The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

There were some inconsistent moments for the Ohio State offense during its' 56-3 win over Ball State, as the Buckeyes were not able to run the ball for most of the first half, but the OSU defense locked down the Cardinals all day long.

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear about that directly from Ohio State head coach, as well as second-year linebacker TJ Alford, who had a great season debut, including an interception.

Ohio State fans have been hearing about freshman phenom Legend Bey since February, but they hadn't seen him in action until Saturday's season-opening win over Ball State. 

Bey made a couple of bad choices on special teams, running kickoffs out of the end zone, but also made some big plays on offense, including a jaw-dropping catch-and-run 25-yard touchdown. 

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day with his thoughts on Bey's performance, Jeremiah Smith's dazzling season debut, and a peek ahead to next weekend's massive showdown with the Texas Lo...

In this instant reaction live episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr go live following Michigan's last-second(?) win on a Hail Mary over Western Michigan. They discuss what they saw, the lack of development of quarterback Bryce Underwood, the underutilization of key skill players, a UM defense that got pushed around, and more. They also answer questions from an irate group of viewers.

The Ohio State Buckeyes handled their business in a 56-3 season-opening win over Ball State. After the game, Juck Miletti of BuckeyeInsiders.com shared some of his instant reactions to the game in this episode of Juck's Quick Hits.

Ohio State opened the season with a 56-3 win over Ball State that did not require a Hail Mary at any point. 

BuckeyeInsider.com's Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman give their instant reactions following the Buckeyes' win, talking about some standout performances, a concerning offensive line, a new tempo of offense, a deep defense, and much more.

You can find even more at BuckeyeInsiders.com.

The transfer portal has completely changed college football, but transfers have been impacting Ohio State football for much longer than you might think.

On this episode of The Time and Change Will Surely Show, Tony Gerdeman and Juck Miletti look at the past, present, and future of Ohio State transfers.

Tony unveils his ranking of the 10 most impactful transfers in Buckeye history, including Justin Fields, Will Howard, Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins, Davison Igbinosun, Julian Sayin and more. But who deserves the No. 1 spot? Is it Downs, or should the quarterback who led Ohio State to a...

Ohio State is finally back on the field, and while the Buckeyes are expected to handle Ball State comfortably, there will still be plenty worth watching in the season opener.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr break down what they’ll be looking for when Ohio State takes the field against Ball State — not just on the scoreboard, but in the details that could tell us something about the Buckeyes before next week’s trip to Texas.

On offense, the guys discuss what a successful debut should look like for Ju...

The Ohio State offensive line returns four starters in 2026, including three players on the interior who played crucial roles in the Buckeyes' run to the 2024 national championship. So what do Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, and Austin Siereveld bring to this year's offensive line? 

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Montgomery about his view of the veteran core of the offensive line, why this year's offense should be fun to play in, what he's expecting from freshman RB phenom Legend Bey, and much more.

What makes Ohio State different from other programs?

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr react to comments from Earl Little Jr., Ryan Day, and Carson Hinzman about the culture, chemistry, and “brotherhood” inside the Ohio State football program.

Little, who has experienced multiple major programs during his college career, explained why the chemistry at Ohio State feels different — particularly in an era where NIL, playing time, and individual interests can easily pull a locker room apart.

The guys discuss how Ohio State has approached NIL and roster buildi...

There have been few training camp stories more remarkable this season than the emergence of true freshman CB Jay Timmons as the clear-cut, no-doubt day-one starter at the nickel position for Ohio State this fall. 

Timmons' father played in the NFL, and he was a 5-star prospect coming out of high school, but it's still very surprising to see a true freshman take hold of a starting job right out of the gate in fall camp, and never let it go. So how was he able to do that?

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear t...

The Buckeye Weekly Bold Predictions live show kept rolling with more viewer questions, more wild predictions, and plenty of discussion about Ohio State’s season opener and the season ahead.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr debate whether Luke Fahey could be the second quarterback into the game, which Buckeyes they’re most excited to watch, how much Legend Bay might show in his debut, and whether freshmen like Brock Boyd can make an immediate impact.

The guys also get into Ohio State’s offensive line depth, the greatest transf...

Ohio State’s season opener is here, and the questions are getting a lot more specific.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr break out the viewer Q&A portion of the Bold Predictions live show and tackle a wide range of topics heading into the Buckeyes’ opener against Ball State.

The guys discuss bold predictions for Bo Jackson, Chris Henry Jr., Legend Bay, Jay Timmons, and Julian Sayin, while also getting into how much of the offense Ohio State’s backups should run, how long the starters might stay in, wh...

In this bonus episode, you'll get to hear directly from Ohio State center Carson Hinzman, who will be starting for the Buckeyes for the fourth season in a row. In addition to being one of only three fifth-year players who have spent their entire careers as Buckeyes, Hinzman is also one of the most entertaining interviews on this year's team. 

He discusses his expectations for this year's offensive line, what it would mean to win the Joe Moore Award, what he's seen from the team's running backs, the growth of Julian Sayin, and much more.

Ohio State hosts Ball State on Saturday at 12:30 pm to kick off the season. Before the game gets here, however, there must first be a Bold Predictions episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast.

Hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr are back once again to compete to see whose boldness will reign supreme. There are bold predicitons about Jeremiah Smith, Legend Bey, Devin McCuin, Jay Timmons, Christian Alliegro, and more.

For even more Buckeye coverage, come find us over at BuckeyeInsiders.com.

We got our final chance to talk to Ohio State head coach Ryan Day on Wednesday evening following practice, and there were some interesting takeaways, including: 
Which players will get a chance to return punts on Saturday, and who will be the kick returner?How he thinks they can find a balance between playing true freshmen, and understanding that may mean dealing with some youthful mistakes.Who is going to start on the defensive lineAnd more

There are a number of questions about the 2026 Ohio State defense that will at least start getting answered on Saturday when the Buckeyes kick off the season against Ball State, but earlier this week, OSU head coach Ryan Day shared his thoughts on a few of those areas.

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear Day's thoughts on the linebacker room, the defensive tackles, and more. 

A handful of Ohio State players got some very encouraging public endorsements this week — and a few of them may be more important to the 2026 Buckeyes than we previously thought.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss four Buckeyes whose stock appears to be rising heading into the season.

The guys start with Legend Bey, who Ryan Day confirmed as Ohio State’s top kickoff returner and someone the Buckeyes clearly believe can be a difference-maker with the ball in his hands.

They also discuss Jay Timmons, the...

Ryan Day says Ohio State’s offense is going to be fun in 2026. But what exactly does that mean?

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr break down what Day means when he talks about a fun offense — and why the Buckeyes may be positioned to deliver one.

The discussion starts with explosiveness in the running game and the expectation that Bo Jackson, Isaiah West and Legend Bey can turn ordinary gains into much bigger plays. The guys also look at how Arthur Smith plans to involve players like Jeremiah Smit...

Ohio State’s wide receiver room looks much deeper than it did a year ago, but that creates a new question: who actually makes the six-man rotation?

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr break down the latest from Ryan Day on the Buckeyes’ receiver depth chart and discuss which players are most likely to see meaningful snaps this season.

The conversation starts with the six names Day has mentioned most prominently: Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss, Devin McCuin, Chris Henry Jr., Brock Boyd and Phillip Bell. The guys also discuss wher...

Two of the biggest names from the 2002 Ohio State national championship season will be back in the Horseshoe on Saturday to be honored for their roles in the program. 

Former head coach Jim Tressel is being inducted into the school's Ring of Honor alongside legendary former coaches Woody Hayes and Paul Brown, and former standout running back Maurice Clarett will ring the Victory Bell before the game. 

Both Tressel and Clarett left Ohio State under less-than-ideal circumstances, so what was it that led the school to honor them? In this special bonus episode, Ohio State head co...

In this special bonus episode, you'll get a chance to hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day about all sorts of topics surrounding the Buckeyes' 2026 offense. From the veteran interior of the offensive line, to the battle for the backup quarterback position, to the role talented true freshman Legend Bey might take on, to which wide receivers are likely to play this weekend, you'll hear it all, straight from Ryan Day.

Ohio State has a pair of true freshmen who look ready to make an immediate impact in 2026.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss running back Legend Bey and nickelback Jay Timmons, two freshmen who have generated consistent buzz throughout fall camp and now appear ready for meaningful roles right away.

The guys break down why Bey brings something different to the Buckeyes’ backfield, how Ohio State could use his versatility without overloading him, and why comments from Carson Hinzman and Ryan Day continue to reinforce the excitement around hi...

It’s time for the defensive side of the preseason Tale of the Tape.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr go position by position through the Ohio State and Michigan defenses to determine which team has the edge heading into the 2026 season.

The guys compare the defensive lines, including Kenyatta Jackson, Beau Atkinson, James Smith, and Eddrick Houston for Ohio State against a Michigan front that includes John Henry Daley and Trey Pierce. They also debate the linebacker rooms, compare both teams at cornerback, and break down the safeties an...

It’s time for the preseason edition of Tale of the Tape.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr go position by position through the Ohio State and Michigan offenses to decide which team has the advantage heading into the 2026 season.

The guys compare Julian Sayin and Bryce Underwood at quarterback, debate whether Ohio State or Michigan has the better running back room, break down the Wolverines’ revamped wide receiver group against a Buckeye unit led by Jeremiah Smith, and examine two tight end rooms that both enter the season with...

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith has been honored as an all-conference player, an all-American, an Iron Buckeye, a player of the week, and much more. But when he was named one of the captains of the 2026 Ohio State football team, he got emotional. So why was that such a big deal to him?

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear the answer to that and much more directly from Smith.

Payton Pierce is going to be the man in the middle of almost everything for the Ohio State defense in 2026. He's the middle linebacker, the guy with the green dot who runs all of the helmet radio communications, and, now, a team captain. 

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear from Pierce about how he earned such a big role, what he said to the entire defense after a disappointing start to fall camp, and more.

Julian Sayin has been named a captain for the 2026 Buckeyes, so does that mean he's ready to be the leader that Ohio State needs?

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman discuss Julian Sayin as a leader and the positive reviews he's getting from teammates and coaches for how vocal he has become. How will that be displayed on Saturdays? Is he willing to back up the talking with more physical play? The fellas discuss these topics and much more.

Austin Siereveld was a second-team all-conference player at left tackle in 2025, and so it would have been perfectly reasonable to expect him to play another year on the blind side this fall. But from all indications, he's going to be moving to right guard for 2026. 

Initially, Siereveld wasn't necessarily thrilled about the move, so what changed that got him on board with the move? 

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear the answer to that and much more directly from Siereveld. 

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the latest with the Ohio State safeties. What have the Buckeyes shown so far in their plans to replace Caleb Downs? What has changed from the spring? How deep will the Buckeyes go? The fellas discuss all of these questions and more.

In this special bonus episode, you'll get a chance to hear directly from Ohio State captain, wide receiver, and Block O jersey recipient Brandon Inniss about why that last honor gave him a momentary pause, why he thinks new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has a plan to get him the ball, how QB Julian Sayin has taken over the offense, and why true freshmen wide receivers Chris Henry, Jr. and Brock Boyd are poised for big things this fall.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman discuss an interview session with Ohio State offensive lineman Austin Siereveld and his thoughts on where he'll be playing this year. He has essentially confirmed what the starting five will be for the Buckeyes this season.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss Ohio State middle linebacker Payton Pierce, the outstanding leadership he has shown in camp, the expectations for him this season, what this season means for the Texas junior, the task in front of him following the immense losses on defense, and more.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman discuss the Ohio State defensive tackle position while comparing it to the past two years when the Buckeyes had first- and second-round draft picks on the interior. Does Ohio State have that this year? Does the defense NEED stars at defensive tackle in order to be one of the best defenses in college football? If the Buckeyes are going to contend for a title, do they have what it takes up front? All of these questions are discussed and more.

Ohio State QB Julian Sayin was a Heisman finalist in his redshirt freshman season and put up one of the most statistically impressive seasons in program history as a first-time starter. Now, he has much bigger plans for the upcoming 2026 season. 

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Sayin about the honor of being named one of the team's captains, how quickly he and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith have gotten on the same page, the new responsibilities that he's expecting to have on the field this fall, and much more.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr share 14 bold predictions about the Buckeyes this season. Predictions about Jeremiah Smith, Julian Sayin, Isaiah West, Kenyatta Jackson, Legend Bey, and many more.

You can find even more coverage of the Buckeyes at BuckeyeInsiders.com.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the Buckeye freshmen who have lost their black stripes so far (Brock Boyd, Chris Henry, Jr., Jay Timmons, Khary Wilder, Legend Bey, Luke Fahey, Simeon Caldwell, and Jordan Thomas) and what it means for their playing time this year. They compare this group to the freshmen who had lost their black stripes at this same point last year. Note: receiver Jerquaden Guilford lost his black stripe following this recording.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Buckeye Insiders' Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman discuss comments by Ohio State All-American receiver Jeremiah Smith about Buckeye freshman running back Legend Bey having a Heisman ceremony in his future. What would that look like down the road for Bey? What does losing his black stripe mean for this season? The fellas talk about all of this and more in discussing Ohio State's next big thing.

With the start of the 2026 Ohio State football season now a little over a week away, we're cramming a few extra bonus shows into your feed to help you fill the time between now and kickoff. 

In this special bonus episode, you'll get a chance to hear directly from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, and his thoughts on some of the bigger-picture items in the news right now, including former NFL players trying to return to college football, how the recruiting process has changed for high school quarterbacks, and how they decided to have seven captains this s...

How many Buckeyes are actually going to play meaningful snaps on defense this season?

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr go position by position through Ohio State’s defense and project how deep Matt Patricia and the Buckeyes will go in the biggest games on the schedule.

The guys discuss how many defensive ends could rotate against Texas, whether Ohio State will go five deep at defensive tackle, why the linebacker rotation appears to be set at four, and whether the Buckeyes will trust a third outside corner in hi...

Ohio State is almost through fall camp, but a handful of Buckeyes still have important work to do before the season opener.

In this episode of The Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr identify the players who still have the most to prove over the final practices before game week.

The discussion starts with the battle for the backup quarterback job between Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey, where St. Clair may need to reestablish himself after Fahey’s strong push during camp. The guys also talk about Kyle Parker’s place in a crow...