Buckeye Talk: Ohio State podcast by cleveland.com
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The latest analysis on Ohio State football, basketball and recruiting from cleveland.com's Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis. Usually, quite a good time.
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20 hours ago
Ryan Day, Marcus Freeman and people with something to prove in Ohio State’s game against Notre Dame: Buckeye Talk Podcast
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis take a unique angle in discussing Ohio State's primetime matchup with Notre Dame.
This is the first like-minded opponent either side has played this season in a matchup that could end up having significant implications for the College Football Playoff. But there are also a few individual storylines that are just as important. We're trying to figure out which of those people have the most to prove on Saturday.
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1 day ago
What Ohio State's loss to Georgia taught us about how Ryan Day will handle the Notre Dame game
When Ohio State back-doored its way into the College Football Playoff last season Ryan Day vowed that the world would see a more aggressive side of him and his program. Then he backed it up against Georgia, even if it still led to a one-point loss. But that game breathed new life into the program's future under Day while also setting a new standard for what to expect from his teams. The first three games haven't required that version of him to come out. But heading into a top-10 matchup with Notre Dame on the road, it may be finally time to bring that side out.
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Bard and Andrew Gillis talk about Day's approach to Saturday's game plus a discussion about what bother DAy and Jim Knowles may be ready to unleash in a talent-equated matchup.
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2 days ago
Tavien St. Clair and a conversation about Ohio State's in-state quarterback legacy
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State's 2025 quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair.
Even before Ryan Day showed up the Buckeyes had had an impressive run of in-state quarterbacks who would go on to do impressive things in Columbus, some of them turning into Heisman Trophy winners and others leading the team to national titles. But can St. Clair one day develop into both as a fast-rising prospect that could one day earn five-star status?
Plus a look ahead to what the quarterback room could look like by the time he arrives.
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3 days ago
Kyle McCord or Sam Hartman: Who has the better quarterback between Ohio State and Notre Dame?
The level of competition on Ohio State's schedule is about to take a significant step up as the program got through its first three weeks 3-0.
Wins over Indiana and Youngstown Sta were about the Buckeyes figuring out the rest of its two-deeps specifically at the starting quarterback spot where Kyle McCord and Devin Brown’s battle continued on. A 63-10 win over Western Kentucky on Saturday was about solidifying that two deep and building momentum toward the future.
That mission can be deemed a success. Now it’s time to find out how good this team can be with an early test in the former of a primetime, top-10 matchup with Notre Dame. On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird take a look back at OSU’s win over the Hilltoppers while also getting an early look at its next opponent: The Fighting Irish.
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4 days ago
What Ohio State's dominant win over Western Kentucky tells us about its matchup with Notre Dame
Ohio State spent the past week picking a quarterback and taking the necessary steps toward preparing for a schedule that was about to get much tougher.
Those actions showed in a 63-10 win over Western Kentucky where the offense looks closer to what we’ve come to expect from the Buckeyes and the defense wreaked havoc for 60 minutes. It was a good way to punctuate the end of what has felt like the college football version of a preseason.
But that’s over now and all that matters is figuring out what we can take from the dominant win and apply to what is coming next Saturday when OSU heads to Notre Dame. On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis explore just that.
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6 days ago
Ohio State's secondary gets challenged while the offense rallies behind Kyle McCord against Western Kentucky.
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's home game against Western Kentucky and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed:
The bulk of the conversation is centered around a question from a text subscriber: 'What should we consider success against this WKU high-powered offense?'
Then we flip that question around on the offense discussing what success looks like for a unit that is locked in on Kyle McCord being its starting quarterback
Then per usual, Stephen kicks the two off the pod and invites Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the game from a gambling perspective.
Then the trio returns to make their game picks.
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Sep 14, 2023
Ohio State rapid fire: Kyle McCord, Devin Brown and a threat to the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff resume
This Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions about practically everything under the sun.
Among the topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis:
Kyle McCord is Ohio State's starting quarterback in 2023. But does that mean he’s guaranteed to keep it in 2024 if he comes back?
Are the new play clock rules costing the Buckeyes’ “styles points” on their College Football Playoff resume?
Our thoughts on Devin Brown’s explosiveness as a runner, or lack thereof;
Jim Knowles’ new “feast or famine” philosophy;
Where to rank the winner of the Ohio State-Notre Dame game;
Plus plenty more including bagel preferences, journalism journeys and thoughts on the OSU fan base.
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Sep 13, 2023
Will naming Kyle McCord the starting quarterback result in Ohio State's offense getting back to being explosive?
Ryan Day has finally named an official starting quarterback for the 2023 season. Kyle McCord started the first two games but was still technically in a battle with Devin Brown to win the role. Now that competition has concluded and Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what that means for Ohio State's offense going forward. Afterward, they react to Day's displeasure with the offensive execution, especially on third down. Then they wrap up with what Jim Knowles had to say about the defensive line and a freshman safety who had been turning heads all offseason.
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Sep 12, 2023
Ohio State’s cornerback recruiting success is being built by homegrown talent
It's another Tuesday Buckeye Talk which means that Stephen Means and Andrew Giillis talk Ohio State recruiting.
The bulk of the conversation is around 2025 target Dorien Brew as the latest in what's been a run of talented cornerbacks in the Buckeyes backyard. Andrew went to watch the five-star prospect to get an idea as to what OSU would be getting if it lands him.
After that, we get inside the mind of Andrew Gillis providing yet another opportunity for the listeners to get to know him with a little football talk.
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Sep 11, 2023
Breaking down Ohio State's 35-7 win over Youngstown State
Stephen Means and Nathan Baird are back with another Monday podcast that still doesn't have a name, but has a purpose. They will break down Ohio State's 35-7 win over Youngstown State. Per usual, breaking down the home opener is broken up into three categories:
Quarterback Talk: Discussing the best and worst thing we saw from Kyle McCord and Devin Brown and if their upside flashed in any capacity
Offensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the offense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
Defensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the defense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
Then they'll close things out every week by answering one question: Did the Buckeyes look like a College Football Playoff team?
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Sep 9, 2023
Kyle McCord, Devin Brown and Ohio State's quarterback battle that's already over
Ohio State improved to 2-0 after its 35-7 win over Youngstown State, but the more important detail comes down to one spot: quarterback.
Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use this postgame Buckeye Talk to discuss the status of the ongoing quarterback battle between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown is still that. Or if McCord used the first two weeks to solidify what the trip already thought coming into the season. Whether Ryan Day is ready to publicly admit it or not.
That drives most of the conversation plus a small discussion on the offensive line's progress — or lack thereof — and on the play of the defense.
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Sep 8, 2023
Can anything meaningful come out of Ohio State's game against Youngstown State? Buckeye Talk Podcast
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's home opener against Youngstown State and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed:
The conversation starts by trying to figure out how to talk about a matchup between one of the nation's most prominent programs and a middle-of-the-pack FCS school
Then the trio discuss what OSU can show on offense and defense to let them know there was improvement coming off Week 1, even if it won't be easy to see it actually play out.
Then again Stephen kicks the two off the pod and invites Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the game from a gambling perspective.
Then the trio returns to make their game picks.
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Sep 7, 2023
Devin Brown, C.J. Hicks and 13 other Ohio State football players to watch in the home-opener: Buckeye Talk Podcast
Ohio State football’s home opener is against a middle-of-the-pack FCS school which means it’s probably going to win by 50.
The services of its stars, starters and established players won’t be needed for very long for OSU to walk away with a win over Youngstown State. So Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis aren’t going to spend any time talking about those guys.
Instead, they’ll be talking about the players behind them who will each be getting extended playing. Maybe those extra snaps lead to something more this season, or maybe it’s just a preview of what is to come. Either way, the Thursday pod is all about the future as the trio drafts the players they’re most interested in watching against the Penguins
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Sep 6, 2023
Is Ohio State football's quarterback competition actually still a competition?
Ryan Day isn’t planning on changing his approach to the quarterbacks when Ohio State plays its home opener against Youngstown State on Saturday.
Once again Kyle McCord will start with the plan being for Devin Brown to play. Given the opponent, it is fair to assume Brown will play more than the seven snaps he was allotted against the Hoosiers. But will it actually mean anything or is the quarterback competition already over?
Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss that on this Wednesday Buckeyes Talk plus Day’s thoughts on the offensive line play which he stated wasn't something he felt wasn't correctable.
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Sep 5, 2023
Breaking down Ohio State's top offensive line commit Ian Moore
Prior to covering Ohio State's season-opener against Indiana, Andrew Gillis spent Friday night watching 2024 offensive line commit Ian Moore and Stephen Means wants to know what he saw.
Moore is rated as the nation’s No. 128 player and No. 7 interior offensive lineman out of New Palestine High School in Indiana. The Buckeyes have recruited him as a tackle. On this Tuesday’s recruiting Buckeye Talk, Stephen and Andrew broke down OSU’s highest-rated offensive lineman and how the four-star recruit fits into the program’s future.
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Sep 4, 2023
Breaking down Ohio State's 23-3 win over Indiana
Buckeye Talk's in-season Monday pod is debuting a new format where Stephen Means and Nathan Baird the game starting with the season-opener against Indiana in which Ohio State won 23-3. Each week the breakdown will be broken up into three categories:
Quarterback Talk: Discussing the best and worst thing we saw from the QB and if his upside flashed in any capacity
Offensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the offense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
Defensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the defense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game
Then they'll close things out every week by answering one question: Did the Buckeyes look like a College Football Playoff team?
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Sep 2, 2023
Kyle McCord's debut, a dominant defense and Ohio State’s potential Achilles Heel: Buckeye Talk Podcast
Ohio State got its 28th-straight win over Indiana opening up the 2023 season with a 23-3 win on the road and now it is time to talk about it.
On this postgame Saturday pod, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis start by reacting to Kyle McCord’s second start as a Buckeye and first start against a Big Ten — or even a Power Five — opponent where he threw for 239 yards but failed to throw a touchdown. They also discuss the usage — or lack thereof — of Devin Brown as QB2.
Following some quarterback talk, it’s time to talk about the defense that limited the Hoosiers to a field goal and 153 yards. Then they wrap up by discussing the one part of this roster that might end up being its Achilles Heal if it’s not fixed over the next two weeks.
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Sep 1, 2023
Can Indiana keep up with Ohio State? Buckeyes Game Preview
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's season-opener against Indiana and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed:
The conversation starts by getting to know the Hoosiers and their dozens of newcomers by way of the transfer portal.
Then Stephen asked Nathan and Andrew a simple question: What can OSU show on offense and defense to let you know the rosters on a national championships trajectory?
Afterward, Stephen kicks the two off the pod and invites Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the game from a gambling perspective.
Finally, the trio returns to make their game picks. But not before a lengthy discussion about milkshakes because who doesn't like a good milkshake?
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Aug 31, 2023
Ohio State rapid fire: new play clock rules, the offensive line and getting to know a new host
This Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions about practically everything under the sun.
Among the topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis:
How Ohio State can adapt to the new play clock rules in college football;
What a successful day looks like in the Buckeyes’ season-opener against Indiana for the offensive line;
What the world can learn about OSU, Penn State and Michigan in Week 1 given all three are heavy favorites;
Explaining why Ohio State uses its best and most veteran weapons as return specialists;
Pressbox go-toes when it comes to food and;
A handful of questions that are directed at Andrew as the texters still get to know Buckeye Talk’s newest member.
Plus there is a quick journey down memory road to a time when Stephen once thought he was invincible. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Aug 30, 2023
Ohio State has named its next starting quarterback, for now
Ohio State has finally picked its starting quarterback...well, sort of.
Ryan Day announced on Tuesday that Kyle McCord will take the first snap in the season opener against Indiana, but that the plan is for Devin Brown to also play meaningful snaps. So of course Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis had to break down what that means and what that could look like. Then Stephen puts Nathan and Andrew in the shoes of Day asking them how they would handle the quarterback situation to start the season given the current known facts.
That carries the bulk of the pod, but there's also a short discussion about the defense based on Jim Knowles revealing that there is still one position battle taking place in the secondary.
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Aug 29, 2023
Discussing Ohio State's remaining recruiting targets
On this Tuesday pod, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State's 2024 recruiting class which heads into the fall with 22 commits and the nation's No. 2 class.
Most of the work for the class has been one, but there are still a few targets left on the board that the Buckeyes hope to land by Signing Day.As OSU shifts its main focus to preparing for games every Saturday, Stephen and Andrew discuss those targets while figuring out its chances of finishing with the nation’s top class.
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Aug 28, 2023
Will Ohio State end the four-team College Football Playoff era the same way it began? Mark It Down Monday
The 2023 college football season has arrived, and Stephen Means, Nathan Bard and Andrew Gillis are making their playoff picks on the final Mark It Down Monday before the Ohio State Buckeyes open the season on the road against Indiana on Saturday.
The conversation starts by discussing which team's odds they'd be willing to take on winning the national title. Then it's on to sharing all four of their playoff teams before picking the winners of those semifinals and picking College Football National Champions.
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Aug 25, 2023
Ranking Ohio State's top 15 defensive players heading into the 2023 season
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Bard and Andrew Gillis (with the help of the text subscribers) complete the second part of its two-day process of deciding who Ohio State's best players are coming into the the 2023 season.
On Thursday that meant figuring out the top 15 players on offense headlined by Marvin Harrison Jr. being the clear top choice. Now it's time to do the same on defense though this time there was more of a competition for No. 1. In fact, there were a few places where multiple people had claim for why they deserved to be on the list.
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Aug 24, 2023
Ranking Ohio State's top 15 offensive players heading into the 2023 season
On this Thurday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Bard and Andrew Gillis (with the help of the text subscribers) decide who Ohio State's top 15 offensive players are in the only way they know how, by drafting.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was the obvious choice for the top spot on this list, but that doesn’t mean he was the unanimous choice. But the most intriguing part of the conversation was figuring out where to put Kyle McCord or Devin Brown on this list given neither has won the starting quarterback job yet. The topic created a spicier conversation than you might have anticipated.
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Aug 23, 2023
A new president, freshmen wide receivers and Ryan Day wants to keep calling plays: Buckeye Talk Podcast
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss a wide range of topics:
First Stephen poses a question about whether any of Ohio State's freshman wide receivers can carve out a role even though the top four are all back
Then a discuss about OSU's reportedly new president hire Ted Carter and what it means in finding Gene Smith's replacement as Athletic Director
Finally, the trio talk about Ryan Day's decision to continue calling plays for the 2023 season.
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Aug 22, 2023
Is Ohio State going to start the season playing two quarterbacks?
Ohio State has to play a football game in less than 14 days and it still doesn't have a starting quarterback, but that doesn't have to be a negative. Kyle McCord and Devin Brown continue to battle to be the Buckeyes' next starter and coming out of their second scrimmage of fall camp Ryan Day still thinks its neck-and-neck, but for all the right reasons. Now there is a chance that he could be coming around on the idea of having the competition leak over into the first few weeks of the season.
Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss that plus OSU solidifying its offensive line plus a few starters on defense. Then they get into a conversation about the jack and how much — or how little — Jim Knowles plans to use it this year.
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Aug 21, 2023
Can Ohio State continue its run of Heisman Trophy finalists? Mark It Down Monday
It’s another Mark It Down Monday, and as the 2023 college football season draws near, it’s time for Stephen Means and Nathan Baird to check in with some major predictions.
In this episode, it’s the Heisman Trophy and Ohio State's recent history of finalists at quarterback. The last three starting quarterbacks have all made their way to New York at least once, but none have ever left with the trophy. Can that change this season regardless of who wins the quarterback battle between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, or will that streak finally end?
They each provide who they think will be the top three for the award, which includes one former OSU quarterback whose career in Columbus was limited to six months and two snaps. Then they reveal who they think will walk away with the award.
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Aug 18, 2023
Can Ohio State’s 2023 defensive line be the deepest it’s ever had? Buckeye Talk Podcast
Larry Johnson has had some impressive rooms during his time as Ohio State's defensive line coach and many of those rooms were headlined by Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa or Chase Young. He's four years removed from having any of those players at his disposal and that's shown up in the room's production. But that may be on the verge of changing in 2023 but not because it has one superstar. Johnson's room is filled with potential stars who all may be ready to finally put it all together. Will that depth mean the return of elite defensive play in Columbus?
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Aug 17, 2023
Cade Stover, Joe Royer, Keenan Bailey and a discussion about Ohio State's 2023 tight end usage
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, the discussion is all about the tight ends as Keenan Bailey enters his first season as a full-time assistant coach for Ohio State. Bailey pointed out that Cade Stover played 58 snaps per game last season (709 total) which is entirely too much in an offense that relies heavily on its tight ends. Stover returns as the proven commodity, but have a healthy Joe Royer and Gee Scott Jr. proven ready to help the fifth-year senior carry some of the load?
Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss that, plus a random conversation about chain pizza restaurants and Stover's growing list of farmer euphemisms.
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Aug 16, 2023
Josh Simmons, Carson Hinzman, Luke Montgomery, Justin Frye and Ohio State's offensive line battles
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis are talking offensive line after meeting with seven Ohio State offensive linemen and Buckeyes' offensive line coach Justin Frye on Tuesday.
The topics on this episode include:
OSU's tackle competitions and whether Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar have already locked up the starting jobs
Can Tegra Tshabola and Luke Montgomery set themselves up to be Ohio State's future
The ongoing competition between Carson Hinzman and Vic Cutler to be the Buckeyes' next starting center.
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Aug 15, 2023
Why Ryan Day feels there still isn't a leader in Ohio State's quarterback battle
Ryan Day provided an update on how Ohio State's first scrimmage of fall camp went as it continues to prepare for the 2023 season.
No one expected him to name a starting quarterback, but there was a thought that he’d potentially reveal who may be starting to separate. Instead, he talked about what would need to happen for him to do so as Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis react.
Among the things the trio discussed on this Tuesday Buckeye Talk:
Neither Kyle McCord or Devin Brown have started separating n the quarterback battle, but should that be a reason for panic?
Day emphatic champions Treveyon Henderson as the former five-star running back enters his third season.
Day isn’t ready to name starters yet, but has OSU already found its best five on the offensive line
Where are the Buckeyes in the preseason Associated Press Poll and where would the BUckeye Talk crew have voted them?
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Aug 14, 2023
Ohio State football 2023 stat predictions, from TreVeyon Henderson rushing yards to Emeka Egbuka receiving yards: Mark It Down Monday
On this almost two-hour-long Buckeye Talk Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis make some interesting stat predictions for Ohio State's 2023 season. Here are the stat topics the trio discussed:
Defensive tackles playing the most snaps
How many yards per play will the defense give up
TreVeyon Henderson's rushing yards
Miyan Williams' rushing attempts
How many carries will Dallan have
Emeka Egbuka's receiving yards
Julian Fleming's catches
Who will be fourth among receivers in catches
Cade Stover receptions
The passing yards and touchdowns of the eventual winner of the starting quarterback battle between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown
How many yards per play will the offensive average
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Aug 11, 2023
How many positions on Ohio State's roster are championship-caliber?
On this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the 2023 Ohio State roster by deciding which positions they think are championship caliber. But first, they detail the second full practice they were able to watch, though the 12-period session was much shorter than normal as the Buckeyes prepare for their first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday. Then the debate begins breaking down the defensive line, offensive line, linebackers, running backs, wide receivers, cornerbacks, quarterbacks and tight ends.
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Aug 9, 2023
What Gene Smith’s retirement means for Ohio State football: Buckeye Talk Podcast
Gene Smith is retiring and it could mean everything to the Ohio State football program. Smith has spent almost 20 years as OSU's Athletic Director becoming one of the more influential people in college sports in the process. He arrived in 2005 while Jim Tressel was head coach, placed Luke Fickell in charge in 2011 following 'Tattoo Gate', brought in Urban Meyer resulting in a national title in 2014 then found Meyer's successor in Ryan Day who's headed the program since 2019.
On this Thursday episode, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Smith's decision and what it means for the future of the Ohio State football program in a national landscape that seems to be changing by the year. Plus an update from Ryan Day as OSU heads into its first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday.
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Aug 9, 2023
Sonny Styles, Lathan Ransom and the potential depth in Ohio State's safety room
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss their interviews Tuesday with safeties coach Perry Eliano and several Ohio State safeties.
Covered in this episode:
Have the Buckeyes already found its top three safeties?
Why the 2023 safety room can be better than the 2022 room
Can Sonny Styles contend for the title of being OSU’s best defensive player?
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Aug 8, 2023
How will Ohio State handle its deep, talented running back room?
Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis talked with Ohio State's running backs on Saturday as Tony Alford discussed what might be his deepest room since he joined the staff in 2015.
It also meant talking with Dallan Hayden, TreVeyon Henderson, Evan Pryor and Miyan Williams. Covered in this episode;
How does Evan Pryor fit into the equation after missing all of 2022 with an injury?
Has Dallan Hayden already claimed the role of RB3 and can he build on a quality freshman year?
Will Chip Trayanum's role extend past special teams?
What more can Miyan Williams show us this season?
Can TreVeyon Henderson complete the J.K. Dobbins arc with an All-American-level junior season?
Then the trio have a short convo on the vibe around Ohio State's recruiting after losing the battle for five-star safety K.J. Bolden to Florida State
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Aug 7, 2023
Predicting Ohio State’s 22 starters vs. Indiana: Mark It Down Monday
It's a Mark It Down Monday on Buckeye Talk, and this one deals with Ohio State's season-opener against Indiana on Sept. 2.
Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis mark down start for the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball in that game.
It's a way for the trio to talk about the Ohio State position battles while also putting them on the spot for a prediction: Name the 11 players who will take the first snap on offense and the 11 who will take the first snap on defense.
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Aug 4, 2023
What Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten means for Ohio State: Emergency Pod
The Big Ten might be on the verge of expanding...again.A year after the announcement that USC and UCLA would be leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, reports have now come out that they may be bringing others.
In this emergency Friday pod, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the potential additions of Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten. Then three trio discuss the only important topic in this potential 18-team Big Ten: Does it actually matter to the Ohio State football program?
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Aug 4, 2023
Ohio State starts 2023 fall camp: Day 1, what we saw and heard
Ohio State went through its first day of fall camp practice and the media was able to watch all of it.
Right after Jim Knowles and the rest of the linebackers spoke with a much healthier group than they had in the spring. That means there’s a lot to talk about. Among the things Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discussed:
Does Kyle McCord already have the edge over Devin Brown in the quarterback battle?
What’s the word on the starting offensive line?
Jim Knowles names the Buckeyes’ starting cornerbacks
There’s a second-year safety who may be ready to breakout
A captain on defense that’s changing positions
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Aug 3, 2023
Driving the bus for Ohio State Buckeyes ready to break out in 2023
The time has come once again on Buckeye Talk to drive the bus as Ohio State prepares for the 2023 season. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird, Andrew Gillis and the texters offer up the Ohio State football players they believe in the most for the 2022 season. But before getting into that, Stephen and Nathan provide updates from Ryan Day and the quarterbacks as they preview fall camp. Then the fun begins as the guys claim their buses and find out if their thought process aligned with the texters
Thanks, as always, for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Aug 2, 2023
Previewing Ohio State’s defense heading into fall camp: Buckeye Talk Podcast
Ohio State will open up fall camp on Thursday as it starts preparation for the 2023 season.
Jim Knowles enters his second year as defensive coordinator and brings back with him a ton of experience why also adding a few key pieces in the transfer portal. Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss OSU’s defense and some things they’re interested to find out.
As part of the discussion:
Will C.J. Hicks push for time with the starting linebackers?
How will the defensive line rotation play out?
Will Sonny Styles claim a starting safety role and who else will start alongside Lathan Ransom?
Is this the most depth Ohio State’s had at cornerback in the Ryan Day era?
Will the Jack finally make its proper debut thanks to a healthy Mitchell Melton?
Thanks, as always, for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Aug 1, 2023
Previewing Ohio State’s offense heading into fall camp
Ohio State will open up fall camp on Thursday as it starts preparation for the 2023 season.
While quarterback is the most interesting topic for the Buckeyes on offense as they replace C.J. Stroud, it’s not the other player where there are questions. Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss OSU’s offense and some things they’re interested to find out about.
As part of the discussion:
Things start with a discussion about what’s happening on the recruiting trail where the Buckeyes spent the past five days getting both good and bad news across multiple classes.
What will the offensive line look like on Day 1 and how will it evolve over the next month?
Cade Stover is the starting tight end. But in a room with six scholarship players is there legitimate depth behind him?
Brian Hartline returns all three starting wide receivers while a battle carries on behind them. Can anyone start making headway to be a starter in 2024?
With five talented options, how will Tony Alford handle thin…
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Jul 31, 2023
Predicting Ohio State’s 2023 first-team All-Americans: Mark It Down Monday
It's another Mark it Down Monday as Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss who they think will be the next Ohio State players to earn trees in Buckeye Grove as first-team All-Americans. As part of the discuss the three talk:
Can Marvin Harrison Jr. repeat as a unanimous selection and if so, can another wide receiver potentially join him in Buckeye Grove?
Will a defensive player earn the honor after no having a single player do so for the past three seasons?
OSU has constantly had elite quarterback play, but had one earn a tree since 2006. Does that drought end in 2023?
How many first-team All-Americans will Ohio State have and which side of the ball will have more?
Thanks, as always, for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jul 28, 2023
Kenyatta Jackson, Luke Montgomery and the Ohio State players who might surprise you in 2023
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis wrap up the 2023 Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis while also answering a few questions from our texters Here’s what’s discussed:
Can Luke Montgomery push for a significant role on the offensive line as a true freshman? And the overall status of the offensive line.
Is Sonny Styles ready to claim a starting spot?
Will Kenyatta build on a quality spring on his way to carving out a role on the defensive line? And the overall status of the defensive line.
How will Ohio State handle a deep running back room?
What will be the most ‘exciting’ and ‘boring’ games on the Buckeyes’ schedule?
Which player and/or position group will surprise people this season?
Thanks, as always, for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jul 27, 2023
Jim Harbaugh vs. Luke Fickell: Who's the bigger threat to Ohio State's Big Ten future?
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis are reporting from the second day of Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis. Here’s what’s discussed:
How would the Big Ten refs have handled Marvin Harrison Jr.’s non-targeting call in the Sugar Bowl?
Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines speak as the reigning Big Ten champion while Luke Fickell makes his official media day debut as Wisconsin’s head coach
Can Fickell make the Badgers a bigger threat to Ohio State's title hopes than the Wolverines?
Thanks, as always, for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jul 27, 2023
Is Ryan Day open to moving the Ohio State-Michigan game?
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis are reporting from Big Ten media days in Indianapolis. Here’s what’s discussed:
What’s the status of the quarterback battle between Devin Brown and Kyle McCord?
Marvin Harrison Jr., Cade Stover and J.T. Tuimoloau serve as team representatives. What did each have to say about the upcoming season?
Ryan Day isn’t against moving the Ohio State-Michigan game once the 12-team playoff arrives. Does he have a point?
Thanks, as always, for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jul 25, 2023
Has Ohio State fallen behind Michigan as the face of the Big Ten?
Once again the Big Ten refuses to put out actual preseason awards or season predictions. So for the 13th straight year, Cleveland.com takes on the responsibility with the annual Preseason Big Ten Poll. With that poll released, here’s what Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and newcomer Andrew Gillis discuss:
This is a poll that Ohio State has often dominated as the standard of the conference, but is that starting to change?
Marvin Harrison Jr. is clearly the Big Ten’s best offensive player, but is he best positioned to win the postseason award that goes along with the status?
Who will win Defensive Player of the Year in a season loaded with options?
Which team has the toughest road environment?
Thanks, as always, for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jul 24, 2023
Ohio State loses a linebacker to Notre Dame and answering your questions about ... us
Welcome to our first podcast with the new crew of Nathan, Stephen and Andrew Gillis. We start things off with a discussion of Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa's commitment to Notre Dame. He had been the first player Ohio State offered in the 2024 class, and until recently, he was considered a Buckeye lean. What does his decision mean for what OSU will do at linebacker now with two commitments already at the position? Also, what does his commitment mean in the ongoing recruiting battle with Notre Dame?
Then we get into our Buckeye Talk Subtext subscriber questions about the future of our podcast. Among the topics discussed:
• What, if anything, will change?
• Will the pods be shorter now?
• Who will do impressions of players and coaches around the country?
• What are Andrew's hot food takes?
• Is Andrew any good at picking games?
• Our reaction to OSU selling tickets to practices for NIL income
• What do we think of the alternate uniforms for the Michigan State game?
That and more a…
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Jul 21, 2023
A goodbye, a hello, and fighting robots in Ohio State coverage
On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, a torch is passed. This is the final Buckeye Talk episode for Doug Lesmerises as a cleveland.com employee (maybe he'll be allowed back as a guest one day) and the first Buckeye Talk for a new addition to cleveland.com's coverage of Ohio State and this podcast.
How this ep goes down:
(0:30) Thoughts about covering Ohio State
(8:12) Introduction of the newest member of Buckeye Talk (you must listen to meet him!)
(15:29) What Joe Burrow is like in the NFL
(22:55) Balancing OSU coverage
(25:31) What will AI mean for the future of sports coverage? (This is the robot part)
(29:53) The role of Buckeye Talk in cleveland.com's OSU coverage
(49:12) The future of Buckeye Talk
(1:12:44) A final goodbye
Thanks, as always, for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jul 20, 2023
Inside Ohio State's path to a national championship in 2023
Can the Ohio State Buckeyes win the national title this season? On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird dive into that question.
The idea isn't necessarily to answer it, though there are some playoff and national title picks at the end of the pod.
But the idea is to run through the real hurdles that Ohio State would have to overcome to win it all. And are those hurdles inside the program or outside it?
(0:30) First comes a look at Ohio State from 2019 to 2022 and what it was that kept the Buckeyes from winning it all those seasons
(23:46) Then it's a look into this year, with text subscribers chiming in about the chances of a title compared to last season
(1:06:07) Then Doug runs through recent history and what obstacles stopped the Buckeyes when they didn't win titles between 2005 and 2018
(1:13:20) Finally, it's time for some picks about this season.
This is Doug's penultimate Buckeye Talk, which is why it was time to talk national titl…
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Jul 19, 2023
Favorite Ohio State memories and a Buckeye Talk announcement
This Wednesday Buckeye Talk episode begins with an announcement and then continues with nearly three hours of appreciation.
Doug Lesmerises is leaving cleveland.com and Buckeye Talk. The pod will continue with Nathan Baird and Stephen Means and a potential addition, and you'll find Doug somewhere else out there in podcast land pursuing a chance he couldn't turn down.
Doug will be on two more episodes on Thursday and Friday, but on this episode he answers more than 40 questions from text subscribers about his favorite Ohio State games, players, coaches and memories, and his favorite episodes and aspects of Buckeye Talk.
This went super long, but there was a lot to remember, and a lot for Doug to be grateful about. This podcast audience has been the highlight of his career, and he wouldn't be where he is without these listeners.
So strap in for lots of memories ... or skip this one and look forward to next week and the new future of Buckeye Talk.
Thanks for making Buckeye Talk part of yo…
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Jul 18, 2023
Preseason preview with Phil Steele -- The Big Ten East has 3 of the 5 best teams
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Phil Steele -- from Phil Steele's College Football Preview -- to talk about the 2023 college football season.
Among the subjects covered:
Why the Big Ten has four of the five best running back rooms in the country
Comparing Ohio State's receivers to everyone else
Michigan's offensive line
Penn State's defense
Wisconsin as a surprise team
How Western Kentucky and Notre Dame might fare against the Buckeyes
Are Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State three of the five best teams in the country?
Plus condolences at the end of the pod to Ohio State freshman receiver Carnell Tate on the death of his mother, Ashley.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jul 17, 2023
Where should Ohio State be ranked in the preseason? Plus life as a tourist and restaurant etiquette on Monday Madness
On this Monday Madness from Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are talking preseason polls and Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eating', Whatcha Thinkin'?
First, (0:30) they dive into Ohio State's history in the Associated Press preseason poll. How are the Buckeyes viewed with a returning QB vs. when they have a new QB? And what does that mean for the 2023 Buckeyes, who will have a new starting quarterback? Doug and Nathan predict where they will, and should be, ranked.
Then (21:41) it's a look at the bigger picture and who should be and will be No. 1 in the preseason poll. Where will Michigan be ranked compared to Ohio State? And in the cleveland.com preseason Big Ten poll that will drop next week, which team is the likely favorite?
Finally (42:31) it's talk about watching, eating and thinking.
That includes a boring movie and an exciting TV show; Pizza Hut in Paris; and whether being a tourist is a good or bad thing, and how you should handle an unsatisfactory meal in a restaura…
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Jul 14, 2023
Change one game: The Ohio State loss to Georgia, Michigan State, Florida, Michigan, Clemson, etc. the Buckeyes would want to reverse
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises are playing off the Thursday episode that dug into the 1998 Ohio State-Michigan State game. Was that the most devastating loss in Ohio State history? The one game that fans would want to reverse the outcome of?
Or would it be another game, maybe a loss by a great OSU team with national title hopes to an opponent like Michigan, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, USC or another team?
Doug made a top-10 list of the results he thinks the Buckeyes would most want to change, and Nathan gathered an array of answers from text subscribers to come up with their list of the most popular games to undo.
It makes for an interesting look at the long, successful history of Ohio State by examining how many times a single loss in a season kept them from a title.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jul 14, 2023
Ohio State vs. Michigan State 1998 -- Pain and lessons from a great team's only loss on Buckeye ReTalkables
It's another edition of Buckeye ReTalkables on Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird look back on and discuss Ohio State's 28-24 loss to Michigan State in 1998 season.
The Buckeyes were No. 1 coming into this game in this first year of the BCS, and this upset in Ohio Stadium was the only loss of the year for this John Cooper team.
Michigan State was an average team coming in, but was coached by legend in the making Nick Saban, and the Spartans had future high first-round picks on both sides of the ball.
Ohio State featured five future first-round picks on defense and a high-powered passing offense that makes for some interesting comparisons to the 2023 Ohio State offense, from Joe Germaine at quarterback to Michael Wiley at running back to David Boston at receiver.
This is a painful rewatch and discussion for Ohio State fans, but there's a lot of interesting college football history to discuss and maybe some lessons to be learned.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jul 12, 2023
The traffic pod: Merging, driverless cars, Ohio State gameday plans, and idiots on the road
It's finally the traffic podcast you've been promised on this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises is joined by Ohio State professor Dr. Benjamin Coifman.
Dr. Coifman is a traffic expert who studies traffic flow and driver dynamics, among other things, and he's here to talk about all the things that drive you nuts on the road and the way we maybe can all be a bit better out there.
The topics:
(0:30) How people think they drive compared to other people
(9:05) Ohio State traffic on gameday and how the school handles it
(16:28) Leaving gaps at a traffic light
(23:06) Roundabouts
(28:24) Etiquette when merging in construction
(36:22) When traffic appears for no reason
(42:32) What individual drivers can do to help traffic
(48:15) The future of autonomous vehicles
We like the occasional off-topic offseason pod, and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jul 11, 2023
Northwestern fires Pat Fitzgerald as college leadership stumbles again
Pat Fitzgerald was fired as the head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats on Monday, and though this is Buckeye Talk and a podcast about Ohio State, that kind of Big Ten news merits a discussion. And there are Ohio State lessons involved with this from how the Buckeyes handled Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer in the past.
Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird discuss this mess from several angles:
(0:30) Reaction to the Fitzgerald firing
(10:05) How would Ohio State have handled this situation?
(22:06) The constant balance around the power of a football coach
(42:29) Where will the Northwestern football program go from here?
(50:00) A final wrap from Doug, including Fitzgerald's statement
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jul 10, 2023
Tommy Eichenberg's legacy and Ohio State's leading tackler: Mark It Down Monday
Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg ranked second in the Big Ten in tackles last season while earning second-team All-American. He's back, so will he lead the Buckeyes in tackles again?
On this Mark It Down Monday on Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about Eichenberg's potential place in Ohio State history, and then make their predictions on a tackle leader for this season.
(0:30) The player Eichenberg has been, and could be in 2023
(22:58) Other candidates to lead the Buckeyes in tackles
(33:26) Marking down predictions for Ohio State's tackle leader and how many he'll have
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jul 7, 2023
The national title Ohio State should win; another recruit; the assistants to add; and more
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are hitting several topics on the Ohio State Buckeyes:
(0:52) The addition of cornerback recruit Miles Lockhart
(13:55) Would the Buckeyes rather win the national title in 2023 or 2024?
(30:28) Which Buckeye would the guys most and least want to box?
(39:29) If and when schools can hire more assistant coaches, what will the Buckeyes do?
(1:00:03) What's on a player and what's on a program when it comes to development?
(1:15:08) With an increase in playoff games, what will happen to old records?
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jul 6, 2023
The 10 greatest threats to Ohio State football
What are the greatest threats to the continued high-level success of Ohio State football? What are the internal issues that could trip up the Buckeyes? What Big Ten competition could make the future more difficult? How about changes on the evolving national college football landscape?
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, off a great suggestion from an Ohio State text subscriber, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means rank their 10 greatest threats to Ohio State football over the next five to 10 years.
And when it comes to those threats, how real are they? Doug and Stephen also discuss if they really believe there are multiple things that could shake the Buckeyes from their perch near the top of college football.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jul 4, 2023
Ohio State's defensive recruiting standard, with Justin Scott in and Marquise Lightfoot out
Justin Scott committed to Ohio State on Sunday, and Marquise Lightfoot picked Miami over the Buckeyes on Monday. It was two major defensive decisions as the Buckeyes try to get back to their old standard of recruiting on the defensive side of the ball.
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk (Happy 4th) Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means break down the state of talent acquisition on defense.
That starts with a long look at the decision of top-20 player and 310-pound defensive tackle Scott to choose the Buckeyes.
Then it's onto edge rusher Lightfoot picking the Hurricanes over Ohio State.
In that are long debates about the recruiting of defensive line coach Larry Johnson; of what the Buckeyes have done lately in the Chicago area (where both Scott and Lightfoot are from); and about the last time Ohio State landed a player like Scott.
The last part of the episode then focuses on comparing Ohio State defensive recruiting in 2024 to previous OSU defensive classes. And it outlines the major defensive ta…
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Jul 3, 2023
Does Ohio State need to throw more often? Mark It Down Monday
On this Mark It Down Monday, the statistical prediction is a little more complicated. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means aren't looking at an individual stat -- they are marking down what percent of plays for the 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes will be pass plays, and how many will be run plays.
To do that, they look at run-pass OSU percentages of the recent past; they compare the OSU passing game to other successful throwing teams like Washington and Tennessee; and they wonder how much Brian Hartline calling plays, the presence of a quarterback competition and other factors will affect the run-pass balance.
And then they mark it down. Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jul 1, 2023
Where Ohio State is 20 years ahead of Michigan
On this weekend Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is talking about the new national focus for Michigan, which has reportedly instituted a Beat Georgia practice period.
Doug theorizes (0:30) that means Ohio State is 20 years ahead of Michigan in being a national program.
Then he (11:35) compares the top-10 wins in the histories of the two programs and what that tells us about their national ambitions and success.
Finally (24:16) it's what a bit of a Georgia focus by the Wolverines would mean for the Ohio State-Michigan game.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Weird that it's this short, eh?
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Jun 29, 2023
The most dominant part of Ohio State's offense
What is the single most dominant aspect of Ohio State's offense? On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means give their answer to that question from an Ohio State text subscriber.
Doug is back from vacation (0:30) and ready to jabber, and that means everyone needs to be ready to give and defend their answers.
First Nathan (3:13), then Stephen (21:02), then Doug (48:38).
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jun 28, 2023
Are Ohio State and Michigan destined for overtime in The Game in 2023?
Ohio State and Michigan have played only one overtime game -- the 2016 classic that sent the Buckeyes to the playoff. Could they be destined for their second such outcome in The Game in Ann Arbor on Nov. 25? Tyler Shoemaker, Buckeye Talk's resident oddsmaker, joins the show to discuss his preseason power rankings. That includes a razor-thin margin for the regular-season finale at the Big House.
Tyler also discusses why Ohio State's offense remains so highly ranked despite many preseason questions, why the Buckeye defense is expected to be better and what his numbers say about the rest of the Big Ten Conference. While Tyler's numbers are meant to be compared to betting lines, what do they tell us about what we expect from the Buckeyes for reasons beyond the cold, hard numbers?
Discussion topics include:
• (1:30) Tyler explains the TSI and how he tweaked his system for 2023.
• (6:00) What the TSI predicts for Ohio State
• (7:45) Why the OSU-Michigan rankings caused Tyler to double…
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Jun 27, 2023
Predicting Aaron Scott, KJ Bolden, Eddrick Houston and more to complete Ohio State's 2024 recruiting class
With two more commitments from last weekend's batch of official visits, Ohio State now has 16 for its 2024 recruiting class. How large will that class grow -- and more importantly, who will be in it? Stephen Means gives Nathan Baird his predictions for what could be one of the highest-rated Buckeye classes in recent history.
• (2:00) Did Ohio State need commitments last weekend to build momentum into the summer?
• (4:00) Is the Glenville pipeline to OSU "reopened" or was it simply not flowing for a while?
• (8:30) How crucial is the Bryce West commitment, and where is his long-term fit in this secondary?
• (11:00) Does OSU also need a commitment from Aaron Scott to call cornerback recruiting a win for this cycle?
• (12:30) Does landing West help OSU also get a commitment from Scott?
• (14:30) What is the best comparable for Demarion Witten as an OSU tight end?
• (16:00) Why did Ohio State need a two tight-end class for 2024?
• (17:45) Discussing Buckeye Talk Subt…
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Jun 26, 2023
Does Ohio State need a big-time sack leader this season, and who could it be? Mark It Down Monday
Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall Jr. tied for the Ohio State team lead in sacks last season with 4.5. The year before, Haskell Garrett led the team with 5.5. In the last full season before that, Chase Young led the Buckeyes with 16.5.
That's quite a drop off.
So who will lead the Buckeyes in sacks in 2023, and how many will they have? Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means make their predictions on the latest Mark It Down Monday on Buckeye Talk.
(0:30) Does Ohio State need more sacks as a team to succeed?
(16:44) Discussing the candidates to lead the Buckeyes in sacks
(40:40) Marking down sack predictions for 2023
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jun 23, 2023
Ohio State-Michigan 2016 and a stunning revelation on the rewatch: Buckeye ReTalkables
It's time for another Buckeye Retalkables, and up on this episode of Buckeye Talk is Ohio State vs. Michigan from 2016, as the No. 2 Buckeyes hosted the No. 3 Wolverines.
This was Jim Harbaugh's second year as a head coach in the rivalry and the Wolverines, with a veteran team, had a real chance coming into Columbus. The Buckeyes prevailed 30-27 in double overtime thanks to Curtis Samuel, and in victory Urban Meyer considered this a legendary win for the Buckeyes.
More than six years removed, what do Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means think now?
There are all the usual ReTalkables categories, but this episode is really about two major revelations. Plus, there's some good Nick Bosa talk.
Thanks for listening to another ReTalkables on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jun 22, 2023
Tavien St. Clair commits as Ohio State wraps up camp season
Ohio State's summer camps wrapped up with a big commitment Wednesday. Bellefontaine's Tavien St. Clair completed his rise to the top of the Buckeyes' 2025 quarterback board. Stephen Means reports on how this commitment came together, what kind of player St. Clair is and how he fits in with the program's long-term quarterback project.
Stephen and Nathan also discussed former OSU 2024 quarterback commit Dylan Raiola's transfer from Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona, to Buford, Georgia. Not only is that the back yard of his future college program, Georgia, but it is the high school of two major OSU targets in the 2024 class. Where does the Buckeyes' pursuit of safety KJ Bolden and defensive end Eddrick Houston stand?
Finally, Stephen looks ahead to another round of official visits -- particularly a huge weekend for OSU's battle for two cornerbacks.
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Jun 21, 2023
Which young Buckeye will be Ohio State's 100th first-round draft pick?
Podcasting and text surveys shouldn't feel like homework, but for this edition of Buckeye Talk, they sort of did. So instead of only looking at the past, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are also predicting the future of Ohio State in the NFL Draft.
The last section of this episode is the top 16 picks in the Ultimate Ohio State Draft from the text subscribers. Where are they similar and different to what Doug, Nathan and Stephen did on their two episodes of the Ultimate Draft?
But the first two parts of the pod look at when Ohio State will get to 100 first-round picks. The Buckeyes currently lead all colleges with 90 first-rounders. When will No. 100 come -- in 2026? 2027? And which Buckeye could be that No. 100?
Doug also has an idea for holding the NFL Draft in Columbus, and the guys look at whether 10 first-rounders in three years would be a stretch or in line with OSU draft history.
And then no more Ultimate Draft talk after this. For now, thanks for indulging in this exercise and…
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Jun 20, 2023
Garrett Wilson vs. David Boston vs. Chris Olave: Ultimate Ohio State Draft of NFL prospects, Part 2
Which Ohio State receiver is the best NFL Draft prospect ever at that position? That's one of the debates and discussions on Part 2 of The Ultimate Ohio State Draft of NFL draft prospects conducted by Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means.
Don't miss Part 1, in which Doug, Nathan and Stephen made Picks 1-16 on a previous Buckeye Talk episode. This episode is the continuation of that, and there are still plenty of all-time Buckeyes to come off the board, including Garrett Wilson, Eddie George, A.J. Hawk, David Boston and more.
The rules are that the real 90 Buckeyes who have been drafted in the first round in NFL Draft history are eligible to be picked. The guys then act like current NFL GMs and draft for the modern day based on the skills and draft places of Buckeyes across the decades.
Major Buckeyes like C.J. Stroud, Orlando Pace and Nick Bosa came off the board in the previous episode. Now it's time for the second half of this all-time first round, and that means the first…
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Jun 19, 2023
Ohio State's greatest NFL Draft prospect ever: The Bosas, Orlando Pace, Justin Fields and The Ultimate Ohio State Draft
Who is the greatest Ohio State draft prospect ever? How do the best Buckeyes compare to each other in how they were viewed by the NFL coming out of college?
On this Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means try to answer those questions with The Ultimate Ohio State Draft. This is the first of two parts as the guys make picks 1 through 16 from the 90 Ohio State Buckeyes who were actual first-round NFL choices.
Where will quarterbacks like C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields go in this Buckeye-only draft? Who is the first cornerback off the board? Where do the Bosa brothers fit in with Chase Young and other OSU defensive stars? How about all the great OSU offensive tackles, including Orlando Pace?
This is the difficult idea of drafting these Buckeyes as NFL prospects -- not based on how good or accomplished they were in college, or how much they succeeded in the NFL, but on how the pros viewed them at the time they were leaving Columbus.
Only those first-…
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Jun 16, 2023
Air Noland vs. Dylan Raiola and Tavien St. Clair vs. Ryan Montgomery for Ohio State's QB future
Air Noland and Dylan Raiola will forever be linked as Ohio State's quarterback commits in the 2024 class. They went head-to-head this week at the Elite 11 showcase, where Noland showed where he stands next to now-Georgia commit Raiola and the rest of the best.
Back home, in-state Class of 2025 quarterbacks Tavien St. Clair and Ryan Montgomery worked out for Corey Dennis and Ryan Day prior to one of OSU's summer camps. Both will be back on campus next week. Has St. Clair's physical development over the past year made him the likely front-runner to be the Buckeyes' QB in that class?
Finally, an update on in-state cornerbacks Bryce West and Aaron Scott, who are also both scheduled to camp with the Buckeyes next week. How big of a threat is Michigan to OSU pulling off a sweep of these top-100 prospects?
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Jun 15, 2023
Being an Ohio State fan isn't fun? Strong reactions to the joys and burdens of following the Buckeyes
Are the expectations for Ohio State football creating a burden that fans feel, and that affects their enjoyment of their very successful program?
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises once again dives into talk about his joy initiative and the hope that all OSU fans can love following their team. Some texters are sick of this topic already, and maybe so are you. But there are some interesting survey answers in this episode to questions like:
Does the burden of expectations make rooting for the Buckeyes less fun at all?
Have you ever thought you cared too much about Ohio State football?
What is the best type of team to root for?
Is Ohio State the most successful team you root for?
Do you root for a second college football team?
On a scale of 1-10, what's your joy vs. angst when it comes to rooting for the Buckeyes?
There are comparisons made to the best teams in North American sports, and strong words on both sides when it comes to how OSU fans should view and handle exp…
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Jun 14, 2023
Talent vs. fit in the Ohio State defense, plus Marvin Harrison Jr., Mike Vrabel and more: Rapid Fire
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird react to some recent texter questions and comments around the topics percolating on Buckeye Talk. The discussion points:
(0:30) How should the Buckeyes gather talent for this Jim Knowles version of defense and what can be learned from the players at Oklahoma State?
(37:19) More on the TV package for the Big Ten and the outcome for OSU fans
(43:32) Why Marvin Harrison Jr. could take a statistical step back
(48:02) The type of head coach, from a media perspective, the guys would want to cover
(59:05) More discussion of Mike Vrabel and Marcus Freeman as possible future OSU head coaches
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jun 13, 2023
5-stars in Columbus, and Buckeyes get a safety commit: Recruiting Camp Insider
It's news and analysis from two days of Ohio State recruiting camps on this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
The Buckeyes hosted camps last Thursday and on Monday, and Stephen Means was there. He talks with Doug Lesmerises about:
(1:40) The 2024 commit the Buckeyes landed Monday from Jaylen McClain
(7:20) The defensive 5-stars Ohio State is targeting in this class
(11:10) OSU vs. Georgia recruiting battles
(14:05) 5-star linebacker Sammy Brown choosing Clemson
(17:30) Ohio State's ranking in the 2024 class
(19:00) How many more commits OSU should get this month
(20:02) The remaining recruiting camp schedule
(21:00) The official visitors at Ohio State
(22:14) The 5-stars in Columbus on Monday
(27:30) The opponents making it harder for OSU in recruiting
(38:02) The big target for OSU OL coach Justin Frye
(39:52) Young WR Chris Henry Jr. visits again
(45:00) Previewing OSU pledge Ari Noland at the Elite 11 camp
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cle…
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Jun 12, 2023
Faith in Ryan Day: The evolution of Ohio State's coach and how much fans believe in him
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, it's a deep dive into Ohio State head coach Ryan Day with Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird.
With the help of a survey of Ohio State text subscribers, Doug and Nathan look at the evolution of Day as a head coach and discuss what might be different, better or worse for the OSU boss as he enters his fifth season. The first four years included three playoff appearances and a 1-2 record against Michigan, so how much do OSU fans believe in Day right now? And how much has he changed after his hiring for the 2019 season with no previous full-time head coach experience?
The topics covered include:
Ohio State's decision to hire Day as a rookie head coach
Comparing Day and Lincoln Riley
Day's changes for the Michigan game and what he felt he did wrong last year
The plan to hand over play calling to Brian Hartline
Overall faith in Day
Faith in Day against Michigan
A comparison for his final evolution as a head coach
And more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Tal…
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Jun 9, 2023
Is Ohio State’s new Big Ten schedule bad for the Buckeyes?
The Big Ten released its football opponents for 2024 and 2025 in the new 16-team conference with no divisions. For Ohio State, it’s a new world of games, with teams like Penn State, Michigan State and Rutgers on the schedule less frequently, teams like Northwestern, Illinois and Iowa on the schedule more frequently, and USC and UCLA joining the ranks as new conference opponents.
Over the 24 regular-season games in 2024 and 2025 that had been scheduled for the Buckeyes previously, eight opponents have changed. That includes the Buckeyes no longer playing Penn State every season.
Is this better for Ohio State fans? Worse? Just different? Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird break all that down on the latest Buckeye Talk.
Thanks for listening.
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Jun 8, 2023
Ohio Stadium home-field advantage, QB plans, Notre Dame trolling and more: Rants
It's time for more Ohio State rants on this Thursday Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises responds to the strong words of Ohio State text subscribers.
The topics, in order:
The future of freshman QB Lincoln Keinholz and the history of quarterbacks recruited by the Buckeyes
How Michigan should be covered on Buckeye Talk
Why Josh Simmons should start at right tackle
Home-field advantage at Ohio Stadium
Fat is flavor
Is Notre Dame trolling the Big Ten?
Mobile apps are annoying
Stop talking about Big Ten money
Thanks as always to the texters for their rants and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jun 7, 2023
Who's the leading scorer? Will a terrible season pay off? Ohio State basketball reset
Last season was a low point for the Ohio State basketball program as the Buckeyes finished 13th in the Big Ten. Will this season's team benefit from the growing pains of a year ago?
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means reset an Ohio State program that should have a rotation this season of three sophomores, three freshmen, three transfers and a senior. Will that work? How much will the rest of the Big Ten stand in their way? Is there an opening for the Buckeyes to take a big jump? All of that is included in this hoops discussion.
First (0:30) is a look at how the Buckeyes might fit in with the Big Ten considering what players other teams kept and lost.
Then (6:46) it's a look at the three big-time returning sophomores, headlined by point guard Bruce Thornton.
Then (19:08) it's a discussion of Brice Sensabaugh going to the NBA Draft.
Then (24:50) the potential freshmen contributors and the transfers (28:17).
Finally (46:04) what could the Buckeyes do better a…
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Jun 6, 2023
Ohio State rapid fire: Coaching succession plans, Big Ten divisions, Jim Knowles recruiting and more
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, it's a load of Ohio State football questions in rapid fire and a little nonsense with Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means.
The topics:
(0:30) Will a Big Ten with no divisions be good or bad?
(27:35) Who's the next defensive line coach after Larry Johnson?
(40:59) What's wrong with freshmen offensive linemen playing?
(49:58) Eating food off the bone
(56:11) Greg Studrawa's health in his last years at OSU and what the effect was
(1:03:27) What to think of Jim Knowles' recruiting?
(1:13:44) Will any schools ever get punished over NIL?
(1:24:19) Eliminating hurdling over tacklers?
(1:32:00) Angry Bama vs. Angry Doug
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jun 5, 2023
Will Marvin Harrison Jr. break Jaxon Smith-Njigba's receiving record? Mark It Down Monday
Jaxon Smith-Njigba set Ohio State's single-season receiving record with 1,606 yards in 2021. Will Marvin Harrison Jr. break that record in 2023?
On this edition of Mark It Down Monday, where Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means make specific predictions for Ohio State's football season, the subject is MHJ receiving yards.
Last season he had 1,263 yards, the fourth-most in any Ohio State season. What will he do now?
The guys discuss everything that will affect his stats:
The quarterback play of Kyle McCord or Devin Brown
What the Buckeyes want their offensive style and strategy to be
The role of Emeka Egbuka, who had 1,151 receiving yards last season, and how that will affect Harrison's numbers
How much defenses will try to take Harrison away
How many times the Buckeyes targeted Harrison last season and if they'll do it more this season
How many games Harrison should play this season, whether it be 12, 14 or 15
And then Doug, Nathan and Stephen Mark It Down -- predicti…
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Jun 2, 2023
Is a national title Ohio State's standard of success? A fiery debate
An Ohio State text subscriber asked Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means this question;
How should Ohio State (and by extension its fans) handle national championship expectations?
That question created a lot more questions, and that created a lot of debate on this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk.
Looking at Ohio State's history and Ohio State's current place in college football, Doug, Nathan and Stephen got into what fans should expect and how they should look at this recent run of Ohio State history, which in the last 52 seasons includes two national titles in 2002 and 2014.
With the help of some interesting survey answers from Ohio State text subscribers, the guys dug deep on whether a national title is the standard of Ohio State success.
This one got a little off the rails, which is nothing new, so thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jun 1, 2023
The latest from Ohio State assistants Brian Hartline, Justin Frye and Corey Dennis on the offense
It's time to talk Ohio State offensive assistants on this Thursday Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss their conversations with staffers this week.
That starts (0:30) with offensive line coach Justin Frye and what he's thinking about the offensive line, including his first chance to discuss the offensive tackle the Buckeyes added in the portal after spring football, Josh Simmons.
Then it's onto (21:37) offensive coordinator and receivers coach Brian Hartline. That includes his few comments on the recent off-road vehicle accident that sent him to the hospital, plus the addition of his former NFL head coach, Joe Philbin, to the OSU staff.
Finally (56:00), it's quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis and his comments on the QB battle, plus check-ins with tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, running backs coach Tony Alford and special teams coach Parker Fleming.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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May 31, 2023
Jim Knowles changes his mind, and 11 Tommy Eichenbergs
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has adjusted his view on at least one aspect of the Buckeyes' defense, and that was among the topics discussed when OSU coaches met with reporters on Tuesday.
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means debate everything they learned from the defensive coaches. The offensive coaches discussion will be on the Thursday pod.
That starts with (0:30) Knowles, the defensive coordinator, changing his view on something about the players who could be on the field. That relates both to linebacker C.J. Hicks and to (23:16) the safeties.
There's talk of defensive players added to the roster recently in Tywone Malone and Lorenzo Styles Jr.
And (51:12) there's another explanation from Knowles about last year's defense that tells you something about this year's defense. That's where the 11 Tommy Eichenbergs come in.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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May 30, 2023
Ohio State football's next head coach? Here's the list
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, an Ohio State text subscriber asked where Ohio State might turn if Ryan Day and the Buckeyes win the national title this season and Day is lured away to the NFL.
Doug Lesmerises thinks the next OSU head coach would come from this list. And he offered these categories for candidates:
Huge names you'd have to call
OSU connections who might not have the experience ... yet
Established coaches currently not working
Current head coaches who are winning but without direct OSU ties
Current head coaches with direct OSU ties
Maybe there's a name in your head that Doug doesn't mention, but the hope is that this list covers the bases, because an AD always needs to be prepared.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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May 26, 2023
Ohio State vs. Michigan football recruiting -- How big is the gap?
It's an Ohio State-Michigan recruiting discussion on this Buckeye Talk with Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means.
(0:30) An overview of where things stand in the 2024 class
(4:12) Buckeyes vs. Wolverines with their future quarterbacks
(15:19) How the teams landed their running backs in the 2024 class
(29:26) A lot of the offensive line recruits know each other
(36:32) Michigan recruiting efforts in Ohio
(44:44) The Buckeyes still generally recruit better than Michigan in the rankings, but how big is the gap?
Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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May 25, 2023
Jim Tressel, Kevin Warren, 9-3, and Michigan's mistake: Ohio State rants
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is back with Ohio State rants ranging from Kevin Warren to Jim Tressel.
The topics:
(0:30) How much did former Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren confuse things with the new Big Ten TV deal and what does it mean for fans?
(16:40) Doug was wrong about a 9-3 season in 2019 -- but could it happen this season?
(26:48) Comparing this OSU offensive line to the 2014 offensive line
(33:54) Jim Tressel as a title-winning play caller
(44:09) Should Tressel dot the i against Youngstown State?
(48:06) What could the ACC's future mean for the Big Ten?
(53:28) Michigan making a hiring mistake
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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May 24, 2023
Ohio State QB confusion -- What's normal and what's not?
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking Ohio State quarterbacks.
Specifically, what should have fans concerned or confused about this OSU quarterback competition and where it stands, and what is an absolutely typical part of the process?
Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss the evolution of Kyle McCord, and how it compares to quarterback battles at places like Georgia and Alabama. And they look at some good teams with established quarterbacks, like Week 4 OSU foe Notre Dame, and ask if the Buckeyes should follow that plan, maybe with a transfer quarterback, or whether the way they are handling it is better for them with bigger upside.
This isn't as much about quarterback play -- it's about quarterback feelings. And it was time to analyze how OSU fans might be viewing this.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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May 23, 2023
The 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes as a super team -- Is it still possible?
In July 2021, with five-star defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers among the major recruits just committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes, Buckeye Talk considered the idea of 2023 Ohio State as a national title team.
As a super team. As potentially one of the best teams in college football history.
Now, with the start of the 2023 season just over three months away, an Ohio State text subscriber wanted to know if Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means still thought that was possible.
If not, what changed? If so, what kind of season could these Buckeyes?
Over the last two years, the guys have referenced that 2023 super team pod a few times. On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, they dug back into.
The strength of that 2021 recruiting class, the players who are now preparing to be third-year Buckeyes, drove that conversation, and on this episode, Doug, Nathan and Stephen went back through all those recruits, how their careers have gone, and how the reality has co…
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May 22, 2023
Does Ohio State football have a big game problem?
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, it's a deep look into how Ohio State football has done in big games in the four years under head coach Ryan Day. To analyze that, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means have to look at the evidence from a lot of different angles.
What is a big game?
How does Ohio State's big game record under Day compare to teams like Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Clemson, Penn State and more?
How does Day's record in big games compare to past OSU coaches like Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, John Cooper and Woody Hayes?
And there are four questions asked of text subscribers and discussed, looking at whether the Buckeyes have the necessary qualities to win games. Do they have enough:
Elite talent
Smart coaching
Fundamentals
Motivation
This conversation plays off the Friday episode that relived the biggest win of the Day era -- the 2020 semifinal win over Clemson. So make sure you listen to that episode to pair with this one.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk fro…
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May 19, 2023
Ohio State vs. Clemson 2020 semifinal -- The best OSU QB game ever? Buckeye ReTalkables
With revenge on their minds for a year, the Ohio State Buckeyes knocked off Clemson 49-28 in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the COVID-plagued 2020 football season, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take you through it on the latest edition of Buckeye ReTalkables.
This is the 16th episode of the ReTalkables on Buckeye Talk, as the guys relive the best games from Ohio State history with their categories that highlight great players, unsung heroes, game-changing plays and fun and odd moments from the game.
This game, the biggest win over the four-year Ryan Day era, includes a career-making performance from quarterback Justin Fields.
That means the discussion starts with two questions:
Is this Ryan Day's perfect game?
Is this the greatest single-game quarterback performance in Ohio State history?
This is one for the history books, for reasons on the field and off, and that makes it a great return for the first ReTalkables episode in 11 months.
Thanks for liste…
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May 18, 2023
Where's the line for Ohio State to fire a coach? Plus more rapid fire
This Thursday Buckeye Talk opens (0:30) with a long and hotly debated discussion about where Ohio State's line is for firing a coach, and how that may or may not change in the looming world of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss that for so long, there's no way this episode could be deemed a Rapid Fire. But they do take multiple interesting questions from Ohio State text subscibers.
Following that first topic are discussions about:
(43:23) What a Jim Harbaugh dream says about an OSU fan
(50:10) Whether Ohio State will play sophomore safety Sonny Styles or not
(57:07) The future of ESPN's College GameDay at Ohio State
(1:10:48) Why Ohio State revenge worked on Clemson and not against Michigan
Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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May 17, 2023
Ohio State recruiting risks -- What's worth it, what's not?
It's a deep dive into Ohio State recruiting strategy on this Wednesday Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means drop a two-hour episode for the first time in a while.
There's a lot here, talking about the recruitments for players like Dylan Raiola, Quinn Ewers, Terrelle Pryor, Micah Parsons, Bronny James, Tate Martell and times where the Buckeyes did or didn't accept a certain amount of risk in a recruitment.
First (0:30) is a discussion comparing how much risk the Buckeyes should take in football recruiting compared to basketball recruiting.
Then it's on to five areas of potential risk in football recruiting and what Ohio State should do:
Players with a degree of celebrity (23:31)
Players who are focused on NIL (41:41)
Players who are national five-stars with no OSU connections who might easily change their minds (1:02:20)
Players with potential off-field issues (1;23:39)
Players who might create NCAA issues (1:38:29)
And last, a wrap up of fan thoughts an…
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May 16, 2023
Ohio State mini rants: TV gouging, rooting for Iowa, OSU offensive line and more
It's a mini version of Ohio State football rants on this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk as Doug Lesmerises runs through some thoughts from Ohio State text subscribers.
First (0:30), Doug shares his own view on the Big Ten television plan for football games, now that some networks and game times have been announced for 2023.
Then (15:24), it's more on the transfer of Ohio State receiver Kaleb Brown to Iowa and how OSU fans should view the Hawkeyes this season.
A discussion about redshirting (25:15) and how it should be viewed then follows.
Next (30:05) is more reflections and feedback on the Ohio State offensive line based on the podcast episode from a couple weeks ago.
Finally (41:02) there's a brief follow on college sports betting as texters share their thoughts.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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May 15, 2023
Ohio State's 10 most dangerous opponents for 2023
Ohio State’s 2023 football schedule includes a handful of quarterbacks who can really throw the ball, one of the best edge rushers in the nation, a backfield combo to be reckoned with, and some head coaches and coordinators who will have some plans ready for the Buckeyes.
They are among those on the list of the 10 Most Dangerous Opponents for Ohio State’s 2023 season on this Monday Buckeye Talk.
Following two podcasts last week that laid out the 10 Most Important Buckeyes for 2023, as voted on by Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and the Ohio State text subscribers, Doug is back with this companion pod featuring those on the other side of the ball.
There are familiar foes from programs like Michigan, Penn State and Notre Dame, and there’s also an under-the-radar combo for OSU fans to keep their eyes on.
First (0:30), Doug runs through the 10 most dangerous players from Ohio State’s last 10 regular-season losses in normal years (excluding 2011). Nine of the 10 games h…
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May 12, 2023
Ohio State football's future schedules -- Reasons to be curious, and maybe nervous
USC and UCLA are joining the Big Ten in 2024 and that means the Ohio State Buckeyes will be playing the Trojans and Bruins on a regular basis. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means even see the slot in the schedule where they believe the Buckeyes will most likely visit the Trojans in the 2024 season.
But what about the long-range plans for Ohio State's schedules in this new world?
Will the Buckeyes have more tough games? Will that be good or bad for their playoff chances? And most importantly, what does adding USC and UCLA mean for Ohio State's major non-conference plans in future seasons with schools like Alabama, Georgia and Texas?
The guys look at the opponents officially added to Ohio State's future schedules this week, and there were several, and then theorize about what future schedules will look like -- and what could be changed.
Thanks for listening.
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May 11, 2023
Can Ohio State win a national title if the QBs play like Stetson Bennett?
It's the five most important Ohio State Buckeyes for the 2023 football season on this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. No surprise, the quarterbacks and head coach Ryan Day are part of the top five, and that leads to some very deep discussions about the Buckeyes from Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means.
They run through the top five, which includes both coaches and players and hits both offense and defense. They covered the Buckeyes ranked 10 through six on the previous episode.
This importance discussion leads to a long debate about how good the quarterback play for Ohio State must be this season.
Must Kyle McCord and/or Devin Brown play at at a Dwayne Haskins/Justin Fields/C.J. Stroud first-round draft pick level? Or could something more like Georgia's Stetson Bennett, who was good but not the most important part of the Bulldogs during their two national titles, be enough?
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May 10, 2023
The value of JT Tuimoloau, Brian Hartline and Denzel Burke to Ohio State's season
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means begin to unveil their rankings of the 10 most important Buckeyes to Ohio State's football season.
This podcast covers the players who just missed the top 10, plus Nos. 10 through six. The top five will be discussed on a separate episode.
Players and coaches are combined in this ranking, and it's not a best-of list. It's value. It's importance.
Doug, Nathan, Stephen and the Ohio State text subscribers each ranked their top 20 Buckeyes, and the lists were then combined to choose this top 10.
Thanks for listening.
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May 9, 2023
What the Quinn Ewers saga meant for C.J. Stroud and Ohio State
C.J. Stroud said in a recent interview that he felt disrespected when Quinn Ewers arrived at Ohio State -- earlier than expected just before the 2021 season. On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird try to put that Stroud reaction into perspective and answer some questions now that Ewers is two seasons removed from the Buckeyes.
Was there any way Ohio State could have saved the Ewers situation considering how it went down?
What would have happened if Ewers had stayed on his expected timeline and arrived for the 2022 season?
Should Ohio State learn anything from Ewers that it can apply to quarterback recruiting?
Did the Ewers situation have a negative or positive effect on Stroud?
How should Ohio State stack quarterback recruits now?
It's not quite a BuckeyeFly Effect, but spurred by Stroud sharing his thoughts, it's a reason to revisit an odd chapter in OSU quarterback history.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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May 8, 2023
Moving Ohio State-Michigan, college sports betting rules and first Cheetos: Monday Madness
On this Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird dive into two ideas about Ohio State football and college football before getting to Whatcha Watchin’, Whatcha Eatin’, Whatcha Thinkin’ at the end of the pod.
First (0:30), it’s possible that the 12-team college football playoff starting in 2024 will eventually mean the entire college football schedule moves up, with the regular season starting and ending a week earlier. That would mean, among other things, Ohio State-Michigan sliding to the week before Thanksgiving instead the week of Thanksgiving? What do Doug, Nathan and the Ohio State text subscribers think?
Then (31:00) there's a brief conversation about calendars and whether people work more or sleep more in a week.
Then (39:28) there was a betting controversy with college sports that started with a bet placed in Ohio. What should and shouldn’t be legal when it comes to betting on college sports?
Finally (1:03:43) the guys run through ideas…
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May 5, 2023
Ohio State's offensive line and its uncertain future
Ohio State's tackle situation is up in the air for 2023, but what happens after that? What will the Ohio State offensive line look like in 2024 and beyond, and what will it take to get the Buckeyes back on track with the development, recruiting and transfer portal additions they need on the offensive line?
On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dive into all of that, and they find a comparison for a turnaround that should give Ohio State fans hope.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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May 4, 2023
Will Marvin Harrison Jr. be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft? Plus a Notre Dame breakdown
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, it's time to dive into Marv again. And then it's a taste of Notre Dame football coming off spring, as the Ohio State Buckeyes look forward to a September visit to South Bend.
On this episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means start by diving into Marvin Harrison Jr. as an NFL Draft candidate. The guys predicted the entire 2024 draft for the Buckeyes in the previous episode, but MHJ required his own discussion.
So what other receivers does Harrison Jr. compare to as a prospect? (0:30) And what NFL teams might be most interested in him a year from now, and which teams might go after a quarterback like Caleb Williams instead? Could Harrison really go first? And could he wind up on the same team where his dad was a Hall of Famer, with the Indianapolis Colts?
Then (43:35) it's a visit from Eric Hansen on InsideNDSports.com on the Rivals network, as the Fighting Irish are done with spring practice and had some transfer portal movement. The Irish h…
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May 3, 2023
Ohio State in the 2024 NFL Draft: Will the Buckeyes set a record?
The 2023 NFL Draft just ended, which means it's time to look at what Ohio State might do in the 2024 NFL Draft. Clock is ticking.
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means begin by looking at what they projected would happen for the Buckeyes in the 2023 NFL Draft when they did this exercise a year ago.
Actually, they weren't too bad, although there was one major way in which they were off.
Then it's quickly to a player by player breakdown of projected draft position for 2024, with votes from Ohio State text subscribers joining what the guys have to say.
How many first-round Buckeyes do they project? How many total NFL Draft picks do they project for Ohio State? And could an NFL Draft record for a single team be within range for the Buckeyes?
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May 2, 2023
Ohio State's final spring transfer moves: Did the Buckeyes do what was needed in the portal?
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss the latest names from the spring transfer window. The portal has now closed for players who want to go in, though they still have time to choose their destinations. The Buckeyes added two big names and lost one over the weekend.
This episode discusses:
(0:30) Portal news update
(2:41) Ohio State adding OT Joshua Simmons
(24:52) The passing of Ohio State PA announcer Bob Kennedy
(27:08) Ohio State adding CB Lorenzo Styles
(36:21) Ohio State losing WR Kaleb Brown
(42:07) Ohio State's roster numbers as they stand
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Apr 30, 2023
Ohio State NFL Draft wrap: Surprises, sure things, and where a talent dip showed up
The 2023 NFL Draft is over, and on this Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means wrap up the final picks for Ohio State after three Buckeyes went in the first round, which was covered on the Friday pod.
This is your Monday episode, but it's dropping early on Sunday, and it covers the final three OSU picks:
(0:30) Final draft numbers for the Buckeyes and the Big Ten
(12:41) Zach Harrison going in Round 3 to Atlanta
(18:38) Dawand Jones heading to the Browns in Round 4
(38:11) Luke Wypler also going to Cleveland in Round 6
(57:13) A final run through the undrafted Buckeyes
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Apr 28, 2023
Big Ten's big draft number, great Buckeye fits, and a complaint from the NFL Draft
Three Ohio State Buckeyes were picked in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to break it all down.
First (0:30) C.J. Stroud to the Houston Texans at No. 2,
Then (27:34) Paris Johnson Jr. to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 6,
Then (43:36) Jaxon Smith-Njigba to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 20,
and finally (50:51) all the numbers and stats on the Buckeyes and the Big Ten in the first round.
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Apr 27, 2023
Is Emeka Egbuka the most underrated player in college football? Ohio State rapid fire
On this Thursday edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means start out with more transfer news, and then get into rapid fire questions from Ohio State text subscribers.
The topics:
* How underrated and overshadowed is OSU receiver Emeka Egbuka?
* What does USC hiring Kliff Kingsbury mean for Ohio State?
* What’s the over-under on portal losses at different positions for the Buckeyes?
* Should OSU fans have football fever yet?
* Ohio State QB recruit Air Noland is left-handed -- what does that mean for the Ohio State program and his future teammates?
* Have we ever thought a recruit shouldn’t sign with Ohio State?
* Is rooting for a college football team with lower expectations more fun?
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Apr 26, 2023
The future of Ohio State's run game, plus transfer news
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, transfer news opens (0:30) the pod -- one transfer that could affect teams that matter to Ohio State, plus one Buckeye leaving in the portal, and another that could be interested in coming in as a transfer.
Then (15:29) it's onto the main topic of the episode -- the Ohio State run game, how the Buckeyes use their running backs and how often, and what that might look like this year.
How will the OSU running backs factor into the offense compared to last season? Compared to J.K. Dobbins' 2,000-yard season in 2019? Compared to the run game history of Ohio State? Compared to how the pass game is used?
There are some numbers about the frequency of the running back usage a year ago that might surprise you. And Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dig in deep on this topic, as spurred on by text subscribers.
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Apr 25, 2023
4 trades, 4 top-10 QBs, 3 Buckeyes: Full first-round 2023 NFL mock draft
This episode is a full first-round mock draft featuring eight cleveland.com reporters. It's a crossover pod of Buckeye Talk, Orange and Brown Talk, and Strictly Stripes, as the cleveland.com experts on Ohio State, the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals come together for one monster episode.
All 31 picks in the first round are here, and in this mock four trades are made (including one involving C.J. Stroud), five quarterbacks are taken in the first round, and a good time is had by all.
The drafters:
Nathan Baird, OSU writer
Doug Lesmerises, OSU writer
Mary Kay Cabot, Browns writer
Dan Labbe, Browns writer
Mohammad Ahmad, Bengals writer
Andrew Gillis, Bengals writer
Jimmy Watkins, Rivalry writer
Tim Bielik, NFL Draft writer
You'll find the same pod on our Browns and Bengals feeds. But for Ohio State fans wanting to get a feel before Thursday on how Stroud, Paris Johnson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba fit into the bigger picture, we think this is worth your time.
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Apr 24, 2023
Predicting where C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and other Ohio State Buckeyes will be picked in the 2023 NFL Draft
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are going on the clock in the 2023 NFL Draft.
They're predicting where they think Ohio State players will be drafted this week. Listen to their picks for:
(0:30) C.J. Stroud
(30:49) Paris Johnson Jr.
(42:31) Jaxon Smith-Njigba
(52:32) Dawand Jones
(1:01:59) Zach Harrison
(1:12:00) Luke Wypler
(1:20:19) Ronnie Hickman
(1:27:17) Cam Brown and Tanner McCalister
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Apr 22, 2023
Ohio State football rapid fire: Spring stars, things to change about the Buckeyes, Brian Hartline reaction, and more
It's time for a break from OSU-Michigan talk, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means get back to rapid fire questions about everything related to Ohio State football on this Saturday edition of Buckeye Talk.
First up, (0:30), who do the guys list as their stars of spring football?
Then (13:38) it's suggesting one thing they would change about Ohio State football.
Next (23:00) is a deep discussion about whether Ohio should have spring football in high school and what it would mean for the Buckeyes.
Then (41:14) the fallout from Brian Hartline's UTV accident is discussed, and what it might mean for Hartline and the Buckeyes, and how Ryan Day might handle it.
Next (57:35) is the ongoing discussion about offensive line options in the transfer portal.
Finally (1:02:20), would an OSU-UM national title game overwhelm the rest of the rivalry?
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Apr 21, 2023
Trash talk and intangibles in the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry
It's the final episode of our three-part Ohio State-Michigan miniseries here in April on Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and Jimmy Watkins turn the discussion toward intangibles.
Part 1 was feelings in the rivalry.
Part 2 was football in the rivalry.
Part 3 is how the feelings affect the football.
First (0:30), the guys talk about Michigan's current trash talk in the series after two straight wins and what, if anything, Ohio State can do about it. That includes a discussion (25:14) about some social media words exchanged recently by recruits on both sides.
Then (32:44), it's what Ohio State might be like as an underdog in The Game this season, if that happens.
Then (35:29) comes a long discussion about what happens in the rivalry when the talent is pretty equal. That includes a look at history and the record in the series, since Woody Hayes, when both teams are ranked in the top 10.
Finally (1:06:53) there's an insider vs. outsider discussion, and a debate…
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Apr 20, 2023
Why an Ohio State-Michigan national title game could happen this season
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird, Stephen Means and cleveland.com rivalry reporter Jimmy Watkins are here for the second Ohio State-Michigan episode this week.
This pod is about the football -- the strengths and weaknesses of both teams on the field, how they match up, and why they both might be among the four best teams in the country again.
Off the bat (0:30) Doug asks the other three about his theory that these very well could be two playoff team.
Then (2:07) it's a discussion of Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy, what the Wolverines need from him, and how he compares to the Ohio State QBs and to other returning QBs around the country.
Next up are breakdowns of the offensive lines (32:03), running backs (38:44) and receivers (43:22) on both sides.
Answers from texters about how these teams compare (53:06) are then followed by a more thorough discussion (1:00:24) of whether an Ohio State-Michigan national title game is really possible this season.
Then it's…
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Apr 19, 2023
Where the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry stands 5 months after The Game
It's the start of a three-episode series on the Ohio State-Michigan game on this edition of Buckeye Talk. First up, Doug Lesmerises asked Ohio State text subscribers for their feelings about the state of the rivalry after the conclusion of spring football for both the Buckeyes and Wolverines.
The next pod on Thursday will deal with the football matchup between the two teams, and the Friday pod will focus on the intangibles within the rivalry. But first, the fans check in.
To do that, Doug focused on three areas with survey questions and responses from texters.
First (0:30), how much does the fact that Ohio State has lost the last two games to Michigan affect the everyday lives of OSU fans?
Then (35:46), are fans optimistic or worried about Ohio State's chances of winning in Ann Arbor in November, and how have their thoughts changed over the last five months?
Finally (1:04:31) what do fans think are some of the reasons that Michigan has won the last two games, and is Ohio State doing th…
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Apr 17, 2023
Ohio State spring game rewatch, pending roster moves, and waffles: Monday Madness
On this Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are here with:
(0:30) Final points after rewatching the Ohio State spring football game on Kyle McCord, Marvin Harrison Jr., Sonny Styles, the offensive line and more.
(24:58) A look at Ohio State's roster management situation, with how many scholarships over the Buckeyes are on their roster count, and at which positions they could lose players or add players.
(1:07:24) Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Watchin' and Whatcha Thinkin', featuring waffles, live music shows, Jack Ryan, the baseball pitch clock and more.
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Apr 15, 2023
Ohio State spring football postgame: QB battle continues, and defense rises up
Spring football is over for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to wrap up what they saw at Ohio State's spring game Saturday, with more than 75,000 fans in attendance.
First (0:30), Ohio State added two football recruits on Saturday.
Then (6:29) it's into the game and how quarterback Kyle McCord looked. Devin Brown couldn't play because of an injury, but does the QB battle continue?
That continues into a discussion about the offensive line (46:35) and how that group looked.
Then it's the receivers (54:38) and the defense (57:19).
There are some final overall thoughts (1:04:00) from spring, then a final take on the play-calling handoff (1:11:45). Finally, the transfer portal (1:22:50) is open again.
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Apr 14, 2023
Ohio State feeling better about recruiting: Strategy, NIL and momentum
On this Friday Buckeye Talk on the eve of the Ohio State spring football game, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking recruiting.
First (0:30), the guys check in on texter thoughts from two previous podcasts.
There are texter survey results on the idea of Haskins Heisman Hill in Buckeye Grove (3:30), and there are the answers about whether Ohio State could put together a mini-dynasty in the next decade (10:10).
Then it's onto recruiting (14:19) and whether Ryan Day is feeling momentum after six commits in the last three weeks.
One is quarterback Air Noland (20:46) and another is linebacker Payton Pierce (26:29). What do their pledges mean?
Then the guys get into a debate about the current offensive line recruiting strategy (35:07) and what needs to happen next at that position.
Finally (1:05:17) the talk turns to the latest collective and if it might be more effective in helping Ohio State get the NIL money to land some major national recruits.
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Apr 13, 2023
Ohio State spring game draft: 44 Buckeyes, 2 teams
Everyone is healthy and ready to play Saturday in Ohio Stadium in this version of an Ohio State spring game draft from cleveland.com.
There are two full 22-player teams to be drafted, and Nathan Baird and Stephen Means go head-to-head with their selections while Doug Lesmerises moderates.
This should tell you something about the 2023 Buckeyes with spring football winding down, it should help get you ready for Saturday, plus drafts are always fun.
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Apr 12, 2023
Ohio State QB Devin Brown knocked out of spring game by injury
Devin Brown had a procedure on one of his fingers on Wednesday and won't play in Saturday's spring game. What does that mean for Ohio State's quarterback competition? That's what Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss on the Wednesday Buckeye Talk.
First (0:30), they talk about what they know about the injury, what it means for Kyle McCord on Saturday, and how it affects the ongoing battle to be the OSU starter in the fall.
Then (28:40) they jump to the structure of Saturday's spring game, and why Ryan Day sounds so optimistic about the OSU cornerbacks.
Finally (37:46) it's the OSU offensive line, where questions clearly remain. How will the Buckeyes solve their issues at tackle?
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Apr 11, 2023
Can Ohio State build a mini-dynasty in the future, or did the Buckeyes miss their chance?
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means answer a great texter question:
Can Ohio State build a mini-dynasty in the future, or did the Buckeyes miss their window while Alabama, Clemson and Georgia capitalized on their chances?
The subject is addressed in three parts: offense, defense and the structure of the sport.
First (0:30), is there reason to believe that the Ohio State offense will continue to produce at a level that keeps the shot at a mini-dynasty alive?
Second, (22:35) on the defensive side, can the Buckeyes improve their recruiting and development enough to make it possible?
Finally (54:01) there's a look at the missed opportunities in the past for an OSU mini-dynasty (Doug identifies five eras) and then the talk turns to the 12-team playoff and whether it makes it more or less likely for an OSU mini-dynasty.
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Apr 10, 2023
Ryan Day on coaching the late Dwayne Haskins, and what Haskins meant to Ohio State
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Ryan Day joins Doug Lesmerises for a half-hour interview on Dwayne Haskins, who died a year ago, on April 9, 2022.
Day talks about coaching Haskins, about the quarterback's greatest strengths, and about how he should be remembered as part of Ohio State history. Also discussed is the spring quarterback battle in 2018 between Haskins and Joe Burrow five years ago,.
Then it's on to audio clips from Haskins' career, as the quarterback in 2018 talks about his decision to come to Ohio State, that spring battle, and settling in as the starter. Clips are also included from Burrow and from Quincy Avery, Haskins' private quarterback coach.
Finally, Doug has a proposal for a way Ohio State could honor Haskins and a handful of other great players from this era who aren't in Buckeye Grove.
Consider this a Dwayne Haskins legacy podcast, adding to the previous C.J. Stroud episode in our Legacy Series on Buckeye Talk.
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Apr 7, 2023
Counting the game-changing dudes on Ohio State's defense
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, it's time to look at the dudes, and potential dudes, on Ohio State's defense. There's always a lot of defensive scheme talk around Jim Knowles, but for this episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are counting players who change games. They are counting defensive dudes.
First (0:30) it's a look at the recent past, back to 2014, and how many defensive dudes the Buckeyes had each year.
Then (22:45) it's a look at last season and who fit that bill.
Then (37:20) it's a projection to this season and how many dudes there might be.
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Apr 6, 2023
Lessons learned from TreVeyon Henderson and Cade Stover
It's running backs and tight ends on this Thursday Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take you through what they learned from the latest round of Ohio State interviews. That includes interesting conversations with running back TreVeyon Henderson and tight end Cade Stover.
First (0:30), the guys talk through some tidbits and theories on a couple subjects.
Then (10:33) there's a deep dive into Henderson, what happened last season, and what he's thinking about this season.
That's followed (31:50) by more running back talk on Dallan Hayden, assistant coach Tony Alford and how the backs might be used this season.
Finally (57:24) there's tight end talk around Stover, freshman Jelani Thurman and new tight ends coach Keenan Bailey.
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Apr 5, 2023
Ohio State rants: Discussing the Buckeyes' recruiting efforts heading into April
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Stephen Means discusses Ohio State's recent surge on the recruiting trail and what it means.
The topics include:
Offensive Line recruiting issues
Tim Walton's potential impact on the cornerback room's present and futuree
The Ohio State-Michigan recruiting battles
The Buckeyes' quarterback recruiting and its overall approach
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Apr 4, 2023
Ohio State's safety battles, from Sonny Styles to Lathan Ransom to Josh Proctor
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down another position group. This time it's the safeties, based off interviews with those players last week.
The pod breaks down into conversations about the competition at the three safety spots:
Nickel safety, with Cam Martinez and Ja'Had Carter (0:30)
Bandit, or strong safety, with Lathan Ransom and Sonny Styles (19:46)
Adjustor, or free safety, with Josh Proctor and Kye Stokes (41:35)
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Apr 3, 2023
Ohio State rants: Silencing Michigan, missing passion, Corey Dennis, peanut butter hamburgers and more
On this Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is running through rants about the football Buckeyes from Ohio State text subscribers. In section three, there's some Ohio State and Big Ten basketball talk, but the first hour is football.
The topics include:
Wearing Ohio State gear in Taipei
Wanting more football
Doug's WR depth rankings
Complaining about offensive line depth
Is Ryan Day too nice?
Feeling no OSU passion since the Georgia loss
Not believing in football or men's basketball
Corey Dennis
Marvin Harrison Jr. and safe and fair concussion treatments
No Michigan talk this spring
How to stop Michigan from talking
The OSU staff vs. the Michigan staff
Naming positions
Pronouncing words
Peanut butter hamburger
Sports betting
Doug is Aaron Craft
Celebrating OSU women's basketball
Needing a center and pizza
Big Ten men's basketball is down
Brice Sensabaugh
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Apr 1, 2023
Where Kyle McCord and Devin Brown can separate in Ohio State's quarterback competition
Ohio State quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Devin Brown struggled to move the ball in Saturday's eighth scrimmage as the offensive line had trouble keeping the defensive line out of the backfield. Could such days help determine who will win this quarterback competition?
Nathan and Stephen discuss what they saw from both quarterbacks and reassess where the battle stands halfway through the spring. They also ran down an injury update, discussed that uneven competition in the trenches and singled out one receiver who has helped himself a lot the past two weeks.
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Mar 31, 2023
NFL Network's James Palmer, an Ohio State grad, on how the NFL views the Buckeyes
On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by special guest James Palmer, a reporter and host at the NFL Network since 2015. He covered Ohio State's Pro Day and he's also an Ohio State grad, and he's hear to talk about Ohio State's NFL reputation and how OSU draft prospects are viewed this year.
The topics:
How Palmer got to Ohio State (0:30)
How the NFL views Ohio State (15:13)
Will C.J. Stroud be the No. 1 pick? (25:36)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (38:23)
Marvin Harrison Jr. (47:48)
Paris Johnson (57:36)
Dawand Jones (1:02:35)
Justin Fields (1:06:05)
Thanks to James for his time, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Mar 30, 2023
Ohio State cornerback talk, from Denzel Burke to Davison Igbinosun to Jyaire Brown
On this Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are reacting to their conversations with Ohio State cornerbacks on Thursday. (They also talked to safeties, but they'll get to them next week.)
On this episode, the focus is on three corners:
Denzel Burke (0:30)
Davison Igbinosun (24:04)
Jyaire Brown (37:14)
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Mar 29, 2023
Ranking Ohio State position groups by depth -- Which room is deepest in talent?
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are ranking Ohio State's nine position groups, and assigning a depth rating to each. The result? A final ranking, in order, of the deepest positions for the Buckeyes.
The groups discussed, in order:
Offensive line (0:30)
Running backs (8:10)
Receivers (16:16)
Tight ends (29:19)
Quarterbacks (35:02)
Defensive line (42:05)
Linebackers (47:13)
Cornerbacks (49:48)
Safeties (53:10)
And a wrap up (56:22).
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Mar 28, 2023
Jim Knowles says dominate the 2s, Brian Hartline says relax on play calling
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, sorry that it got up late, but blame the podcast company for screwing up the audio files.
But Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to discuss their conversations with Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline on Tuesday.
Knowles has an idea for how young players can impress him.
Hartline has an idea on how we should view, for now, the play-calling changeover.
It's mostly Knowles for the first part, until about the 50:46 mark, and then it's Hartline to wrap up.
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Mar 25, 2023
Inside Ohio State's Saturday scrimmage: Who stood out and what we learned
On this Saturday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down everything they learned and all the players who flashed in Ohio State's two-hour Saturday practice, which included a lot of scrimmaging.
Topics and players covered include:
Quarterbacks (0:52)
Sonny Styles (20:54)
Kenyatta Jackson (28:19)
Gabe Powers (35:13)
Jayden Ballard (41:47)
Carnell Tate (44:18)
Davison Igbinosun (48:59)
Offensive line (49:55)
Jelani Thurman (51:34)
Ryan Day (54:08)
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Mar 24, 2023
Ohio State’s offensive line -- The battles and the answers
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through the entire Ohio State offensive line after talking to Buckeyes’ offensive linemen on Thursday after the fourth practice of spring football.
That starts (0:30) with Josh Fryar and left tackle and then goes to:
* Donovan Jackson and left guard (15:31)
* Carson Hinzman and center (28:51)
* A brief stop at right guard and established starter Matthew Jones (38:43)
* Right tackle with Zen Michalski and Tegra Tshabola (39:31)
* A last look at how offensive line coach Justin Frye is feeling (53:34).
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Mar 23, 2023
The NFL invades Ohio State
The NFL swarmed Ohio State for Pro Day on Wednesday, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were there to take it all in.
On this Thursday episode, they break down what the feeling was like inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center with so many NFL head coaches and general managers in attendence.
They they run through what the day was like for OSU players such as C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Dawand Jones, Paris Johnson, Zach Harrison, Tanner McCalister and more.
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Mar 22, 2023
Ryan Day explains what he wants in an Ohio State quarterback
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through three topics that Ohio State coach Ryan Day discussed Tuesday after the Buckeyes' third practice of spring football.
First (0:30), it's the quarterback battle, as Day broke down what he wants from mobility and reading defenses and everything in between. What does that tell us about the Kyle McCord-Devin Brown competition, and what does it tell us about how this OSU offense will be different after C.J. Stroud?
Then (39:49) it's the OSU offensive line, and the willingness of the Buckeyes to be honest in their evaluation.
Finally (56:23) it's more discussion about the competitive fire of the defense and how Ohio State is emphasizing that this spring.
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Mar 21, 2023
Bonus Drop: Nick Saban swings at collectives and John Ruiz challenges the NCAA, with UCLA quarterback Chase Griffin
In this week's episode of NIL Now, Kevin and Lauren assess Nick Saban’s latest NIL comments about collectives paying players to attend their schools. The hosts then discuss whether or not LifeWallet CEO John Ruiz should be considered a “booster,” after he said he’ll file a lawsuit against the NCAA over his mislabeling as a Miami “booster.”
Reddit CFB’s Bobak Ha’Eri brings Reddit's comments on Isaiah Foskey’s claim that he would’ve played somewhere other than Notre Dame if NIL was a big deal in recruiting when he played high school football and the Reddit community’s take on what college football will look like in 5-10 years.
Chase Griffin, a quarterback at UCLA and a two-time recipient of the NIL Male Athlete of the Year Award at the NIL Summit, shares his story and thoughts on the importance of using NIL to uplift communities around him.
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Mar 21, 2023
Big Ten football rises as Big Ten men's basketball fails
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is here with one thing to say:
He used to think the Big Ten was a basketball conference. He doesn't anymore. It's definitely a football conference.
The two sports are going opposite directions, and Doug spells out how it's happening and then looks at coaching and talent to see why football is up in this league and men's basketball is down.
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Mar 20, 2023
Ohio State future football rivals, Buckeyes' coaching salaries and more
On this Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird wrap up with a modified version of Whatcha Watchin' and what the Big Ten failures in the NCAA Tournament tell us about Ohio State football.
But first (0:30) they discuss the new football schedule starting in the Big Ten in 2024 and what permanent rivals Ohio State should have. Who and how many? And what Big Ten games have to be protected? And what's the best way to work USC and UCLA into the league?
Then (36:28) the talk moves to the recent raises for the Ohio State assistant football coaches. What's the money balance on the staff and what does it tell us about the Buckeyes?
Finally (1:10:02), Doug and Nathan talk about Purdue losing as a No. 1 seed to a No. 16 seed in the tournament, and the Boilermakers continued shortcomings on the national scene. How would Ohio State handle similar failures in this day and age and what does that say about the two schools?
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Mar 17, 2023
Does Ohio State have any 2024 worries? Plus Buckeyes' future at QB vs. other Big Ten teams: Rapid Fire
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are taking another bunch of Ohio State football questions from text subscribers.
There are two main themes, however.
First, (0:30) the discussion is on the 2024 Buckeyes and what might happen if the roster undergoes its assumed overhaul after 2023 with so many players expected to be heading to the NFL. Several questions and answers deal with that.
Then (28:14) it's talking the future and present of Ohio State quarterbacks compared to other Big Ten teams.
Finally (1:01:17) there's a question about the Ohio State defense, one about dreams, and one about running a 5K or 10K.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Mar 16, 2023
Football rapid fire: Buckeyes better or worse this season; plus TreVeyon Henderson, Jack Sawyer, Julian Fleming and more
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking rapid fire Ohio State football questions from text subscibers. The subjects:
(0:30) Will the Buckeyes be better in 2023 or possibly headed toward two or three losses?
(25:50) Will Julian Fleming and Jayden Ballard be battling for playing time?
(37:12) Do the Buckeyes need to play linebacker C.J. Hicks if they don't want to lose him?
(48:48) What are the expectations for running back TreVeyon Henderson?
(1:00:57) What is Jack Sawyer's best position?
(1:03:15) Meshing Jim Knowles and Larry Johnson on the defensive staff
(1:07:29) Looking for and writing about BA players on the football team
(1:16:00) Does Doug do cringey interviews?
(1:19:54) NFL corner Jamel Dean's brief history as a Buckeye
(1:23:23) Will C.J. Stroud be the first pick in the NFL Draft?
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Mar 15, 2023
Fond March memories and real standards for Ohio State basketball
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, which took an extra day to get up, Doug Lesmerises is talking about Ohio State basketball, but not the 2022-23 version of Ohio State basketball.
No, the conversation here is memories and standards.
So, to start (0:30), Doug looks at the history of the NCAA Tournament and explains where Ohio State ranks in the country in tournament appearances, tournament wins, Sweet 16 appearances, Sweet 16 appearances since 1985, and more. The point? Ohio State has a history that says it should be good at basketball.
Then, (13:30) the talk turns to favorite OSU memories in the NCAA Tournament, from 1960 to 1992 to 1999 to 2007 to 2012 and more.
Finally (57:10) there's a brief discussion of the end of this Ohio State season and what missing the tournament does for fan's enjoyment of March Madness.
Back to football on Thursday. For now, thanks for listening.
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Mar 13, 2023
What a potential draft record in 2024 could say about Ohio State in 2023; plus Penn State, Wisconsin and Cocaine Bear
On this Monday Madness edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird discuss an Ohio State issue, a national college football issue, and Whatcha Thinkin', Eatin', and Watchin'.
First, (0:30) there's a long breakdown of whether Ohio State football could break the record for NFL Scouting Combine invites next year. Doug and Nathan go through all the players who could be combine candidates in 2024, and then analyze what it might mean for the Buckeyes in the fall if they have so many draft possibilities next winter.
That takes quite a while. Then (1:01:55) there's a debate over whether Wisconsin or Penn State should be the third-best Big Ten team in 2023.
Finally, (1:15:51) the Whatcha discussion includes standing in line, Swiss Steak and Cocaine Bear.
Thanks for listening.
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Mar 10, 2023
Maximizing Marvin Harrison Jr. -- What is college football's best receiver chasing?
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are discussing Marvin Harrison Jr., what's ahead for him in 2023, what he's chasing and how the Ohio State Buckeyes should go about bringing out the best in him.
Everything MHJ takes up the first 60 percent of the pod, and then at 45:05 the talk moves to other receivers getting a chance this spring, like Jayden Ballard, Kojo Antwi, Kaleb Brown and Kyion Grayes.
But this is a deep dive into how MHJ thinks and how the Buckeyes think about him. Thanks for listening.
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Mar 10, 2023
Bonus Drop: NIL Now on Livvy Dunne’s controversial deal and author’s tips for how all athletes can benefit from NIL
In this week's episode of NIL Now, Kevin and Lauren preview NCAA president Charlie Baker's first 100 days in office. The hosts then react to LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne's controversial NIL deal with Caktus AI, an artificial intelligence tool that forced LSU to issue a statement.
Reddit CFB’s Bobak Ha’Eri brings his thoughts and Reddit's comments on Baker's mission as the NCAA's leader, and what he predicts the relationship between the NCAA and boosters, such as Miami's John Ruiz, will look like in the future.
Mark Koesterer, the founder of The Players NIL and author of "NIL For ALL: A 30-Minute Guide to NIL," details where the NCAA went wrong with NIL and explains the importance of athlete education.
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Mar 9, 2023
Brian Hartline's new world as Ohio State's offensive coordinator
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are bringing you the latest from Ohio State's second practice of spring football on Thursday morning.
For this episode, that means describing Brian Hartline's new role as the Buckeyes' offensive coordinator, and what that means for him in practice.
How is he different from Ryan Day? How might they complement each other? What's Hartline's coaching future?
At the end of the pod, Doug goes on a rant about the Big Ten Network and its basketball coverage, but this is football pod about an important Buckeye in a new role. Thanks for listening.
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Mar 8, 2023
Jim Knowles' plan to fix things, plus Sonny Styles, Davison Igbinosun and more: Ohio State spring practice defense Day 1
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, it's time to talk Ohio State defense from the first day of spring practice. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means do that, in this order:
(0:30) Sonny Styles, Davison Igbinosun, Denzel Burke and the secondary
(22:20) C.J. Hicks and the linebackers
(38:29) The future of the Jack position in Jim Knowles' defense
(49:42) What didn't work for the OSU defense last season and how Knowles plans to adjust
Don't miss the offensive breakdown from Day 1 on the Tuesday podcast. And thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Mar 7, 2023
Ohio State offense, First day of spring practice: QB battle, RT battle, young WRs and more
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking about the first day of Ohio State football spring practice after watching a portion Tuesday and then talking with Ryan Day and quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Devin Brown.
A podcast all about the defense from the first day of spring will drop Wednesday morning.
For now, the guys start (0:30) with the quarterback battle.
Then it's receivers (35:48), tight ends (45:57), running backs (53:05) and the offensive line (55:45).
Position battles, players to watch, insight from coaches, audio clips from quarterbacks -- it's all part of this Buckeye Talk.
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Mar 6, 2023
Ohio State winners from the NFL Scouting Combine
On this Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are wrapping up their coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. That includes running through the interviews and workouts of the three Buckeyes they haven't talked about yet -- offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler.
First (0:30), Doug and Nathan go through some combine notes, including the measurements of several Buckeyes.
Then (15:36), it's Johnson and the case he made to be the first tackle drafted.
Then (27:25) it's Jones and his extraordinary size and first-round prospects.
Then (33:28) it's to Wypler and if his Indy performance can get him into the second round.
Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's outstanding testing and drills (44:47) got a lot of attention, and Doug and Nathan go through that next, as JSN may have confirmed his status as wide receiver one in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Finally, (1:00:10) it's C.J. Stroud and how he threw the ball Saturday night.
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Mar 4, 2023
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and C.J. Stroud at the NFL combine: Futures and regrets
On this Saturday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are discussing two big-time Ohio State Buckeyes at the NFL Scouting Combine. On Friday, quarterback C.J. Stroud and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba spoke with reporters. They'll work out on Saturday.
First (0:30), Doug and Nathan discuss Smith-Njigba and the hamstring injury that held him to 60 snaps in 2022. Speaking to reporters for the first time since the injury, he said he regretted trying to come back as fast as he did.
Then (30:12), Doug and Nathan talk about Stroud, how close he came to staying at Ohio State, and what he said about running the ball with the Buckeyes.
In the final segment (1:06:15), the talk turned to the teams where Stroud might best fit and how those might try to grab him in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Mar 3, 2023
Zach Harrison, Ronnie Hickman, Cam Brown at the combine; plus, will Ohio State's cornerback NFL Draft success return?
On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are discussing the first three Ohio State Buckeyes they interviewed at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
First up (0:30) is cornerback Cam Brown. The guys discuss where he ranks in this cornerback draft class, the dip in OSU cornerback prospects and why that happened, and the testing numbers that Brown could put up to help himself.
Then it's safety Ronnie Hickman ( 30:51) and where he fits among the 10 best safeties in the draft. He had a lot of turnover in defensive coaches at Ohio State, and what will that mean for him in the NFL?
Finally, it's defensive end Zach Harrison (48:58) and his very long arms. Doug and Nathan discuss his consistency and upside and how he compares to some edge rusher OSU draft prospects of the recent past.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. There will be more combine interviews and discussion in the days ahead.
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Mar 2, 2023
Must a coach be a badass to win at Ohio State?
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is asking a question spurred by his four conversations with winning Ohio State coaches across various sports.
Must a coach be a badass to win at Ohio State?
Doug has thoughts, and he asked Ohio State text subscribers to share their views as well. It's kind of an obvious question, but it's one that Doug also found clarifying when it comes to assessing OSU teams.
Plus, Doug talks a bit about Jalen Carter and Georgia football, and the circumstances around the two tragic deaths in the program in January. And then he finishes with a bit to say about Ohio State basketball, after the Buckeyes got their second straight win.
Thanks for listening.
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Mar 1, 2023
Explaining Ohio State's sports standards with wrestling coach Tom Ryan and men's tennis coach Ty Tucker
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, but it's not yet time to talk about what's been learned here. That will come later in the week.
For this pod, Doug wanted to wrap up two more interviews with Ohio State head coaches. This time it's wrestling coach Tom Ryan and men's tennis coach Ty Tucker. Last week featured a pod with women's hockey coach Nadine Muzerall and women's basketball coach Kevin McGuff.
The goal for both pods was to discuss the standard for Ohio State sports, and how these coaches built their winning programs. There is culture and strategy here that applies across sports, and they are just some good stories shared as well.
It'll be back to football soon, but for now, we hope you enjoy this Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening.
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Feb 28, 2023
The 9 most interesting Ohio State Buckeyes for spring football
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are looking ahead to the start of Ohio State spring football practice, which begins in a week.
To do that, they are drafting the nine Buckeyes that intrigue them the most for spring, from early-enrolled freshmen, to veterans battling for jobs, to players who might be ready to take a step toward stardom.
There will be a lot of OSU coverage from the NFL Combine this week, but spring practice will start before you know it. So let's get ready now.
Thanks for listening.
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Feb 27, 2023
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Paris Johnson Jr., C.J. Stroud and an Ohio State NFL Combine preview
On this Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are joined by Max Chadwick, the college football analyst from PFF, to preview the eight Ohio State Buckeyes taking part in the NFL Combine this week.
Nathan and Doug will be two of the cleveland.com reporters in Indianapolis to cover the combine, so get ready for more combine podcasting later in the week. And this pod will get you ready.
First, they interview Max, and then Doug and Nathan share their most interesting questions for the combine and the eight Buckeyes who will be there: C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones, Luke Wypler, Zach Harrison, Ronnie Hickman and Cam Brown.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Feb 24, 2023
2 Bosas and other wrinkles in a Ryan Day Era Defense Draft
On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back to do the defensive version of the offensive draft they did a week ago.
It's drafting 11-player units from the four-year era with Ryan Day as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, with the same twist: each unit must include one player from the Urban Meyer era and one player from the Jim Tressel era.
Stephen gets the first pick in this one, so who does he take? And who did the Ohio State text subscribers choose as the winner of the offense draft?
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Feb 23, 2023
Winning a title, chasing a title at Ohio State: Women's hockey coach Nadine Muzerall and women's basketball coach Kevin McGuff
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is beginning the discussion about the standards and expectations for sports at Ohio State.
In that pursuit, he's interviewing head coaches of other successful OSU programs, and this episode has two great talks to kick that off.
First up is Nadine Muzerall, the head coach of the women's hockey team. The Buckeyes won their first national title in women's hockey last year and are the No. 1 team again this season heading into the postseason. Muzerall explains how that happened, and discusses her coaching philosophy.
Then it's Kevin McGuff, the head coach of the women's basketball team. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten last season and reached the Sweet Sixteen. This year, Ohio State is once again a top-25 team and with one game left in the regular season, another Sweet Sixteen run looks possible.
Thanks to these coaches for their time, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Feb 22, 2023
Inside Kyle McCord’s preparation for Ohio State’s spring football QB battle
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss third-year Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and the battle he is preparing for this spring to replace C.J. Stroud.
Nathan has been reporting a story on McCord for a while, and part of this discussion centers on how McCord as a young QB and in high school started readying himself for a moment like this.
The guys also look at McCord’s style and why Ryan Day recruited him, and at the end of the podcast they run through the recent history of first-year Ohio State starting quarterbacks and what should be expected of them.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Feb 21, 2023
2 Fascinating Buckeyes: Interviewing an Actor and a Space Scientist
On this Buckeye Talk edition, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two very special guests. One is an actor, one is a space scientist, and both of them are Ohio State grads.
In two 35-minute interviews, the hope is to give you a look into two interesting lives of former Buckeyes.
First up is Otis Winston, who is in the movie "Plane," which is currently out in theaters. He's been in several other movies and TV shows after an athletic career at Ohio State that included both basketball and high jump. Otis was one of the captains of the 1996-97 OSU basketball team.
He talks about filming "Plane," making an acting career while living in central Ohio, and transitioning from sports to the big screen.
Then it's a 35-minute interview with James Bullock, the dean of the School of Physical Sciences at the University of California-Irvine. James was involved with the James Webb Space Telescope, which is currently taking awesome photos of the universe.
He talks about space exploration, how much should be in…
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Feb 20, 2023
A hard look at Ohio State football special teams -- Are the results worth the effort?
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, it's time for an in-depth look at Ohio State special teams. This is worth the time since three major special teams played affected the end of Ohio State's season -- the miscommunication on what should have been a fake punt vs. Michigan; the fake punt that was stopped by a timeout vs. Georgia; and the missed field goal to end the Georgia loss.
To get at those issues, Doug Lesmerises spent 20 minutes interviewing OSU specials teams coordinator Parker Fleming when he was available a few weeks ago. In what was almost a one-on-one interview, Doug dug in more on special teams than Buckeye Talk has done in a long time.
On this podcast, Doug shares his thoughts on whether Ohio State should have an entire assistant coach devoted to special teams, and gets at what didn't work for the Buckeyes. He does that while sharing audio clips from Fleming in that interview.
We think this was a worthy dive into this part of the game, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Feb 17, 2023
A Ryan Day Era Offense Draft -- with a Meyer and Tressel twist
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back to do one of their favorite things on this podcast -- drafting teams against each other.
For this exercise, they each drafted an 11-player offense made up of Buckeyes from the last four season -- Ryan Day's four years as head coach. But there was one twist -- each of them had to draft one player from the Urban Meyer era and one player from the Jim Tressel era.
That added an extra level of strategy -- and made sure each team got a good quarterback.
So listen to this 11-round draft to find out which 27 Day players, which three Meyer players and which three Tressel players made the cut.
Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk. And expect a defensive version of this draft next week.
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Feb 15, 2023
What you love about Ohio State and being a fan of the Buckeyes: Anti-rants
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is here late with what was supposed to be a Valentine's Day episode.
Why did it make sense for Valentine's Day? Because it's about love.
Instead of rants this week, Doug asked Ohio State text subscribers for anti-rants. That is, he wanted stories and explanations from fans about what they love about the Buckeyes and what they love about being a fan of them.
And that's what people sent. From Ohio State's history of winning to the bonds forged with family, Doug runs through anti-rant after anti-rant about love for this program.
Sorry it's a day late, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Feb 13, 2023
Can C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields be Super Bowl quarterbacks?
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are reacting to the Super Bowl, and thinking about whether an Ohio State quarterback will get there one day.
First (0:30), on this Monday Madness edition, Doug and Nathan do Whatcha Watchin’, Whatcha Eatin’, Whatcha Thinkin’?
They are watching the Super Bowl, eating Super Bowl food, and thinking about flag football, bad radio and worse Ohio State basketball (32:54), among other things.
Then (44:29), they discuss Justin Fields and the Bears, as the former OSU QB is preparing for Year 3 in Chicago. Does Fields have any similarities to Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, and what should the Bears do to best set up Fields for success? Can he be a Super Bowl QB?
Finally (1:09:23) it’s onto C.J. Stroud and the best landing spots in this NFL Draft for the former Buckeye. Will he go in the top two picks? Which teams might trade up for him? And what might be the best places for Stroud to succeed? Can he be a Super Bowl QB?…
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Feb 10, 2023
Can Ohio State football change its recruiting strategy? Mark Pantoni has ideas
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means discuss the latest views on Ohio State recruiting based on last week’s interview with Mark Pantoni, who has overseen the recruiting operation for the Buckeyes for more than a decade.
First (0:30), Doug and Stephen discuss Ohio State’s latest ideas about NIL and how it affects Ohio State’s recruiting.
Then (9:35) they dive more specifically into one possibility in this recruiting world -- the Buckeyes focusing more on in-state recruits.
Finally (47:47), it’s some changes in the OSU recruiting department and what Pantoni’s main duties are now.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Feb 9, 2023
Sonny Styles, Kye Stokes, Jermaine Mathews and spring chances available in Ohio State's secondary
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, it's time to talk about the Ohio State secondary.
Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss what OSU cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and safeties coach Perry Eliano said last week.
First, (0:30) the guys talk about the eight Buckeyes invited to this year's NFL Combine and what that says about Ohio State's 2022 team.
Then (12:47) they talk about Walton, what was said about the OSU corners and the wide-open competition that could occur this spring.
Then (33:53) it's the safeties, Eliano and how young safeties Sonny Styles and Kye Stokes could factor into the 2023 season.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Feb 8, 2023
Jim Knowles’ mood; young LB opportunities; and James Laurinaitis in the rivalry
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking about Ohio State linebackers after speaking with Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jim Knowles and new OSU grad assistant James Laurinaitis last week.
Covered in the three sections on this episode:
* (0:30) How Knowles felt about his first year running the defense and what the focus will be in spring football
* (25:20) The chances that young linebackers C.J. Hicks, Gabe Powers and Reid Carrico should get in the spring
* (38:36) The role Laurinaitis should play in recruiting and ... might play in Michigan prep?
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Feb 7, 2023
Ohio State DL coach Larry Johnson's future, and is Jack still a Jack?
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means continue to work their way through interviews with Ohio State assistant coaches and staffers last week, and up now is defensive line coach Larry Johnson and his room.
First up (0:30), the guys talk about the 71-year-old Johnson, a legend as a college football assistant, and discuss what his future is in Columbus and how the Buckeyes are handling it.
Then (22:42) it's onto the defensive ends, and how Johnson rotates his players and how much J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer will play this season. Plus, will Sawyer still play that stand-up Jack position and move around the line, or will he be a pure defensive end with his hand on the ground?
Finally (45:22) it's defensive tackle talk, plus a brief discussion of a defensive lineman who could be on the Marvin Harrison Jr. career trajectory.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Feb 6, 2023
The problems with Ohio State basketball, and the answer: Buckeye Talk Rants
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are here to take rants from Ohio State text subscribers and discuss the state of Buckeye basketball, after Ohio State fell to 11-12 overall and 3-9 in Big Ten play with a loss to Michigan on Sunday.
First (0:30), Doug and Stephen look at things on the horizon, including how the incoming recruiting class should affect the view of Chris Holtmann and whether Bronny James can come save the Buckeyes.
Then (22:19) it's rants and talk about this edition of the Buckeyes, how Holtmann built the roster and why it's not working in what is looking like a season that will produce Ohio State's worst Big Ten record in 25 years.
Finally ( 1:21:47) Doug wraps it up with some solo rants about what should be done, other coaches the Buckeyes should look at, how Gene Smith has handled this, and what Holtmann's future really is.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Feb 3, 2023
Ohio State disputes the Marvin Harrison Jr. call; plus Tony Alford, Keenan Bailey and more
On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means open with what turns into a very long talk about the non-targeting call on Marvin Harrison Jr. in the Peach Bowl. This talk was spurred by Ryan Day revealing his conversations with officials about the call.
Then the guys get into:
Ohio State injuries for spring football
Running backs coach Tony Alford and the running backs
New tight ends coach Keenan Bailey
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com
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Feb 2, 2023
Ryan Day's big change, plus quarterback and offensive line battles: News from Ohio State coaches
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are bursting with info after interviewing 13 Ohio State staff members on Wednesday as part of the late National Signing Day (even though the Buckeyes didn't add any recruits.) That group was head coach Ryan Day, all 10 assistants, plus recruiting coordinator Mark Pantoni and new defensive staffer James Laurinaitis.
You'll hear more about all of those talks on future Buckeye Talk episodes.
But for now, the guys focused on three areas:
The discussion around Day maybe giving up play calling
What to expect on the offensive line
The quarterback battle to come in the spring
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Feb 1, 2023
A transfer cornerback; James Laurinaitis; roster management; chicken bones and more: Slow Fire Q&A
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Ohio State text subscribers ask questions and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means answer them in not very rapid fashion.
The topics include:
The transfer cornerback Ohio State added Tuesday
Roster numbers for each position
The Jim Knowles defense in Year 2
Ohio State hiring James Laurinaitis
Bones or no bones in your chicken of choice
Is Ohio State really at an NIL disadvantage?
Plus back scratching, Dawand Jones at the Senior Bowl, and more.
Thanks for listening.
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Jan 31, 2023
Buckeye Talk Legacy Pod: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
Buckeye Talk unveils a new podcast form with this first episode in what is hoped to be a series of Buckeye Talk Legacy pods looking back on the careers of recent Ohio State stars.
First up is quarterback C.J. Stroud, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk through Stroud's arrival in Columbus and his three years in the program and two years as a starter.
To help tell that story are clips from two Stroud interviews, one from February 2020 when he was an early enrollee freshman looking forward to his OSU career, and another from November 2022 when he was looking back and knowing that he was nearing the end of his OSU career.
Along the way, Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss these aspects of Stroud's career:
How he got here
Year 1 as a Buckeye
Low Point
High Point
Turning Point
What if he hadn't been a Buckeye
Describe him in one word
Did he exceed, meet or not quite reach expectations?
Where he fits in Ohio State history
We hope you enjoy our first Buckeye Talk Le…
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Jan 30, 2023
Ohio State national title odds; coordinator value; and grumpy lessons from a Hall of Famer: Monday Madness
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are back with a Monday Madness. That means talking Ohio State football, national college football, and a round of Whatcha' Watchin', Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Thinkin'.
First (0:30), Doug and Nathan look at the early national championship odds and how Ohio State fits in with Georgia, Alabama, Michigan and other national powers.
Then (28:40) theres's a discussion of Miami firing former Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and what that tells us about the value of coordinators.
Finally (47:30), it's food, Oscar talk and what Doug thinks of a player he covered decades ago getting elected to the Hall of Fame.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jan 27, 2023
Ohio State QB battle insights, embracing Joe Burrow, and riding a horse up a volcano: Buckeye Talk Rants
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is taking rants from Ohio State text subscribers. (Join by sending a text to 614-350-3315).
Among the topics covered:
Info to be gleaned from the looming OSU QB battle
Putting Troy Smith and Terrelle Pryor in different offenses
Will Buckeye tight ends have to block more?
The week-long break Buckeye Talk took
When Doug is a jerk
How to embrace Joe Burrow as a Buckeye
Concerns with the OSU turf
How to better talk about injuries
More Heisman tweaks
Bloodlust lessons from the Georgia loss
Hiring Oklahoma State assistants
Solving load management
And finally ... lots of horse riding reaction
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jan 26, 2023
Should Ezekiel Elliott have a Heisman Trophy?
On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises wants to know -- Have you ever ridden a horse?
But mostly Doug takes a long look at the 2014 Heisman Trophy race and what would have happened for Ezekiel Elliott if the voting was after the playoff, which it what Doug thinks should happen when the playoff moves to 12 teams in 2024.
Would Elliott have won the 2014 Heisman if it was a postseason award, instead of voted on in December? As it happened, Elliott didn't even finish in the top 10.
This episode is playing off the latest College Football Survivor Show, where Doug and and Shehan Jeyarajah debated this strenuously in a larger, general context. Check out that show wherever you listen to Buckeye Talk.
Thanks for listening.
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Jan 25, 2023
Ohio State's 2023 defensive depth chart: Making room for young talent, corner questions and DL upside
On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down Ohio State's defensive depth chart after doing the offensive depth chart on the Tuesday podcast. Once again, they reference their July 2021 podcast that predicted how good this 2023 team might be.
First (0:30), they look at the defensive line.
Then (26:43) it's time for the safeties, and then the cornerbacks.
Finally (1:01:00) they get to the linebackers.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jan 24, 2023
Ohio State's 2023 offensive depth chart: Running back rotation, offensive line questions and QB what-ifs
Buckeye Talk is back after a week away, and that means it's time to move on and dive into the 2023 college football season.
To do that, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look at the offensive depth chart for the fall. They also reference their July 2021 podcast that potentially projected the 2023 Buckeyes as a college football powerhouse. How much was right and wrong?
First up (0:35) they look at the quarterback battle with Kyle McCord and Devin Brown and what might be happening if Quinn Ewers was still in Columbus.
Then (30:25), they talk about what another year of C.J. Stroud would have been like, and then they move on to the offensive line for next season, where the Buckeyes have some holes to fill.
Finally (1:20:12), it's time to talk tight end, receiver and running back.
It's good to be back, and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jan 16, 2023
How we did on our Mark It Down Monday statistical predictions for Ohio State's 2022 season
Ohio State football ended up right where it expected to be at the end of the season -- back in the College Football Playoff and going toe to toe with Georgia for a shot at the national championship.
The route the Buckeyes took to the get there, especially as it pertained to offensive production, deviated from our expectations. Nathan, Doug and Stephen revisit their Mark It Down Monday statistical leaders prediction episode from last summer.
Injuries derailed some predictions. Others were thrown off when new stars emerged. What did the final stat leaders tell us about what the Buckeyes will look like in 2023?
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Jan 13, 2023
Brian Hartline named Ohio State's offensive coordinator, plus OSU Rants
On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises opens with a discussion of Brian Hartline's promotion to offensive coordinator at Ohio State.
After that, it's rants.
Thanks for listening.
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Jan 12, 2023
Ohio State's 2023 QB season: Kyle McCord, Devin Brown and the better-than-usual quarterbacks they'll face
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking all about Ohio State quarterbacks in 2023 and the quarterbacks the Buckeyes will face in 2023.
That includes:
* Well, it’s not actually all quarterbacks, because the pod starts with OSU center Luke Wypler heading to the NFL Draft and Matthew Jones likely moving from right guard to center.
* The recent history of Ohio State quarterbacks earning first-team Big Ten honors and a look at whether Kyle McCord or Devin Brown should do that again in 2023.
* The rash of transfer quarterbacks in the Big Ten West and how good they might be.
* The two five-star recruits expected to start for Michigan and Penn State in the Big Ten East.
* The veteran quarterbacks at Notre Dame and Western Kentucky who could challenge Ohio State in non-conference play.
It’s (almost) all 2023 quarterback talk, and thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Jan 10, 2023
What Georgia's national title told us about Ohio State, and a remarkable run of AP poll finishes
On this Tuesday/Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means react to Georgia's domination in the national title game from an Ohio State perspective.
First, they run through a survey of OSU text subscribers about how that Georgia win made them feel, and what it said about Ohio State's future.
Then, they congratulate the winner of the Buckeye Talk bowl pool.
Then there's a discussion about the latest Buckeyes making NFL Draft decisions.
Then it's onto where Ohio State finished in the final AP poll, how Nathan voted and Ohio State's streak of high AP finishes in the last two decades.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jan 9, 2023
Burying what might have been Ohio State's best loss in 18 years: Buckeye Talk Rants
On this late Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is here to bury Ohio State's loss to Georgia, even though it took him two-thirds of the way through the pod to realize that's what he was doing with this rants pod.
To start, Doug puts all 26 Ohio State losses (not including the 7 losses in 2011) that he has covered into six different categories to figure out where the Georgia loss fits. He only has two other losses in its group.
Then, a texter sends the 10 most-heartbreaking losses of his parents' lifetime and Doug runs through those to get more context on the Georgia loss.
That's followed by a comparison of Urban Meyer's last four years and Ryan Day's first four years, and what Day may have learned from the end of this season.
Finally, there are a few more heartfelt reactions from after the game, including one about a sick parents and another about taking your 11-year-old to a playoff game.
To conclude the pod, Doug makes his national title game pick.
Thanks for lis…
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Jan 6, 2023
Ohio State's 5 perfect drives against Georgia and why it wasn't enough: Peach Bowl OSU offensive analysis
On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back to break down Ohio State's offense in the Buckeyes' 42-41 Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Georgia.
They did the same for the OSU defense on the previous episode of Buckeye Talk.
The discussion starts (0:30) with the idea of Ohio State's five perfect drives against Georgia, and then moves into the limited use of the OSU run game.
Then (17:55) it's a discussion of C.J. Stroud's big game. That's followed (29:14) but how the Buckeyes handled Georgia All-American defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Then comes talk (33:57) of the OSU receivers vs. the Georgia secondary.
Miyan Williams talk (36:15) then pops in, before the guys start digging into every OSU drive (38:09).
Marvin Harrison's injury and the targeting call that was reversed on the play gets an interlude (49:57) before things return (59:50) to Ohio State's final drives of the game.
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Jan 5, 2023
Analyzing Ohio State's defense vs. Georgia: Lessons learned, Jim Knowles' strategy, and a fingernail away
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are looking back at Ohio State's defense vs. Georgia in their College Football Playoff semifinal.
Was it better or worse than it seemed right after the game?
First, (0:40) they talk about a defender lost and a defender added in the transfer portal.
Then (13:15) they look at how the defensive line played and how often defensive coordinator Jim Knowles made aggressive play calls and how often he was more conservative.
Lastly, (51:24) the big plays given by the Buckeyes are dissected to find which ones were great Georgia plays and which were issues with Ohio State.
The next pod will do the same thing with the offense. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jan 2, 2023
Ryan Day giving up play calling? Plus fake punts, and are Ohio State fans more hopeful or angry?
On this Buckeye Talk episode for Monday evening/Tuesday morning, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means continue to react to Ohio State’s loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff with the help of the results of a text subscriber survey. (Try the texts at 614-350-3315).
Here's the rundown:
Some brief news and a discussion of the fake punt Ohio State tried vs. Georgia
(10:37) What if Ryan Day does give up play calling, as a report said he is considering?
(51:28) Pondering C.J. Stroud and Jim Harbaugh working together in the NFL
(1:02:27) The results of the texter survey, as the guys discuss how fans feel about the Buckeyes, the coaching and this season
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Jan 1, 2023
Ohio State loses to Georgia postgame: What a 42-41 heartbreaker means for the Buckeyes
On this postgame Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are ringing in the New Year in the wee hours after Ohio State lost to Georgia 42-41 in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Peach Bowl on Saturday night.
The guys focus on three main areas, knowing there are many conversations ahead on later episodes to discuss every aspect of this game.
Part 1: What this game means for the OSU program
Part 2: (18:36) Why Ohio State lost and the specifics of what the Buckeyes did well and not so well
Part 3: (1:05:59) Thinking about how fans will feel about this game
Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk. The season is over, but the pod will continue.
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Dec 30, 2022
Ohio State-Georgia game preview and picks: Can the Buckeyes pull off the upset over the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff?
Stephen Means, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are joined by Tyler Shoemaker as the quartet gives their final thoughts on Ohio State's College Football Playoff matchup against Georgia and provides their picks.
With they go along with what many around the country as starting to believe, as the Bulldogs are seen as the overwhelming favorite, or will they pick the underdog Buckeyes?
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Dec 30, 2022
Dallan Hayden; Kirby Smart's lessons for Ryan Day; the Big Ten's back; New Year's Eve conflicts; banana flavor; Debra Winger and more: Ohio State rants
On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is discussing rants from Ohio State text subscribers in preparation for Saturday's Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal between the No. 4 Buckeyes and the No. 1 Gerogia Bulldogs.
Among the topics covered:
Whether the passion of Ohio State fans is on the line
Is the Big Ten back?
Bananas
Does Ohio State seem tight?
New Year's Eve conflicts
Running back updates
Just wanting Ohio State to not get blown out, cautious optimism, impending doom and every possible view of how the game might go and what it would mean for the program
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Dec 29, 2022
Is Georgia's offense or Georgia's defense a bigger issue for Ohio State?
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means check in after talking to Ohio State defensive players and coaches and Georgia offensive players and coaches on Wednesday.
The pod starts with an Ohio State injury update from a quick practice viewing, then (5:00) it's on to what happened at Georgia practice.
The guys then dive into their interview with Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (9:05). Then things move on (25:25) to a comparison of Georgia's offense to Michigan's offense.
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett and Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken (33:00) then get an analysis, before a debate ensues (45:40) about what will be a tougher test for Ohio State -- the Georgia offense or Georgia defense?
Finally, what was said by Ohio State defenders like Tommy Eichenberg, Lathan Ransom and Jack Sawyer is discussed (49:41).
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Dec 28, 2022
What a roof means for Ohio State, and vibes from the OSU offense and Georgia defense
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means share their thoughts after talking to Ohio State offensive players and coaches and Georgia defensive players and coaches on Tuesday.
And, not surprisingly, Doug has a theory.
Topics covered on this episode include:
Chip Trayanum, Miyan Williams and the Ohio State running back situation
(6:10) Kevin Wilson's career at Ohio State and how the OC is balancing his new role as Tulsa's head coach plus his duties with Ohio State
(22:24) What playing indoors might mean for the Ohio State offense
(39:00) Players to watch on the Georgia defense
(50:10) How C.J. Stroud was feeling and thinking
(58:34) What Ohio State needs from its defense
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Dec 27, 2022
Ohio State arrives in Atlanta and gets ready for Georgia
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about the arrival of Ohio State at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta to face Georgia in a College Football Playoff semifinal.
Doug, who is putting this podcast up, has no other information because he drove to Atlanta all day Monday and couldn't make the pod, and no one gave him any other specifics about the topics.
So you can probably figure out the rest. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk!
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Dec 26, 2022
Right and wrong picks on Ohio State All-Americans, the Heisman, and the playoff: MIDM recap
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking a quick look back before their podcast coverage begins from Atlanta for the Ohio State-Georgia matchup in the Peach Bowl. Buckeye Talk for the rest of the week will be coming to you from the College Football Playoff semifinal.
But on this episode, Doug, Nathan and Stephen look back on three Mark It Down Monday predictions from the preseason.
First, they discuss the absences of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and TreVeyon Henderson and whether they've been factored into the view of Ohio State's season enough.
Then (11:20) it's a look at their College Football Playoff picks and where they were right and wrong.
Next up (34:25) are their Heisman Trophy predictions and there they were right and wrong.
Finally (54:44) it's the Ohio State players they predicted would be first-team All-Americans this season, and which ones they got right.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Dec 23, 2022
An Ohio State bet vs. Georgia, liking Big Ten bowl teams, and sports betting in Ohio is almost here: Betting the Buckeyes
It's the last full Betting the Buckeyes episode of the season on Buckeye Talk, as Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker go back to their regular-season formula for one last round of college football gambling advice.
First, TShoe suggests another Ohio State bet, and guess what? It's familiar. The usual Buckeye angle is back for Ohio State vs. Georgia, and Doug and Tyler explain why.
Then (16:12), it's to the New Year's Six Bowls. That means bets from both Tyler and Doug:
Clemson-Tennessee in the Orange Bowl
Alabama-Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl
USC-Tulane in the Cotton Bowl
Penn State-Utah in the Rose Bowl
Michigan-TCU in a Fiesta Bowl playoff semifinal
Ohio State-Georgia in a Peach Bowl playoff semifinal (although, FYI, they aren't ready to give their full picks in this one)
Finally (43:47), TShoe offers one last best bet in another bowl game. And then Doug and Tyler talk about the arrival of legal sports gambling in Ohio on Jan. 1 and discuss the rise of sports betting and what…
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Dec 22, 2022
Ohio State National Signing Day recap: Potential early starters, some costly misses, and the state of OSU recruiting
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird react to Ohio State's 2023 signing class, which the Buckeyes locked in Wednesday. By average star rating, it is the No. 3 class in the 247sports.com composite rankings. Nineteen players signed, with the Buckeyes waiting on one more committed player they were expecting to land.
To start off, the guys look at Ohio State's class ranking overall nationally, and then they dive into the 10 offensive players who signed with the Buckeyes.
Then (56:10) it's to the other side of the ball and the nine players (and one more they were waiting on) for on defense.
In the final segment (1:17:01) they look at the highly-rated recruits the Buckeyes went after and didn't sign, and discuss the effect of NIL on the class and how things might look for Ohio State recruiting in the future.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Dec 21, 2022
Ohio State-Georgia film expert breakdown: Why the Buckeyes' offense should go fast
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, welcome cleveland.com football film expert Lance Reisland to the show for the first time.
Lance has appeared on Orange and Brown Talk to discuss the Browns many times, and has written film breakdowns on both the Buckeyes and Browns, but on this episode he joins Doug Lesmerises to discuss the Ohio State-Georgia matchup.
The focus at the start of the pod is on the areas where Lance feels the Buckeyes can best attack Georgia's defense, and later, the talk turns to OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and how aggressive he should be in this matchup, and what kind of coverage the Buckeyes should play.
A former college quarterback and a high school head coach for more than two decades, Lance offers a great breakdown of this Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal, and as always, thanks for listening.
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Dec 20, 2022
Ohio State defense vs. Georgia offense: Breaking down J.T Tuimoloau, Stetson Bennett and more
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down the matchup between the Ohio State defense and the Georgia offense.
Don't miss the pod lat Friday when they did the Ohio State offense vs. the Georgia defense.
First, they look at the Bulldogs that will matter most as Georgia moves the ball.
Then (43:23), it's the OSU defenders that need to stand out as the Buckeyes try to slow down the Bulldogs.
Finally (1:02:24), they look at how they think this matchup might go, and discuss how digging in on these rewatches affected their overall view of the game.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Dec 19, 2022
Ohio State's QB future and the decommitment of Dylan Raiola
Dylan Raiola, the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the Class of 2024, decommitted from Ohio State over the weekend.
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to break down what that means for:
The state of the Ohio State football program
The Buckeyes' overall recruiting
Their QB recruiting strategy
The future of the OSU QB room
There's a lot to discuss, and we're glad you're part of this Buckeye Talk episode from cleveland.com.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
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Dec 16, 2022
Ohio State offense vs. Georgia defense: Breaking down Emeka Egbuka, Jalen Carter, a secret plan suggestion, and more
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are offering their first in-depth breakdown of the matchup in the Peach Bowl between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Georgia Bulldogs. This one is Ohio State vs. Georgia defense.
Ohio State defense vs. Georgia offense will be an episode next week.
First up -- the Georgia defensive players that jump out, starting with All-American defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Then (41:49), a look at the Buckeyes that need to have big games on Dec. 31, starting with receiver Emeka Egbuka. Doug also reveals his secret plan suggestion for the Buckeyes in this section.
Finally ((1:06:04), it's what the Buckeyes need to do to have a chance to pile up some points on the most talented defense in college football the last two years, and that leads to a long conversation about Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Dec 15, 2022
Miyan Williams’ health, Buckeyes shouting at the USC-Utah game, and more from Ohio State players
Ohio State football held its bowl season media day on Wednesday, which meant 20 Buckeyes were available for interviews, and Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means were there to talk with them.
And then Doug, Nathan and Stephen jumped on this Thursday Buckeye Talk episode to share the most interesting things they learned from Miyan Williams, C.J. Stroud, Jordan Hancock, Mike Hall Jr., Steele Chambers, Tommy Eichenberg, Zach Harrison, Ronnie Hickman, Marvin Harrison Jr. and more.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
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Dec 14, 2022
Advice on college football bowl picks, and a Buckeye Talk bowl pool
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker from the Betting the Buckeyes weekly episode of Buckeye Talk are here to prepare you for your bowl pools, offering advice on the games in which you can have the most confidence.
You could then use that advice in our Buckeye Talk Podcast bowl pool on ESPN's Bowl Mania. You can sign up here: tinyurl.com/3frh29hx.
The group is private, though, and the password will be sent to Buckeye Talk text subscribers. You can get a two-week free trial as a text subscriber by texting 614-350-3315.
Even if you don't plan to join a bowl pool, TShoe and Doug will give you a good overview of some of the most interesting bowls, with the first bowl game kicking off Friday night.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-52…
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Dec 13, 2022
Ohio State's starters vs. Georgia; Paris Johnson; Caleb Downs; and more: Rapid fire
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking rapid fire questions from Ohio State football text subscribers.
Among the topics covered:
* A weird dream about the Buckeyes, Browns and Georgia
* Paris Johnson Jr’s impact as a potential first-round pick
* Are the Buckeyes their own worst enemy?
* Comparing the 2020 Buckeyes to now
* Would Georgia be a Kourt Williams game is he was healthy?
* Who are the expected OSU starters vs. Georgia on both sides of the ball?
* Still wondering why Dallan Hayden didn’t play more vs. Michigan
* Are Doug, Nathan and Stephen fans of the Buckeyes?
* What’s the latest with Ohio State’s attempts to flip Caleb Downs?
* Diaper advice
* Ryan Day and hiring assistants with not much outside experience
* How did Jim Harbaugh improve at Michigan and what could be learned from it?
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be a…
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Dec 12, 2022
Fixing the Heisman, NIL frustrations, staff changes and cake batter: Ohio State rants
On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is back with rants covering three primary areas:
First, his Heisman vote and why it was difficult, Lincoln Riley vs. Ryan Day quarterbacks and the Heisman, and how the Heisman Trophy could be fixed in future years.
Then (20:45), it's a discussion about the latest Ohio State coaching move -- the promotion of Keenan Bailey to replace Kevin Wilson. Plus, a cake batter rant slips in there.
Finally (40:20) it's a look at where Ohio State is right now in the Name, Image and Likeness world, and why fans might be frustrated about it.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1…
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Dec 9, 2022
The Heisman Trophy and C.J. Stroud's unfinished Ohio State legacy
C.J. Stroud is back in New York City this weekend as a Heisman Trophy finalist. How does being one of only three Ohio State players to twice finish in the top-four of the award's voting factor into his legacy? Can winning a national championship erase an 0-2 record against Michigan? Also, to whom is he passing the torch of being the next Buckeye to make it to the stage in New York?
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
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Dec 8, 2022
9 Ohio State Buckeyes who could pop in bowl prep, from Sonny Styles to Jayden Ballard
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are drafting nine Ohio State players they think could show out during December practices and set themselves up for leaps in 2023 -- if not before.
That means a lot of of young Buckeyes in here who haven't played much, but there's at least one very familiar player who could be looking for even more.
The whole pod is the draft -- one through nine. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
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Dec 7, 2022
Inside the numbers on Ohio State-Georgia, plus how our bets fared this season: Betting the Buckeyes
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker bring you another Betting the Buckeyes, and this one uses some gambling numbers to analyze the playoff semifinal between Ohio State and Georgia.
First, Doug and TShoe look at the betting lines for both College Football Playoff semis -- first Michigan-TCU, and then Ohio State-Georgia -- and then talk about the overall national title odds for all four teams.
Then (21:25) they look at TShoe's power ratings for the Buckeyes and Bulldogs and how they compare to a year ago. Then Doug brings out some other numbers to analyze Ohio State and Georgia on both sides of the ball and get a sense for the matchup. For Tyler, in one way, this is No. 1 vs. No. 1.
Finally (43:17), they run through their bets for the year and let you know how they did on their Power 5 conference picks, plus on Tyler's Best Bets, Upset Special and Ohio State Bet of the Week.
Thanks as always for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.
If you or…
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Dec 6, 2022
Jaxon Smith-Njigba out, Kevin Wilson gone, C.J. Stroud a Heisman finalist, transfer portal options and more: Ohio State rants
On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk Rants, Doug Lesmerises is covering four main topics off the top and then running through rants from text subscribers.
First, (1:32) Jaxon Smith-Njigba's Ohio State career is officially over as the star receiver will not recover from his hamstring injury to be able to play in the Buckeyes' playoff semifinal against Georgia.
Then (17:20), offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson is leaving to be the new head coach at Tulsa. What does that mean for the OSU coaching staff?
Then (25:39), C.J. Stroud is one of four Heisman Trophy finalists. What did Doug think about during his voting process?
Finally (45:10), hundreds of players went into the transfer portal on Monday. Could any of them interest the Buckeyes?
With those topics done, Doug went through several rapid fire rants from fans, first with complaints about the pod (51:33), then about football (55:00).
The last section (1:14:04) is fans sharing thoughts on the best way to emotionally handle a playoff s…
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Dec 5, 2022
Ohio State makes the College Football Playoff, assumes one of its greatest underdog roles
The Ohio State Buckeyes are in the College Football Playoff, and on this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking about the Buckeyes as the No. 4 seed against No. 1 Georgia and as underdogs after it looked like their season was over.
The discussion turns to how this underdog roles compares to other OSU underdog moments of the past. In the back third of the pod, the guys run through a survey of text subscribers to figure out where fans are one week removed from the Buckeyes' loss to Michigan, with the Buckeyes now one of four teams with a shot at the national title, and with a potential rematch with Michigan in the national title game looming.
You know what's in here -- it's playoff stuff.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-80…
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Dec 3, 2022
Ohio State lives: Emergency Pod
Utah beat USC on Friday night, in much the same way Michigan beat Ohio State last week. The result?
The Ohio State Buckeyes are likely back in the College Football Playoff.
With the way the selection committee described it last week, the Buckeyes were probably in with a USC loss, especially when the Trojans blew a 17-3 lead and fell 47-24, showing continued issues with their defense.
The 11-1 Buckeyes aren't perfect, but they will almost certainly be the choice as the No. 4 seed in the playoff when the playoff bracket is announced Sunday.
But you know that. On this emergency pod, you can talk along as Doug Lesmerises tells you things you already know.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR…
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Dec 2, 2022
Still betting Ohio State to win the national title; picks for USC and TCU: and a MAC Championship best bet
On this Friday edition of Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker still have a lot to talk about with Ohio State football from a betting perspective, even though the Buckeyes aren't playing this weekend. Plus, they make their usual national picks.
In the first segment (0:30), Doug and Tyler talk about why Ohio State's national title odds went way up after the Buckeyes lost to Michigan, then came back down after bettors started betting them. Now Ohio State is 10-1, and is that a good bet, given their chances of making the playoff? Plus, TShoe talks about what the lines might look like for an Ohio State-Michigan rematch, and an Ohio State-Georgia semifinal.
Then (22:34), the guys make their picks for the conference championship games in the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12. There are several games Doug and Tyler agree on, which might be bad for Tyler.
Finally (41:42), TShoe has one best bet this week, and it's the MAC Championship. Then the advice ce…
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Dec 1, 2022
Ohio State's playoff limbo; Buckeyes on the All-Big Ten team; and more
On this Thursday episode, Buckeye Talk comes to you in three parts.
First, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about the Ohio State Buckeyes who made the All-Big Ten team, starting on the offensive side, then going (17:27) to defense, and then (35:45) looking at individual awards.
Then Doug (42:42) goes through a few topics on his own, including Brian Hartline interviewing at Cincinnati.
Finally, (58:47) Nathan and Stephen discuss Ohio State's playoff situation, which seems to be coming down to USC losing to Utah on Friday night.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
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Nov 30, 2022
Jim Tressel, rivalry coach; transfer cornerbacks; and more suggestions Ohio State can use to beat Michigan
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, the call went out to Ohio State text subscribers to send in concrete suggestions that Ohio State could try to help the Buckeyes prepare for Michigan next season.
From adding players to changing assistants to a different offensive focus to play calling responsibilities, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means ran through about 15 of the best and most interesting suggestions that were sent in.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
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Nov 29, 2022
Ohio State-Michigan rants: From play calling to Ohio players to social media and more
On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises took in everything Ohio State text subscribers had to offer for the last two days and decided on these 10 points to hit on this slightly different version of a rants pod:
6:30 -- Ohio State losing to Michigan for the first time in the social media age
18:22 -- Whether stability breeds winning, or winning breeds stability
21:42 -- Play calling issues for Ryan Day and Jim Knowles
45:30 -- Ryan Day in equal talent games
50:00 -- How Ryan Day is in the opposite place of Jim Tressel
58:21 -- The right balance of Ohio players on the roster
1:03:46 -- Is recruiting bringing in enough talent at all positions?
1:11:54 -- OSU fans eventually get mad at all coaches
1:19:11 -- This loss was worse because it was unexpected
1:23:37 -- Comparing Ryan Day to Mark Helfrich
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBL…
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Nov 28, 2022
Ohio State's slim playoff chances; Luke Fickell to Wisconsin; mashed potatoes; and more
On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are taking a bit of a step back from Ohio State's loss to Michigan to look at the Buckeyes in the national picture and to discuss Big Ten coaching. The pod will get back to what happened in The Game and the state of the rivalry in the next few days.
Here, Doug and Nathan start by discussing if Ohio State could back into the College Football Playoff as a No. 4 seed and how the selection committee might view the Buckeyes vs. USC right now.
Then (31:56) it's onto Big Ten coaching and the surprise hiring of Luke Fickell by Wisconsin. Who will be the best coaches in the Big Ten in two years? Where does Ryan Day fit? And, just to get a read on fans, texters were asked if they'd fire Day right now if they were in charge. Doug and Nathan discuss those survey results.
Finally, (1:21:31) it's Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin' and Whatcha Thinkin' as Wakanda Forever, Thanksgiving food (again), Nathan's cough and if everyone w…
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Nov 27, 2022
Ohio State loses to Michigan postgame: What went wrong for the Buckeyes, and what to do now
On this postgame edition of Buckeye Talk after Ohio State's 45-23 loss to Michigan, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means break down Ohio State's second straight loss in The Game and what it means for both programs.
First (0:30), the discussion is about where Ohio State's defense failed against Michigan's offense. That includes the idea that the Wolverines were propelled by two players who could have been Buckeyes.
Then (40:30), the discussion turns to the Ohio State offense, which scored just three points in the second half. From play calling to personnel, why didn't the Buckeyes score more?
Included in that is a discussion (1:18:30) about whether Ryan Day should have gone for it on fourth-and-5 in the third quarter.
The final discussion (1:37:49) is all about Day and where the coach and program go from here.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLE…
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Nov 25, 2022
Ohio State-Michigan game preview and picks: The effect of emotion, surprise players and injuries
On this game preview edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dig in deep on the matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan, while Michigan writer Aaron McMann stops by for a segment to lend his expertise.
First, the guys start (0:45) on the Ohio State offense vs. the Michigan defense. Will C.J. Stroud provide some magic? Will Dallan Hayden carry the rushing load? And is the Michigan pass rush a problem?
Then (40:43) it's a quick look at potential surprise players for The Game, as the guys give their choices.
Then (47:54) it's Ohio State defense vs. Michigan offense. Will the Jim Knowles plan work? And might Michigan wind up relying on quarterback J.J. McCarthy more than ever?
Then it's a visit from McMann (1:02:30), who provides a look at what Michigan might be like if star running back Blake Corum is out or severely limited.
Finally (1:32:28), Doug, Nathan and Stephen make their picks for The Game.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cle…
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Nov 24, 2022
How to bet rivalries, and how often Ohio State and Michigan coaches beat the spread in The Game: Betting the Buckeyes
On this week's version of Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are back to talk about Ohio State football and national college football from a betting perspective.
First, (1:00) they discuss how to bet rivalries and how intangibles factor into a bet. Then they talk about the 7.5-point spread for Ohio State-Michigan and how much more Ohio State was favored by several weeks ago. Tyler gives his numbers for the game, and the guys agree on which side of the total they like, and Doug suggests a parley. Finally, TShoe suggests his Ohio State bet of the week.
Then (17:38) it's onto the Power Five conferences with Doug and Tyler each making five bets there. Doug is very excited about his record last week.
In the final segment (40:06), Tyler picks his upset special and gives out his three best bets of the week after going 3-0 on best bets last week. Then it's time for another gambling tidbit, and this one is a little more sophisticated.
Thanks for listening…
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Nov 24, 2022
Broken hands; rushing smart; jumping Georgia; setting back Michigan; and how chippy will The Game be? Rapid fire
On this Thanksgiving Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking rapid fire questions from text subscribers about Ohio State football and the The Game. Among the topics covered:
How should Ohio State rush JJ McCarthy?
Will CJ Stroud remember Desmond Howard and take it out on Michigan?
Tommy Eichenberg's broken hands
Jaxon Smith-Njigba expectations
How chippy will The Game be?
Could Ohio State jump Georgia with a win?
How does the media feel this week?
Could Jayden Ballard play a role Saturday?
Ryan Day can't overthink or be too conservative
A draft of Thanksgiving side dishes
How much would a loss set Michigan back?
Should OSU fans rush the field with a win?
What base was Jim Harbaugh born on?
Would OSU fans accept a new version of The 10-Year War?
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. And Happy Thanksgiving.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be access…
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Nov 23, 2022
Jack Sawyer; a toughness battle; delays of game; and cherishing the rivalry: Ohio State rants
On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk rants, Doug Lesmerises takes another list of rants from text subscribers (sign up for free texts at 614-350-3315) and runs through what's on the mind of Ohio State fans and what matters the most during Ohio State-Michigan week.
Topics discussed include:
How Jack Sawyer might be used
Don't get trapped in a toughness battle
Wishing The Game wasn't Thanksgiving week
Cherishing the privilege of the game in what might be the last, best version of it
Comparing Michigan to Tresselball
Homefield for Ohio State
How Doug says im-por-tant
Divulging little tidbits about The Game
Kicking off at noon
Predicting this game would be 11-0 vs. 11-0
Paris Johnson getting just one year at left tackle
Stop spoiling The College Football Survivor Show
Ohio State's issue with delays of game
Is Tim Walton the next Bill Davis?
Does Ryan Day get too much criticism?
Hating weather talk
And more. Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.
Disclamer:
If…
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Nov 22, 2022
What Michigan does, from pass rush to run blocking, and how Ohio State can handle it
Welcome back to a bonus Buckeye Talk, as Ohio State-Michigan week means a Tuesday pod when there usually isn't one.
Doug Lesmerises kicks off this pod with his breakdown of the Wolverines, first discussing three aspects of Michigan's offense (1:30), then looking (18:53) at three parts of Michigan's defense. There will be a Michigan writer on the pod later this week, but this was a look at the Wolverines through the lens of the Buckeyes.
Then, Doug is joined (28:06) by new cleveland.com writer Jimmy Watkins. His beat is rivalries and that means on his first day on the job Monday he was in Ann Arbor for Michigan interviews. He checks in with the vibe and news from Jim Harbaugh and Michigan players.
Finally, (46:32), Nathan Baird has an interview with L. Jon Wertheim, one of the producers of a new documentary on the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.
Many more pods to come this week. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis couns…
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Nov 21, 2022
The perfect Big Ten season helped create 11-0 Ohio State vs. 11-0 Michigan
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are thinking all about Ohio State vs. Michigan -- and maybe a little bit about Thanksgiving food.
First, they offer an appreciation (4:30) for both the Buckeyes and Wolverines getting through the regular season undefeated so far to make this matchup happen.
Then (9:20), they talk about the polls, where the Buckeyes have always been clearly ahead of the Wolverines.
Then (14:03), it's back to the idea of both Ohio State and Michigan making the College Football Playoff, which is more real after Tennessee's loss.
Then (26:36) the five best teams in the Big Ten are compared to the five best teams in the other major conferences to spark a discussion about quality depth and what's good and bad about it.
Ryan Day's thoughts on Ohio State and Michigan maybe playing back-to-back games someday (41:56) are discussed, before a brief discussion about Iowa (50:28) taking control of the race in the Big Ten West.
Finally, (52:54), it's Whatc…
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Nov 20, 2022
Ohio State beats Maryland postgame: Will Dallan Hayden play a major role in an undefeated version of The Game?
On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are in the Maryland press box to break down Ohio State's 43-30 win over the Terrapins on Saturday. But everything about this OSU win pointed toward what will now be a showdown of undefeated teams in a week, as both Ohio State and Michigan improved to 11-0.
In the first segment, text subscribers share their level of confidence in the Buckeyes right now, while Doug, Nathan and Stephen break down the OSU run game and talk about the role freshman tailback Dallan Hayden could play next week.
In the second segment (35:55), the talk turns to the Ohio State passing game, C.J. Stroud and the number of targets the receivers are getting.
In segment three (47:54), it's on to the Ohio State and how much it can be trusted in a big game, and which defensive stars could show up next week.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling…
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Nov 18, 2022
How a half-point move affects our Ohio State bet, plus a formula for sagging teams: Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk
On this episode of Betting the Buckeyes, Tyler Shoemaker and Doug Lesmerises talk about Ohio State football and national college football from a gambling perspective, as they always do. Doug has a microphone issue on this one, but TShoe is loud and strong and the content is great, so thanks for hanging in.
First, they talk about Ohio State-Maryland, what Tyler's formula would set as the line for this game and how to adjust for teams that are sagging down the stretch. Then it's the Ohio State bet of the week and how a half-point move may or may not change the angle.
Then (16:43), it's on to Power 5 picks, where, honestly, neither Doug nor TShoe has done that well this year. Why? Then it's picks on USC, Texas, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest, Purdue and other teams.
Finally (38:14), TShoe gets into the weeds with his upset special and his three best bets, and he offers a tidbit of gambling advice.
Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you…
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Nov 18, 2022
Ohio State-Maryland preview and rapid fire: A Marvin Harrison Jr. Heisman case, Taron Vincent, Lathan Ransom, game picks and more
On this Friday game preview edition of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means make their picks for the Ohio State-Maryland game on Saturday. But first they discuss some interviews with Ty Hamilton and Dallan Hayden and share some news about Ohio State practicing in the snow and how C.J. Stroud looked this week.
They also take several questions from text subscribers, including on:
Marvis Harrison Jr. as a Heisman candidate
The Jaxon Smith-Njigba outlook
Overlooking Taron Vincent
Lathan Ransom's style of play
How they talk about Ryan Day and what angered some listeners
Some thoughts on the pod
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY…
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Nov 17, 2022
Josh Fryar; C.J. Stroud picked a challenge; hospital food; injury questions and more: Ohio State rants
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is sorry the rants took so long this week, but they're finally here.
Topics covered include, in order:
What's affecting the national view of Ohio State?
Josh Fryar ready to help
Up-tempo offense
A lack of Heisman interest
Hospital food
Football in context
A Block O moment
Angering Iowa
C.J. Stroud picking a challenge
The wrong shade of scarlet
College hoops interest in November
Reacting to big plays
James Franklin and Chris Holtmann
Ohio State's injuries
Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
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Nov 14, 2022
C.J. Stroud's Heisman path and the player who could stand in his way; plus an Ohio State-Michigan doubleheader; and crypto and bass clarinets
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are here to:
Break down the Heisman Trophy race (1:15) and where Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud stands in it. What one other player has the best chance to derail Stroud's Heisman path, and what are the numbers inside the race?
Then (40:40) it's a look at the Big Ten West battle and what would have happened if the Big Ten had already done away with divisions like the Pac-12.
Finally it's time for (1:01:49) Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin' and Whatcha Thinkin' with a look at TBDBITL through fresh eyes, Unsolved Mysteries, bass clarinets and crypto.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-35…
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Nov 12, 2022
Ohio State beats Indiana postgame: C.J. Stroud gets right, RB injuries, Kam Babb's moment and more
On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break down Ohio State's 56-14 win over Indiana.
To open, did someone pick the score exactly right? Huh. Weird.
Then, should the postgame pods be more raw? (2:45)
How did it feel for Nathan, who was sick, to watch the game at home? (4:43)
Then, a dive into the OSU short-yardage issues. (7:48)
Then a deeper look at the running back injuries for the Buckeyes. (30:30)
Then how bad Indiana football is right now. (42:00)
Then a reason to subscribe to the texts. (52:04)
A look at how the cornerbacks played and what the rotation might be in the future. (54:38)
How Josh Fryar did starting at right tackle and what it means. (1:00:10)
The defensive line rotation. (1:03:43)
Marvin Harrison Jr. is wild. (1:08:40)
The C.J. Stroud and Kam Babb connection and Babb's big moment after his touchdown. (1:11:00)
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem,…
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Nov 11, 2022
Back to a reliable Ohio State bet, plus advice on parlays and Bielema belief: Betting the Buckeyes
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Betting the Buckeyes is back after a week off. That means Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are discussing Ohio State and national college football from a gambling perspective.
In the first segment, TShoe and Doug scout out an Ohio State bet of the week and talk about how to bet in bad weather, like the Buckeyes faced last week.
Then the middle segment has their picks from the Power 5 conferences, with playoff contenders Georgia, Tennessee, Oregon and TCU all in the gambling mix.
Then it's the final segment and the upset pick of the week, as well as TShoe's three best bets. Finally, the advice tidbit is Doug asking Tyler how to handle parlay bets, because Doug recently lost one and it made him mad.
Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEX…
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Nov 11, 2022
Ohio State vs. Indiana preview and rapid fire: DL rotation, game picks and more
On this Friday game preview Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means make their picks for Ohio State hosting Indiana on Saturday, with the Buckeyes favored by 39.5 points.
But first, because they are expecting a blowout, they take questions on a variety of topics, including:
Is Ohio State now a defense-first team?
What's with the defensive line rotation?
Keeping listeners sane
Advice for a first OSU game
Receiver drops
C.J. Stroud running the ball
Kyle McCord playing time
Why the offense seems like it's getting worse
Comparing OSU to Michigan running backs
What texters say about their balance of football and men's basketball passion
And then they make their picks for the game. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-47…
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Nov 10, 2022
Is Ohio State or Michigan on top? Big Ten fan satisfaction rankings
This Thursday Buckeye Talk episode is homework that nobody actually wanted.
Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means created their own Big Ten fan satisfaction rankings for each of the 14 schools, combining how good the schools are at football and men's basketball and how much fans care about each of the two programs.
The formula is this:
Each school was broken into two percentages that equal 100 to show how much football matters at that school compared to men's basketball. A school might be an even 50-50, or it might be 90 football and 10 men's basketball, or 75 men's basketball and 25 football. That's a way of showing how much fans care about each of those two sports compared to each other.
Then, each of the 28 football and men's basketball teams was ranked on a scale of 1 to 14, with 1 being very unsatisfied and 14 being completely happy.
Each of those rankings was then multiplied by the caring percent. And then the two numbers were added together to get that schools satis…
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Nov 9, 2022
Ohio State rants: 2 real run game issues, and the key to making Buckeyes fans happier
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises is taking rants and strong takes from Ohio State text subscribers and then talking them out.
The topics covered, in order:
Whether Ohio State is the Kansas City Chiefs and all the issues that go into trusting the Buckeyes or not
The lack of running backs getting in the groove, why short yardsage is the real run game issue
The idea of the Buckeyes needing a humbling loss
Eating Chili's in the basement
Showering at night or in the morning
Getting sick of the soft label
Should Ohio State actually be an underdog to Michigan?
Are the right five guys playing on the offensive line?
Birthday parties at McDonald's
Michigan struggled for a half vs. Rutgers
Listening to Buckeye Talk during marathon training
A baseball comparison
The Buckeyes lacking one thing each year
Issues with our OSU YouTube videos
Apples taste good
Fans having trouble enjoying this season and what might change that
This pod was a little scattered -- Buckeye Ta…
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Nov 8, 2022
Ohio State basketball preview: Buckeyes are 4 freshmen, 3 transfers and a season that could go anywhere
Ohio State basketball opened the season with a 91-53 win over Robert Morris on Monday night, and on this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are using that first win to inform their discussion about what this 2022-23 season might be like for the basketball Buckeyes.
Three new transfers and four true freshmen were part of the nine-man rotation in the opener, which was a sign of things to come.
The breakdown of this episode:
* A look at the transfers and a discussion of expectations for this season (0:30).
* Rapid fire analysis of all 10 players who could be part of Ohio State’s rotation (17:05).
* The early OSU schedule and the strength/weakness of the Big Ten and what it all means for the OSU season (35:30).
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Back to football talk on Wednesday.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/W…
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Nov 7, 2022
Ohio State vs. Georgia; playoff race shakeup; Big Ten West mess; and getting hypnotized
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are talking about the Ohio State Buckeyes on the national scene, and diving back into a part of Ohio State’s game Saturday.
This episode:
* The Georgia-Tennessee game and what it meant for Ohio State (1:19)
* Clemson and Alabama lose and create a shakeup in the playoff race -- what does it mean for the Big Ten? (14:45)
* Illinois loses and the Big Ten West race gets messier (31:33)
* Another look at the OSU run game from Saturday, and when the Buckeyes won and lost their battles up front (41:28)
* Whatcha Watchin’, Whatcha Eatin’, Whatcha Thinkin’, including Doug’s latest experience with getting hypnotized (53:25)
* A final discussion of Ohio State’s reality of potentially needing two styles of offense (1:12:19)
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
Disclamer:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN…
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Nov 5, 2022
Ohio State beats Northwestern postgame: What did the wind tell us about the Buckeyes?
On this postgame Buckeye Talk from Evanston, Ill., Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means dig into Ohio State's 21-7 win over Northwestern.
The Buckeyes said they had never played in wind like that, but why wasn't Ohio State able to run the ball earlier, even in very rough conditions?
That is discussed at length, as is what worked and didn't work in the passing game, how the OSU defense held up and held down the Wildcats, and more.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Nov 4, 2022
Ohio State vs. Northwestern preview: Denzel Burke, Miyan Williams, long snappers, bad weather and hot dog ice cream
On this game preview Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are here to break down Ohio State at Northwestern on Saturday. No gambling pod this week, so this is the only Buckeye Talk that will appear in your Friday feed.
The breakdown:
How bad weather may affect the game (0:20)
Denzel Burke and the OSU cornerbacks (7:16)
Defensive tackle Mike Hall's emergence (14:49)
Defensive tackle Tyleik Williams coming off a big game (19:08)
The health of running back Miyan Williams (23:52)
A new long snapper (27:38)
Really good left tackles the last two weeks (29:49)
Northwestern's best offensive weapon (39:05)
The Wildcats' DC problem (42:21)
Why Georgia-Tennessee matters to Ohio State (44:45)
Our OSU-NU game picks (53:22)
Hot dog ice cream (1:00:54)
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Nov 3, 2022
Comparing C.J. Stroud to Justin Fields, a football team to face aliens, tunnel fight solutions and more: Ohio State rapid fire
It is a giant rapid fire Buckeye Talk this Thursday, as Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means steer clear of Ohio State play-calling and answer questions related to everything else.
In order, the topics:
Picking a college football team to play aliens
Transfer portal balance
Saying talent-equated
Get rid of old stadiums
Is C.J. Stroud or Justin Fields better?
Year 2 Ohio State running backs
Offensive assistant titles
Could assistants leave after this season?
Is Burger King bad?
Getting the name right for J.T. Tuimoloau
Preventing tunnel fights
Tailgating at Penn State
Rental car insurance
"It is what it is"
More playoff games -- J.J. McCarthy or C.J. Stroud?
A Michigan doomsday question
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Nov 2, 2022
Ohio State rants: Debating Ryan Day's play-calling, Buckeyes are No. 2 in the playoff rankings and more
On this Wednesday rants Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises gets stuck on one topic longer than usual. But it's a pretty important one -- the play-calling tendencies of Ohio State coach Ryan Day the last two weeks, especially in the run game. Maybe 60 percent of the 100-plus rants sent in were on this topic, so the pod breaks down this way:
Segment 1: Doug mostly lays the groundwork for the discussion with some stats and comparisons to other college offenses.
Segment 2: Rants from every angle about the play-calling.
Segment 3: A look at the initial College Football Playoff rankings for the season that have Ohio State at No. 2 behind Tennessee.
It's a different rant episode than usual, but thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Oct 31, 2022
Inside Ohio State's run game struggles, if OSU will be No. 1 for the playoff committee, and Renaissance Festivals
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are back for the usual discussion. That means a deep dive into an aspect of Ohio State, a look at the national college football scene, and then a list of what's on their mind outside football.
First, (4:50), they talk about the bubble screens Ohio State ran against Penn State and why they didn't work.
Then (18:24) the discussion moves to the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season coming out on Tuesday night. Doug and Nathan predict where they think the Buckeyes will be and break down all the conflicting into for the committee.
Then (38:54) it's back to the run game, and what happened with scheme, the blocking and the running backs on the 19 primary run calls against the Nittany Lions.
Finally (1:15:38) the guys do Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Thinkin', which includes a healthy dose of the Ohio Renaissance Festival that Doug attended Sunday.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.…
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Oct 29, 2022
Ohio State beats Penn State postgame: JT and MHJ go wild, and the offense is ... what?
It's the postgame Buckeye Talk from Ohio State's win over Penn State. But Doug is worried he's going to get locked in Beaver Stadium.
So he has to hurry:
Part 1: Offense good or bad?
Part 2: JT Tuimoloau, Marvin Harrison Jr, C.J. Stroud and Cade Stover shine
Part 3: Run game ... what do you think?
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Oct 28, 2022
A TreVeyon Henderson angle that could hit two ways for Ohio State: Betting the Buckeyes
On this Friday episode of Betting the Buckeyes, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are, as always, looking at Ohio State football and college football from a gambling perspective.
First, Tyler suggests an Ohio State bet for this week and it may be a change from the old reliable Ohio State angle that had been cashing.
Then (13:37), Doug and Tyler each make a betting suggestion in each of the Power 5 conferences. Look out Illinois and Bret Bielema?
Finally (31:42), Tyler offers another upset special after hitting last week, gives his three best bets, and offers a tip about betting trends.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Oct 28, 2022
Ohio State vs. Penn State game preview: What will be the Buckeyes' plan of attack?
On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down Saturday's game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions.
First, they start with the most interesting things they heard from Ryan Day and Ohio State players on Wednesday and Thursday. That includes more discussion at Jaxon Smith-Njigba's health, Julian Fleming's return home for this game, and how C.J. Stroud views the Penn State defense.
Then (39:16) there's a crossover discussion with the Penn State podcast Blue-White Breakdown as Doug includes some segments of his visit there with Penn State reporters Bob Flounders and Dave Jones.
Finally (51:37), Doug, Nathan and Stephen return to make their picks for the game. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Oct 27, 2022
Some Kirk Ferentz talk, plus Ohio State's offensive line, Jim Knowles is underpaid and a Penn State Halloween party: Rants
The rants are late this week, and for that Doug Lesmerises apologizes. But they are here, with Ohio State text subscribers sending in great thoughts to ponder. The topics:
The importance of the Ohio State offensive line and sticking with the run game
An Ohio State fan at a Penn State Halloween party
Letting a kid pick his or her favorite team, and will Bama still be good in 10 years?
Was Ohio State slow to change the offensive game plan against Iowa?
How great was the Jim Knowles hire?
Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt
Rapid rants, including standing at games and souffles
C.J. Stroud
Corey Dennis
Kirk Ferentz and what Doug thought of his multi-day arc with the Iowa coach
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Oct 26, 2022
Julian Fleming's role, hot players, staff improvements and the brotherhood: Ohio State rapid fire
On this Wednesday episode, we're switching it up. Instead of Ohio State rants (which will come your way Thursday), this is a rapid fire Q&A with Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means taking questions from text subscribers.
In order:
(0:30) The 2023 OSU schedule
(7:30) Julian Fleming and his role this season
(18:05) OSU players that could get hot down the stretch
(23:43) How the coaching staff could improve
(32:16) Backing in to parking spaces
(41:13) How much the idea of the brotherhood affects Ohio State's performance on the field
That last one went long, so it wasn't very rapid. But thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. Rants back tomorrow.
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Oct 24, 2022
Will Ohio State dominate every remaining pass defense? And out of control head coach power
On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are back to break it down.
First, a look at the opposing pass defenses that the Ohio State Buckeyes could face in their quest for a national title. How might Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Clemson and Michigan fare in trying to slow down C.J. Stroud? Plus, a second look at how Iowa defended the Buckeyes, and an answer to whether the Ohio State offense is the best unit in the nation.
Then (47:53), based off Doug's column on Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, the discussion turns to when head coaches have too much power in college football and what can be done about it.
Finally (1:03:11), it's Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eatin', Whatcha Thinkin', covering, among other things, an inaugural visit to The Cheesecake Factory and Doug's evolution as an athlete.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Oct 23, 2022
Ohio State beats Iowa postgame: Offense tested, while defense dominates sad sack Hawkeyes
On this postgame Buckeye Talk from Ohio State's 54-10 win over Iowa in Ohio Stadium, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are breaking down how the OSU passing game got it rolling late and how the OSU defense smothered Iowa's desultory offense all game.
First, the guys look at C.J. Stroud and how he played almost two different games. The Iowa defense provided a real test early, but the passing game broke it open late. What part of the game told you more?
Then (28:41), the guys talk about the return of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, which didn't last all that long. Also, the Ohio State running game never got going against the Hawkeyes -- does that matter?
Finally (57:10), it's a look at the dominating day for the Ohio State defense against the stumbling Iowa offense. Can the defense carry the Buckeyes when needed? And could Penn State next week be a version of Iowa, but tougher?
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Oct 21, 2022
The offenses for Ohio State and Iowa are such opposites, the betting line for this game is weird: Betting the Buckeyes
On this episode of Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker start with a discussion of the gap between the offensive outputs of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Iowa Hawkeyes this season, and what that means for the gambling perspective of Saturday’s Ohio State-Iowa matchup.
TSHoe, as always, has a suggested Ohio State bet for that one.
Then it’s onto five picks from each of them, one each in the ACC, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and Big Ten. Doug is working out a theory this week -- nervous team unders. He picks out some overachieving teams playing big games and finds some bets to make on the under. Tyler, meanwhile, is letting the math lead his picks, including some more first-quarter bets where he’s been digging in to find more of an edge lately.
Then it’s the Underdog Pick of the Week, plus Tyler’s three best bets. And finally, the weekly tidbit of sports betting advice.
Thanks for listening to Betting the Buckeyes on Buckeye Talk.
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Oct 21, 2022
Ohio State-Iowa preview and picks: Buckeyes' passing attack vs. Hawkeyes' nepotism
On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are previewing Ohio State vs. Iowa on Saturday.
First, Doug is joined by John Steppe of the Cedar Rapids Gazette to break down what Iowa does pretty well and what Iowa does very poorly.
Then (25:47), Doug, Nathan and Stephen talk about the most interesting things learned from Buckeyes like C.J. Stroud, Marvin Harrison Jr. and J.T. Tuimoloau this week.
Then (54:58), the guys make their picks for the game, with Ohio State favored by 29.5.
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Oct 20, 2022
Ohio State recruiting rapid fire: Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs, Matayo Uiagalelei, Brock Glenn and more:
On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are answering questions about Ohio State football recruiting from text subscribers.
Among the topics covered:
Is there any chance Tennessee flips OSU receiver commit Carnell Tate?
Which defensive line recruits from Damon Wilson, Matayo Uiagalelei and Keon Keeley might the Buckeyes land?
Could Ohio State flip safety recruit Caleb Downs back from Alabama?
What are the prospects for OSU 2023 QB recruit Brock Glenn?
How might the increasing success of teams like USC, Texas and Tennessee affect Ohio State recruiting?
Is there a personal relationship that might help safeties coach Perry Eliano land a 5-star?
And much more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Oct 19, 2022
Jim Knowles' Tennessee plan; beware the angry Buckeyes; ranked wins; and Iowa scars: Ohio State football rants
On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is again taking rants from Ohio State text subscribers. Topics covered, in order:
Iowa scars and what the Buckeyes should expect vs. the Hawkeyes
Ohio State's history of successful revenge
How wins over ranked teams should be counted
Giving Emeka Egbuka credit
Why passing is the way to win
Comparing Ohio State's history of NFL QBs to other programs
How Ohio State should view Tennessee, and what Jim Knowles thinks of the Vols' offense
Rapid rants, from cold baseball to nugget sauce
C.J. Stroud and the Heisman race
Is Michigan overrated or should the Wolverines be respected?
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.
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Oct 17, 2022
Could Ohio State and Michigan both make the College Football Playoff?
On this Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are celebrating a wild weekend of college football that didn't include the Ohio State Buckeyes, who were off.
After several unbeaten teams lost, including Alabama, Doug and Nathan each give their projected four-team playoff bracket for the first time this season. Could both Ohio State and Michigan make the playoff if they're 11-0 when they meet? Doug and Nathan outline all the possibilities there.
At 27:45, they start to reveal their playoff brackets. At 42:20, they discuss the offenses that impressed Saturday and whether they could give the OSU defense trouble. Then there's a Heisman Troop discussion around C.J. Stroud.
In the final segment (59:46), it's Whatcha Watchin', Whatcha Eaten', Whatcha Thinking'?
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.
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Oct 15, 2022
Reranking Ohio State football’s 25 best players at the halfway point
On this weekend Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are taking another look at the Ohio State football roster while the Buckeyes are off and splitting their regular season in half. They have six regular-season games to go, and they have collected six wins, thanks in large part to the skills of these 25 players.
In the preseason, Doug, Nathan and Stephen did a ranking of the OSU roster. Each of them assigned a value between 1 and 20 points for a player’s value to the team and another value of between 1 and 20 points for the player’s rare talent. Then the text subscribers (sign up for a two-week free trial at 614-350-3315) rated all the players on a 1 to 10 scale for a Q rating -- how good they think the player is and how much they like him.
The result was a 50-point rating for each player, and a top 25 list of the Ohio State football players with the most influence. And six games in, everyone did it again.
Four players dropped out of the…