughts on Super Bowl LVI.

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Ryan Day vs. Chris Holtmann; Buckeyes in the Super Bowl; WR recruiting: Rapid Fire Feb 11, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back for another round of questions from text subscribers. The topics include:

Whether Ryan Day or Chris Holtmann had the steeper learning curve as an Ohio State head coach
Which Buckeye has the best chance at Super Bowl MVP?
The WR recruiting strategy
Doug's view of Corey Dennis
Ryan Day and the OSU defense
What Michael Thomas would look like in this OSU offense
The Big Ten team for Ohio State to worry about in 2022
Did Jim Harbaugh cost Michigan its momentum?

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Was building Ohio Stadium the most important act in Ohio State football history? Feb 10, 2022

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is joined by author John Baskin, who wrote "Lords of Smashmouth: The Unlikely Rise of an American Phenomenon." The book covers the history of Ohio State football from its inception to the current day, from John Wilce and Francis Schmidt, to Paul Brown and Woody Hayes, to Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer and Ryan Day.

The book zeroes in on all the most important moments and people in the history of the Buckeyes, and not just that they were important, but how and why they came to their place in OSU history.

Doug and John focus in particular in this conversation on Ohio Stadium, Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, and the history unfolding right now in the Day era. This episode is a great look at John's book and interesting nuggets from OSU history. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Rapid Fire: Debating if Ohio State is underachieving, if the D will be top-15, and Super Bowl food Feb 09, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take questions from text subscribers for an hour.

Is Ohio State underachieving compared to its recruiting?
Why isn't the new field design a little more exciting?
What linebackers could transfer?
Could the OSU defense be a top-15 group this season?
Should JT Tuimoloau shift to defensive tackle?
What other pods do we listen to?
Could NIL keep some players thinking of the NFL at Ohio State for another season?
What are our go-to Super Bowl foods?

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How will Ohio State approach its 2023 quarterback recruiting? Feb 08, 2022

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss the upcoming decision of Ohio State offensive line target Luke Montgomery and what landing him would mean for the 2023 class. Then they break down how the Buckeyes are handling quarterback recruiting in this cycle. OSU has already offered six players with three still undecided and it takes a patient approach to achieve its goal of finding a highly-rated field general in every cycle.

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Is Michigan's coordinator turnover Jim Harbaugh's fault? Monday Madness Feb 07, 2022

Doug and Nathan bring back Monday Madness in a new offseason format.

THE BIG STORY: What the last two weeks mean for Michigan, what they mean for Jim Harbaugh and how it might affect the rivalry with Ohio State going forward.

THE BUCKEYE STORY: Thoughts on an NFL reunion between Justin Fields and a former Buckeye receiver -- or receivers. Also, how progressive should OSU be with its new field turf designs?

WHATCHA WATCHING, WHATCHA EATING? Doug and Nathan on what they have been consuming lately.

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Discussing C.J. Hicks, Jyaire Brown, Tanner McCalister and Ohio State's new defensive players Feb 04, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about the eight new offensive players they interviewed Wednesday as part of the late national signing day: Linebackers C.J. Hicks, Gabe Powers and DeaMonte Trayanum, defensive lineman Caden Curry and defensive backs Jyaire Bronw, Tanner McCalister, Kye Stokes and Ryan Turner. The five new offensive players on campus were the focus of the Thursday podcast.

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Getting to know new QB Devin Brown, and wrapping up the 2022 recruiting class Feb 03, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about the five new offensive players they interviewed Wednesday as part of the late national signing day: Quarterback Devin Brown, receivers Caleb Burton and Kyion Grayes, tight end Bennett Christian and offensive lineman George Fitzpatrick. Those are the five early enrollees on offense for the Buckeyes. The eight new defensive players on campus will be the focus of the Friday podcast.

Also, it's a final wrap on that 2022 class, as the Buckeyes signed two final players to finish with 21 in the class, which was ranked No. 4 in the nation by 247Sports.com.

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Ohio State's athletic department announced its $60 million pandemic debt -- Does that matter to the football program? Feb 02, 2022

Lots of ranting on this one, about banks taking over chain restaurants, about naming rights for college football stadiums, about the Buckeyes at the Senior Bowl, about Jim Harbaugh and the NFL, about Name, Image and Likeness rules, and about whether anyone really cares about money discussions in college football.

It's Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird, and it's your Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Talking to Ohio State's 4 new assistants: What we learned from Knowles, Walton, Eliano and Frye Feb 01, 2022

On Monday, Ohio State's four new assistant coaches met with reporters for the first time. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, cornerbacks coach Tim Walton, safeties coach Perry Eliano and offensive line coach Justin Frye spoke for about 30 minutes each, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were there to ask questions and get first impressions. Ryan Day also spoke to reporters about the new hires, and about other things happening with the roster. All that means this Tuesday Buckeye Talk is chock full of info. Thanks for listening.

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Should Ohio State basketball be viewed as an underdog team? Jan 31, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises use Ohio State's last-second loss at Purdue on Sunday to try to put the basketball Buckeyes in context this season. And Nathan Baird, a former Purdue basketball beat writer, joins for a bit to help use the Boilermakers to put the Buckeyes in context. Also covered:

Is Ohio State or Purdue the better team, and better program, right now?

Eugene Brown III played maybe his best game Sunday -- is he showing signs of making a leap?

Why doesn't Ohio State have more big guys?

Both E.J. Liddell and Malachi Branham showed again they're big-time scorers down the stretch.

And finally, should Ohio State be viewed as an underdog program right now?

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What are the recruiting expectations for Ohio State football's new assistant coaches? Jan 28, 2022

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss Ohio State football's recruiting efforts during the two-week contact period in January. With three new defensive assistant coaches and another on the offensive side, what are the expectations for Jim Knowles, Perry Eliano, Justin Frye and Tim Walton on the recruiting trail as they re-establish relationships with OSU targets while establishing new ones as well? They also discuss the late Feb. 2 signing period where the final two 2022 commits are expected to officially become Buckeyes and their chances of potentially adding one more commit.

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Talking Jim Knowles, Ryan Day, Brian Hartline, Marcus Freeman, Jim Harbaugh and more with national writer Adam Rittenberg Jan 26, 2022

This Wednesday Buckeye Talk is an hour-long conversation between Doug Lesmerises and ESPN national college football writer Adam Rittenberg. Adam gives his big-picture view on Ohio State coaches Ryan Day, Jim Knowles, Brian Hartline and Tony Alford, and then the talk turns toward coaches and programs affecting Ohio State like Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame; Jim Harbaugh and Michigan; the QB situation at Penn State; and what's happening in the Big Ten West.

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Ohio State's projected defensive depth chart for 2022 Jan 25, 2022

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, it's time for the defensive depth chart, following the offensive depth chart on Monday.

Nathan Baird projected the 11 starters and 11 second-teamers for the Ohio State defense next season, and Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means chimed in with their views on the top 22 defenders for the next OSU season.

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Projecting Ohio State's offensive depth chart for 2022 Jan 24, 2022

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dig deep on this one while starting to look ahead at the 2022 football season for Ohio State. Nathan projected the two-deep for the Buckeyes' offense and then they talked it out, beginning with a full hour-long dive into just the offensive line.

Then it was onto the receivers, tight ends, running backs and quarterbacks, as each group was analyzed for the projected starters and backups, and then rated as to whether it will be better, not as good or the same as that group last season.

This is deep, over two hours for just the offense, so strap in. The defense will be up Tuesday.

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The Ohio State 2018 spring football game: Buckeye ReTalkables Jan 21, 2022

It's time to get back to Buckeye ReTalkables, with the 11th edition of Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means reliving a game from Ohio State's past with you. This one is a little weird, but it is timely.

With Tate Martell's football career ending this week -- his college career is over and he's focusing on business ventures -- and Joe Burrow leading the Cincinnati Bengals into the playoff this week, the crew decided to revisit the last time those two, and a host of other famous Buckeyes, shared a field.

It's the 2018 spring football game, which proved to be the culmination of the quarterback battle between Burrow and Dwayne Haskins, with Martell involved as the third option. But this game also features Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Paris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, Thayer Munford, Josh Myers and a standout performance from Demario McCall, among other things.

It was the last spring game for Urban Meyer, and it features Ryan Day and Brian Hartline on the sideline, but not yet in their roles at the heart of Ohio State's success.

It's worth a rewatch, and you can find it on YouTube. The goal of the pod -- should the Buckeyes have seen on this day the QB that Burrow would become? And should Martell have gone on to start at quarterback for some other team?

Thanks for listening to this Buckeye ReTalkable on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Rating the state of Ohio State's football program, from head coach to recruiting to overall talent Jan 20, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means check in with what will become a postseason podcast staple: Rating the Ohio State football program from 1 to 10 in various categories.

Doug, Nathan and Stephen all give their ratings, along with what text subscribers submitted as their ratings, for: Head coach, offensive assistants, defensive assistants, offensive talent, defensive talent, recruiting, adjusting to changes, Big Ten standing and national standing. The discussion helps shape how you view the program, and it's a great way to wrap up a season.

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The defensive line's future, plus Dawand Jones, Kerry Coombs and Tony Alford Jan 19, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through several items of note, including a look at the future of the Ohio State defensive line, talking both players and future coaches.

Also on the agenda:

Kerry Coombs hired at Cincinnati
Dawand Jones staying at Ohio State for the 2022 season
Tony Alford's promotion to run game coordinator

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Awards for Ohio State's 2021 football season Jan 17, 2022

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmersies, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and the text subscribers vote for several Ohio State football awards for the 2021 football season:

Offensive Player of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year
True Freshman of the Year
Surprising Player of the Year
Play of the Year

Some of the voting is tight and some of the discussion is heated. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Is this season's expectation Sweet 16 or bust for Ohio State basketball? Jan 14, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises check in on the Ohio State basketball team as it gets into the Big Ten play. In Year 5 of the Chris Holtmann era, the Buckeyes have yet to make. it past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament despite having rosters that showed flashes of the ability to do so. The 2021-22 roster has a quality blend of experienced upperclassmen with talented young guys that looks like it can not only put together a quality tournament run but compete for a regular-season Big Ten title.

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Defensive coaching changes: Kerry Coombs, Al Washington out; Tim Walton, Perry Eliano in Jan 13, 2022

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means address the latest Ohio State football coaching news.

Defensive assistants Kerry Coombs and Al Washington will not be back, and the Buckeyes are hiring Tim Walton and Perry Eliano.

What do the new coaches bring, and what went wrong to end the careers of Coombs and Washington in Columbus?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State's revised 2022 schedule, and an idea for a Penn State vampire trophy Jan 12, 2022

The Big Ten revised its 2022 football schedule on Wednesday and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to discuss how the changes affect the Buckeyes. None of the opponents changed, and regardless of the schedule order, Ohio State is potentially looking at six top-25 opponents in the regular season next fall.

Also, Doug wants to make Ohio State-Penn State an annual Halloween rivarly.

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National championship game reactions and what Brian Hartline and Justin Frye titles mean for Ohio State Jan 11, 2022

Doug and Nathan react to Georgia's victory over Alabama in the national championship game -- including Stetson Bennett's rise from Buckeye Talk caricature to winning quarterback. Also, what's with all the titles on Ohio State's offensive coaching staff, and does it tell us anything about how it will operate going forward?

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Ohio State football's post-signing day 2022 commitments, and an early look at 2023 priorities: Buckeye Football Futures Jan 10, 2022

Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the three latest, and possibly final, additions to Ohio State's 2022 signing class. Hero Kanu has already signed. Will Omari Abor and Carson Hinzman both join him in February? Also, a look ahead to the 2023 priorities and what dominoes may fall first as that class picks up momentum.

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Where does Ohio State really rank among the best teams in the country? Plus new OL coach and a new safety Jan 07, 2022

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at where the Buckeyes should be ranked in the final AP poll, and where they would rank if you were just playing games based on talent and potential.

There's a historical look at Ohio State in the top five, and a question for texters about whether they view this as a good season.

Plus, a little talk about the likely new offensive line coach and the latest safety addition for the Buckeyes.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Why did Ohio State part ways with Greg Studrawa, and where does it turn next? Jan 06, 2022

Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss Ohio State's decision to separate with offensive line coach Greg Studrawa. How much did recruiting play into this decision? What qualities must Ryan Day address as he seeks to fill this position? Are more staff changes still coming?

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Ryan Day and Jim Harbaugh contract talk, plus James Laurinaitis, Master Teague and more Jan 05, 2022

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about the contract situations of Ryan Day and Jim Harbaugh. First, they discuss Master Teague heading to the NFL and James Laurinaitis going to work at Notre Dame.

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More post-Rose Rapid Fire on Brian Hartline, Emeka Egbuka, C.J. Stroud vs. Bryce Young and more Jan 03, 2022

Doug, Nathan and Stephen run through a round of questions sent in by texters after the Rose Bowl, dealing with topics ranging from Emeka Egbuka to Al Washington, Jeff Hafley to Brian Hartline, C.J. Stroud to Taron Vincent, and more.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

The guys might take a break for a couple days after this one.

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Ohio State wins the Rose Bowl, on a historic passing day for the Buckeyes Jan 02, 2022

Ohio State beat Utah 48-45 in the Rose Bowl, and Nathan Baird in Pasadena and Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means in Ohio are here to break it all down.

The historic passing game for C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the second-half rally by the defense, the halftime speech from Demario McCall, the tweets that started flowing from Marcus Williamson during the game, how much the OSU program needed this win, where the Buckeyes now stand compared to Michigan, what Ohio State may have looked like against Georgia and how Kirk Herbstreit started off the new year criticizing players.

Plus, Matt Barnes is moving on and what other assistants may not be back?

A long pod after a wild game. Thanks for listening.

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Ohio State vs. Utah Rose Bowl picks and over-unders Dec 31, 2021

On this final Buckeye Talk episode before the Rose Bowl, and final Buckeye Talk of 2021, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means make their picks for the game, give last-minute nuggets of news, talk about the most interesting thing about the matchup and wonder what it might mean if the Buckeyes lose as four-point favorites.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk and Happy New Year.

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Could Jaxon Smith-Njigba and C.J. Stroud set records in the Rose Bowl? Rapid fire Dec 30, 2021

On this Thursday rapid fire Buckeye Talk from the Rose Bowl, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises run through 16 questions from text subscribers. Among the topics:

Could Jaxon Smith-Njigba and C.J. Stroud set records in Pasadena?
Over-under 125 rushing yards for TreVeyon Henderson?
When could we see a OSU-USC Rose Bowl in the playoff?
Which old Ohio State defender would you add to the Buckeyes for this game?
Does Nathan raid the min-bar on the road?

And more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Cade Stover's new Rose Bowl role, plus Thayer Munford, Kevin Wilson and more Dec 29, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird brings news from California after talking to Ohio State offensive players and Utah defensive players in the run-up to the Rose Bowl. Doug Lesmerises and Nathan talk about Cade Stover, Thayer Munford, Kevin Wilson, Devin Lloyd, Clark Phillips and more.

Plus, why specific matchups seem to matter so much this bowl season.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Could Kourt Williams break out in the Rose Bowl? Plus Zach Harrison, Matt Barnes and more Dec 29, 2021

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird dig in on the info Nathan learned about the Ohio State defense and the Utah offense during Rose Bowl interviews in California.

Could this be a breakout game for OSU's Kourt Williams?
What is Zach Harrison thinking about the NFL Draft?
How did Matt Barnes handle the coaching changes this season?
What does Utah running back and one-time OSU recruiting target Tavion Thomas think of the Buckeyes?
How dangerous are those three Utah tight ends?
Which Buckeyes weren't at practice Tuesday?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Haskell Garrett opt out of the Rose Bowl Dec 28, 2021

On this Monday night Buckeye Talk, it's time to check in with Nathan Baird from California, where coverage of Ohio State vs. Utah in the Rose Bowl has begun. Doug Lesmerises talks with Nathan after his day at Disneyland with the Buckeyes, where news of four Buckeyes deciding not to play was revealed. Get the news and analysis on that, plus find out what else Ryan Day, Dawand Jones, Bryson Shaw, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and C.J. Stroud had to say.

Also ... does Nathan know anything about Disney? And what Pixar character did he once dress as for Halloween?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Rapid Fire with Doug on recruiting regrets, coaching hires, Rose Bowl status and more Dec 27, 2021

It's a quick rapid fire Buckeye Talk to get you through until Nathan Baird starts checking in from California later on Monday.

For now, Doug Lesmerises takes a few rapid fire questions about the Rose Bowl status, the best national coaching hires, recruits the Buckeyes should have targeted and passed on, Kerry Coombs vs. Ed Warinner and more. Plus, Doug's wife makes a quick appearance.

We'll get back on a more normal schedule this week, and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State-Utah Rose Bowl breakdown: A linebacker missile and a Michigan run game Dec 23, 2021

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take their first deep dives into the Rose Bowl matchup.

How good is Utah QB Cam Rising? How tough is the Utah run game? Why do the Utes use tight ends like they're the Browns?

On defense, is Devin Lloyd the best linebacker Ohio State has faced? Is the Utah secondary vulnerable? Could C.J Stroud throw for 500 yards and make nothing else matter?

And why does Utah have so many punt problems?

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Buckeye Talk Rapid Fire questions on Jim Knowles, Julian Fleming, Michigan bravado and more Dec 22, 2021

On this rapid fire Buckeye Talk Wednesday episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to answer a bevy of text subscriber questions:

What would it mean for Ohio State if Michigan wins a national title?
Should the Buckeyes have landed Elias Ricks in the transfer portal?
What's the best Christmas present we ever got?
Should there be optimism around Julian Fleming for next season?
Which current freshman will have the biggest 2022 impact?
What player could be a candidate for a position switch?
Should Justin Fields have stayed at Ohio State for the 2021 season?
Who is the best Spiderman?
What happens if new coordinator Jim Knowles doesn't fix the defense?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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What if Chris Olave had gone pro and Jameson Williams didn't transfer from Ohio State to Alabama? Dec 20, 2021

On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises run through rapid fire questions from Ohio State text subscribers. The guys discuss Urban Meyer, Quinn Ewers' departure and what Ohio State's defensive coaching staff might look like after the Rose Bowl. They also have a lengthy discussion about Paris Johnson Jr. finally getting to play left tackle and the butterfly effect of Chris Olave coming back sending Jameson Williams to Alabama.

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A weird year betting the Buckeyes, and bowl season best bets Dec 18, 2021

On this weekend Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Tyler Shoemaker to discuss a weird year of betting the Buckeyes, and a terrible year for Doug, Nathan and Stephen when it came to making picks on the Buckeyes. Tyler explains how he did better than Doug, Nathan and Stephen.

Then it's time for some best bets for bowl season, and some betting advice from Tyler as Ohio prepares to have legal sports betting by next football season.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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An interview with Joshua Perry on Urban Meyer and the state of college football Dec 17, 2021

It's a special Friday Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises is joined by former Ohio State linebacker and current Big Ten Network analyst Joshua Perry to talk about Urban Meyer and the end of the former Ohio State coach in Jacksonville. Perry played for Meyer for four seasons from 2012 to 2015 and then went on to the NFL, so he knows the difference between what a college coaches does and an NFL coach does. Plus Joshue shares how his media career started and talks about the current state of college football.

It's a great interview. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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The most important things we heard at Ohio State's pre-Rose Bowl media day at the Woody Dec 16, 2021

Doug, Nathan and Stephen talked to 15 Buckeyes at the team's pre-Rose Bowl media day in Columbus on Thursday. What did the learn about NFL Draft decisions and potential opt-outs? Who gave the most honest answers about the Michigan loss and those questions about OSU's toughness? Those answers and much more on this rapid fire-style Buckeye Talk.

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Resetting Ohio State's ideal roster, as Ryan Day explains Signing Day Dec 16, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means share what they learned from Ryan Day's Signing Day news conference on Wednesday.

What does the flip to Texas for cornerback Terrance Brooks mean? That's actually kind of the man subject for individual players. But there's a long discussion of what Day thinks of how Ohio State should be using Name, Image and Likeness in recruiting,

And then the best part is Day sharing what he thinks is the ideal number of players at each position on the roster, and then the guys going through each position to discuss the numbers and quality at each spot. But there's some weird, random talk in here, too.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State signing day preview: Does a top-five class necessarily deserve an "A" grade? Dec 14, 2021

Doug, Nathan and Stephen break down the Buckeyes' 2021 class on the eve of national signing day. C.J. Hicks, Sonny Styles, Devin Brown and Terrance Brooks headline the class. But despite being ranked No. 4 nationally with more commitments to come, the class also has obvious holes. How does 2022's haul hold up compared to the OSU standard?

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Buckeye Talk Rant: On Ryan Day, Urban Meyer and the NFL Dec 13, 2021

Doug Lesmerises is back with a short Buckeye Talk Rant to tide you over until another full pod on Tuesday.

First, Doug talks about the report attempting to link Ryan Day to the Chicago Bears. Then he speaks briefly about Urban Meyer's continued struggles in the NFL.

Thanks for listening to a Buckeye Talk Rant from cleveland.com.

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C.J. Stroud in NYC; plus Ryan Watts and Jim Knowles news Dec 11, 2021

Nathan Baird was in New York on Friday, talking with Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud, and Stroud's friends and family, as the Buckeyes' redshirt freshman spent the day going around the city as a Heisman Trophy finalist. On this special Saturday Buckeye Talk, Nathan talked with Doug Lesmerises about what he saw and heard from Stroud.

Then, Nathan and Doug covered the news of Ryan Watts' transfer and of the announcement of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' salary.

Thanks for listening to this special bonus Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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How C.J. Stroud is like A.J. Hawk, and getting to know the OSU QB Dec 09, 2021

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means keep it a little tighter than usual. But they do have some new insights into Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud after the Heisman Trophy finalist held the longest interview session of his career with reporters.

They know Stroud a little better now, and hopefully after this episode, you will, too. Thanks for listening.

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Resetting Ohio State's 2022 class one week out from signing day: Buckeye Football Futures Dec 08, 2021

Nathan and Stephen run it back with a Buckeye Football Futures episode looking ahead to the start of the early signing period. What other commitments could happen between now and national signing day on Wednesday? Where does this class still need to add talent? (Note: This episode was recorded prior to Jim Knowles' hire as defensive coordinator.)

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Emergency Pod: Ohio State hires Jim Knowles as its new defensive coordinator Dec 08, 2021

Ryan Day announced on Tuesday that Ohio State had hired Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles as the Buckeyes' new defensive coordinator.

What do we think of the process that led to Knowles? What's his background? What's his fit? What's his scheme? How do fans feel about it? How big of a hire was this for Day? And, by the way, what's up with the offensive lineman in the transfer portal that Greg Studrawa just visited?

It's a big emergency Buckeye Talk with Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means and another round of Ohio State news and analysis. Thanks for listening.

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C.J. Stroud is a Heisman finalist, and what are his chances of winning next year? Dec 07, 2021

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about the four Heisman Trophy finalists announced Monday night: Alabama QB Bryce Young, Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson, Pitt QB Kenny Pickett, and Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud. This is the third OSU quarterback in the last four years to make it to New York as a finalist, so what does that tell us?

Is Stroud setting himself up for an even better Heisman run next season? What's the perception of the Buckeyes' QB? How does he compare to Justin Fields and Dwayne Haskins as Heisman finalists? And looking at the last 30 years of Ohio State starting quarterbacks, what does that tell us about Stroud next season?

Thanks for listening to this Heisman Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State will face Utah in the Rose Bowl ... so now what for the Buckeyes? Dec 06, 2021

Ohio State will play Utah in the Rose Bowl, and Buckeye Talk is here to discuss it. This is your Monday episode released a little early on Sunday night.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about the level of interest from fans in this Rose Bowl matchup, whether Ohio State might have some players opt out, and what OSU fans think of a playoff featuring Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and Cincinnati. There's also a discussion of the chances of C.J. Stroud to make it to New York as a Heisman finalist. Those four finalists will be announced Monday evening.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk.

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Emergency Pod: Quinn Ewers is leaving Ohio State Dec 04, 2021

On this late Friday night Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down the news that freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers is transferring from Ohio State.

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Who are the most interesting players on Ohio State's roster right now? Dec 03, 2021

Ohio State fans are sad that their team is not playing for a Big Ten championship this weekend. No game means Buckeye Talk also missed out on one of its time-honored traditions -- our annual cutthroat draft to divvy up the postgame interviews in the victorious locker room. Nathan, Doug and Stephen use that draft as a way to talk about the most interesting players on the team as bowl season and the transition to the offseason begin.

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What are Ohio State football's chances of finishing with the nation's top 2022 recruiting class? Dec 02, 2021

USC just pulled Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma, Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU and the Irish are expected to promote Marcus Freeman in his. So what does a crazy week of the college football coaching carousel mean for an Ohio State football program just two weeks away from Signing Day?

On this ThursdayBuckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird talk Buckeyes recruiting starting off with their most recent commit in Devin Brown, what he means to an already loaded QB room and much more. Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Marcus Freeman, coaching changes, linebackers and more: Buckeye Talk Rapid Fire Dec 01, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through a bevy of questions from text subscribers.

Among the topics:

Which new Notre Dame coach would be the worst news for Ohio State?
What type of defensive coordinator candidates should the Buckeyes look at?
What's the over-under on expected number of OSU coaching changes?
Who should be Ohio State's No. 2 running back next year?
How can the linebacker room change?
Should the Buckeyes have taken the ball to start the Michigan game?
What were the biggest variables in Ohio State's loss?
Are the Buckeyes built for comebacks?
What are their bowl possibilities?
Should there be chatter about the Chicago Bears and Ryan Day?

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The offensive issues that cost Ohio State against Michigan, and does the plan need to adjust? Nov 30, 2021

This is the deep dive into the Ohio State offense vs. Michigan on Saturday, following the Monday pod where the OSU defense against the Wolverines was examined.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means cover everything here from the OSU problems with Aidan Hutchinson, to the issues on third down, to the run play stop that helped set the offense back in the second half.

After this, Buckeye Talk will spin forward, but here's one more episode of diving deep into the Buckeyes' loss in Ann Arbor.

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Where Ohio State's defense failed against Michigan, and what it means for 2022 Nov 29, 2021

We ditched the usual Monday Madness so Doug, Nathan and Stephen could delve into what went wrong in The Game. This podcast covers the defensive side of the ball. Were things as bad on rewatch as they seemed in real time, or did we come away with a new perspective? Also, what did a closer examination of the loss tell us about possible staff changes ahead and what this team will look like on the field in 2022?

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Michigan beats Ohio State postgame, what went wrong for the Buckeyes and what needs to change Nov 28, 2021

Doug, Nathan and Stephen break down Ohio State's 42-27 loss to Michigan. This was recorded in an empty Michigan Stadium pressbox and posted from a snowy highway. You know what it's about.

Thanks for listening

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Ohio State vs. Michigan The Game preview, picks and over-unders Nov 25, 2021

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to wish you Happy Thanksgiving and to get you ready for Ohio State-Michigan on Saturday with their game preview of The Game. They are joined by Michigan beat writer Aaron McMann of MLive.com to break down both sides of the game, from the potential MVPs to the under-the-radar players who could create a legacy for themselves.

Then Doug, Nathan and Stephen make their picks, which they have been terrible at doing this year.

Thanks for listening as always to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, and we'll catch you next for the postgame pod on Saturday from Ann Arbor.

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Faith in Ohio State's tackles, Michigan's new Ohio drill, and fixing college football awards Nov 24, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss what they heard from Ryan Day and four OSU captains on Tuesday. Plus, what's Jim Harbaugh talking about before The Game. Among the topics:

How OSU offensive tackles Nicholas Petit-Frere and Dawand Jones have been playing lately
Michigan's new Ohio drill this season
How should the voting for college football awards be changed.

And much more. Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State's greatest wins in The Game, and Michigan's greatest villains Nov 23, 2021

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Mount Buckmore is back for Ohio State-Michigan week. Rather than ranking the top four players from Ohio State history, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and the texters are ranking top fours from the Ohio State-Michigan game.

First up are the greatest Ohio State wins in the rivalry, from 2006 to 1987 to 1968 to 2016 to 2002 to 2018 and more.

Next up -- the greatest Michigan villains. These are the players and coaches for the Wolverines who either dealt the Buckeyes tough losses or just annoyed fans. The big question -- does Jim Harbaugh belong on the Mount Buckmore of Michigan villains?

Also, the podcast starts off with a discussion of how Michigan fans might feel about Ryan Day -- how much would they view him as a major OSU villain?

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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How good is Michigan's defense, and will it matter if Ohio State's offense keeps playing like this? Monday Madness Nov 22, 2021

Doug and Nathan take their first look at Michigan, starting off with an examination of new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald's scheme and whether it can slow down the Buckeyes. Then they examine quarterback Cade McNamara and the emerging threats from the backfield. Lastly, the usual Monday Madness categories, including thoughts on a potential OSU-Cincinnati playoff matchup.

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Ohio State beats Michigan State postgame, as C.J. Stroud puts on a Heisman performance Nov 21, 2021

On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down Ohio State's 56-7 win over Michigan State.

Was it more important for the OSU offense or OSU defense?
C.J. Stroud made his Heisman case
Looking ahead to Michigan
Should we compare the OSU offense to LSU 2019 and Alabama 2020 again?

And more. Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Michigan State game preview, picks and over-unders Nov 19, 2021

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to preview Ohio State-Michigan State and make terrible picks on the game that you should probably ignore, given their records this season.

But there is a good discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the Buckeyes and Spartans as MSU beat writer Matt Wenzel of MLive.com drops by for some back-and-forth.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The Buckeyes playing their last home game that will be missed the most in 2022 Nov 18, 2021

On this big Thursday podcast, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the OSU seniors who will be playing their final home game against Michigan State on Saturday and some of the juniors that could be playing their final home game. Which of them will be missed the most next season? The guys hold a draft to determine that.

But first, a discussion of the Buckeyes from last season who are missed the most this year. There's an obvious No. 1 pick -- or is there?

Then it's back to determining how Ohio State will replace players like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jeremy Ruckert, Nicholas Petit-Frere and others next season.

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Is Garrett Wilson the perfect Ohio State football recruit? Nov 17, 2021

Ohio State hosts a top-10 matchup against Michigan State on Saturday ... and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means do dig into that in the last third of this Wednesday episode.

But Doug had an offseason type of idea that he wanted to drop now, after listening to OSU WR Garrett Wilson at Tuesday interviews.

Is Wilson, the former five-star recruit from Texas with Ohio roots, who is now poised to be a first-round NFL Draft pick after his junior season, the perfect Ohio State recruit?

Doug has a theory, Nathan and Stephen have some answers and insights, and that makes this a typical offseason Buckeye Talk dropped right in the middle of the playoff race.

Thanks for listening.

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Ohio State basketball season preview bonus pod: Can the Buckeyes be a Sweet 16 Team? Nov 16, 2021

We get it. It's the middle of the most important stretch of the football season. Basketball is probably not on your mind yet. So that's why instead of having a small portion of a pod sectioned off for hoops talk, we just decided to give you a bonus Tuesday pod this week. Chris Holtmann's team started its season last week and is already 3-0, but those games have already presented questions. What's this team's ceiling? Are they just going to do what they've done the past few years and flame out in the NCAA Tournament? Who's good other than E.J. Liddell?

Well, Doug Lesmerises has plenty of those same questions and Stephen Means has answers to all of them on this OSU basketball season preview pod.

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Will Ohio State's offensive line success vs. Purdue carry over to Michigan State and Michigan? Monday Madness Nov 15, 2021

Nathan and Doug delve deeper into the Ohio State offensive line's nullification of Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis in Saturday's 59-31 victory. More importantly, what does it mean against Michigan State and Michigan teams with multiple talented edge rushers? Plus the usual early talk on the betting line, reacting to Pro Football Focus grades and more.

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Ohio State beats Purdue postgame, as the Buckeyes win two big individual matchups Nov 14, 2021

On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down Ohio State's 59-31 win over Purdue. Topics covered include:

The Buckeyes winning the battles against Purdue stars David Bell and George Karlaftis
The OSU tackles coming to play
Working Miyan Williams in as a backup running back
The return of Garrett Wilson
What to make of the OSU defense

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Ohio State vs. Purdue preview, games picks, over-unders and the Boilerspoiler curse Nov 12, 2021

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down the Saturday afternoon kickoff between the Buckeyes and Boilermakers in Ohio Stadium.

How much are George Karlaftis, David Bell and Aidan O'Connell a threat to the Buckeyes? How much might OSU lean on linebacker Steele Chambers? What should be made of the fact that Ohio State is just 5-4 against Purdue in their last nine games? And what are the guys picking for Saturday?

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Debating Ohio State's best Heisman candidate, if the Big Ten is fake good, and afterthought chicken Nov 11, 2021

On this big Thursday Buckeye Talk, the texters once again come through with some great questions and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means answer them not in rapid fire ways, but with some longer, more detailed responses. Among the topics:

How Evan Pryor might factor in as a No. 2 back now and in future years
Whether C.J. Stroud of TreVeyon Henderson is Ohio State's best Heisman candidate
The Big Ten Coach of the Year race
Ohio State's defensive line coming on
Growing beards
Is the Big Ten fake good?
Is this a bonus season for the Buckeyes, or maybe not a very interesting season?
Which 2014 OSU player would you add to this team?
The effect of NIL on this season
The best place for chicken fingers, should they be sauced or not, and why afterthought chicken is never the right move

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The Ohio State question that maybe doesn't need to be asked Nov 10, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird run through what they learned from Ryan Day and Kevin Wilson on Tuesday, as Doug questions whether he asking the wrong question all day.

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Why did Ohio State only score two touchdowns against Nebraska, and will the next three tests be even tougher? Monday Madness Nov 08, 2021

Nathan and Doug both take a closer look at the various offensive dynamics from Ohio State's 26-17 victory at Nebraska. How much of the problem stemmed from the Buckeyes not playing up to expectations, and how much came from Nebraska defenders stepping up? And, if it's the latter, what does that mean against tougher opponents the next three weeks? Also, looking at the playoff situation after the weekend's shake-up.

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Ohio State beats Nebraska postgame, how are things with the OSU offense? Nov 07, 2021

On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises break down Ohio State's 26-17 win over Nebraska.

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Ohio State vs. Nebraska preview, game picks and over-unders Nov 05, 2021

Fighting off Nebraska fatigue, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means preview the Buckeyes vs. the Cornhuskers on Saturday. This is the sixth straight year the two teams have played, but they'll take a break after this season, thankfully.

Which West team is up next as Ohio State's cross-division rival? Is Adrian Martinez playing Ohio State for an 11th time? Why is Nebraska's best receiver a Montana transfer? Car rentals? Volcanos? It's hard not to get slap happy on this one. It's a classic sign of Nebraska fatigue.

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Bonus Ep: Shouting about rankings on The College Football Playoff Show Nov 04, 2021

This is this week's episode of The College Football Playoff Show dropping into your Buckeye Talk feed as a one-time tease. It's a bonus ep for you to try out the weekly national show that Doug co-hosts with Shehan Jeyarajah. And if you like it, you can then subscribe to get The College Football Playoff Show every week. There's some talk about Ohio State's ranking, and a lot about Cincinnati, Alabama, Oregon, Oklahoma and everything the committee got right and wrong.

Thanks for allowing this one-time drop in. And we hope you'll enjoy it and then make The College Football Playoff Show part of your podcast week.

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True of False: Ohio State football's offense is better than Georgia's defense? Nov 04, 2021

We tried something new and it may become a staple. Our texters sent us their "true or false" questions about everything from Quinn Ewers' transfer potential to whether Chris Olave is OSU's third-best receiver to whether the Buckeyes will have the Big Ten East locked up before The Game. And you know we had to involve Chili's in some way.

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Ohio State is No. 5 in the playoff rankings; and Brian Hartline's Ohio State future Nov 03, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the first College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday night that had the Buckeyes at No. 5. That's the first 25 minutes or so. Then it's on to what they learned from Ryan Day and Brian Hartline on Tuesday, with thoughts on route running, offensive line play, targeting rules and Hartline's future as a coach.

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Buckeye Talk Rant: This could be the best College Football Playoff Committee yet Nov 02, 2021

We're trying something new here on Buckeye Talk. The headlines, which used to drop on Tuesdays, are no more. So instead, Doug will attempt to drop a short discussion each Tuesday to bridge the gap between the Monday and Wednesday episodes of Buckeye Talk. He'll talk mostly about an issue related to college football or Ohio State football, and then he'll sometimes hit on an issue in the world he's wondering about.

For this first Rant, the topics are whether this might be the best College Football Playoff Selection Committee yet, and the deal with rug stores. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Should Ohio State be a top-four team in the first College Football Playoff rankings? Monday Madness Nov 01, 2021

Doug and Nathan look back at Ohio State's victory over Penn State, including a closer look at why the Buckeyes had so much trouble getting their offense going. Then they delve into the usual Monday Madness topics, including why Michigan State should and probably will be ahead of Ohio State in Tuesday's first playoff rankings reveal.

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Ohio State beats Penn State postgame, so how good was that win for the Buckeyes? Oct 31, 2021

Ohio State beat Penn State 33-24 on Saturday night, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were there to cover it.

And now they're here to talk about it. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Penn State game preview, picks and over-unders, and does the OSU offense make nothing matter? Oct 29, 2021

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means preview the Buckeyes' matchup with Penn State on Saturday night in Ohio Stadium.

This is the best secondary that Ohio State has faced, but just how good are the Nittany Lions corners and safeties?

Can PSU QB Sean Clifford, if he's healthy enough, and receiver Jahan Dotson give Ohio State any trouble?

Or does none of this analysis matter because the OSU offense is so explosive and efficient, it renders all other pregame discussion irrelevant?

Doug, Nathan and Stephen make their picks for the game, as well as for Michigan-Michigan State and Iowa-Wisconsin.

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Should the Big Ten ditch divisions? And the Ohio State-Oregon ranking debate Oct 28, 2021

It's the big Thursday episode on Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means speak words into microphones.

Should the Big Ten change its division structure? Should the divisions be shuffled? Should they change every year and be random? Should divisions be eliminated in favor of all 14 teams being grouped together with a title game of the top two finishers? And if things change, do the Buckeyes need to play Michigan and Penn State every year?

That's the first hour, spurred by Penn State coach James Franklin wanting the league to talk about division changes.

Then the guys finish with some more rapid fire questions, including an Oregon-Ohio State debate with the first playoff rankings out next week.

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Ohio State's huge recruiting weekend; and is the OSU offense better than last year's Bama offense? Oct 27, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird hit four main topics with the help of the text subscribers:

What commits might the Buckeyes get next with lots of major recruits visiting for the Penn State game Saturday?
Would you rather have Bijan Robinson or TreVeyon Henderson?
Is Ohio State's single-high safety defense gone for good?
How does Ohio State's 2021 offense compare to Alabama in 2020 or LSU in 2019?

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Who is the Big Ten's second-best quarterback, and could it be Ohio State's Kyle McCord? Monday Madness Oct 25, 2021

Nathan and Doug open with some second-look reflections on Ohio State's 54-7 victory at Indiana. Then discussion turns to the lost luster of Saturday's Penn State game after its nine-overtime loss to Illinois. Is Michigan the second-best team in the Big Ten, and does it have a case for being ranked ahead of Ohio State? How many teams would swap their starting quarterback out for Kyle McCord if they could? And the beginnings of a conversation we'll revisit later on eliminating Big Ten divisions.

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Ohio State beats Indiana and Stephen Means is a genius postgame pod Oct 24, 2021

On this postgame Buckeye Talk after Ohio State's 54-7 win at Indiana, Stephen Means takes a victory lap for predicting the Buckeyes would score 45 first-half points and Ohio State almost hit that mark by holding a 44-7 halftime lead. Then Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises belatedly join the pod to discuss, among, other things:

C.J. Stroud posting another big game
What defenses should have learned from Indiana's plan on Saturday
The roles on the defense for Craig Young and Steele Chambers
Kourt Williams' bright future
A potential Ohio State-Georgia showdown for the national title

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Ohio State vs. Indiana game preview: Game picks, over-unders and best defense OSU has faced Oct 22, 2021

On this Friday game preview, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at just how good the Indiana defense is that Ohio State will face in Bloomington on Saturday night. The six defenses left for Ohio State in the regular season are all ranked higher than any of the six defenses the Buckeyes have faced so far.

Will Indiana's top cornerbacks play? Would Hoosiers linebacker Micah McFadden be the best player on Ohio State's defense? If Indiana stopped Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III last week, will OSU back TreVeyon Henderson be controlled this week?

The Indiana offense isn't very good, but the defense should give the Buckeyes their best test yet. So should you take Ohio State as a 21-point favorite or not? Also, there's a brief discussion on giving up on your dreams as a kid.

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Rapid fire Ohio State questions, the College Football Playoff and proper wedding toast etiquette Oct 21, 2021

On this big Thursday episode Buckeye Talk, We went rapid-fire as Stephen Means, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird answer texter questions ranging from Ohio State football's College Football Playoff chances, what the wide receiver rotation will look like next season what a potential Georgia-OSU national championship game would mean for the sport. Then we get into some nonsense discussing proper wedding toast etiquette. one food you can't live without and Doug gives out some parenting advice.

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Steele Chambers, Harry Miller, a new recruit and the tests ahead for Ohio State Oct 20, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, the discussion centers around information gleaned from interviews with Ryan Day, linebackers coach Al Washington and offensive line coach Greg Studrawa. And Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird also discuss the new recruiting pledge of edge rusher Kenyatta Jackson, a top-100 player for the Class of 2022 from Florida.

Other topics:

An increased role for LB Steele Chambers?
Why the Buckeyes are rotating on the offensive line
Harry Miller's status returning from injury
The projected starting offensive line for next year
The Big Ten skill players that will test the OSU defense in the weeks ahead
Belly buttons

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Handing out midseason awards for Ohio State football: Monday Madness Oct 18, 2021

With no game to recap, Nathan and Doug delved into the entire first half of the season and handed out some midseason awards for Ohio State. Then they ran down the usual Monday Madness categories, including what Purdue's upset of Iowa means for the Buckeyes.

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The 4 greatest Buckeyes on Ohio State's overall Mount Buckmore Oct 15, 2021

It's the final Mount Buckmore episode on Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means bring this section of podcast episodes to an end, at least for now. On this episode, the guys and the text subscribers decide the four overall Buckeyes that should represent the Ohio State football program -- all the players, all the coaches, every position -- on a single Mount Buckmore.

Mount Buckmores for groups already have been chosen -- coaches, quarterbacks, runnings backs, receivers, defensive ends, cornerbacks and linebackers.

This is the big one. And there are some obvious choices and some less obvious ones.

You can listen to all the previous Mount Buckmore episodes in this feed if you want to catch up. Thanks for listening to this final Mount Buckmore on this off week for the Buckeyes.

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Drafting the 30 best Buckeyes so far this season Oct 14, 2021

During this off week, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are resetting the best Buckeyes so far this season.

They draft the 15 best offensive players so far this season, based on how well they think they'll play the rest of this year, and the 15 best defensive players. It's a comprehensive look at the 30 best players on the team for 5-1 Ohio State.

Briefly off the top, Doug talks about former Buckeye Devan Bogard, who died this week at age 27 in an apartment fire.

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How Kerry Coombs responded to his demotion and what it means for Ohio State football Oct 13, 2021

Ohio State's usual Tuesday press conference featured defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs, who spoke for the first time since responsibility to call the defense was handed to Matt Barnes after the loss to Oregon. Nathan and Stephen discuss what they heard from Coombs and what it means for his future with the Buckeyes. Also, reaction to Ryan Day's mid-season assessments.

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Who are the 10 most important Ohio State recruiting targets? Buckeye Football Futures Oct 12, 2021

Nathan and Stephen use the off week to catch up on the state of Ohio State football recruiting. Who are the 10 most important targets right now regardless of class?

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Oct. 12 Oct 12, 2021

The Buckeyes add another Big Ten Freshman of the Week award.

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Is C.J. Stroud the favorite for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year? Monday Madness Oct 11, 2021

Ohio State is idle this week as it reaches the midpoint of the season. Doug and Nathan look back at the win over Maryland and discuss C.J. Stroud's ascent and Steele Chambers' role in an unorthodox linebacker room.

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Ohio State beats Maryland postgame: Are the Buckeyes the third-best team in the country? Oct 10, 2021

On this postgame Buckeye Talk pod after Ohio State's 66-17 win over Maryland, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about the game and the five major ways Ohio State has improved since its loss to Oregon. They do that with the help of the text subscribers.

But they quickly move to a big-picture question -- Is Ohio State the third-best team in the nation?

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Ohio State vs. Maryland game preview: Game picks, over-unders, and what if OSU played Cincinnati? Oct 08, 2021

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means preview Saturday's Ohio State-Maryland game, which kicks off at noon as the Buckeyes' homecoming game.

The guys talk about a couple key defensive players for the Buckeyes, and make their picks with the point spread and give their sides of the over-under. Then there's a little time to discuss the Iowa-Penn State game on Saturday, and to debate the idea of what would happen if the Buckeyes played the other playoff contender in the state -- Cincinnati.

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Can Ryan Day join Ohio State's coaching Mount Buckmore? Oct 07, 2021

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, the pod goes back to Mount Buckmore. This summer, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and the texters declared the four best Buckeyes at quarterback, running back, receiver, cornerback, defensive end and linebacker. Now, it's time to do the head coaches.

On this pod, the primary questions are:

Is Woody Hayes not only No. 1 for Ohio State, but would he make a Mount Rushmore for college football coaches all time?
Is Urban Meyer or Jim Tressel No. 2 on the list of Ohio State's greatest football coaches?
Which coach rounds out Mount Buckmore right now, and what does Ryan Day have to do to get into Ohio State's top four? And will he stay in Columbus long enough to do it?

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A Buckeye sacrificing for the team, plus Kerry Coombs' future and Urban Meyer's situation Oct 06, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means debate and discuss what they learned from talking to Ryan Day and some Ohio State players on Tuesday in advance of Saturday's game against Maryland.

Which veteran Buckeye talked about handling a decreased role for the good of the team?
Why are the Buckeyes experimenting with offensive line combinations?
What does the future of former defensive play caller Kerry Coombs look like?
Can Maryland's passing attack give Ohio State problems?
And what does everyone think of Urban Myer's situation as an NFL coach after he had to apologize to his team?

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Oct. 5 Oct 05, 2021

Ohio State has the most expolsive offense in the country.

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Are Penn State and Iowa poised to end Ohio State's Big Ten reign? Monday Madness Oct 04, 2021

After a quick look back at Ohio State's win over Rutgers, Nathan and Doug look ahead to the weekend. Specifically, they discuss Saturday's game between No. 3 Iowa and No. 4 Penn State and how it sets the stage for the second half of the Big Ten season. Also, a more detailed breakdown of C.J. Stroud's performance, what OSU's depth on defense really means and more.

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Ohio State beats Rutgers postgame: C.J. Stroud's big-time return, as the Buckeyes are easy money Oct 03, 2021

Nathan and Stephen are in New Jersey and Doug is in his basement for this postgame Buckeye Talk after Ohio State's 52-13 win over Rutgers.

First the guys talk QB C.J. Stroud's five TD passes in his return from a week off to rest his shoulder. Did he look like a playoff quarterback? Then they hit the defense, before finishing with HOW WAS OHIO STATE ONLY FAVORED BY 15.5 IN THIS GAME?

Thanks for listening to this postgame Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Rutgers game preview: What the Buckeyes' defense needs to prove, plus picks and over-unders Oct 01, 2021

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means preview the Ohio State-Rutgers game on Saturday with the help of Rutgers beat writer Keith Sargeant of NJ.com. Keith joins for the first half to talk about the Scarlet Knights players that OSU fans need to know, the progress of the program under Greg Schiano, and how real it was last week when Rutgers stayed within seven points of Michigan.

Then Doug, Nathan and Stephen get down to an OSU offense that hasn't yet had all its pieces together; the expected healthy return of starting QB C.J. Stroud; and what the OSU defense needs to prove at Rutgers. Finally, the guys make their picks for this game, and briefly discuss Wisconsin-Michigan and Iowa-Maryland.

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How important is Michigan's misery to Buckeye fans, and could the Wolverines be good this year? Sep 30, 2021

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at how Ohio State fans view Michigan and the rivalry.

Texters check in on whether they want Michigan to be a great team and lose to the Buckeyes, or to lose every single week. There's a discussion about how fans' views on the rivalry have changed, and how the timing of when they became an OSU fan might affect that.

Then, national college football writer and podcaster Alex Kirshner stops by to discuss his story for 538.com on why Michigan might be a team worth believing in this season.

It's a full pod about the Ohio State fan perspective on Michigan, with some talk about the Michigan run game, on another big Thursday Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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Where Ryan Day and fans disagree about Ohio State QBs, plus how the defense is actually improving Sep 29, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means analyze everything head coach Ryan Day, and defensive play caller Matt Barnes, said on Tuesday, and then compare that to what text subscribers are thinking about the Buckeyes.

The first two segments are about quarterback, and how Kyle McCord's performance against Akron on Saturday affected the view of things. Day said C.J. Stroud is definitely the starter when healthy, but not everyone agrees that should be the case. It's a fascinating divide in the view of Ohio State's QB world.

Then it's time to go position by position through Ohio State's back seven to discern where things are actually better compared to the Oregon loss. Barnes spoke for the first time since taking over calling the defense from Kerry Coombs, as the defensive picture starts to clarify a bit.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Sept. 28 Sep 28, 2021

Kyle McCord got his first start at QB vs. Akron

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Should Kyle McCord play against Rutgers regardless of C.J. Stroud's health? Monday Madness Sep 27, 2021

Nathan and Doug took another look at Kyle McCord's performance against Akron and compared notes on the freshman's debut. They also broke down the usual Monday Madness categories, including what threat if any Rutgers poses to the Buckeyes, a bad week for the Big Ten West and Clemson's drop from national contention.

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Ohio State beats Akron postgame: Kyle McCord, pass rush, and what happened with K'Vaughan Pope? Sep 26, 2021

Ohio State beat Akron 59-7 on Saturday in a game that was most interesting than just another blowout by the Buckeyes of an overmatched MAC team.

On this postgame Buckeye Talk podcast, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means address three primary areas:

The play of Kyle McCord, who started as C.J. Stroud rested his aching shoulder, and what McCord's night means for the future of the QB position.
The pass rush that led to nine sacks of Akron. How much of that showed that the defense could be after three games of not getting after the passer?
The blowup on the sideline of linebacker K'Vaughan Pope, who went to the locker room and then tweeted a derogatory message about Ohio State during the game.

There are also some quick thoughts on Chris Olave's lack of targets the past two games, and Clemson's loss to North Carolina State.

Thanks to listening to another pod episode from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Akron game preview: The Buckeyes will start a different quarterback Sep 24, 2021

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means preview the Buckeyes' game vs. Akron at 7:30 Saturday night in Ohio Stadium. They make their picks for the game, and are joined by betting genius and friend of the pod Tyler Shoemaker to discuss how the Buckeyes have done against the line this season, and what the right play is Saturday with Ohio State a seven-touchdown favorite.

But the big news is that starting QB C.J. Stroud will rest his sore shoulder in this game and play only in an emergency situation. That means either Kyle McCord or Jack Miller will start. The guys discuss how that might go, and what it could mean for the future of the QB position with the Buckeyes, depending on how things look against Akron.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Covering the Buckeyes, Part 2: Beat wars, message board culture and an inside look at Ohio State reporting Sep 23, 2021

It's Part 2 of this Thursday Buckeye Talk podcast on covering the Ohio State Buckeyes. If you haven't yet listened to Part 1, do that first, then come back here. Featured on this episode talking about covering Ohio State football:

Austin Ward, Tim May and Spencer Holbrook of Lettermen Row (3:27 to 35:19)
Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors (35:21 to 54:00)
Steve Helwagen, Dave Biddle and Pat Murphy of Bucknuts (54:01 to 1:21:22)
Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means of Buckeye Talk and cleveland.com (1:21:24 to 1:55:07)

Thanks for listening to this two-part episode about the beat, message board culture and life covering the Buckeyes.

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Covering the Buckeyes, Part 1: Beat wars, message board culture and an inside look at Ohio State reporting Sep 23, 2021

Welcome to Part 1 of a two-part Buckeye Talk examining life inside the Ohio State beat. On this first episode (the second ep is immediately after this in your podcast feed) Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means start off by talking about what happened at Buckeye Scoop, a site that coverages Ohio State that recently saw one co-founder of the site, Marc Givler, sue the two other co-founders, Kirk Barton and Ken Stickney. From there, Doug, Nathan and Stephen branched off to talk about message boards, reporting and how they cover the Buckeyes. (0:00 to 49:49).

Then several guests from other Ohio State sites visited to discuss their views on the subject and how they cover the team:

Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman, former Buckeye Talk co-hosts now working at The Athletic (49:50 to 1:17:35)
Ben Koo, an OSU alum and fan who founded the sports media site Awful Announcing and has knowledge of the Buckeyes and a big-picture media view (1:17:36 to 1:39:05)
Bill Rabinowitz and Joey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch (1:39:06 to 2:03:54)

And then there's a quick wrapup by Doug. In a week when the Buckeyes are seven-touchdown favorites over Akron, this is something a little different from cleveland.com. We hope you enjoy it, and don't forget to listen to Part 2 after this.

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Should Ryan Day use the Akron game to get Ohio State's other quarterbacks in-game experience or keep relying on C.J. Stroud? Sep 22, 2021

Ryan Day picked C.J. Stroud to be Ohio State football's next starting quarterback. He also built up a room filled with five-stars and top 100 recruits so that he always had options. Stroud has had moments of greatness but has also gone through plenty of growing pains. But through three weeks it's not exactly a no-brainer that he's the long-term solution. A game against Akron potentially provides a chance for Kyle McCord and Jack Miller to get their first snaps of the season and finally throw a college pass. But there's a fine line Day must walk in throwing out the other options, especially if the one he picked isn't 100 percent healthy.

As the Buckeyes prepare to face the Zips, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerise OSU's quarterback situation on this Wednesday episode.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Sept. 21 Sep 21, 2021

The Buckeyes change who calls the defense

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Is Ohio State the third-best team in the Big Ten right now? College football Monday Madness Sep 20, 2021

Doug and Nathan take a second look back at C.J. Stroud's performance against Tulsa and the changes Ohio State showed on defense. They also discuss Michigan's 3-0 start and the resurgence of the Big Ten East, along with the usual batch of Monday Madness topics.

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Ohio State beats Tulsa postgame: Does Ryan Day need to play more quarterbacks, and did the defensive changes help? Sep 19, 2021

Doug, Nathan and Stephen hurried home to recap the Buckeyes' 41-20 victory over Tulsa. Among the topics: TreVeyon Henderson running wild and what could have been if Ohio State had committed to him sooner, the quarterback conundrum Ryan Day faces with C.J. Stroud, and the demotion of Kerry Coombs and what it means going forward.

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Ohio State vs. Tulsa game preview: Breakdown, betting line and over-under Sep 17, 2021

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means preview Saturday's Ohio State-Tulsa game on the latest Buckeye Talk, but they keep it a little fast and loose because the Buckeyes are favoried by more than three touchdowns.

Among the topics of discussion:

Ohio State's logistical issues at the stadium last week, and whether that might help tamp down attendance this week.
The Tulsa defensive approach and how the Buckeyes will attack it.
Picks for the game, plus picks on Cincinnati-Indiana and Penn State-Auburn.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Sep 17 Sep 17, 2021

How will the Buckeyes react to the Oregon loss?

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Does the threat of a crushing regular-season defeat make college football more exciting? Sep 16, 2021

This big Thursday Buckeye Talk is a lot about feelings and a little about psychology. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means have been digging into the football specfics and the potential on-field fallout from Ohio State's loss to Oregon since it happened Saturday. This is a little more big picture. With the help of the opinions and survey votes of text subscribers, Doug, Nathan and Stephen examine the feelings around a loss like this one.

It hurts OSU fans, obviously. But is the threat of a devastating loss a critical component of what makes the college football regular season great? And how much would the feeling around a big loss change if there was a 12-team playoff and much more room for error in the regular season?

Interesting answers, and some relevant and insightful opinions from the texters on this topic. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ryan Day talks Kerry Coombs and says the defense has to change; plus possible personnel adjustments Sep 15, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss Ryan Day's Tuesday news conference where he made it clear he's not happy with the defense and said something has to change. Day didn't exactly throw a ton of support behind defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs, but he said Coombs remains the defensive coordinator. Beyond the coaches, are there different players that could see the field as the Buckeyes search for defensive answers.?

Doug, Nathan and Stephen cover all of that as the Buckeyes prepare for Tulsa after their loss to Oregon.

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Did Ryan Day's hiring decisions lead to the Oregon loss, and more in the wake of Saturday's upset: Monday Madness Sep 13, 2021

Doug and Nathan throw out the usual Monday Madness plan and instead answer questions from Buckeye Talk text subscribers. Should we have seen Saturday's loss to Oregon coming? Has Ryan Day's propensity to hire people he knows hurt the defense's development? What can Ohio State do to avoid another loss in 2021?

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Ohio State loses to Oregon postgame: Can the defense be fixed? Sep 12, 2021

Ohio State lost to Oregon on Saturday and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss every aspect of the loss on this postgame Buckeye Talk.

You know what postgame pods are like. Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Oregon game preview: Breakdown, betting line and over-under Sep 10, 2021

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means preview Ohio State's top-25 matchup with Oregon on Saturday in the latest Buckeye Talk.

Will Oregon star edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux play, and will new OSU right tackle Dawand Jones be ready to handle him if he does?

Will the OSU secondary get healthy and is there anything about Oregon QB Anthony Brown that should threaten them?

Is Ohio State giving 14.5 points a smart bet? And is the over a good bet this week after the Buckeyes went over in their game at Minnesota last week?

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk to build you up for the home opener for the Buckeyes on Saturday.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Sept. 10 Sep 10, 2021

It's the 100th season of football in Ohio Stadium.

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Ohio State, Oregon and the best Northern teams; plus Doug's book, and Cincinnati to the Big 12 Sep 09, 2021

Three parts to this big Thursday Buckeye Talk. First, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means indulge Doug Lesmerises and talk about Doug's book coming out Sept. 14 -- "The Road to Ohio State" which is recruiting tales of 17 different Buckeyes.

Then, the guys talk about part of an upcoming project about the best college football teams in the North. Ohio State is clearly first -- could the Buckeyes' Saturday opponent, Oregon, be second?

Finally, the episode wraps with a discussion about Cincinnati's pending move to the Big 12. What does it mean for Luke Fickell and the Bearcats, and will it have any effect on the Buckeyes?

Thanks for digging in on another big Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Denzel Burke, Chris Olave and the 10 most interesting Buckeyes this week Sep 08, 2021

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through the 10 most interesting Buckeyes in Week 2 of the season based off what they learned in interviews with Ryan Day, Kerry Coombs and a few players.

Here are the 10 Buckeyes the guys discussed on this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com:

Burke, Olave, Day, Tommy Eichenberg, Cody Simon, Dawand Jones, Luke Wypler, Coombs, the running backs, and C.J. Stroud.

Thanks for listening,

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How worried should Ohio State fans be about Saturday's game against Oregon? Monday Madness Sep 06, 2021

Monday Madness makes its triumphant return to the Buckeye Talk lineup. Nathan and Doug run down the usual list of topics, including why Nathan's AP ballot was so bad, who or what they are buying or selling across college football and who the second-best team in the Big Ten is right now. But they open up with their second impressions of Ohio State after rewatching the Minnesota win, and gauge the fear factor for Saturday's home opener against Oregon.

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Ohio State beats Minnesota postgame: TreVeyon Henderson, C.J. Stroud, big plays and defensive questions Sep 03, 2021

Ohio State beat Minnesota 45-31 to open its season Thursday night. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were in Minneapolis to cover it. And then they talked about it for an hour.

Thanks for listening to this postgame Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Sept. 3 Sep 03, 2021

C.J. Stroud throws 4 TD in his first start as the Buckeyes beat Minnesota.

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Signs Ohio State's team is special, best Big Ten cities and other rapid fire answers Sep 02, 2021

Let's run through some stuff before Ohio State kicks off the 2021 season. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means hit about 20 rapid fire questions from text subscribers on this Thursday Buckeye Talk before Ohio State's Thursday night opener vs. Minnesota. There are a few things about the game -- like predictions for game MVPs and signs the guys are looking for to show the Buckeyes might be special this year.

But there are items of interest even if you listen after the Thursday night game, including questions about Quinn Ewers and NIL, how Ohio State could get the No. 1 seed for the playoff, and which Big Ten cities the guys like to visit the most.

Thanks again for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com and don't miss the postgame pod after the game that will be up Friday morning.

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Ohio State vs. Minnesota preview: Breakdown, betting line and over-under Sep 01, 2021

It's game time, or at least game preview time, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down and make predictions for Ohio State's season opener at Minnesota on Thursday night. Doug, Nathan and Stephen start with a deep preview on both sides of the ball, then move in to their game picks, whether to give the points with the Buckeyes and which side of the over-under makes the most sense. Then the episode wraps with a quick look at two other important Big Ten games this week -- Indiana at Iowa and Penn State at Wisconsin.

Thanks for listening to this game preview pod on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Which Ohio State football position groups are national title caliber? Aug 31, 2021

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and the rest of the Ohio State media met with Ryan Day and several players Monday to start Ohio State's game week before Thursday's opener against Minnesota. As a farewell to the preseason, the guys spent this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk running through all the OSU position groups a last time and deciding which were national title caliber, which made you a little worried, and which were in between. The texters got a vote on that, too.

Game preview of the Buckeyes and Gophers coming Wednesday. For now, thanks for listening to this Buckeye Talk.

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Will Ohio State football make its third College Football Playoff appearance under Ryan Day? Mark it Down Monday Aug 30, 2021

Ryan Day's first two seasons as Ohio State football's head coach provided the program with its first back-to-back trip to the College Footall Playoff. Both of those trips came with Justin Fields as his quarterback. Now C.J. Stroud takes over and will try to lead the Buckeyes to a third trip, but this time winning the national title.

OSU isn't the only team with the new quarterback this season, as Stroud is joined by Alabama's Bryce Young and Clemson's D.J. Uiagalelei. As college football's Big Three press the reset button, other programs such as Georgia and Oklahoma can view the 2021 season as a chance to finally take the next step. The Sooners have as many CFP trips as Ohio State but haven't won a game, while the Bulldogs' lone trip in 2017 resulted in a loss to the Crimson Tide in the title game.

On this edition of Mark it Down Monday, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises gave their four seeds for the playoff, their national championship matchup, and the eventual national champion. They also asked their Buckeye Talk text subscribers to do the same.

As college football returns to normalcy in 2021, it could provide a chance for the sports' four most prominent programs to finally all be together on the biggest stage. Or it could give a chance for new teams to

get their shot at a national title.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Chris Spielman, Ryan Shazier, Andy Katzenmoyer and the battle for linebacker Mount Buckmore Aug 27, 2021

It's the last position group Mount Buckmore on this Friday Buckeye Talk. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means, with the help of texters, debate and discuss the best linebackers in Ohio State history and which four belong on the program's linebacker Mount Buckmore.

There are at least six very strong candidates, which means there is disagreement on the top four. Debates on quarterback, running back, receiver, defensive end and cornerback have already been done on the pod, and now we'll take a break from Mount Buckmore for a bit, and then get back to coaches and overall Buckeyes on some Mount Buckmores later this season.

For now, thanks for hanging out and listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Aug. 27 Aug 27, 2021

The Buckeyes will start the 2021 season as the No. 4 team in the country

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More like Dwayne Haskins? Or more like Justin Fields? How will the OSU offense look in 2021? Aug 26, 2021

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dive into the Ohio State offense with the season just a week away. What will be the run-pass balance this season? What will the breakdown be between outside receivers and slot receivers? How much will QB C.J. Stroud run?

The guys look at the last four years of the Ryan Day offense in Columbus to see what they can learn and what it means for how Day will call things in Stroud's first year running the offense.

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Why is everyone being a snarky jerk about The Alliance? Aug 25, 2021

The Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 announced their alliance on Tuesday, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to actually analyze it as opposed to the people just being snarky jerks about it. The explanation is clarified by three Doug rants:

The Tell Me You Love Me rant
The Freddy Krueger rant
The Jackhole rant

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Is Ohio State's defense ready to attack? Plus C.J. Stroud as the official starting QB Aug 24, 2021

On this Buckeye Talk episode for Tuesday, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dive into three things:

The official announcement over the weekend of C.J. Stroud winning the QB job for the opener.
The six captains named for this season.
What was learned from safety interviews on Monday, and what players like Craig Young, Ronnie Hickman, Lathan Ransom and Josh Proctor might bring to an attacking OSU defense.

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Who will win the 2021 Heisman Trophy, and who is the Big Ten's best candidate? Mark It Down Monday Aug 23, 2021

Doug, Nathan and Stephen are back for another debate on the eve of the 2021 season. Who would they vote for 1-3 for this season’s Heisman Trophy as of today? Also, who is the Big Ten’s best contender, and how crucial is the emergence of a non-Ohio State candidate at quarterback in changing the balance of power in the conference?

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Chase Young, Jack Tatum and some tough calls for Ohio State defenders on Mount Buckmore Aug 20, 2021

It's another Friday Mount Buckmore episode on Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means squeeze in two position groups this time.

Defensive ends and cornerbacks are debated, with each of the guys picking their four players for each spot, and the text subscribers casting their votes as well. The defensive ends are first and pretty fun. The cornerbacks are second and more of a grind, though not as difficult as Doug feared.

Quarterbacks, running backs and receivers were done on previous episodes, and it was time to get to the defensive side of the ball.

Next week -- linebackers. For now, thanks for listening to this Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Aug. 20 Aug 20, 2021

Ryan Day says C.J. Stroud leads the quarterback race.

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Inside a full Ohio State practice; plus betting the Buckeyes and a national expert Aug 19, 2021

Welcome to a Buckeye Talk in three parts:

Part 1: Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down what they saw and what they learned after watching a full Ohio State practice on Wednesday.

Part 2: Doug Lesmerises interviews Brett Ciancia of PickSix Previews to put the Buckeyes in national context.

Part 3: Ian Wharton of FTN Network talks to Doug about betting Ohio State this season.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Is a Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC alliance the right move to battle the SEC? Plus defensive line, and Woody or Tressel? Aug 18, 2021

Three parts to this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk with Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means:

A defensive line breakdown on Zach Harrison, Taron Vincent, Tyreke Smith, Haskell Garrett and everything Nathan and Stephen learned from D-line interviews.
A discussion on whether the Big Ten should form an alliance with the Pac-12 and ACC to share power, schedule each other and form a wall against the SEC.
A brief debate about a coaching list that put Jim Tressel one spot ahead of Woody Hayes when looking at the entirety of their careers.

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Ryan Day almost names a starting QB ... and can finally discuss Quinn Ewers Aug 17, 2021

It's the Tuesday Buckeye Talk as Ohio State coach Ryan Day didn't exactly name a starting quarterback on Monday, but he almost did. Day said C.J. Stroud had separated himself from the other quarterbacks, and that's what Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means opened this episode with. Then it was on to Quinn Ewers, who is officially enrolled at Ohio State and at practice, which means Day can finally say his name. But he still didn't want to say too much. But the guys had plenty to say.

It's another big QB day on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Who will lead Ohio State in rushing yards, tackles and sacks in 2021? Mark It Down Monday Aug 16, 2021

We more or less know who will open the season playing the most snaps for Ohio State football. What we are still assessing is how well those players can play, since so many new faces are stepping into prominent roles. Doug, Nathan and Stephen debate who will lead the Buckeyes in tackles, sacks and rushing yards in 2021.

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Will Chris Olave earn a spot on Ohio State's receiver Mount Buckmore? Aug 13, 2021

Mount Buckmore moves onto receivers as Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and the text subscribers make their choices for the top four receivers in Ohio State football history. Doug believes there are nine good candidates for the top four spots, and while the guys agree on several receivers, they don't agree on everyone.

When his OSU career is done after this season, will Chris Olave be one of those top four receivers? Very possible.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Aug. 13 Aug 13, 2021

Kyle McCord takes a necessary step in the QB battle,

Thayer Munford, Dawand Jones and the pact that may reshape Ohio State football’s offensive line, Where is Ohio State football ranked in the preseason USA Today AFCA coaches poll? College rankings,

Why Ohio State football’s No. 1 offensive line currently features four tackles and Ohio State football’s Cam Brown ready for second chance at a breakthrough season.

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Is Ohio State giving young players a chance? Plus, hating beaches and amusement parks Aug 12, 2021

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take an episode to keep things shorter and a little more breezy.

Seven quick questions form the backbone here, starting with the idea of whether Ohio State is giving young players on the rise more of a chance to win starting jobs.

Then the guys depart football to talk about the best games they've ever seen, how they got started as sports writers, burger toppings, beaches and amusement parks. One of them doesn't care for beaches or amusements parks. Then at the end, there's a brief discussion of TV shows they are watching, plus the reading of some reviews, including some reviews that made listeners nervous because of a fight.

See ... easy breezy Buckeye Talk.

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Driving the Bus: Julian Fleming, Miyan Williams, Taron Vincent and the Buckeyes to believe in the most in 2021 Aug 11, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk, it's time to get on the bus. That means backing an Ohio State football player that you believe in more than most. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means all do that on this podcast, but there is a ton of texter interaction as well, as votes are tallied for the Buckeyes named most often, and cases are stated by texters who believe in these players for a reason.

It's a great way to look at the looming season and another fun episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. Try the texts at 614-350-3315 if you want your voice heard on the pod, and thanks for listening.

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Ryan Day's plan to pressure the QBs, plus Dawand Jones, Sevyn Banks and more Aug 10, 2021

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dive into Ryan Day's most interesting points from a revealing Monday news conference after Ohio State's fifth practice of the preseason.

First, they go over how Day said he was applying pressure to quarterbacks in practice in the search to find a starter.

Then they discussed the movement on the offensive line, which could include Dawand Jones battling for a starting job at tackle.

Then was the news of an injury that has sidelined No. 1 corner Sevyn Banks for a couple practices. There's no reason to think it's serious at this point, but how much would the Buckeyes miss Banks if he was out for a game?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Who will win Ohio State football's preseason position battles? Mark It Down Monday Aug 09, 2021

Ohio State is only three practices into preseason camp with 22 more to go before the season opener at Minnesota on Sept. 2. But have we seen enough to make decisions on who will win the Buckeyes' open position battles? We hope so, because Doug, Nathan and Stephen did just that on this Mark it Down Monday. That includes who will start the season opener at running back and quarterback and whether young players will leapfrog veterans on defense.

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Running back Mount Buckmore and the crazy battle for the 4th spot Aug 06, 2021

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means debate the greatest Ohio State running backs of all-time on the latest Mount Buckmore edition of Buckeye Talk. Texters voted and the guys each picked their top four.

The top three are pretty obvious. But the battle for No. 4 is fierce. And then the question is, could freshman TreVeyon Henderson eventually claim that fourth spot as his own?

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Aug. 6 Aug 06, 2021

Ohio State opens practice as position battles continue.

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Surprises, injuries and players to watch from the first day of Ohio State preseason camp Aug 05, 2021

Ohio State football started preseason practice Wednesday, and Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were there to watch it. And then Doug Lesmerises joined them to talk about it.

On this Buckeye Talk, the guys run through injuries, surprises, what the depth chart looks like in action, and more. Football is here again.

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Inside the Ohio State QB battle: What they said, what it means Aug 04, 2021

Ohio State opens practice Wednesday, and on Tuesday, the Buckeyes quarterbacks talked about the competition for 2021 for the first time since it started. Quinn Ewers isn't on campus yet, but here's who Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means did talk to Tuesday:

C.J. Stroud
Kyle McCord
Jack Miller
Corey Dennis
Ryan Day

What they said, Nathan, Doug and Stephen bring to you on this Wednesday Buckeye Talk. There's also some reading between the lines of how this QB battle might shake out. And frankly, a little frustration at trying to figure it out. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Quinn Ewers is in, Jaheim Singletary is out, and what's ahead for Ohio State football? Aug 03, 2021

Ohio State football starts preseason practice Wednesday, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means would like to preview that. But TOO MUCH IS HAPPENING.

On this Tuesday episode, they talk about the official arrival of Quinn Ewers, who is coming to Ohio State for the 2021 season and should show up some time in August. Then they discuss the decommitment of 5-star cornerback Jaheim Singletary from the 2022 class. And they reveal some results from a texter survey about how fans are feeling about the season.

Busy. Let's go. Time to try the texts for a free trial at 614-350-3315. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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What will be the closest game on Ohio State football's 2021 schedule? Mark It Down Monday Aug 02, 2021

Over the past five seasons, Ohio State has nine victories by seven or fewer points. Only one came in the past two seasons though, and that was over Indiana in a game the Buckeyes led 35-7. So what will be the closest game on OSU's schedule in 2021, and what is the fear factor on actually suffering a loss? Doug, Nathan and Stephen also snuck in an extended Tate Martell segment on this Mark It Down Monday.

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Who are Ohio State's 4 greatest QBs, and will Quinn Ewers join them? Mount Buckmore Jul 30, 2021

Time for something new on Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means roll out a new series that will drop once a week until the season starts. It's Mount Buckmore, as the guys determine their four most deserving Buckeyes to be honored at several major positions, and then analyze what a current Ohio State player would have to do to replace one of those players on the mountain.

Up first are quarterbacks. On this episode, Doug, Nathan and Stephen each give their four QBs for Mount Buckmore, and then they discuss if Quinn Ewers will reach that level. It's history and current football, and it will be followed by episodes on running backs, receivers, coaches, pass rushers and more.

Thanks for sticking around for something new on Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, July 30 Jul 30, 2021

Ohio State ready for start of preseason practice. What would Quinn Ewers enrolling early mean for Ohio State football’s quarterback future? NCAA will not reinstate records of Ohio State football’s ‘Tattoo 5’ despite name, image and likeness reform, What Benji Gosnell’s decommitment means for Ohio State football: Buckeyes Recruiting and Former Ohio State football quarterback Tate Martell reportedly transferring to UNLV.

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What does Alabama's recruiting surge in the 2022 class mean for Ohio State? Buckeye Football Futures Jul 29, 2021

How does Ohio State football's 2022 class stack up against Alabama? The recruiting rankings say the Buckeyes are No. 1, but Nick Saban's program has made a July surge. Which head-to-head battles are still on the table, and what would Ryan Day and staff need to do to secure the No. 1 class? Also, Nathan and Stephen discuss the Benji Gosnell decommitment, this weekend's Buckeye Barbecue, offensive line recruiting and more.

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Emergency Pod: Will Quinn Ewers join Ohio State early for this 2021 season? Jul 28, 2021

Big potential news broke early Wednesday evening with a story by Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports that Ohio State recruit Quinn Ewers is considering joining the Buckeyes early for this season, and could in Columbus in a few weeks.

It's not yet a sure thing that will happen, but it's a real possibility, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dove in with an emergency episode about what they think this could mean for the Buckeyes this season and for the future of their QB position.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Who will be Ohio State's third-leading receiver behind Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson and other rapid-fire questions Jul 28, 2021

We went rapid fire for this Wednesday episode. Among today's topics:

• What can or should the Big Ten do to lift its second-tier football programs?

• What Big Ten game on OSU's schedule are we looking forward to the most?

• How do we expect the linebacker starting lineup to shake out?

• Which current Buckeye will have the biggest career outside of football?

Those topics and much more, directly from our Buckeye Talk subscribers.

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Should Ohio State join the SEC? Jul 27, 2021

That's one question. The answer is no. But Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and some smart Ohio State text subscribers explain why for an hour and 45 minutes.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Which Ohio State players will earn a tree in Buckeye Grove in 2021? Mark It Down Monday Jul 26, 2021

History tells us Ohio State will add multiple All-Americans to the collection in Buckeye Grove in 2021. Doug, Nathan and Stephen break down the top candidates and give their picks for recognition.

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QB battle, chasing Bama and all the Ohio State news from Big Ten media days Jul 24, 2021

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means wrap up everything important said by Ryan Day and the Ohio State players at Big Ten media days on Friday. This is actual new info with fresh new analysis, which hasn't happened since April, so probably listen to this one.

Thanks as always for being part of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Would a move by Texas and Oklahoma affect Ohio State? And more from Big Ten media days Jul 23, 2021

Doug, Nathan and Stephen are together at Big Ten media days in Indianapolis for this in-person Buckeye Talk recorded after day one of talking to Michigan, Penn State and other schools, but not yet Ohio State. The guys discuss the news of the day in college football -- the potential move by Texas and Oklahoma to leave the Big 12. If it happens, what would it mean for the Big Ten and the Buckeyes?

Then there's talk of Michigan and Jim Harbaugh; Minnesota as Ohio State's season-opening opponent; the Big Ten COVID plan for this season; and what Big Ten defenders think of Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.

This is the start of the Big Ten season, so thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, July 22 Jul 22, 2021

Ryan Day picked as the Big Ten's best coach by Big Ten media, Oklahoma and Texas shaking up college football, Ohio State football’s Chris Olave voted Preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in cleveland.com poll, Northwestern safety Brandon Joseph voted Preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in cleveland.com poll and Ohio State football voted unanimous 2021 Big Ten favorite in cleveland.com preseason poll.

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Ohio State picked to win Big Ten; a Buckeye named preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Cleveland.com poll results Jul 21, 2021

It's time to unveil the closest thing to an official preseason Big Ten poll, as for the 11th year cleveland.com surveyed media members from around the Big Ten since the conference itself doesn't do it. On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means reveal and discuss the votes of 34 media members on:

The full 1-7 predicted finish in each division, and the projected Big Ten champion.
The Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, where 12 different players got first-place votes.
The Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, where six different players got first-place votes.
The best coach in the league, which isn't an award but just a survey of opinions about the football bosses in the conference.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com and follow the coverage from Big Ten media days on Thursday and Friday.

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Ranking the best players on Ohio State's schedule shows Oregon's defense is legit Jul 20, 2021

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means spent the summer ranking the 50 best players on Ohio State's 12-game regular-season schedule. The final breakdown on the No. 1 player, Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, helped show the main thing learned from that exercise -- Oregon's defense is something for the Buckeyes to watch out for. The Ducks defense had three of the top 12 players on this top 50-list, and on this episode of Buckeye Talk, the guys talked all about that.

Plus, there's a conversation about Purdue's two top-five players, a look at just how good Indiana QB Michael Penix might be this season, a question about Michigan's talent level, and an acknowledgment of what Penn State might have.

You'll learn more about the players you'll be focusing on when the Buckeyes face them this season. Thanks for tuning in to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Big Ten predictions from Doug, Nathan and Stephen: Mark It Down Monday Jul 19, 2021

Big Ten media days are this week, and the cleveland.com preseason poll of conference media asking them to predict the order of finish in the Big Ten divisions will soon be released. So on this Mark It Down Monday version of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means reveal how they voted in their Big Ten poll.

Each of them discusses their 1-7 finish in each division, with some obvious picks in the East and a slightly more open race in the West.

The time to begin making real 2021 football predictions has begun.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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What if Terrelle Pryor hadn't come to Ohio State? Buckeyefly Effect Jul 16, 2021

This is a different style of Buckeye Talk, one with two friends remembering stories from 13 years ago and sharing them like they would over a drink. It's Doug Lesmerises joined by special guest Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch, and the topic is Ohio State's recruitment of Terrelle Pryor, which both Adam and Doug covered intently.

The question on this Buckeyefly Effect is what would have happened if Pryor hadn't picked Ohio State and had gone to Penn State or Michigan instead? What would it have meant for the Buckeyes and Jim Tressel? But the deeper topic is the recruitment of Pryor and how the Buckeyes went about it. And all that leads to a final discussion about whether Pryor and the rest of the Tattoo 5 should have their records reinstated, which they asked for this week.

We hope you enjoy this one as much as Doug and Adam enjoyed recording it. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, July 16 Jul 16, 2021

Ohio State adds offensive tackle recruit George Fitzpatrick, Should Ohio State football have a 94 percent chance to win every regular-season game it plays? How many projected Ohio State football starters are former top-100 national recruits? and Terrelle Pryor, rest of Tattoo 5 players, ask for Ohio State records to be reinstated.

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How many projected Ohio State starters are former top-100 national recruits? Buckeye Football Futures Jul 15, 2021

Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means look at recruiting on the current roster on the latest edition of Buckeye Football Futures on Buckeye Talk.

They discuss:

How the Buckeyes stack up to other teams in Blue Chip Ratio.
The top-100 recruits on defense.
The top-100 recruits on offense
A texter poll result regarding Kerry Coombs and Marcus Freeman.

It's a tidy little Buckeye Talk as things prepare to gear up next week for Big Ten Media Days. Thanks for listening to another podcast from cleveland.com.

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When will Michigan ever be favored over Ohio State? Plus Quinn Ewers, Kerry Coombs and more rapid fire Jul 14, 2021

Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means take questions from Ohio State text subscribers on the big Wednesday Buckeye Talk. The final question is about when Michigan will ever again be a favorite and beat Ohio State as a favorite ... which might not happen for a long time. Plus there's a discussion about Kerry Coombs and Marcus Freeman; what Ryan Day might learn about handling Quinn Ewers from Justin Fields; and what the expectations for Ohio State will be in a 12-team playoff.

Lots of questions, lots of answers and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Interviewing and thanking Mike Lewis, the man who wrote the Buckeye Talk theme song Jul 13, 2021

This podcast episode is overdue, as Doug Lesmerises finally welcomes one of the most important people in Buckeye Talk history -- musician Mike Lewis, the man who wrote and sang the Buckeye Talk theme song that has been opening this podcast since September 2018. This episode is an interview with Doug and Mike as Doug and the listeners attempt to convey their appreciation to Mike, a life-long OSU fan from Columbus who now lives in Nashville and conceived the theme song that changed this pod.

Mike talks about his musical career, how he decided to move to Nashville, the process of creating the theme song and how he became an Ohio State fan. The pod then ends with one of Mike's full songs, called "Trail of Tears." If you want to know more about Mike's music, check out his website at mikelewismusic.com. Thanks to Mike, and thanks to you for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Which recruit will be Ohio State football's next commit? Mark It Down Monday Jul 12, 2021

It's time to mark it down, but without Nathan Baird, who is on vacation. So this Mark It Down Monday resets Ohio State's 2022 recruiting class with Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises, before Stephen finishes off the pod by marking down who will be the next recruit to commit to the Buckeyes. Also, there's brief talk at the end about Cedric Russell, the latest transfer to join the Ohio State basketball team.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Reliving No. 1 vs. No. 2: Ohio State vs. Michigan 2006 Buckeye ReTalkables Jul 09, 2021

It's time for another Buckeye ReTalkables as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down the ground-breaking No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup between Ohio State vs. Michigan.

You guys know this one -- the death of Bo Schembechler, Troy Smith about to win the Heisman Trophy and the Buckeyes and Wolverines both entering the game at 11-0.

Also ... it's maybe Jim Tressel's greatest performance as Ohio State's head coach.

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, July 9 Jul 09, 2021

J.T. Tuimoloau, 5-star DE, commits to Ohio State football, From Ohio State football’s Ryan Day to Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, assessing Big Ten coaching stability How Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau reiterate the value of Larry Johnson to Ohio State football,Ohio State football’s Brian Hartline headlines 247Sports recruiter rankings following summer commitments and

Ohio State football will be ‘all the way live’ with full capacity and tailgating this fall.

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Is Ryan Day one of college football's irreplaceable coaches? Jul 08, 2021

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, the topic isn't Buckeye Football Futures, because this week's recruiting episode was the Monday Buckeye Talk on the commitment of J.T. Tuimoloau. So it's a regular football episode, where Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird analyze a recent Sporting News list of the best coaches in college football.

Ryan Day was a big topic of conversation, of course, but that evolved into analyzing the top 20 coaches and whether each of them was truly irreplaceable at their school. And that led to discussions about what would happen if Marcus Freeman replaced Brian Kelly at Notre Dame or Luke Fickell replaced James Franklin at Penn State.

It's a good discussion as Doug and Nathan pull apart the nuances of what goes into a ranking like this.

Thanks again for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The 2023 Buckeyes look headed for a national title: Breaking down the '23 depth chart and schedule Jul 07, 2021

Now that J.T. Tuimoloau is a Buckeye, the 2023 season looks even more interesting for Ohio State. The Buckeyes' stacked 2021 recruiting class will be in its third season in 2023, supplemented by 2022 quarterback Quinn Ewers. Could that mean the Buckeyes will contend to be one of the best teams in Ohio State history? On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk Podcast, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means break down Ohio State's projected 2023 depth chart; the other Big Ten contenders for 2023; and the other national title contenders for 2023.

The expectations will be high, for good reason. So it's a ways away, but it's worth a discussion.

How good might the Buckeyes be in 2023?

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Predicting Big Ten and national win totals with Tyler Shoemaker: Mark It Down ... Tuesday? Jul 06, 2021

We brought back Tyler Shoemaker, the OFFICIAL Buckeye Talk handicapper, for a Mark It Down episode. We're picking overs and unders on team win totals against what Las Vegas has posted this summer. Which Big Ten teams do we believe are either over or underrated? For instance, once of us thinks the Michigan line of 7.5 wins is ripe for a bet.

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J.T. Tuimoloau's committment and Larry Johnson's importance to the Buckeyes Jul 05, 2021

Five-star defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau committed to Ohio State on Sunday and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to talk about it for Monday's Buckeye Talk episode. The normal Mark It Down Monday pod will be pushed back to Tuesday so the guys can dig in on recruiting now.

How big is Tuimoloau's pledge?
How much might he play this season?
How can you describe defensive line coach Larry Johnson's value to Ohio State?
What might the Buckeyes be like in 2023 when this 2021 class is in its third season?

The guys cover it all. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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If Nebraska had never joined the Big Ten, would both sides be happier? Buckeyefly Effect Jul 02, 2021

Nebraska officially joined the Big Ten on July 1, 2011, so the Cornhuskers have been in the conference for a decade. Nobody much celebrated the official 10-year anniversary of the mark this week, but on this Buckeyefly Effect podcast, the question is what would have happened if Nebraska had never joined?

Would both sides be happier?

Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird drag former Nebraska sports writer Lee Barfknecht out of retirement to talk about this topic. Lee retired in 2018, but no one understands the inner workings of Nebraska athletics better and is more qualified to comment on whether Nebraska ever should have joined the league.

It's a different kind of discussion, but an interesting one. So take an hour to think about how big of a deal it was when Nebraska joined the Big Ten, and what difference it has actually made over the last decade.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, July 2 Jul 02, 2021

College athletes start making money as NIL goes into effect on July 1, Terrance Brooks, four-star 2022 cornerback, commits to Ohio State football: Buckeye recruiting, Jaylen Harris, former Cleveland Heights star, and Elijah Gardiner no longer on Ohio State football roster and Ohio State basketball’s Duane Washington Jr. will remain in NBA Draft and forego senior season.

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247Sports' Brandon Huffman on J.T. Tuimoloau and Ohio State's success in the Northwest: Buckeye Football Futures Jul 01, 2021

We're once again talking J.T. Tuimoloau on Buckeye Football Futures. This time we brought in the only person the 2021 prospect and his family really communicate with: 247Sports national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman. He gives us insight into how the official visit to Ohio State went, what the defensive end's timeline might be and why the Buckeyes have had such success in the Pacific northwest in recent years. Nathan and Doug also discuss Mentor 2023 prospect Brenan Vernon's commitment to Notre Dame and Duane Washington Jr.'s early entry to the NBA Draft -- and a quick word on Wednesday's football commit.

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Ohio State's schedule and the opposing players that could determine the Buckeyes' season Jun 30, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird dip into Ohio State's schedule strength and the opposing players that may bother the Buckeyes the most in 2021. Nathan, Doug, Stephen and Kayla Harvey have been rolling out a new capsule each day on the 50 best opposing players on Ohio State's 12-game regular-season schedule. So Doug and Nathan discussed the four teams with the most players in the top 50 -- Oregon, Penn State, Indiana and Michigan -- and then started rolling through some of the most interesting names among the first 25 players on the list. They'll cover the top-25 on a pod later in July. Among the opponents that the guys broke down, while theorizing if they could hurt the Buckeyes and how they'd do it:

• Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan

• Oregon QB Anthony Brown

• Penn State receiver Parker Washington

• Michigan quarterbacks Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy

It's almost July, which means it's almost time to really start breaking down Ohio State's schedule and expectations, and this was Doug and Nathan starting to wade into that water.

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Tuesday Ohio State Rants: NIL politics, whole grain doughnuts, OSU Olympians Jun 29, 2021

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises has a lot of rants and Nathan Baird has to put up with it. Topics covered include:

The politics of Ohio finally getting Name, Image and Likness legislation done Monday with an executive order from the governor. Doug and Nathan were both there to cover that and talked it out for 25 minutes or so, the last time they’ll talk NIL politics for some time.
Doug ate whole grain doughnuts, hated them and wondered why they exist.
A complaint in a review about the pod episodes not being timely enough set Doug off.
Doug and Nathan talked about the 26 Olympians from Ohio State and how much the football program should or shouldn’t be responsible for supporting Olympic sports.

Doug was mad. Sorry. Thanks for listening.

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When will Ohio State next lose a non-conference regular-season game? Mark It Down Monday Jun 28, 2021

Ohio State's home game against Oregon on Sept. 11 is one of the most highly anticipated of the entire college football season. If the Ducks do not pull the upset, when will OSU next lose a non-conference game in the regular season? Doug and Nathan discuss the Buckeyes' recent history in such games -- including their poor record at home -- and what the future schedule holds.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, June 26 Jun 26, 2021

A cyncial political move holds up the Name, Image and Likness bill in the Ohio General Assembly. Ohio State football target J.T. Tuimoloau cancels official visit to Alabama,

Would you take 10 more years of Urban Meyer, or seven more years of Ryan Day? Hey, Buckeye Talk,

Jadyn Davis emulates Justin Fields, and Ohio State football has made him a 2024 quarterback target and Dallan Hayden, 4-star running back, commits to Ohio State football: Buckeyes Recruiting.

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Woody Hayes' last Rose Bowl, Ohio State vs. UCLA to end the 1975 season: Buckeye ReTalkables Jun 25, 2021

On this Buckeye ReTalkables on Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird once again go back into the 1970s.

This time, it’s to end the 1975 season, as Woody Hayes in his final Rose Bowl, Archie Griffin in his final game and the No. 1 and undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes take on 15-point underdog UCLA in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1976.

This is a warning, Buckeye Talk listeners -- this might be the toughest loss of Hayes’ 28 years with the Buckeyes.

Featuring Griffin, Pete Johnson and Cornelius Green, Ohio State was propelled all season by the best backfield in the country, and maybe of the last three decades in college football. But the highest-scoring offense in the country couldn’t get rolling in a 23-10 loss to the Bruins.

Listen as Doug and Nathan recap all the categories, from the big plays to the stars of the game to how Hayes reacted after the loss. This game was closer than the score indicated, and even though it’s a tough loss, the game offers a lot to learn about Ohio State’s relationship to the Rose Bowl, Hayes’ coaching style and weird 1970s commercials.

We hope you enjoy another Buckeye ReTalkables from cleveland.com.

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Dallan Hayden commits, Treyaun Webb trims his list and Ohio State wraps up camps: Buckeye Football Futures Jun 24, 2021

Ohio State football wrapped up its day camps this week -- including a Tuesday session with several interesting prospects. But the Buckeyes also had some recruiting news off the field. So for this episode of Buckeye Football Futures Nathan is joined by two of cleveland.com's recruiting correspondences, Kayla Harvey and Robert Fenbers. They discussed the commitment of Dallan Hayden, the prospects who came through camp this week and more.

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Drafting 10 college football stars to help Ohio State in 2021 (are there really 10?) Jun 23, 2021

It's another draft on the big Wednesday pod, as Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises dig in on Buckeye Talk.

They each take five players from around the country that they think would most help Ohio State in 2021. But they can't take more than one player from any position. So this exercise is really about the areas where the Buckeyes could use the most help. Honestly, once you get past three or four positions, what Ohio State has is as good as what else is out there in the rest of college football.

But this draft will inform you a little more about this season's Ohio State team.

Doug and Nathan draft a quarterback, running back, offensive lineman, receiver/tight end, special teamer, defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker, cornerback and safety.

What's the order, who are the players added, and how much help do the 2021 Buckeyes really need?

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Introducing a new College Football Playoff show; and talking Quinn Ewers, plus Ohio State vs. Texas football Jun 22, 2021

A new podcast is coming. Buckeye Talk isn’t going anywhere, but starting in July, we’re launching a new national podcast. It’s called the College Football Playoff Show with Doug Lesmerises, and I’ll be joined by one of the smartest, most entertaining young football writers in the country as Shehan Jeyararah will be the co-host.

We’ll be coming at you every Tuesday and Wednesday starting July 6. The main podcast each week will focus on the four annual playoff contenders -- Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma -- and any teams that we decide are worthy of joining them in the discussion. Each week in the preseason we’ll vote on a team to add to the mix -- should Texas A&M or Cincinnati or Iowa State or Oregon or USC or Wisconsin or Penn State or Georgia be added to the playoff group? And once the season starts, we’ll kick out a team each week.

You need to earn the right for us to discuss you.

For the teams in the mix, each week Shehan and I will discuss those teams in context and draft something about them. Which playoff contender has the best quarterback? The best coach? The best defense? The most playoff-friendly schedule?

There will be a $1 monthly text subscription as part of it, which will allow you to vote on whether a team should be kicked out or added to the playoff mix. And that’s where we’ll also take questions for the subscriber-only podcast we’ll do each week.

One big pod free, one Q&A pod for the subscribers.

This will all start the first week in July and then build into the season. More information is coming, but for now, listen to Shehan and me as we discuss Ohio football vs. Texas football; how Texas let Quinn Ewers get recruited by Ohio State; why Tom Herman failed at Texas; and more.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk, and we hope you’ll join us on the College Football Playoff Show with Doug Lesmerises.

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Which Ohio State player will wear the Block O jersey in 2021? Mark It Down Monday Jun 21, 2021

Ohio State picked a great representative to the legacy of Bill Willis when it chose Jonathon Cooper as the first recipient of the Block O jersey last season. Which Buckeye will wear No. 0 when the offer continues this fall? Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises make their predictions.

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Undefeated Ohio State, in transition, wins at Michigan in 1979: Buckeye ReTalkables Jun 18, 2021

On this edition of Buckeye ReTalkables, it’s time to dive into the first Michigan game for head coach Earle Bruce, as the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes go to Ann Arbor in 1979.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means watched the game and saw an OSU program in transition in the first season after Woody Hayes … and a program that nearly won a national title. The Buckeyes won this game in Michigan Stadium 18-15 thanks to defense and special teams, and a few big plays from sophomore quarterback Art Schlichter.

Listen as the guys go through the ReTalkable categories, discussing the tackling and style of linebacker Al Washington, the father of current OSU linebackers coach Al Washington Jr.; the rising ability of freshman linebacker Marcus Marek; the speed and skill of Michigan receiver Anthony Carter; the several questionable coaching moves from Michigan’s Bo Schembechler; and the win that would serve as the high point of the Bruce era as the Buckeyes stayed perfect and headed to the Rose Bowl, where they would lose a claim to a national title with a 17-16 loss to USC.

But after losing three straight to Michigan to end the Hayes era, this was a huge win for Ohio State. Thanks for reliving it on Buckeye ReTalkables from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines June 18 Jun 18, 2021

NIL bill continues through Ohio political system, Tyreke Johnson, former Ohio State football 5-star prospect, transfers to Nebraska, Former Ohio State quarterbacks Braxton Miller and Troy Smith hope to bring an IMG Academy-style prep school to Ohio, Quarterback Justin Fields, shot put national champion Adelaide Aquilla named Ohio State Athletes of the Year and Ohio State football’s Chris Olave, Thayer Munford, Haskell Garrett named Walter Camp preseason All-Americans.

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10 prospects, 10 questions from Ohio State football's third week of day camps: Buckeye Football Futures Jun 17, 2021

Ohio State wrapped up its third week of day camps during this busy month of June. Stephen Means was there Tuesday and Wednesday firing intel to our Buckeye Talk text subscribers. So I went back through those texts and asked him 10 questions about 10 of the prospects he scouted and talked to this week. Among the mentions: David Hicks, Matayo Uiagalelei, Sonny Styles, Troy Bowles, A.J. Harris and a drop-in from Walter Nolen.

the prospects he saw.

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Drafting the ideal college football conferences -- Should Ohio State go No. 1? Jun 16, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, it’s time to draft the ideal college football conferences.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are each drafting a 16-team conference from the 65 power conference schools, which will leave 17 leftover programs. The goal is to find out where Big Ten schools like Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Maryland and more fit into the hierarchy of national teams.

Should Ohio State be the No. 1 pick? Are Michigan and Penn State top-10 picks? How high do Maryland and Northwestern go? How far does Nebraska fall?

It’s a fun exercise about the perception of schools when it comes to football, money and attractiveness, and thanks for listening to it on the latest Buckeye Talk.

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Will J.T. Tuimoloau (visiting soon) pick Ohio State and create 5-star defensive end twins with Jack Sawyer? Jun 15, 2021

This Tuesday Buckeye Talk is dedicated entirely to the looming Ohio State visit of 5-star defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, who is scheduled to be in Columbus this weekend as one of his five official visits. Tuimoloau is hitting Washington, Oregon, USC, Ohio State and Alabama on his five officials, with Ohio State seen as holding a slight lead.

Will his first visit to Columbus lock down a commitment? Does Alabama getting the last visit matter a lot? Will Larry Johnson seal this for the Buckeyes? If Tuimoloau comes, how much might he play as a freshman? And then what would it mean for Ohio State's title chances in 2022 and 2023 to add Tuimoloau to the mix?

Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises discuss every aspect of Tuimoloau's recruitment, while somehow also working in talk of Nathan as a local celebrity, and the duties in England of the Royal Gynecologist.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Which Big Ten teams will make the first 12-team College Football Playoff in 2023? Mark It Down Monday Jun 14, 2021

So now we know the College Football Playoff listens to Buckeye Talk, because they adopted most of Doug's proposal from a few weeks ago. What now? We break down each point of the 12-team proposal and how it affects Ohio State. We also Mark Down who will first represent the Big Ten when -- actually, if -- expansion comes in 2023.

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Reliving Ohio State vs. Texas and Vince Young from 2005: Buckeye ReTalkables Jun 11, 2021

It’s time to get back to Buckeye ReTalkables. The plan is to sprinkle these episodes in twice a month over the offseason, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means rewatch and relive Ohio State games of the past.

The last ReTalkables was in October, so now that it’s June, the ReTalkables are renewed with a humdinger of a game.

It’s Ohio State vs. Texas from 2005, that showdown with Vince Young in the Shoe in primetime that happened to be the first Ohio State football game Doug ever covered.

Doug, Nathan and Stephen go through the usual categories to discuss who owned the game, who made the big plays, who made the good and bad decisions, who had weird or awesome style and how enjoyable this game was for Ohio State fans.

And as always, the question remains, did this look like a championship Ohio State team?

It’s a tough loss but a great game to ReTalk about. So thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, June 11 Jun 11, 2021

Ohio State hired Jocelyn Gates as the senior associate athletic director who oversees football. She will have a lead role in setting the Buckeyes' future football schedule.

Former North Carolina kicker Noah Ruggles announced his commitment to Ohio State as a graduate transfer. He will compete with Jake Seibert for kicking duties this fall.

Kaleb Brown, a top-100 receiver from Chicago's St. Rita High School, became the 13th commitment and third receiver in Ohio State's 2022 recruiting class.

Ohio State's second week of day camps featured some intriguing international talent, including defensive tackle Hero Kanu from Germany and tight end Theo Melin Ohrstrom from Sweden.

Playoff expansion seems inevitable after a recommendation from a College Football Playoff working group to move from four teams to 12.

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Kaleb Brown commits, Noah Ruggles transfers in and day camps continue: Buckeye Football Futures Jun 10, 2021

Ohio State wrapped up its second week of day camps with some intriguing prospects on campus. Stephen reports back on what he saw and who he talked to. He also provides an update on top safety prospect Xavier Nwankpa. First up, he and Nathan discuss the commitment of Kaleb Brown and Noah Ruggles' addition as a graduate transfer.

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Drafting the best players, coaches and traditions -- the Untouchables of Ohio State football Jun 09, 2021

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, it’s time for another draft, and this one combines a little bit of everything.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means draft eight rounds of Ohio State Untouchables. The parameters -- take one recruit from the Class of 2022; one player each from the Class of 2021, Class of 2020, Class of 2019 and Class of 2018/17; one current assistant coach; one Ohio State tradition; and one wild card.

So in the same draft are Garrett Wilson, Larry Johnson, Quinn Ewers and Hang on Sloopy. There is some cutthroat drafting going on here -- so think about who or what you would take No. 1, then prepare for one of the most fun drafts on Buckeye Talk yet.

Thanks for listening to another podcast from cleveland.com.

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Looking back at Ohio State's first big recruiting weekend of 2021 and into the week ahead: Buckeye Football Futures Jun 08, 2021

What came out of Ohio State's first big recruiting weekend after the end of the NCAA dead period? What is coming in the week ahead? Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break it down. They also answer subscriber questions on "crystal balls," Pickerington Central safety Sonny Styles and 2023 quarterback recruiting.

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Who will be the next Big Ten football coach to change jobs? Mark It Down Monday Jun 07, 2021

Big Ten football experienced only one coaching change in the offseason, and it involved Bret Bielema returning to the league. Such a lack of turnover is uncommon. In nine of the last 11 years there has been more than one coaching change. On this Mark It Down Monday, Doug, Nathan and Stephen rank the Big Ten coaches based on stability and upward mobility before predicting who will be the next to switch jobs.

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What if Joe Burrow beat out Dwayne Haskins as Ohio State's QB in 2018? Buckeyefly Effect Jun 04, 2021

It’s time for another Buckeyefly Effect, where we change a decision in Ohio State football’s past, and imagine what the alternative reality would have looked like.

This time, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dive into the world where Joe Burrow beats out Dwayne Haskins to be Ohio State’s starting quarterback in 2018.

How good would Burrow have been in 2018? Would the Buckeyes have won the national title in 2019? What would have happened to Haskins? Would Ohio State be recruiting quarterbacks and receivers at the same level now?

The guys look at the short-term and long-term effects for Ohio State football, with input from text subscribers.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, June 4 Jun 04, 2021

Ohio State begins hosting official visits again this weekend with the annual Buckeye Bash.

Among the official visitors is 2022 quarterback commit Quinn Ewers, who returns to Columbus for the first time in two years.

The end of the NCAA's 15-month dead period signaled the beginning of Ohio State's one-day camps for high school prospects.

Oregon defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau, the final uncommitted five-star prospect in the 2021 class, announced his official visit schedule -- including a stop in Columbus.

Ohio State 2021 season tickets went on sale as the athletic department remains optimistic about full capacity at Ohio Stadium.

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Will Ohio State's elite defensive line recruiting continue in 2022? Buckeye Football Futures Jun 03, 2021

Ohio State has become synonymous with defensive line excellence under Larry Johnson. To wrap up our positional breakdown on Buckeye Football Futures we look at how the Buckeyes' 2021 defensive line came together and, more importantly, where Johnson is taking that group in the future. Stephen also gave us a look inside Ohio State's first prospects camp of the summer, including some intriguing quarterback visitors.

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The 5 things the Ohio State Buckeyes must do to win a national title in 2021 Jun 02, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird each pick the five things that must happen for Ohio State to win a national championship in 2021.

Where does the play of the new starting quarterback fit on the list?

How about sharing the ball among all the playmakers?

What about the pass rush, and the secondary?

How do Big Ten foes like Indiana, and possible playoff opponents like Oklahoma, Clemson and Georgia fit into the mix?

Nathan gives his five, Stephen gives his five and Doug gives his five … see how much they match your top five.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Could Braxton Miller have been an NFL QB that was some version of Lamar Jackson? Jun 01, 2021

On this Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises welcomes a special guest to talk about one of the most dynamic players in Ohio State football history.

Beau Bishop, veteran of radio and TV in Columbus and Cleveland, and current host for 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, joins Doug to discuss Braxton Miller and what might have happened if he hadn’t injured his shoulder in the Orange Bowl at the end of the 2013 season and if he had remained a quarterback.

Where would he have been taken in the NFL Draft? Is what Lamar Jackson has done in the NFL any kind of reasonable comparison for what Miller might have been? How will Miller be remembered as a Buckeye decades from now?

It’s all about Miller, and there are a lot of what-ifs. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Where will Ohio State be ranked in the preseason Associated Press Top 25? Mark It Down Monday May 31, 2021

Ohio State has not been ranked No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll since 2015. That also marks the last time the Buckeyes were ranked No. 1, period. It does not appear that streak will end with the preseason AP Top 25 later this summer. But where will the Buckeyes be ranked? What will it mean when OSU again climbs to the top of the poll? Doug, Nathan and Stephen engage in another Mark It Down Monday debate.

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Should Ryan Day be viewed as a quarterback whisperer? May 28, 2021

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means tackle the idea of Ohio State coach Ryan Day as a quarterback whisperer, and they have some disagreements about it. Also, Doug whispers.

How does the production of J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields affect Day's reputation? Does he need to recruit and develop a QB out of high school to truly establish his reputation? How much of Fields' success was Fields, and how much was Day?

Also, there's a brief discussion of the records dump from Ohio State this week, but they didn't spend too much time on it because they didn't consider it all that interesting.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com..

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, May 28 May 28, 2021

Ohio bill legalizing Name, Image and Likeness income for college athletes would give Ohio State security. How much does Ohio’s Name, Image and Likeness bill actually impact Ohio State football’s recruiting? Ohio State emails and texts reveal reaction to Big Ten football cancellation. Ohio State football gets kickoff times for Maryland, Minnesota and Tulsa games. Texas commit looking forward to Ohio State football.

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How crucial is landing a top-ranked offensive tackle for Ohio State's 2022 class? Buckeye Football Futures May 27, 2021

The BFF podcast positional breakdown continues with a look at the offensive line. What dynamics have played into the recruiting that brought to gether the current group? Who are Greg Studrawa and the staff pursuing for 2022, and how big of a deal is landing a major tackle talent? Also, we set the stage for June as Ohio State prepares to resume on-campus camps.

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Ohio State transfer portal strategy, QB recruiting cycles and more rapid fire questions May 26, 2021

It’s a big Wednesday Buckeye Talk rapid fire episode, as Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises answer questions from text subscribers.

Among the topics covered:

Will Ohio State start using the transfer portal more and start recruiting a couple fewer high school players each year?
Is tampering with players on other teams going to be a real issue in the transfer era?
Is soft ice cream, frozen yogurt or hard ice cream better?
If Ohio State makes the playoff in 2021, can Quinn Ewers still win the QB job as a freshman in 2022?
How much would we have to be paid to eat a cicada?
Will Ohio State’s QB rank about the top 10 QBs according to PFF by the end of this season?
Will the Buckeyes be adding any transfers?
Coke or Pepsi?
Will high school players opting out of their senior seasons become a trend?
Do we go harder than any other Ohio State coverage group?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio makes sure Ohio State won't fall behind in NIL recruiting, but what took so long? May 25, 2021

Ohio is introducing legislation to allow college athletes in the state to make money off their name, image and likeness. Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises asked questions at the news conference Monday to announce it, and then came back and recorded this Buckeye Talk episode about why it’s happening now and what it means for Ohio State sports.

This bill will definitely pass, and then Ohio State will be in the same shape as schools like Alabama and Florida that already had legislation passed in their state.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Who will be Ohio State's next Heisman Trophy finalist? Mark It Down Monday May 24, 2021

Ohio State quarterbacks have become synonymous with Heisman Trophy contention. Each of the last four OSU starting quarterbacks has not only drawn votes but finished in the top five of the voting. So who will be the next Buckeye to earn an invitation to New York as a Heisman finalist? Will it be whoever wins the quarterback competition this fall? Will a player from another position break through the QB bias for the award? Doug, Nathan and Stephen debate it on another Mark It Down Monday.

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Thayer Munford is the nation's best tackle, and other top-10 Buckeyes in PFF rankings May 21, 2021

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Anthony Treash of PFF visits to go over his rankings of the top 10 players at every position in college football. Six Buckeyes made the top-10 at their position, which tied for the second-most for any team behind Alabama.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means start with Thayer Munford, ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation by Treash, and then go through the other five Buckeyes who made the top 10, and a few other Buckeyes that didn’t. Then Doug, Nathan and Stephen wrap up with a discussion of what surprised them the most from Treash’s rankings.

It’s a great guest and a great pod for the weekend. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, May 21 May 21, 2021

Oregon comes to Ohio for the second weekend of this season, Ohio visits Oregon Sept 11, 2032. Full Ohio State football attendance in 2021? Ohio Stadium trending toward full capacity. TV times for the game between Ohio State and Michigan in 2021. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith set to receive contract extension through 2026. Multiple states to let college athletes make money from their names and images, Ohio has not.

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How the Bullet changes Ohio State football linebacker recruiting: Buckeye Football Futures May 20, 2021

On this week's BFFs we turn our focus to the defensive side of the ball. What is happening with Ohio State linebacker recruiting, and how does making the Bullet a part of the base defense change that conversation? We look back on how the current OSU linebacker group came together, what 2021 means for Al Washington, what the Buckeyes do to regroup after the Dasan McCullough flip to Indiana and much more.

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6 teams, 8 teams, 12 teams? Which new playoff format would benefit Ohio State the most? May 19, 2021

This Buckeye Talk Podcast episode is all about the best format for the College Football Playoff, and which version would most benefit Ohio State.

The playoff committee last month announced it was looking into alternatives to the four-team model. It could change by 2023. So Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means go over seven models, and what works the best for college football in general and what works best for Ohio State.

Led by texter input, playoff models with no teams, two teams, four teams, six teams, eight teams, 12 teams and 16 teams are discussed and analyzed. And Doug comes down very firmly on a plan that he likes the best and thinks would work for college football and the Buckeyes.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez on name, image and likeness reform and how Ohio State football prepared him for politics May 18, 2021

During his time as an Ohio State receiver, Anthony Gonzalez was known for sleeping in an altitude tent and making The Catch against Michigan. Now he serves in the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 16th congressional district. He joined Buckeye Talk to speak extensively about the Level Playing Field Act, a bipartisan bill addressing name, image and likeness compensation in college sports. He also discussed how football prepared him for politics, why Brian Hartline makes a good coach and early impressions of a very young Marvin Harrison Jr.

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Will Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson put up better numbers for Ohio State in 2021? Mark It Down Monday May 17, 2021

Ohio State football is widely credited with having two of the best receivers in the nation. But which one will have the better season statistically? On this Mark It Down Monday we predict who will lead the Buckeyes in the major receiving categories between Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson -- and maybe a wild card? In the process we discuss what balance the OSU offense might strike and how much the new quarterback, whoever he is, might affect the receivers' potential numbers.

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Ohio State football and a massage therapist: Making sense of a complicated issue May 14, 2021

Thursday turned into an uncomfortable day on the Ohio State football beat. The university released a report accusing a licensed massage therapist of preying on football players for sex. The accused woman told cleveland.com many of OSU's allegations were untrue. Doug and Nathan discuss the domino effect that led to this awkward public resolution, how the reporting unfolded from their perspective and how this episode touches on other important issues in college sports.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, May 14 May 14, 2021

Ohio State loses transfer Tyreke Johnson. Ohio State play September 11 game against Oregon at noon on Fox. When will Justin Fields make his starting quarterback debut with the Bears? Ohio State releases a 15-page report it commissioned from a law firm regarding relations between a massage therapist and football players. Recruiting rankings updates.

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Ohio State receiving recruiting reset and the J.T. Tuimoloau threat level: Buckeye Football Futures May 13, 2021

We're calling it Buckeye Football Futures now because we have moved our weekly recruiting episode off of Fridays. But the focus remains the same, and this week we are resetting the OSU receivers room. How and why did the receiver recruiting dynamics change? What does Jameson Williams' transfer mean for the 2022 class? What foundation is already being laid for 2023?

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Ranking every Big Ten starting QB -- How many of them are threats to Ohio State? May 12, 2021

On this Wednesday Buckeye talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means get some help in ranking the 14 quarterback situations in the Big Ten.

Guess what -- Big Ten quarterback play this season might be better than you expect. But how many QBs are an actual threat to potentially beat the Buckeyes?

The guys each rank the Big Ten QBs from 14 to 1, but three guests also stop by to dig in on three quarterback rooms in particular.

Bob Flounders of PennLive.com (42:52) jumps on to discuss Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford and what the Nittany Lions are expecting from him.

Then Randy Johnson of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (1:04:30) visits to discuss the quarterback that Ohio State will face to open the season -- Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan.

Finally, Aaron McMann of MLive.com (1:17:15) joins the show to talk about whether Cade McNamara or JJ McCarthy is more likely to be the quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines this season.

It’s a great big dive into the most important position in the conference. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Should Ohio State basketball win the Big Ten next season? Full hoops program overview May 11, 2021

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, it's time for a full look at the Ohio State basketball program. Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises do that by:

• Assessing whether the Buckeyes overachieved, underachieved or both last season

• Talking about new roles in 2021-22 for Malaki Branham, Meechie Johnson and Zed Key

• Figuring out what E.J. Liddell and Duane Washington might be like with another year of experience

• Asking what the expectations for the Buckeyes should be next season

• Guessing what the rotation might be and how the minutes might break down next season

• Examining the new strategy for Chris Holtmann's recruiting

• Asking if the view of the basketball program has changed over the last several years

It's a deep dive into hoops if you care about the basketball Buckeyes. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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How may Ohio State players will go in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft? Mark It Down Monday May 10, 2021

It's back! For the triumphant return of Mark It Down Monday we are looking one full year into the future. Which Ohio State players will be first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft? Doug, Nathan and Stephen each have a different answer and total number of Buckeyes they think will go in the first 32 picks. They also discuss OSU's draft history, the recent trends relative to other national powers, and which OSU player will be first off the board in that draft.

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Running back recruiting reset and Ryan Turner commitment reaction: Buckeye Futures Friday May 07, 2021

We're talking running backs on Buckeye Future Fridays this week. Ohio State's backfield is crowded with options for the fall of 2021 and may still be so a year from now. How does that affect who Tony Alford and the staff are going after for the 2022 class? Who are the primary targets? Also, reaction to 2022 cornerback Ryan Turner's commitment.

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The Square Cut Pizza Podcast, with Columbus pizza author and expert Jim Ellison May 06, 2021

Spring football is over, the NFL Draft is over and it's time for something different. On this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises discusses the history of Columbus pizza with expert and author Jim Ellison, who just wrote the book, 'Columbus Pizza: A Slice of History.' Doug and Jim talk about the origins of Columbus pizza; how distinct is it as a style; why pepperoni is such an important part of the Columbus pizza experience; why the value of crust makes triangle pizza better; and WHAT IS THE POINT OF THE FOUR CRUSTLESS SQUARE SLICES at the center of a square cut pizza and is there someone on earth that actually enjoys them?

But there's no fighting here. Just learning. No football on this one, but Jim Ellison will make this worth your time as a history, food and Ohio podcast episode, so give it a shot.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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What the NFL Draft tells us about the talent gap between Ohio State and Michigan May 05, 2021

Ohio State (10) and Michigan (eight) led the Big Ten again in total picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Over the past five years, those two teams lead the conference in draft picks by a wide margin. Yet the gap in results between those two programs is huge as well. We looked back over five years of drafts to go beyond the raw numbers and shed a light on why Ohio State is lapping the Big Ten and why Michigan is not even the second-best program in its division.

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Why the Jameson Williams transfer from Ohio State to Alabama makes sense May 04, 2021

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means explain why Jameson Williams transferring from Ohio State to Alabama, given the state of the receiver rooms for both teams, makes sense. Williams announced on Monday that he had chosen the Crimson Tide, and he has a chance to start there this season.

Plus, the guys discuss Ohio State's latest verbal commitment from Florida safety Kye Stokes in the Class of 2022.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, May 3 May 03, 2021

Ohio State football ties Alabama for most picks in 2021 NFL Draft. Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is a Chicago Bear. Kye Stokes, three-star Class of 2022 athlete, commits to Ohio State football. Pete Werner became the second Ohio State football player selected in the 2021 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Ten Ohio State Buckeyes were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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10 Buckeyes drafted -- What did the 2021 NFL Draft say about Ohio State's talent level? May 02, 2021

On this Sunday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means went over the final four Ohio State picks from Sunday -- Tommy Togiai to the Browns, Luke Farrell to Jacksonville, Shaun Wade to Baltimore and Jonathon Cooper to Denver -- and at the top of the show wrapped up the whole draft for Ohio State and what the picks told us about Ohio State’s current talent level

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Pete Werner, Josh Myers, Wyatt Davis, Trey Sermon, Baron Browning picked -- How is Ohio State's draft going? May 01, 2021

On this Saturday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are tired as they wrap up Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft. Six Buckeyes have now been selected, and the guys break down all those picks and talk about how the draft in general has gone for the Buckeyes so far.

Thanks for listening.

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Justin Fields to the Chicago Bears, Jameson Williams to the transfer portal Apr 30, 2021

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means cover three things:

Justin Fields getting drafted by the Chicago Beats at No. 11 in the NFL Draft
Receiver Jameson Williams deciding to transfer from Ohio State
Urban Meyer collecting Clemson players in Jacksonville

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Wyatt Davis, Baron Browning, Pete Werner and more -- Predicting where every Buckeye will be drafted Apr 28, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means go on the record with where every Ohio State Buckeye will be picked in the 2021 NFL Draft this week.

That's Wyatt Davis, Baron Browning, Pete Werner, Josh Myers, Shaun Wade, Trey Sermon, Tommy Togiai, Jonathon Cooper and Justin Hilliard, plus a recap of where we predicted Justin Fields would go on Tuesday's podcast.

We'll take a mini break and come back early Friday afternoon with the next pod to talk about where Fields went in the first round, and then we'll have Saturday and Sunday episodes recapping the other two days of the draft as well. But we'll talk with you again early Friday, once Fields has an NFL team. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Predicting where Justin Fields will be drafted, plus a Patriots expert on whether he could land in New England Apr 27, 2021

It's time for NFL Draft talk this week on Buckeye Talk. For this Tuesday episode, that means Justin Fields. On this edition, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means all give their predictions for where they think Fields will be selected in the first round of Thursday's 2021 NFL Draft. Two of them predict teams trading up to get Fields.

But first on the pod, Phil Perry, the Patriots insider for NBC Sports Boston, joins Doug to discuss whether New England is a legitimate possibility for Fields. Would Bill Belichick possibly trade up to get Fields? How much does New England like him?

This is a full Fields draft pod to preview Thursday. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, April 26 Apr 26, 2021

Dasan McCullough, 4-star athlete, decommits from Ohio State football and commits to Indiana. What does Ohio State football’s 2022 recruiting class look like now? NFL Draft 2021 preview: What you need to know about the Buckeyes. What’s up with Ryan Watts, Lathan Ransom and Kerry Coombs’ new options in Ohio State football’s secondary? Ohio State's quarterback battle remains undecided going into the summer.

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Emergency pod: Top-100 recruit Dasan McCullough flips to Indiana Apr 25, 2021

Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means hopped on for a little emergency Buckeye Talk action after 2022 linebacker recruit Dasan McCullough flipped from Ohio State to Indiana on Sunday. McCullough, ranked as the No. 50 overall recruit in his class, decided to switch from the Buckeyes to the Hoosiers where his father, Deland, was hired as the running backs coach in February. He also has two brothers headed to play football at Indiana, so this was all about a family move.

Doug and Stephen talked about what it means for Ohio State, what linebackers the Buckeyes might target now and how this all broke down and why Stephen was surprised by it. Thanks for joining this emergency episode from cleveland.com.

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Thoughts on TreVeyon Henderson, Ryan Watts, QB timeline and more as OSU coaches talk end of spring football Apr 24, 2021

This is the official wrap on spring football for the Ohio State Buckeyes as Ryan Day, Kerry Coombs and Kevin Wilson spoke with reporters on Friday for a final evaluation of everything that happened during spring football practice. On this weekend Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss what the coaches said about the quarterback battle, improved talent on defense, offensive line plans and what's ahead for young players like TreVeyon Henderson, Ryan Watts, Gee Scott and Cam Martinez.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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How the Elite 11 quarterback competition has shaped Ohio State football's QBU aspirations: Buckeye Futures Friday Apr 23, 2021

Class of 2022 commitment Quinn Ewers will be the sixth Ohio State quarterback in as many years to participate in the finals of the Elite 11 quarterback series. On this BFF recruiting episode, Nathan and Stephen discuss what Elite 11 has meant for the QBs coming through OSU's program and what it also means for the Buckeyes' attempt to create a QBU identity. Also, what is happening with 2023 quarterback recruiting and will the five-star or bust approach continue after Ewers?

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Drafting the 12 true freshmen that will help Ohio State the most this football season Apr 22, 2021

On this Buckeye Talk it's time for another draft, but this time with a special guest.

Aaron Hake, who won the Buckeye Talk NCAA Tournament bracket contest, is collecting his prize by joining Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means to draft the 12 true freshmen that will help Ohio State football the most in the 2021 season. This is not a draft about career projections. This is a draft about helping in the fall. Each person made three picks, which brought the draft to 12 players, so get ready to find out where quarterback Kyle McCord, receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson and defenders like Jack Sawyer, Denzel Burke and Jantzen Dunn were picked in the draft.

Thanks to Aaron for joining the pod and thanks to you for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Resetting the Ohio State football depth chart, and answering rapid-fire questions Apr 21, 2021

Back on January 21, Nathan put together his expected depth chart going into Ohio State football's offseason. Now that we've had a spring full of intelligence and a Spring Game to watch with our own eyes, what has changed? Doug and Stephen chime in with their thoughts on the two-deep at every position.

Also, we tackle our text subscribers' rapid-fire questions on everything from the transfer repercussions of the quarterback battle to kicking game concerns to the largest animal we are confident we could beat in a fight.

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Where will Ohio State's defense rank in 2021? Apr 20, 2021

Everyone knows Ohio State slumped to the middle of the pack nationally in defense in 2020, held back mostly by its pass defense. Should fans expect a turnaround this fall? Doug, Nathan and Stephen predict where Ohio State's 2021 defense will rank based on what they saw and heard around the team during spring practice and at Saturday's Spring Game.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, April 19 Apr 19, 2021

The Buckeyes finish spring football. Garrett Wilson’s glorious season in the slot, and why his move back outside makes the Buckeyes more dangerous. Through Ronnie Hickman, Craig Young Ohio State football finally puts the bullet to use. Jack Sawyer’s promising spring makes Ohio State football’s defense dangerous again. Ohio State football season opens Saturday, September 11 vs. Oregon.

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Ohio State Spring Game wrapup: QB battle; Jack Sawyer is legit; the Bullet arrives; cornerbacks flash Apr 17, 2021

The Ohio State Buckeyes held their spring football game in Ohio Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are here to go over everything that happened.

First, Nathan focuses on the quarterbacks and wonders how much of a lead C.J. Stroud has in that three-way fight to replace Justin Fields.

Then, Stephen examines the rest of the offense, including the receiver depth and the interesting options at running back.

Finally, Doug talks through the defense and the way young players like Craig Young, Lathan Ransom, Cam Martinez, Ryan Watts and Jack Sawyer showed how they could help the Buckeyes in 2021.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Garrett Wilson changes position, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. rise up at receiver Apr 16, 2021

Time for an Ohio State receiver breakdown with Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises. On this Friday Buckeye Talk, they go over Garrett Wilson's move out of the slot; Chris Olave's explanation for turning down the NFL; Julian Fleming's health and potential; Jaxon Smith-Njigba's breakout spring; and Marvin Harrison's real arrival as a freshman.

Brian Hartline and the veteran OSU receivers offered insights in interviews and Nathan, Stephen and Doug analyze it all.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State 2021 Spring Game preview Apr 15, 2021

Thursday's Buckeye Talk is all about the Spring Game. We don't know if Ohio State will tackle. We don't know how much certain veterans will play. However, Doug, Nathan and Stephen all expect to come out of the day with a better understanding of this roster and what lineups might look like in the fall.

Obviously a lot of attention will be paid to the quarterbacks, which also opens our discussion. Doug, Nathan and Stephen also each name three other things they are most looking forward to observing in Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

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Drafting the 51 best football players on Ohio State's current roster Apr 14, 2021

Through watching short glimpses of practice and talking to coaches and players all spring, the thoughts around many Ohio State football players have changed. With that info gathered, and the spring game coming Saturday, it's time to rank the best current Buckeyes.

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means do that by drafting players based on their production, potential, health and how they've looked and been talked about this spring. It's a great way to get an overall view of the roster, and though you are sure to disagree with some of the picks, a fun way to talk about the Buckeyes.

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Which Ohio State football commits and targets stood out at the Under Armour All-America camp? Apr 13, 2021

You can call this a rare BFT edition -- Buckeye Futures Tuesday. Stephen Means spent Sunday at the Under Armour All-America Camp, where he watched and talked with multiple Ohio State football commits and targets for the 2022 and '23 classes. What did he see and hear? We'll discuss.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, April 12 Apr 12, 2021

Ohio State prepares for the spring game on Saturday, with about 19,000 fans to be in attendance. Ohio State football offensive lineman Max Wray enters transfer portal. Ohio State football’s Paris Johnson Jr. sacrificing his expected NFL trajectory in a ‘seamless’ transition to guard. Ohio State football’s TreVeyon Henderson loses black stripe. Who leads Ohio State football’s quarterback competition halfway through spring?

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Tyreke Smith and Taron Vincent defensive line breakouts; Gas Station Snack Bracket results Apr 10, 2021

On this weekend Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means dive into three areas.

First, they discuss the news with the defensive line, including all the interesting things D-line coach Larry Johnson said about Tyreke Smith, Taron Vincent and Jack Sawyer.

Then, it was time for the new star ratings for some OSU football recruits, including the elevation to 5-star for linebacker C.J. Hicks.

Finally, the Gas Station Snack Bracket is over, and the winner is revealed and some of the voting discussed.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Why Buckeye Bash could help shape Ohio State's Class of 2022: Buckeye Futures Friday Apr 09, 2021

Back for another episode of Buckeye Futures Friday, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means turn their attention to the annual summer kickoff known as Buckeye Bash. What are the origins of the event, which commits and targets are expected to attend on June 4, and who should be on commitment watch? Also, an update on Ohio State offensive tackle recruiting for the 2022 class.

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Ohio State's Paris Johnson plan, and why it makes sense for the Buckeyes Apr 08, 2021

On this Thursday Buckeyes Talk Podcast from cleveland.com, the focus is on the offensive line, leading off with sophomore five-star Paris Johnson Jr. When he committed to Ohio State, Johnson saw the depth chart and figured he'd be a starting tackle by Year 2. On Wednesday, Johnson and offensive line coach Greg Studrawa talked about why that's not the case, how the decision to move Johnson to guard this year was made and what Johnson thinks it means for his future.

Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means discuss it all, plus updates on Harry Miller, Thayer Munford, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Matthew Jones, Luke Wypler, Dawand Jones, Josh Fryar and the rest of the OSU offensive linemen.

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Drafting the 24 best current college football head coaches: Where do Ryan Day, Luke Fickell and Jim Harbaugh land? Apr 07, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means get off the spring football news cycle for a minute. Time for a step back.

Who are the best head coaches in college football? They answer that question with a draft.

It's eight rounds, 24 total coaches and an interesting offseason exercise.

Is Nick Saban or Dabo Swinney on top? Where does Ryan Day belong? How does Luke Fickell fit in? Does Jim Harbaugh make the list? What other Big Ten coaches are in the top 24?

Come along for a draft that answers those questions, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Is the Ohio State football QB competition really a dead heat? Buy or Sell the Buckeyes' spring storylines. Apr 06, 2021

Ohio State football opened up a practice to reporters for the second time in four days on Monday. Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were there, which gave them an opportunity to compare what they see to what they have been hearing from the Buckeye coaches through the first half of the spring. Doug Lesmerises joined in for a round of Buy or Sell where the guys compare what they've been told to what they are seeing with their own eyes.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, April 05 Apr 05, 2021

Ohio State football coach Ryan Day on criticisms of Justin Fields: ‘His work ethic was off the charts’. Ohio State football’s Gee Scott, a top-100 prospect as a receiver, getting a new look at tight end this spring. What’s up with Ohio State football’s Denzel Burke? Several Ohio State football players not participating in spring practice. Ohio State football Buckeyes’ Pro Day.

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Gee Scott and Demario McCall switch positions, and Cam Martinez makes his move Apr 03, 2021

On this weekend Buckeye Talk Podcast, the secondary is the focus, as Doug Lesmerises puts Nathan Baird and Stephen Means on the spot at the end of the episode to declare which five members of the secondary will play the most in 2021. But first, there's lot of discussion about cornerbacks and safeties like Cam Martinez, Denzel Burke, Lanthan Ransom and Marcus Williamson.

But to open the podcast, Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss the moves of Gee Scott from receiver to tight end and Demario McCall from offense to defense and how those might work out.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com

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Who is Ohio State football's most valuable recruiter? Buckeye Futures Friday Apr 02, 2021

The basic recruiting rankings tell us which Ohio State assistant coaches have brought the most elite players in at their positions. But does it tell the whole story about those coaches as recruiters? Stephen Means took a closer look at those rankings -- including which coaches played a role in landing players outside of their position room -- and he and Nathan Baird discussed how that changed their view of those coaches' performance.

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Jeremy Ruckert, Henry To'o To'o, and anonymous podcast host says NFL scouts are garbage humans Apr 01, 2021

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and the Stephen Means run through several topics on the Thursday Buckeye Talk Podcast

What's new with Jeremy Ruckert's routes and Cade Stover's progress as the OSU tight ends talked to reporters.
Is Tennessee transfer LB Henry To'o To'o a fit for the Buckeyes after a report from Rivals.com that he's visiting Columbus soon.
Ohio State basketball lost a transfer and added one, so what does that mean?
Why do NFL scouts leak what seem like personal attacks on NFL Draft prospects and why do media members regurgitate quotes?
The Supreme Court is hearing a case about the NCAA and amateurism, so who what's up with that?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The 15 future first-round draft picks on Ohio State's 2021 football roster; Plus, Pro Day winners Mar 31, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk Podcast from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the Pro Day results for current draft Buckeyes like Justin Fields, Baron Browning, Pete Werner and Wyatt Davis. But that's at the end of the pod.

The first part of the pod is a look further into the future for Ohio State and the NFL Draft. How many future first-round picks will be playing for the Buckeyes in 2021? How many Ohio State players will be taken in the first round in 2022? How do those numbers compare with OSU draft numbers of the past? Are Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson sure first-round picks in 2022?

That future discussion drives the pod before it's time to check in on Pro Day.

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Is Ohio State's QB situation better or worse than the QB plans at Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Texas A&M? Mar 30, 2021

On this Monday Buckeye Talk Podcast, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back to talk about the Ohio State quarterbacks.

Included in this episode:

What Ryan Day said about the QBs on Monday.
How OSU compares to Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Texas A&M in terms of their 2021 QB plans. Those were the top five teams in the final AP poll last year, and they all lost their starting QBs.
How many other second-year quarterbacks from the Class of 2020 are in line to start this season, like Ohio State's C.J. Stroud might be?
In the playoff era, how many teams have won it all with a first-year QB, like Ohio State will try to do this season?
Would you rather have these three Ohio State QB candidates or J.T. Barrett to play a season?
Results from our QB texter survey.

It's more interesting QB talk as the Buckeyes work through spring practice. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, March 29 Mar 29, 2021

Will Ohio State football allow fans for Spring Game under Big Ten’s new attendance policy? Can Master Teague hold off young challengers in Ohio State football’s running back competition? Ohio State football’s best defensive player out for spring practice. What’s up with Ohio State football’s linebacker lineup? Ohio State football has featured the Big Ten’s best quarterback basically every year for almost a decade -- Will that end in 2021?

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Building Ohio State's best defensive lineup for a playoff game Mar 27, 2021

On this weekend Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at the Ohio State linebackers as a way to get into the best starting lineup for the entire defense. The linebackers and assistant coach Al Washington spoke to reporters this week, which provided a little more info about a position where the top four players from a year ago are gone. So the guys talked about the Buckeyes most likely to play at linebacker.

But at the suggestion of a text subscriber, that expanded into a discussion of the 11 defenders most likely to play if the Buckeyes had a College Football Playoff game right now. So they provided an 11-man defense on first down and an 11-man defense on third-and-long if the Buckeyes were facing Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia or USC in a playoff game.

Plus, Doug provided a little advice on colon health.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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What are the biggest Ohio State vs. Alabama recruiting battles for the 2022 class? Buckeye Futures Friday Mar 26, 2021

When we discuss how well Ohio State football is recruiting on a national level, we are really talking about one central question: Where are the Buckeyes compared to Alabama? This edition of the BFF podcast resets the progress of OSU's 2022 recruiting class against that of the Crimson Tide. Where are the two programs going head-to-head as the class takes shape this summer?

Nathan and Stephen also discuss how recruiting will play into how the Ohio State men's basketball team bounces back from its first-round NCAA Tournament exit.

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Can Master Teague hold off TreVeyon Henderson to be Ohio State's starting running back? Mar 25, 2021

Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford said whoever consistently plays the best will get the carries in the Buckeye backfield in 2021. Could that end up being Master Teague? After third and second-team All-Big Ten Conference recognition his first two seasons, Teague is a year removed from his Achilles tear and the elder statesman in the crowded running back group. Doug, Nathan and Stephen debate how ready TreVeyon Henderson could be to force himself into the starting role and what the spring's competition means for other backs on the roster.

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Will Ohio State have the best QB in the Big Ten in 2021? Plus rapid fire questions Mar 24, 2021

On this big Wednesday rapid fire Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take great rapid fire questions from Ohio State text subscribers on the OSU quarterbacks, Demario McCall, robots, Tyreke Johnson, Cam Martinez, cheating scandals, the best bread for sandwiches, Nathan's football crush and more.

But the episode leads off with a long discussion about whether the winner of the Ohio State quarterback competition will be the best QB in the Big Ten by the end of the season, or whether someone like Michael Penix of Indiana or Graham Mertz of Wisconsin will be better.

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Ryan Day updates spring practice, Ohio State backs E.J. Liddell, and the Big Ten bombs in the NCAA Tournament Mar 23, 2021

This Tuesday Buckeye Talk Podcast from cleveland.com focuses on football as Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird run through the latest updates from head coach Ryan Day as the Buckeyes continue to practice this spring. How do the linebackers fit together? What's happening with expected starting center Harry Miller? Are there changes in how the cornerbacks will be used?

Then it's on to basketball and the handling of hateful social media messages directed at Ohio State basketball sophomore E.J. Liddell. Plus, the Big Ten landed nine teams in the NCAA Tournament and only one advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. What happened?

Then there's an update on the Gas Station Snack Bracket.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, March 22 Mar 22, 2021

Football opens spring practice as men's basketball ends with an upset loss. Ohio state football offence rated 3rd in the nation, defense, not so high. Josh Proctor holds starting safety spot as Ohio State opens spring practice. Huge upset for Ohio state basketball in NCAA, beaten by Oral Roberts, 15th seed. Players to watch this season in Buckeyes football.

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Fixing the defense and the first day of Ohio State football spring practice Mar 20, 2021

On this weekend Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird review the start of spring football practice for the Buckeyes on Friday. Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, defensive end Zach Harrison and offensive tackle Thayer Munford spoke to reporters after practice, and Nathan and Doug cover the most important facts learned and opinions created from the Buckeyes taking the practice field again.

Thanks for listening.

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Emergency Pod: Ohio State basketball loses to Oral Roberts in the NCAA Tournament Mar 20, 2021

This is all basketball. If you don't care about Ohio State basketball, don't listen. Unless you just are generally a fan of Doug ranting, because there is a lot of that.

Stephen Means, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird break down No. 2 seed Ohio State's overtime loss to No. 15 seed Oral Roberts in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

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Your official Buckeye Talk 2021 Ohio State quarterback competition primer Mar 19, 2021

Ohio State spring drills begin Friday, so in a twist on Buckeye Future Fridays, we are talking about the present OSU quarterback competition. We also talk about the past and the backgrounds Jack Miller, C.J. Stroud and Kyle McCord brought to this moment. What prepared each of these players to potentially be the starting successor to Justin Fields?

Also up top, a closer look at Ohio State basketball's first-round NCAA Tournament opponent, Oral Roberts.

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What Ryan Day thinks of Paris Johnson, Zach Harrison, Kourt Williams and other key Buckeyes entering spring football Mar 18, 2021

On this Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises get into spring football, which is right around the corner for Ohio State. The Buckeyes open practice Friday, so on Wednesday, Ryan Day spoke with reporters for 40 minutes. Nathan and Doug go through the most important things that were learned in that conversation about players like Paris Johnson, Zach Harrison, Kourt Williams, Cam Brown, TreVeyon Henderson and others, and how Day will handle practice this spring in terms of getting players enough work coming off a season affected by coronavirus.

Spring football is almost here, and thanks for preparing for it with Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Bracket Talk: Revealing our NCAA Tournament Brackets, and our Gas Station Snack Bracket Mar 17, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk, it's all about the bracket. First, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises make their NCAA Tournament picks, revealing their Elite Eight teams and then their national champions. Who will pick Ohio State to reach the Final Four? Who will predict the Big Ten to break a two-decade drought and win a national title? Stephen, Nathan and Doug run through all of that, plus what Alabama might learn from Ohio State about being a power in both football and basketball.

Then it's time for another bracket -- Gas Station Snacks. Doug reveals the 64 items in the bracket and the first-round matchups region by region, with Nathan and Stephen offering instant analysis on the Salty, Baked Goods, Candy and Hot/Cold Snack regions. Ohio State text subscribers will be voting on the snack showdowns over the next few weeks, so if you'd like to participate, send a text to 614-350-3315 for a free trial.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Does Ohio State need to commit to one quarterback by opening day, and the Woody Hayes-Bob Knight comparison Mar 16, 2021

Ohio State's quarterback competition resumes at a new level this week when the Buckeyes officially begin spring drills on Friday. On today's Buckeye Talk we essentially asked what sort of deadline Ryan Day must work with in making biggest decision of his tenure so far. If August comes and two contenders remain neck-and-neck, should OSU find a way for both of them to play to start the season?

Also, we were already planning to discuss the similarities between a previous era of Ohio State football and Indiana basketball. Then IU fired Archie Miller while we were recording. Why the Hoosiers need to hire their Jim Tressel, and why that program's plummet reminds us how the timing worked out perfectly in OSU's last three football hires.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: March 15, 2021 Mar 15, 2021

Ohio State spring football practice prepare to begin. The NCAA basketball tournament. Ohio State Basketball highest seed in NCAA since 2013. Could the big 10 win its first basketball national championship in 21 years? Latest in Ohio State Buckeye football recruiting.

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A draft expert explains why Justin Fields is one of the best NFL QB prospects in years Mar 13, 2021

There are three parts to this weekend Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

First (starting at 3:04) Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are joined by QB film expert Derrik Klassen, who recently wrote a piece for FootballOutsiders.com about Justin Fields as an NFL Draft prospect and why he thinks Fields is even better than recent prospects like Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray and Jared Goff. If you've been seeing questions about Fields as a prospect and wondering why, Klassen really breaks it down for you.

Then (40:15), Stephen Means joins from Indianapolis and leads a discussion about Ohio State's overtime win over Purdue in the Big Ten quarterfinals and what it told us about the basketball Buckeyes in the NCAA Tournament.

The last section (58:33) is Doug and Nathan looking back at the last live podcast a year ago and what they learned about the coronavirus since then and how they think sports coverage will still be affected in the future. Finally, (1:24.44) the episode wraps up with a 12-minute segment from the podcast from March 10, 2020 and what Doug, Nathan and Stephen were saying then.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State football's remaining recruiting battles for 2022, and the importance of the in-state five-star Mar 12, 2021

Another edition of Buckeye Futures Friday kicks off with an introduction to the "recruiting battles" series Stephen is writing throughout the month of March. Ohio State already has 11 commits for the 2022 class. Which targets are the Buckeyes really still pursuing and which ones will be toughest to sign?

Also, a discussion about how and why in-state five-star prospects have been so critical for OSU, and not just for what they eventually do on the field.

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How to view allegations of cheating in other major college football programs Mar 11, 2021

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird discuss how to view allegations of cheating made by a high school coach in Georgia this week. A recording of the coach saying that Georgia and Alabama have plans for paying players was made public and spurred this discussion. It's hard to discuss the facts, because nothing is close to proven. So the idea was to ask Ohio State fans how the underlying rumors of cheating in college sports affects how they view the sport and their favorite team.

There aren't hard facts in this one, but there are lots of opinions from Doug, Nathan and the texters about a subject that isn't usually discussed on Buckeye Talk.

Thanks for listening.

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What if Ohio State hadn't hired Ryan Day to replace Urban Meyer? A Buckeyefly Effect Mar 10, 2021

Trying something new here on Buckeye Talk, as suggested by a text subscriber. It's time to dive into changing one decision in Ohio State history, and figuring out what would have happened. We're calling it Buckeyefly Effect (like Butterfly Effect) and we're starting with Ryan Day. What if the Buckeyes had not hired Day to replace Urban Meyer when Meyer resigned in December 2018? Who would the Buckeyes have hired instead? What would have happened to the program? And what would have happened to Day?

That's what Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discussed on this episode, with great insight offered by texters, and survey results explaining how fans have adapted to the Day era and what they would think if it had never happened.

It's a great discussion of what could have happened that tells you a lot about what did happen. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Zach Harrison? Josh Proctor? Teradja Mitchell? OSU defenders who can raise their games this season Mar 09, 2021

This is the second part of the Buckeye Talk that dropped on Saturday. That one dealt with the top five offensive players that need to raise their games for the 2021 season. Now Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dive into the same question on the defensive side, with five Buckeyes who need to raise their games, and it gets a lot more complicated. With fewer sure things on defense, there are at least 10 candidates for this discussion and they've present at every position. So where do players like linebacker Teradja Mitchell, defensive tackle Taron Vincent and cornerback Cam Brown fit in this discussion?

Doug, Nathan and Stephen break it all down. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, March 8 Mar 08, 2021

The Buckeyes would have had 14 players invited to the NFL combine, but it's not happening this year. The Buckeyes set the start of spring football practice. Ohio State announces April 17 for a tentative spring game date. Buckeye spring battle for lineup positions. Ohio State leading Big 10 recruiting race.

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Top 5 Ohio State Buckeyes who must raise their games on offense in 2021 Mar 06, 2021

For this weekend Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and the Ohio State text subscribers ranked the players that Ohio State most needs to raise their games on offense in the 2021 season. It could be a jump from average to good, from good to great or from great to the best in the country. But who would make the biggest difference? The guys agree on some players and disagree on others, so listen in, and then come back for the Tuesday podcast as they'll do the same thing on the defensive side of the ball.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Has Michigan's recruiting resurgence already begun? Buckeye Futures Friday Mar 05, 2021

Welcome back for our end-of-the-working week recruiting focus. Nathan and Stephen allowed promising young newcomer Doug Lesmerises to join. Topics included Kiyon Grayes' commitment and what it means for the wide receiver position and the 2022 class, early recruiting returns from Michigan's revamped coaching staff and some surprising (or maybe not-so-surprising) Big Ten recruiting rankings over the past five classes.

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Did the Buckeyes peak too soon? Ohio State basketball live Zoom Mar 04, 2021

A couple of weeks ago, Ohio State men's basketball was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament committee's early bracket reveal and bracing to play The Game of the Year against Michigan. The Buckeyes head into Sunday's season finale against Illinois on a three-game losing streak. What happened, and can Chris Holtmann's squad regroup for the postseason? We invited our text subscribers for this live Zoom discussion.

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Threat Level Buckeye Talk: Which Big Ten teams are the greatest threats to Ohio State football? Mar 03, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means tackle two questions with the help of the OSU texters: Which Big Ten teams are the greatest short-team threats to the Buckeyes, and which Big Ten teams are the greatest long-term threats to the Buckeyes?

Doug, Nathan, Stephen and the texters rank the other 13 Big Ten teams in both categories, and that leads to interesting debates about the futures and ceiling of teams like Michigan, Penn State, Northwestern, Minnesota, Illinois and Maryland.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk five days a week from Tuesday through Saturday.

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Your top 10 questions about Ohio State football ahead of spring practice Mar 02, 2021

With a change in the weather and a change in the calendar to March, it was time for Buckeye Talk to dive in headfirst to spring football discussions. Our text subscribers sent us their No. 1 question for the spring and we compiled them into a top 10 list. Obviously a lot of people wanted to discuss the quarterback competition and structural changes in the secondary. But we also delved into defensive back development, what happens at Sam linebacker, where the next defensive line breakthrough may come from and more.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: March 01, 2021 Mar 01, 2021

Ohio State lands another receiver recruit, Kyion Graves. Ohio State now with 11 recruits in the class of 2022. Ohio State on track to host Oregon in the 2nd game of season. Ohio State planning to practice, spring game potentially April 17. Vegas odds on teams to potentially challenge Ohio State this season.

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Which teams besides Alabama and Clemson should Ohio State fans worry about in 2021? Feb 27, 2021

The top three programs in college football are not in dispute as the offseason ramps up into spring practices. However, could there be another team lurking in the weeds as LSU did in 2019, ready to spoil the party and make a run at "Super Team" status? Doug, Nathan and Stephen give their criteria on what attributes such teams need to have, and which programs seem poised for a peak in 2021.

Also, they discuss the changes to Ohio State's season tickets and giving policy and what that could mean for fans and the athletic department.

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How is Ohio State laying the foundation for the 2023 recruiting class? Buckeye Future Friday Feb 26, 2021

Ohio State football sent out a flurry of Class of 2023 offers over the past few days. Nathan and Stephen open this episode of BFFs discussing what foundation OSU is laying for that class and how the extended dead period and last season's lack of visits might impact early commitments.

They also run through questions from text subscribers about Philadelphia-area recruiting, Kerry Coombs and continuing the streak of signing the nation's No. 1 receiver prospect.

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Does Ohio State's coaching staff need to trust its young players more in 2021? Feb 25, 2021

Branching off of our Big Wednesday draft, we wanted to continue the conversation on the young vs. old position battles facing Ohio State football in 2021. is there really evidence that this Buckeyes coaching staff has a blind spot when it comes to leaning to veterans, to the detriment of team performance? Which positions will the young vs. old question apply to the most for the 2021 season?

Also, we break down the upcoming week for OSU men's basketball and how the Buckeyes can still improve their case for a No 1 NCAA Tournament seed.

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Building our Ohio State parking lot football teams based on recruiting rankings Feb 24, 2021

We came up with another big draft for the Big Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk. Doug, Nathan and Stephen each built eight-man teams for a fictional parking lot football game of Ohio State players. They were spending on a budget, based on the recruiting ranking tiers the Buckeyes fell into when they came out of high school. Along the way they discussed the stars who need to step up on defense, the depth in the running back room, the questions still lingering in the secondary and more.

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Ohio State-Michigan basketball recap and Buckeye NFL Draft speculation Feb 23, 2021

In a rare sporting event that lived up to the hype, Ohio State and Michigan played one of the season's best college basketball games on Sunday. Nathan and Stephen open this episode by discussing where the Buckeyes came up short in a 92-87 loss and what this game told us about their deep NCAA Tournament hopes. Also, they took questions from Buckeye Talk text subscribers on OSU's first-round prospects and other NFL Draft-related topics.

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From Ohio State football through Northwestern basketball, ranking the Big Ten 1-28 Feb 20, 2021

One of Doug's favorite features on Buckeye Talk is when he and Stephen critique one of Nathan's projects. For this weekend episode of Buckeye Talk, Nathan combined all of the Big Ten football and men's basketball programs together and ranked them 1-28. The No. 1 team is fairly obvious, and there wasn't much argument about the bottom few, either. How do Sweet 16s and bowl victories compare? Which schools put both programs in our consensus top 10?

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How Ohio State leads in finding late-rising prospects: Buckeye Futures Friday Feb 19, 2021

Nathan and Stephen are back for another edition of Buckeye Future Fridays focusing on Ohio State recruiting. Today they open with a discussion on the NCAA extending the dead period through May 31 and the consequences for both athletes and the Buckeyes. Then they delve into OSU's success at finding prospects before they climb the recruiting rankings and who might fit that description for 2022. Lastly, they go rapid fire with questions from our Buckeye Talk text subscribers.

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Ohio State and Michigan meeting for A Game, and where is Buckeyes men's basketball headed as a program? Feb 18, 2021

Ohio State and Michigan play this weekend, with the winner potentially taking the driver's seat for the Big Ten championship and rising even higher than its current lofty national stature. That is how we should be talking about The Game every November, but alas, the Wolverines are not living up their end. Of course last football season, we did not even get to have The Game. But Sunday's men's basketball matchup at Value City Arena between No. 4 OSU and No. 3 Michigan gives us a small taste of the rivalry.

We use this big weekend for the Buckeyes to jump into a conversation on where the program stands and where it could be headed under Chris Holtmann. But it's not all football talk, as we discussed how the programs complement each other and what it means when both are among the best in the nation.

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Drafting the Ohio State quarterbacks, running backs and receivers of the 2000s. Feb 17, 2021

Many months ago, a text subscriber posted the question: What one quarterback, one running back and three receivers would you pick from the year 2000-on for Ohio State football?

We decided that challenge was not tough enough. Doug, Nathan and Stephen picked TWO quarterbacks, TWO running backs and FOUR receivers from that era. Even better, the did so via a draft, so they could take the players each other hoped to get and critique the picks their podmates ended up making.

Also, what one album, one book and one male and female celebrity would you take if stranded on a deserted island for one year? All of that and more on the Big Wednesday edition of Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: February 16, 2021 Feb 16, 2021

Al Washington stays put in Ohio. Ohio State adds analysts to staff. C.J. Barnett hired as director of player development. Minor adjustments to 20-21 college football season. Ohio State vs. Michigan face off in basketball this coming Sunday.

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Can Ohio State put together an Alabama-like dynasty under Ryan Day? Feb 16, 2021

We're kicking off the week with a rapid-fire edition of Buckeye Talk. Among the Tuesday topics: What role does diversity play in hiring assistant coaches, is an Alabama-like dynasty attainable for the Buckeyes, would you take Ryan Day over other national coaches to lead a program over the next decade and who would win an arm wrestling match between Nathan and Stephen? (Notice no one asked how Doug would fare in that competition.)

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Did keeping Al Washington save Ohio State's 2021 season, and what will the new analysts add? Feb 13, 2021

After a week of speculation, Al Washington is staying at Ohio State as linebackers coach -- and, we assume, some other change in title and duties. The Tennessee defensive coordinator job will not be the only one dangled in front of the Buckeyes' rising young defensive assistant in the coming years. But for 2021, would losing Washington have potentially punched a hole in Buckeyes' season that would have been difficult to repair?

Doug, Nathan and Stephen also discuss the addition of analysts on offense and defense and the return of C.J. Barnett in a player development role.

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What state could be the next one Ohio State targets in recruiting? Feb 12, 2021

For the second installment of Buckeye Future Fridays -- BFFs if you're short for time -- Nathan and Stephen take a look at the national recruiting map. Ohio State has enjoyed great success in both California and Texas, but major programs in those states are in the process of turning things around. OSU has also exploited other areas when home-state programs take a dip, such as New Jersey. So where could the Buckeyes next make similar inroads and pick up some big recruiting wins over multiple years?

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Buckeyes as fifth-year seniors, and as Ninja Warrior walk-ons Feb 11, 2021

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, the episode is split into two parts. Up first, Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss fifth-year seniors in the OSU program, how they help the Buckeyes, which members of the 2017 recruiting class now in Year 5 could help in 2021, and how fifth-year seniors could help playoff pushes in 2022 and 2023. Is the transfer portal lessening the chances of finding Buckeyes who pop in Year 5? And are Ohio recruits more likely to be those Year 5 guys?

Then, Doug interviews Clay Raterman, because he's ripped. Not Doug, but Clay. He walked on the Ohio State football team in 2017 while at the same time competing in American Ninja Warrior competitions. Clay talks about why he was so motivated to try to play football at Ohio State, how he balanced football and Ninja Warrior at the same time, and the difference between training for football and for warrior competitions. Fun stuff.

Thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your week.

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Projecting Ohio State football's 2023 starting lineups Feb 10, 2021

For this week's Big Wednesday episode we are taking a big leap into the future. We already projected the 2021 depth chart, but that was child's play. What will Ohio State's starting offensive and defensive lineups be in 2023?

Obviously, accuracy is not the goal here. A similar exercise in 2017 only predicted 11 of 22 spots for 2020. However, it opened some interesting discussions of what we expected from the good young players on the current Buckeyes roster and how quickly we think incoming recruits and prospects -- some of whom remain uncommitted -- will make an impact.

Also, we discussed Tennessee's pursuit of Al Washington to be its defensive coordinator, including why or why not the Volunteers make sense as his next destination and why his departure would be a big loss for Ohio State.

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Who are the top 10 Ohio State players in the NFL right now? Feb 09, 2021

The NFL season is over, and the 2021 draft in Cleveland is two months away. Buckeye Talk wanted to wrap up one and look ahead to the other by taking stock of the best Buckeyes in the pros as of the end of the 2021 season.

Doug, Nathan and Stephen each ranked their top 10, as did our Buckeye Talk text subscribers. Would you still rank Michael Thomas No. 1 despite his odd and injury shortened 2021 season? Which pass rusher would you rank the highest? How high should Ezekiel Elliott rank coming off of a sub-par performance?

Doug also lists his man team of current OSU NFL players, and we speculate which other college programs could put together a similar team.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: February 08, 2021 Feb 08, 2021

Ohio State shifts attention to 2022 recruiting season. Ohio State coaching staff changes. Ohio State spring football practice right around the corner. NFL award for former Ohio State defender Chase Young. Ohio State assistant coach Al Washington targeted by Tennessee as potential defensive coordinator.

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How does Ohio State's 2021 quarterback situation compare to J.T. Barrett in 2014? Feb 06, 2021

Wrapping up the week on Buckeye Talk we delve back into the 2021 quarterback battle. The Buckeyes know they will have an unproven quarterback from Day 1, which is something no playoff team from the previous seven seasons can say. However, some of those teams had great success or won national championship games with true or redshirt freshmen quarterbacks. One example was Ohio State in 2014, which made its playoff push with redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett. What does that season tell us about what might lie ahead for Kyle McCord, Jack Miller and C.J. Stroud?

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What positions are Ohio State's biggest priorities in the 2022 recruiting class? Feb 05, 2021

Fridays will be all about recruiting on Buckeye Talk throughout the offseason. Nathan and Stephen teamed up to take a look around the Big Ten Conference in the wake of Wednesday's national signing day. Things were quiet for Ohio State, but other teams landed some notable names or signed a big portion of their class. Which teams had strong recruiting cycles for 2021, and which ones lacked impact?

Then they take a closer look at what the Buckeyes still need to accomplish in the 2022 recruiting cycle. Ohio State already has 10 commitments for the class, but some positions with major needs are still looking for their first pledge. Stephen and Nathan rank 10 position groups based on urgency to complete this class.

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Is Ryan Day's preference for promoting from within a good thing, and talking Buckeye men's basketball Feb 04, 2021

Ohio State signed a grand total of ... no one on Wednesday's national signing day. But the Buckeyes still gave us plenty of news to talk about as Ryan Day made official the promotion of Matt Barnes to secondary coach and former quality control coach Parker Fleming to special teams coordinator. Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss what this means for defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs and why focusing on the secondary made sense. But they also scrutinized Day's obvious preference for promoting and bringing back familiar faces and whether that could be a problem down the road.

Also, Nathan and Stephen wrap up the show with a deeper look at Ohio State men's basketball, which plays a huge game at Iowa on Thursday night. Could this Buckeyes team be Final Four caliber?

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Has Ohio State's 2018 signing class underachieved, and is it also due for a breakthrough in 2021? Feb 03, 2021

Time for another Big Wednesday pod, and this one happens to fall on the first day of the late signing period. So we continue our week-long recruiting theme with a look back at Ohio State's 2018 signing class, which remains mostly intact entering those players' fourth seasons in 2021.

Doug Lesmerises provides historical perspective on what else was happening in the Buckeye program on February's signing day in 2018. That class was OSU's second in a row to be ranked No. 2 in the nation. However, unlike the heralded 2017 class, the top prospects in the 2018 group did not achieve individual success as quickly.

Which 2018 players who have yet to secure a major role are best poised to finally break through in 2021? More to the point, which players does OSU NEED to break through this fall?

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Can Ohio State ever hold off Alabama for the No. 1 recruiting class? Feb 02, 2021

The late signing period for the 2021 class begins Wednesday, and Class of 2022 recruiting is already well underway for Ohio State. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take a look at the national landscape and debate whether the Buckeyes -- a runner-up for the nation's top recruiting class a handful of times in the past decade, can ever sign the No. 1 class. More specifically, is Alabama such a different animal from a recruiting standpoint that OSU should not even compare itself to the perennial champ. They break down how class size plays a role, and specifically, why a smaller class size in 2022 may play a factor in future rankings.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: February 01, 2021 Feb 01, 2021

Four Buckeyes play in the Senior Bowl.

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How Ohio State fans view transfers (fine, it's kind of a Tate Martell podcast) Jan 30, 2021

On this Saturday Buckeye Talk Podcast, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means ask questions about one of the most controversial former Buckeyes in recent years -- Tate Martell. But it's not only about Tate, for those who are tired of the one-time OSU quarterback who transferred two years ago without starting a game.

The guys, with the help of a texter survey, dig into how OSU fans feel about players who transfer, and whether that might change in the future. They also look at some other transfer quarterbacks in the Big Ten this offseason, discuss how successful the Buckeyes might have been with Martell at quarterback, talk about where Martell should go next now that he's transferring again, and then end the pod with how many marshmallows they could fit in their mouths.

It's Martell and marshmallows on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Passing out grades for Ohio State's defensive assistant coaches Jan 29, 2021

We critiqued the Ohio State offensive assistant coaches earlier this week. Now it's time to tackle the other side of the ball. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means give their A-F grades for each defensive assistant, and so do our text subscribers. Also, which assistant on the entire staff did the best job in 2020, and which one has the toughest challenge ahead for 2021?

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Will Michigan challenge Ohio State with Jim Harbaugh's revamped coaching staff? Jan 28, 2021

Some Ohio State fans were probably surprised that Michigan opted to give Jim Harbaugh a new contract -- even one with nearly unprecedented terms. Over the past couple of weeks he has also revamped his entire staff. Almost every position either turned over with a new coach coming in or saw a change in duties. The staff is also almost entirely comprised of coaches in their 30s.

Could this be a turning point for the Wolverines? Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss the possible benefits of this new approach, and debate whether or not it can put Michigan back in position to compete with Ohio State and beyond.

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Rapid fire on Ohio State's QB battle, the offensive ceiling, the best QB the Buckeyes ever beat, and more Jan 27, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through 15 rapid fire questions from Ohio State text subscribers. Most of them are about the offense, with a few focused on the looming QB battle. Other question topics include which Buckeye might wear the Block O jersey in 2021; linebacker K'Vaughan Pope; receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba; potential replacements for athletic director Gene Smith; which player might make for an interesting position switch; the best QB Ohio State has ever beaten; and something we could eat 1,000 of in a year.

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Passing out grades for Ohio State's offensive assistant coaches Jan 26, 2021

If you listened to the live postseason survey episode of Buckeye Talk, you heard us reference a couple of questions about the assistant coaching staff that we held off on for time. Those questions spawned this episode grading the offensive assistant coaches and another to come on the defense. We discuss the various aspects of job performance for Kevin Wilson, Greg Studrawa, Tony Alford, Brian Hartline and Corey Dennis and how the offensive staff as a whole is performing coming out of the 2020 season.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: January 25 Jan 25, 2021

Ohio State defensive assistant Greg Mattison retires

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Where Ohio State should look for Greg Mattison's successor as co-defensive coordinator Jan 23, 2021

Ryan Day announced the retirement of co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison on Friday morning, and the Buckeyes' search for his replacement leads our discussion. What kind of coach -- age, position speciality, background -- should Ohio State prioritize? What coaches with ties to Day or Ohio would make sense as Mattison's successor?

We also delve into the other topics of conversation from Friday morning's teleconference. How will Day handle the three-man quarterback battle this spring? Where is Ohio State on scholarship numbers and what does that mean for a couple of big recruiting options still on the board?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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The nine Ohio State Buckeyes expected to be taken in the 2021 NFL Draft Jan 22, 2021

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take a first look at the Buckeyes expected to be part of the 2021 NFL Draft, which is scheduled to be held in Cleveland from April 29 to May 1.

Of course quarterback Justin Fields will be taken in the first round, but Ohio State also could have a run on players in the third and fourth round. There's a lot of draft coverage ahead, but this is a first run-through of the OSU draft prospects, from Tommy Togiai to Trey Sermon, from Wyatt Davis to Pete Werner, from Baron Browning to Josh Myers.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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The Buckeyes' defensive depth chart for 2021: Projecting Ohio State for next season Jan 21, 2021

On this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dissect the Ohio State defensive two-deep for the 2021 season.

Nathan leads the way as the guys try to figure out how Lathan Ransom, Josh Proctor, Lejond Cavazos, Ronnie Hickman and others will be deployed in the secondary.

With the top four linebackers gone from 2020, who makes up the entire new starting group in that room?

On the defensive line, what's the deep defensive end rotation, and who helps Haskell Garrett most at tackle?

The offensive depth chart was the previous episode on Wednesday, so don't miss that. And thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Projecting Ohio State's offensive depth chart for 2021 Jan 20, 2021

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk episode, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means project Ohio State's offensive depth chart for next season.

It starts with the offensive line and how the Buckeyes will sort out the tackle position with Thayer Munford, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Paris Johnson.

Then it's the tight ends, headlined by the return of Jeremy Ruckert.

At running back, how will the Buckeyes balance veteran Master Teague and freshman TreVeyon Henderson?

The quarterback battle is wide open and fascinating.

And then it's the stacked receiver room and how the snaps will be distributed with both Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson back.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: January 20 Jan 20, 2021

Ohio State players make NFL Draft decisions.

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Who's gone? Who's staying? The Buckeyes make their NFL Draft decisions Jan 19, 2021

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through the NFL Draft declarations of more than 10 Buckeyes, and what the decisions mean for the players and the program.

Chris Olave, Tommy Togiai, Justin Fields, Jeremy Ruckert, Tyreke Smith, Shaun Wade, Josh Myers, Wyatt Davis, Baron Browning, Nicholas Petit-Frere ... what they're doing and what it changes for the 2021 Buckeyes.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk, now coming at you five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday.

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Who deserved more snaps? Who were we most wrong about? Here's the Ohio State football season wrap-up survey. Jan 16, 2021

We went LIVE again to wrap up the best and worst of Ohio State football in 2020. And as always we turned to our Buckeye Talk subscribers to help us put the season in perspective. We gave our texters a series of questions to gauge their analysis of the Buckeyes. Who were the offensive and defensive MVPs? Who deserved more snaps than they received? Who were we most wrong about and most correct about compared to our preseason expectations. Who is best poised for a 2021 breakthrough, and which 2020 senior do you most wish could stay with the Buckeyes.

One of those answers came Saturday morning, when Thayer Munford announced he will return. So we open with a discussion of what that means for the Buckeyes and, in particular, Paris Johnson Jr.

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How could Urban Meyer taking the Jacksonville Jaguars job affect Ohio State? Jan 14, 2021

Only 72 hours removed from the national championship game, the biggest story around Ohio State football involved someone who did not play or coach in that game. With former Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer reportedly set to take over the Jacksonville Jaguars, however, the repercussions could be felt in Columbus.

Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises -- with help from the Buckeye Talk text subscribers -- discuss everything from which Ohio State staffers could follow Meyer, what the impact might be, how Meyer could fare in the NFL and what is his legacy only two seasons remove from the end of his Buckeyes tenure?

Also, they wrap up their breakdown of Ohio State's defense against Alabama and what it does or does not say about Kerry Coombs as defensive coordinator.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: January 13, 2021 Jan 13, 2021

Alabama beats the Buckeyes in the national title game.

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19 burning questions on the Ohio State Buckeyes after the national title game Jan 12, 2021

After about five hours sleep, Doug, Nathan and Stephen are back for the Tuesday Buckeye Talk pod, going through the more than 1,000 questions and comments they received from text subscribers in the aftermath of Ohio State's loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night. Among the topics:

Was it a failure that Ohio State didn't win a national title with Justin Fields?
Did OSU make a mistake by not getting their young backup QBs more reps this season?
Did the Buckeyes miss Tommy Togiai or Trey Sermon more on Monday?
Which veterans with NFL decisions might come back?
How interesting will spring football be?
Did this season show the Angry Bama that we predicted in the preseason?
Is the greatest Bama edge over Ohio State in talent or coaching?
When does the breakfast cereal bracket start?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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National Championship postgame: Bama beats the Buckeyes Jan 12, 2021

On this national title game edition of Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means join from the press box at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., while Doug Lesmerises checks in from his basement and the three of them analyze Ohio State's 52-24 loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff on Monday night.

The guys run through Ohio State injuries and play calling on both sides, and debate whether the Buckeyes had a shot in this game if they'd played better, or if Alabama was just too dominant. They'll be back later Tuesday with a pod taking the postgame questions from subscribers. But for now, their thoughts.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Trey Sermon at 10-1 for MVP and other Ohio State-Alabama national championship prop bets Jan 10, 2021

One day before the national championship game we decided to have a little fun on Buckeye Talk. We looked through the various prop bets, from whether there will be a defensive or special teams touchdown to who wins MVP to whether Dabo or Urban is mentioned first on the broadcast. Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means discuss which side of various bets they would take and why. (As always, this is only an exhibition. This is not a competition. Please, no wagering.)

Also, Doug shared thoughts on what Urban Meyer's potential interest in the Jacksonville Jaguars job could mean for Ohio State's football taff.

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Ohio State vs. Alabama, Picks and Preview for the National Championship Jan 09, 2021

On this special Saturday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are joined by more than 100 text subscribers in a live Zoom call to preview and make picks for Monday night's National Championship Game between Ohio State and Alabama.

Before Nathan and Stephen makes their picks, and Doug explains why he's not making a pick, the guys run through several questions in a text subscriber survey, including:

Which Alabama skill player should Ohio State most worry about?
Which OSU skill player other than Justin Fields is the most important to the game?
Which unit will decide the game -- OSU offense, OSU defense, Alabama offense or Alabama defense?
Which is the best OSU team of the playoff era?
Is this Alabama team the best OSU opponent of the playoff era, of the six teams the Buckeyes have played?
What is the level of confidence for OSU fans in this game compared to the 2014 Alabama matchup?
And how much will potential absences on the Ohio State defensive line affect the game?

It's a great time with the texters, so get ready for this big Saturday preview. Thanks for listening all season to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. And there will be one more podcast episode before the game.

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How is Justin Fields feeling ahead of the national championship game against Alabama? Jan 08, 2021

Buckeye Talk delved into another day of interviews ahead of Monday's College Football Playoff national championship game near Miami. Alabama coach Nick Saban was not especially keen on pushing back the game for coronavirus reasons. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said that won't be necessary and the Buckeyes will have plenty of players available at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday. Justin Fields says he'll be fine by Monday night after his painful Sugar Bowl experience.

All of that, plus some thoughts on Paris Johnson and Miyan Williams and projecting players in context. Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State defense vs. Alabama offense: Talking Shaun Wade, Kerry Coombs, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith and more Jan 07, 2021

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, the focus is the National Championship Game interviews from Wednesday that featured the Alabama offense and the Ohio State defense.

Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means break all that down, including:

Comparing Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith to Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.
Whether it's more about scheme or talent for the Ohio State defense.
When bulletin board material is fake.
A little discussion on Ohio State and two running back systems.

It's another big pod of title game prep. Thanks for listening.

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Nick Saban's daughter tweeted what? And how vulnerable is the Alabama defense? Jan 06, 2021

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Alabama beat writer Michael Casagrande of AL.com to break down the Alabama roster and compare this Crimson Tide team to the 2014 team that the Buckeyes beat in a playoff semifinal.

How does Heisman-winning receiver DeVonta Smith compare to Amari Cooper? Is running back Najee Harris like Derrick Henry? And how much better is Mac Jones than the quarterback of that team, Blake Sims? Plus, how vulnerable is this Alabama defense and what might the Buckeyes do against it?

But first, Doug and Nathan Baird broke down the title game news of the day, which centered on rumors of Monday's game possibly being pushed back, and the actual tweets that were sent by Nick Saban's daughter criticizing the Buckeyes over their possible positive COVID-19 cases.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ranking the Clemson win among the best in modern Ohio State history Jan 05, 2021

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are joined by 100 text subscribers in a live Zoom to place Ohio State's win over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl in context.

How does it compare to the 2002 national title game win over Miami? The 2014 semifinal win over Alabama? The No. 1 vs. No. 2 Michigan game in 2006? The 2017 fourth-quarterback comeback against Penn State? The guys get texter input, reveal vote totals from a survey and talk it out.

Then it's on to Alabama and what the Clemson win means for this national title game showdown. Will OSU fans be OK if the Buckeyes don't beat Bama because the Clemson win was so cathartic? How many fans truly believe the Buckeyes should chase a national title every year? And if the Buckeyes do beat Alabama, will this be the greatest season in Ohio State history?

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: January 5 Jan 05, 2021

Ohio State beats Clemson to advance to the National Championship Game vs. Alabama.

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Big Ten bowl seasons losers (Indiana) and winners (everyone else): Monday Madness Jan 04, 2021

Ohio State's 49-28 victory over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl pushed the Big Ten's bowl record to 3-1. That one loss came courtesy of the one team -- Indiana -- that felt it had been shoved into a lower bowl slot than it deserved. Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen means discuss the Hoosiers' late-season whining and what the Big Ten's bowl performance says about 2021.

Also, the Buckeye Talk crew discusses Cincinnati's bowl loss to Georgia and the Ohio State's early position as an 8-point underdog to Alabama in the national championship game.

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Sugar Bowl wrap rapid fire: Justin Fields' place in history, Ryan Day's place among current coaches Jan 03, 2021

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take 10 rapid fire questions from texters who were celebrating in the aftermath of Ohio State's Sugar Bowl win over Clemson. Plus, there were a couple drunk texts and some swear words aimed at Doug and Nathan for picking Clemson to win.

Beyond that, texters asked about what a later Heisman date may have meant for Justin Fields; if Fields is the best OSU QB ever; how Ryan Day now ranks among head coaches in college football; if Ohio State has passed Clemson in the college football hierarchy; whether the Buckeyes will have any emotional energy left for Alabama; and if the Buckeyes can beat the Tide.

Plus, some travel stories getting home from New Orleans and talk about Tom Herman getting fired at Texas and Jim Harbaugh nearing an extension at Michigan.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Down goes Dabo: Ohio State does almost everything right to take down Clemson Jan 02, 2021

Welcome to this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com. It's very late, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are very tired.

But Ohio State played an excellent game to beat Clemson 49-28 and set up a national title matchup against Alabama, and you care about all of that and know what the deal with this podcast is, so listen.

Thanks as always.

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Ohio State vs. Clemson: Making our picks for the Sugar Bowl Dec 31, 2020

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk Podcast from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dive into a live Zoom with text subscribers to preview Ohio State vs. Clemson in Friday's Sugar Bowl and to make their game picks for the Buckeyes vs. the Tigers. Tyler Shoemaker, the officially unofficial bookmaker of Buckeyes Talk, joins to talk about the 7.5-point line that has the Buckeyes as underdogs. Doug, Nathan and Stephen also make their picks for Alabama-Notre Dame and Cincinnati-Georgia.

And everyone discusses which players, other than Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, could be the key to the game, with the nominations including Haskell Garrett, Marcus Williamson, Josh Proctor, Pete Werner and Trey Sermon.

The game is almost here. The next Buckeye Talk Pod will be a postgame episode after Friday night's game. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk all season.

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Is this a big test for Kerry Coombs? And Ohio State vs. Clemson recruiting Dec 30, 2020

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk podcast episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through what they learned from Tuesday's Sugar Bowl interviews with Ohio State's defense and Clemson's offense.

What does Clemson think of Pete Werner? Will the Clemson receivers have a better game against the Buckeyes this time? Is this a big test for first-year OSU defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs? And is Clemson the No. 1 recruiting rival for Ohio State? Plus, the guys run through ways in which the competitive balance in college football might be fixed, and whether they agree or disagree with some ideas on how to do it.

The picks and preview pod is coming Thursday. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: December 29 Dec 29, 2020

Ohio State and Clemson meet Friday in the Sugar Bowl.

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Is Ohio State ready to play its best game of the season against Clemson? Dec 29, 2020

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through what they learned after interviews Monday with Ohio State offensive players and Clemson defensive players as both teams continue to prepare for Friday's Sugar Bowl.

Are the Buckeyes really ready to play their best game of the year against Clemson, and have they been playing down to competition? Did Dabo Swinney's ballot explanation about ranking Ohio State 11th actually make sense? How much did Garrett Wilson miss having Brian Hartline on the sideline at the Big Ten Championship and what will it mean that Hartline is back? How is Justin Fields' thumb and what does he think of how he has played lately? And do Ohio State and Clemson players view each other as rivals or not?

All that and more on the latest Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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Should an Ohio State loss in the College Football Playoff come with an asterisk? Monday Madness Dec 28, 2020

Back in the summer and early fall, we discussed whether any college football national championship should come with an asterisk due to the coronavirus pandemic. As we enter the final week of preparations for the College Football Playoff semifinals, we are asking the opposite question. If Ohio State falls short of a national championship, should the COVID-19 experience put an asterisk on an otherwise great season?

Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises also delved into a text subscriber poll on what aspects of the Clemson offense concern OSU fans the most. And Doug summons up one final rant on Group of Five ultra-sympathizers and those who think they belong in the four-team playoff structure.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Revisiting our Mark It Down Monday predictions for Ohio State in 2020 Dec 24, 2020

Mark It Down Monday was a new addition to the daily Buckeye Talk rotation in 2020. We made our predictions on the outcome of the season, stat leaders, national awards, the Big Ten's coronavirus decisions -- basically every aspect of what could happen during the fall.

We were wrong more often than we were correct, as you'll hear as we recap all of those decisions. Some were more wrong than others. For instance, Baron Browning fell a bit short of that 10-sack prediction. Justin Fields will not win the Heisman Trophy. On other topics, though, we had a good grasp on how the Buckeyes would perform.

We're taking a small break from the pod, but come back bright and early for Monday Madness as we kick off a week of previewing the Buckeyes' playoff semifinal against Clemson at the Sugar Bowl.

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Breaking down Clemson with a Tigers writer, and Mookie Cooper enters the transfer portal Dec 23, 2020

On this Wednesday episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break the pod into three parts.

First up, a discussion on the news of freshman slot receiver Mookie Cooper entering the the transfer portal. What does it mean for the OSU receiver room? Plus, why is Michigan firing assistant coaches and not the head coach?

Then, Doug, Nathan and Stephen offer their opinions of Clemson, and where they think the Tigers could give the Buckeyes the most trouble.

Finally, Matt Connolly, the Clemson beat writer for www.thestate.com, joins Doug to break down Clemson position group by position group and to analyze where the Tigers are better and worse compared to the team that beat Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl last year.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Why Justin Fields will not be a Heisman Trophy finalist, and who will win it instead Dec 22, 2020

Way back on Aug. 3, the Buckeye Talk crew used an edition of Mark It Down Monday to predict that Ohio State's Justin Fields would win the 2020 Heisman Trophy. Unanimously.

Well, like a lot of things in 2020, that did not go according to plan. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means all gave their top three choices for the balloting, which ended Monday, and none of them have the Buckeyes' star in their top three.

So who should win? Your hosts debate the contenders and how much career achievements and accolades should factor into the single-season award.

Also, please take our survey at https://www.cleveland.com/buckeyetalksurvey/ to help us make the podcast an even better listening experience.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Dec. 22 Dec 22, 2020

Ohio State to face Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal.

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Dabo's a principled weasel, and does the College Football Playoff format need a reboot? Monday Madness Dec 21, 2020

Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises open the week with another Monday Madness. They open with the hot topic of the day -- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney voting Ohio State No. 1 in his USA Today coaches poll. Unlike most fake "bulletin board" material, could this actually backfire on Tigers' coach?

In addition to the usual Monday Madness categories we also talk about the angst many people have in the wake of the final College Football Playoff rankings. Why are people upset that the same four teams keep getting picked? What system or ranking method would possibly produce a better result?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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College Football Playoff announced: Ohio State vs. Clemson, and did Cincinnati get ignored? Dec 20, 2020

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break it down as the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes were matched in a College Football Playoff semifinal against No. 2 Clemson in New Orleans.

Here's the reaction to the revenge rematch, the latest news about whether Chris Olave will be able to play, and questions about how much the Buckeyes should fear the Tigers.

Plus, undefeated Cincinnati didn't get much of a look from the playoff selection committee. Was that unfair to the Bearcats or just the way it is? There's reactions from the guys and from text subscribers.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State-Northwestern postgame: The good and the bad from the Buckeyes' Big Ten Championship win Dec 20, 2020

On this postgame Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down Ohio State's 22-10 win over Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game.

There's the good (Trey Sermon's record-setting rushing game), the bad (the OSU passing game) and the questionable (Ryan Day waiting too long to get to the run game.) But the Buckeyes are assured a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The guys will be back with another pod Sunday afternoon after the playoff teams are announced, so this postgame pod isn't as long as usual. But thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State-Northwestern picks, and would the Buckeyes be favored against Bama, Clemson and other playoff contenders? Dec 18, 2020

On this Friday picks and preview pod, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are joined by the unofficially official bookmaker of Buckeye Talk, Tyler Shoemaker, to talk about what the betting lines would be if the Buckeyes played playoff contenders like Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Cincinnati and Texas A&M. Then, with 40 text subscribers joining them in the zoom room, the guys update what they know about any potential COVID situation with Ohio State and how it might affect the team. Then there's a discussion on how the playoff committee is viewing the Buckeyes, and then finally, their picks for the Ohio State-Northwestern Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday, as well as the ACC Championship between Clemson and Notre Dame and the SEC Championship between Alabama and Florida.

Thanks to the text subscribers who joined live, and thanks to everyone who listens to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 306: Ohio State National Signing Day insider: Big winners, future stars, positions of need Dec 17, 2020

On this big Thursday Buckeye Talk, there's about one hour and 45 minutes of recruiting talk and 25 minutes of football talk at the end. Just so you know.

Wednesday was National Signing Day, so Stephen Means, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are here to break down everything about the Buckeyes' class of 21 players, which was ranked No. 2 in the nation. From Jack Sawyer to Denzel Burke, from Mike Hall to Kyle McCord, Stephen, Doug and Nathan answer a load of texter questions on the class after talking to Ryan Day and Mark Pantoni about what they described as a drama-free class.

Then at the end, there was time for a little more talk about Saturday's Big Ten Championship between Ohio State and Northwestern.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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How to break down, and bet on, Ohio State vs. Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Dec 16, 2020

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk episode, the focus is the Big Ten Championship game between No. 4 Ohio State and No. 14 Northwestern on Saturday. To break down that game, Doug Lesmerises welcomes two guests. The first is Dan Olinger, a Northwestern football reporter for InsideNU.com who also happens to be a Northwestern student, an Ohio State fan and a listener of Buckeye Talk. Dan and Doug go over all the matchups on both sides of the ball, from Northwestern quarterback Peyton Ramsey to the Wildcats' back seven on defense that should be the best the Buckeyes have faced this season.

Then Doug is joined by longtime Big Ten football writer Teddy Greenstein, who recently took a job with PointsBet.com after covering Big Ten football for well over two decades. Teddy talks about his career change, the challenges and successes of betting Big Ten football this season, how he thinks Saturday's game will go and the long-term future for Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: December 16 Dec 16, 2020

The Buckeyes prepare for the Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern.

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Which Ohio State football players will be first team All-Big Ten, and which ones should be? Dec 15, 2020

The Big Ten will announce its all-conference teams and players of the year beginning Tuesday through Thursday. Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises talk about which Ohio State players will be first-team selections and which deserving players might get overlooked. Nathan also discloses some of the tougher choices on his ballot.

First up, though, on this rare Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk -- we take you behind the scenes of one of the long-standing traditions on cleveland.com's Ohio State beat. Every year we prepare for the open locker room at the Big Ten championship game by holding a draft of the players we will interview. These are never the obvious stars of the team, who we have regular access to throughout the year. These are the players who either are not playing much and we want to know why, or are true freshmen poised for bigger roles in the following season.

There will be no open locker room after this year's game due to COVID-19, but we held the draft anyway to give you a peek inside how we approach the job and delve into some discussions on out of sight out of mind players.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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What Ohio State needs to do against Northwestern to shut down SEC nonsense talk: Monday Madness Dec 14, 2020

On this Monday Madness Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises kick off Big Ten Championship Game week with a discussion about what the Ohio State Buckeyes need to do against Northwestern in Indianapolis on Saturday to slam the door on the SEC believing it should get a second team in the playoff instead of the Buckeyes getting in there.

There's a look at Illinois firing Lovie Smith, a discussion of all the Big Ten matchups this weekend and answers from the text subscribers on whether they'd rather see Ohio State play Northwestern or Michigan on Saturday.

Then Nathan and Doug discuss the Northwestern defense, the betting line for this game, whether USC should be ranked higher on Nathan's AP ballot and how they think the final four for the playoff will look a week from now. Will the Buckeyes wind up playing Alabama, Notre Dame or Clemson in a semfinal?

Thanks for listening to this Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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No Ohio State-Michigan on the worst weekend of Big Ten football ever -- and Dabo's a weasel Dec 11, 2020

Ohio State will not play The Game against Michigan on Saturday due to the Wolverines' coronavirus cases. The Big Ten also apparently could not figure out some other way to get the Buckeyes. The result is maybe the worst weekend of Big Ten football ever, or at least in recent memory. But the Buckeye Talk crew valiantly came together to make their weekly picks.

The Buckeyes are playing a "mock game" in practice on Friday. Which OSU offensive and defensive units would have the edge if they went head-to-head in a scrimmage. All of that, plus why Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is such a little weasel.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 305: Ranking the 10 best Ohio State football players this season Dec 10, 2020

On this big Thursday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means step away from the upheaval of this week, with the cancellation of the Michigan game and the Big Ten decision to allow Ohio State to play in the Big Ten Championship Game despite playing only five regular-season games. That's been discussed. So let's do some football talk again.

On this pod, Nathan, Doug and Stephen each give their top 10 list of the best Ohio State players this season. Of course Justin Fields is high on that list, but how does someone like defensive tackle Haskell Garrett fit in? How about offensive tackles Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere? Linebackers Pete Werner and Baron Browning? Receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson? Tight ends Jeremy Ruckert and Luke Farrell? There's a pretty deep list of guys doing their jobs in 2020, and this episode is all about ranking them,

It's a good look at the full roster, so thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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What should the Big Ten do now that The Game is canceled and Ohio State has no one to play? Dec 09, 2020

We covered our initial reaction to the cancellation of The Game in Tuesday's emergency edition of Buckeye Talk. Now, we delve into YOUR reaction. How did you feel when you heard Ohio State and Michigan would not play for the first time in 103 years? Which of the available options do you want the Big Ten to implement, and which one do you think is most likely?

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discussed all of that. Also, what did Tuesday night's College Football Playoff rankings reveal tell us about where the Buckeyes stand heading into this weekend?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: December 9 Dec 09, 2020

The Ohio State-Michigan game is canceled

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The Game is canceled: Emergency pod Dec 08, 2020

Michigan's coronavirus cases forced the cancellation of The Game, meaning Ohio State will not play the Wolverines for the first time in 103 years. Doug Lesmerieses, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means cut through all the chaos for their quick reaction to the news and thoughts on what might come next.

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If Ohio State and Michigan cannot play, what will the Big Ten do? Monday Madness Dec 07, 2020

Monday Madness meets The Game. Or does it? We have reached the final week of the regular season, which should mean Ohio State playing Michigan in the Big Ten's biggest rivalry. But the Wolverines may not be able to play due to coronavirus cases.

Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises look at the various options available to the Big Ten if Michigan -- and perhaps another team or teams -- cannot play. They also discuss the historic 30-point spread in favor of the Buckeyes and the coming resolution on the what-ifs in the College Football Playoff race.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State vs. Michigan State postgame: What the Buckeyes showed while down 17 scholarship players Dec 06, 2020

Ohio State beat Michigan State 52-12 on Saturday after missing last week's game because of positive COVID-19 tests. Overall, Ohio State was without 17 scholarship players for various reasons, including three starting offensive linemen and important defenders like Tuf Borland, Tyler Friday and Josh Proctor. Head coach Ryan Day also missed the game because of his positive COVID-19 test. So what did Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means learn about the 5-0 Buckeyes while they were short-handed?

On this postgame podcast the topics include the defensive play, the new plan for the secondary, the interim win for Larry Johnson, a bad ABC broadcast, the new offensive line starters, Trey Sermon's big runs and what this all means for the Buckeyes in their playoff positioning.

Thanks for listening to this postgame Buckeye Talk Podcast from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State-Michigan State picks; Urban Meyer to Texas talk; and would the Buckeyes beat these other playoff contenders? Dec 04, 2020

It's our typical Friday picks and preview pod here at Buckeye Talk, but we're expanding it. In a week where the main issue was whether the Buckeyes would even be able to play at Michigan State on Saturday, there wasn't a lot of football analysis. So Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means made their picks for Ohio State vs. the Spartans, but they didn't dwell on it.

So they got into other things, led by questions from text subscibers.

The main two issues were how Ohio State would fare on the field against other College Football Playoff contenders like Georgia, Texas A&M, Florida, Cincinnati, Clemson, Notre Dame and Alabama. All three guys gave their thoughts on that.

Then the question came in from several texters on whether Urban Meyer is a legitimate candidate for the Texas job, and what would happen if he winds up leading the Longhorns. That, of course, was an interesting discussion.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 304: What if the Ohio State-Michigan game can't be played? Dec 03, 2020

On this big Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, The Game is on our minds. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at where things stand with the Ohio State and Michigan football programs and their COVID-19 cases, and what that might mean for the Ohio State vs. Michigan game scheduled for Dec. 12.

A texter survey gave a window into the thoughts of fans on this as Doug, Nathan and Stephen discussed what current rules about COVID-19 the Big Ten might change, if Ohio State could get a different opponent for the last week of the regular season, what Kirk Herbstreit said about Michigan possibly trying to dodge Ohio State, whether the Michigan game or the College Football Playoff is more important to OSU fans, whether the Michigan game should have been played earlier in the season, and if the four-team playoff has made everyone obsessed with the playoff at the expense of everything else in college football.

It's an odd, confusing time, but if you're stressed about what's happening with college football, let the podcast take on your stress for two hours.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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How Ohio State's highly-rated 2021 recruiting class will fit on the Buckeyes' roster Dec 02, 2020

It's a preview of the early college football signing period that is two weeks away, as Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises dive into the 2021 Ohio State recruiting class on this Buckeye Talk.

With 20 verbal commitments, the Buckeyes have the No. 2-rated class in the nation, behind only Alabama. It features a five-star defensive end, two big-time running back recruits, a five-star quarterback and five recruits ready to rebuild Ohio State's secondary.

Who are they? How did they get here? Which players might have roles right away in 2021? And what are the possible positions in 2021 where the Buckeyes will really need young players to step up?

Stephen, Nathan and Doug get into all of that, so prepare for a deep dive recruiting episode that also gives a good look ahead to how the overall 2021 roster will shape up.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: December 1 Dec 01, 2020

The Buckeyes deal with COVID-19 cases in the football program.

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Debating Ohio State's playoff case as the Buckeyes try to get back to football: Monday Madness Nov 30, 2020

On this Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means debate how the college football committee will view the Buckeyes as they missed another game. Is Florida gaining on Ohio State when it comes to playoff resume?

Plus, how Ohio State handled its weekend COVID news conference; how Alabama and Notre Dame should be ranked; the lingering questions about the OSU pass defense; and what Urban Meyer said about BYU.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Emergency Pod as Ohio State vs. Illinois is canceled: What does it mean for the Buckeyes? Nov 28, 2020

The Ohio State football game at Illinois was canceled on Friday night after the Buckeyes had too many positive tests for coronavirus in the football program. That is the second game the Buckeyes are missing this season, after a previous cancellation because Maryland had positive tests.

Nathan Baird made it to Champaign while preparing to cover the game Saturday, while Doug Lesmerises stayed in his basement. After the news that the game was off, they got together for an emergency podcast to discuss why it was canceled, whether next week's game vs. Michigan State will be played, and what this all means for Ohio State's season and playoff chances.

Read cleveland.com/osu for continuing updates on the Buckeyes and subscribe to a free trial of text messages for direct info on the team by texting 614-350-3315.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State vs. Illinois picks and preview as COVID affects the Big Ten Nov 27, 2020

On this Ohio State vs. Illinois preview from Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means give their picks for the game as COVID hangs over the Big Ten Conference, with Minnesota vs. Wisconsin canceled this week and Ohio State reportedly dealing with positive cases within the program.

Make sure you read cleveland.com/osu to stay updated on everything happening with Ohio State football if any news changes.

Meanwhile, this should have been Ohio State vs. Michigan week -- so would the Big Ten have been better off keeping the Buckeyes vs. Wolverines in this weekend slot? Plus, who's going to win the showdown between traditional powers in trouble as Penn State and Michigan prepare to play?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: November 26 Nov 26, 2020

Ohio State is No. 4 in the first College Football Playoff rankings.

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Ep. 303: Ohio State's playoff positioning, pass rush, latest 5-star recruit and Heisman race Nov 25, 2020

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means tackle four main areas over two hours.

The first College Football Playoff rankings, with Ohio State at No. 4. Why are the Buckeyes behind Clemson, and is it a big deal?
The performance of the Ohio State pass rush lately, both what OSU coaches and players said about it and what a rewatch from the Indiana game told us about it. There's a little talk about potential secondary changes in here as well.
The latest 5-star verbal commitment for the Buckeyes, Texas receiver Caleb Burton in the Class of 2022. How did the Buckeyes land him and why are their having so much recruiting success in Texas?
The Heisman Trophy race and where Justin Fields fits in it. There are five quarterbacks lumped together and how does Fields stack up and what can he do to separate himself?

Busy pod, and you'll have two days to listen to it. We'll catch you back with a fresh, full picks and preview pod on Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Where will Ohio State be in the first College Football Playoff rankings, and what's up with Dabo Swinney? Monday Madness Nov 23, 2020

So much to cover as Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises take a tour of college football on this Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk.

Among the topics: the Ohio State pass rush, Justin Fields' Heisman standing, whether Indiana or Northwestern is better, why Georgia didn't switch quarterbacks sooner, what's Dabo Swinney's problem with COVID caution, how bad is Nebraska, does Ohio State have anything to fear against Illinois, why won't BYU play Washington, will Notre Dame lose to North Carolina and what will the initial College Football Playoff rankings look like when they're released on Tuesday?

Enjoy this Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Indiana postgame: Are the Buckeyes in trouble because of their pass defense? Nov 22, 2020

On this postgame Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises are all over No. 3 Ohio State's 42-35 win over No. 9 Indiana.

Did you watch it? It was crazy. Ohio State led 35-7 early in the second half, but Justin Fields threw three interceptions and got sacked five times, and Indiana's Michael Penix threw for 491 yards, and ... seriously, just listen to the podcast.

It's lit.

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The Ohio State-Indiana Picks Preview ... interrupted by the verbal commitment of 5-star QB Quinn Ewers Nov 20, 2020

This Friday Buckeye Talk Podcast started out as one thing and then turned into another thing.

As usual, the Friday pod previews Saturday's OSU game, with Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means making their picks on the Buckeyes vs. Indiana in a top-10 matchup and a couple other Big Ten games. It's done in a live Zoom call Thursday evening ... and it got very live.

In the midst of the podcast, 5-star recruit Quinn Ewers, the No. 1 quarterback in the Class of 2022, announced his verbal commitment to Ohio State. Suddenly, there was more to preview than just a game. There was a QB future to gaze into.

So the pod shifted halfway and started covering both topics -- what's ahead for the Buckeyes on Saturday and what's ahead in the QB room for years to come.

Wild pod. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 302: Rapid fire Ohio State questions, freshmen WRs and crazy losses talk Nov 19, 2020

On this big Thursday Buckeye Talk Podcast, things got a little nuts.,

First, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discussed a text subscriber survey on the 5 types of Ohio State football losses, and which types hurt the most and the league. Intriguing.

Then came a look at Wednesday OSU interviews that shed some light on what's up with defensive end Zach Harrison and the freshmen receivers for the Buckeyes.

Then was a quick look at possible topics for the next Nonsense Bracket, including Christmas movies, gas station snacks and 80s and 90s sitcoms.

Finally came about 10 rapid fire questions on the ceiling of the Ohio State offense, why families can no longer sit in the stands at Ohio Stadium, how to store ketchup, what's happening at LSU and which cereal box character we would be.

It got weird, which just means it's another Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com.

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Grading and discussing all 5 Ohio State starting offensive linemen Nov 18, 2020

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises dig in on the Buckeyes' offensive line. They analyze all five offensive line starters using PFF grades and after rewatching the first three games of the season. Plus, what are the running backs doing, or not doing, to help the offensive line look better?

This episode is all about Thayer Munford, Harry Miller, Josh Myers, Wyatt Davis and Nicholas Petit-Frere and what they're bringing to the table this season.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: November 17 Nov 17, 2020

The Buckeyes are scheduled to host Indiana in a top-10 matchup Saturday.

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The Big Ten West has overtaken the East, and the Ohio State-Indiana betting line helps explain: Monday Madness Nov 16, 2020

We kick off a week of coverage and analysis of No. 3 Ohio State's home game vs. No. 9 Indiana with the Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk. We learned Sunday afternoon that the Buckeyes are favored by three touchdowns in this top-10 matchup. Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises -- demonstrably the worst two line-pickers among the three hosts thus far -- discuss why that number seems about right despite the game's billing.

That separation also helps explain why the Big Ten West is the league's better division top-to-bottom right now. With traditional powers Michigan and Penn State a combined 1-7 at the halfway point, teams such as Northwestern, Purdue and Iowa are trying to join Wisconsin as the Big Ten's runners-up in prestige in 2020.

Doug and Nathan also banter about their usual Monday Madness topics: the AP Top 25, upcoming storylines for Ohio State and College Football Playoff scenarios.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Indiana-Michigan State live postgame pod, looking ahead to Hoosiers' threat to Ohio State Nov 14, 2020

With no Ohio State game to analyze on Saturday, we could not break with tradition and blow off the postgame pod. So we watched the Buckeyes' next opponent, No. 10 Indiana, beat Michigan State 24-0, and invited our Buckeye Talk text subscribers to help assess the Hoosiers' threat.

Indiana receiver Ty Fryfogle had a huge game, and paired with Whop Philyor, the Hoosiers have a pair of playmakers who can challenge Ohio State's still-solidifying secondary. Quarterback Michael Penix, who missed IU's game against OSU last season, has burned multiple defenses early on with his gunslinging ways. However, the Hoosiers have also taken advantage of an abundance of short fields early in the season. Can they consistently drive the field against the Buckeyes?

On the other side of the ball, can Indiana's physical defensive backs become the first to successfully match up with Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Even if the Hoosiers do that, does that open the door for a big running game for Justin Fields? Again, the question comes down to whether IU can succeed for 70-75 yards per possession.

We also discussed a bad day of football overall in the Big Ten and Penn State's continued free-fall to 0-4.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State football's surprising Defensive MVP so far and other midseason awards Nov 13, 2020

It's the Friday edition of Buckeye Talk, which normally means predictions for Ohio State's game on Saturday. The Terrapins' coronavirus outbreak forced that game to be cancelled, however. So after picking three other Big Ten games -- where five of the six contests feature road favorites -- we moved on to recap the first half of the Ohio State season.

We took Justin Fields out of consideration for Offensive MVP, so truly we and our Buckeye Talk texters were all voting for second place. Does one receiver deserve mention over the other, or is the second-most valuable Buckeye up front? On defense, what seemed like a wide-open field narrowed to two overwhelming winners from our texters. Safe to say neither of them would have garnered much support if we were predicting OSU's defensive MVP before the season.

Who is Ohio State's most improved player in 2020, and who is poised for a breakout second half? Also, which player has left us scratching our heads, and what remains our biggest unanswered question about the Buckeyes? This podcast resets our understanding of OSU as the second half begins next Saturday against Indiana.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 301: The Ohio State vs. Maryland football game is canceled, so what's ahead for the Buckeyes? Nov 12, 2020

On this big Thursday Buckeye Talk Podcast from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the cancellation of the Ohio State-Maryland game on Saturday and what it means for the Buckeyes. It's a difficult discussion at times, as Doug becomes agitated while attempting to outline recent coronavirus cases in counties where Big Ten teams are located, and he curses the debates he is imagining in his head. But the podcast does cover why Maryland canceled the game, what it might mean for the College Football Playoff and how Ohio State's coronavirus situation currently ranks compared to other Big Ten teams.

Then, around the hour and three minute mark of this two-hour podcast, Doug, Nathan and Stephen move to more football topics from a text subscriber survey, including Justin Fields' Heisman Trophy chances; the likely OSU starting QB next year; which two players out of Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and J.K. Dobbins would most help this team this season; and which team is the most likely to win the Big Ten West.

The coronavirus discussion had to happen, but the plan will be to avoid a deep dive like that for the foreseeable future. Thanks for hanging in with Buckeye Talk.

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From Shaun Wade to Trey Sermon to Josh Myers, the progress of some of Ohio State's most interesting players Nov 11, 2020

On the Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means address what's happening with some of the most interesting Ohio State players this season, and what Ryan Day might do about it.

Shaun Wade was reflective in an interview about how he can play better, so where does the highly talented outside cornerback go from here? How will the running back load be split up between Master Teague and Trey Sermon as the Buckeyes roll forward? Will the interior of the offensive line bounce back after some rough spots last week? What will the safety split between Marcus Hooker and Josh Proctor look like, and could Proctor play more? And could a young corner like Ryan Watts get some reps with some flux in the depth of the secondary?

The Buckeyes have some interesting personnel decisions heading into a matchup with Maryland on Saturday, and Doug, Nathan and Stephen covered them all.

Thanks for listening.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: November 10 Nov 10, 2020

Ohio State prepares to visit Maryland

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The four College Football Playoff spots might be locked up: Monday Madness Nov 09, 2020

On this Monday Madness version of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises examine whether the four teams for the College Football Playoff might be set if nothing else crazy happens -- and Ohio State would be one of them.

They also discuss the wild start in the Big Ten East; how many of the14 Big Ten teams have the right guy as their head coach; potential playoff expansion; how good BYU might be; and whether Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa should make the Ohio State secondary nervous heading into Saturday's matchup.

It's a look at the national college football picture, and an early preview of the Buckeyes' next opponent. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State vs. Rutgers postgame pod: Which second-half problems could hurt the Buckeyes long-term? Nov 08, 2020

On this postgame Buckeye Talk Podcast after Ohio State's 49-27 win over Rutgers, the text subscribers had some major questions and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means tried to come up with answers.

The Buckeyes led the Scarlet Knights 35-3 at the half, but things got a little loose after halftime. What issues were one-time things, and what could follow the Buckeyes through the season? Plus, how did Ryan Day react to all of them?

Doug, Nathan and Stephen talked about what's really wrong in the secondary; what to make of the run game with Master Teague and Trey Sermon; how the offensive line played; how much of a problem were the Rutgers trick plays; are the defensive ends getting enough pressure; and what does it all mean for Ohio State's standing as a College Football Playoff contender?

All that on a very busy postgame Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. Thanks for listening.

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Rutgers preview and game prediction, and where would Brendon White fit in this Ohio State defense? Nov 06, 2020

Former Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and former Buckeyes safety Brendon White make their returns to Ohio Stadium on Saturday with Rutgers. Before we gave our score predictions, we answered our Buckeye Talk text subscriber questions about whether White would have improved this OSU defense had he stayed for his final season. While he fell out of the 2019 rotation, would he have a first-string role with Marcus Hooker and Josh Proctor?

Then we made our against-the-spread game predictions. Ohio State was favored by only 38 points as of Thursday evening. Why not more? We couldn't figure it out either, though it Gave Some of Us Pause as we made our predictions.

Also, we each picked our other Big Ten games ATS. Come back to Buckeye Talk late Saturday night after the 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

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Ep. 300: Is the Jim Harbaugh era ending at Michigan, and who should replace him? Nov 05, 2020

On this big Thursday Buckeye Talk podcast from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means cover a lot of ground.

First up, the latest with the Ohio State Buckeyes on Master Teague, Chris Olave, Cam Brown, Kerry Coombs, Pete Werner and more.

Then, the champion of our Chain Restaurant Bracket is revealed.

Next up, fallout from our recruiting discussion on 2022 QB Quinn Ewers, with the text subscribers agreeing with Nathan and disagreeing with Doug and Stephen.

And then finally, the coaching situation at Michigan. Do OSU fans want to see Jim Harbaugh stay or go? Should he keep his job for the good of the Wolverines, or are they better off with a change? Is he actually in his last season? And if he's done, who will replace him? P.J. Fleck? Brent Venables? Matt Campbell? Luke Fickell?

It's a big one, without much talk of Rutgers this week. Thanks for joining us on Buckeye Talk.

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Will the Buckeyes land No. 1 2022 QB recruit Quinn Ewers and what would it mean for their future? Nov 04, 2020

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk podcast from cleveland.co, the focus is all on 2022 quarterback prospect Quinn Ewers, a five-star that many national recruiting experts are now projecting to the Buckeyes. Should Ohio State take him? If they Buckeyes do, what will happen to C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller and Kyle McCord? Can you ever have too many good quarterbacks? Can a program ever be too ruthless in the pursuit of top talent? All that is on the board for Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird to discuss, while text subscribers check in with a survey, on this latest podcast from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: November 3, 2020 Nov 03, 2020

The undefeated Buckeyes get ready for Rutgers in Week 3.

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Should Ohio State be favored by more over Rutgers, and is Cincinnati a playoff team? Monday Madness Nov 02, 2020

On this Monday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird take their usual spin around college football while taking a first look at Ohio State's game with Rutgers on Saturday.

What will it be like for the Buckeyes to face former assistant Greg Schiano? Should the Buckeyes be more than 37-point favorites over the Scarlet Knights? What more can the OSU run game prove this week?

When it comes to the rest of college football, will Notre Dame beat Clemson this Saturday? Is Indiana peaking and ready to fall off? Does Georgia need a quarterback change? Should Nathan have voted for Purdue? And how legitimate of a playoff contender should Cincinnati be if the Bearcats continue playing well and winning big and if they finish undefeated?

It's a look ahead at the Buckeyes and a dose of the national college football scene, so thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your day.

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Ohio State vs. Penn State postgame pod: The message you need to hear about the Buckeyes Nov 01, 2020

Well, this episode got away just a bit. Ohio State beat Penn State 38-25 on Saturday in State College and somehow Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means spent an hour and 45 minutes talking about it -- Nathan and Stephen after watching the game in the press box and Doug after watching it from his couch.

Why was there so much to discuss? Because there were so many things that OSU fans were concerned about even in victory.

There were plenty of questions about the run game, the touchdowns allowed in the second half and the secondary in general. There was praise for Buckeyes like Justin Fields, Jonathon Cooper, Tuf Borland, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. This was probably the most interesting game of the regular season, with overmatched opponents ahead for the Buckeyes.

So maybe nearly two hours was needed.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Live preview and picks pod for Ohio State at Penn State Oct 30, 2020

Our Buckeye Talk text subscribers once again were treated to a live Thursday night audience for this episode previewing what annually stands up as the biggest game in the Big Ten East. Ohio State travels to Penn State on Saturday, and while the Nittany Lions cannot recreate Whiteout conditions, they still pose a threat to the Buckeyes' national championship hopes.

The Buckeyes were favored by 12 points as of the moment we hit record Thursday night. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means give their picks for OSU's first road game of the coronavirus era. Two of them believe the Buckeyes are too talented after Penn State lost both Micah Parsons and Journey Brown and will cover. One of them expects a game deep into the fourth quarter.

We share the results of our texter poll, breaking down how close they expect the game to be and how worried they are about an upset. We also invite some of them on the pod to ask us their questions about this always competitive matchup.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 299: Can Ohio State football follow an LSU path through this 2020 season? Oct 29, 2020

It's the big Thursday Buckeye Talk episode, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means have a lot to cover.

There are 15 rapid-fire questions from text subscribers as the Buckeyes prepare for a trip to Penn State on Saturday; a discussion about the Wisconsin-Nebraska cancellation; suggestions from listeners on what Nathan should have to do to pay off his losing bet to Doug from the season opener; and a review of the Final Four in our Chain Restaurant Bracket.

But most of the talk is on football, with a big look at the Ohio State running game. To start off, the discussion centers on whether the Buckeyes could be like last year's national champ, LSU, which featured a defense that improved a lot over the course of the season and was carried early by an offense that outscored everyone.

Could that happen for the Buckeyes as a young group of defenders eases into things?

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Are Penn State fans done with James Franklin, and did Ryan Day change his mind about Justin Fields sacks? Oct 28, 2020

This Buckeyes Talk episode for Wednesday includes a very special crossover in the second half of the pod, when Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are joined by Bob Flounders and Greg Pickel of Blue-White Breakdown, the new Penn State football podcast from PennLive.com. Doug, Nathan, Bob and Greg talk about the lesser-known players on both sides who could affect this game; the quarterback gap between Ohio State's Justin Fields and Penn State's Sean Clifford; how Penn State fans are viewing James Franklin after the Nittany Lions' loss to Indiana; and whether the young PSU receivers will be able to get open against Shaun Wade and the Ohio State secondary.

That's in the second half of the podcast. In the first half, Doug, Nathan and Stephen Means talk about all they learned from talking with Ryan Day, Garrett Wilson, Haskell Garrett and Josh Myers on Tuesday.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: October 27 Oct 27, 2020

The Buckeyes move to No. 3 in the AP Poll after a season-opening win over Nebraska

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How Penn State's loss affects Ohio State and Saturday's showdown: Monday Madness Oct 26, 2020

Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises have decided to call this Monday episode looking at the college football scene and examining what's next for Ohio State "Monday Madness." Nathan writes a column at cleveland.com each Monday of the same name and you should be reading that, too.

But here, your ears can take in this Buckeye Talk episode offering an early preview of the Ohio State-Penn State matchup on Saturday night. How should OSU fans view the Nittany Lions, who are coming off an upset loss at Indiana?

Plus, how good is Wisconsin and what will it mean if the Badgers lose new QB Graham Mertz to a positive COVID test for a few weeks? Might Michigan have a talent surge this season, including at quarterback? And what does the early College Football Playoff picture look like?

All that and more from Nathan and Doug on this Monday Madness Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Nebraska postgame pod: Everything that went right and wrong in the Buckeyes' opener Oct 24, 2020

Ohio State beat Nebraska 52-17 on Saturday, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to break it down. Nathan and Stephen covered the game in Ohio Stadium, while Doug watched at home, and the three of them got together after the postgame interviews to discuss the game for an hour.

The passing offense looked great, the running game looked questionable and the young defense started slow. Also, a backdoor cover allowed Doug to cover the 29 points he had given to Nathan for this one, as Ohio State won by 35.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com after Ohio State's first game of the 2020 season.

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Live show with text subscribers to preview Ohio State football's season opener vs. Nebraska Oct 23, 2020

We made it, you guys. Ohio State finally kicks off the 2020 season on Saturday when Nebraska visits Ohio Stadium. We gathered virtually with our Buckeye Talk subscribers on Thursday night to preview the game and make our picks for this and other games this weekend.

We took a closer look at many of the matchups in Saturday's game. Will Adrian Martinez, Wan'Dale Robinson and an offensive line that returns intact cause problems for the Ohio State defense? If so, is that a good thing because it will help the Buckeyes answer some lingering questions on that side of the ball? How long should Justin Fields play if this is a lopsided game.

We'll be back Saturday with a postgame pod shortly after the game. Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 298: Everything we might be wrong about regarding this 2020 Ohio State football season Oct 22, 2020

Instead of a big Wednesday podcast, it's a big Thursday podcast on this game week as the Ohio State Buckeyes prepare to open their football season on Saturday. After previewing this season for almost 10 months, Buckeye Talk is taking this one opportunity to say --- we might be wrong.

On this episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and the Ohio State text subscribers secretly admit on a popular public podcast all the ways they might be reading these Buckeyes incorrectly.

Most people are anticipating a big season from the Buckeyes, so much of the pod consists of the things in the back of people's minds that could go wrong -- from the defense to the running game to the Big Ten's handling of COVID-19. But there are also some texters who are legitimately worried about some things this season, and they admit where they maybe should be more optimistic.

As Nathan said, it's a last chance for everyone to cover their butts with their thoughts on the Buckeyes, so this was a fun one with lots of great texter ideas.

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Ohio State's plans for Nicholas Petit-Frere and Dawand Jones this season and in the future Oct 21, 2020

On this game week Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means continue to learn more about Ohio State's team heading into the season. A focus for this episode is the offensive line, especially starting right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. Plus, what's the long-term plan for intriguing OL prospect Dawand Jones?

There's more talk on Marcus Hooker, the recruitment of Tristan Leigh and other pressing issues for the Buckeyes.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: October 21 Oct 21, 2020

The Buckeyes are ready to open against Nebraska on Oct. 24.

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Setting the stage for Ohio State football's season opener vs. Nebraska Oct 19, 2020

At long last, football season has arrived in the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State opens its pursuit of a fourth consecutive conference championship against Nebraska at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird first take a spin around the college football landscape. How difficult is it to fill out an Associated Press ballot right now? Which teams and players are we buying stock in or dumping our shares of through the first six weeks?

What are the storylines we are most intrigued by in the OSU-Nebraska opener? The Buckeyes opened as 23.5-point favorites over the Cornhuskers. Does that line make sense, and should OSU fans expect some higher-scoring games on both sides of the ball?

What level of concern should Buckeye fans have for Saturday game -- either that an upset could come or OSU will not live up to expectations? Finally, Doug and Nathan pick their four College Football Playoff teams after other conferences have played as many as five games.

NOTE: There will be no Tuesday podcast during the season. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday pods will continue as usual, with the Friday pod recorded live with Buckeye Talk text subscribers Thursday night. We'll come back with a Saturday postgame pod and this Monday format to wrap up the weekend and look ahead.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State vs. Alabama in 2014 College Football Playoffs: Buckeye ReTalkables Oct 16, 2020

We wrap up our preseason look at the important games in Ohio State football with the night that more than any other set the stage for how we measure the current Buckeyes program. The Sugar Bowl after the 2014 season, in which Urban Meyer led 4 seed Ohio State against Nick Saban's top-seeded Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

It was the culmination of Ezekiel Elliott's brilliant rumble through the postseason. More than that, it was the culmination of what Meyer had been building since he arrived at Ohio State. The Buckeyes, with third-string quarterback Cardale Jones, were nine-point underdogs and fell into a 21-6 deficit early, setting the stage for history.

From Evan Spencer's overlooked contributions to Michael Thomas' hints at what would come to the late decisions that almost blew up in Ohio State's face, we delve into the details of one of the most unforgettable nights in Buckeye history.

Our ReTalkables will go on hiatus for a while as we focus on the 202 games yet to be played. But we'll still bring you Buckeye Talk five days a week, including after every game.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: October 16 Oct 16, 2020

Ohio State is a week away from the start of its season.

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Projecting Ohio State football's real opening-day depth chart Oct 15, 2020

Ohio State football will release a depth chart the day before the Oct. 24 season opener against Nebraska. But what will the actual relationship be between starters and backups when the Buckeyes take the field?

Your Buckeye Talk crew got to the bottom of that question. The conversation began with Wednesday's revelations about the safety competition from assistant coach Matt Barnes, then worked its way to the front of the defense. With defensive tackle depth questionable at best, who will rotate through those spots against the Cornhuskers? Also, what will OSU actually do with this abundance of linebacker talent?

On offense, we know the first-string offensive line, we know the running back spot will be a timeshare, we know the tight end three-deep and we know the starting quarterback. How much will freshmen factor into the Buckeyes' six-man receiver rotation?

Also, we delve into the breaking news regarding COVID-19 and the SEC and what Big Ten fans need to keep in mind as the season draws near.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 297: How the Buckeyes could have the best season in Ohio State football history Oct 14, 2020

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk podcast from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means describe exactly what would need to happen for Ohio State to have the best football season in school history. The schedule, the opponents, the talent and the context are all there to make it possible. The distinction between best team and best season is important, but playing in the COVID-19 era has a chance to make 2020 as memorable as any OSU season.

OSU text subscribers joined the conversation in a live Zoom call on this pod, and they also asked questions about Kerry Coombs, Chris Gamble, Tom Herman and other issues around Ohio State football. If you'd like to join a live zoom podcast, sign up for a free text trial by sending a message to 614-350-3315.

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Ohio State over/unders and either/ors on Justin Fields, Trey Sermon, Garrett Wilson, Zach Harrison and more Oct 13, 2020

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk pod from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and the Ohio State text subscribers take a crack at some over/unders and either/ors for this football season.

How many touchdown passes will Justin Fields throw -- over or under 39? How many points per game will the Buckeyes allow (over or under 20) and score (over or under 50)?

Will the leading rusher be either Trey Sermon or Master Teague? Leading receiver be either Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson? Leader in sacks be either Zach Harrison or Tyreke Smith?

And will the Buckeyes score 60 on Rutgers?

It's another round of predictions as the season draws closer. Thanks for joining the prognosticating fun on Buckeye Talk.

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Outrageous predictions for the 2020 Ohio State football season: Mark It Down Monday Oct 12, 2020

With the season's start finally closing in, Buckeye Talk delved into Mark It Down Monday for the final time in 2020. Continuing a tradition you may already know from our weekly video series, we all mark down our Outrageous Predictions for the season ahead.

So did our Buckeye Talk text subscribers. They chimed in with predictions on how COVID-19 will affect the season, what numbers Justin Fields will put up, who will lead the defense and exactly how many points Ohio State will score in The Game. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means also made their own Outrageous Predictions covering a high-scoring offense, Justin Fields' touchdown ceiling and how many of them will go to a specific tight end.

Outrageous Predictions will continue throughout the season, but Mondays will soon become about recapping the weekend in college football and previewing the week ahead.

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Ohio State vs. Michigan, 1968: Buckeye ReTalkables Oct 09, 2020

With the preseason winding down, we had to bring The Game into our discussion of the important games in Ohio State football history. So we took our little time machine back to 1968, when the Buckeyes dominated Michigan with the Super Sophs en route to the national championship.

This game lives on as Woody Hayes' finest moment OSU's head coach. It also came during a time of upheaval in society. One year later, Bo Schembechler took over the Wolverines, setting off the Ten Year War in the rivalry.

On this day, however, we focused on Rex Kern and a Buckeyes running game equal parts beautiful and punishing. We also paid homage to Jack Tatum and a defense that dominated much of this game and set a tone for the triumph to come in the Rose Bowl against O.J. Simpson and USC.

Watch the youtube cut-up version of this Ohio State classic, then join us for this discussion. Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Oct. 9 Oct 09, 2020

The Buckeyes add an offensive line recruit

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Where Ohio State's defensive line has lots of answers, and where it has questions Oct 08, 2020

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, the defensive line is the focus. But there's also a discussion about running backs at the end. What Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are doing is explaining the most important things they've learned from recent interviews with Ohio State assistant coaches and players, and both the running backs and defensive linemen recently spoke with reporters. With Doug Lesmerises mostly asking questions, Nathan and Stephen let you know what to expect from Zach Harrison, Tyreke Smith, Tommy Togiai, Tyler Friday, Antwuan Jackson, Trey Sermon, Master Teague and other Buckeyes you care about before the start of the season.

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Ep. 296: 21 rapid fire questions, including one that might blow up the show Oct 07, 2020

It's a rapid fire Wednesday for our biggest Buckeye Talk of the week, as Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means take questions from text subscribers. Among the topics:

• What should be expected from DBs Tyreke Johnson and Josh Proctor this season?

• Is this the year that Ohio State returns a punt for a touchdown?

• How large will the betting lines be for OSU games?

• How far would you drive for a specific fast food meal?

• Could Ohio State win a title if Justin Fields got hurt?

• How does a conference develop an identity?

• What's our favorite holiday story?

• How much upside does new Michigan QB Joe Milton have?

• Is Tom Herman on the hot seat at Texas?

• Which college coaches would survive on The Walking Dead?

• And then there's the last question, which is too dangerous to type out here.

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The change for Ohio State linebackers Pete Werner and Baron Browning this season Oct 06, 2020

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises talk about the position changes for Pete Werner and Baron Browning and how everything will fit together in the Ohio State linebacker room this season. But first, the guys discuss Ohio State's latest 2021 recruiting commitment at tackle and what happened with the higher-rated tackle recruits they didn't get.

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Will Ohio State win the 2020 College Football Playoff national championship? Mark It Down Monday Oct 05, 2020

As we close in on the start of the Big Ten season -- finally -- we need to once and for all mark down our College Football Playoff championship scenarios. We tried this back in mid-August, based on what we knew about schedules, opt-outs and the sport's landscape at the time. Six weeks later, Doug, Nathan and Stephen followed through with a Mark It Down Monday on their actual playoff and national championship predictions.

To set the stage, the guys discussed the Buckeyes. Does Ohio State's eight-game Big Ten-only schedule make it easier to reach the playoff, and does it also make it more difficult to claim the No. 1 seed? Has the conversation around Clemson's schedule similarly changed? How impressed are we with Alabama so far, and can the Big 12 or Pac-12 summon any sort of a challenge?

Then, we revisit our earlier predictions. Have our top four teams changed, and how do we expect the four seeds to shake out? Is Ohio State still our unanimous pick to win its first national championship since 2014?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017: Buckeye ReTalkables Oct 02, 2020

It's our fourth Buckeye ReTalkables on the Buckeye Talk Podcast from cleveland.com, where Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means relive and retalk an Ohio State game from the past.

This time, it's the recent past, as the cleveland.com Ohio State text subscribers picked the 2017 Ohio State vs. Penn State game from a list of four recent classics between the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions.

Great choice, and not only because this was the best quarter of J.T. Barrett's career as he rallied the Buckeyes to a 39-38 win while completing all 13 of his passes in the fourth quarter.

This also might have been the most consequential game in recent Big Ten history. Listen to relive it and find out why.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: October 2 Oct 02, 2020

Chris Olave says he was always coming back for another season.

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Chris Olave's regrets, Garrett Wilson's transition and more from the Ohio State receivers room Oct 01, 2020

We're another day closer to the long-delayed start to the Ohio State football season, and today that means a closer look inside the potential receiver rotation for the Buckeyes this fall.

Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were in on a Zoom call with receivers coach Brian Hartline and four players from his room on Tuesday. What did they learn about Chris Olave's commitment to 2020 and beyond, the progress Garrett Wilson is making in the slot, what Hartline wants from that position long-term, how much of a factor Jameson Williams could be this fall and how the freshman have looked in early practices?

All of that is covered in this Thursday edition of the daily Buckeye Talk podcast. Come back to cleveland.com all week for more on the receivers and an update from Al Washington and the linebackers.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 296: Does Ohio State or Clemson have an easier path to the College Football Playoff? Sep 30, 2020

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dig into a major comparison for the 2020 season, and, well, every season. It's Ohio State vs. Clemson and the Big Ten vs. the ACC.

The question here is in two parts:

Does Ohio State or Clemson have an easier path to the College Football Playoff with their schedules this season?
Does the Big Ten or the ACC have the bigger gap between the team on top (either Ohio State or Clemson) and the teams chasing them (Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan, et al. in the Big Ten and Notre Dame, Miami, North Carolina, et al. in the ACC.)

Those questions, with answers from the hosts and text subscribers, took up most of this episode. But the guys did start the episode with a look at the way Trey Sermon and Master Teague may share the load at running back this season.

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Are the 2020 Ohio State Buckeyes really a once-in-a-lifetime team? Sep 29, 2020

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take eight rapid fire questions from text subscribers on this Tuesday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com.

It starts off with Ryan Day claiming that this Ohio State team is a once-in-a-lifetime group, then the questions move to whether the Big Ten will change its mind on no fans in the stands; whether any OSU players would opt out midseason; Greg Studrawa's offensive line recruiting; if the playoff should expand for this season; and finally, a Tim Beck question.

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Revisiting our preseason predictions for the Heisman Trophy and the Big Ten standings: Mark It Down Monday Sep 28, 2020

At the risk of violating the sacred integrity of Mark It Down Monday, we decided to take a bit of a mulligan on some of our season predictions. A lot has happened in the college football landscape over the past two months. At the same time, has anything really changed?

So Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means first looked at the early Big Ten-less results of the college football season. Who has surprised us (Miami, and other teams in a bad way)? Who has underwhelmed (basically the entire Big 12). We spent the obligatory segment on former OSU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch's issues at Oklahoma and looked at why the Sooners remain a notch below the other national contenders.

Then we took another look at our preseason Hesiman predictions. The Buckeye Talk crew unanimously picked OSU's Justin Fields over Clemson's Trevor Lawrence for the honor originally. Does the Tigers' head start give Lawrence any kind of an edge? Who else do we think could make it to New York, and has anyone already fallen out of contention?

We also took an opportunity to correct our preseason Big Ten order of finish. Did the schedule release and any remaining opt-outs change our expectations for who reaches Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, 1995 matchup after a 59-year wait: Buckeye ReTalkables Sep 25, 2020

It's the third Buckeye ReTalkables here on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. Already in the feed are the 2015 opener vs. Virginia Tech and the 2010 Rose Bowl vs. Oregon.

Now, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means go a little further back.

It's Ohio State vs. Notre Dame in 1995, the first game between these two historic programs since 1936. The teams played again in 1996, and then they met in the Fiesta Bowl after the 2005 season and the 2015 season. The teams are scheduled for another home-and-home series in the regular season in 2022 and 2023. But this game in 1995 between John Cooper and Lou Holtz was a huge deal because it was so long in the making.

Holtz is in a neck brace. Eddie George is going on to win the Heisman. Future coaches Mike Vrabel and Luke Fickell are on the OSU defensive line. And this 45-26 win for the Buckeyes was a great one to re-talk about.

Eric Hansen, the Notre Dame writer for the South Bend Tribune who also happens to be an Ohio State grad, joins us to set the scene for this one, as Eric covered this game and Doug, Nathan and Stephen didn't cover this.

Neither the Buckeyes nor Fighting Irish are playing this weekend, so we hope fans of both teams can enjoy this look back to 25 years ago. Thanks for listening to Buckeye ReTalkables.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: September 25 Sep 25, 2020

Wyatt Davis and Shaun Wade opt in for the fall season.

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Resetting what we know about Ohio State's 2020 defensive backs Sep 24, 2020

We finally have real football to talk about at Buckeye Talk, after a Tuesday night Zoom call with defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs and a couple of cornerbacks provided new insight into what Ohio State's defense might look like this fall.

Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means begin with those cornerbacks, including potential starting slot cornerback Marcus Williamson. He doesn't fit Coombs' ideal look for an OSU corner and yet he recruited him anyway back before the Buckeyes employed a slot cornerback full-time. Now he becomes the missing piece that perhaps allows Coombs to keep his long, athletic options, such as Sevyn Banks and Cameron Brown, on the outside with Shaun Wade. Also, why does Cameron Martinez sound like such an obvious long-term option at that slot corner?

The Buckeye Talk crew bounces around the rest of the defense. How much of a problem is OSU's perceived lack of depth at defensive tackle? Could the tweaked defensive alignments Coombs mentioned Tuesday become a part of the Buckeye defense as soon as 2020? And looking ahead fo more interviews later this week, what do we most urgently need to learn about the OSU offense?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 295: Building the perfect college football conference for Ohio State Sep 23, 2020

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, the goal is to build the perfect college football conference for Ohio State. Is it the Big Ten with a few tweaks? Is it the Big Ten with major tweaks? Would Ohio State be better off in a totally different conference? Could you smush the Big Ten together with another conference? And should schools like Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, Northwestern, Penn State and Nebraska stay in Ohio State's conference? Or should they be replaced by schools like Notre Dame, Pitt, Texas, West Virginia and Kansas?

That was the goal of this podcast episode, considering all the consternation in the Big Ten in the last six weeks. Could we improve the grouping of schools that Ohio State calls conference companions?

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means tackled that assignment and designed their ideal conferences, while our OSU text subscribers chipped in with lots of ideas of their own. It made for a fun exercise -- and some yelling.

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Rapid fire on Ryan Day watching Alabama; injury risks; freshmen WRs; and Demario McCall Sep 22, 2020

It's a Tuesday rapid fire edition of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, as Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird take questions from text subscribers. (Try the texts for a 14-day free trial by texting 614-350-3315.) Among the seven topics:

Ryan Day scouting Alabama
Demario McCall's role
Will the freshmen receivers be set back?
Buckeyes in the NFL
Is there an additional injury risk because of the season and preseason schedule?

And more. Thanks s always for joining Buckeye Talk, a rather enjoyable listening experience, wouldn't you say?

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What will be the closest game on Ohio State's regular-season schedule? Mark It Down Monday Sep 21, 2020

The Big Ten’s current fan attendance policy will prevent Penn State’s usual “whiteout” conditions when the Buckeyes visit on Halloween. Will that still be the closest game any opponent gives Ohio State in this revamped regular-season schedule?

Will that distinction instead go to Michigan, which comes to Ohio Stadium on Dec. 12 in the Big Ten’s biggest rivalry game? Only once in the past six meetings have the Wolverines played within one score of Ohio State. Are they due for a challenge worthy of the rivalry’s history and attention?

Or perhaps someone else on the Buckeyes' schedule will pull a surprise and summon the scare that Iowa, Purdue and Maryland managed in recent years. In the triumphant return of Buckeye Talk’s Mark It Down Monday, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means predicted which of Ohio State’s eight games would have the slimmest margin of victory.

The crew also broke down all aspects of the schedule released Saturday morning. Is it important that Ohio State plays Penn State early? Did the Big Ten do the right thing keeping the rivalry games in the final week? Does Nebraska sound ridiculous whining about getting a tough crossover schedule when they were treated exactly the same as every other team?

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Do Ohio State fans like Jim Harbaugh more after the battle to save Big Ten football? Sep 18, 2020

On this Friday Buckeye Talk Podcast from cleveland.com, the topic is Big Ten brotherhood. After this five-week fight to save a fall Big Ten football season, how do Ohio State fans now look at the rest of the conference? Do they like Jim Harbaugh more after he marched with members of the Michigan program to have a fall season? Do OSU fans feel camaraderie with Iowa and Nebraska, the other two football programs that never wanted to cancel in the first place? Are OSU fans mad at the original 11 no votes? Will we ever hear "Big Ten" chants at OSU games?

All that, plus Justin Fields and whether he ever thought of opting out; Shaun Wade's decision to opt back in; the games around the country that are being postponed; and when OSU will be eligible for the AP poll again.

Thanks for joining Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means on Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: Big Ten Football Returns Sep 18, 2020

The Big Ten reinstates the football season starting the weekend of Oct. 23-24.

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How Ohio State and the Big Ten figured out October football (and many more back-to-football topics) Sep 17, 2020

We're finding the flow on Buckeye Talk. This is the Thursday episode, but it feels like a typical big Wednesday pod, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through everything that the cleveland.com Ohio State text subscribers are thinking about.

What changed to get the Big Ten focused on an October restart? What would the hype for an Ohio State-Clemson playoff rematch feel like? How will the playoff selection committee evaluate the Big Ten champ compared to the SEC, ACC and Big 12? What's up with McDonald's spicy McNuggets? How important is defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs to the Buckeyes now? How do the Big Ten testing regulations compare to other conferences? What's the biggest hurdle for Ohio State on its attempted path to the playoff, and is it football or coronavirus related? Will Wyatt Davis be able to opt in and play for the Buckeyes?

It's busy, and it's pretty darn normal. Except for the part where Doug starts shouting about the idea that Wednesday was the darkest day in Big Ten football history.

It's Buckeye Talk, and if you stopped listening for a few weeks because you were sad there was no fall football in the Big Ten -- then welcome back.

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Ep. 294: Big Ten football is back! Is Ohio State still a national championship contender? Sep 16, 2020

The long-awaited word officially came Wednesday morning. The Big Ten Conference has reversed course and will attempt to play a fall season beginning the Oct. 23-24 weekend. Ohio State does not yet know the layout of its eight-game schedule, but it knows it again has a chance to earn its was into the College Football Playoff.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discussed what the news means for the Buckeyes' potential opt-outs, where they believe the OSU-Michigan game should go on the new schedule, how this affects the College Football Playoff picture and so much more.

Also, how far did Wednesday's announcement go in repairing Big Ten Commissioner's Kevin Warren's reputation. And is Ohio State still the same national championship contender it was in the preseason, considering it may not have two preseason All-Americans this fall?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Inside Shaun Wade's decision to opt out and what it means for Ohio State (while we all keep waiting) Sep 16, 2020

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk podcast from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are still waiting, just like you. But while the Big Ten still hasn't announced a decision on when football will be played, Doug and Nathan talked about something that has been announced -- Shaun Wade's decision to opt out of the season. They talked about that choice by the OSU cornerback, they looked at what's happening at LSU and Michigan and, like you, they wondered when the Big Ten will make a decision.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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10 things we hate about the Big Ten discussion about canceling fall football (which is almost over) Sep 15, 2020

The Big Ten should soon reach a decision about when it will play football again, and the league might play this fall. Aren't you ready for the league to do something? On this late Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird make their predictions on what they think the Big Ten will do. And then they talk about what has been so miserable about the last 34 days, since the Big Ten announced the fall cancellation on Aug. 11. What do they hate most about this, from the opportunities missed to the reporting to the Rutgers-ness of the situation? If you've been frustrated, join Nathan and Doug for what should be a final session of venting before the Big Ten makes its call.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State vs. Oregon, 2010 Rose Bowl: Buckeye ReTalkables Sep 12, 2020

It's the second Buckeye ReTalkables for this bonus Saturday pod, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down the Rose Bowl between Ohio State and Oregon that capped off the 2009 season. It's Jim Tressel vs. Chip Kelly and a sweater vest vs. a shiny spread offense. It's a big moment for sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor and a major test for an OSU defense led by future NFL star Cameron Heyward. It's Ohio State's first Rose Bowl in 13 years and a chance for the Buckeyes to break their string of three straight bowl losses.

And it's a way to enjoy the Buckeyes vs. the Ducks on the weekend when Ohio State was supposed to be playing at Oregon in a non-conference game that would have highlighted the Week 2 schedule as a matchup of top-10 teams.

The guys tried to replace that -- and it's a fun game to relive. (By the way, the Buckeyes won.)

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Wyatt Davis opts out, Ryan Day makes a statement Sep 11, 2020

All-American offensive lineman Wyatt Davis announced Friday that he is opting out of Ohio State's season and beginning to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, the first Buckeye to officially declare he won't be part of whatever season the Big Ten might play this season. On this Friday edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss the decision by Davis and what might be next. Plus, they get into the statement Ryan Day released on Thursday pushing for football in October, and the eventual decision the Big Ten presidents will have to make about that.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: September 11 Sep 11, 2020

All-American Wyatt Davis opts out

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Class of 2022 commit Bennett Christian on why more tight ends should come to Ohio State Sep 10, 2020

Allatoona, Georgia tight end Bennett Christian took matters into his own hands when the NCAA instituted a recruiting moratorium during the coronavirus pandemic. He made his own visit to Columbus and committed to the Buckeyes soon after -- though he waited to announce the decision on his birthday a couple of weeks later.

Christian joined Buckeye Talk to discuss the factors that went into that decision, his relationships with coach Ryan Day and tight ends coach Kevin Wilson, and who else he is trying to bring on as the second tight end in OSU's 2022 class. He also talked with Stephen Means and Nathan Baird about why he believes Ohio State is a destination for tight ends and what role his faith played in his recruiting decision.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 293: Where Ohio State, and each Big Ten team, ranks in our seven tiers of college football Sep 09, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, the big Wednesday pod isn't quite as big as usual. But it's instructive. As everyone waits for what's next from the Big Ten, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means took a crack at ranking every major college football team in tiers, but with a purpose. The exercise was intended to shed some light on how the 14 Big Ten programs might be thinking about playing football this fall, based in part on their standing in the college football landscape.

So Doug assigned a tier to all 65 power conference teams, and Nathan and Stephen offered up where they believe Big Ten teams fall. From regular national title contenders to programs that are just bad, the guys ranked them all.

Listen, disagree and enjoy. And thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your day.

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Breaking down the six Ohio State Buckeyes projected to go highest in the 2021 NFL Draft Sep 08, 2020

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk Podcast from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means eagerly dive into a new mock draft from Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller. He released a three-round 2021 NFL mock draft on Monday, and six Buckeyes were included. The guys discussed all six of those Buckeyes and compared them to past OSU draftees while deciding if they should be projected to go higher or lower. They also talked about the Buckeyes who didn't make the 96 picks in this mock, including one surprising omission in particular.

Draft talk is always fun and this was a good look ahead for another group of future Ohio State pros.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Why Big Ten football, like a medical patient, might need a second opinion Sep 07, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk podcast for Monday, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises split things in half. The first part of the pod has nothing to do with the debate and discussion over when the Big Ten might play football again -- it's talking about favorite gameday memories, what was missed most on a Saturday with no Ohio State football, a Buckeye to look forward to seeing play in the 2021 season, and that annoying chicken wing guy from Nebraska.

Then, the second half of the pod is all that other topic, the one everyone has been talking about for the last month -- what's up with Big Ten football? Nathan and Doug took seven questions around the latest news and speculation on that topic.

So, if you're sick of that, then just enjoy the first half of the pod. If you want more of that, enjoy the first half of the pod and then stick around.

Either way, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Virginia Tech vs. Ohio State, 2015 opener: Buckeye ReTalkables Sep 04, 2020

Welcome to a new feature here on Buckeye Talk. Get ready for Buckeye ReTalkables, a new series in which Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means watch an old Ohio State game and then break it down. The guys, with the help of text subscribers, came up with a variety of categories named after Buckeyes like Jim Tressel, Maurice Clarett, Kenny Guiton, John Cooper, Ted Ginn Jr., J.T. Barrett, Bill Davis and Tim Beck.

The first game up is Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech in the 2015 season opener in Blacksburg, with Cardale Jones starting at quarterback for the defending national champs. The conclusion from this pod? This first game represented a lot of what that 2015 season would be like. This game is on YouTube in its entirety, so you can watch that before or after listening, or just let the guys relive the game for you.

Either way, thanks for joining us on this first version of Buckeye ReTalkables.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: September 4 Sep 04, 2020

Discussion continues around the Big Ten decision to cancel fall football.

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Settling the Ohio State spring game roster draft: Team Baird vs. Team Means Sep 03, 2020

Way back in the first week of April, Buckeye Talk's Nathan Baird and Stephen Means drafted starting lineups for a hypothetical Ohio State football spring game. We asked our text subscribers to vote on who came out on top, and by a 105-12 margin, they gave the edge to Team Baird.

Stephen vowed that day to find rosters and play out the game on Xbox 360 to determine once and for all who had assembled the better collection of talent. For a brief respite from the roller coaster that is the extended Big Ten offseason, Baird Bunch and Means Machine finally faced off in a living room in Dublin on Wednesday.

The final score, like with any spring game or scrimmage, is not especially important. We tried to use the simulation to imagine what we might have learned about the Buckeyes during a normal season without the coronavirus pandemic. What would CJ Stroud and Jack Miller have displayed in their race to back up Justin Fields? Who would step up defensively and make a mark? Which of the freshmen receivers might have emerged the soonest?

We know Thursday is supposed to be opening day of Ohio State. We know this fake game cannot take the place of a real season opener. Watching this awkward graphical simulation only reminded both of us how much we missed football and how much we look forward to its eventual return. You'll hear our commentary between quarters, but based on the trash talk and exclamations during the simulation, Stephen's neighbors might have assumed a real game was being played. Let's hope that happens soon enough.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 292: Will President Trump's intervention lead to fall football for Ohio State and the rest of the Big Ten? Sep 02, 2020

A lot of ground to cover on this week's big Wednesday edition of Buckeye Talk. We covered everything from the use of anonymous sources to Justin Fields-Georgia transfer speculation to heartbreaking sports moments from our past to which fast food fry Ohio State football would be. We tried to push the nonsense towards the end but this was one of the most fun episodes we have recorded in a while after weeks of Big Ten process and non-developments.

However, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises opened the show by discussing a major development. President Donald Trump spoke with Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren about "immediately starting" football. That sparked a day of reports, some of which suggested the Big Ten could play as early as Oct. 10, others disputing the league had any traction towards restarting before late fall. The cleveland.com OSU beat discussed how much the Trump-Joe Biden dynamic brings a new political angle to the situation, and whether Tuesday's call could potentially push Big Ten presidents and chancellors who had previously voted to cancel to reverse their decisions.

That's a heavy topic, but overall this was a less serious episode that still talked a lot of football. If anything we hope it gave you a new perspective on how and why we report and write on some of the developments the way we do.

As always, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Design your preferred Big Ten football season for the fall, winter or spring Sep 01, 2020

Many have torn into the Big Ten and Commissioner Kevin Warren for both the decision to cancel fall sports and the continued lack of a plan for the winter or spring.

We at Buckeye Talk invited our text subscribers to help the league out. Based on what we know today, and the limitations of the calendar ahead, what would be your optimal design for the Big Ten schedule?

Nathan Baird and Stephen Means both lay out their preferred plans. Many of the cleveland.com Buckeye Talk text subscribers wanted to start preseason camp right away and play as many games as early as possible. Some had more unique takes on how the Big Ten should move forward.

To start the show, we discussed Monday's news, including the Big Ten answering the lawsuit filed by Nebraska players by releasing the results of its cancellation vote. Also, an update on Ohio State defensive tackle Haskell Garrett, who was injured in a weekend shooting.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Will the latest protest by Ohio State football parents and fans change the Big Ten's mind? Daily Pod Aug 31, 2020

On this Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird talks about the protest he covered Saturday from Ohio State parents at Ohio Stadium, as they continue to push for answers from the Big Ten and for the chance for the Buckeyes to play football this fall. Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means join Nathan to discuss some cleveland.com polls about how fans are viewing the risks of coronavirus and college football, and to ask if the parents and Big Ten officials are even asking the same questions at this point.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: August 28 Aug 28, 2020

The Big Ten is discussing the idea of a November restart of the football season.

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Class of 2022 linebacker commits CJ Hicks and Dasan McCullough on their bond, Al Washington and more Aug 28, 2020

More guests this week on Buckeye Talk as Nathan Baird and Stephen Means sit down -- virtually -- with 2022 Buckeye linebacker commits CJ Hicks and Dasan McCullough.

Hicks and McCullough have developed a close friendship despite having not yet met in person. They discuss how that happened, their approach to recruiting more players for the still-early 2022 class and their impressions of linebackers coach Al Washington and head coach Ryan Day. We also heard the inside story of how Hicks found out McCullough would be committing to the Buckeyes last week.

But first, Stephen and Nathan discuss an even newer commitment than McCullough. Four-star defensive tackle Tyleik Williams became the Buckeyes' 19th commit for the 2021 class on Thursday. How does he fit in and what does he mean for OSU's pursuit of the nation's No. 1 ranked class?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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The long-term effect on Ohio State football, and a poll voting plan that could help the Buckeyes: Daily Pod Aug 27, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Ralph Russo, the national college football writer for the Associated Press. They discussed whether other leagues will be able to play college football this fall; whether a January plan for the Big Ten will work; if Ohio State will have any negative long-term effects for not playing this fall; how AP poll voting will work in the fall and the winter; and if there might be a combined poll at the end of it all that rates the fall and winter teams together and awards a combined national championship.

It's a great conversation with Ralph, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 291: Projecting Ohio State football's starting lineup for Fall 2021 -- and analyzing what could change it Aug 26, 2020

The NCAA granted a free year of eligibility to fall sports athletes for 2021, meaning seniors now could come back as seniors next season. How will that work? What decisions might the Ohio State football program and the Buckeyes players face as a result? While things remain up in the air for this season, on this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dove into what the starting lineups for next fall could look like. How much might they be affected by players who were expected to be gone, and how much influence might a winter football season now have on that? There's a lot to go over, so thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Comparing the quality of Ohio State/Big Ten winter football to fall football: Daily Pod Aug 25, 2020

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means of cleveland.com look at the Associated Press preseason top 25 rankings released Monday and talk about how many Buckeyes should make the preseason All-American team. Nathan is a voter on both of them. Then came a breakdown of winter football (led by the Big Ten and Pac-12) and fall football (with the SEC, ACC and Big 12 still planning to play). How does the quality of the teams planning to play in the winter or spring compare to the teams planning to play in the fall? How big is the gap?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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When will Ohio State football play its next game? Mark It Down Monday Aug 24, 2020

Will the Big Ten Conference pull off a football season in the winter or spring? If so, will Ohio State's best players participate? With so much uncertainty in the air, the Buckeye Talk crew at cleveland.com puts their names on predictions for whatever season might unfold after the first of the year.

Perhaps more intriguingly, they gauged the interest of their Buckeye Talk text subscribers -- henceforth known as Ded Eds, for reasons explained on the show. Are they interested in a winter or spring season at all? What if Ohio State plays but without many or most of its NFL Draft-bound stars? Are Buckeye fans committed to whatever season unfolds, or would a compromised season also hamper their enthusiasm for their team?

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means predict what they believe the Big Ten will do, and what that in turn means for the Buckeyes with big decisions to make.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: August 21 Aug 21, 2020

The Big Ten reaffirms the cancellation of fall sports in a letter from commissioner Kevin Warren

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Will Justin Fields' #WeWantToPlay leadership leave a lasting impression at Ohio State? Daily Pod Aug 21, 2020

The Big Ten will not play football this fall, and does that mean Justin Fields will never play football for Ohio State again? If so, he left a fleeting glimpse of a growing leadership presence with his national media appearances over the past week. Will that enhance his legacy at Ohio State, or does it become one more tantalizing "what if" for Buckeye fans to mourn into the offseason?

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means opened Friday's daily Buckeye Talk with a discussion of how Fields changed as a person over his year in Columbus, They also argued about how good Ohio State might still be in a winter or spring season if Fields decides to pursue professional opportunities. (For that matter they also disagreed about what decision he might make on that.)

From there the guys discussed how SEC fans would react to a canceled season compared to how Big Ten fans reacted, whether the cancellation makes it more likely Ryan Day seeks a future in the NFL and more.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Kevin Warren provides final answer on Ohio State's fall football hopes: Daily Pod Aug 20, 2020

Ohio State player and parent-led initiatives to convince the Big Ten to reconsider its cancellation of the fall football season began as soon as the announcement came down a week ago last Tuesday.

Prior to early Wednesday evening, the Big Ten had not responded to those concerns. When Commissioner Kevin Warren broke his silence with an open letter the Big Ten Community, he emphasized that the decision of the presidents an chancellors was final and "would not be revisited."

So we finally have closure on the fall, or do we? Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises discuss what else the Big Ten can do to repair its image right now and how much blame for this rollout that Warren deserves.

Rather than spend the whole podcast rehashing the past week, your cleveland,com crew looks ahead to the other big decisions that will follow this one. First up: will the Big Ten go for Ohio State coach Ryan Day's plan for a season beginning in January?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 290: The Big Ten battle continues, and the Buckeyes land a major recruit Aug 19, 2020

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back for the big Wednesday Buckeye Talk as the Big Ten and Ohio State continue to attempt to figure out the next step for football. The guys talked about:

Randy Wade's planned visit to Chicago, as the father of OSU cornerback Shaun Wade hopes to organize a Friday protest
Ohio allowing high school football to continue while the Buckeyes aren't playing
The future of Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren
Whether any other schools would consider a January schedule
The long-term ramifications for Ohio State
The correct way to eat onion rings

And there was news on the recruiting front, as the Buckeyes landed a top-100 player at linebacker in the Class of 2022.

Thanks for listening to the latest Buckeye Talk.

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What Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren should do next: Daily Pod Aug 18, 2020

For this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen offered some advice and asked for some help.

First, the guys addressed how the Big Ten and commissioner Kevin Warren have handled the last week since the announcement that fall football was canceled for this conference. It ... hasn't been great. But what should Warren do about it now? They had answers.

But they didn't have great answers on where to go next with the podcast as uncertainty continues. So the call went on the text subscribers for what they wanted, and the guys went through some of their answers.

The Big Ten is in limbo right now, but Buckeye Talk marches on. Thanks for listening.

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Would Ohio State football have won the 2020 national championship? Mark It Down Monday Aug 17, 2020

Barring a reversal from the Big Ten Conference, we can no longer predict whether Ohio State would have won a national championship in fall 2020. However, we can debate what would have happened if the season had been allowed to play out without the influence of the coronavirus pandemic.

So that's what Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means did on their usual Monday edition of the daily podcast. All three Cleveland.com staffers gave their four seeds for the College Football Playoff, their national championship matchup and the eventual national champion.

They also asked their Buckeye Talk text subscribers to do the same, and you would probably not be surprised to hear they overwhelmingly expected a special season for Ohio State. We also talked about whether a championship means more for the Buckeyes right now if it goes through Clemson or Alabama, why a six-team playoff seems like an increasingly sensible reform and much more.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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An interview with the parents of Ohio State freshmen Paris Johnson and Gee Scott Jr.: Bonus Pod Aug 16, 2020

An unexpected bonus episode of Buckeye Talk, as a planned interview with the parents of two highly-rated Ohio State freshmen about what's happening in the OSU football program after the cancellation of fall football in the Big Ten, turned into a pod opportunity. On this Sunday episode, Doug Lesmerises talks with Monica Johnson, the mother of offensive tackle Paris Johnson, and Gee Scott Sr., the father of receiver Gee Scott Jr.

Among the topics:

What they would like to see the Big Ten do
Any concerns they have about their sons' futures
Their belief in how Ohio State has handled things
Why they supported the Buckeye Pledge and didn't see it as a waiver
What they think of a January football season
Their thoughts on the idea of a players' union or association
What they think the outcome of this will be

Enjoy the extra episode and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State parents fight the Big Ten, and serious football talk about the Buckeyes defense: Daily Pod Aug 15, 2020

The plan for this Saturday pod was to finally get out to listeners a great interview with film breakdown analyst Diante Lee, a California high school coach who last month offered a great view of Ohio State's single-high safety defensive plan from last year. Lee's breakdown caught the eye of Doug Lesmerises, and their interview was ready to go -- and then the Big Ten football season started to crumble. So the interview was pushed back but it still matters because Ohio State football will take the field again at some point, and whenever the Buckeyes are out there, their defensive strategy will be important.

But first, Doug opens the pod with the news of the letter that Ohio State football parents sent to the Big Ten. What did it say? Why was it sent? Could it possibly bring back fall football for the Buckeyes? Doug talks all about that before it's time for some film study.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ohio State's plan for a football season has competition from a Purdue plan: Daily Pod Aug 14, 2020

It's a live Buckeye Talk episode for this Friday, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means try something new. Instead of taking questions from their text subscribers over text, the guys welcomed those subscribers onto a live Zoom call and let them fire away with questions. It'll give you a break from only hearing the voices of Doug, Nathan and Stephen; give you a look at what other Ohio State fans are thinking about; and dive into the continuing saga of what no fall football will mean for the Buckeyes in the short-term and the long-term. Thanks for listening.

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Buckeye Headlines: Big Ten cancels fall football Aug 14, 2020

The Big Ten canceled fall football on Aug. 11 and may try to play in the winter or spring.

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Ep. 289: Ryan Day has a January plan to save Ohio State football, and here's why it might work Aug 12, 2020

Is there reason to hope that Ohio State football could still have a meaningful football season that includes it's best, NFL-bound players? Ohio State coach Ryan Day thinks so. On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through the plan that Day unveiled on a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday. What does it entail? Would Justin Fields be a part of it? Would the Big Ten go for it? Could Ohio State still win a national title doing it? The Buckeyes seem to be throwing their weight behind this plan, so you need to know what it entails.

It's been a crazy week, so thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of it.

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The Big Ten cancels fall football -- was it the right decision? Emergency Pod Aug 12, 2020

The Big Ten Conference on Tuesday canceled football for the fall. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the historic decision and what it means for Ohio State football, and they read the texts of anguished subscribers. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com on this day no one will forget.

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Inside Big Ten football's crazy Monday, and the divide between presidents, and coaches and players: Daily Pod Aug 11, 2020

Well, that was something. On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means run through the entire crazy Monday in Big Ten football, which started with thinking the season was over, and which ended with what coaches and players want maybe affecting the decisions of conference presidents.

You lived it. It was nuts. So buckle up and let Nathan, Doug and Stephen take you through it. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Is the Big Ten football season collapsing, and if not, how many regular season wins for Ohio State? Aug 10, 2020

We're back for another Mark It Down Monday, as cleveland.com's Buckeye Talk crew debates how many Big Ten games Ohio State will win this season and which opponent is most likely to spring an upset.

But first -- will there be a season at all? That question never seems to go away due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means discuss the events of the weekend, when the Big Ten slowed down its preseason football practice schedule and a meeting of university Presidents led to speculation the season might be in jeopardy. The gang debates how soon the Big Ten needs to make a decision and what factors could affect the decision.

Then comes Mark It Down Monday, where all three predict the Buckeyes' record during the coming 10-game Big Ten-only schedule. How will COVID-19 affect and potentially interrupt the process? Which teams are most likely to beat Ohio State and why? All three cleveland.com staffers go on the record with their predictions -- and tally up the votes from our Buckeye Talk text subscribers as well.

As always, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk -- now five days per week!

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Does Ohio State have a Clemson-like easy schedule as the Big Ten loses star power? Daily Pod Aug 07, 2020

On this Friday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird continue to react to what's happening in college football and how it affects the Ohio State Buckeyes. At some point soon, they'll get back to episodes with specific themes, but for now, the news come fast and furious.

First, Doug and Nathan dive into the three major Big Ten opt-outs. The three best non-Buckeyes in the league aren't playing in 2020, so what does that mean for Ohio State's schedule, and are the Buckeyes looking at the kind of easy stroll through the season that Clemson usually has in the ACC?

Then, Ohio State captains released a letter in support of Ohio State's handling of the coronavirus and the school's safety precautions around COVID-19. What does that mean for the program and the possibility of any OSU opt-outs?

Then, a final quick look at the Ryan Day-Jim Harbaugh kerfuffle and how it's viewed in Michigan.

Thanks for joining another busy Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: August 7 Aug 07, 2020

Ohio State football gets a new schedule and opens preseason practice

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What does a little dust-up between Ryan Day and Jim Harbaugh mean for Ohio State-Michigan motivation? Daily Pod Aug 06, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk Thursday episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird discuss a report from Bucknuts about what happened between Ryan Day and Jim Harbaugh on a Big Ten coaches call, what Day told the Buckeyes about it, and what it might mean for the Ohio State-Michigan game on Oct. 24. Just listen to understand what they're talking about. Plus, Ohio State held its first preseason practice on Thursday morning. Who are some players to watch? How are precautions about COVID-19 affecting practice? And what has Day told his players about opting-out? Lots to discuss, so thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 288: Everything about Ohio State's new schedule, including Michigan in October and previewing Purdue Aug 05, 2020

It's the big Wednesday episode, and there's a lot of news to discuss after a barren offseason. The Big Ten announced the new 10-game schedule for conference teams on Wednesday, and Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird went through every aspect of it. First, Doug grilled Nathan on the Ohio State-Michigan game moving to Oct. 24, and whether that's a good thing or not. Then, Doug and Nathan welcomed in Purdue beat writer Mike Carmin to discuss the Boilermakers, who were the one new team added to the schedule as a Week 3 opponent. Then, Doug and Nathan talked about the new unity message from the Big Ten players, and how it differs from demands made by Pac-12 players.

It's a big Wednesday Buckeye Talk, with a new season to analyze.

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Ohio State's captains explain why they want a season, and how it can happen: Emergency Pod Aug 04, 2020

On this extra Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird talk about Ohio State football's seven new captains, and what the Buckeyes had to say about the 2020 football season. On Tuesday, reporters spoke to OSU players for the first time in 11 weeks, as Justin Fields, Wyatt Davis, Josh Myers, Shaun Wade, Tuf Borland, Jonathon Cooper and Justin Hilliard were elected by their teammates and put on a conference call.

Doug and Nathan talk about the vibe from the players about how a fall season might work, what they think of the Michigan game, and their reaction to Pac-12 players trying to unite. It's actual player talk! And it's Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ohio State freshman player breakouts and the chain restaurant bracket of 32 explained: Daily Pod Aug 04, 2020

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises do football for half the podcast and food for half the podcast.

Football:

Could the Big Ten move the season up to Aug. 29?
Could Jameson Williams emerge as a major threat at receiver?
Who are true freshmen who could potentially break out?
When should the Ohio State-Michigan game be scheduled?

Food:

Discontinued fast food items we miss.
Thoughts on BBQ in Ohio.
Explaining the new bracket of 32 chain restaurants created by Doug for text subscribers to vote upon.

Football and food -- it's just another Buckeye Talk.

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Will Justin Fields win the Heisman Trophy in 2020? Mark It Down Monday Aug 03, 2020

On another Mark It Down Monday we begin our big-picture previews of the 2020 college football season. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means make their predictions on what will stand up as one of the season-long topics of conversation for the Buckeyes.

Will Justin Fields win the 2020 Heisman Trophy?

To answer that, the Buckeye Talk crew breaks down the full list of contenders and what dynamics are in play for helping a player win the Heisman Trophy. What players could break through the quarterback bias to earn support at other positions? Finally, will Justin Fields be able to overtake co-favorite Trevor Lawrence of Clemson to win the trophy, or will Lawrence bounce back after not being a finalist in 2019 to claim the hardward?

Also always, we also polled our Subtext subscribers for their three-man ballot and shared the results of the fan vote.

We appreciate you listening to Buckeye Talk, coming at you five days a week throughout the offseason.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: July 31 Jul 31, 2020

Preseason voting conducted by cleveland.com reveals Buckeyes as Big Ten favorite

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Breaking down our preseason Big Ten football poll, with results on Ohio State and Justin Fields: Daily Pod Jul 31, 2020

It's time for the 10th annual Big Ten preseason poll from cleveland.com, where conference writers from around the league are gathered and asked to vote on predicted preseason standings, the league champ and the preseason offensive and defensive players of the year.

There were 34 voters this year, and on this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird analyze all the results.

Was Ohio State a unanimous pick in the East? Who won a close race in the West? Is there a darkhorse pick to watch that emerged in the voting? Who got votes in the player of the year balloting?

It's a pleasure for cleveland.com to conduct this balloting, and then bring you the breakdown of a poll that the rest of the Big Ten will be talking about. Thanks for listening.

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8 rapid fire Ohio State football questions, from opt-outs to reconsidering the schedule: Daily Pod Jul 30, 2020

It's time for another rapid fire Buckeye Talk episode, although there is some news to deal with off the top. On this Thursday episode, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird address the first major college football star to announce that he won't play this season, no matter what. That's Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley, a potential first-round pick, and Doug and Nathan discuss the decision-making process for players and whether some Ohio State players could do the same.

Then it's on to discussing how to handle "negative" coverage around the coronavirus; whether the Big Ten should change its mind and play the MAC this season; TV shows we have binge-watched lately; how the playoff committee will handle voting if teams play a different amount of games; and there's another Tate Martell question, which never gets old.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 287: Swapping Justin Fields -- Would the OSU QB beat the Buckeyes if he played for other teams? Jul 29, 2020

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird imagine a reality that Ohio State fans wouldn't want to consider -- What if Justin Fields played for another team?

Thanks to an idea from a text subscriber, Doug and Nathan discussed worlds in which the Buckeyes had to swap starting quarterbacks with opponents. Who would win the game then? Would Fields on Penn State or Michigan or Georgia or Wisconsin mean a loss for the Buckeyes? The question is fanciful, but it frames a discussion about just how much a starting quarterback means to Ohio State and how much the rest of the talent on the OSU roster lifts up any QB who plays for the Buckeyes.

There's a history lesson about Ohio State quarterback rankings in the Big Ten, a comparison of Fields to Russell Wilson, and another discussion of OSU backup quarterbacks. Plus, Doug and Nathan go into the latest OSU plan about limiting fan capacity to 20 percent this fall and how that might be done and what text subscribers think about it.

Thanks for making the big Wednesday pod part of your week.

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Could Justin Fields be Ohio State's leading rusher? Quarterback and running back preview: Buckeye Talk Daily Pod Jul 28, 2020

You can't talk about Ohio State football without talking about quarterback Justin Fields, and you can't wonder about Ohio State football without wondering about the potential and injury history of running backs Trey Sermon, Master Teague and Marcus Crowley.

On this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means finish up the position group previews by dealing with the quarterbacks and running backs in the same podcast. Beyond the names already mentioned, there are interesting freshman quarterbacks on the roster and interesting running back recruits on the horizon. The guys have covered a lot on quarterbacks and running backs over the last three months, but this is a chance to say exactly where they stand on these two groups.

Thanks for making it through all the position groups, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Which Ohio State quarterback will start the next game for the Buckeyes? Mark It Down Monday Jul 27, 2020

This is a quarterback question and a coronavirus question in one. On this Mark It Down Monday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird give their answers and entertain explanations from the subscribers on a topic that can seem straight forward but might be more complicated: Who is Ohio State's next starting quarterback?

If you believe the Buckeyes will play at least one game this fall, then the answer is pretty obviously Justin Fields. If you believe football will be delayed until the spring, the answer gets fuzzier. If you believe there won't be any games at all this season, and Ohio State won't take the field again until the fall of 2021, then it's fuzzier still.

That's the question and plenty of OSU fans were ready to mark down their answers. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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The Garrett Wilson explosion pod -- Previewing Ohio State slot receivers and tight ends: Bonus Saturday Pod Jul 25, 2020

Stephen Means is excited and you should be, too. On this bonus Saturday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird preview the Ohio State slot receivers and tight ends. That means a lot of talk about sophomore Garrett Wilson, who is moving from outside receiver to the slot for 2020. But there are many other interesting guys to discuss in this group -- Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Mookie Cooper in the slot, and Luke Farrell, Jeremy Ruckert, Jake Hausmann and Cade Stover at tight end.

This is a fun one that the guys have been saving as they work their way through eight position group preview podcasts. This is the seventh, so thanks for going along on the ride and listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Could a former Ohio State Buckeye be Ohio's governor or a senator? Daily Pod Jul 24, 2020

Something different on Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises is joined by Seth Richardson, the senior politics writer for cleveland.com, to talk about the intersection of football and politics. The fact that former Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville won the Republican Senate primary in Alabama last week got Doug thinking about the idea of a former Buckeye doing the same kind of thing in Ohio, so Doug and Seth covered these topics:

What Jim Tressel's political career in Ohio could have been and the role he still plays in Ohio politics
The political future of former OSU receiver Anthony Gonzalez, now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives
The way Gov. Mike DeWine and the state government tried to use football and other sports as a rallying cry to get people to wear masks before settling on Thursday's state-wide mask mandate

Doug also started the podcast with two text subscriber questions, including one on whether Tressel's forced resignation was the best thing to happen to Ohio State football in the modern era.

It's a different type of Buckeye Talk, but a bonus Saturday episode is coming with more hard-core football talk. Thanks for trying this one out.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: July 24 Jul 24, 2020

Ohio State plans for preseason football practice to begin Aug. 7

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Preparing for the Shaun Wade Show -- Ohio State cornerbacks preview: Daily Pod Jul 23, 2020

Shaun Wade may have been a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft if he had turned pro after last season. Instead, he's back for a fourth year at Ohio State as one of the best cornerbacks in the nation.

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird continue their position group previews with the cornerbacks. Wade is a sure thing, Cam Brown and Sevyn Banks are expected starters, and Tyreke Johnson and Marcus Williamson are veterans who could play roles in the secondary. And, of course, Kerry Coombs is back coaching the secondary as the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator.

After this, there are only two more position group episodes left, so make sure you're catching all of them to get a full look at the 2020 Ohio State football roster. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 286: Ohio State vs. Michigan game preview, what the Wolverines will and won't change to try to beat the Buckeyes Jul 22, 2020

It happened -- Buckeye Talk made it through the entire 12-game Ohio State schedule, previewing each planned opponent from Bowling Green to Michigan. As Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means finish the schedule with this big look at the The Game, the schedule has already changed, with the Big Ten moving to conference games only.

So those Bowling Green, Oregon and Buffalo previews in April and May were for games that aren't going to happen. But for now, Ohio State vs. Michigan is still in the plans.

On this episode, Michigan beat writer Aaron McMann kicks things off with an hour-long interview with Doug on Jim Harbaugh, defensive coordinator Don Brown, the uncertain Michigan QB battle, where the Wolverines' recruiting stands, how a young offensive line will look and how good the UM skill position players might be.

There's a lot of off-field and on-field knowledge on the Wolverines dropped there.

Then it's on to an hour of rapid-fire questions from text subscribers, only about Ohio State, Michigan and the rivalry, as Doug, Nathan and Stephen give more on their thoughts on how Michigan might ever make this thing competitive again.

It's the opponent that matters the most to Ohio State fans, and the preview is finally here. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Jordan Hancock commits, plus punting and Josh Proctor: Daily Pod Jul 21, 2020

It's time to preview Ohio State safeties and special teams, as Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break down Josh Proctor and Marcus Hooker on the back end of the defense, and then discuss Drue Chrisman, Blake Haubeil and a veteran special teams group that should be an edge for the Buckeyes.

That's the latest in our position group preview series on Buckeye Talk, but first on this episode, Doug and Stephen go over the commitment of 2021 cornerback Jordan Hancock, a top-100 player who was once committed to Clemson.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Breaking down Ohio State's 2022 recruiting targets and predicting the next verbal commit: Mark It Down Monday Jul 20, 2020

On this Mark It Down Monday, predictions will be marked down. But first, a new recruiting class and strategy will be analyzed.

Doug Lesmerises is hosting this one, but Stephen Means and Cameron Fields are bringing the recruiting expertise after spending the last couple months talking to the most important rising juniors that Ohio State is targeting in the Class of 2022.

On this Buckeye Talk episode, while Nathan Baird is on vacation, Stephen and Cam talk about the three players committed to the Buckeyes in 2022 so far; they pick the most important player that Ohio State has to land in this class; they predict the player who will provoke the fiercest head-to-head battle with another program; they talk about what they've learned about OSU assistants from the 2022 prospects; and finally, they mark down their predictions for the next players to join the class.

Ohio State is still finishing off the 2021 recruiting class, but it's already time to dive into 2022, so listen up and Mark it Down.

Thanks for making Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com part of your day.

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Jumping up and down for Zach Harrison -- Ohio State defensive line preview: Daily Pod Jul 17, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means move on to previewing the Ohio State defensive line.

The Buckeyes lost Heisman Trophy finalist and No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick Chase Young off last year's line, as well as the veteran three-man tackle rotation of Davon Hamilton, Jashon Cornell and Robert Landers.

But there is more talent in the pipeline. The guys run through what they expect from Zach Harrison, Tyreke Smith, Haskell Garrett, Tommy Togiai, Tyler Friday, Jonathon Cooper, Taron Vincent and the rest of the candidates for defensive line playing time. They look at the recruits coming in next on the line, talk about the influence of line coach Larry Johnson, offer their big predictions for the group and delve into the overall expectations for the entire 2018 recruiting class at the end of the pod.

It's a good hour of D-line talk, so thanks for listening.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: July 17 Jul 17, 2020

The NCAA releases more coronavirus guidelines for college sports.

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Is Phil Steele picking Ohio State to win the national championship? Daily Pod Jul 16, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk episode for Thursday, it's time for Phil Steele's annual visit to preview the Buckeyes and the college football season. Phil publishes his annual college football preview magazine from his office in Northeast Ohio, and he's been putting them out for more than 20 years. Even with COVID-19 threatening the season, Phil did his usual business and his 2020 preview is getting out to fans right now.

He joined Doug Lesmerises to talk about the Buckeyes and the Big Ten and to make his picks for the Heisman Trophy and the national championship. It's college football talk from an expert you'll want to hear. Thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your day.

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Ep. 285: Illinois preview, and what factors are most responsible for an Ohio State upset loss? Jul 15, 2020

Our preview of Ohio State's 2020 schedule continues with a breakdown of Illinois with Bob Asmussen of the Champaign News-Gazette. But this Buckeye Tall Big Wednesday pod goes in-depth to explore big upsets. iI's a phenomenon Ohio State football rarely experiences, but when those days come around, they tend to linger in the memories of players, coaches and fans for years after.

When we say upsets, we don't mean losing as a betting line favorite. We mean a ranked Ohio State team losing to an unranked team in a completely unexpected fashion. Aided by our Buckeye Talk Subtext subscribers, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at the various elements that set the stage for upsets and look for common denominators. Also, each of us picks which opponent on OSU's known schedule is the biggest threat to spring an upset in 2020.

Baird and Asmussen, a Big Ten beat writer since 1996, discuss the uncertain future ahead due to COVID-19 and what the Big Ten might be able to do to salvage a season. They also delve into the continuing Lovie Smith rebuild -- what last season's turnaround to bowl eligibility meant, and where the Illini still must improve to make a jump.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Could the Big Ten play without the SEC, and would you move the Michigan game up in the schedule? Daily Pod Jul 14, 2020

It's a Tuesday rapid fire podcast from cleveland.com as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means answer seven questions from our Buckeye Talk text subscribers. Most of them deal with the uncertainty of the college football season, but two questions stand out:

• Could the Big Ten play a season if, for instance, the SEC does not?

• Would it be better to move the Michigan game to early in the season or keep it as the regular season finale and risk not playing it at all?

These are obviously uncertain times and things constantly change with the outlook about a college football season for 2020. Buckeye Talk will continue to adjust with you, and thanks for listening.

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When will Ohio State coach Ryan Day lose his first regular-season game? Mark It Down Monday Jul 13, 2020

Mark. it. Down. Ryan Day is off to a 15-0 regular-season start as Ohio State football's head coach. How long will that unbeaten run continue?

This week's question: When will Ryan Day lose his first regular-season game as Ohio State's head coach?

The uncertainty of the 2020 schedule complicates the question. But the Buckeye Talk Crew of Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means give their pick for when OSU will need its first mid-season bounce-back under Day. They also reach out to our Subtext subscribers for their predictions.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Will Chris Olave write a legendary ending to his Ohio State career? Outside receiver position preview: Bonus Saturday Pod Jul 11, 2020

It's another bonus Saturday podcast as breaking news pushed back the planned outside receiver breakdown. So on this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, it's now time to talk Chris Olave, Julian Fleming, Gee Scott Jr., Jameson Williams and the rest of the outside receivers for the Buckeyes in 2020.

Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break all that down in their typical position preview format -- is the group better this year or last year? Is it better this year or next year? Biggest strength? Biggest question? Player you are most interested in seeing? Crazy prediction? Confidence level?

It's a fun way to go through some of the Buckeyes' best playmakers. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Yelling about Big Ten football cutting non-conference games: Daily Pod Jul 10, 2020

The Big Ten on Thursday announced it would not play non-conference games in 2020, and on this Friday Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird is here to talk about that and Doug Lesmerises is here to yell about that. Nathan has the facts, Doug has the rage.

But why is Doug yelling? He thought the Big Ten made the correct move on this, so he's yelling at the other conferences and any other people that might have a problem with it. But he also has some issues with how Ohio State is handling this as well.

This is a Buckeye Talk with some anger, but that's nothing new. Thanks for listening.

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Buckeye Talk headlines: July 9 Jul 09, 2020

Ohio State shuts down voluntary workouts over positive COVID-19 tests

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Ohio State shuts down workouts after positive COVID-19 tests; Maryland preview Jul 09, 2020

Our preview of Ohio State football's 2020 opponents rolls along as we reach the Nov. 14 trip to Maryland. Emily Giambalvo of the Washington Post joins us to break down the state of Mike Locksley's program as the Terrapins try to climb out of the bottom of the Big Ten East. What is Locksley doing in recruiting to climb the national rankings, who will quarterback the Terrapins in 2020 and how soon can Maryland become more competitive within the division?

But first, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means react to the breaking news Wednesday night that Ohio State is shutting down its voluntary workouts after multiple athletes tested positive for COVID-19. What do we know about the situation so far? On top of other similar shutdowns across the country, is college football less likely to return on time or at all?

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 284: Which state is the most important to Ohio State football recruiting (other than Ohio)? Jul 08, 2020

On this big Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means once again take 20 rapid fire questions from text subscribers. But there's some deep discussion off the top.

The first texter asked which state, other than Ohio, is the most important for the Buckeyes to recruit. Looking at the number of players Ohio State has pulled from different states since Urban Meyer's first full class in 2013, the guys found many different ways this answer could go.

Later, they got into comparing Ohio State receiver recruiting to Alabama receiver recruiting; they answered why there may be a dip in top-shelf OSU linebacker play; they discussed whether there will be another defensive Heisman Trophy winner in their lifetimes; and they debated whether Brian Hartline or Larry Johnson would be more difficult for Ohio State to replace.

It's another round of 20 great questions and 20 fun answers. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: Admiring the work of Josh Myers and Wyatt Davis -- Offensive line position preview Jul 07, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means get back to position group previews for the first time since the middle of May. It's time to pick those up again, and the offensive line is up next.

Thayer Munford, Josh Myers and Wyatt Davis are back as starters. Paris Johnson, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Harry Miller are five-star recruits fighting for jobs. And the line looks to be one of the strengths of the 2020 Buckeyes,

Doug, Nathan and Stephen do a category by category breakdown, and they ponder what the gap created for OSU running backs by Myers at center and Davis at right guard should be called.

Also, Doug kicks off the podcast by setting a betting line for a game between the 2014 Buckeyes and 2019 Buckeyes.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Will Ohio State have two 1,000-yard receivers in 2020? Mark It Down Monday Jul 06, 2020

Ohio State football has seen only five 1,000-yard receivers its history -- all since 1986 and no more than one in any season. The 2020 Buckeyes have a Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback with a big arm, a couple of emerging stars in the receiver corps and a coach willing to take chances and go for the jugular early.

So will OSU have two receivers cross the 1,000-yard mark in the coming season?

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means debate whether that number is reachable in 2020. The Buckeyes did not have even one 1,000-yard receiver in 2019. Even in 2018 with Dwayne Haskins airing it out, only one receiver crossed that threshold. On the other hand, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are poised for big seasons and there is no J.K. Dobbins in the backfield to dominate carries.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: When will Ohio State take the lead in the Michigan series? (And the looming fight about it) Jul 03, 2020

Ohio State currently trails Michigan in the rivalry 58-51-6. Unless the Buckeyes actually trail 58-52-6. Regardless, with the way the Buckeyes have been dominating Michigan lately, the idea of Ohio State taking a lead in the overall series for the very first time is on the horizon.

So when will it happen?

On this Friday edition of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, that's what Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dive into with the help of their text subscribers. The texters offer all kinds of years of when the Buckeyes could take the lead, and how it might happen.

But first, there's a debate ... what will happen with the vacated OSU win from the 2010 season? And what could the discussion around that win -- does it count or not? -- be like as Ohio State gets closer in the series?

This Buckeye Talk is a little different -- the topic is hard to wrap your arms around, and it's at least eight years, and maybe 80 years, in the future. But it does matter to OSU fans. There's no doubt about that. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: July 3 Jul 03, 2020

Continued updates on college football and COVID-19

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Daily Pod: Ohio State vs. Indiana preview, and OSU assistant Kevin Wilson's lingering effect on the Hoosiers Jul 02, 2020

Buckeye Talk is up to the ninth game on Ohio State's 2020 schedule, as the next stop in the season opponent preview is the Indiana Hoosiers. For that, Doug Lesmerises talks to Zach Osterman, the IU beat writer for the Indianapolis Star.

Doug and Zach discuss whether the Hoosiers are a candidate to spring an upset of the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium, and Zach gives his take on how much greater the Hoosiers' chances would be if the game was in Bloomington. There's an analysis of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who has upside and an injury history. And OSU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was pushed out as Indiana's head coach before he was hired by the Buckeyes -- what did he do to set up Indiana before he left?

Indiana is coming off its best season in 25 years, and coach Tom Allen might have the program on an upswing. So it may be time to start thinking about Indiana at least having a chance to beat Ohio State for the first time since 1988.

Thanks for listening.

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Ep. 283: What if Jim Harbaugh was undefeated against Ohio State? And 19 other rapid fire questions Jul 01, 2020

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back for a rapid fire Wednesday podcast, taking 20 questions from text subscribers over the course of two hours. Among the topics:

What if Jim Harbaugh was perfect against Ohio State instead of winless?
What are the expectations for 2021 running back recruit TreVeyon Henderson?
When will the Buckeyes decide on 2020 schedule adjustments?
Would the Buckeyes be comfortable playing young tackle Dawand Jones this season?
Is it better to have Ohio State's experienced offensive line or Clemson's experienced defensive line?
What's our most embarrassing moment in sports journalism?

As always, the subscribers provided great questions and the guys hope their answers lived up to them. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Daily Pod: Ryan Day as an offensive genius, with Pick Six Previews; and advice from Ohio State's Tik Tok Doc Jun 30, 2020

This Buckeye Talk episode is a little different, as Doug Lesmerises interviews two guests.

First up is Brett Ciancia, the founder of Pick Six Previews, who provides a look at the Buckeyes in the national context. Doug and Brett talk about Ohio State as a playoff contender, why Brett has Justin Fields as a first-team All-American, the gap between Ohio State and the rest of the Big Ten, and what Brett thinks of Ryan Day as an offensive schemer.

Next is an interview with Jason Campbell, a resident in Oregon who is a graduate of Ohio State's medical school. He does dances on social media and came to Buckeye Talk's attention after a recent Twitter dance-off with Brutus Buckeye. Doug and Jason talk about his favorite Ohio State football memories, how he felt getting into Ohio State's medical school, what it's like dealing with COVID-19 on the front lines in his hospital, his view on the anti-racism movement in America, and what he expects for this college football season.

Brett and Jason both were great and Buckeye Talk appreciates their time. Thanks for listening.

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How many regular season games will Ohio State play in 2020? Mark it Down Monday Jun 29, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic already canceled Ohio State's spring football after only three practices. Now, after teams began voluntary workouts, positive tests have shut those practices down at multiple programs across the country.

For Mark It Down Monday this week, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means weigh on in how they expect the virus to affect the shape of the Buckeyes' season. Will a solution be worked out to play the full 12-game slate? Will the Big Ten move forward with a conference-only season? Will the season be interrupted or shut down?

Buckeye Talk discusses the factors that might make an impact, such as testing, travel and whether students return to campus and stay. They also share subscriber predictions, which ranged from business as usual to extremely pessimistic.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: How much should a 5-star Ohio State recruit play as a true freshman? Jun 26, 2020

It's time for another rapid fire Q&A episode from Buckeye Talk, and Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird take eight questions from text subscribers on this Friday edition.

How much should a 5-star freshman play for the Buckeyes? (Though Doug misread the question and as a result there were sort of two separate discussions here.) What do the guys think of the recruiting decommitment of Devonta Smith? What is the best deal in fast food? Which Ohio State assistant will be the next to get a Power 5 head coaching job? What is the ideal running back breakdown in 2020 if all the players in that room are healthy? Which Buckeyes would have had better careers with a different assistant coach? And which actors would play the guys in a movie?

Great questions, as usual. They had fun answering and they hope you have fun listening. Thanks for joining another Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: June 26 Jun 26, 2020

Ohio State loses a 2021 football recruit

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Daily Pod: Ohio State vs. Nebraska preview -- why have the Cornhuskers fallen off while the Buckeyes have stayed relevant? Jun 25, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, the goal is to steal a little less of your time after Wednesday's humongous podcast. For this Thursday pod, the 2020 schedule preview continues with the eighth Ohio State opponent, Nebraska. The Buckeyes are scheduled to host the Cornhuskers on Oct. 31 after winning five of the first six vs. Nebraska since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten.

A year ago, hopes were high for Nebraska, but that didn't work out so well, as the Huskers finished 5-7 and missed a bowl for the third straight season.

To check in on 2020, Steven Sipple, a columnist for the Lincoln Journal Star who has covered Nebraska football since 1995, joins the pod. He and Doug Lesmerises talk about what happened to quarterback Adrian Martinez last season; the transfer of receiver J.D. Spielman; if Steven is shocked about what has happened to Nebraska football since the glory days of Tom Osborne; and whether coach Scott Frost, entering Year 3, can get the program turned around. Steven also has some interesting views on Ohio State after watching the Buckeyes from afar.

It's important to know the opposition, and after this, Ohio State fans will know more about Nebraska. Thanks for listening.

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Ep.282: How can Ohio State build a mini dynasty in the next five years? Jun 24, 2020

This episode is a monster. But thistopic and the surrounding discussion is as interesting as anything you've heard on Buckeye Talk in some time.

On this Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and the cleveland.com text subscribers on Ohio State football dig in deep on the idea of whether the Buckeyes could develop a mini dynasty in the next five years and what would have to happen for them to do it.

The texters voted on the idea by choosing one of four options: Yes it can happen; Yes, maybe; No; No, the idea is silly. Find out how that vote went down. Then listen to other great eras of OSU football history and how the Buckeyes fell just short of mini dynasties. Then run through the modern programs -- seven of them since the mid-80s -- that did achieve a mini dynasty. And then hear the in-depth discussions on recruiting, quarterback development, assistant coaches, Ryan Day and more -- everything that would go into multiple OSU titles in the next few years.

It's a high bar, and as the guys explain, Ohio State may be the only program in the nation right now where this podcast could take place. The others are either already in a mini dynasty, or thinking about getting there would be crazy.

This isn't crazy. But it is long. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: How will Ohio State complete its top-ranked 2021 recruiting class? Jun 23, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Stephen Means does the heavy lifting in taking a look at Ohio State's 2021 recruiting class, all of its strengths and how the Buckeyes might finish off what is so far a 19-person class. Since last time the guys checked in with a major recruiting dive on this class, a few OSU targets have verbally committed elsewhere. But three major five-star targets still remain, and the Buckeyes seem to be in good shape with at least two of them.

Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are also along for the ride to the discuss a group that is clearly ranked No. 1 in the ratings, far ahead of second-place Clemson. The '21 class is gonna be good, the question is just how good, and that's what the guys tried to answer here.

Thanks for listening.

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Who will lead Ohio State in interceptions in 2020? Mark It Down Monday Jun 22, 2020

Mark. It. Down. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back for another prediction pod, where they put their name on their expectations for the 2020 season and invite eventual praise or ridicule.

Today's topic follows up on a similar theme from earlier in the series. Who will lead Ohio State football in interceptions in 2020? Shaun Wade is the secondary's lone returning starter. However, some of the role player rising into featured spots have shown an ability to make plays on the ball and create turnovers.

For the first time during Mark It Down Monday, the Buckeye Talk panel was in complete agreement as to the player in question. As always our Subtext subscribers also weighed in with their picks -- including a few surprising names.

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Bonus Pod: Everything we think about Ohio State football for the 2020 season Jun 20, 2020

It's a bonus Saturday episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. Doug, Nathan and Stephen recorded this to be the Friday podcast before the news broke about Ohio State scheduling Alabama, and they couldn't delay talking about that. So this now became an extra Buckeye Talk treat. But it matters.

Because the guys are resetting everything on this episode, so they don't forget it for later.

They go through every Ohio State position group in quick fashion and they talk about the coaches and the expectations for this season, just so listeners have no doubt about their views on the 2020 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Sometimes everyone needs to take a step back, and that's what this episode is about, and by the end, their thoughts on Ohio State football this season cannot be in doubt.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: Will Nick Saban and Ryan Day be around for Ohio State vs. Alabama in 2027? Jun 19, 2020

On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, it's time to talk Bama. Ohio State and Alabama agreed to a home-and-home series in 2027 and 2028 and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are fired up to talk about this matchup that is just seven short years away. Well, Doug is really fired up.

Will head coaches Nick Saban and Ryan Day still be leading their teams in 2027? Is this good or bad for the teams' college football playoff hopes? Will Doug, Nathan and Stephen be around to cover these games?

In addition, Michael Casagrande, an Alabama beat writer for AL.com, stops by to talk about the series and the agreement from the Crimson Tide side of things.

A series like this deserves an entire podcast, and that's what cleveland.com is bringing you. Thanks for listening.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: June 19 Jun 19, 2020

Ohio State football schedules a series with Alabama in 2027 and 2028.

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Daily Pod: Ohio State's 5 biggest recruiting misses of the last 5 years Jun 18, 2020

Last week, Buckeye Talk dealt with Ohio State's five biggest recruiting hits of the last five years. Now, it's time for the misses. On this episode, Doug Lesmerises lists his top five misses and gathers up the votes from text subscribers. In-state offensive tackle Jackson Carman, who chose Clemson over the Buckeyes in 2018, is mentioned, but where does he rank for Doug and the texters?

There are also rapid fire questions, starting with whether Ohio State is to Oregon as Clemson is to Ohio State, meaning one national power that the other can't get past. Then there are questions on Al Washington, Demario McCall and movies we'd make people watch.

Thanks to the text subscribers for the great topics, and thanks to you for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 281: Ohio State vs. Penn State preview, could the Nittany Lions reach the level of the Buckeyes? Jun 17, 2020

The season schedule preview has reached maybe the toughest test of 2020 for the Ohio State Buckeyes and their national title hopes -- Oct. 24 at Penn State.

On this big Wednesday podcast, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Penn State writer Bob Flounders of PennLive.com for an in-depth look at the Nittany Lions. There's All-American linebacker Micah Parsons on defense, quarterback Sean Clifford on offense and what the future holds for coach James Franklin. Also, what will it mean for this OSU road trip if there aren't fans in the stands at Beaver Stadium, or if the crowd is limited?

Then Doug, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at the Nittany Lions from the Buckeyes' perspective:

-- Could Ohio State lose at Penn State this season and still win the national title?

-- Where does Penn State rank among the best programs in the country? The guys debate them in the top seven.

-- Is Penn State recruiting at a level that can keep the Nittany Lions competitive with Ohio State?

-- And what if Justin Fields had maintained his original recruiting commitment to Penn State?

There's a lot here, and you should enjoy all of it. If you care about Ohio State, this is the Big Ten opponent you should know the most about, and you'll be more informed about the Nittany Lions after this. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Daily Pod: Ohio State sleepers ready to break out; what's with the coronavirus pledge? Jun 16, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Stephen Means is back to join Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird in diving into the issues around Ohio State as the guys do some more rapid fire questions.

Which Ohio State player could be a sleeper ready to break out this season? Which Buckeye will be missed the most after the 2020 season? What about Kerry Coombs as a potential Ohio State head coach down the line? And what are the best concerts they guys have ever attended?

Beyond the quick answers, Doug, Stephen and Nathan talk about the news surrounding Ohio State having its athletes sign a coronavirus pledge before returning for voluntary workouts. What did that say about the relationship between the school and the players, and do the guys agree with that policy?

There are some quick discussions and a more in-depth one, and it's all part of another Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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Will Ohio State running back Trey Sermon be first team All-Big Ten in 2020? Mark It Down Monday Jun 15, 2020

Mark It Down Monday on Buckeye Talk is about taking a stand on our assessment of Ohio State football. This week’s topic lays out exactly what we expect from one of the Buckeyes’ most important newcomers.

Will Ohio State running back Trey Sermon be first team All-Big Ten in 2020? Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird debate the various angles. From potential usage to how he fits in the offense to Sermon's injury history to the other top running backs in the Big Ten Conference, they look at how likely the Oklahoma grad transfer is to succeed J.K. Dobbins as a first-team selection.

Then they turn to the Buckeye Talk Subtext subscribers for their collective vote and their reasons why they are optimistic about Sermon's ceiling for 2020 or why they have lingering questions or concerns.

If you’re not already a Buckeye Talk Subtext subscriber, text 614-350-3315 for breaking new and analysis and to participate in the polls and include your comments on this daily podcast.

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Daily Pod: Ohio State's 5 biggest recruiting hits of the last 5 years Jun 12, 2020

On this Friday Buckeye Talk podcast from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are going rapid fire again, answering questions from text subscribers. If you'd like to ask them questions, sign up for a free text trial by texting 614-350-3315.

Honestly, it's not all that rapid fire. But there are a lot of questions. Such as:

Which Buckeye would it hurt to lose the most if he decided to give up football?
As journalists, would Nathan and Doug rather cover success or controversy?
Is there any chance Ryan Day leaves for the NFL soon?
Who is their favorite non-Buckeye player to cover?
Is Ryan Day at the same level as Lincoln Riley as a quarterback whisperer?
And who are the top five best recruiting hits for the Buckeyes of the last five years? (We'll get to the five biggest misses on a later podcast).

As always, the guys love the questions that texters send. And they hope you'll enjoy hearing the answers. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines June 11 Jun 11, 2020

Chase Young is named the Male Big Ten Athlete of the Year

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Daily Pod: Ohio State vs. Michigan State preview; could an OSU coach ever surpass Woody Hayes? Jun 11, 2020

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Matt Wenzel of MLive.com to talk about Michigan State, the sixth opponent on the 2020 Ohio State schedule.

Buckeye Talk has been working its way through the OSU opponents, and it's time for the Spartans, now under first-year coach Mel Tucker. Doug and Matt talk about Mark Dantonio's departure and legacy, how Tucker is recruiting differently than Dantonio, the expectations for the Spartans this year, and all the play makers they lost from a year ago. You'll know much more about Michigan State when this pod is over.

At the start of the podcast, Doug runs through three questions, including what it would be like if Urban Meyer was still the coach and whether any OSU coach could ever surpass Woody Hayes.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 280: Most discouraging Big Ten team; Justin Fields’ upside; Gene Smith interview Jun 10, 2020

This big Wednesday episode is like three Buckeye Talks in one. First, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird do a round of rapid fire questions from text subscribers, including how far quarterback Justin Fields is from reaching his upside and which out-of-business chain restaurants they miss the most.

Then Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith makes his first Buckeye Talk appearance for a half-hour interview, as he and Doug talk about the Buckeyes' involvement with the Black Lives Matter movement, whether Ohio State should have more black assistant coaches, what Smith's career as a black college football administrator has been like and how OSU athletes might continue to show some form of protest, including possibly kneeling for the National Anthem in the fall.

Then, the podcast ends with three big, meaty questions from text subscribers, all related to the Big Ten chasing the Buckeyes:

Which Big Ten fan base should be the most discouraged?
Which Big Ten team will be the next to beat Ohio State?
Which Big Ten team would you like to see jump up and become a College Football Playoff contender?

There's a lot happening on a lot of different topics on our weekly flagship episode. We hope you enjoy it, and we appreciate you listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Daily Pod: How the Big Ten crushes the ACC; complaints about last week's podcasts Jun 09, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk podcast episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is back to join Nathan Baird, while Stephen Means is on furlough this week, and the topic is the ACC vs. the Big Ten.

The discussion around Ohio State and Clemson on this pod has often led to disparaging comments about Clemson's conference, the ACC, but now Nathan and Doug really dig into it, thanks to a great texter question.

How many Big Ten teams other than Ohio State would be the second-best team in the ACC behind Clemson?

The answer is ... a lot. And that tells us something about how much easier Clemson has it.

Also, Doug has some gripes about the episodes he wasn't on last week and lays them out to Nathan, and then Doug has a few more complaints about sports writers in general.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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When will Michigan beat Ohio State football again? Mark It Down Monday on Buckeye Talk Jun 08, 2020

Mark It Down! Ohio State's winning streak against Michigan has to end someday, right? Right? Well, we're running with that assumption for the next installment of our weekly kick-off podcast.

Doug Lesmerises is back, at least for the first half of this episode in which he, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means predict what year Michigan will rise up and beat the Buckeyes. They explain what roster dynamics, coaching dynamics and other factors play into their predictions.

From there we turn to the other stars of the show: The Subtext subscribers who make their predictions on when this OSU winning streak will end. Some see a potential interruption in the near future. Some went the full Ray Bradbury approach and looked far into the future for the Wolverines' next victory.

If you're not already a Buckeye Talk Subtext subscriber, text 614-350-3315 for breaking news and analysis and to participate in the polls and comments on the Daily Pod.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines June 5 Jun 05, 2020

Ohio State athletes participate in protests and demonstrations against racism

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Daily Pod: Which Ohio State football player will win major national awards in 2020? Jun 05, 2020

We're closing out the week with a Rapid Fire Friday on Buckeye Talk. Nathan Baird and Stephen Means roll through a handful of questions from our Subtext subscribers to head into the weekend.

First up: Which Ohio State football player is the best bet to win a major national award in 2020? Justin Fields is the returning Heisman Trophy finalist. All of 2019's other award winners or finalists have moved on. Could other Buckeyes rise up to contend for major positional awards?

Among the other topics on today's episode: How many Fields interceptions would "give us pause?" Could Ohio State's 2020 offense actually better suit Master Teague? After years of rolling their eyes at SEC fans who talked about their grinder of a schedule, did Buckeye fans see the same dynamic play out for their team in 2019?

As always, thanks for following us on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Daily Pod: Who are the best quarterbacks on Ohio State football's 2020 schedule? Jun 04, 2020

The Buckeye Talk daily pod keeps rolling right along, and today the topic is quarterbacks.

We know Ohio State enters the 2020 season with one of the nation's top quarterbacks. Prompted by a Buckeye Talk Subtext subscriber question, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means delve into having a returning starter might be a bigger edge than ever in the season ahead. They also play devil's advocate on how much of a jump Fields can take between his sophomore and junior seasons.

In the second half of the pod, both Nathan and Stephen rank their top five quarterbacks the Buckeyes will face in the 2020 regular season.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 279: Ohio State vs. Iowa preview, and can the Buckeyes win the national championship if the defense does not exceed expectations? Jun 03, 2020

For the big Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk we resume our walk through Ohio State football's 2020 schedule after taking a "bye" week. Next up are the Iowa Hawkeyes, who will visit Ohio Stadium on Oct. 10.

Nathan Baird talks with Des Moines Register columnist Chad Leistikow about all things Iowa. How do the Hawkeyes keep outperforming their recruiting rankings? How long will Kirk Ferentz stick around? And most importantly, how could Iowa potentially come to Columbus and give the Buckeyes a scare?

Additionally, Nathan and Stephen Means reach back to Buckeye Talk Subtext subscriber memories of the 2017 Ohio State loss at Iowa. Some had very visceral reactions to that loss, but some also appreciated it for triggering necessary change within the program.

Before all that, however, Nathan and Stephen debate a question that may be central to the Ohio State season. Which is more crucial for the Buckeyes' national championship hopes for 2020: An offense that reaches its expectations or a defense that exceeds its expectations? Plenty of great takes sent in by our listeners on that topic as well.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Daily Pod: What top 15 program should Ohio State schedule for a home-and-home series? Jun 02, 2020

Nathan Baird and Stephen Means confront one of the most common questions from our Buckeye Talk listeners. When will Ohio State schedule Alabama/Auburn/LSU/insert your SEC power of choice here?

Actually, they flipped the question around, prompted by a Subtext subscriber. If you could pick one non-conference opponent for a home-and-home series for the Buckeyes, who would you choose and why?

Nathan and Stephen both looked west for their answers. (Doug Lesmerises, on furlough this week, likely screamed his disapproval from home.) However, most of our subscribers looked south.

This is the Tuesday warm-up before the big Wednesday pod. Thanks for coming back five days a week for Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: Who will lead Ohio State in sacks in 2020? Mark It Down Monday! Jun 01, 2020

Another Monday, another opportunity to Mark It Down and make our bold predictions on the future of Ohio State football. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means tackle the question of who will ... well ... tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage the most in 2020.

Who will succeed Chase Young as the Buckeyes' sack leader this fall?

Doug insists there are only two candidates, and he and Nathan opted for the same defensive end. Stephen strayed from the trend and looked at another position as OSU's next sack leader. Our Buckeye Talk Subtext listeners voted for eight candidates, though one was the clear favorite.

To vote on the next Mark It Down Monday topic, or to suggest a podcast topic, sign up for a free trial by texting 614-350-3315.

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Daily Pod: Would Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh play golf together? May 29, 2020

On this Friday Buckeye Talk episode, Ohio State's rivalry with Michigan is once again the focus.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss what it would be like if Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer played golf with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson; why Michigan doesn't recruit Ohio more; what to make of Michigan coaches doing cartwheels over a recruit; and what would happen if the Big Ten realigned with the Buckeyes and Wolverines in separate divisions.

There are some other Big Ten-related questions from text subscribers, and with new listeners finding the pod every week, those subscribers offered slogan suggestions for Buckeye Talk to inform new listeners what this podcast is all about.

Whether you are old or new, thanks so much for being a listener.

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Daily Pod: Will the Big Ten ever catch the SEC, and is Alabama or Clemson the bigger 2020 hurdle for Ohio State? May 28, 2020

Oh baby, there is a good fight in this episode. On this Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises lined up against Nathan Baird and Stephen Means in a major disagreement over how many losses it would take this season for Ohio State fans to lose faith in Ryan Day. Major difference of opinion near the end of this one as the guys took eight questions from text subscribers.

But first, they dealt with questions about whether the Big Ten will ever catch up with the SEC and whether there is a surge in Big Ten recruiting this season. At the end, they took subscriber answers on whether Alabama or Clemson is the bigger challenge for Ohio State as a national title contender this year, and debated quarterback skill vs. motivation in what will be driving the best teams in the country.

It's a heated Buckeye Talk, and thanks for listening.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines May 27 May 28, 2020

Ohio State adds a recruit and plans to return from the coronavirus shutdown.

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Ep. 278: Can Ohio State's 2020 offense be as dangerous as LSU’s 2019 offense? And final fast food voting May 27, 2020

On this big Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, America's favorite Ohio State football podcast, the comparison is to the national champs. Can Ohio State's offense this season be as dangerous and dynamic as LSU's offense last season?

To figure that out, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means watched several LSU games from last year, and they broke down the comparison into five areas: play calling, offensive line, receivers, running back and the quarterback comparison between Joe Burrow and Justin Fields.

There were some areas where the Buckeyes absolutely have the potential to match up with one of the great offenses in college football history, and other areas where Ohio State might have trouble reaching that LSU level. Find out what the guys think of each comparison.

Also, there's a discussion of Ohio State's latest 2021 recruit, and final voting in the fast food bracket that will be reduced from the Sweet 16 to a champion.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Daily Pod: The opposing coaches that could be the most dangerous to Ohio State May 26, 2020

This Tuesday Buckeye Talk episode is all about coaching, as the guys key in on four areas based on questions from our text subscribers:

Which current Ohio State football players will make the best coaches someday?
Who would set up as a better replacement for Ryan Day a decade from now, Luke Fickell still as the Cincinnati head coach, or Brian Hartline if he becomes Ohio State's offensive coordinator?
Which current opposing coaches are the most dangerous to the Buckeyes, and are they in the Big Ten or are they national rivals?
Which Michigan coach taking over for Jim Harbaugh would provide the greatest challenge to the Buckeyes?

Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird answer those questions. If you'd like to ask questions that lead to podcast discussions, sign up for a free trial as a text subscriber by texting 614-350-3315.

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Daily Pod: Which quarterback will win Ohio State's next national championship? Mark It Down Monday May 25, 2020

We're back with the second installment of Mark It Down Monday. The Buckeye Talk gang of Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means gets specific with a big prediction about the near future of Ohio State football. In what year will the Buckeyes win their next national championship, and who will be the quarterback?

Returning Heisman Trophy finalist Justin Fields leading OSU to the 2020 championship may be the obvious answer for some. But are the Buckeyes talented enough on both sides of the ball relative to the national competition? If Ohio State is a couple of years or more away from winning it all, which quarterback will get it done? Two true freshmen are battling to back Fields up in 2020, and another top recruit comes on board for 2021.

The Buckeye Talk crew debates the importance of a quarterback in winning the championship and whether Kyle McCord can step in immediately in 2021 and beat out CJ Stroud and Jack Miller to run the show. As always they turn to the subtext subscribers to continue the debate.

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Daily Pod: Ranking Urban Meyer and Ryan Day among college football's best coaching hires May 22, 2020

On this Friday Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com. They talk about Adam's recent ranking of the best head coaching hires and coordinator hires in college football in the last 25 years, and where Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, Ryan Day, Kevin Wilson and Tom Herman rank on that list.

Also among the topics:

Would Ohio State have won the 2015 national title if Herman as stayed on as offensive coordinator?

Does Ohio State need to win a national title in the next three years?

Will Wilson be hired by another school as a head coach soon?

It's a great episode giving some national college football context to Ohio State, so thanks for listening to it.

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Daily Pod: The Michigan question that makes Ohio State fans mad; would an OSU 2020 title have an asterisk? May 21, 2020

Busy Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means answer six text subscriber questions, and then Nathan and Doug go into the latest from Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith about what a 2020 season might look like with coronavirus restrictions.

Among the questions from subscribers are a particular Michigan criticism of Ohio State that really grinds a texter's gears; whether an OSU national title in 2020 would come with an asterisk; whether the basketball program grabbed transfers too early; and whether players returning off the shutdown will be able to play their best.

Then it's a healthy discussion about how many fans might be at OSU games in the fall, whether the Oregon game will be played, and what a season of only Big Ten games would look like.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines May 21 May 21, 2020

The Buckeyes are planning for what a limited season might look like in 2020

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Ep. 277: Ohio State vs. Rutgers preview; our biggest journalism mistakes May 20, 2020

On this big Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are joined by Keith Sargeant of NJ.com to talk about Rutgers football and the return of former coach Greg Schiano. This is part of their series previewing Ohio State's 2020 schedule, and the Scarlet Knights are scheduled to be the Big Ten opener in Week 4.

Keith talks about how much OSU transfer Brendon White will contribute to the Rutgers defense, whether Schiano is at Rutgers for the long haul, whether Schiano could ever raise that program to the level of a team like Michigan State, and what it would look like if Rutgers ever does beat Ohio State.

But before that, Doug, Nathan and Stephen Means take an hour of text subscriber questions on a range of OSU topics, from Jack Miller to Kerry Coombs, from Damon Arnette to Kamryn Babb, and also get into the worst journalism mistakes of their careers.

It's another jam-packed Wednesday episode from Buckeye Talk, which is now coming at you five days a week. Thanks for listening.

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Daily Pod: Ohio State's linebackers may take a small step back in 2020 May 19, 2020

Ohio State's linebackers have three veteran starters back, three veteran backups on the second team ... and a wide range of what they could be as a group. On this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take on the first of what will be 11 position group breakdown episodes for the 2020 Buckeyes over the next several weeks.

The linebackers are up.

They talk about whether the group will be better or worse in 2020, and then what will happen in 2021. They identify strengths and weaknesses, make a crazy prediction each, pick a player they most want to watch and then assign a level of confidence to the group. Plus, Doug gives his three best OSU linebackers over the last 15 years.

Also, the podcast got a new logo. Busy times at Buckeye Talk, so thanks for coming along on the ride.

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Daily Pod: How many future Heisman Trophy finalists on Ohio State's 2020 roster? The debut of Mark It Down Monday! May 18, 2020

Welcome to the inaugural "Mark It Down Monday," where the Buckeye Talk crew of Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means put their names on predictions and stances around Ohio State football.

First up: How many future Heisman Trophy finalists are on the Buckeyes' 2020 roster? Justin Fields has already been to New York once. Will he return after the coming season? Among the other returnees and incoming freshmen, who will have the combination of talent and opportunity to build a legitimate Heisman campaign? Can another defensive player make a Chase Young-like run? As Ohio State becomes a destination for elite wide receiver classes, could one of them erupt for enough production to pile up votes?

This will be our new format to kick off the week during the offseason. As always, we also included our Buckeye Talk subtext subscriber votes and reactions on the pod.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines May 15 May 15, 2020

Ohio State players and staffers continue to adjust to the coronavirus

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Daily Pod: What if Tate Martell was still Ohio State's quarterback? May 15, 2020

Time for more quick-hit debates on Buckeye Talk, as this Friday pod includes seven questions from text subscribers.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss what it would be like if Tate Martell was still Ohio State's quarterback; their lame predictions for this season; whether they would eat kangaroo; if OSU fans should want Maryland to land a 5-star quarterback; how they balance their connection to Cleveland and Columbus; the next OSU assistant to be a head coach; and their pitches for a movie about the coronavirus pandemic.

Thanks for the good response to the quick answer podcast on Wednesday. This won't be the new form for Buckeye Talk all the time, but the guys will work this style in on a regular basis to keep things moving. Thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your day.

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Daily Pod: Ohio State vs. Buffalo Week 3 preview, with Buffalo coach Lance Leipold May 14, 2020

Buckeye Talk is working its way through Ohio State's 2020 schedule and previewing all 12 games. This week, it's time for the final non-conference game, a Week 3 showdown against MAC opponent Buffalo. So to talk about that game, Doug Lesmerises welcomed Buffalo coach Lance Leipold, who is entering Year 6 with the Bulls. Two years ago, Buffalo won 10 games and last year, the Bulls won the first bowl game in program history.

And they have a lot back. So Buffalo again is expected to compete at the top of the Mid-American Conference. Doug and Lance talked about what the Bulls have back on offense and defense, the keys to building a winning program in the MAC and why he left Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he had won six Division III national titles, to take over at Buffalo in 2015.

If you care about the teams that Ohio State plays, you'll care about this episode. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 276: 20 Ohio State football questions, 20 mini debates; plus more fast food voting May 13, 2020

This Buckeye Talk episode is coming at you quickly and in short bursts. To keep this big Wednesday pod light and snappy, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises are debating 20 topics suggested by text subscribers. If you want to help create this podcast, sign up for a text subscription, including a 14-day free trial to test it out, by texting 614-350-3315.

The debate was limited on each topic to about five minutes, and then the guys finished off the pod with the next round of voting in the fast food bracket, as they moved through the Round of 32.

But this was football heavy. How often should Ohio State be expected to win a national title? Which is the next Big Ten playoff team besides Ohio State? Will the Big Ten expand? Why is Ohio State recruiting in Kentucky this cycle? Will the Buckeyes finish with the No. 1 recruiting class in 2021? What would the guys do if they covered a game in an empty stadium because of coronavirus? What do they think of Jim Harbaugh’s suggestion to let college football players go to the NFL after one year? If they could make their own 30 for 30 documentary, what topic would they choose? If they covered another sport, what would it be?

They covered all those questions and more, and it kept the episode moving, from the Buckeyes to the Big Ten, from recruiting to coronavirus. They had fun making it, and they hope you have fun listening to it. Thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your day.

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Daily Pod: Examining 4 scenarios about what's more likely to happen this Ohio State football season May 12, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird dive into four different scenarios about what's more likely to happen in the 2020 Ohio State football season, as presented by Stephen Means.

No.1 -- Are the Buckeyes more likely to have a player win the award for the best receiver in the nation or best defensive back in the nation?

No. 2 -- Are the Buckeyes going to have more All-Americans on offense or defense?

No. 3 -- Is Justin Fields more likely to lead the nation in passing touchdowns or the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns?

No. 4 -- Are the Buckeyes going to score more touchdowns on defense or more touchdowns on special teams?

Stephen, Doug and Nathan debate their answers to those questions, and they appreciate you listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: Ranking Oregon among Ohio State's toughest non-conference games in history May 11, 2020

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is putting Ohio State's Week 2 non-conference game against Oregon in historical context. Last week, Buckeye Talk previewed everything about the Ducks, who are scheduled to host the Buckeyes on Sept. 12. Now, it's time to compare this matchup against a presumed top-10 opponent to big non-conference games of the past.

Notre Dame in the mid-90s.

Texas in 2005 and 2006.

USC in 2008 and 2009.

Oklahoma in 2016 and 2017.

What makes Oregon different from those opponents and what makes Oregon similar? It's just Doug for this one, but he's joined by a lot of great thoughts from text subscribers who offered up their most nervous non-conference moments as OSU fans -- and who explained why they aren't as nervous with Urban Meyer and Ryan Day as they were in the past.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: Will Jim Harbaugh ever turn it around against Ohio State? May 08, 2020

This Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com is all about the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry and the two guests joining Doug Lesmerises are writers who understand The Game from both sides. Kyle Rowland and Dave Briggs of The Toledo Blade join Doug to talk about Jim Harbaugh's approach to the rivalry, things he might ever adjust about that approach, what he's like when he's not standing at an interview podium, and if the current trajectory of the Ohio State-Michigan game is ever going to change.

Rowland is the Ohio State beat writer for The Blade but covered Michigan for three years, and Briggs writes about both teams as The Blade sports columnist, so they bring perspectives that understand both sides of this.

Has Harbaugh been a success or a failure at Michigan? At the end of the pod, everyone discusses whether Urban Meyer underachieved at Ohio State.

For fans of the Buckeyes, this is a look at Michigan within the context of Ohio State that you don't want to miss. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: The Ohio State quarterback you'd pick for one must-win game May 07, 2020

This Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com features a difficult decision -- which Ohio State quarterback of the last 15 years would you choose for one game, and which would you choose for one season, in this Ryan Day offense?

Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means offer their choices in this scenario, and then the text subscribers chime in, as Doug tallies the votes and breaks down their thoughts on all the options -- Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Cardale Jones, Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields.

Who won the vote? Who did Stephen and Doug choose? What would Pryor have been like if Day was his quarterbacks coach? For a huge discussion of recent Ohio State quarterback play, this is your pod. Thanks for listening.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines May 7 May 07, 2020

The Buckeyes add an Australian punter to their recruiting class.

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Ep. 275: Massive Ohio State vs. Oregon preview; will this be Justin Fields’ toughest test? May 06, 2020

Strap in, Ohio State fans, because this one is going to take quite some time. The big Wednesday Buckeye Talk episode this week is just one thing -- a gigantic preview of one of the most intriguing and important non-conference games of the 2020 college football season.

Ohio State is scheduled to visit Oregon in Week 2 and cleveland.com is diving into that game as part of the plan to preview every game on the OSU schedule, week by week. They started with Bowling Green last Wednesday, and now they're looking at the game that is planned for Sept. 12, 2020, when the Buckeyes should be playing in Autzen Stadium for the first time since 1967, when the Buckeyes visited Oregon to play what was then just the second game ever in the brand new campus stadium in Eugene.

Ohio State is 9-0 vs. Oregon, with six wins in Columbus and the last two wins in memorable national showdowns -- in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2010, and in the National Championship Game of the first College Football Playoff on Jan. 12, 2015.

In most early preseason rankings for 2020, the Buckeyes are a top-three team and the Ducks are a top-10 team. Get ready to learn why.

The guest this week is James Crepea, the Oregon beat writer for OregonLive.com who just happens to be an Ohio State graduate. He joined Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises for the entire show as they went through everything related to this game.

• The Oregon starting quarterback battle

• Ryan Day’s potential connections to Oregon

• Whether Oregon should be the best program in the Pac-12

• All-American left tackle Penei Sewell and what his presence means for the OSU pass rush

• Whether Oregon’s secondary is the best in the Pac-12

• If Oregon has faced a quarterback like Justin Fields

• The pass rush led by Kayvon Thibodeaux

• If Oregon will have an advantage with new name, likeness and image legislation from the NCAA

It’s long and in-depth and it includes some shouting, which means it’s just another episode of Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: Ranting about Wisconsin as a Big Ten playoff challenger to Ohio State May 05, 2020

ESPN’s preseason rating of teams, the Football Power Index, has Wisconsin with the fourth-best chance to make the College Football Playoff right now, behind Clemson, Ohio State and Alabama.

While it’s early, and that’s a computer model that relies a lot on the previous year’s performance, and while the world is dealing with a pandemic ... Doug Lesmerises just can’t see something like that about Wisconsin and let it sit.

So ... this Buckeye Talk episode includes a lot of ranting.

Stephen Means and Doug discuss the Badgers as a playoff contender, whether they could beat Ohio State in a Big Ten Championship Game, whether they could get in with a Big Ten title game loss, what type of season it would take for two Big Ten teams to make the playoff, and what kind of quarterback play is required these days to be a real playoff contender.

Michigan State made the playoff in 2015 ... does that mean Wisconsin could do it, too, or does that blowout Michigan State suffered in the playoff hurt Wisconsin’s chances with the playoff committee?

If you’ve heard Doug rant about overrated Wisconsin teams in the past, then you know what to expect. If you haven’t heard that rant, then try this episode, you’ll either love it or hate it.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: Stealing one college football player for the 2020 Buckeyes; fast food bracket part two May 04, 2020

If you could take one player off another 2020 college football team and add him to Ohio State for this season, which player would it be? On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises answer that question, and then text subscribers jump in with their choices. Would it be a cornerback? A running back? A linebacker? A pass rusher? Would it come from a regular-season foe that might miss the player that the Buckeyes were stealing, like Penn State, Oregon or Michigan? Or would it be best to cripple a national title contender like Clemson or Alabama? A lot of names are chosen and various strategies employed, and potential OSU weaknesses examined.

Then, it's part two of the fast food bracket that the guys started on Friday. There's voting on another 16 matchups of fast food and fast casual restaurants, including Five Guys, Taco Bell, In-N-Out and Swenson's. And there's plenty of disagreement.

It's about two-thirds football talk and one-third fast food talk, which makes it another normal Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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Daily Pod: Ohio State adds another recruit; fast food bracket voting May 01, 2020

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, they're slowing it down a bit. First, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird kick things off with a quick check on the latest Ohio State football recruit, as the Buckeyes added a verbal commitment from C.J. Hicks in the Class of 2022 on Friday. But then the guys take a breath, as Stephen Means jumps in and they partially work their way through an NCAA-style bracket about fast food and fast casual restaurants, voting on matchups involving Chick-fi-A, McDonald's, Burger King, Panera Bread, Sbarro and many more.

It was time for a little nonsense after some heavy football talk the last few weeks.

Finally, a special guest joins the pod, as 13-year-old Ohio State football fan and Buckeye Talk fan Benjy Pastor jumps on to help celebrate his bar mitzvah and the guys criticize his affection for Skyline Chili.

All in all, a pretty typical Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines May 1 May 01, 2020

How Ohio State will be affected by the name, image and likeness proposal

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Daily Pod: How much will player endorsements help Ohio State in recruiting? Apr 30, 2020

The NCAA is moving forward with a proposal to allow athletes to make money as endorsers while in college, and on this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk all about what that might mean for Ohio State football.

How will the Buckeyes sell that idea in recruiting? How will the money coming in to players be tracked and monitored? How might some schools abuse the idea, which is something that some around the game are worried about?

They answered a lot of questions on the idea, moving past the corporate speak to the actual effects of what the NCAA announced on Wednesday.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 274: Could Ohio State ever lose to a MAC team; Bowling Green game preview Apr 29, 2020

Buckeye Talk is starting to preview Ohio State's 2020 football season. For the next 12 weeks, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means will talk to writers from all 12 of the Buckeyes' scheduled opponents for this season, running through the regular season in order.

First up is Bowling Green, which means a visit from Bowling Green beat writer Nick Piotrowicz of the Toledo Blade. But that's just 30 minutes to kick off this big Wednesday pod. Then Doug, Nathan and Stephen delve into the history of Ohio State against the MAC, look back at close calls, and take input from text subscribers on whether the Buckeyes will ever lose to a MAC team.

Finally, with the NFL Draft in the books, the guys look at Ohio State's defense from 2018, which has now had eight starters drafted. They rewatched the Purdue and Maryland games from that season of OSU defensive struggles and, knowing the NFL talent on that defense, took a last look at what went wrong and what could be learned for Ohio State's 2020 defense.

There's a lot in this one. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Daily Pod: Can Justin Fields make Ohio State QBU? Apr 28, 2020

Ohio State football can make a lot of claims about sending players to the NFL. The Buckeyes have been a pipeline for cornerbacks and defensive ends lately, and the program has a history of sending linebackers, running backs and receivers to the pros as well. But not quarterback -- almost never quarterback.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises look at the 2021 NFL Draft prospects of OSU QB Justin Fields. Could he be the No. 1 pick? What will it mean for Ohio State to have a quarterback drafted that high? What is the NFL future of the quarterback position at Ohio State, and does the school have any chance of becoming QBU?

The guys go hard on that topic for this whole podcast as the emphasis remains on the NFL Draft for one more day.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: Why K.J. Hill fell in the 2020 draft; projecting 2021 Ohio State draft picks in Cleveland Apr 26, 2020

The Ohio State Buckeyes had 10 players picked in the 2020 NFL Draft, and on this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down the picks in the second through seventh rounds. The guys went over the three first-round picks on Friday's podcast.

Of particular interest -- running back J.K. Dobbins in the second round to Baltimore and slot receiver K.J. Hill in the seventh round to the L.A. Chargers. Ryan Day didn't like the idea of Hill falling that far, but what did Doug, Nathan and Stephen think of it?

Also, the next NFL Draft in 2021 will be held in Cleveland if the world is back to normal by then. So Doug, Nathan and Stephen went through the OSU roster and gave their picks on exactly which Buckeyes, and how many, should be hearing their names called in a year. Ohio State has seen at least seven players picked in the last five drafts.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines April 24 Apr 24, 2020

Ohio State football makes plenty of news in the NFL Draft

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Daily Pod: NFL Draft reaction to 3 first-round Buckeyes; new recruit; Last Dance Chicago Bulls stories Apr 24, 2020

Three Ohio State Buckeyes were drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to examine the selections of Chase Young, Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette -- especially the surprising choice of Arnette at No. 19.

Also, the Buckeyes added a second recruit in the Class of 2022 on Thursday. And Doug has some Last Dance stories to share about covering the Chicago Bulls during the end of the Michael Jordan era.

It's another daily Buckeye Talk after we skipped the Thursday Buckeye Talk. As always, thanks for listening.

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Ep. 273: Ranking Ohio State's best assistant coaches; Jaelen Gill transfers Apr 23, 2020

On this big Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means join Doug Lesmerises to go over his list of the top 10 Ohio State football assistant coaches he has covered since 2005. Doug previously ranked all 35 assistants during his time on the beat for text subscribers, and now he unveils his top 10 on the pod and takes texter input on the best OSU assistants in their time as fans.

Luke Fickell, Tom Herman, Mark Dantonio, Larry Johnson, Kerry Coombs -- Doug, Nathan and Stephen break all of them down.

Plus, Clemson lost a top-20 national recruit. Could he wind up at Ohio State? And third-year receiver Jaelen Gill announced his transfer. What does that mean for the Buckeyes? Plus, our view on puzzles vs. board games.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: How much money does Ohio State football make off a 5-star recruit? Apr 21, 2020

An Ohio State economics professor recently completed a study that attempted to assign how much value a 5-star recruit brings to a college football program. On this Buckeye Talk episode, that professor, Trevon Logan, joins Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird to talk about why he studied that and what this study might contribute to the discussion about whether college athletes should be paid.

In one way, the study showed why a 5-star recruit might be worth more than $600,000 to a program. In another way, it showed why a 5-star recruit might have a lower value of $200,000 to a program like Ohio State. The guys went straight to the source on this one.

Also, Doug and Nathan talked about the latest OSU recruit, the 17th verbal commitment to the Class of 2021, as Kentucky defensive back Jantzen Dunn said he'll be a Buckeye.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: The Ohio State position group least affected by the shutdown Apr 20, 2020

Ohio State has a lot of new starters on defense and at wide receiver, but some veterans in other parts of the offense. So on this Buckeye Talk episode, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises answer this question from a text subscriber -- which position group will be affected the least by the missed time due to coronavirus?

Plus, they discuss how they think Corey Dennis will handle his first season as Ohio State’s quarterbacks coach, and they dip into the pros and cons of ice creams with a vanilla base vs. ice creams with a chocolate base.

It’s the Monday Buckeye Talk, the cleveland.com podcast now coming at you every weekday. Thanks so much for listening. If you’d like to become a part of the pod, try our Ohio State text subscriber service which starts with a 14-day free trial, by sending a text to 614-350-3315.

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Daily Pod: Why Ezekiel Elliott is the favorite Ohio State player of this era Apr 17, 2020

Our Favorite Modern Football Buckeye bracket is over, and on this Buckeye Talk daily episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about Ezekiel Elliott's win over Troy Smith in the final voting. The OSU daily text subscribers decided everything during the 68-player bracket that divided players up on offense and defense and by whether they played in the Urban Meyer era or Jim Tressel era. Over a 19-year period, there were a lot of great Buckeyes to choose from. But Elliott was the odds-on favorite from the start, and the running back from the 2014 national champions knocked off the Heisman Trophy winner from 2006, as A.J. Hawk and Joey Bosa also reached the Final Four.

On the pod, Doug, Nathan and Stephen talked about players that defined coaches, and the type of player that might define Ryan Day; they discussed what it means to be a favorite player vs. just a great player; and they debated how winning a title factors into a vote like this.

The voting is over and this podcast wraps it up. Thanks for being a part of that and for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines April 17 Apr 17, 2020

Ohio State lands another major recruit as the NFL Draft looms

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Daily Pod: Tunmise Adeleye gives Ohio State another top-50 national recruit Apr 16, 2020

Ohio State added a 16th verbal commitment to its No. 1 recruiting class for 2021 on Wednesday in Tunmise Adeleye.. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the defensive end from IMG Academy and what he means as the latest major Ohio State recruit. This 2021 class continues to look more and more like Ohio State's 2017 class.

Also, the guys discuss what other college football program they'd want to cover if not Ohio State, and they debate the merits of ice cream as the go-to dessert of many Americans.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk, now with episodes Monday through Friday.

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Ep. 272: The best future NFL prospects on Ohio State football’s 2020 roster Apr 15, 2020

The 2020 NFL Draft will begin on April 23, and a one-time Buckeye and two other Buckeyes are expected to be the first three picks. But everyone knows that about Joe Burrow, Chase Young and Jeff Okudah. So on this big Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises get into those players and other aspects of the Ohio State football program and the NFL.

The cleveland.com OSU text subscribers gave us the Buckeye in the current draft and the Buckeye on the current roster that they are most curious about as an NFL prospect. And there were a lot of different answers. If you’d like to interact like that with the podcast, sign up now for a 14-day free trial of our text subscription by texting 614-350-3315.

The guys talked about future NFL draft prospects still playing for the Buckeyes like quarterback Justin Fields, receivers Garrett Wilson and Julian Fleming, defensive end Zach Harrison, cornerback Shaun Wade and offensive lineman Wyatt Davis. We took a guess at how first-round picks and how many overall draft picks will be on the 2020 Buckeyes. And then they discussed the players who most intrigued fans in this draft, including J.K. Dobbins, Damon Arnette, K.J. Hill and Davon Hamilton. It’s good draft talk, for now and for later, and it’s part of Buckeye Talk, now coming at you five days a week.

Thanks for listening.

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Daily Pod: What would College Football Playoff expansion mean for Ohio State? Apr 14, 2020

Recent surveys and stories have shown that a large majority of college athletic directors are in favor of expanding the College Football Playoff from four teams to eight teams or maybe even 16 teams? Why? Because athletic departments fear the financial losses from the coronavirus shutdown and are eager for ways to make more money off college football. And an expanded playoff would do that.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird debate whether the coronavirus outbreak should be the driving force for playoff change. And then they examine what it would mean for Ohio State football. They look at who the Buckeyes would have played if the playoff had always been eight teams, and they try to figure out what an expanded playoff would mean for Ohio State's regular season.

The Buckeyes are always part of the playoff conversation and they could be affected by expansion more than any program.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: Who deserves the most credit for Ohio State football’s recruiting success? Apr 13, 2020

Ohio State has the No. 1 recruiting class in 2021 so far in Ryan Day's second full attempt at pulling together the best high school players in the country. The Buckeyes are recruiting at the same high level they did under Urban Meyer, and now Day is chasing Meyer for the highest rating ever for a recruiting class.

So how is that happening? On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down how the credit should be divided for the OSU recruiting success. Is it mostly Day as a leader and closer? Is it the assistants, led by Kerry Coombs, Larry Johnson, Brian Hartline, Tony Alford, Al Washington and others who have recruited great prospects into their position rooms? Is it the OSU recruiting infrastructure, led by OSU personnel director Mark Pantoni?

We know this class is good. In this episode, we talk about just why that is.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk, now producing episodes every weekday.

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Daily Pod: What we'll miss most about Ohio State's spring game; some other boring stuff Apr 10, 2020

On this latest episode of Buckeye Talk, your Ohio State football podcast from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talked about what they'll miss most with the OSU spring football game being canceled Saturday, along with everything else in sports.

Also, the guys tried to inform you about the latest things Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said about the fallout from coronavirus and what that might mean for football in the fall. But no one knows anything about what's actually going to happen, because everything will follow the science, and speculating about that stuff just made Doug mad, which is why he ended up saying he hated this episode.

Honestly, listen to the four other pods this week first - the three daily ones centering on the spring game draft and the big Wednesday episode on the Buckeye we're driving the bus for this season. Only listen to this episode after those, and if you want to skip this and wait for the Monday pod, that's fine, too. Or maybe you'll find this interesting. But probably not.

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Buckeye Headlines: Second Week of April Apr 09, 2020

Updates on recruiting and a reminder on what Ohio State is missing with no spring game

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Daily Pod: Ohio State's most important defensive player; voting on spring game draft Apr 09, 2020

On this daily episode of Buckeye Talk, the Ohio State podcast now coming to you five days a week, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means reveal the votes from text subscribers on the spring game draft. Stephen and Nathan each drafted an OSU offense and defense on the Monday and Tuesday episodes, and now here are the results, and reasons, on which team would win.

But first, the guys each make a pick for the most important player on the defense in 2020 other than Shaun Wade. The veteran corner is an obvious choice as the No. 1 Buckeye on that side of the ball, but who's next? There are three different answers on which guy will be a determining factor in how this defense fares.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. If you'd like to join the discussion as a text subscriber, send a text to 614-350-3315.

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Ep. 271: Driving the Buckeye bus for the Ohio State players we believe in the most Apr 08, 2020

On this big Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are naming the Ohio State player they believe in for this season, and fans are sharing the players they believe in as well.

But it's not just belief. This is the player you are driving the bus for, the Buckeye that you believe in more than most fans. This is the guy you are sure is going to exceed expectations, whether it's a good player headed for a great year, a young player ready for a breakout or a backup finally getting his opportunity.

It's not really about a guy like Justin Fields, a player that is already a star. It's more about Baron Browning. Or Teradja Mitchell. Or Master Teague. Or the other player that got the most texter votes and has the most bus drivers lining up for him.

Plus, there's a discussion of what the recent basketball transfers mean, a tour through some snacking preferences and a rant or two to ease the soul. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Daily Pod: Offense draft for an Ohio State spring football game Apr 07, 2020

With this daily pod episode, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means draft competing offenses as if they were facing off in an Ohio State spring football game. The defense draft was done in the last episode, and all of this is building up to a showdown on which OSU text subscribers will vote (text 614-350-3315 for a free trial).

Quarterback Justin Fieds is being rested and wasn't available for the draft, because he would be such an obvious No. 1 pick. With him off the board, which receiver was the actual No. 1 pick? Which quarterback was then selected ahead of the other options? Who was the first running back drafted?

Listen to find that out as Doug Lesmerises acts as commissioner and critic, and Nathan and Stephen go through a draft that lets you know a lot about the state of the Buckeyes' offense. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk, now every weekday, Monday through Friday.

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Daily Pod: Drafting the Ohio State defense for a spring game Apr 06, 2020

On this daily Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means help get you ready for the Ohio State football spring game that would have been happening this Saturday. In this two-part pod, Nathan and Stephen are going to draft two teams from the current Ohio State roster. Then, those rosters will be submitted to Buckeye Talk text subscribers for a vote.

First up is this draft of the defense. Nathan has the first pick, and then he and Stephen go back and forth, filling out an 11-man starting defense plus two wild cards, while Doug sits back and acts as the commissioner and makes snarky comments. It's fun to think about what a spring game would have been like, and it's a valuable exercise to let you know the strengths and weaknesses of this 2020 OSU team as the guys examine the depth at each position.

It's defensive line, linebackers and secondary this episode, and it'll be quarterback, running back, receivers, tight end and offense line on the next daily pod. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk, now five days a week, Monday through Friday.

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Daily Pod: What has changed with Ohio State recruiting? Apr 03, 2020

How has Ohio State adjusted its recruiting in the midst of the coronavirus? Ohio State recruiting coordinator Mark Pantoni spoke about that Friday, and Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird go over all the changes the Buckeyes have implemented.

Assistant coaches are watching more film of young high school players. Recruits wanting to earn an offer at an Ohio State camp will have to wait. Quarterback recruiting for 2022 might be slowed down. If you care about how the Buckeyes build their roster, Pantoni explained a lot.

Thanks for listening to our daily Buckeye Talk episodes, now coming to you every day Monday through Friday.

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Buckeye Headlines First Week of April Apr 03, 2020

The Buckeyes continue to recruit in football and spring sports give athletes an extra year of eligibility.

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Daily Pod: Recruiting needs and priorities for the rest of Ohio State's 2021 class Apr 02, 2020

Buckeye Talk is going daily, and this is the start of that. This Ohio State podcast used to be just every Wednesday. Then, once things started shutting down, mini-pods were added on Monday and Friday.

Now, it's going Monday through Friday, with that regular two-hour monster episode every Wednesday, and these half-hour daily pods on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

This one covers the remaining needs and priorities for the 2021 Ohio State recruiting class, which already includes 15 verbal commits and is ranked first in the nation. But the Buckeyes could still use some linebackers, cornerbacks, a tight end and a few other positions of need.

Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises broke that all down. Take a listen, get subscribed to Buckeye Talk and prepare for more of these guys for however long you’ll have them.

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Ep. 270: The Ohio State-Clemson rivalry -- How the Buckeyes should really view the Tigers Apr 01, 2020

Ohio State’s loss to Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal is fresh in the minds of many fans. But the Buckeyes aren’t going away, and neither are the Tigers.

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises examine the future of the Ohio State-Clemson rivalry and get lots of thoughts from OSU fans on how they consider the Tigers in the context of the Buckeyes. The text subscribers (text 614-350-3315 for a free trial) unleashed a lot of rants about Clemson and made it clear the Tigers are on their minds.

So how does Clemson compare to Michigan as an Ohio State rival? How do OSU fans view Clemson coach Dabo Swinney? How much of an edge is an easy ACC for Clemson? Will Clemson stay on top of the college football world for a long time, or is their run coming to and end, and might Ohio State help end it?

Fans always need to understand the competition. After this episode, OSU fans should have a very good handle on where things stand with the Buckeyes vs. the Tigers. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Mini-pod: Recruiting, developing and using Ohio State tight ends Mar 30, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk mini-pod, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means examine the most mysterious of Ohio State football positions -- tight end. Jeremy Ruckert was a major tight end recruit in the Class of 2018, but he hasn't received a ton of opportunities in the OSU offense, yet he's made plays when the ball is thrown his way. What does Ruckert's career tell us about tight ends at Ohio State and what the future may hold? And how does his usage compare to other top tight ends around the Big Ten?

Plus, the guys offer their advice on frozen pizza, and there's an update on the Favorite Modern Football Buckeye bracket. Don't miss our big regular episode each Wednesday, and we hope you're enjoying these mini-pod additions to the Buckeye Talk world.

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Mini-pod: Ohio State gets a huge recruit in 5-star running back TreVeyon Henderson Mar 28, 2020

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means have breaking news for this Friday mini-pod. Ohio State landed a verbal commitment from 5-star running back TreVeyon Henderson from Hopewell, Va., on Friday evening, giving the Buckeyes their second top-100 player at running back in the Class of 2021.

Doug, Nathan and Stephen talk about what Henderson looks like as a player, what kind of impact he could make at Ohio State right away and what this means for running backs coach Tony Alford. Also, with the Buckeyes landing another 5-star, how good exactly could this OSU 2021 class be?

It's a big commit, and Buckeye Talk is ready to dive in. Thanks for listening.

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Ryan Day updates Buckeyes Headlines Mar 26, 2020

Ryan Day explained how OSU players are working out and eating right while away from campus.

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Ep. 269: Ryan Day explains keeping the Buckeyes on track Mar 26, 2020

Ryan Day held a 45-minute conference call with reporters on Wednesday, and on this episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down everything the Ohio State coach said about the state of the Buckeyes.

How are coaches communicating with players while they're off campus? How are the OSU players staying in shape while at home? What might a return to football look like, and what kind of mini-camp or extra practices would Day favor? All that is covered, as the guys answer questions from text subscribers and describe everything happening with Ohio State football right now, including what kind of food Day is cooking at home.

Also, there's a breakdown of the voting so far in the Favorite Modern Buckeye Football bracket. And there's a discussion about the Buckeyes' strategic use of the transfer portal the last two years and what we should expect from the Buckeyes in the transfer market in the years ahead.

It's another full Buckeye Talk, and thanks as always for listening.

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Mini-pod: Rating the impact of running back transfer Trey Sermon on Ohio State Mar 23, 2020

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back with a mini-pod that isn't all that mini as they examine the transfer of Oklahoma running back Trey Sermon to Ohio State. The Sooners' back announced his move over the weekend and he seemingly will step right in as the No. 1 running back for the 2020 Buckeyes, joining a room that includes Master Teague, Marcus Crowley, Steele Chambers and Miyan Williams.

How does Sermon's potential impact measure up to other recent Ohio State transfers? What do his recent injuries mean for his expected performance? What were his last two seasons at Oklahoma like? Doug, Nathan and Stephen get way into that. Plus, Ohio State basketball added its own transfer in Seth Towns, and saw freshman Alonzo Gaffney leave the program, so there's a quick breakdown on that.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Mini-pod: D.J. Carton's transfer, 5-star cornerback recruiting, Ryan Day in Year 2 Mar 20, 2020

To stay connected with you and give everyone sports talk in a time with no sports, the tentative plan is for Buckeye Talk to start producing a couple mini-pods per week, in addition to the regular huge Wednesday episode. This is the start of that.

On this mini-pod, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the transfer of Ohio State freshman point guard D.J. Carton; the possibilities of the Buckeyes landing 5-star cornerback Tony Grimes; and how Ryan Day might coach differently in his second year. Also, there are updates on our Favorite Modern Buckeye Football bracket.

Thanks as always for joining us on Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeyes Land Four Recruits Headlines Mar 18, 2020

Ohio State managed to get four big verbal commitments this week while most of the sports world was shut down.

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Ep. 268: How is Ohio State football landing major recruits during these uncertain times? Mar 18, 2020

We're back with our regular Wednesday Buckeye Talk podcast, because Ohio State is managing to do regular things. The Buckeyes landed four major recruits between March 15 and March 17, and on this episode Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talked about how the Buckeyes did that and what it means for the future.

Currently, Ohio State has 14 verbal commits for a 2021 class that is ranked No. 1 in the nation. Who could soon be joining it? They took your questions on that, while also analyzing these new commits, led by running back Evan Pryor, a top-100 recruit the Buckeyes landed at their greatest position of need.

Plus, the guys talked about some of the voting in the Favorite Modern Football Buckeye 68-player bracket, took more questions on football, including the future quarterback battle in 2021, and discussed why the Chick-fil-A drive thru is so efficient.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. If you'd like pod thoughts in your phone every day, text 614-350-3315 to become a friend of the pod.

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Ep. 267: Introducing the Favorite Modern Football Buckeye -- our Ohio State bracket game Mar 16, 2020

We're starting a game, and we want you to join. This Buckeye Talk episode introduces the Favorite Modern Football Buckeye Bracket -- our 68-player field to determine the favorite Ohio State football player from 2001 to the present. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the four brackets and all the decisions that went into seeding this bracket, which will be voted on by our text subscribers over the next several weeks.

The bracket is divided by offense/defense and by era. There is the Jim Tressel/Fickell era (2001-2011) and the Urban Meyer/Ryan Day era (2012-2019). So the four regions are Tressel Offense, Tressel Defense, Meyer Offense and Meyer Defense. Who might the top seeds be in each bracket? We revealed the voting on that and delved into that debate. Which lower-rated players could spring upsets? We talked about the potential sleepers in each bracket.

We'll be doing this for the next several weeks, while also bringing you our regular Buckeye Talk episodes each Wednesday. But we probably also will sprinkle in some mini-pods to answer a few questions, update the bracket and stay connected to you. So during these strange and difficult times, we want to stay with you and provide some fun wherever we can. Visit cleveland.com/osu to keep up with the bracket, and text 614-350-3315 to join our text subscription on a 14-day free trial so you can take part in the voting.

Stay safe, be good to each other and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Spring Game canceled headlines Mar 12, 2020

Ohio State cancels the April 11 spring game over the coronavirus as the sports world is in flux.

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Ep. 266: The most exciting Ohio State player this season; basketball tourney preview; assistant coach salaries Mar 11, 2020

On this Buckeye Talk episode, a text subscriber asks an intriguing question -- outside of Justin Fields and Garrett Wilson, who will be the most exciting Ohio State football player in the 2020 season? Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means have a wide variety of answers to that question -- and many others.

This Buckeye Talk delves into more than an hour of football questions, from Wilson as a punt returner to picking the starting running back for Week 2. Then it's a 30-minute preview of Ohio State basketball as the Buckeyes prepare for tourney time, in the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. We give some predictions on how the coronavirus will affect college sports (although that changes by the minute) and then we debate whether Ohio State football assistants get paid too much, with results from a text subscriber poll on that subject.

As usual, thanks for listening, and be well out there in Buckeye Nation. Thanks for being part of our pod.

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Spring Football Starts Buckeye Talk Headlines Mar 06, 2020

Ohio State began spring football practice and there was lots to learn about the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 265 (Part 2): Most Important Spring Football Buckeyes Q&A Mar 04, 2020

This is Part 2 of the weekly Buckeye Talk Podcast, since the episode was so long, it had to be divided into pieces. Listen to Part 1 first, then enjoy this 90-minute section of questions from text subscribers.

The theme of the most important players for Ohio State spring football continues, but there are also questions about cornerback recruiting; tips for attending games; suggestions for defensive leadership, and much more. It's what you expect from Doug, Nathan and Stephen each week, just in two parts.

Plus, there's a discussion on the best place to take napkins from in order to build a stack in your car.

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Ep. 265 (Part 1): Ten Most Important Buckeyes For Spring Football; Master Teague Injury Mar 04, 2020

Well, Buckeye Talk finally did it. This episode got so long, it had to be broken into two parts. The topic is the Ten Most Important Players for Ohio State Spring Football, but in the middle of recording on Tuesday, news broke that running back Master Teague was lost for the spring. And that affected the list. So Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises couldn't stop talking, and this thing went crazy.

So Part 2 will pop up in your podcast feed right after this one. That episode is another 90 minutes of all the questions from cleveland.com text subscribers. This episode is the guys running down the top-10 list of Buckeyes as voted on by subscribers, as they also reveal their own top-10 lists.

If you see the 90-minute run time and think Buckeye Talk ran short this week, don't worry. It ran longer than ever. So this is Part 1 and get ready for Part 2. Thanks as always for listening.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Week of Feb. 26 Feb 29, 2020

NFL Scouting Combine intel, Ryan Day's contract extension and uniform number changes.

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Ep. 264: Should Ohio State's Ryan Day be the Big Ten's highest-paid coach? Feb 27, 2020

Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises are at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where 11 Ohio State football players are either working out for talent evaluators or taking meetings or both. Before getting into that, they discuss Ryan Day's three-year contract extension and what that says about his long-term future in Columbus.

They also delve into what they have seen so far at the combine, including J.K. Dobbins' lingering ankle injury. He may not participate in positional drills, and Chase Young definitely will not. But some other Buckeyes can help themselves by testing well this week.

Then Doug and Nathan turn to the Friends of the Pod for OSU football questions and, prompted by Doug's traumatic experience at the Circle Center Mall, the go-to options at food courts. That conversation bounces from Taron Vincent to Chik-Fil-A to the freshman wide receivers to free samples from food court Chinese vendors and much, much more.

You can also now subscribe to the Buckeye Talk text service directly by texting to 614-350-3315. Cost is only $3.99 a month after a 14-day free trial.

As always, thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your week.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Week of Feb. 19 Feb 19, 2020

A potential transfer rule change, a big basketball game ahead and football expectations for 2020.

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Ep. 263: Is 2020 a National Championship or bust season for Ohio State? Feb 19, 2020

On the latest episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means ponder the question of whether it's fair to view the coming season of Ohio State football as a national title or bust kind of year. The guys go over five reasons why that might be the case and then reveal the results of a text subscriber survey on that topic.

Then it's on to the proposed transfer rule change in college football, which could create a world where players in all sports (not just some, as is the current rule) get a one-time transfer in their career with immediate eligibility. There are the results of a survey on that on whether fans support it -- but are there potential unintended consequences?

Then it's on to subscriber questions and the things that annoy fans about Ohio State football and things that annoy them in life. From bandwagon perceptions to paranoia about media conspiracies to lots of complaints with bad driving, it's time to get some things off your chests. Then at the end is a little basketball talk.

It's a long Buckeye Talk, but this week is really broken up like three separate podcasts, so you can take it all in or pick and choose the parts you like best. However you listen, thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of your week.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines, Week of Feb. 12 Feb 13, 2020

Two Ohio State players are dismissed and a Big Ten team hires a former OSU assistant.

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Ep. 262: The little things Ohio State fans love about being a Buckeye Feb 13, 2020

There's a lot happening with Ohio State, and on this latest episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means cover it all.

Two OSU players have been dismissed from the team. Michigan State has a new football coach with Ohio State roots. The basketball team is fighting for the NCAA Tournament. And, at the heart of this episode, text subscribers explain what they love about being Ohio State fans, and the guys explain the things they appreciate about covering Ohio State.

It's the offseason, but there's a lot to discuss. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines Feb 08, 2020

The Buckeyes finished off their 2020 signing class and introduced two new assistant coaches.

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Ep. 261: What Luke Fickell, Kerry Coombs and Corey Dennis mean for Ohio State's future Feb 06, 2020

New Ohio State assistant coaches Kerry Coombs and Corey Dennis met with reporters as the Buckeyes finished off their 2020 recruiting class on a big National Signing Day of information. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were there to catch it all, and on this episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, they broke down what they thought of Coombs' return to the Buckeyes and Dennis' first meeting with reporters.

Also, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio stepped down and former OSU assistant and current Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell is a leading candidate to replace him. What might it mean for the Buckeyes if Fickell takes over in East Lansing?

Plus, there's talk on what the guys learned from some of the 14 early enrollees they talked to and plenty of questions from text subscribers. All on the latest Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines Jan 30, 2020

Ohio State locks up the final piece of its 2020 signing class while passing out offers for 2021 and beyond.

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Ep. 260: Who are the potential sleepers in Ohio State football's 2020 signing class? Jan 29, 2020

Nathan Baird and Stephen Means turn Buckeye Talk into a duet with Doug Lesmerises wrapping up his vacation. This was a full text subscriber question episode beginning with a deep discussion about Ohio State's 2020 recruiting class. Who are the potential sleepers? Are the Buckeyes slipping as a national recruiting presence with Ryan Day? Where is the early recruiting focus for 2021?

Nathan and Stephen also delved into questions on key positions and players for the 2020 Buckeyes, including the potential impact of seniors Demario McCall and Jonathon Cooper. Which "project" defensive end has the highest ceiling, and should fans be pessimistic about the defensive line?

Finally, a deeper look at some of the specific issues affecting Buckeye men's basketball and where Chris Holtmann's team can go as February arrives.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines Jan 23, 2020

Digging in to what Ohio State's offense will look like next season.

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Ep. 259: Projecting Ohio State's offense for the 2020 season Jan 21, 2020

We look ahead again on Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means project how the 2020 Ohio State offense will look. In addition to a position-by-position breakdown of the roster, they also list the most important players on offense, the biggest questions, the most likely All-Americans and more. Also, they answer text subscriber questions on Master Teague and the running back situation, which receivers fit where and what happens with the vacant starting spots on the offensive line.

If you missed the defensive depth chart podcast, check out Episode 258.

Nathan and Stephen also discuss Kerry Coombs' return to Ohio State as defensive coordinator before touching on Buckeye basketball's recent struggles and how Chris Holtmann's team can turn things around.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines -- Ohio State 2020 defense breakdown Jan 16, 2020

Digging in to what Ohio State's defense will look like next season

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Ep. 258: Projecting Ohio State's defense for the 2020 season Jan 16, 2020

It's time to look ahead, and on this episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means project how the 2020 Ohio State defense will look. They go over the projected depth chart position group by position group, list the most important players on the defense, the biggest questions, the most likely All-Americans and more, all while taking questions from text subscribers. It's a comprehensive look at this side of the ball, where the Buckeyes are losing seven starters from 2019.

They'll do the same with the offense on next week's podcast.

The guys also talk about LSU's win over Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship and how Ohio State might have matched up with LSU, and go through the most important things Ryan Day said when he met with reporters on Wednesday.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines -- A 2019 season lookback Jan 09, 2020

Looking back on Ohio State's 2019 season and Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson.

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Ep. 257: Burying Ohio State's 2019 season and loss to Clemson Jan 08, 2020

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back together to -- at the suggestion of a funeral director -- bury the 2019 Ohio State football season and the College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Clemson. This is a final big picture look at everything that went right and wrong with the Buckeyes during their 13-1 season in Ryan Day's first year as head coach, and how all of it will be remembered.

There are a ton of messages of mourning from Ohio State text subscribers about how they've dealt with the loss, and lots of thoughts about what the 2019 season means for Ohio State in 2020 and beyond.

Next week, we'll start looking to the future. But for now, this is a final time for Buckeye Talk as a group to remember what happened this season.

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Ep. 256: Ohio State's 10 plays that would have changed its loss to Clemson Jan 06, 2020

Doug Lesmerises checks in (finally, sorry for the delay) after taking another look at Ohio State's Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson. This isn't the final wrap on that College Football Playoff semifinal loss, but Doug does examine 10 plays that went against Ohio State, with the belief that changing even one of them would have given the Buckeyes a win.

Plus, there's talk about Shaun Wade's decision to stay at Ohio State for the 2020 season and the promotion of Corey Dennis to be the Buckeyes' quarterback coach. This a one-person episode and the full crew and full length will return Wednesday. But for now, enjoy this Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 255: Ohio State loses to Clemson -- what cost the Buckeyes the Fiesta Bowl? Dec 29, 2019

Ohio State football lost to Clemson 29-23 in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday night, and boy, is there some stuff to talk about.

On this postgame Buckeye Talk Podcast episode, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises chatted into the wee hours, answering as many of the 125 questions from text subscribers as they could and asking everyone a simple question -- Are you mad at the Buckeyes?

They got a pretty resounding answer there, and then they got into everything about this game. Why the Buckeyes lost, what it means for the future, how it will be remembered.

It’s an hour and 40 minutes making sense of that game the best that they could. Thanks for listening.

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Ep. 254: Inside the Justin Fields-Trevor Lawrence quarterback showdown in the Fiesta Bowl Dec 27, 2019

In the final daily Buckeye Talk Podcast episode live from Arizona before Saturday's Fiesta Bowl, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means examine what could be the first of many matchups between Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

They played high school football about 20 miles apart in Georgia, and they were the top two recruits in the Class of 2018, but they'll face off in a game for the first time in this College Football Playoff semifinal between the No. 2 Buckeyes and No. 3 Tigers. They could have long careers ahead meeting up in the NFL, and Stephen, Nathan and Doug examine the future and explain the past for two of the best young quarterbacks around.

This was recorded on Dec. 27 and is the fourth daily podcast episode from Arizona. Catch them all, and get ready for the postgame pod after Saturday's Fiesta Bowl. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 253: Predicting the winner of the Ohio State-Clemson College Football Playoff semifinal Dec 26, 2019

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, coming to you daily from Arizona, it's time for picks. Doug, Nathan and Stephen offer their predictions and explanations for which team will win Saturday's Fiesta Bowl between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Clemson. After a few days of interviews, the info has been gathered, so it's time to process everything that's been learned.

Will Ohio State run the ball on Clemson consistently? Will Clemson hit Ohio State with big passing plays? Which team has the better overall talent? All of these questions and more were explained in the predictions, then plenty of questions from text subscribers were answered.

This is the third daily podcast from Arizona, and it was recorded on Dec. 26. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines Fiesta Bowl week Dec 26, 2019

Ohio State and Clemson are preparing for Saturday's Fiesta Bowl and these are the headlines live from Arizona.

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Ep. 252: Does Ohio State or Clemson have a Fiesta Bowl coaching advantage? Dec 26, 2019

Does Ohio State or Clemson have the better coaching staff in this Fiesta Bowl? On this Christmas Day episode of the podcast, Doug Lesmerises looks at the assistants on both sides of the ball.

The Buckeyes have an offense run by head coach Ryan Day with help from coordinators Kevin Wilson and Mike Yurcich, and a defense coached by co-coordinators Greg Mattison and Jeff Hafley. Yurcich, Mattison and Hafley are all in their first seasons in Columbus.

Clemson counters with three veteran coordinators. Brent Venables has been running the Clemson defense since 2012. Offensively, co-coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott have been in charge since 2015. So the rise of the Tigers has been overseen by head coach Dabo Swinney and a trio of coordinators he really relies upon.

Doug looks at that and takes many of your other questions in a 45-minute daily Buckeye Talk episode live from Arizona.

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Ep. 251: Where Ohio State football has an edge on Clemson Dec 25, 2019

Buckeye Talk is in Arizona and that means you’re in Arizona. On this first live episode of the podcast from the Fiesta Bowl, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises try to prove that they really think Ohio State has a chance to win, after the last episode last week had some listeners wondering why they were hating on the Buckeyes so much.

So after interviewing six Ohio State players and two assistants, and six Clemson players and two assistants on Tuesday, the three of them sat down to take a new batch of questions from text subscribers as part of their daily podcast plan from the Fiesta Bowl before the Buckeyes and Tigers meet on the field Saturday.

Among the areas they covered -- where Ohio State has an edge in this game. Plus, they talked about how Justin Fields’ knee is coming along, what Ryan Day will do about losing assistant coaches, and how much a win would mean for Ohio State’s standing in the college football world.

There will be new podcast episodes on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before they wrap things up with a postgame podcast after Saturday’s game. So thanks for hanging with Buckeye Talk.

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Buckeye Talk headlines previewing Clemson Dec 19, 2019

Ohio State signs its 2020 recruitling class and prepares for the Fiesta Bowl vs. Clemson

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Ep. 250: National Signing Day wrap; Fiesta Bowl preview with Clemson writer Dec 19, 2019

Ohio State football has a a bright future and an intriguing present, and that made this Buckeye Talk podcast episode extra long.

To do everything right, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises basically did two podcasts in one this time. For those looking for more guidance to exactly what happens in the podcast, you’re in luck. Here’s the deal.

The first hour or so is Nathan, Stephen and Doug breaking down the 2020 recruiting class that the Buckeyes inked on National Signing Day on Wednesday.

The next half hour or so is a visit from Matt Connolly, the Clemson write for TheState.com. He broke down everything about the Fiesta Bowl semifinal between the No. 2 Buckeyes and No. 3 Tigers from the Clemson side of things. Don’t miss that.

The last hour or so is Nathan, Stephen and Doug giving their breakdown of the Fiesta Bowl, and the matchups on both sides of the ball.

That’s what was promised to you. That’s what was given to you. And that’s why this might be the longest Buckeye Talk yet. Thanks for listening.

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Ep. 249: Dissecting Jeff Hafley's Ohio State departure; an oddsmaker breaks down Buckeyes vs. Clemson Dec 14, 2019

On this weekend episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises breaks down Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley leaving Ohio State to become the head coach at Boston College. This episode was already planned as a postgame pod without a game, but news of this magnitude really demanded it.

What does it mean for Ohio State vs. Clemson? What does it mean for Ohio State recruiting? How will Ohio State replace Hafley?

Then there's a pre-planned visit from Matt Lindeman, an oddsmaker from Circa Sports, who breaks down the betting line for the Fiesta Bowl and why he has Clemson and Ohio State ranked as the top two teams in the country.

We'll be back Wednesday with a full mid-week Buckeye Talk diving into Ohio State vs. Clemson, but for now, enjoy this weekend extra.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines to preview National Signing Day Dec 12, 2019

Ohio State football prepares for the College Football Playoff against Clemson and gets ready for National Signing Day

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Ep. 248: National Signing Day preview and Ohio State's recruiting strategy under Ryan Day Dec 11, 2019

No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Clemson are facing off in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 28, but for now, discussion about that is delayed. Next week on Buckeye Talk, Doug, Stephen and Nathan will discuss every aspect of that game and the key matchups and what chance Ohio State has to win.

This week, however, the focus is recruiting and a little relaxation. National Signing Day is a week away, so the OSU 25-man class is discussed, with a focus on the players who could contribute early. There's also talk of the recruiting strategy under Ryan Day and a look at why this class has more three-star players.

There's also a little robot talk, some criticism of previous fast food takes on the Podcast and an examination of whether OSU assistant Jeff Hafley might take the Boston College job. Plus, OSU grad Robert Littal, the founder of BlackSportsOnline and a major OSU fan, stops by for a visit, as does loyal listener Chase.

All that and more on another Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 247: Post-playoff announcement, how much Ohio State confidence should turn to worry about Clemson? Dec 09, 2019

Ohio State football is the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff and will face No. 3 Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 28. After riding high on a perfect 13-0 season that ended with a Big Ten Championship, should all that turn to worry about facing the Tigers, the defending national champions on a 28-game winning streak?

On this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises provides a pep talk and takes text subscriber questions. Why just Doug? Because Doug, Nathan and Stephen recorded an episode together and the audio program bombed before it could be saved. That's what happens when you're on three hours sleep after the Big Ten title game and a drive back from Indianapolis.

Two podcasts a week ahead until cleveland.com gets to Arizona for coverage, and then prepare for daily pods from Dec. 23 until kickoff. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk ... and try a 14-day free text trial at joinsubtext.com/buckeyetalk.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines for Big Ten Championship Week Dec 05, 2019

Previewing the Big Ten Championship vs. Wisconsin, as well as the final playoff rankings and the Heisman Trophy vote

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Ep. 246: Chase Young, J.K. Dobbins, Justin Fields and picking the Buckeyes who will be Heisman Trophy finalists Dec 04, 2019

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Ohio State is preparing for the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin on Saturday, but Buckeye Talk is kind of ignoring it. The Buckeyes are likely in the College Football Playoff win or lose, so the focus went elsewhere -- to the Heisman Trophy.

A straw poll of text subscribers came up with how J.K. Dobbins, Chase Young and Justin Fields should be ranked just for the Ohio State version of the Heisman. Then Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises broke down the best running back, defensive player and quarterback Heisman candidates in the country, and how these Buckeyes fit in.

Plus there's talk of Ryan Day as Big Ten Coach of the Year, some playoff discussion and a little recruiting, all while Doug pouted for two hours.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 245: Ohio State-Michigan postgame, Ryan Day dominates and Jim Harbaugh's in trouble Dec 01, 2019

On this postgame Buckeye Talk episode after The Game, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at Ohio State's eighth straight win over Michigan, as the Buckeyes won 56-27 on Saturday in Ryan Day's debut in the rivalry as a head coach.

J.K. Dobbins ran wild and Justin Fields returned from injury, but Michigan did manage to make some plays on the Ohio State defense in the first half. That went away, though. The Buckeyes are now on to the Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin, but did the Wolverines do anything that the Badgers or any other future opponents could learn from?

Or did Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, now 0-5 against Ohio State, just learn that he can't beat the Buckeyes, whether it's Urban Meyer or Day on the other side?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Buckeye Talk Headlines: Michigan week Nov 28, 2019

Previewing the Ohio State-Michigan Game

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Ep. 244: What are the chances Michigan could beat Ohio State? Nov 27, 2019

It’s No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 13 Michigan in the 116th edition of the rivalry on Saturday in Ann Arbor, and Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises broke it all down on the latest episode of Buckeye Talk.

There were more than 200 questions from text subscribers. The guys also asked them this question -- If you had to choose between just one, a win over Michigan or a national title, which would you pick?

They discussed that topic and also dove into what the Wolverines might do to challenge the Buckeyes. Plus, Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune stopped by to offer a broad Big Ten perspective on the Buckeyes and on this game. Everything has been building toward this, so thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 243: Ohio State-Penn State postgame, Did Ryan Day get too conservative in the second half? Nov 24, 2019

On this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means go through Ohio State's 28-17 win over Penn State, as the Buckeyes moved to 11-0 and clinched the Big Ten East division title. The game was close into the fourth quarter and was the first game this season the Buckeyes didn't win by at least 24. What does that mean for Michigan next week?

Was Ryan Day too conservative with his play calling in the second half or was he just being smart with a game that included three lost fumbles by Ohio State?

As usual, the text listeners came with a lot of questions, as the Buckeyes won but perhaps looked less than invincible for the first time this season.

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Ep. 242: How big is the Ohio State-Penn State talent gap? Nov 20, 2019

Ohio State is 10-0 and facing the best team on its schedule so far on Saturday, and it's not close. The Penn State Nittany Lions are the more talented team the Buckeyes have played. The question is how close is Penn State's talent to Ohio State?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means debate that question, and there's a lot of disagreement. The questions from the text subscribers are asking whether there's anything to worry about with this game, and the guys have different views on that.

For a great in-depth view on Penn State, beat writer Bob Flounders of PennLive.com joins the show to talk about where Penn State can and can't compete with Ohio State.

Then it's back to more questions from the texters, including, as always, playoff talk. It's a real game this week for Ohio State, and another real episode of Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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Ep. 241: Ohio State-Rutgers postgame, Should the Buckeyes not winning by more freak you out? Nov 17, 2019

Ohio State won 56-21 at Rutgers on Saturday as the No. 2 Buckeyes moved to 10-0 on the season. Was that impressive enough?

On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take many questions from fans who were worried about Ohio State's pass rush, offensive line and overall defensive performance against the lowly Scarlet Knights. Are there any reasons for concern as Ohio State hits a much tougher home stretch starting with Penn State next week?

They talk playoff ranking compared to LSU, the OSU plan to try deep balls against Rutgers, and whether to order breakfast food or dinner food at 10:30 p.m. at a diner. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com

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Ep. 240: Justin Fields in depth, Chase Young reaction, James Laurinaitis visits Nov 13, 2019

Justin Fields has already changed Ohio State football and on this episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dig into the impact the sophomore has had on the Buckeyes in his first season. Nathan has a series of stories coming on Fields after a visit to Georgia, and the guys give you a look at how far Fields has come to be the quarterback of the No. 2 team in the nation.

Plus, Ohio State announced that the Chase Young absence will end after two games, and Doug reacts to that.

Also, OSU legend James Laurinaitis will call Saturday's Ohio State-Rutgers game for the Big Ten Network, so James stops by to talk about that game and to compare the 2006 Buckeyes to this Ohio State team.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 239: Ohio State-Maryland postgame, How much can the Buckeyes win without Chase Young? Nov 10, 2019

Ohio State demolished Maryland 73-14 on Saturday without its best player -- defensive end Chase Young. On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down that big OSU win over the Terrapins and look ahead to how long Young might be out and what the Buckeyes can do with or without him.

They chose not to do an emergency pod after the Young news on Friday, so this is your update on everything happening with the defensive end and what's happening with the No. 1 team in the country. As usual, questions from text message subscribers lead the way on another Buckeyes Talk.

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Ep. 238: Why the College Football Playoff committee loves Ohio State, and the results of the pizza challenge Nov 06, 2019

Ohio State football is No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday night, and Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises are here to break that all down. They are also here to eat pizza.

On this edition of Buckeye Talk, they debate what will happen with next week’s rankings after the game between No. 2 LSU and No. 3 Alabama, and get into whether Ohio State is in such good shape, the Buckeyes could make the playoff even with a loss.

There’s some talk of seniors that could be even better pros than they are college players, and they preview the Ohio State basketball season that starts on Wednesday night. They they get into pizza. This is the week of the long awaited pizza challenge, as Stephen will attempt to eat an entire large deep dish pizza from Giordano’s by himself.

That’s in the last 20 minutes of the podcast. We appreciate you listening to all of, or any of, Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 237: How long will Ohio State football rule the Big Ten? Oct 30, 2019

The Ohio State Buckeyes are off this week for the second time this season, but at 8-0 they've made their case so far as maybe the best team in college football. How long will the Buckeyes keep up that level of play, this season and beyond?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises talks with Adam Rittenberg of espn.com to look at whether the rest of the Big Ten has missed its window in the post-Urban Meyer era, and whether Ryan Day will keep Ohio State at the top of the conference for years to come. Doug and Adam talk about Penn State's chances of competing with the Buckeyes this season, and look at where Michigan and Wisconsin are right now.

Doug and Nathan Baird discuss whether other Big Ten programs can find their own Urban Meyers to reset their football worlds. And then Doug, Nathan and Stephen Means take text subscriber questions. This is NOT the pizza challenge podcast -- there wasn't time to make that happen. But Stephen will try to eat an entire large deep dish pizza next week by himself.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 236: Ohio State-Wisconsin postgame, Which No. 2 for the Buckeyes dominated the Badgers more? Oct 27, 2019

Ohio State beat Wisconsin 38-7 and on this Buckeye Talk Podcast postgame episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take your questions on the victory that moved the No. 3 Buckeyes to 8-0.

Among them -- did No. 2 J.K. Dobbins or No. 2 Chase Young have a bigger game as Ohio State pulled away in the second half, led by their running back and defensive end? There's some Young Heisman Trophy talk, a comparison between Dobbins and Wisconsin back Jonathan Taylor and more.

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Ep. 235: What is Ohio State's level of Wisconsin worry, with Joel Klatt of Fox Sports Oct 23, 2019

Joel Klatt of Fox Sports will call Saturday's game between No. 3 Ohio State and No. 13 Wisconsin, and he joined Buckeye Talk for a pregame chat about maybe the most important game of the Big Ten season. Klatt explained why he thinks the Buckeyes are the best team in the country, evaluated them against teams like Oklahoma and Alabama, described why Wisconsin might be able to make this a game, compared running backs J.K. Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor, and revealed his thoughts about the College Football Playoff selection committee.

That was just part of the pod. The rest of the time, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means ran through the more than 150 comments and questions they received from text subscribers, and explained how they think this matchup will unfold. They also debated recruiting rankings again, talked about next season's offensive line, and prepared for Stephen's future challenge against a deep dish pizza.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 234: Ohio State-Northwestern postgame, Is the OSU run defense ready for Wisconsin? Oct 19, 2019

Ohio State drubbed Northwestern 52-3 in Evanston on Friday, and the Buckeyes can now look ahead to a home game with Wisconsin next week that will be the toughest test of the season to date. At 7-0,Ohio State handled the Wildcats easily but did give up a handful of runs early Friday. Is that any reason for concern?

On this episode of Buckeye, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises took your questions about the Buckeyes after their bye week. The guys did their best trying to explain a team clearly caught in the boring awesome or awesome boring zone right now.

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Ep. 233: Ranking Ohio State's Justin Fields among college football's best quarterbacks Oct 15, 2019

On this Buckeye Talk episode, Cam Mellor, a senior college football analyst for PFF, joins the pod to discuss where Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields ranks among the best quarterbacks in college football. Is he ahead of or behind former Ohio State quarterback Joe Burrow, now at LSU? For the rest of the episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take questions, a few of them addressing Friday's game at Northwestern, but most of them focused elsewhere. That includes a debate about how much the Buckeyes should play their best players against lowly Rutgers later this season; which Buckeyes are playing at an All-Big Ten level this season; and how Georgia's ugly loss to South Carolina last weekend compares to past Ohio State losses to Iowa and Purdue. All that and more on the latest Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 232: Is Ohio State's better national title shot in 2019 or 2020? Oct 09, 2019

On this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take advantage of Ohio State's week off to peer into the future. Do the Buckeyes have a better shot at the winning the national championship in 2019 or 2020? The guys break down the projected starting lineup in 2020 to come up with their answer.

There's a debate about running back recruiting, a joke about eating pandas and a look at Doug's experience on the mock college football playoff committee last week. The Buckeyes aren't playing, but they are still talking.

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Ep. 231: Ohio State-Michigan State postgame; Ranking J.K. Dobbins among elite running backs Oct 06, 2019

After Ohio State football moved to 6-0 with a 34-10 win over Michigan State on Saturday night, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises dove into the win and how the Buckeyes are playing heading into a week off.

As usual, on this episode of Buckeye Talk they answered questions from text subscribers, including queries about running back J.K. Dobbins; how the offense changed after struggling in the first quarter; the play of, and possible concern around, the linebackers; the emergence of freshman defensive end Zach Harrison; and more.

The Buckeyes are off next week, but make sure you check in for the usual Wednesday podcast. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 230: What must Ohio State do to make the College Football Playoff? Oct 02, 2019

On this latest episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Nathan Baird, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means analyze the playoff chances of both an undefeated Ohio State team and a one-loss Ohio State team. How are the Buckeyes matching up in all the possible scenarios so far? Plus a look at how tough Michigan State might be for the Buckeyes this week, and a debate about the meaning of the Heisman Trophy that got pretty heated.

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Ep. 229: Ohio State-Nebraska postgame, can any Big Ten team challenge the Buckeyes? Sep 29, 2019

Ohio State destroyed Nebraska 48-7 on Saturday night, and Doug, Stephen and Nathan took all your questions about an outing that established that the Buckeyes can play with any team in the nation. While driving back from Lincoln to Omaha, the cleveland.com coverage team discussed whether the offense or defense is more impressive; which teams in the Big Ten could still challenge Ohio State; and whether the Buckeyes have made a legitimate case to be the No. 1 team in the country.

All that and more on the 5-0 Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 228: Can Nebraska's best beat Ohio State? And picking Urban Meyer or Ryan Day Sep 25, 2019

In this episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises Nathan Baird and Stephen Means embrace a spirited debate over which coach you'd pick right now for this Ohio State team, Ryan Day or Urban Meyer. They hope you enjoy that detour, because it flowed. But what's in front of the Buckeyes right now is of great interest as well.

That's a real test against a tough opponent. It's possible the Nebraska Cornhuskers were overrated coming into the season and now are possibly underrated because of a loss to Colorado and a close game against Illinois. But this episode spends a lot of time explaining just how and why this game could get interesting.

As always, there are plenty of questions answered from text subscribers, and there's some quick hit news at the start on this matchup; whether the Buckeyes could climb in the AP poll; Justin Fields in the Heisman Trophy race; the transfer of safety Isaiah Pryor; and what this game means for both Day and Nebraska coach Scott Frost.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 227: Ohio State-Miami postgame, Chase Young can't be stopped Sep 22, 2019

Doug, Nathan and Stephen dispense with Ohio State's 76-5 win over the Redhawks and start looking ahead of Nebraska,

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Ep. 226: Ohio State's future at running back Sep 18, 2019

The Ohio State Buckeyes play Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, and the No. 6 team in the nation is a 39-point favorite in the game. So this podcast is not about that.

On this edition of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises start off with a look at the future of the Ohio State running back room and what the position might look like in 2020. There’s also time for a little extra nonsense on whether listeners keep spare change in their car and what fast food restaurants should be turned into an ideal combo restaurant.

Then there's a discussion of whether Doug is biased against Greg Mattison, and then it’s a bunch of questions from text subscribers. So hey, why not try the text thing. There’s a 14-day free trial and you get podcast priority. Check it out at cleveland.com/osu.

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Ep. 225: Ohio State-Indiana postgame, are the Buckeyes on Clemson and Alabama's level? Sep 14, 2019

Ohio State beat Indiana 51-10 on Saturday and continued to roll through a 3-0 start to the season. So it's time to start putting the Buckeyes in context. On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug, Stephen and Nathan took questions from text subscribers for more than an hour while trying to analyze whether Ohio State could keep this up against the best teams in the country.

They talked about J.K. Dobbins' motivation, Justin Fields' accuracy and asked for predictions for an OSU-Clemson national title game. That was just for fun. But this is serous -- the Buckeyes are good.

So dive in for 72 minutes of postgame talk from Bloomington.

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Ep. 224: Could Ohio State football fall in an Indiana trap? Sep 11, 2019

This episode of Buckeye Talk might be a trap. Or it might not. Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird explore Ohio State's visit to Indiana on Saturday and ask whether the Buckeyes could face a trap game against the Hoosiers. The guys hate trap game talk ... but there could be something to this.

Indiana beat writer Zach Osterman drops by to help everyone understand the Hoosiers a bit better, and to discuss their young, big-armed lefty quarterback and a defense with more talent than usual.

All along the guys tackle your questions about the defensive scheme, the potential weaknesses on the Buckeyes and when everyone might officially buy into the hype. Also, we changed podcast platforms, so we might make some money off this, but if you have any issues, let Doug know.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 223: Ohio State-Cincinnati postgame, did the Buckeyes look like a playoff team? Sep 09, 2019

Ohio State football shut out the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, controlling both sides of the ball in a 42-0 victory that moved the No. 5 Buckeyes to 2-0 on this college football season.

So what’s it mean, especially as it relates to Ohio State’s place in the national college football landscape? If the Buckeyes play like that, can they make the College Football Playoff?

On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises answered that question and many others sent in by our Project Text subscribers. If you haven’t tried our OSU texts yet, get a couple thoughts on the Buckeyes from Doug every day for $3.99 a month. The first 14 days are free if you want to try it.

Nathan Baird was away this weekend, but he’ll be back on the next pod.

For now, enjoy 45 minutes of talk about how well your team played.

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Ep. 222: Should Ohio State be worried about Cincinnati? Sep 04, 2019

Ohio State is 1-0 and preparing for a familiar foe in week two, as the Buckeyes will welcome former Ohio State defensive lineman, assistant coach and interim head coach Luke Fickell to Ohio Stadium on Saturday. His Cincinnati team is coming off a week one win over UCLA, while Ohio State beat Florida Atlantic, so do the Buckeyes have anything to worry about?

On this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means address that issue, as well as what to think about the run game and J.K. Dobbins; what might change with Justin Fields in week two; the Buckeyes' streak of beating in-state opponents; and how Fickell wound up taking that job with the Bearcats.

The season is rolling, with these regular Wednesday podcasts and postgame episodes on Saturday, so we thank you for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 221: Ohio State-Florida Atlantic postgame, was that encouraging or discouraging? Sep 01, 2019

Ohio State opened the 2019 college football season with a 45-21 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday. After writing their stories, and before getting locked in Ohio Stadium for an hour, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means took your questions for an hour-long postgame podcast.

And then they somehow escaped. The season is here, and so are the postgame pods. Come back Wednesday for the regular weekly episode.

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Ep. 220: Predicting Ohio State’s season and the Buckeyes’ best Heisman Trophy candidate Aug 28, 2019

Time to preview Ohio State’s season, with Florida Atlantic arriving in town this weekend to kick off the 2019 football season against the Buckeyes at noon Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

Buckeye Talk is back with the three-man pod, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means preview the season, predict how many games the Buckeyes will win and take questions from text subscribers.

Once again, most of the questions came from people who sent them through Project Text as part of the $3.99 monthly service that gives you daily Ohio State info and insight from Doug a couple times a day. Try it at projecttext.com/buckeyetalk.

For all the readers and listeners, thanks for your patronage and the guys look forward to providing great coverage of the Buckeyes for you this season.

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Ep. 219: How much should the Buckeyes play Justin Fields? Aug 21, 2019

Buckeye Talk is back to full strength, as new beat writer Nathan Baird makes his debut on the podcast as a full-time employee of cleveland.com.

Joining Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means on the pod and in covering the team, the group is now back to full strength covering the Buckeyes. To get Nathan acclimated, this is a podcast filled with your questions.

From how much Justin Fields should play in blowouts, to what the key will be to beating Michigan, to how many touchdowns JK Dobbins will rush for, to a breakdown of spicy chicken sandwiches, the podcast is back to its roots with the season right around the corner.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 218: Should Ohio State treat the College Football Playoff just like the Michigan game? Aug 15, 2019

On this extra large Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises joined by two outstanding guests to talk about the Buckeyes in two very different ways. It's more than 150 minutes of Buckeye discussion, and it's worth it.First Doug takes an hour's worth of questions from subscribers to our Project Text program (you can sign up for $3.99 a month at projecttext.com/buckeyetalk.)Then Chad Peltier of Land-Grant Holy Land stops in for a discussion of a statistical look that helps explain Ohio State's recruiting strength.Finally, Randy Wade, the father of Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade and a podcaster himself at Daddy's Ball Podcast, stops in to talk about his son choosing the Buckeyes and life as the part of an OSU football player.It's huge. It's riveting. It's Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 217: Breaking down Ohio State's roster, ranking position groups Aug 07, 2019

It's a monster Buckeye Talk episode, as Doug Lesmerises takes you through everything we learned about the Buckeyes since preseason camp started Friday. What's the best way to do that?By ranking the position groups and going through them one by one.Two guests also join Doug. Kareem Copeland, the Redskins writer for the Washington Post, drops in with an update on how rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins is doing.And then Nathan Baird, the new primary Ohio State football beat writer for cleveland.com, makes his debut. Nathan won't start with cleveland.com until Aug. 19, but his hiring is official, and he's going to be a regular part of Buckeye Talk and a focal point for all our coverage going forward. So it's time to say hello.Plus, as always, answers to your questions. It's a super-sized Buckeye Talk with so much to discuss.

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Ep. 216: Every reason Ohio State could go 12-0 in 2019 Jul 31, 2019

Doug Lesmerises is on the record with his 9-3 pick for Ohio State this season. At least that's what he thinks so far. But forget that.

What about a perfect regular season in Ryan Day's first season as head coach?

On this Buckeye Talk, Doug is joined by two loyal OSU fans who make the case for 12-0. Then Doug goes through the optimistic scenarios presented by other listeners. Finally, old 9-3 Doug gives his 10 reasons why 12-0 could happen.

This is the last episode before Ohio State starts preseason camp. So get ready for all the optimism you can handle.

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Ep. 215: Can the 2019 Buckeyes have a season like the 2014 Buckeyes? Jul 25, 2019

Lots to fill your ears in this Buckeye Talk, starting with a conversation about whether a comparison between this season and 2014 makes sense. Long-time OSU fan and Doug's colleague at cleveland.com, Rich Exner, joins for that conversation.

Then Doug Lesmerises offers a rant about the Jim Harbaugh coverage, and then takes your questions, discussing the recruiting success of the Buckeyes so far and much more.

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Ep. 214: Everything that happened to the Buckeyes at Big Ten Media Days Jul 19, 2019

Buckeye Talk is a little late this week, but with good reason. The offseason is over.

In this episode, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means from cleveland.com break down everything they heard from Ohio State coach Ryan Day at his first Big Ten Media Days in Chicago on Thursday. Doug and Stephen also get into what OSU players Jordan Fuller, K.J. Hill and Jonathan Cooper had to say. Topics include Ohio State's recent recruiting success, what defensive jobs are up for grabs, how the defensive scheme has changed and how Day is managing expectations.

Doug and Stephen took your questions on Twitter, email and text, and delved into everything you want to know about Ohio State football, with preseason camp set to begin in two weeks.

But this was it, the kickoff of a new era of Ohio State football, and there's a lot of ground to cover.

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Ep. 213: Ohio State football's national standing, and is the playoff biased? Jul 11, 2019

On this Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Ralph Russo, the national college football writer for the Associated Press, to talk about where Ryan Day and the Buckeyes currently fit in the national landscape.

Doug and Ralph discuss how many programs have a legitimate shot to win a national title; how Clemson arose to take what looked to be the Buckeyes' spot in the CFB hierarchy; and how the playoff committee works and whether Ohio State is getting a fair shake.

Doug then talks about the latest recruiting commitment and takes some more of your questions. Thanks as always for listening.

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Ep. 212: Rewatching the 2006 Ohio State-Michigan game Jul 03, 2019

There's something a little different about this Buckeye Talk episode. As promised for several weeks, the pod attempted a rewatch of a classic Ohio State game and picked one of the obvious choices -- Ohio State-Michigan from 2006.

Doug Lesmerises covered that game 13 years ago and he's joined by Jake Burns to rewatch and relive that 1-2 showdown headlined by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.

Doug tells some stories, Jake provides great X-and-O insight as to how college football has evolved and the 90-minute experience tells the tale of that classic game. You can find the game on YouTube and watch along at home, or you can listen at the gym or in your car without the game and you'll be fine.

Either way, enjoy this different version of Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 211: Phil Steele previews the Ohio State-Michigan battle brewing in 2019 Jun 27, 2019

Buckeye Talk is back after a week break with one of our podcast’s favorite guests of the season.

It’s Northeast Ohio’s own Phil Steele, who puts out one of the most respected college football preview magazines of the season. This is his 25th year of producing the preview.

He joined Doug Lesmerises for a deep dive on the Buckeyes and their path in the Big Ten. They talked about where Justin Fields ranks in terms of quarterbacks in the nation, the toughest teams on Ohio State’s schedule, and why this might be the year that Michigan finally gets the edge on the Buckeyes.

Plus, Doug broke down the strongest and weakest position groups for the Buckeyes in the coming years and took your questions. Buckeye Talk is back and refreshed after a week away, and as always, thanks for listening.

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Ep. 210: Nine beliefs about Ohio State football Jun 12, 2019

Back with another Buckeye Talk, and it's truncated this week. Also, we're taking next week off for the first week completely free of Buckeye Talk in a very, very long time.

With that in mind, Doug Lesmerises spent this week resetting the table with what he thinks about OSU football at the moment, so there will be a clean slate when Buckeye Talk returns.

Also, there's a little life talk on pizza, robots, Chili's, Press Your Luck, The Jonas Brothers, journalism and legacy.

Thanks for listening. Back again on June 26.

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Ep. 209: Will the Buckeyes keep winning almost every close game without Urban Meyer? Jun 05, 2019

Urban Meyer was 22-3 in games that were down to one score in the fourth quarter, a remarkable record of resilience at Ohio State. How did Meyer do that in seven years with the Buckeyes, and will they keep that up under Ryan Day?

On the latest Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is joined by listener Mark Roberts, who did the research on Meyer's record, to discuss why the Buckeyes won so many tight ones. Mark also takes time to explain why he thinks Doug is wrong for even suggesting the Buckeyes could go 9-3 this season.

Then Doug takes questions on everything from the new Big Ten commissioner to how much receiver recruit Julian Fleming should play as a freshman. All that on the new Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 208: Inside Ohio State's recruitment of 5-star receiver Julian Fleming May 30, 2019

Julian Fleming, the 5-star receiver from Pennsylvania, will announce his college choice on Friday. Whether you're listening to this episode of Buckeye Talk before or after Fleming's announcement, you'll learn something about the best high school receiver in the country.

Doug Lesmerises talked with Jim Roth, Fleming's high school coach, and then interviewed two reporters who have covered Fleming's career -- Dan Reilly and Dave Fegley. They'll take you inside Fleming's football career at Southern Columbia High School in a rural area in Northeast Pennsylvania.

After those interviews, Doug as usual takes your questions on Ryan Day, Ed Warinner, Justin Fields and much more.

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Ep. 207: What Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska think of Ohio State without Urban Meyer May 22, 2019

Ohio State dominated the Big Ten during Urban Meyer’s seven years as head coach. Ohio State was 54-4 in regular-season Big Ten play. The Buckeyes had the best record in their division (sometimes tied for first) all seven seasons, making the Big Ten Championship four times and winning three of them.

The rest of the league has been waiting for a shot.

Michigan State, Penn State, Iowa and Purdue each beat the Meyer-led Buckeyes during the regular season, while the Spartans also knocked out the Buckeyes in the 2013 Big Ten Championship. But everyone else never figured out what it was like to beat Meyer in scarlet and gray.

Now they get to try Ryan Day. To see how that coaching change, and the Buckeyes as a whole, are viewed around the league, Doug Lesmerises called three great writers:

• Sam McKewon from the Omaha World-Herald, who covers Nebraska

• Aaron McMann from MLive.com, who covers Michigan

and

• Bob Flounders from Pennlive.com, who covers Penn State.

They gave their views of the Buckeyes, and checked in on the challenges and expectations for those teams this season. These are the three teams Doug thinks will provide the stiffest tests for Day in year one. And you’ll know a lot more about them after this podcast.

Plus, as always, Doug takes your questions. And, as always, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 206: How many college football coaches are better than Ryan Day? May 16, 2019

Doug Lesmerises runs through a load of questions on the latest Buckeye Talk episode. He catches up on the receivers, position areas of concern, recruiting battles ahead, playoff considerations and how Clemson passed the Buckeyes.

But leading off is a dive into where Ryan Day should rank on a list of the best college coaches in the country. How many are definitely better than the first-year OSU boss?

Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 205: Rating the state of the Ohio State football program May 08, 2019

Doug Lesmerises received some help from a new source on this episode of Buckeye Talk -- the listeners.

In assessing the state of the Ohio State football program, Doug brought in four Buckeye Talk diehards to break down the coaching, offense, defense and recruiting in the new Ryan Day era, while also looking at the big picture.

You've heard their Twitters handles mentioned before. Now hear the voices of Chase Richardson, Cynical Negro, G Nilly and NickyUnders as they hop on the line to help Doug rate the Buckeyes.

It's a fan pod and it's even more interesting than Doug could have hoped. Plus, more ratings of the OSU program from the ProjectText subscribers, and your questions, on yet another Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 204: How is Ohio State recruiting under Ryan Day, as a 2021 QB commits? Apr 30, 2019

Buckeye Talk has been planning a recruiting episode for weeks, and just as it hits, news breaks. Great timing.

This week, Doug Lesmerises, Tim Bielik and Stephen Means break down the verbal commitment of 2021 quarterback Kyle McCord hours after it happened. McCord, a four-star from St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, announced his decision for the Buckeyes on Tuesday morning.

That's not all. Ohio State also added two other QBs since the last podcast episode, and JP Andrade and Gunnar Hoak are examined. And then it's time to get away from the QB recruiting and into the rest of the class.

Doug, Stephen and Tim discuss Ryan Day's national and Ohio strategy in 2020 recruiting; how the Buckeyes shape up in terms of top-100 recruits; the recruits not committed that the Buckeyes need the most; and position groups that must be targeted as we look at future rosters.

It's a reset of everything recruiting related under Ryan Day, plus your questions about the team, in a jam-packed episode of Buckeye Talk.

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Ep: 203: Analyzing Ryan Day's offense and Matthew Baldwin's transfer Apr 24, 2019

On this Buckeye Talk, Doug talks about the transfer of Matthew Baldwin and what it means for the future of the quarterback room.

Then there's a quick interview with a 13-year-old fan of the Buckeyes, and his mom, about how some of the players have inspired him.

And then Doug is joined by Jakes Burns, our film breakdown guy at cleveland.com, to talk about the Ryan Day offense, what we learned about it at the spring game and how it might operate in 2019.

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Ep. 202: Ohio State as a playoff contender after spring football Apr 17, 2019

Doug Lesmerises checks in after the spring game with your final round of questions, all within the context of the ESPN playoff predictor that doesn't think very highly of Ohio State's national championship hopes in 2019.

What's the view of Justin Fields' potential after spring ball?

Where do the Buckeyes have the most depth?

What are the two different ways to look at this roster that would give you very different opinions of their playoff chances?

All that and more on the latest episode of Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 201: Ohio State spring game wrap -- Garrett Wilson makes you say whoa Apr 13, 2019

On the latest Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises take your questions in the parking lot at McDonald's after the spring game at Ohio Stadium.

They dig into the spectacular flash of freshman receiver Garrett Wilson, the quarterback battle between Justin Fields and Matthew Baldwin, the linebacker play and what we learned about projected starters for the fall.

It's a quick wrap to the end of Ryan Day's first session of spring football.

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Ep. 200: New players, new plans, new schemes to watch in Ohio State's spring game Apr 10, 2019

Ohio State's spring football game on Saturday will offer the first public viewing of the Ryan Day offense and the Greg Mattison/Jeff Hafley defense. And while the Buckeyes won't make any decisions about which players are going to play in the fall based off Saturday, fans might be able to get a feel for how the Buckeyes are going to play.

On the latest Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means dove into that idea, talking about the players they're most interested in watching and which ones could really shine.

Then came a basketball discussion, about Kaleb Wesson's decision to take a look at the NBA, and where the Buckeyes stand after two years of Chris Holtmann.

It got a little heated at times, but that's just good podcasting. Also, catch the Taco Bell breakdown at the end. And thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 199: How are Ohio State’s elite football recruits developing? Apr 04, 2019

Ohio State landed the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation in both 2017 and 2018. If the Buckeyes are going to make the College Football Playoff in 2019, it will be on the backs of those players.

So how are they developing?

In the latest episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises dove into the 24 players ranked among the top 100 recruits in the nation in those two years and figured out how many of them are on a strong development track.

That was interesting.

Then Doug took a lot of questions from the subscribers to the new text app, as well as questions from Twitter, as always. He talked Justin Fields and Damon Arnette, Ryan Day and Jeff Hafley, Jaelen Gill and Nicholas Petit-Frere and more. The spring game is on the horizon, and that will be previewed in next week’s episode. But a lot was covered in regards to OSU's spring progress in this episode.

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Ep. 198: What Ohio State position needs to improve most for the Buckeyes to reach the playoff? Mar 27, 2019

Where does Ohio State football need to most improve for the Buckeyes to get back to the College Football Playoff for the first time in three seasons?

Doug Lesmerises took on that reader question in the latest episode of Buckeye Talk, and the answer isn’t an easy one. Additionally, listeners asked great questions about the new Bullet position on the defense; the defensive end depth; the standouts at the student appreciation practice; the surprise player for this season; and whether Ryan Day or Tom Herman is closest to winning a national title.

Then it was time to wrap up the basketball season. Back from Oklahoma after covering the NCAA Tournament, Stephen Means took your questions on the past and future of the basketball Buckeyes.

So really, it’s two podcasts in one. And we always appreciate you listening.

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Ep. 197: The 10 most important players for Ohio State's 2019 football season Mar 20, 2019

Doug and Stephen are back with a podcast overflowing with Ohio State sports insight -- that's why it's a little long this week.

To start off, Doug plays off a listener question and jumps into a 30-minute discussion of the 10 most important football players for the Buckeyes this season. Some names will surprise you.

That's followed by Doug and Stephen talking about Tate Martell's immediate eligibility at Miami for 15 minutes. Then comes a basketball deep dive -- a full breakdown for 50 minutes on the basketball Buckeyes and their NCAA Tournament opener against Iowa State on Friday.

Finally, Doug gets into the mailbag to answer a round of football questions for another 35 minutes.

That's long, but there's a lot going on. It starts with a explantion of a new opportunity for OSU fans to get even more Buckeye insight from Doug as part of a new text messaging program that could be a lot of fun.

As always, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 196: An Ohio State football sure thing, and basketball questions Mar 13, 2019

What’s a sure thing with the Ohio State football team? And what’s going to happen with the Ohio State basketball team?

On the latest edition of our cleveland.com Buckeye Talk Podcast, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises dig into the Big Ten Tournament hopes of the No. 8 Buckeyes as they prepare to face No. 9 Indiana on Thursday in Chicago. But even if you’re listening to the podcast after Thursday, because we know sometimes life gets in the way, the basketball conversation will remain relevant, because it gets into some bigger picture issues with this team.But that’s in the middle.

The first 45 minutes and the last 30 minutes is football talk, as Doug takes all your Twitter and email questions about offensive line recruiting strategy, Urban Meyer’s future as a Fox Sports analyst, the meshing of Ryan Day’s offensive philosophy and much.

It’s another Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.

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Ep. 195: The most curious Buckeyes of Ohio State's first spring practice Mar 07, 2019

Ohio State opened spring football on Wednesday and Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises are back to talk about what they saw with their own eyes after watching the Buckeyes for an hour.

On this Buckeye Talk episode, they take your questions on the Buckeyes you're most curious about and delve into players from Baron Browning to Brendon White, from Demario McCall to Garrett Wilson, from Chase Young to Justin Fields.

There's also a combine story about what OSU players thought about Greg Schiano last year; a list of the OSU players that fans were robbed of seeing more of; what exactly Ryan Day is doing the same and different from Urban Meyer; and much more.

As always, thanks for your ears, dears listeners. We appreciate you joining Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 194: Examining every aspect of Justin Fields as Ohio State’s quarterback Feb 27, 2019

Ohio State opens spring football practice next week with a new Buckeye in the middle of everything.

Justin Fields, the former five-star recruit and recent transfer from Georgia, will open the 2019 season as the Buckeyes starting quarterback, barring any huge surprise. He’ll certainly open spring as the player Ohio State fans are most curious about.

On this Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises examine every aspect of Fields - as a person, a runner and a thrower. They watched film of his highlights from high school and college, watched the 10-part TV documentary he was featured in, talked to people who knew him at Georgia and crunched the numbers to compare him to OSU quarterbacks of the past.

The result in a two-hour podcast that should give you an overview of Fields heading into spring and a realistic view of how he might replace Dwayne Haskins as the Buckeyes starting quarterback.

They also led off with a quick discussion about the NCAA Tournament hopes for the basketball Buckeyes after their win over Iowa. But mostly, this is all about Fields.

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Ep. 193: Ohio State spring football preview, featuring Justin Fields, Garrett Wilson, Zach Harrison and young players fighting for jobs Feb 20, 2019

Spring football will begin for Ohio State on March 4. In this episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug and Stephen get you ready for Ryan Day's first spring as coach with a full breakdown of every position group.

Will Garrett Wilson prove as a freshman receiver that he needs to play in the fall? How will offensive linemen Josh Myers and Wyatt Davis adjust as starters? There seem to be plenty of position fights ahead on the defense -- will young players like Tommy Togiai, Taron Vincent, Teradja Mitchell, Sevyn Banks and Josh Proctor challenge for starting jobs?

And at running back, how much will the Buckeyes lean on J.K. Dobbins in the fall, or how much will other backs show in the spring that they can help the run game?

Doug and Stephen each offer their five Buckeyes to watch this spring. Then it's on to your questions and a breakdown of the basketball Buckeyes and their NCAA Tournament hopes.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 192: Why the Buckeyes are in better shape for the College Football Playoff Feb 13, 2019

Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are joined by Tim Bielik in a three-man Buckeye Talk booth to talk about Gene Smith's resignation from the College Football Playoff committee, Buckeyes that could land in the new minor league football startups, offensive line recruiting and more.

They take your questions, as usual, and also dip into Tim's new world as the owner of a bird.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 191: Justin Fields, Garrett Wilson, Greg Mattison and meeting all the new Buckeyes on National Signing Day Feb 07, 2019

Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises break down the second signing period for college football, including the first Buckeye appearances of transfer quarterback Justin Fields and new co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, as well as Ryan Day’s press conference Wednesday.

Thanks once again for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 190: What recruits will Ohio State add for the late National Signing Day? Jan 30, 2019

Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means preview the second signing period for college football, with the Buckeyes expected to add another three or four players to the roster by next Wednesday.

What positions do the Buckeyes need? And could they fill out the 2019 recruiting class with a major get or two in the final week?

After the recruiting needs, on this latest episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug and Stephen focus on the basketball Buckeyes and what their NCAA Tournament hopes look like after a very rough January.

Then they take your questions on whether the football team could suffer a dropoff under Ryan Day; when the football team will have a national championship level offense and defense at the same time; what Dwayne Haskins will do for how the NFL views Ohio State quarterbacks; and much more.

Thanks once again for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 189: Is Ohio State football’s coaching staff better than last year’s staff? Jan 24, 2019

New Ohio State coach Ryan Day officially has his 10-man coaching staff in place. Is it better or worse than the Buckeyes coaching staff from 2018?

Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means get into that and more in the latest Buckeye Talk episode. They answer questions on offensive line talent and depth; Demario McCall's role; transfer rules; Justin Fields; and how many scholarships are available.

And then they checked in on the basketball Buckeyes, who are now on a five-game losing streak.

Thanks again for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 188: Will Ohio State’s quarterback situation be OK without Tate Martell? Jan 17, 2019

Tate Martell is gone and Buckeye Talk is here to say goodbye.

But on this edition of America's favorite Ohio State football podcast, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means don't only focus on the guy who's gone, with Martell transferring to Miami.

They also took a guess at Ohio State's offensive and defensive players of the year for 2019, looked at what the NFL decisions (to leave and stay) mean for the Buckeyes and their scholarship numbers and tried to examine the schedule and imagine reasonable expectations for the Buckeyes next season.

Also, there's an unexpected and very brief cameo from someone you are sure to recognize.

It's another Buckeye Talk and as always, thanks for listening. And farewell Tathan.

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Ep. 187: Would Dwayne Haskins have torn up Alabama like Trevor Lawrence did? Jan 09, 2019

Alabama’s defense was beatable in the National Championship game on Monday night. Clemson and true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence beat the Tide.

Would Ohio State and quarterback Dwayne Haskins have done the same?

In the first Buckeye Talk Podcast back in Ohio since the Rose Bowl, Doug and Stephen imagined the Buckeyes in the title game and how Ohio State’s offense and defense would have fared against the Tigers.

Then they broke down the impact of all the Buckeyes players and coaches that have stayed, have departed and have been added in the past week. That ranges from players like Dwayne Haskins, K.J. Hill and Michael Jordan to coaches like Greg Schiano, Al Washington and Mike Yurcich.

And yes, they said goodbye to Bill Davis, a Buckeye Talk favorite, while taking your questions.

Also, Stephen hates chocolate.

It’s another busy Buckeye Talk. As always, thanks for listening.

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Ep. 186: Which Ohio State players and coaches are staying and going and a Rose Bowl wrap Jan 02, 2019

In the final daily podcast from the Rose Bowl, Doug Lesmerises wraps up Ohio State's 28-23 win over Washington and looks at what happened as the Huskies closed the gap in the second half, outgaining the Buckeyes 293 yards to 92 over the final 30 minutes.

Then it's on to the future with your questions, and what comes next with players and assistant coaches who might stay and might leave.

We break all of them down.

We also ponder how to rank Urban Meyer's seven Ohio State teams and how long Ryan Day will stay as the coach of the Buckeyes. Will he put in more years or fewer years than Meyer?

It's time to head back to Ohio soon, but thanks for listening to all six our daily podcasts from Los Angeles.

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Ep. 185: Rose Bowl preview and coaching ruthlessness Jan 01, 2019

Our fifth daily Rose Bowl podcast is, at long last, a game preview, and we made it a party.

Recorded in the media room in the lead-up to midnight West Coast time on New Year’s Eve, Doug Lesmerises was joined by old friends Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman of The Athletic, as well as James Grega of Buckeye Sports Bulletin and Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors to talk about the matchup between the Buckeyes and the Washington Huskies, and much more.

It’s a rollicking Buckeye Talk with some background noise, and some of you may find it annoying.

But it’s definitely a different vibe from a typical show, so give it a shot.

Our final daily Rose Bowl podcast will come at you after the Rose Bowl, when we’ll break down the game and get into how Urban Meyer handled his farewell, while taking all your questions about this season.

As always, thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 184: Should Ohio State fans be rooting for Tate Martell? Dec 31, 2018

There’s more Tate Martell discussion on the latest daily Rose Bowl Buckeye Talk podcast, because two stories and a video on Martell at cleveland.com on Sunday wasn’t enough.

Beyond the potential quarterback battle between Martell and Justin Fields in the spring, Doug Lesmerises talked about his conversation at media day with linebackers coach and podcast favorite Bill Davis.

There’s a look at the 2019 receiver room, an explanation of an injury on the offensive line and some Tim May talk.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 183: Would Ohio State have done better in the playoff than Notre Dame and Oklahoma? Dec 30, 2018

In another daily Rose Bowl Buckeye Talk podcast, Doug Lesmerises examines the two College Football Playoff semifinals and whether Ohio State would have fared better than Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

Remember, Ohio State lost to Clemson 31-0 two years ago, and Notre Dame lost to Clemson 30-3 on Saturday.

Doug asked how close the Buckeyes are to the level of Clemson and Alabama and how the Buckeyes can stick among college football's royalty.

Also covered was a question about Ryan Day's style compared to Urban Meyer's, and what Dwayne Haskins said about Justin Fields on Saturday.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 182: Which Ohio State freshmen are ready to take starting jobs next year? Dec 29, 2018

Are there freshmen who might be ready to take starting jobs away from Ohio State veterans next season?

On this daily Rose Bowl podcast we are looking ahead, because, again, no one really cares that much about Washington.

So Doug Lesmerises answered your questions about Ohio State recruiting, about California recruiting, about the H-backs next season, about Purdue and Nick Bosa, and about the freshmen, especially on defense, who will push for playing time in 2019.

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Ep. 181: How much blame does Greg Schiano deserve for Ohio State’s defense? Dec 28, 2018

Sorry we're late getting this to you, but here is our first daily Buckeye Talk from the Rose Bowl.

Doug Lesmerises is here in Los Angeles and breaks down everything that happened with Ohio State interviews and practice on Thursday as the Buckeyes get ready for the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl against Washington.

The plan is to do daily half-hour podcasts, but Doug likes the sound of his own voice (and coughs), so this one checks in at over 50 minutes.

Topics include:

• Dwayne Haskins and the NFL Draft• Greg Schiano and the Ohio State defense• Urban Meyer's shadow and Ryan Day• Washington's secondary• The Buckeyes as nearly 7-point favorites

Doug will drop daily pods on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, before a final podcast after the game for Wednesday.

Stick around all week. And thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 180: Justin Fields, Tate Martell, Zach Harrison and Ohio State's future Dec 20, 2018

Ohio State signed a 15-player class on National Signing Day on Wednesday, but those recruits weren't the only players shaping the future of the Buckeyes.

On this Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means talk about five-star defensive end Zach Harrison and the OSU class ranked third overall in average player rating.

They also take on the possible transfer to Ohio State of Georgia quarterback Justin Fields and what that might mean for current OSU QB Tate Martell.

Stephen and Doug recorded this podcast in a Panera Bread on Ohio State's campus Wednesday night, and while they were talking about the quarterback position, guess who walked in?

Tate Martell.

It was that kind of day and that kind of podcast.

Oh, they also addressed whether the story of four robots killing 29 scientists in Japan was true or not.

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Ep. 179: Get ready for college football's eight-team playoff Dec 13, 2018

A whole lot is changing with Ohio State football, including, maybe, the way the Buckeyes compete for a championship.

This Buckeye Talk episode is chock full of Ohio State info as Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises join you from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, where on Wednesday they spoke with about 15 OSU players in the final interview session in Columbus before the Buckeyes head for California and the Rose Bowl after Christmas.

Doug is back from sounding like he was dead on last week’s podcast, having staved off influenza, and he and Stephen go into everything going on with the program, from what’s next for Ryan Day to what’s ahead on National Signing Day on Dec. 19 to the quarterback battle next season.

They did not discuss anything about Washington, the Rose Bowl opponent, because no one cares about that yet.

They did talk about how soon an eight-team playoff could arrive in college football. There’s a lot going on and they’re here to share it with you on this Buckeye Talk, with 90 percent less coughing.

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Ep. 178: What Ohio State coaching staff changes will Ryan Day make? Dec 05, 2018

Urban Meyer will finish his Ohio State career at the Rose Bowl. Ryan Day will take over as the full-time head coach on Jan. 2.

Crazy year, eh?

On this edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises sat in his basement and sounded like Eeyore while complaining about being sick, but he also managed to squeeze in many of the more than 100 questions listeners had on this momentous day for the OSU football program.

Why did athletic director Gene Smith choose Day to take over?

Which current assistant coaches will Day keep?

What’s a reasonable level of expectation for success with Day?

Sorry for my voice and for the cough drops, and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 177: Does Ohio State need to go undefeated to make the College Football Playoff? Dec 02, 2018

Ohio State is headed to the Rose Bowl.

So what happened with the College Football Playoff?

On this latest Buckeyes Talk Podcast, Stephen Means and I take all your questions about the 12-1 Big Ten champs and their postseason, and why that postseason doesn’t include a shot at winning a national title.

Normally, this lead-in in longer, but we didn’t get much sleep and we know you’re just hear to listen.

So here you go.

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Ep. 176: Why doesn't the playoff committee love Ohio State more? Nov 28, 2018

Ohio State is No. 6 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings and we're back with another Buckeye Talk Podcast to attempt to crawl into the minds of the playoff committee members.

Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means take all your questions on the Buckeyes' current playoff chances. We imagine a world where Dwayne Haskins is back at Ohio State next year, even though he won't be. We praise again the Buckeyes who played best in the Michigan win. And we do it all from McDonald's - they let us inside this time.

But that's not all. Two guests join us.

First is former Ohio State running back Robert Smith of Fox Sports who revists the Michigan victory, ruminates on 14 out of 15 for Ohio State in the rivalry and tells us where Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh go from here.

Then we have Ralph Russo, the Associated Press national college football writer. He puts Ohio State in a national context for us, imagining what the Buckeyes might do against Alabama, what they might do against Oklahoma and where the OSU program stands among the best in the nation.

It's another packed Buckeye Talk. Come on in.

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Ep. 175: Michigan postgame, Is Urban Meyer in Jim Harbaugh's head? Nov 25, 2018

Ohio State thumped Michigan 62-39.

Yeah, you saw it. But how do you explain it?

Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises of cleveland.com took all your questions after the Buckeyes won the Big Ten East and moved onto the Big Ten Championship by beating Michigan for the 14th time in 15 tries.

We were so eager to get to your questions, we answered them inside a car in the parking lot of McDonald's.

It's a postgame Buckeye Talk about the 11-1 Buckeyes.

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Ep.174: What the Michigan game means for Ohio State's future Nov 21, 2018

In the Michigan week episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means of cleveland.com address not only which team should win, but what the outcome will mean for both programs.

Ohio State and Michigan are both 10-1, with the Buckeyes No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings and the Wolverines No. 4. The result Saturday will affect both programs and how coaches Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer are viewed in victory and defeat.

We touch on Thanksgiving a bit, but once again, there's so much football intrigue going on with the Buckeyes, it's hard to spend too much time talking stuffing and pumpkin pie.

So let this version of Buckeye Talk fill you up, and thanks as always for listening.

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Ep. 173: Maryland postgame - Ohio State's defense is indefensible Nov 18, 2018

Yes, 51 minutes and 535 yards. Ohio State gave up that against Maryland on Saturday, and won anyway.

On this postgame version of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means try to figure out what happened, whether the OSU defense can be fixed, and how the Buckeyes could possibly compete with Michigan next week.

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Ep. 172: Dwayne Haskins as a Buckeye and maybe top QB prospect in 2019 NFL Draft Nov 14, 2018

This is a giant Buckeye Talk episode, basically three podcasts in one - on the Ohio State team, on the College Football Playoff and on Dwayne Haskins as a Buckeye and an NFL prospect.

First, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means talked about the latest story that angered Ohio State, then answered a bunch of your questions on Tate Martell, Michigan, press conferences and more.

Then, Ryan Aber, the Oklahoma writer from The Oklahoman, joined to talk about how fans of the Sooners are viewing their team. If you're an OSU fan concerned about your 9-1 team and its playoff chances, guess what - Oklahoma fans are just like you.

Then we welcomed Ian Wharton, who provided the best Dwayne Haskins breakdown you'll get anywhere. Wharton analyzed Haskins this year, compared him to recent quarterbacks drafted in the first round and discussed where he could go in the 2019 NFL Draft. In Wharton's opinion, it's very high.

We had some editing issues, so if the audio quality is a little lacking at times, we apologize. But the quality of the content makes it worth it.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 171: Michigan State postgame - Are the Buckeyes as good as they're going to get? Nov 11, 2018

Ohio State beat a top 20 team on the road by 20. What else do you want from the Buckeyes? How much better could they get?

On this postgame Buckeye Talk Podcast, Stephen Means and I closed down the pressbox in Spartan Stadium by answering your questions for 45 minutes on Ohio State's 266- victory

We started with the way the Buckeyes used Tate Martell, then got into the defense, punter Drue Chrisman and just how much more the Buckeyes could show us this season.

Ohio State travels to Maryland next week before hosting Michigan to end the season. They still have a path to the College Football Playoff, but did they pass the eye test on Saturday?

Take this ear test by listening to the latest Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 170: Imagine the Ohio State Buckeyes as angry underdogs Nov 07, 2018

No. 10 Ohio State isn't much of a favorite (just 3.5 points) at No. 18 Michigan State on Saturday, and the Buckeyes are looking like they'll be underdogs when they host No. 4 Michigan to end the regular season.

Kind of a weird spot for Ohio State at the moment.

At 8-1 and 5-1 in the Big Ten, are the Buckeyes about to play their best game of the year, or will they continue to be stuck and searching, at least in a few areas?

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, new cleveland.com OSU writer Stephen Means joins Doug Lesmerises for his first full midweek podcast, after debuting in the postgame podcast following the Buckeyes 36-31 win over Nebraska.

You had a lot of questions for Stephen about his food preferences, and we got to those. But first, we looked at the Buckeyes from a positive angle, as requested and suggested by one listener who found the postgame pod a little too negative.

This isn't a perfect team, but for at least the first part of this episode, we looked at what is working for the Buckeyes and how it might continue.

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Ep. 169: Who is Ohio State's leader after Buckeyes squeak past Nebraska? Nov 04, 2018

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There have been plenty of questions with Ohio State this season - the run game, the red zone offense, the defense in general.

But after the Buckeyes' 36-31 win Saturday over 2-7 Nebraska, some fans questioned something else - Ohio State's leadership, energy and will.

On this postgame Buckeye Talk podcast from the hours after the Buckeyes moved to 8-1, Doug Lesmerises is joined by new cleveland.com Ohio State writer Stephen Means, who covered his first game in his new assignment on Saturday.

As usual, your questions drove the discussion. And despite the fact that Ohio State did get a win after losing to Purdue two weeks ago and then getting a week to fix things, there weren't a lot of positives in the discussion.

So what do the Buckeyes still need to fix? And will they find their way?

It's another episode with a search for answers.

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Ep. 168: Inside the Urban Meyer interview, plus a new run game Nov 01, 2018

On this latest episode of Buckeye Talk, there's a lot of Buckeye talking.

Doug Lesmerises delved into Tuesday's interview with Urban Meyer in which the Ohio State head coach revealed the seriousness of his health issue, as he deals with a cyst in his brain. Doug has written about that, but here he went into more depth about how Meyer was talking about it and what exactly the coach is dealing with.

But we didn't stick only to Meyer's health. There's too much going on with the No. 10, 7-1 Buckeyes to do that.

So in answering your questions, Doug dug into what's going to happen with the run game, the recruiting misses on the offensive line, what has and hasn't changed with the defense and even an alternate history of J.T. Barrett's career.

No co-host this week, just Doug, but there were enough different things to talk about that you won't get bored. And the big news is that our new Ohio State writer, Stephen Means, started Wednesday and he should be joining Buckeye Talk shortly.

Thanks for listening.

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Ep. 167: Is Urban Meyer bold enough to make the necessary changes? Oct 24, 2018

Once Urban Meyer figures out what's needed to fix the Ohio State Buckeyes, will the three-time national championship coach be willing to make the necessary changes?

On this mid-week episode of the Buckeye Talk Podcast from cleveland.com, the fallout from the 49-20 loss ot Purdue is still in the air as Doug Lesmerises is joined by guest co-host Seth Shaner from a quaint library conference room.

Doug and Seth took a bunch of your questions, including one on what things would look like if Joe Burrow was the Ohio State quarterback.

And what would Jim Tressel have done if he had Dwayne Haskins as his quarterback?

There are a lot of changes that fans would like to see made with the Buckeyes suffering their first loss, and Doug and Shane took on most of them. The Buckeyes don't play this weekend, so they have some time to adjust.

Thanks again for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 166: Ohio State was doomed in the red zone - Purdue postgame Oct 21, 2018

Ohio State was upset by Purdue 49-20 on Saturday night, and a lot went wrong. Urban Meyer knows that, and so do you.

Ohio State now embarks on a two-week plan to fix these issues, and we embarked on a postgame Buckeye Talk Podcast after our loyal listeners sent in 149 questions on Twitter after Doug Lesmerises put the call out after the loss.

Doug didn't get to all of them, sadly, because our podcast hosting platform can't handle an 11-hour show.

But Doug hit a lot of the main topics, from Urban Meyer to Bill Davis to more Bill Davis to the run game to more Bill Davis.

As always, we appreciate you guys engaging with the podcast. We'll be back Wednesday with the usual mid-week pod to get into everything we didn't touch on here. But for now, here's almost an hour of postgame podcasting about the 7-1 Ohio State Buckeyes.

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Ep. 165: Without Nick Bosa, can Ohio State's defense cause havoc? Oct 17, 2018

Nick Bosa's college career ended this week, as Bosa's family told Urban Meyer that he's focusing on rehabbing his injury, and then preparing for the NFL Draft, rather than attempting to return to Ohio State late in the season, or maybe for bowl season.

So what now?

On the latest episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by guest co-host Chad Peltier to answer that question. Peltier digs in on OSU numbers when he writes about the Buckeyes for Land-Grant Holy Land and Football Outsiders, and he brought that analytical perspective to a full discussion about the Buckeyes.

The focus early was on the Ohio State defense creating, and giving up, explosive plays, and whether that can be a winning formula. Then Doug and Chad took your questions and got into red zone offense, reasonable expectations for the Buckeyes, cornerback play and what's up with the run game.

It's the Buckeye Talk you know and love with a little twist. Thanks, as always, for listening.

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Ep. 164: Ohio State vs. Minnesota Postgame Oct 14, 2018

Doug and Bill break down Ohio State's win over Minnesota, and answer your questions

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Ep. 163: Why Ohio State and Alabama have the same problems Oct 10, 2018

Doug and Bill break down the Ohio State vs. Alabama conversation, and answer your questions on the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 162: Ohio State vs. Indiana Postgame Oct 07, 2018

Doug and Bill answer your questions following Ohio State's 49-26 win over Indiana.

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Ep. 161: Feeling good about Ohio State's playoff chances after a win at Penn State Oct 03, 2018

Doug and Bill talk about Ohio State in the playoff race, chat with Fox analyst Brady Quinn about the Buckeyes, and take your questions.

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Ep. 160: Ohio State vs. Penn State Postgame Sep 30, 2018

Doug and Bill break down Ohio State's win over Penn State, and answer your questions.

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Ep. 159: Will Ohio State vs. Penn State be a shootout? Sep 26, 2018

Doug and Bill preview Ohio State's game on Saturday against Penn State, and answer your questions on the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 158: Ohio State vs. Tulane Postgame Sep 23, 2018

Doug and Bill break down Ohio State's 49-6 win over Tulane.

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Ep. 157: How many future first-round NFL Draft picks are on Ohio State's roster? Sep 19, 2018

There's Nick Bosa and Dre'Mont Jones, but how many other future first-round NFL Draft picks populate the roster of the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes?

Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises dug into that and much more on the latest episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, as Ohio State prepares to face Tulane on Saturday.

Honestly, this podcast is more than two hours long, and I think the only time we said the name Tulane is when we were asked why this game is kicking off at 3:30.

We were buoyed by a new Buckeye Talk theme song, created by Mike Lewis in Nashville, so listen to that sweet tune. And we visited with Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated and Ryan McGee of ESPN and grilled them on why they picked the overrated Wisconsin Badgers to make the College Football Playoff.

Bill and I then talked some about what's next with Ohio State recruiting, the future for Dwayne Haskins and Ryan Day, what should happen at the safety position for the Buckeyes and a ton of other things you asked about.

It's just another Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 156: Ohio State vs. TCU postgame Sep 16, 2018

Doug and Bill recap Ohio State's 40-28 win over TCU.

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Ep. 155: Ohio State vs. TCU Preview Sep 12, 2018

Doug and Bill preview Ohio State's top-25 matchup with TCU, and answer your questions on the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 154: Ohio State vs. Rutgers Postgame Sep 09, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim answer your questions after Ohio State's 52-3 win over Rutgers.

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Ep. 153: Ohio State football mailbag -- Did week one change what we think of the Big Ten? Sep 05, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim answer your questions about Ohio State football.

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Ep. 152: Ohio State vs. Oregon State Postgame Sep 02, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim break down Ohio State's 77-31 win over Oregon State.

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Ep. 151: Why Ohio State could win the national championship Aug 29, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim preview the 2018 Ohio State season and discuss if the Buckeyes can win a national title.

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Ep. 150: Urban Meyer, Gene Smith suspended -- Right decision? And what's next for the Buckeyes? Aug 23, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim break down the news of Urban Meyer and Gene Smith's suspension.

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Ep. 149: Final thoughts on Urban Meyer investigation with decision days away Aug 21, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim discuss the Urban Meyer investigation with a decision days away.

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Ep. 148: Black stripes, Buckeyes questions and thoughts on how Ohio State comes out of this Aug 15, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim update where things stand in Ohio State camp (as best we can), talk some more about the Urban Meyer investigation and answer your questions on the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 147: What we saw at Ohio State practice, Urban Meyer update Aug 08, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim are back with a regular episode of Buckeye Talk to break down what we saw at practice on Tuesday, share our thoughts on the latest with the Urban Meyer investigation and answer your questions on Ohio State football.

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Ep. 146: Urban Meyer's statement changes the Ohio State saga Aug 04, 2018

Urban Meyer released a statement on Friday night, Zach Smith gave his first interviews and a lot changed in the story around Meyer, Smith and Ohio State.

Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises were busy writing Friday night (as Doug's laptop died), then jumped on for another emergency podcast to update you on the latest situation.

They talked about what this means for Meyer and Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, what it did to the story that Meyer didn't explain himself properly 10 days ago, and why Doug choked on a green pepper.

Stick with cleveland.com for full coverage of this story until it concludes, and get ready for another breakdown of it all on the latest Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 145: What's next for Urban Meyer, Ohio State? Aug 02, 2018

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis try to wrap up a day that ended with Urban Meyer on paid administrative leave, and what happens next.

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Ep. 144: Ohio State camp preview, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg talks Buckeyes Aug 01, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim preview Ohio State fall camp, talk with ESPN's Adam Rittenberg about the Buckeyes and the Big Ten, discuss Doug's column on Jim Harbaugh and Michigan, update Zach Harrison's recruitment and answer your questions.

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Ep. 143: A hard look at Urban Meyer's tense day in Chicago Jul 25, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim wrap up Ohio State's appearance at Big Ten media days.

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Ep. 142: Zach Smith's firing and what it means for Ohio State Jul 24, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim talk about the impact of Ohio State firing receivers coach Zach Smith.

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Ep. 141: Should Ohio State be the Big Ten favorite? Jul 19, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim talk about the cleveland.com preseason media poll, our top-50 OSU players list, our 2018 schedule breakdown, preview Big Ten Media days and answer your questions.

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Ep. 140: Ohio State football mailbag, answering your questions on the Buckeyes Jul 11, 2018

Doug is out. Bill and Tim are catching up on all of your Ohio State questions.

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Ep. 139: Will Ohio State's 2020 recruiting class be the Buckeyes' best yet? Jul 04, 2018

Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class set the bar for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes.

That group was ranked No. 2 in the nation and included five five-star recruits. And then the 2018 class was also ranked No. 2 in the country. The 2019 class is headed toward a top-10 finish, maybe top-five.

But might the 2020 recruiting class rise to a new level in Columbus?

On this Buckeye Talk episode, Bill Landis checks in from Dallas, where he covered The Opening recruiting event over the weekend, to talk with Tim Bielik and Doug Lesmerises about Ohio State commits and targets at the major showcase. They also broke down the recent commitments of quarterback Jack Miller and offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., the two players that have us talking about the 2020 class this way.

Then Bill get back to work, and Tim and Doug dove into their rankings of the top-50 Ohio State players for 2018. They broke down the first 30 players on the list, figuring out where freshmen like Josh Proctor, Jeremy Ruckert and Nicholas Petit-Frere should fit in with older players like Brady Taylor, Damon Arnette and Pete Werner.

As always, they then took your questions, which ranged from whether 2018 is Ohio State's best chance at a national title for the next few years to the nuances of french toast. And Doug then told the story of his best encounter with a football player while in college.

It's another edition of Buckeye Talk. You know the deal.

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Ep. 138: Phil Steele previews Ohio State; how good are the Buckeyes' receivers? Jun 27, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim talk to Phil Steele about Ohio State, try to figure out the proper assesment for OSU's receivers and answer your questions on the Buckeyes. Here's a breakdown of the podcast: Ohio State gets a 2019 QB in Dwan Mathis (0:00-15:00); Intro and interview with Phil Steele (15:06-45:19); What to do when you find a groundhog in your basement (45:21-51:57); Why does the national media love Ohio State's receivers? (51:58-1:23:46); Some more nonsense and a discussion about Chipotle's expanding menu (1:25:47-1:34:43); Breaking down Steele's rankings of Ohio State's defensive position groups (1:34::45-1:40:20); Your Ohio State questions (1:40::21-2:11:50); More nonsense about food and roller coasters (2:11:51-2:22:23).

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Ep. 137: How will new redshirt rule change things for Ohio State? Jun 20, 2018

Doug and Bill discuss what we think the new redshirt rule means for Ohio State (0:00-46:12); preview this week's Friday Night Lights camp (46:13-1:12:14); touch briefly on Thursday's NBA Draft and where Keita Bates-Diop could land (1:12:15-1:22:57); and answer your questions on the Buckeyes (1:24:49-2:05:57).

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Ep. 136: J.T. Barrett vs. Braxton Miller, who will have the better Ohio State legacy? Jun 13, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim discuss the legacies of Barrett and Miller, a new commit for the Buckeyes and answer your Ohio State questions.

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Ep. 135: Is it time to worry about Ohio State's 2019 QB recruiting? Jun 06, 2018

Bill and Tim reset Ohio State's 2019 recruiting class, who's in and who we think will be in come signing day.

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Ep. 134: Why doesn't Ohio State schedule Alabama? May 29, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim discuss Ohio State's scheduling, and the teams we'd like to see the Buckeyes play.

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Ep. 133: Was Charles Woodson right about the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry? May 23, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim discuss whether Michigan views Ohio State the right way, Joe Burrow's transfer to LSU, Penn State's hot recruting, quarterback transfers and more.

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Ep. 132: Can Michigan challenge Ohio State this year? May 16, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim answer your questions on the Buckeyes, including how good Michigan will be this year.

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Ep. 131: Did a broken hand start Joe Burrow's road toward an Ohio State transfer? May 09, 2018

Ohio State quarterback Joe Burrow is leaving. And that is big news.

Ohio's Mr. Football from 2014, Burrow announced Tuesday that he'll leave Ohio State, with a degree in hand, and search for a new college football home. Major college football teams across the country will scramble for the services of a three-year veteran who played in 10 games in two seasons, completing 29 of 39 passes for 287 years and two touchdowns.

While expected, Burrow's final decision changes everything for him a lot for the Buckeyes.

That's what we dub into on the latest Buckeye Talk Podcast. Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and Doug Lesmerises took a ton of your questions and talked about where Burrow might go as a graduate transfer and what the move means for those still in Columbus - Urban Meyer, Ryan Day, Dwayne Haskins, Tate Martell and everyone else in scarlet and gray.

It's a big fat Buckeye Talk with the news we've been waiting to analyze all offseason. Dig in.

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Ep. 130: The best NFL prospects on Ohio State's 2018 roster May 02, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim give their lists of the top future NFL prospects on Ohio State's roster, talk about the impact of five-star receiver Garrett Wilson committing to the Buckeyes, and answer your questions. We also talk with Cam Carlson of the Zombie Research Society about ... zombies.

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Ep. 129: Why Joe Burrow is the quarterback choice for some Ohio State fans Apr 25, 2018

The poll after the spring game is at the heart of this week's Buckeye Talk podcast.

As we broke down the Buckeyes quarterback battle, we asked cleveland.com readers who will be the QB in the fall.

Joe Burrow is getting nearly 53 percent of the vote and Dwayne Haskins 42 percent. A season after a decent chunk of the fan base was willing to give Haskins a shot over starter J.T. Barrett, we're wondering ...

Are there fans out there who wanted Haskins a year ago and want Burrow now?

This is our final quarterback wrap on the spring, more than two hours on your questions and our theories. There's a little talk thrown in about robots and Dairy Queen blizzards, plus a look at the transfer of tailback Antonio Williams. But for the most part, Doug Lesmerises, Tim Bielik and Bill Landis offer a full investigation into Ohio State's quarterback position.

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Ep. 128: Each Ohio State position group's biggest question coming out of spring Apr 18, 2018

Doug, Tim and Bill go position by position coming out of spring ball after an afternoon talking with nine of Ohio State's 10 assistant coaches.

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Spring game postgame: How can Urban Meyer say no to Dwayne Haskins? Apr 14, 2018

Urban Meyer has a quarterback decision to make and Saturday's spring game showed Ohio State's coach that he's certain to pick a good one.

Dwayne Haskins, Joe Burrow and Tate Martell created a strong day for Ohio State's quarterbacks, but they weren't the only Buckeyes who gave the 47,803 fans in Ohio Stadium on Saturday reason to look forward to the fall.

Thayer Munford debuted as the left tackle. Demario McCall looked like someone who needs a role in the offense. Chase Young seemed unblockable at times.

Tim Bielik, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises talked about all of that and took your questions on the latest episode of Buckeye Talk.

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Special announcement: Spring Game meetup is canceled Apr 13, 2018

A special announcement from your friends at Buckeye Talk about the Ohio State spring game - we aren't going to have a meet and greet before the game. Sorry.

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Ep. 127: Ohio State spring game preview, drafting our own rosters Apr 11, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim preview Ohio State's 2018 spring game and draft our own rosters of Buckeyes.

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Ep. 126: Could Tate Martell really win Ohio State's quarterback job? Apr 04, 2018

We're two-thirds of the way through spring football and no one has emerged as the clear frontrunner to be Ohio State's starting quarterback, at least not the way Urban Meyer has talked about things this spring.

Every day that's true, the possibility grows ever so slightly that redshirt freshman Tate Martell could actually quarterback the Buckeyes in the fall.

We've talked about the QB competition a lot on the podcast this spring, as we should, but in this Buckeye Talk, we're digging in on Martell and the reasons why he might be a real threat in this fight.

We also get into the latest recruiting battle between Ohio State and Texas; compare Michigan basketball coach John Beilein to Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh; break down marshmallow Peeps; and take your questions.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and Doug Lesmerises on Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 125: What if no one wins Ohio State's starting quarterback job? Mar 28, 2018

Six practices into Ohio State spring football, Urban Meyer wasn't happy with where the Buckeyes were - and that included the quarterback competition.

In this Buckeye Talk Podcast, Doug Lesmerises, Bill Landis and Tim Beilik talk about what Meyer might do if neither Dwayne Haskins nor Joe Burrow nor Tate Martell emerges as the obvious No. 1 quarterback this spring or during preseason camp.

We do that while comparing Burrow to Tom Brady, Baker Mayfield and Mitch Trubisky during various parts of the episode.

While taking your questions we also talk which Buckeyes might be drafted a year from now, if Meyer is just motivating his team with his talk and whether Michigan is a football or basketball school.

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How Keita Bates-Diop got his name: An Ohio State audio story Mar 27, 2018

For four years, we never really said Keita Bates-Diop's name correctly.

Now, Ohio State's All-American forward and the Big Ten Player of the Year is headed for the NBA, announcing Monday that he's bypassing his chance to be a fifth-year senior to declare for the NBA Draft.

Before he's gone, here's a story from Doug Lesmerises about his name - how to say it and how he acquired it.

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Ep. 124: Is Ohio State football a good National Championship bet at 5-1 odds? Mar 21, 2018

Ohio State is the second favorite to win the 2019 College Football Playoff according to the latest odds in Las Vegas, with the Buckeyes a 5-1 pick behind the heavy favorite, Alabama, at 2-1.

Would you bet on the Buckeyes at that number?

In this Buckeye Talk Podcast, Tim Bielik, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises break down Ohio State's national title hopes. Do the Buckeyes have the offense, the defense and the schedule to do it?

We also dive into the latest Ohio State recruiting commitment, running back Sampson James, and get ready for Ohio State's Pro Day in front of NFL scouts on Thursday.

Plus, as always, we answer you questions, including which fast food restaurant we'd take with us to a deserted island.

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Basketball podcast: What this Ohio State season tells us about next year's ceiling Mar 20, 2018

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis wrap up the Ohio State basketball season, and preview what's coming next.

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Basketball podcast: Does Ohio State have a chance vs. Gonzaga in NCAA second round? Mar 16, 2018

Bill Landis talks Ohio State's NCAA Tournament second-round game vs. Gonzaga, and answers your Buckeye questions.

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Ep. 123: Urban Meyer's loyalty; comparing recruiting to restaurants Mar 13, 2018

The question of Urban Meyer's loyalty to players is one that always resonates with Ohio State football fans.

So, too, does the question of how fast food restaurants compare to the recruiting styles of college football programs. No, that isn't something that fans of the Buckeyes wonder about?

Well, we answered that question anyway.

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and DOug Lesmerises tackled the greatest question ever submitted to the podcast.

But we didn't only do food. We also talked about Meyer's balance between proven players and rising young stars, got deep into our impressions of sophomore defensive end Chase Young and examined a receiver playing time battle that could shake out between Ben Victor and Jaylen Harris.

Catch it all on the latest Buckeye Talk.

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Basketball Podcast: Ohio State is back in the NCAA Tournament, how far can the Buckeyes go? Mar 12, 2018

Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises discuss Ohio State's NCAA Tournament seed, opener against South Dakota State, and how far the Buckeyes can go.

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Ep. 122: Every scenario for Ohio State's quarterback battle during spring football Mar 07, 2018

Dwayne Haskins, Joe Burrow and Tate Martell have started their competition, and on the latest Buckeye Talk, we examined every way Ohio State's spring football quarterback battle could play out.

How will Urban Meyer handle things if Haskins wins clearly?

What if Haskins and Burrow both look really good?

What if the top two candidates are OK, but Martell flashes his skills and makes it clear this is a three-man race?

Tim Bielik, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises talked all that after watching Ohio State's first spring practice on Tuesday.

We also broke down the former Buckeyes who hurt and helped themselves the most at the NFL Combine, discussed what Demario McCall might do in this offense and had a fight over whether we should have intro music to the podcast.

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Basketball Podcast: What's Ohio State's NCAA Tournament future after Big Ten Tournament loss? Mar 04, 2018

Bill Landis recaps Ohio State's brief Big Ten Tournament appearance from New York, talks about what's next, and answers your questions about the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 121: Ohio State's devastating defensive line, and Buckeyes at the NFL Combine Feb 28, 2018

Tim Bielik, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises examine just how good the Buckeyes' defensive line will be in 2018; discuss former OSU offensive coordinator Ed Warinner's new job as Michigan's offensive line coach; break down the 11 Buckeyes at the NFL Combine this week; delve into the NCAA basketball scandal and what it means for the legacy of Thad Matta; and take your questions on football and food. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

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Basketball Podcast: Why Ohio State's season is already a successful one no matter the finish Feb 21, 2018

Bill Landis talks Ohio State basketball as the team wraps up the regular season, discusses potential NCAA Tournament seeding, where the Buckeyes stand nationally and answers your questions.

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Ep. 120: Ranking the 10 best Ohio State football players, plus a robot expert Feb 14, 2018

The start of Ohio State spring football practice is three weeks away, so before getting a chance to check out the new roster, we're ranking the best of the Buckeyes as we see them at the moment.

In this episode of Buckeye Talk, Tim Bielik, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises each give their own top 10 Buckeyes, then debate their lists. In continuing our depth chart breakdown, we take a detailed look at the OSU linebackers. We talked about what we think of Taver Johnson as the new cornerbacks coach, replacing the departed Kerry Coombs.

And then ... there were the robots.

Doug's fear of a robot takeover of the world has become a running theme to Buckeye Talk. So in the middle of this podcast, you'll find an interview with Ohio State professor David Woods, who has been studying robots, autonomous systems and machine intelligence for almost 40 years and who in the last decade has engaged in many of the discussions and debates around the future of robots and autonomous systems in our society.

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Basketball Podcast: Ohio State as a four-seed sounds right, even after win at Purdue Feb 12, 2018

Episode Notes

Notes go here

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Ep. 119: National Signing Day wrap, is grabbing a 5-star tackle or keeping Greg Schiano bigger? Feb 08, 2018

Ohio State wrapped up a 26-player recruiting class on National Signing Day, including a huge final-day addition to the class in five-star offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere.

The Buckeyes also announced that Urban Meyer will be signing a two-year contract extension and revealed that defensive coordinator Greg Schiano isn't leaving for the New England Patriots and will stick around for 2018, while preparing to make $1 million as an assistant.

Busy.

In the latest Buckeye Talk Podcast, Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and Doug Lesmerises cover it all. We talk about Schiano's impact, how the Buckeyes landed Petit-Frere, why Georgia beat out the Buckeyes for the No. 1 class, whether Michigan recruiting is falling off and which players from this class could contribute right away for the Buckeyes in 2018.

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Basketball podcast: Are the Buckeyes bound for Boise in NCAA Tournament, unless they beat Purdue? Feb 05, 2018

Ohio State basketball is No. 14 in the latest AP poll, but the Buckeyes might have trouble sticking close to home to start the NCAA Tournament. That is, unless they beat No. 3 Purdue on Wednesday.

In this basketball edition of Buckeye Talk, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises break down the chances of a major OSU upset in West Lafayette; examine whether the suspension of Kam Williams increases the chances that Keita Bates-Diop, Jae'Sean Tate and C. J. Jackson wear down by the end of the season; and talk about Landis' recent trip to Nashville.

Why Nashville? Because Detroit, Pittsburgh and Nashville are the three closest first-week NCAA sites to Ohio. But despite being on track for a top four seed in the tourney, the Buckeyes may be looking at a trip West. Doug and Bill explain why.

Plus, for football fans, there's some bonus recruiting updates at the end as Ohio State gets ready for Wednesday's National Signing Day.

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Ep. 118: Urban Meyer's slightly more ruthless offseason, secondary breakdown, Signing Day preview Jan 31, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim, in the wake of the departure of cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs for the NFL, the hiring of defensive assistant Alex Grinch, the promotion of offensive coordinator Ryan Day and the move of defensive coordinator Greg Schiano that's coming one day, examine everything that goes into the Buckeyes coaching staff in the lastest Buckeye Talk Podcast.

And we explain why the often loyal Meyer may have been a little more ruthless this offseason. There's also the latest position breakdown of the secondary; a preview of next week's signing day and forecast of how the 2018 recruiting class will finish; and food talk about what to eat for the Super Bowl.

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Ep. 117: Ohio State keeps Ryan Day, readies to lose Kerry Coombs Jan 24, 2018

Episode Notes

Doug Lesmerises, Tim Bielik and Bill Landis delve into Ryan Day's decision to turn down the Tennessee Titans and stay at Ohio State as offensive coordinator, where he'll now be calling the plays. We give you the list of potential Day replacements we made - then didn't need. And then we deal with breaking news about 65 minutes into the podcast - the report that Kerry Coombs is leaving Ohio State for the NFL's Titans. We talk about what that loss will be like for the Buckeyes. And then there's an offensive line breakdown, with our depth chart prediction for the starters and backups for the 2018 line.

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Basketball Podcast: Ohio State is 9-0 in Big Ten play, just like we all predicted Jan 23, 2018

Episode Notes

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis talk Ohio State basketball after the Buckeyes' win over Nebraska.

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Ep. 116: Only 3 Buckeyes left early for the NFL, could so many players returning create issues? Jan 17, 2018

Dre'Mont Jones, Mike Weber, Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, Johnnie Dixon and K.J. Hill all stayed at Ohio State for the 2018 season, leaving only Denzel Ward, Sam Hubbard and Jerome Baker as the Buckeyes who declared early for the NFL Draft. That's a lot of talent sticking around, after two years of the Buckeyes losing more players to the NFL than expected. But could that upset the natural balance of the roster, and maybe block some younger players ready to take on bigger roles? In the latest Buckeye Talk, Tim Bielik, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises examine this question, provide a complete breakdown of the receiver position for next season and answer a ton of listener questions about the Buckeyes and food.

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Ep. 115: How should J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber share carries next season? Jan 10, 2018

Mike Weber has seemingly decided to stay at Ohio State, so what does that mean for the Buckeyes tailback situation in 2018 with Weber and J.K. Dobbins together again in the backfield? Doesn't Dobbins need more carries than the 194 he received this season? How many more rushing attempts will the tailbacks get if the Buckeyes don't run the QB as much? Is Weber as good of a back as Dobbins? Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and Doug Lesmerises discuss it all while focusing on the backfield in the first of what will be six depth chart breakdowns for 2018 over the next several podcasts. We also take reader questions and, of course, drop in some food and robot talk.

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Basketball Podcast: Is Ohio State back? The aftermath of an upset over No. 1 Michigan State Jan 08, 2018

Doug and Bill recap Ohio State's upset of No. 1 Michigan State, and what it means for Chris Holtmann's first year with the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 114: Should Ohio State have been in College Football Playoff? Jan 03, 2018

Doug, Bill and Tim are back together talking about the College Football Playoff semifinals, if Ohio State should have been in and what to make of the Big Ten's bowl results.

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Cotton Bowl Recap: Enjoy a season ending with a win, and let's look ahead to 2018 Dec 30, 2017

Doug and Bill recap Ohio State's Cotton Bowl in over USC, look ahead to the 2018 season and answer your questions.

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Cotton Bowl Day 2: Chasing J.K. Dobbins and Matthew Baldwin; Buckeyes that will be future NFL stars Dec 28, 2017

After visits to the hometowns of Matthew Baldwin and J.K. Dobbins, Bill Landis calls in from the road, while Doug Lesmerises sits in his hotel room after a day talking about Sam Darnold. It's another daily Buckeye Talk from the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, and in this Wednesday episode we talk a lot about Baldwin and Dobbins; how much Ohio State should be worried about Darnold; whether Ohio State or USC could lay an egg on Friday; which current Buckeyes project as future NFL stars; and how much service matters in a restaurant.

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Cotton Bowl Day 1: Oho State's recruiting momentum, potential coaching changes Dec 27, 2017

Doug and Bill are on the scene in Dallas for Cotton Bowl prep vs. USC, recap Ohio State's signing day last week and talk about the Buckeyes' coaching staff.

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Ep. 113: A Cotton Bowl preview on Ohio State-USC - can the Buckeyes handle Sam Darnold? Dec 20, 2017

It's a Cotton Bowl preview for No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 8 USC, as Tim Bielik, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises dig into the Buckeyes and Trojans, who will meet on Dec. 29 in Arlington, Texas. OSU fans should have real questions about whether Ohio State can handle a USC offense featuring future first-round NFL Draft pick Sam Darnold at quarterback and fellow All-Pac-12 first-team selection Ronald Jones at running back. One of us has real doubts about that. Also, we get into more early signing day issues involving Emory Jones, Alex Williams and Micah Parsons and answer your questions on food and football. Also, there's a Tim Beck alert.

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Basketball Podcast: Thad Matta's thumb print on this team; exceeding expectations Dec 15, 2017

Bill Landis breaks down the early portion of the Ohio State basketball season, and answers you questions on the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 112: Breaking down Ohio State's 2018 top-ranked recruiting class; best chain restaurants Dec 13, 2017

The 2018 recruiting class, ranked No. 1 in the nation, gets the focus of this week's Buckeye Talk with Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and Doug Lesmerises. The Buckeyes will sign almost half their class in the new early signing period that starts on Dec. 20. Bill breaks down who will sign early, and then we start fitting all the new recruits, and 21 are currently verbally committed, onto the Ohio State roster. What are the strongest and weakest positions on the team? Where could freshmen next year play early? Then, we each rank our top three chain restaurants, and we get to some food and football questions from listeners.

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Ohio State recruiting podcast: What Matthew Baldwin's commitment means for Emory Jones; new DE names Dec 08, 2017

Bill Landis updates where Ohio State is with its 2018 recruiting class, and answers your recruiting questions.

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Ep. 111: Dwayne Haskins vs. Tate Martell, early Ohio State QB battle preview Dec 06, 2017

Doug, Bill and Tim take a break from playoff talk to give an early preview of Ohio State's 2018 quarterback battle, and answer your Buckeye questions.

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Post Bowl announcement: Can College Football Playoff committee be trusted as Buckeyes are left out? Dec 04, 2017

Alabama made the playoff ahead of Ohio State. It wasn't a shock - the choice between the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes was a 50-50 proposition for weeks. But as Doug Lesmerises, Bill Landis and Tim Bielik break it down, did the College Football Playoff committee go about their decision-making process the right way? We look at the decision, then we compare Ohio State's 2015, 2016 and 2017 teams and then look ahead to the projected 2018 starters and whether Ohio State could be better next year.

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Ep. 110: Playoff talk; Schiano talk; Will Ohio State's playmakers or Wisconsin O-line control game? Nov 29, 2017

Preview the Big Ten Championship between Ohio State and Wisconsin on this Buckeye Talk with Bill Landis, Doug Lesmerises and Tim Bielik of cleveland.com. Will the Badgers' offensive line control the game? Is Wisconsin QB Alex Hornibrook better than you think? Can the Ohio State receivers burn the Wisconsin secondary? Plus, we talk what the Buckeyes need to do to make the College Football Playoff and how big a threat Alabama and Clemson might be. And we rant about the chaos of the Greg Schiano-Tennessee situation. There's a lot going on here, trust us. So listen.

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Michigan postgame: Ohio State playoff hopes; Was Dwayne Haskins the better QB to win this game? Nov 26, 2017

Dwayne Haskins relieved an injured J.T. Barrett in the third quarter against Michigan and saved the Buckeyes, who rallied for a 31-20 win. But was Haskins actually the necessary quarterback for Ohio State to win this game? Was his arm needed to beat the Wolverines? Tim Bielik, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis break down Ohio State's victory in J.T. Barrett's absence. Then we delve into Ohio State's playoff hopes in the aftermath of Alabama's loss to Auburn. If the Buckeyes beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship next week, will Ohio State make the playoff, or will the playoff committee pick the Crimson Tide? It's The Game and the playoff on this podcast.

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Ep. 109: Ohio State-Michigan preview; will Jim Harbaugh outlast Urban Meyer? Nov 22, 2017

Doug, Bill and Tim preview Ohio State vs. Michigan, plus answer your Buckeyes (and Thanksgiving) questions.

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Illinois Postgame: Early thoughts on Michigan, Wisconsin after a boring blowout win Nov 19, 2017

Doug, Tim and Bill break down Ohio State's 52-14 win over Illinois, and look ahead to Michigan and the Big Ten Championship.

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Ep. 108: How close is Ohio State to "win and in" College Football Playoff mode? Nov 15, 2017

Talking about Ohio State's College Football Playoff chances, and answering more of your Buckeyes questions.

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Michigan State postgame: Buckeyes play like a top-4 team; possible LB changes Nov 12, 2017

That 48-3 thrashing of Michigan State was Ohio State at its best. So do you celebrate the bounceback or wonder what could have been? Tim, Bill and Doug break down the win, get into a little playoff talk, discuss whether there should be new starting linebackers, examine the few deep ball shots the Buckeyes took, and figure out where that run game came from.

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Ep. 107: A bad day for Ohio State? Or larger program problems? Nov 08, 2017

Doug, Bill and Tim discuss Ohio State's loss to Iowa, what it means for the program, what went wrong and answer your questions on the Buckeyes ahead of Saturday's game vs. Michigan State.

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Iowa Postgame: Disastrous loss; LB coaching problems; Ignoring run game Nov 05, 2017

What happened in Ohio State's shocking 55-24 loss to Iowa and what should the Buckeyes do next? In this massive postgame podcast, Bill Landis, Doug Lesmerises and Tim Bielik break it all down. How much is Urban Meyer to blame? Why won't the Buckeyes run J.K. Dobbins more? How poorly is Bill Davis coaching the linebackers? Should Dwayne Haskins get some time at quarterback now? Are the Buckeyes still the Big Ten favorites despite this loss? That and more on this huge Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 106: Ohio State's College Football Playoff nightmare scenario Nov 01, 2017

Doug, Bill and Tim discuss the first College Football Playoff rankings; more from Ohio State's win over Penn State; and answer your questions.

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Penn State postgame: Stunning comeback changes Buckeyes; Barrett Heisman talk; radical kickoff ideas Oct 29, 2017

In this postgame Buckeye Talk podcast, Doug Lesmerises, Bill Landis and Tim Bielik imagine how drastically different everyone would view the Buckeyes and Urban Meyer if Ohio State hadn't managed this thrilling 39-38 comeback. Landis makes a case for J.T. Barrett as the Heisman Trophy frontrunner, we ponder potential radical solutions to the devastating kickoff problems and decide if this was the best Ohio State game we've ever seen in person.

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Ep. 105: Why losses to Clemson, Oklahoma shouldn't affect your view of Penn State Oct 25, 2017

Doug, Bill and Tim talk more about Ohio State vs. Penn State; Doug convinces us that the Buckeyes are better; we answer your questions; and discuss Tim Hortons.

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Ep. 104: Can Ohio State still win if Saquon Barkley goes crazy? Oct 23, 2017

In this quick Penn State preview before Wednesday's full podcast, Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and Doug Lesmerises break down what they saw in Penn State's 42-13 win over Michigan on Saturday during Ohio State's bye week. Can the Buckeyes beat the Nittany Lions if Penn State Heisman Trophy favorite Saquon Barkley has a huge game? Or would that doom the Buckeyes? We compare Ohio State's defense to Michigan's defense and compare Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley to Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett. It's the perfect way to kick off this week and take your first step toward getting ready for this showdown between the No. 2 and No. 6 teams in the country.

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Ep. 103: J.T. Barrett Heisman talk; midseason grades; Penn State questions Oct 18, 2017

Doug, Bill and Tim give their position by position breakdown of the Buckeyes at the midway point, answer your Ohio State football questions and talk more about the upcoming Penn State game.

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Nebraska Postgame: A sharp J.T. Barrett; and early Penn State fears Oct 15, 2017

Breaking down Ohio State's 56-14 win at Nebraska, and how we're feeling with Penn State coming up next for the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 102: Is Nick Bosa better than Joey Bosa; who should replace Rutgers in Big Ten; worst fast food Oct 11, 2017

Ohio State's sophomore defensive end is starting to dominate games more and more, but how close is Nick Bosa to approaching the status of his older brother, the former OSU All-American and current NFL star? In this Buckeye Talk, Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and Doug Lesmerises delve into the Buckeyes best player, talk about replacing Rutgers in the Big Ten, figure out why the offensive line has depth issues and yell at each other about the worst fast food chains.

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Maryland Postgame: Buckeyes face major injury issue, but may have championship QB Oct 08, 2017

The Buckeyes beat Maryland 62-14 but lost a starter on the offensive line for the year after right guard Branden Bowen broke his leg. That's the type of injury at a position without much depth that the Buckeyes haven't faced in years. Tim Bielik, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis find a variety of ways to replace Bowen. Then there's quarterback J.T. Barrett, who is looking as confident as ever. At least one of us thinks he's playing like a quarterback you can win a title with. Others aren't so sure.

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Ep. 101: Ohio State's playoff chances; reassessing J.K. Dobbins; hot chicken and live Jersey pizza Oct 04, 2017

Is Ohio State a lock for the College Football Playoff if it wins out? Are we looking at J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber the wrong way? Is Nashville Hot Chicken the go-to food of central Ohio? Did eating pizza in New Jersey change Tim's life? In this episode of the Buckeye Talk Podcast from cleveland.com, Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and Doug Lesmerises answer all those questions, with a deep look at playoff talk, as well as many more from our listeners.

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Rutgers Postgame: Don't brush off Ohio State's dominance just because Rutgers stinks Oct 01, 2017

The Oklahoma game was the bottom and this 56-0 win over the Scarlet Knights was the continuation of a legitimate rebound for the Buckeyes. Bill Landis, Doug Lesmerises and Tim Bielik give the postgame breakdown as Ohio State moves to 4-1 and trot out a theory about the Oklahoma game this year compared to a year ago. Tim's life-changing pizza experience in New Jersey is touched on, but this is almost all football after Ohio State outgained Rutgers 628 years to 209 and shut them out for the second straight year.

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Ep. 100: Celebrating 100 episodes with ESPN's Marty Smith, Ari, wings, milkshakes and Rutgers Sep 27, 2017

The 100th official episode of Buckeye Talk comes supersized, as Doug, Bill and Tim welcome ESPN's Marty Smith as a special guest to talk Ohio State's 2014 championship run. We also bring back Ari Wasserman for a visit, then talk Ohio State's passing game, whether the Buckeyes need an easy win early in the season to get rolling, plus boneless wings, coleslaw orders, chili and milkshakes. It's football and it's food, which is what makes it Buckeye Talk. And we can't believe we made it for 100 episodes.

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UNLV Postgame: Can we learn anything from Ohio State's blowout? Sep 23, 2017

Doug, Bill and Tim break down Ohio State's 54-21 win over UNLV. Can you actually learn anything from it?

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Ep. 99: Best offense to win a national title, Buckeyes 2020, Ohio pizza wars Sep 20, 2017

Are Ohio State's national title hopes best served by the current offensive game plan, or would a Dwayne Haskins-J.K. Dobbins style of throw it and hand it to the tailback work better? In this Buckeye Talk Podcast, Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and Doug Lesmerises examine that question and talk linebacker issues. And they they jump ahead and get into a real battle. On topic is Buckeyes 2020, our look at what the football program will be like three years from now. One question - wll Dobbins have a Heisman Trophy by then? And then there's a contentious pizza debate surrounding Ohio pizza staple Donato's, and things get real. Get it all on Buckeye Talk.

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Army Postgame: Problems solved? Not really. What we learned from Ohio State's win Sep 17, 2017

Doug Lesmerises, Bill Landis and Tim Bielik break down Ohio State's 38-7 win over Army.

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Ep. 98: Dwayne Haskins mania and what needs to change in Ohio State's offense Sep 13, 2017

Doug, Bill and Tim discuss Ohio State's quarterback questions, Dwayne Haskins soaking it all in and how the Buckeyes' offense needs to change after a loss to Oklahoma.

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Oklahoma Postgame: What's Ohio State's biggest offensive problem, and are changes coming? Sep 10, 2017

Doug Lesmerises, Bill Landis and Tim Bielik discuss Ohio State's 31-16 loss to Oklahoma from Ohio Stadium, and where the Buckeyes go from here.

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Ep. 97: Ohio State chances to beat Oklahoma rising or falling, and honest J.T. Barrett talk Sep 06, 2017

It's an Ohio State-Oklahoma preview as Bill Landis, Doug Lesmerises and Tim Bielik explain whether week one showed the Buckeyes have a better or worse chance to beat the Sooners in this top-5 matchup at Ohio Stadium. It's time for honest J.T. Barrett evaluations, lingering questions about the OSU secondary and theories about how good Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins might be in the backfield together. Plus, ranch dressing analysis and wondering why the discovery of fast casual dining qualifies as a new alert.

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Indiana postgame: J.K. Dobbins-Mike Weber RB combo, need more deep passes, CB issues Sep 01, 2017

In our first postgame Buckeye Talk Podcast, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises come up with the best running back scenario for Ohio State after the big debut by freshman J.K. Dobbins in a 49-21 win over Indiana. But no everything was ideal for Ohio State. Why didn't they throw more deep passes? Urban Meyer wasn't happy with the cornerbacks. And Ohio State seemed to have a hard time figuring out how to use J.T. Barrett as a runner. They got a win, but have questions to answer before hosting Oklahoma next week.

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Ep. 96: Ohio State football season preview, best games, position breakdowns Aug 25, 2017

Doug, Tim and Bill preview the 2017 Ohio State football season, talk best games and break down the Buckeyes position by position.

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Ep. 95: The J.T. Barrett podcast (His career, his future and his Ohio State legacy) Aug 23, 2017

Doug Lesmerises, Bill Landis and Tim Bielik discuss J.T. Barrett's final season at Ohio State, his career, his legacy and his future.

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Ep. 94: Ohio State basketball recruiting update, what Jeremiah Francis to UNC means for Buckeyes Aug 17, 2017

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis talk Ohio State basketball recruiting: What Jeremiah Francis' commitment to UNC means for the Buckeyes, and some thoughts on Chris Holtmann's 2018 class.

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Ep. 93: Ohio State over/unders on J.T. Barrett passing yards, defensive TDs and more Aug 16, 2017

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis give their picks for a bunch of Ohio State football over/unders for the 2017 season: J.T. Barrett passing yards, Mike Weber rushing yards, defensive touchdowns and more.

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Ep. 92: Talking Ohio State receivers, who wins the safety job, which freshmen make the depth chart Aug 09, 2017

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis talk about the latest from Ohio State football training camp, and answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 91: Barrett's deep ball, OL improvement, Awful Announcing's Ben Koo Aug 02, 2017

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis answer your Ohio State football questions, and talk with Awful Announcing's Ben Koo about his Buckeye fandom and sports media.

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Ep. 90: Talking Kevin Wilson, J.T. Barrett, Ohio State linebackers and more from Big Ten Media Days Jul 25, 2017

Doug, Bill and special guest Ari talk about how they're viewing Ohio State coming out of Big Ten Media Days and heading into camp.

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Ep. 89: Jeremy Ruckert impact, Friday Night Lights preview, Big Ten Media Days Jul 19, 2017

Doug and Bill talk about the impact of recent tight end commit Jeremy Ruckert, preview Friday Night Lights, talk about next week's Big Ten Media Days and answer your Ohio State football questions.

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Ep. 88: Chris Spielman's lawsuit, Torrance Gibson's journey, no J.T. Barrett at Big Ten Media Days Jul 15, 2017

Chris Spielman is suing Ohio State, Torrance Gibson's career has taken another turn, and we're gearing up for Big Ten Media Days.

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Ep. 87: Ohio State's presence among the top 100 players in college football Jul 04, 2017

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis discuss Ohio State's presence on Sports Illustrated's list of the top 100 players in college football, and answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 86: Expectations for Buckeyes' secondary and more in the Ohio State football mailbag Jun 28, 2017

Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman answer more of your Ohio State football questions in a mailbag version of Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 85: Ohio State football mailbag -- Buckeyes kryptonite, recruiting update, WRs to watch Jun 20, 2017

Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman catch up on your Ohio State football questions in a mailbag version of Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 84: Bob Stoops is gone, will Ohio State wax Oklahoma and what does it mean for Urban Meyer? Jun 14, 2017

In the latest Buckeye Talk, we talk Ohio State's week two home game with Oklahoma in the 2017 season and discuss the surprising departure of Sooners coach Bob Stoops. To do that, we're joined by Ryan Aber, the Oklahoma beat writer for The Oklahoman. We talk whether Stoops burned out and what a 56-year-old coach leaving might tell us about 52-year-old Urban Meyer. We also talk Ohio State football recruiting and answer some reader questions. And since Doug snuck in and produced this one instead of Bill, there's a funky new theme song.

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Ep. 83: Chris Holtmann named new Ohio State basketball coach Jun 09, 2017

Bill Landis from cleveland.com breaks down the hiring of Chris Holtmann as Ohio State's new basketball coach, and answers your questions.

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Ep. 82: Examining the recruiting rivalry between Ohio State and Tom Herman in Texas Jun 07, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill talk about the budding recruiting rivalry in Texas between Ohio State and Tom Herman.

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Ep. 81: Ohio State fires Thad Matta, what's next for Buckeyes basketball? Jun 06, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss what comes next for Ohio State basketball now that Thad Matta is out as head coach.

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Ep. 80: Assistant coach contracts, the next coach to leave Ohio State, future QB battle May 24, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss new contract information for Ohio State's assistant coaches, and why the Buckeyes don't have to shell out big bucks for the staff.

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Ep. 79: Why Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class can surpass 2017's for best ever May 17, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill talk about the recent commitment of linebacker Dallas Gant, and why Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class is shaping up to be better than the 2017 class that was arguably the best in the history of the program.

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Ep. 78: The impact of more players leaving Ohio State basketball, and outlook for next season May 16, 2017

Doug and Bill discuss more player departures from Ohio State basketball, and the impact they'll have on next season.

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Ep. 77: Ohio State's most dangerous players, recruiting roundup May 09, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill talk about Ohio State's most dangerous players for next season. And Ari gives a roundup of where things stand in recruiting.

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Ep. 76: J.T. Barrett's NFL future, Ohio State's 2018 draft and Urban Meyer's worth May 02, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss Ohio State's 2018 NFL Draft prospects and Urban Meyer's worth now that Nick Saban is making $11 million.

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Ep. 75: Drafting the best Ohio State players of the Urban Meyer era Apr 26, 2017

To preview the 2017 NFL Draft, Doug, Ari and Bill draft the best Ohio State Buckeyes of the Urban Meyer era.

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Ep. 74: What we learned about Ohio State's quarterbacks in the spring game Apr 19, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss Ohio State's quarterbacks coming out of the spring. The biggest thing we learned? One of them is leaving because they're all too good.

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Ep. 73: Ohio State spring game preview, story lines and players to watch Apr 12, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill preview Ohio State's spring game, which will be held on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

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Ep. 72: Examining Ohio State's 'misfit' 2015 recruiting class Apr 05, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class, which Urban Meyer labeled as a 'misfit class' this week. Plus, they answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 71: Spring practice thoughts on Parris Campbell, H-back candidates, plus recruiting questions Mar 28, 2017

Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman discuss their observations from Ohio State spring practice, and answer yours Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 70: Mailbag -- Fake Ohio State football trades, predictions for J.T. Barrett Mar 24, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill answer your Ohio State football questions in a mailbag version of Buckeye Talk.

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Ep. 69: Analyzing quarterbacks, linebackers and new assistants in week two of spring football Mar 22, 2017

Ohio State football is in week two of spring football and Bill, Ari and Doug talk about what they've seen and heard about the Buckeyes quarterbacks and linebackers. The hires of new QB coach Ryan Day and LB coach Bill Davis are discussed, while the future quarterback battle between Joe Burrow and DwaynesHaskins remains on the radar. But first is how Day can help fifth-year senior and starting quarterback J.T. Barrett get better.

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Ep. 68: What went wrong for Ohio State basketball, and can it get better? Mar 15, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss Ohio State basketball, Thad Matta's future and if things can get better with the program.

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Ep. 67: How Ohio State football is turning into an NFL team Mar 15, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss the ways in which Ohio State is turning into an NFL team: Talent, scouting and coaching.

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Ep. 66: What we learned on the first day of Ohio State football spring practice Mar 08, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss what they learned about the Buckeyes on the first day of Ohio State spring football practice.

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Ep. 65: Does Ohio State football create confusion about what Ohio State basketball should be? Mar 01, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill talk about expectations for Ohio State football and basketball, and how the programs should be compared.

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Ep. 64: J.T. Barrett's development, Greg Schiano's future, hiring high school coaches Feb 15, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill open up the Ohio State mailbag to talk about Michigan hiring high school coaches, J.T. Barrett's development and how much longer Greg Schiano will be at Ohio State.

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Ep. 63: Discussing Ohio State's future quarterback depth chart Feb 07, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss Ohio State's future quarterback situation beyond 2017 with Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins, Tate Martell and Emory Jones.

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Ep. 62: Wrapping up Ohio State's monster National Signing Day Feb 02, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill recap Ohio State's 2017 National Signing Day and what this historic class of Buckeyes could become.

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Ep. 61: Ohio State National Signing Day 2017 preview Jan 24, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill do a deep dive into Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class: How it came together and how each player fits into the class.

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Ep. 60: Projecting Ohio State's defensive depth chart for 2017 Jan 19, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss what Ohio State's defense could look like in 2017, and answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 59: Projecting Ohio State's offensive depth chart for 2017 Jan 19, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill give their projections for Ohio State's offensive depth chart in 2017.

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Ep. 58: Should Ohio State basketball be in crisis mode? Jan 12, 2017

Doug and Bill discuss the state of the Ohio State basketball program after an 0-3 start to Big Ten play and another up-and-down season.

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Ep. 57: What's the impact of Ohio State's NFL early departures? Jan 10, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill talk about some of Ohio State's early NFL departures, how they could affect the Buckeyes and answer some of your Ohio State questions.

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Ep. 56: Talking Ohio State coaching changes, the return of J.T. Barrett Jan 05, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill talk about the offensive coaching changes at Ohio State, what the return of J.T. Barrett means and answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 55: What Ohio State's playoff loss tells us about 2017 Jan 01, 2017

Doug, Ari and Bill look ahead to 2017 now that Ohio State has been bounced from the College Football Playoff by Clemson.

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Ep. 54: Fiesta Bowl Day 5 -- Discussing our game picks for Ohio State vs. Clemson Dec 30, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill give their picks for Ohio State vs. Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl.

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Ep. 53: Fiesta Bowl Day 4 -- Will J.T. Barrett be Ohio State's QB next year? Dec 29, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill wrap up Day 4 at the Fiesta Bowl, where Ohio State and Clemson held a full team media day.

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Ep. 52: Fiesta Bowl Day 3 -- Talking Ohio State's secondary vs. Deshaun Watson Dec 29, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill wrap up Day 3 from Phoenix where they talked with Ohio State's defense and Clemson's offense.

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Ep. 51: Fiesta Bowl Day 2 -- How will Clemson defend Curtis Samuel, J.T. Barrett? Dec 27, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill wrap up Day 2 of Fiesta Bowl week by discussing our interviews with Ohio State's offense and Clemson's defense.

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Ep. 50: Fiesta Bowl Day 1 -- Urban Meyer vs. Dabo Swinney, how can Ohio State get better? Dec 27, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill talk Ohio State vs. Clemson from Arizona, where the Buckeyes and Tigers arrived on Monday. They break down Urban Meyer vs. Dabo Swinney, and how the Buckeyes improved in bowl practice.

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Ep. 49: Ohio State vs. Clemson Fiesta Bowl preview Dec 20, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill give a full breakdown of Ohio State vs. Clemson, including some insight on the Tigers from Clemson beat writer Dan Hope.

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Ep. 48: Urban Meyer's future, Torrance Gibson and Fiesta Bowl in the Ohio State mailbag Dec 19, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill answer all of your Ohio State football questions as the Buckeyes prepare for the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson.

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Ep. 47: Is it possible for Ohio State's recruiting to get too national? Dec 14, 2016

Ohio State is in the progress of putting together its best recruiting class maybe ever. Is it possible for the Buckeyes to get too national? We break it down.

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Ep. 46: How much will Ohio State miss Luke Fickell? Dec 13, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill talk Luke Fickell's move to Cincinnati, and about the future of other assistants on Ohio State's staff.

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Ep. 45: Discussing Thad Matta and the future of Ohio State basketball Dec 07, 2016

Bill Landis talks the future of Thad Matta, Ohio State basketball and answers your questions about the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 44: Ohio State is in the playoff, can the Buckeyes win a national championship? Dec 05, 2016

Doug, Bill and Ari quickly break down Ohio State in the College Football Playoff, and answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 43: Should we trust the College Football Playoff selection committee? Nov 29, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss the process of the College Football Playoff selection committee and whether we trust it to make the right decision.

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Ep. 42: Ohio State vs. Michigan preview Nov 17, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill talk all things Ohio State vs. Michigan: The matchups and the implications of the biggest game of the year.

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Ep. 41: A complete breakdown of Ohio State in the College Football Playoff race Nov 16, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill break down everything there is to know about Ohio State and the College Football Playoff.

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Ep. 40: Can Marshon Lattimore play receiver? Fake Ohio State position switches Nov 08, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss which Buckeyes could switch positions and still be good on the opposite side of the ball. Plus they answer your questions with Ohio State preparing for Maryland.

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Ep. 39: Ohio State football and the weight of expectations Nov 01, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss whether or not media and fan reaction to a stretch of rough games is affecting Ohio State, plus answer you Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 38: Everything you need to know about Ohio State and the College Football Playoff Oct 25, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill discuss Ohio State's playoff chances after a loss at Penn State, plus answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 37: Ohio State Recruiting Show -- Can the Buckeyes hold off Alabama for top class in 2017? Oct 21, 2016

Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman answer your Ohio State recruiting questions, including if the Buckeyes can hold off Alabama and finish with the No. 1 class in 2017.

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Ep. 36: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin lessons; the Big Ten's doomsday scenario Oct 19, 2016

Doug, Ari and Bill break down Ohio State's win over Wisconsin, discuss a crazy Big Ten playoff theory and answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 35: Previewing Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, and how it can help the Big Ten's perception Oct 11, 2016

We preview Ohio State's game at Wisconsin, discuss the Big Ten as the best conference in college football and answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 34: Ohio State Recruiting Show -- How many 5 stars will end up in Buckeyes' 2017 class? Oct 07, 2016

Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman discuss new proposed legislation on satellite camps and early signing periods, plus answer your Ohio State recruiting questions.

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Ep. 33: An in-depth discussion on Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett, plus answering your Buckeyes questions Oct 05, 2016

Where should Ohio State's J.T. Barrett be considered among the current pantheon of college quarterbacks? Doug, Ari and Bill discuss that and answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 32: Who are the best players on Ohio State's roster? And answering your Buckeyes questions Sep 27, 2016

Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis give their personal top 10 lists of the best players on Ohio State's roster right now. Plus, we answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 31: Ohio State Recruiting Show -- Will the Buckeyes keep two QBs? Sep 23, 2016

Bill and Ari discuss Ohio State football recruiting, and talk about sleeping giants in college football.

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Ep. 30: Is Ohio State now on Alabama's level? Answering your Buckeyes questions Sep 20, 2016

Ohio State had inexperience and questions coming into 2016, and is now suddenly a playoff contender like nothing ever changed. So are the Buckeyes now on Alabama's level? Plus, we answer your Buckeyes questions.

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Ep. 29: Previewing Ohio State vs. Oklahoma, lessons from Houston and handsome QBs Sep 14, 2016

Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis preview Ohio State's big game this week against Oklahoma, plus take your questions on the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 28: Why is Ohio State football so awesome? Let us count the ways Sep 06, 2016

Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis of cleveland.com discuss why Ohio State football is so awesome, and answer your questions before the Buckeyes host Tulsa on Saturday.

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Ep. 27: How to ruin your college football program Sep 01, 2016

Wrapping up our series on Ohio State as the most indestructible team in college football. Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman talk to writers covering Michigan, Texas, Alabama and USC about what led to the downturn of those programs, and what Ohio State can learn.

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Ep. 26: If Ohio State football is indestructible, how could the Buckeyes ever be bad? Aug 31, 2016

Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis continue cleveland.com's discussion of Ohio State as the most indestructible team in college football. Plus, they answer your questions on the Buckeyes.

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Ep. 25: Ohio State football season preview, will the Buckeyes win the Big Ten? Aug 24, 2016

Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis give their win/loss predictions for Ohio State and discuss if the Buckeyes will make the College Football Playoff.

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Ep. 24: Discussing Ohio State's 2017 roster problem, plus questions from training camp Aug 17, 2016

Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis of cleveland.com discuss Ohio State's roster numbers crunch for 2017, and answer your questions on Buckeyes training camp.

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Ep. 23: Who will start in Ohio State's season opener vs. Bowling Green? Aug 10, 2016

Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis analyze Ohio State's depth chart early in training camp, and predict the 22 starters for the Buckeyes' season opener against Bowling Green on Sept. 3.

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Ep. 22: What's the vibe as Ohio State football prepares to start fall camp? Aug 02, 2016

cleveland.com's Ohio State coverage team of Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis discuss the Buckeyes as the team prepares for 2016 fall camp.

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Ep. 21: Previewing Ohio State football 2016 spring practice Mar 03, 2016

Bill, Ari and Doug preview Ohio State's 2016 spring practice, which begins on March 8.

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Ep. 20: Ohio State football takes over the NFL Combine Feb 22, 2016

Bill, Ari and Doug discuss the 14 Ohio State Buckeyes participating in this week's NFL Draft Combine.

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Ep. 19: Thad Matta's job security and the future of Ohio State basketball Feb 18, 2016

Bill, Ari, and Doug discuss the state of the Ohio State basketball program and its head coach.

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Ep. 18: Early 2016 college football rankings, who's the favorite in the Big Ten? Feb 11, 2016

Bill, Ari and Doug discuss way too early rankings and who the Big Ten favorite should be in 2016?

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Ep. 17: Recapping Ohio State football's 2016 recruiting class on National Signing Day Jan 27, 2016

One week from National Signing Day, Bill, Ari and Doug talk about who the Buckeyes are bringing in with the 2016 recruiting class.

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Ep. 16: Ohio State football coaching changes, new QB, Harbaugh recruiting Jan 23, 2016

Bill, Ari and Doug discuss some news and tidbits surrounding the Buckeyes, including some shuffling on the offensive coaching staff.

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Ep. 15: Previewing Ohio State vs. Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl Dec 24, 2015

Bill, Air and Doug talk about Ohio State's upcoming Fiesta Bowl matchup with Notre Dame.

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Ep. 14: Dissecting Ohio State's future quarterback situation Dec 18, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug talk about the future of Ohio State's quarterback position.

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Ep. 13: Previewing Ohio State football vs. Michigan Nov 25, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug break down Ohio State's game against Michigan this week and the lasting impact it can have on the rivalry and the Big Ten.

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Ep. 12: Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State at the Big Ten East balance of power Nov 18, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug discuss the future of the Big Ten East with Associated Press college football writer Ralph Russo.

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Ep. 11: Why you're evaluating the Ohio State football team the wrong way Nov 11, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug discuss the way we should be evaluating this Ohio State football team as the playoff inches closer.

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Ep. 10: Discussing the best available jobs in college football Nov 04, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug discuss the open jobs in college football and rank which ones are the best.

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Ep. 9: How many elite programs are there in college football? Oct 28, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug discuss which college football programs, like Ohio State, should be considered among the nation's elite. Is Michigan State elite? Is TCU?

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Ep. 8: Is Ohio State's Urban Meyer a better recruiter than coach? Oct 21, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug discuss the news of J.T. Barrett being named Ohio State's starting quarterback, and break down Urban Meyer's recruiting philosophy.

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Ep. 7: Ohio State or Michigan, who's the best football team in the Big Ten? Oct 14, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug talk about the current state of the Big Ten heading into a big weekend featuring Ohio State vs. Penn State, and Michigan vs. Michigan State.

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Ep. 6.: Will Ohio State football make the College Football Playoff? Oct 06, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug discuss what's wrong with Ohio State's offense, and if they think the Buckeyes will make the College Football Playoff this year.

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Ep. 5: How many 2015 Ohio State football players could play for the Cleveland Browns? Sep 29, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug talk about how many Ohio State football players could realistically start for the Cleveland Browns right now. Cleveland.com Browns beat writer Tom Reed joins the podcast.

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Ep. 4: Does Ohio State have the most famous players in college football? Sep 22, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug discuss the most famous players in college football, and why Ohio State might have the top three.

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Ep. 3: Which 2015 Ohio State football player will have the best pro career? Sep 15, 2015

Ohio State's NFL Draft could be a historic one, but who will end up being the best pro from this group of Buckeyes?

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Ep. 2: How will Urban Meyer handle Ohio State's quarterbacks? Sep 15, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug recap Ohio State's win over Virginia Tech, and talk about how Urban Meyer will handle the Buckeyes' quarterbacks.

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Ep. 1: Previewing Ohio State football's season opener vs. Virginia Tech Sep 15, 2015

Bill, Ari and Doug talk about Ohio State's season opener at Virginia Tech.

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