The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

Blind Ranking Ohio State’s Greatest One-Season Wonders | Buckeye Weekly Podcast On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr joke about Tom’s favorite types of Buckeye Weekly episodes before Tony has Tom blind-rank Ohio State football’s best one-season “one-hit wonders.” Tony reveals six names one at a time and Tom must place each without knowing who’s next, debating whether to judge by impact or raw statistics. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:26 Blind Ranking the Shows 01:34 One Season Wonders Rules 02:16 Player Number One 03:27 Player Number Two 05:30 Player Number Three 07:54 Player Number Four 10:21 Player Number Five 13:17 Player Number Six 17:16 Wrap Up and Subscribe

Which Ohio State Assistant Coach Will Have the Biggest Impact in 2026? | Buckeye Weekly Podcast On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss which Ohio State assistant coach will have the biggest impact on the Buckeyes reaching their ceiling this season. The most common pick is new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, with the hosts focusing on his experience as a play caller and the potential for a step forward from last year’s offense. They also highlight offensive line coach Tyler Bowen and the importance of improved line play, running backs coach Carlos Locklyn's challenge developing a young backfield, and first-year wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton’s need to build production beyond Jeremiah Smith. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is mentioned as a factor again despite major personnel losses, and special teams coach Robby Discher is discussed in light of punt rule changes that could increase blocked punts. 00:00 Welcome and Tressel Day 00:52 Biggest Assistant Impact 01:32 Arthur Smith Boost 04:20 Fixing the O Line 06:05 Young Backs and WR Room 08:03 Patricia Repeatable Defense 10:49 Special Teams and Punt Rule 13:56 Wrap Up and Callouts

Breaking News: Top-100 DE Wyatt Smith Commits to Ohio State | Buckeye Weekly Podcast On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr react to breaking recruiting news that top-100 defensive end Wyatt Smith has committed to Ohio State. They describe Smith as a long, 6'6", 235–240-pound edge rusher from St. Thomas Aquinas in South Florida, ranked No. 78 nationally in the 247 Composite, No. 11 at edge, and No. 9 in Florida, and note he joins committed defensive end DJ Jacobs to give the Buckeyes two top-100 prospects at a premium position. They discuss Larry Johnson’s continued recruiting and development track record, Smith’s NFL bloodlines as the son of former Bengals All-Pro Justin Smith, and Smith’s production last season (155 tackles, 24 TFL, 33 hurries, 13 sacks, two forced fumbles, two recoveries in 15 games), plus how Ohio State prefers freshmen to have opportunity rather than immediate need. 00:00 Podcast Intro and Alert 00:33 Wyatt Smith Commits 01:57 Why Edge Recruiting Matters 02:47 Larry Johnson Development Pitch 04:36 Film and Production Breakdown 06:40 NFL Legacy and Recruiting Angle 08:06 Roster Outlook and Freshman Roles 09:38 Opportunity Versus Need 11:33 Wrap Up and Call to Action

Buckeye Weekly Draft: 6 Ohio State Players Poised to Be First-Team All-Big Ten On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr do a snake draft of six returning Ohio State players they think will become first-team All-Big Ten this season, excluding transfers and anyone who was first- or second-team last year (Julian Sayin, Bo Jackson, Jeremiah Smith, Luke Montgomery, and Austin Siereveld). 00:00 Welcome and Draft Rules 01:20 Ineligible All-Big Ten Names 01:57 Pick 1 03:20 Picks 2-3 05:41 Tom Pick 07:08 Tom Steals 09:39 Tony Recovers 12:03 Other Candidates and Wrap-Up

Buckeye Stat Projection Game: Matching Past OSU Seasons to 2026 Players On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr play a game where Tony presents stat lines from past Ohio State players and Tom must project which current Buckeye could post those numbers in 2026, then guess the original Buckeye who produced them. They discuss rushing, defensive, and receiving lines, with projections involving players like Isaiah West, Legend Bey, Earl Little, Devin McCuin, and more. 00:00 Welcome and Game Setup 01:42 Rushing Stat Projection 04:21 Guessing the Past Rusher 05:44 Defensive Stat Projection 08:42 Revealing the Past Defender 09:49 Interception Season Challenge 13:51 Receiver Yards No TDs 18:40 Deep Threat Stat Line 22:26 Legend Bey/Dontre Wilson Comparison 24:24 Wrap Up and Subscribe

Most Impactful Ohio State Transfer in 2026? | Buckeye Weekly Podcast On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss which Ohio State transfer could be the most impactful this season, using 2024 examples like Caleb Downs and Will Howard to frame the conversation. Tony leans toward safety Earl Little due to the defense’s plans for him and the versatility he could bring, while Tom highlights kicker Connor Hawkins as a potentially decisive difference-maker in close games. They also run through other transfer candidates and roles, including James Smith, Terry Moore, Devin McCuin, Kyle Parker, Qua Russaw, Dom Kelly, Mason Williams, Hunter Welcing, Ja'Kobi Jackson, John Walker, Justyn Martin, and long snapper Dalton Riggs, emphasizing how impact can come from both star plays and critical special-teams reliability. 00:00 Podcast Cold Open 00:53 Defining Impactful Transfers 02:10 Best 2024 Transfers 03:33 Earl Little Spotlight 06:18 Kicker Connor Hawkins 08:53 Other Transfer Candidates 10:01 Receiver Gravity Talk 12:37 Qua Russaw Role 14:11 More Names and Scenarios 15:22 Long Snapper Importance 16:46 Wrap Up and Thanks

Ohio State Kickoff Times: Big Noon Picks, TV Draft Tea Leaves & Schedule Speculation On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss early TV time/network announcements and what they suggest about Ohio State’s 2026 schedule. They note Ohio State–Michigan is set for noon on Fox and Oklahoma–Michigan is also a noon Fox game, then explain Fox drafts weeks (not individual games) and likely used three top picks on Week 13 (Michigan), Week 2 (Oklahoma at Michigan), and Oct. 17 (Ohio State at Indiana). They speculate that Ohio State–Oregon likely won’t be Big Noon and could land at 3:30 on CBS, discuss how Notre Dame NBC windows, Big Ten Network obligations, and potential Peacock decisions affect placements, and project possibilities for early nonconference games, Texas in primetime, and Ohio State at Nebraska likely earlier to set up Michigan week. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 01:03 Big Noon Picks Explained 01:55 Fox Week Draft Mystery 03:50 Ohio State Oregon Time Guess 04:46 Other Marquee Games 06:20 Early Season Kickoffs 08:38 Network Obligations Peacock 10:39 More Schedule Clues Ahead 12:47 Midseason Game Time Projections 15:28 November Nights Nebraska 18:23 Wrap Up and Subscribe

How NCAA’s ‘Five Years to Play Five’ Rule Could Reshape Ohio State’s 2027 Roster | Buckeye Weekly Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss a pending NCAA rule that would allow players five years of eligibility to play five seasons and how it could impact Ohio State’s 2027 roster by potentially keeping 2026 true seniors for an extra year. They run through possible returnees—WRs Devin McCuin and Brandon Innis, TE Mason Williams, LG Luke Montgomery, DT James Smith, LB Christian Allegro, and CB Jermaine Matthews—debating draft projections, NIL tradeoffs, positional needs, and whether retaining veterans could replace portal additions. They highlight the value of continuity and frame the change as a way to re-sign in-house “free agents” before turning to the portal. 00:00 Welcome Back Banter 01:22 NCAA Five Years Rule 02:43 Wide Receiver Decisions 06:43 Tight End Return Case 09:22 Luke Montgomery O Line 13:18 James Smith D Line 16:18 Christian Alliegro Outlook 20:28 Jermaine Mathews Debate 23:17 Portal Style Roster Building 26:12 Wrap Up And Subscribe

In this episode of Buckeye Huddle Primetime, host Juck Milletti shares some recruiting updates on a handful of high-value targets, and then discusses the Ohio State freshman class and how they fared this spring and the expectations for this season.

Buckeye Weekly Podcast: What Will More QB Run Look Like for Ohio State in 2026? On this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr answer a listener question about what “more QB run” should look like for Ohio State this year, focusing on Julian Sayin. They discuss the importance of quarterbacks contributing on the ground—especially rushing for at least one touchdown—and how even a few timely scrambles or option pulls can extend drives, help in short-yardage and goal-line situations, and force defenses to account for the quarterback. They compare recent Ohio State quarterback rushing production (including sack-adjusted stats) to players like CJ Stroud, Kyle McCord, and Will Howard, reference examples like Dwayne Haskins, and debate realistic season highs, single-game rushing yard projections, touchdown totals, and a 200-yard season benchmark. 00:00 Welcome and Listener Questions 00:41 What More QB Run Means 02:27 Touchdowns and the Threat Factor 04:20 Strategic Use vs Texas 05:49 Last Season Rushing Context 06:49 Comparing QBs and Carry Limits 09:30 Haskins Example and Attempt Targets 11:04 Over Unders and Predictions 14:05 Wrap Up and Subscribe

Can Ohio State’s Defense Still Be Elite After Losing NFL Draft Stars? | Buckeye Weekly Podcast On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr kick off “listener question season” by answering whether Ohio State’s defense can make its own mark after major NFL Draft departures from last year’s historic unit. They discuss the challenge of matching a program-best standard while noting Ohio State recently lost eight defensive starters to the draft and then seven more, yet still has the talent and coaching continuity to remain near last year’s level. They highlight how unexpected breakouts (like Arvell Reese and Kayden McDonald) can happen again, point to potential risers such as Kenyatta Jackson, and emphasize the transfer portal’s role in replacing starters with experienced players, including additions like Qua Russaw, James Smith, John Walker, Christian Alliegro, and Earl Little. They also expect schematic adjustments and possibly more aggressive, higher-variance play in 2026. 00:00 Listener Question Season 01:00 Can This Defense Match 2025 02:31 Next Breakout Stars 04:04 Portal Depth and Projection 06:51 Roster Management Reality 08:33 New Scheme and Creativity 10:57 Final Take and Wrap Up

Ohio State Injury Updates + Ryan Day on Mental Health | Buckeye Weekly Podcast On the Buckeye Weekly podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss Ryan Day’s update that Ohio State players who missed spring with various injuries and procedures (including issues like labrums and meniscus) are expected to be healed in time to have full summers, emphasizing how crucial summer work is for preparing for fall camp, especially for offensive linemen and running backs. They note spring is the right time to be cautious and get nagging issues cleaned up, while also highlighting the need for a mental break after spring ball. The conversation shifts to Day’s children’s mental health initiatives with Nina Day through the Kids Mental Health Foundation, including an event in New Hampshire focused on improving access, reducing stigma, and building resiliency, with encouragement for philanthropy and broader national expansion. 00:00 Welcome and Big Update 00:27 Spring Injuries Healing Timeline 01:33 Summer Work Matters Most 02:11 O Line and RBs Getting Reps 04:28 Legend Bay Development Plan 06:29 Recovery and Avoiding Lingering Issues 07:17 Mental Breaks and Player Wellness 09:07 Kids Mental Health Foundation Event 10:07 Access and Ending the Stigma 13:57 Wrap Up and Subscribe

Buckeyes Go 4 in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft + Ryan Day on Being “NFL Ready” On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss Ohio State’s 2026 NFL Draft first-round results and what Ryan Day said in a Zoom about the Buckeyes being “pro ready.” They react to four first-round picks—Carnell Tate going fourth overall to the Titans (a surprise as the first Buckeye taken), Arvell Reese to the Giants, Sonny Styles to the Commanders, and Caleb Downs to the Cowboys—and explain how Ohio State’s day-to-day competition, media pressure, and NFL-style schemes help players transition seamlessly to the league. They highlight Reese’s upside and versatility, Styles’ maturity and community involvement, and Downs as a near “sure shot” despite size concerns. The hosts also connect Ohio State’s draft success to recruiting momentum and note the program’s historic draft production by position. 00:00 Draft Night Kickoff 00:46 Buckeyes Go Pro Ready 03:43 Arvell Reese Breakdown 04:57 Sonny Styles Spotlight 08:02 Carnell Tate Surprise 08:41 Caleb Downs Steal 13:05 Recruiting Impact Angle 13:43 NFL Style Development 17:23 Position Dominance Stats 18:24 Quarterback History Talk 19:24 Wrap Up And Thanks

Buckeye Weekly Draft Day: Which Big Ten Stars Would We Add to Ohio State in 2026? On NFL Draft day, Buckeye Weekly hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom do a hypothetical “draft” where Ohio State can add any Big Ten players to the 2026 roster. They target some of the Big Ten's best, as well as some new faces as well. 00:00 Welcome and Draft Day Setup 01:10 Rules and Draft Strategy 03:15 Pick One 06:19 Pick Two 08:33 Interior Line Luxury Picks 11:39 More Targets and O Line Ideas 13:24 Freshmen and Tight End Options 16:18 Wrap Up and Viewer Picks

Which New Buckeyes Surprised Us Most This Spring? | Buckeye Weekly Podcast On the Buckeye Weekly podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom discuss which new Ohio State players surprised them most during spring practice, focusing on one true freshman and one transfer each. They highlight freshman wide receiver Brock Boyd for losing his black stripe extremely early and flashing as a versatile playmaker, and Tony notes freshman center Mason Wilhelm as an unexpected early contributor with the twos and threes, with mentions of freshman tackle Sam Greer and running back Favour Akih also looking more ready than expected. For transfers, Tom points to defensive back Earl Little for immediate impact, based on an early black stripe removal and strong reviews from teammates and coaches despite missing late spring due to a knee procedure. They also discuss transfer corner Dominick Kelly pushing for a rotation role and Alabama defensive line transfers James Smith and Qua Russaw carving out roles, with Russaw drawing praise for holding up vs. the run. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:57 Freshman Surprise Brock Boyd 04:11 Underrated Center Mason Wilhelm 06:09 Sam Greer and RB Favour Akih 08:50 Transfer Standout Earl Little 11:57 Dominick Kelly and Bama DL Adds 15:51 Wrap Up and Subscribe

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr share their thoughts after watching the 2026 Michigan Spring Game. They discuss quarterback Bryce Underwood's underwhelming performance, the possibility of a quarterback battle with freshman Tommy Carr, a pair of very talented running backs, some new names defensively, and more.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr recap what they learned from rewatching the Ohio State spring game. Thoughts on Jeremiah Smith, Chris Henry, Jr., a handful of transfers and true freshmen and much, much else.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr give their instant reactions from the Ohio State spring game. Thoughts on Chris Henry, Jr., Dominick Kelly, Tavien St. Clair, the running of Julian Sayin, and much, much more.

The 2026 Ohio State Spring Game will kick off at noon inside Ohio Stadium. Before the game, Tony Gerdeman, Tom Orr, and Juck Miletti preview the storylines and players to watch, as Ryan Day's team gets its final tuneup of the spring.

In this bonus episode, Tony Gerdeman joined host Juck Miletti on Buckeye Huddle Primetime to talk about some position group updates and then shared their Top 10 players to watch in Saturday's Ohio State Spring Game.