SCARLET ORANGE BROWN

From Buckeyes vs. Miami To Bengals Momentum And Browns Grit

• Ken Carpenter and Chris Huesman • Season 1 • Episode 18

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Rivalries shift, rumors fly, and the film doesn’t lie—welcome to an Ohio football week with real stakes. We kick off with Michigan’s headline hire of Kyle Whittingham and what it signals for the Big Ten’s balance of power, then zero in on the matchup that matters most: Ohio State vs Miami in the Cotton Bowl. The line leans Buckeyes, the total leans tight, and the deciding factor may be as simple as protection and pace.

We break down Miami’s disruptive defensive line and the antidotes Ohio State can deploy: quicker progression reads, pocket movement, and a tempo mix that forces arm tackles and creates mid-range explosives. The twist everyone’s watching is Ryan Day reclaiming play-calling duties. With Day on the sheet, the Buckeyes historically score more, disguise tendencies better, and lean into scripted answers that punish aggressive fronts. Add a month of self-scout and healthier personnel, and you’ve got a blueprint that shifts the stress onto Miami’s linebackers and safeties.

The roster lens matters too. We talk transfer portal strategy, why stacking edges is non-negotiable for November football, and how a top in-state pass rusher could stabilize next season’s front. Then we widen the lens: Oregon’s experience, Alabama’s muscle memory, and whether Ole Miss can shock Georgia. In the NFL window, Joe Burrow’s 75-game resume lands him in rarified air while Cincinnati’s defense surges with takeaways. Cleveland’s patchwork line, a thin receiver room, and the Steelers test set up a gritty, high-leverage finish where special teams and run fits could swing the day.

It’s a fast, candid tour through strategy, matchups, and momentum—no fluff, just football. If you’re riding with the Buckeyes, curious about the Bengals’ late push, or weighing Browns vs Steelers, this one gives you the why behind the what. If you enjoyed the show, follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—what’s your boldest pick this week?

Tune in every week for a new episode!

SPEAKER_04:

Today on the SLB Scarlet Orange Brown podcast.

SPEAKER_01:

Welcome to the Scooby Origin Bruno Cap. The show that brings you the best of Ohio football, every single week. From the Ohio State Buckeyes to the Cincinnati Bengals to the Cleveland brought, we've got every inch of the Buckeye State covered. In tight, action, and plenty of bold opinions. Because here it's all football, all Ohio, all the time. Here's your host coming to you live from the Dublin bubble, Chris Husman and Ken Carpenter.

SPEAKER_04:

Hello and welcome to the After Christmas SOB podcast. Scarlet Orange and Brown. I'm Ken Carpenter. I'm Chris Husman. And on today's podcast, breaking news. Even though it's an Ohio podcast, it looks like the University of Michigan has uh signed Kyle Whittingham to a five-year contract. The uh Utah coach who stepped down, probably a great hire. And uh I don't know if I'd want to step into that mess there at Michigan, but uh how was your holiday?

SPEAKER_00:

It was great, Kenny. Thanks for asking. Uh a lot of family spent some time in Indianapolis, and um, you know, um I just wanted to remind everybody that if we play Indiana again, I think we'll come out on the uh other side of that coin this time.

SPEAKER_04:

There you go. I love it. Well, the Buckeyes are gonna get a chance to play the uh Miami Hurricanes and the Cotton Bowl, sort of a revenge game in Miami people's eyes. Cincinnati Bengals moved to 5-10 with a 45-21 win, shellacking of the Dolphins. Up next for them is Arizona. Cleveland Browns played a good game, came up short against the Buffalo Bills. Up next, the hated Pittsburgh Steelers. What was your think on the uh this past uh, I guess last weekend of uh football since we had a delay because of Christmas?

SPEAKER_00:

Uh some things I I I looked at is I was interested in the line that Vegas would have set forth on the Ohio State Miami game. Um it's at nine and a half. And um the over and under is 42.5. So I think Vegas is expecting somewhat of a uh not a not a huge scoring game. Um and they're and they're expecting Ohio State to come out on top by you know 10, you know, around 10 points. So um yeah, I would agree with that, Kenny. Uh I had a prediction of 24-13 Ohio State um on this. Um, but you know, I just think um I'm looking on social media and I'm seeing all the banter going on about the pass interference call, you know, uh umpteen years ago and how Miami was robbed. And you know, that just sent Miami into a spiral downward, I think, um, that game after that game. I remember um you know, just not hearing a lot about them. I mean, Dorsey almost threw the interception to uh Donnie Nicky, one of our uh guests that we had on here not too long ago. And you know, I mean it was just one of those things where um, you know, I I I look back and I'm like, you know what, that kind of did start their downfall because they were dominant. Um I think they got a couple players that really um, you know, uh well originally uh cut they I know they had a couple players, Kenny, that uh were actually committed to Ohio State and then jumped ship and went to Miami. I think it was a running back Mark Fletcher and defensive lineman Justin Scott. But um, you know, they have a top-tier defense. Um, you know, notably their defensive line, uh that Messador um is very good. Bain Jr. I think between those two, Kenny, they got like 16 sacks, uh, which is pretty ominous. Uh we'll have our hands full, at least our offensive line will. Um they have five force fumbles, and you know, as you know, I mean Justin Saiyan was sacked five times during that IEU game. So we're gonna have to come up with a couple things there to combat that Miami defense, I think.

SPEAKER_04:

Yes, I agree. And uh, but the I came across the stat today, and uh to me, I think that uh it's going to be uh a big uh thing for for the Buckeyes, and that is with Ryan Day calling the plays in his career at Ohio State, the Buckeyes averaged 43 points a game. Wow and um that is 35 points, I think, when Chip Kelly I can't believe it. Hold on one sec.

SPEAKER_00:

You got your dogs going on back there, Kenny. But I think we did call that Kenny. I think we called it um originally back in um man, what was it a couple episodes ago? I think we called it and said that Day was just gonna say, hey, you know what, I'll take over the play calling.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah. And uh 43 points a game with him calling it, I think it's gonna be, you know, he's gonna lose that CEO status that uh I'm gonna kill this dog. I mean he's driving me crazy. But uh, you know, with him being uh, you know, he ain't gonna be able to have as much of a focus on the uh the defense and special teams with call and plays, but I think that uh I think they're gonna be okay with uh Matt Patricia. And with the Buckeyes getting healthy and Julian Zayn noticing through the film work he that he's he's gotta get rid of the ball a little bit quicker and because all the Indiana did was take away the long pass, you know. So I think uh, you know, this uh almost month that the Buckeyes had to make adjustments is gonna be a big thing. And the other thing is Miami's got only uh play calls with Brian Hartline film work to look at. Nine days gonna be a big difference.

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely, Kenny. I I even have that written down. I wanted to mention that too. Is just I think it's gonna be great for us that he's calling the plays because I mean Miami's used to a certain type of you know tempo that you know that we go through. So, you know, when you when you're changing that to somebody who's you know probably should have been calling to plays in the first place, uh hey man, I I you know I'm I'm excited about it. You know, but i is there D talented? Absolutely. Absolutely. Um, but I think they lose focus a lot. Um you know during during the game. Carson back, here let me throw this stat out at you, Kenny. Um Carson Back is ranked the 112th quarterback in the nation when he's pressured. He's ranked the 18th quarterback in the nation when he's allowed to just sit in the pocket and throw. So that's quite a substantial difference. Um, you know, I I think that stat alone is just gonna be like Matt Patricia's gonna be the, you know, just pin pin their ears back and go get this kid. Yeah. So um it's gonna be interesting to see how it plays out.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, definitely. I I got the Buckeyes with uh I think they're gonna score a little more. I got them getting uh I'm gonna say 35-10 buckeyes.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. So but as we uh, you know, one thing I want to mention to you about that is um I think with everything that's happened with that with the snub basically at the Heisman for Justin Sand and You know, just a lot of things that happen with this kid, I think you're gonna see a totally different Justin Sand uh back there behind the line um, you know, next next Wednesday. I I I just think it's you know, he's um you know, he's not a freshman anymore. I mean, you know, he's been in it, and this is kind of the second season, so to speak. So um I I I you he could just absolutely light it up, Kenny.

SPEAKER_04:

Yes, and uh I'm kind of hoping that's what the case is. And you know, on the uh the portal news, I think the one big portal get that the Buckeyes definitely need to go after, and it seems like they're in the number one spot, is that Penn State defensive end, Chaz Coleman, he'll be a sophomore, and he's the number one guy in the portal, and he's from Ohio, and I think Ohio State finished second to Penn State in the recruiting process there. So there's a good chance if they could pick him up, that's gonna be a huge pickup going into next season.

SPEAKER_00:

You know, and I think that's one of the things that we need. I mean, Caden Curry, um, Kenyatta Jackson, um, you know, I those guys, you know, leaving, I mean, it's gonna leave a gaping hole, literally. And uh, you know, having a having a true tested guy with experience like that come in, that's just invaluable.

SPEAKER_04:

Well, let's just stay with the college theme here, real quick. And we got the the the college football playoff predictor here. Let's go through the uh the four games that are gonna be played here. And the first one's the Orange Bowl. Let's start with that one. And Oregon's playing Texas Tech. It's the uh Battle of the Billionaires.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, and and you know, I I really um I really liked what I saw out of Oregon. Um, granted, they were playing James Madison, um, but man, did they look good? Um I you know, I think you get a lot of guys with experience, uh you know, having been in a college football playoff. Um and you know, I I just think that um sometimes that experience beats that talent, you know. And um I I besides the fact that they got to go you know clear across the country, um, but they'll you know, they'll be there, you know, they've they'll they'll get the jet lag out of them. And um, yeah, Texas Tech is very good. I mean, you know, they have a high school coach coaching them. And um, you know, good, like you said, they got all kinds of money and and so on and so forth. But, you know, I just like the experienced factor in Oregon.

SPEAKER_04:

I'm gonna agree with you on that one. I'm gonna take Oregon and Navlin. Uh Dan Lanning, I think, will have them ready to go. Moving on to the next one, the uh the granddaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl. Alabama versus Indiana.

SPEAKER_00:

I was asking all the people from Indy this weekend, you know, is this the first time you guys played Alabama? And nobody could remember.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, I don't think they played before.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, so um, you know, this is kind of uh uh you know the coming out party, I think, for Indiana. It's like everybody's heard about Indiana, you know, obviously they haven't uh you know being numbered being ranked number one and number two for a lot lot of the uh year. I mean, you know, it's it's gonna be different. I mean, from here on out, um, you know, you're gonna have uh good offensive, you know, good defenses, uh, good special teams play. Um, you know, the the James Madison are out of there. Um, you know, uh the Tulanes are out of there. Um you know, it's just now, you know, it's it's it's big boy football from here on out. And we're gonna find out if Indiana can do this, you know, week in and week out. Um and you know, it's gonna be fun to watch. Um Alabama's definitely experienced. Um, and again, they got that experience factor. Um, so Kenny, we could very easily see Alabama playing Oregon in a semi.

SPEAKER_04:

Yes. I'm gonna go and take I I don't know why, but I just think Indiana's gonna pull it off because Alabama, they're just they seem like they're up and down, but you you can't count them out in any game. So and that would just blow up the SEC if they're looking at an Oregon, Indiana semifinal. And let's go with the sugar bowl. Ole Miss playing the Georgia Bulldogs.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, I mean, they played once before. Um, and you know, I I just without Lane Kiffin there, although I did see this, I saw a bunch of guys just bought in, uh, play good sound fundamental football. And um, you know, I saw position coaches, you know, pulling their weight, whereas, you know, it was the Lane Kiffin show, you know, uh when he was there. So I think you got a lot more coaches with a lot more say, and um, you know, it's not not necessarily such a bad thing. And um do I think it's good enough for Ole Miss to upset Georgia? No, not really. I think Georgia's just too good. Um I think they'll be in the um, you know, playing Ohio State uh the following week. So um, yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

Well, I I'm going to say that uh the Ole Miss is gonna have a chip on her shoulder, and uh they're wanting to prove something to Lynn Kiffin, and uh what a better way to do it than beating uh Kirby and the Bulldogs. But George is always so daggone good, and it's just it all comes down to Kirby, but I'm gonna take uh Ole Miss in the upset, and we both are taking the Buckeyes, obviously, in the Cotton Bowl, so that could be leading to a uh Buckeyes playing the winner of that old Miss George game.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

Let's move on to the Cincinnati Bengals. They broke it out, they got a chance to get out and play against uh a Miami team that was uh playing their uh a rookie quarterback, but but Joe Burrow does what everybody expects him to do. Four TDs, 309 yards, and here's a stat I'm gonna throw at you, and I bet you didn't realize this. 75 games as Joe Burrow is a quarterback. He's first in NFL history in completions. Third in T D passes and fifth in passing yards.

SPEAKER_00:

I I I d I never knew that, Kenny. That's that's amazing. That really I you know I hey look, you know, I think this was this is the what if season for the Bengals. You know, what if Joe didn't get hurt? And um, you know, I you know he threw for four TDs. Um, you know, granted he's playing um against Quinn Ewers, uh, but you know, the defense created uh turnovers. Uh they've had 11 turnovers since week 12. Um Gasicki uh is just rising. I I just think he's he's their best tight end. Um I know Noah Fant got hurt, but um, yeah, he's just he's amazing. Um the young starters are starting to step up. The O found the rhythm, um, you know, long gains on scoring drives, the D force three turnovers. I think you're seeing an emergence of Miles Murphy, uh, Jordan Battle. Um, you know, they all continue to step up. Um chase past 500 career receptions. Um, you know, I I agree. I I just think it's one of those things where, you know, daggone it. If we we had the Jets beat and we had the Bears beat. I mean, it was just like another stupid Cincinnati, you know, uh mistake. Um and, you know, for all intent and purposes, we should be seven and eight right now, and you know, coming down to the last two games of the season. Um, but uh, you know, I think even Vegas knows something's up. I mean, Cincinnati opened at um um minus five and a half favorites, it's now risen to six and a half. Um, the over-under is 43.5. Yeah, Brissett is decent. McBride is very good, but you know, I just think uh, and and and this is my lock too of the week, Kenny, by the way. Um, I just think Cincinnati minus seven or minus six and a half uh over Arizona is my lock this week.

SPEAKER_04:

There you go. Well, I like you said the Bengals, I mean, you just sit there and you wondered if Joe Burrow stays healthy. And uh, you know, that's that's the difference, I think, in the whole entire season. And, you know, I have yet to figure out the NFL because why the Browns played with the Buffalo Bills with like a fourth string offensive line, I have no idea, but sure, he had a decent game. 20 to 29, 157 yards. He had two interceptions, but he threw a T D. Um and to be able to do that with hands down the worst receiving core in the NFL if you minus the tight ends. I agree. And um, offensive line has been injured the whole season. And I I read something where when the Chiefs was on that stretch of Super Bowl runs there, they went three years without their offensive linemen being hurt. And you know, Cleveland hasn't played you know a game without at least one guy out, and you know, they've ran through three quarterbacks. Um probably the biggest thing going into the final two games is you know, do they make the commitment to Shador and the Stefansky stay or go? And there's a part of me that says, hey. Yeah, maybe we need to switch it up. But you think about what he's had to work with, you know, this season. Yeah. It's tough.

SPEAKER_00:

I think you're right. I think, you know, you just mentioned it. How many different kind of line combinations have they had for the offensive line this year? Yeah. No. Yeah, that's a killer, Kenny. I mean, you know, you look at it, yeah, Sanders did have a couple interceptions that killed the drives. That's for sure. Um, but the big one to me was, you know, what about the special teams again? I mean, special teams has been a joke. I mean, the muff snap, you know, uh, and in week 16. I mean, it's like, come on now. I mean, that can't happen. And um I don't know. It's just with Quinshawn Juckins going down, you know, I think um that just that's just typical, you know, Browns luck right there. I know I know Raheem Sanders is good, Trevion Williams is good, they're gonna get the bulk of the carries, but you know, to me, it's what's concerning is um Buffalo ran the ball really, really well on on the Browns. And um, you know, I just think of that um if they can shure that up somehow, uh, they'll have a chance. And matter of fact, I'm picking that as my upset special this week, Cleveland over Pittsburgh.

SPEAKER_04:

Wow, there you go. Well, I know TJ Watt's out for the game, and uh, you know, that's uh probably gives Jack Sawyer a chance, the former buck guy, to to get in there and and play. It'll be fun to watch him play, but you know, I hate to see him being on the Pittsburgh Steelers. And uh you know, I don't know. It's uh you know, it's funny because you look at everybody's playing that that is out of the playoffs, they're they're looking at draft uh status, you know, in draft order, and and surprise, surprise, the team out of Las Vegas is trying to gain the system and they're pretty much benching their whole team because they're going up against the terrible New York Giants just to get that that highest draft pick. And I just uh you know, I I they're saying guys are ineligible because they're injured and they're out for the seat. It's just crazy. I uh what what the NFL is gonna be like here with these teams that don't have a shot.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I mean I I I totally hear what you're saying, and um it what it's sad. I mean, you look at these guys and you look at all the um the incentives um that they have now, you know, the incentive-based stuff that they have going on. And you know, to me, if you're a gambler, I mean you just look at those guys and it's like, oh, you know, um, you know, I mean, you just look at all that stuff and you're like, well, you know, the quarterback's definitely gonna throw this guy, you know, as to as many times till he gets till he gets his bonus. Yeah. So the the running back is gonna, you know, they're gonna put him in there so he can get his bonus. So, you know, that's that's definitely but one thing you mentioned about Stefansky, I wanted to bring up too, is you know, that's one thing that I I guess I did like. I know a lot of people didn't like it about um the Bengals. I mean, they just uh they've already come out and said, you know, I mean, Zach's Zach's our guy. I mean, we had this secret contract in place till, you know, after the 27 season. So, you know, he's our guy, and no, we're not moving Duke Tobin, who's the you know, the GM in charge of you know, recruiting and and draft. So, I mean, they've already just come out and said it. You know, the Browns, on the other hand, you know, what are they gonna do? And that's uh that's that's the million-dollar question.

SPEAKER_04:

Yes, without a doubt. And uh should be fun to watch this weekend and with uh over the uh the New Year's holiday here with the the college football games. I'm gonna throw it out there as my my lock is the LA Rams minus seven and a half versus Atlanta, and my upset is Carolina at home, plus seven going up against the Seattle Seahawks. I know it's a tough one, but uh, little news here why.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, you know, those are those are the two of the hottest teams in NFL right now. Seattle. And um, yeah, it's gonna be it's gonna be interesting to watch. I mean, you know, Kansas City's out of it. You know, it's just like you look at Pittsburgh, you know, you talk about um uh Watt being out. Well, so's DK Metcalf. You know, he's suspended for the last two games or punching a fan.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

I mean, I you know, you got you know, this guy, and I think it cost him, I forget how much it cost him, Kenny, but he had a lot of bonuses coming. And uh he can't reach those now because, you know, of being suspended. So uh it's just you know, makes you wonder about these guys.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, he I read where he had reported this guy before and to the NFL, and you would think that they'd have security down there because I I I know fans can be obnoxious when you get a little beer in them and everything like that. And as a player, you know, you gotta keep your cool, but sometimes, you know, that there's a limit, and you know, there's I don't know how you you avoid it, and uh but uh it's funny that you know you punch a fan, and that's the most important thing to the NFL is a fan and their money, and it's amazing how he'll be eligible for the playoffs, you know.

SPEAKER_00:

So you mentioned it, Kenny. I mean, it's where was the Steelers sideline guys? Yeah. I mean, you know, every team has their own security, you know, that they have that are in place that you know protect the players from something like this happening. You know, where were they at? I mean, it's not something like he just sprinted over there and did that. I mean, that was something you could tell was brewing for you know a little bit, and you know, nobody everybody just sat there and watched. So feel bad. I don't feel bad for the Steelers. I never feel bad for the Steelers, but uh you know, hey, uh, I think the Browns can benefit from that.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, definitely. Yeah. But uh I guess that kind of puts a wrap on the uh this week in uh football here in Ohio. Uh anything you want to finish up with?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, I just want to um I want to say how different I feel from last week to this coming week on the bowl games. Um, I don't think anybody wanted to watch James Madison play Oregon. I don't think anybody wanted to watch Tulane, you know, play Ole Miss. Um I mean, uh you know, this week's a totally different story. I mean, there there are gonna be four quality games that um, man, I would just I'm I can't wait to tune in and watch.

SPEAKER_04:

And the fun part about it is Ohio State always draws a huge TV audience, and them getting front and center, the only game on New Year's Eve, and then the other three games are gonna be played the next day. The ratings for if you're running ads is gonna be through the roof for the uh the Buckeye game, I would think, because of the whole revenge factor and everything that Miami's uh putting out there. So, but I think that kind of puts a wrap on this week, and until next week, I'm Ken Carpenter.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm Chris Usman.

SPEAKER_04:

Thanks for joining the SOB Scarlet Orange Brown podcast.

SPEAKER_00:

SOB.