The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk – Episode Summary

Episode: Ohio State football MVP; grading Ryan Day; Michigan effect on the Buckeyes: Around the Shoe
Air Date: October 13, 2025
Host: Doug Lesmerises ("Doug") and Bill Landis ("Landis")
Guests: Patrick Murphy (Buck Nuts), Andy Anders (Eleven Warriors)
Podcast Network: Blue Wire

Overview

This episode features Doug and Landis joined by two respected Ohio State beat writers: Patrick Murphy and Andy Anders. The panel delivers a lively, insightful roundtable on the defending national champion Buckeyes. Topics include naming a midseason team MVP, grading head coach Ryan Day’s performance, which young players they’d like to see more of, and how the ongoing losing streak to Michigan hangs over the season. The show closes with a lighthearted segment on beard maintenance among sportswriters.

Tone is conversational, self-deprecating, and often playful, with an emphasis on fan engagement and honest analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Midseason Team MVP: The Arvell Reese Consensus

[03:20–13:13]

• Four-for-four MVP pick: All panelists name sophomore linebacker Arvell Reese as Ohio State’s first-half MVP, citing his versatility and impact on the nation’s top defense.
  • Patrick Murphy:
    • Highlights Reese’s leadership in tackles, usage “all over the field,” and his ability to "unlock" Matt Patricia’s defensive schemes.
    • “He’s been nothing but spectacular…the versatility that he provides has allowed them to unlock some things in Matt Patricia’s defense that if you don’t have an Arvell Reese type, you’re probably not able to do…” [03:52]
  • Andy Anders:
    • Emphasizes Reese’s dominance against mobile QBs and future NFL potential.
    • “Value is enabling the defense to be at its best…and what he’s done in terms of just completely eliminating the threat of a mobile quarterback...” [05:30]
  • Bill Landis:
    • Also shouts out Jeremiah Smith (WR) for offensive MVP, crediting his “gravity” in drawing coverage.
    • Notes Reese is “clearly Ohio State’s most exciting player right now, and the draft guys can’t stop talking about him...” [10:03]
  • Doug:
    • Agrees on Reese; proposes a “master key” nickname for his ability to "unlock" the defense.
    • Playful Oscar-style analogy for MVP contenders, noting Reese as the true elevator.
  • Honorable Mentions:
    • Caleb Downs (Safety)
    • Jeremiah Smith (WR)
    • Julian Sayin (QB)
    • Kaden Curry (DL/Edge)
  • Panel Quote:
    • “Are Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith the two best players in college football? Because, by the way, I’m making it four for four on Arvell Reese...” – Doug [09:22]

2. Grading Ryan Day’s Coaching – First Half of 2025

[15:02–22:53]

• Grades:
  • Andy: A– (transition in philosophy, home-run coordinator hire in Matt Patricia, but minor gripes with run-game commitment)
  • Landis: Solid A (managed offseason well, especially staff retention)
  • Doug: A– (praises Day’s adaptability and executing what’s “smartest for this team” over personal style)
  • Patrick: A– (consistency, focus, and handling of championship expectations; wants more from run game)
• Notable Quotes:
  • “One of the things I like best about Ryan Day is I think he continues to coach in the way that he thinks is best, not what he is inclined to do…” – Doug [19:18]
  • “Matt Patricia hire: A plus…that to me is the biggest home run he hit of the offseason.” – Andy [15:20]
  • “I don’t know how it couldn’t be an A.” – Bill [17:55]

3. Young or Underused Player to Watch in the Second Half

[23:15–30:36]

• Mylan Graham (WR):
  • Landis’s pick due to untapped potential in the slot ("they’ve targeted him once").
  • Cites inefficiency at slot receiver (Brandon Inniss “not a plus this year”).
• Isaiah West (RB):
  • Doug wonders if he could become a legitimate rotational back, given the need for more pop outside of Bo Jackson.
• Brandon Inniss (Slot WR):
  • Patrick wants to see his skills leveraged more (motion/handoff packages à la Egbuka).
• Rylee Petijohn (LB):
  • Andy sees flashes of special ability and wants more opportunities for him behind the nation’s best linebacker tandem.
• Discussion on running back depth:
  • Consensus that with running game inconsistency, freshmen might get increased run down the stretch.
• Panel Quote:
  • “The ball is not coming his way because the ball is going to Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate a lot...” – Landis on Graham [23:15]
  • “If you need to get this run game going, and if it means playing two freshman running backs...I'm perfectly okay with giving some other guys some options.” – Patrick [29:30]

4. How Much Does the Michigan Losing Streak Hang Over the Season?

[31:53–39:22]

• Doug’s Estimate:
  • 60% overall (30% so far, will jump to 90% as schedule lightens and Michigan looms).
  • “It hasn’t been (a lot) so far. I think we’re about to get to the point where it’s hard to avoid talking about Michigan almost every day.” [33:20]
• Others:
  • Patrick, Andy: 50% (spike now that Penn State is out of the race; becomes dominant narrative heading into rivalry week)
  • Landis: Billiion Percent.
    • Emphatic that nothing else matters to Ohio State’s season.
    • “It's a billion percent…They have not lost five straight in this rivalry since the 1920s. Like, they have to win this game. What do you mean? …It’s the only thing that defines this season.” – Bill [37:40]
• Memorable Moment:
  • Landis calling out the panel for underestimating the weight of The Game, leading to laughter and jokes about “sober up” and “breathalyzer test” [38:25–39:22]

5. Beard Talk: The Buckeye Beat’s Secret Society

[40:06–50:22]

– Show pivots from basketball to “beard talk” with all four panelists sharing maintenance stories.

• Patrick:
  • Had a beard since eighth grade.
  • “Having good beard oil, if you’re going to have a real beard, is crucial…” [43:06]
• Andy:
  • Started late; details on shaping neckline and cheeks; infamous story about accidentally shaving only half his face before practice [46:05].
• Landis:
  • Notes his beard and mustache don’t connect:
  • “My mustache does not grow as thick nor at the same rate as my beard…for a while I would shave my mustache, but not my beard. So I was looking rather Amish…” [47:03]
• Doug:
  • New to “Beard Gang,” joking about group selfies at interviews.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Jeremiah Smith's gravity, I think is unlike anything else in college football. It is doing wonders for his teammates, and he's not so bad himself.” – Bill Landis [07:02]
• “I think he continues to coach in the way that he thinks is best, not what he is inclined to do...You have to do not what you desire, but what you believe to be the smartest thing.” – Doug [19:18]
• “It’s the rivalry and that’s what it deserves.” – Bill Landis, on Michigan, in emphatic, tongue-in-cheek “a billion percent” [37:40]
• Beard tip montage:
  • “Having good beard oil…” – Patrick [43:06]
  • “Figuring out my neckline...” – Andy [44:11]
  • “Understand how your facial hair grows, what length works best for your face…” – Landis [47:24]

Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:06 | Introduction, guest introductions, playful banter | | 03:20 | Q1: Who is Ohio State’s MVP? (Consensus: Arvell Reese) | | 15:02 | Q2: Grading Ryan Day’s year | | 23:15 | Q3: Young/underused player to see more of? | | 31:53 | Q4: How much does the Michigan rivalry “hang over” this season? | | 40:06 | Bonus Q5: “Beard talk” and lighthearted closing |

Episode Takeaways

• Defensive Breakout: The panel’s unanimous MVP choice encapsulates how defense is defining this year’s Buckeyes, while still spotlighting elite offensive talent.
• Coaching Evolution: Ryan Day has adapted remarkably, putting team strengths ahead of personal offensive preferences.
• The Only Test That Matters: Michigan week will completely dominate the narrative, and none of Ohio State’s regular season accomplishments will be fully appreciated until then.
• Culture & Camaraderie: The beard talk highlights the human side of the Buckeye beat, closing the episode on a fun, relatable note.

Useful for Fans:
Even if you missed the episode, this summary covers all major Buckeyes talking points, provides panel opinions and statistics, and lets you in on the running jokes and Buckeye beat culture. Relive key moments—and get expert facial hair advice—all in one place.