Welcome to the Skull Session.
One last time.
One more time at home#GoBucks | @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/J4PGjJtimr
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) November 21, 2025
Have a good Saturday.
SAME OLD, SAME OLD. It’s still the best way to describe Ohio State-Rutgers — the “’Tis But a Scratch” scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
When Ohio State and Rutgers meet at noon on Saturday, the battle between the Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights will look a lot like King Arthur vs. the Black Knight.
Ohio State respects Rutgers. Ryan Day called the Scarlet Knights “well-coached” under Greg Schiano, and Lorenzo Styles Jr. called them “a real team” with the Buckeyes’ attention in all three phases.
Still, when push comes to shove, Ohio State usually does what it does against Rutgers: Dismantle.
With or without Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, Heisman candidate Julian Sayin will attack a Rutgers defense that ranks No. 122 nationally in total defense (425.5 yards per game). That includes 196.5 rushing yards allowed per game (No. 125), meaning Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, James Peoples and CJ Donaldson should feast.
There go Rutgers’ arms.
The Scarlet Knights have a quarterback in Athan Kaliakmanis who’s thrown for more yards than Sayin. They also have a 1,000-yard rusher in Antwan Raymond and a 900-yard receiver in KJ Duff. But none of it should matter against an Ohio State defense that ranks No. 1 nationally in total defense (212.6 yards per game) and scoring defense (7.5 points per game).
There go Rutgers’ legs.
And with that… I guess we’ll call it a draw?
Ohio State 49 - Rutgers 10
THE MENU. This week in college football is the calm before the storm. Most of the Big Ten matchups are dull, while the SEC has cupcakes galore, but it’s fine because next week has all the bangers. I’m ready for Hate Week to begin at 3:30 p.m.!
| MATCHUP | TIME (ET) | TV/STREAM |
|---|---|---|
| Tulsa at Army | 12:00pm | CBSSN |
| Samford at 3 Texas A&M | 12:00pm | SECN+ |
| Kansas at Iowa State | 12:00pm | FS1 |
| 13 Miami (FL) at Virginia Tech | 12:00pm | ESPN |
| Louisville at SMU | 12:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Delaware at Wake Forest | 12:00pm | ACCN |
| Rutgers at 1 Ohio State | 12:00pm | FOX |
| Minnesota at Northwestern | 12:00pm | BTN |
| 22 Missouri at 8 Oklahoma | 12:00pm | ABC/ESPN3 |
| Charlotte at 4 Georgia | 12:45pm | SECN |
| Washington State at James Madison | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Baylor at Arizona | 1:00pm | TNT/HBO Max |
| Old Dominion at Georgia Southern | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Mercer at Auburn | 2:00pm | SECN+ |
| Nevada at Wyoming | 2:00pm | ALT/ALT+/MWN |
| Missouri State at Kennesaw State | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Ball State at Toledo | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Eastern Illinois at 10 Alabama | 2:00pm | SECN+ |
| Marshall at Appalachian State | 2:30pm | ESPN+ |
| UConn at Florida Atlantic | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Liberty at Louisiana Tech | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| New Mexico State at UTEP | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Sam Houston at Middle Tennessee | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| USF at UAB | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Duke at North Carolina | 3:30pm | ACCN |
| East Carolina at UTSA | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Miss at South Alabama | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Syracuse at 9 Notre Dame | 3:30pm | NBC/Peacock |
| Jacksonville State at FIU | 3:30pm | CBSSN |
| 15 USC at 7 Oregon | 3:30pm | CBS/Paramount+ |
| Kentucky at 14 Vanderbilt | 3:30pm | ESPN |
| Michigan State at Iowa | 3:30pm | FS1 |
| Arkansas at 17 Texas | 3:30pm | ABC/ESPN3 |
| 24 Tulane at Temple | 3:45pm | ESPNU |
| TCU at 23 Houston | 4:00pm | FOX |
| Georgia State at Troy | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| 18 Michigan at Maryland | 4:00pm | BTN |
| Kansas State at 12 Utah | 4:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Oklahoma State at UCF | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Coastal Carolina at South Carolina | 4:15pm | SECN |
| Furman at Clemson | 4:30pm | The CW |
| ULM at Texas State | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Pitt at 16 Georgia Tech | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| Colorado State at Boise State | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| New Mexico at Air Force | 7:00pm | CBSSN |
| 21 Illinois at Wisconsin | 7:30pm | BTN |
| Nebraska at Penn State | 7:30pm | NBC/Peacock |
| 20 Tennessee at Florida | 7:30pm | ABC/ESPN3 |
| California at Stanford | 7:30pm | ACCN |
| North Texas at Rice | 7:30pm | ESPNU |
| WKU at LSU | 7:45pm | SECN |
| 25 Arizona State at Colorado | 8:00pm | ESPN2 |
| 11 BYU at Cincinnati | 8:00pm | FOX |
| Washington at UCLA | 10:30pm | NBC/Peacock |
| San Jose State at San Diego State | 10:30pm | FS1 |
| Utah State at Fresno State | 10:30pm | CBSSN |
OUR PICKS. Finally!
Andy Anders, Dan Hope, and I all went above .500 in Week 12 — Andy went 3-2, while Dan and I each went 4-1. After back-to-back brutal weeks, this is a welcome morale boost, and we’re ready to build on it!
Andy: 18-37
Chase: 30-25
Dan: 24-31
No. 13 Miami at Virginia Tech (+18.5)
Virginia Tech hired James Franklin this week, but the former Penn State coach won’t be on the Hokies’ sideline on Saturday. While the program may get a morale boost from renewed hope for the future, Miami — which needs help to make the ACC Championship Game — also needs style points to convince the CFP selection committee it deserves a spot in the 12-team tournament.
Andy: Miami
Chase: Virginia Tech
Dan: Virginia Tech
No. 22 Missouri at No. 8 Oklahoma (-6.5)
Oklahoma stunned then-No. 4 Alabama to put itself back in the CFP mix. Now it faces a Missouri team that could have Beau Pribula back under center for the first time in weeks. The Sooners are the stronger team, but the Tigers have the running game and defense to challenge Oklahoma if the Sooners emerge from their emotional win over the Crimson Tide without full focus.
Andy: Oklahoma
Chase: Oklahoma
Dan: Oklahoma
No. 15 USC at No. 7 Oregon (-9.5)
This clash between former Pac-12 and current Big Ten foes carries major CFP implications, as both Oregon and USC need wins to separate themselves from other playoff contenders. A second loss wouldn’t automatically knock the Ducks out, but the committee could question their strength of record. A third loss for the Trojans, however, would end their CFP hopes.
Andy: USC
Chase: USC
Dan: Oregon
Pitt at No. 16 Georgia Tech (-2.5)
I still can’t believe Joey Galloway said the Big Ten is closer to the ACC than the SEC. The ACC is lunacy at the moment, as six teams (!) are still in the hunt for the conference title game: Georgia Tech, Virginia, Pitt, SMU, Miami and Duke. A win for the Yellow Jackets here would clean up some of the chaos, but a win for the Panthers would only add to the chaos.
Andy: Georgia Tech
Chase: Georgia Tech
Dan: Georgia Tech
No. 11 BYU at Cincinnati (+2.5)
Texas Tech and BYU are the only teams with a clear path to the Big 12 Championship Game. While the Red Raiders are idle this weekend, the Cougars face Cincinnati, whose title hopes took a massive hit with an unexpected loss to Arizona last week. The Bearcats need several teams to lose over the final two weeks to keep their championship hopes alive — but none of it matters if they don’t secure a home win on Saturday.
Andy: BYU
Chase: BYU
Dan: BYU
BACK TO THE BUCKEYES. Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, the Buckeyes have been more dominant against the Scarlet Knights than any other conference opponent. Across 10 matchups, Ohio State is 10-0 against Rutgers, with the closest scoring margin being 16 points in 2023.
- 2023: Ohio State 35, Rutgers 19
- 2022: Ohio State 49, Rutgers 10
- 2021: Ohio State 52, Rutgers 13
- 2020: Ohio State 49, Rutgers 27
- 2019: Ohio State 56, Rutgers 21
- 2018: Ohio State 52, Rutgers 3
- 2017: Ohio State 56, Rutgers 0
- 2016: Ohio State 58, Rutgers 0
- 2015: Ohio State 49, Rutgers 7
- 2014: Ohio State 56, Rutgers 17
That’s 512-117 in favor of the Buckeyes, a decade of dominance. Here’s to another 10 years that will follow the exact same script.
SONG OF THE DAY. “For Whom The Bell Tolls” - Metallica.
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