Welcome to the Skull Session.
Oh, no, David Pollack, what is you doin…
David Pollack says Miamis offensive and defensive lines are better than Ohio States. pic.twitter.com/fmeu4cmFF5
— Grant Speaks (@GrantSpeaks1) December 23, 2025
Even if Miami is better in those areas, Ohio State is still a 9.5-point favorite.
I’ll take the Buckeyes!
(Surprise, surprise)
Have a good Christmas Eve.
NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL A GREAT TAKE. This could be controversial around these parts, but I like Dan Lanning. Did I like him after his 12-men-on-the-field trick in Eugene last season? No. But then Ryan Day grinned in California, and the Buckeyes dominated the Ducks 41-21 in the Rose Bowl. I watched how Lanning handled the loss — and a number of other developments since then — and I’ve come around to him.
My affection for Lanning increased this week when he complained about the College Football Playoff format, articulating my biggest frustration with the 12-team tournament: Why are the quarterfinals played at neutral-site stadiums instead of on college campuses?!
Lanning, whose team beat James Madison 51-34 at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, shared his thoughts on the matter Monday.
“In my opinion, we’re really excited to be going to the Orange Bowl, but this game should be played at Texas Tech, right? The higher-seeded team,” Lanning said. “We should play a week after the last game. The next playoff game should be next Saturday, and the championship game should be the following Saturday. But we’re trying to fit a lot of things in, you know, a different sequence. But in my opinion, this game should be played at Tech. There should be a home-field advantage for them.”
Lanning, who surely would have preferred to face the Buckeyes in Eugene rather than Pasadena last January, is 100 percent correct. Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia and Texas Tech earned first-round byes, but those teams should also be rewarded with home-field advantage in the CFP quarterfinals, just as Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Oklahoma were in the first round.
I also agree with Lanning that the college football season shouldn’t grind to a halt in December. Let’s knock all of this out as efficiently as possible. My ideal playoff format eliminates conference championship games, moves the CFP first round to the first weekend of December, the quarterfinals to the second weekend and the semifinals to the third — all played on college campuses. Then, the top two teams would meet for the national championship game on Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl.
Who says no?
“DEBT PAID.” Dave Portnoy has finally paid off his $1,000 bet with Urban Meyer after Ohio State beat Michigan in The Game. Meyer revealed the good news on the latest episode of The Triple Option with Meyer, Rob Stone and Mark Ingram.
“Is it legit? Is it signed?” Stone asked.
“It’s signed,” Meyer responded.
Meyer, who went 7-0 in The Game, said Portnoy was “pissed” that people called him out for not holding up his end of the bargain long after he made the bet with Meyer on live television. Meyer said it was fine, as he believed the two of them were just “joking around.” Still, Meyer appreciated the gesture — and plans to hang the check in his man cave.
“Debt paid,” Meyer said.
“RYAN DAY’S AN ELITE PLAY CALLER.” Allow me to return to the Urban Meyer Well of Content. The former Ohio State head coach appeared Monday on The Herd, where Colin Cowherd asked if Meyer thinks Ryan Day calling plays for the Buckeyes is a good idea.
“Ryan Day’s an elite play caller,” Meyer said. “So there will be no drop-off. He is knee-deep in the offense; I think he made the right decision. No offense to Brian Hartline, but Brian Hartline is the head coach of South Florida.”
Should Ohio State be worried about Ryan Day calling plays? Will Kalen DeBoer leave Alabama for Michigan?@colincowherd and @CoachUrbanMeyer discuss the latest in the CFP pic.twitter.com/b5s14xQtad
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) December 22, 2025
Later, Meyer doubled down.
“Ryan is an elite play caller. He certainly was for me, and I witnessed it,” Meyer said. “He’s fantastic.”
A heck of an endorsement as Ohio State enters the College Football Playoff — as if Day needed one.
In Meyer’s final season as Ohio State’s head coach in 2018, Day called an offense that averaged 42.4 points and 535.6 yards per game. Dwayne Haskins finished third in Heisman voting, completing 70% of his passes for 4,831 yards, 50 touchdowns (!) and just eight interceptions as the Big Ten champion Buckeyes went 12-1 overall.
Elite may be an understatement, Coach.
THE MOST DESPERATE, HUNGRY TEAM. I love how hungry Ohio State’s players are as they enter the College Football Playoff. Ryan Day said his team is pissed off, and Max Klare said the Buckeyes “have a lot to prove” and have a chip on their shoulder. And then there’s this from Kayden McDonald: “We’re on a mission to be the first team (from Ohio State) to win a back-to-back national championship. I believe in my teammates and I know we gon’ do it.”
Day has said it all season — the most desperate, hungry team will win. I believe the Buckeyes are that team again this season!
NEW DUBCAST. The Christmas Eve edition of the Eleven Dubcast welcomes back Dan Hope to review the saga surrounding Legend Bey ultimately committing to Ohio State after a highly irregular set of circumstances saw him flip back-and-forth between the Buckeyes and Tennessee Volunteers.
SONG OF THE DAY. “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” – Rascal Flatts.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Former Georgia DE Damon Wilson II has sued the Bulldogs’ athletic association and collective over a six-figure NIL dispute… Notre Dame’s leaders are cowards for backing out of USC football rivalry… Stoppage of Notre Dame-USC rivalry validates Rose Bowl’s stubbornness… The Ringer’s 52 Favorite Sports Moments of 2025.