Welcome to the Skull Session.
I got energy, got a lot of energy...
Buckeye Energy pic.twitter.com/xCvh3CNncH
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 13, 2025
Have a good Thursday.
THE BEST OF THE BEST. The Athletic’s college football staff revealed its preseason All-American teams on Wednesday. Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State led all programs with four selections each, while Alabama, LSU, Penn State and Texas were next with three apiece.
Like it was with ESPN’s preseason All-American team on Monday, it’s no surprise who represented Ohio State on the first team: Jeremiah Smith, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs.
WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
The No. 1 player on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List is perhaps the best offensive player in the country. As a freshman, Smith caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns and tied for the national lead with six catches of at least 50 yards.
LB: Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Styles, a 2022 five-star recruit from Pickerington, Ohio, ranks second among draft-eligible linebackers. The 6-4, 243-pound former safety earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last season when he recorded 100 tackles, 10 1/2 TFLs and six sacks.
S: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Downs was a unanimous All-American last season, winning a national championship in his first year with the Buckeyes after transferring from Alabama. The Georgia native is widely regarded as the best defensive player in the country.
Max Klare received preseason second-team honors from The Athletic, with Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers earning the first-team nod. Stowers led the Commodores with 49 catches for 638 yards and five touchdowns last season after transferring from New Mexico State with quarterback Diego Pavia. He had six catches for a career-high 113 yards in Vanderbilt’s memorable 40-35 win over Alabama.
In addition to Smith, Downs and Klare, here are some other notable selections on ESPN’s preseason All-American teams:
NOTE: Each of the players named will face Ohio State in the regular season
- First-team running back: Nick Singleton, Penn State
- First-team offensive guard: Vega Ioane, Penn State
- First-team defensive tackle: Zane Durant, Penn State
- First-team linebacker: Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
- First-team safety: Koi Perich, Minnesota
- First-team kicker: Dominic Zvada, Michigan
- Second-team defensive end: Collin Simmons, Texas
- Second-team safety: Michael Taaffe, Texas
For the second time this week, I will write, remember: To be the best, you have to beat the best!
“HE’S A DOG.” Former Ohio State and current Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons has earned praise from head coach Andy Reid, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and offensive line coach Andy Heck this offseason.
This week, quarterback Patrick Mahomes joined the chorus.
“He’s a dog,” Mahomes said during an appearance on Up & Adams. “He’s obviously still learning what it means to be an NFL pro and a veteran, but when it comes to pass blocking and run blocking, he gets the job done. He’s going against Steve Spagnuolo’s defense every day, and you hear the defensive guys talk about him – they’re all saying the right things about someone you want on the field contributing.
“The sky’s the limit. He has a chance to be one of the best at that left tackle spot, but he’s got to prove it in the regular season.”
Patrick Mahomes says rookie OT Josh Simmons "has the chance to be one of the best there is at that left tackle position.."
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) August 11, 2025
@Chiefs
pic.twitter.com/OXJRHlNhJ1
High praise from a two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion.
Whenever I think of Simmons, I remember how he was playing at an All-American level before the Oregon game. If not for the season-ending injury he suffered against the Ducks, I believe he would have kept that standard through Big Ten play and helped Ohio State contend for a national championship.
It didn’t happen that way. But Ohio State not only contended — it won the national title. Donovan Jackson turned into a different animal, while Luke Montgomery, Austin Siereveld, Carson Hinzman, Tegra Tshabola and Josh Fryar held the line through Simmons’ absence and the loss of Rimington Trophy winner Seth McLaughlin.
I’ll never forget that.
“THEY ACT LIKE THEY INVENTED FOOTBALL.” Friend of the program Bill Landis only needed a picture to slam Paul Finebaum this week.
During Finebaum's appearance on the Netflix Sports Club Podcast, the ESPN analyst said he’s “leaving the country” if an SEC team doesn’t win the national championship in 2025. He then went on a rant about how fans of Big Ten schools treat him.
If its not Im leaving the country. I am so sick and tired of being harassed by Big Ten fans on our show. They act like they invented football. @finebaum has had enough of Big Ten fans, and predicts that an SEC team will win the National Championship @daniklup pic.twitter.com/LNXFwU7IL3
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) August 9, 2025
“I am so sick and tired of being harassed by Big Ten fans on our show,” he said. “The Big Ten has literally done nothing."
Well, Paul, the Big Ten has won the past two national titles. But you know that. It just doesn’t fit your narrative.
Continuing his Big Ten rant, Finebaum said, “They act like they invented football.”
They act like they invented football?
Landis?
https://t.co/8X3oAGx4qN pic.twitter.com/aXd702sP0b
— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) August 9, 2025
We act like we invented football because we did invent football!
A BATTLE FOR THE AGES. In Eleven Warriors’ annual Ohio State football team draft, Dan Hope and Andy Anders went head-to-head building rosters to compete in a hypothetical game.
Over 86 percent of Eleven Warriors readers voted for Dan’s team to beat Andy’s team. But Eleven Warriors readers are humans, and humans are flawed! On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence is not!
* nervous laughter *
I don’t really believe that.
Please read this Time Magazine article.
* nervous laughter *
I asked ChatGPT to compare Dan and Andy’s teams and predict a final score for the matchup.
Here’s what it stated:
Position Edges
- Quarterback: Dan - Julian Sayin’s ceiling and accuracy > Lincoln Kienholz’s streakiness
- Running back: Dan - CJ Donaldson’s power/vision > James Peoples’ upside, Donaldson is more “ready”
- Wide receiver and tight end: Dan - Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are the best duo on the field
- Offensive line: Dan - More proven across all five spots, Andy’s tackles (Ian Moore and Carter Lowe) would be overwhelmed
- Defensive line: Dan (slightly) - Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Caden Curry off the edge vs. young interior (McDonald and Smith)
- Linebackers: Andy - Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese > TJ Alford and Riley Pettijohn
- Defensive backs: Andy (big) - Caleb Downs, Davison Igbinosun, Aaron Scott Jr. and Jaylen McClain is a nasty back four; Dan’s group is talented but greener (Devin Sanchez, Faheem Delane and Malik Hartford)
Prediction
- Dan’s Team 27, Andy’s Team 20
I then asked ChatGPT for a drive-by-drive game script.
First Quarter
Dan’s Team 1st Drive
- Donaldson hammers inside zone for 5 yards twice.
- Play-action — Sayin hits Carnell Tate on a deep dig for 22.
- Quick slant to Jeremiah Smith for 12.
- Caleb Downs blitzes on 3rd-and-6, but Sayin flips to Jelani Thurman for 14.
- TD: Fade to Jeremiah Smith in the left corner. Dan 7–0.
Andy’s Team 1st Drive
- James Peoples for 3, then 7 behind Tegra Tshabola’s pull.
- Kienholz hits Brandon Inniss on a quick out for 9.
- Dan’s DL wins — Caden Curry sacks Kienholz on 3rd-and-7. Punt.
Dan’s Team 2nd Drive
- Downs blows up an outside zone for a 3-yard loss.
- 3rd-and-8: Sayin forces a dig into tight coverage — Igbinosun tips it, Aaron Scott Jr. picks it.
Andy’s Team 2nd Drive
- Short field at Dan’s 38. Peoples bursts for 11.
- Play-action: Kienholz finds Max Klare over the middle for 17.
- TD: Peoples off right guard. 7–7.
Second Quarter
Dan’s Team 3rd Drive
- Smith beats Igbinosun deep for 41 yards.
- RPO to Thurman for 8.
- TD: Donaldson from the 1. Dan 14–7.
Andy’s Team 3rd Drive
- Peoples stuffed twice by Malone.
- 3rd-and-8: Kienholz’s pass broken up by Jermaine Mathews Jr. Punt.
Dan’s Team 4th Drive
- Controlled run game, converting two 3rd-and-shorts.
- FG from 37 yards. Dan 17–7.
Andy’s Team 4th Drive
- Inniss wins back-shoulder vs. Sanchez for 24.
- Kienholz scrambles for 11.
- FG from 42 yards as time expires. Dan 17–10.
Third Quarter
Andy’s Team 5th Drive
- Great halftime adjustment: quick game neutralizes Curry/Jackson rush.
- Kienholz to Mylan Graham for 19, Inniss for 15.
- TD: 9-yard TE seam to Klare. 17–17.
Dan’s Team 5th Drive
- Smith converts a 3rd-and-12 with a contested sideline grab.
- Donaldson breaks 21-yard run.
- TD: Sayin QB sneak from the 1. Dan 24–17.
Fourth Quarter
Andy’s Team 6th Drive
- Hartford intercepts deep post intended for Graham. Momentum swing.
Dan’s Team 6th Drive
8-play, clock-draining drive. FG from 29. Dan 27–17.
Andy’s Team 7th Drive
- Kienholz scrambles twice, moves into FG range.
- FG good from 44. Dan 27–20.
Dan’s Team 7th Drive
- Donaldson + OL chew the final 2:18. Andy out of timeouts. Game ends.
Final: Dan’s Team 27, Andy’s Team 20
- MVP: Jeremiah Smith — 7 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD.
- Defensive Star: Caden Curry — 1.5 sacks, 4 pressures.
I also asked ChatGPT to show me what it would take for Andy’s team to beat Dan’s team.
The answer?
Caleb Downs goes nuclear.
First Quarter
Dan’s Team 1st Drive
- Donaldson runs for 6 and 4, moving the chains.
- Play-action — Sayin tries to hit Jeremiah Smith deep. Caleb Downs ranges over and picks it at the 40, returning it 32 yards. Crowd erupts.
Andy’s Team 1st Drive (short field)
- Peoples pounds inside for 7, then 5.
- Inniss on a slant to the 4.
- TD: Kienholz bootleg to Will Kacmarek. Andy 7–0.
Dan’s Team 2nd Drive
- False start sets up 3rd-and-12. Downs blitzes, forcing Sayin to dump it. Punt.
Andy’s Team 2nd Drive
- Peoples rips off 18 off right tackle.
- Graham beats Tate’s coverage for 14.
- FG from 39. Andy 10–0.
Second Quarter
Dan’s Team 3rd Drive
- Quick hitters to Tate and Smith, moving into Andy’s territory.
- On 3rd-and-4, Downs undercuts a hitch to Smith — second INT.
Andy’s Team 3rd Drive
- Inniss wins back-shoulder for 19.
- Kienholz hits Graham on a crosser for 28.
- TD: Peoples from the 2. Andy 17–0.
Dan’s Team 4th Drive
- Thurman converts a 4th-and-2.
- Donaldson busts a 22-yard run.
- TD: Sayin to Thurman in the flat. Andy 17–7.
Andy’s Team 4th Drive
- Short passes to Inniss move them to midfield.
- FG from 44 at the half. Andy 20–7.
Third Quarter
Andy’s Team 5th Drive
- First play — Peoples takes a counter 62 yards before being caught by Hartford.
- TD: Kienholz QB draw from 6 yards. Andy 27–7.
Dan’s Team 5th Drive
- Heavy dose of Smith — 3 catches for 41 yards.
- TD: Donaldson from the 1. Andy 27–14.
Andy’s Team 6th Drive
- 3rd-and-9: Kienholz finds Klare for 15 to keep the clock moving.
- FG from 38. Andy 30–14.
Fourth Quarter
Dan’s Team 6th Drive
- Sayin hits Tate for 29.
- 4th-and-goal at the 3: pass deflected by Aaron Scott Jr. — turnover on downs.
Andy’s Team 7th Drive
- Peoples + clock-kill mode. Chews up 5 minutes before punting.
Dan’s Team 7th Drive
- Garbage-time TD to Smith on a post. Andy 30–21.
- Onside kick fails. Game over.
Final: Andy’s Team 30, Dan’s Team 21
- MVP: Caleb Downs — 2 INT, 1 TFL, 1 PD, set up 10 points directly.
- Offensive Star: James Peoples — 21 carries, 136 yards, 2 TD.
Finally, I asked ChatGPT to run 100 simulations of the game and tell me which team comes out on top. It answered that Dan’s team won 62 of the 100 simulations, with Andy’s team winning 38.
Why?
“Dan has the more stable advantages (quarterback, offensive line and wide receiver), which hold up across repeats,” it stated. “Andy’s path requires volatility — Caleb Downs creating extra possessions and the run game popping explosives — which hits around 38 percent of the time in this matchup.”
Hey, maybe AI isn't so bad after all!
* nervous laughter *
SONG OF THE DAY. "Feeling Good" - Michael Bublé.
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DAILY DUBCAST. Today's Eleven Dubcast features Garrick Hodge to discuss quarterback commit Brady Edmunds' plans to visit for Ohio State's season opener and how a strong week of practice from Phillip Daniels has made competition for starting right tackle worth monitoring.
