Welcome to the Skull Session.
Remember: Anything is possible.
He did it. pic.twitter.com/sfZzT3UxtX
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 24, 2025
Have a good Monday.
“WE NEED THE SHOE ROCKING.” At a press conference earlier this month, Ryan Day couldn’t contain his excitement for Ohio State to face Texas in the 2025 season opener.
“We’re excited about playing in that game. I know Buckeye Nation is fired up. It’s gonna be an unbelievable atmosphere,” he said.
Day then urged all who purchased tickets to the top-three showdown to make Ohio Stadium as loud as possible.
“We need the Shoe rocking, just like it was for the Indiana game, just like it was for the Penn State game a couple of years ago,” he said. “(Texas) can’t get away with the clap. We got to bring it and put them on a silent cadence. It’s gotta be the loudest it’s ever been. What an unbelievable atmosphere it’s gonna be.”
You can’t bring it unless you bring it all week, so let’s start the week strong with an assist from a friend of the program, Buckeye Productions.
A GOOD-LOOKING LINEBACKER. Sonny Styles is a team captain and Ohio State’s Block O recipient. He is also one of seven players who started more than half of the Buckeyes’ games during their national championship season.
While Styles shone, I think, from Ohio State’s win over Penn State and onward last season, I also think he saved his best for last. In the College Football Playoff, the Pickerington native recorded 24 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble in the Buckeyes’ victories over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame.
Styles’ success in the CFP earned from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg this week. Rittenberg named Styles one of six “unlikely College Football Playoff stars” and shared what to expect next from him, Notre Dame wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, Texas edge Colin Simmons, Clemson wide receiver T.J. Moore and Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and safety Zakee Wheatley.
"I can do a lot of different things on the field," Styles told Rittenberg. "I've shown I can be an off-the-ball linebacker, track the ball sideline to sideline; I can cover pretty well; I've shown a little bit off the edge and things like that."
Rittenberg then shared that in an interview with Day, the seventh-year Ohio State head coach called Styles "one of the best-looking linebackers since I've been here."
High praise.
How does Day plan to use the best-looking linebacker he’s seen since 2019? That’s a better question for Matt Patricia. Unfortunately, Rittenberg didn’t interview the former NFL head coach and current Ohio State defensive coordinator, so a quote from Styles will have to do.
"When I first met (Patricia), I asked, 'Hey, Coach, what kind of defense do you run?' He's like, 'I don't have a specific defense. I run what my players are,'" Styles said. "That's pretty unique. ... You get to experience a lot of different things, and you get to display a multiplicity of abilities."
I like the sound of that!
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY… MONEY! These days, college football players make a lot of money — like, a lot of money.
But how much is a lot?
This month, ESPN’s Max Olson surveyed more than 20 college football general managers, directors of player personnel and agents to learn more.
“The goal was to better define the price ranges for each spot based on the deals completed for 2025 and what each side considers fair positional and market value,” Olson wrote. “To be clear, these price ranges do not reflect what everybody is making at the Power 4 level.”
Here’s what Olson learned regarding how much a high school recruit or transfer portal prospect costs (I included some notable quotes, when applicable):
Quarterback: $1 million-$2 million
"The great ones are like $3 million," one SEC GM said. "And if you don't have one, it's at least $1 million." As one ACC director of player personnel (DPP) summed it up: "These dudes are getting paid paid."
Running back: $300,000-$700,000
Wide receiver: $400,000-$800,000
Tight end: $200,000-$400,000
Some Power 4 programs were willing to go as high as $800,000 for all-conference caliber tight ends in the portal this offseason, sources told ESPN, but most aren't spending anywhere close to that even on proven multi-year starters. "I think $800,000 is insane," an SEC GM argued. "That's nuts."
Offensive guard/center: $300,000-$700,000
Offensive tackle: $500,000-$1 million
"The offensive line room is going to be the most expensive one everywhere," one SEC GM reasoned, "because you have the most humans there and the acquisition cost is so high on every single one."
Edge rushers: $500,000-$1 million
"If it's the right fit and a program that's got some money," an agent said, "they'll pay $1 million for an edge."
Defensive tackles: $300,000-$800,000
"I've heard sometimes it can be even more expensive for defensive tackles than edges," the Big Ten GM said, "because, just like the NFL, there are only so many humans that size that can move like that walking on planet Earth."
Linebackers: $200,000-$500,000
Cornerbacks: $300,000-$800,000
Safeties: $300,000-$700,000
In a world where players demand hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, for their services, I don’t envy Mark Pantoni. No, not at all!
“NOBODY’S SEEN A FRESHMAN LIKE ME.” Five-star freshman Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class, will be Michigan’s starting quarterback in 2025.
Before Sherrone Moore informed his team of that news on Sunday, Underwood made headlines for something he told former Michigan tight end and current Big Ten Network analyst Jake Butt during BTN’s fall camp preview series.
“They’ve seen a lot of freshmen, but I feel like nobody’s seen a freshman like me,” Underwood said.
"Nobody's seen a freshman like me."
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) August 23, 2025
@UMichFootball QB Bryce Underwood pic.twitter.com/w5QR91oxi5
He’s right.
We’ve seen better.
DAILY DUBCAST. Today's Eleven Dubcast discusses the release of our site's final Ohio State football depth chart projection and two surprising names listed among the starters relative to pre-practice expectations.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Hell's Bells" - AC/DC.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Little legs, big dreams: More than 100 teams compete in Lithuania’s international Corgi race… Photos show history lovers replaying ancient Roman battles in Romania… Ospreys nesting on stadium light pole disrupts Minnesota high school’s fall sports season… Photos show twin giant panda cubs celebrating their first birthday in Berlin zoo… Campaigners want to change the world map to show Africa is bigger.
