The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

Eric Weddle Says Bryce Underwood Can’t Play QB?! | Buckeye Weekly Podcast (Michigan Monday)

On this Michigan Monday episode, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr announce they are no longer with Buckeye Huddle and will be moving their coverage to BuckeyeInsiders.com while continuing the show on YouTube and podcast. They then react to former NFL safety Eric Weddle’s comments after attending a Michigan spring practice, where Weddle said he didn’t think quarterback Bryce Underwood could throw or play the position and suggested the backup might play early. Tony and Tom discuss how unusual and strong the take is based on a single practice, how spring performances can mislead, and why it may reflect more on the speaker than the player. They note Underwood’s true freshman struggles and need for development, coaching changes, motivation concerns tied to NIL money, and why it’s too early to declare his era over.

00:00 Welcome and Setup
00:38 Personal News New Home
01:26 Weddle Quote Sparks Debate
03:14 One Practice Overreaction
05:52 Underwood Development Concerns
07:58 NIL Motivation and Coaching
12:18 Freshman QB Growing Pains
16:17 Is The Era Over
16:42 Subscribe and Wrap Up

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr share an update on their time with Buckeye Huddle ending and the future at BuckeyeInsiders.com.

Reimagining Ohio State’s 2011 Season Without Tatgate: Pryor, Tressel, and a Possible Title Run

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr revisit Ohio State’s 2011 season and reimagine it without Tatgate, suspensions, departures, and with Jim Tressel still coaching a roster featuring senior Terrelle Pryor and freshman Braxton Miller. They walk through the schedule, arguing several losses—Miami, Michigan State, Nebraska (after Miller’s ankle injury), Purdue (missed extra point), Penn State, and Michigan—could have flipped with better quarterback play, coaching continuity, and a full roster, potentially leading to a Big Ten title game and even a BCS National Championship opportunity against LSU. They discuss how ugly many 2011 games were, key turning points like the Nebraska collapse and the Wisconsin Hail Mary, and how NIL-era legality changes the lens on the scandal.

00:00 Welcome Buckeye Weekly
00:39 Why Revisit 2011
01:18 No Tatgate What If
02:09 Akron Toledo Tuneups
02:44 Miami Disaster Reframed
06:38 Colorado And Sparty Ugly
08:45 Nebraska Collapse Meme
11:24 Legends Leaders Trivia
13:22 Illinois Zook Upset
14:26 Wisconsin Hail Mary Classic
17:10 Purdue Penn State Rancid
19:45 Michigan Heartbreaker
22:15 Big Ten Title Path
22:37 LSU BCS Toss Up
26:35 Tatgate Legacy Today
27:17 Wrap Up And Subscribe

Buckeye Weekly Podcast: Top 10 Ohio State Players of the Jim Tressel Era

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr mark nearly 15 years since Jim Tressel left Ohio State by time-traveling from the Ryan Day and Urban Meyer eras to rank the top 10 players of the Tressel era in no particular order. They reference fan responses from Twitter, debate key criteria and legacy context, and build their list. 

00:00 Welcome and premise
01:04 Rules and draft format
02:06 Twitter poll guesses
04:18 Pick 1
05:35 Pick 2 and 3
10:43 Pick 4
15:00 Pick 5
17:00 Pick 6
20:00 Pick 7
22:29 Pick 8
26:27 Pick 9
29:59 Pick 10
34:10 Results and honorable mentions
36:52 Wrap up and next show

Blind Ranking Ohio State’s Greatest One-Season Wonders | Buckeye Weekly Podcast

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr joke about Tom’s favorite types of Buckeye Weekly episodes before Tony has Tom blind-rank Ohio State football’s best one-season “one-hit wonders.” Tony reveals six names one at a time and Tom must place each without knowing who’s next, debating whether to judge by impact or raw statistics.

00:00 Welcome and Setup
00:26 Blind Ranking the Shows
01:34 One Season Wonders Rules
02:16 Player Number One
03:27 Player Number Two
05:30 Player Number Three
07:54 Player Number Four
10:21 Player Number Five
13:17 Player Number Six
17:16 Wrap Up and Subscribe

Which Ohio State Assistant Coach Will Have the Biggest Impact in 2026? | Buckeye Weekly Podcast

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss which Ohio State assistant coach will have the biggest impact on the Buckeyes reaching their ceiling this season. The most common pick is new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, with the hosts focusing on his experience as a play caller and the potential for a step forward from last year’s offense. They also highlight offensive line coach Tyler Bowen and the importance of improved line play, running backs coach Carlos Locklyn's challenge developing a young backfield, and first-year wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton’s need to build production beyond Jeremiah Smith. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is mentioned as a factor again despite major personnel losses, and special teams coach Robby Discher is discussed in light of punt rule changes that could increase blocked punts.

00:00 Welcome and Tressel Day
00:52 Biggest Assistant Impact
01:32 Arthur Smith Boost
04:20 Fixing the O Line
06:05 Young Backs and WR Room
08:03 Patricia Repeatable Defense
10:49 Special Teams and Punt Rule
13:56 Wrap Up and Callouts

Breaking News: Top-100 DE Wyatt Smith Commits to Ohio State | Buckeye Weekly Podcast

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr react to breaking recruiting news that top-100 defensive end Wyatt Smith has committed to Ohio State. They describe Smith as a long, 6'6", 235–240-pound edge rusher from St. Thomas Aquinas in South Florida, ranked No. 78 nationally in the 247 Composite, No. 11 at edge, and No. 9 in Florida, and note he joins committed defensive end DJ Jacobs to give the Buckeyes two top-100 prospects at a premium position. They discuss Larry Johnson’s continued recruiting and development track record, Smith’s NFL bloodlines as the son of former Bengals All-Pro Justin Smith, and Smith’s production last season (155 tackles, 24 TFL, 33 hurries, 13 sacks, two forced fumbles, two recoveries in 15 games), plus how Ohio State prefers freshmen to have opportunity rather than immediate need.

00:00 Podcast Intro and Alert
00:33 Wyatt Smith Commits
01:57 Why Edge Recruiting Matters
02:47 Larry Johnson Development Pitch
04:36 Film and Production Breakdown
06:40 NFL Legacy and Recruiting Angle
08:06 Roster Outlook and Freshman Roles
09:38 Opportunity Versus Need
11:33 Wrap Up and Call to Action

Buckeye Weekly Draft: 6 Ohio State Players Poised to Be First-Team All-Big Ten

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr do a snake draft of six returning Ohio State players they think will become first-team All-Big Ten this season, excluding transfers and anyone who was first- or second-team last year (Julian Sayin, Bo Jackson, Jeremiah Smith, Luke Montgomery, and Austin Siereveld).

00:00 Welcome and Draft Rules
01:20 Ineligible All-Big Ten Names
01:57 Pick 1 
03:20 Picks 2-3 
05:41 Tom Pick 
07:08 Tom Steals 
09:39 Tony Recovers 
12:03 Other Candidates and Wrap-Up

Buckeye Stat Projection Game: Matching Past OSU Seasons to 2026 Players

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr play a game where Tony presents stat lines from past Ohio State players and Tom must project which current Buckeye could post those numbers in 2026, then guess the original Buckeye who produced them. They discuss rushing, defensive, and receiving lines, with projections involving players like Isaiah West, Legend Bey, Earl Little, Devin McCuin, and more. 

00:00 Welcome and Game Setup
01:42 Rushing Stat Projection
04:21 Guessing the Past Rusher
05:44 Defensive Stat Projection
08:42 Revealing the Past Defender
09:49 Interception Season Challenge
13:51 Receiver Yards No TDs
18:40 Deep Threat Stat Line
22:26 Legend Bey/Dontre Wilson Comparison
24:24 Wrap Up and Subscribe

Most Impactful Ohio State Transfer in 2026?  | Buckeye Weekly Podcast

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss which Ohio State transfer could be the most impactful this season, using 2024 examples like Caleb Downs and Will Howard to frame the conversation. Tony leans toward safety Earl Little due to the defense’s plans for him and the versatility he could bring, while Tom highlights kicker Connor Hawkins as a potentially decisive difference-maker in close games. They also run through other transfer candidates and roles, including James Smith, Terry Moore, Devin McCuin, Kyle Parker, Qua Russaw, Dom Kelly, Mason Williams, Hunter Welcing, Ja'Kobi Jackson, John Walker, Justyn Martin, and long snapper Dalton Riggs, emphasizing how impact can come from both star plays and critical special-teams reliability.

00:00 Podcast Cold Open
00:53 Defining Impactful Transfers
02:10 Best 2024 Transfers
03:33 Earl Little Spotlight
06:18 Kicker Connor Hawkins
08:53 Other Transfer Candidates
10:01 Receiver Gravity Talk
12:37 Qua Russaw Role
14:11 More Names and Scenarios
15:22 Long Snapper Importance
16:46 Wrap Up and Thanks