The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

Ohio State enters the 2026 season with Julian Sayin firmly established as its starting quarterback, but that does not mean every question has been answered.

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the biggest concerns surrounding the Buckeyes’ quarterback room, beginning with Sayin’s effectiveness as a runner. Can he make the correct reads, protect the football, escape pressure, and provide enough of a rushing threat to keep opposing defenses honest?

They also examine the debate over Sayin’s willingness to attack the middle of the field, whether that concern has been overstated, and how Ohio State’s receiving personnel could influence where the football goes. Plus, could Sayin become too reliant on Jeremiah Smith, and how concerning is the Buckeyes’ lack of proven experience behind him?

0:00 — Welcome to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast
0:42 — Introducing the biggest quarterback concerns
1:14 — Concern No. 1: Julian Sayin and the quarterback run game
2:26 — How much does Ohio State actually need Sayin to run?
4:44 — What Will Howard’s rushing numbers can tell us
5:39 — Concern No. 2: Attacking the middle of the field
6:53 — Has the middle-of-the-field concern been overblown?
9:10 — Does Ohio State have the receivers to produce inside?
10:23 — Concern No. 3: Becoming too focused on Jeremiah Smith
10:58 — Why throwing frequently to Smith still makes sense
12:55 — The lack of proven experience at backup quarterback
14:16 — The Buckeye Insiders community
15:12 — Final thoughts

What is your biggest concern about Ohio State’s quarterback room? Let us know in the comments.

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David Gabriel Georges has committed to Tennessee, ending one of the most high-profile Ohio State recruiting battles of the cycle.

Tony Gerdeman and Juck Miletti break down how the Buckeyes lost out, what Tennessee did to win the recruitment, how NIL changed the equation, and whether Ohio State miscalculated the cost of landing one of the nation’s top running back prospects.

They also discuss Carlos Locklyn’s role in the recruitment, Ryan Day’s involvement, the reality of recruiting against Tennessee in the NIL era, whether Ohio State should have pushed harder financially, and where the Buckeyes go from here at running back.

00:00 — Intro
00:12 — Juck reacts to the end of the David Gabriel Georges recruitment
01:48 — Ohio State’s offer and the challenge of battling Tennessee
04:40 — Did Ohio State miscalculate the market?
08:55 — Why Tennessee deserves credit for going all-in
13:10 — Why choosing Tennessee can make sense for a running back
16:55 — Ryan Day, Carlos Locklyn, and Ohio State’s recruiting strategy
20:59 — Did Ohio State ever really have a chance?
24:42 — The locker room impact of a massive running back NIL deal
26:20 — How NIL has changed roster construction
27:48 — Why Ohio State could afford to take this swing
31:00 — Why the loss still stings
33:57 — Big-picture perspective on Ohio State’s 2027 recruiting class
35:41 — Final thoughts and listener reaction

Who do you blame for Ohio State missing on David Gabriel Georges — or was Tennessee simply willing to go further than anyone else? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Devin McCuin arrives at Ohio State after three productive seasons at UTSA, but what should Buckeye fans realistically expect from the veteran wide receiver transfer?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss McCuin’s past production, how big of a step up he faces at Ohio State, what they saw from him during spring practice, and why his range of possible outcomes may be wider than almost anyone else on the Buckeye offense.

They also break down his potential role opposite Jeremiah Smith, how Chris Henry Jr., Brandon Inniss, Kyle Parker, and other receivers could impact his opportunities, and whether McCuin could become a major piece of Ohio State’s passing game this season.

00:02 — Intro
00:12 — Tom sets up the uncertainty around Devin McCuin
00:37 — Devin McCuin’s UTSA production and Ohio State opportunity
02:20 — Revisiting Tony’s February projection
03:47 — Why McCuin’s range of outcomes is so wide
06:00 — What spring practice did and did not reveal
07:34 — How McCuin performed against better competition at UTSA
09:55 — Tony revises his Devin McCuin prediction
10:26 — Tom goes over on the new projection
11:12 — Could McCuin approach Carnell Tate-type production?
12:18 — Why September may reveal his role
13:00 — Final thoughts and listener question

What kind of season do you expect from Devin McCuin at Ohio State? Drop your catches, yards, and touchdown predictions in the comments.

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In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss three concerns for the Ohio State defensive ends. How big are these concerns and how likely are they to impact the Buckeyes' season? The fellas talk about this and much more.

Warde Manuel Is OUT...Eventually

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is stepping down at the end of the year, following the release of a summary from an outside review into the Michigan athletic department’s culture, oversight, and accountability.

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss what Michigan revealed, what it did not reveal, why Manuel is staying on through the end of the year, and how the report frames issues inside the athletic department. They also look at the long list of Michigan football controversies and suspensions in recent years, the challenge of overseeing a major football program, and whether Manuel is being fairly blamed for what happened on his watch.

00:00 — Intro
00:11 — Tom introduces the “$11 million episode”
00:30 — Warde Manuel is out — eventually
01:03 — Why Manuel is staying through the end of the year
01:34 — What Michigan released from the outside review
02:47 — The report’s positives and vague negatives
03:44 — The “deep and wet well” analogy
04:59 — Failures of oversight and accountability
06:04 — Why Manuel is being asked to help fix the culture
07:38 — Why Michigan may want stability right now
08:38 — Oversight issues inside the football program
10:50 — Michigan’s recent suspension history
11:40 — The coaches, not the players, have been the issue
12:48 — How much blame belongs to Warde Manuel?
15:19 — Carefully worded exits and Michigan’s culture of accountability
16:40 — Why Kyle Whittingham may represent a culture reset
17:46 — Final thoughts and listener question

Is Warde Manuel to blame for Michigan’s recent athletic department issues, or is he being unfairly railroaded? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Brandon Inniss is back for another season as a key piece of Ohio State’s offense, but can he become more explosive in year two as a starter?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss expectations for Inniss, what he did last season, where his numbers need to improve, and whether Ohio State can get more big plays from the slot receiver position this year.

They also discuss how Inniss compares to past productive Buckeye slot receivers, why yards after the catch will be so important, how Julian Sayin’s progression reads could impact his targets, and whether Inniss can remain a reliable weapon while also increasing his downfield and red-zone production.

00:30 — Intro
00:40 — Tom explains why expectations shows are fun
00:57 — Setting up Brandon Inniss’ year-two expectations
01:29 — Looking back at Inniss’ 2025 production
02:40 — Why 271 receiving yards was lower than expected
04:19 — The yards-per-catch issue
05:15 — Ohio State’s history of productive slot receivers
06:11 — Tony’s projected numbers for Brandon Inniss
06:59 — What would count as a solid season?
08:20 — Could Inniss add more touchdowns?
09:40 — Inniss’ sure hands and punt return value
10:03 — Where Inniss fits in Julian Sayin’s passing progression
11:21 — Final thoughts and listener question
11:54 — Tom sings the show out

What kind of season do you expect from Brandon Inniss? Drop your catches, yards, and touchdown predictions in the comments.

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Which Ohio State offensive players are ready to become breakout names this season?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr draft six Buckeyes who could take major steps forward on offense, including players along the offensive line, in the backfield, at wide receiver, and at tight end.

They discuss why Ian Moore may be one of the most important players on the offense, how Legend Bey could become a dangerous weapon, what Chris Henry Jr. could bring to the wide receiver room, and much more.

00:30 — Intro
00:41 — BuckeyeInsiders.com and the PowerPauseKing
01:49 — Setting up six breakout Buckeyes on offense
02:29 — Breakout Pick No. 1: Ian Moore
03:28 — Why Ian Moore could be critical at left tackle
04:09 — Breakout Pick No. 2: Legend Bey
06:08 — How many touches could Legend Bey get?
07:05 — Breakout Pick No. 3: Chris Henry Jr.
08:01 — Why Chris Henry Jr. could become a bigger part of the offense
09:53 — Breakout Pick No. 4
11:14 — Breakout Pick No. 5
13:58 — Breakout Pick No. 6
16:43 — Final thoughts and listener question

Which Buckeye offensive player do you think is most likely to break out this season? Drop your pick in the comments.

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The Ohio State Buckeyes just landed the final - and biggest - piece to their elite 2027 defensive line recruiting class. Karlos May, a 4-star defensive tackle out of Birmingham, Alabama, just announced that he was committing to Larry Johnson's class over other finalists like Georgia, Auburn, and Florida State.

In this special bonus show - a breaking news episode of the Buckeyes TomOrrow Morning podcast, Juck Miletti, the Recruiting Insider at BuckeyeInsiders.com, joins host Tom Orr to break down the importance of May's commitment, how he fits in with the top-100 players already committed to the class, including DJ Jacobs, Markus Fakatou, and Wyatt Smith, and more.

Who is the best quarterback Ohio State will face during the 2026 season?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr rank the opposing quarterbacks on the Buckeyes’ schedule, from the least proven options to a top three featuring Texas' Arch Manning and others.

The discussion includes Bryce Underwood’s potential sophomore leap at Michigan, Malik Washington’s promising freshman production at Maryland, Anthony Colandrea’s unpredictable playmaking ability, and what Illinois can expect from former Michigan State quarterback Katin Houser.

Tony and Tom also examine whether Josh Hoover can maintain Indiana’s recent standard at quarterback, debate whether Arch Manning belongs ahead of Maiava, and explain why Moore may enter the season as the most dangerous passer Ohio State is scheduled to face.

Which quarterback would you rank No. 1? Let us know in the comments.

0:00 — Introducing the opposing quarterback rankings
1:18 — Ranking Nos. 12 through 9
3:45 — No. 8
5:33 — No. 7
7:20 — No. 6
10:12 — No. 5
12:50 — No. 4
15:56 — No. 3
18:21 — No. 2
19:44 — No. 1
22:52 — Final thoughts on Ohio State’s challenging quarterback schedule

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Become a member and join the conversation at BuckeyeInsiders.com.

Is Ja’Kobi Jackson being overlooked in Ohio State’s crowded running back room?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr continue their running back expectations series by examining one of the Buckeyes’ most difficult players to project for the 2026 season.

Jackson appeared in only four games last year before an injury ended his season, but his previous work at Florida included productive performances against Georgia, Texas, and LSU. So which version of Jackson should Ohio State expect this fall?

Tony and Tom discuss whether Jackson can carve out a consistent role behind Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, how many carries may realistically be available, and why his value could extend beyond his rushing totals. They also explore his potential as a third-down back, pass protector, and receiving threat out of the backfield.

Could Jackson become this year's version of C.J. Donaldson? Might he finish third in snaps but fourth in carries? And is a 400-yard rushing season a fair expectation—or evidence that he is being overlooked?

Let us know your Ja’Kobi Jackson projections in the comments.

0:00 — Projecting Ja’Kobi Jackson’s 2026 season
0:36 — Why Jackson is so difficult to evaluate
2:17 — His productive stretch against top SEC defenses
4:43 — Could Jackson play more than his rushing totals suggest?
7:59 — His potential impact in the passing game
10:15 — Are Ohio State’s rushing projections getting too high?

Subscribe to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast for daily Ohio State football news, analysis, predictions, and discussion.

Join the conversation at BuckeyeInsiders.com.