Kill Your Darlings

Ohio State's 2025 team had a few glaring weak spots, which ultimately never got solved. And that wasn't bad luck - it was a deliberate choice.

Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Isaiah Jones (46) hits Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) during the first half of the Big Ten Conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6, 2025.

Snap Counts: Cotton Bowl

Carson Hinzman and Jaylen McClain were Ohio State’s offensive and defensive snap leaders in 2025 and two of 10 Buckeyes who played every snap on their side of the ball vs. Miami.

Joshua Padilla and Carson Hinzman in the Cotton Bowl

OL Could Return Intact But Must Improve

Poor offensive line play cost Ohio State in its final two games of the season, leaving Tyler Bowen and the Buckeyes looking for answers to start the 2026 offseason.

Julian Sayin getting hit as he throws by Miami’s Armondo Blount

2025-26 College Football Playoff

Complete coverage of the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes and their run in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff.

Buckeyes Favored By 7.5-8.5 in Cotton Bowl

Ohio State is favored by 7.5 points over Texas A&M and 8.5 points over Miami entering the Aggies’ matchup with the Hurricanes, which will determine OSU’s Cotton Bowl opponent.

19 Dec 2025
by Dan Hope

42 Comments

OSU’s History vs. This Year’s CFP Teams

From iconic victories to painful recent losses, we take a look at Ohio State’s history against all of the other 11 teams in this year’s College Football Playoff.

19 Dec 2025
by Dan Hope

43 Comments

Ohio State's Biggest CFP Threats

From No. 11 James Madison to No. 1 Indiana, we rank each College Football Playoff team by how threatening it is to Ohio State's national championship chances.

18 Dec 2025
by Dan Hope

69 Comments

Chess with a Dragon

A play caller who takes Ohio State's best players off the field on purpose in game-defining moments is a play caller actively aiding and abetting the Buckeyes' opponent.

17 Dec 2025
by Ramzy Nasrallah

170 Comments

Buckeyes Seek to Repeat the Peak of 2024

Ohio State is taking careful steps to ensure its practice plan sees the team peak at the perfect time – just as it did in last year's College Football Playoff.

17 Dec 2025
by Andy Anders

73 Comments

11W College Football Playoff Predictions

The Eleven Warriors staff is unanimously picking Ohio State to win the national championship, but the road it takes to get there varies greatly bracket to bracket.

16 Dec 2025
by Andy Anders

121 Comments

Run Game "One Block" Away

Ohio State's offensive linemen felt "one block away" from successful runs against Indiana, but Ryan Day said last week that "one block away won't get it done."

15 Dec 2025
by Andy Anders

90 Comments

Better Red Zone Scheme, Execution Needed

For Ryan Day, fixing Ohio State's problems in the red zone vs. Indiana comes down to a better scheme from its coaches and better execution from its players.

11 Dec 2025
by Andy Anders

72 Comments

Cotton Bowl Ticket Info

Get the lowdown on where, when and how to get tickets to Ohio State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Cotton Bowl.

07 Dec 2025
by 11W Staff

36 Comments

OSU in Cotton Bowl Due to Miami

Ohio State was selected to play in the Cotton Bowl rather than the Orange Bowl to avoid the possibility of the Buckeyes having to play Miami in the Hurricanes’ home stadium.

07 Dec 2025
by Dan Hope

105 Comments

Press Coverage: OSU’s CFP Path

Despite a difficult path to the national championship as the No. 2 seed in the CFP, we’re still taking Ohio State over the field.

07 Dec 2025
by Andy Anders, Chase Brown and Dan Hope

18 Comments

Day: "We're Gonna Respond Like Men"

Ryan Day said that Brian Hartline will remain Ohio State's play caller in the CFP and the Buckeyes will "respond like men" and avoid finger-pointing after their loss to Indiana.

07 Dec 2025
by Andy Anders

218 Comments

#2 Ohio State, Will Face A&M or Miami

Ohio State earns the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff and will face either Texas A&M or Miami in the Cotton Bowl.

07 Dec 2025
by Chase Brown

373 Comments

First Thoughts on Arthur Smith

Ohio State Hiring Arthur Smith As New OC

Schlegel Back on OSU’s Strength Staff

Ohio State Runs Out of Gas at Michigan

OSU to Replace Scoreboard in The Schott

Royal Finding Offense at Small Forward

2026 Kicker Peterson Commits to Ohio State

Punter Young Transfers to Ohio State

Ohio State Lands Former LSU WR Parker

Kill Your Darlings

Snap Counts: Cotton Bowl

OL Could Return Intact But Must Improve

2025-26 College Football Playoff

Buckeyes Favored By 7.5-8.5 in Cotton Bowl

OSU’s History vs. This Year’s CFP Teams

Ohio State's Biggest CFP Threats

Chess with a Dragon

Buckeyes Seek to Repeat the Peak of 2024

11W College Football Playoff Predictions

Run Game "One Block" Away

Better Red Zone Scheme, Execution Needed

Cotton Bowl Ticket Info

OSU in Cotton Bowl Due to Miami

Press Coverage: OSU’s CFP Path

Day: "We're Gonna Respond Like Men"

#2 Ohio State, Will Face A&M or Miami

Pages

Ohio State Hiring Former NFL Offensive...

Quarterbacks Willing and Able to Run...

Former Ohio State Linebacker Anthony...

Press Coverage: Ryan Day Finds His Head...

Davison Igbinosun, CJ Donaldson, Ethan...

2025-26 OSU Wrestling - Open Forum (...

Patricia is Going To Have Options With...

2026 Staff Changes (Part 4)

Ethan Onianwa Invited to Senior Bowl

Are Rivalries Becoming a Thing of the...