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Ohio State at The Voice of College Football episodes

September 14OHIO STATE - Texas Post Game/Call-in LIVE
Ohio State–Texas Postgame / Call-In Live
OhioStateVOCFB — Garrison Gaddy & Denzel Jones
Late-night recap after Ohio State’s 23–24 loss at DKR Stadium
Show setup
Garrison and Denzel open immediately after the overnight loss. They frame it as a full-board conversation: coaching, personnel, drops, missed throws, and fourth-quarter collapse after Ohio State led 23–3. Credit Texas throughout; they refuse the “we took our foot off the gas and Texas just laid down” narrative.
First-half snapshot (hosts’ view)
Offense in sync early. Julian Sayin (transcript: “Julian San”) had the game’s high for QBs. Jeremiah Smith: 8-164-1 TD, 20.5 YPC, long 43. Bo Jackson: 19 carries, 74 yards (3.9 YPC), long 11. Jacoby Jackson 5 carries; Isaiah West 2; Legend Bay 1 snap/1 carry.

Pass protection fine first half; run blocking not. Hosts wanted more points instead of field goals while the lead was still expandable.

Defense had Arch Manning “in a spin cycle.” Jaylen McClain INT after a coverage breakdown on Cam Coleman. Jay Timmons forced and recovered a fumble. Riley Pettyjohn and Timmons were the two best defensive players on the field.

Texas missed big plays (Ryan Wingo drop; Coleman near-miss). Ohio State still only led 23–3 at half because they settled for kicks.
Personnel & snap-count frustration (core of the show)
Linebacker rotation: Denzel was “right about the linebackers.” Peyton Pierce looked slow, hesitant, spectator-like; 67 snaps. Riley Pettyjohn 37 snaps, Christian Allegro 51, Tarvis ~26. Hosts and caller Michael all want Pettyjohn (and Alford) on the field constantly. Pierce’s one forced fumble that wasn’t recovered doesn’t offset the rest.

Defensive line last drive: Epi / Kenyatta / Will Smith / James packages, then Bo Atkinson in for the game-winning drive. Hosts: if Texas is already gashing the line, why insert Atkinson? Prefer Epi, Carey Wilder, or Quay. John Walker III “should never come off the field” unless he needs water. Kerry Wilder only 5 snaps despite looking explosive when in.

Running back usage: Bo Jackson is the second-best offensive weapon. Hosts hate the every-other-series committee; it keeps backs from finding a rhythm. Want 25–27 carries for Bo in this type of game, not 19. Legend Bay and Isaiah West barely used.

Receiver distribution: Too much force-feeding Jeremiah Smith. Devin McEwen drops (including a needed conversion) after being ignored. Brandon Inniss “seems to catch it every time they look his way”; hosts would have preferred him on the third-and-long McEwen drop.
Fourth-quarter collapse
Offense looked conservative / clock-killing: three-and-outs, three-run sequences, punts. Arthur Smith’s first-half calls were fine; fourth-quarter play-calling “terrible.” Julian off — balls behind Jeremiah, missed McEwen.

Devin Sanchez: generally solid game, but the Wingo TD “looked too easy” (outside leverage, simple out/curl). Phantom PI on Sanchez “sticks in the craw” and helped spark the comeback.

Defense gassed on two late drives. Hosts wanted a timeout after the first fourth-down conversion (4th-and-9) to give the D-line a breath; Patricia didn’t change personnel or scheme. John Walker laid out a lineman but was too tired to finish to the QB.

Goal-line at the end: Garrison initially wanted to let Texas score for clock. After talking to his sister he understood Day trusting the goal-line identity of recent years. Both still note this D-line is not K-Mac / Ty Hamilton / Tyleik Williams; expectations have to be tapered.
Specific plays & player notes
Jeremiah Smith: great overall game, still the best player on the team / in CFB in their view. Must-catch drops: ball behind him coming across the middle (Julian’s fault and a catch he should make); third-and-4 body catch. One-on-one end-zone ball needed to be outside shoulder / pylon — Julian put it inside.

Connor Hawkins: 3-for-4, including a 45/48-yarder that created the six-point lead they later lost. Hosts defend him on volume but still say the miss in a one-score game has to be made. Field goal did not lose the game; Ohio State was still up 6 when it happened. Defense then gave up 4th-and-9 and 4th-and-6.

Earl Little: “smacking the hell out of people,” overlooked positive.

Kenyatta Jackson: good at setting the edge vs. Goosby (sack), not aggressive enough finishing. Caller Michael questions size/strength vs. top tackles.

Austin Siereveld sack given up called out.
Coaching blame (spread, not single-target)
Ryan Day (final calls, goal-line, timeouts), Arthur Smith (conservative fourth quarter, stacked-box halfback dives, fourth-down personnel), Matt Patricia / position coaches (LB and DL packages), Tyler Bowen (OL adjustments). Players still have to make the critical plays. “Everyone has blame… only a couple players who don’t.”
Hosts push back hard on “fire Ryan Day / he’s coaching for his job.” One-point loss at DKR to a top-5 roster is not the same as losing to Akron or Maryland. Ohio State covered as a road dog; “good teams win, great teams cover.” Early loss often produces adjustments. Schedule after Kent State (Iowa at Kinnick) is the real measuring stick.
Caller Michael
Wants Pierce off the field immediately; ranks him fourth among the LBs.

Questions Kenyatta Jackson’s size/production vs. elite tackles (compares to JTT “baby arms” talk).

Wants more downfield aggression with Sayin + Smith.

Thinks Ohio State was the better team and would have won at home or on a neutral field. Coaching “not to lose” in the fourth is the recurring Day critique.

Super-chat / Robert Howard: “We will know how serious they are by how much we see 34, 5 and 17” (Pettyjohn, Alford, Wilder). Hosts agree those three + Bo Jackson need heavy, non-negotiable snaps going forward.
Positives they want replicated
First-half cadence / hurry-up that created field position.

Julian’s first-half confidence and willingness to run.

Getting the ball to Jeremiah while still making McEwen / Inniss threats.

Bo Jackson as featured back in multiple ways.

Timmons / Pettyjohn / Walker / Little physicality.
Kent State is a non-eval game. Iowa is the next real test of whether the first-half version or the fourth-quarter version shows up.
Close
Tough one-point loss after a 20-point lead. Get back on the horse. O-H / I-O. Next: Kent State, then Iowa.

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1 hr 8 min
September 09Horns DOWN & Clock Shenanigans! / Ohio State Primetime LIVE 101 Presented by FanDuel
Ohio State Primetime LIVE 101 — Horns Down & Clock Shenanigans
Presented by FanDuel | Hosts: Garrison Gaddy, Riley Burnett, Denzel Jones
OhioStateVOCFB
Intro & setup
00:00–01:20
Garrison and Riley open the show, plug vocfb.com and the shop, and set the table: Ohio State at Texas this week after talking with the Texas VOCFB guys. Quick pivot to Big Ten chaos before the preview.
Western Michigan–Michigan clock controversy
01:20–08:50
Garrison (West Michigan native, proud Bronco fan) and the group recap the ending: WMU thought they had the win, celebrated, then Michigan got an extra second and Bryce Underwood hit a 47-yard TD. Riley was FaceTiming a friend and thought the game was over before looking back up. Denzel calls it disappointing and “disgusting” for the WMU players and coach who already believed they had the biggest upset. Mental checkout after the whistle makes it nearly impossible to reset.
They discuss Big Ten audio (broadcast time vs. game clock), Coach Lance Taylor’s composure, and the MAC initially agreeing then walking it back. Garrison argues the MAC should fight harder—WMU is their best Playoff hope with Boise State coming. Contrasts it with a live play that isn’t over vs. a game that already felt finished.
Ryan Day presser, Jeremiah Smith, Devin McEwen
08:50–16:10
Day on getting Jeremiah Smith (#4) the ball: there has to be balance, but they have to work so he impacts the game. Riley is on the fence—Devin McEwen could be this year’s Carnell Tate in Week 2, but raw talent wins in certain spots and they have to get Smith the ball, especially if Texas shows man. Stretch the field; don’t just settle for jet sweeps and screens like the last CFP meeting.
Garrison is less worried: they’ve beaten Texas twice without forcing Smith volume; if they occupy two defenders on him, run McEwen underneath or use Julian Sayin’s legs. Riley wants Smith at 90+ yards as a low bar and will take shots even in tight windows (or take the PI). If the backs go crazy instead, that’s fine if the line wins.
Day also sounded loose and confident (unlike some past big-game pressers). Flexibility on the O-line; they can make in-game changes.
Legend Bay
16:10–18:30
Shoutout to Jalen Turner’s comment that Legend Bay unlocks Smith’s swing/screen game. Day addressed Bay’s ups and downs vs. Ball State (two kickoff returns he should have knelt). Group loves the juice and lateral quickness—“best thing since Braxton Miller.” Creating middle-of-the-field separation and east-west playmaking will be huge Saturday. Braxton Miller co-sign (give him No. 5) lands well.
Game framing & storylines
19:10–23:10
Garrison does not have Ohio State No. 1 personally (Notre Dame/Miami ahead in his fluid top 15). Sixth meeting this century. They like the big-boy scheduling (Georgia later). Excited for the narrative if an SEC team that went undefeated in Week 1 loses at home in Week 2 to a Big Ten team. Sarkisian excuse-making is already anticipated.
Defense vs. Texas
23:10–32:00
Comfortable with the four linebackers. TJ Alford and Riley Pettijohn stood out; Peyton Pierce had missed tackles (everyone did in the first half). Bo Atkinson disappointing; Caden Curry/Kyrie Wilder movement was encouraging. Kenyatta Jackson favored his right leg for a stretch in the second quarter—watch that for edge pressure and finishing vs. Arch Manning. Jackson led the country in Week 1 pressures (8) but has to finish sacks.
Tackling is the biggest Week 1 leftover. Can’t miss vs. Ryan Wingo, Hollywood Smothers, Relique Brown, Cam Coleman, Arch. Secondary: trust corners and safeties, but Ball State isn’t the bar. Jermaine Mathews locked Wingo last year; Jaylen Simmons was lights-out as a true freshman but this is the real test. Like the 4-3 packages they showed (Pierce at Mike, Alford/Pettijohn outside). Show it early to keep Arch from getting into rhythm.
Garrison’s FanDuel locks
32:00–34:20
Arch Manning under 1.5 passing TDs

Devin McEwen 50+ receiving yards (lock of the game)

Texas first-quarter lead -1.5
Also likes Texas getting a scripted fast start at home.
Offense vs. Texas defense / O-line
34:20–41:30
Riley wants middle-of-field usage and Legend Bay after-catch work to gas Texas, then tempo. Denzel wants 3.5–4 yards per carry and O-line improvement after a rough first half vs. Ball State (adjustments helped). Day comparing McEwen to Chris Olave is exciting. Bo Jackson’s change-of-direction over pure speed. Want more Isaiah West.
Philip Daniels cannot stay at RT vs. Colin Simmons. Prefer matching All-American vs. All-American (Daniels on Simmons) and living with Van Sickle/Padilla on the other side. Run-game issues in Q1 looked more like back vision than line play; second-half schematic/personnel changes produced 5.5 YPC even without the two long Jackson runs.
Matt Miller (Texas VOCFB) joins
41:30–58:00
Muschamp’s defense will be more aggressive and attack the ball (Raheem Biles strip example) at the cost of bigger plays given up. Most talented Sark roster overall; edges are the strength, interior still good. Cage Phillips is the one Texas player who worries Matt vs. Ohio State. Perimeter tackling vs. Texas State was poor—danger vs. Smith/McEwen. Bo Mascoe (Rutgers transfer) is a wait-and-see; Cade Phillips got beat.
Run game: backs are better than last year. Hollywood Smothers is the trusted down-to-down and receiving threat; Relique Brown is boom-or-bust. Arch’s mechanics looked cleaned up vs. Texas State (no more Uncle Rico arm angles); expect 64–66% completion, not 74%. Ryan Wingo’s hands and confidence looked improved.
Matchup flags: Emmett Mosley in the slot vs. Jaylen Simmons (Sark has confused young DBs before). Devin Sanchez talking big—needs to back it up. Both sides’ tackling will decide chunk plays. Garrison noted Colin Simmons lining up at Mike a few times vs. Texas State—if they show it again, throw at him.
Extra bets, closing bits
49:50–end
Garrison’s other Week 2 locks: Rutgers/BC under 54.5, UGA -40.5 vs. Kentucky, Pitt -7 vs. UCF.
Luke Soida (3-star TE) committed tonight. Schedule note: they’re tweaking the weekly show slate. Standard close and “OH-IO.”

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59 min
September 09TEXAS WEEK / Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 386
Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 386 — Texas Week
Voice of College Football | Mark Rogers with Steve Helwagen (Bucknuts 247) and Chip Brown (Horns 247)
Tuesday preview of No. 1 Ohio State at Texas, Saturday night in Austin.
Show open (0:00–1:25)
Football is finally back — and this weekend is a massive step up. Texas vs. Ohio State in Austin is framed as the biggest non-conference game of the year and potentially one of the biggest ever for both programs. Chip Brown joins from Horns247; Steve Helwagen from Bucknuts.
Arch Manning’s growth (1:25–3:50)
Chip: Last year’s Columbus game was Arch “working through his own head.” First pass bounced three feet in front of the receiver; the game speed felt like a tilt-a-whirl. He took more lumps at Florida, then improved down the stretch.
Against Texas State he picked up where he left off — more comfortable, vocal leader, trash-talker (per Colin Simmons). Texas went all-in via the portal (Cam Coleman, Hollywood Smothers, Relique Brown, O-linemen) because this could be the last year for Arch, Coleman, and Simmons. This is his stage.
Mirror-image programs and portal churn (3:50–6:20)
Steve: Both rosters are heavily rebuilt. Texas has ~9 new starters via the portal; Ohio State has 5–6. Successful programs now treat the portal as annual roster construction, not a last resort.
Ohio State examples: Earl Little, Christian Aliegro, Devin McCune (UTSA transfer now starting). Texas hit “home run after home run.” Chip notes four Texas players on the AP preseason All-American first team: Cam Coleman, Trevor Goosby, Rasheem Biles, Colin Simmons.
Steve’s take: This may be the most talented of the three Texas teams Ohio State has faced.
Heat and depth (6:20–9:00)
Kickoff ~6:30 p.m., expected 97 degrees. Texas State game (2:30 p.m. Friday) was brutal — Sark said 160 degrees on the field with rubber pellets. Fans “dropping like flies.” Cooling vests abandoned as too bulky. Texas played 50+ in the first half, 60+ for the game.
Ohio State also emptied the bench once up 28-3 then 42-3 (Jeremiah Smith done at half; Julian Sayin two series in the third). Travel roster size for a non-Big Ten game is an open question (Big Ten games typically ~70-75).
Clock controversy tangent (9:00–12:00)
Brief discussion of last week’s Western Michigan/Michigan clock/optics issue. Steve timed the play at 8.4 seconds with 9 on the clock at snap; believes the call was technically correct but optics were terrible. No full explanation from Big Ten or NBC yet.
What changed for Texas in camp / Week 1 (12:00–16:00)
Chip’s biggest takeaways:
Arch is more comfortable and owns the team.

Interior run game still a concern (12 carries of 0-2 yards vs. Texas State; Relique Brown 11-for-34 despite two long TDs).

Pass protection looks solid; receiver room upgraded. Cam Coleman’s arrival makes Ryan Wingo one of the best No. 2s in the country. Wingo caught his first 7 targets (short and deep, including a 45-yarder) after dropping 7 balls last year.

Offense averaged ~35 ppg Sark’s first four years, dropped to 30.5 last year. Without two late 200-yard rushing games they were on pace for worst rushing season since 1944.

Sark is 0-2 vs. Ohio State, 0-3 vs. Georgia. This is his best roster and a defining game on his Texas timeline.
Defense and Will Muschamp (16:00–19:00)
Pete Kwiatkowski out after three years of ~18 ppg allowed. Muschamp was Sark’s original target years ago. Aggressive, pressure-oriented (not necessarily heavy blitz), man coverage even under zone.
Texas State game showed almost no pressure — they were holding cards. Raheem Biles (Pitt transfer) is “slippery,” punched out a fumble that Grayson Littleton returned 59 yards for a TD.
Chip still rips the 2024 prevent-screen TD to TreVeyon Henderson as one of the dumbest plays he’s seen given the personnel.
Texas secondary (19:00–23:30)
FS Jelani McDonald: “quarterback of the secondary,” 6-2, 200, physical, instinctive, high-school teammate of Kobe Black.

SS Kobe Black: former corner, played through injuries last year (got torched vs. Florida), now healthy and on a mission.

CB Beau Masco (Rutgers): tough, undersized; Texas State attacked him with some success.

CB Cade Phillips: 6-1 sophomore with elite length and speed; PI early, nearly INT in the end zone later.

Nickel Grayson Littleton: held his own vs. Jeremiah Smith as a freshman in 2024; scoop-and-score last week. Muschamp wasn’t sure about his size until camp production.
Expect zone pressure (four rushers from unexpected spots) more than all-out blitzes. Goal is to keep Julian Sayin from getting the ball to the second level.
Colin Simmons (23:30–25:00)
Led SEC with 12 sacks last year but had more penalties than sacks through four games and “got in his own head.” This year: “just trying to have fun and win a national championship.” Chip questions moving him around (spy/MLB looks vs. Texas State) — wants him on the edge.
Run games — both sides sandbagging? (25:00–28:30)
Both teams looked pedestrian on the ground in Week 1 until explosive plays inflated the numbers.
Ohio State first half: 17 carries, 35 yards.

Bo Jackson 9-84 (65-yarder + 12-yarder; rest 4 or fewer).

Jacoby Jackson has 100+ vs. Texas previously (Florida).

Legend Bay electric but likely limited touches — “nut-cruncher” game, freshman must earn trust. Texas wants to run outside with Hollywood Smothers. Last year they somehow averaged 5.4 ypc and 160 yards vs. Ohio State despite a bad O-line.
Ryan Day told reporters this year is “full-on attack mode” — last year was two defenses; this year expect haymakers.
Red-zone / goal-to-go history (30:00–33:30)
Chip’s biggest vulnerability for Texas: two straight meetings vs. Ohio State they had first-and-goal and came away empty.
2024 CFP semifinal: 1st-and-goal from the 1, toss sweep eaten by Caleb Downs, strip-sack, 83-yard fumble return.

2025: 1st-and-goal from the 9, rocket sneak on 4th-and-1 stuffed. Sark acknowledged those two plays “cost us dearly.” Chip wrote on it today at Horns247. Those cannot happen at home.
Ohio State red-zone offense also unproven; Julian Sayin’s first career rushing TD last week is a data point.
Jeremiah Smith: 6-7 catches, 46 yards total in two prior meetings. Arthur Smith will force the ball to him; Muschamp will defend him differently than Kwiatkowski did.
Ohio State secondary without Caleb Downs (33:30–39:30)
Week 1 vs. Ball State was clean (no YAC, pressure created a pick by Tarvis Alford) but opponent was limited.
Safeties: Earl Little (FSU/Alabama) + Jalen McLean. Little is the “in-the-box disruptor” type they wanted; Timmons won the nickel job in fall camp.

Corners: Jermaine Matthews (inconsistent), Devin Sanchez (now every-down), true freshman Jay Timmons at nickel (told teammates in winter he’d start as a freshman).

Depth: Calhoun, Dominic Kelly, etc.
Texas will play more 3-WR than Kent State/Ball State. Expect Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo to move around; Timmons could see Coleman in the slot. Ryan Day’s “they practice against Jeremiah every day” line met with skepticism — bullets start flying Saturday.
This game is “truth serum / lie detector” for both staffs — cards get flipped.
Stakes and history (39:30–45:00)
Biggest home game in Austin since Ohio State’s 1-vs-2 visit in 2006. This one is 1-vs-4.
2006 Georgia visit was a wake-up call for Sark (constant penetration, Quinn Ewers couldn’t evade). Texas feels battle-tested now.
Scoop-and-score from 2024 still lives rent-free for Longhorn fans — first-and-goal from the 1 that “all went to hell.” Defining for Sark.
Sark brought in Muschamp so he doesn’t have to live on the defensive headset (last year coverage disagreements between Kwiatkowski, Dwayne Akina, Johnny Nansen). Called Muschamp “head coach of the defense.”
Patricia’s scoring seal and betting (45:00–55:00)
Steve: Patricia’s defenses haven’t allowed more than 17 points from the opponent’s offense (Miami’s 24 included a pick-six). Indiana (56 vs Oregon, 38 vs Alabama) scored 13. Question: is this the game that seal breaks? Texas scoring 21-24 wouldn’t shock Chip; then Ohio State has to answer with 30+.
Game decided by Patricia vs. Muschamp and which QB sees the defense well enough to get the ball to playmakers and keep the offense on the field.
Arch last year: 61.4% (81st in FBS). 74% vs Texas State. Needs to stay accurate. Coleman can bail out some off-target throws.
Ohio State tackles vs. Simmons is a real concern (Phillip Daniels yanked then reinserted vs Ball State; Ian Moore second career start at LT). Chip would keep a back in when Simmons is around. Jacoby Jackson already whiffed a protection last week.
Vegas line hasn’t moved — Ohio State 1.5-point underdog on the road (inverse of last year’s Columbus line when Texas was No. 1). Heat is a Texas advantage. Ryan Day 1-4 as an underdog since 2019 (those games were vs. Georgia/Texas-caliber teams, unlike Urban’s underdog slate).
Possible rematch later in the year mentioned.
Wrap and plugs (55:00–end)
Chip: Horns247.com — pieces on Arch’s moment, the run game, goal-to-go history. Bucknuts VIP members get access.
Tony (Buckeye Weekly): recapping Day/Jackson/Sayin pressers; writing on Sayin’s experience; Buckeye Weekly podcast.
Steve: full-court press coverage after watching Texas-Texas State. This Texas team looks like the most talented of the three Ohio State has faced — Wingo/Coleman elite, Biles everywhere (“water covers two-thirds of the earth and he covers the other third”).
Mark heading to Iowa-Iowa State stream. Enjoy Saturday.

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1 hr 2 min
September 06 OHIO STATE - BALL STATE POST GAME LIVE
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27 min
September 02‘Will Buckeyes Cover Against Ball State?!’ / Ohio State Primetime LIVE 100 Presented by FanDuel
Ohio State Primetime LIVE – Episode 100
Presented by FanDuel | OhioStateVOCFB
Hosts: Garrison Gaddy, Riley Burnett, Denzel Jones
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 — Game week vs. Ball State
Quick snapshot
Century-mark episode. Energy is high: “we’ve been waiting two years.”

Leaked Northwestern pin showing black helmets → all-black unis likely for that game, not Oregon or Indiana.

Big Noon Kickoff takes Indiana; CBS takes Oregon (likely 3:30, not a night game).

New Ohio Stadium turf is “Jeremiah approved.”

USC Week 0: empty stadium, young roster, secondary looks like “soul food.”

Former Buckeyes watch: Jelani Thurman (UNC) and Lincoln Kienholz (Louisville).

Ball State: 50.5 spread, 56.5 total. Hosts expect cover + defensive TD. Want to see Pettijohn, Pierce, young skill guys, and returns.
0:00–3:20 | Intro + black unis leak
Riley opens Episode 100. Game week is finally here.
Leaked team-shop pins for Northwestern show Ohio State’s black helmet. Hosts treat it as a strong hint the all-blacks come out vs. Northwestern.
Denzel: loves the jerseys, hates the opponent. Wanted them vs. Oregon or Indiana. “That part hurt my feelings.”

Garrison: “Perfect game.” Better to wear them and win big than not wear them. Night-game blackouts vs. Oregon/Indiana look unlikely given TV slots.

Consensus: at least they’re getting the unis once. Northwestern is the available slot.
Clip-friendly: Denzel’s “hurt my feelings / Northwestern? for what?” reaction (~2:32–2:50).
3:20–9:50 | TV slate: Indiana noon, Oregon afternoon
Big Noon Kickoff traveling to Indiana. CBS has Oregon at the Horseshoe.
Indiana = noon (standard Big Noon).

Oregon = likely 3:30 window. Garrison notes late-September Midwest 3:30s can become de facto night games when lights come on (cites 2006 Michigan game).

Hosts wanted Oregon under the lights + blacks. Don’t expect Big Ten to force a West Coast team into a true noon (9 a.m. PT) in-conference.

Indiana-Ohio State framed as the biggest game in Indiana Stadium history; Oregon-Ohio State called the most impactful non-rivalry game on the Big Ten slate.

Side note: last CBS games mentioned were Akron (two years ago) and Washington (last year).
9:50–12:20 | New turf + “Jeremiah approved”
Riley will be on site Saturday. Ryan Day on the new surface: “Jeremiah approved.”
Hosts treat that as the only quote that matters. If the star is fine with it, they’re fine with it. Brief comparison to NFL turf concerns (MetLife, etc.).
Riley also flags Ross Bjork / athletic department budget heading past $500M — saved for another show.
12:20–17:50 | Offseason feel + random fan talk
Chat energy: gray sleeves returning Saturday. Offseason after a loss feels longer than after a title.
Tangent on 2020–21 Alabama playoff game (Fields hurt, running back hurt first play, linebacker on Heisman winner). “You can’t get credit for almost dating a girl.”
Riley at Marshall wearing an Ezekiel Elliott jersey the week they played Ohio State; mixed reception. Garrison flying the Ohio State flag at work in enemy territory.
17:50–28:40 | USC Week 0 + former Buckeyes
USC vs. Missouri State (Week 0)
Stadium looked empty (hosts cite ~7k in some comments). Week 0 + late August + LA options. Product isn’t Pete Carroll-era (no Snoop/Will Ferrell draw). New “beer swords” didn’t fill seats.
On-field:
Jayden Maiava top-10 QB for Garrison.

RBs fine (5–6 YPC).

Young WRs + former OSU commit Dixon Wyatt okay.

Freshman TE looked good.

DL has depth; LB/secondary “food” / Shannon Sharpe soul-food meme.

Youngest team in the Big Ten (Ohio State second-youngest). Depth is juniors/seniors who haven’t played + freshmen.

Hosts still have USC losing later; one even floated Fresno State as a possible loss.
Jelani Thurman (now UNC)
Big Week 1. More yards in one game than any OSU season. Debate:
Garrison: buried on depth chart, didn’t develop like others, blocking was the issue. Max Klare / others passed him. “Development is a two-way street.”

Denzel more sympathetic: not enough reps, staff didn’t click with him. Happy Valley first-down catch cited.

Best of luck, not Jameson Williams / Joe Burrow. Tight end Heisman campaign jokingly started and shut down.
Lincoln Kienholz (Louisville)
Rooting interest. Freak athlete, “Dakota Heisman,” baseball/basketball numbers dropped. Under Jeff Brohm. Hosts wanted more short-yardage/RPO work last year vs. Sayin. Bare-minimum expectation: 500 rush yards. Louisville schedule (Ole Miss, then SMU) will tell the story early. ACC pecking order chatter: Miami, Louisville, SMU, then NC State.
33:30–42:00 | Ball State preview + betting
“Mean men from Muncie.” Garrison has Indiana-school affection except Notre Dame and Purdue.
FanDuel: Ohio State -50.5, total 56.5.
“Good teams win. Great teams cover.” They want the cover and young guys in.

Expect a defensive TD (Jermaine Matthews or Earl Little Jr. pick-six mentioned).

Ball State scores only late, fourth string in — and even then hosts get mad if it happens.

Ball State returning production is thin: 7 starters (5 off / 2 def), 3 veteran OL. Skill players have almost no production. QB Keldrick Lester: 5-10, ~250–260 lbs, 14 pass / 14 rush yards. “Bowling ball.” Needs to be a fullback or DE. Height vs. OSU front seven is a problem.

Worst (or second-worst) MAC team. No road wins last year. “Days of Willie Snead are long gone.”
42:00–59:00 | Who they want to see
Offense / skill
Riley Pettijohn: monster game, 10 tackles, take the No. 2 LB job.

Second-half Brock Boyd TD, preferably from Tavian St. Clair. Debate whether Day will actually let the backup throw (historical reluctance). This is the year he has to.

Desi Jones: under-the-radar WR, route runner, Jersey-boy HS tape. Future starter talk.

Bo Atkinson: offseason tape looked explosive; prove it in pads.

Brandon Inniss: 120 yards + TD requested in chat. Respect for guys who stayed (Inniss, Steel Chambers, Xavier Johnson comps).
Defense
Peyton Pierce (captain): “show me why he’s Peyton Pierce.” IQ and tackling known; need more splash / pass coverage. Hips look stiff to one host. Riley Pettijohn may cover better and could start by Texas (halftime prediction floated).

Linebacker room as a unit is the hyper-focus: new starters Pierce + (implied) others, then Arvell Reese / Pettijohn athleticism. James Laurinaitis development praised (Cody Simon playoff year cited). Race/skin-tone aside about why some fans doubt the room — quickly walked back to “just show it.”

Jermaine Matthews: high bar. Freshman All-American, looked like best CB in America first half last year, then hit a wall (Charlie Becker tape will live on). Redemption year. Don’t give up the Denzel Burke “9-for-9, 172-yard special.”

Ian Moore / OL: dominate this level the way Austin Siereveld did early last year. Joe Moore Award talk. Run game as tone-setter.
Special teams / returns
Put someone back there who can actually return. Legend Bay (Mini Braxton, track-team fast, east-west) or Brock Boyd. Bay if he’s not getting slot/RB touches. Desi Jones also mentioned.

Garrison does not want Boyd on punt return (drop memory). Kickoff fine. Only Treyveon Henderson-level fumblers get a second chance.
59:00–end | Jerseys, wrap, schedule
Jersey talk: JTT / Epi, respect for JTT’s Penn State game (“second-greatest defensive game of all time” hyperbole).
Show schedule reminder:
Horseshoe Hangover Mondays 7 p.m. (Denzel)

Buckeyes Live presented by FanDuel Tuesdays 4 p.m. (Mark Rogers)

Call-in moving to Fridays in-season (Denzel + Garrison)

Saturday shows if schedules allow (Riley coaching conflicts)
Close: OH-IO. See you next week.

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1 hr 7 min
September 02BALL STATE WEEK / Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 385
Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 385 — Ball State Week
Voice of College Football | Mark Rogers, Steve Helwagen (Bucknuts 247), Tony Gerdeman (Buckeye Insiders)
Week 1 preview vs. Ball State | Ryan Day presser recap | Stat projections | Texas on deck
00:00–02:00 | Open
New day, same Buckeyes. Week 1 vs. Ball State as a 51.5-point favorite. Everyone is already looking at Texas, but Ohio State wants to work out the kinks. Steve just came from Ryan Day’s first weekly press conference (video + full transcript posted). Also spoke with C Carson Hinsman and S Earl Little (FSU/Alabama transfer).
02:00–06:30 | Ryan Day press conference — position-by-position
Steve: Day walked through almost every group. No group sounded like a concern.
WR: Deep. Expect six to play. Phillip Bell (RS Fr) is the sixth. Kyle Parker still not ready; practicing a little.

RB: Young. Want live experience.

QB: Hope Julian Sayin is improved. Backup still open — Tavian St. Clair and Luke Fahey will keep alternating second-team reps. Day wants both to get live snaps if possible.

Playing time vs. Texas: Uneasy balance. Games like this often 35-0 or 35-3 at half. Starters may get one more series in the third, then clipboard. Bigger fish next week.

OL: Excited about the three veterans in the middle — Montgomery, Hinsman, Searles.

DL: Deep.

LB: Riley Pettyjohn and Tarvos Alford will play behind Peyton Pierce and Christian Ali-Agro.

Secondary: True freshman Jay Timmons expected to play (nickel or field corner).
Tony: Day’s mood is better than last week (when he said he was “pissed off” and didn’t want anyone thinking they were satisfied). If the backup QB job is truly open, both guys need to throw. Watch who actually plays — 2020 had Jack Miller in first as “backup” while C.J. Stroud was the real one.
Day called the offense “fun” — balanced and explosive. Tony asked if that was fun for coaches or fans. Day said both.
06:30–10:00 | Week 1 energy + home opener history
Week 0 was sloppy (UNC-TCU, Memphis-UNLV, FSU-NMSU). Still football. Tony’s biggest curiosity Saturday: true freshmen and how the four-linebacker rotation looks.
Freshmen likely to play: Legend Bay, Jay Timmons, Brock Boyd, Chris Henry Jr., possibly Kari Wilder (DE) and Simeon Caldwell (S). New stars every year — last year almost nobody had Caden Curry as an All-American in August.
Home opener streak talk:
26 straight season-opening wins (back to 1999 Miami).

Last true home opener loss discussed as possibly Virginia Tech 2014 or much earlier (Penn State 1978 era).

“Make it 51.”
10:00–12:30 | Day the QB + WR rotation
Big Ten Network circulating old Ryan Day New Hampshire highlight (power option TD + game-winning throw). Players reacting. Day going into New Hampshire Hall of Fame this year with his college coach.
Chat (Aaron) brings WR rotation again. Tony’s standard Ohio State freshman WR context:
11 catches for Brock Boyd = Marvin Harrison Jr. freshman year.

25 catches for Chris Henry Jr. = Ted Ginn Jr. 2004.

Only four true freshmen ever had 30+ receptions at OSU: Jeremiah Smith, Cris Carter, David Boston, Garrett Wilson. Only Carter and Smith topped 40.
Tony thinks Chris Henry Jr. can join the 30-catch club and will play a lot. Brock Boyd will play a lot too.
Jeremiah Smith last week: difference in Arthur Smith’s offense is “we’re going to get me the ball.” Brandon Ennis similarly excited. Receivers being shown how they’ll be used. Christmas morning — we’ll see if the presents match the wrapping.
WR room far deeper than 2025. David Adolph (former walk-on who played last year) isn’t even in Day’s first seven or eight names now. 2022 class void is closed via recruiting + portal.
12:30–18:30 | Chris Henry Jr. caution + feeding all the mouths
Steve on Chris Henry Jr.: love the 6-5 frame, but high school numbers were never prolific and he missed a lot of time (knee). 29 catches as a freshman at West Clermont, 71-1,100+ at Withrow when healthy, then only two games at Moeller, 28-607-6 as a senior. Durability at this level is the question before crowning him. If he produces, they will use him heavily — even at Jeremiah’s expense if Smith is doubled.
Can’t feed every mouth. Forecasted targets + carries will add up to an impossible play count.
18:30–24:30 | Ball State QB + tall tackle tangent
Keldrick Luster: 5-10, 250. Former SMU, appeared in CFP vs. Penn State (final drive, 4-of-12 career passing, nothing since 2024). High school teammate of Riley Pettyjohn in McKinney, Texas.
Greatest height disparity they can remember: Luster 5-10 vs. Ball State LT Chris Hood 6-10, 327 (started 12 games last year). Digression on Doug Flutie-era BC OL (tallest was 6-6 in 1984), Napoleon McCallum vs. Kaufman, Glenn Foley, Al Groh, etc.
24:30–36:00 | Season stat projections
Julian Sayin
Steve: 75–76% (tougher schedule than 77% last year), pushing 4,000 yards if extra games, 36 TD, 8 INT.

Tony (16-game scenario): 73.7%, 4,087 yards, 40 TD, 10 INT. More aggressive downfield + veteran QB confidence = slightly more picks. Will Howard’s 2024 numbers as a loose template, bumped TDs.

Mark: 71.2%, ~270 ypg over 16 games, 39 TD, 7 INT. Picked the team to the national semifinal.
Running backs
Consensus: Bo Jackson and Isaiah West get the bulk.

Steve: Bo 1,200 / West 700.

Tony: Bo 1,100 / West 700 / Legend Bay ~500 total offense (rush + rec). Bo shouldn’t need 10+ carries every Big Ten game like last year.

Combined rushing TDs in the 20 range. Both big enough to punch it in (CJ Donaldson’s 10 TDs last year are available).
Jeremiah Smith
Last year: 87 catches, 12 TD in 12 games (missed two).

Steve: over 90, push 95.

Tony: 97 catches (would break JSN’s single-season record of 95), 1,484 yards (short of JSN’s 1,606), 17 TD (tie Terry Glenn). Career records incoming by midseason / Nebraska week on normal production (~7-95-1 per game historically).

Biletnikoff chatter: chat thinks he should already have two.
Devin McEwen
Tony’s winter number: 27-384-3. After camp Day 2 he briefly thought 1,000-yard guy. Settled at 41-537-5. Opposite Smith, one-on-one or 1.5, looked fast and quick.
36:00–41:00 | Ohio State–Oregon on CBS
Fox had first three weekend picks: Ohio State–Michigan, Michigan–Oklahoma, then Ohio State–Indiana (Oct. 17, last two national champs). CBS took Ohio State–Oregon (Nov. 7) as the fourth pick — 3:30 kick, dark by the two-minute warning. Not a 7:30 November night game. Schedule this year is loaded compared with last year.
41:00–51:00 | Spread and game script
51.5 is a lot. Last five years biggest they found was Grambling +54.5 (70-0). Ball State last year: +17 at Purdue (31-0), +42.5 at Auburn (42-3, Auburn did not cover).
Expectation: starters out once it’s 35-0. Young guys either keep moving it or put it on the ground / drop passes. Score likely sits near where the ones leave.
Steve leaning ~48-3 or similar.

Tony: 49-0, shut it down at 35-0.

Margin means nothing. Tressel would win 31-0 and not care. Default on 45+ point favorites: take the points and hope the clock cooperates.
Weather: high ~80, 60% rain earlier, possibly clearing.
51:00–55:00 | Rest of the weekend
Only one ranked-vs-ranked: Louisville–Ole Miss Sunday night (both like that one). Wisconsin–Notre Dame if you believe in Wisconsin. Oregon–Boise State (Oregon escaped by 3 two years ago). Michigan State vs. Toledo — upset alert. UCLA–Cal late, Miami–Stanford, North Texas at Indiana (Big Noon). Expect 3–4 ranked teams to lose to unranked.
55:00–end | Plugs and close
Show moved to Tuesdays 4 p.m. ET. Next week: Texas preview with a Longhorns guest.
Tony: BuckeyeInsiders.com + Buckeye Weekly podcast.

Steve: Bucknuts.com (Garrett Codge recruiting, Patrick Murphy/Dave Biddle/Steve on the team). Game data page tomorrow, more Day/player interviews, ATS picks Thursday. 3-5 ATS in Week 0 — “spring training.”
Enjoy Saturday. Scarlet and Gray, No. 1 in the country.

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59 min
August 29Ohio State Call-in Show 81 Presented by FanDuel
Ohio State Call-in Show 81 — Presented by FanDuel
Hosts: Garrison Gaddy & Denzel Jones | OhioStateVOCFB
Friday night call-in (7 p.m. ET). Season-opening week energy, Week 2 Texas talk, updated Ourlads depth chart walk-through, and player-by-player takes.
00:00–1:15 — Open
Welcome to the Ohio State call-in show. Plugs for vocfb.com, vocfb.com/shop (hats, koozies, hoodies), likes/subscribes, and the call-in/chat link. Standard Friday format: Ohio State first, college football landscape second.
1:15–5:00 — Texas chaos and Week 2 confidence
Garrison frames an “eventful week” around the Longhorns: Arch Manning noise, a disgruntled father threatening to “expose everything,” a starting returning linebacker dismissed for conduct detrimental to the team, and Steve Sarkisian saying Texas lost the CFP game because they were fatigued.
Denzel’s reaction as an Ohio State fan: loves the chaos. Practice throws from Manning “look terrible.” Defense looks disjointed. Hopes the father actually exposes something. On the fatigue excuse: even if Texas scores on that goal-line play they’re only tying it, and Ohio State’s offense was still moving. “Could you imagine if Ryan Day said that? He’d get dragged through the mud.” Follow-up jab: were they fatigued in Week 1 last year too?
Sarkisian take: average head coach. Fired a top-3 defense’s coordinator, didn’t hire an OC, comes from a tree where the HC calls plays. Home record under Sark (cited ~20-1) against weaker home slates.
Spread predictions:
Denzel: 12–13 points, leaning 12–13.

Garrison: 14 (two scores).
Ohio State still the FanDuel underdog unless Week 1 goes badly for Texas. Denzel: “I’ve never seen Ohio State lose there.” Plan if they cover big: jump a Texas Space later that night.
Lou Holtz RIP aside and “Ryan cry over Lou Holtz” chat comment.
Clip window: 1:21–4:55 (Texas mess + spread calls + “if Day said that”).
5:00–8:30 — Tangent: fake 49ers player
Unrelated but football-adjacent viral story. Guy posed as a 49ers player, scammed ~26 women out of $1.3 million (loans after they ran out of cash). Practice videos: pulling a wheeled sled backward while holding a football. Some actual 49ers followed the content. Hosts: scamming is illegal and he should go to jail; the videos and the dollar amount are still hilarious. “Do better research.”
8:30–11:20 — Julian Sayin: “dog in him,” captain, command
Brandon Inniss (via camp/scrimmage comments): there were times Sayin told the offense what needed to be said. Fourth-and-go in a Saturday scrimmage — Sayin hits the throw, receiver catches it, Sayin is screaming. “He got that dog in him.”
Garrison: the earlier “hoorah” criticism was never about on-field play. Sayin now looks comfortable as the leader and captain (could barely put the honor into words). Denzel trusts Inniss as a straight shooter; hopes the relationship tightens after a couple of missed deep shots in camp. Expects more swag, more command of the offense.
Both want designed/RPO keepers: five rushing yards a game would open the run game because safeties can’t crash. 40-time guesses: Denzel 4.89 at best, more like 5.1–5.2 “Brady slow” if he won’t pull it; chat (Ed) also 5.1.
Arthur Smith later (19:03): Sayin “doesn’t feel like a young player… sees the game so well… so smart I have to pull him back and let everyone else catch up.” Third OC in Sayin’s time at Ohio State; staff giving him checks and full command at the line.
Clip window: 8:50–11:10 (Inniss quote + “dog” + run-game plea).
11:20–14:50 — Legend Bey must play / Heisman chatter
Chat (Ed): “Bay must play.” Garrison set the number at 2.5 touches per game. Jeremiah Smith has said Legend Bey will at least be at the Heisman ceremony.
Usage debate: not a true every-down back at ~190–195. Need slot/RB hybrid (Curtis Samuel / Percy Harvin / Deebo / Malachi Toney package) — jet sweeps, slants, returns, occasional QB. Hosts want him at 200–205. Denzel: if he’s touching it at RB, WR, and returner (and even a gadget QB snap), Heisman talk becomes real. Elite athlete; screens/slants/crossers aren’t complicated.
Side note on DGG (stiff, one-cut, already NFL-built physically, still learning RB technique). Tennessee comparison: don’t run him into the ground like Ohio State did with Zeke/JK.
Clip window: 11:26–13:10 (Heisman + how to get him the ball).
14:50–19:00 — Bo Jackson respect and 2026 projection
Montana in chat: most excited for the whole team, but if one player — Bo Jackson, “disrespected by many.” Hosts agree. Ohio State had to raise the NIL ante to keep him. Freshman-record context (JK Dobbins marks). Missed his high-school senior year; last year he still looked like a high-school body. Now bigger.
Michigan shows fixated on ESPN top-100 and Bo vs. Jordan Marshall. Garrison: Marshall is very good; the national lean toward Bo still lives in Wolverine crawls.
Projection (Denzel): 1,200–1,300 yards, more explosive, work on finishing the long runs he used to break but not score. “At least five” TDs (none from distance last year). Shoulder rather than the previous injury. Isaiah West’s offseason jump (15 lbs, still twitchy) will push him. Last year he didn’t feel threatened by James Peoples/CJ Donaldson; this year he has to show out. Complete back: receiving, blocking, top-end 10- and 20-yard runs. Frustration that goal-line TDs went to CJ Donaldson last year (“Coach Lock, you messed up his stats”).
19:00–21:00 — Scheme additions, Patricia defense
Offense: Smith giving Sayin more. Defense (Kenyatta Jackson Jr. comment): Patricia installing “everything.” Returning pieces at each level let them add wrinkles that weren’t there last year.
Denzel more excited about defense: fewer household names than last year’s first-round cluster, so more blitzes, twists, and chaos. Linebackers and DBs should be fun. Devin Sanchez “going to be crazy.” Caden Curry was underrated a year ago.
21:00–42:00 — Ourlads / “Our Lands” depth chart walk-through
Garrison pulls the updated chart and they agree/disagree position by position.
WR
Chart: Chris Henry Jr., Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss; backups Brock Boyd, Devin McCuin, Kyle Parker.
Hosts: don’t think it starts that way. Devin McCuin starts; Henry works in. Ryan Day rarely hands a true freshman the keys in Week 1 (JJ exception historically). Kyle Parker their pick as top “backup” receiver if Legend isn’t in the slot mix.
OL
Ian Moore LT, Luke Montgomery LG, Carson Hinzman C, Austin Siereveld RG, Phillip Daniels RT.
Both fired up. Interior of Montgomery / Hinzman / Siereveld called best in the country (Montgomery top-5/10 G, Hinzman top-5 C, Siereveld top-10 LT / top-5 RG). You don’t move Siereveld inside unless you believe Moore is as good or better at tackle. Daniels the athletic freak who needs to stay technically clean.
Depth: Sam Greer film is “nasty” (want that edge without flags). Gabe VanSickle (Denzel’s West Michigan / Coopersville guy) didn’t look great in his first start vs. Miami last year; should be better. Padilla, Cook, etc. solid.
TE
Nate Roberts (true soph, starter; lots of fullback last year) over Hunter Welcing (Northwestern portal) and Mason Williams (Ohio transfer).
Unknowns besides Roberts’ toughness. Hosts would rather have found a LB to play FB and keep Roberts at TE. Big-bodied room. Curious how Arthur Smith uses them — not expecting a TE-spam attack.
QB
Sayin locked. Nervous energy that Luke Fahey is “pushing” Tavien St. Clair. Hope it’s coach-speak / a kick in the pants. St. Clair has the tools (6-4, ~230–240, can run, elite deep-ball accuracy); intermediate “money ball” still the question. Fahey is a gamer who faced far better high-school competition. If St. Clair hits, “cooking with hot grease.”
RB
Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Ja’Kobi Jackson — all built similarly (~220). Wear-down group; defenses will be tired of tackling them in the fourth quarter. Ja’Kobi not ready for a full load but earned spring-game love; give him some burns. Legend Bey the change-of-pace/explosive piece.
DL
Ends: Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Beau Atkinson / Bo Agbason grouping unsurprising.
Interior: John Walker III and James Smith listed; no Eddrick Houston. Hosts want Houston over James Smith. Houston finally bought into DT, now 300, film popping. Walker the space-eater (UCF tape; down to the 300s). Behind them: Zion Grady, Qua Russaw, Will Smith Jr., true freshman Khary Wilder, Epi Sitanilei, 6-7 Jason Moore (redshirt junior who’s been passed; “maybe this is the year”).
LB
Christian Alliegro (Wisconsin) and Payton Pierce listed as starters.
Denzel: Riley Pettijohn on the field by halftime of Texas — too good to keep off. Alliegro solid but not as complete. Tarvos Alford pushing. Garrett Stover one of the five fastest on the team and huge. Cincere Johnson: body is there, hasn’t clicked in reports yet. Eli Lee forcing the most fumbles in practice. “CTE boys” nickname (Drewski) — some listeners mad, hosts give comedians free range.
Secondary
Chart: Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Devin Sanchez outside; Jaylen McClain and Terry Moore; Earl Little Jr. at nickel.
Dream / “if I were DC” lineups:
Denzel lean: Sanchez and Dominick Kelly outside, McClain + Little at safety, Timmons at nickel (Timmons buzz is unusually loud for a freshman defender).

Start-of-season practical: keep Mathews (came back for a final year; Day won’t bench him lightly), Sanchez opposite, McClain/Little safeties, Timmons or Mathews at nickel.
Lots of interchangeable pieces (Leroy Roker III will play, Blaine Bradford, Cam Calhoun).
Cam Calhoun comments showed “great self-reflection.” Garrison still has a prodigal-son caveat (left, spent it, came home to the robe). Comparison to an older Michigan-to-Ohio State transfer (Zach Boren’s brother era). “You came home. That’s all that matters.” Want to believe it.
Dominick Kelly: 6-2 corner who played well as a freshman at Georgia; Georgia didn’t want to lose him. Hosts picking him partly on size, partly on “he wasn’t trash last year.” Need to see it in scarlet and gray. Jay Timmons different — pedigree (dad was a dog).
Wishbone / wing-T joke: Legend at QB, Bo and West at RB, Ja’Kobi at FB. They actually sprinkled wing-T a handful of times last year. “As long as Julian’s not running the option… unless he secretly turns into Johnny Manziel.”
Clip windows:
21:30–24:50 (WR + OL disagreement and interior praise)

29:30–32:20 (DL / Houston vs. Smith)

32:20–36:50 (LB + secondary dream lineup)

36:50–40:00 (Kelly / Timmons / Calhoun / prodigal son)
42:00–end — Close
Sponsorship read: [email protected], Wynn Agency / FanDuel partners. Four shows a week plus postgame once the season starts. Check the site for the weekly schedule.
“Denzel, as always, my guy. O-H.” “I-O.”
Quick takeaways for an article or social
Both hosts have Ohio State -12 to -14 at Texas and are enjoying every bit of Longhorn off-field noise.

Sayin is the leadership story, not just the arm talent story.

Legend Bey is the scheme-flex player they keep coming back to (2.5–5 touches, multiple spots).

Bo Jackson is the “forgotten thousand-yard back” they want respected.

Interior OL is the unit they would put up against anyone in the country.

Secondary and LB have more competition than the Ourlads snapshot shows; Pettijohn and Timmons are the names they keep elevating.

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44 min
August 27POSITION BATTLES / Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 384
Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 384 — Position Battles Notes
Mark Rogers (VOCFB) & Steve Helwagen (Bucknuts 247)
~10 days from Sept. 5 opener vs. Ball State
Steve Helwagen recapped Ryan Day’s Monday update and camp observations. Most first-team spots are trending toward being set for Ball State and Texas, with rotations and a few battles still open.
Offensive Line
Day said the line is “not etched in stone” but trending this way:
LT: Ian Moore replacing Austin Cereveld

LG: Luke Montgomery

C: Carson Insman

RG: Austin Cereveld sliding inside

RT: Phillip Daniels
Not locked at 100%. Cereveld remains a captain.
Backup Quarterback
Tavian St. Clair vs. Luke Fahey still competing.
Helwagen: St. Clair is the more heralded 2026 recruit and is expected to win the job, but Fahey “has given St. Clair a run for his money” and looks like a gamer with upside. Limited practice views impressed.
Julian Sayin is the clear starter and a captain (second year as starter).
Wide Receivers (most discussed group)
Projected top group:
Jeremiah Smith

Brandon Ennis

Third spot: Devin McEwen or Chris Henry Jr.

Also in the mix: Brock Boyd, Kyle Parker (LSU transfer, once healthy)
Day noted second-year players Dajee Jones and Phillip Bell have practiced well and could earn snaps. True freshman Jerquaden Guilford and Brock Boyd also in the conversation. That’s 8–9 receivers chasing meaningful snaps.
Mark Rogers called the WR rotation and production behind Smith “the most captivating” story for fans. Helwagen expects a different complementary name to pop each week alongside Smith. Red-zone look they like: Smith on one side, Chris Henry Jr. on the other.
Ennis is the reliable veteran/security blanket (“if I’m ever in a pinch, I know Brandon Ennis is open”). Compared to Evan Spencer — does the dirty work, blocks, runs routes, makes possession catches. Also a leader; helped calm Phillip Daniels during a camp flare-up.
Smith is on pace to own Ohio State career receiving records (catches, yards, TDs) if he stays healthy and produces at his first-two-year clip.
Tight Ends
Three have separated:
Luke Roberts (sophomore) — currently looks like No. 1

Bennett Christian (fifth-year senior) — strong blocker

Mason Williams (Ohio University transfer) — good pass catcher
Nate Roberts and Hunter Welsing also mentioned as pass-catching options.
Running Backs
Top three: Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Jacoby Jackson.
Defense
Linebackers
Starters: Christian Aliagro and Peyton Pierce.
Also in mix: Riley Pettyjohn, Tarvos Alford.
Pierce reportedly received the most captain votes (per James Laurinaitis).
Defensive Line (top 8 expected to play)
Ends: Mo Atkinson, Kenyatta Jackson, Quay Russo, Zion Grady.
Tackles: Will Smith Jr., Edrick Houston; James Smith and John Walker will also play a lot.
Secondary
Safeties: Jalen McLean, Earl Little Jr., Terry Moore; Leroy Roker backing them up.
Corners: Devin Sanchez and Jermaine Matthews Jr.
Nickel: Jay Timmons (Terry Moore also can play there).
Most spots feel spoken for through the first two games. Kent State week (Week 3) should give a fuller look at the rotation.
Captains & Block O
Seven captains announced over the weekend + Block O recipient.
Captains:
Jeremiah Smith

Julian Sayin

Brandon Ennis

Austin Cereveld (second time as captain)

Kenyatta Jackson

Jalen McClain

Peyton Pierce
Block O: Brandon Ennis (close over Kenyatta Jackson).
Helwagen: all well-earned. Smith described as hardest-working player and best player in college football.
Other notes from the segment
Offense expected to look largely the same vs. Ball State and Texas.

Depth at WR and TE gives Sayin many options; Ennis is the reliable check-down.

Goal is to manage Smith’s workload while still getting him 7–8 catches / 115 yards / 2–3 TDs most weeks.
Next show (following Wednesday) is the Ball State preview.

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48 min
August 26Will Buckeyes Have The Best Offensive Line!? / Ohio State Primetime LIVE 98 Presented by FanDuel
Ohio State Primetime LIVE 98
“Will Buckeyes Have The Best Offensive Line!?”
Presented by FanDuel | Hosts: Garrison Gaddy & Riley Burnett | OhioStateVOCFB
Show Open / Housekeeping
00:00–00:56
Welcome to Ohio State Primetime Live.

Plug for vocfb.com (writers/coverage) and vocfb.com/shop (merch).
Big Ten & SEC Block NFL Undrafted Players from Returning to College
00:56–09:25
Key context
Big Ten (yesterday) and SEC (just minutes before the show) both denied undrafted NFL players the ability to return to college football.

Stems from the NCAA allowing it; both power conferences moved quickly to shut it down.

Specific interest around LSU (DaQuan Wright) and other programs (Missouri, Virginia) looking at possible returnees.
Hosts’ takeaways
Riley: Crazy that this even became an option. It downplays the risk/importance of declaring, the Combine, and signing an NFL contract. Big Ten/SEC decision is the sensible one.

Garrison: Didn’t like the idea. Ryan Day publicly said he wasn’t a fan either. Understands why bigger programs (Ohio State) don’t need it, but lesser programs might have used it. Still believes it’s the correct decision overall.

Both: Timing is bizarre — season starts in ~5 days / Week 0 is here. Coaches already have enough on their plates.

Garrison on DaQuan Wright: Pulled up old comments where Wright called Lane Kiffin a “villain,” talked trash about him leaving Ole Miss, and said Pete Golding was better… only to potentially return to Kiffin at LSU. Called Kiffin a “scumbag” for even considering it.

Broader point: Too easy to just blame the NCAA. Players, agents, and lawsuits that keep flipping rules also share responsibility.
Clip/sponsorship break (~09:25)
FanDuel Prop – Julian Sayin Regular-Season Passing Yards
10:00–12:25
Line: 3,000.5 yards (regular season only).

Last year Sayin had 3,065 in the regular season.

Both hosts lean under is not the easy side they expected. More fourth-quarter snaps expected this year (less blowout resting, Day keeping him in longer for development). Comparison to C.J. Stroud’s high-volume years under Day.
Ohio State Captains Announced (Six Captains)
12:25–24:50
The six: Austin Saravelle, Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss (two-time captain + Block O recipient), Jalen McClain, Peyton Pierce (most first-place votes), Julian Sayin, Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
Individual notes
Peyton Pierce — Most first-place votes. Has never been a full-time starter but is viewed as a leader among leaders. Big year to prove it.

Jalen McClain — “Our guy.” Played a lot as a freshman/sophomore, started next to Caleb Downs last year. Junior season (likely final year) and now a captain.

Austin Saravelle — Garrison once said after his first start years ago he never wanted to see him in an Ohio State uniform again. Now fully bought in: top-5–10 LT / top-3–5 guard in the country. Loves his leadership and pregame intensity.

Kenyatta Jackson Jr. — Fifth-year senior, first year as full-time starter last season. Behind Jack Sawyer/JTT previously. Prove-it year in final season.

Julian Sayin — “My guy… best quarterback coming into the season.” Expected captain as the QB. Nate Roberts and others have noted big growth as a vocal leader.

Brandon Inniss — Two-time captain + Block O (third WR in program history after Xavier Johnson & Cam Babb). Has been a punchline for some fans as a former five-star who hasn’t produced big numbers. Hosts push back hard — elite blocker, trusted by teammates, should have a bigger receiving role this year. Riley predicted the Block O weeks ago.

Jeremiah Smith — Almost an afterthought because “what can you even say?” Best player in college football since he was a freshman. National champion. Kept the promise about not losing to That Team Up North. Last year at Ohio State (barring an absurd NIL package). Expect school receiving records to start falling early.
Offensive Line – Ian Moore at LT, Saravelle at RG
24:50–33:30
Ryan Day’s comments
Ian Moore taking first-team left tackle reps.

Austin Saravelle working at right guard.

Looks like the plan for the season.
Hosts’ view
If Moore can handle LT, it means he is at least as good as (or better than) Saravelle there — and allows the most experienced/versatile lineman to kick inside.

Projected starting five discussed:
LT: Ian Moore

LG: Luke Montgomery

C: Carson Hinzman

RG: Austin Saravelle

RT: Phillip Daniels
Experience numbers (including CFP)
Saravelle – 21 starts

Montgomery – 16 starts

Hinzman – 35 starts (multiple positions)

Daniels – 16 starts

Moore – limited (4 games as freshman, 14 games/1 start in 2025)
Comparisons to past Day lines
2021 line (very good): starters had 11–13 starts entering the year.

2019 line (Day’s best to date): more mixed (Jackson 16, Mumford 13, others lower).

Current group’s returning starting snap percentage is No. 1 in the country (110%).
Outlook
Both hosts believe this could be Ryan Day’s best offensive line yet.

Interior “mauling” ability projected as elite. Versatility (Saravelle can slide back outside if needed) is a huge plus.

Early-season line-of-scrimmage wins will set up the rest of the offense (fresh WR legs, etc.).
Texas Turmoil & Ohio State at Texas Preview
33:30–40:40
Recent Texas issues
Offense struggling in practice; Sarkisian visibly frustrated.

Linebacker Ty Anthony Smith off the team (conduct detrimental; was projected starter).

OT Trevor Goosby out 2–3 weeks (bone bruise). Replacement has drawn positive reviews.

Parent of a freshman player publicly airing internal grievances on social media.
Hosts’ stance
Garrison openly enjoys the chaos (“I laugh at it… I genuinely hate Texas”). Still has them losing to Ohio State by 7–13 points.

Riley wants both teams at full strength for the Week 2 matchup in Austin — no excuses.

Current FanDuel: Ohio State +1.5 / Total 47.5.

Both lean Ohio State covering and the total being fair. Ohio State’s OL and skill talent vs. a Texas side dealing with internal noise and early injuries.
Wide Receiver Depth – Ryan Day’s Comments
40:40–48:20
Day quote (via Stephen Means): “Our depth at wide receiver is way better than it was last year, in my opinion.”
Room discussion
Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss, Devin McDougle, Brock Boyd (“White Lightning”), Chris Henry Jr., Kyle Parker, plus Jacquaye Guilford, Phillip Bell, Desi Jones.

Hosts agree it is deeper even if the absolute peak (without Carnell Tate) may not quite match last year’s top end.

Comparison to 2019 WR room (multiple guys with 350+ yards). Expect 4–6 receivers to hit 300+ this year.

Poll in chat: 50% say four, 17% five, 33% six.

Consensus locks: Smith, Inniss, Henry Jr., McDougle. Parker and Boyd are the swing pieces.

Tight end room also praised as potentially Day’s best (Nate Roberts + portal additions including Hunter Welchen).
QB2 Battle – Luke Fahey Pushing Tavien St. Clair
48:20–50:50
Day has mentioned Fahey pushing St. Clair for the backup job.

Both hosts love the late competition. Keeps the room sharp. No one is taking Sayin’s job, but healthy competition is good.

Garrison notes Fahey played better high-school competition and has “gamer” traits; St. Clair has size/athleticism but questions remain on intermediate accuracy.
New Uniforms Available + Closing
50:50–end
New Ohio State jerseys (red, white, alternate black) dropped Aug. 21 and are now for sale.

Quick look-back clip package from last season (including the Michigan game).

Call-in show Thursday.

Closing: “OH… I-O.”
Overall tone of the episode: Strong optimism on the offensive line and WR depth, measured concern (and some schadenfreude) about Texas’s early-camp issues, and clear pride in the six captains chosen by the players themselves.

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54 min
August 25Ohio State Football Block 0 & 7 Captains/Did Michigan try and replace BU Horseshoe Hangover Live 11
Horseshoe Hangover Live 11
Hosts: Brad Thomas & Denzel Jones
OhioStateVOCFB
Topic focus: 2026 captains / Block O, Ryan Day on NFL-to-college returns, Brandon Inniss, impact/breakout players (offense & defense), overrated guys, best units, Michigan’s reported interest in Drew Mestemaker vs. Bryce Underwood
Intro & Weekend Recaps
00:00–01:50
Brad opens: “What a weekend” energy continues as CFB season approaches (still two weeks from Buckeyes’ opener). Denzel was muted briefly.
Denzel: relaxed, watched preseason.

Brad: bachelor party (best man is a big Buckeye; groom is an “honorary Buckeye”). Fantasy draft in a cabana—jump in pool, make a pick, repeat. Talked Buckeyes outlook the whole time.
2026 Captains Announcement – Biggest Surprises
01:54–04:40
Buckeyes named captains for 2026. Discussion on surprises and the expanded list.
Denzel: Peyton Pierce getting the most votes was the mild surprise. Expected Brandon Inniss (returning captain) or C.J. Hicks/Sonny Styles-type presence more.

Brad: Agree on the volume of captains (feels like half the impact players). Presence already showing in camp from Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Jeremiah Smith, Julian Sayin. No reason to drop Inniss or previous captains.

List hits every position group; mentality is strong—guys earned it in the offseason.

Julian Sayin put in work, got bigger; hope for more agility/pocket presence.

Kenyatta Jackson as captain is big; “most slept-on” nationally but heavily discussed in Buckeye circles. Calling 12+ sacks. Captaincy (like Sonny Styles last year) often elevates ownership and play.

Linebacker pipeline continues: hope Pierce follows the pattern of successive better players.
Ryan Day on Players Returning from NFL / Draft Process
04:40–07:20
Day commented on the growing trend of players entering the NFL process then returning to college.
Day’s stance (per hosts): doesn’t love it for current roster chemistry, but priority is making the team better. Will use the rules if it helps win.

Denzel: Doesn’t like the rule/practice overall (“once you go to the league, stay there”), but not surprised Day is open—he’s been first to adapt on NIL and portal.

Brad: Strongly prefers Day’s framing over Dan Lanning’s near-outright rejection at Oregon. “Adapt or die.” Day has matured into more flexible coaching; early-tenure rigidity (early-2020s defense cited) has given way to better program adaptability. Uses rules to his advantage while still being player-friendly where possible.
Brandon Inniss – Two-Time Captain & Block O Recipient
07:20–13:30
Deep dive on Inniss after receiving Block O and another captaincy.
Denzel: Likes him; wants more juice on the field. Leadership and work ethic already there. Hope for better deep-ball opportunities + after-catch burst. Projection: 500+ yards, ~6 TDs if things break right. Deserves a big year after fan/media criticism.

Brad: National media has largely ignored him this offseason (even in “five-WR rotation” talk). Low external expectations could help. High-school five-star status created inflated early expectations he never fully lived up to in the public eye. Program guy who could have left (Heartland offers) and been a clear No. 1 elsewhere.

Both: Sure-handed, big-moment catches (Penn State, Michigan TD). Will likely be the solid third receiver in a loaded room. Expect end-of-year stat lines that make people ask why he wasn’t discussed more.

Quick side: Julian Fleming comparison (high expectations, didn’t pan out, later issues at Penn State).
Offense Impact / Breakout Players
13:30–23:40
Biggest offensive impact
Denzel: Julian Sayin. Needs more decisive RPO/scramble yards to keep chains moving. Elite arm tempts holding the ball; taking off and sliding would unlock a lot.

Brad: Wrote a column on Sayin winning the Heisman. Platform and schedule are there for him to be the guy in big games (not just manage). Wants “Damn, did you see how Julian Sayin played?” moments vs. Texas, etc. Arthur Smith’s easy outlets should help.
Other standouts
Ian Moore (LT): Both high on him. Limited 2025 film was dominant when others struggled (Miami, Indiana). Most important/breakout if he wins the job outright. Day is cagey with injury/info, so they may not publicly crown him yet.

Devin McEwen: Second breakout candidate. Will see a lot of underneath/screen work (Arthur Smith loves screens). Calling 800 yards. Jeremiah Smith not the primary screen guy.

Legend Bay: Brad’s third pick—surprise impact that grows through the year. Day has said they need to find ways to get him the ball. Screen package, possible early packages by game 3. Also strong preference for Bay (or similar juice) on kick return over pure sure-handed options. Kick/punt return game has been historically bad.
Side notes: Prefer not using Jeremiah Smith on jet sweeps/bubbles (too big/important a target; injury risk). Chris Henry Jr. timeline still unclear. Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Jacoby Jackson also mentioned positively in the backfield depth.
Defense Surprises / Breakouts
23:40–28:20
Denzel: Edrick Houston (interior DL) – finally at needed size (~300) while staying twitchy; ready to dominate the middle.

Brad: Kenyatta Jackson – national sleepers but camp buzz is loud; “monster” potential. Photo next to Jeremiah Smith underscored the physicality. Role should be cleaner this year.

Denzel second: Devin Sanchez – “Sanchez Island.” Expect minimal throws his way; projected low yardage allowed vs. Texas’ Cam Coleman.

Brad second: Jaylen Timmons – camp form has people rooting hard for the leap.

Denzel third: C.J. Pettyjohn (or similar young LB) – hard to keep off the field once he gets snaps; possible early impact vs. Texas.

Brad third: Edrick Houston again (reinforcing the middle). Also strong positive notes on Beau Atkinson (faster, stronger, better hands/bend).
Overall tone: National media sees uncertainty on defense; Buckeye camp feedback on the key replacement players has been consistently positive. Depth (especially DL) allows scheme flexibility. Sincere (young LB) unlikely for major 2026 snaps given crowded room (Pierce, Allegretti, Pettyjohn, Alford, Eli Lee, Stover).
Overrated Discussion
28:20–31:00
Hard to find clear overrated on offense (group expected to be very good). Mild skepticism that the WR room is six-deep elite. Inniss discussion revisited (high-school ranking vs. production).
Defense:
Denzel: Arvell Reese / Allegretti – good player but may not finish as the clear starter.

Brad: James Smith – former five-star hype may outpace reality; projects as “okay.” Prefers John Walker’s natural size/playmaking early.
Best Unit / Coordinator Impact
31:00–34:50
Denzel: Offense overall, specifically O-line + running backs under Arthur Smith. Expect more cohesive line, better run balance. Projection: one back ~1,100 yards, another ~900.

Brad:
Biggest surprise impact: Defensive line (depth + flexibility even without a bunch of household names; Patricia comments on package variety).

Best overall unit: Running back room. Two legitimate options means Bo doesn’t need 17+ carries every week. Arthur Smith’s balance emphasis should elevate the whole attack. Bo Jackson, Isaiah West (bigger/quicker), Legend Bay, Jacoby Jackson all viewed positively.
Michigan / Drew Mestemaker / Bryce Underwood
34:50–38:15
Report that Michigan pursued North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker as possible Underwood insurance/replacement.
Brad (wrote on it): When ranking top-5 teams he’d fade most, chose Michigan primarily because of Underwood. Ceiling looks closer to a lesser Marcel Reed than Big Ten title contender. Cited poor 2025 PFF numbers (66.8 overall, more turnover-worthy plays than big-time throws; sub-60 grades vs. Oklahoma, Nebraska, Ohio State). Not shocked they shopped the position.

Denzel: Mestemaker’s production (4,300+ yards, 34 TDs) far outpaces Underwood’s 2,400/11. Same INT total. Smart of Mestemaker to follow his coach to Oklahoma State (system continuity, known teammates) rather than chase pure NIL. Michigan fans downplaying interest felt predictable.
Close
38:15–end
Excited for next week’s actual Week 1 score predictions. Ball State named a smaller starting QB (likely heavy run emphasis). Call for favorite Buckeye memories in comments, likes, subs, and notifications.
Hosts sign-off: Brad Thomas & Denzel Jones – Horseshoe Hangover.

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40 min

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