Podcast Summary: The Bill and Doug Show – Ohio State Loses to Miami 24–14, Buckeyes End Season with Cotton Bowl Playoff Loss

Podcast: The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis (Blue Wire)
Date: January 1, 2026
Episode Focus: Breaking down Ohio State’s 24–14 Cotton Bowl loss to Miami, diagnosing why the Buckeyes’ 2025–26 campaign fell short, and setting up the offseason conversation for the defending champs.

Main Theme

This episode provides a thorough, sometimes raw, postmortem of Ohio State’s playoff loss to Miami, examining offensive struggles, critical coaching decisions, the legacy of this Buckeye era, and the emotional state of fans and program insiders. Doug and Bill combine tactical breakdowns with big-picture questions about the program’s direction, the nature of college football, and what needs fixing for Ohio State to stay at the sport’s summit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Initial Reactions & The Nature of the Loss

• Doug and Bill weren’t totally shocked by the Buckeyes falling short:
  • “The fact that it kind of came down to Ohio State not being able to block them, I don’t think is a shock.” – Doug (02:21)
• Miami’s defensive line “destroyed the game, at least in the first half.” – Bill (02:50)
• There was disappointment that the much-discussed offensive adjustments (rolling the pocket, quick passes, screens) didn't materialize.
  • “It felt like it didn’t happen even once.” – Bill (02:50)
• Three possible diagnoses were weighed (04:00):
  1. OSU wasn’t as good as believed (schedule didn’t test them enough)
  2. Sometimes you lose to good teams
  3. Underlying/prolonged issues, particularly on offense, were exposed

2. Offensive Strategy & Tempo

• Extensive conversation on “playing slow” and its risks (07:00–10:15):
  • When a talent-rich team slows the game, it increases the impact of negative events like a pick-six.
  • Fewer possessions mean less margin for error.
  • “The slow offense thing as a strategy to get through a season is one thing, but it, it felt like something like that winds up hurting them in a game like this.” – Bill (08:00)
• Doug notes OSU’s tempo has become too static—rarely using it as a weapon as Day promised.
• “I don’t think it’s broken, but it does need to be tweaked…that’s pretty high up the list.” – Doug, on offensive philosophy (09:32)

3. Offensive Line Woes – Both Historical and Immediate

• In the Ryan Day era, OSU has only had a truly great O-line once (2019), with many seasons derailed at least in part by poor line play (10:24–12:18).
• They experimented with new personnel mid-game (Moore, Padilla)—helped, but not enough.
• Discussion of unconventional coaching hires (Tyler Bowen), portal swings that didn’t work, and the broader risks when a powerhouse O-line isn’t dominant.

Quote:
“There's been a lot of seasons where the offense doesn't feel quite right and I think the place you would start is sort of like inefficient offensive line play.” – Doug (10:29)

4. The Coordinators & Future of the OSU Offensive Staff

• Does Ryan Day need to hire his own “Ryan Day”—an outside, innovative offensive mind? (14:26–16:33)
• “It’s not broken. No, but it’s not like we're one step away from fixing everything either.” – Doug (15:11)
• Importance of outside voices and fresh ideas emphasized; Keenan Bailey was seen as a possible fresh OC but now the need for someone experienced and dynamic is clear.

5. Play Calling, In-Game Management, and the Head Coach’s Role

• Ryan Day, back as primary play-caller, didn’t look fully in command amid adversity—appeared “with his head in the play sheet” (19:01).
• The hosts argue it may simply be too much to both call plays and manage the sideline’s emotional needs in such moments.
• “It’s hard to do both and maybe it’s too much to do both.” – Doug (20:34)
• Buckeyes adjusted well for two long TD drives, but unraveled after a costly hold and a stellar play by Miami’s Reuben Bain (22:33–25:59).

6. Quarterback Performance – The Julian Sayin Experience

• Julian Sayin was “sped up,” especially early—a classic rookie moment stoked by Miami’s rush (26:50).
• Made some crucial throws, but sometimes missed deep shots or checked down instead of risking throws into windows (28:19).
• Zero scramble yards—lack of ‘off-schedule’ runs contrasted with Miami’s Carson Beck, who took what was available (61:35).

Quote:
“There’s something good about the fact that he does try to…find the flow of the game and start to play better...But he’s still a young quarterback.” – Doug (27:40)

7. Notable Plays & Turning Points

• Pick Six and RPO Bubble Screen (32:55):
  • Keonte Scott’s signature play, jumping a bubble meant for Brandon Inniss, for a TD.
  • Jeremiah Smith, lauded for his talent, whiffed the critical block; OSU may have had their best player in the wrong role.
  • “For as much as Ryan Day has talked about making sure they’re putting the right guys in the right spots, I don’t know that that felt like they were doing that on that play.” – Doug (33:40)
• Third-and-15 conversion to Jeremiah Smith (25:01):
  • Historic, season-on-the-line play, yet drive stalls after a hold and errant throws.

8. Special Teams & The Kicker Issue

• Jaden Fielding’s missed key field goal—echoes of previous year’s pain.
• Hosts argue poor offseason planning put OSU in a spot where everyone—players, coach, fans—knew the kick would miss. (46:10–49:13)
• Practice competitions are not enough: “I don’t care about practice...” – Bill (48:29)
• A stark call for more ruthlessness, both at kicker and right guard:
  • “Maybe required a little more ruthlessness. Is that fair?” – Bill (53:00)

9. Defensive Performance – Did They Do Enough?

• Miami’s defense made game-changing plays, while OSU’s stars (Downs, Styles, Reese) had less visible impact.
• OSU brought pressure (63%, tripling their usual blitz rate) but couldn’t get home; Miami’s O-line provided crucial resistance.
• Final Miami drive: defense gave up crucial 3rd-down conversions—echoes of past postseason late-game frustrations (41:23–44:24).

10. Program Perspective & What Comes Next

• The loss is not a “tear down the program” moment; context matters:
  • OSU remains defending national champs, beat Michigan, and put together arguably the best 16-game stretch in school history (88:27).
• But staff has to self-scout, seek offensive innovation, and be more dynamic in-game with play-calling and personnel.
• “Their evaluations were off in some key spots this year. Personnel-wise. Yes.” – Doug (54:08)
• Transfer portal and recruiting are crucial; speculation about possible new talent (Rashien Biles, Jazz Coleman, etc.) (95:33).

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On OSU’s surprise and preparedness:
  “I don’t know that I’m terribly surprised...The fact that it like kind of came down to Ohio State not being able to block them, I don’t think is a shock.” – Doug (02:21)

• On game management/play-calling strain:
  “It’s hard to do both and maybe it’s too much to do both.” – Doug (20:50)

• On the pick six (OSU’s worst-played moment):
  “We give the guy a ton of praise when he plays well...He made a mistake on that play.” – Doug (33:06)

• On Julian Sayin handling pressure:
  “Too many stretches where he was looking at the rush, dropping his eyes…He said he should have scrambled more.” – Doug (27:01)

• OSU’s offensive ‘plan’ postmortem:
  “I am surprised that given three and a half weeks, they didn’t just say, we accept this, we know it’s going to happen, and here’s what we’re going to do to combat it.” – Bill (73:37)

• On legacy and fan feelings:
  “This will be a season that’s going to maybe take a little bit of time for people to actually figure out how they feel about it.” – Doug (90:16)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |-------|-----------| | Opening, is loss shocking? | 02:02–05:05 | | Was offense exposed/does it need changes? | 05:05–10:14 | | Offensive line, staff, and scheme problems | 10:14–13:24 | | Does Ryan Day need a new/innovative OC? | 13:24–16:33 | | Play calling, Day’s sideline management | 18:23–20:50 | | Buckeyes’ adjusted drives, game turning point | 20:50–25:59 | | Julian Sayin’s performance, lack of scramble | 26:50–28:19, 61:35–63:32 | | Pick six and bubble screen analysis | 32:55–34:11 | | Defensive performance, late-game stops | 36:47–44:59 | | Kicker woes and special teams critique | 46:10–49:13 | | Post-game, “fire level” for program | 56:01–57:31 | | Offensive line future/Portal needs | 58:25–60:46 | | Is this a program crisis? | 55:14–57:31 | | Big picture: legacy of the team/seasons | 87:03–94:22 |

Conclusion & Tone

The hosts maintain an honest yet measured tone, blending disappointment and critique with respect for the program’s big-picture health. The episode is unsparing in its dissection of missed opportunities, schematic failings, and personnel decisions—but also calls for perspective: back-to-back national title chases, a win over Michigan, and the expectation that, with sharp offseason moves, Ohio State will be back in the hunt.

“It's not broken…but it's not like we're one step away from fixing everything either.” – Doug (15:11)

For the Fan Who Missed the Game:

If you want an unfiltered, smart, and occasionally emotional diagnosis of why Ohio State lost to Miami, and what it means for the program, this episode is packed with schematic insight, critical quotes, and a clear-eyed view of what needs fixing—and reassurance that, while disappointing, the sky isn’t falling in Columbus.