Buckeye Talk: Ohio State podcast by cleveland.com

Ohio State improved to 8-0 following a 24-10 win over Wisconsin, but not all the members of Buckeye Talk were there to see it live. Stephen Means had a wedding to go to so the rewatch served as more of an initial reaction to the 14-point win. Stephen had a lot of those. Then again so did Nathan Baird who was getting to see it a second time: First, the two look back on what might've been the best game of TreVeyon Henerson's career; Then they breakdown the rest of the offense which includes a short conversation on Marvin Harrison Jr.'s Heisman Trophy case; The second segment is an almost 40-minute-long discussion about yet another dominant performance by a defense that has still yet to give up more than 17 points; Closing things out is a discussion about Kyle McCord's most fatal flaw that continues to an issue, but also on just how healthy the first-year starting quarterback is. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TreVeyon Henderson returned and responded with his best game of the season. The Buckeye defense continue to roller over Big Ten opponents. Ohio State won 24-10 at Wisconsin in what may have been the final major test until it heads north to face Michigan in the regular-season finale. Nathan and Andrew take a quick run through the highlights in this postgame pod from the road. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State's next game is probably the closest thing on the schedule that resembles the idea of a trap game. OSU is coming off a hard-fought, emotional win over a top-10-ranked Penn State team and now will head on the road for a night game against a Big Ten West opponent. Wisconsin comes into Saturday night’s game with a 5-2 record in the first year under long-long Buckeye Luke Fickell looking to put up a better fight than the first time he faced his alma mater in 2019 as Cincinnati’s head coach. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use this Fridau episode of Buckeye Talk to preview Ohio State’s Week 9 opponent and whether it can shut down another quality Big Ten running back in Braelon Allen. The Tyler Shoemaker joins the pod as usual to provide some of the best bets of the week both in relation to OSU and around the country. That includes whether or not to continue hammering home the point that maybe Las Vegas is a little too low on tight end Cade Stover’s production. Then Nathan and Andrew rejoin Stephen as the trio gives their game picks, followed by Nathan giving Stephen a hard time for his conservative fake betting practices this season. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marvin Harrison Jr. has picked up where he left off last season as clearly the nation's best wide receiver but can Ohio State's best weapon take it a step further? The Heisman Trophy field still seems to be wide open and Harrison is coming off yet another dominant performance against a Penn State team that arguably has the nation's best defense. He could not only be building his case to win a Fred Biletnikoff Award that some felt he deserved last year but also be in contention for college football's most prestigious award. Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis use this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk to explore how realistic his chances are of being a finalist and what the path looks like over the next month to make that happen. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michigan became the biggest topic of conversation late last week, but Ohio State d coach Ryan Day didn’t have to deal with discussing it until after getting a chance to celebrate a 20-12 win over Penn State, Then Tuesday hit and even he knew that his thoughts on what was going on with the Wolverines was going to be the first thing everyone wanted to know. He didn’t take the bait instead declining to comment. Is that the right way for him to go about this as OSU continues its 2023 season knowing its rival awaits it at the end of the year? Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk to discuss, whether Day plans to still use the red zone package without Devin Brown, the injury status of a few key plays and much more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis look back at Ohio State's big recruiting weekend. Then after the break they discuss some recent recruits and targets Andrew got to see in person one what is one of the more high-profile games in Northeast Ohio High School football. To close things out, they preview a trip to Chicago where Andrew Gillis will visit with five-star commit Justin Scott. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another Monday Buckeye Talk means another chance to break down an Ohio State win with Penn State being the victim this time. Stephen Means and Nathan Baird break down the Buckeyes' 20-12 win over the Nittany Lions looking at the dominance of the defense, the pros and cons of the offense and two underrated special teams moments that may have decided the game. OSU's offense will surely need to keep improving over the next four games before Nov. 27. But did the defensive play potentially provide a blueprint for how it can snap its two-game losing streak to Michigan? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State just got its second big win of the season beating Penn State at home 20-12 and it did so on the back of its defense. On this postgame Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss whether OSU’s defense has reached the point that it can be the catalyst behind the reason this team can win a national title. Plus a conversation about McCord’s continued progression including one major deficiency that keeps popping up even if it has yet to be costly. All that and more on this postgame episode. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State's second big game of the season has arrived with a top-10 matchup with Penn State on the docket. That means a packed episode of Buckeye Talk: First Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis react to the latest trouble OSU's rival Michigan finds itself in; Then they discuss the game at hand; Stephen is then joined by PennLive.com's Johnny McGonigal to get an inside look at the Nittany Lins; Then as always, Tyler Shoemaker provides his insight from a betting perspective on a game expected to be a rock fight where the defenses control the pace; Then Stephen, Nathan and Andrew wrap things up with their game picks plus a discussion on who a win would mean more for. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, the crew gets back to their roots while discussing Ohio State's upcoming top-10 matchup with Penn State. It's been a while since the podcast has had an episode go for almost two hours but a game with significant Big Ten and College Football Playoff implications makes it well worth it. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Saturday's game using six simple questions that sum up everything that will matter: Should Ohio State still be trying to redshirt Dallan Hayden given the state of the running back room? How ready is Kyle McCord for his second big game as starting quarterback? What's the best unit between OSU's offense and defense and PSU's offense and defense? What's the most important positional matchup in deciding who will win the game? Who is an Ohio State offensive and defensive player who can use this game to make a name for himself? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis react to the comments from Ohio State's head coach Ryan Day and Jim Knowles as OSU prepares to face Penn State. Among the things discussed: Should Ohio State still be trying to redshirt Dallan Hayden given the state of the running back room? How ready is Kyle McCord for his second big game as starting quarterback? Could Jermaine Mathews step up as a freshman cornerback if Denzel Burke can't play? Is there a rotation forming at Will linebacker? Plus much more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State spent last weekend retooling its secondary for the future, but it also brings up a question of what that future will look like. On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis take a look at the commitments of 2024 safety Leroy Roker and 2025 cornerback Blake Woodby. The two additions may paint a of picture of how different the two parts of OSU’s secondary recruiting have gone. Tim Walton has gotten off to a hot start on the recruiting trail, fueled mostly by an uptick in in-state talent. But landing Woodby proved his ability to go national with his efforts as the fifth top-100 recruit he’s landed despite this being only his second year on the staff. Perry Eliano was brought in as a young coach with a potentially high upside both as a developer and a recruiter. The development has been there as his starting trio of Josh Proctor, Lathan Ransom and Sonny Styles have played at a high level this year. He even has freshman Malik Hartford ahead of schedule as a guy on pace to win a starting spot in 2024. But the recruiting trail hasn’t been as kind to him as he’s struck out on his top options in back-to-back classes The future for the cornerback room is high. But should OSU be worried about its safety room? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird look back at Ohio State's 41-7 win over Purdue. Among the things discussed: A review of OSU's first game on Peacock; Was that Kyle McCord's best game as QB1?; Did the offensive line finally show progress; An uncharacteristic day by Marvin Harrison Jr. and the wide receivers; How the Buckeyes could deploy the cornerbacks if Denzel Burke can't play; The uptick in defensive line production Plus plenty more as Ohio State turns its attention toward preparing for a top 10 matchup with Penn State. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State got out of Purdue still undefeated. Now it can shift all of its focus solely on a top-10 matchup with Penn State. But its 41-7 win over the Boilermakers still provides some interesting topics to discuss that might matter down the road. The Buckeye debut a new role for backup quarterback Devin Brown in the form of a red zone pack that can help fix the problems in the run game; Once again Dallan Hayden was called upon to be the guy as the running back room continued to deal with injuries. Do they need to forget trying to redshirt him and give him a real role? Did OSU show enough to let you feel confident in what they'll perform like next Satuday. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss that and more on this postgame episode. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State heads into its sixth game of the season on Saturday in the form of a road matchup against Purdue streaming exclusively on Peacock. Every game provides a chance for some element of the Buckeyes' team to prove itself and often you look at the roster to find such. But is there an argument to be made that no one has more to show than the coaches, especially those on offense as OSU tries to figure out how to improve a limited offensive line? Perhaps a trip to West Lafayette, Indiana, a place that has been known to be a death trap for Ohio State provides the perfect environment to do such before heading into a top-10 matchup next week. After a lofty discussion, Stephen again kicks Nathan and Andrew off the pod to bring in Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the best bets in a game where OSU is a 19-point favorite. Then Nathan and Andrew return as the two join Stephen in making their game picks. Lastly, Nathan takes us down memory lane of his days covering Purdue as the only one of the trio who covered the game the last time the Boilermakers hosted Ohio State in 2018. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, the guys take a trip into the future by bringing the new 12-team College Football Playoff into the present. The expanded playoff will start next season which will bring along with it a different path to a national title. For a program like Ohio State that has constantly been in the playoff discussion even in years where it's been on the outside looking in, the expansion should change the conversation a bit. The Buckeyes will more than likely no longer be so concerned about its chances of playing in the postseason. So how does that impact the way we talk about them on a weekly basis? Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis try to take a run at what that would look like evaluating OSU's 2023 season through five games as a way to get ready for a change that's right around the corner. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Day and Jim Knowles spent Tuesday's presser in preparation for Ohio State's matchup with Purdue providing plenty of things to talk about. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use a Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk to discuss all of it. That starts with a conversation about whether OSU needs Emeka Egbuka on Saturday after the star wide receiver left a win over Maryland with an injury. Then we discuss Day revealing why Dallan Hayden has had practically no role this season and why that may be a good thing for OSU's future. But the bulk of the discussion is centered around the ongoing issues on the offensive line as the most prominent thing about the 2023 roster. Does Ryan Day think things can get better, or will it one day be the downfall of the season? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss the latest Oho State recruiting updates centered on the most recent addition to the 2025 class. The Buckeyes added Jayvan Boggs as a three-star recruit who could be the latest example of Brian Hartline getting in on a wide receiver early. Then Andrew breaks down his impressions of offensive tackle target Carter Lowe and what the four-star recruits think of the Buckeyes. Finally, Stephen and Andrew give their impressions of OSU’s first big visitor weekend of the fall. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird take a look back at Ohio State's 37-17 win over Maryland. That means looking at everything that went right and the few things that went wrong that might be bigger issues against better teams. Much of that is centered around the Buckeye's offensive line which continues to be the most pressing issue for an offense still looking to hit its stride. Those problems compounded against Maryland as OSU struggled for most of the first half until finally putting it together halfway through the third quarter. Meanwhile, the defense continues to trend upward with arguably its most complete performance of the season. Stephen and Nathan spent almost an hour critiquing the offense. But they spent just as much time talking about all the good things that happened for a defensive unit that's clearly coming into its own. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State returned to the field to face an undefeated Maryland team and walked away with a 20-point win even if it took some time for the offense to get going. So Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis used a postgame Buckeye Talk to try to make sense of it. Should you be worried about how long it took the offense to start clicking while being held under 40 points for the fourth time this season? Or should you focus on what is clearly an improved defense starting to trend toward being elite? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State returns to the field for the first time since a big win over Notre Dame to host Maryland in what is the Buckeyes' seventh-straight game against an undefeated opponent heading back to last season. This Friday episode of Buckeye Talk is about getting OSU prepared to face the Terrapins. But first a quick discussion about the status of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and whether we should expect to see more of running back Miyan Williams going forward. That’s followed by Stephen once again kicking Nathan and Andrew off the pod to welcome Tyler Shoemaker, as the two discuss the game’s best bets. Then Nathan and Andrew return as the trio wraps things up with their game picks, plus a short discussion on whether Maryland could play spoiler for any of the top three teams in the Big Ten East. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Thursday Buckeye Talk is brought to you by an important question in discussing which head coach has been better between Ohio State's Ryan Day and USC's Lincoln Riley. One of our loyal text subscribers has asked Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis to discuss the two while having a deep discussion about what is more important to a resume: A Heisman Trophy winner or a College Football Playoff win: The discussion kicks off with the trio deciding which coach they feel has been better; The topic shifts to breaking down what either Kyle McCord winning a Heisman or Day getting his second CFP win would do for Day's resume; Finally, they decide which holds more weight for Day who has made it clear that OSU's identity under him is being a program that competes for championships while producing elite quarterbacks. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Wednesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what Ryan Day and Jim Knowles had to say as Ohio State prepares to face Maryland. The conversation includes a look at where quarterback Kyle McCord can take his next step as OSU's starter and Day's frustration with the inability to convert in short-yardage situations. Then after the break, the trio talks defense and how the lack of aggressiveness in Knowles' play-calling hasn't prevented the unit from being among the nation's best so far. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis take recruiting questions from our text subscribers. Given the recent decisions of both commits and other targets, of course, the entire conversation was all about the future of the offensive line. That includes discussing the decommitment of three-star Marc Nave, four-star target Jordan Seaton plus a conversation about whether Ohio State could ever have the nation's No. 1 recruiting class. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State's 2023 schedule is filled with opponents featuring quality options at quarterback so Stephen Means and Nathan Baird used this Monday episode of Buckeye Talk to break down them all down. Kyle McCord beat the first name on that list in Notre Dame's Sam Hartman but still to come are Maryland's Taulia Tagovailoa, Penn State's Drew Allar and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. Where does Kyle McCord rank among those players heading into his fifth game as a starter? What are the chances he's the better quarterback on the field by the time each game arrives? Does OSU need him to turn into the Big Ten's best quarterback for it to achieve its goals? All those questions are discussed to start off a week where the Buckeyes will return to the field after an off week. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before covering Ohio State's 17-14 win over Notre Dame last week, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis stopped to watch five-star wide receiver commit Mylan Graham. So on this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk, the two discuss what they saw or didn't see. Then they wrap things up with a conversation about the future of OSU's wide receiver room which could lose its top four players after the 2023 season leaving room for anyone to claim a starting spot next season. That includes the three commits in the 2024 class the latest highly-rated recruits Brian Hartline has landed. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss Kyle McCord coming off his first big win as Ohio State's starting quarterback. McCord agreed with the idea that one of the things that might make him special is his poise and that was on display during a game-winning drive against Notre Dame. But how did he develop that trait? The trio discuss McCord plus provides an update on an important Buckeye wide receiver who left South Bend, Indiana, with an ankle injury even if he was able to finish the game. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State played just four games before heading into the off-week with a 4-0 record, ranking fourth in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. It'll return on Oct. 7 to host Maryland, but the first four weeks provided a decent enough sample size to take a bigger picture view of things about this roster. On this Wednesday pod, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird, Andrew Gillis and the Buckeye Talk text subscribers review OSU's performance so far this season breaking things into the offense and defense and answering these questions: Who are the offensive and defensive champions through 4 games? Rank the offensive and defensive position groups from most to least confident in going forward Rank the assistant coaches based on performance & recruiting. After a lengthy discussion on the two sides of the ball, the trio wrapped things up by revealing what they think this team's ceiling is plus a conversation of which regular season opponent is the biggest threat to Ohio State. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look back on Ohio State's 17-14 win over Notre Dame. Among the things discussed: The high-level play of the secondary through four weeks; How the defensive line held up against a quality Fighting Irish offensive line and a change in philosophy in how Larry Johnson rotates; What to take from the low Pro Football Focus grades from the linebackers; OSU’s defense was clearly the better unit the first four weeks of the season, but is there anything to still be worried about on that side of the ball? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis look back on Ohio State's 17-14 win over Notre Dame. Among the things discussed: Are the offensive line actually fixable after four games of struggle; Notre Dame's success in taking away Marvin Harrison Jr. and how the Buckeyes can combat it going forward; Ryan Day's play-calling in the red zone; Can Kyle McCord still continue Ohio State's streak of first-year starting quarterbacks who've been Heisman Trophy finalists? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The defense set the foundation, Kyle McCord, Emeka Egbuka and Chip Trayanum came through with clutch plays on the final drive, and Ohio State escaped Notre Dame with a 17-14 victory. In this episode hastily recorded in a Trader Joe's parking lot, we gave our instant reaction to Ryan Day's fired-up comments after the game, what Kyle McCord showed in that final drive and what this win means for a defense whose time may have arrived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Friday which means it's time to break down Ohio State's primetime road matchup with Notre Dame. After discussing the two programs all week, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis have just two more things to discuss: During his Friday radio show, Ryan Day stated that the Buckeyes' offense is "gonna let it rip" against the Fighting Irish after using the first three games to build up to this one. Following a lengthy discussion about what OSU's offensive plan to be aggressive really means, the trio talk about Notre Dame's starting quarterback and how big of a threat he truly is on Saturday. To do so, they — with the texters' help— look at the past nine quarterbacks who have beaten Ohio State to figure out how he measures up. That's followed by Stephen once again kicking Nathan and Andrew off the pod to welcome Tyler Shoemaker as the two discuss the game's best bets, of which there are plenty, unlike the past three weeks. Then Nathan and Andrew return as the trio wrap things up with their game picks plus a short discussion on ranking the best teams on the Buckeyes' 2023 schedule. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis take a unique angle in discussing Ohio State's primetime matchup with Notre Dame. This is the first like-minded opponent either side has played this season in a matchup that could end up having significant implications for the College Football Playoff. But there are also a few individual storylines that are just as important. We're trying to figure out which of those people have the most to prove on Saturday. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Ohio State back-doored its way into the College Football Playoff last season Ryan Day vowed that the world would see a more aggressive side of him and his program. Then he backed it up against Georgia, even if it still led to a one-point loss. But that game breathed new life into the program's future under Day while also setting a new standard for what to expect from his teams. The first three games haven't required that version of him to come out. But heading into a top-10 matchup with Notre Dame on the road, it may be finally time to bring that side out. On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Bard and Andrew Gillis talk about Day's approach to Saturday's game plus a discussion about what else Day and Jim Knowles may be ready to unleash in a talent-equated matchup. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis discuss Ohio State's 2025 quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair. Even before Ryan Day showed up the Buckeyes had had an impressive run of in-state quarterbacks who would go on to do impressive things in Columbus, some of them turning into Heisman Trophy winners and others leading the team to national titles. But can St. Clair one day develop into both as a fast-rising prospect that could one day earn five-star status? Plus a look ahead to what the quarterback room could look like by the time he arrives. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The level of competition on Ohio State's schedule is about to take a significant step up as the program got through its first three weeks 3-0. Wins over Indiana and Youngstown Sta were about the Buckeyes figuring out the rest of its two-deeps specifically at the starting quarterback spot where Kyle McCord and Devin Brown’s battle continued on. A 63-10 win over Western Kentucky on Saturday was about solidifying that two deep and building momentum toward the future. That mission can be deemed a success. Now it’s time to find out how good this team can be with an early test in the former of a primetime, top-10 matchup with Notre Dame. On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird take a look back at OSU’s win over the Hilltoppers while also getting an early look at its next opponent: The Fighting Irish. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State spent the past week picking a quarterback and taking the necessary steps toward preparing for a schedule that was about to get much tougher. Those actions showed in a 63-10 win over Western Kentucky where the offense looks closer to what we’ve come to expect from the Buckeyes and the defense wreaked havoc for 60 minutes. It was a good way to punctuate the end of what has felt like the college football version of a preseason. But that’s over now and all that matters is figuring out what we can take from the dominant win and apply to what is coming next Saturday when OSU heads to Notre Dame. On this postgame episode of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis explore just that. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's home game against Western Kentucky and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed: The bulk of the conversation is centered around a question from a text subscriber: 'What should we consider success against this WKU high-powered offense?' Then we flip that question around on the offense discussing what success looks like for a unit that is locked in on Kyle McCord being its starting quarterback Then per usual, Stephen kicks the two off the pod and invites Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the game from a gambling perspective. Then the trio returns to make their game picks. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk is brought to you solely on behalf of the texter community delivering questions about practically everything under the sun. Among the topics discussed by Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis: Kyle McCord is Ohio State's starting quarterback in 2023. But does that mean he’s guaranteed to keep it in 2024 if he comes back? Are the new play clock rules costing the Buckeyes’ “styles points” on their College Football Playoff resume? Our thoughts on Devin Brown’s explosiveness as a runner, or lack thereof; Jim Knowles’ new “feast or famine” philosophy; Where to rank the winner of the Ohio State-Notre Dame game; Plus plenty more including bagel preferences, journalism journeys and thoughts on the OSU fan base. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Day has finally named an official starting quarterback for the 2023 season. Kyle McCord started the first two games but was still technically in a battle with Devin Brown to win the role. Now that competition has concluded and Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss what that means for Ohio State's offense going forward. Afterward, they react to Day's displeasure with the offensive execution, especially on third down. Then they wrap up with what Jim Knowles had to say about the defensive line and a freshman safety who had been turning heads all offseason. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another Tuesday Buckeye Talk which means that Stephen Means and Andrew Giillis talk Ohio State recruiting. The bulk of the conversation is around 2025 target Dorien Brew as the latest in what's been a run of talented cornerbacks in the Buckeyes backyard. Andrew went to watch the five-star prospect to get an idea as to what OSU would be getting if it lands him. After that, we get inside the mind of Andrew Gillis providing yet another opportunity for the listeners to get to know him with a little football talk. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Means and Nathan Baird are back with another Monday podcast that still doesn't have a name, but has a purpose. They will break down Ohio State's 35-7 win over Youngstown State. Per usual, breaking down the home opener is broken up into three categories: Quarterback Talk: Discussing the best and worst thing we saw from Kyle McCord and Devin Brown and if their upside flashed in any capacity Offensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the offense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game Defensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the defense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game Then they'll close things out every week by answering one question: Did the Buckeyes look like a College Football Playoff team? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State improved to 2-0 after its 35-7 win over Youngstown State, but the more important detail comes down to one spot: quarterback. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis use this postgame Buckeye Talk to discuss the status of the ongoing quarterback battle between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown is still that. Or if McCord used the first two weeks to solidify what the trip already thought coming into the season. Whether Ryan Day is ready to publicly admit it or not. That drives most of the conversation plus a small discussion on the offensive line's progress — or lack thereof — and on the play of the defense. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's home opener against Youngstown State and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed: The conversation starts by trying to figure out how to talk about a matchup between one of the nation's most prominent programs and a middle-of-the-pack FCS school Then the trio discuss what OSU can show on offense and defense to let them know there was improvement coming off Week 1, even if it won't be easy to see it actually play out. Then again Stephen kicks the two off the pod and invites Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the game from a gambling perspective. Then the trio returns to make their game picks. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State football’s home opener is against a middle-of-the-pack FCS school which means it’s probably going to win by 50. The services of its stars, starters and established players won’t be needed for very long for OSU to walk away with a win over Youngstown State. So Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis aren’t going to spend any time talking about those guys. Instead, they’ll be talking about the players behind them who will each be getting extended playing. Maybe those extra snaps lead to something more this season, or maybe it’s just a preview of what is to come. Either way, the Thursday pod is all about the future as the trio drafts the players they’re most interested in watching against the Penguins Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Day isn’t planning on changing his approach to the quarterbacks when Ohio State plays its home opener against Youngstown State on Saturday. Once again Kyle McCord will start with the plan being for Devin Brown to play. Given the opponent, it is fair to assume Brown will play more than the seven snaps he was allotted against the Hoosiers. But will it actually mean anything or is the quarterback competition already over? Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis discuss that on this Wednesday Buckeyes Talk plus Day’s thoughts on the offensive line play which he stated wasn't something he felt wasn't correctable. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prior to covering Ohio State's season-opener against Indiana, Andrew Gillis spent Friday night watching 2024 offensive line commit Ian Moore and Stephen Means wants to know what he saw. Moore is rated as the nation’s No. 128 player and No. 7 interior offensive lineman out of New Palestine High School in Indiana. The Buckeyes have recruited him as a tackle. On this Tuesday’s recruiting Buckeye Talk, Stephen and Andrew broke down OSU’s highest-rated offensive lineman and how the four-star recruit fits into the program’s future. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buckeye Talk's in-season Monday pod is debuting a new format where Stephen Means and Nathan Baird the game starting with the season-opener against Indiana in which Ohio State won 23-3. Each week the breakdown will be broken up into three categories: Quarterback Talk: Discussing the best and worst thing we saw from the QB and if his upside flashed in any capacity Offensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the offense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game Defensive Talk: What's the best and worst play from the defense plus who who thought was the Player of the Game Then they'll close things out every week by answering one question: Did the Buckeyes look like a College Football Playoff team? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State got its 28th-straight win over Indiana opening up the 2023 season with a 23-3 win on the road and now it is time to talk about it. On this postgame Saturday pod, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis start by reacting to Kyle McCord’s second start as a Buckeye and first start against a Big Ten — or even a Power Five — opponent where he threw for 239 yards but failed to throw a touchdown. They also discuss the usage — or lack thereof — of Devin Brown as QB2. Following some quarterback talk, it’s time to talk about the defense that limited the Hoosiers to a field goal and 153 yards. Then they wrap up by discussing the one part of this roster that might end up being its Achilles Heal if it’s not fixed over the next two weeks. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Andrew Gillis break down Ohio State's season-opener against Indiana and make their picks. Here's what gets discussed: The conversation starts by getting to know the Hoosiers and their dozens of newcomers by way of the transfer portal. Then Stephen asked Nathan and Andrew a simple question: What can OSU show on offense and defense to let you know the rosters on a national championships trajectory? Afterward, Stephen kicks the two off the pod and invites Tyler Shoemaker to discuss the game from a gambling perspective. Finally, the trio returns to make their game picks. But not before a lengthy discussion about milkshakes because who doesn't like a good milkshake? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices