Remember When: Cris Carter Stole the Show With a Stellar One-Handed Catch in Ohio State’s Victory Over BYU in the 1985 Florida Citrus Bowl

Jack Emerson — Saturday, May 16, 2026 - 14:35

Ohio State’s storied history of outstanding wide receiver talent has spanned across decades and eras of Buckeye football.

Names like Jeremiah Smith, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Marvin Harrison Jr. are fresh in the minds of Ohio State fans. But in the mid 1980s, Ohio State fans were enamored by one of its first true stars at the position — Cris Carter.

Born and raised in Ohio, Carter was a star football and basketball player out of Middletown High School, garnering much attention from college football programs. But, Carter ultimately decided to remain in Ohio and play for Earle Bruce’s Buckeyes.

Carter quickly became a household name with the Buckeyes, capping off his freshman season with a nine-catch, 172-yard performance against USC in the Rose Bowl. From there, Carter exploded onto the national scene.

As a sophomore, Carter served as the engine for Ohio State’s offense. With Ohio State’s expected Heisman Trophy candidate, Keith Byars, sidelined for much of the season, the star wide receiver caught 53 passes for 879 yards and eight touchdowns, helping the Buckeyes to an 8-3 regular season record and an appearance in the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Carter’s efforts helped the Buckeyes average 28.6 points per game, a Top-20 mark in the country, while his eight receiving touchdowns put him into a tie for the most in the Big Ten.

In the Florida Citrus Bowl, Ohio State’s high-powered offense would meet a similarly outstanding offensive unit in BYU, the defending national champions. In 1985, the Cougars produced 33.5 points per game and boasted one of the most potent passing attacks in the country, led by the connection of quarterback Robbie Bosco and wide receiver Mark Bellini.

With the dynamic play of Carter mixed with BYU’s outstanding passing offense, offensive fireworks were expected when the Buckeyes and Cougars met under the Florida sun in Orlando for their late-December clash. However, those expectations were quickly eased.

The Buckeyes and Cougars endured a scoreless first quarter, and it wasn’t until a 47-yard field goal from kicker Rich Spangler that Ohio State opened the scoring. Spangler’s field goal would ultimately prove to be the Buckeyes’ only offensive points for the entire game.

Ohio State’s defense gave Bosco and Co. fits throughout the first half, forcing a pair of fumbles from halfback Vai Sikahema — both of which came in the Buckeyes’ red zone. BYU’s lone moment of offensive brilliance came late in the first half, when Bosco connected with David Miles for a 38-yard touchdown strike to give the Cougars a 7-3 lead heading into halftime.

Early in the third quarter, Ohio State’s defense struck again. Buckeyes’ nose tackle Larry Kolic found paydirt on a 14-yard pick-six of Bosco, once again thrusting Ohio State into the lead. From that point forward, Bosco would throw an additional pair of interceptions, bringing his total tally to four on the afternoon.

Carter’s big moment came a quarter later.

With the Buckeyes clinging to a 10-7 lead, and backed up at their own 8-yard line with 10:27 to play in regulation, Ohio State was in desperate need of some offensive fireworks. Ohio State’s quarterback Jim Karsatos dropped back on the drive’s opening play and immediately felt pressure from his collapsing pocket, opting to throw the ball away and regroup on second down.

Carter had other plans, however.

In an effort that defied logic, Carter launched himself into the air and snagged the ball out of thin air with an outstretched arm before tapping both of his feet in bounds to complete an incredible catch, giving Ohio State a first down and some much-needed breathing room.

Reflecting back on this incredible catch, Carter believed it wasn’t his greatest catch, but he understood the hype around it.

“I don’t think it was the most difficult catch I’ve ever made, but I can understand why they would say that,” Carter said. “You can see it on YouTube. It was an unbelievable catch.”

But, his Buckeye teammate Chris Spielman would disagree with that notion.

“I remember Jim Karsatos talking about how he tried to throw the ball away on the BYU sideline and Cris went up and got it with one hand,” Spielman said. “That was the best catch I ever witnessed.”

Ohio State ultimately sealed the game with an interception on BYU’s final drive, capping off a defensive slugfest with a 10-7 victory over the defending champions. Carter finished the game with five catches for 71 yards.

Carter would go on to become Ohio State’s first All-American at wide receiver in 1986, racking up 1,066 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final season with the Scarlet and Gray. In the NFL, Carter enjoyed a 16-year career, appearing in eight Pro Bowls, and ultimately earned his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ohio State Women’s Tennis Advances to NCAA Semifinals For Second Time Ever

Dan Hope — Friday, May 15, 2026 - 16:49

Ohio State women’s tennis has matched its deepest NCAA Tournament run in program history.

For only the second time ever, Ohio State women’s tennis will play in the NCAA semifinals after defeating No. 13 Pepperdine, 4-0, in the NCAA quarterfinals on Friday.

See you in the NCAA semis Saturday #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/NMCSnRj0wc
— Ohio State Womens Tennis (@OhioStateWTEN) May 15, 2026

Nao Nishino clinches the Buckeye win!

She came back for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory on court 4!

Ohio State 4, Pepperdine 0 pic.twitter.com/QkY4AxssK4
— Ohio State Womens Tennis (@OhioStateWTEN) May 15, 2026

The third-seeded Buckeyes will face No. 2 seed Auburn in the NCAA semifinals on Saturday (time TBD).

If Ohio State can upset Auburn on Saturday, the Buckeyes would play in the national championship match for the first time in program history. Ohio State lost to Stanford in the 2017 NCAA semifinals, its only previous Final Four berth.

Ohio State was the only school to send both of its tennis teams to Athens, Georgia, for the final three rounds of this year’s NCAA championships. The men’s tennis team was also seeded third, but suffered a 4-3 quarterfinal loss to No. 6 TCU on Thursday.

Photos: Ohio State’s New Scarlet Rush and Sub Zero Uniforms with Buckeye Stripes

Chase Brown — Friday, May 15, 2026 - 11:33

Ohio State has completely updated its wardrobe.

This week, Ohio State unveiled its “Tunnel Vision” uniforms, core home and away uniforms and, now, its “Scarlet Rush” and “Sub Zero” uniforms.

From an Ohio State press release:

Scarlet Rush (Silver Helmet / Scarlet Jersey / Scarlet Pants)

A bold all-scarlet uniform, drawing direct inspiration from one of the most recognizable themed stadium atmospheres in college football, “Scarlet the Shoe” including when it was last worn against Tennessee in the 2024 CFP Playoffs.

Sub Zero (Silver Helmet / White Jersey / White Pants)

A clean, modern, all-white alternate uniform that delivers a bold interpretation of one of the program's most classic looks – specifically this innovative look debuted during the 2020 season when the Buckeyes won at Michigan State, 52-12.

All five of Ohio State’s new uniforms feature Buckeye Stripes.

"As the program’s uniforms changed over time, the stripe remained a symbol of continuity – a visual link to Ohio State’s standard of excellence, championship tradition, and distinct identity forged under Hayes and Biggs," the press release reads. "The Buckeye Stripe designation recognizes that the look has never been static; it has evolved alongside the program – while preserving what makes Ohio State football distinct."

Check out more than 90 photos of the Scarlet Rush and Sub Zero uniforms in the album above. You can also view our albums featuring the Tunnel Vision and core home and away uniforms.

Photos courtesy of Ohio State athletics

Ohio State Adds Buckeye Stripes to Its Scarlet Rush and Sub Zero Uniforms

Chase Brown — Friday, May 15, 2026 - 10:48

The Buckeyes have a flush.

On Friday, Ohio State football announced it has added Buckeye Stripes to its Scarlet Rush and Sub Zero uniforms. Combined with the all-black Tunnel Vision alternates and the Buckeyes’ core home and away uniforms, Ohio State now has five uniform combinations featuring the iconic silver sleeves.

The Future is . pic.twitter.com/rt4K3Im0Vt
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) May 15, 2026

The Scarlet Rush uniforms combine scarlet jerseys and scarlet pants while the Sub Zero uniforms pair white jerseys with white pants. Both uniform combinations feature the Buckeyes’ traditional silver helmets.

"Our players are fired up about these new combinations – from the Buckeye Stripe return to the all-black look making its way back," head coach Ryan Day said in a statement.

x pic.twitter.com/IxwYlq3EBK
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) May 15, 2026

Buckeye Stripes, previously known as Heritage Stripes, are now metallic silver after a redesign collaboration with Nike to more closely match the silver on Ohio State’s helmets.

“These core uniforms – with the Buckeye Stripe first introduced by legendary coach Woody Hayes and strength coach Ernie Biggs – exemplify how Ohio State football continues to build the best brand in the country,” Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said in a statement earlier this week about the core home and away uniforms. “Woody Hayes’ vision transformed the Buckeyes into a dynasty, and we’re always looking for ways to innovate while honoring those storied traditions.”

Sheesh pic.twitter.com/u6MVKIo3oz
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) May 15, 2026

Bjork said in Friday’s announcement that Ohio State is continuing to “thoughtfully explore opportunities” for adding a jersey patch sponsorship to its uniforms for the 2026 season.

“Any future partnership will be approached with the same intentionality and standard of excellence that defines Ohio State — ensuring it reflects the strength of our brand and delivers meaningful value for both our student-athletes and our partners,” Bjork said.

Updated and improved

New turf at Ohio Stadium delivers enhanced branding opportunities, a fresh look, and is designed to meet NFL standards.

Read More: https://t.co/5a60TORngC pic.twitter.com/Zu66asRimy
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) May 15, 2026

Ohio State fans have clamored for the return of the gray sleeves for nearly two decades after the program removed them from its standard uniforms in 2006, replacing them with scarlet, white and black stripes. Now, the Buckeyes have granted those wishes with five uniforms featuring Buckeye Stripes.

While five combinations seem to complete the new set, Day said during a recent appearance on Cam Heyward’s "Not Just Football" podcast that Ohio State’s all-gray uniforms are his favorite – an interesting note as the Buckeyes continue to evolve their wardrobe.

Ohio State will debut its new home uniforms on Sept. 5 against Ball State in its season opener. The Buckeyes could unveil either their core away or Sub Zero uniforms a week later, when they face Texas in a primetime showdown in Austin.

Specific uniform combinations for each game week will be announced during the week of each game.

Ohio State Installing New Turf at Ohio Stadium for 2026 Season

Dan Hope — Friday, May 15, 2026 - 10:13

Ohio State is installing new turf at Ohio Stadium for the 2026 season.

OSU announced Friday that it will install a new playing surface at Ohio Stadium ahead of the 2026 season. The playing surface will feature Shaw Sports Turf’s Forge Series system, “a system-level product line designed to meet NFL standards, featuring Game ON technology that integrates field markings directly into the turf,” according to an Ohio State news release.

Updated and improved

New turf at Ohio Stadium delivers enhanced branding opportunities, a fresh look, and is designed to meet NFL standards.

Read More: https://t.co/5a60TORngC pic.twitter.com/Zu66asRimy
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) May 15, 2026

“The new turf is a welcomed upgrade to Ohio Stadium to maintain the safety and performance of our players on gamedays,” Ryan Day said in a statement.

The announcement of the new turf comes on the same week Ohio State unveiled its new uniforms for the 2026 season, including updated home and away uniforms with silver sleeve stripes along with new all-black “Tunnel Vision” uniforms. Ohio State says the new turf will allow Ohio State to change the design of the turf for themed games.

“Ohio State football and Nike represent two of the most iconic brands in sports, and this partnership has delivered uniform enhancements that honor our championship traditions while equipping our student-athletes with cutting-edge performance technology. Additionally, the new surface at Ohio Stadium takes this vision further — providing a dynamic playing surface that provides latest advancements in performance and safety and meets NFL standards and our staff will now be able to utilize customizable end zones that amplify themed game atmospheres and elevate the experience for fans inside the stadium and watching nationwide,” Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said in a statement.

Ohio State previously replaced the turf at Ohio Stadium in 2022, but is now replacing that turf after just four years. Ohio Stadium’s turf has drawn scrutiny in recent years as players have been seen slipping on the turf during games, leading to concerns about the playing surface causing more injuries for players.

While there’s been a push from players at the NFL level for stadiums to replace turf with grass, Ohio State has no plans to switch back to grass inside Ohio Stadium due to the maintenance challenges associated with grass. The turf field allows Ohio State to use Ohio Stadium for non-football events such as concerts – even during the football season, as Ohio State announced Thursday that Twenty One Pilots will headline a concert at the Shoe on Oct. 17, the same weekend Ohio State will play Indiana on the road.

JUST ANNOUNCED: @twentyonepilots at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, October 17th with special guest @dcfc. Don't miss the biggest U.S. headline performance of their career. Sign up now for the artist presale: https://t.co/llEtzshiPX pic.twitter.com/8T56TvyzVC
— The Schott (@TheSchott) May 14, 2026

According to Shaw Sports Turf’s website, the Forge Series turf was designed to meet the NFL’s new synthetic turf testing requirements – which go into effect this year – and “integrates numbers, hash marks, yard lines, and logos directly into the turf, eliminating the cut-and-glue inlay process that has long challenged maintenance and installation crews across the industry.”

Ohio State previously used Shaw Sports Turf’s Momentum Pro surface, which features a slit-film turf, which is no longer used in any NFL stadium after calls to ban slit-film turf by the NFL Players Association. The new turf will feature a monofilament surface, which is considered superior to slit-film turf and more closely resembles grass.

Ohio State Spring Recap: Beau Atkinson’s Improvement, Qua Russaw’s Strong Start Elevate Defensive End Competition Opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

Dan Hope — Friday, May 15, 2026 - 08:35

With Ohio State’s first 15 practices of the year in the books, we now have a better idea of who’s on the rise and where things stand for the Buckeyes at every position group entering the 2026 season.

New Buckeyes were on the field at every position this spring as 51 new Ohio State players were part of the team that went through the Buckeyes’ March and April practices. There were plenty of newcomers and returning Buckeyes alike who stood out on each side of the ball as players competed for position on the depth chart and looked to prove they can make an impact for OSU this season.

With the Buckeyes currently in a break from on-field activity before summer workouts ramp up in a few weeks, we’re taking a position-by-position look at who stood out this spring, what questions still linger after spring, how the depth chart currently stacks up and the overall outlook for each position going into the summer.

Spring Recaps

The second half of our Spring Recap series begins with a position where the competition for a starting job will continue into the summer: Defensive end. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. looked ready this spring to take the next step and become a dominant player on the Buckeyes’ defensive line, but the depth chart beyond him remains unsettled, though multiple other defensive ends made their case for starting jobs with strong starts to the offseason.

Spring Standouts

Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

Jackson was Ohio State’s most consistently dominant player in the trenches throughout the spring. The only returning starter on Ohio State’s defensive line, Jackson regularly won one-on-one matchups off the edge during the spring game and other practices open to the media, especially when going up against the likes of Carter Lowe and other backup offensive tackles after Austin Siereveld and Phillip Daniels underwent surgeries that sidelined them for the second half of spring.

Going into last season, multiple Ohio State players said Jackson was looking like a future first-round NFL draft pick in offseason workouts. He didn’t quite play up to that level, especially early in the season, which Jackson said this spring was partially due to injuries. But after a strong second half of last season, Jackson looked this spring like a player who’s capable of living up to those lofty expectations and emerging as an elite defensive end as a fifth-year senior in 2026.

Beau Atkinson

Atkinson started the spring as a bit of an afterthought in the competition to be Ohio State’s other starting defensive end. He had a disappointing first year as a Buckeye last season, recording just 11 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack after transferring in from North Carolina.

This spring, however, Atkinson looked like the player Ohio State thought it was getting a year ago. Being able to go through winter workouts at Ohio State went a long way for the fifth-year senior, who was a summer enrollee in 2025 after transferring to Ohio State in the now-defunct spring portal window, and he showed plenty of pass-rush acumen, quickness and power during March and April practices, giving him a real chance to be OSU’s No. 2 defensive end – even if Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson still wants to see him prove it in game action this fall.

“I think he's done a 360 so far, but we haven't played a game yet,” Johnson said this spring. “I think I like where he's at. He's much better, he's more flexible right now, where we'd like him to be. And again, he's a transition guy coming from the University of North Carolina and trying to play this way, and how do we do it, it's different. It really is, and I think he embraced it. Never had a dull moment, never fought away from it, not even shied away from what we're doing. Now, it's his moment, his time.”

Qua Russaw

This year’s transfer addition at defensive end also had an impressive spring. Russaw, a fourth-year Alabama transplant, drew praise throughout the spring from the likes of Johnson and Jackson for the power, explosiveness and versatility he demonstrated in practice.

“I think he's very physically strong,” Johnson said. “He’s strong at the point of attack with his hands and body, which is amazing, a guy 245 can set the edge the way he does. And he brings great speed to the table. So he can do a lot of things for us. He can play end, he can play what we call the ‘Buck’ position, do some things out of there. But I think the thing that jumps off the videotape is how hard he plays, and he really has physical strength.”

At only 6-foot-2, Russaw is smaller than the typical defensive end, and he played primarily as a standup outside linebacker at Alabama. But his performance this spring showed he is capable of being impactful as both a pass rusher and run stopper as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end. Preseason might bring more clarity on how exactly Ohio State will use him, as he could also be used as a hybrid linebacker, but he appears more likely than not to see regular playing time for the Buckeyes this fall based on how he performed in his first 15 practices as a Buckeye.

Two Lingering Questions

1. Will someone other than Jackson emerge as a consistent pass-rusher?

With Caden Curry now in the NFL, Jackson is the only defensive end on Ohio State’s roster who had more than one sack at the collegiate level last season.

Atkinson’s performance this spring and history at UNC, where he had 7.5 sacks in 2024, are reasons for optimism that he can give the Buckeyes more as a pass rusher than he did last season. Russaw also flashed the potential to be a disruptive pass rusher this spring even though he had just two sacks in three years at Alabama. Zion Grady, Khary Wilder and Epi Sitanilei are young players to watch at the position – particularly Grady, who missed time with an injury this spring but flashed as one of Ohio State’s top backup defensive ends last season – but all of them are unproven.

Curry led the Buckeyes with 11 sacks last season, so it’s crucial that at least one of those defensive ends emerges as someone who can consistently get after the quarterback. Even with promising signs this spring, it’s uncertain exactly who will be that guy when the games begin this fall.

2. How many defensive ends will play regularly?

Johnson always says he wants to have a deep rotation on the defensive line, but he’s relied primarily on his top two defensive ends for each of the last three seasons: Curry and Jackson in 2025, Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau for the previous two years. So while more frequent rotation this season seems likely with only one clear-cut starter in Jackson, that’s far from guaranteed.

Even if multiple players rotate regularly opposite Jackson, there’s the question of whether that means three defensive ends seeing consistent playing time or more than that. That could depend on how much of a move Grady makes in preseason camp and whether both Atkinson and Russaw build on their strong springs come August to prove they belong in the rotation.

Projected Depth Chart

Defensive End

1. Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
2. Zion Grady
3. Khary Wilder
4. Darryus McKinley

Defensive End

1. Beau Atkinson
2. Qua Russaw
3. Epi Sitanilei
4. Dre Quinn

Atkinson started the spring game opposite Jackson and positioned himself as a frontrunner to start with his strong spring, but that competition is far from settled entering the summer. Grady would have been my pick to start entering spring, and he could still ultimately emerge as Ohio State’s second-best defensive end this season. Russaw also made him a factor in the competition to start this spring, so those three defensive ends could still end up in any order from No. 2 to No. 4 on the depth chart.

Sitanilei and Wilder also flashed this spring and could work their way into the rotation – particularly Wilder, who finished just outside the top 50 overall prospects in the 2026 recruiting class and looked the part of a future Buckeye starter in his first spring at Ohio State. Quinn and McKinley round out the roster of scholarship defensive ends, but both of them are likely to redshirt as freshmen.

Post-Spring Outlook

Ohio State’s outlook at defensive end starts with Jackson realizing his full potential in his final season as a Buckeye and becoming a consistently disruptive force off the edge. Based on what we saw from Jackson this spring, that looks like a standard he’s ready to meet.

Beyond Jackson, Ohio State doesn’t have any sure-fire stars at the position. But Atkinson and Russaw did what they needed to do this spring to generate belief that they can lead Ohio State’s defensive end unit alongside Jackson as upperclassmen, while Grady is another potential breakout star on the edge and Sitanilei and Wilder shouldn’t be overlooked as possible young contributors at the position.

Ohio State shouldn’t be bad at defensive end this season, but there’s a lot that needs to come together for the Buckeyes to be elite on the edge. Where they ultimately fall on the spectrum between good and great and whether they can give Ohio State an effective outside pass-rush will go a long way toward determining whether the Buckeyes have one of the nation’s top defenses once again.

Skull Session: Arvell Reese’s Favorite Ohio State Memory is Losing His Black Stripe, Tyrann Mathieu Picks Caleb Downs to Win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Chase Brown — Friday, May 15, 2026 - 04:55

Welcome to the Skull Session.

How about another look at the Buckeye Stripes?

Football but make it art pic.twitter.com/p4m5lTuIiK
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) May 14, 2026

Everything about this rollout has been chef’s kiss.

Have a good Friday.

“IT’S TRADITION THERE.” Arvell Reese’s favorite Ohio State memory was one of his first.

In behind-the-scenes footage of Reese’s pre-draft interview with the New York Giants — the team that selected him No. 5 overall in the 2026 NFL draft — the franchise asked him to share the highlight of his college career.

“Losing my black stripe,” Reese answered. “It’s a tradition there. That’s when you get fully accepted into the team, like earn your way on the team.”

Before draft night, it starts with the combine interviews pic.twitter.com/jVA4Guuqpn
— New York Giants (@Giants) May 11, 2026

Reese told the Giants he arrived on campus in the summer after graduating from Glenville High School. His first practice with the Buckeyes was on Aug. 2. He lost his black stripe on Aug. 18.

“That wasn’t long,” Giants coach John [REDACTED] said. “What’d you do?”

“Just playing hard and fast,” Reese replied.

When I spoke with Reese at Ohio State’s pro day, he said that’s exactly how he wants to play at the next level.

“Being violent. Think violently,” Reese said. “You just got to do it. That’s just what will be on my mind. Just be physical. I think everything that’s happened at Ohio State has prepared me for this moment.”

Translation: Developed Here.

THIS HONEY BADGER CARES. Honey badgers usually don’t care — but this one does.

This week, former Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL All-Pro Tyrann Mathieu adamantly picked Caleb Downs to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after his first season playing for Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.

“My take is Caleb Downs,” Mathieu said on his In the Bayou podcast. “This dude’s got — that’s everyone’s dream. That was Patrick Peterson’s dream. I remember talking to Pat, and he’d be like, ‘Whoa, dawg, if I could just go play for Jerry, bro.’ Could you imagine the Honey Badger in Jerry World? You know what I’m saying? I mean, every game is primetime. Rarely are you playing at 12; all your kickoffs is at 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 (p.m.). Like, people watching you. So yeah, I think Caleb’s got a great shot to have 100 tackles, and to get three sacks and three interceptions. I think that’s sort of my expectations for him.”

Mathieu said Downs has the talent that Jones will love. He thinks the longtime Cowboys owner will quickly put the former Ohio State safety on a pedestal.

“Jerry is gonna roll out the red carpet for him. Jerry is gonna put him in a nice jersey number. Son of a b– is gonna have f– memorabilia, toys, socks. He gonna roll out the red carpet for him. He’s gonna market him the right way, I should say that. All he gotta do is f– show up, be himself and let Jerry do the work. But I think Caleb Downs, that’s my pick to be Defensive Rookie of the Year.”

Downs needs a nickname to match the Honey Badger’s aura. He was a Silver Bullet; now he’s a Cowboy. Maybe something that blends both. How about The Ranger? I don’t know how I feel about it, but I like it better than the Emerald City Route Artist!

USA! USA! USA! Incoming Ohio State freshman Anthony Thompson will have the opportunity to represent the United States at the FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup tournament.

The No. 8 overall prospect in the 2026 class, Thompson is one of 35 players scheduled to participate in the USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team training camp beginning May 21 in Colorado Springs. The 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward is one of 18 members of the 2026 class invited to attend the event.

B1G opponents make for big moments.

The Big Ten opponents for our 2026-2027 campaign #GoBucks | #FightToTheEnd pic.twitter.com/zwLkSs3jtX
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) May 12, 2026

This May marks the third time Thompson has participated in a Team USA camp. He also attended two junior national team minicamps in 2025, one in April and another in October.

When Thompson arrives in Columbus, he will be Ohio State’s highest-rated recruit since Jared Sullinger in 2010 and the program’s first five-star prospect since D’Angelo Russell in 2014. He is also the Buckeyes’ first McDonald’s All-American since Russell.

“IT’S BEEN A BLAST.” Generations of Buckeye fans have grown up hearing Paul Keels and Jim Lachey call Ohio State football games. During the latest 12th Warrior Happy Hour, I asked Lachey to reflect on some of the biggest moments he’s witnessed — and narrated — over the last 29 years as the program’s radio color commentator.

“My first year in ’97 was pretty cool. Just the first game against Wyoming, I’m like, ‘Wow, this is pretty fun.’ We ended up winning that game and won several games that year,” Lachey said.

Lachey skipped a couple of years — a couple of 12th Warriors thanked him for passing over 1998 — and returned for Ohio State’s national championship season in 2002.

“You get to 2002 and Coach Tressel was 7-5 his first year, and we’re kind of kidding with him, like, ‘Hey man, that’s probably not gonna be good enough here at Ohio State.’ Then the next year, he went 14-0 and won it all. But to see the intensity of that (2002 national title game) — Miami, a great team, 34 straight wins, several pro prospects who ended up being great pro football players on that team,” Lachey said. “To see the way our defense went out there and dominated — you know, Mike Doss making plays, Matt Wilhelm all over the field, Darrion Scott and Will Smith getting pressure on the quarterback.

“Maurice Clarett taking the ball from Sean Taylor after that interception was probably one of the greatest individual-effort plays that I’ve ever seen, where it’s going one way and, boom, a second later, we’ve got the ball back. You’re like, ‘Whoo, dodged a bullet there.’ And then double overtime, I mean, they get it 1st-and-goal at the 4-yard line. Are you kidding me? With all that talent and that big offensive line, it comes down to a fourth down.”

Lachey said he knew Ohio State had Miami beat before the Hurricanes snapped the ball.

“A lot of times I’m looking at offensive linemen’s stances, and I’m like, ‘There’s no way that guard will get to (Cie Grant) in a dual read. There’s no way.’ He is going to come off the corner,” Lachey said. “I’m up there screaming, ‘You’re going to get this!’ And if Cie had gotten (Ken Dorsey) the first time, there would have only been one scream, but they kept dodging him with Dorsey pulling out, and it ends up being incomplete.”

Lachey called it “incredible” to see Ohio State win another national championship that year. He tried hard to win one as a player but fell short. He thought the Buckeyes had the talent to win one in the ’90s but never quite lived up to expectations.

“It’s just a great feeling as a Buckeye to see the Buckeyes win it all — and the way they did that year,” he said.

Lachey said Ohio State’s 2014 title was also among his favorite memories.

“In 2014, you suffer a tough loss to Virginia Tech, like, ‘God, I can’t believe we lost that’ … and then to see how that team turned. You know, you lose (Braxton Miller), you lose J.T. (Barrett), and you go into the Big Ten championship with Cardale Jones,” he said. “But boom, waxes Wisconsin and gets a chance to play Alabama in New Orleans … and then dominates Oregon. It was pretty cool to get the second national championship.”

The 2024 title, too.

“After losing that final regular-season game against Michigan, they were playing Tennessee at home, and you see all the orange in the stadium, you’re thinking, ‘Oh, man, the Buckeye faithful has given up on us.’ And they come out, and before you know it, it’s 21-0 and that game’s over,” Lachey said. “And then you go to the Rose Bowl and play against Oregon, who we lost a close game to out there. And to see the domination of that game, up 34-0 in the second quarter, you’re like, ‘What? They’re unstoppable.’

“And then you get a chance to play Texas and then Notre Dame. It was kind of what it’s all about. To win those types of games. To see Jack (Sawyer) and the defense step up (in the Cotton Bowl) … and then Notre Dame, I mean dominating in that game after they had what seemed like about a nine- or 10-minute drive to start the game. Then Ohio State gets the ball back and has a nice lead during the first half. We kind of let them back in the ball game, and it ends up being close, but the next thing you know, it’s 3rd-and-11 and you see a great play down the sideline, and Jeremiah (Smith) hauls it in. And you end up kicking the field goal, you make the game a two-score game and get another national championship.”

Oh, and the wins over That Team Up North have been great, too.

“The Big Ten championships, beating Michigan — I’ve been involved in a lot of those games,” Lachey said, “but to see this team win three national championships and compete for three more … it’s been a great run. Other guys in the Big Ten that do this across the country always kind of get jealous of Paul (Keels) and me. We’ve gotten to call all these national championship games. That’s been abundant. We don’t take that for granted. It’s not easy to get there. There are some teams that never get there. We’ve had the opportunity to do it six times, so it’s been a blast.”

Those are some remarkable moments called by remarkable men in Keels and Lachey. They’ve been a duo for 29 years — three years longer than I’ve been alive — so I’ve never known another voice calling Ohio State football on the radio.

For nearly three decades, they’ve narrated some of the biggest moments in program history with passion, authenticity and an unmistakable love for the Buckeyes. I thank them for their 29 years of service to Ohio State football, and I look forward to the next 29.

NEW DUBCAST. The final Eleven Dubcast of the week — and of George Eisner's over 250 episodes hosting the show since 2023 — welcomes back Dan Hope to discuss Ryan Day wanting multi-year commitments from incoming Ohio State players and movie roles beginning to surface in NIL deals.

SONG OF THE DAY. "Out of the Blue" - The Figs.

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Better Know a Buckeye: Damari Simeon Has Talent and Frame to Develop Into Future Starter on Ohio State’s Interior Defensive Line

Josh Poloha — Thursday, May 14, 2026 - 10:10

Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall.

Damari Simeon didn't have a composite ranking in early 2025. Still, he dominated the camp/visit circuit and quickly emerged as a four-star defensive tackle in the 2026 class.

Damari Simeon

Size: 6-2/288
Position: DL
School: St. Augustine Prep (Richland, New Jersey)
247 Sports Composite: ★★★★
Composite Rank: #214 (#25 DL)

Background

When Simeon received an offer from Ohio State after Larry Johnson visited him in New Jersey in February 2025, the defensive lineman wasn't yet ranked in the composite rankings, yet he had already received 37 Division I offers.

Simeon took an official visit to Columbus on June 20, 2025, his last OV among his top four schools. A week after those official visits came to an end, Simeon committed to Ohio State over Michigan, Penn State and Texas, among others.

He played varsity throughout his four years at St. Augustine Prep, including as a starter in his final three high school seasons.

As a freshman, he had 15 tackles (two for loss) while playing sparingly. In his first season as a starter, Simeon notched 30 tackles (eight for loss), three sacks and one forced fumble in his sophomore year. As a junior, Simeon totaled 47 tackles (nine for loss), 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In his final high school season, Simeon had 39 tackles (16 for loss), 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

St. Augustine Prep already up 14-0. The Hermits forced a 3-and-out in their first defensive possession due in large part to Damari Simeon sack.

I believe thats an O-H after as well pic.twitter.com/5Q74pBoJtp
— Mick Walker (@mickdwalker) August 30, 2025

Scouting Report

While Simeon's stats don't stand out, his film tells a different story. The 6-2, 288-pounder uses his quickness and burst off the line, along with his quick hands to shed blocks and get in the backfield. His ability to lower his body and dip while sliding also makes him tough to block up the middle.

When going against smaller offensive linemen in high school, he overpowered them with his strength. Against bigger competition, he used his quickness to get by them. Either way, he made a living in opposing backfields.

With that, Simeon has room to grow in the technical components of his game. Along with developing his skill set, he will likely need to add some weight to his frame. While Simeon lined up both inside and outside across the defensive line for St. Augustine Prep, he's projected to play 3-technique defensive tackle at Ohio State.

Depth Chart Outlook

In his first season as a Buckeye, Simeon will compete with fellow freshmen Emanuel Ruffin and Jamir Perez for the sixth DT spot on the three-deep behind James Smith, Eddrick Houston, Jason Moore, John Walker and Will Smith Jr.

If he develops well on and off the field as a freshman, Simeon's first real chance at playing time could come as a sophomore, though he’s more likely to contend for a starting job as an upperclassman.

Simeon could also play as a defensive end in three-man fronts given the versatility he demonstrated throughout his high school career, but defensive tackle will be his primary position for Ohio State.

Player Comparison: Haskell Garrett

Better Know A Buckeye

The former Buckeye spent five years in Columbus. After minimal playing time on defense during his first two seasons at Ohio State, Garrett combined for 52 tackles (13.5 for loss), 7.5 sacks, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and two touchdowns in his final three seasons at OSU.

He broke out during the COVID-19 season of 2020, recording 20 tackles with four tackles for loss and a pick-six, earning first-team All-American honors. As a fifth-year senior in 2021, the 6-2, 300-pound defensive tackle had a career-best 22 tackles (seven for loss) and 5.5 sacks.

Simeon's trajectory for not only playing time but also his impact as a defensive tackle and playmaker in the middle of Ohio State's defensive line could align closely to Garrett's career in Columbus. If he puts in the work in the weight room while also developing his skill set on the field, Simeon could be a key part of Ohio State's defensive line as a disruptive 3-technique as an upperclassman, the same way Garrett was.

Jimmy Kalis Ready to Rewrite Family’s Story at Ohio State, Whose Culture Drew Four-Star Offensive Tackle to Commitment

Dan Hope — Thursday, May 14, 2026 - 08:35

Jimmy Kalis is ready to rewrite the story of his family’s surname in the minds of Ohio State fans.

Ohio State fans who have followed recruiting closely since the early 2010s associate his last name with his half-brother, Kyle Kalis, who committed to the Buckeyes in 2010 before flipping to Michigan amid Ohio State’s “Tattoo-Gate” scandal in 2011. Kyle Kalis quickly became a rivalry villain for Ohio State fans after he was quoted as saying “There will be blood on the field, and it won’t be mine,” in reference to The Game. The elder Kalis became a source of Ohio State fan schadenfreude over the next five years as the Wolverines went 0-5 vs. the Buckeyes from 2012-16.

Jimmy Kalis, however, said Ohio State fans need not worry about any change in his commitment after he gave his pledge to the Buckeyes last month.

“I'm staying home. I'm not going anywhere,” Kalis said Sunday in an interview at the Under Armour Next camp in Pickerington.

A four-star offensive tackle in the 2027 recruiting class, Kalis committed to Ohio State on April 17, one day before the Buckeyes’ 2026 spring game. After visiting each of his top six schools this spring, Kalis decided he was ready to be a Buckeye, picking Ohio State over Georgia, Texas, Clemson, LSU and Miami.

“I set my top six and I wanted to show respect to all six of those schools, but after all six of those visits in the spring and after my Ohio State visit in the spring, I knew that was home,” Kalis said. “I felt super comfortable talking to all the coaches, so I set a date after those six and I stuck to my gut and I committed.”

Im Home! https://t.co/0CsqFXaWZc
— Jimmy Kalis (@Jimmy_Kalis) April 17, 2026

Kalis’ other finalists never stopped recruiting him in the days leading up to his commitment, and there was 11th-hour chatter that Georgia, in particular, made a big push to try to convince Kalis to change his mind. In the end, however, Kalis knew Ohio State was where he wanted to be.

“I think I knew it was Ohio State for a while. They were always on the top of my mind,” Kalis said. “When I set that commitment date, those 48 hours were probably the most stressful hours of my life … a couple schools were pushing it really hard. But Ohio State was too. And I'm happy I stuck with my gut. I'm happy to be home.”

Kalis’ older sister, Jenny, is a junior at Ohio State, so Jimmy and his family have made frequent visits to Columbus over the last three years. That, along with his relationships with Ohio State offensive line coach Tyler Bowen, head coach Ryan Day and director of sports performance Mickey Marotti, made him and his family feel very comfortable at Ohio State.

“It's almost like a home away from home,” said Kalis, who estimated he’s been to Ohio State “dozens” of times.

Another thing that drew Kalis to Ohio State was seeing just how much pride the Buckeyes’ current and former players take in being a Buckeye.

“I think when you go up there, you feel the culture. I think a lot of people talk about it, but you don't feel it (at other schools) when you go up there, but I think Ohio State, you really do feel it,” Kalis said. “I think every player up there is happy – and you know football is hard, so it's hard to be happy – but I’ve talked to the O-linemen that have been there for years on years, and they've got O Block tattooed on their body. I mean, if you don't love Ohio State, you don't get it tattooed on your body.

“That's a silly example, but that shows something, too. If you're going to put something on your body forever, you've got to really love it. But I think the culture up there is really real, and I think the love that they have; you talk to Coach Bowen, Coach Day, Coach Mick, that whole staff up there is incredible.”

“I knew it was Ohio State for a while. They were always on the top of my mind.”– Jimmy Kalis on his commitment to Ohio State

Already 6-foot-8 and 288 pounds, Kalis expects to play either left or right tackle at Ohio State. He plays left tackle for Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, but says he’s worked with his trainer on playing both left and right tackle so that he’ll be ready to play on either side of the line for the Buckeyes.

Kalis – whose father, Todd, is a former NFL offensive lineman – says Bowen has talked to him about a potential future offensive tackle pairing at Ohio State featuring him and 6-foot-7, 335-pound current freshman Sam Greer.

“He liked how that looked,” Kalis said of a potential pairing of him and Greer. “I'm 6-8, so I probably won't be playing guard or center, but I need to know and play both tackles when I get to Ohio State.”

Kalis, who earned an invitation to the 2027 Under Armour All-America Game with his performance at Sunday’s camp, is part of a 2027 Ohio State recruiting class that already includes five offensive linemen: Kalis, in-state prospects Kellen Wymer, Davis Seaman and Mason Wilt and Virginia four-star Brody McNeel. He says he’s already built a close bond with all of the other offensive linemen in his class and they talk to each other “almost every day” in a group chat.

Kalis believes the Buckeyes already have a strong offensive line recruiting class for next year even if they don’t add anyone else, but said they’re working hard to try to add four-star Mississippi offensive lineman Caden Moss, the No. 66 overall prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings, as a sixth and final offensive lineman in the cycle.

“We're trying to get Caden Moss. He's a big-time guard,” Kalis said. “I think we're really comfortable where we're at right now with the five, but I think Caden would be a great add-on for us.”

Skull Session: Ohio State’s New Uniforms Are Perfect, Ryan Day Loves Documentaries and Ryan Shazier Compares Jeremiah Smith to Kobe, LeBron and Calvin Johnson

Chase Brown — Thursday, May 14, 2026 - 04:55

Welcome to the Skull Session.

Whew, Doggy.

We are so back.pic.twitter.com/GVn9XlBEUU
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) May 13, 2026

We are so back.

Have a good Thursday.

IT’S SO PEAK. They’re — they’re beautiful.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eleven Warriors (@elevenwarriors)

Ohhhhhh, I’m so happy! I’m so happy! This is the best day of my life!

“THERE’S A LOT GOING ON OUT THERE.” Ryan Day loves documentaries.

Months ago, Ohio State’s head coach somehow turned Netflix’s “The Dinosaurs” into an analogy for adapting or dying in college football. This week, Day said his newest affinity has been “American Godfathers: The Five Families.”

“I like the different documentaries, man,” Day said on Josh Pate’s College Football Show. “There’s a lot going on out there.”

You could see the excitement in his eyes as he recalled what he had learned from both.

“I watched the one on the dinosaurs. I watched the one on the Five Families and the mafia, which I was mentioning to you before, about how they adapted over time from Prohibition to all the way to now,” Day said. “But it is good sometimes to just turn your brain off and watch something for about an hour, and then go back and make a bunch of recruiting calls.”

It’s hilarious imagining Day squeezing in a mafia documentary between conversations with a five-star quarterback and a five-star wide receiver. But hey — if the formula works, who’s arguing with it?

THE RYAN SHAZIER MEAL PLAN. Need to gain weight?

Eat hundreds of medium pizzas.

Call it The Ryan Shazier Meal Plan.

This week, the All-American Ohio State linebacker appeared on 97.1 The Fan’s T-Bone and Tyvis and discussed what he called “Probation Pizza.”

“I had to eat a medium pizza every day before practice because I couldn’t maintain my weight,” Shazier said. “When everyone else was in the team meeting, and they’re waiting to practice, they see Ryan in the first two rows of the meeting room with a big box of pizza.”

"I had to eat a medium pizza everyday before practice because I couldn't maintain weight."@BoneAndTyvis971 asked Ryan Shazier about being on PROBATION PIZZA at Ohio State pic.twitter.com/3TRiouCfIP
— 97.1 The Fan (@971thefan) May 6, 2026

One of the positives of The Ryan Shazier Meal Plan is that you get to eat unlimited medium pizzas. One of the negatives, however, is that you start to lose your love for one of the world’s most popular foods.

“The place I started eating my pizza very soon became the place I stopped liking eating pizza,” Shazier said. “Eating the same stuff every single day, man, it gets to you, bro. … Even to this point, I don’t eat pizza as much as I used to.”

The gains were temporary.

The pizza trauma was forever.

Suddenly, The Ryan Shazier Meal Plan doesn’t sound so appealing.

I could never give up JT's Pizza! I could never!

“THE KOBE BRYANT MENTALITY.” Ryan Shazier has been in the news a lot this week. In addition to his appearance on 97.1 The Fan, Shazier also spoke with Kyle Odegard of Casino Guru News about what makes Jeremiah Smith special.

“Jeremiah has the Kobe Bryant mentality, that ‘job’s-never-finished’ mentality. He understands how good he is, but he understands he can also get better,” Shazier said. “He wants to be the best in the world at what he does. … He knows in college he’s not the best in the world. I think that’s one of the reasons he’s humble, and his upbringing causes him to be humble. It still bothers him that he got cut from his little league team. When guys are that petty, it makes them want to continue to get better.”

Shazier also pointed to Smith’s physical tools as a separator, saying it’s a mix of God-given genetics and relentless work that helped build him into a 6-foot-3, 223-pound receiver — numbers that will likely be outdated once Ohio State releases its preseason roster in August.

“He’s not as big as Calvin Johnson, but he’s a Calvin Johnson-type guy,” Shazier said. “Everybody he lines up against, they look at him, and this dude is 240 pounds basically, and when he runs by you, it’s like, ‘He’s running by me?’ And when you try to push him, you can’t, because he’s stronger than you. … He’s one of those guys like LeBron. He’s blessed with the body he has, but he also has the work ethic like LeBron, like Calvin Johnson. It allows them to be such an amazing athlete, a superior athlete. The only reason he won’t go No. 1 is if there’s a run on quarterbacks.”

Kobe.

LeBron.

Megatron.

That’s quite the company for JJ.

GET WELL SOON, COACH! Last week, Matt Patricia posted a photo on Instagram of himself in a hospital bed wearing a neck brace and smiling. Somehow, he was still rocking his signature flat cap. It wouldn’t be surprising if they let him keep it on during the procedure.

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A post shared by Matt Patricia (@mattpatricia)

Patricia did not share details about the procedure or what led to it, but he said enough to make it clear he’s in good hands and in good spirits as he recovers.

Get well soon, Coach!

SONG OF THE DAY. "Will I See You Again?" - Thee Sacred Souls.

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Ohio State Women’s Tennis Advances to NCAA Semifinals For Second Time Ever

Photos: Ohio State’s New Scarlet Rush and Sub Zero Uniforms with Buckeye Stripes

Ohio State Adds Buckeye Stripes to Its Scarlet Rush and Sub Zero Uniforms

Ohio State Installing New Turf at Ohio Stadium for 2026 Season

Ohio State Installing New Turf at Ohio Stadium for 2026 Season

Ohio State Spring Recap: Beau Atkinson’s Improvement, Qua Russaw’s Strong Start Elevate Defensive End Competition Opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

Spring Recaps

Spring Standouts

Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Came Back to Improve Draft Stock, Lead Ohio State’s New-Look Roster

Beau Atkinson

Beau Atkinson Caps Spring Resurgence with Strong Spring Game Showing

Qua Russaw

Two Lingering Questions

1. Will someone other than Jackson emerge as a consistent pass-rusher?

2. How many defensive ends will play regularly?

Projected Depth Chart

Defensive End

Defensive End

Post-Spring Outlook

Skull Session: Arvell Reese’s Favorite Ohio State Memory is Losing His Black Stripe, Tyrann Mathieu Picks Caleb Downs to Win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Better Know a Buckeye: Damari Simeon Has Talent and Frame to Develop Into Future Starter on Ohio State’s Interior Defensive Line

Damari Simeon

Background

Scouting Report

Depth Chart Outlook

Player Comparison: Haskell Garrett

Better Know A Buckeye

Jimmy Kalis Ready to Rewrite Family’s Story at Ohio State, Whose Culture Drew Four-Star Offensive Tackle to Commitment

Five-Star Ohio State Wide Receiver Commit Jamier Brown Says He’s Shut Down His Recruitment, Won’t Make Any More Visits

Skull Session: Ohio State’s New Uniforms Are Perfect, Ryan Day Loves Documentaries and Ryan Shazier Compares Jeremiah Smith to Kobe, LeBron and Calvin Johnson