Welcome to the Skull Session.
Yeah, Garrett Wilson's still got it,
What a catch by Garrett Wilson! pic.twitter.com/kNIiJn7JL5
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 30, 2025
Have a good Tuesday.
A HISTORICALLY GOOD DEFENSE. During Ryan Day’s postgame press conference on Saturday, a reporter said Ohio State’s defense has been historically good this season. Ryan Day laughed. He didn’t want to hear it.
“Well, we’re only four games in,” Day said. “We got a lot of work to do.”
The reporter reiterated that the Buckeyes’ defense has been historically good. Day smiled.
“I’d rather have it this way than any other way,” he said.
Same, Coach. Same.
This is the way.
Through four games, here’s where Ohio State’s defense ranks among the nation’s best statistically (H/T Brian Walton):
- No. 1 in scoring defense (5.5 points per game)
- No. 1 in total touchdowns allowed (2)
- No. 1 in touchdowns allowed per game (0.5)
- No. 1 in opponent red zone scoring percentage (28.57%)
- No. 1 in opponent red zone touchdown percentage (0%)
- No. 1 in rushing touchdowns allowed (0)
- No. 3 in opponent long scrimmage plays over 10+ yards
- No. 3 in opponent rushing plays over 20+ yards
- No. 4 in opponent total first downs
- No. 4 in opponent third-down conversion percentage
- No. 5 in opponent passing plays over 10+ yards
- No. 5 in total yards allowed
- No. 6 in opponent first downs per game
- No. 7 in passing touchdowns allowed
- No. 8 in total defense
- No. 8 in total yards allowed per play
- No. 8 in total plays
- No. 8 in passing defense
- No. 12 in sacks per game
None of those numbers surprise Day.
“It doesn’t surprise me with the coaches that we have; it doesn’t surprise me with the players that we have,” he said. “With that being said, we got a long season ahead of us, and I think there’s confidence right now, and that’s the most important thing.”
“LET’S WATCH OUT FOR OHIO STATE.” This week, Ohio State remained No. 1 in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. It also remained No. 1 in Joel Klatt’s top 10, as the FOX college football analyst compared the Buckeyes to eight-time gold medalist Usain Bolt after four games.
“Why is it that the fastest runner looks like they’re running the easiest at times? Have you ever noticed that? Have you ever watched sprinting? Have you ever turned on — Usain Bolt is running, and he’s beating everybody, and you’re like, ‘Why does Usain Bolt look like he’s running easier than everybody else?’ And it’s like, ‘Yeah, it’s because he’s just faster.’ Everyone else is straining to run that fast. That’s how I feel about Ohio State right now,” Klatt said.
“They don’t look like they’re running the fastest. But they are. They are. That’s why they’re the No. 1 team. I don’t think that I’ve even seen, like, fourth gear from Ohio State, at least offensively. I’ve seen what they can bring to the party on defense — oh, buddy, that defense is good to say the least. They’re fast. They’re long. The defensive line was terrific against Washington. They gave up two field goals, two field goals, to the No. 2 scoring offense in all of America.”
Klatt said Ohio State’s defense dominated because of its talent, as Buckeyes like Caden Curry, Kayden McDonald, Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs allow Matt Patricia to outgun and outman opponents.
“Demond Williams is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the land, one of the quickest, one of the fastest, and this team swallowed him up. Caden Curry was terrific. These linebackers are incredible, Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese. They’ve got good corners. They’re really tough, man,” Klatt said. “Again, that defense is the best defense in America right now. It just is. They were just gonna sit there and spy Demond Williams because they’re faster than him. That’s difficult. And they can cover; they still have Downs as a safety.
The scariest part about Ohio State’s dominant performance through four games, Klatt said, is that the offense still hasn’t reached its full potential.
“This offense, it’s like, ‘Have they hit fourth gear yet? Have they even given you what they really wanted?’ That was a six-possession game. Six. They got six offensive possessions. Never in doubt. … All due respect to Jedd Fisch and Washington, it was not in doubt for me,” Klatt said. “They can run it. Sayin is as accurate as anybody in the country.
“And I don’t think we’ve even seen it yet. Have we seen the full Monty from Ohio State? Probably not. It’s like, let’s get it to (Jeremiah) Smith a few times here, boom, boom, boom. Carnell Tate, bam; (Brandon) Inniss, bam; Bo Jackson, bam; C.J. Donaldson, bam. It’s like, oh my goodness, they’ve got players everywhere. Oh, it’s third down? Max Klare, bam. So, let’s watch out for Ohio State. Let’s watch out.”
Yes, watch out, college football.
Watch out.
QUACK QUAAAAAACK. I dunked on James Franklin, Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions in the Monday Skull Session. Now it’s time to talk about Oregon, as Dan Lanning, Dante Moore and the Ducks are the clear No. 1 threat in Ohio State’s pursuit of its first Big Ten championship since 2020.
With Oregon’s win over Penn State, Lanning is now 11-0 in Big Ten regular-season games as the Ducks’ head coach. (He’s 1-1 in Big Ten postseason games, including a win over Penn State in the 2024 Big Ten Championship and a blowout loss to Ohio State in the 2025 Rose Bowl — it was 34-0 in the second quarter!)
Lanning’s team had success last season because of Heisman finalist Dillon Gabriel, who accounted for 4,006 total yards and 37 touchdowns. Moore has been just as impressive through five games as Oregon’s QB1, accounting for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns. A good chunk of that production came against Jim Knowles and Co. on Saturday, as Moore completed 29 of 39 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns. (I’ll toss some red meat to Knowles haters here: Penn State didn’t record a sack or forced turnover against Oregon. That marks the second time in three matchups a Knowles-led defense has failed to produce either against the Ducks.)
Moore looked undeterred in Penn State’s daunting White Out environment, converting three fourth downs, including a 3-yard run to keep the Ducks alive in overtime. He also hit Gary Bryant Jt for a 25-yard touchdown to start the second overtime. Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton did intercept his two-point conversion attempt, which could have been a problem — except Oregon’s Dillion Thieneman picked off Allar to seal what I would consider to be the biggest win of Lanning’s 40-6 tenure in Eugene.
With Lanning at the helm, Moore under center and a defense that ranks No. 11 nationally in both points (12.2) and yards (238.2) allowed per game, Oregon looks like one of the best teams in college football. If Oregon remains unscathed down the stretch — including a home tilt against No. 8 Indiana next weekend — we could finally get the matchup we’ve been waiting for: Ohio State vs. Oregon in Indianapolis for the Big Ten crown.
THE DUBGATE IS BACK. You ready for Eleven Dubgate XIII?!
This week, hours before Ohio State faces Minnesota, the Eleven Dubgate returns behind the Varsity Club for another perfect fall Saturday with the Eleven Warriors community.
SAT, OCT 4 2025 | TIME TBD - OSU/MINNESOTA KICKOFF
Tuttle Park & Norwich
Tuttle Park & Norwich
Every dollar raised goes to Special Olympics Olentangy, which provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Suggested donation: $20 — good for food and drink tickets from sponsors like City Barbeque (who has donated 48 pounds of pulled pork!), Garage Beer, Land-Grant and Sun Cruiser. More tickets will be available on-site. Donations can also be made via cash at the event or Venmo (@OSSOSTORM).
The Dubgate has raised thousands over the years, including support for the nation’s first centralized biobank for Down Syndrome research. Be a part of a great event that benefits an even greater cause!
DAILY DUBCAST. Today's Eleven Dubcast talks to Kyle Jones about his upcoming Film Study this week that will examine what Ohio State did well against Washington and why it's more fun to watch this Buckeye defense than any other in recent memory.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Loser" - Tame Impala.
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