Show Notes
Ryan Day Says Ja'Kobi Jackson Ran Harder Than Bo Jackson — And That's a Problem for Ohio State's RB1 Ryan Day just said the quiet part out loud. Coming off Ohio State's Illinois press conference, Day publicly challenged his running backs to "run angry" — and made a point of saying Ja'Kobi Jackson has been running harder than RB1 Bo Jackson. That's not a throwaway comment from a head coach who's had a low red zone success rate and a lack of explosive runs all season. On this episode we break down exactly what Day said, why he said it now, and what it means for the Ohio State backfield the rest of the way. We get into the tape on both backs — why Bo Jackson's explosiveness hasn't translated into contact balance, what Ja'Kobi Jackson has actually shown when he's gotten his opportunities, and whether this is Ryan Day setting up a real competition at running back or just lighting a fire under his RB1. If you've been watching Ohio State's offense and wondering why the run game has looked off through three-plus games, this is the breakdown that explains it. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. Leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is the biggest way to help the show reach more college football fans. Follow us for daily Ohio State breakdowns, film study, and hot takes all season long.
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Josh Pate says Ohio State will miss the College Football Playoff without Julian Sayin. In this video, Zach Smith and Kris Drew react to his take, and you can hear for yourself whether they agree with him. Is it a fair read on the Buckeyes, or an overreaction to a backup quarterback situation? Sayin hurt his throwing arm in Ohio State's 19-15 win at Indiana on Oct. 17. Ryan Day said Oct. 20 that Sayin is out "indefinitely" and gave no timeline. ESPN reported that Ohio State plans to play the rest of the season without him, and Day said, "We're going to play the guy that gives us the best chance to win." Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair are the options, and both are getting reps during the bye week before the Buckeyes play at USC on Oct. 31. As reported, Pate said on the Rich Eisen Show that he expects Ohio State to lose at least three games and miss the playoff, and he questioned whether the running game improves with Fahey. In this video: Josh Pate's take on Ohio State's season without Julian Sayin What Ryan Day has actually said about Sayin's status Luke Fahey, Tavien St. Clair and the backup quarterback question Does Ohio State's path to the playoff still exist? Zach Smith and Kris Drew give their own opinions Subscribe to Menace2Sports for daily Ohio State and college football talk. Stats, film breakdowns and more: fbcoachanalytics.com and menace2sports.com #Menace2Sports #OhioState #Buckeyes #JoshPate #JulianSayin #CollegeFootball
Julian Sayin's Alleged Elbow Surgery Changes Everything Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is out "indefinitely," Ryan Day said Tuesday, and the Buckeyes are now planning for him to miss the rest of the regular season. Day also said the team is putting together a plan in case Sayin can't return this fall at all. What hasn't been confirmed is any diagnosis or surgery: as of Oct. 21, Ohio State has not announced either. Luke Fahey has been ahead of Tavien St. Clair, but both get reps during the bye week before Ohio State plays at No. 16 USC on Oct. 31. Zach Smith and Kris Drew break down what the surgery talk could mean for Sayin's recovery, for his future at Ohio State, and for a Buckeyes season that now runs through the quarterback room. Watch to hear where they land. In this video: Ryan Day's Tuesday update: "out indefinitely" and the plan for the regular season and postseason The surgery question: what's confirmed, what isn't, and why it matters What a throwing-arm injury can mean for a quarterback's timeline Luke Fahey vs. Tavien St. Clair during the bye week What the Buckeyes need to do offensively at USC and the rest of the schedule What it means for the Big Ten race and the playoff 👉 Subscribe to Menace2Sports for daily Ohio State and Big Ten football coverage, and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode. 📊 Stats, film breakdowns and more: fbcoachanalytics.com and menace2sports.com #Menace2Sports #OhioState #JulianSayin #LukeFahey #TavienStClair #RyanDay #CollegeFootball #BigTen
The Real Reason Julian Sayin Got Hurt Ohio State beat Indiana 19-15, but the bigger story was Julian Sayin leaving in the fourth quarter. He was sacked just past midfield, fumbled, went to the locker room and came out with his right arm in a sling. Ryan Day says Sayin will be out "at the least several weeks," and Ohio State is still going through testing. The Buckeyes are off this week, then play at USC on Oct. 31. What actually happened on that play? Zach Smith and Kris Drew go through the film to look at the protection, the pocket and the read, and how the injury came about. Watch to see what they found. In this video: The play: Indiana's sack, the fumble and the collision with Sayin's throwing arm Ryan Day's latest on the injury and the timeline The protection, the pocket and the read on the snap What the film shows about how it happened What the injury means for Ohio State at USC and beyond 👉 Subscribe to Menace2Sports for daily Ohio State and Big Ten football coverage, and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode. 📊 Stats, film breakdowns and more: fbcoachanalytics.com and menace2sports.com #Menace2Sports #OhioState #JulianSayin #RyanDay #Buckeyes #CollegeFootball #BigTen #OhioStateFootball
Julian Sayin Is Out. Now It's Fahey Or St. Clair. Ohio State beat Indiana 19-15 to end the Hoosiers' 22-game win streak, but the bigger story came in the fourth quarter. Julian Sayin was sacked, fumbled, left the field and returned with his arm in a sling. Ryan Day says Sayin will be out "several weeks." Redshirt freshman Luke Fahey replaced him against Indiana, and five-star Tavien St. Clair, the Bellefontaine, Ohio, product, is on the roster too. Ohio State now has a bye week before it travels to USC on Oct. 31. Zach Smith and Kris Drew break down what Sayin's injury means for the Buckeyes. Watch to hear where they land on the Fahey vs. St. Clair question. In this video: What happened on the Sayin play against Indiana Ryan Day's update: "several weeks" and what he said about "a plan there" Luke Fahey: his role this season and his snaps against Indiana Tavien St. Clair: the five-star recruit and the first Ohio high school QB to sign with Ohio State since Joe Burrow The schedule ahead: bye week, then USC (Oct. 31), then Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan Zach Smith and Kris Drew's takes on who should get the call The facts: Ohio State 19, Indiana 15 (Oct. 17, 2026). Sayin's injury is described as a right arm/shoulder injury, and Ohio State has not announced a starter for USC. 👉 Subscribe to Menace2Sports for daily Ohio State and Big Ten football coverage, and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode. 📊 Stats, film breakdowns and more: fbcoachanalytics.com and menace2sports.com
Does Indiana have an answer for Jeremiah Smith? Curt Cignetti didn't hold back this week, calling Ohio State's star receiver "a wow player" and saying "there is no one like him right now playing at this level." Zach Smith and Kris Drew on Menace2Sports break down what Cignetti said, what Indiana can realistically do about Smith, and what the Hoosiers' third-down struggles at Nebraska mean for Saturday's matchup in Bloomington. In this video: • Everything Curt Cignetti has said about Jeremiah Smith this week, including "He's a freak, and we're going to have to do a great job on him" • Smith's production lately: eight touchdown catches over his last three Power Four games • How Ohio State moves Smith around the formation • Indiana's third-down issues, including one conversion in the win at Nebraska • What Ohio State needs to do if Indiana takes Smith away • Our keys to the game as the No. 4 Buckeyes visit the No. 5 Hoosiers No. 4 Ohio State (5-1) plays at No. 5 Indiana (6-0) this Saturday at noon ET on FOX. Subscribe to Menace2Sports for daily college football takes, Ohio State coverage, and film breakdowns: [your subscribe link] Stats, film breakdowns and more: fbcoachanalytics.com and menace2sports.com #Menace2Sports #OhioState #Indiana #JeremiahSmith #CurtCignetti #CollegeFootball #BigTen