Skull Session: Team USA Honors Johnny Gaudreau After Winning Gold, Tom Izzo Praises Bruce Thornton, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba Wants to Be the NFL’s Highest-Paid Wide Receiver

By Chase Brown on February 23, 2026 at 4:57 am
Team USA celebrates its gold medal
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
5 Comments

Welcome to the Skull Session.

Jaloni Cambridge is a bucket and a problem.

Have a good Monday.

 FOR JOHNNY HOCKEY. I know this is an Ohio State sports website, but I have to open the Skull Session with this: Forty-six years to the date since the Miracle on Ice, the United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to claim its first gold medal since 1980. And as the team celebrated on the Milano Santagiulia ice, captain Auston Matthews, alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk and Columbus Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski made sure to honor the late Johnny Gaudreau.

“He grew up with all these guys,” Guy Gaudreau told Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde after the U.S. national anthem played. “He’s probably here with them right now in spirit, right?”

Yes, he was.

From Matthews, Tkachuk and Werenski skating around with Johnny’s sweater to Tkachuk and Werenski including his children, Noa and Johnny Jr., in the team picture, the celebration was perfect — and it caused more than a few eyes to gloss and throats to lump.

“We wanted to play for him and make him proud, and I feel like we did that,” said Werenski, who played with Gaudreau on the Blue Jackets (and earned the first assist on Jack Hughes’ game-winning goal in overtime!). “To see his family here supporting us, they would’ve been here with John. To see the kids here, having his jersey on the ice, it means everything. Super special moment.”

Yes, it was.

Rest in peace, Johnny Hockey.

You're a gold medal winner at last.

 “YOU’VE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PLAYER.” Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo praised Bruce Thornton after the Spartans beat the Buckeyes 66-60 on Sunday.

“I talked to Thornton before the game, told him it’s been an honor and a privilege to coach against him for four years,” Izzo said, per Jim Comparoni of Spartan Magazine. “I said you stayed put. You didn’t run and leave like everybody does nowadays. You’ve been an incredible player. You’ve been an incredible person. I’m a big fan, and I told him even more after the game.”

Thornton scored 32 points in the six-point loss, a herculean effort that came with Ohio State’s No. 2 and No. 3 options on the sidelines as John Mobley Jr. recovers from a hand injury and Devin Royal battles an illness. 

“We couldn’t guard him with a fish net,” Izzo said of Thornton.

Near the end of the game, Thornton looked like former Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler during the 2020 NBA Finals — clearly exhausted from carrying an entire team on his back for four quarters.

Ohio State fell to 17-10 this season following the loss. The Buckeyes, who entered the weekend on the NCAA Tournament bubble, have four games plus the Big Ten Tournament to secure a spot in the Big Dance. That stretch begins Wednesday at Iowa and continues Sunday at home against Purdue. They’ll end the regular season on the road against Penn State (March 4), at home against Indiana (March 7) and the conference tournament in Chicago (March 10-15).

Thornton will need to be at his best in those contests — especially against Iowa and Purdue, both ranked inside the top 30 of NET. But as we saw Sunday, he’ll need help. He should get some from Royal once he shakes his illness. Mobley and Brandon Noel, sidelined since January with a foot injury, could also provide reinforcements down the stretch.

 BRING ME MY MONEY. Jaxon Smith-Njigba wants the Seattle Seahawks to bring him his money.

Eventually.

In an interview with WFAA Dallas last week, the former Ohio State wide receiver and 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year said he deserves to be the league’s highest-paid wide receiver in due time.

“I’m really not to pressed right now to get it done,” Smith-Njigba said. “I know my time is coming, and when we get it done, it’s going to be a great deal. God’s timing is perfect timing, so whenever that may come, we’ll be ready for it. I believe I deserve to be the highest paid in my position. Just when I give to the game and the community, I give it my all, and I think that’s worth a lot more.”

Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase is the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver at $40.25 million per year. Minnesota Vikings pass catcher Justin Jefferson, Chase’s college teammate at LSU, ranks second at $35 million annually.

Given Smith-Njigba’s talent and production — he had 119 catches for a league-best 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025 — the Seahawks should have no hesitation paying him more.

Smith-Njigba told WFAA he’ll appreciate whatever he gets.

“I would play this game for free. I love this game so much,” Smith-Njigba said. “But you don’t have to, and I’m learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day.”

 HOLY BUCKEYE. Eleven Warriors has another big announcement: On March 5, 12th Warriors will have the chance to go behind the scenes with an Ohio State legend as we continue the 12th Warrior Happy Hour, an exclusive series where members of our perks program have direct access to Buckeye greats in a live, exclusive Q&A.

12th Warrior Happy Hour

Following Andy Katzenmoyer, J.K. Dobbins and Maurice Clarett, Michael Jenkins headlines our fourth Happy Hour. The national champion wide receiver will join us virtually at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.

During the relaxed, interactive experience, 12th Warriors will hear untold stories, have the opportunity to ask questions and connect with Ohio State history like never before. It’s our way of saying thank you for backing independent coverage, representing 11W and being like the great state of Ohio — the Heart of It All.

So, 12th Warriors, select a drink of choice, log on and let’s make some memories. We’ll share further details in the Premium Lounge.

Not a 12th Warrior?

It’s a great time to join.

For $85 a year (just 23 cents a day), you can join a perks program designed to flip the paywall system, keeping our coverage free for all, by paying it forward. Membership perks include admission to our 12th Warrior Happy Hours, a $40 voucher to Eleven Warriors Dry Goods, access to the Premium Lounge and more.

Want to chat with Jenkins, help the site and score other perks? 

Become a 12th Warrior now!

 SONG OF THE DAY. "America the Beautiful" - Ray Charles.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada... Bagpipers play at Olympic curling in homage to sport’s Scottish heritage — but they’re Italian... Osaka city stunned by anonymous gold bar gift worth $3.6 million to fix aging water pipes... NBC’s big Olympics bet looks smarter as Milan audience up 94% from Beijing... Tech companies are making their robots cute to try to win over humans.

5 Comments

Bruce Thornton's 32-Point Effort Not Enough for Shorthanded Buckeyes in 66-60 Loss to No. 15 Michigan State

Bruce Thornton

How Ohio State Transfers Throughout College Football Performed in 2025

Mitchell Melton
View 5 Comments