Ohio State record and playoff predictions for 2026: Theories on the Buckeyes' season ahead

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1:07Welcome back to the Bill and Doug show. He's Bill Landis. I'm Doug Lamerice. It's time for the season. We're going to tell you what we think. We're calling this the theory of the season, Bill Landis. We are going to lay out our predicted record and the regular season for the Ohio State Buck guys what we think is going to happen in the playoff. But we want to sort of give you like our version of how we think the vibes are going to go through this Ohio State season bill. Yeah. You feel like you have a pretty firm grasp on that. I know what I'm going to say on the podcast, like I don't know what I think, but like I'm We're whatever a couple days away from the start of the season and I'm having a hard time sort of like locking in 100% what I think is going to happen this season. I definitely have some views of I know where I think the losses or I'm going to predict losses to come. And I know what I how I think the team will play and how things will mesh together. Yeah. No guarantee that it's right.

2:09So by the end of the show, we will give you the full prediction regular season playoff the full Ohio State season full disclosure in 2024 you and I along with a lot of people all pecto and the state to win the national championship. We were correct about that. Last year, I think that we maybe both have them losing in the semis. So they lost in the quarters. So we are neither of us are picking Ohio State to win the national championship. So like we'll tell you that now we'll tell you at the end how we think the playoff is going to play out. But we can we can tell the folks that bill and this is like if you're if you're here. And you don't want to disappoint you and get to the end. And it's like and then ta da da da da da da. So that's where we are. Yeah, I think it's good. If you want to if you want to bail in the hell because we're not picking Ohio State to win the national title, you have that opening. Unless that you're sticking around because you don't want us putting that hex on them. Right. Like you don't you don't want that bill and Doug stink on you. Yeah, you don't want to.

3:09Well, on on Northern aggression author of us pick Notre Dame to win the national title, which means Notre Dame is not going to win the national title. And if you'd rather be the team that we don't pick. A year ago, you and I did both have I had Ohio State as the two seed losing to Texas in the semifinals. And you had Ohio State as the four seed losing to Texas in the semifinals. So we actually had Ohio State going a little bit farther than they actually did because they lost in the quarter finals. What is your predicted regular season record for Ohio State? Great question. So let me think about that one. No, like when we did so when we did our playoff picks like I had I had Ohio State as 11 and one. I'm like, it was still a little torn on the Texas game, which like doesn't impact like their big 10 record and their big 10 standing. I'll I'll stick with 11 and one. Oh, because I'm out there already. I'll say 11 and one. I'm going to say 10 and two.

4:10What is your loss? So I. There are the obvious ones right like the at Texas, the at and the at and the Oregon like those are the ones that people look at and say like, oh, this schedule is a bear. I don't know how I say it's going to get through it. I think the loss will come in a less obvious spot, not like a true trap game. I can't believe they lost this game. So I'm picking at USC. Oh. Me too. But you have them winning all the super bangers at Texas, at Indiana, home against Oregon, Michigan. You have them winning every single one of those. That would be quite an accomplishment by the Ohio State book guys. It would be again. I'm trying to figure out like how I think Texas is season is going to go. I'm trying to figure out like what I want to pick for the Ohio State Texas game. Nobody here. I think cares about how Texas is season is going to go other than that game.

5:12But part of me wonders is there like a is there a version of Texas this season where it's like they beat the buck guys in Austin and everyone's like here's Texas and then like they lose the Oklahoma and Florida. Like there's season like spirals after they beat Ohio State. 100%. I think that's part of me thinks that that could be out there. But yeah, I just think like I don't I think Ohio State is going to be like ready and angry for the trip to Indiana. And I'm a little. I'm not out on Oregon. Like I had Oregon in my playoff. I'm a little curious like if like do they have a really everything they need to be like this juggernaut team that people think they're going to be. They got to come here. It's a lot of travel. I wonder like if Oregon might be a little tightly wound for that game because of the last time Ohio State and Oregon got on the field. And what the what that result was so like I'm I mean is Ohio State there.

6:14My lean is Ohio State for the Michigan game. So yeah, I haven't went in all the bangers. Looking at Fandall early lines right now Ohio State at Texas. Ohio State is a one and a half point underdog. Ohio State at Indiana. Ohio State is favored by one and a half. Ohio State Oregon not listed Ohio Ohio State Michigan. Last game of the regular season. Ohio State is favored by 11 and a half. So you think about that like basically those tech that Texas game that Indiana game is a toss up. I don't know what the line would be on Oregon. I would imagine it's kind of a toss up to. This is the part again where it's like. I was like, oh, wait till people here. What I think is going to happen with Ohio State is the win a bunch of bangers and lose at USC and then you came in and just like kick the chair out from under me. And here I am. I'm 10 and 2 with losses at Texas and at USC.

7:17And again, like we have done this. We have asked our subscribers over at billand dug show.com. Sort of like, you know, how how do you think this might go this season for Ohio State and bill like, you know, I have at times worn the nickname nine and three dug because that's what I picked Ohio State to be. Right. So I was pretty lucky. The first one was the race on the bill now. And then I got to job in prat. Like usually aィp to get into it. And people here and so paint your body. People, I mean, many people could use this, but you know, kinds of the artistic player, and you know that that's what your pension is. But the as a matter of fact, does the balance really affect your career? three, five percent, eight and four are worse, one percent. So that's a pretty even split between 11 and 10 and two. Like this is given the nature of this schedule, given the strength of the big 10, given the fact that Ohio State is going on the road to play a top five team

8:20in the non conference, which not every school in the country does. Indiana is not doing anything close to that. Oregon plays a decent non conference schedule, but there are two big games or Boise State and an Oklahoma State. You know, like this is not, this is not what most teams do. So given all of that, Ohio State fans are prepared to lose a couple. And I think they're okay with it. We've been having this conversation with our subscribers. And the idea of 12 and O last season was maybe too easy. I'm going to Ohio State fan, give me 10 and two and a battle tested team ready for the playoff. I think the almost the entire fan base is their bill and that people watching and listening to this, I don't think are going to be outraged that I have Ohio State with two losses. No, I don't think so. I mean, they've lived it right. Ohio State lost in 20, twice in 2024. I'm under happy about it. But I think like you can wrap your mind around it a little bit. The difficulty for me was the, was the rough in my mind around the third loss. I didn't get there with two. I picked them at 11 and one. I think 10 and two is a very

9:22reasonable projection for Ohio State, given the player turnover it has and the schedule that it's staring at right now. There's been a lot of discussion about like, well, if a team's going to break through into the playoff of the 9 and 3 record, it would be Ohio State this year. I don't disagree with that necessarily. But as I like looked at it, I got to want to pick that right. I just like that, that's still, that is still difficult for me to kind of fully embrace as an idea as a possibility this season. But I think I think we're much more in the not that 10 and 2 is okay kind of world because again, when Ohio State loses if that happens, you know what? You know what? Freaking out, but are you sure we're not in the 10 and 2 is okay? No, no, well, it depends like grand scheme by the end. Yeah, maybe as it's happening, no, as it's happening, I think any any loss is still going to be true to like what the heck is wrong with this team.

10:23I'll be really curious. And here's the interesting thing. I think we found this. Like in the end, picking a loss like the USC loss. Now, I have USC as a playoff team. So that would be a good loss. I mean, I have a playoff team in large part because I have them beating Ohio State. That is actually better for a team. So for Ohio State, you lose to USC and you lose to Texas, but that means you beat Indiana and Oregon. Those are two gigantic wins and Michigan. Those are huge wins. That's actually, I think it's better to lose to USC and beat Oregon than it is to beat USC and lose to Oregon because you want those great wins. You want those impressive moments where you're beating other elite teams in the sport. And if you have like, it's a road loss. There may be not great, but they're still pretty good. It's not like Texas losing the Florida last year. But the result is you beat Indiana and Oregon. You beat the two other best teams in your conference. That's actually like,

11:24I think my 10 and two is a really strong. I think it might be the strongest version of 10 and two that Ohio State could go, which is like an early season road loss to a non-conference team. So I have them at eight and one in the Big 10 championship game and then a road loss at a team that I think is going to make the playoff. But that also opens the door to beat the two other elite teams in the conference. That is a, that's a real, it's both road losses because like a road loss, what are you going to do? One of them is on the other side of the country. One's in the heat in Texas. Like that, like it's an, it's an excellent 10 and two. I don't think you could come up with a better 10 and two. Because if you said, well, Ohio State 10 and two beat Texas, beat USC, lose to Indiana, lose to Oregon. And then it's like, well, Texas is kind of a fraud. And then you lost the two best teams you played. And it's like, okay, this version of 10 and two is better. That would be an interesting question. Like if you're, if you're getting a 10 and two, would you rather, and I think you're right, I don't think people would want a 10 and two where the two losses are Indiana

12:24and Oregon. Would you rather a 10 and two where it's like you win all of the best games, like you lose to USC and like Illinois. But I don't think, I don't think you want a bad loss. I don't think you want, I think Iowa 2017 or Purdue 2018 lost. Yeah. So like if Illinois is good, they don't want to lose in Michigan. Like, like that's off the table, right? So like that's the thing about like, oh, 10 and two and 2024. Well, it included the worst thing that could possibly happen. So it's like, you know, like losses, there are losses. And then there's losing Michigan. It's like that they're, they could not be farther apart. So this is a good season to me to, to do this version of 10 and two. Now the most difficult thing about this to me is I want to ask about it. I want to talk about it. I want to write about it over at billandunkshow.com. The idea that Ryan Day has given up play calling while Lincoln Riley at USC is a head coach, Steve Stark, Keeson, a Texas as a head coach, have retained play calling. You and I think that a head coach

13:30who got his job in large part because of play calling, then giving up that responsibility, but also that kind of fun thing, giving that up in service of being a full coach, a full CEO, having his hands in a handle on every part of the program. We find that to be admirable. We think it's smart. We think it's what head coach you should do. I think Ryan Day's choice in this is better than what Steve Stark Keeson and Lincoln Riley have chosen. And I don't fully believe in either Steve Stark Keeson or Lincoln Riley. I don't dismiss Steve Stark Keeson to the extent that you do because nobody could dismiss Steve Stark Keeson as much as you do. So the hard thing about this is like, Ryan Day losing to those two guys who are doing, I think the wrong thing. But I think you can be a mediocre head coach and your team still wins some big games. So this is like archmaning, Cam Coleman, Colin Simmons, like that, Texas, tech roster, depth and talent. And this is Jade Mayeva, defense

14:38is playing better, Luke Wafel, young pass catchers, better in the trenches, right? This is not to me like Steve Stark Keeson and Lincoln Riley are out scheming Matt Patricia. It's not that. It's this that Ohio state plays like some really tough road games against teams with good players. And I think they'll lose a couple of them. So like, I am, would you have a hard time predicting loss? You said you thought about the Texas game, but then you were like, oh, yes, Sarc said coach. I'm on. Yeah, I just like I think that's sort of what I came down back to. Yeah, because I think like the sort of like the football of it, right? Like the the personnel matchups with Texas is offense again. I think Ohio state's offense will be better than Texas's defense in that game. It's the other side. It's the flip of that that I'm less certain of. Obviously, Ohio state's defense got the better Texas is offense last year. It's not that I think Ohio state's going to have a bad defense. It's just like they don't have our Val recent sunny styles. I'm Caleb Downs.

15:39And I'm not exactly sure what that thing is going to look like in the second game of the season. And Texas, I think, is enduring fewer major personnel losses on offense. And by the way, like added camp Poland and Hollywood, some others and really brown and meldyn Sianny on the offensive line. It's like I don't I could see even though I don't love Sarc. I could see Texas is offense having the better of Ohio state's defense on that day. So then it's like, well, which offense has the better to a greater degree, right? I'm not sure where to go with that exactly yet. I think USC. Like I I probably was like I expect USC to have like a better offense than Texas on the season. I would I believe in more of the idea of like USC's offense being ready to roll in the middle of the season against Ohio state's defense. And also the spot of that game to between I know that there's a so the buy is before that game off a buy. But I still think it's like to be to be sandwich between Indiana and Oregon with a buy in there is like kind of weird to me. Add in the

16:46West Coast travel, which Ohio state has handled well, like since since that's been a thing. I'm not like they played well at Oregon. They lost. They handled well at Washington last year. I'm not that is a very, very small percentage. I think of of of why I think Ohio state would would lose that game. It's more of like they're just going to be so geared up for Indiana. I think they'll win. I think it's going to be like an incredible emotional high. You'll have like nowhere to put it because you're not playing the next week. And then it's like how do you how do you channel all of that? When you're going to go out West and play USC and like oh, by the way, on the other side of that, you're staring at the in landing coming to the shoe. It's like I don't track games happen. Ohio state does not often put its foot in the trap, but it's like when it's like kind of like a trap spot with a good team. That is and I think USC will be a good team this year. That that to me like has my attention. It's Paul in America. Make it count at the Ram Drive into Fall sales event. Make it powerful

17:48with our strongest Ram 1500 ever. Make it move with the Ram heavy duty with an available Cummins diesel and make it go the distance with a 10 year or 100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty. Hurry in now for great deals during the Ram Drive into Paul sales event. Excludes fully electric vehicles applied to 2026 model year vehicles non transferable visit moepar.com for complete details and a copy of the powertrain limited warranty. Cummins is a registered trademark of Cummins ain't Ram and Hammy are registered trademarks of FC a us LLC. Agree. I'm taking all my stuff. Is this where everybody is? I like give now I want I would I thought about doing this. Because we do around the shoe we bring the beat together. Do we not build in as we bring the beat together? I think we I think we were unifiers if nothing else. I was considering and maybe it's not too late. Like having everybody like hey, let's do a little pool and everybody predict. Whatever like predict the record predict where the losses

18:55will come. Maybe predict a couple of the things about the team and we'll like track it, you know, and see see who does the better job of predicting the season because we're all doing it anyway. We're all predicting the season in various ways. We could just put it in one place. And it wouldn't have to be on our side. We could put it but if we're doing the work it's going to be on our side. But like to have a little like a competition just for pride, right? To be like and but I wonder if we did that and I haven't seen what everybody else is predicting. Maybe they haven't put it out yet. Maybe they have. How many other people have them beating Indiana and Oregon but losing to USC but we both do. So it's like, oh, this is the consensus. This is what everybody thinks because I completely agree with your whole description of where that's game lies in the season. So is this where everybody is or are there people who are like, no, I think they'll lose to Indiana because I have to go to Indiana and Indiana is good. Yeah, probably because they're normal and don't overthink everything. I'm like, no, I think they'll lose if they're going

19:56to lose, they'll lose to the best teams they play. Right. Not USC and Lincoln Riley because it falls on a weird spot in the schedule. Yeah, I think we could be outliers here. They're mad. I think they're going to be Indiana. That was the one I did. So all right. Can I get look at that? So I want to talk about how we think the offense and the defense will both sort of work its way through the season. But just let me give you my script a little bit of how this is going to work because it's sort of what you outlined. Although, you know, you did a little bit there about like thinking about nine and three you're at 11 and one. You're so in on these guys. I didn't think about I didn't think about nine and three. I I find the conversation about nine and three interesting because it's out there a little bit. I actually haven't really seen anybody pick it. The people are talking about like, oh, how do you state with three losses? Good. Do you imagine? I was like, actually, I don't think I could. Because some version like depending how you get to nine and three, it's like, and they lost to everybody they played who was good. And it's like, I just don't think that's where they are. It's

20:59difficult. But I don't think that means they're going to lose every time they play somebody good. But this is how I think it's going to go. Ball State, when then you go to Texas and it's just tough. Now, the thing about this, and I've mentioned this many a billion times over the years, they have as much trouble at home as they do away in these national non-conference matchups, right? They lose to Virginia Tech at home. They lost to Texas at home and then they won on the road. They lost to Oklahoma at home. Like they lose. They lose these games. They lost to USC at home. And on the road. But like they lose at home all the time in these. And sometimes like they went to Oklahoma in 2016 and were like, shut your yaps, bang, take this. That was a huge win for that 2016 team. So I don't want to just be like, well, they're on the road. I guess they're going to lose. But this is a little bit of Texas really needs it. It's going to be hot. They've added some playmakers. As much as, you know, we just did a whole roster breakdown over at Bill and Doug show.com for two hour or Wednesday show. Well, you know, I was sort of making the point that like I sort of,

22:03in the end, I like how the Ohio State roster fits together because it's kind of like there's a a group of returning players. There's a group of new in-house young guys and then there's a group of transfers. But they're they're not relying on the transfers. But also, I don't think anybody would have turned down Cam Coleman, right? So I do think and one of my big things is the playmaker count, the dude count. And I do think Ohio State's going to lose the dude count in some games this year. Last year, they had more dudes than anybody. And if we did a dude count right now on Ohio State Texas, I don't know the Texas roster as well as you do. I think Texas wins. And so I think if you want to know dudes, yeah, I think there are there are dudes, there are dudes and waiting. I think it'll Ohio State that I don't know that we could crown just yet. There's always dudes in waiting at Ohio State, right? You go in the dude waiting room. It's like, oh, gosh, you swin over. My god, everybody's sweating. It's like the DMV. It's like, oh, my god. It's like, who's that guy over there? It's like, is that Jason Moore? He's in this room. It's like, yeah, Jason Moore is in this room.

23:07He was at top 100 national recruit four years ago. He's in the dude in waiting room. We don't know. And it's like, who's that guy in the corner? It's like, oh, yeah, that's Chris Henry Jr. He's definitely. And like, who that guy behind him? I can't. Oh, that's legend Bay. I couldn't see legend Bay. He was behind Chris Henry Jr. Because he put the foot shorter. So that like we know that. But you just start going through Texas has a lot of good players. Look at NFL draft projections, right? Texas has a lot of good players. And if arch is ever going to live out like if arch is going to be arch, he's got to be at week two. It's arch time. If Sark is ever going to be Sark, if arch is ever going to be arch, Colin Simmons talked a little bit last year, talked a little bit that's off season. If that guy's going to be a dude, he's got to be it on that on my day. It's going to be at night. It's going to be nuts. Right. If Texas can't win that game, what is Texas? Now that might be your point. What is Texas? But if Texas has any has a pulse, has any grit,

24:08has any pride, has any hopes, has any dreams, they have to be Ohio State. Ohio State doesn't it's not the same to them. And by the way, they've kicked Texas's button. They broke their heart in the semi finals. They embarrassed arch in the opener last year. Like Ohio State's like, we're good. We got you Texas. Yeah. So like, but Texas Texas's manhood is being questioned here. So maybe they don't have any. But if they do, they have to win. And I don't think Texas is the greatest program in the country seems like they have a lot of good players. You got to man up and win this game if you're Texas. So that's a loss for me. Okay. So now it's one in one, Ken State, two in one, Illinois, three in one, Iowa, four in one. I'm not really like I get it. But you know, once upon a time, Nate Stanley, I get it. I'm not like super considering Ohio State like losing that Iowa game.

25:10Maryland. And then you go to Indiana. And I just don't think like this is angry. This is Indiana could be undefeated. Indiana doesn't play anybody in the non-conference. Indiana could literally be on a, let's see, one, two, three, four, five, six. Indiana's games before Ohio State are North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky, Northwestern, Rutgers, Nebraska. They could be on a 20. They should be. They should be on a 22 game winning streak going into that Ohio State game, which is going to be the biggest home game in the history of Indiana football. And this is the question about Indiana. So this is like the reverse of Texas is Indiana uncrackable. It's like, signites never losing again. This win over Ohio State is going to be their 23rd consecutive win in the middle of their 57 game winning streak. It's going to be the greatest winning streak in the history of college football. That's what Indiana's on. Is it that? Is that what this is? Okay, that seems silly. Okay,

26:11well, then who are they going to lose to? I don't know. How about losing to the blue blood program down the road that beat their butts for 30 years and is ticked off because they lost to him last year because their kicker couldn't make a short field goal? Yeah, I think Indiana might lose that game to that angry talented team that Ohio State's been pointing out that game for a year. So that yeah, so then they win that. What you already said about USC, woo, everybody go on vacation this week. We're not practicing for 10 days. See in the day, but come back to get on the plane. Where the fuck is let's go out to USC, shoot out, shoot out. Yeah, can't quite hang because Jade, my Ava, my Ava is my husband winner. And that's not about Lincoln, Raleigh. That's like a quarterback, like doing quarterback things and them having enough individual talent here and there is USC better than Ohio State. No, can they beat them in the Coliseum in like again, the biggest, the biggest game at home game for USC since when?

27:17I don't know since Pete Care like I don't like it 20 years, like that can Ohio, if Ohio, this is Lincoln Riley's job. If USC is going to be anything under Lincoln, Raleigh, they got to win. So like that. And then the thing that I find interesting about this is, then Ohio State comes home and they have Oregon and it is like the biggest back to the wall situation that Ohio State has faced in a very, very, very long time in the regular season. Because you're like, I think they'd have a shot with three losses, but they have two losses already. And Oregon, who's going to come in like undefeated or with one loss, is come to town. And if Ohio State loses this game, that's the third loss. And Ohio State fans and the Ohio State program don't want to test the theory of whether they can make it at nine and three. So it's show me something time. And the atmosphere for that game, which is probably going to be a 330 kick. Is that what people think? It is a CBS game, which means it should be 330. Yeah. Gonna be a huge game. They've, they've last time Ohio State,

28:22Oregon took the field. We know how that went in the quarter final when they blew their doors off. And it's show me something time. And I think the buck I show it. And so then they win that game. And then they beat Northwestern and they beat Nebraska. And then they host Michigan and they beat Michigan because they're better than Michigan. And that's a 10 and two. And that, that is an awesome tenant. Isn't that a fun 10 and two? How much fun was that? I was just talking and it was fun. It's the funnest version of 10 and two, I think. But like the stakes are the same for the Michigan game. We're like Michigan coming to the shoe with Ohio State holding two losses, right? That three loss theory still applies there. That creates absolutely kind of tenor to an Ohio State Michigan game, I think. Well, Ohio State enters November with two losses. Yeah. And this is the thing about. So here's the thing that I think, you know, it's one of those things. If it was a 2014 playoff, right? And it's like, well, then nine and three Ohio State would be in for sure. And it would take the value out of the regular season. And like it does it do anything

29:22you argue about the expanded playoff, you can't argue that there's no effect on the regular season. Of course, there's an effect, right? The more people get in, the less, the less each individual game matters. But there's still stakes and it's still going to matter. And like, and you still don't know for sure, because imagine like it's one of those things. If it's a 2014 playoff and Ohio State loses to Oregon, and now they have three losses, and now the Michigan game is like, okay, I don't know if Ohio State is making a 2014 playoff at eight and four, right? You're still going to wind up with stakes or if you're undefeated, you're undefeated, you're in no matter what, right? So we're not having a 2014 playoff discussion here. But like this version of this is angst-filled, they are battle tested, they're playing banger after banger. The big 10 is good. This schedule makes it fun for everybody. There will be moments when Ohio State fans will be corled up in a fetal position, and there will be moments where Ohio State fans are leaping for joy and running around the neighborhood, honk on their horns because it was such a huge win. I like seasons like that.

30:23Can I tell you something? Because I was listening to everything you said, but you did mention early on in your theory of the season about Texas, perhaps not having any manhood. Did you know that so bevo is a longhorn steer, which means that he is a cash-strated longhorn bull. Oh, because they are calmer and safer to be around crowds and also apparently losing testosterone for being cash-strated allows their horns to grow longer. So we have a definitive answer. Texas traded their long horns and sacrificed their manhood. The definition, they're very named, the long horns. That's like a Greek fable. And it's like, I really want long horns. It's like, well, you can have long horns, but you know what we're going to have to do. And it's like, yeah,

31:26but it's our name. And it's like, okay, you're called. Wow. If Ohio State beats Texas, I would just tell everybody associated with Texas, like to watch out for Germaine Nathus on the field afterward because you don't know what that guy is going to be wielding. He's going to be riding bevo. Just wavering a cowboy hat in the air. So I do think, like if it gets to that point, they would enter the postseason in a very different way than they entered in 2025. If they, if they, like, they're going to be, however this goes, they're not going to walk through this regular season. So whether they, you could also go 12 and 0 and be incredibly battle tested because you pull out five fourth quarter wins. And it's like, oh, they won't 12 and no, they weren't test, like, what are you talking about? People were puking in their seats every weekend. They played six top 25 teams and they beat them all. Like they were incredibly tested. So

32:29I think like there's no doubt they're going to be tested. So that's sort of like my version of like how the schedule would work out. Do you like how a lot of that's the same for you. The stakes would not be quite as high because you have them beating Texas. Like do you? I'm honestly going to be surprised if they go to Indiana and lose. And that's just like a straight. I almost don't care how the season evolves. That is revenge. That is we want to own this conference. We don't want them to own this conference. That is it's hard to stay on top once you are on top. And Indiana is on top right now. I just think that even though that's a road game for Ohio state, they're going to have a crowd that that it's going to be an Indiana crowd like we've never seen before because like we keep saying it's the biggest home game in the history of Memorial Stadium. If Ohio State comes out and scores on the first two drives and is ahead 10 nothing, I don't know how the Indiana crowd will react to that necessarily. I'll be very surprised if

33:30Ohio State loses in Indiana. I don't know that I'd be very surprised but yeah, I definitely have that as a as a win and like a fairly confident pick. I actually think like Indiana soft schedule comes into play there too. Like Ohio State will arrive in Bloomington having played in Austin and at Iowa and Indiana up until that point will have played Western Kentucky or where we're at here. North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky, Northwestern at home at Rutgers at Nebraska. So they are on the road two weeks in a row before coming home to play Ohio State but it's Rutgers in Nebraska. Like maybe Nebraska is tricky. I don't know. I would guess probably not. So like Ohio State is going to be I think like much more battle tested going into that game. It's not the similar from last year. Indiana showed up to the Big Ten Championship game. That was a home game for them. That was all Indiana fans. But they had like been through the fire, right? They almost lost an Iowa. They almost lost it organ. They almost lost a Penn State like them being in a tight game against Ohio State. They weren't rattled by that. And Ohio State kind of got punched in

34:35a mouth for the first time all year. That's in that game. And I don't want to say they didn't know how to react to it but like did not put their best foot forward in trying to counter punch. And I just like I don't think Ohio State is going to be in that position this year against Indiana. It wouldn't surprise me if Indiana found itself in that position with with the roles reversed in that game. What do you think about the Oregon game? Like my questions about Oregon are it's mostly like an offensive line thing because I think they're going to end up I think starting to true freshmen. So like by that time maybe that's less of a concern. But I'm still a little I would be worried about bringing two freshmen offensive line starters into any even like mildly threatening road and road environment like the shoe will be rocking for that game. I have no doubt about that. So that's where I find Oregon to be a little susceptible. I still don't know really what Ohio State's defensive line is going to be this year. We've said that a million times but I would like going into the season. I like the matchup of

35:38Ohio State's like front seven against like a pretty green Oregon offensive line in that game. And I think Dante Moore has just as many big game questions as Julie and saying does I I don't know why that's not talked about more. I was I saw something earlier on Wednesday like people talking about Julie and saying and it was like he doesn't he doesn't respond to the moment and then like the next sentence is like Dante Moore is going to win the hystance like why don't you have the same questions about Dante Moore. Ohio State has a coordinator edge in that game against Oregon. You know does Ohio State definitely have the head coaching edge? Dan landing his beaten Ryan Day once Ryan Day beat Dan landing in far more convincing fashion. I think I would say Ohio State has the head coaching advantage there. So I think Oregon's a good team. I just think there there are you know the almost like the most important spots right like head coach coordinators and quite possibly quarterback. I think I would give Ohio State the edge. Great match up Ohio State offensive line Oregon defensive line. And that's yeah you you you and and not to give away our subscriber content but we just want

36:43people know that we're doing like a big two hour show every Wednesday over at billandduckshow.com We're answering questions we did it a little bit different we usually answer questions on Sundays last two weeks you and I used to have predictions of one of your predictions was that you said Ohio State will win the Joe Moore award Texas defensive line Indiana defensive line Oregon defensive line real tests but real opportunities right against really good defensive lines for an Ohio State offensive line you think it's going to be rise to the challenge. I do think they'll rise to the challenge and I also like I would I would circle Oregon's defensive line as the best one that Ohio State's going to see this year but they will at least have been tested before they get to it right like Indiana have a good front they're going to move around like crazy. There's there's no guarantee that Ohio State will handle that well necessarily but like say say that's still an issue that they have to work through I think by the time they get to Oregon they will have worked through it because of what they're going to see with the Hoosiers with Texas like Iowa to a lesser extent like I don't I don't think like Iowa's had good defensive fronts in the past I think this defensive front is

37:44something less than that but that's still going to be like a nice test I think for Ohio State's offensive line so it's like they just they didn't play very many good like really any good defensive fronts last year because even like Texas is defensive line against Ohio State they're not playing very well in that game I think Texas is defensive line keep became better over the course of the season but week one it wasn't this like outsized matchup advantage for for the long horns in that game and then Ohio State just like didn't really play a good front until they played Indiana and then it went and went awry because again they just like saw something for the first time and didn't have the proper response. I just I don't think that would happen in the Oregon game whatever whatever whatever is out there as a potential issue for Ohio State's offensive line I'm not saying there won't be one I just think they'll have it kind of figured out by the time they play Oregon. All right let's do sort of our theories of the season on both sides of the ball just like how we think that side will will start will evolve what they'll be great at what they'll struggle with what they might improve out of the course of the season let's start with your your view of the Ohio State

38:47offense. I think you're going to be kind of good at everything. I don't know like I I'm really excited to see what this passing game looks like like a passing game that is built off of what I think will be a strong rushing attack with like the under center stuff the the way that sets up play action the opportunities that that provides the get guys in space I really I think they are going to be explosive this year. I don't think they're going to be explosive maybe in the same way they were explosive in in 21 where it was just like we got a surgical quarterback and we got three dudes a receiver and we're kind of slicing and dicing it that way. I think it's going to start with with the run game and like a physical presence on the offensive line and then stuff like emanates out for that but I think I think they'll probably have the best balance they've had since 19. The 19 offense is probably the one that I would point to and say like this that that looks that maybe is the offense that would be like most similar to what I say it's going to put on the field this year but I think just in fields that year was I think there's like much more of a downfield

39:52kind of guy. I think Julian saying can be I think he's got to be a little better at that but I think he can be but then you also with him you get the the over the middle kind of stuff you got with Dwayne Haskins where you're like guys are running across the field at depths of like five to 11 yards and Julian's putting on on their hands and they're catching it and running. I think he'll get some of that mixed into so in the offensive line is going to be good. I you know if I if I have a question on the offense it's it's the tight end spot and frankly I'm not too concerned with what they might get from a past catching perspective. I just I want to be like assured that they have what they need from a blocking perspective at that position so I'm I'm curious about that and maybe a little bit on what exactly running back might shake out in terms of is it Bo Jackson's delete or some more of a committee thing but even if it's a more of a committee thing I still think the run game can be pretty good so I don't know I'm I'm expecting I don't want to say the best offense I've seen because

40:542021's a really high bar but I think it's going to be explosive and organized in a way that it was not last year. I think the play calling will show up right away both in the operation and the types of things they're trying to do I think the reaction early on to Matt Patricia and what he did defensively and scheming it up early last year I think we might have a similar reaction to people of saying like holy moly like Arthur Smith he's he's had defensive coordinators spending the circles I do think the offensive line will be good I still have questions I know they say they're seeing it in practice Bo Jackson broke off two long runs and one of the scrimmages like they they're seeing it I don't think you know the conversation that's been had many times when Ohio State is at its best there is a dude at running back who is tote in Iraq and doing his thing I don't think they're at that point and that's not criticism but it's just it's not azikil Elliott it's

41:55not third year JK Dobbins it's not the best of Carlos Hyde like we know what it looks like I don't think it's that so I'm not sure that you know I think I think the offensive line will play well I'm not sure it'll be still everything from an explosion standpoint from getting your arts on your own standpoint that you will what ideally you want from an Ohio State running back and then I'm curious about everything in the passing game that's not to hear my smith I do think they will feed Jeremiah Smith I don't think teams will be able to take him away I think they'll be creative I think they'll move him around I think he will be dangerous every game and Julian Sand will do a good job of getting him the ball but I also as they kind of I think it might take a little bit in figuring out the rest of the pass catchers and I think maybe they'll have it figured out by the end but I in the meantime I just could see here's a third down throw that hit a guy the numbers any dropped it here's a pick at a really bad moment and you can clearly see as the guys are going

42:59off the field and the way that Ryan Day is reacting that the receiver ran the wrong route you know like that that kind of thing that everything that's not Jeremiah Smith and it's not the Devam McEwen he did it for three years at UTSA but I just think it might take a little time I do think Julian Sand will be ready for it I think that but I also think they're going to get in some shootouts and I don't know if they'll win every shootout I don't know if they'll win every shootout and so like two losses to me and that we can get to the defensive side of the ball I'll start on defense the losses to me are the defense given them up given it up at the end of the game which even great Ohio's defense defense is due they gave it up to Georgia they really did kind of do with the last year I mean they did they had a chance to stop Carson Beck and Miami and get the ball back and they didn't like they got it back with ones but then like after Ohio State got stopped then they didn't get it back the last time and they almost gave it like the Texas game was like if Texas had like one more possession they might have scored but the way they started to figure things out the fourth that was like like Arch and Sark were clueless in the first half they started to

44:04figure it out the second half but Ohio State was able to hang on I don't see the playmakers defensively and so if it like it's just and guess what maybe it's just a history of like well when you face a really good team that has a good quarterback like lots of defenses give it up at the end of the game I just think I have two losses where like Arch marches down the field in the fourth quarter in beats Ohio State Jade Mayava marches down the field in the fourth quarter in beats Ohio State and that they're both both those games those games might be in the 30s I don't think the offense fall short I think Julian Sand like gets outdulled by the opposing quarterback both of whom were also Heisman candidates or it's one of those were like the last guy with the ball in his hand wins the game and it's Arch and it's and it's my avid it's not Julian Sand I think the defense will be good I don't think it's going to be great I am curious about you know they didn't create a lot of havoc last year but they were so sound and they had elite elite elite talent if they are sound

45:05and don't create havoc but don't have elite talent this year they've good talent but not supreme through the roof talent I just think some of the best offenses they face are going to give them trouble and so and they're going to face like a lot of good offenses like you run through the offense either the individual players that Oregon and Indiana and Texas and USC and teams like that are going to put on the field against these guys man they are going to get tested so yeah I think you'll feel the difference like I think this is the highest defense I'm not sure it's a top 10 defense I think they might be like when you get into the statistics and points per game but also like the more advanced stats I think they might add like the 13th best defense in the country well last year they have like one or two maybe three so that's drop off that's not disastrous and the offense will many times make up for it but I just think when the chips are down I don't think they're going to be quite good enough against the very best offenses they'll face

46:09so that's my view on the D what's your view on the defense I think we're pretty similar I was double checking because I thought this was the case so like in 2014 by Bill Connelly's SP plus ratings oh high I say it was number one on offense and number 21 on defense and like they still won the national title I think it could be something like that like I actually like if I I would say like I think oh high I say well have the number one SP plus offense this year but maybe more like a 15-ish defense 15 to 20-ish defense which I still think is championship level which I still think could get them all the way to Vegas and win that national title game but I just like it's hard the bar last year was ridiculously high and in the year before they had arguably the best defense in the country when they want when they want like especially but the way they started playing post-organ that year in 2024 they were like awesome basically in every game they played I just don't think they're going to be that this year could like could could there be enough

47:11dudes in the in the waiting room that that they are sure I don't think everyone on underestimate that at Ohio State but with what we know right now I would say they're there's something less than than that I just I don't I think they could maybe be like in elite secondary if Devin Sanchez is the dude we all think he is if germane Matthews either improves upon the playing last season takes a step or dominant Kelly is like ready to take that spot or even like Jordan Thomas is our freshman is ready to take that spot um Jaylen McClain is very good I think her a little junior be good I'm excited about Jay Timins like I I think the secondary could be I think the secondary will be the strength of the defense I'm wondering if it could be one of the best secondaries in the country but they're like linebacker just going to be like not as good as it was last year and the defensive line is not going to be as good as it was last year because they don't have Kate and McThawell so what does that mean them for them throughout the season I think it probably does mean they're going to give up a little more here and there I do think they're going to have some higher scoring games um you know I don't I don't know that the pump someone's going to go out there and put a

48:16like 50 burger on them or anything like that but you're talking about a defense last year that was like given up a touchdown a game like it was ridiculous you could just like you you knew like every week well the highest dates scored three times great they're going to win I don't I and even they want to be even mature the Indiana game um I don't think that's a position they're going to be in this year so I think it'll be one of one of the good defenses but like to your point not one of the great defenses which is kind of weird in the Ryan Day error the first seven seasons I would say there's only been one year where they've had a good not great defense four years 19 23 24 25 they were in the top two or top three in the country and defensive F.E.I the Fremow drive by drive index that we like and then in 20 and 21 they were bad yes like they weren't they weren't good at all so four four times on a Ryan Day they've been awesome twice they've been bad and in 2023 they were 12th in F.E.I in the defensive rating and and and like I

49:21say 2022 right 19 awesome 2021 bad 22 okay 23 24 25 awesome 2022 that's the defense that gave it up the steps and been at the end they get a stop right they get in a shootout they get a 42 41 shootout with Georgia and they can't they can't quite keep up like what do Ohio State losses look like I think like the 2022 Georgia playoff loss is kind of what the U.S. if I'm picking USC and Texas losses I think that's that's the pattern like and even right it's like well the quarterbacks got to go take it but guess what they're playing some quarterbacks who can take it and then also one time the safety fell down and that sucked with that and also like they didn't quite right get the sack get the big play to flip the game but that was also that was the gym noles five or fewer explosive plays and we're okay it's like that we can play the good teams brother and and that really but

50:22then it was like how about if we give up no explosive plays and that was sort of what they did in 23 and 24 they did not give up any last year or team up very few last year um I think that is it's a byproduct of their offensive talent but I also think it's a byproduct of the scheme I think like map my Patricia is just going to like keep it in front of them so it could be a defense that just stylistically is hard to break it that way um but then but it's like okay we're not going to let you get anything over our heads so go ahead jade my avan archmaning show us what you got they're like okay yeah a lizard ready quarter yards seven yards scrambled for 12 hit like like okay and that's one like Ohio State again happens to a lot of programs but there is a little bit of this like even one Ohio State is great on defense and maybe it's because we don't remember the 50 stops they got we remember the the stop they didn't get but it's with the game on the line like what like it's it's like where's the Ohio State like

51:26you know the defense running around going crazy because they got the stop to end the game and there's just when they lose it's usually the other offense is is doing something to them in the fourth quarter so I think this is the kind of defense that can have really good offenses do something to them with the game on the line and I think the I'm trying to I'm doing quick math here so the last two years let's see that's 50 65 the last two years they've only given up 26 touchdowns on 65 red zone trips they're gold they were goal line demons the last two yes and like a big part of that I think was honestly like Kate and MacDonald um and he's just not here anymore so I think they'll probably give it up a little more on the red zone this year you know who is our goal line linebacker in 2024 our val race our val race yeah yeah okay so do you have them in the big 10 championship game I do

52:27who do you have them playing the big 10 championship game rematch against Oregon I have a rematch against Indiana and I have a Ohio State winning that rematch against Indiana I have them beating Oregon for the second time so you have them as what seed in the playoffs two because I have no Notre Dame is undefeated as the one seed I have the big 10 so this is a two-loss big 10 champ in Ohio State which means I think Georgia and Texas at the top of the SEC are gonna have one loss I have Georgia as the SEC champ as the one seed I have Notre Dame as the two seed I guess undefeated and then I have Texas number three as the SEC championship game loser but with the head to head win over Ohio State so you have the SEC runner up beat Ohio State and then it's like how can you see the Ohio State ahead of them right if they each have two losses let's say so that's why I have Ohio State as the four um I have Ohio State playing Indiana for a third time

53:30in the quarter finals number five seed Indiana which would be bonkers all we would talk about is kind of can a team beat another good team three times in the season of my answer is yes I have Ohio State beating Indiana you think that's the lunacy as I said on our playoff prediction show Kurt Sikneti has lost twice as the head coach of Indiana and you have a losing three times at the same team in one season yeah and then that and that'll become a thing Kurt Sikneti will have because he won't lose anybody else I don't have Indiana losing to anybody else do I no I have Indiana 11 and 1 8 and 1 in the big 10 I have Indiana losing three games all year all of them to Ohio State and then becomes our offseason talking point it's like who's the best program in the big 10 it's like well I don't know Ohio State beat coach can you imagine what that would do for Ohio State Kurt Sikneti greatest coaching story ever what happened the next year Ohio State with three and oh against him right that would be unbelievable yeah so let me ask you this actually because we didn't talk about this we did the playoff show 12 and 1 Ohio State definitely behind 12 and 1 Notre Dame or

54:36ahead of a football ball in on Notre Dame with with the schedule with with the collection of wins Ohio State would have they could be the one seed maybe they would be the one seed I could be off base with that I think they would be I mean depends like is Miami a playoff team that's probably the best team that Notre Dame plays as BYU the big 12 champ Notre Dame pays them plays them they play SMU so like that's one of those if if they have wins over if Notre Dame is 12 and 0 but they have wins over the like the two teams that played for the ACC championship and the big 12 champ and it's like okay it's not Ohio State but it's pretty good those are three good wins and they're undefeated and they looked awesome I think it's maybe a coin toss but I think to your point it's certainly not a guarantee that Ohio State 12 and 1 would be behind Notre Dame I wonder if Notre Dame season this is an Notre Dame should like if Notre Dame season looks like 2019 Ohio State where they just like beat the crap out of everybody like just literally don't have a close game all year then I think they're number one a 12 and 0 but if they don't then maybe Ohio State would

55:36be one that's one one and right Notre Dame couldn't get a buy before but now they can without playing a conference championship game so also like the committee room if it's close and it's like well Ohio State went and beat another good team in their conference championship game they're going to give the benefit of the doubt to that team not to the team that refuses to be in a conference right so anyway I actually so I have Ohio State beating Oregon twice and I have the beating Indiana twice because I have Ohio State beating a 10-seat Indiana in the quarter finals of the playoff okay so we both have Ohio State Indiana in the quarter finals my game is four five your game is two ten mm-hmm all right who's your semi-final match up for Ohio State I have them against Oklahoma and I have them losing to Oklahoma I have them against Georgia one-seat Georgia versus four-seat Ohio State and again this continues like angriot high estate settling all debts right like handling business beating Georgia you have them losing to Oklahoma because you're in

56:39love with Brent Venables is that what you said you think he is the best coach in America I think he's the best coach in America no I like Oklahoma's my SEC champ and the defense is going to be very good like I think I think that could be the best defense in the country this year I think John Matier healthy John Matier has a as a bounce back year that gets them to New York as I predicted I have a number two in my preseason high-zemember ballot the rest of that offense is certainly up for some debate I'm not I'm not sure I could be way off based in thinking they have enough offensively to get as far as I have them and to beat Ohio State I do think ultimately Ohio State's defense will be the like the reason they don't win the national title just because like they get they get into a shootout and the playoffs they lose is Oklahoma actually going to be that team is certainly a fair question maybe there's a more compelling offensive matchup I could have picked there to be that a little more to have that be a little more convincing but I'm just sort of like on Oklahoma and the way I bracketed it out it ended up with Ohio State versus Oklahoma and I picked the Oklahoma

57:39so I have an Ohio State Notre Dame national championship game and then I have Ohio States revenge tour ends because they've handled Notre Dame right they're beaten Marcus Freeman three times so like now that comes up that's the whole thing can Marcus Freeman finally and then they do Notre Dame beat Ohio State and I think there are reasonable questions about Notre Dame's easy schedule you and I have talked about it our subscribers have brought this up to us the similarities between Notre Dame this year and Ohio State last year and did the regular season serve a team with national championship aspirations I completely get that I also don't know that I necessarily think that Ohio State lost to my envy because of that right they threw a killer pick six and then like their pace of play thing like they couldn't go fast enough in the second half once they started moving the ball and they're offensive line like one guy got hurt one guy was bad and they were putting them back ups and like there are things like that and I don't necessarily know that it's like well if they played three better team so so that that's where we are um 10 and 2 for me 11 and 1 for you both with Ohio State as the big 10

58:43champ I have them losing in the national championship game you have them losing in the semi finals yeah you just want to go to Vegas I get it who doesn't love Vegas in January I don't know if I've been to Vegas in January I've only been to Vegas when it's oppressively hot so I would be happy to go there in January yeah um you know I don't you want to take advantage of Jeremiah Smith you want to utilize him in every way possible he's a unique talent even on a place like Ohio State I don't yeah whatever whatever nada your bust means I don't think that this is like all right Ryan Dayleck I think they have a national championship ring they have a very difficult schedule like both scenarios that you and I have outlined includes a lot of good Ohio State wins and so there's I think there is not a clear favorite this year all the betting all the odds all the everyone's predictions would tell you that there is this cluster of like top seven teams

59:45I think they're all pretty equal so I think it's some of its bounce of the ball and like that kind of thing but also when it comes down to it I just think Ohio State in the end is going to be vanquished somebody who just has a few more playmakers and in this circumstance it's Notre Dame I could see it being Texas I could see it being Oregon if we get maximum Oregon right I don't know if I see it being Georgia I don't know if I see it being Indiana but that to me would be the deciding factor of like there was just a guy like Jeremiah Smith is unbelievable but then that other team had two or three guys who were unbelievable and Ohio State didn't it wasn't anything they could do I guess the question is like like for Notre like what does that look like for Notre Dame right like I like Jeremiah loves not there they've had receiver questions forever and if they're receiver questions or answered this year they're answered by two guys who didn't play well at Ohio State last year right so I think it's a little like I think Oregon's defense going to be or excuse me Notre Dame's defense

1:00:47going to be really good um I picked Oregon to win the national title so like I am I am in the other day of the pick you pick Notre Dame to keep saying or yeah I picked Notre Dame to win the national title so I am like in only idea of them finding the playmakers and need to find no offense plus they're better situated a quarterback I think and they've been like since Breed Equin was there um to that helps but there are some I think there are a lot of people picking Notre Dame including the two of us and Matt on Northern aggression and I think there are some big assumptions being made about like Notre Dame's offensive skill that maybe 100% shouldn't be made or like good on both lines good defense mad if you believe like you believe in the coaching staff Mike Dembrock good O.C. I think Marcus Freeman knows what he's doing I think they'll hot heal have them in the right frame of mind during this season Chris Ash you know struggled early last year but came around at the end if you think that continues they have so much back Notre Dame is more back

1:01:50than anybody in the country uh and Mike you said a quarterback and so like their biggest question is the skill stuff but I think people like in the US Williams and like the receiver things real the receiver things real so I guess like it wouldn't necessarily be but but that's like one of those is like playmaker stuff it's like Leonard Moore whatever picks off a pass intended for to my it's on third down in the middle the third quarter and flips the game kind of thing yeah and also like Notre Dame got the national title game in 2024 without much receiver firepower and an injured Jeremiah love right so it's something like they haven't done it without a ton of offensive firepower and a quarterback who's not as good as CJ called a quarterback who was very one note like could really like not throw and had even able to maybe Notre Dame hangs a little better against Ohio State because he missed some of the moves so um yeah I think Ohio State can win the national title I didn't pick it I think they can um there have definitely been seasons where I felt like they I just like I am convinced they don't have enough to win it I think they could have enough to win it this year I'm just like not all the way there yeah we're crazy yeah you haven't

1:02:54met 11 and one I have met 10 and two I have them going farther in the playoffs than you do but I actually I actually don't think they have quite enough to win the national title I have a real title game but I think they're a little short from the elite elite talent standpoint I think they are a little bit short compared to where they normally are which is the ultimate standard with Ohio State compare Ohio State do itself and compared to the run-up teams are going to have to go through right and so my my thing the whole way along has been I think somebody will prove to be sort of too talented finally in the moment and I'm not sure it might not be Notre Dame but I think it will be somebody I don't think Ohio State has across the board the most elite talent I think they have great coaching I think they have a really good quarterback and an elite receiver and a good offensive line I don't think they have if you lined up like you're 10 best guys and our 10 best guys right I don't think Ohio State I think Ohio State would lose that matchup against multiple

1:03:57teams they could see in the playoffs you're best 10 our best 10 now that's always what matters but I think it would be to the point that now it's kind of another game but I think they'll win a couple games where they lose the 10 best 10 10 versus 10 matchup they'll still win the game but at some point that will run out and they'll be you'll just be left wanting like they didn't have quite enough so if your belief is you could see Ohio State winning the national championship because you think they have what they need I of course could see it I would not say right now I think they have everything they need yeah and I part of that I don't disagree with that part of my thinking along those lines is like if it turns out from a talent standpoint they do like the areas where we're like where they're going to be the little deficient it's like freshman pop really it's like you know like Chris Henry Jr. ready to roll j-timans is a stud maybe carry wild or gives them something on the defensive line Riley Petagion is ready he's not

1:05:00a freshman he's like you're like Riley Petagion's ready to be a star it's like well then you're talented but you're still young and I think it's hard to be I think it's hard to be young too and like and take this thing all the way so I think there could come a point in the season where you do your exercise line up Ohio State's best 10 against another team's best 10 you might say like I think Ohio State's 10 are more talented but the other teams best 10 are all 22 years old and and like that could be a difference too that leaves Ohio State coming up a little short yeah and like because I think like as last season evolved the schedule is a real thing whatever but I think like if you said like do I think Ohio State do you think Ohio State has what it needs a year ago I would have said yes Jeremiah and Carnell Julian Sand when he's at his best the offensive line's good enough the run game is emerging is good enough and then they just have freaks all over the defense they got they got everything they need they can do this I'm a little we sort of had we asked that question I think on around the shoot like really what was their best national

1:06:00championship opportunity 25 or 26 I don't even remember what my answer was I don't know what my answer is right now because like there's a lot of things that go into that but I think 25 Ohio State had more elite talent than 2026 Ohio State and that's at least part of the component of winning it's not the only component but it's part of it yeah okay billandougshow.com come visit us northern aggression come visit us we're gonna do picks on northern aggression every Thursday five six games around the country focusing a little more on the big 10 on the north but we'll hit some national games as well and then we'll see you back on on on this channel and not too long where we'll be doing our Ohio State game pick every Thursday week one Ohio State ball state make our picks for that and and people should tune in both channels every Thursday picks yeah I'm gonna try to do good on my national picks this year I wasn't very good but yeah but you beat me when you weren't very good and now you're gonna try to do good I'm gonna try yeah I'm gonna try right well great

1:07:02guess Doug's finishing last and this picks thing again all right thanks to you guys for being here as always go find us billandougshow.com go find us on the north podcast of northern aggression wherever you get podcasts and right here on YouTube but we're so glad that you're here finding us on the billandougshow here on podcasts and here on YouTube like subscribe teleframe for now he's billandus I'm Doug Lamarice and that was the billandougshow