Skull Session: ESPN’s Bill Connelly Ranks Ryan Day the Eighth-Best Coach in College Football, CSC’s Clearinghouse Rejects Nearly $90 Million in NIL Deals in One Year

Chase Brown — Friday, July 10, 2026 - 04:55

Welcome to the Skull Session.

Less than one month until Ohio State returns to the practice field:

Training Camp is less than a month away Buckeye Nation, secure your spot today

️ August 6 - August 8
⏰ 9 am - 12 pm
Woody Hayes Athletic Center
️ https://t.co/vjnkaxJRYN @OhioStateFB | @MyBobs | @safelite pic.twitter.com/nHWYdUxXCY
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) July 9, 2026

Have a good Friday.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S EIGHTH (?!) BEST COACH? ESPN's college football writers ranked the top coaches in college football this week, and the top three looked familiar: Indiana's Curt Cignetti at No. 1, Georgia's Kirby Smart at No. 2 and Ohio State's Ryan Day at No. 3.

The Worldwide Leader added some spice to an otherwise predictable top three, however. ESPN's de facto Ohio State beat reporter, Jake Trotter, ranked Day No. 1. Bill Connelly ranked him... No. 8?!

You were the only voter to have Day at No. 1. Everyone else went with Cignetti or Smart. What was your rationale?

"Nobody wins more. Day owns the best winning percentage of any active coach while operating under the game's most demanding expectations. Two seasons ago, he delivered Ohio State's first national championship in a decade, leading the Buckeyes on a dominant playoff run. Last November, he finally cleared the one obstacle critics held against him, beating Michigan 27-9 in Ann Arbor. Every preseason, Ohio State is deservedly in the national title conversation. Every spring, the Buckeyes send a wave of talent to the NFL. When combining elite results, championship success, player development and the pressure that comes with the Ohio State job, Day is doing it better than anyone else." — Trotter

You had Day ranked No. 8. No one else had him lower than No. 4. What was your reasoning?

"Honestly, it's just really hard to evaluate the performance of a successful Ohio State head coach, as it has been the most consistently awesome program in the nation for decades. I may have dropped Day too far after last season, but I just didn't think he stuck the landing at all in 2025. When it was time to help that offense shift into gear late and ramp up the tempo and the risk profile against elite opponents, Day just couldn't do it. I'm not an Ohio State fan, but I was yelling at the TV during the Miami CFP game because the Buckeyes just refused to pick up the pace in the second half when they were down multiple scores. They weren't up for the task late in the season, and it cost them. Eighth is probably too low, but I guess it could be considered a challenge for 2026." — Connelly

I thought Ohio State's 2024 national championship had put to rest the debate over whether Ryan Day is a great coach or whether Ohio State is just a great program. Apparently not.

Connelly even admits at the end of his explanation that eighth "is probably too low." I'd drop the probably. It is too low.

Head Coach Ryan Day has been named to the 2026 @thedoddtrophy Preseason Watch List. pic.twitter.com/1e3BiIv2Vt
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 9, 2026

Day is one of only four active head coaches with a College Football Playoff national championship, alongside Cignetti, Smart and Clemson's Dabo Swinney, and he'll enter 2026 as one of the favorites to win another.

I like Connelly, and I respect his work, but this is analysis paralysis. Sometimes the answer is the obvious one. Day is one of the best coaches in college football. Ranking him No. 8 ignores too much evidence to the contrary.

THAT’S A LOT OF DEALS. There are still plenty of name, image and likeness issues to sort out in college athletics, but a recent report from the College Sports Commission provided some encouraging news: The CSC’s clearinghouse has rejected nearly $90 million worth of NIL deals since launching one year ago.

The clearinghouse can reject deals for three reasons. First, the deal does not serve a valid business purpose as defined by the House settlement. Second, the compensation is not at a rate and on terms commensurate with similarly situated student-athletes. And third, the deal does not include the direct activation of a student-athlete’s NIL.

In January, the CSC revealed “serious concerns” about some of the NIL deals submitted through NIL Go, the platform operated by Deloitte that reviews any NIL agreement worth more than $600.

At the six-month mark of NIL Go’s existence, the CSC had rejected $15 million in deals. That means the clearinghouse has since rejected nearly $75 million more in NIL proposals.

Of course, the NIL landscape remains complicated. In recent months, schools have sought to compensate athletes through revenue-sharing agreements — which fall outside the CSC’s jurisdiction — as well as through separate NIL opportunities. Ohio State and other major programs have reorganized their athletic departments or created new entities to facilitate school-related NIL deals.

But no matter how complicated the NIL market remains, we are starting to see guardrails emerge in what has been the Wild, Wild West of college athletics, and I will gladly celebrate it.

One example of the CSC's new authority came in May, when it won an arbitration case after denying millions of dollars in NIL deals that 18 Nebraska football players had arranged with Playfly Sports, a sponsorship and marketing firm that works with schools and athletes across the country.

“This process shows the system is working as intended: a decision we made was challenged and a neutral arbitrator assessed the facts to inform a final decision,” CSC CEO Bryan Seeley said after the arbitrator’s ruling.

When the West gets a sheriff, the frontier gets a little less Wild.

MY FAVORITE OFFSEASON TRADITION. Former Eleven Warriors reporter James Grega Jr. has transformed Ohio State’s club football team into a perennial powerhouse, and one of my favorite offseason traditions is watching one of his many talented players earn a call-up to the varsity roster.

In 2026, defensive back Jackson Gula became the latest club football standout to make the jump, joining Zach Hayes, Glorien Gough and Ian Gesce as former club players currently on Ohio State’s varsity roster. He is the sixth member of the program to climb the ranks, joining those three Buckeyes as well as Chris Booker and De’Shawn White.

NEWS: Jackson Gula has been called up to play for @OhioStateFB.

Gula joins Zach Hayes, Glorien Gough and Ian Gecse as former Club Football players that will now be teammates in 2026.

Gula posted 29 tackles, 8 PBUs and 3 INTs last season and was named a Second Team NCFA AA. pic.twitter.com/1mh3AK23Zs
— Ohio State Club Football (@ClubFootballOSU) July 7, 2026

Gula made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2025. Despite appearing in just six games, he recorded 29 tackles, eight pass breakups and three interceptions en route to earning second-team NCFA All-American honors. His interception in the fourth quarter of the 2025 NCFA National Championship Game sealed the deal as Ohio State defeated Coppin State, 28-8, to win its second consecutive title and fourth championship in six years.

Before arriving at Ohio State, Gula was a standout at Streetsboro High School in Northeast Ohio, where he totaled more than 400 career tackles, 12 interceptions and four forced fumbles while earning three All-Ohio selections.

I look forward to seeing him in the Big Leagues!

THE HAPPIEST OF HOURS. Eleven Warriors has another big announcement. On July 16, 12th Warriors will have the chance to go behind the scenes with an Ohio State legend as we continue our 12th Warrior Happy Hour, an exclusive series where members of our perks program get direct access to Buckeye greats in a live Q&A.

Following Andy Katzenmoyer, J.K. Dobbins, Maurice Clarett, Michael Jenkins and Jim Lachey, Jake Ballard headlines our fifth Happy Hour. The Ohio State tight end — and, later, a Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants — will join us virtually at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 16.

During the relaxed, interactive experience, 12th Warriors will hear untold stories, ask questions and connect with Ohio State history like never before. It’s our way of saying thank you for backing independent coverage, representing 11W and being like the great state of Ohio — the Heart of It All.

So, 12th Warriors, select a drink of choice, log on and let’s make some memories. We’ll share further details in the Premium Lounge.

Not a 12th Warrior?

It’s a great time to join.

For $85 a year (just 23 cents a day), you can join a perks program designed to flip the paywall system, keeping our coverage free for all, by paying it forward. Membership perks include admission to our 12th Warrior Happy Hours, a $40 voucher to Eleven Warriors Dry Goods, access to the Premium Lounge and more.

Want to chat with Ballard, help the site and score other perks?

Become a 12th Warrior now!

SONG OF THE DAY. "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers.

CUT TO THE CHASE. World Santa Congress brings Christmas cheer to the height of summer... Museum honors a late artist by covering its floor in enough peanut butter to make 15,000 sandwiches... We won't see a pitcher like Justin Verlander again... Kia recalling almost 463,000 Tellurides that may catch fire while being driven or parked... Why this 6-foot-4 Norwegian soccer sensation has become a hero in China.

Ohio Judge Grants Injunction for College Basketball Players Suing the NCAA

Chase Brown — Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 19:14

Ohio Judge Christopher Wagner has granted a preliminary injunction for 24 men's and women's college basketball players suing the NCAA for eligibility. He sided with athletes who claim the NCAA's new age-based model unfairly shuts them out of further competition.

"We hope the NCAA reconsiders its position and allows all other similarly situated athletes from the high school class of 2022 to compete for remaining roster spots in all sports," attorney Ryan Downton said in a statement to the Associated Press.

Wagner's decision allows the 24 athletes named in the lawsuit to enter the transfer portal before the 2026-27 season.

According to the AP, Downton has filed similar lawsuits against the NCAA on behalf of nearly 30 men's and women's basketball players. The Cincinnati lawsuit came shortly after the NCAA Division I Cabinet approved changes to the organization's eligibility rules in June.

"When each plaintiff completed their fourth season of competition during the 2025-26 academic year, they had every reason to know it was the end of the line and time to make way for the next generation of college athletes," the NCAA wrote in a filing.

Downton argues that's not the case.

“Each plaintiff was harmed each time he or she competed in a basketball game against a fifth or sixth-year player without being offered the same opportunity to compete in a fifth season themselves,” he wrote in a filing.

The plaintiffs are seeking permission to compete during the upcoming season, contending they should be granted a fifth year of eligibility. They represent athletes who graduated from high school in 2022, enrolled in college that fall and exhausted four seasons of competition without using a redshirt.

Under the NCAA's new eligibility model, athletes receive five seasons of competition within a five-year window that begins with either their initial full-time college enrollment or the academic year after their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.

The change will all but eliminate eligibility waivers and the use of redshirt years to extend athletes' careers beyond five seasons, with exceptions for religious missions, pregnancy and active-duty military service. Injuries will no longer qualify athletes for eligibility extensions.

Athletes who exhausted their eligibility under the previous system — four seasons of competition over five years — by the spring of 2026 are not eligible for an additional season under the new rules, which take effect this fall.

Better Know A Buckeye: Darryus McKinley’s Speed and Strength on the Edge Could Allow Him to Be Versatile Defensive End for Ohio State

Josh Poloha — Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 13:05

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.

After Ohio State received just one commitment from a high school prospect in the state of Louisiana between 2000-25, Darryus McKinley became the second of two players from LSU's backyard to sign with the Buckeyes in the 2026 class, joining safety Blaine Bradford.

Darryus McKinley

Size: 6-3/270
Position: DL
School: Acadiana (Lafayette, Louisiana)
247 Sports Composite: ★★★
Composite Rank: #552 (#63 DL)

Background

McKinley originally committed to LSU in August 2025, but things changed quickly after Ohio State offered him on Oct. 30, just four days after the Tigers fired Brian Kelly. He took an official visit to Columbus for the Buckeyes’ win over UCLA on Nov. 15, a trip that ultimately won him over.

Even with his older brother Dominick playing for LSU, McKinley flipped his commitment to Ohio State, becoming the sixth defensive lineman in the Buckeyes’ 2026 class.

McKinley started to break out as a disruptive force during his sophomore year of high school, recording 50 tackles (12 TFL), four sacks and 11 quarterback hurries. He followed that up with 50 tackles (18 TFL), 10 sacks and six pass breakups as a junior. As a senior, McKinley notched 72 tackles (27 TFL) and 9.5 sacks. He was named Academic All-Conference all four years of his high school career.

He played all over the defensive line throughout his high school career, but was primarily a defensive end at Acadiana. McKinley's production steadily improved each season on varsity, further showcasing his development with increased experience.

Scouting Report

McKinley has the strength to overpower smaller linemen, quickness off the line to get past linemen who are bigger than him and already flashes some of the moves needed to get in the backfield against similarly sized opponents.

With a quick first step, he consistently lived in opponents’ backfields as a high school player. He also brings positional versatility, showing the ability to play with his hand in the dirt or stand up on the edge. While he’s starting his Ohio State career at defensive end, he could potentially also play defensive tackle for the Buckeyes.

Depth Chart Outlook

With a loaded group of defensive ends in 2026, including Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Beau Atkinson, Zion Grady, Epi Sitanilei, Alabama transfer Qua Russaw and fellow freshmen Khary Wilder and Dre Quinn, McKinley isn’t likely to see much playing time in year one.

How McKinley develops over the course of his first couple of years in Columbus will determine whether he ultimately earns his way onto the defensive line two-deep in 2027 or 2028.

Player Comparison: Tyreke Smith

Smith was never the go-to defensive end for the Buckeyes during his four years in Columbus, but he continuously found ways to contribute.

After playing sparingly as a freshman, the 6-3, 260-pound defensive end notched 12 tackles (five TFL), three sacks and two pass deflections as a sophomore in 2019. He remained a constant in Ohio State’s defensive end rotation as a junior and senior.

In his final season as a Buckeye in 2021, Smith recorded 26 tackles (five TFL), three sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

At 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, McKinley brings similar size and skills to the Buckeyes as Smith. Ohio State hopes he can carve out a similar career to Smith's by playing a consistent role in the rotation later in his career before taking his talents to the NFL.

Ohio State to Play in Outdoor Doubleheader with Cincinnati, Dayton and Xavier

Chase Brown — Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 10:26

For the first time ever, four of Ohio’s high-major basketball programs will gather on one court — without a roof.

On Oct. 7 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, home of the Cincinnati Open, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Dayton and Xavier will play outdoor exhibition contests as part of the CareSource Invitational, an event to raise awareness and funds for mental health and suicide prevention.

“I think this is great. This is great for the basketball community in Ohio. And it’s been a long time coming,” Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler said on Thursday. “I’ve been vocal about this since I first got the job and wanted something like this to happen. There are so many moving parts. There are so many moving parts to make something like this happen. It takes a lot of people. And I’m just excited. Everyone got together to make it happen.”

The CareSource Invitational will feature Ohio State vs. Cincinnati with Dayton vs. Xavier as the tennis complex transforms into an outdoor basketball court.

In case of inclement weather, the games will be moved to UD Arena in Dayton, but Diebler’s hoping for nothing but sunshine on a fall Wednesday.

“Getting all four teams together and doing it in a venue like that, it’s exciting. You might as well try something different," Diebler said with a grin. “It’s going to be really early in the preseason. So it’ll be a great time for everybody to get some minutes and just see where you’re at relative to someone else. … I’m excited that it’s outdoors. I’ve never been a part of a live game outside like that.”

Diebler said it’ll be a fun reminder for coaches and players of their time growing up playing basketball in the driveway, at a park or on the school playground.

“We used to play outside all the time growing up. I know it won’t be the same surface as what I played on growing up, but I’m excited about it. You’ll have different things, right? Wind, all that stuff. But who cares? It’s going to be fun to play outside.”

It’ll also be nice to support a great cause, Diebler said.

“This is for something that’s bigger than basketball. It’s great for the basketball community in Ohio," he said. "But it’s also great for what CareSource is doing. Jay’s Light, which we’re familiar with because of Coach (Anthony) Grant and his family. And to be a part of that and to help support what they’re doing is special.”

The CareSource Invitational will not be televised, but tickets will soon be available to purchase.

Ohio State’s Best All-Time Ratings in EA Sports College Football Video Games: Offense

Matt Gutridge — Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 10:10

Since Electronic Arts began its college football video game journey with Bill Walsh College Football in August of 1993, there have been at least 657 individual Ohio State players and a total of 1,518 Buckeyes with ratings over the decades of EA's epic NCAA College Football franchise.

I was a senior in high school when this transformative video game debuted, and I have played all 23 games in the series across six consoles: Genesis, PlayStation, PS2, PS3, PS4, and PS5.

In the early years, EA provided jersey numbers for our favorite Buckeyes with some ratings, but names and overall ratings were not part of the game. In the Bill Walsh versions, the first two in the series, I would abuse opponents (my friends) with go routes to No. 7 (Joey Galloway) and No. 83 (Terry Glenn). Galloway would be the receiver on the left side of the field and Glenn on the right. If either had single coverage, I'd tap the "A" or "C" button and watch as Galloway or Glenn would typically come down with the moon ball for a big gain, or break free for a touchdown.

If I wasn't abusing the defense with the air raid, No. 27 (Eddie George) picked up the tough yards up the middle, or by springing him to the outside – the jump button was your friend – and gash the defense for big gains or touchdowns. On defense, I would creep Lorenzo Styles or Craig Powell up to the line and come off the edge to wreck any plans the opposing offense had. The game didn't keep track of season sacks or tackles for loss, but if it had, Styles and Powell would have easily broken every record.

As the seasons ticked by, the graphics, gameplay, dynasty modes, stats, and ratings continued to improve. Today, we will use the ratings from the original Bill Walsh College Football through this year's EA Sports College Football 27 to identify EA's highest-rated Ohio State offensive players of all-time (we’ll look at the highest-rated defensive players next week). We will also identify some players who could have vied for the highest ratings during the 10 years when EA didn't have a game for the 2014 through 2023 seasons.

During the 2000s, EA also included classic Ohio State teams for players to select from. This provided us with the Buckeyes' ratings for the 1954 and 1968 seasons. EA also updated the 1996, 1998, and 2002 roster ratings, which allowed us to obtain overall ratings for players on the '96 and '98 teams that were previously missing.

Note: During the 2000s, EA also included classic Ohio State teams for players to select from. This provided us with the Buckeyes’ ratings for the 1954 and 1968 seasons. EA also updated the 1996, 1998, and 2002 roster ratings, allowing us to obtain overall ratings for players on the ’96 and ’98 teams that were previously missing. (Note: EA Sports did not begin assigning overall ratings to players until EA Sports College Football 2000.)

Player ratings were gathered from a combination of checking the ratings on the actual games and from the historical ratings database on TeamCrafters.net. We used the original ratings from the games whenever possible.

Quarterback

Some legendary players have lined up behind center for Ohio State in the video game era. Bobby Hoying got things started, but he played in the days when EA didn't provide overall player ratings. With that, Hoying was graded with an 86 for throwing power, but a criminally underrated score of 33 for throwing accuracy.

Four Ohio State quarterbacks have received overall ratings of 90 or higher: Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, and this year, Julian Sayin joined this elite club with an overall score of 94. Before revealing the QB above with the highest overall rating, let's take a look at some rating superlatives.

QB Superlatives

Speed: 91 – Terrelle Pryor (EA 2011-12)
Strength: 82 – Will Howard (2025)
Agility: 92 – Braxton Miller (2014)
COD/ACC: 97 – Terrelle Pryor (2011-12)
Awareness: 92 – Julian Sayin (2027)
Carry: 87 – Braxton Miller (2014)
Break Tackle: 93 – Terrelle Pryor (2009, 10, 11)
Throwing Power: 95 – Tavien St. Clair (2026)
Throwing Accuracy: 95 – Julian Sayin (2027)

During the EA dark years, Ohio State had a few quarterbacks who could have had ratings high enough to make the superlative list above. Cardale Jones might have had a 95 or higher for throwing power, C.J. Stroud's accuracy and awareness were top-notch, and Justin Fields had plenty of speed, agility, and change of direction/acceleration.

Pryor is the only Ohio State quarterback to receive an overall rating of 90+ in two seasons. He had a 90 in EA '10 and a 94 in EA '11. This year, Sayin has a 94, and in EA 2007, Troy Smith checked in with an impressive 95. That leaves Braxton Miller, who had an overall rating of 96 in EA '14 as Ohio State's highest-rated quarterback in the EA franchise. Kind of makes sense that the player who made the game look like a video game has the highest rating for a video game.

Halfback

An Ohio State halfback has earned a 90+ overall rating 10 times, and eight different players have achieved that status. Dan Herron and Beanie Wells are the only Buckeye running backs to reach this level in two different games. Herron was a 92 in EA 11 and EA 12. Wells was a 91 in EA 08 and a 96 in EA 09. Of the eight players to earn a 90 or higher, Ohio State's only Heisman-winning running back during the EA Sports franchise run is not among them. Unfortunately, EA didn't have OVR ratings during George's playing days, so he doesn't have one. However, during his senior season, George had 80 speed, 73 strength, 66 agility, 80 awareness, and 73 catch.

The eight Buckeyes to get at least a 90 are Bo Jackson (90, EA 27), TreVeyon Henderson (93, EA 25), Quinshon Judkins (95, EA 25), Dan Herron (92, EA 11, 12), Brandon Saine (94, EA 11), Beanie Wells (91, 96; EA 08, 09), Maurice Clarett (95, EA 04), and Michael Wiley (90, EA 08).

Along with George, Ezekiel Elliott, J.K. Dobbins, and Curtis Samuel are other Ohio State running backs who likely would have scored highly in EA's rating system. Zeke's numbers in the missing EA 16 game could have been off the charts following his epic stretch to end the 2014 season.

Some items to note: Clarett was in the 2004 game, but he didn't play for the Buckeyes for the 2003 season. Wiley was on the 1998 team, but EA didn't have overall ratings for the 1999 game. Wiley's 90 rating is from the 1998 classic roster in EA 08.

HB Superlatives

Speed: 95 – Dontre Wilson (2014), Jaamal Berry (2010), Brandon Saine (2008)
Strength: 88 – Beanie Wells (2009)
Agility: 94 – Jordan Hall (2014), Jaamal Berry (2011-12)
COD/ACC: 96 – Jordan Hall (2014), Jaamal Berry (2010, 12), Brandon Saine (2011)
Carry: 98 – Quinshon Judkins (2025)
Break Tackle: 98 – Beanie Wells (2009)
Catch: 81 – Brandon Saine (2010)
Awareness: 94 – Brandon Saine (2011)

Jaamal Berry topped the superlative list in three different categories, but his best overall rating was 86 in the 2012 game. Judkins and Saine were best in two categories each, which earned Judkins an OVR of 95 in EA 25 and Saine a 94 in EA 11.

With an overall rating of 96 in the 2009 game, Beanie Wells has Ohio State's highest rating among halfbacks.

Fullback

In today's game, the fullback is a dying breed. Two running backs or an extra tight end will typically see the field before a fullback. With that, 17 different Ohio State players received overall ratings at the fullback position, four of whom were 90 or better. Jamar Martin earned a 90 in EA 01, Brandon Schnittker had a 92 in EA 06, and Branden Joe earned a 96 in EA 05.

FB Superlatives

Speed: 87 – Rod Smith (2014), Jermil Martin (2010)
Strength: 79 – Zach Boren (2012-13)
Agility: 83 – Rod Smith (2014), Adam Homan (2011), Jermil Martin (2010)
COD/ACC: 92 – Rod Smith (2014)
Carry: 92 – James Young (2008, 1954 classic roster)
Break Tackle: 86 – James Young (2008, 1954 classic roster)
Catch: 77 – Jesse Kline (2002)
Awareness: 85 – Brandon Schnittker (2006)

However, the Buckeye FB with the highest rating is James Young from the 1954 classic roster with a 99. The 2008 version of the game has the 1954 classic roster, and the sophomore FB wearing No. 30 (James Young) is rated with the highest of honors. For those in the audience with a little knowledge of Buckeye history, you know that Heisman-winning running back Howard "Hopalong" Cassady was on this team. The people at EA gave Cassady an 84 for his overall rating. This has to be a mistake, but maybe the geniuses at EA know more about the skills of Cassady and Young than we do.

JJ = Cheat code @Jermiah_Smith1 | @EASPORTSCollege pic.twitter.com/1XvSJQe3tV
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 24, 2026

Wide Receiver

With Ohio State's recent performance in the NFL Draft, many refer to the program as Wide Receiver U, and EA agrees. 12 different Buckeye receivers have reached an overall rating of 90 or higher 17 times – the most for any Ohio State position group.

In EA 04, Michael Jenkins was the first Ohio State receiver to reach this status, receiving an OVR of 94. In the 2008 game, David Boston was given a 92 on both the 1996 and 1998 classic rosters, but technically that was after Jenkins, along with Santonio Holmes (92 in EA 06) and Ted Ginn Jr. (93 in EA 06, 07).

The other eight Buckeyes to earn an overall rating of 90 or higher: Brian Robiskie (91, EA 09), Dane Sanzenbacher (91, EA 11), DeVier Posey (93, EA 11, 12), Philly Brown (90, EA 14), Devin Smith (91, EA 14), Emeka Egbuka (93, EA 25), Carnell Tate (91, EA 26), and Jeremiah Smith 90, 98, and 99 in EA 25, 26, and 27.

As impressive as it is that Ohio State receivers have earned a 90+ overall rating 17 times, the program could have more players on the list. Terry Glenn and Joey Galloway are in the game, but during a time when overall ratings weren't given. We also missed out on playing with Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba during the blackout years of the game.

WR Superlatives

Speed: 99 – Ted Ginn Jr. (2006-07)
Strength: 79 – Jeremiah Smith (2025, 26, 27)
Agility: 99 – Ted Ginn Jr. (2007)
COD/ACC: 99 – Ted Ginn Jr. (2006-07), Philly Brown (2014), Chris Fields (2011-12)
Catch: 97 – Jeremiah Smith (2027)
Carry: 90 – DeVier Posey (2012)
Break Tackle: 84 – Jeremiah Smith (2025, 26, 27)
Awareness: 98 – Emeka Egbuka (2025)

In this year's version of the game, Jeremiah Smith became the first Ohio State wide receiver to earn an overall rating of 99. Yes, Chris Gamble had a 99 rating at CB in EA 04, but at receiver, he had a 72. Like Braxton Miller, Smith is like playing with a video game cheat code.

Tight End

Six Ohio State tight ends earned a 90 or higher from Electronic Arts: Ryan Hamby (90 and 91; EA 05, 06), Charles Aldrin (90, EA 08, 1968 classic roster), DJ Jones (91, EA 08, 1996 roster), John Lumpkin (94, EA 08, 1998 roster), Jake Stoneburner (90, EA 13), and 91 for Max Klare in EA 26.

Buckeye tight ends from the missing years of 2014-2023 who could have possibly earned at least a 90 are Jeff Heuerman, Nick Vannett, Marcus Baugh, Luke Farrell, and Cade Stover. Rickey Dudley also didn't have an overall rating in EA 96, and there is a strong chance the Raiders' first-round pick would have had at least an overall rating of 90 if the game had overall ratings that year.

TE Superlatives

Speed: 88 – Jake Stoneburner (2010)
Strength: 86 – R.J. Coleman (2006)
Agility: 87 – Reid Fragel (2011-12)
COD/ACC: 92 – Jake Stoneburner (2012-13)
Catch: 91 – Jake Stoneburner (2013)
Carry: 84 – Charles Aldrin, Nicholas Roman (2008, 1968 classic roster)
Break Tackle: 84 – Nic DiLillo (2010-11)
Awareness: 91 – Jake Stoneburner (2013)

The best Ohio State tight end according to EA's ratings is Lumpkin, whose overall rating was 94 on the classic roster in EA 08.

Ohio State's Highest-Rated Players in EA College Football
POS	PLAYER	RATING
QB	Braxton Miller	96
RB	Beanie Wells	96
FB	Branden Joe	96
WR	Jeremiah Smith	99
WR	DeVier Posey	95
WR	Michael Jenkins	94
TE	John Lumpkin	94
C	Michael Brewster	94
OG	Luke Montgomery	92
OG	Donovan Jackson	92
OT	Orlando Pace	99
OT	Alex Boone	94

Offensive Tackle

When people think of Ohio State's all-time offensive tackles in the last 40 years, Orlando Pace is typically the first Buckeye they recall. So, it's no surprise that Pace tops all Ohio State offensive tackles in EA's football franchise with an overall rating of 99 on the 1996 classic roster in EA 08.

Other tackles to top 90 or more on EA's overall rating scale were: Shane Olivea (90, EA 04), Rob Sims (91, EA 06), Kirk Barton (92, EA 08), Alex Boone (94, EA 08), JB Shugarts (91 and 92; EA 11, 12), Jack Mewhort (91, EA 14) and Josh Simmons (90, EA 25).

Had overall ratings been in the 1994 and 1995 versions of the game, Korey Stringer would have been another Buckeye tackle to earn a rating over 90, probably pushing 97, 98, or 99.

OT Superlatives

Speed: 72 – Deontae Armstrong (2026)
Strength: 100 – Orlando Pace (1996)
Agility: 79 – Deontae Armstrong (2026)
COD/ACC: 92 – Darryl Baldwin (2014)
Awareness: 95 – William Urbanik (2008, 1968 classic roster)*
Pass Blocking: 100 – Korey Stringer (1994)
Run Blocking: 97 – Orlando Pace (1996)

*Urbanik wore No. 79 and was listed as a DT on Ohio State's 1968 roster. Rufus Mayes (No. 73) and David Foley (No. 70) were both first-round NFL draft picks, and either Mayes or Foley was likely the player meant for this ranking.

The only Ohio State offensive players in EA Sports' digital world to earn a 100 in a category are Orlando Pace and Korey Stringer. Electronic Arts recognized Pace's otherworldly strength and Stringer's ability to keep his quarterback clean.

Buckeye tackles who we didn't get the opportunity to see dominate the game during their prime years include Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Taylor Decker. Johnson and Jones would have been studs in EA 23, Petit-Frere in EA 22, and Decker (who had an 84 overall in EA 14) would have bullied defensive linemen in the 2015 and '16 versions of the game.

Offensive Guard

Nine Ohio State guards received an overall rating of 90 or better, with Justin Boren’s overall rating exceeding 90 twice. In this year's game, Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld will anchor the middle of your offensive line. Siereveld has an OVR rating of 90 and has a strong run-blocking grade of 93. Montgomery has a higher pass-blocking grade (93) and an overall rating of 92.

Montgomery's 92 OVR is tied with Adrien Clarke (2004), Justin Boren (2010, '11), Andrew Norwell (2014) and Donovan Jackson (2025) for the highest rating an Ohio State guard has received in the game.

Siereveld joins T.J. Downing 90 (2007), Steve Rehring 90 (2008), and Bryant Browning 91 (2011) as the other guards to break 90.

OG Superlatives

Speed: 70 – Deontae Armstrong (2025), Donovan Jackson (2025)
Strength: 96 – Donovan Jackson (2025), Andrew Norwell (2014)
Agility: 79 – Deontae Armstrong (2025)
COD/ACC: 90 – Andrew Norwell (2014)
Awareness: 94 – Donovan Jackson (2025)
Pass Blocking: 97 – Rob Murphy (1998)
Run Blocking: 97 – Rob Murphy (1998)

Although EA gave Rob Murphy outstanding pass and run-blocking ratings in the 1998 version of the game, his overall rating on the 1998 classic roster in the 2008 game was a surprisingly paltry 76.

All-Americans Thayer Munford, Wyatt Davis and Billy Price are three guards – yes, Price could also be a center – who missed out on being part of the game. All three would likely have joined the list of Buckeye guards who earned overall ratings above 90.

Game Breakers

Six Buckeyes rank Top 10 at their position in @EASPORTSCollege pic.twitter.com/IQiMahiqO2
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 25, 2026

Center

Michael Brewster holds three of Ohio State's seven overall ratings of 90 or better at the center position. Brewster had a 90 in EA 10 and a 94 in EA 11 and EA 12. His score of 94 is the highest for any Buckeye center in the game.

LeCharles Bentley (91, EA 00), Alex Stepanovich (90, EA 04), Nick Mangoldd (90, EA 05) and Corey Linsley (90, EA 14) also reached the 90+ club.

C Superlatives

Speed: 68 – Brian Bobek (2012)
Strength: 94 – Michael Brewster (2011-12)
Agility: 73 – Carson Hinzman (2025), Joshua Padilla (2025)
COD/ACC: 87 – Jacoby Boren (2014)
Awareness: 97 – Carson Hinzman (2027)
Pass Blocking: 96 – Jim Cordle (2009)
Run Blocking: 96 – Jim Cordle (2009)

Two years ago, Carson Hinzman and Joshua Padilla had high marks in agility. This year, EA dropped Hinzman down five spots to 68 and Padilla to 67.

Like Rob Murphy at the guard position, Jim Cordle holds Ohio State's best ratings for a center, with 96 ratings in both pass and run blocking. And, like Murphy, those strong blocking ratings did not translate into an overall rating of at least 90. For the 2009 game, Cordle's OVR was 86, likely due to a low awareness grade of 67. Today, it appears the Super Bowl-winning Cordle has made up for the lack of "awareness," as he is currently Ashland's assistant head coach and offensive line coach.

Pat Elflein (2017), Price (2018) and Michael Jordan (2019) are among the Buckeye centers who could have received high scores during the era in which EA did not produce a college football game.

Kicker

Three Ohio State kickers have received overall scores of 90 or higher, but it's been a few years since this has happened. Drew Basil was the last Buckeye kicker to earn a 90, doing so in the 2014 game. Devin Barclay also had a 90 in EA 2011.

One Ohio State kicker stands above the rest: Mike Nugent. The Centerville alum is the only Buckeye to ever earn a 99 rating on multiple rosters. In EA 2005, Nugent was a 99 on Ohio State's 2004 roster, and in the same game, he was a 99 on the 2002 classic roster. The All-American kicker also had a rating of 96 in the 2004 game.

FG Kicker Superlatives

Speed: 74 – Ryan Pretorius (2007)
Strength: 52 – Ryan Pretorius (2007)
Agility: 74 – Ryan Pretorius (2007)
Awareness: 95 – Mike Nugent (2005)
Kick Power: 98 – Drew Basil (2014), Mike Nugent (2005)
Kick Accuracy: 98 – Mike Nugent (2004)

Nugent not only dominated the overall ratings for the kickers, but EA also has him as the most aware kicker with the strongest and most accurate leg.

Ohio State's 21st Century Highest-Rated And Lowest-Rated Players
GAME	PLAYER	RATING	PLAYER	RATING
EA 27	WR Jeremiah Smith	99	SS Kaden Gebhardt	70
EA 26	WR Jeremiah Smith	98	TE John Ferlmann	56
EA 25	FS Caleb Downs	95	TE John Ferlmann	55
EA 14	QB Braxton Miller	96	LB Tyler McIntosh	69
EA 13	DE John Simon	92	CB Devan Bogard FS Tyvis Powell	66
EA 12	WR DeVier Posey	95	CB DerJuan Gambrell	63
EA 11	DE Cameron Heyward	95	DT Johnathan Hankins	71
EA 10	SS Kurt Coleman	94	QB Kenny Guiton	74
EA 09	LB James Laurinaitis	98	WR Jake Stoneburner	74
EA 08	LB James Laurinaitis	95	DE Solomon Thomas	70
EA 07	QB Troy Smith	95	OT Jon Skinner	70
EA 06	LB A.J. Hawk	97	FS Rob Harley	65
EA 05	K Mike Nugent	99	OT Kirk Barton	62
EA 04	CB Chris Gamble	99	LB Jason Bond C Nick Mangold FS Brandon Mitchell	68
EA 03	SS Mike Doss	98	C Adam Olds	66
EA 02	TE Darnell Sanders	87	Player No. 51	66
EA 01	C LeCharles Bentley	91	OT John McLaughlin	68

For the most part, the list of Ohio State's highest-rated players for each year of the 21st century is a who's who of Buckeye greats. Every highest-rated player was in the 90s except for Darnell Sanders in the 2002 version of the game, which represented the 2001 team.

There have been at least 107 Ohio State players to earn a 90-plus overall rating, and that magic number has been reached by Buckeyes at least 138 times.

On the lowest-rated player list, John Ferlmann was placed at TE on the roster, but in real life, he was a long snapper during his time with Ryan Day's program.

10 Ohio State Players Who Will Be Team Leaders for the Buckeyes in 2026

Dan Hope — Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 08:35

Strong leadership will be as important as it’s ever been for Ohio State football in 2026.

More than half of the players on Ohio State’s 2026 roster weren’t on the team last year, as the Buckeyes have added 60 new players this offseason between transfer additions, their freshman class and walk-ons. As such, Ohio State is relying on its leaders to bring the team together as it builds chemistry for the upcoming season.

Ohio State’s newcomers include plenty of experienced veterans capable of providing leadership themselves, and the Buckeyes expect more than just their returning veterans to be leaders this fall.

“A big motto this year for us is you could lead no matter what,” Ohio State left guard Luke Montgomery said this offseason. “You could be a freshman, you could lead. We need leaders and we need people to rise to the occasion in the big moments and stuff like that, it doesn't matter who you are. But we have a team full of leaders and a team full of a lot of experience.”

That said, the players who will provide the most leadership for the Buckeyes this fall are likely those who’ve been around the program for multiple years and have a full, well-developed understanding of what it means to be a Buckeye and play for the Buckeyes in big games.

Ohio State lost some major leaders from last season, namely linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs, who were not only two of the biggest stars of Ohio State’s defense but also considered the Buckeyes’ top two leaders in 2025. Other veterans who leave big shoes to fill include wide receiver Carnell Tate, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, defensive end Caden Curry, linebacker Arvell Reese, cornerback Davison Igbinosun and safety Lorenzo Styles Jr.

Fortunately, even with all of this offseason’s roster turnover, Ohio State still has a sizable group of established veterans who have emerged as leaders through their work ethic, vocal presences and play on the field.

In particular, the following 10 Ohio State players – all of whom are in at least their third year with the team – stand out as players who should be top leaders for the Buckeyes in 2026, meaning they’ll all play a significant role in keeping the team together when adversity strikes and pushing the team forward in its pursuit of its championship goals.

WR Brandon Inniss
LT/RG Austin Siereveld

We’ll start with the two most obvious candidates. Inniss and Siereveld were both already captains for Ohio State last season, so it’s likely they’ll remain captains and primary leaders for the Buckeyes in 2026.

Inniss’ on-field performance didn’t meet expectations last season as he caught only 36 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, but his competitiveness, vocal leadership and work ethic were never questioned. His standing as a leader has only grown stronger this offseason as he was one of four players to earn Iron Buckeye honors during winter workouts – an honor he earned in part because he turned down an invitation to join the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer to focus on getting better.

“In the offseason, that was my number one goal was to be an Iron Buckeye. I got an opportunity to go on the Buckeye Cruise, but there's a rule: if you go on the Buckeye Cruise, you can't be an Iron Buckeye. And I was solely focused on being Iron Buckeye, being one of the hardest workers on the team, and I'm glad that I was able to hit that goal,” Inniss said in March.

“We have a lot of new guys, and a captain last year doesn't mean anything to the new guys, honestly. So I wanted them to know how hard I work, and that comes with being an Iron Buckeye.”

While Inniss has been a vocal presence throughout his Ohio State career, Siereveld’s rise to captaincy last offseason was less foreseen, as he wasn’t known for being particularly talkative – at least in media interviews. But Siereveld emerged as one of Ohio State’s best leaders behind the scenes last summer, then backed it up with his play, earning All-Big Ten honors as the Buckeyes’ starting left tackle.

Entering preseason camp, it’s uncertain where exactly Siereveld will line up this season, as the Buckeyes are weighing the possibility of moving him back inside to guard – the position he started his Ohio State career playing – to fill their vacancy at right guard with Ian Moore emerging as a viable starting option at left tackle. No matter where Siereveld lines up this fall, though, he’ll unquestionably be a leader for Ohio State’s offensive line, offense and team as a whole.

QB Julian Sayin

Because of the position he plays, no Buckeye bears more responsibility to be a leader than Sayin. Now entering his second year as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, Sayin is embracing that responsibility, particularly in terms of building connections with his new teammates this offseason.

“You really have to take control of those guys, and it starts with the connection,” Sayin said this spring when talking about his growth as a leader. “You have to be a great teammate, and you have to get to know these guys, and so I think it's been fun this spring to get to know those guys.”

While Sayin isn’t known to be outspoken, he proved last season that he can be a leader on the field and has looked even more comfortable in that role this offseason as Ryan Day and Mickey Marotti challenged him to grow in his leadership. Sayin’s recent selection as one of Ohio State’s Big Ten Media Days representatives for later this month only solidifies his standing as one of the faces of the program.

Day said this spring that he’s still looking for more from Sayin in terms of how he commands the offense, but he believes Sayin’s made good strides in that area this offseason.

“You do feel a lot of progress being made, in the huddle in particular, the way that he can get us in and out of plays, the way he operates the offense, the way he communicates in the huddle at the line of scrimmage is excellent,” Day said. “But we always want more. So we're always going to keep driving at it, because there's so many more things that we got to get better at. But there's definitely improvement each practice.”

WR Jeremiah Smith

No one on Ohio State’s roster does a better job of leading by example than Smith.

As the best receiver in college football, Smith has a gravitational pull that makes people want to follow his lead just because of how spectacular a player he is. But he also sets the tone for the Buckeyes by being the team’s hardest worker, as evidenced by his four Iron Buckeye selections in three years.

“I'm still the hardest-working person on the team. All the accolades and stuff I’ve got, I’ve still got a mentality that I'm going to always be the hardest-working player on my team,” Smith said this spring. “In high school, I was the hardest-working player on my team, and in the NFL, I'm gonna be the hardest-working player on the team. … That's the only thing I know how to do is work hard.”

Much like former Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr., Smith is known for being a quiet worker, so Ohio State’s coaches are pushing him to use his voice more this year, and Day said he saw that from Smith this spring. But even though he’s unlikely to be one of Ohio State’s top vocal leaders, he’s unquestionably one of the team’s best leaders by example, as he has been since he was a freshman.

“Jeremiah is sort of a man of few words, but he's found his voice more and more, and I've noticed the last few practices, even when the twos and the threes are in there, he's near the huddle, he's listening to the call, he's encouraging them, he's coaching them, he’s there,” Day said in April. “Leaders have to be felt, leaders have to be heard, and that's just how it goes, and he's making a conscious effort to do that, and I think the guys see that.

“What he's always done since he stepped in this building is he's practiced really hard and set an example of discipline and how you practice, and when your best players are your hardest workers, it gives you a chance to build a culture. He's done that, for sure, like with a giant check mark from the day he walked in until just his practice today. I think where he's really working on is being felt and heard in terms of encouraging guys, pushing guys, being that leader, and having an impact and having a connection with the guys, and he's definitely made an effort. You can see it, and we're gonna need that.”

“When your best players are your hardest workers, it gives you a chance to build a culture. He's done that, for sure, like with a giant check mark.”– Ryan Day on Jeremiah Smith’s leadership

LG Luke Montgomery
C Carson Hinzman

Siereveld is far from the only veteran leader on Ohio State’s offensive line. Montgomery and Hinzman are the most naturally vocal members of the unit and two of the most outgoing personalities on the entire team.

Both of them were already burgeoning leaders for the Buckeyes last season, but they’ll play even bigger roles in that regard this season as Montgomery enters his second year as a full-time starter as a fourth-year senior while Hinzman is in his third year as a full-time starter as a fifth-year senior.

As Ohio State’s offensive line looks to bounce back from a rough end to last season and go from a weakness to a strength for the Buckeyes this season, Montgomery and Hinzman will play a crucial role in pushing the unit – as well as the entire offense – forward as two of the team’s most experienced returning starters, as well as being players who are known for speaking up and bringing positivity to their teammates.

“I feel like a great leader. And I think we got a lot of leaders, too,” Montgomery said. “So I'm super excited for this year. It's gonna be a lot of fun.”

DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

Assuming Ohio State will want to have at least one captain on the defensive side of the ball, Jackson is one of the leading candidates for that role. Perhaps tellingly, Jackson was the only defensive player to meet with the media twice this spring, both times in press conference settings alongside Sayin, suggesting that Ohio State views him as a face and leading representative of its defense.

Jackson didn’t always want to be a leader; when he was initially challenged to become the leader of Ohio State’s defensive line last offseason, Jackson said there were days when he went home and cried because he was overwhelmed by the responsibility. But after emerging as a leader of his unit alongside Curry and McDonald last year, he’s feeling more confident in that role now, even though he acknowledges he’s not the most naturally talkative person.

“I'm pretty comfortable,” Jackson said of his leadership role. “I mean, it's still hard. I mean, you've got 51 new players (this spring) … it's pretty hard, but I mean, I'm pretty comfortable. I've been here for a very long time.”

S Jaylen McClain

Another prime candidate to be a top leader for Ohio State’s defense this season is McClain. He was also among the Buckeyes who earned Iron Buckeye honors this winter – the second consecutive time he received that award after also earning it last summer – and was selected as Ohio State’s lone defensive representative for Big Ten Media Days.

While Ohio State’s coaches made it clear this spring that they don’t expect any one player to singlehandedly fill the massive shoes left behind by Downs, they are expecting McClain to step up as a communicator on the back end of the defense as the Buckeyes’ only returning starter at safety from last season.

That’s a challenge McClain has responded to, according to his teammates. Ohio State cornerback Devin Sanchez identified McClain this spring as the defensive back who has stepped up most as a leader this offseason, though he said Florida State transfer Earl Little Jr. is providing leadership at safety as well.

“Jaylen is being real vocal out there. He's talking, he's leading the secondary. If somebody messes up on the coverage, he makes them right,” Sanchez said. “So I feel like it is definitely Jaylen McClain, but Earl Little is definitely that, too. He comes down, he sets the tone, he'll go smack a running back right in the face, and then he'll just come back and talk and he'll let you hear it. So I feel like it's both safeties.”

CB Jermaine Mathews Jr.

The other of Ohio State’s three returning starters on defense, Mathews will also be counted on to provide leadership in the secondary – especially from a vocal standpoint.

When Inniss was named as a captain last season, he identified Mathews as “the guy that wasn't named captain that has tremendous energy,” saying he and Mathews feed off of each other. Much like Inniss, Mathews is always seen bringing energy whether he’s in the game covering opposing receivers or hyping up his teammates on the sideline.

After Day identified Igbinosun last year as the player who “changed the culture of our secondary,” Ohio State is counting on Mathews as a senior leader this season to maintain the Buckeyes’ standard of competitiveness at the cornerback position. Mathews knows he’s now the player that the other players in the cornerback room are looking up to, and he’s embracing that platform.

“(Igbinosun) definitely came and changed the room. The room wasn't what it is now about four years ago. So I think now, for me, it's just upholding the standard,” Mathews said. “I think just making sure the young guys understand what the standard is here for us and just keep it going.”

LB Payton Pierce

Unlike the other nine players on this list, Pierce isn’t a returning starter from last season. Nevertheless, he appears well on his way to emerging as one of Ohio State’s top defensive leaders this season.

As Ohio State’s new starting middle linebacker, Pierce is set to play a position that naturally produces leaders; dating back to 2014, an Ohio State linebacker has been one of the Buckeyes’ team captains for 12 straight seasons. And Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, a two-time former Ohio State captain himself, has repeatedly talked up Pierce as a player with the qualities to be a leader of the Buckeye defense.

“The thing that's great about Payton is he's so competitive and he's a perfectionist and all those things as you should be as a Mike,” Laurinaitis said. “Honestly, I think he has pushed the guys in front of him (in past seasons) because of how hard he practices. He earned the respect of everybody right away freshman year with how physical he was in the box. And now it's fun to kind of see him find his voice even more.”

Pierce says he’s viewed himself as a leader since he was a two-time captain in high school, but feels fully ready to step into a leadership role now after two years of learning behind former captains Cody Simon and Sonny Styles, among others.

“I've gotten to step up a lot more, more vocal,” Pierce said this spring. “I mean, I got to learn from so many great people. And even our coaches are great leaders. So I get to be around the best of the best, and I feel like I've done a pretty good job. I got to get better, obviously, and just keep doing it.”

Former Buckeye, Super Bowl Champion Jake Ballard Headlines Sixth 12th Warrior Happy Hour

Chase Brown — Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 08:10

It's time for another Happy Hour.

Ohio State greats Andy Katzenmoyer, J.K. Dobbins, Maurice Clarett, Michael Jenkins and Jim Lachey headlined the first five 12th Warrior Happy Hours. We'll continue next week in the same fashion, welcoming former Buckeye tight end and Super Bowl champion Jake Ballard to appear on the live Q&A, Thursday, July 16, at 6 p.m.

Become a 12th Warrior ›

In an exclusive Google Meet with Ballard, 12th Warriors will hear untold stories, ask questions and connect with a former Buckeye like never before. It's relaxed. It's interactive. It's our way of saying thank you for backing independent Ohio State sports coverage, for representing Eleven Warriors and for being the heart of what we do at 11W.

Grab your drink of choice, log on and let's make some memories. We'll share further details in the Premium Lounge next week.

A Message to Future 12th Warriors

You aren't a 12th Warrior — yet.

For $85 a year (just 23 cents a day), you can join a selfless perks program designed to flip the paywall system, keeping our coverage free for all by paying it forward. Membership includes perks like admission to 12th Warrior Happy Hour, a voucher for $40 off a purchase from Eleven Warriors Dry Goods, access to the Premium Lounge and more.

Want to chat with Ballard, help the site and score other perks? Sign up to become a 12th Warrior!

Jake Ballard, Springboro's Finest

Ballard was a dependable, hard-nosed tight end whose reliability as both a blocker and pass catcher made him a valuable piece of Ohio State's offense during the late 2000s.

A four-year contributor from 2006 to 2009, Ballard emerged as a starter during his final two seasons and earned a reputation as one of the Buckeyes' most dependable players. A physical blocker with reliable hands, he provided quarterback Terrelle Pryor with a trusted target while excelling in the dirty work that fueled Ohio State's offense.

As a senior in 2009, Ballard helped Ohio State capture a fifth consecutive Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl victory. Though he never posted gaudy statistics in the Buckeyes' run-oriented offense, Ballard embodied the physical, team-first mentality that defined Ohio State under Jim Tressel.

After going undrafted in 2010, the Springboro, Ohio, native signed with the New York Giants and carved out an NFL career through perseverance. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2011, catching 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns while helping the Giants win Super Bowl XLVI. Ballard's promising career was cut short by a devastating knee injury suffered during the Super Bowl, but his journey from undrafted free agent to Super Bowl champion remains one of Ohio State's most inspiring success stories.

Today, Ballard is channeling that same resilience into a new mission through Hey Dad, a mobile app he co-founded after a deeply personal experience reshaped his perspective on fatherhood. Inspired by the months he and his wife, Olivia, spent in the neonatal intensive care unit after the premature birth of their son, Benny, Ballard created the app alongside childhood friend Justin Leffew to help fathers preserve video messages, advice and memories for their children.

The platform allows dads to schedule messages for future milestones, ensuring their words can be shared for years to come. What began as a way to leave a lasting legacy for his own children has grown into a passion project focused on helping fathers build stronger, more intentional relationships with their families.

Header Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Skull Session: Jeremiah Smith Confirms He Doesn’t Play College Football For Free; Air Noland Says Smith is Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson “All In One”

Chase Brown — Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 04:55

Welcome to the Skull Session.

You love to see a C.J. Stroud appreciation post:

CJ7 appreciation post. pic.twitter.com/sfWRorbPQI
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 7, 2026

Have a good Thursday.

“HUH???” Public service announcement: Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.

Wait, didn’t I write that on Wednesday?

I did.

Whether it’s an uncle’s comments about his nephew’s recruitment or a report from a satirical X account, take a second to ask yourself: “Is this real?”

Jeremiah Smith didn’t need much time to answer that question this week when he saw “Shane Tuttle” report that the Ohio State wide receiver is making $0 in NIL money this season. The post even included a doctored quote that read, “I want to win another National Championship. I figured that money could be used to make our team stronger in other areas.”

Smith simply quoted the post with “Huh???” and a few laughing emojis.

Huh???? https://t.co/nn63GlZLcJ
— Jeremiah Smith (@Jermiah_Smith1) July 7, 2026

According to On3 and Rivals, Smith’s current NIL valuation sits at $5 million, ranking No. 5 among all college athletes nationally behind Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, Kentucky power forward Milan Momcilovic, Louisville center Flory Bidunga and Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. While I’ll admit those outlets have a better finger on the pulse of NIL valuations than I do, I’d argue their numbers for Smith are already outdated — especially after he told On3’s Chris Low he could have made more than $10 million to transfer from Ohio State this offseason.

“But that’s not how I operate,” Smith told Low.

Now, just because Smith didn’t leave Ohio State for a $10 million payday doesn’t mean he’s playing for free. The Buckeyes have made sure Smith is well compensated as he enters what will likely be his final season before heading to the NFL — and he deserves every penny.

After all, he’s the best player in college football.

JULIO AND MEGATRON, ALL IN ONE. Remember Air Noland, the former Ohio State quarterback who transferred to South Carolina after his first season with the Buckeyes?

Noland, now a quarterback at Memphis, appeared on the Raw Room podcast with NFL veterans Daren Bates and Jalen Collins last month. While the trio talked football, Bates asked Noland to name his favorite wide receiver that he’s thrown to in his college career.

“Jeremiah Smith,” Noland answered without hesitation. “Julio Jones, Megatron (Calvin Johnson), all in one. I’m telling you.”

“I don’t know about that now,” Bates responded.

“I’m telling you, though,” Noland said, asserting his claim. “I’m telling you.”

“We got to see that established now,” Collins said.

“Jeremiah puts his head down. He grinds,” Noland said. “You gon’ get some fear walking in front of him. He’s one of them dudes.”

Collins, a former cornerback, laughed. That made me laugh because Collins was a second-round pick who played five NFL seasons before making stops in the XFL and CFL.

Jeremiah Smith would pack him up quick.

But I digress.

Noland’s point was that Smith’s rare combination of talent, physicality and mentality makes him stand out even among elite college football players.

“An average college football player (sees him) and is like, ‘Whoa,’” Noland said. “He’s tough. You can see it.”

Hoooooo, man. Yes, you can.

A DANGEROUS DUO. OK, one more section about Jeremiah Smith. Just one more.

This week, On3’s J.D. PicKell ranked the top 10 quarterback-wide receiver duos in college football, and Julian Sayin and Smith claimed the No. 1 spot.

The Ohio State duo earned the top ranking because of their combination of talent and chemistry. In his first season as the Buckeyes’ QB1, Sayin threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns, with both marks ranking among the best in the FBS. Smith hauled in 87 passes from him for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning unanimous All-American honors and Big Ten Receiver of the Year recognition.

An Duo@juliansayin2 @Jermiah_Smith1 pic.twitter.com/TDd6jGmXpB
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 8, 2026

Sayin and Smith finished ahead of several impressive duos in the top five, including Miami’s Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney, Texas’ Arch Manning and Cam Coleman, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Dakorien Moore, and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and… Mylan Graham?

Wow. PicKell is really buying into Graham’s potential in South Bend.

We’ll see if the former five-star receiver lives up to the hype for the Fighting Irish.

As for Sayin and Smith, though, we already know what both players are capable of. There should be plenty of fireworks from those two this fall.

WELL, THAT’S INTERESTING. Ohio State is college football’s only recession-proof program, so how is it possible that the Buckeyes have never been the team that defined an entire decade of the sport?

That’s the question I had after reading an article from Chip Patterson this week, in which the CBS Sports writer named the greatest college football program from each decade since the 1920s. Here were his answers:

1920s: Notre Dame (83-11-3 record)
1930s: Alabama (79-11-5)
1940s: Notre Dame (82-9-6)
1950s: Oklahoma (93-10-2)
1960s: Alabama (90-16-4)
1970s: USC (93-22-7)
1980s: Miami (99-20)
1990s: Nebraska (108-16-1) and Florida State (109-13-1)
2000s: Florida (100-30)
2010s: Alabama (124-15)
2020s: Georgia (73-9)

Patterson named Ohio State as an honorable mention for the 2020s, lauding Ryan Day’s performance as head coach of the Buckeyes. He wrote this about Day’s program over the past six seasons:

Ohio State and Ryan Day, like Georgia, had their own local issues to handle before ascending to the top of the mountain. A four-game losing streak to Michigan placed immense weight on Day and the Buckeyes, but a bounce back in 2024 to win the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff moves Ohio State back in line to challenge the Bulldogs for decade supremacy.

Ohio State needs another national title to get level with Georgia in the decade count, but given the level of recruiting and consistency under Day, it's likely they'll have a roster talented enough to win it all nearly every year between now and 2029.

Ohio State and Georgia are the only programs to finish in the top-10 of the final AP poll in each of the last five years, setting a standard that Oregon, Notre Dame, Indiana and Kalen DeBoer's Alabama are pushing to match. There is plenty of time left for Georgia or Ohio State to be unseated, but it's easy to look at those two as the programs that have ruled the first six seasons of the 2020s.

After reading this article, I was left with a would-you-rather question: Would you rather have Ohio State be an unquestioned Team of the Decade — even if that meant enduring stretches of mediocrity afterward — or would you rather have what the Buckeyes are now?

A program that is never bad, always in the national championship conversation and consistently among the most talented teams in the country, even if it hasn’t had one decade defined entirely by its dominance?

SONG OF THE DAY. "Here It Goes Again" - OK Go.

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Amare Bynum Knew “All Along” He’d Remain at Ohio State Despite Transfer Portal Interest from Other Teams

Dan Hope — Wednesday, July 8, 2026 - 10:53

In the modern age of college sports – especially in college basketball – it can never be fully assumed that an athlete will remain at one school from one year to the next.

That’s certainly been true for Ohio State basketball, as the Buckeyes have experienced significant roster turnover on an annual basis since the dawn of the transfer portal era. Ohio State’s 2026-27 roster includes only six of the 15 players who were on the team last season.

For sophomore forward Amare Bynum, however, staying at Ohio State for his second year of college basketball was never in question.

“All along I knew I was coming back. This is the school that believed in me at first, so I believe in them,” Bynum said last week.

Bynum’s easy decision to return to Ohio State wasn’t due to a lack of options. In his first press conference of the summer, Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said other teams tried to convince Bynum to enter the portal, but Bynum and Ohio State’s other returning star, John Mobley Jr., rebuffed those efforts. As such, Bynum remains with Ohio State as one of the Buckeyes’ foundational players for the 2026-27 season.

“If John Mobley or Amare Bynum would have been in the transfer portal, like maybe some of the best players in the country, right? And there were plenty of teams that tried to push them into the transfer portal,” Diebler said on June 1. “And so them really right away saying, ‘Hey, this is where I want to be and we're building something and we want to take it to the next level,’ was awesome for us as a staff. That allowed us early on to go out and say, OK, how do we build around these two guys?”

The first player from last year’s roster to publicly announce he would remain at Ohio State for the 2026-27 season, Bynum said he had brief conversations with people close to him about “seeing what the best is out there for me,” but quickly determined after talking with Diebler that “the best for me is right here.”

“Just because of the development here, and I have such a close relationship with everybody on the team,” Bynum said of why he felt Ohio State was the best place for him.

“All along I knew I was coming back. This is the school that believed in me at first, so I believe in them.”– Amare Bynum on his decision to stay at Ohio State

As Bynum participated in a practice session that was open to the media last week and met with reporters afterward, the sophomore forward had a big smile on his face at nearly every moment. That’s because he feels blessed to be a Buckeye, and he’s motivated to take advantage of that opportunity.

“Some people don't get to have this opportunity, so if I have the opportunity, I try to show what I can do,” Bynum said.

As a freshman last season, Bynum averaged 9.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on 50.6% shooting. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound native of Omaha, Nebraska, got better and better as his freshman season progressed, becoming a full-time starter in January and averaging 11 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in the Buckeyes’ final 11 games of the year.

Bynum says he’s working on all areas of his game entering his sophomore year, with a particular emphasis on improving his jump shot. As a freshman, Bynum did most of his damage around the rim; according to CBBShotCharts.com, he made 67.4% of his shots (95 of 141) within six feet of the rim but just 29.8% (34 of 114) from everywhere else on the floor.

Being able to make shots away from the basket will be more important for Bynum this season, as Diebler said the Buckeyes could occasionally play Bynum as a small forward in bigger lineups this season. He’ll primarily play power forward alongside centers Josh Ojianwuna, Andrija Jelavic and Ivan Njegovan and wings Anthony Thompson, Jimmie Williams and Alex Smith, but Ohio State could occasionally move Jelavic to the 4 and Bynum to the 3 for a larger frontcourt lineup.

In addition to improved shooting, Bynum expects to be more effective as a dribbler and playmaker away from the basket this season.

“Last year, I didn’t dribble a lot, but this year, I’m more comfortable with the ball, making more playmaking decisions,” Bynum said.

Bynum wants to be an All-Big Ten player as a sophomore, and Diebler believes Bynum is “trending in that direction.” If the Buckeyes are going to achieve their goals of contending for a Big Ten championship and making a deep NCAA Tournament run this season, Ohio State needs Bynum to become a star, and Diebler is confident that will happen.

“For him to accomplish his goals, but for us to accomplish ours, he's required to take a significant jump. And the reason I'm so confident in that is because I saw the consistency he operated with all year long,” Diebler said. “And we saw, when you look at the last 10 games vs. kind of the first 20 games and where he was as a player and the level at which he was playing, gave me great confidence going into the offseason saying, ‘Hey, that's a building block for us.’”

“He’s Like a Little Bowling Ball Out There”: Bruce Thornton is Already Turning Heads with the Houston Rockets

Josh Poloha — Wednesday, July 8, 2026 - 08:35

Everywhere Bruce Thornton goes, players and coaches heap praise on him.

After becoming Ohio State's all-time leading scorer, the program's first four-time team captain and the first Buckeye selected in the NBA draft since 2023, Thornton has quickly made a name for himself already in Houston.

Selected with the 31st pick (first pick of the second round) by the Rockets on June 24, Thornton signed a four-year, $9.3 million deal on Tuesday. The contract includes one fully guaranteed season for the NBA’s $1.36 million rookie minimum, along with three non-guaranteed team option years.

On that same day, Thornton took part in his first practice with the Rockets, and he’s already drawing rave reviews in Houston. At 6 feet and 223 pounds, Thornton has already shown his coaches that he plays much bigger than his size suggests, just as he did throughout his time at Ohio State.

#Rockets assistant Will Dunn (summer HC) on his first impressions of Bruce Thornton:

“He’s a tank. You can see it right away. He’s like a little bowling ball out there. He’s physical, he’s strong, he’s got a really tight handle. So when you guard him, you’ll feel it, for sure.” pic.twitter.com/bGi5u4aq2o
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) July 7, 2026

“He’s a tank,” said Rockets assistant coach Will Dunn, who will serve as head coach of the summer league squad. “You can see it right away. He’s like a little bowling ball out there.

“He’s physical, he’s strong, he’s got a really tight handle. So when you guard him, you’ll feel it, for sure,” he continued. "And that’ll also allow him defensively to do some switching and stuff like that. A guy his size might not normally be able to, but he’s got that physicality, where it will allow him to."

During his final season at Ohio State, Thornton watched film of players who he thought he could compare to in the NBA. One of those players was Fred VanVleet, who is now his teammate.

At 6 feet and 197 pounds, VanVleet enters his fourth season with the Rockets after playing for the Toronto Raptors during his first seven years in the league. The 10-year veteran missed all of the 2025-26 season after tearing his ACL last September during team mini-camp in the Bahamas.

#Rockets rookie Bruce Thornton, asked for NBA comparables or players he models his game after:

“Last year, I was watching a lot of Fred VanVleet highlights. It’s crazy how everything works out, and now we’re in the same locker room. So all the questions I have, I can ask.” pic.twitter.com/tF0c9b9ujy
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) July 7, 2026

“Last year, I was watching a lot of Fred VanVleet highlights,” Thornton said. "It’s crazy how everything works out, and now we’re in the same locker room. So all the questions I have, I can ask.”

While Thornton has work to do to transition his game to the NBA level, he’s confident he can make an impact as a rookie no matter how much playing time he sees.

"Me just filling in my role at a high level, doing the things they need me to do," Thornton said on draft night of how he wants to contribute for the Rockets. "Impact winning as much as I possibly can and be a great teammate in the locker room."

The Rockets will take part in the Las Vegas Summer League from July 9-19 with four games scheduled: July 10 vs. Denver Nuggets (6:30, ESPN2), July 11 vs. Toronto Raptors (9:30, Prime Video), July 14 vs. Philadelphia 76ers (4:00, Prime Video) and July 16 vs. Brooklyn Nets (4:30, ESPNU).

Thornton hopes to make a name for himself beginning in Summer League, then carry that momentum into the rest of the offseason ahead of his rookie campaign. But no matter where his NBA career goes from here, Thornton knows how blessed he is to be in the position that he's in, something he will never take for granted.

Bruce Thornton on signing: “It’s just a blessing, all of this. My job is to play basketball now. I’ve got the best job in the world. There’s no complaining.”

On what he wants to bring the Rockets: “Just bringing winning habits, each and every day, so I can hold that trophy.” https://t.co/PYGUTlpMlP pic.twitter.com/HLCxOxYmv6
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 7, 2026

“It’s just a blessing, all of this,” Thornton said. “My job is to play basketball now. I’ve got the best job in the world. There’s no complaining."

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