Welcome to the Skull Session.
Colton Denning said it best: Accounts like Random Ohio State Play Every Day are built to dunk on Bryson Shaw.
— Random Ohio State Play Every Day (@OSUPlayEveryDay) February 4, 2026
Have a good Thursday.
ALL WE DO IS WIN. Ohio State wins championships on and off the field.
The Buckeyes announced Wednesday that Ohio State won the 2025 GameDay Football Zero Waste Touchdown Challenge.
You ask, What’s that?
I answer, Good question!
On fall Saturdays, Ohio State manages waste efficiently and responsibly, and in 2025, the Buckeyes once again demonstrated championship-level stewardship.
From an Ohio State press release:
Across seven home football games, Ohio State achieved a season waste diversion rate of 92.73 percent, surpassing its 90 percent zero-waste benchmark. More than 257,000 pounds of material were diverted from landfills through recycling, composting, and reuse, while just 20,152 pounds were sent to landfill.
The season’s highest diversion rate occurred on September 6 against Grambling State University, when Ohio State reached 94.32 percent diversion – a result of strong coordination among staff, vendors, volunteers, and fans.
“Managing waste at this scale requires commitment from every part of the operation,” said Logan Gould, Zero Waste Coordinator. “From our Athletics staff and collaborators across campus and the community to the thousands of fans in the stands, this program demonstrates what’s possible when everyone works together to make zero waste a reality.”
Colin Thompson, Ohio State’s Sr. Associate Athletic Director of Facilities and added, “Ohio State Athletics is proud to showcase how teamwork and strong coordination make game days run smoothly. From staff to vendors to fans, everyone plays a role in turning Ohio Stadium into a model of efficiency and responsible resource stewardship.”
Every Ohio State fan who attended a game this past fall played a part in the Buckeyes’ title, though several groups deserve a specific shoutout. According to the press release, the Ohio State athletic department, Levy Restaurants, Ohio Penal Industries, Price Farms Organics, Rumpke, Navy ROTC, LYFE Savers and Ohio State student interns work together on gamedays to ensure the operation runs smoothly.
The 2025 season also saw 80 high school students contribute more than 1,600 volunteer hours, with 35-40 students supporting each home game. Ohio State student interns added more than 240 hours of support through operations, data collection and fan education.
All in all, Ohio State continues to set the gold standard for sustainable operations — and that’s something Buckeye fans everywhere can be proud of.
“YOU CAN’T MAKE THAT UP.” Former Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs turned to the dark side in December, joining Michigan’s staff as special teams coordinator. Sherrone Moore hired him just four days before losing his own job.
While appearing on In the Trenches with Jon Jansen, Coombs reflected on his first two months in Ann Arbor, detailing both the hiring process and the chaos that followed Moore’s firing.
“Coach Moore had called me on a Thursday,” Coombs said. “I came up on a Friday and met with them and got offered the job on Saturday. I showed up on Sunday, dropped my bags, had meetings. I ran the special teams meeting, ran the practice Monday, Tuesday. And then Wednesday, we had a coaching change. … You can’t make that up.”
Suddenly, Coombs wasn’t sure he’d even be coaching at Michigan in 2026.
“It was like, ‘You know what? You might not have a job here. You might have been a two-week wonder and be out looking for work,’” Coombs said. “But it worked out that I’m getting to stay.”
In the moment, I almost felt bad for Coombs — and then I remembered he chose to coach for That Team Up North. As a Colerain native and Dayton graduate, that’s unacceptable. Inconceivable, even. So no, I don’t feel bad for him anymore. And I definitely don’t feel bad now that he told Jansen work is “back to normal” under Kyle Whittingham.
#sorrynotsorrycoachihopeohiostatebeatsyourmentoapulpduringyourtenureandlongafterittoo
“HE’S DONE A GOOD JOB.” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm sees potential in Lincoln Kienholz — and that might be the best word to describe the former Ohio State quarterback.
Kienholz transferred to Louisville after three seasons with the Buckeyes, bringing limited on-field experience but plenty of intrigue. In Columbus, he completed 21 of 36 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown while adding 68 rushing yards and two scores. While the production is modest, Brohm believes Kienholz’s athleticism sets him apart.
“Lincoln brings us a dimension we have not had here before. He’s a very good athlete,” Brohm told reporters on Tuesday, per Cardinal Sports’ William McDermott. “He shows that every day, even now, up until this point. He can throw the football as well. He’s had to sit back and watch and learn… he knows his time is now. We’re going to work very hard to help him play his best football as we get going into the season.”
Brohm said Kienholz has embraced the moment during his first month in the program.
“He’s done a great job, through a month, of leading our team,” the head coach explained. “When I say he’s a good athlete, he can run, and it shows up. When we do conditioning drills, he’s in the front, that’s of everybody. He wants to run the ball as well.
“You have to make sure you get your quarterback through the season healthy, and he can play for the entire season, but that is going to be a strength of his. His ability to run, escape, and maybe a few more designed runs as well.”
Brohm, who started two seasons at quarterback for the Cardinals in 1992 and 1993, is renowned in coaching circles for his development of signal callers. Most recently, he guided two quarterbacks to the next level: Las Vegas Raiders backup Aiden O’Connell (at Purdue) and New Orleans Saints starter Tyler Shough (at Louisville).
Brohm believes Kienholz has the physical tools to project as an NFL-style quarterback — both as a passer and runner — but said refinement is still needed.
“I think he has a good arm, just improving his ability to process, make good decisions, and be able to throw like an NFL quarterback is what we’re going to work hard at,” Brohm said. “I think he’s made good strides up until this point, and he’s a willing learner.”
If everything clicks, Brohm thinks Kienholz could help Louisville contend for ACC and even national titles.
“Does he have the experience and played on the field that much? No,” Brohm said. “But he’s been at a great program, he’s learned under great coaches and a great team; he’s been around a winning team… and I think he’ll do a really good job.”
I’ll be rooting for him — unless Louisville plays Ohio State, of course!
ALL THE FORMER BUCKEYES! As former Buckeyes Mike Vrabel, TreVeyon Henderson, Thayer Munford and Jaxon Smith-Njigba prepare to compete in the Super Bowl on Sunday, another Ohio State great will be watching from the sideline.
NBC announced this week that Cameron Heyward will join Aaron Donald, Kyle Shanahan and Fred Warner on the network’s pregame coverage for Super Bowl LX.
Kyle Shanahan, Aaron Donald, Cameron Heyward, and Fred Warner to join Super Bowl LX Pregame Show this Sunday, Feb. 8 on NBC and @peacock
Details: https://t.co/sNSB7z2eOR
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) February 4, 2026
Heyward, 36, is a 15-year NFL veteran and will enter the final year of his contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026. The 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year and six-time All-Pro dipped his toe into media in 2024 with the launch of his Not Just Football podcast.
His role in NBC’s Super Bowl coverage could be the next step toward a full-time transition into broadcasting once his playing career ends. And me, personally? I wouldn’t mind another Buckeye in the media rotation — especially since I’ll always enjoy seeing guys like Kirk Herbstreit, Joey Galloway and Joshua Perry holding it down on the silver screen.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Sleep On The Floor” – The Lumineers.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes has been suspended 1 game for pushing Wizards mascot “G-Wiz”… Firefighters rescue swan stuck in frozen Connecticut river… Not just pups this time: “Puppy Bowl” embraces older dogs… You can say “I do” at Disney’s Haunted Mansion starting this summer… 13-year-old boy speaks out after swimming miles to save family stranded at sea.