The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

In this instant reaction episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr share their initial thoughts following Ohio State's 31-14 win at Iowa. They begin by discussing Jeremiah Smith and how routine the amazing has become. They talk running game and ask if the run defense has been fixed. They answer viewer questions throughout the show as well.

As part of the Buckeye Insiders' live postgame, Juck Miletti shared his three key takeaways from Ohio State's 31-14 win at Iowa.

Buckeye Insiders' Tom Orr, Juck Miletti, and Tony Gerdeman are in Kinnick Stadium to preview Saturday's ranked matchup between Iowa and Ohio State. What must the Buckeyes do to win the game? Can they run the ball on Iowa? Is that even necessary? The fellas discuss it all and share their score predictions as well.

The team from BuckeyeInsiders.com is LIVE on the ground in Iowa, and just got done talking to Ohio State head coach Ryan Day at the Buckeyes' team arrival.Now, they'll answer your questions and break down everything you need to know about Saturday's top-15 showdown between Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, and the Bucks, and Hank Brown, Kamari Moulton, and the Hawks.

The No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes have arrived in Iowa City in advance of their showdown with the No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes. Join the team from BuckeyeInsiders.com LIVE from Ohio State's team hotel to preview the game and get your first look at the team on the ground in Iowa.Join Tony Gerdeman, Juck Miletti, and Tom Orr of Buckeye Insiders for all of that. Plus, you'll get a front-row seat to a live interview with Ohio State head coach Ryan Day.

This will be Ohio State's first trip to Iowa since a 2017 blowout loss for the Buckeyes and then head coach Urban Meyer. Ryan Day was the OC in that game, so he remembers it well.What must the Buckeyes do to keep history from repeating? In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman preview Saturday's game and give their expectations for how things are going to go down.They provide their score predictions. Feel free to post yours in the comments as well.

This year's Ohio State men's basketball team is an interesting mix of returning standouts like John Mobley and Amare Bynum, a 5-star true freshman in Anthony Thompson, some veteran portal additions like Justin Pippen, and a whole lot more. But one of the most intriguing new faces is LJ Smith, who was also ranked as a 5-star recruit by some sources, and who enrolled a year early at Ohio State. So how much can he impact this year's team during what should have been his senior season of high school?In this special bonus episode, you'll hear Ohio State men's basketball coach Jake Diebler address that and much more, including their outdoor opening exhibition game next week against Cincinnati.

The Ohio State men's basketball team is getting set to tip off its season next Wednesday in an outdoor matinee against the in-state Cincinnati Bearcats. The team from BuckeyeInsiders.com will be there to cover that game, but before then, it's time for a bonus episode to let you hear a little bit from OSU men's basketball coach Jake Diebler.Diebler met with the media on Wednesday this week to preview the upcoming season, discuss some of the new faces on this year's team, and more. 

Is Jeremiah Smith headed for another big day? Can Bo Jackson manage an average day? Will Kenyatta Jackson set a career high this week?In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr are back to compete with bold predictions for this Saturday's game between Ohio State and Iowa.

Wednesday evening after Ohio State football practice, we got a chance to talk to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for the first time since fall camp, and there were a lot of interesting questions to ask. In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Smith about topics including: whether they ramped up their plans to get the ball to Jeremiah Smith when they saw how Illinois was defending them, how he has seen the run game continue to grow and evolve this season, and where Julian Sayin has made significant strides already this year.

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day during his interview session following Wednesday evening's practice in the lead-up to the Buckeyes' road game at Iowa. Day answered questions about Julian Sayin's execution of quarterback sneaks, how Jeremiah Smith handles opposing teams throwing multiple defenders at him on most snaps, what he remembers from the Buckeyes' previous trip to Iowa City in 2017, and much more. 

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has seen it all since taking over in Iowa City in 1999. Now the dean of Big Ten football coaches, Ferentz has his Hawkeyes back in the top-15 of the national polls, following a dramatic last-second victory over the Michigan Wolverines. In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Ferentz about that win, the difficulties ahead from facing Ohio State, and what they're doing to try to get ready for the unique challenge posed by the Buckeyes' star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

What are Ryan Day's major concerns right now regarding the Ohio State defense?In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss Day's answer to that question and how those concerns can be eased. They discuss some things that Kenyatta Jackson had to say about "hero ball" as well and talk about how quickly the fixes might take hold.

The No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes will travel to Iowa City this weekend to take on the No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes. Any trip to Kinnick Stadium can be dicey, especially for a top-15 team. In fact, the Hawkeyes are have won four of their last nine home games against top-15 opponents, and even many of their losses have come down to the final minute and a single possession. So what makes Kinnick Stadium such a tough place to play, and why is Kirk Ferentz's team so successful at dragging visitors into low-scoring slugfests?In this special bonus episode, you'll hear Ohio State head coach answer that and much more, including an update on talented true freshman DE Khary Wilder's role, Day's biggest concerns on defense, and more. 

Ohio State freshman nickel back Jay Timmons was injured in last Saturday's win against Illinois. His status this week is still up in the air, but Ryan Day did discuss what the Buckeyes might do without him.In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr talk about the options presented, which include senior Cam Calhoun and true freshman Jordan Thomas. What does this mean for Jermaine Mathews? The fellas discuss every possible scenario.

Ohio State QB Julian Sayin was a Heisman Trophy Finalist as a first-time starter and redshirt freshman in 2025. Now, in 2026, Sayin has shown noticeable signs of progress in a number of areas, most notably in his willingness and ability to run the football when needed.In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, and his thoughts on Sayin's season, his progress, and the passing game on the whole.

With a top-15 showdown on deck in Iowa City this Saturday, it's time for a few bonus episodes to let you hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day with some of his thoughts on the play of the Buckeyes' offense. Day has been challenging his team over the past month - challenging the offensive line to get more push, and the running backs to run harder - angry, even. So is he seeing that on the field?In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly Day about that, the status of talented true freshman Legend Bey, and much more.

Why aren't talented Ohio State freshmen Legend Bey and Khary Wilder seeing more playing time for the Buckeyes?Ryan Day answered that question on Tuesday. In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman break down Day's answers and discuss what he said and what he didn't for each of the two exciting freshmen.

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the current Heisman favorite, but how much does that mean in September?In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss Smith's Heisman odds and what it would take for him to actually win the award. How close is he to matching DeVonta Smith's numbers when he won it? How will the Ohio State defense factor into this? And isn't it just KNOWN that Jeremiah Smith is the best player in college football? The fellas talk about all of this and more.

Ohio State beat Illinois 42-19, but after going back and rewatching the game, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr found plenty more to talk about on the Buckeye Weekly Podcast.Jeremiah Smith was once again the biggest story, and the rewatch only reinforced one obvious conclusion: Ohio State should keep getting him the football. From easy red-zone opportunities to quick-game concepts and explosive plays, Smith continues to make the difficult look routine.   Tony and Tom also take a closer look at Julian Sayin's running, Nate Roberts' emergence at tight end, Ohio State's offensive line, Riley Pettijohn's growing role, the Buckeyes' unusual run fits on defense, the lack of proven stars in the front seven, and why some of the defensive issues may be more schematic than individual.They also discuss young players like T.J. Alford, Khary Wilder and Jordan Thomas, what Ohio State may do defensively against Iowa, and one veteran move from Carson Hinzman that deserves its own football terminology.0:00 — Rewatching Ohio State's 42-19 win over Illinois0:28 — What is a bold prediction for Jeremiah Smith anymore?0:53 — Just throw the ball to Jeremiah Smith3:02 — Why even simple throws to Smith are so effective4:31 — Jeremiah Smith does the little things too5:41 — Julian Sayin running and Nate Roberts emerging6:36 — Ohio State's tight end rotation8:05 — Jake Cook as a short-yardage weapon8:44 — Julian Sayin finally using his legs10:37 — Why Sayin's scrambling can change the offense12:28 — The Ohio State defense is still a work in progress13:03 — Weird run fits and difficult assignments14:49 — Is Matt Patricia asking too much of this defense?16:42 — Riley Pettijohn's good and bad moments18:01 — Ohio State's young linebackers continue to grow20:04 — Qua Russaw was more noticeable on the rewatch20:56 — Why the Iowa game could tell us a lot about the front seven22:12 — How Ohio State may line up against Iowa22:35 — Jordan Thomas making his case on special teams23:48 — Jay Timmons' status and the nickel question25:51 — Secondary communication issues26:24 — Carson Hinzman's veteran “boop” move27:18 — Final thoughts

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the Michigan Wolverines' performance in their loss at home to Iowa.How did it happen? Why did it happen? Who is to blame? Should it have ever happened in the first place? The fellas talk about all of this and much, much more. Including Michigan's ongoing struggles running the ball, the growing weaponry of Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan, Bryce Underwood's improved play, and how much any of this really matters.

We don't normally do a show with postgame clips from Ohio State's next opponent, but when that opponent stuns Michigan on the final play of the day in Ann Arbor, we understand that Buckeyes fans might be a little more interested than usual. In this special bonus episode, you'll hear from Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz in the wake of his team's 20-19 shocker over the Wolverines, including his thoughts on the play of QB Hank Brown, WR Reece Vander Zee, that final play on the whole, and much more.

Ohio State heads to Iowa City this week, so Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr went back and rewatched Iowa's 20-19 win over Michigan to get a better idea of what the Buckeyes are walking into.What did they learn? Iowa may not be flashy, but the Hawkeyes are still very good at dragging opponents into exactly the kind of game Kirk Ferentz wants to play. Michigan outgained Iowa for much of the afternoon, but the Hawkeyes capitalized in the red zone, avoided costly mistakes, won key late-game situations, and found a way to steal a road win in Ann Arbor.Tony and Tom break down Hank Brown, Iowa's running game, the Hawkeyes' receivers, their red-zone efficiency, the importance of turnover margin, and why Ohio State absolutely cannot let this turn into a classic Iowa rock fight.0:00 — Rewatching Iowa's 20-19 win over Michigan0:37 — How in the world did Iowa win this game?2:03 — The Kirk Ferentz formula is still alive4:13 — Iowa's offense: slow, methodical and hard to escape5:54 — The incredible bounces that helped Iowa6:51 — A 99-yard kickoff return changes everything8:08 — Even Iowa can have special teams problems9:50 — The stat that explains how Iowa wins games11:20 — Why Iowa doesn't need to force turnovers12:39 — What Iowa's offense can actually do13:57 — Ohio State has to get Iowa off the field17:05 — Breaking down Iowa's improbable final drive18:40 — How a Michigan injury changed the final sequence19:43 — Iowa's passing game still has limitations20:37 — Why Ohio State has to play sound, patient defense22:12 — Final thoughts on the Hawkeyes22:28 — Looking ahead to Ohio State at IowaThe biggest takeaway: Iowa doesn't need to dominate statistically to beat you. The Hawkeyes just need the game to stay close long enough for one turnover, one special-teams play, one penalty, or one late drive to decide it.Ohio State will have to stay disciplined, finish drives, tackle cleanly, and avoid giving Iowa the kind of openings that have made the Hawkeyes so dangerous in Iowa City over the years.Be sure to LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, and check out BuckeyeInsiders.com for complete Ohio State football coverage.

Ohio State opened Big Ten play with a 42-19 win over Illinois, and Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr are live with their instant reaction on the Buckeye Weekly Podcast.Jeremiah Smith put together another ridiculous performance, finishing with 12 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns, while Julian Sayin showed something Buckeye fans have been waiting to see: a willingness to use his legs. Sayin repeatedly extended plays and picked up key first downs as a runner, adding another dimension to the Ohio State offense.  But the Buckeyes didn't leave this game without some concerns. Illinois rushed for 199 yards and consistently generated explosive plays against an Ohio State defense that struggled to control the line of scrimmage. Tony and Tom discuss the defensive line, linebacker rotation, Khary Wilder, Riley Pettijohn, the lack of a consistent pass rush, and whether Ohio State's run defense has officially become a concern.They also break down Ohio State's running game, the offensive line without Phillip Daniels, the continued development of the Buckeyes' young players, and what this performance means heading into a road trip to Iowa.0:00 — Instant reaction to Ohio State's 42-19 win1:38 — Jeremiah Smith's monster four-touchdown performance5:00 — Should Ohio State just keep feeding Jeremiah Smith?7:30 — Where were the other Buckeye receivers?10:00 — What Ohio State's rotations tell us about who the coaches trust12:26 — Khary Wilder, Riley Pettijohn and the young Buckeye defenders16:00 — Illinois exposes problems with Ohio State's run defense20:00 — Is the defensive line Ohio State's biggest concern?24:00 — Where is the Buckeyes' pass rush?28:00 — Breaking down Ohio State's offensive line30:00 — Is the running-game problem the backs or the offensive line?32:23 — Bret Bielema on trying to defend Jeremiah Smith34:46 — Bielema on Julian Sayin using his legs35:34 — Has Ohio State solved its short-yardage problem?38:00 — Every contender in college football has flaws44:00 — Why Ohio State fans shouldn't overlook a comfortable Big Ten win47:00 — The biggest concern with this Buckeye team right now52:00 — Why the defensive line could determine Ohio State's ceiling56:00 — Why isn't Legend Bey playing more?59:00 — Ohio State goes 4-for-4 in the red zone1:00:11 — Tony vs. Tom: Who came closer on the final score?1:01:30 — Looking at Illinois and the rest of its schedule1:04:07 — What we'll be breaking down this week at Buckeye InsidersOhio State has plenty to clean up, particularly defensively, but the Buckeyes also left this one with encouraging developments from Sayin and yet another reminder that Jeremiah Smith can take over a football game almost by himself.Be sure to LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to Buckeye Insiders and hit the notification bell for more Ohio State football coverage.

Juck Miletti checks in from Ohio Stadium with his initial reaction following Ohio State's 42-19 win over Illinois to open Big Ten play.Julian Sayin showed a new element to his game with his legs, Jeremiah Smith delivered a monster four-touchdown performance, and the Buckeyes were dramatically better on third down and in the red zone. But there were still some concerns, most notably an Ohio State defense that surrendered far too many explosive plays.Juck breaks down what stood out from Sayin, Smith, the young linebackers, Nate Roberts and the tight ends, Ohio State's offensive line combinations, the running game, special teams and more. He also hands out his Buckeye helmet stickers and looks ahead to next week's road test at Iowa.0:00 — Opening thoughts on Ohio State's 42-19 win0:36 — Julian Sayin finally shows the X-factor with his legs1:34 — How much does Sayin's scrambling change the offense?2:30 — Jeremiah Smith takes over the game3:43 — Can Ohio State just keep feeding Jeremiah Smith?5:20 — Concern over Illinois' explosive plays against the defense9:01 — Ohio State's huge improvement on third and fourth down10:25 — Perfect day in the red zone10:55 — Matt Patricia shows more defensive aggression12:58 — Riley Pettijohn's growing role at linebacker14:00 — Nate Roberts stands out at tight end15:25 — What is Ohio State doing with the tight end rotation?16:35 — Brock Boyd flashes when given an opportunity17:12 — Did Bo Jackson answer Ryan Day's challenge?19:32 — Ja'Kobi Jackson continues to make the most of his carries20:00 — Gabe VanSickle and the offensive line combination21:22 — How Julian Sayin handled pressure22:22 — Why Ohio State's special teams remain frustrating24:35 — Buckeye helmet stickers: Jeremiah Smith, Nate Roberts and Jaylen McClain25:30 — Payton Pierce on Ohio State's defensive breakdowns28:27 — Juck's thoughts on Payton Pierce29:20 — The passing game is carrying the Buckeyes right now30:15 — Ohio State's youth movement is coming32:21 — Final thoughts and looking ahead to IowaOhio State improved to 4-0 with the victory, but Juck sees a team that is still developing week by week — with plenty of encouraging signs and a few issues that need to be cleaned up before the schedule gets tougher.  SUBSCRIBE to Buckeye Insiders for complete Ohio State football coverage, postgame analysis, recruiting news, podcasts, practice reports and more.

It is gameday as Ohio State kicks off Big Ten play by hosting 2-1 Illinois. The Buckeye Insiders' team of Juck Miletti, Tom Orr, and Tony Gerdeman preview the game and share their picks for what's about to happen. Where do the Illini have issues? Where can the Buckeyes take advantage? Will the Ohio State running game respond? All of this is covered and much more.

James Laurinaitis has done a lot as an Ohio State football player and coach, but he will get to do something new on Saturday before the Buckeyes take on Illinois: ring the Victory Bell.Laurinaitis is being honored as the pregame bell-ringer on Saturday in honor of his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.As soon as he's done ringing the bell, he'll have to hustle back down to the sidelines to coach the linebackers. In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day about Laurinaitis, how he ended up back as a coach on the OSU staff, and the honor ahead.Plus, updates on the offense, defense, and more.

Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia always has some interesting insights during interview sessions, and this week was no exception. In this special bonus episode, you'll get to hear directly from Patricia with an update on the Ohio State defense as they sit one-quarter of the way through the 2026 college football regular season. Patricia discusses the emergence of young standout Jay Timmons, veteran DT Jason Moore, what they're doing to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and more.

What kind of issues will Illinois pose for the Buckeyes? In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr recap their thoughts following a watching of Illinois' week two loss against Duke.What can the Buckeyes expect from an Illinois defense that couldn't stop Duke? Can the Ohio State secondary contain star receiver Collin Dixon? The fellas talk about all of this and more.

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, and some of the most interesting things he had to say during his weekly Tuesday press conference about the offense. Day discussed what qualities he looks for when recruiting and evaluating quarterbacks, where he thinks Julian Sayin is in his personal growth at the moment, the issues he sees in the running game and how they'll need to be fixed, where the various combinations of offensive line lineups stack up, and more. 

The Ohio State 2026 football regular season is already 25% over, which seems like a good time to check in to see where things stand and where the Buckeyes still need to take big steps forward in order to reach their goals. In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day during his Tuesday afternoon press conference about that, this weekend's matchup with Illinois, the Illibuck Trophy, and more. 

In this special bonus episode, Ross Fulton and Justin Whitlatch, two of the Scheme Insiders at BuckeyeInsiders.com join host Tom Orr to break down four big questions about the Ohio State offense. How big are the issues in short yardage right now, and what's causing them?Should the Buckeyes be using more 10 personnel (1 running back, no tight ends, 4 wide receivers)? How is Julian Sayin playing? Has he taken a big step forward since last season? And what issues is he still having?What position group is the biggest potential issue for this year's Ohio State team, and how likely is it that they will be able to get that fixed during the season?If you enjoy this conversation, you would love BuckeyeInsiders.com. Our team of Scheme Insiders is there to answer your questions every day, all with the goal of making you a smarter football fan. Sign up today: https://app.buckeyeinsiders.com/subscribe

It's time for some bold predictions for Ohio State's upcoming game against Illinois this Saturday.In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman go back and forth with their bold predictions ahead of the Buckeyes' Big Ten opener against Illinois. There are bold predictions about Bo Jackson, Riley Pettijohn, Jay Timmons, and much more.

This is a bonus episode, featuring answers from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day during his Tuesday afternoon press conference previewing this weekend's game against Illinois. This episode focuses on the defense, including the performance of DT Eddrick Houston, the emergence of Nickel Jay Timmons, the surprising impact of DT Jason Moore, and which players Day feels they should build their 2026 defense around. If you enjoy this episode, please consider joining BuckeyeInsiders.com as a member. It's the best way to support the work that we do.

On Tuesday, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with reporters to talk about his football team. During one portion he mentioned newcomers Christian Alliegro, Earl Little, and Jay Timmons, and how the Buckeyes are going to continue to build the defense around those three players. In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss these three names -- and a few others -- and what each player has done to earn this praise and what it means moving forward.

Basketball season is right around the corner, and BuckeyeInsiders.com basketball insider Marcus Hartman was just at OSU women's basketball practice this week to get the latest on Kevin McGuff's new team. Marcus joins host Tom Orr in this special bonus episode to discuss:The role Ohio State football coach Ryan Day played in the recruitment of freshman Sydney MobleyThe challenge of replacing the departed Chance Gray, and how they went about doing itWhy McGuff decided to go with such a challenging non-conference schedule this season

Ryan Day was not happy with the Buckeyes' explosiveness in the running game against Kent State. What were the issues and what should we expect moving forward?In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr recap what Ryan Day had to say, what it means for the Buckeye running backs, and what this could do for the rotation moving forward.

The Ohio State men's basketball team tipped off its fall practice schedule this week, and BuckeyeInsiders.com basketball insider Marcus Hartman was there to watch, and talk to OSU head coach Jake Diebler about some notable new faces that could make a big impact this season. In this special bonus episode, Marcus joins host Tom Orr to discuss three key takeaways, including:The development of 5-star true freshman Anthony Thompson, and the role he could play on this year's team.Forward Josh Ojianwuna finally being fully cleared for action after missing all of last season with a knee injury, and the impact he could have in the paint.The arrival of Argentinian national team member Lee Aaliya this summer, and what to expect from him this season. If you enjoy this episode, make sure you check out BuckeyeInsiders.com for even more on the Ohio State men's and women's basketball teams. 

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss what they learned from watching the television broadcast of Ohio State's 59-3 win over Kent State.

The Illinois Fighting Illini are nearly four-touchdown underdogs this weekend when they visit Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. According to a recent story by The Athletic, the Illini are a big underdog on the balance sheet as well, with their roster estimated to be making about half of what Ryan Day's team is this season. So what does always-outspoken Illinois head coach Bret Bielema think about that? In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Bielema about that and much more.

With Louisville's outstanding 2-1 start with quarterback Lincoln Kienholz at the helm, some people are asking if Ohio State head coach Ryan Day made a mistake in choosing Julian Sayin -- who has led Ohio State to a disappointing 2-1 start -- over the dynamic Kienholz. The fellas discuss the topic and explain why this is only a topic for people who want to be angry. 

It was a struggle through two quarters against UTEP, but eventually Michigan fought through and blew out the Miners.But what does it mean moving forward?In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss their thoughts after watching the Wolverines' win. This was the best Bryce Underwood has played, which is great, but there still appears to be an offensive line problem for Michigan. The defense played well but gave up a couple of deceptive plays that led to touchdowns. Does that mean anything for late November? The fellas talk about all of this and more.