Skull Session: Ohio State’s 2026 Schedule is a Gauntlet, Four Buckeyes Go Top-16 in Daniel Jeremiah’s Mock Draft 1.0 and Jake Diebler Shares What Real Toughness Looks Like

By Chase Brown on January 28, 2026 at 5:00 am
Julian Sayin
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch
19 Comments

Welcome to the Skull Session.

Carnell Tate is a first-round talent on the field and in the classroom.

Have a good Wednesday.

 THE GAUNTLET. The Big Ten announced conference schedules for its 18 schools on Tuesday, and Ohio State learned the order of its opponents for next fall: Illinois, Texas, Kent State, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Indiana, USC, Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan.

While Ohio State’s schedule is undoubtedly a gauntlet, it’s not quite as intimidating as I expected. We already knew the Buckeyes would get Group of 5 tune-ups before and after the Texas game, but seeing a potentially dangerous road trip to Iowa sandwiched between home matchups against Illinois and Maryland is a relief.

Road games at Indiana and USC will be challenges, but Ohio State will have a bye week in between, giving the Buckeyes time to rest after a bloody battle with the Hoosiers and prepare for the West Coast travel. Perhaps the toughest matchup comes immediately after, when Ohio State returns from Los Angeles to host Oregon at the Horseshoe. Good luck with that one.

Afterward, the Buckeyes get Northwestern and a trip to Nebraska before The Game. The Cornhuskers could be tricky in the penultimate week, but it’s worth remembering Matt Rhule is 2–25 against AP Top 25 opponents, which might be worse than Big Game James.

All told, Ohio State’s schedule will present plenty of tests, but the draw is favorable. If I had to pick a record right here, right now, 10–2 feels safe. We’ll see if my opinion changes between now and Sept. 5. Spoiler: it will.

 A FEW TOO MANY SNOOZERS. While Ohio State’s 2026 schedule will feature no shortage of challenges, the Buckeyes’ 2025 slate had a few too many snoozers. My eyes told me that — the eyes, chico, they never lie — and so did ESPN’s Bill Connelly, who ranked just three of Ohio State’s 14 games among his top 100 of the season. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes lost two of those three.

50. No. 3 Ohio State 14, No. 1 Texas 7 (Aug. 31)

It feels like a lifetime ago, but Week 1 featured just about the biggest opener imaginable as preseason No. 1 Texas, led by preseason Heisman favorite Arch Manning, visited defending national champ Ohio State. It was the cagiest possible affair, as both teams featured experienced defenses and inexperienced new (blue-chip) QBs, and neither head coach was willing to risk disaster. But when Carnell Tate reeled in a 40-yard TD pass from Julian Sayin early in the fourth quarter to put the Buckeyes up 14-0, it was time for Texas to make a charge. Manning found Parker Livingstone for a 32-yard TD with 3:28 left, and after an OSU three-and-out, the Longhorns quickly drove to midfield. But Jack Endries came up short of the line to gain on fourth-and-5, and OSU kneeled out a huge early win.

49. CFP quarterfinals: No. 10 Miami 24, No. 2 Ohio State 14

I'm typically allergic to putting many games on here that finished with a double-digit scoring margin, but we'll make an exception here. Ohio State was a 7.5-point favorite in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal but fell behind 14-0 following a powerful, eight-minute Miami touchdown drive and a sudden, 72-yard Keionte Scott pick-six. The Buckeyes finally began moving the ball confidently, and Jeremiah Smith's 14-yard score with 13:28 left cut the Hurricanes' lead to 17-14. (Smith had seven catches for 157 yards.) But once again Miami combined a long drive (10 plays for 70 yards, capped with a CharMar Brown TD) with a pick (Jakobe Thomas near midfield) to seal a statement win for The U.

No. 20 - Big Ten championship: No. 2 Indiana 13, No. 1 Ohio State 10

In retrospect, we almost look at Indiana's title as preordained, as the only way this season could end. But the Hoosiers were underdogs as late as December, facing an Ohio State team that hadn't lost for over a full calendar year. Though the Hoosiers dominated most of their opponents, they proved some serious close-game chops when they needed to. And with their first Big Ten title since 1967 on the line, they made most of the key plays in the second half, from Fernando Mendoza's 17-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt, to a fourth-and-goal stuff late in the third quarter, to a third-and-short stop that forced a (missed) field goal attempt, to a 33-yard Mendoza-to-Charlie Becker pass that allowed them to eat up most of the clock and see out the game.

At this time next year, I’ll include Connelly’s list and it will have plenty of Ohio State games, with many if not all of them being Buckeye wins!

 CUCKOO FOR COCO PUFFS. I like Daniel Jeremiah. I have a lot of respect for him. But his Mock Draft 1.0 is cuckoo for Coco Puffs. Jeremiah’s mock draft features four Ohio State players in the first round, including Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs and Carnell Tate. Here’s where each of those Buckeyes landed:

No. 2 - Arvell Reese to the New York Jets

The Jets have needs all over their defense. Reese is versatile and athletic. I think he’ll benefit from working off the edge full-time after also playing off-ball linebacker during his Buckeyes career.

No. 7 - Sonny Styles to the Washington Commanders

Styles reminds me of Fred Warner, who was drafted by the 49ers when current Commanders GM Adam Peters was an executive in San Francisco’s front office. Keep in mind that Bobby Wagner is 35 and headed for free agency.

No. 11 - Caleb Downs to the Miami Dolphins

Downs has the versatility to play multiple spots, much like his teammate -- in this scenario -- Minkah Fitzpatrick. Downs’ football intelligence and leadership are off the charts. Miami has to improve its defense, which ranked 24th in scoring and 32nd in opponent completion percentage.

No. 16 - Carnell Tate to the New York Jets

This would be a value pick, but we see talented receivers go in this area of the draft year after year (Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Emeka Egbuka, Justin Jefferson). The Jets pair former Ohio State star Garrett Wilson with a fellow Buckeye.

Is it possible that all of these picks happen? Yes, it is. But I still think Jeremiah’s bowl has some chocolate milk leftover from the General Mills cereal. 

I have no issue with Reese to the Jets. With Dante Moore returning to Oregon and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders, it makes sense for New York to address another premium position. 

Here’s an issue, however. Jeremiah has the Browns selecting Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey at No. 6, even though Cleveland already has Myles Garrett ($40 million/year) and Alex Wright ($11 million/year) under contract. The Browns have a glaring need at wide receiver, and with both Utah tackle Spencer Fano (No. 3, Arizona Cardinals) and Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa (No. 4, Tennessee Titans) off the board, the Browns would sprint the card in for Tate. I don’t doubt that for a second.

Back to no issue. I’d love to see Styles go top 10 in April. The Fred Warner comparison isn’t one I’d considered before, but it’s compelling — and it certainly raises the ceiling for Styles’ NFL future.

No issue, issue, no issue, issue… 

Snip, snap, snip, snap…

Here’s the biggest issue of all: there is no chance — zero, zilch, zip, nada — that Caleb Downs falls outside the top 10, especially with the Bengals sitting at No. 10. Cincinnati has been searching for a versatile safety since Jesse Bates left for Atlanta in 2023, and if Downs somehow isn’t scooped up by the Browns, Commanders, Saints or Chiefs, the Bengals should need all of one second to submit his name to the league office.

Oh, and I guess I have one last thing: if Kayden McDonald isn’t a first-rounder, he’ll be picked No. 33. The team that gets him will be smiling and kicking its feet after landing him with a second-round pick.

 “THAT’S REAL TOUGHNESS.” It’s Coaches vs. Cancer week in college basketball, and Ohio State’s coaching staff is wearing custom shoes designed by patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus to support the cause.

After Ohio State’s win over Penn State on Monday, Jake Diebler fought back tears while explaining what the shoes — and the week — mean to him and his staff.

“When you spend time with a little kid who’s got to come to Columbus once a week to get chemo treatment — like, I think I’m tough? That’s real toughness. I’ve got kids. It’s hard. It’s hard. I praise God every day that I’m able to go home and hug my kids.

“When you’re in this position and have an opportunity to represent an organization, there’s no amount of time that’s too much to spend with people like that. Ohio State is so impactful in so many people’s lives. I know Ryan (Day) and the football team do stuff and spend time at the hospital. We have a responsibility to be available and spend time with people, and if we can provide some joy during some struggle, it’s the least we can do.

“But man, it’s very humbling when you see a little girl going through some really tough stuff, and the smile on her face. We think we’re impactful, but the impact they have on us is more important. Sorry for getting a little emotional there, but man — cancer sucks.”

What a powerful moment.

I’m incredibly thankful for Coach Diebler’s character and leadership. I hope he continues to lead the Buckeyes to wins so he can keep having an impact on his players — and far beyond the court.

Ohio State’s coaches will wear the shoes one more time this week when the Buckeyes travel to Madison for a matchup with Wisconsin on Saturday at 2 p.m.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Don't Blink" - Kenny Chesney.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. Bill Belichick snubbed by Pro Football Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility... NFL fans raise conspiracy theory over Super Bowl 60 graphic... Video shows flames flying from NASA plane that touched down without landing gear... Mountain lion roams posh San Francisco neighborhood before being captured.

19 Comments

Ohio State Hangs On After Losing 18-Point Lead vs. Penn State in 84-78 Victory

John Mobley Jr.

Hiring of Arthur Smith, Transfer Additions Signal Ohio State Will Continue Frequent Use of Multi-Tight End Packages in 2026

Mason Williams
View 19 Comments