Episode Details

#1 GOES TO FALL CAMP / Ohio State Buckeyes LIVE 381 Voice of College Football host Mark Rogers with Bucknuts247 Senior Editor Steve Helwagen and Buckeye Weekly / Buckeye Insiders host Tony Gerdeman OhioStateVOCFB

Intro & Coaches Poll (00:00–~05:00)

• Welcome to Buckeyes Live (Wednesdays, 4 p.m. ET). Ohio State opens fall practice ahead of Week 1 vs. Ball State (not Texas). Sponsored mentions: Steve Helwagen (Bucknuts / 247Sports), Tony Gerdeman (Buckeye Insiders + Buckeye Weekly podcast).
• Ohio State is No. 1 in the preseason coaches poll — first time since 2015. Buckeyes have received at least one first-place vote in most years since then (exceptions roughly 2016, 2019, 2021).
• Indiana received the second-most first-place votes but sits at No. 6, showing high variance in voter ranking.
• Steve: Could put 6–10 teams in a hat and make a case for several as No. 1. Magazines split (Phil Steele on Notre Dame; others on Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon). Strong Big Ten presence; USC at 14 could be a sleeper. Home game vs. Ohio State could be tough for the Buckeyes.
• Historical note: Last year five of the preseason top 10 missed the playoff (including Texas No. 1 and Penn State No. 2). Typical churn: ~4 of the top 10 drop out; some finish unranked.

Playoff Math, Contenders & Sleepers (~05:00–~14:00)

• Tony cites historical playoff-era patterns (preseason rankings → 12-team field): roughly 4 of top 5 make it, 2 from 6–10, 2 from 11–20, 1 from 21–25, plus ~3 unranked (often including a Group of 5).
• Top-7 consensus national-title contenders align with the poll. Growing interest in Oklahoma (defense + healthy John Mateer). Outside the top 10: Old Miss, LSU, USC as more realistic contenders; Alabama (Kalen DeBoer, Ryan Grubb return, two QBs, elite defense potential) also mentioned. Clemson and some others less trusted.
• Steve sleepers: USC (too low at 14), Michigan (16) with a “competent” coach after 9-3 regular season last year (losses to Oklahoma, USC, Ohio State). Penn State under Matt Campbell (brought Rocco Becht and Iowa State pieces — “Air Nittany Lion?”). Washington with QB back. Tennessee quieter.
• Unranked or fringe names that could climb: Louisville (bandwagon), possible Group of 5 (UNLV?), Oklahoma State (North Texas offense in a softer Big 12), James Franklin at Virginia Tech. Phil Steele had Navy in his top 25.
• Caveats on culture/finishing: skepticism on perennial underperformers (A&M, LSU under new management, recent Clemson). Penn State schedule is soft — may get in with two losses but lack quality wins.
• AP poll expected ~Aug. 17. Roughly 15 of the current top 25 projected to finish ranked.

Kyle Whittingham & the Rivalry (~14:00–~24:00)

• Discussion of Whittingham’s comments after being asked if he has learned to “hate” Ohio State: “Hate’s a strong word.” Immediate backlash from both fan bases (OSU fans celebrating the optics; Michigan fans concerned — “biggest sign of not going to make it,” “he’s not ready,” “Big Ten school hires West Coast coach with zero clue”).
• Context: Respectful coaching history (Woody/Bo close; Tressel/Carr; Meyer/Hoke barbecue) until Harbaugh era (refusal to answer respect questions). Sherrone Moore showed little respect. Whittingham seen as the “grown-up” who can dial back manufactured hate while still competing.
• Authenticity praised: Typical new coaches immediately role-play full rivalry fervor at introductory pressers (“pig sooie,” etc.). Whittingham has been consistent (even at intro, somewhat shrugged it off and praised Urban Meyer). High-road approach admired, though some prefer redirecting to “we were hired to win championships, which means beating Ohio State.”
• Michigan outlook: Program insulated from athletic-department noise; cleaned house. Talent is there (Bryce Underwood