Podcast Summary: "Jeremiah Smith-Carnell Tate concern level; Biggest threats to an Ohio State repeat"

The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Host: Blue Wire
Date: November 17, 2025
Guests: Dylan Davis (Delaware Gazette), Chris Drew (Menace to Sports), Bill Landis, Doug Lesmerises

Episode Overview

This lively episode dives deep into the current state of Ohio State’s football team as they approach the final stretch of the regular season, focusing on injury concerns for star receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, examining both internal and external threats to OSU’s bid to repeat as national champions, and dissecting how the national media discusses Ohio State. The roundtable—featuring experienced Buckeye beat writers—balances fan worries with insider insight, while offering candid thoughts on the college football landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Concern Level: Jeremiah Smith & Carnell Tate Injuries

Segment Start: 03:00

• Moderator’s Scale: 1 to 100, 100=freakout, 1=totally fine
• Chris Drew: “Probably like a 77. … When the best player in the country goes down, there is some concern there. … The receiver core is what makes Ohio State an advantage every time they step onto any field.” [03:19]
• Dylan Davis: “I put it at about a 40 out of 100 … the timing isn’t great. … One reason I put it at 40 … we’ve seen Ryan [Day] kind of handle an injury where he just didn’t want to be forthcoming with it.” [04:12]
  • Cites the 2022 handling of Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s injury, noting Ryan Day’s lack of transparency (“History, you know, never played again. … So I understand why people are concerned.” – 05:55)
• Bill Landis: “Based off what I’ve observed … my number would be low. But I don’t believe anything Ohio State says about injuries. … I’m like a 62, I think, because I just don’t know where the truth lies.” [07:10]
• Doug Lesmerises: Splitting the difference, says he’s at 50: “It’s hard, because if these injuries are devastating, then it changes who Ohio State is.” [08:14]
• Memorable phrase: “Nightmare fuel” – used repeatedly to describe fans’ anxiety about OSU’s WR injuries and the staff’s lack of transparency. [06:26, 09:31]

2. Biggest External Threats to OSU’s Repeat Hopes

Segment Start: 10:21

• Dylan Davis: “Full disclosure, I think Ohio State’s the best team in the country.” [10:42]
  • Sees no obvious external threat, possibly Indiana, but generally feels OSU’s biggest issues are internal.
• Bill Landis: The potential for a tough playoff draw, particularly if OSU faces Oregon or Notre Dame early in the playoff:
  “You’re potentially playing a top five team as a number one seed in your quarterfinal game, which I wouldn’t love if I were any number one seed.” [13:36]
• Doug Lesmerises: Wonders what type of offense would most threaten OSU—suggests balanced offenses like Oregon and Notre Dame’s could pose the greatest challenge.
• Chris Drew: “Quarterbacks who can get really, really hot traditionally [worry me] more than run games. … The three teams that are like the external threats are the ones we mentioned—Notre Dame, Oregon, and then Georgia too. I think Georgia right now is kind of hitting a level.” [15:24]
• Roundtable Consensus: Oregon would be the toughest opponent, with Dante Moore’s upside as a “three-point shooter”—if he gets hot, it can break a game open.
• Memorable line (Dylan): “No run game in the country worries me when it comes to Ohio State.” [17:19]

3. Internal Threats to OSU’s Title Defense

Segment Start: 18:29

• Bill Landis: Offensive line concerns, not just at right guard—“breakdowns just about everywhere other than left tackle” [19:26]. Wonders about the unit’s ceiling; facing an elite pass rush could spell trouble.
• Doug Lesmerises: Playcalling, specifically sequencing and red-zone performance. “I still wonder a tiny bit about the art of play calling offensively.” [20:06]
• Chris Drew: “The number one thing for me is red zone. … It feels like the red zone thing is a theme of Ryan Day programs.” [25:33]
  • Considers inexperienced play-calling in the postseason a potential issue.
• Dylan Davis: Also points to the offensive line, especially the lack of certainty at right guard. “If you look at the snap counts … there’s still a big gap … I just didn’t feel like they’re giving Josh Padilla a chance.” [26:16]
• Discussion: Should Ryan Day take back the playcalling “for the sprint of the playoff”? All agree they wouldn’t mind:
  • “Who’s your best play caller … to win a national championship? There’s no question that’s still Ryan Day.” (Dylan – 25:17)

4. The National Conversation: Fair or Flawed?

Segment Start: 28:11

• Doug Lesmerises: Calls it “lazy”—“if you scoreboard watch … it’s not particularly sophisticated.” [29:04]
• Chris Drew: “I think it’s pretty dishonest … there’s not a single fan base out there that’s like, ‘We want to play Ohio State.’” [29:04]
• Dylan Davis: “I went with ‘inequitable’ … it’s just not consistent … The Texas win … was kind of just completely … shrugged off.” [30:02]
• Bill Landis: “Intellectually dishonest … The facts as they apply to Ohio State are dismissed or construed to bring Ohio State down.” [32:15]
• Collective Frustration: National media/fan analysis seems to penalize OSU for things other programs are praised for.

5. Why Covering/Talking About Ohio State is Special

Segment Start: 33:27

• Chris Drew: Loves tracking Ohio high school players as they rise (“I am really into the individual stories of recruiting … the development and growth of young men. … That’s my favorite thing.” [33:47])
• Dylan Davis: “There’s always something to talk about … It’s never a dull moment covering Ohio State football.” [37:32]
• Bill Landis: “They have cool players … any time you’re watching a game, something can happen and it’s super fun to talk about.” [38:47]
• Doug Lesmerises: OSU acts as a lens for issues across all of college football since its decisions and actions move the sport itself. [40:37]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On injury policy:
  • “Don’t believe a word [Ryan Day] says about injuries.” (Bill Landis, 07:10)
• On offensive line worries:
  • “Breakdowns just about everywhere other than left tackle.” (Landis, 19:26)
• On playcalling:
  • “Brian Hartline and this offense … is like the pitcher that has a really good fastball, really good curveball, really good slider … but can you pitch? The sequencing, I think, is really important.” (Chris Drew, 20:48)
• On the national discourse:
  • “It’s hard work to be this uninformed about the number one team in the country.” (Chris Drew, 29:55)
  • “There’s a lot of dumb stuff out there, man.” (Landis, 33:27)
• On covering OSU:
  • “There’s always something to talk about. … Ohio State fans make sure there’s always something to talk about.” (Dylan Davis, 37:32)
  • “Any time you’re watching a game, something that can happen—and then it’s super fun to talk about and write after the effect.” (Landis, 38:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Injury Concerns (Smith & Tate): 03:00 – 10:19
• Biggest External Threats: 10:21 – 18:28
• Internal Threats: 18:29 – 28:11
• National Conversation: 28:11 – 33:26
• Why We Talk About OSU: 33:27 – 41:29

Conclusion

The panel’s experienced beat writers and Buckeye insiders walk listeners through fan anxieties, playoff hypotheticals, and media misreadings—balancing optimism about OSU’s talent and depth with honest worries about injuries, the offensive line, red zone efficiency, and the program’s national perception. The episode finishes on a positive and reflective note, emphasizing the privilege and fun inherent in covering one of college football’s perennial powerhouses.

Find more from the guests:

• Chris Drew: Menace to Sports, Dead Air Sports on YouTube
• Dylan Davis: Delaware Gazette, @DylanDavis56 on Twitter
• Bill Landis: Bill & Doug OSU Substack – osu.substack.com

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This summary aims to provide a comprehensive yet engaging recap for those who missed the full discussion, highlighting all the critical dialogue and memorable lines from this insightful episode of The Bill and Doug Show.