Welcome to the Skull Session.
Ohio State's defense has GOT IT.
Devastating. Dominating. Suffocating.
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 14, 2025
This week's GOT IT selection from Gus Johnson is: The entire @OhioStateFB defense pic.twitter.com/pdgGyJoxKh
Have a good Thursday.
ALL-AMERICAN KIDS. CBS Sports launched what I will now call the Midseason All-American Universe™ with its midseason All-American selections on Monday. The outlets' writers picked Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese as Ohio State’s representatives.
The universe expanded on Wednesday when The Athletic (and more) selected their teams, including Buckeyes Caden Curry, Reese and Downs on the first team, and Jeremiah Smith and Sonny Styles on the second team.
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— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 15, 2025
@Jermiah_Smith1
@arvxll
@CadenCurry14
@caleb_downs2
@sonnystyles_ pic.twitter.com/UFb305wmA3
DT…? Caden Curry
NOTE: The Athletic listed Curry as a defensive tackle. In its breakdown of his performance this season, the authors wrote that he’s “one of the most versatile defensive linemen in the game, lining up on the edge and on the interior.” I detect no lies in that statement, but it’s still a stretch to call Curry a defensive tackle. It feels like a move to shoehorn him onto the first team — which I don’t mind (!) — but it’s a bit misleading considering his real home is at defensive end.
Curry is one of the most versatile defensive linemen in the game, lining up on the edge and on the interior, including at nose tackle. He’s disruptive wherever he is, with a Big Ten-best six sacks to go along with 9.5 tackles for loss and 24 pressures.
LB Arvell Reese
The Buckeyes’ leading tackler (38 stops) is all over the field. He wreaks havoc as a rusher (4.5 sacks) but is also an invaluable presence as a spy and in coverage, where he has broken up two passes.
S Caleb Downs
The two-time All-American is having another stellar season, allowing just 5.2 yards per reception, collecting 28 tackles and one interception.
Jeremiah Smith and Sonny Styles represented the Buckeyes on The Athletic’s second team. Between both teams, Ohio State and Texas A&M led all schools with five selections each, followed by Texas Tech (four) and Indiana, Miami and Oregon (four each).
Elsewhere in the Midseason All-Americans Universe™:
- Sporting News named Smith, Curry, Reese and Downs midseason All-Americans
- On3 named Bo Jackson a midseason Freshman All-American
DEVELOPED HERE. The middle of the college football season doesn’t just mean midseason All-American awards; it also signals the start of NFL draft Big Boards.
In the Wednesday Skull Session, I shared that ESPN’s Mel Kiper had Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs and Carnell Tate ranked among his top 12 prospects. In this section, we’ll look at how The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner has Downs (No. 1), Reese (No. 10) and Tate (No. 13) ranked in his top 13, as well as Sonny Styles at No. 37.
No. 1 - Caleb Downs
Pound for pound, there isn’t a better or more well-rounded player in the country. Downs (6-feet, 205 pounds) is not a monster physically and won’t blow people’s minds at the combine, but he can do everything in the defensive backfield and fits the run better from distance than most inside linebackers. There is no pro system in which he wouldn’t fit instantly.
No. 10 - Arvell Reese
One of the biggest draft risers so far this year, Reese (6-4, 240) has been an absolute terror (4 1/2 sacks, 16 pressures, 19 run stops) as a blitzer, off the edge and from the box. Reese weighed 205 pounds at one point during his high school career, and he still moves like he’s that size. His potential as a hybrid playmaker is extremely high, despite his lack of experience.
No. 13 - Carnell Tate
It’s never easy to stand out in Ohio State’s loaded receiver room. But Tate (6-3, 191) is doing so anyway. Sophomore sensation Jeremiah Smith is still the man in Columbus, but Tate has been right there with him all season. He looks stronger and more explosive than he’s ever been. If he maintains his current pace (476 receiving yards in six games), his stock will only climb.
No. 37 - Sonny Styles
There were times last year when Styles (6-4, 237) still looked like a safety learning how to be a linebacker. That’s not happening anymore. Now in his second season as a full-time linebacker, Styles has yet to miss a tackle in 293 snaps — and still moves like he could play safety again.
Also featured in The Athletic this week were Dane Brugler’s NFL draft position breakdowns. Brugler had Carnell Tate ranked as his No. 3 wide receiver, old friend Joe Royer ranked as his No. 2 tight end, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles ranked as his No. 1 and No. 3 linebackers…
Who else did you think I would have at No. 1? With his length, power and loose athleticism, Reese is a freaky talent who can blitz, spy, drop or chase down the run. I love his traits, but he is also a smart football player, which translates to the stat sheet — he currently leads the Buckeyes in both tackles and pass breakups.
Allen and Styles are also first-round possibilities, but the list of linebackers in the early-round discussion doesn’t end there. Both of LSU’s standout linebackers, Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins Jr., and Texas’ Anthony Hill are part of the next tier. So, too, is Cincinnati’s Jake Golday, who continues to climb because of his athletic tools and how he is impacting games.
… and Caleb Downs as his No. 1 safety.
MOCK DRAFT SZN. OK, Mark Pantoni and Ohio State’s coaches may want to share the link to this Skull Session with high school and transfer prospects, because this section provides another example of how college and NFL analysts view the Buckeyes’ exorbitant talent in 2025.
In his first mock draft of the college football season, ESPN’s Jordan Reid has four Buckeyes coming off the board in Round 1, including two in the top six picks!
No. 5 - Caleb Downs to the Miami Dolphins
QB or no QB? That will be a constant draft-related question for the Dolphins between now and April. They could part ways with Tua Tagovailoa, similar to what the Broncos did in 2024, when Denver cut Russell Wilson and drafted Bo Nix. After all, Miami is tied for the third-most interceptions (seven). But with Mendoza and Moore off the board here, we'll take one of the top defensive players with this pick. The Dolphins desperately need secondary help, and Downs would provide a building block on the back end alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick.
No. 6 - Arvell Reese to the New Orleans Saints
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis likes to address the trenches in Round 1, especially when picking in the top 10. Reese is one of the best prospects regardless of position, and there will be debates on whether he's best suited as an edge rusher or an off-ball linebacker at the next level. The Saints need help in both areas, and Reese is a versatile game wrecker to the point where he -- not Downs -- might be the first Buckeyes player drafted. I love the idea of him in the middle of that New Orleans defense.
No. 23 - Sonny Styles to the Denver Broncos
Off-ball linebacker is arguably the weakest part of an imposing Broncos defense that's second in the NFL in yards (254.2) and points (15.8) allowed per game. Free agent signing Dre Greenlaw hasn't played this season because of a thigh injury, while Alex Singleton is 31 and set to become an unrestricted free agent. Styles would provide Denver with a rangy, second-level defender who shows plenty of instincts in coverage. He is capable of rushing the passer on obvious passing downs, and his wrap-up-and-finish tackling ability would make him a reliable option immediately.
No. 25 - Carnell Tate to the Cleveland Browns (!)
This team-prospect pairing makes too much sense. Tate is one of the most polished receiver prospects in this class, with dependable hands and the route-running ability of an experienced NFL veteran. His type of play can translate right away into the Browns' offense, which could use more pass catchers alongside Jerry Jeudy. Tate is the next man up in the Ohio State receiver pipeline to the NFL, and he'd be a good fit with Dante Moore, whom we slotted to Cleveland at No. 3.
If the Browns landed Tate in the draft, I would ascend.
Cleveland will forever be a Factory of Sadness, but it has been a treat to watch the Browns draft several Buckeyes over the past eight years, including Denzel Ward (No. 4 overall in 2018), Dawand Jones (No. 111 in 2023), Luke Wypler (No. 190 in 2023), Mike Hall Jr. (No. 54 in 2024) and Quinshon Judkins (No. 36 in 2025). They also signed Ronnie Hickman to a UDFA contract in 2023 and Jerome Baker to a one-year deal in 2025.
Now I’m hoping the Browns can capitalize on their Ohio State pipeline like the Philadelphia Eagles did with their Georgia pipeline…
Oh, who am I kidding?
** sheds tear **
LESS WEAR, LESS TEAR. Friend of the program Anand Nanduri shared his thoughts on the Ohio State offense in an X post this week — and he made a couple of excellent points.
I know people want Ohio State to open up the offense. The reason theyre not doing it is because of the change in season format. Playing 17 games is hugely different from playing 14 or 15, especially when you want to be at your best in those last few games. Their pace of play is
— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) October 15, 2025
“Does Ohio State really rank ‘among the dead last’ in college football?” I wondered while reading the post.
As it turns out, the Buckeyes do. Ohio State has run an average of 60 plays per game this season, which ranks No. 132 in the FBS. The only teams to rank lower are No. 133 Cincinnati (59.2), No. 134 Miami OH (57.4), No. 135 North Carolina (57.3) and UL Monroe (56.4).
That’s interesting.
If you can win with efficiency and ball control while playing excellent defense and letting your young QB develop slowly for when you truly need him, youre in fantastic shape for a National Championship run.
— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) October 15, 2025
I agree.
As it stands, Ohio State is on pace for 1,439 total offensive and defensive snaps this season, the second fewest in the FBS behind Wisconsin. As users in Nanduri’s replies pointed out, fewer snaps means less wear and tear. And when you consider the median team in college football is on pace for 1,600 total snaps — around a full game more than what the Buckeyes are on pace for — and that could create a noticeable advantage down the road.
So what does this mean for Ohio State fans?
Watching the Buckeyes week-to-week might feel like a slog, but in the long run, their methodical, controlled pace could set the stage for an offensive explosion this postseason — and maybe a second straight national championship.
DAILY DUBCAST. Today's Eleven Dubcast welcomes back beat correspondent Andy Anders to offer a pick for which player among the Buckeyes has served as the most surprising contributor to the top-level success of the Ohio State defense so far this season.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Good People" - Jack Johnson.
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