Buckeye Talk: Ohio State podcast by cleveland.com

The 2024 NFL Draft has arrived with a few Ohio State football players expected to be taken over the next three days. That means it's time for our annual Buckeye Talk NFL Draft prediction pod. OSU has nine players in this year's draft and Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis reveal how many of those players will hear their name's called. Then they wrap things up by looking forward at a 2025 class which explains why the number in 2024 is so low. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night and we're getting you ready with a full first round mock draft. For the third year in a row, the Orange and Brown Talk and Buckeye Talk crews got together and made every pick in the first round. Nathan Baird, Tim Bielik, Andrew Gillis, Dan Labbe, Stephen Means and Jimmy Watkins were all assigned teams and they worked their way through the first 32 picks, making trades and filling needs along the way. While the first pick was a no-brainer, things got interesting after that and included discussions on Justin Fields in Pittsburgh and which Buckeyes player could be the first to go in their class next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions. Among the topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis: The impact of Ohio State's first two losses to the post-spring transfer portal window. Players and people within the OSU athletic department they’d love to interview knowing they’d get 100% honesty. Which position group would they buy stock in? What are their favorite sports teams and how they became passionate about them? Is the defensive line’s success more about its upside or problems with the offensive line? Who would they start at quarterback if it were up to them? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State's 2025 recruiting class is off to a strong start, and its class added two more members over the weekend. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis break down OSU’s latest commitments and what they bring to the program. Then the two look ahead for a class featuring 13 commits and sitting in the top spot in the recruiting rankings. While Ohio State has started great, it's far from finished putting together its 2025 class. As it heads into the next few months where recruiting in the only priority, the two look at what are the most important needs still left on the board. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Monday episode of Buckeye Talk features a rewatch of Ohio State's 2024 spring game. Stephen Means and Nathan Baird look back at the performances of quarterbacks Will Howard, Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, Julian Sayin and Air Noland looking at how they played and what comes next. Plus a transfer portal conversation on how many quarterbacks they think will still be on the roster in the fall. Then a conversation about the bevy of options Jim Knowles and the defense previewed and whether they think OSU needs to find another offensive lineman in the transfer portal Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State wrapped up Phase One of its quest for a national title with the spring game providing a first public look at its 2024 roster. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down where OSU stands following the spring and what they saw in the game. They start with a discussion on the quarterback battle between Will Howard and Devin Brown and which player is in the lead heading into the summer. Then they look at the other three quarterbacks involved. After the break, they discuss the offensive line as the only significant question mark on offense heading into the summer. Then they wrap things up with a glowing review of the defense led by a secondary who spent the afternoon getting the better of the wide receivers. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State will wrap up its spring practice schedule on Saturday with the 2024 Spring Game providing fans the first chance to see its roster. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means takes rants from the Subtext subscribers on everything they want to see from the Buckeyes on Saturday. That list includes everything from what the quarterbacks look like, the development of the offensive line freshman Jeremiah Smith and even a few thoughts on what OSU can do to add to the game's environment. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is a third player beginning to emerge as a candidate to win Ohio State football's starting quarterback job? Ryan Day spoke highly of Julian Sayin as the five-star has turned heads since he arrived as a transfer from Alabama. So on this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means asks Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis to follow him into his hypothetical world and map out what it would look like for him to beat out Will Howard and Devin Brown to win the job. But first, the three give their initial impressions on new running backs coach Carlos Locklyn along with a discussion about the potential post0spring attrition OSU could see in the transfer portal. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone is healthy and ready to play Saturday in Ohio Stadium in this version of an Ohio State spring game draft from Buckeye Talk. There are two full 22-player teams to be drafted, and Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis go head-to-head with their selections while Stephen Means moderates. With so many options on both sides of the ball, we’re splitting things up and doing just the starting 11 on defense. This should tell you something about the 2024 Buckeyes with spring football winding down, it should help get you ready for Saturday, plus drafts are always fun. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone is healthy and ready to play Saturday in Ohio Stadium in this version of an Ohio State spring game draft from Buckeye Talk. There are two full 22-player teams to be drafted, and Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis go head-to-head with their selections while Stephen Means moderates. With so many options on both sides of the ball, we’re splitting things up and doing just the starting 11 on offense. This should tell you something about the 2024 Buckeyes with spring football winding down, it should help get you ready for Saturday, plus drafts are always fun. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State's gearing up for its 2024 Spring Game, and there are several important players visiting campus. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis take a look at the visitor list for the final practice of the spring session. The two discuss who Andrew thinks are the most important or most interesting people expected to. be in Columbus and why. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State football's linebackers, safeties and running backs. They discuss the possibility of rotating four or five linebackers during the season and the challenges of finding the right combination of players. They also talk about the transition of Caleb Downs to Ohio State and his commitment to staying with the team. The conversation highlights the importance of building depth at safety and mentions several players who could contribute to that position. Plus what the running backs think of new coach Carlos Locklynn on his first day and offensive lineman Joshua Simmons going through his first full offseason at OSU. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State football's 2025 recruiting class is off to a strong start, with 11 commits, including seven top 100 players. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the latest commitments in four-star defensive lineman Lononn Merrit, four-star linebacker TJ Alford, four-star wide receiver De’zie Jones and four-star safety DeShawn Stewart. They also discuss recent three-star safety Cody Haddad’s decommitment from Wisconsin and what that could mean for OSU. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the significance of early commitments and the importance of landing big recruits to maintain a strong recruiting class. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State has finally found a replacement for Tony Alford following his departure for Michigan with Carlos Locklyn taking over as the new running backs coach. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Biard and Andrew Gillis explore Locklynn’s background and coaching career, as well as the potential impact he could have on the team. They also delve into the challenges of recruiting running backs in the 2025 class and the importance of maintaining a strong running back room. Additionally, they analyze the projected starting offensive line Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State invited its student body to get a sneak preview of its 2024 football team for spring practice No. 8 and Buckeye Talk is here to tell you what happened. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis analyze the hierarchy of the quarterbacks, with Devin Brown and Will Howard emerging as the top two contenders. They also discuss the performance of freshman quarterback Julian Sayin and his potential impact in the future. Then they shift their attention to the offensive line, noting that while the defensive line had a strong performance, there were signs of improvement compared to last year. They discuss the potential starting lineup and the importance of cohesion among the offensive linemen. The episode concludes with a hyperbolic conversation about five-star freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith before wrapping things up with Stephen’s theory on what the offensive philosophy could be this fall. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State lost its best tight end and one of its top defensive tackles to the NFL Draft. The Buckeyes have candidates to replace both, though this spring will answer a lot of questions. Nathan and Andrew discuss what they heard from tight ends, defensive tackles and defensive ends after Ohio State's seventh practice of the spring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State football's 2025 recruiting class. They start by discussing the implications of losing four-star wide receiver Jayvan Boggs and who the other potential targets are. Then they discuss where OSU pivots to next after losing out on its top 2026 quarterback target Jared Curtis who committed to Georgia over the weekend. Then they wrap things up by previewing the decision of four-star linebacker TJ Alford and the Buckeyes’ chances of landing him. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew discuss Ohio State football's tight and defensive line positions. They highlight the different vibes from the defensive line coach and the tight ends coach when discussing their position groups. While one group seems to be confident about its options heading into a 2024 season where OSU could play as many as 17 games, the other is still trying to figure out how to replace the production of a two-year starter, who's off to the NFL. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss the wide receiver room at Ohio State. They compare the current group to the 2022 wide receiver room and highlight the confidence Brian Hartline has in the young players. They also discuss the importance of culture and mental toughness in the wide receiver room. The conversation touches on Bryson Rogers’ decision to return to Ohio State and the potential breakout seasons of Brandon Innis and Carnell Tate. They also discuss the impact of Chip Kelly’s presence on Brian Hartline and his development as a coach. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss the back seven of Ohio State's defense. The discussion highlights the cross-training and position flexibility of players like Sonny Styles and CJ Hicks. The depth and competition in the linebacker room are explored, as well as the handling of expectations and the development of CJ Hicks. The conversation also delves into the competition between cornerbacks and wide receivers, and the impact of Jim Knowles’ defensive scheme and the talent at Ohio State. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State's 2024 Pro Day for the NFL Draft featured a smaller list of participants than most would've expected a year ago, with Marvin Harrison Jr. choosing not to participate in the draft process. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Harrison's approach and speculate on his potential draft position. They also analyze the quarterbacks' performance at Pro Day even if Will Howard and Devin Brown weren't the players being evaluated by NFL scouts. Plus a conversation about OSU's star defensive ends and which one could end up going higher in the 2025 NFL Draft. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird, and Andrew Gillis discuss Ryan Day’s first interview since Tony Alford’s departure as Ohio State’s running backs coach. They analyze Day’s demeanor and approach to the situation, emphasizing the need to move forward and focus on finding a replacement. The conversation also delves into the importance of recruiting and player development for the running back position. The hosts speculate on the timeline for hiring a new coach and discuss potential candidates. They also provide updates on the offensive line battle and the depth at the tight end position. The episode concludes with a discussion on Day’s special teams discussion with a former Ohio State coach. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jake Diebler was hired as the Ohio State basketball team’s head coach after closing out the season in an interim role On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird discuss incoming athletic director Ross Bjork’s decision to hire Diebeler and how it impacts the program’s future. They also discuss whether Bjork’s decision was the best possible choice and if the way he came to this decision tells us anything about how he would handle having to one day hire a new football coach. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss adding players to the Ohio State football's roster. The trio analyzes the potential impact of these additions and discusses the current roster's strengths and weaknesses. They each select one player from outside the roster to add to the team on both offense and defense. The offensive selections include an offensive lineman, a tight end, and a quarterback. While the defensive sections include two defensive linemen and a linebacker. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ohio State basketball team is in the middle of turning around its season after firing Chris Holtmann with interim coach Jake Diebler leading the way. That means it's time for a rants pod here on Buckeye Talk. On this episode, Stephen Means takes some thoughts from Subtext subscribers to talk about the most pressing issues around OSU's hoops team. He also takes a look at what it might take for a team that's suddenly built momentum to sneak its way into the NCAA Tournament. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michigan's hiring of Tony Alford as their run game coordinator and running back coach has caused a stir in the Ohio State football realm. Alford's departure from Ohio State after nine years was unexpected, especially during spring practice. While it is not unprecedented for coaches to leave for rival teams, the timing and the personal impact on the players make it significant. The departure raises questions about the future of Ohio State's running back room and the need for a replacement. Ryan Day has options for finding a new running back coach, and the decision-making process will be crucial. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew discuss the most important states for Ohio State in terms of recruiting. They start by talking about the changing landscape of college football and the criteria they used to create the list. They then count down the top five states. They discuss the impact of the expanding playoff and the national nature of college football on recruiting strategies. Finally, they touch on the potential impact of West Coast schools entering the Big Ten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation focuses on the quarterback situations in the Big Ten, particularly at Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and USC. It is noted that many teams in the conference have new starting quarterbacks, and the discussion revolves around the potential impact of these quarterbacks on their respective teams. The conversation also touches on the importance of quarterback play in relation to the overall talent on the roster and the strength of the defense. Overall, the discussion highlights the uncertainty and potential for change in the quarterback landscape in the Big Ten. The conversation focuses on evaluating the quarterbacks in the Big Ten conference and the uncertainty surrounding some teams. The discussion covers the performances and potential of quarterbacks like Drew Allar at Penn State, Dylan Raiola at Nebraska, and the quarterback situation at Michigan. The conversation also explores the changing landscape of college football and the potential impact on quarterback recruiting in the Big Ten. Overall, the middle class of quarterbacks in the conference has improved, narrowing the gap between Ohio State and the rest of the teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, the hosts discuss updates on various Ohio State football players, including Lathan Ransom's injury and recovery. They also delve into the relationship between the cornerback and wide receiver rooms, highlighting the competitiveness and growth of the cornerback group. The conversation then shifts to comparing the two position groups and the strength of the cornerback room. The hosts also discuss the development of freshman starters and the expectations surrounding Jeremiah Smith. The conversation revolves around setting expectations for Jeremiah Smith, building depth at defensive tackle, and the mindset of the Ohio State defense. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State's spring practice and the performance of the quarterbacks. They also highlight the impact of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and his innovative ideas for the defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis answer questions from Subtext subscribers on Ohio State football. Among the things discussed: Could Sonny Styles and CJ Hicks be on the field as linebackers at the same time? What’s more when putting together a defeensive game plan: matchups or having tour best 11 on the field? Who are Ohio State’s potential team captains for the 2024 season? Which newcomer will lose his black stripe first? If Will Howard has the type of season Bo Nix had for Oregon this past season, will Ohio State win the national championship? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State's first day of spring practice focused on the quarterback situation and the defensive changes. Devin Brown showed promise, but Will Howard is expected to be the starting quarterback. Sonny Styles made a position change to linebacker, which seems permanent. The offensive line configuration featured Luke Montgomery at guard, emphasizing athleticism. Chip Kelly's role as quarterbacks coach and his relationship with Ryan Day were discussed. The importance of competitive periods and performance in spring practice was highlighted. The conversation covers various topics related to the Ohio State football team, including the offensive line and run game, the wide receiver position, the physical readiness of young players, and the importance of the quarterback position. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring football has begun at Ohio State, and the focus is on the quarterback situation. On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis preview the start of spring practice based on conversations with OSU's top three quarterbacks and three returning offensive starters. Among the things discussed: The quarterback competition at Ohio State is heating up, with Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and Will Howard all vying for the starting position. Brown is determined to prove himself and is not backing down from the competition, while Keenholz is focused on his long-term development. Howard, a transfer from Kansas State, is expected to be the starting quarterback, but Brown is looking to make it an interesting competition. There is a shift in the dynamics of the quarterback room, with Ryan Day stepping back and Chip Kelly taking on a more prominent role. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of Buckeye Talk is once again split up into two parts, bringing together both Ohio State football's recent history and its present. Things start off with Stephen Means and Nathan Baird talking about the second day of interviews at the NFL Combine featuring Cade Stover and Josh Proctor. Each player had interesting careers, taking the long route to the pros. Stover began his career as a linebacker, moved to defensive end then flirted with linebacker one more time before settling in as a tight end where he became the most productive player at the position potentially ever. Proctor arrived with all the potential in the world in 2018 but various situations turned what could’ve been a three-and-done career into one lasting six years for the safety. Then Andrew Gillis subs in for Nathan as he and Stephen discuss the six most important position battles of the spring. Some of those are quite Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of Buckeye Talk is split up into two parts bringing together both Ohio State football's recent history and its future. Things start off with Stephen Means and Nathan Baird talking about the first day of interviews at the NFL Combine discussing what Steele Chambers, Tommy Eichenberg and Michael Hall Jr. had to say. Each looks back at their time as Buckeyes with Hall revealing why it was a no-brainer for him to join Marvin Harrison Jr. as the only third-year players not to return in 2024. Chambers and Eichenberg discuss the future of the OSU linebacker room led by James Laurinaitis. Then Andrew Gillis subs in for Nathan and he and Stephen take their first crack at projecting OSU's 2025 recruiting class leading to an interesting discussion. This first of three projections over the next nine months features one of the highest-rated classes of the Ryan Day era but comes with a few surprises. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the latest updates in Ohio State recruiting focusing on its efforts in the Maryland and Washington DC area. The conversation centers around five-star safety Faheem Delane whom Andrew went to see last week to get an update on his status. They discuss how the recent coaching changes may have impacted his recruitment and what a potential timeline for a decision looks like. The two also discuss four-star cornerback commit Blake Woodby plus a few other potential targets in the region. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State’s eight players invited to the NFL Combine. Among the things talked about Marvin Harrison Jr.’s decision not to participate in drills in Indianapolis and how that impacts — or doesn’t impact — his draft status. Who are the most interesting Buckeys other than Harrison this week? Which Ohio State player can turn some heads in Indianapolis? Michigan got 18 invites to the combine this year. Can OSU surpass that in 2025? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis rank Ohio State football's top 15 players based on their ability to do their job. This isn't a discussion about talent, upside or any of the other typical ways to figure out who the Buckeyes' best players are. This is simply about what the tape tells us. In doing so it reveals a stark detail about this team heading into 2024 and a conclusion of what needs to happen for OSU to compete for a national title. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis answer questions from the Subtext subscribers. Among the questions discussed: Could Sonny Styles be a positionless player for Ohio State's 2024 defense? Who can make the most of the NFL Combine? How many points will the Buckeyes give up in the first four weeks of the season? What we need to see from OSU’s offense this spring. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Thursday episode of BUckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look ahead to the start of Ohio State spring football practice. To do that, they are drafting the nine Buckeyes that intrigue them the most for spring, from early-enrolled freshmen, to veterans battling for jobs, to players who might be ready to take a step toward stardom. There will be a lot of OSU coverage from the NFL Combine next week, but spring practice will start before you know it. So let’s get ready now. Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Andrew Gillis and Stephen Means discuss the recent coaching changes at Ohio State. They focus on the introduction of James Laurinaitis as the linebackers coach and Matt Guerrieri as the safeties coach. They explore Laurinaitis' process of transitioning from a graduate assistant to a full-time coach and the expectations for CJ Hicks in the linebacker room. They also discuss Guerrieri's reunion with Jim Knowles and the familiarity he brings to the safety room. Plus a conversation on where Sonny Styles could end up between linebacker and safety. Also, they do this while switching up the dynamic with Andrew hosting since technically Stephen was the only one there. Thanks for listening to Buckeye talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A college football video game is headed back into stores for the first time in over a decade with different football programs getting in on the promotion. In the wake of the news, Ohio State football was among the numerous teams to create a concept for the game's cover featuring elite players from the last decade. That sparked this episode of Buckeye Talk where Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss which OSU players could've made a case for being on the cover at any point since the game's last edition in 2013. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Day has finally finished off Ohio State football's 2024 coaching staff by promoting James Laurinaitis from graduate assistant to full-time assistant coach. Doing so gives the former three-time All-American full reign over the linebacker position just a year after returning to the program. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what that means for the Buckeyes going forward. Then the trio gets into the meat of what this episode of Buckeye Talk is all about. OSU has a roster made to win the first national title of the Ryan Day era. But what are the biggest obstacles both within and outside the program that could prevent it from doing so? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis answer questions from the Subtext subscribers. Among the questions discussed: The 5+7 model for the college football playoff is being discussed and there is a vote scheduled to approve it. What sporting events they would cover if they could go back in time. Ranking the best running backs in Ohio State history. Who will be the offensive and defensive MVPs in 2024? Who's the fasted Buckeye? The art of asking questions during press conferences. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State is moving on from Chris Holtmann as its basketball coach opting to fire him despite having four years still left on a contract extension signed in 2022. Despite the remaining years, the decision doesn’t come as a surprise as the Buckeyes are in the midst of yet another disappointing season that looks destined for them to end on the outside of the NCAA Tournament. Ripping off the band-aid now starts the process of current athletic director Gene Smith and incoming athletic director Ross Bjork finding his replacement. On this emergency episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break down this decision and what it means for OSU basketball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices