Welcome to the Skull Session.
Get mogged, Penn State.https://t.co/lGT9iijmM4 pic.twitter.com/p3Ikn93hUy
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) March 5, 2026
Have a good Thursday.
ARTHUR SMITH, HEAD COACH OF THE OFFENSE. Ryan Day appeared on The Jim Rome Show this week to discuss the latest in Ohio State football. In a conversation that also featured talking points of Carnell Tate and Caleb Downs, Day’s comments on hiring Arthur Smith as his offensive coordinator and Julian Sayin’s offseason development had the most meat on the bone.
On hiring Arthur Smith as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator
.@ryandaytime explains why he chose former Falcons head coach and Steeler OC Arthur Smith to take the reins of the @OhioStateFB offense next season. pic.twitter.com/VK1C89dCQs
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) March 2, 2026
“Well, as time has gone on, and things change in college football, I feel like more and more it’s important to have guys in those coordinator positions that have a tremendous amount of experience. When Brian (Hartline) moved to South Florida, I wanted to bring in somebody with great experience. I first looked to see who has done that at the college level and then who has done that at the NFL level. To have somebody with (Smith’s) resume, who has actually been a head coach in the NFL — look at what he’s done at Tennessee — and then sit down and talk to the people that have worked with him and then had a chance myself to sit down and talk with him, it was excellent.
“He’s a great communicator, very intelligent and really loves the game of college football. When you hear his story about growing up and how much time he spent around college football, you could just see it in his eyes. He’s had a great first month here with our players. He’s enjoyed the challenge. I think it’s been great for him. It’s been almost refreshing to be around these players. I know he’s excited about some of the talent he has.
“And I wanted to make sure that we had somebody in here who not only had experience calling big games, but somebody who can be the head coach of the offense, which will allow me an opportunity to take a different perspective this season. Certainly it was great to have Matt (Patricia) on defense and Brian did a great job as well, but I think this year will allow me to step back even more and do as much as I can from the head coaching seat.”
On Julian Sayin returning to Ohio State in 2026
"The best quarterbacks are the ones that do that: they get better year after year, and as we've all seen, experience in college football matters."@ryandaytime head coach @ryandaytime on QB Julian Sayin returning to Columbus for his junior season. pic.twitter.com/Dz3yfh0ZyZ
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) March 2, 2026
“There’s not too many guys his age who in one year of playing have made it to New York City (for the Heisman Trophy ceremony). For me, when you look at that position, a lot of the guys have been older guys — guys who either transferred from a school or had played multiple years. For his first year as a starter, he did a lot of great things. This is exciting for us. This is only just a few times in my career that I’ve had a quarterback come back to play for two years in a row, so he’ll have that experience to draw back on, which is great. He’s a year older, in the system, has already had a great start to the offseason. I know he’s excited to get back on the field and have a veteran feel now. Everything he’s done now, he’s lived through it all. Once you get through the season, you come back, and you got to learn from it, grow from it. The best quarterbacks are the ones who do that. They get better year after year, and as we’ve all seen, experience in college football matters.”
Head coach of the offense?
Year two of a Ryan Day quarterback?!
I used to pray for times like this.
I can’t wait to see what Smith has cooked up for Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and the rest of the Ohio State offense in 2026.
IT’S A RELOAD, NOT A REBUILD. Ohio State has been college football’s gold standard for decades. A perennial national championship contender since 2002, the Buckeyes never rebuild. No, no, no — the Buckeyes reload.
Coming off a disappointing loss to Miami to end last season, Ryan Day assembled an arsenal of talent in hopes of leading Ohio State to its second national title in three years. According to ESPN’s Craig Haubert and Billy Tucker, Day’s acquisitions from the high school and college ranks were among the sport’s best entering 2026, as they ranked the Buckeyes’ newcomer class No. 2 nationally behind LSU.
Top recruits: WR Chris Henry Jr., CB Jay Timmons, S Blaine Bradford, WR Jerquaden Guilford, CB Jordan Thomas, LB Cincere Johnson, DL Khary Wilder, ATH Legend Bey
Even on a loaded roster, several freshmen appear poised to play a role for in 2026. Henry seems like a dangerous initial pairing with Jeremiah Smith as a red zone and jump‑ball asset. He can be a vertical/rotational player in multireceiver sets early on and assume Smith's role once he departs for the NFL. Timmons can provide support behind Jermaine Mathews Jr. and in a nickel role. He has the length and instincts to be the next boundary corner in the pipeline. Bradford can work his way into the mix in the secondary as well with the range and physicality to contribute quickly on special teams and in subpackages. There is no clear path to the field for Johnson at linebacker, but it will be tough to keep a prospect with his size, versatility and maturity off the field. Bey's versatility will likely get him into the mix to get touches and he can become a player in the mold of former Buckeye Curtis Samuel.
Transfers: DT James Smith, Edge Qua Russaw, NB Earl Little Jr., S Terry Moore, CB Dominick Kelly
The Buckeyes used the portal to harden the middle and upgrade coverage. Smith is poised to be a starter at defensive tackle after arriving from Alabama with 48 tackles, 10 tackles for loss (TFLs) and 3.5 sacks, giving OSU an immediate interior force against the run and pass. Russaw can work in the rotation with Zion Grady who is another SEC‑tested edge rusher to third‑down packages. In the secondary, Little could grab ahold of the starting nickel job. He arrives with 24 games of experience between Alabama and Florida State with 93 tackles and two pass breakups. Moore also bolsters the secondary after transferring from Duke with 116 tackles, four interceptions and seven pass breakups, filling a big void left by Caleb Downs. Kelly transferred from Georgia and can solidify the corner rotation behind Devin Sanchez. This group upgrades Ohio State at tackle, edge, nickel, safety and corner -- exactly where playoff defenses are built.
Ohio State was one of six Big Ten teams that Haubert and Tucker placed in their top 25. The others: No. 5 Indiana, No. 10 Oregon, No. 12 Michigan, No. 13 USC and No. 21 Penn State.
That’s a sizable advantage for the Buckeyes.
But then again, when you’re the gold standard of college football, advantage is the expectation — not the exception.
PAGING DR. CRAFT. Aaron Craft is my all-time favorite Ohio State basketball player. I know, original, but can you really blame me? He rocked.
Not to get too far from the point, which is to celebrate Craft being selected for the Resident/Fellow Excellence in Teaching Award, but Craft really made an entire generation (my generation) of basketball players believe that playing good defense and diving for loose balls was cool. It is, to be clear, but kids these days would rather chuck 3s like Steph Curry than put their body on the line and do some dirty work.
Hmpf, kids these days.
I digress.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the Ohio State Department of Otolaryngology — say that word three times fast — announced the OSU College of Medicine selected Craft for its Resident/Fellow Excellence in Teaching Award and will induct him into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, which “champions and reinforces the human connection in healthcare.”
“Dr. Craft was nominated and selected in recognition of his outstanding commitment to teaching and his compassionate care for patients, colleagues, students, and staff,” the post reads. “This honor reflects not only clinical excellence, but a true commitment to humanistic medicine.”
Former Ohio State assistant and current Ohio Bobcats head coach Jeff Boals has the top comment on the post: “A+ basketball player, A+ person, A+ husband, A+ father, A+ doctor.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself!
HOLY BUCKEYE. TODAY, 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.
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. TODAY.
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.
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SONG OF THE DAY. "Rock The Joint" - Bill Haley & His Comets.
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