Ohio State took a clean little swipe at Desmond Howard while celebrating a milestone the Buckeyes know how to own.
The program posted that no team has more College GameDay appearances than Ohio State, then made sure Howard didn’t make the cut in the image. The message was simple enough to read between the lines.
“. @CollegeGameDay loves the Buckeyes.
Appearance No. 69 coming Saturday. pic.twitter.com/zVIVYC1Ljt
- Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 8, 2026”
It was a subtle troll, but that’s what made it land. Nothing over the top, nothing that would invite trouble - just a neat little jab at one of the voices Ohio State fans love to roll their eyes at.
Howard has long been a sore spot for Buckeye supporters, and the source of that frustration hasn’t changed much. As one of the regular faces on ESPN College GameDay, he has a reputation for taking shots at Ohio State whenever he gets the chance, and praise for the Buckeyes tends to be in short supply. That dynamic has only made his visits to Columbus more hostile, with boos following him around when he shows up.
The post also put a spotlight on something Ohio State has every reason to brag about: those GameDay appearances are no accident. They speak to the program’s relevance, but also to its willingness to step into major non-conference matchups instead of padding the schedule with easier opponents. The source material made the point bluntly - some schools schedule cupcakes, and Ohio State doesn’t.
Howard, of course, is not likely to hand the Buckeyes much credit for that. The reporting also contrasted Ohio State’s approach with TTUN, noting that until recently they didn’t exactly go out of their way to load up on tough non-Big Ten opponents. That omission, the source suggested, could come back to bite them this week against Oklahoma after TTUN fell out of the top 25 following what it called a pathetic showing against WMU.
And while the social-media jab was the fun part, the bigger backdrop is what Ohio State is about to face. Howard would not pick the Buckeyes for a national title even if they were ranked No. 1, but that’s the spot they’re in right now. They’ve looked like the best team in the country, and the upcoming trip to face the Longhorns is being framed as a chance to back it up.
The setup is about as good as it gets for Ohio State. The Buckeyes are on the road, playing at night, and still listed as an underdog despite being the higher-ranked team. If they beat Texas for the third straight year, the source says, they’ll establish supremacy over Texas and the rest of the SEC for the foreseeable future.
For that to happen, Ohio State needs a better run game. If they can do that, maybe Howard will finally have a harder time talking around what the Buckeyes are doing.
In Other News...
Ohio State Fans Will Want To See Yetis New Buckeyes Gear
Ohio State fans looking to add a little scarlet and gray to their everyday carry now have a new option from Yeti. The company has rolled out a limited-edition 26-ounce Rambler water bottle in Buckeyes branding as part of its Collegiate Fandom Collection, giving supporters a chance to rep the program with a familiar piece of gear built from stainless steel and double-wall vacuum insulation.
The bottle comes with Yetis TripleHaul Handle and Chug Cap, and it is dishwasher safe, with an optional straw cap sold separately. It is one of 12 college football designs in the collection, but the Buckeyes version is not a permanent run, since it will be discontinued once current inventory is gone. [Read more 🡒]
Urban Meyer Sees Ohio State Texas Coming Down To One Big Play
Urban Meyer isnt treating Ohio States trip to Texas like a heavyweight mismatch. The former Buckeyes coach called the Week 2 showdown a coin toss after both teams opened the season in impressive fashion, and he pointed to the quarterbacks as the center of it all, with Julian Sayin and Arch Manning expected to carry much of the spotlight when the game kicks off on ABC.
Austin adds another layer to a matchup that already feels like it could swing on a single mistake or a single burst of execution. Texas has been tough at home, and Meyer made clear that the environment will matter, which only raises the stakes for Ohio State as it heads into one of the biggest early-season games on the calendar with little separating the two teams. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Heads To Texas With One Early Concern Looming
Texas opened the season with a win over Texas State and now turns its attention to a Week 2 home game against Ohio State, a matchup that already carries plenty of early-season intrigue. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are coming off their own opener against Ball State and will be trying to settle in on both sides of the ball after making changes along the offensive line and defense.
One of the first things Ohio State will have to monitor in Austin is Texas health on defense and in the backfield. Running back Derrek Cooper is expected to miss the game after an ankle injury, and safety Yaheim Riley also did not dress in the opener, leaving the Longhorns with some uncertainty to sort through before the Buckeyes arrive. [Read more 🡒]