The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

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BONUS: Iowa's Kirk Ferentz Recaps Shocking Upset Over Michigan Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

We don't normally do a show with postgame clips from Ohio State's next opponent, but when that opponent stuns Michigan on the final play of the day in Ann Arbor, we understand that Buckeyes fans might be a little more interested than usual.
In this special bonus episode, you'll hear from Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz in the wake of his team's 20-19 shocker over the Wolverines, including his thoughts on the play of QB Hank Brown, WR Reece Vander Zee, that final play on the whole, and much more.

10 Things We Learned Watching Iowa's 20-19 Win Over Michigan Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Ohio State heads to Iowa City this week, so Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr went back and rewatched Iowa’s 20-19 win over Michigan to get a better idea of what the Buckeyes are walking into.
What did they learn? Iowa may not be flashy, but the Hawkeyes are still very good at dragging opponents into exactly the kind of game Kirk Ferentz wants to play. Michigan outgained Iowa for much of the afternoon, but the Hawkeyes capitalized in the red zone, avoided costly mistakes, won key late-game situations, and found a way to steal a road win in Ann Arbor.
Tony and Tom break down Hank Brown, Iowa’s running game, the Hawkeyes’ receivers, their red-zone efficiency, the importance of turnover margin, and why Ohio State absolutely cannot let this turn into a classic Iowa rock fight.
0:00 — Rewatching Iowa’s 20-19 win over Michigan
0:37 — How in the world did Iowa win this game?
2:03 — The Kirk Ferentz formula is still alive
4:13 — Iowa’s offense: slow, methodical and hard to escape
5:54 — The incredible bounces that helped Iowa
6:51 — A 99-yard kickoff return changes everything
8:08 — Even Iowa can have special teams problems
9:50 — The stat that explains how Iowa wins games
11:20 — Why Iowa doesn’t need to force turnovers
12:39 — What Iowa’s offense can actually do
13:57 — Ohio State has to get Iowa off the field
17:05 — Breaking down Iowa’s improbable final drive
18:40 — How a Michigan injury changed the final sequence
19:43 — Iowa’s passing game still has limitations
20:37 — Why Ohio State has to play sound, patient defense
22:12 — Final thoughts on the Hawkeyes
22:28 — Looking ahead to Ohio State at Iowa
The biggest takeaway: Iowa doesn’t need to dominate statistically to beat you. The Hawkeyes just need the game to stay close long enough for one turnover, one special-teams play, one penalty, or one late drive to decide it.
Ohio State will have to stay disciplined, finish drives, tackle cleanly, and avoid giving Iowa the kind of openings that have made the Hawkeyes so dangerous in Iowa City over the years.
Be sure to LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, and check out BuckeyeInsiders.com for complete Ohio State football coverage.

Instant Reaction from Ohio State's 42-19 Win Over Illinois Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Ohio State opened Big Ten play with a 42-19 win over Illinois, and Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr are live with their instant reaction on the Buckeye Weekly Podcast.
Jeremiah Smith put together another ridiculous performance, finishing with 12 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns, while Julian Sayin showed something Buckeye fans have been waiting to see: a willingness to use his legs. Sayin repeatedly extended plays and picked up key first downs as a runner, adding another dimension to the Ohio State offense.
But the Buckeyes didn't leave this game without some concerns. Illinois rushed for 199 yards and consistently generated explosive plays against an Ohio State defense that struggled to control the line of scrimmage. Tony and Tom discuss the defensive line, linebacker rotation, Khary Wilder, Riley Pettijohn, the lack of a consistent pass rush, and whether Ohio State's run defense has officially become a concern.
They also break down Ohio State's running game, the offensive line without Phillip Daniels, the continued development of the Buckeyes' young players, and what this performance means heading into a road trip to Iowa.
0:00 — Instant reaction to Ohio State's 42-19 win
1:38 — Jeremiah Smith's monster four-touchdown performance
5:00 — Should Ohio State just keep feeding Jeremiah Smith?
7:30 — Where were the other Buckeye receivers?
10:00 — What Ohio State's rotations tell us about who the coaches trust
12:26 — Khary Wilder, Riley Pettijohn and the young Buckeye defenders
16:00 — Illinois exposes problems with Ohio State's run defense
20:00 — Is the defensive line Ohio State's biggest concern?
24:00 — Where is the Buckeyes' pass rush?
28:00 — Breaking down Ohio State's offensive line
30:00 — Is the running-game problem the backs or the offensive line?
32:23 — Bret Bielema on trying to defend Jeremiah Smith
34:46 — Bielema on Julian Sayin using his legs
35:34 — Has Ohio State solved its short-yardage problem?
38:00 — Every contender in college football has flaws
44:00 — Why Ohio State fans shouldn't overlook a comfortable Big Ten win
47:00 — The biggest concern with this Buckeye team right now
52:00 — Why the defensive line could determine Ohio State's ceiling
56:00 — Why isn't Legend Bey playing more?
59:00 — Ohio State goes 4-for-4 in the red zone
1:00:11 — Tony vs. Tom: Who came closer on the final score?
1:01:30 — Looking at Illinois and the rest of its schedule
1:04:07 — What we'll be breaking down this week at Buckeye Insiders
Ohio State has plenty to clean up, particularly defensively, but the Buckeyes also left this one with encouraging developments from Sayin and yet another reminder that Jeremiah Smith can take over a football game almost by himself.
Be sure to LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to Buckeye Insiders and hit the notification bell for more Ohio State football coverage.

BONUS: Juck's Helmet Stickers and Initial Takeaways Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Juck Miletti checks in from Ohio Stadium with his initial reaction following Ohio State’s 42-19 win over Illinois to open Big Ten play.
Julian Sayin showed a new element to his game with his legs, Jeremiah Smith delivered a monster four-touchdown performance, and the Buckeyes were dramatically better on third down and in the red zone. But there were still some concerns, most notably an Ohio State defense that surrendered far too many explosive plays.
Juck breaks down what stood out from Sayin, Smith, the young linebackers, Nate Roberts and the tight ends, Ohio State’s offensive line combinations, the running game, special teams and more. He also hands out his Buckeye helmet stickers and looks ahead to next week’s road test at Iowa.
0:00 — Opening thoughts on Ohio State’s 42-19 win
0:36 — Julian Sayin finally shows the X-factor with his legs
1:34 — How much does Sayin’s scrambling change the offense?
2:30 — Jeremiah Smith takes over the game
3:43 — Can Ohio State just keep feeding Jeremiah Smith?
5:20 — Concern over Illinois’ explosive plays against the defense
9:01 — Ohio State’s huge improvement on third and fourth down
10:25 — Perfect day in the red zone
10:55 — Matt Patricia shows more defensive aggression
12:58 — Riley Pettijohn’s growing role at linebacker
14:00 — Nate Roberts stands out at tight end
15:25 — What is Ohio State doing with the tight end rotation?
16:35 — Brock Boyd flashes when given an opportunity
17:12 — Did Bo Jackson answer Ryan Day’s challenge?
19:32 — Ja'Kobi Jackson continues to make the most of his carries
20:00 — Gabe VanSickle and the offensive line combination
21:22 — How Julian Sayin handled pressure
22:22 — Why Ohio State’s special teams remain frustrating
24:35 — Buckeye helmet stickers: Jeremiah Smith, Nate Roberts and Jaylen McClain
25:30 — Payton Pierce on Ohio State’s defensive breakdowns
28:27 — Juck’s thoughts on Payton Pierce
29:20 — The passing game is carrying the Buckeyes right now
30:15 — Ohio State’s youth movement is coming
32:21 — Final thoughts and looking ahead to Iowa
Ohio State improved to 4-0 with the victory, but Juck sees a team that is still developing week by week — with plenty of encouraging signs and a few issues that need to be cleaned up before the schedule gets tougher.
SUBSCRIBE to Buckeye Insiders for complete Ohio State football coverage, postgame analysis, recruiting news, podcasts, practice reports and more.

BONUS: Ohio State vs. Illinois - Gameday Preview Sep 26, 2026

Show notes

It is gameday as Ohio State kicks off Big Ten play by hosting 2-1 Illinois. The Buckeye Insiders' team of Juck Miletti, Tom Orr, and Tony Gerdeman preview the game and share their picks for what's about to happen. Where do the Illini have issues? Where can the Buckeyes take advantage? Will the Ohio State running game respond? All of this is covered and much more.

BONUS: James Laurinaitis Honored As Victory Bell-Ringer Vs. Illinois Sep 26, 2026

Show notes

James Laurinaitis has done a lot as an Ohio State football player and coach, but he will get to do something new on Saturday before the Buckeyes take on Illinois: ring the Victory Bell.
Laurinaitis is being honored as the pregame bell-ringer on Saturday in honor of his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
As soon as he's done ringing the bell, he'll have to hustle back down to the sidelines to coach the linebackers.
In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day about Laurinaitis, how he ended up back as a coach on the OSU staff, and the honor ahead.
Plus, updates on the offense, defense, and more.

BONUS: How Can Matt Patricia Help Ohio State Generate More Pass Rush? Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia always has some interesting insights during interview sessions, and this week was no exception.
In this special bonus episode, you'll get to hear directly from Patricia with an update on the Ohio State defense as they sit one-quarter of the way through the 2026 college football regular season.
Patricia discusses the emergence of young standout Jay Timmons, veteran DT Jason Moore, what they're doing to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and more.

Will the Buckeye Offense Be Too Much for Illinois? Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

What kind of issues will Illinois pose for the Buckeyes?
In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr recap their thoughts following a watching of Illinois' week two loss against Duke.
What can the Buckeyes expect from an Illinois defense that couldn't stop Duke? Can the Ohio State secondary contain star receiver Collin Dixon? The fellas talk about all of this and more.

BONUS: What Does Ryan Day Look For In A Quarterback? Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, and some of the most interesting things he had to say during his weekly Tuesday press conference about the offense.
Day discussed what qualities he looks for when recruiting and evaluating quarterbacks, where he thinks Julian Sayin is in his personal growth at the moment, the issues he sees in the running game and how they'll need to be fixed, where the various combinations of offensive line lineups stack up, and more.

BONUS: Where Does Ohio State Still Need To Improve This Season? Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

The Ohio State 2026 football regular season is already 25% over, which seems like a good time to check in to see where things stand and where the Buckeyes still need to take big steps forward in order to reach their goals.
In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day during his Tuesday afternoon press conference about that, this weekend's matchup with Illinois, the Illibuck Trophy, and more.

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