The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk

Episode: Ohio State's Biggest Rival Besides Michigan; Buckeyes' QB If Not Julian Sayin? Around the Shoe

Date: October 27, 2025

Main Theme and Purpose

This episode of The Bill and Doug Show features Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis hosting “Around the Shoe” alongside Ohio State beat writers Joey Kaufman (Columbus Dispatch) and Stefan Kreischnik (cleveland.com). The discussion focuses on pressing questions about Ohio State’s football program, including the elusive search for a “number two” rival after Michigan, the hypothetical scenario of replacing Julian Sayin at quarterback, concerns about the team’s potential weaknesses, and insider reflections on what it’s like to cover the Buckeyes compared to other major college football programs.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Ohio State’s Second-Biggest Rival After Michigan

Timestamps: 03:48 – 15:08

• No Clear Second Rival

  • Joey Kaufman and Stefan Kreischnik argue there truly isn’t a consistent “number two” rival due to the overwhelming focus and animosity dedicated to Michigan.

    "There is no number two rival for Ohio State." – Joey Kaufman (05:05)

  • Other teams—like Penn State, Oregon, Clemson, and Notre Dame—have, at times, stirred fan passion, but those rivalries are more situational or cyclical.

• The Rotational Rivals Debate

  • Bill Landis suggests the “number two” spot is rotational, often filled by teams that are especially competitive or have coaching/roster storylines (Notre Dame, Oregon).
  • Indiana (with brash coach Kurt Signetti) gets a mention as a potential emerging villain, but that rivalry lacks history and meaningful stakes so far.

    "I do think Kurt Signetti can be that person. We'll see how much he continues to lean into that..." – Bill Landis (09:00)

• The Oregon Example

  • Oregon’s on- and off-field competition (especially recruiting and an early upset of OSU) gets pointed out as a candidate for the next primary rival.

    "Oregon's potentially like the scariest team that Ohio State would see on any kind of regular basis..." – Doug Lesmerises (11:57)

• The Changing Nature of Rivalries

  • Expansion, playoff structures, and non-conference postseason games (Clemson, Georgia, Texas, Miami) mean college football “rivalry” may increasingly transcend geography or conference.

Notable Quote:

"It's Michigan, and then... whoever you feel like hating when you wake up that morning." – Stefan Kreischnik (07:01)

2. Who Would Be QB If Not Julian Sayin?

Timestamps: 16:17 – 27:42

• Portal, Inexperience, or Uncertainty

  • Panelists agree Ryan Day would likely have pursued a transfer quarterback (“portal guy”) had Julian Sayin stayed at Alabama. Names floated: Fernando Mendoza (now Indiana), Miller Moss (USC to Louisville), Carson Beck (now Miami), with arguments for and against each.
  • Bill Landis notes it's not in Day's style to risk the season on a raw/inexperienced option like Lincoln Kienholz or a true freshman such as Tavien St. Clair.

• What About the Holdovers?

  • Joey Kaufman raises the possibility of Devin Brown staying as the safe backup if Sayin never arrived, but calls it "an unsatisfying answer" given Brown's transfer and lack of impact elsewhere.

• The Portal Conundrum

  • Doug Lesmerises points out desperation moves in the portal can result in bringing in a player for a true competition (e.g., Miller Moss versus Lincoln Kienholz), rather than a sure-thing star.

Notable Quotes:

"Man, Nick Saban sure retired at a good time for Ohio State." – Doug Lesmerises (20:31)
"I think my answer is they would have found someone in the portal, which would have been interesting." – Stefan Kreischnik (18:27)

3. Potential Achilles’ Heel for the Buckeyes (2025 Season)

Timestamps: 28:48 – 35:47

• Offensive Line

  • Bill Landis and Stefan Kreischnik cite ongoing instability at right guard and right tackle, noting midseason issues with starter performance and lack of clarity about the “best five.”

    "We're asking the question ... whether or not they have the right five guys starting on the offensive line. That's not a great spot..." – Bill Landis (28:48)

• Special Teams Concerns

  • Doug Lesmerises flags field goal trouble as a lingering issue for a team whose playoff fate could hinge on one critical kick or special teams play.

    "It does remain a little odd... I don't know that anybody inside or outside the building just like feel super confident when Ohio State's kicking..." – Doug Lesmerises (29:53)

• Red Zone Offense

  • Joey Kaufman brings up the occasional red zone inefficiencies with first-time QBs, pointing to OSU’s statistical drops in touchdown conversion rates in those seasons.

Notable Quote:

"A fun drinking game with friends is... the guy who's fourth has to find a fourth thing to say about why the number one team in the country isn't good enough." – Stefan Kreischnik (32:39)

4. Inside the Beat: Covering Ohio State vs. Other Programs

Timestamps: 39:22 – 53:40

• First Days and Imposter Syndrome

  • Doug, Joey, Stefan, and Bill swap war stories about their rookie mistakes, feeling overwhelmed by the size and knowledge-level of the OSU media corps, and the infamous “who is that player?” moments.

    "It was like, why are there so many people in this room right now?" – Stefan Kreischnik (40:29)

• Comparisons With Other Major Programs

  • Joey recounts USC’s once “open doors” media policy, where reporters saw entire practices and talked with any player/coordinator at request.

    "That sort of thing doesn't exist anymore... We were watching the Tuesday and Wednesday practices at USC... None of that here." – Joey Kaufman (48:46)

  • Stefan explains the SEC’s unique culture—where college programs are “pro teams” to locals—and contrasts Mississippi State’s and Indiana’s coverage demands versus Ohio State’s intensity and detail orientation.

• The Stakes of the Beat

  • Both newcomers describe quickly grasping that they had to dramatically up their X's and O's football knowledge, as OSU fans, writers, and even seemingly minor details (like backup nickels) are scrutinized at a level unmatched by their previous stops.

Notable Quotes:

"You're gonna get laughed at when it comes on this stuff." – Stefan Kreischnik (41:33)
"There is a general level of football knowledge that, for me, it was like: you better rewatch these games, understand what's going on..." – Stefan Kreischnik (41:43)
"I was probably quiet and terrified the entire time because I wasn't 100 percent certain what I had gotten myself into, both with the job and who I was working with." – Bill Landis (43:57)

• Bonus: Big Ten Baseball Supremacy
  • Stefan jokes about Big Ten and MAC producing nearly as many World Series players as the all-mighty SEC—a tongue-in-cheek jab to wrap the segment.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:48 — Ohio State’s second-biggest rival: Michigan, Penn State, Oregon, and the “rotational” nature of rivalries
• 16:17 — Who would be QB if not Julian Sayin? Portal dilemma, lack of ready-made in-house candidates
• 28:48 — What could trip up Ohio State in 2025? Offensive line, special teams, red zone offense
• 39:22 — First days and rookie mistakes covering OSU
• 46:52 — Comparing Ohio State beat coverage to USC, Mississippi State, and the SEC
• 52:15 — Bonus trivia: Big Ten/MAC vs. SEC, World Series players

Memorable Quotes (with Speaker & Timestamp)

• "There is no number two rival for Ohio State."
  – Joey Kaufman (05:05)

• "It's Michigan, and then... whoever you feel like hating when you wake up that morning."
  – Stefan Kreischnik (07:01)

• "I do think Kurt Signetti can be that person. We'll see how much he continues to lean into that..."
  – Bill Landis (09:00)

• "Man, Nick Saban sure retired at a good time for Ohio State."
  – Doug Lesmerises (20:31)

• "I think my answer is they would have found someone in the portal, which would have been interesting."
  – Stefan Kreischnik (18:27)

• "We're asking the question ... whether or not they have the right five guys starting on the offensive line. That's not a great spot..."
  – Bill Landis (28:48)

• "A fun drinking game with friends is... the guy who's fourth has to find a fourth thing to say about why the number one team in the country isn't good enough."
  – Stefan Kreischnik (32:39)

• "You're gonna get laughed at when it comes on this stuff."
  – Stefan Kreischnik (41:33)

• "There is a general level of football knowledge that, for me, it was like: you better rewatch these games, understand what's going on..."
  – Stefan Kreischnik (41:43)

• "That sort of thing doesn't exist anymore... We were watching the Tuesday and Wednesday practices at USC... None of that here."
  – Joey Kaufman (48:46)

• "I was probably quiet and terrified the entire time because I wasn't 100 percent certain what I had gotten myself into, both with the job and who I was working with."
  – Bill Landis (43:57)

Conclusion

This episode was a blend of informed speculation, honest nostalgia, and sharp insights on what shapes Ohio State football culture, from external “enemies” to internal demands. The panel offered clear-eyed analysis of roster management “what-ifs,” potential pitfalls for OSU’s championship defense, and the rarefied atmosphere of OSU coverage. Fans will come away with a deeper appreciation for both the dynamics of rivalry and the complexity of modern college football’s transfer-centric era—plus a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of documenting one of the sport’s most closely watched programs.