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Skull Session: Texas-Georgia officials set a terrible precedent, Indiana appears to be a real threat to Ohio State and the Buckeyes have to play their best in State College in two weeks

Skull Session: Texas-Georgia officials set a terrible precedent, Indiana appears to be a real threat to Ohio State and the Buckeyes have to play their best in State College in two weeks

Welcome to the Skull Session.

I want to go back to O-HI-O…

Have a nice Monday.

What the hell? Ohio State now has the ball at Oregon’s 20-yard line with 20 seconds left, trailing 32-31…

That could have happened if the Ohio State fans at Autzen Stadium had thrown their trash onto the field, delaying the game and allowing the referees to overturn their controversial offensive pass interference call on Jeremiah Smith.

Unfortunately that didn’t happen.

But it happened Saturday at Texas Memorial Stadium.

After officials penalized Jahdae Barron for pass interference and reversed an interception, he returned to the Georgia 9-yard line. Texas fans booed the call while watching replays on the stadium’s jumbotron. Some threw their water bottles into the north end zone, stopping the game for several minutes. While staff and security cleaned up the bottles, officers conferred again and canceled the call.

According to some mouth readers on social media, Kirby Smart screamed, “You can’t do that!” You can’t do that! … They’re cops—!”

In a statement released Sunday, the SEC said officials “gathered to discuss allowable play to ensure the appropriate penalty is enforced.” According to the conference, “the official who called reported that he was mistaken and that a foul should not have been called for defensive pass interference, and as a result, Texas was awarded the ball at the Georgia 9-yard line.”

OK… well… basically.

Next time the officials make a bad call on Ohio State, just throw your trash on the field and the refs will knock it over.

At least that’s what it seems.

“We set a precedent: If you throw a lot of stuff on the field and endanger athletes, you have a chance of having your decision reversed,” Smart said after the game. “And that’s unfortunate because for me it’s dangerous. That’s not what we want. This is not a criticism of the officials. That’s exactly what happened.”

Texas was fined $250,000 on Saturday for the actions of its fans. The SEC said the fine was imposed for “disrupting the competitive opportunity for both teams and endangering competitors.” Texas must also “use all available resources” — including security, stadium and television video — to identify those who threw trash on the field or at Georgia’s players and bar them from participating in sporting events for the remainder of the academic year forbid.

The SEC also said it would require Texas to review its gaming management procedures and alcohol sales policies going forward. The Longhorns must also submit reports to the league office on how they identified and punished offenders and their plan to prevent future incidents.

“We appreciate the support of the Longhorn Nation and are confident that we will continue to represent our university with pride and respect,” the statement said.

HOOSIER DADDY? Gus Johnson said it best. Indiana now has a football team. But it’s more than that. Indiana has a football team that competes in the Big Ten Championship and plays in the College Football Playoff. And for the first time in forever, the Hoosiers feel like a legitimate threat to Ohio State – one that will arrive a week before Ohio State takes on Michigan in the 120th edition of The Game.

On Saturday, Indiana defeated Nebraska 56-7 to improve its season record to 7-0. With the 49-point win, the Hoosiers tied their school record for largest margin of victory against a Big Ten opponent. They also recorded 495 yards of total offense (!) and forced five Cornhusker turnovers.

Through eight weeks, Indiana ranks 12th in SP+ with the No. 12 offense, No. 22 defense and No. 12 special teams in the country. The Hoosiers rank third nationally in points per game (44) and eighth in points per game allowed (15.5); No. 8 in yards per game (482.8) and No. 11 in yards per game allowed (286.2); and No. 6 in yards per play (7.2) and No. 4 in yards per play allowed (4.4).

In other words, Indiana is good.

Really good.

I never – never! – I thought I would write this sentence.

But here we are.

As I mentioned above, Ohio State hosts Indiana on November 23rd, a week before the Buckeyes host the Wolverines in Columbus. Before Saturday, it looked like a possible trap game for the Hoosiers. Now the Hoosiers look to be one of Ohio State’s toughest tests of the entire season.

Outside of its top 10(?) matchup with Ohio State, Indiana faces Washington (W), Michigan State (W), Michigan (W) and Purdue (MASSIVE W). Tag IU with 11 wins (#11WINDIANA) as the Hoosiers try to get into the College Football Playoff, where I promise you no team – not even a team from the big, bad SEC – will play in the first round She wants to compete in a tournament with 12 teams.

PENN STATE PROBLEM(S). With all due respect to Indiana, it’s clear that Penn State — the third-ranked team in the final AP poll — is the biggest threat on Ohio State’s regular-season schedule.

Over the past week, several friends have asked, “How worried should we be about Penn State?” My answer was short and sweet: “They (the Buckeyes) will be fine.”

Beaver Stadium gets loud, but several Ohio State fans told me that Autzen Stadium was the loudest venue in college football. Because of this experience in Eugene, I think the Buckeyes will be better prepared for what they will see in State College.

Now, I don’t want to give the impression that the environment is all Penn State has to offer in terms of the challenge it will pose to Ohio State. The Nittany Lions looked far more creative on offense this season with Andy Kotelnicki as offensive coordinator. Tyler Warren’s performance was also impressive. The tight end’s most recent performance was a 17-catch, 224-yard, one-touchdown effort in Penn State’s win over USC last weekend.

However, aside from Warren, Penn’s top receivers are Harrison Wallace III (17 catches, 283 yards, two touchdowns), Omari Evans (11 catches, 236 yards, two touchdowns), Liam Clifford (11 catches, 206 yards, one touchdown). State former Buckeye Julian Fleming (nine catches, 132 yards).

That doesn’t seem too threatening to me.

No, not at all.

As for Penn State’s defense, it appears to be threatening. Safety Jaylen Reed is legit. Linebacker Kobe King is real. Fellow linebacker Tony Rojas is legit. More than all of them, Defensive end Abdul Carter is legit. Still, the Nittany Lions’ defense is worse than last year and Ohio State’s offense is far better.

For an Ohio State-Penn State game in 2024, I would pick the Buckeyes nine times out of 10. They are the better team. They are more talented. You will win.

DUBGATE SZN. Before Ohio State takes on Nebraska on Oct. 26, Eleven warriors will host its 12th annual Eleven Dubgate behind the Varsity Club at Tuttle Park Place and Norwich Avenue.

What’s so great about Eleven Dubgate? 100 percent of the proceeds from the event go to the Special Olympics Olentangy, which offers year-round sports competitions and training for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. What else is great? There is food. There are drinks. There is music. Oh, and there are some of the best people in Buckeye Nation in attendance – you!

In 2021 and 2022, Eleven Dubgate raised thousands of dollars for Special Olympics Olentangy and helped fund the country’s first centralized and dedicated biobank for Down syndrome research. For those planning to participate in this year’s Dubgate (or not), we ask that you consider making a $20 cash donation or a Venmo transaction to Special Olympics Olentangy (@OSSOSTORM) to help us support the nonprofit Organization can continue to help Organization is thriving.

Thank you in advance to everyone who donates – and thank you in advance to everyone who will be attending the 12th Annual Eleven Dubgate.

SONG OF THE DAY. “The Pool” – Stephen Sanchez.

Let’s get down to business. Greek man convicted of causing trouble by trespassing on neighbors’ property to smell their shoes… Funeral home in Poland apologizes after body falls out of hearse in traffic… A wildcat native to Africa and Asia is trapped in a Chicago suburb …Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was coming off a likely season-ending Achilles injury…In a CT speakeasy disguised as a ’90s video store.

STILL HERE? The Midseason Buckeye 20 is now live Eleven warriors. A full post and video on the updated rankings will follow later this morning, but you can get your first look at the top 20 now on our player rankings page. Here’s a spoiler for this release: Jeremiah Smith reports as Ohio State University’s top player ahead of Caleb Downs, Emeka Egbuka and other stars. Be sure to check out the latest issue and tell us what you think of our staff’s rankings!