Buckeye Talk: Ohio State podcast by cleveland.com

For the third time in the Ryan Day era, Ohio State has landed a five-star quarterback in Dylan Raiola out of Arizona. Raiola kicks off the Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting class while continuing the program’s run of successful quarterback recruiting. Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means discuss the first member of Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class and what it means for the 2023 class still looking for a quarterback. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this early Monday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means take turns revealing the most interesting and important conversations they had with Ohio State football coaches on Friday. The coaches who met with reporters were: Receivers coach Brian Hartline Running backs coach Tony Alford Offensive line coach Justin Frye Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles Special teams coach Parker Fleming Strength and conditioning coordinator Mickey Marotti Head coach Ryan Day From Kourt Williams to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, from C.J Stroud to Zach Harrison, from TreVeyon Henderson to Noah Ruggles, there are a lot of tidbits to share. That's why this Monday pod is dropping a bit early. Catch you back on the Tuesday episode from cleveland.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a first on Buckeye Talk and the Orange and Brown Talk podcasts as the two shows merge into one on this Friday, with the Ohio State podcast and Cleveland Browns podcast from cleveland.com coming together for a common cause: Drafting the best former Ohio State players currently in the NFL. To do that, Stephen Means of Buckeye Talk and Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe of Orange and Brown Talk joined Doug Lesmerises of both pods to go over the roughly 70 Buckeyes on NFL rosters right now. That includes veterans like Cameron Heyward and Johnathan Hankins, rookies like Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, defenders like Denzel Ward and the Bosa brothers, and offensive stars like Terry McLaurin and Ezekiel Elliott. Eight rounds, four drafters, 32 Ohio State players picked. Who went first? Who didn't get picked? Who won the various debates about players on the same teams or with similar resumes? Thanks for joining us for this special episode, which is appearing in both podcast feeds. Whether you are a fan of the Buckeyes, the Browns, or both, thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Thursday episode of Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means look at Ohio State’s offensive line recruiting for 2023, spurred by the commitment on Wednesday of Austin Siereveld. He’s the third Ohio State high school player on the offensive line to commit to the Buckeyes for 2023. How does that compare to recent years in OSU in-state offensive line recruiting? Which of the three 2023 offensive lineman, as Siereveld joins Luke Montgomery and Joshua Padilla, could play the earliest? And how does Ohio State’s overall 2023 class look now that it has reached 10 players? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are once again talking transfers. Players who want to be eligible to play at their new schools this fall needed to be in the transfer portal by May 1 (or get a waiver later), so the portal may calm down for a bit now that the deadline has passed. So where do things sit with Ohio State? Where does Ohio State place in national transfer rankings? How many Buckeyes have left compared to how many arrived, and how does that compare to Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, USC, LSU, Michigan, Penn State and others? Which Buckeyes that left will be missed the most? And what do you think of the entire starting defense you could build from OSU players who have left the program since August? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises take on their usual structure for an offseason Madness episode. There's an Ohio State topic, delving into which position or positions the Buckeyes rightly own when it comes to the NFL Draft. Then there's a national college sports topic, this time focusing on the continued potential changes in the sport and the complete lack of leadership at the top of the NCAA. That means a few suggestions for a new NCAA president to replace the outgoing Mark Emmert. And then Watcha Watchin', Watcha Eatin', as Nathan and Doug talk TV and theater, cilantro and peanut butter. Thanks for listening to a Tuesday Madness on Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are here to talk through the final day of the NFL Draft and the two Buckeyes who were picked, and one who wasn't. And they run through the final totals for the Buckeyes and the Big Ten to put this draft and the modern draft era in context for Ohio State. First, Ohio State didn't lead the Big Ten in draft picks. Who did? Then it's time to discuss Tyreke Smith and Thayer Munford getting picked and Haskell Garrett not getting picked. Finally, an OSU draft record fell. But where does Ohio State fit in the list of teams in the modern draft age? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this late Friday, early Saturday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means wrap up Day 2 of the NFL Draft for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Among the topics: No Buckeyes in Round 2 How Nicholas Petit-Frere in Tennesse and Jeremy Ruckert with the New York Jets fit with their new teams after going in Round 3. How Ohio State stacks up through three rounds to other programs around the country. A big draft for Luke Fickell and the University of Cincinnati. What Ohio State players might be picked on Saturday. Nathan's last live pod for a couple months as he prepares for the arrival of a baby this weekend. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this late Thursday night Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means react to the Ohio State Buckeyes taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Garrett Wilson went No. 10 the New York Jets. Chris Olave went No. 11 to the New Orleans Saints, who traded up for him. And their former teammate Jameson Williams went No. 12 to Detroit. How are their fits? What does the draft mean for Ohio State receivers coach Brian Hartline? And who made the best draft prediction? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, it's draft talk during NFL Draft week -- but it's a year ahead. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means look ahead to the 2023 NFL Draft and predict when current Buckeyes will be drafted. Will quarterback C.J. Stroud be the overall No. 1 pick? Will Jaxon Smith-Njigba be the first receiver drafted? How many Buckeyes will go in the first round? How many Ohio State players will be drafted overall? Which OSU safety will be drafted higher, Ronnie Hickman or Josh Proctor? Does WR Julian Fleming project as a draft pick a year from now? All that and more as Doug, Nathan and Stephen peer into the future on Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State football has only offered eight running backs in the 2023 recruiting class with hopes of landing two. Mark Fletcher was the first to come on board doing so in April but others on the list have committed elsewhere or cut down their options with the Buckeyes on the outside looking in. As the cycle heads into May, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird take a look at OSU's top remaining options, its chances of landing each and whether it should widen the field to reach its goals. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State football came out of the spring with a lot of optimism about the work it accomplished on defense. If the Buckeyes reverse the slide of last season, who will receive more credit -- the young players who might improve regardless in 2022, or the revamped coaching staff? Doug and Nathan debate that on this Monday Madness-themed episode. Also, are coaches like Villanova's Jay Wright bailing on college sports because of the transfer portal and NIL? If so, what needs to change? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird answer more questions from text subscribers, starting with one texter who is worried about overthinking the Ohio State offense. Could the Buckeyes, with all that skill talent, be overhyped? Doug and Nathan go through the reasons of why that could or couldn't be true as the idea applies to the receivers, to TreVeyon Henderson, and to C.J. Stroud. Also, other topics include: A breakout year for J.T. Tuimoloau? Would you eat bread off the ground? The best player on the team at doing his job Attacking areas in recruiting where teams have a new coach The potential weak spot of the defense Developing a superstar tight end And more. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OK, maybe you don't want to hear a ton about a Michigan player on Buckeye Talk, but we wouldn't be bringing you this interview if we didn't think it provided value to Ohio State listeners. On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird interview Austin Gayle of PFF about the PFF four-part podcast series on Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson called "Hutch." And then Doug, Nathan and Austin discuss the draft prospects of several Buckeyes. Among the topics in this episode: How Ohio State tried to block Hutchinson last year How Hutchinson compares as a prospect to Chase Young and the Bosa brothers Garrett Wilson as a prospect and an area he could work on Chris Olave and good NFL comp for him What C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba could look like as draft prospects next year And more. Thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Buckeye Talk episode for Wednesday, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take up the annual tradition of doing a live draft for every Ohio State Buckeye who might get picked by the NFL. The first round of the draft is Thursday, April 28, so Doug, Nathan and Stephen get down to the business of drafting: WR Garrett Wilson WR Chris Olave OT Nicholas Petit-Frere TE Jeremy Ruckert DE Tyreke Smith OL Thayer Munford DT Haskell Garrett There's also a discussion about the NFL possibilities for RB Master Teague. So get ready for the 2022 NFL Draft with this version of the draft on Buckeye Talk. Thanks for listening,. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, it's another round of questions from text subscribers focusing on three ideas: How Ohio State players reach their decisions to transfer, what that tells us about a certain OSU recruiting class, and what is Ohio State's history in the portal so far? Sports that Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird love to watch and cover, and sports they don't like so much Fitting the right players together at safety for the Buckeyes this season Doug and Nathan appreciate you listening and making Buckeye Talk part of your week. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird delve into a post-Spring Game rapid fire edition. Topics include: • What about the Spring Game surprised us the most, and what development did not come as a surprise at all? • Should OSU be concern about how the No. 1 defense looked vs. the No. 1 offense? • What did we eat on Easter Sunday? • What to make of Julian Fleming and Kourt Williams not being on the field Saturday. And much more from our Buckeye Talk Subtext subscribers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this weekend Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss everything they saw and heard at Ohio State's spring game on Saturday in Ohio Stadium. On offense that included a backup running back who could scoot. On defense that included some second-year defenders showing they're ready for more action. Off the field, that included a touching video tribute to the late Dwayne Haskins, and then some ideas about how to make the spring game even better. Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Means and Nathan Baird get to once again put their GM hats on as Ohio State football prepares for its 2022 Spring Game. With Doug Lesmerises serving as commissioner, Stephen and Nathan Draft a full starting offense and defense as they discuss who the Buckeyes' best players are when everyone's fully healthy. Listen along to see how the guys build their team, then sign up for the text (614-350-3315) to vote on which team you like better. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State's 2023 recruiting class started off in April by picking up commitments in back-to-back weeks as the program once again sets out to win a recruiting championship. Malik Hartford gave the class its second safety alongside Cedrick Hawkins while Mark Fletcher is the first of two potential running backs. Speaking of Fletcher and Hawkins, the 7-on-7 teammates could be the beginning of a significant haul for the Buckeyes in the state of Florida in a cycle where they've already offered 33 players. Stephen Means and Nathan Baird talk Ohio State football recruiting as we enter the spring and summer months. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Tuesday episode, it's a Buckeye ReTalkable to celebrate Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who was killed over the weekend. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means rewatch and discuss Ohio State's 62-39 win over Michigan in 2018 in Haskins' one year as Ohio State's starter. The discussion goes beyond the game though to focus on Haskins' record-breaking season, as he threw for more yards and more touchdowns than any Big Ten quarterback in a single season. In The Game, Ohio State won at home as a four-point underdog, with Haskins leading Paris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, freshman Chris Olave and the rest of the offense against what was the No. 1 defense in the nation coming in. Thanks for joining us to celebrate this great Haskins game and season while remembering his legacy as a Buckeye. Listen to the Monday Buckeye Talk for more personal remembrances about Haskins' entire path to and career at Ohio State. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Monday episode, Buckeye Talk celebrates the legacy and impact of Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who was killed over the weekend at the age of 24 after he was struck by a vehicle. Doug Lesmerises is joined by former Buckeye Talk co-host Bill Landis to talk about their time covering Haskins together, dating back to 2014 when they visited one of his high school games in Maryland when he was a junior. Haskins had a fascinating and captivating career arc, from his recruitment, to his status as the backup in 2017, to saving the Michigan game that season, to his record-setting 2018 season. Doug and Bill talk all about Haskins as a player and as a guy they greatly enjoyed interviewing and covering. At the end, Doug reads some remembrances from text subscribers about why Haskins was so special to Ohio State fans. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Friday Buckeye Talk episode, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means talk about what they learned from interviews with safeties and corners on Friday. Among the players discussed: Josh Proctor Jordan Hancock J.K. Johnson Tanner McCallister Kourt Williams Cam Martinez And more. Plus, there's the introduction of Buckeye Talk Studios, and a reminder of why the Spring Game is worth the trip. Thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Thursday episode, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises take you through a Thursday Madness. That means an Ohio State football topic, then a topic of more national interest, and then Watcha Watchin', Watcha Eatin'? First, Nathan and Doug discuss the current football roster numbers and where the needed transfers are likely to come from. At which positions do the Buckeyes still have too many players? Then it's on to the raises for OSU assistants Brian Hartline and Tony Alford and where Ohio State ranks among assistant pay in college football. Finally, what are Nathan and Doug watching and eating? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

C.J. Stroud loves talking ball, and the Buckeye Talk crew kept hitting him with football film-watching questions at Wednesday's media session with the quarterbacks. Ohio State's returning starter provided some insight into how he sees the game going into his third year in the program. What did that conversation tell us about the kind of quarterback Ryan Day ultimately wants for this program? Also, this once seemed like a crucial decision-making spring for Kyle McCord. Instead, he goes in knowing he must prepare to be ready on a moment's notice but also potentially setting himself up to be the clear starter in 2023. We discussed how things are lining up for the sophomore. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means start off with a discussion of the transfers of Bryson Shaw and Lejond Cavazos. Plus, the winner of the Buckeye Talk NCAA Tournament bracket is announced, and the arrival of basketball transfer Tanner Holden is analyzed. Then it's time to get into the main part of the pod -- what would happen if Ohio State and Michigan played in a College Football Playoff game? Duke and North Carolina just played in the Final Four in basketball. Would the Buckeyes and Wolverines in a football playoff game be a great experience or overwhelming? A texter survey helps get a handle on the situation. And do Nathan, Doug and Stephen think it will eventually happen or not? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Buckeye Talk episode for Monday, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means cover a lot of ground on the football Buckeyes, and talk a little basketball at the end. Leading off is a discussion of why Ryan Day might, in Year 4, have a team that really shows what he wants from an ideal football roster. Also, Day no longer has to be afraid of the unknown, because the bad stuff happened last season. It's hard to explain, but the first 30 minutes is some good OSU football theory. Then there is a rundown of the two-deep based off what Stephen observed at Saturday's practice, and based off what Day said Monday. And finally, a discussion of Butler hiring Thad Matta as its basketball coach and whether OSU fans would want Matta back. Good show. Thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means run through what they learned from talking to Ohio State offensive linemen and tight ends on Thursday. Among the players and topics covered: Donovan Jackson Paris Johnson Jr. Luke Wypler's anger at re-watching the Michigan game Dawand Jones and his wingspan Cade Stover on his move back to tight end Matthew Jones New OL coach Justin Frye And more. Thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the first basketball Buckeye ReTalkable here on Buckeye Talk, with good reason. The Final Four is back in New Orleans this weekend, and the Kansas Jayhawks are there again as well. That's two of the three pieces from Ohio State's last Final Four trip in 2012. It was in New Orleans, and it was against Kansas. And Ohio State should have won. The Buckeyes haven't returned to a Final Four since then, so Doug Lesmerises, Stephen Means and Nathan Baird rewatched and relived the last game. Jared Sullinger. Aaron Craft. William Buford. Deshaun Thomas. Thad Matta. They're all here, as is the 13-point lead Ohio State built in the first half and then gave up. Before you watch this 2022 Final Four, join us for this look at the 2012 Final Four on another Buckeye ReTalkable. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means take questions from text subscribers for an hour. Is there too much pressure on Jim Knowles to fix Ohio State's defense? How much hype should the wide receivers have? Can Tanner McCalister be Jordan Fuller-esque? Could the OSU defense be a top-15 group this season? Is Big Ten basketball outdated? Who'd benefit more if Chris Holtmann ever left on his own? Why don't Doug and Stephen like fishing? Who has the more annoying celebrations in sports? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson combined to talk football for 90 minutes during news conferences after Ohio State's sixth practice of the spring Tuesday. It was glorious. Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means felt like they gained so much insight, they talked for two hours about everything the coaches said about where the Buckeyes are right now. Among the players discussed: C.J. Stroud Jack Sawyer Donovan Jackson Paris Johnson Jr. Cade Stover Matthew Jones Kourt Williams Josh Proctor Ronnie Hickman J.T. Tuimoloau Mitchell Melton Javonte Jean-Baptiste C.J. Hicks Tommy Eichenberg Reid Carrico Ronnie Hickman Teradja Mitchell Steele Chambers Chip Trayanum And more. The guys liked talking all football for a long pod. They hope you enjoy listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the NFL Draft one month away as of Monday, Doug and Nathan reset where Ohio State's players sit in national mock drafts. What did we learn from Pro Day that suggests Buckeyes could move up or down? Also, how do the first-round projections for the Big Ten compare to recent years? Is the conference's identity beginning to shift? Finally, a round of Whatcha Watchin' Whatcha Eatin' that leads us to the Chris Rock-Will Smith Oscar altercation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaxon Smith-Njigba surprised many by turning in the most prolific receiving season in Ohio State history in 2021. Could he be on the verge of something even more history this fall? Smith-Njigba would need to average 137.3 yards over 15 games, or 147.1 over 14 games, or 158.5 over 13 games to break the FCS record of 2,060 receiving yards. Since he averaged 157.1 over his last eight games of 2021, the question is worth asking. Is the Buckeye receiver set up for a record-shattering season, and what would that mean for his Heisman Trophy chances? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State football's defensive tackles and edge rushers already have a wager on the board for who will finish with more sacks in 2022. What those players do this spring will help decide that question. On Thursday we updated the progress of J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Tyliek Williams, Mike Hall and several other defensive linement. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

C.J. Stroud threw at Ohio State football's Pro Day to give Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson some familiarity when running routes for NFL coaches, general managers and scouts. But he also acknowledged the experience gave him an early glimpse for when he gores through the process as early as next year, as well as a chance to showcase his own talents for those evaluators. Nathan and Stephen discuss what they saw from the receiver drills as well as Master Teague's impressive performance, the potential of players like Tyreke Smith and Nicholas Petit-Frere and more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug, Nathan and Stephen were all at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center for Tuesday's third practice of the spring -- the first in full pads, and the first since spring break. What caught their eye during the periods open to reporters, and what did coach Ryan Day say they shed light on the team's progress? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No. 7 seed Ohio State ended its basketball season Sunday with a 71-61 loss to No. 2 seed Villanova. The Buckeyes had opened the NCAA Tournament with a win over No. 10 seed Loyola on Friday. On this Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises wrap up the Buckeyes' season. Was this season an underachievement? What's next for E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham? What could Ohio State's team look like next and will the Buckeyes be better? Ohio State hasn't made the Sweet Sixteen, and that drought is too long. When will it end? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another Friday Fiasco (aka an off-season Monday Madness). Today's topics: • Ohio State has the third-best betting odds right now to win the 2022 college football national championship. Should it actually be the front-runner? • From Cinderella upsets to bracket pools to party atmospheres, March Madness is arguably the best American sporting event. Could a 12-team football playoff ever come close to matching it? • A rundown of some of the best bracket names in the Buckeye Talk pool, including one with an extra special meaning. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With football, basketball and real life all colliding this week, we decided to go rapid fire on today's episode? • Who is Ohio State football's best defensive player right now, and who will it be at the end of the season? • Could Jim Knowles debut with a top-10 defense? • Does OSU need to change its approach to be better in the red zone? • Is OSU basketball's recruiting class a big reason why Chris Holtmann has job security? • Plenty of nonsense, including worst road trips, OSU football coach fashion trends and our pick for our emergency frozen food choice. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday we drafted all of the Big Ten football and men's basketball coaches. Today we are taking another combined look at those sports. Which Big Ten school has the best current pairing of football and men's basketball programs? Also, where does Ohio State rank, and how much is basketball really holding it back? Doug, Nathan, Stephen and our Buckeye Talk text subscribers give their answers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means smash the worlds of Big Ten football and Big Ten men's basketball together. They draft the 21 best head coaches from those two sports combined. That means football coaches like Ryan Day, Mel Tucker and Jim Harbaugh are getting compared to basketball coaches like Chris Holtmann, Tom Izzo and Juwan Howard. Who makes up the top tier? Where do Day and Holtmann fall in the pecking order? Which two Big Ten schools won't have either of their coaches drafted in the top 21? Thanks for listening to this Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State basketball is a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament against No. 10 Loyola in Pittsburgh on Friday, and Stephen Means and Doug Lesmerises are here to discuss it on the Monday Buckeye Talk. Is E.J. Liddell a little frustrated with his team after the Buckeyes have lost four of five? How healthy will Ohio State be for the game? Loyola can shoot 3-pointers and play pretty good defense. Can Ohio State handle that? How many points do Liddell and Malaki Branham need to combine to score for Ohio State to win? Ohio State has been an NCAA Tournament quality team in all five of Chris Holtmann's seasons. Just seven other teams in the country can say that. But does it matter if the Buckeyes don't do anything in the tournament? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug and Nathan recap what they learned from Ohio State's running backs after practice on Thursday. They also discussed offensive lineman Harry Miller's retirement and increased awareness for mental health struggles among college athletes. Then they wrap things up with a round of Whatcha Watchin' Whatcha Eatin', including discussion about a suitcase full of chicken tenders. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know Jaxon Smith-Njigba will headline the Ohio State receiver room in 2022. Doug, Nathan and Stephen discuss what else they learned from the rest of the players at that position after Thursday's spring practice. How big is Marvin Harrison Jr., really? How is Julian Fleming feeling this spring? At which receiver spots is Emeka Egbuka working out? What has it meant for Jayden Ballard to hear praise from Chris Olave and Ryan Day? A deep dive into where this group stands as spring begins. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means go over everything they learned about the Ohio State offense from the first day of spring football practice Tuesday. Among the topics and players covered: Leadership Paris Johnson Jr. Donovan Jackson Harry Miller Joe Royer Evan Pryor C.J. Stroud Kyle McCord Jaxon Smith-Njigba Touching worms Thanks for listening to another Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State football kicked off the spring practice schedule on Tuesday giving players their first chance to work with a coaching staff featuring four new members. That includes new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles who spoke about the first day and all the changes coming: -Will Kourt Williams finally carve out a role at safety in his third season? -Is Cade Stover officially back at linebacker ending his time at tight end? -Are there any candidates for the new JACK/LEO role? -What exactly is the name of all the positions in Knowles' knew defense? Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss all of these questions and more on this Tuesday episode of Buckeye Talk, Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the Ohio State basketball team fun to watch? On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises ponders that question while taking some questions and comments from text subscribers as Ohio State finished the basketball season 12-8 in Big Ten play after Sunday's loss to Michigan. Ohio State is a No. 6 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and looking like a No. 6 or No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament? Is that good enough in Year 5 for Chris Holtmann? Or is he proving to be the Andy Dalton of college basketball coaches? Listen as Doug talks it out on the latest Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Saturday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird give their final thoughts on Ohio State at the NFL Combine before heading home. How did Nicholas Petit-Frere and Thayer Munford do in testing for offensive linemen? What did defensive linemen Haskell Garrett and Tyreke Smith say during their interviews? What did Cincinnati cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant say about Perry Eliano, their former coach who has been hired at Ohio State? Does the combine function like it's supposed to anymore? And ... a question about Tate Martell? Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Friday episode of Buckeye Talk is broken into three parts. First, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird talk through the NFL Combine workouts for Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who both ran fast and helped their NFL causes on Thursday night. Doug also discusses his combine interviews with Thayer Munford and with a very enthusiastic Nicholas Petit-Frere. Then, Doug talks with Diante Lee of PFF, who has been on Buckeye Talk before breaking down Ohio State film. They discuss the OSU receivers, Jim Knowles, Ryan Day, C.J Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and more. Finally, Doug and Stephen Means talk through Ohio State's basketball win over Michigan State on Thursday night, which was led by a surprising performance from backup big man Joey Brunk. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State hasn't seen a receiver drafted in the first round in 15 years. That's going to change in the 2022 NFL Draft. On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird report from Indianapolis after talking with Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jeremy Ruckert at the NFL Combine. Doug and Nathan discuss what the players said about how they see themselves as NFL players, what their plans and hopes are for their combine testing, and there's also a brief discussion about why Doug couldn't sleep after Ohio State's bad basketball loss on Tuesday night. Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices