Welcome to the Skull Session.
Remember The Titans says Pain is French Bread.
I say Pain is this:
Ohio State is the first team to ever lose three straight NCAA tournaments at home since it went back to this hosting format in 2015. https://t.co/uOirXpHgdT
— Cameron Teague (@cj_teague) March 23, 2026
Have a good Tuesday.
GOT RETURNING PRODUCTION? Ohio State will enter 2026 with more returning production than it did entering 2025.
According to ESPN’s Bill Connelly, the Buckeyes rank No. 31 in the FBS with 60% of their 2025 production returning for 2026. That’s a significant jump from last year, when Ohio State ranked No. 101 with 46% returning production entering 2025.
That swing is hardly surprising. Ohio State had a school-record 14 players selected in the 2025 NFL draft, while three others signed undrafted free agent contracts. The Buckeyes could again have double-digit draft picks in 2026, with a few more players likely to land UDFA deals.
Ryan Day’s team enters the 2026 season with 71% returning production on offense, which ranks No. 8 nationally. That group includes Heisman finalist quarterback Julian Sayin, All-Big Ten running back Bo Jackson, unanimous All-American wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss and others.
The bigger question marks come on defense, where many of the unit’s top contributors — Kayden McDonald, Caden Curry, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Davison Igbinosun and Caleb Downs — are headed to the NFL. Connelly has Matt Patricia’s Silver Bullets at 50% returning production, which ranks No. 78 nationally.
Focused on the pic.twitter.com/DVVxDFIzMA
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) March 12, 2026
Day and his staff were proactive in filling holes on both sides of the ball, particularly on defense. Ohio State’s top transfer portal additions this offseason include defensive tackle James Smith (Alabama), defensive end Qua Russaw (Alabama), linebacker Christian Alliegro (Wisconsin) and defensive backs Earl Little Jr. (Florida State) and Terry Moore (Duke).
The Buckeyes also addressed special teams by adding kicker Connor Hawkins. The former Baylor standout made 18 of 22 field goals last season, including a perfect 10-for-10 from inside 40 yards. He went five of eight from 40-49 yards and connected on three of four attempts from 50-plus.
All in all, Ohio State should be just fine without ranking near the top nationally in returning production. Still, the team’s chemistry will be tested, as regular-season opponents Nebraska (No. 3 at 69%), Texas (No. 6 at 68%), Oregon (No. 11 at 66%), USC (No. 13 at 65%) and Michigan (No. 20 at 63%) all rank inside Connelly’s top 25 entering 2026.
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR. Fox Sports’ Michael Cohen, Ralph Vacchiano, Doug McIntyre, Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar ranked the top 10 North American sports rivalries.
Counting down from 10, their list includes No. 10 Dodgers vs. Giants, No. 9 Cowboys vs. Eagles, No. 8 Steelers vs. Ravens, No. 7 Army vs. Navy, No. 6 Duke vs. North Carolina, No. 5 Lakers vs. Celtics, No. 4 USA vs. Mexico (soccer), No. 3 Packers vs. Bears, No. 2 Ohio State vs. Michigan.
Wait.
No. 2?!
Who is No. 1?!
Yankees vs. Red Sox.
They were so close.
But no cigar.
The Fox Sports writers called The Game “the greatest rivalry in college football” (correct) and “one of the fiercest in all of American sports” (incorrect). No, Fox Sports. It’s the greatest and fiercest rivalry in all of sports. Yankees vs. Red Sox, while entertaining and chock full of incredible lore, doesn’t hold a candle to the Buckeyes and Wolverines.
What I found amusing about the writers' ranking Yankees vs. Red Sox No. 1 is their rationale: “It’s the greatest rivalry in North American sports because it blends history, geography, culture, and competitiveness in a way few others can match.”
You mean Ohio State vs. Michigan? No rivalry embodies those elements more completely than the Buckeyes and Wolverines.
The history of the rivalry between schools from Ann Arbor and Columbus is unparalleled. They call us “Ohio.” We call them “That Team Up North.” Ohio State won’t wear blue. Michigan won’t touch scarlet. There are people who take this rivalry so seriously that they’ll never set foot in the other state, let alone spend a penny supporting the other state’s economy.
Yankees vs. Red Sox is great theater. It’s rich with lore and moments. But it’s not this. The Game is The Game. And nothing else comes close.
MMA FIGHTER JESSE MENDEZ? Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic knows a thing or two about because he’s seen a thing or two in combat sports. He sees MMA potential in Ohio State great Jesse Mendez.
In a recent interview with FloWrestling, Miocic named Mendez as the top NCAA wrestler who could have success in mixed martial arts.
“I was talking to my buddy about this. Jesse Mendez? He’s tough,” Miocic said. “He’s tough. He wants to hurt you.”
That’s about as strong an endorsement as you’ll hear from one of the most accomplished heavyweights in UFC history. Miocic built his career on durability, discipline and a willingness to impose his will — and in his eyes, Mendez checks those same boxes on the mat.
In fact, the Euclid, Ohio, native made it clear he prefers to admire Mendez’s work from a safe distance.
“I don’t want to wrestle him. I don’t want to wrestle him at all,” Miocic said. “I like to watch from the stands, but good for him. Plus he’s an Ohio State guy, that’s always nice.”
Maybe Miocic’s praise is a hint at what could come down the road for the two-time Big Ten champion and two-time NCAA champion. I’m sure Mendez will pursue an international career on the mat, especially with the Summer Olympics being two years away in Los Angeles, but when a legend like Miocic points out his physicality and edge, it’s hard not to imagine how that style could translate to MMA someday.
NIKE SCHOOL → ADIDAS SPONSORSHIP. Ohio State has been a Nike school for three decades, so Arvell Reese, Carnell Tate and Caleb Downs know all about the Swoosh. However, all three Buckeyes signed endorsement deals with Adidas this week:
adidas announces the signing of 14 players to its 2026 NFL rookie class:
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) March 23, 2026
- Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana
- Arvell Reese | LB | Ohio State
- Carnell Tate | WR | Ohio State
- Caleb Downs | S | Ohio State
- Rueben Bain Jr. | DE | Miami
- Jordyn Tyson | WR | Arizona State
- pic.twitter.com/glsV4QybTZ
Reese, Tate and Downs are three of 14 players in Adidas’ 2026 NFL rookie class, along with:
- Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza
- Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr.
- Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson
- USC wide receiver Malaki Lemon
- Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq
- Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez
- Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston
- Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion
- Indiana defensive back D’Angelo Ponds
- Washington running back Jonah Coleman
- Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt
If you could choose to have one apparel sponsorship — free hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, you name it — which brand would you choose: Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, New Balance or other? I’m a Jason Day fan, and I would love a Malbon sponsorship. I love their style, but I do not love their prices.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Easy Lover" - Philip Bailey and Phil Collins.
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