The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk

Episode: The Most Dangerous Players on Ohio State’s Big Ten Schedule
Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Bill Landis (Doug Lesmerises not present in this episode)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Bill Landis takes a deep dive into the Big Ten slate—examining which individual players present the biggest threat to the defending national champion Buckeyes as they enter conference play. Instead of simply listing the top players per team, Bill compiles and analyzes a list of the top 10 most dangerous or impactful opponents Ohio State is scheduled to face, providing stats, context, and preseason narratives, and focusing on underlying factors that might affect each game.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Approach and Context

• The list isn’t a categorical ranking of the Big Ten's best players.
• It only includes players Ohio State will actually face in the regular Big Ten schedule (no Oregon, Indiana, etc.).
• Some picks are projections, especially for freshmen and emerging talents.
• The conference slate is still taking shape, with teams like Ohio State, Washington, Penn State, Minnesota, and UCLA yet to play a Big Ten game.
• Bill sets the stage: “I just compiled a list of 10 from the teams that Ohio State will play….Some guys I think that have had interesting starts to the season, some guys who down the road, maybe something a little different than they are right now when Ohio State will eventually see them.” (04:25)

Dangerous Players Breakdown

10. Koi Perich – Safety, Minnesota

• Not off to a hot start (notably, a tough game against Cal), but unique for his three-phase impact—as a safety, occasional offensive weapon, and return man.
• “When there’s a guy who is that dynamic on Ohio State’s schedule, you just kind of put it in the back of your mind.” (06:04)
• Minnesota’s overall talent is a tier below, but Perich could play anywhere—including at Ohio State, who tried to flip him during recruitment.

9. Gabe Akis – Defensive End, Illinois

• Has 3.5 sacks, highly rated by PFF’s pass-rushing metrics.
• Illinois’ recent blowout loss and injuries (notably to DB Xavier Scott) have diminished the game’s intrigue.
• “Gabe Akis as a defensive end for Illinois is certainly an individual that Ohio State will have to have its eye on when it goes and plays that game in Champagne in three weeks from this Saturday.” (09:30)

8. Kaytron Allen – Running Back, Penn State

• Viewed as Penn State’s most effective offensive player in a backfield that also features Nick Singleton.
• “He breaks tackles, he runs through tackles like he’s a physical running back that Ohio State’s going to have to contend with when Penn State comes to Ohio Stadium in November.” (10:45)

7. Denzel Boston – Wide Receiver, Washington

• 6’4”, 210 lbs. – a huge target who leads Washington in receptions and target share.
• “This guy is a big play receiver…He is like in the conversation, I think, as third best receiver in the Big Ten behind Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate.” (12:00)
• Bill points out he could be the best (non-Ohio State) receiver OSU faces in the regular season.

6. Chaz Coleman – Edge, Penn State (13:25)

• True freshman from Ohio, off to a hot start with impressive pass rush grades.
• “Guys from Ohio who don’t really get recruited by Ohio State and are playing well with a chance to play against Ohio State kind of always piqued my interest.” (13:40)
• Not big sack numbers yet but excellent pressure rates—“third in the Big Ten in pass rush win rate.”

5. Justice Haynes – Running Back, Michigan (16:05)

• Transfer from Alabama, leads Big Ten in rushing yards (537), averages 8.14 yards/carry.
• Noted for big-play ability: four runs of 50+ yards, two 75-yard TDs already.
• “He reminds me a lot of Donovan Edwards…but was always kind of dangerous when you thought about like is this going to be the play where he inexplicably rips off an 80 yard touchdown run.” (17:10)

4. Jonah Coleman – Running Back, Washington (18:58)

• Country leader in rushing touchdowns (9), tough, physical “bowling ball” back; excels after contact.
• “He is just super hard to bring down. 5-foot-9, 229-pound bowling ball. He’s like an elevated version of Mayan Williams, just really tough in space.” (19:25)
• Stresses OSU’s tackling soundness will be tested in Washington matchup.

3. Bryce Underwood – Quarterback, Michigan (21:13)

• True freshman with highs and lows: stats unimpressive, but flashes huge upside and runs the ball well.
• The lack of receiving threats has made Underwood’s job harder, and Bill projects he’ll keep improving by November.
• “He has shown some special flashes already as a true freshman…Whether or not I don’t think it’s a question of whether he reaches his potential, it’s just sort of how far or how long it takes him to get there and, and where he is relative to his ceiling.” (21:50)

2. DeMond Williams Jr. – Quarterback, Washington

• Compared to Kyler Murray for suddenness and dual-threat ability (73% completions, 11.4 YPA, 6 TD, 0 INT).
• “He’s really good…as a college quarterback I think he is pretty dynamic and he’s going to run, he’s going to move around. It’s going to be a real test for Ohio State’s defense.” (23:35)
• Bill claims Williams will be the best QB Ohio State faces all regular season.

1. Jaishawn Barham – Edge, Michigan

• Maryland transfer, now a full-time edge rusher, highly productive last two games (2 sacks vs. Central Michigan; 6 pressures and 1 sack vs. Nebraska).
• “There’s upside there. Clearly based off how he’s played the last two games and the fact that Michigan has seemingly settled on a role for him…that Michigan could be pretty good at the edge positions and and perhaps that ends up being the strength of at least the defense when the Buckeyes get set to play Michigan at the end of the regular season.” (25:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Minnesota's Koi Perich:
  “You always kind of look at the other roster and think to yourself like how many guys could play for Ohio State? And Koi Perich is certainly a guy who’s talented enough…we know that because Ohio State tried to flip him from Minnesota late in that recruiting process.” (06:32)

• On Jonah Coleman (Washington):
  “He’s like an elevated version of Mayan Williams, just really, really tough in space. Like he’s not gonna wiggle around you. He’s just going to try to run through you.” (19:25)

• On Bryce Underwood’s upside:
  “I think Underwood’s got much more to him potentially than McCarthy did. So we’ll see what that looks like.” (22:30)

• About DeMond Williams Jr. (Washington QB):
  “I think by the time his career is over, he’ll be one of the more highly thought of guys in college football. Pro wise? I don’t know…but as a college quarterback, I think he is pretty dynamic and he’s going to run, he’s going to move around.” (23:40)

• On Michigan’s edge promise:
  “We weren’t sure necessarily of like the individual star power, especially on Michigan’s defensive line after some more of that talent cycled out of the program in the draft…the last couple of years. But it looks like…with Moore returning and being good and now Barham emerging, that Michigan could be pretty good at the edge positions.” (25:45)

Top 10 Summary (with Timestamps)

| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Segment Start | |------|-------------------|-----------|-------------|--------------| | 10 | Koi Perich | Minnesota | Safety | 06:04 | | 9 | Gabe Akis | Illinois | DE | 08:10 | | 8 | Kaytron Allen | Penn State| RB | 10:05 | | 7 | Denzel Boston | Washington| WR | 11:45 | | 6 | Chaz Coleman | Penn State| Edge | 13:25 | | 5 | Justice Haynes | Michigan | RB | 16:05 | | 4 | Jonah Coleman | Washington| RB | 18:58 | | 3 | Bryce Underwood | Michigan | QB | 21:13 | | 2 | DeMond Williams Jr| Washington| QB | 23:36 | | 1 | Jaishawn Barham | Michigan | Edge | 25:15 |

Final Thoughts & Episode Wrap-Up

• Bill highlights that several dangerous players are still developing (especially young Michigan talent and Washington’s stars), which may alter their impact by the Buckeyes matchup.
• The focus will move to deeper previews later in the week, especially the Ohio State-Washington clash.
• Episode remains light, analytical, and designed for Buckeye fans who want to understand the real threats on the schedule beyond win/loss records.

For more insights, discussion, and upcoming analyses:

• Catch the Ryan Day press conference preview and College Football Playoff projections later this week.
• Thursday’s “Big Game Breakdown” will feature further analysis of Ohio State-Washington.
• Subscribe for updates and exclusive content at billanddougosu.substack.com.