We are one day away from Ohio State football, and Indiana doesn't stand a chance.
Neither did this poor defender from Charleston Southern as Brice Sensabaugh dunked all over his head.
Zed Key raised the roof several times at the Schottenstein Center on Thursday night. However, this dunk from Sensabaugh sent the roof off the top of the building and brought the house down.
Let's have a good Friday, shall we?
HOOSIER DADDY. I start my Friday Skull Session with another round of Indiana talk, and, no, I haven't changed my mind about the Hoosiers. Apparently, Ryan Day hasn't either, as the Ohio State head coach expects a battle in the Horseshoe on Saturday.
To be fair, I also expect a battle this weekend, but it will be a war between the Buckeyes for who can score the most touchdowns against the Hoosiers. On top of the facts I presented in Thursday's Skully, the Big Ten Network provided me with some more ammunition as to why Indiana won't present a significant challenge for Ohio State on Saturday.
Ohio State has won 27 consecutive games against Indiana, the longest active win streak in the last 50 seasons between two FBS opponents. Additionally, the Buckeyes have scored at least 30 points in 18 straight matchups with the Hoosiers.
On Saturday, Indiana brings the No. 112 total offense and No. 100 scoring offense to Ohio Stadium, averaging 329 yards and 23.3 points per game. The Hoosiers' defense ranks No. 104 and No. 114 in the same defensive categories, allowing 422.3 yards and 32.2 points per contest. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes rank No. 14, No. 1, No. 6 and No. 8 in those respective areas.
So, as I said on Thursday, Bucks by a Billion.
EMEKA EGBUKA → PAUL HORNUNG. Emeka Egbuka is one of the most versatile players in college football, and he was recognized as such with his nomination as a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award on Thursday.
Full disclosure: I didn't know who Paul Hornung was before Egbuka's nomination. However, I used the opportunity to educate myself on the former footballer's greatness.
Hornung was an excellent all-around athlete at Notre Dame, playing quarterback, running back and kicker for the football team and guard for the basketball team. In 1956, he won the Heisman Trophy for the Irish. The following year, he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Green Bay Packers – a franchise with which he would win four NFL championships and one Super Bowl – and became a Pro Bowler, an All-Pro and an MVP.
In conclusion, he was great. He was actually more than great. He was legen – wait for it – dary. So for Egbuka to be considered for an award with Hornung's name attached to it means a whole lot in my mind.
Egbuka has been incredibly versatile for Ohio State's offense and special teams this season, contributing by catching passes, taking handoffs and returning punts. Through nine games, he has collected 49 receptions for 794 yards and seven touchdowns and added 80 yards and two scores on the ground and 77 yards from punt returns. In other words, he's done everything for the Buckeyes.
The best part about Egbuka's nomination for the award is that fans play a role in who wins. So, lovely Skull Session readers, as I did for Ohio State women's ice hockey defenseman Sophie Jaques, I'll include the voting link at the bottom of future Skullys so that we can all fulfill our civic duties in Buckeye Nation and win Egbuka the award.
Cool? Cool.
MARSHALL'S FIELD DAY. Sooooooooo, did anyone else forget how good Jalin Marshall was back in the day? I mean, I remembered he was good, but I wouldn't have tabbed him as four-touchdowns-in-a-half good. However, that's precisely what he did against Indiana in 2014.
Marshall was a redshirt freshman at the time of this performance. He finished the year with six receiving touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and one punt return touchdown – which is also Ohio State's most recent punt return for a score.
With Marshall scoring four touchdowns in that game, we can say that half of his trips to the end zone in 2014 came when the Buckeyes played the Hoosiers, which is nuts. Even more, Marshall scored five times in 2015, which means 30.8% (four of 13) of his career touchdowns came against Indiana.
So when we ask Indiana fans, “Who's your Daddy?” Is it Jalin Marshall? We're certainly looking into it.
THIS AND THAT. I had too many storylines in consideration for my final blurb on this beautiful Friday, so I have decided to discuss all of them briefly.
First, Ohio State women's basketball defeated No. 5 Tennessee, 87-75, behind stellar performances from Jacy Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell. The Buckeyes forced 29 turnovers and converted them into 37 points to take down the Lady Vols in the 2022-23 season opener.
Two days later, the program's Twitter posted a highlight video of the game with behind-the-scenes footage of head coach Kevin McGuff speaking to his team before and after the contest. It also featured clips of the thousands of fans in attendance for the matchup, including several students decked out in all-white who created a rowdy environment in the Schott.
The team also tweeted photos of Sheldon's sister, Emmy, embracing the team after their big victory, and they warmed my heart. Emmy has Down syndrome and is the women's basketball team's No. 1 fan. Jacy says she powers the team and that nothing makes Emmy happier than when the Buckeyes win.
Second, Ohio State wrestling starts its regular season on Friday at 7 p.m. with a dual against Virginia Tech in the Covelli Center. The Buckeyes enter 2022-23 with eight returning starters and are ranked No. 4 in the NWCA Coaches Poll behind Penn State, Iowa and Missouri, while the Hokies checked in at No. 14.
Last season, on Nov. 19, 2021, Ohio State traveled to Blacksburg, Virginia, to face Virginia Tech and left with a 17-13 win. Friday's dual will be the second leg of home-and-home meets in Columbus, and it's gonna be goooooooood.
Third, Ohio State women's soccer earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament and will host Bucknell in the first round on Friday at 6 p.m. in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
The Buckeyes will make their 16th NCAA Tournament appearance this season and have made seven appearances in the last eight seasons. Ohio State is 13-14-2 at NCAAs and holds a 7-3-2 record at home. Emma Sears, Kayla Fischer and Kailyn Dudukovich will look to help the Buckeyes increase that number in the win column this weekend.
Fourth and finally, Ohio State cross country will compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional this weekend, which means it's time for Addie Engel to build upon her individual Big Ten Championship – the first in program history for the Buckeyes – from Oct. 28.
OK, I lied. One more thing, but this comes after my story was “in the can” as some of you have said. The Ohio State women's volleyball team has won 13 straight matches, which is insane. It's the longest active streak in the Big Ten and tied for the second-longest streak since 1995. Jen Flynn Oldenburg is on Big Ten Coach of the Year watch, for sure.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Who's Your Daddy?” by Toby Keith.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Top, Lite-Brite, Masters of the Universe in toy hall of fame... Section of destroyed shuttle Challenger found on ocean floor... 3 Olympic volleyball medals stolen from California home... 1 in 6 high school students vape, smoke or use tobacco, study finds... Oldest person in the United States turns 115 in Iowa.