Welcome to the Skull Session.
Jeremiah Smith is the best.
Jeremiah Smith said he laughed at the five defenders who ran toward him before Carnell Tate scored against Minnesota.
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) October 8, 2025
"When that happened, I seen all them run at me, I just started laughing in they face, and I just threw my hand up 'cause I knew it was a touchdown," Smith said. pic.twitter.com/rtBbjGeFZD
Have a good Thursday.
GOT QUOTES? Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. and defensive coordinator Aaron Henry all complimented Ohio State during their press conferences this week.
First came Bert, who praised Ryan Day and his staff for the Buckeyes' operation in all three phases.
“A tremendous challenge here with Ohio State. Got a lot of respect for Ryan and his staff and, you know, know several of his coaches,” Bielema said in his opening statement. “They’re playing at a high level on defense. Offensively, I know Ryan’s influence and what they do offensively. It’s a very explosive offense. They got guys on the perimeter. Very, very good up front. Offensive line, good tight end package, good wide receivers, special teams, good athletes all over the field, and they execute very, very well. A tremendous challenge. No. 1 team in the country for a reason.”
Second came Lunney, whose offense ranks No. 25 nationally in points per game (37) and No. 65 in yards per game (397.5). Lunney said Ohio State’s defense has been elite for several seasons, but he noted that Matt Patricia has elevated the unit in his five games calling the shots.
“It goes without saying that for a lot of years they have had a really good defense and they’ve had really good players,” Lunney said. “At this particular point in the season, the numbers don’t really lie. Sometimes, early in the season, they will lie. If you look at the raw numbers and then you turn the film on, you see you have an elite defense. It’s being coached at an elite level, and it creates a considerable challenge for us on Saturday.”
Later, Lunney added, “I have a lot of respect for the way they play, the players they play with and the scheme they are doing it with. They are a very good outfit. They rush the passer well. They cover well. They blitz well. They play base well. They play multiple fronts. Outstanding defense. They have a lot of variations in what they do and play confident in it.”
Third came Henry, whose defense ranks — yikes — No. 72 in points allowed per game (24) and No. 93 in yards allowed per game (387.5). Henry called Julian Sayin “deadly accurate” and said the Ohio State quarterback becomes “really special” in tandem with the Buckeyes’ offensive line and star pass catchers.
“They make sure nobody touches him. He’s able to throw from some really clean pockets,” Henry said. “You add to that, some of the monsters they have on the outside. Jeremiah Smith doesn’t make your job easier. Carnell Tate doesn’t make your job easier.”
No, it does not, Aaron. No, it does not.
I don’t think any of those coaches have an easy job on Saturday — not Bert, not Lunney and not Henry. But, really, when does a coach have it easy when battling the World Famous Ohio State Buckeyes?
“THEY JUST REPLENISH.” Here are three minutes of former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit and former Ohio State wide receiver Joey Galloway discussing how the 2025 Buckeyes, despite being the No. 1 team in college football, need to be talked about more. Please listen.
This Ohio State team needs to be talked about
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) October 7, 2025
LIVE on Mondays #nonstop https://t.co/ppCF1S5Tfj pic.twitter.com/bJVYMeChhi
“They just replenish,” Herbstreit said at the end of the clip.
You’re correct, Kirk, but I like the word reloads. Ohio State never rebuilds; it reloads.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S UNLIKLIEST CHAMPIONS. This week, ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranked college football’s unlikeliest national title winners in the past 75 years. Four Ohio State teams appeared on the list — but none of them were the one I most expected to see.
No. 17 - 1957 Ohio State Buckeyes
5-year average SP+ ranking: 11.6
Preseason AP rank: 17
Weeks at No. 1 (AP): 0
Woody Hayes had a way of sneaking up on you. His Buckeyes would peak around just the right collection of experience and talent, then they would start over and disappear for a bit. They won the 1954 national title but went just 7-2 and 6-3 over the next two seasons, barely sneaked into the 1957 preseason polls and then disappeared altogether after an opening-week loss to TCU. The Buckeyes then won their next six games by an average of 33-7 and finished the season with wins over No. 5 Iowa (17-13) and No. 19 Michigan (31-14). With AP No. 1 Auburn ineligible for the postseason, just enough UPI voters felt the need to lean in another direction, and the Buckeyes got the nod.
No. 16 - 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes
5-year average SP+ ranking: 27.4
Preseason AP rank: 11
Weeks at No. 1 (AP): 2
Hayes and the Buckeyes limped through a sustained period of mediocrity (by their standards) in the 1960s, averaging basically a 6-3 record with only one top-10 finish between 1962-67. In 1967, they boasted immense and obvious talent -- All-America tackles (and future first-round picks) Dave Foley and Rufus Mayes, running back Jim Otis -- and a 13-0 win over top-ranked Purdue sent them on their way. They finished the season pummeling No. 4 Michigan 50-14 and easing past No. 2 USC 27-16 in the Rose Bowl for Hayes' first perfect season in 14 years.
No. 12 - 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes
5-year average SP+ ranking: 14.6
Preseason AP rank: 13
Weeks at No. 1 (AP): 0
It's almost impossible to fathom, but Ohio State finished unranked for three straight seasons between 1999-2001; the John Cooper era ended in rocky fashion, and Jim Tressel went just 7-5 in his first season. But with All-Americans Matt Wilhelm, Mike Doss and Chris Gamble on defense and a heaping helping of freshman star Maurice Clarett on offense, the Buckeyes scraped out a number of tight road wins and edged No. 12 Michigan 14-9 in the regular-season finale. They were 12-point underdogs against Miami in the BCS championship -- which made this title feel unexpected all the way until the very end -- but a 17-0 midgame run, a controversial flag and a second chance in overtime got the job done.
No. 11 - 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes
5-year average SP+ ranking: 20.6
Preseason AP rank: 20
Weeks at No. 1 (AP): 3
Woody Hayes' first title in Columbus might have been his most surprising. He had begun his Ohio State tenure just 16-9-2, and promising 1951 and 1953 campaigns had ended in disappointment. But led by six All-Americans, including halfback Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, the Buckeyes found little resistance in 1954. After tight early wins over No. 18 Cal (21-13) and No. 13 Iowa (20-14), they thumped No. 2 Wisconsin (31-14) and won their last four regular-season games by a combined 89-20. They wrapped up the title with a 21-7 win over No. 12 Michigan, then thumped USC in the Rose Bowl for good measure.
I scrolled down past No. 10, No. 9, No. 8… all the way down to No. 1. I expected to see the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes — you know, the team that beat Wisconsin, prime Nick Saban and Alabama, and Oregon with third-string quarterback Cardale Jones at the helm.
Nope.
The 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers, the 2010 Auburn Tigers, the 1984 BYU Cougars and the 1960 Minnesota Golden Gophers were among the teams in the top 10, but not the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes.
I suppose Connelly’s criteria were based more on SP+ and preseason AP polls than the court of public opinion. Ohio State was very good in the 2010s, and the 2014 team entered the season ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll — despite Braxton Miller suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in fall camp — so that could explain their omission.
Nevertheless, I would still consider Ohio State’s 2014 championship one of the most unlikely titles not just in college football but in all of sports!
I SEE YOU, EDDIE! As Eddie George prepares for his first Battle of I-75 as Bowling Green’s head coach, the former Ohio State running back has taken a page from his alma mater’s playbook.
Earlier this week, WTOL 11’s Chase Bachman posted that someone (or someones) had crossed out the letter ‘T’ all over Bowling Green’s campus.
Eddie George taking a play out of the Buckeyes book and crossing out Ts all over campus for Toledo week pic.twitter.com/HxxNLpy1oA
— Chase Bachman (@ChaseBachman) October 6, 2025
Soon after Bachman’s post, the Falcons’ creative team shared a video featuring George and the program’s unofficial mascot, Pudge.
Taking a page out of Coach Eddie Georges playbook. Go Falcons. #BattleOfl75 pic.twitter.com/j4xABAo2ng
— Bowling Green State University (@bgsu) October 7, 2025
“Alright, Pudger, it’s rivalry week, and I have a little idea of how we can spice things up,” George said.
I see you, Eddie!
On Saturday, Bowling Green and Toledo will face off for the 90th time. The Rockets lead the all-time series 43-42-4, but the Falcons currently possess the Battle of I-75 Trophy, as Bowling Green defeated Toledo 41-26 at home last season.
DAILY DUBCAST. Today's Eleven Dubcast welcomes back Andy Anders to follow up on his appearance last week in discussing the evolving distribution of workloads in the Ohio State running back room relative to Bo Jackson getting the lion's share of valuable carries against Minnesota.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Another One Bites the Dust” - Queen.
CUT TO THE CHASE. North Carolina held "preliminary conversations" about Bill Belichick exit strategy... Eeyore the dog helps a Florida deputy find a missing 86-year-old woman, video shows... The world’s driest desert blooms into a rare, fleeting flower show... Someone paid for a full page in the Cleveland Plan Dealer criticizing Paul Dolan and that he’s wasting Jose Ramirez’s career.
