For the second installment of Buckeye Future Fridays -- BFFs if you're short for time -- Nathan and Stephen take a look at the national recruiting map. Ohio State has enjoyed great success in both California and Texas, but major programs in those states are in the process of turning things around. OSU has also exploited other areas when home-state programs take a dip, such as New Jersey. So where could the Buckeyes next make similar inroads and pick up some big recruiting wins over multiple years? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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What state could be the next one Ohio State targets in recruiting?

The latest analysis on Ohio State football, basketball and recruiting from cleveland.com's Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis. Usually, quite a good time.

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Football

Ohio State football's 2025 recruiting class is currently the number one class in the country with 13 commits, including three five-star recruits as it’s gotten off to a hot start.
But the question is whether it’s on track to reach heights that the Buckeyes have only reached one other time by making history. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis map out what would need to happen for the 2025 class to match the success of the 2021 class. That class featured 24 players, with seven being five-stars and seven others being top 100 recruits as the nation’s No. 2 class behind Alabama.
But first, a conversation about OSU’s latest representation at the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback competition.
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Is Ohio State football’s 2025 recruiting class on the verge of making history?

Ohio State football's 2024 roster is littered with future NFL prospects and the same can be said of the players in its recruiting classes.
But which one is the best of them all?
On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis search through the roster along with the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes to rank the best future prospects. The rankings are done regardless of the potential draft class each player could be apart of.
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Ranking Ohio State football’s 12 best NFL Draft prospects

The 2024 NF Draft is just days away with Ohio State expecting to again be well-represented potentially on all three days, but how good has it been at ensuring that happens annually?
On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss the program's ability to develop draft picks since Ryan Day took over as head coach. They evaluate the position groups and assign them star ratings based on their success in producing draft picks. The rankings were based on the number of draft picks and the overall success of those picks.
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Evaluating Ohio State football’s NFL Draft development success under Ryan Day

This Friday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions.
Among the Ohio State topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis:

Has NIL impacted the way freshmen athletes interact with the media and build their personal brands?

Real life doppelgängers.

Which football players could make the basketball team?

Comparing Jeremiah Smith to other versions of great OSU wide receivers.

What the summer months look like for the current roster

Could a dominant defense hold the offense back?

How good would Ohio State be if it had to start its second-string defense all season?

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NIL’s impact, Jeremiah Smith and what Ohio State football’s summer schedule looks like

This episode of Buckeye Talk is all about getting to know thy enemy, which matters when discussing the greatest rivalry in sports.
Ohio State closed out its spring session last week with the first nationally televised spring game, and now Michigan is set to become the second on Saturday. In preparation, Stephen Means is joined by Jimmy Watkins as the two discuss what's going on in Ann Arbor as the Wolverines embark on a new era under Sherrone Moore.
Plus, an unnecessarily long conversation about why JJ McCarthy was the perfect OSU villain and how Michigan plans to follow that up. 
Lastly, they look at the reasons why the Wolverines could still be a threat in 2024.
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What state could be the next one Ohio State targets in recruiting?

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