Welcome to the Skull Session.
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 9, 2025
Have a good Tuesday.
AS TOUGH AS THEY COME. Everywhere you look, Ohio State’s 2025 strength of schedule is among the 20 strongest in college football.
For TeamRankings, it’s No. 2.
- Texas
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Penn State
- Alabama
- Oregon
- Clemson
- LSU
- Notre Dame
- Ole Miss
For ESPN, it’s No. 18.
- Florida
- Vanderbilt
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Arkansas
- Mississippi State
- Kentucky
- Georgia
- Texas A&M
- Alabama
- LSU
- Wisconsin
- South Carolina
- Auburn
- Tennessee
- Ole Miss
- Syracuse
- Ohio State
A top 10 full of SEC schools. How about that?
And for Bill Connelly’s SP+, it’s No. 21.
- Oklahoma
- Florida
- Arkansas
- Wisconsin
- Vanderbilt
- Mississippi State
- South Carolina
- Kentucky
- LSU
- Texas A&M
- Alabama
- Texas
- Georgia
- Syracuse
- Auburn
- Rutgers
- Purdue
- Northwestern
- UCLA
- USC
- Ohio State
I don’t really care where Ohio State’s strength of schedule ranks, but I still want people to put respect on the Buckeyes’ name! A home and season opener against preseason top-five Texas, a road game against preseason top-10 Illinois, a home game against preseason top-five Penn State and, of course, The Game in Ann Arbor. That’s as tough as it gets!
“THE GREATEST STATE IN THE UNION.” In an appearance on Barstool Sports’ Drop A Pin podcast, comedian Bert Kreischer — also known as The Machine — had an all-time great take. In fact, it was such a great take that I’ve decided to go against my better judgment and feature Barstool Sports #content in the Skull Session!
“I think Ohio is the greatest state in the Union,” Kreischer said.
That alone made the take great. Then, he continued.
What do you think about @bertkreischers take on the best State in the Union? pic.twitter.com/FqkULSKlfm
— Drop A Pin Show (@DropAPinShow) June 9, 2025
“I argue that because I’ve traveled everywhere,” Kreischer said. “Its topography is gorgeous. It is the perfect political place to be, where they get your personality, but they welcome everyone and they’re not lunatics.”
He’s correct. We’re not lunatics. Well, Buckeye Nation does have a lunatic fringe — but that’s besides the point, like this entire interruption.
“You get weather. You get on the water. You’ve got literally — no state has the big cities like Ohio has. They’ve got big cities that are, like, I think it’s the best state in the Union in my opinion,” Kreischer continued. “It’s gorgeous. Ohio is gorgeous. It’s just gorgeous. Go to Butler, Ohio. Go to Rolling Hills.”
When the podcast hosts said Kreischer’s love for Ohio was a “bit,” the Florida native disavowed their claim.
“No, no, no, I swear to God,” he said.
Good man.
I agree with him!
SORRY, JEFF. With the House settlement now approved, college athletes will receive compensation via regulated revenue share payments directly from their schools and third-party NIL payments for legitimate business purposes. (Man, I can’t wait to see how liberal some companies take the word “legitimate” there.)
One of those third-party NIL payments could come from EA Sports, which announced last month that Jeremiah Smith will be on its cover stars for EA Sports College Football 26. EA Sports paid each player $600 for their appearance in College Football 25. This summer, however, the studio will compensate players between $1,500 and $3,000, according to cllct.
Also according to cllct, EA Sports will make royalty payments to schools based on how often users play as them in the game.
BREAKING: In EA College Football 26, schools will get paid based on how much gamers play with their team.@cllctMedias @Matt_Liberman has the details on the innovative change.https://t.co/8wBmOJuimU
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 6, 2025
“For each CFB product released by EA SPORTS, we (CLC Learfield) will provide a percentage for each institution based on the games played for that institution as a percentage of the total games played across all institutions,” an EA Sports document reads, via cllct. “This percentage of games played will become the final allocation percentage for each school that will be applied to the total gross royalties for all institutions received.”
EA Sports’ new royalty structure replaces a previous edition in which the studio slotted teams into tiers based on the average of their year-end AP Top 25 finishes over the past decade. Thirteen Tier 1 schools, including Ohio State, received around $100,000 in royalties, while the 54 schools in Tier 4 received around $10,000.
According to cllct, all 136 FBS schools opted into EA’s new pay-for-play royalty structure, so it seems college football programs across the nation find EA Sports’ terms agreeable. Still, Football Scoop’s Zach Barnett asked some questions over the weekend that I would also like to see answered.
- How much money will EA Sports have to distribute?
- How will EA Sports calculate what percentage of total revenue goes into the fund?
- Does the royalty fund last forever? Will schools receive checks in 2031 for how often a user plays them in College Football 26?
I am afraid the answer to these questions is the same as the answer for how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop… The world may never know…
Before I move on, I want to share a post that made me laugh.
Me at work after staying up all night playing with Ohio State so they get extra NIL money https://t.co/r2un1iuu5y pic.twitter.com/KCpRTiAEG5
— Woody (@woodyVSworld) June 7, 2025
(Blue Jackets insider) Jeff (Svboda), if you’re reading this, I am sorry, but this photo is just toooooo goooood.
THE HAPPIEST OF HOURS. The Eleven Warriors staff has a big announcement: Next week, 12th Warriors will have the chance to go behind the scenes with Ohio State legends. On Wednesday, we will kick off the 12th Warrior Happy Hour, an exclusive new series where members of our selfless perks program will have direct access to Buckeye greats in a live, exclusive Q&A.
First up: A 1990s linebacker who wore the heck out of a neck roll — and a reflective visor from time to time. Yes, indeed. The debut 12th Warrior Happy Hour features a man who still haunts Corby Jones' dreams, Andy Katzenmoyer. The former two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten honoree kicks off our series on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
During the relaxed, interactive experience, 12th Warriors will hear untold stories, have the opportunity to ask questions and connect with Ohio State history like never before. It's our way of saying thank you for backing independent coverage, representing 11W and being like the great state of Ohio — The Heart of It All.
So, 12th Warriors, select a drink of choice, log on and let’s make some memories. We'll share further details in the Premium Lounge.
Not a 12th Warrior?
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For $85 a year (just 23 cents a day), you can join a selfless perks program designed to flip the paywall system, keeping our coverage free for all, by paying it forward. Membership includes perks like admission to 12th Warrior Happy Hour, a voucher for $40 off a purchase from Eleven Warriors Dry Goods, access to the fabled Premium Lounge and more.
Want to chat with Big Kat, help the site, and score other perks? Sign up to become a 12th Warrior!
SONG OF THE DAY. "Dirty Work" - Steely Dan.
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