The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State beats Ohio — Postgame Reaction

Podcast: The Bill and Doug Show — Ohio State Football Talk
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis
Episode Date: September 14, 2025
Topic: Postgame analysis after Ohio State defeats Ohio 37-9 to move to 3-0, with focus on breakout performances (Jeremiah Smith), red zone questions, and the national college football landscape.

Episode Overview

This postgame episode features a detailed breakdown of Ohio State’s 37-9 win over the Ohio Bobcats. Doug and Bill dig into what the result means for the Buckeyes’ ongoing season as the defending national champions, analyze player performances, and zoom out to compare OSU to the rest of college football’s elite. Special attention is paid to the continued emergence of freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, the running back rotation, quarterback Julian Sayin’s progress, and persisting red zone concerns. The show’s tone is lively, opinionated, and irreverently anti-SEC, keeping fans’ spirits high while also pointing out the program’s room for growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Game Takeaways (01:20)

• Ohio State wins 37-9, outgaining Ohio 572-181 yards.
• Now at 3-0 and ranked No. 1, the Buckeyes hit their bye week before facing Washington.
• Red zone inefficiency and reliance on explosive plays are recurring topics.
• Strong performances from Bo Jackson (RB), Jeremiah Smith (WR), and Carnell Tate (WR).

Quote (Doug, 04:10):
“You almost with Ohio State are waiting for the big play and it feels like a dangerous way to live sometimes... and then they do, and then Bo Jackson rips off a 64 yard run and they hit two deep shots.”

2. Red Zone Struggles & Offensive Identity (02:15, 54:45)

• Ohio State’s offense again bogs down inside the 20; Coach Ryan Day is “obsessed” with the lack of red zone TDs.
• Last season was a “peak” in red zone scoring, but “mediocre” is the usual.
• Discussion of whether the issue is scheme, personnel, predictability, or just early-season rust.
• Some red zone playcalling was experimental due to the nature of the opponent and upcoming bye.

Quote (Bill, 56:45):
“That’ll be the focus going on to Washington. That’ll be a lot of what we talk about with Ryan Day on Tuesday ... I’m not panicking necessarily, it wasn’t great, but some of it just comes down to execution.”

3. Jeremiah Smith’s Star Performance & Usage (08:15, 51:08)

• Smith: 9 catches, 153 yards, 1 receiving TD + 1 rushing TD (reverse play).
• The offense is managing to get him regular touches without feeling forced.
• Smith compared favorably to previous stars like Marvin Harrison Jr.

Quote (Doug, 13:05):
“One thing about the Jeremiah Smith situation right now ... I feel like that conversation [on getting him the ball] is over. They’ve handled it so well; it does not feel forced.”

4. Bo Jackson Makes His Move at Running Back (11:55, 46:07, 48:00)

• Bo Jackson: 9 carries, 109 yards (incl. a 64-yard run).
• Coach Day praises Bo’s “home run ability” and hints he’ll play a bigger role, though no outright RB1 declaration.
• Running back rotation: Donaldson (hammer), Peoples (quickness), Jackson (explosives).
• Bill Landis calls Jackson OSU’s “best running back” right now and expects 8-12 touches per game going forward.

Quote (Bill, 48:00):
“I think he’s our best running back. ... With the ball in his hands, they trust him. I’m expecting him to get 8 to 12 touches now in games.”

5. Julian Sayin’s Growth at Quarterback (17:48, 51:08)

• Show hosts note Sayin took more deep shots, rebounding from “weird picks.”
• Capable when forced to create outside the pocket; red zone reads and progressions still a work in progress.
• Not yet been put in a game-on-the-line scenario but hosts trust his mental approach.

Quote (Doug, 19:34):
“When it goes wrong, what do you do? Can you be tough? I thought we saw examples of Julian saying, doing that.”

6. National Context: OSU Amid Chaos (06:45, 12:45)

• 8 of the preseason AP Top 15 have already lost by Week 3; favorites like Texas, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame all showing flaws.
• Message: Don’t take wins for granted; even elite teams are stumbling early.

Quote (Doug, 10:36):
“Don’t take this stuff for granted ... there are so many good teams who are struggling much worse than anything Ohio State is or isn’t doing right now.”

7. Defensive Dominance & Key Players (35:12, 66:27)

• OSU holds Ohio to 181 yards (2.0 yards/rush, 5.4 yards/pass).
• Praise for Matt Patricia’s patience with QB spy packages, linebacker play, and the versatility of Caleb Downs.
• Caden Curry, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles all highlighted for their “crazy good” performance.
• Hosts argue OSU’s defense might be best in the country and is the foundation of the team’s identity.

Quote (Doug, 36:13):
“This defense is really physical and really smart and I think it’s in contention for best unit in the country.”

8. Personnel & Tactics: Notable Moments

• Appearance by Lincoln Kienholz (QB) in short yardage/“Presidential Package.”
• Discussion of slot coverage vulnerability (Lorenzo Styles Jr.) after he’s beaten for a score and gets injured.
• Red zone “experimentation” may have included playcalls and RB usage.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On call-outs to Southern football bias and SEC struggles (06:00):
  “The south can cram it, can’t they? Clemson? Cram it so hard. ... Feels so good to tell Clemson to cram it.”

• On national results (12:00):
  “[Georgia] should have lost to Tennessee today ... but that Georgia defense is not there. They got lucky.”

• On the value of perspective (16:00):
  “Lots of mediocrity thus far, says Prince Mario. Looks like early season football. Agreed. But still, that’s kind of the point.”

• Doug’s daughter on TV with “SEC is full of frauds” sign (17:48):
  “She’s a Queen of the North, right? SEC is full of frauds, as we just ran through.”

Segment Timestamps for Quick Reference

| Time | Topic | |------------|------------------------------------------------------| |01:20-04:45 | Game summary, initial take, red zone issues | |06:45-16:25 | Around CFB: national powerhouses’ struggles, perspective | |17:48-22:45 | Julian Sayin’s growing responsibility, QB debate | |28:20-31:45 | Bo Jackson’s role, RB depth, freshman push | |35:12-39:20 | Defense as equalizer vs. running QBs, key defenders | |45:25-47:17 | Landis joins—RB rotation and Bo Jackson’s status | |51:08-53:31 | Passing game, deep shots, WR talent recognized | |54:25-56:45 | Slot DB play—Lorenzo Styles’ struggles | |56:45-62:47 | Red zone conversation in-depth, scheme/concerns | |66:27-67:16 | Kaden Curry’s good play, defensive substitutions |

Flow & Tone

The show remains accessible and fun for Buckeyes fans, irreverently skewering SEC/ACC powerhouses while combining sharp tactical football insight with listener-friendly explanations and fan banter. Doug and Bill blend long-range perspective with granular analysis, referencing years of covering Ohio State and past issues (e.g., 2015 QB substitution saga, red zone trends). The vibe is confident in OSU’s future, aware of weaknesses, but grounded in the realities of early season football for all contenders.

Final Thoughts

• Ohio State, despite some imperfections (especially in the red zone), looks as solid or better than most contenders nationally.
• Jeremiah Smith and Bo Jackson are emerging as foundational young stars.
• The defense is formidable and increasingly the Buckeyes’ calling card.
• If these red zone and tactical bugs get fixed, OSU is positioned for another deep run.
• The hosts encourage fans not to nitpick too hard; after all, “don’t take wins for granted.”

Closing quote (Doug, 66:31):
“Is there anything you want to finish with here? ... Let the good people go. ... That was The Bill and Doug Show.”

For a more detailed discussion of specific red zone plays, personnel rotations, or all-22 breakdowns, tune into their YouTube or Substack Sunday episodes.