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Top Performers​

Mitchell Melton, DE, Virginia​

45 tackles, 10 TFL, 5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 INT, 3 PBU

No Ohio State transfer had a better year in 2025 than Melton, who took full advantage of his one and only opportunity to be a starter at the collegiate level. After battling injuries and playing sparingly in five years at Ohio State, Melton emerged as one of the ACC’s top defensive ends at Virginia.

Pro Football Focus graded Melton as the 20th-best defensive end in the FBS (85.8). Also per PFF, Melton tied for the 15th-most quarterback pressures among FBS defensive ends in 2025. He earned ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks after leading Virginia to a pair of overtime wins with seven tackles and a forced fumble vs. Florida State and two sacks with another forced fumble, a pass breakup and five total tackles at Louisville.

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Melton, who played in the Hula Bowl in January, will look to parlay his big season with the Cavaliers into an NFL draft selection.

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AHHH, THAT’S INTERESTING. Jeremy Fowler, Jeff Legwold, Roman Modrowski and Katherine Terrell released a 2026 NFL draft confidential ahead of this week’s NFL combine. In it, the ESPN writers shared results of polls from NFL executives and scouts at the Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl and Super Bowl regarding “three big questions about the class.”

One question stood out to me while reading: Who is the best prospect in the class, regardless of position? Arvell Reese received the most votes with five, followed by Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with three, Caleb Downs with one and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with one.

When it comes to who the best prospect is in the 2026 class regardless of position, that honor based on our polling goes to Reese. The Ohio State linebacker/edge rusher was a multitask player in the Buckeyes' defense, boasting athleticism, physicality and walk-in starter ability as a three-down player. He has enormous potential as an edge rusher to go with his vast array of off-ball abilities.

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I love Reese, but I still have a hard time viewing him as the top prospect in the draft. Maybe his performance at the NFL Combine will change my opinion (more on that in a moment), but his lack of elite production this season — particularly down the stretch, when he didn’t record a tackle for loss or a sack in the final five games — makes his status as the top prospect, and the comparisons to Micah Parsons, feel a bit overblown to me.

Then again, I am someone who repeatedly claims Caleb Downs is destined for a Hall of Fame career in the NFL.

Maybe that, too, is overblown…

… Nahhhhhh.

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NCAA Tournament Outlook​

When I first picked up my pen (opened my laptop) to write this weekly feature, my angle was that Ohio State needed a signature win and was running out of time to get one. But signature isn't the right word, really. A victory at Iowa is exactly what the Buckeyes need right now, but one can't call that a signature win. The Hawkeyes aren't even ranked.

So let's toss the semantics and my brain's overwhelming need to create an attention-grabbing story hook aside. Bluntly, what the Buckeyes need are Quad 1 wins. Those are determined by the NCAA's NET rankings. A top-30 team at home, a top-50 team at a neutral site and a top-75 team on the road are considered Quad 1 opponents. I don't explain that enough here for something that's not common knowledge.

Ohio State is 0-9 in Quad 1 games right now. Take your pick of bubble teams that the Buckeyes are competing against; they have Quad 1 victories. The last four teams in according to the Bracket Matrix – an aggregate of 112 expert bracket predictions – are Missouri, Santa Clara, TCU and New Mexico. Each of them has a Quad 1 victory, even Santa Clara, which plays in the WCC. Missouri has four.

Two Quad 1 opportunities are set at the Buckeyes' feet this week: at Iowa (28th in the NET) and a home tilt with No. 8 Purdue (sixth). Two vanquished opponents can help their case for the NCAA Tournament by moving up in the NET rankings: Wisconsin if it jumps from 32nd to 30th, and Northwestern if it jumps from 79th to 75th.

Ohio State is the second team out in the matrix, but the first team out is USC, which the Buckeyes beat head-to-head, so effectively, they are the first team out. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has OSU ahead of the Trojans as his first team out. Ohio State is the second team out behind VCU according to CBS Sports.

The Buckeyes have a higher NET ranking than each of the teams listed ahead of them on the bubble so far in this article. Those Quad 1 wins are the missing link. Scooping one up this week is necessary, unless a big run in the Big Ten Tournament is on the horizon. Speaking of:

Big Ten Outlook​

Ohio State's matchup at Iowa on Wednesday carries more than just NCAA Tournament implications: The winner of that game will take control of the No. 8 spot in the conference standings, the last spot that gets a double-bye through the first two rounds of the Big Ten Tournament.

Indiana trails the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes by one game for that coveted eighth spot, while UCLA is just one game ahead. A win over Iowa would give Ohio State a head-to-head victory against the Bruins and Hawkeyes, with OSU and the Hoosiers facing each other in their regular-season finale on March 7. Owning those tiebreakers could make the difference for a free entry to the third round.

A first-round bye is already secure for Ohio State, being five games ahead of that cut line with four games to play.

The top four teams in the conference get a triple-bye through to the quarterfinals. Michigan is 2.5 games clear of anyone in the conference, with Illinois, Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State and Wisconsin all within 1.5 games of each other in the battle for seeds two through six. The Buckeyes are all but out of contention for a triple-bye, currently three games back of fourth place.

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Johnson has the speed to drop into coverage and the size and physicality to create havoc in the run gaps and backfield when called upon. Whether it's on the ball or off of it, the linebacker has the athleticism to make plays all over the field.

When it comes to chasing down an opposing ballcarrier, Johnson not only has the instincts and quickness to chase the player down, but the explosiveness and hard-hitting ability to create turnovers as well.

While he must improve his tactics as a pass-rusher, Johnson will be a do-it-all linebacker once that happens. His physicality, athleticism and proven playmaking ability should turn him into a lethal player and the next star linebacker for Ohio State.

Man arrested after engaging 'in sexual performance with vacuum cleaner' at resort: cops​

A man was arrested after he allegedly engaged "in a sexual performance with a vacuum cleaner" while at a resort.

According to a statement issued by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office , 51-year-old Kevin Dale Westerhold of Oviedo, Florida was taken into custody after an alleged incident involving a vacuum cleaner.

Per the statement, deputies responded to the Windsor Hills Resort in Kissimmee, Florida last Thursday after receiving reports of a man exposing himself in front of a residence.

Witnesses provided statements and a cell phone recording of a partially clothed male engaged in inappropriate conduct.

Documents obtained by WKMG state that witnesses provided recordings on a mobile device that allegedly shows the suspect "engaged in a sexual performance with a vacuum cleaner."
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Baseball legend Bill Mazeroski dead at 89​

Mazeroski lifted the Pirates to a World Series title in 1960​

Bill Mazeroski, the Baseball Hall of Famer who famously hit a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has died. He was 89.

The Pirates announced Mazeroski’s death earlier Saturday morning.

"It is with a heavy heart that we relay the news of the passing of legendary Pirates and National Baseball Hall of Famer, Bill Mazeroski," the team wrote on X. "Maz was a 7-time All-Star who hit the greatest home run in baseball history. He was a beloved member of the Pirates family and he will be deeply missed."

Mazeroski made his debut with the Pirates when he was just 19 years old. He earned his first All-Star selection at his age-21 season in 1958. He tallied nine more after that.

He made MLB history in 1960 when he helped the Pirates defeat the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series. He took Ralph Terry deep in the bottom of the ninth inning. The solo home run gave Pittsburgh the 10-9 win.

Mazeroski remains the only player to hit a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the World Series and it’s considered to be one of the greatest home runs ever hit. While the home run is his claim to fame, his defensive prowess is likely what landed him in the Hall of Fame.

He was voted into Cooperstown via the Veterans Committee, and his defensive highlights are on his Hall of Fame plaque. He was described as a "defensive wizard" with a "hard-nosed hustle" and a "quiet work ethic."

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R.I.P.

heisman said:

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Off to do panty raids in the sky.

Godspeed Nerd

exhawg said:

I'm sure if we played a second game against Miami or IU there would have been some changes on the defense, but outside of the pick 6 and letting them score to get the ball back at the end, the defense gave up 10 points. Maybe count 3 from that last TD since they were in FG range, so 13 points. The offense has to score more than 13 points against anyone. Some of those changes you mention may lead to holes opening elsewhere and more points given up. The main caveat is that Beck showed that he would make mistakes if you pressured him so it might be worth turning up the heat and risk a few more big plays in the hopes that you make up for it with big plays on defense.

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That part of your quote frustrates me so much, because OSU could've won both of those games. I don't believe OSU was outplayed in either. But both ended in losses. I wasn't trying to imply that MP had a lot to learn, but I keep thinking of the CBs being so far off of the WRs and LOS, and it allowed just enough plays to keep drives going

pnuts34 said:

That Miami game where the DBs lined up too far away from the WRs was one of the reasons for the loss as well. Along with the front 7 not being able to get off the field on 3rd downs, because Beck was able to use his legs. I'm sure that will be worked on next season.
But the IU game, I'm in agreement, that was an offense and ST issue

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I'm sure if we played a second game against Miami or IU there would have been some changes on the defense, but outside of the pick 6 and letting them score to get the ball back at the end, the defense gave up 10 points. Maybe count 3 from that last TD since they were in FG range, so 13 points. The offense has to score more than 13 points against anyone. Some of those changes you mention may lead to holes opening elsewhere and more points given up. The main caveat is that Beck showed that he would make mistakes if you pressured him so it might be worth turning up the heat and risk a few more big plays in the hopes that you make up for it with big plays on defense.

heisman said:

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I did not know until today he was related to Keith and David Carradine.

exhawg said:

What did Patricia need to learn? The 2 games we lost were because of the offense and special teams.

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That Miami game where the DBs lined up too far away from the WRs was one of the reasons for the loss as well. Along with the front 7 not being able to get off the field on 3rd downs, because Beck was able to use his legs. I'm sure that will be worked on next season.
But the IU game, I'm in agreement, that was an offense and ST issue

pnuts34 said:

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Great extension, and I'm even more amped up for the 2026 season. I'm sure he learned from the Miami game, and I can see OSU back in the CFP hunt next year

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What did Patricia need to learn? The 2 games we lost were because of the offense and special teams.

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Great extension, and I'm even more amped up for the 2026 season. I'm sure he learned from the Miami game, and I can see OSU back in the CFP hunt next year