The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

Ohio State hosts Ball State on Saturday at 12:30 pm to kick off the season. Before the game gets here, however, there must first be a Bold Predictions episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast.

Hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr are back once again to compete to see whose boldness will reign supreme. There are bold predicitons about Jeremiah Smith, Legend Bey, Devin McCuin, Jay Timmons, Christian Alliegro, and more.

For even more Buckeye coverage, come find us over at BuckeyeInsiders.com.

We got our final chance to talk to Ohio State head coach Ryan Day on Wednesday evening following practice, and there were some interesting takeaways, including: 

• Which players will get a chance to return punts on Saturday, and who will be the kick returner?
• How he thinks they can find a balance between playing true freshmen, and understanding that may mean dealing with some youthful mistakes.
• Who is going to start on the defensive line
• And more

There are a number of questions about the 2026 Ohio State defense that will at least start getting answered on Saturday when the Buckeyes kick off the season against Ball State, but earlier this week, OSU head coach Ryan Day shared his thoughts on a few of those areas.

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear Day's thoughts on the linebacker room, the defensive tackles, and more. 

A handful of Ohio State players got some very encouraging public endorsements this week — and a few of them may be more important to the 2026 Buckeyes than we previously thought.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss four Buckeyes whose stock appears to be rising heading into the season.

The guys start with Legend Bey, who Ryan Day confirmed as Ohio State’s top kickoff returner and someone the Buckeyes clearly believe can be a difference-maker with the ball in his hands.

They also discuss Jay Timmons, the true freshman nickelback who told Devin Sanchez during recruiting that he planned to come to Ohio State and start immediately — and then actually did it.

From there, the conversation turns to Devin McCuin, who continues to draw strong praise from Ryan Day and Sanchez, and defensive end Zion Grady, whose name came up surprisingly early when Day discussed the Buckeyes’ defensive line rotation.

There’s also a bonus discussion about Hunter Welcing and the funny moment when Ryan Day interrupted another interview just to make sure he didn’t leave the tight end out of the conversation.

0:00 — Welcome to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast
0:10 — Why we unexpectedly had to record another show
0:49 — Stock Up No. 1: Legend Bey
1:10 — Ryan Day names Bey the kickoff returner
1:44 — What Bey did to earn the role
2:50 — How many chances will he actually get against Ball State?
3:25 — Stock Up No. 2: Jay Timmons
4:12 — Timmons said he was coming to Ohio State to start
4:44 — Why his rise has been so unusual for a freshman
5:30 — Stock Up No. 3: Devin McCuin
6:11 — Ryan Day: McCuin is “as good as we’ve had”
6:55 — Why McCuin could raise the ceiling of the offense
8:15 — Could McCuin surpass Carnell Tate’s production from last year?
9:08 — Devin Sanchez calls McCuin a starter
9:17 — Stock Up No. 4: Zion Grady
10:11 — Why the order Ryan Day mentioned the defensive ends matters
11:45 — Bonus Stock Up: Hunter Welcing
12:10 — Ryan Day interrupts an interview to mention Welcing
12:32 — Why coaches sometimes hate being asked to list players
13:17 — How much of the rotation will we see Saturday?
13:46 — Looking ahead to Bold Predictions
14:39 — Closing thoughts

Which of these four Buckeyes are you most excited to see in the opener? And which one do you think could make the biggest jump this season? Let us know in the comments.

For more Ohio State football coverage, practice intel, depth-chart discussion, recruiting and more, visit BuckeyeInsiders.com.

If you enjoy the show, make sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel and leave a comment. A five-star rating and review on the podcast side is always appreciated.

Ryan Day says Ohio State’s offense is going to be fun in 2026. But what exactly does that mean?

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr break down what Day means when he talks about a fun offense — and why the Buckeyes may be positioned to deliver one.

The discussion starts with explosiveness in the running game and the expectation that Bo Jackson, Isaiah West and Legend Bey can turn ordinary gains into much bigger plays. The guys also look at how Arthur Smith plans to involve players like Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, why the offense should be harder for defenses to predict, and how multiple plays can build off the same looks.

They also get into the offensive line, where Carson Hinzman says Smith has brought a sense of “tangible violence” to the running game, and why a more physical, efficient and explosive offense could be a lot more enjoyable for everybody involved — especially Ohio State fans.

0:00 — Welcome to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast
0:10 — Ryan Day is promising a “fun” offense
0:18 — What does a fun offense actually mean?
1:08 — Explosive plays make football more fun
2:05 — Ryan Day expects more big plays from the running backs
2:44 — Rewatchability and what makes an offense entertaining
3:27 — Arthur Smith’s plan to get everyone involved
4:37 — Why Brandon Inniss believes the plan is real
5:10 — Building plays off plays
5:53 — Why frustrating the defense is part of the fun
7:22 — “Tangible violence” on the offensive line
8:27 — If the offensive line is having fun, that’s a good sign
9:46 — Remembering explosive Ohio State offenses of the past
10:22 — Can this Buckeye offense become one of those?
11:00 — Final thoughts and BuckeyeInsiders.com
11:34 — Closing

What would make this Ohio State offense “fun” for you? More explosive runs? More deep shots? More Jeremiah Smith? More creativity from Arthur Smith? Let us know in the comments.

For more Ohio State football coverage, practice intel, scheme discussion, recruiting and more, visit BuckeyeInsiders.com.

If you enjoy the show, make sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel and leave a comment. A five-star rating and review on the podcast side is always appreciated.

Ohio State’s wide receiver room looks much deeper than it did a year ago, but that creates a new question: who actually makes the six-man rotation?

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr break down the latest from Ryan Day on the Buckeyes’ receiver depth chart and discuss which players are most likely to see meaningful snaps this season.

The conversation starts with the six names Day has mentioned most prominently: Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss, Devin McCuin, Chris Henry Jr., Brock Boyd and Phillip Bell. The guys also discuss where Kyle Parker fits as he works his way back, whether Dez Jones can force his way into the conversation, and why Ohio State’s playable depth at receiver appears to be significantly better than it was last season.

There’s also discussion about why the transfer portal mattered so much for this room, how younger receivers can earn trust through blocking and special teams, and why Saturday’s opener should give us our first real look at how Ohio State plans to mix and match its receivers.

0:00 — Welcome to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast
0:23 — How many wide receivers will Ohio State play?
0:47 — Ryan Day says six receivers could be in the rotation
1:10 — Phillip Bell’s big opportunity
1:38 — What young receivers have to do to earn more snaps
2:47 — The six names Ryan Day mentioned
3:14 — Why Ohio State’s receiver depth is much better this year
4:18 — Comparing this year’s room to last season
4:47 — David Adolph’s role last year vs. this year
5:51 — Why the transfer portal helped fix the depth problem
6:34 — The danger of relying too heavily on young receivers
7:24 — How different is this room from last year?
8:38 — Ryan Day on Devin McCuin
9:04 — Kyle Parker working his way back
9:20 — Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd continue to impress
9:47 — Special teams could help determine the rotation
10:04 — Brandon Inniss expecting a much bigger season
10:37 — Jeremiah Smith on the new Brandon Inniss
11:22 — What Saturday’s receiver combinations could reveal
11:54 — Watching where different receivers line up
12:07 — How much will Ohio State show before Texas?
12:34 — Final thoughts and BuckeyeInsiders.com
13:39 — Closing

Who do you think makes Ohio State’s six-man receiver rotation? And is there anyone outside the obvious group who you think could force his way in? Let us know in the comments.

For more Ohio State football coverage, practice intel, depth-chart discussion, recruiting and more, visit BuckeyeInsiders.com.

If you enjoy the show, make sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel and leave a comment. A five-star rating and review on the podcast side is always appreciated.

Two of the biggest names from the 2002 Ohio State national championship season will be back in the Horseshoe on Saturday to be honored for their roles in the program. 

Former head coach Jim Tressel is being inducted into the school's Ring of Honor alongside legendary former coaches Woody Hayes and Paul Brown, and former standout running back Maurice Clarett will ring the Victory Bell before the game. 

Both Tressel and Clarett left Ohio State under less-than-ideal circumstances, so what was it that led the school to honor them? In this special bonus episode, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day discussed that, as well as sharing his thoughts on the Buckeyes' opponents from Ball State, how the 5-for-5 rule is changing everything for freshmen this season, and much more.

In this special bonus episode, you'll get a chance to hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day about all sorts of topics surrounding the Buckeyes' 2026 offense. From the veteran interior of the offensive line, to the battle for the backup quarterback position, to the role talented true freshman Legend Bey might take on, to which wide receivers are likely to play this weekend, you'll hear it all, straight from Ryan Day.

Ohio State has a pair of true freshmen who look ready to make an immediate impact in 2026.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss running back Legend Bey and nickelback Jay Timmons, two freshmen who have generated consistent buzz throughout fall camp and now appear ready for meaningful roles right away.

The guys break down why Bey brings something different to the Buckeyes’ backfield, how Ohio State could use his versatility without overloading him, and why comments from Carson Hinzman and Ryan Day continue to reinforce the excitement around him.

They also dive into Timmons, who has essentially been running with the first-team defense at nickel since the start of camp. Earl Little’s comments about Timmons’ mindset, toughness and coverage ability only add to the belief that he could be one of the most impactful freshmen on the roster this season.

0:00 — Welcome to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast
0:10 — The season is almost here
0:48 — Two freshmen who could make a major impact
1:18 — Legend Bae and Jay Timmons
1:37 — Carson Hinzman brings up Legend Bey first
2:19 — Why unsolicited praise matters
3:45 — Ryan Day on Bey's role
4:11 — Learning running back before expanding to receiver
4:39 — Getting Legend Bey the ball in space
5:30 — The “Legend Bey depth chart”
5:50 — How Arthur Smith could use him creatively
6:59 — Jay Timmons: the freshman nickelback to watch
7:27 — Earl Little on when Timmons stood out
8:02 — Why Timmons winning the job matters
9:28 — Is Jay Timmons a different kind of freshman?
10:04 — The history of standout freshman nickelbacks at Ohio State
10:54 — Why Timmons may have the bigger overall impact
11:17 — Could Timmons make a national splash against Texas?
11:49 — Final thoughts on Ohio State’s impact freshmen
12:24 — Closing

Which freshman do you think will have the bigger impact this season: Legend Bey or Jay Timmons? Let us know in the comments.

For more Ohio State football coverage, practice intel, X’s and O’s, recruiting and more, visit BuckeyeInsiders.com.

If you enjoy the show, make sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel and leave a comment. A five-star rating and review on the podcast side is always appreciated.

It’s time for the defensive side of the preseason Tale of the Tape.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr go position by position through the Ohio State and Michigan defenses to determine which team has the edge heading into the 2026 season.

The guys compare the defensive lines, including Kenyatta Jackson, Beau Atkinson, James Smith, and Eddrick Houston for Ohio State against a Michigan front that includes John Henry Daley and Trey Pierce. They also debate the linebacker rooms, compare both teams at cornerback, and break down the safeties and nickel spots, where Ohio State brings back Jaylen McClain and adds Earl Little, while true freshman Jay Timmons continues to make noise.

The show wraps up with special teams, where Michigan may have the current edge thanks to its portal additions and more proven return options.

Which side has the better defense right now — and how much could these answers change by the time Ohio State and Michigan meet in November?

0:00 — Welcome to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast
0:30 — Introducing the defensive Tale of the Tape
1:20 — Defensive line: Ohio State vs. Michigan
2:30 — Michigan’s questions at defensive tackle
3:12 — John Henry Daley’s health and upside
4:07 — Why Ohio State gets the edge up front
5:05 — Kenyatta Jackson, Beau Atkinson and Ohio State’s pass rush options
6:42 — Michigan’s young defensive ends and upside
7:37 — Linebackers: Ohio State vs. Michigan
8:15 — Payton Pierce and Christian Alliegro give Ohio State confidence
9:11 — Michigan’s linebacker transfers and experience
10:31 — Cornerbacks: Ohio State vs. Michigan
12:30 — Devin Sanchez as the difference-maker
14:35 — Shamari Earls and Michigan’s corner depth
15:54 — Safeties and nickel: Ohio State vs. Michigan
16:40 — Rod Moore’s health remains a major factor
17:24 — Jaylen McClain and Earl Little headline Ohio State’s safeties
18:12 — Jay Timmons taking over at nickel
19:19 — Michigan’s safety depth and Chris Bracy
20:40 — How quickly things could change if Rod Moore is unavailable
21:00 — Special teams comparison
21:58 — Why Michigan gets the edge on special teams
22:55 — Ohio State’s return-game questions
24:31 — A bold prediction for Legend Bay on kickoff returns
25:03 — Final Tale of the Tape results
25:53 — Which position groups could flip by November?
26:39 — Closing thoughts

Which defensive position group do you think Michigan has the best chance to overtake Ohio State in by November? Let us know in the comments.

For more Ohio State football coverage, Michigan Monday discussion, practice intel and analysis, visit BuckeyeInsiders.com and join us on The Insiders Board.

If you enjoy the show, make sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel and leave a comment. A five-star rating and review on the podcast side is always appreciated.