Welcome to the Skull Session.
The Cotton Bowl approaches.
Game Week pic.twitter.com/DmjG5vdEGv
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 25, 2023
Let's ride.
Word of the Day: Joy.
A FUN FACT. We’ll kick off the Day-After-Christmas Skull Session with a fun fact for the Ohio State football program, courtesy of CFB Home:
Ohio State is the only FBS program that has never lost 8 or more games in a season. (1890-2023)#FunFactFriday pic.twitter.com/KssEtRhRpx
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) December 22, 2023
In 133 years of Ohio State football, the Buckeyes have never lost eight or more games in a single season. That’s an incredible accomplishment. After I read that stat over the weekend, I conducted some research and looked at the most recent seasons Ohio State lost exactly one game, two games, three games — and so on.
- One loss: 2023 (11-1)
- Two losses: 2022 (11-2)
- Three losses: 2008 (10-3)
- Four losses: 2000 (8-4)
- Five losses: 1966 (4-5)
- Six losses: 1999 (6-6)
- Seven losses: 2011 (6-7)
We are spoiled here in Buckeye Nation. Spoiled rotten.
But I love it.
More wins for Ohio State, please.
THE HAND YOU'RE DEALT. The Cotton Bowl was not the postseason destination Ohio State wanted when it started the 2023 season. However, now that the New Year’s Six bowl has arrived, and the No. 7-ranked Buckeyes will face the No. 9-ranked Missouri Tigers on Friday, Ohio State wants to end the season on a good note.
“We’re preparing to play the best football in America,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said when the Buckeyes arrived in Dallas. “That’s what we’re going to do. We know it’s going to be a challenge. We’d expect nothing less coming to the Cotton Bowl.
“We will continue to prepare for this game the way we’ve prepared for other games in the past and use the same model that we’ve used for bowl games in the past. Our guys got a little bit of a break. We will get back at it (on Sunday), get on the practice field, have a great week of practice over at (AT&T Stadium), and then follow our plan to win.”
Day said safety Lathan Ransom will miss the Cotton Bowl. Day did not update the status of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., running back TreVeyon Henderson, defensive end JT Tuimoloau, defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. and others who could be potential opt-outs for the contest.
Whether or not those Buckeyes are in uniform on Friday, Ohio State wide receiver and captain Xavier Johnson said the Cotton Bowl remains vital for all involved. The Buckeyes are determined to end the year with a joyous sendoff for those who will move on, as well as create momentum for those who will return in 2024.
“As a team, we have the opportunity to go out there one more time with our brothers — go out there one more time and compete,” Johnson said while seated next to Day. “And like Coach Day said, against an excellent opponent (who is) at the highest level. I think it allows us to really earn something for the season. We put a lot of work into this season. People were sacrificing so much, sacrificing time, sacrificing seeing certain people.
“It’s imperative that we come out of this season with something. That is the main thing. We’re coming down here to win a game. We’re coming down here to enjoy ourselves and have a celebration of the 2023 Buckeyes.”
I love that mentality.
The 2023 Buckeyes deserve celebration, and the 2023 Buckeyes deserve some hardware. It’s time for the 2023 Buckeyes to go out and earn it.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! A two-time captain, Ohio State sophomore point guard Bruce Thornton is the clear-cut leader of the Buckeyes. This season, Thornton has averaged 17.4 points, 4.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest, leading Ohio State to a 10-2 record in 12 games.
Last week, Thornton was Mic’d Up for Ohio State’s 78-36 win over New Orleans. The Ohio State men’s basketball X (formerly Twitter) account tweeted an almost six-minute video of memorable moments for the Alpharetta, Georgia, native.
It’s well worth the watch.
Bruce Thornton Mic'd Up - An all access look at gameday from the perspective of @Bruce2T_ ! pic.twitter.com/sAAEATdNMJ
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) December 23, 2023
If the Buckeyes are to contend for a Big Ten championship, Big Ten Tournament title, and Sweet 16 (and more) in 2023-24, Thornton must continue to be one of Ohio State’s top performers as the calendar turns from December to January and the Buckeyes enter conference competition.
That’s easier said than done, of course, but it will be crucial in determining the success of Chris Holtmann’s squad.
Thornton and Ohio State will have their final game of 2023 on Dec. 30, when the Buckeyes travel to Cleveland to face West Virginia at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
JSN SZN. Last week, former Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba hauled in a game-winning touchdown catch in the Seattle Seahawks’ 20-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
JSN for the win.pic.twitter.com/PrwzOiR0y1
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 19, 2023
“The Ohio State — they prepared me for these moments,” Smith-Njigba told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt after the win. “Every game, I come with the same approach: Let’s win. Let’s bring it all on the line. I had that mindset in college, and I have that mindset here in the pros.”
When Ohio State arrived at the team hotel in Dallas on Saturday, Ryan Day was asked to comment on JSN’s miraculous catch, which came via a beautiful ball from former Missouri quarterback Drew Lock.
“I’m really happy for Jaxon. He’d been through a couple of injuries. We all know how talented he is and what a baller he is,” Day said. “To see him make that catch — for me, I thought of his catch in the Rose Bowl a couple of years back. It was almost the exact same area of the field, and it was a similar throw that C.J. (Stroud) hit him with. I’m really happy for Jaxon. He’s been through a lot in the last year and a half. He has a really bright future ahead of him in the NFL.”
Day is correct. The catch was similar to the one JSN made in the 2022 Rose Bowl.
**SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT**
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) December 19, 2023
Add those photos to the #DevelopedHere file.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Save Me” - The Dirty Guv’nahs and Maggie Rose.
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