Skull Session: Ohio State Ranks Among the World’s Top 50 Universities, The Athletic Picks Oregon to Win the 2026 National Title and Jaxon Smith-Njigba Humbles Taylor Lewan

By Chase Brown on February 4, 2026 at 5:00 am
Ohio State
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

James Harden is a Cleveland Cavalier.

I am ready to Fear the Beard! (I am very afraid of what could happen to the Cavs because of this trade)

Have a good Wednesday.

 THE WORLD FAMOUS OHIO STATE BUCKEYES. Ohio State is one of the best universities on the planet — but, according to Time Magazine, it’s not even the best school in the Buckeye State.

On Jan. 28, Time released its rankings of “The World’s Top Universities of 2026,” a list that emphasizes “the extent to which students achieve extraordinary success” while learning how to invent, innovate and trailblaze in the professional world. The rankings are designed to identify “where students are likely to achieve the greatest success and contribute most to society.”

Two Ohio universities cracked the world’s top 50. Ohio State landed at No. 33, six spots behind Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve, which checked in at No. 27.

Ohio State president Ted Carter shared his appreciation for the ranking in a statement to The Columbus Dispatch.

“This ranking confirms what 630,000-plus alumni, leading employers around the world, and countless people whose lives we’ve touched already know: Ohio State keeps company with the best of the best, and we’re only getting stronger,” Carter said. “I couldn’t be more proud that the excellence of our students, faculty and staff has been recognized in this way. We’re working every day to continue to provide outstanding, affordable, impactful higher education to those we serve.”

Provost Ravi Bellamkonda echoed that sentiment.

“This ranking shines a light on the fact that Ohio State is an impactful academic powerhouse,” Bellamkonda said. “Our scholars generate research that shapes our innovation economy, our graduates lead across industries, and our students benefit from an extraordinary academic experience.”

So, no, Ohio State isn’t technically the top university in Ohio — but Carter, Bellamkonda and Buckeyes everywhere can still puff their chests out a bit. After all, this list ranks Oxford, Yale, Stanford, MIT, and Chicago in the top five, with Harvard, Cambridge, Imperial College London, [REDACTED] and Penn completing the top 10. That’s some elite company!

 ANOTHER BIG TEN NATIONAL CHAMPION? Last week, The Athletic’s 28 college football writers and editors predicted next season’s national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and conference champions while offering “some hot takes and bold calls.”

One of those predictions wasn’t labeled hot or bold, but it would still make history: The Athletic staff picked Oregon to win the 2026 national championship. If that happens, the Big Ten would claim its fourth consecutive title, following Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024 and Indiana in 2025.

Oregon received nine of the 28 votes to win it all. Notre Dame finished second with five votes, followed by Texas (four), Indiana (three), Ohio State (three), Georgia (one), LSU (one), Miami (one) and Texas Tech (one).

The Athletic’s preseason Heisman Trophy favorite is Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who earned 11 of the 28 votes.

Smith is viewed by many as the best player in college football, regardless of position. The No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2025 has 163 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns in two seasons, and he’s playing with the nation’s most accurate passer in Heisman finalist Julian Sayin. Ohio State’s offense is going through another play-caller change, with Arthur Smith coming in from the NFL. Two additional challenges for Jeremiah Smith: 1) the rarity of receivers winning the Heisman and 2) potentially splitting votes with Sayin, who was the choice of a pair of staffers in this poll.

Smith finished comfortably ahead of the field. Texas quarterback Arch Manning placed second with four votes, followed by Notre Dame’s CJ Carr (three), Sayin (two), Oregon’s Dante Moore (two), Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss (two), USC’s Jayden Maiava (two) and LSU’s Sam Leavitt (one).

Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney was the only non-quarterback besides Smith to receive a vote.

Oregon earned 13 of 28 votes to win the Big Ten title in 2026. Ohio State received the second-most with nine, followed by Indiana (five) and USC (one). The Athletic has Georgia winning the SEC, Miami winning the ACC and BYU winning the Big 12. Boise State, Memphis, Navy, UNLV and Brian Hartline’s USF are the outlet’s teams to watch in the Group of 6 CFP race.

Could you imagine Ohio State earning the No. 5 seed in the CFP and hosting Hartline’s Bulls in the Horseshoe?

That would be a lot of fun!

 BIG LEAGUES THAT WAY. ABC6’s Kellyanne Stitts recently shared a portrait of Jeremiah Smith created by Owen Thomas, a freshman at the University of Toledo. Thomas didn’t use a camera to make the image — he rendered the incredibly realistic portrait using only a graphite pencil.

That’s some serious talent.

The big leagues are that way, Owen.

 W, JSN. While at the podium for Super Bowl Opening Night, Jaxon Smith-Njigba received a couple of questions about the Buckeyes. I have to share JSN’s answer to both here.

When asked about Ohio State’s status as Wide Receiver U, JSN said there’s no debate.

“When you look at the list, it’s a long list, and it’s about to grow even more,” he said. “I think it’s just too much elite talent from top to bottom in the league and guys that were in the league in past years. When you bring it all together, look at the names and look at what we’ve done, I think there’s no question now.”

Agreed.

The second question — asked by former Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan — was about the Buckeyes winning The Game in 2025.

“A big weight off my shoulders,” Smith-Njigba said. “I’m really happy for those guys. We’re supposed to do it every single year, but credit to the young bulls getting it done.”

My favorite part of the video? JSN clearly not recognizing Lewan. Incredible. 

Smith-Njigba also took a couple of non-Ohio State questions in an Ohio State direction. The first asked him to name one NFL player he would like to dunk on. He picked C.J. Stroud.

“A lot of guys could be up for that,” he said. “To give you one, I don’t know, probably C.J. Stroud. I think I can do that.”

Lastly, some asked him whether he would like to play in the 2028 Olympic Games and who he would want as his teammates.

“I would (like to play),” he said. “I think playing with Garrett Wilson would be fun. You know, a lot of my Ohio State Buckeyes would be cool.”

Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Silver Springs" - Fleetwood Mac.

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