Welcome to the Skull Session.
Ohio State will send its Big Three to Las Vegas this month: Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles.
takes on Vegas
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 30, 2025
@ryandaytime , @Jermiah_Smith1 , @caleb_downs2 & @sonnystyles_ will be at Big Ten Media Day on July 22nd in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/MgxescfF3G
Have a good Tuesday.
“WE WANT MORE OF THAT.” This week, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti appeared on Joel Klatt’s podcast to discuss the future of college football.
Klatt asked Petitti about the proposed 16-team College Football Playoff model that would feature four automatic qualifiers from the Big Ten and SEC, two automatic qualifiers from the ACC and Big 12, one automatic qualifier from the Group of Five and three at-large qualifiers (this field includes an independent like Notre Dame).
“Why that model?” Klatt asked.
“I start off with a stipulation that I think the committee does the best job they possibly can. I just think what they’re being asked to do is so difficult,” Petitti answered. “I understand there was controversy about how many AQs one league gets (compared) to another, but let’s put that aside for now. I think we focus on, at least within the Big Ten, we’re not asking to be handed anything. We’re playing nine conference games, we want to play tough play-in games to get there and we want to create an incentive for our schools to schedule more (difficult nonconference games).”
“So you’re trying to create a system that creates tougher games?” Klatt interjected.
“Yeah. Look, we want to play – I think, theoretically, the goal is to play more nonconference games,” Petitti continued, “because if you’re qualifying for the CFP off your conference record and then a play-in game, the fact that you play a tough SEC or ACC or Big 12 team and maybe get beat on the road or whatever ther result is, that may impact your seeding down the road, but it’s not gonna impact your access. There are three at-larges, so it does a little bit, but at the end of the day, that loss isn’t fatal.”
Petitti said he wants more Big Ten schools to schedule nonconference games against Power Four schools, like Ohio State did with its home-and-home series versus Texas in 2025 and 2026.
“As great as college football is, and it’s great, there’s just more on the table we can do,” he said. “I think fans want to see these nonconference games earlier in the season. I think we can do more of it. Everybody is pointing to, at least at the beginning, that Texas-Ohio State game is going to get tremendous attention. We want more of that.”
Don’t we all?
But Petitti, being in a position of power, also wants to incentivize it via the proposed 4-4-2-2-1-3 model.
“We want to incentivize that, not create a sense where you’re worried about does winning that game help you more or does losing that game hurt you more?” Petitti said. “I’m getting back to (the model). There isn’t much head-to-head, and there really isn’t a lot of crossover, at least in our league, because we play nine conference games. We don’t play that many games against the SEC. I’d actually like to play more because I think it’s better for fans.”
Wow, a Big Ten commissioner who cares about what the fans want...
What a difference a few years can make!
TOP FIVE, TOP FIVE, TOP FIVE. ESPN's Matt Miller revealed his initial mock for the 2026 NFL draft on Monday.
"We're a long way from the 2026 NFL draft – the 2025 college football season is nearly two months away, after all – but it's never too early to start breaking down film of the top prospects in the upcoming class," Miller wrote. "Based on that film and conversations I've had with scouts and talent evaluators throughout the league, I'm doing an early projection of all 32 picks in next year's draft."
Of those 32 picks, one Buckeye came off the board.
No. 5 - Caleb Downs, New Orleans Saints
Safeties usually get pushed down the board, but Downs is different. The 6-foot, 205-pounder is my No. 1 overall player because of his range, versatility and proven playmaker DNA. Downs has four interceptions in his two college seasons while showing the skills to play in the box or man center field as a deep safety. He's routinely utilized as an eraser against whatever offenses do best. The Saints need good football players throughout their roster, and there's no better one in this class than Downs.
No Carnell Tate.
No Sonny Styles.
No Max Klare.
No Ethan Onianwa.
We’ll see if that changes as Miller’s mocks evolve. Considering Ohio State has marquee matchups against Texas, Illinois (yes, I am including Illinois, who could be a top-10 team in the preseason AP poll), Penn State, and Michigan this season, those Buckeyes will have several chances to ball out and position themselves as top 32 picks next April.
VOTE FOR PEDRO OHIO STATE! The 2025 ESPYs are on July 16, and in the next two weeks, you can help Ohio State win the award for Best Team.
Click here to vote on all categories for the 2025 ESPYs. After voting for the Best Male Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Best Play and more, you can choose Ohio State as the Best Team over UConn women’s basketball, USWNT, UNC women’s lacrosse, the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Panthers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Every vote counts!
Cast yours now!
MISSION FAILED, WE’LL GET ‘EM NEXT TIME. I dedicate this final section to Dillon Dingler, who was jusssssst a bit outside the required votes to enter Phase 2 of the MLB All-Star selection process, as Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners) and Alejandro Kirk (Toronto Blue Jays) took the top two spots for catchers.
Dingler was a two-time All-Big Ten selection across three seasons with the Buckeyes from 2018-20. He started in 44 of 49 games for Ohio State’s Big Ten Tournament championship team in 2019, earning all-tournament honors while batting .350 with four runs scored, one triple, one home run and two RBIs in the heart of the order.
Dillon Dingler Dinger! pic.twitter.com/wMgMTYVASF
— MLB (@MLB) June 25, 2025
Detroit’s second-round pick in 2020, Dingler has been impressive in his sophomore season for the Tigers, recording a .272/.302/.429 split with nine doubles, eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 64 appearances. The Massillon, Ohio, native was one of 15 catchers named to the All-Star Game Ballot on June 4 but lost votes to Raleigh and Kirk in the weeks that followed.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Dingler will watch the All-Star Game at the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park from home. Next season, however, when baseball’s best travel to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Citizens Bank Park, I am confident Dingler will be among them.
He’s on the verge of greatness! He’s this close!
SONG OF THE DAY. "Evangeline" - Stephen Sanchez.
CUT TO THE CHASE. How to manage ADHD at work and turn it into a strength... Apple Music marks 10 years with new studio for artists, fans and the future of sound... Another side of Bruce Springsteen... Adorable video shows retiree pampering neighbor's dog while they're at work... Why can't Americans sleep?
