Welcome to the Skull Session.
Is this good?
Caleb Downs has allowed ZERO TDs on 336 coverage snaps this season@OhioStateFB https://t.co/UWlqPUrdqC pic.twitter.com/DSVHVOvOwe
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 10, 2025
Seems good.
Have a good Thursday.
A PICTURE IS WORTH 1,000 WORDS. Sherrone Moore.
I just put a dollar in the swear jar.
Sorry.
(But also not sorry.)
“LAST WEEK WAS PRETTY TOUGH.” Earlier this week, I shared some of USF’s social media posts promoting Brian Hartline as its next head coach. Coming less than 24 hours after Ohio State’s worst offensive performance of the season, the posts didn’t sit well with me. They still don’t, for that matter.
To me, the posts suggested Hartline may have been distracted – and may have been a distraction – as the Buckeyes prepared to face Indiana, then the No. 2 team in the nation and now the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, in the Big Ten Championship Game.
After hearing some of Hartline’s comments from his appearance on The Jim Rome Show this week, that may not be far from the truth.
“Last week was pretty tough, I’ll be transparent,” Hartline said.
New @USFFootball head coach @BrianHartline shares how he's balancing his new role while finishing the season as Ohio State's offensive coordinator. pic.twitter.com/vxqLibGzYg
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) December 9, 2025
He added that Ryan Day and Ohio State’s coaches have been “second to none” and will support him throughout the process — a process he hopes to streamline moving forward.
“Moving forward, I feel like I’ve got a really good grip on things,” Hartline said. “My process is making sure — if I can’t create more hours in the day, I have to do a really good job of maximizing those, whether it be in the morning with Zoom calls, communicating, or at night. That’s just the reality of the situation, but I know it can be done.”
It can be done. But should it be done?
That’s the question I’m still wrestling with.
I trust Ryan Day, and if he believes Hartline can juggle both jobs, then I’m on board. But I’d be lying if I said I haven’t wondered whether Hartline’s impending departure became the distraction that knocked an all-time great Ohio State team off its championship course.
I guess I’m cautiously optimistic?
Yeah, let’s go with that.
THE BEST OF THE BEST. The Athletic’s college football staff released its All-American teams, which – in their words – illustrate how much the sport has changed over the past decade, with Indiana earning more selections (five) than any SEC program.
Still, Ohio State leads all teams with six picks, while the Big Ten extended its edge over the SEC as college football’s best conference (my words, not theirs), claiming 20 selections to the SEC’s 15.
Ohio State’s All-Americans include first-teamers Jeremiah Smith, Kayden McDonald, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs. The Buckeyes’ second-teamers were Caden Curry and Sonny Styles.
WR Jeremiah Smith
Smith’s season — 80 catches, 1,086 yards, 11 touchdowns — is impressive on its own, but even more so when considering how much attention he drew from opposing defenders and defensive coordinators. He was targeted just 99 times — fewer than all but four of the receivers who finished in the top 15 in receiving yards — and his 80.9 percent catch rate was second-best among receivers with at least 70 targets, per TruMedia.
DT Kayden McDonald
The Outland Trophy finalist was one of the most active defensive tackles in the country this season. His 57 tackles are second-most among Power 4 defensive linemen, and he recorded a tackle on 21.2 percent of his 387 defensive snaps, the third-highest rate among that group. He added eight tackles for loss and three sacks and helped power the sixth-best rushing defense in the FBS.
LB Arvell Reese
Reese checks about every box you want in a linebacker: size (6-4, 240), speed, power, coverage ability, stopping the run; whatever Ohio State asked him to do, Reese did it and did it well. The Butkus Award finalist finished with 62 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and 25 pressures on only 112 pass-rushing snaps.
S Caleb Downs
Downs, a finalist for both the Bednarik and Nagurski awards, continued to excel in the Buckeyes' secondary thanks to his instincts, athletic ability and versatility. In addition to his 60 tackles, he had no problem playing in the box, racking up five tackles for loss and one sack. In coverage, he allowed only 6.3 yards per reception, sixth-best among FBS safeties, and he added two interceptions.
I have no problem with Reese and Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez as first-teamers — both have been excellent — but I wish there were a third spot for Styles. He’s been elite with 80 tackles, five tackles for loss, three pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble.
#OhioState LB Sonny Styles vs. Indiana
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) December 7, 2025
He was everywhere. Athletic and rangy. Stack, shed, and finish ability. Arrives with violence.
Through 13 games this year, he has ZERO missed tackles as a run defender. pic.twitter.com/UKU73y3BAe
Styles’ most impressive stat? Zero missed tackles! Zip, zilch, nada!
DEVELOPED HERE. ESPN’s Field Yates released his second mock draft of the college/NFL season on Wednesday and featured four Ohio State players in the top 32 picks, including two Buckeyes in the top four.
No. 3 - Arvell Reese, Tennessee Titans
The Titans and Giants are the only teams with a better than 5% chance at the No. 1 pick that are not in the QB market (per ESPN's Football Power Index). But Tennessee is missing the young edge rusher talent that New York likely got in 2025 with Abdul Carter. It can find that here -- Reese has a case to be the best overall prospect in this entire draft class.
After just 0.5 sacks as mostly a linebacker last season, he posted 6.5 sacks as a primary edge rusher this year. Reese has exceptional burst and power, plus the frame to be a standout NFL edge rusher. As an every-down player, he would form a perfect pairing next to defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
No. 4 - Carnell Tate, Cleveland Browns
The Browns will likely have conversations about the quarterback position, but Shedeur Sanders' growth in three games as the starter has been encouraging. And in this scenario, the two clear-cut best signal-callers in my rankings are off the board. But the Browns also have work to do within the offensive supporting cast, including at offensive tackle and wide receiver.
Tate is the next first-round lock from the Ohio State receiver room, and he would be awesome in the Cleveland pass game. He has very good size, runs terrific routes and can make contested catches. He would bring a vertical ability, as he averaged 17.5 yards per catch this season. Also of note: Tate has zero drops on 58 targets this season. No Browns wide receiver has reached 40 catches or 500 receiving yards this season. Time for an upgrade.
No. 9 - Caleb Downs, Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons)
The Rams are in rare territory as a strong Super Bowl contender with a potential top-10 pick in April -- thanks to the Falcons. While they have the option to make another move with the pick, they could use it here on one of the best safety prospects in recent memory. Downs is a versatile, tone-setting defender who has the chance to be the first safety picked in the top 10 since Jamal Adams went No. 6 to the Jets in 2017. Downs has played in an NFL scheme at Ohio State for much of his college career; he can handle coverage deep in the middle of the field and be a menacing force in the box. Los Angeles has a ton of young talent up front on its defense, but it might lose players on the back end this offseason. Safety Kam Curl is a free agent in March.
No. 15 - Sonny Styles, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have needs on multiple levels of their defense, which is allowing the second-most points per game this season (29.7). They could address linebacker first with Styles, who has made the impressive transition to the position after beginning his collegiate career at safety. He has outstanding length, movement skills and range at the second level. And on top of the coverage skills from his time at safety, Styles can be an effective blitzer when called upon; he had 6.0 sacks during Ohio State's national title run last season. Styles could thrive in any defensive circumstance for the Cowboys, who just boosted their linebacker room with the return DeMarvion Overshown and addition of Logan Wilson.
Carnell Tate to the Browns?!
I used to pray for times like this.
I’d love to see Tate in Cleveland, a franchise that has long loaded up on Buckeyes. This season alone, the Browns have seven — tied with the Arizona Cardinals for the most in the league — with Jerome Baker, Denzel Ward, Dawand Jones, Luke Wypler, Ronnie Hickman, Mike Hall and Quinshon Judkins.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood.
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