The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

Ohio State fans have all felt it at some point: the Buckeyes are in on a five-star recruit, things seem promising, and then suddenly that player commits somewhere else. So why does it feel like Ohio State “always loses out” on top recruits?

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr answer a listener question about recruiting frustration, perception vs. reality, NIL, quarterback recruiting, and why Ohio State fans tend to remember the misses more than the massive wins.

The guys discuss why recruiting is never Ohio State vs. one school — it’s O...

If You Could Guarantee Elite Play From One Position Group...

If Ohio State could guarantee elite play from one position group all season long, which group would matter most?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr debate the best answer for the Buckeyes: offensive line, defensive line, running back, quarterback, wide receiver, or somewhere else. They discuss how elite play up front changes everything, why Ohio State’s defensive line could be the safest answer, how better running back play could have changed last season, and whether Julian Sayin and the receivers are already close enough to elite.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss what they saw at Ohio State basketball practice on Thursday. This was the first opportunity to get a look at the 2026-2027 Buckeyes, and there was plenty to talk about.

- First impressions of five-star freshmen Anthony Thompson and LJ Smith.
- Thoughts on a physical first practice.
- Vocal leaders stepping up.
- Thoughts on the other new additions, such as Justin Pippen and Curtis Givens.
- Following the show there are highlights from the practice itself.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr share their top 10 playmakers on the 2026 Ohio State offense.

Brady Edmunds, who is making his official visit to Ohio State this weekend, met with the media during Wednesday's 7-on-7 competition at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. 

This is a big weekend for Edmunds and the Buckeyes, as the two sides discuss where things stand in his recruitment. Edmunds has been committed to Ohio State for about 18 months, but there have been questions about whether he will end up in the class, and he recently visited UCLA. 

Edmunds discussed what he's hoping to learn from the OSU coaching staff this weekend, what he likes about UCLA an...

Ohio State landed a verbal commitment from 4-star cornerback Jaden Carey on Wednesday. In this breaking news episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman discuss the commitment and where Carey projects in the Ohio State defense. They also discuss the current cornerback class and look at how things are shaping up.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss a pair of running backs who were offered scholarships following Ohio State's 1-day camp on Tuesday. 2029 RB William Green and 2030 RB Cooper Jones are both from Texas and each of them put on a show on Tuesday. Tony shares his conversations with and about both players. Following the conversation, highlights from the RBs' performance in camp are included at youtube.com/@buckeyeinsiders

Did Michigan’s Cheating Scandal Enable Texas Tech’s Gambling Defiance? | Buckeye Weekly Podcast

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss a listener question arguing that the NCAA’s handling of Michigan’s Connor Stalions cheating scandal emboldened Texas Tech’s defiant response to quarterback Brennan Sorsby’s gambling-related rules violation. They compare the schools’ approaches, noting Michigan threatened legal action but never went to court, while Texas Tech obtained a Texas judge’s injunction blocking the NCAA’s suspension attempt and released a 22-minute video defending its position. They argue the NCAA has punished or tried...

In this breaking news episode of Buckeyes TomOrrow Morning, host Tom Orr is joined by Tony Gerdeman to discuss the commitment of Deontay Malone to Ohio State. Malone is one of the top defenders in the state for the 2027 class. They discuss his commitment and what else might be coming down the road.

Ohio State Linebackers: Mount Rushmore, 2026 Outlook & James Laurinaitis’ Future | Time and Change Will Surely Show

Tony Gerdeman and Juck Milletti break down Ohio State linebackers by looking at the past, present, and future of the position. They share their personal favorites and build an Ohio State linebacker Mount Rushmore. Tony presents a stats-based linebacker ranking list and they react to overlooked Buckeyes such as Steve Tovar, Matt Wilhelm, and Na'il Diggs. Turning to today’s roster, they assess concern levels after losing Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, projecting roles and tackle leaders for Payton Pierce, Christian Alliegro, TJ Alfo...

Buckeye Weekly Podcast: 5 Best Ohio State Individual Seasons Since 1990

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr answer a listener question about the five best individual seasons by an Ohio State player since 1990, debating standout years across positions. 

00:00 Listener Question Setup
01:00 J K Dobbins 2019
02:57 Malik Hooker 2016
04:35 Orlando Pace Dominance
06:51 Vrabel and Chase Young
09:06 Dwayne Haskins Record Year
12:05 Other Great Seasons
13:31 Wrap Up and Callouts

This comes from Friday night's Recruiting Insider show from Juck Milletti on our YouTube page, which you can subsribe to at YouTube.com/@BuckeyeInsiders.

-With recent commitments elsewhere, Ohio State's board looks very narrow at several positions. We take a look at each position group.
-Why Ohio State will BEAT TENNESSEE
-Official visit week number 3 features just 4 uncommitted visitors again and 2 of them are very unlikely. Why so few this year? 
-The evolving strategy year over year. What Ohio State learned from last years cycle by accident.
-THE BEST ranked offensive line class of t...

Will Julian Sayin Run More in 2026? Ohio State QB Run Game Debate | Buckeye Weekly

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr respond to a listener question about Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin using his legs and whether Ryan Day might force a “square peg into a round hole.” They argue the goal isn’t to build the offense around quarterback runs, but to create an implied threat—occasional scrambles or keeps on reads—to make defenses account for the QB and help the run game. They discuss how a few key runs, like Carson Beck’s aga...

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the Ohio State special teams, Ryan Day's lack of aggression in this area, and why that could potentially be changing. They also make a couple of picks for some breakout stars on the Buckeye special teams.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr give their best effort at predicting every kickoff time and network for the Buckeyes this season.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss which players from the Urban Meyer era they'd add to this year's Ohio State football team to best ensure a national title.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman pick one Buckeye from the Jim Tressel era that they would add to this year's Ohio State football team in order to best ensure a national title.

Which John Cooper-Era Buckeye Would Guarantee a Title for Ohio State? | Buckeye Weekly Podcast

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr kick off a series revisiting past Ohio State eras by debating which John Cooper-era players they’d add to the current Buckeyes to best ensure a national championship. Both agree Orlando Pace is the obvious top choice and discuss where he’d play on today’s offensive line, calling him possibly the best Ohio State player they’ve ever seen. They then consider other additions, including David Boston alongside Jeremiah Smith and other receivers, plus opt...

Buckeye Weekly: Texas Judge’s Injunction Lets Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby Play Despite NCAA Gambling Rules

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss a Texas judge granting Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby a temporary injunction that allows him to play most of the season despite violating NCAA gambling rules by placing thousands of bets, including on games he could have played in and wagers involving Indiana teammates’ unders. They explain that the injunction runs through a trial date set after the season, making an appeal unlikely to resolve matters in time, and argue this...

What OSU Needs to Win the National Title: O-Line, Julian Sayin, Run Game & Defense | Buckeye Weekly

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss results from Tony’s Twitter poll asking fans to finish, “Ohio State will win a national championship this year if ___.” The most common response was improved offensive line play (about 55–60%), driven by late-season issues like pass protection and lack of a running game. They also highlight Julian Sayin’s ability to make plays, process quickly, and add situational mobility, plus a better running game through broken tackles and incremental improvements from young back...

Buckeye Weekly Podcast: Top 5 Ohio State Football Transfers of All Time

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman rank the top five transfer additions in Ohio State football history and debate the impact of each, noting that recency bias and missed older names are possible. They discuss Seth McLaughlin’s Rimington Award-winning season and Achilles injury, Quinshon Judkins’ one-year production and reputation, Julian Sayin’s talent and potential to rise higher with more seasons ahead, and some notable others as well. 

00:00 Welcome and Setup
00:23 Transfer List Criteria
01:22 Number Five Picks
05...

Will Ohio State Have Another Top-5 Defense in 2026? Buckeye Weekly Podcast

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss whether Ohio State can field another top-five defense this season after losing several high-end, versatile defenders. They note last year’s unit was historically great (9.3 points per game, 4.0 yards per play, and no opponent scored 20 defensive points), making a repeat unlikely, especially with a tougher schedule that includes improved offenses like Texas plus high-scoring teams such as USC, Oregon, and Indiana. The hosts expect the defense to remain excellent, citing year two under Matt Patricia, better fa...

Should Ohio State Have the Big Ten’s Best Offense in 2026? Tempo, Efficiency, and a Tougher Schedule

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr open by promoting Tony’s new “Time and Change Will Surely Show” podcast on Buckeye Insiders, then shift to whether Ohio State should have the Big Ten’s best offense this season and what could limit it. They discuss how Ohio State’s pace has slowed under Ryan Day to reduce wear and injury exposure, making efficiency more important, and note last year’s offense dropped to fifth in Big Ten scoring and was only four points per gam...

Ranking the Top 10 Big Ten Head Coaches (Who Will Make Fans Mad?) | Buckeye Weekly Podcast

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr rank their top 10 Big Ten head coaches and debate several controversial placements, including P.J. Fleck, Matt Rhule, Jedd Fisch, Bob Chesney, Bret Bielema, and Lincoln Riley. They discuss Kirk Ferentz and Kyle Whittingham as long-tenured, consistently tough coaches, question Riley’s postseason results at USC, and evaluate Dan Lanning’s Oregon success alongside concerns about recent playoff performances. They compare Ryan Day’s sustained achievements at Ohio State with Curt Cignetti’s rapid ri...

This is a brand new podcast with hosts Tony Gerdeman and Juck Milletti talking about the past, present, and future of Ohio State football. You will be able to find it soon on all of your podcast platforms of choice.

Ohio State QB Rankings: Top 10 Buckeyes Ever + What’s Next for Julian Sayin & Tavien St. Clair | Time and Change

In the first episode of The Time and Change Will Surely Show, Tony Gerdeman and Juck Milletti launch their Ohio State-focused podcast by examining Buckeye quarterbacks across past, present, and future, including childhood QB memories and a st...

Jeremiah Smith Record Watch: Predicting When Ohio State’s Receiving Marks Fall

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr launch a “Jeremiah Smith Record Watch,” debating which Ohio State receiving records Smith is likely to break and when. They track his pace toward the career receptions mark (205), career receiving yards record (2,898), career TD catches record (35), and career 100-yard games record (15), with Tom offering specific game predictions (including USC, Iowa, Oregon, and Northwestern) and Tony frequently countering with Indiana or Illinois. They also discuss season records for receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606). The episode closes with plugs for th...

Buckeye Weekly Podcast: The 5 Most Indispensable Buckeyes This Season

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr share updates on the show’s new home at Buckeye Insiders (YouTube and buckeyeinsiders.com) before discussing which Ohio State players the team can’t afford to lose this season. Using a back-and-forth format, they agree on their top five, emphasizing the roster drop-off behind each and the difficulty of relying on younger or less proven replacements. They also highlight the importance of special teams, naming kicker Connor Hawkins (and mentioning punter Joe McGuire) as potential difference-makers in a sche...

Eric Weddle Says Bryce Underwood Can’t Play QB?! | Buckeye Weekly Podcast (Michigan Monday)

On this Michigan Monday episode, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr announce they are no longer with Buckeye Huddle and will be moving their coverage to BuckeyeInsiders.com while continuing the show on YouTube and podcast. They then react to former NFL safety Eric Weddle’s comments after attending a Michigan spring practice, where Weddle said he didn’t think quarterback Bryce Underwood could throw or play the position and suggested the backup might play early. Tony and Tom discuss how unusual and strong the take i...

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr share an update on their time with Buckeye Huddle ending and the future at BuckeyeInsiders.com.

Reimagining Ohio State’s 2011 Season Without Tatgate: Pryor, Tressel, and a Possible Title Run

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr revisit Ohio State’s 2011 season and reimagine it without Tatgate, suspensions, departures, and with Jim Tressel still coaching a roster featuring senior Terrelle Pryor and freshman Braxton Miller. They walk through the schedule, arguing several losses—Miami, Michigan State, Nebraska (after Miller’s ankle injury), Purdue (missed extra point), Penn State, and Michigan—could have flipped with better quarterback play, coaching continuity, and a full roster, potentially leading to a Big Ten title game and even a...

Buckeye Weekly Podcast: Top 10 Ohio State Players of the Jim Tressel Era

On the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr mark nearly 15 years since Jim Tressel left Ohio State by time-traveling from the Ryan Day and Urban Meyer eras to rank the top 10 players of the Tressel era in no particular order. They reference fan responses from Twitter, debate key criteria and legacy context, and build their list. 

00:00 Welcome and premise
01:04 Rules and draft format
02:06 Twitter poll guesses
04:18 Pick 1
05:35 Pick 2 and 3
10:43 Pick 4
15:00 Pick 5
17:00 Pick 6
20:00 Pick 7
22:29 P...

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
0...

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...

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 trac...

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 P...

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 Kel...

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...

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. The...

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.