The Middle Ground is back with a special Ohio edition as Stormin’ Norman returns to break down the massive showdown: #3 Ohio State vs #1 Texas. We dive into why so many people are counting the Buckeyes out, the key matchups in the trenches, and how each team can stay ahead of the chains. Can Ohio State’s defensive line disrupt Arch Manning? Will the experienced Buckeye O-line expose Texas’ interior? And what does Jeremiah Smith’s matchup look like against a defense built to eliminate explosive plays?

It’s all on the table tonight—don’t miss it.

We kick things off with the biggest headlines from college football over the weekend, including the wild story of Avery Johnson’s dad and brother fighting and Bryce Underwood showing why he’s QB1. Metal brings the heat with a College Football 26 rant before we dive into the Week 1 matchups: #3 Ohio State vs #1 Texas, #14 Michigan vs New Mexico, #9 LSU vs #4 Clemson, and #6 Notre Dame vs #10 Miami. We close with one key question — what’s the one thing to watch for in Week 1 for Michigan and Ohio State?

In this episode, we hit on the biggest headlines across college football and the pros. Indiana rolls out its non-conference schedules through 2029, and Notre Dame names CJ Carr as QB1. We dive into the Reds’ latest series, roster shake-ups, and what to do with Matt McLain. Ohio State names Julian Sayin the starter, we break down the RT battle, and what fans should expect from the offense in Week 1. Around the NFL, the Browns roll with Joe Flacco while Judkins remains unsigned, Isaiah Bond joins the squad, and the Bengals shuffle the roster with Hendrickson, Risner, and more defensive questions. Finally, we preview Week 0 lines, including Kansas State-Iowa State in Dublin, plus Fresno State-Kansas and Stanford-Hawaii.

In this episode, we dive into a packed slate of topics. We kick things off with the Ohio State quarterback announcement before shifting gears to a big-picture discussion on the MLB’s potential geographic realignment of divisions. From there, we break down recent punishments across college athletics—were they tough enough, and how do they stack up against past NCAA rulings like Tattoo Gate and Reggie Bush? We also touch on the latest from Buckeye Scoop and Spiro, and wrap up with an outlook on the 2023 National Championship race.

Ohio: TMG talks about the Reds 3 trade transactions along with what they need to do to make a playoff push. Ohio State Fall Camp is underway and an intense QB battle between Lincoln Kienholz & Julian Sayin is underway. We grade upgrades & downgrades for the current Buckeye roster. Lastly, we check in on the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals Training Camps.

This week on the pod, we dive headfirst into the Jeremiah Smith hype train — is he the most polished freshman we’ve ever seen? We stack him up against names like Adrian Peterson, Michael Crabtree, Ja’Marr Chase, and even Cooper Flagg. We also tackle the Bronny James debate: would he have been drafted if his dad wasn’t LeBron? Plus, we break down Caleb Downs’ draft stock, JJ's top-2 buzz, Reds All-Star talk, and the growing issue of gambling in sports.

On this episode of The Middle Ground, we dive into Jeremiah Smith’s shots at Michigan, break down the cringe-worthy Shane Beamer TikToks making the rounds, and discuss whether Michigan’s recent recruiting heat is the real deal. We also ask the big question: what happens if James Franklin still can’t get it done at Penn State? Plus, a shoutout to Gamecock Nation — pull up! Tap in for bold takes, college football drama, and nonstop energy from both sides of the rivalry.

In this episode, we dive deep into the quarterback showdown between Julian Sayin and Bryce Underwood — who has the edge heading into college ball? The Cincinnati Reds are heating up in the NL Central, and we break down what’s fueling their surge. Meanwhile, why did the Red Sox move on from Rafael Devers? We unpack the trade and what it means for Boston’s future. Plus, we take a hard look at Michigan’s 2025 schedule — is it a championship path or a trap-filled gauntlet? Buckle up.

The NIL era is in full swing, and Ohio State and Michigan are deep in the trenches—fighting for 5-stars, flipping recruits, and throwing big money around. We break down how both programs are reloading in this new recruiting landscape. Plus, the Cincinnati Reds are heating up at the right time, and the Red Sox just put the Yankees in their place. We cover all the headlines, hot takes, and what it all means moving forward.

The NIL era is in full swing, and Ohio State and Michigan are deep in the trenches—fighting for 5-stars, flipping recruits, and throwing big money around. We break down how both programs are reloading in this new recruiting landscape. Plus, the Cincinnati Reds are heating up at the right time, and the Red Sox just put the Yankees in their place. We cover all the headlines, hot takes, and what it all means moving forward.