Welcome to the Skull Session.
Jeremiah Smith is a freak.
Coming in at on @BruceFeldmanCFB 2025 Freak List, @Jermiah_Smith1 pic.twitter.com/ZPzH1V5eAl
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 4, 2025
Have a good Tuesday.
“THE BIGGEST SEASON OPENER EVER.” Two words: Ohio State and Texas, must-see TV.
Texas is No. 1 and Ohio State is No. 2 in the preseason Coaches Poll, officially making the 2025 season opener between the Longhorns and Buckeyes a top-two matchup.https://t.co/e5554Dsf1p pic.twitter.com/4btBDWRsjU
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 4, 2025
Too bad “the biggest season opener ever” will kick off at noon.
** sighs **
BEHIND ENEMY LINES. A picture is worth 1,000 words — 2,000 words if the picture is a Michigan license plate with anti-Michigan messaging.
Special thanks to the Ohio State fan and Eleven Warriors reader who submitted the photo. They’re fighting the good fight in That State Up North!
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON. Kirk Herbstreit has been a national college football analyst for 30 years. His son, Zak, has chosen to follow in his footsteps.
On3 founder Shannon Terry announced Monday that Zak Herbstreit, an Ohio State tight end from 2021-24, will serve as host of Off Script with Zak Herbstreit, a new show featuring conversations with coaches, players and “prominent voices around the game.”
NEWS: On3 has hired Zak Herbstreit (@ZHerbstreit) as a National College Football Analysthttps://t.co/u50gPPTlbe pic.twitter.com/DPxcqWzjHZ
— On3 (@On3sports) August 4, 2025
“Zak has tremendous natural talent and has grown immersed in college sports,” Terry said in a press release. “His ability to connect with today’s college stars will bring a fresh and authentic perspective to the On3 network. He’ll be traveling each week to the biggest games across the country, giving fans behind-the-scenes look at everything that makes Saturdays the greatest day in sports.”
Herbstreit also shared his excitement about the role in a statement.
“I’m grateful for the path that led me here, and I’m excited to bring real passion, insight and a player’s mindset to the content that On3 creates,” he said.
Congratulations, Zak.
I will watch your career with great interest!
“WE’RE EXCITED TO PLAY.” Wait, before I move on from Herbsteit, I should share that his first interview for Off Script was with his former teammate, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.
Here are some of the topics Sayin addressed during his interview with Herbstreit:
On learning from Will Howard in 2024
“I think I learned a lot last year. Learning from Will, I just learned how to be a leader. He was a great leader for the offense and for the team and, you know, I think that was definitely something I tried to learn from him. Learning from Coach (Ryan) Day and Coach (Chip) Kelly more about the game and more about ball and how to look at the game as a quarterback, but I definitely learned a lot also from Will about the preparation aspect and how much preparation goes into each week.”
On his relationship with Jeremiah Smith
“He’s had a really good offseason. He’s gotten bigger and stronger. He’s stepping into that leadership role in a big way. We have a good relationship. He’s a really good worker — obviously, it shows on the field. He’s a great receiver and a great target to throw to.”
On his decision to transfer from Alabama to Ohio State
“I wanted to play for Coach (Nick) Saban, and when he retired, I decided to transfer. Ohio State was a big decision for me. I was excited to make it just because of the quarterback development history they’ve had with Coach Day. The guys like Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud coming before, they’ve done a great job with quarterbacks. And just the talent they have at the offensive skill positions. It was definitely a great decision for me, and I couldn’t be happier.”
On Ohio State facing Texas in the season opener
“It’s a completely new team, completely new season. You know, it’s a clean slate. Whatever happened last year is not important to this season. We’re focused on this season and just stacking it one day at a time during camp. Gonna be focused on Texas, and we’re excited. It’ll be a big game Week 1. The guys on the team, we’re excited to play.”
On what it will take for Ohio State to beat Michigan in 2024
“We’re focused on the first game. We definitely have that game in the back of our minds, but we’re focused on the first game and taking it one week at a time right now.”
Herbstreit sounded a little nervous for the Q&A, but I am confident he will become more comfortable with time and start to shine!
WOW, WOW, WOW… WOW. Ohio State women’s basketball has agreed to a home-and-home series with the sport’s most decorated program.
On Monday, Ohio State announced it will travel to Storrs, Connecticut, to face UConn during the 2025-26 regular season. The Huskies will return the favor in 2026-27, traveling to Columbus to battle the Buckeyes in 2026-27.
Book it: Buckeyes vs. Huskies
— Ohio State Womens Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) August 4, 2025
Were going to Connecticut this season, theyre coming to Columbus next season. #GoBucks | @uconnwbb pic.twitter.com/wrSZlCvhiB
Ohio State and UConn last met in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes defeated the Huskies 73-61 and advanced to the program’s first Elite Eight since 1993, the same year Ohio State legend (and current assistant coach) Katie Smith and the Buckeyes advanced to the national championship game before losing to Sheryl Swoopes‘ Texas Tech Red Raiders 84-82.
Ohio State has a 1-6 all-time record against UConn, with losses in all five regular-season matchups. Head coach Kevin McGuff has led the Buckeyes in six of the seven matchups against the Huskies, including the program’s upset win over the 12-time national champions two years ago.
With the addition of UConn, Ohio State has now announced four non-conference games for the upcoming season. The Buckeyes will also face TCU and at least two of these opponents at the Flamingo Championship: Alabama, Belmont, Harvard, Minnesota, South Florida, West Virginia and an eighth school that has not been announced.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Meet Virginia" - Train.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Scottie Scheffler tops new FedEx Cup Bonus List at $18 million... The vanishing bear that still draws a crowd to Canada... Scientists say they have solved the mystery of what killed more than 5 billion sea stars... Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, and a new college coaching experiment.
DAILY DUBCAST. This morning's Eleven Dubcast welcomes beat reporter Andy Anders to discuss the release of the first Coaches Poll ahead of the 2025 college football season and how it positions Ohio State and Texas for "the biggest season opener ever."
