Episode Details

Ohio State Primetime LIVE 95 Presented by FanDuel | Hosts: Garrison Gaddy & Riley Burnett | OhioStateVOCFB

Episode focus: Coach Laughlin’s tough-love comments, Ohio State’s Chase Bank jersey sponsorship (~$17M/year), Jeremiah Smith’s chance to go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NFL Draft, The Athletic’s preseason All-Big Ten teams, and hypothetical Big Ten Media Days questions.

Key Segments & Notes

Intro & Coach Laughlin comments (tough love / mindset) Hosts open the show (later start due to “uncle duty”). They play and react to Coach Laughlin’s recent soundbite (shoutouts to Jay Book and Buckeye Nut). Laughlin stresses mindset over friendship: players didn’t come for him to be nice; friendship comes from making plays and doing the job. Tough love is required to develop the best running backs—he won’t cheat them or himself. He doesn’t curse at players (asks God for two words; occasionally a “damn,” and “boy” when upset as a country coach). Players respond with “yes sir” out of respect and love.

Hosts agree football is a chore at every level (including D-II and high school practice). Tough love raises standards and expectations; without it, softness sets in. Laughlin is a culture/program builder who impacts more than just the RB room. Fans who haven’t experienced high-level practice often under-appreciate this style.

Ohio State + Chase Bank jersey sponsorship Big news: Ohio State partners with JPMorgan Chase for jersey patches across all 36 sports. Deal reportedly worth ~$17 million per year (source via Cameron T. Robinson / The Athletic). Includes branding at Ohio Stadium and Value City Arena (Schottenstein Center). Athletic Director Ross Bjork frames it as supporting NIL, competitive success, facilities, and academics. Chase has deep Ohio roots.

Logo will be black (Ohio State rejected blue; red was opposite Chase’s colors). Hosts note the broader trend (LSU, Memphis, Wisconsin, Illinois/Booz, Big 12/Monster Energy, etc.—now ~24 teams with patches). Some fans dislike on-jersey sponsorships, but the money helps in today’s college athletics economy. Comparisons drawn to NBA jersey patches (initial resistance faded). Hosts discuss brand value tiers, athletic budgets crossing $500M, and how patches will become more common for schools chasing big budgets. Black logo placement works reasonably well.

Can Jeremiah Smith go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NFL Draft? Discussion of Smith’s odds and path. Currently tied for roughly 4th-best odds (behind several QBs including Arch Manning). It has been 30 years since a WR went No. 1 (Keyshawn Johnson, 1996, Jets).

Main variables outside Smith’s control: the team holding the No. 1 pick and its needs—especially at quarterback. A QB meltdown or willingness to stick with an existing QB raises Smith’s chances dramatically. Hosts view Smith as a strong candidate to be the best pure talent in the class (or close, with Leonard Moore). Talent + production (projected 15–20 TDs) could make him nearly impossible to bypass for a team that doesn’t desperately need a QB.

Related notes: Caleb Downs was consensus top talent/high-IQ player last cycle but needs dictated otherwise. Other 2027 QB names floated (Arch Manning, Dante Moore, CJ Carr, Julian Sayin, etc.). Week 2 Ohio State–Texas and Ohio State–Oregon games will be heavily scouted and could shift odds quickly. Hosts plan a later re-evaluation after fall camp.

The Athletic preseason All-Big Ten (1st/2nd/3rd teams) Ohio State first-team offense: Julian Sayin (QB), Bo Jackson (RB), Jeremiah Smith (WR). Hosts strongly endorse Sayin as the best QB in the Big Ten (and college football)—superior accuracy, deep-ball volume, decision-making (far fewer turnover-worthy throws than Dante Moore), and cold-weather performance. Bo Jackson as the best Big Ten RB (efficient as a true freshman, especially