\n Welcome to the Skull Session. <\/p>\n
\n\tAlexa, play Free Bird<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tBUCKEYES https:\/\/t.co\/QbspHa6U6E<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vaQbJs6osP<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 19, 2026<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n\tHave a good Friday.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0\u201cNOT TOO DIFFERENT.\u201d<\/strong> There\u2019s a lot I don\u2019t understand about this life. One of those things is this: why is Notre Dame so obnoxious about its academics? (The words \u201cabout its academics\u201d in the previous sentence are optional.)\n<\/p>\n \n\tYou\u2019ll remember in summer 2022 when former Ohio State linebacker and current Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman told CBS Sports<\/a>, \u201cIf you don\u2019t go to class (at a place like Ohio State), OK, take some online classes, show up for your appointments. At Notre Dame, you\u2019re forced every day to go to class.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tFreeman later walked back the comments in an interview with 97.1 The Fan<\/a>, explaining that he would \u201cnever discredit the quality of education\u201d at his alma mater.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI was talking about if you don\u2019t go to class at these big schools that have 60,000 or 40,000 students, OK, you can take online classes. We can\u2019t,\u201d Freeman said. \u201cThe majority of our kids cannot take online classes here because it\u2019s a smaller school, and you\u2019re forced to have in-class attendance. That\u2019s what I wanted to get cleaned up.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\tThree-and-a-half years after Freeman\u2019s comments, Mylan Graham almost fell into a similar trap. In his first media appearance since he transferred from Ohio State to Notre Dame, Graham said he\u2019s had to adjust to the academics in South Bend.\n<\/p>\n \n\tWhen a reporter asked what\u2019s different between the schools, Graham wisely avoided controversy, noting that there\u2019s not much that sets them apart.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tOhio State transfer Mylan Graham says the biggest adjustment has been academics.<\/p>\n When I asked whats different:<\/p>\n Not too different, You just have to actually go in person at Notre Dame obviously everybody knows how it is with academics pic.twitter.com\/hrWjaLr4rM<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Talia B (@talia_baia) February 18, 2026<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n\t\u201c(They\u2019re) not too different,\u201d Graham said. \u201cYou just have to actually go in person. Just stuff like that. At Notre Dame, obviously everybody knows how it is with academics.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\tOh, we know, Mylan.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThey\u2019ve told us.\n<\/p>\n \n\tBut we do not care.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0THE BEST OF THE BEST.<\/strong> This week, The Athletic<\/a> released an NFL beat writer mock draft.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWhile nothing absolute can be taken from mock drafts in February (or any mock draft anytime, really), they produce potential themes worth watching for, at least,\u201d the article read.\n<\/p>\n \n\tPotential themes\u2026 like four Buckeyes coming off the board in the top 10 picks \u2014 from Arvell Reese to the New York Jets at No. 2 overall to Sonny Styles to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 10. (The mock also had Davison Igbinosun going to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 56, as Jacksonville does not own a first-round pick.)\n<\/p>\n \tNo. 2 – Arvell Reese to the New York Jets<\/p>\n \n\t\tThe Jets need playmakers across the board on defense. In case you haven\u2019t heard, they set NFL records for fewest turnovers (four) and interceptions (zero) in a season. Reese can\u2019t solve all of that, but he has Micah Parsons-esque potential as a college off-ball linebacker with the skills to be a dominant pass rusher. His ability to play at multiple spots would make him a fun chess piece for Aaron Glenn to deploy as he returns to calling plays on that side of the ball. If there was a quarterback worth taking here, the Jets would do it \u2014 but unfortunately, there isn\u2019t. \u2014 Zack Rosenblatt\n\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \tNo. 5 – Caleb Downs to the New York Giants<\/p>\n \n\t\tWhile the Giants front office engaged in preliminary talks to move back, the other team didn\u2019t want to part with as many picks as the Giants would\u2019ve required. So the team stuck at No. 5 and went with, perhaps controversial to some, a safety. But there\u2019s no regret with this choice in New York. Downs is No. 4 in Brugler\u2019s top 100 rankings and he\u2019s \u201cone of the better safeties I have ever evaluated,\u201d Brugler said. Downs\u2019 skills are hard to pass up, especially for a Giants secondary that\u2019s been lacking. \u2014 Charlotte Carroll\u00a0\n\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \tNo. 9 – Carnell Tate to the Kansas City Chiefs<\/p>\n \n\t\tA sneaky need for the Chiefs is at receiver, where they have only two players under contract beyond 2026 (Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals). This draft fell in a positive way, then, with Tate the first receiver off the board. He\u2019s a good team fit, as well. The Chiefs typically target run-after-catch guys, but too often last year, they were in need of an outside receiver who could create route separation and be a contested-catch option. Tate \u2014 he most often draws George Pickens comps from draft analysts \u2014 would be a welcome addition for new receivers coach Chad O\u2019Shea, while also giving Patrick Mahomes a QB-friendly option for years to come. \u2014 Jesse Newell\u00a0\n\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \tNo. 10 – Sonny Styles to the Cincinnati Bengals<\/p>\n \n\t\tThis pick came down to Styles and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. What the Bengals do in free agency might provide the tiebreaker. Styles would be a slam dunk to drop in the middle of the defense, despite rookie linebacker issues last season. If Cincinnati handles linebacker in free agency, Delane would be the ideal pick for a team not in need of an immediate starter but grabbing the top player at a premium position. He\u2019d provide elite depth behind DJ Turner and Dax Hill, both in the last year of their contracts and seeking extensions. Either way, the defense needs more great players and, even at a non-premium position, Styles qualifies. \u2014 Paul Dehner Jr.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \tNo. 56 – Davison Igbinosun to the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/p>\n \n\t\tThe Jags must address the secondary this offseason, and Igbinosun\u2019s 6-2, 195-pound frame is ideal for an outside cornerback. He plays with a level of physicality that has exposed him to penalties, but that can be harnessed by coach Liam Coen and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, who should love the playing style. Coen also has a relationship with Ohio State coach Ryan Day, so he should be plenty familiar with the program\u2019s draft prospects. Igbinosun should start immediately. \u2014 Jeff Howe\n\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n\tI have a few notes.\n<\/p>\n \n\tReese to the Jets at No. 2 overall is becoming a near guarantee in most mock drafts. Selfishly, I hope that means Reese \u2014 like a certain can\u2019t-miss No. 2 prospect before him \u2014 somehow falls to the fifth round for the Browns to scoop him up.\n<\/p>\n \n\tDowns to the Giants makes a ton of sense. If anyone understands how impactful a safety can be, it\u2019s John Harbaugh, whose Baltimore Ravens selected Kyle Hamilton with the No. 14 overall pick in 2022. Hamilton has been an All-Pro in each of his first three seasons, collecting 355 tackles, eight sacks, six forced fumbles, five interceptions and 36 pass breakups in 64 games. Downs is capable of similar production wherever he lands \u2014 but especially for a Giants secondary that has been lacking, as Carroll wrote for The Athletic.\n<\/p>\n \n\tTate to the Chiefs would be unfair \u2014 great for him, terrible for fans of the NFL\u2019s other 31 teams.\n<\/p>\n \n\tStyles to the Bengals would be awesome. I love seeing Buckeyes travel I-71 to their next homes, whether north to Cleveland or south to Cincinnati.\n<\/p>\n \n\tI also love seeing Igbinosun as a second-round pick. If he can continue to play physical without committing penalties, he could end up being one of the best value picks in the 2026 draft.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0ONE OF ONE.<\/strong> How good is Jeremiah Smith?\n<\/p>\n \n\tIn the 11 years Pro Football Focus has graded college football players, the Ohio State star is the only wide receiver in the PFF era with 85+ grades in each of his first two seasons.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tJeremiah Smith: Actually Generational pic.twitter.com\/WOreH1B74i<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 PFF College (@PFF_College) February 19, 2026<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n\tPeople throw around the word generational a lot these days, but Smith? He\u2019s actually generational. I can\u2019t wait to see what he can accomplish in Year 3!\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0THIS AND THAT.<\/strong> Another Skull Session, another This and That.\n<\/p>\n \n\tYou know the drill.\n<\/p>\n \n\tFormer Ohio State men\u2019s basketball coach Thad Matta won his 500th game<\/a> on Wednesday. Soon after, Butler\u2019s creative team posted a video to X of Matta\u2019s former players congratulating him on the accomplishment. Many of them were Buckeyes.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tCongrats, Coach Matta!<\/p>\n – From your extended basketball family pic.twitter.com\/HuYNRJYKMM<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) February 19, 2026<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n\tGeorgia players Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon became the latest Georgia football players arrested on reckless driving charges.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tBREAKING: Georgia players Chris Cole, Darren Ikinnagbon arrested on reckless driving charges https:\/\/t.co\/q40EKT36Rt<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Dawgs247 (@Dawgs247) February 19, 2026<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n\tBuckeye Huddle\u2019s Tony Gerdeman<\/a> said it best: \u201cI think this is Georgia\u2019s version of having a black stripe removed.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\tThat\u2019s hilarious \u2014 and accurate.\n<\/p>\n \n\tGraeter\u2019s Ice Cream updated its pint design for its famous Buckeye Blitz flavor this week.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tAnother first look, O-H!<\/p>\n Buckeye Blitz has a BRAND NEW pint design!<\/p>\n Check it out OSU fans @OhioStAthletics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/DrlAfaNcAV<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Graeter’s Ice Cream (@graeters) February 18, 2026<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n\tI could be wrong, but didn\u2019t one of the old designs feature Brutus? This would\u2019ve been a long, long time ago, but I have a vague memory of the mascot being part of the packaging. Let me know in the comments if that was real or something I completely made up in my head.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThat’s all, folks!\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0SONG OF THE DAY.\u00a0<\/strong>“Golden” – Harry Styles.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0CUT TO THE CHASE.\u00a0<\/strong>The Mets will have a Bobby Valentine Disguise Night and hand out 15,000 fake mustache-glasses<\/a>…\u00a0Hawaii residents sick of early crowing and aggressive pecking could be allowed to kill wild chickens<\/a>…\u00a0Judge says lawsuit over Buffalo Wild Wings boneless wings has “no meat on its bones”<\/a>…\u00a0How a cute dog in a Super Bowl ad revealed a national surveillance crisis<\/a>…\u00a0Alysa Liu, her father Arthur and Chinese spies: Unusual road to Olympics<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n\n
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