Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what’s next.
Senior Bowl Becomes Defensive Struggle
NFL draft prospects, including a trio of former Ohio State players, got a chance to showcase their skills in the Senior Bowl on Saturday, which turned into a defensive grind.
The American squad, which featured former Buckeye cornerback Davison Igbinosun, tight end Will Kacmarek and offensive guard Ethan Onianwa, beat the National team 17-9 in a game that featured several turnovers. Former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has received some of the most rave reviews after the game, going 5-of-8 for 57 yards with a rushing touchdown following a strong week of practice. It was enough to earn him Senior Bowl MVP.
Garrett Nussmeier was cooking on this one
— Panini Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 31, 2026
This Legendary Moment of the Game is brought to you by @Baumhowers.#TheDraftStartsInMobile pic.twitter.com/jv2r3r9GA9
The American team's running backs drew praise as well, especially Indiana's Kaelon Black, who rushed for 45 yards on eight carries. Oklahoma's Jadyn Ott, who rushed for more than 1,300 yards at Cal in 2023 but hardly played with the Sooners the last two years, picked up 42 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
As for the Buckeyes, Onianwa played 34 snaps at guard per Pro Football Focus, which gave him a subpar grade of 54.4 on the day. Igbinosun had perhaps the most impressive week of the three, winning a good number of his one-on-one coverage reps and displaying blazing speed.
Here is every one-on-one rep by Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun at the 2026 Senior Bowl: pic.twitter.com/64nSPR1fr2
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 30, 2026
Beautiful pass breakup by Davison Igbinosun CB Ohio State! #SeniorBowl @AtoZSportsNFL pic.twitter.com/YhW2PmEdGj
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 27, 2026
Davison Igbinosun CB Ohio State destroying the GPS to finish the last day of #SeniorBowl practice. @AtoZSportsNFL pic.twitter.com/4jdq3cVZw7
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 30, 2026
Pro Bowl Games Arrive With Little Fanfare
Maybe it's time for the NFL to just do away with the Pro Bowl.
The event has been in a long-standing decline. A once-proud exhibition of the league's top talent has been relegated to a miniature flag football game and skills competition played during a 6:30 p.m. TV slot on a Tuesday. It's hard to take the event – or the achievement it's supposed to represent for players – seriously when backup quarterbacks are making the rosters thanks to players dropping out or participating in Super Bowl preparations.
Joe Flacco has been added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster, marking his first career selection pic.twitter.com/3ePfV46aaA
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 30, 2026
Shedeur Sanders is being added to the Pro Bowl Games roster, a source confirmed to ESPN.
— ESPN (@espn) January 26, 2026
Sanders will replace Drake Maye, whose New England Patriots have advanced to Super Bowl LX. pic.twitter.com/lsHP3joiBc
Neither Shedeur Sanders nor Joe Flacco started more than 10 games for their teams in 2025. Sanders threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (7) in his eight appearances for the Cleveland Browns this season. A Pro Bowl used to be a staple achievement, career-defining for many players. It's hard to hold it in any such regard when the standard has fallen so low.
The event has tread shallow water in terms of fan interest for several years now. The NFL made a huge advertising push for its flag football format in 2025, but viewership still sank from a total audience of roughly 5.75 million across all broadcasts in 2024 to 4.7 million in 2025.
Viewership numbers have shrunk every season since the NFL transitioned away from a tackle format in 2023. It's hard to imagine much, if any, improvement this year.
Hockey in Beaver Stadium
One year after Ohio Stadium hosted a Stadium Series game for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings, a Big Ten rival packed out its own massive football stadium for a hockey game.
No. 5 Penn State welcomed No. 2 Michigan State to Beaver Stadium for a hockey game and 74,575 fans packed out the venue to watch the Nittany Lions and Spartans play in an incredible event.
Absolute scenes!! #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/n0Fbd0VQTe
— Penn State Mens Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) January 31, 2026
The top-five clash of teams lived up to the setting and ranking. Penn State and Michigan State battled to a 4-4 standstill in regulation before Spartan forward Charlie Stramel snuck through an overtime game-winner to complete a hat trick of goals for himself on the day.
ICYMI
Ohio State Hires Former Illinois Special Teams Coordinator Robby Discher
Better special teams have been a top priority for Ohio State this offseason. After adding a new kicker through the transfer portal in Connor Hawkins (Baylor) and competition at punter in Brady Young (Houston Christian), Ryan Day is reportedly set to bring in a bona fide special teams coordinator, Robby Discher.
Ryan Day Calls Legend Bey the "Poor Man's Tyreek Hill"
Ohio State's head coach compared incoming prospect Legend Bey to one of the fastest and most dynamic players in NFL history, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, on his radio show Friday. There's a chance Buckeye fans get their first taste of his talents in his freshman year, with a potential return role in special teams on the horizon.
Grading Ohio State's 2025 Offense, Defense
We handed out grades to each position group on both sides of the ball for the Buckeyes in 2025. Spoiler: The defense graded out better than the offense.
What's Next
- Women's basketball: vs. Nebraska, 6 p.m. Sunday
- Men's basketball: at Maryland, 8:30 p.m. Thursday
- Wrestling: vs. Iowa, 8 p.m. Friday
- 216 days: Ohio State football opens season vs. Ball State
- 300 days: Ohio State hosts Michigan for The Game
