Skull Session: Remember, Remember the Sixth of December

Welcome to the Skull Session.

Guy Fawkes’ Fifth of November recounts the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a failed attempt by Catholic conspirators to blow up the English Parliament and King James I. This Skull Session, the Sixth of December, tells the story of another failed plot — Ohio State’s bid to claim its first Big Ten title since 2020. While Fawkes’ rhyme is a celebration, this column is a commiseration. Still, like Fawkes’ ending, I hope this Skull Session lands on a hopeful note.

Have a good Tuesday.

REMEMBER, REMEMBER. Ohio State lost to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. I didn’t love the outcome, but I do love that the Buckeyes will Remember, Remember the Sixth of December — not for its triumph, but for its failure.

Winston Churchill once said, "Failure is not fatal." But in moments like these, it feels like it. It’s not our bodies that die, but our pride. Here is Ohio State, humbled, down on the mat. How will the Buckeyes respond?

“We’ll use this as motivation,” Ryan Day said on Sunday.

The 2024 Buckeyes bounced back from a 13-10 loss with a national championship run. Many players from that team are still on the roster. They know what the blueprint is for a rebound: learn, adjust, execute. Ohio State has the chance to follow the same plan, but it must approach the next three weeks with the same energy and focus it showed last year.

There’s a reason Ohio State has never won back-to-back championships — not even in 1969, when the Super Sophs became juniors, or in 2015, when Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott and more returned. The ‘69 team played in an era without a national championship game, let alone a playoff, while the ‘15 team had a four-team bracket compared to 12. Winning titles is difficult. It will be no different this season.

If the bracket holds, Texas A&M, Georgia and Indiana await. Each opponent would test the Buckeyes differently — the Aggies’ formidable defensive front, the Bulldogs’ speed and versatility, and a familiar challenge in the Hoosiers. Success will depend on Ohio State improving red-zone efficiency, balancing the offense and finding special teams consistency. There’s almost no margin for error.

Day has said the Buckeyes will not dwell on their loss to the Hoosiers, but I hope the team reframes it. Ohio State lost hardware, but it gained perspective on its flaws. Indiana exposed them — repeatedly. Now, coaches and players have a chance to fix them before another loss could end the season.

The Sixth of December stings, and it should for a while. But it doesn’t define the season. What matters is what comes next. Three games stand between now and a national championship, and every one of them will demand the best from a team still capable of greatness. Failure may have struck first, but the Buckeyes have the opportunity to strike back — hard, fast, and unrelenting.

NEVER TELL ME THE ODDS. Despite its loss to Indiana, Ohio State is still the favorite to win the national championship, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

The No. 2-seeded Buckeyes’ odds are at +220, coming in ahead of No. 1 Indiana (+290), No. 3 Georgia (+550), No. 5 Oregon (+800) and No. 4 Texas Tech (+900) in the top five.

No. 7 Texas A&M — Ohio State’s expected opponent in the Cotton Bowl as 3.5-point favorites over No. 10 Miami in the first round — has the sixth-best odds at +1700. No. 9 Alabama (+2100) separates the Aggies from the Hurricanes, which tie No. 6 Ole Miss for the eighth-best odds at +2200. No. 8 Oklahoma (+5000), No. 12 James Madison (+50,000) and No. 11 Tulane (+75,000) round out the top 12.

So, Ohio State’s path is the team with the sixth-best odds, third-best odds and second-best odds?

Time for another historic run!

HERE COME THE BUCKEYES. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg has picked Ohio State to make the historic run this season, but with one caveat: “Don’t mortgage your house on these, but if they hit, I will accept any and all gifts and congratulations,” he said.

Deal, Adam.

Deal.

Cotton Bowl - Ohio State vs. Miami

AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)

Wednesday, Dec. 31

7:30 p.m. on ESPN

The quarters kick off with a good one, as Ohio State returns to the building where it won a CFP semifinal matchup in last season's national title run. Despite the disappointment of the Big Ten championship game, coach Ryan Day and his team can draw upon their playoff success from last season and begin the quest to repeat. A key matchup will be Ohio State's offensive line (which allowed five sacks to Indiana after surrendering six during the entire regular season) facing a talented Miami defensive front led by Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. The Buckeyes will need to run the ball effectively, especially in short-yardage situations. But they can also lean on their defense to fluster Beck and the Hurricanes a bit. Expect big games from Arvell Reese, Caden Curry and others as Ohio State moves on.

Prediction: Ohio State 27, Miami 20

Fiesta Bowl - Ohio State vs. Georgia

State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)

Thursday, Jan. 8

7:30 p.m. on ESPN

The best matchup of the entire CFP could come in the desert, featuring teams that have combined for three of the past four national championships. Ohio State and Georgia delivered a classic in the 2022 national semifinal, a game the Buckeyes largely controlled before falling 42-41 in Atlanta. Georgia has an experience edge at quarterback with Stockton over redshirt freshman Julian Sayin, but Ohio State's wide receivers and overall defensive staff power could swing the game its way. I'm not expecting many points but Ohio State finds a few more, as kicker Jayden Fielding redeems himself after the Big Ten title game miss.

Prediction: Ohio State 19, Georgia 16

CFP National Championship - Ohio State vs. Indiana

Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)

Monday, Jan. 19

7:45 p.m. on ESPN

Shield your eyes, Paul Finebaum and Peter Burns, it's an all-Big Ten national title game, featuring a rematch of the conference championship in Indianapolis. Mendoza will be playing in his hometown with a chance to cap a dream season on so many fronts for himself, his family and his Hoosiers team. But Ohio State will spoil the party in a game that will be a slightly higher-scoring version of what we saw at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jeremiah Smith, who grew up near Hard Rock Stadium, shows why he's the best player in the sport with two second-half touchdown catches, as Ohio State repeats as national champion for the first time.

Prediction: Ohio State 24, Indiana 20

A chance to Break the U (again).

A chance for 2022 Peach Bowl redemption.

And a chance for 2025 Big Ten Championship Game redemption.

That sounds great to me!

TEDDY BEAR TOSS! Ohio State men’s basketball hosts Illinois for its Big Ten home opener on Tuesday. Yet, it’s not the game I want to write about to end the Skull Session — it’s what the Buckeyes have planned for halftime of the game.

Teddy Bear Toss

Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used teddy bears or other stuffed animals to throw on to the court during halftime of tomorrow's game against Illinois.

All donations will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.

Tickets pic.twitter.com/oI0xfc70ey
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) December 8, 2025

The Basketbucks will host a “Teddy Bear Toss” holiday initiative, encouraging fans to bring new or gently used teddy bears or stuffed animals to throw onto the court during halftime. Ohio State will then collect the items and donate them to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.

I love, love, love this!

SONG OF THE DAY. "Heaven" - The Walkmen.