Tag Archives: Caleb Downs

Monday Musings for Game 9 – Purdue

This week’s Monday Musings looks at what the Buckeyes still need to polish before the postseason push, where their focus should be heading into Saturday’s trip to Purdue, and whether Michigan still belongs in the contender conversation or has slipped into pretender territory. The Buckeyes have the talent, discipline, and balance to make another statement — but November is where good teams become great, and great teams become champions.

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Monday Musings for Game 8 – Penn State

Ohio State and Penn State both come off a bye week, but the two programs enter Saturday’s showdown heading in opposite directions. The Buckeyes are 7–0, ranked No. 1 in the nation, and fresh off a 34–0 demolition of Wisconsin, while Penn State arrives riding a four-game losing streak, a quarterback carousel, and an interim head coach. For Ohio State, this week is about sharpening the run game and refining details before the November gauntlet. For Penn State, it’s about stabilizing anything and trying to survive the Silver Bullets’ defense, which has allowed just 5.9 points per game all season. At noon on FOX, the Buckeyes will look to keep their championship rhythm — and Penn State will try to prove it still belongs in the conference’s upper tier.

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Monday Musings: Top 5 Questions for Game 4 – Washington

Fresh off a bye week, top-ranked Ohio State turns its focus to a massive road test at Washington. Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith have the offense clicking, but the Buckeyes will need more than fireworks through the air to stay unbeaten. Bo Jackson’s ground game and Matt Patricia’s defense will be under the spotlight against a Huskies squad eager to make a statement at home. This is the kind of September matchup that can shape playoff positioning and test Ohio State’s toughness away from the Horseshoe.

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Monday Musings: Top 5 Questions for Game 3 – Ohio

Ohio State did exactly what the nation’s No. 1 team is supposed to do, dismantling Grambling State 70-0 in a dominant Week 3 performance. Julian Sayin was nearly perfect, Jeremiah Smith flashed superstar potential, and the defense pitched a shutout while creating turnovers. The win not only showcased the Buckeyes’ explosiveness, but also gave Ryan Day a chance to build depth across the roster as young players saw valuable reps. With Ohio up next, the Buckeyes look every bit the part of a championship contender.

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Monday Musings: Top 5 Questions for Game 2 – Grambling State

Fresh off a gritty 14–7 win over No. 1 Texas, Ohio State returns home to face Grambling State in Week 2. The Buckeyes proved they can win a slugfest, but now the focus shifts to sharpening details, building rhythm in the run game, and giving Julian Sayin more confidence as the new QB1. Ryan Day’s team will be heavy favorites, but the real test isn’t the scoreboard—it’s whether Ohio State can clean up the offensive line play, establish consistency on the ground, and showcase its depth before Big Ten play begins. Expect to see plenty of rotations, plenty of young faces, and hopefully plenty of answers about what this team looks like beyond a top-five showdown.

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Monday Musings: Top 5 Questions for Game 1 – Texas

This is it. Week 1. The defending champs open their season under the (noon) lights in the Horseshoe, and the opponent is none other than the preseason No. 1 Texas Longhorns. Arch Manning vs. Julian Sayin. Ryan Day vs. Steve Sarkisian. A top-5 showdown right out of the gate. Fans have had this one circled for months, and now it’s here. Here are our top questions heading into the game.

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Julian Sayin Officially Named Starter; Sonny Styles Named Block O Recipient

Ryan Day made it official: Julian Sayin will be Ohio State’s starting quarterback, taking his first snaps in the scarlet and gray on the biggest stage imaginable — a Noon showdown in The Shoe against No. 1 Texas on August 30th, live on FOX.

Sayin won’t face it alone. Sonny Styles, fresh off being named the Block O recipient, anchors a captain group that blends proven stars with emerging voices: Styles, Caleb Downs, Austin Siereveld, and Brandon Inniss. Together, they represent the leadership core of a roster aiming to defend its national title.

It’s an opener that feels more like a playoff game — a rematch with Texas, the defending SEC champions, in front of 100,000 Buckeye faithful. And yet, there’s a sense of belief in Columbus. With Sayin under center, Styles setting the defensive tone, and four captains uniting the locker room, Ohio State doesn’t just enter 2025 with hope — it enters with purpose.

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