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Mandel’s Final Thoughts: Amid great change, Penn State losing to Ohio State stays the same

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Mandel’s Final Thoughts: Amid great change, Penn State losing to Ohio State stays the same


And now, 20 Final Thoughts from Week 10, when eight ranked teams had the week off. They got to sit at home and watch nearly half of the other ranked teams go down.

1. Amid a season of unprecedented change in college football, one tradition remains alive and well: Penn State losing to Ohio State.

The teams came in trending in opposite directions. The third-ranked Nittany Lions were undefeated, while the fourth-ranked Buckeyes’ prior two games were a road loss at Oregon and a near-disaster against Nebraska. Ohio State (7-1, 4-1 in the Big Ten) even spotted James Franklin’s team an early 10-0 lead thanks to Will Howard’s pick six. Didn’t make a difference.

For all the optimism generated by first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State (7-1, 4-1) went from scoring one offensive touchdown in last year’s 20-12 Ohio State loss to none in this year’s 20-13 defeat. After stud tight end Tyler Warren ran around end for 33 yards to get down to the 3-yard line with 6:47 left, he never saw the ball again. Drew Allar handed off to Kaytron Allen up the middle three straight plays, then threw incomplete into the end zone on fourth-and-goal at the 1, and Ohio State ran out the final 5:13.

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2. Now, for the requisite disclaimer: Penn State’s Playoff hopes remain perfectly intact. This is a 7-1 team with road wins at West Virginia, USC and Wisconsin. It will be heavily favored in its last four games. Win out, and it’s likely hosting a first-round game. None of that changes the fact Franklin is 1-10 against the Buckeyes and 1-13 against AP top-5 teams at Penn State. Nothing about him or his program inspires any confidence the Nittany Lions would do anything other than go one and out in a tournament full of comparable foes.

But first, he has to get there.

3. Ohio State’s Ryan Day, who’s been dealing with his own recent “Can’t win the big one” stigma, needed this one badly. He improved to 3-6 versus top-5 foes, not great but still better than contemporaries like Steve Sarkisian (2-8 at Washington/USC/Texas), Lincoln Riley (1-5 at Oklahoma/USC), Brian Kelly (1-8 at Notre Dame/LSU) and of course, Franklin. It just feels worse because three of Day’s six losses were to Michigan.

Ohio State’s offensive line, now with All-American guard Donovan Jackson starting at left tackle due to injuries, was much better in the run game than last week, and Jim Knowles’ defense got more pressure on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar than it did Oregon’s Dillion Gabriel a few weeks ago.

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4. My one concern for Ohio State is the same one I had after the Oregon loss: Is Howard (16 of 24 for 182 yards, two TDs, one INT) reliable enough to lead a team to a national title? In addition to his pick six, Howard fumbled for a touchback while stretching for a touchdown that would have put the Buckeyes up 21-10. This was on the heels of his poor decision-making at the end of the Oregon loss. To his credit, Howard picked up two third downs with his feet on Ohio State’s game-sealing drive. He does a decent enough job getting the ball to the Buckeyes’ gifted receivers. He doesn’t need to be C.J. Stroud, but he does need to hold on to the ball and keep an eye on the clock.

5. For whatever reason, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, a projected first-round pick before the season, just doesn’t have it this year. He threw three interceptions against Florida, giving him 11 in his last five games, which allowed the underdog Gators to hang around far longer than they should have after quarterback DJ Lagway suffered an awful hamstring injury, forcing Florida to send in third-string walk-on Aidan Warner for the second half. The second-ranked Dawgs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) finally scored two late touchdowns to win 34-20.

Georgia, when it’s on, has been the best team in the country, as seen when the Dawgs demolished Clemson in Week 1 and Texas two weeks ago. But Kirby Smart’s team also squeaked by against Kentucky, bombed in the first half at Alabama and struggled against Florida. Which version will show up next week at Ole Miss?

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6. Poor Billy Napier cannot catch a break. First, incumbent quarterback Graham Mertz sustained a season-ending ACL injury on Oct. 12, and now Lagway, who threw a 43-yard touchdown Saturday, is out with what Napier called a “pretty significant” injury. Warner, a redshirt freshman who began his career at Yale, may be the starter when Florida visits Texas next week and perhaps beyond that. The Gators (4-4, 2-3) have improved quite a bit this season, but it still might not be enough to save him if more losses start piling up.

7. Can’t say I’m surprised No. 10 Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) suffered a letdown after its huge win over LSU, but South Carolina’s 115th-ranked offense unexpectedly exploded in the Gamecocks’ 44-20 win over the Aggies. Former Arkansas running back Rocket Sanders shredded A&M to the tune of 144 yards rushing and 92 yards receiving, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers was effective both with his arm (13 of 27, 244 yards, two TDs, 0 INTs) and his legs (15 carries, 106 yards, one TD). Shane Beamer’s team (5-3, 3-3) isn’t winning the SEC, but in its last three games, it lost by two points to Alabama, drilled Oklahoma on the road and doubled up a top-10 A&M team.

With that, there are no remaining SEC teams with perfect conference records. Georgia and Texas A&M are tied for first at 5-1, but Tennessee (4-1), Texas (3-1) and LSU (3-1) are all tied in the loss column as well.

8. Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin is about to face his James Franklin crossroads moment. The 19th-ranked Rebels (7-2, 3-2 ACC) seem to have no trouble with the teams they should beat. They went to Fayetteville and destroyed Arkansas 63-31, with Jaxson Dart throwing for 515 yards and six touchdowns, and receiver Jordan Watkins going off for eight catches for 254 yards and five TDs. Two of his scores were for 60-plus yards.

But Ole Miss didn’t spend all that NIL money to beat up on Arkansas and maybe go to the Citrus Bowl. The CFP was always the end game. To get there, Dart, who has largely struggled against the SEC’s top teams, needs to deliver some of those big plays next week when Georgia visits Oxford.

9. No. 1 Oregon (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) has not missed a beat on the road this season. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (22 of 34, 294 yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD) was his usual efficient self in the Ducks’ 38-17 win at Michigan (5-4, 3-3). Wolverines quarterback Davis Warren (13 of 23, 165 yards, two TDs, 0 INTs) made some nice plays Saturday, and in fact, Michigan got to the Oregon 10 in the fourth quarter with a chance to get within one score. But on fourth-and-5, Sherrone Moore called a bizarre trick play, with receiver Semaj Morgan attempting to throw to backup QB Alex Orji. The Ducks … were not fooled.

Oregon suffered a potentially costly injury, losing top receiver Tez Johnson early in the game. His status was undisclosed. Traeshon Holden (six catches, 149 yards) and Justius Lowe (six catches, 45 yards) stepped up in his place.

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10. Michigan must go from facing the nation’s No. 1 team this week to the nation’s most dominant team next week. No. 13 Indiana (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) fell behind 10-0 early at Michigan State (4-5, 2-4), the Hoosiers’ first deficit of the season, then turned around and smoked the Spartans 47-10. Indiana, 9-0 for the first time in school history, notched seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, back after missing last week, threw four touchdowns.

I’m fascinated to see how the committee treats the Hoosiers. They have not played a great schedule, but they’ve clobbered everyone they’ve played, scoring 40-plus points in seven of their nine games. My hunch is they’ll be higher than they are in the AP and coaches polls.

11. Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, going back to his Purdue days, is always good for at least one big upset a year. The Cardinals (6-3, 4-2 ACC) went to No. 11 Clemson (6-2, 5-1) and built a 26-7 lead, winning 33-21. Louisville’s offense, led by freshman running back Isaac Brown (20 carries, 151 yards), seemed to have the Tigers on their heels all night.

Clemson came in having won six straight, all by at least two scores. Looking back now, though, none of the teams it beat currently has a winning record. Its defense, ranked in the top two in the ACC in seven of the past eight seasons, was just seventh coming into the weekend. It may be that Louisville was the first team since Georgia capable of exploiting it.

12. Which leaves the ACC in a two-team tie for first between No. 5 Miami (9-0, 5-0 ACC) and … No. 20 SMU (8-1, 5-0).

The ‘Canes fell behind 28-17 early in the third quarter against Duke (6-2, 2-3), only to win going away, 53-31. Star quarterback  Cam Ward (25 of 41 for 400 yards, five TDs, one INT) and new Miami career receiving yards leader Xavier Restrepo (eight catches, 146 yards, three TDs) have helped lead Miami to its first 9-0 start since 2002. SMU, needing no adjustment period after moving up from the Group of 5, throttled previously undefeated Pittsburgh 48-25. Quarterback Kevin Jennings (17-of-25 for 306 yards, two TDs) and running back Brashard Smith (23 carries, 161 yards, two TDs) lit up the Panthers’ 11th-ranked defense.

Both teams still have work to do, but SMU would not be an ideal ACC championship matchup for Miami, whose defense gives up a lot of big plays. But Ward has been able to outscore every opponent to date.

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13. The Big 12 is light on elite teams (if it has any) and high on parity — and it’s a heckuva lot of fun.

Star Texas Tech running back Tajh Brooks’ touchdown with 19 seconds left lifted the Red Raiders (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) to a 23-22 road upset at No. 11 Iowa State (7-1, 4-1), the biggest win of the Joey Maguire era to date. Less than an hour later, Houston (4-5, 3-3) rallied from a 19-10 deficit entering the fourth quarter to beat Kansas State, 24-19, handing the Wildcats (7-2, 4-2) a costly second conference loss. As a result, No. 9 BYU (8-0, 5-0), which was off, is now alone in first, with the Cyclones and, yes, Colorado (6-2, 4-1), tied for second.

Here’s guessing those won’t be the league’s last race-altering upsets this season.

14. Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo came into Saturday leading the Big 12 in all-purpose yards (161.6 per game) and turned in his finest performance yet in the Sun Devils’ 42-21 win at Oklahoma State. Skattebo ran for 153 yards, caught four passes for 121 yards and scored three TDs in a game delayed by two-and-half hours at one point due to weather. ASU (6-2, 3-2 Big 12), picked to finish dead last in the conference, clinched bowl eligibility in coach Kenny Dillingham’s second season. Oklahoma State (3-6, 0-6), which reached the Big 12 title game last season, is mired in the first six-game losing streak of Mike Gundy’s 20-year reign.

15. Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2 SEC) got bowl-eligible for the first time in six years on the strength of its defense. The Commodores held Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter to a season-low 50 rushing yards in a 17-7 road win, the program’s first at Jordan-Hare Stadium. (Note: This was only its 10th visit.) With one more victory, Vandy will reach seven wins for the first time since James Franklin’s last season there in 2013. It would be a remarkable feat for fourth-year coach Clark Lea, who went 9-27 his first three seasons before successfully upgrading his lineup via the portal. TCU transfer edge Randon Fontenette had 2.5 TFLs and a pass breakup.

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16. Fifth-year Baylor coach Dave Aranda looked to be down to his last days when the Bears, 3-9 last season, began this one 2-4. But Baylor (5-4, 3-3 Big 12) has won three straight games since. Led by freshman running back Bryson Washington’s 29 carries for 196 yards and four TDs, the Bears bested rival TCU 37-34 on a walk-off 33-yard field goal, two years after the Horned Frogs (5-4, 3-3) did the same thing in a November game in Waco. Students stormed the field afterward and partied like it was the 2021 Big 12 championship season all over again.

Baylor lost on a Hail Mary to Colorado on Sept. 22. If not, this team could have easily been among the jumble of league contenders right now.

17. Only one team has not trailed this season: No. 21 Army (8-0). The Black Knights’ offense wasn’t as powerful as usual without star quarterback Bryson Daily, but running back Kanye Udoh’s career day (22 carries, 158 yards, two TDs) helped Army to a 20-3 win over Air Force (1-7). Coach Jeff Monken did not detail what injury or illness kept Daily out of practice and the game, but said he’s hopeful the QB who’s accounted for 26 touchdowns this season will be back next week against North Texas.

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Army and Tulane (7-2, 5-0 AAC) are the last remaining AAC teams with undefeated records in conference play.

18. After running 31 times for 149 yards and two scores in Boise State’s 56-24 rout of San Diego State (3-5, 2-1) on Friday night, Ashton Jeanty has run for 1,525 yards and 20 TDs. He’s averaging 170.0 yards in conference play for the Broncos (7-1, 4-1 MWC). At that pace, he’d finish a 13-game regular season with 2,375 yards, third-most ever behind only Barry Sanders (2,628 in 1988) and UCF’s Kevin Smith (2,448 in 2007).

Boise State’s next foe is Nevada, currently 0-4 in Mountain West play. Recalibrate your calculators now.

19. It’s no longer a given that Nebraska will end its eight-year bowl drought. A week after nearly taking down Ohio State on the road, the Huskers (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) somehow lost 27-20 at home to UCLA (3-5, 2-4) in a game the Bruins wrapped up with an interception of a pass that bounced off Nebraska receiver Jacory Barney’s knee. This came after freshman quarterback Dylan Railoa was injured after a hard hit with about 6 minutes remaining.

Matt Rhule’s team gets a much-needed week off before closing at USC, vs. Wisconsin and at Iowa. Last year’s team started 5-3, then lost its last four. So far, this one is 0-2 since getting to five wins. It’s like Scott Frost never left.

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20. But no one has lost more painfully, more frequently than USC (4-5, 2-5 Big Ten). In a classic Pac-12 matchup aired on the Big Ten Network, Washington (5-4, 3-3) topped the Trojans 26-21. USC had two chances to drive for the lead in the last five minutes, but the Huskies stuffed Trojans running back Woody Marks on a fourth-and-goal at the 1, then pressured Miller Moss into three straight red zone incompletions to seal a 26-21 win.

It’s understandable Washington is hovering around .500 given a coaching change and massive attrition following last year’s national title game run. Lincoln Riley has no such excuse to be sitting below .500 this late into his third season.

(Photo of Will Howard running for a first down to close out Ohio State’s victory: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)





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Assessing Ohio State’s Positions of Need in 2026 Transfer Portal

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January 6, 2026

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Assessing Ohio State’s Positions of Need in 2026 Transfer Portal


Ohio State should be exploring its options for potential additions at every position in this year’s transfer portal, but some positions carry more pressing needs than others.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Buckeyes had added three transfers for the 2026 season: former UCF defensive tackle John Walker, former Ohio tight end Mason Williams and former UCF long snapper Dalton Riggs. Some of Ohio State’s biggest holes remain unfilled, however, and there isn’t any position where the Buckeyes couldn’t benefit from adding some more depth.

Ohio State will remain selective in its transfer additions, given that the Buckeyes signed 28 high school prospects in the 2026 recruiting class. Even after losing 17 scholarship players to the portal, the Buckeyes are currently set to add more players than they’ve lost, though several starters from last season still have NFL draft decisions to make while more players could still enter the portal until Jan. 16.

That said, Ohio State still needs to make numerous transfer additions to build a championship-caliber roster for 2026. There are several positions where Ohio State must add talent due to departures from its 2025 roster, and several others where the Buckeyes shouldn’t be afraid to bring in competition for their projected starters. Even at the couple of positions where Ohio State is likely set in terms of who will lead its depth chart next season, the Buckeyes should still be looking at veteran depth options to offset attrition from players who transferred out or exhausted their eligibility.

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Based on who we know Ohio State is losing due to expired eligibility or entering the transfer portal, who Ohio State could lose to the NFL draft and where the Buckeyes need better play than what they had this past season, we assess Ohio State’s remaining portal needs from the most glaring holes to where the Buckeyes should be looking for potential upgrades or depth additions.

Pressing Needs

Kicker

Putting this at the top isn’t merely a reaction to Jayden Fielding’s costly misses in Ohio State’s last two games. With Fielding out of eligibility and Jackson Courville entering the transfer portal, Ohio State doesn’t currently have a single kicker on its roster for 2026. Adding a transfer kicker is non-negotiable, and landing one of the top kickers in the portal should be a priority, though no clear target has emerged for the Buckeyes yet.

Cornerback/Nickel

Ohio State already had reason to add a cornerback or nickelback with Davison Igbinosun and Lorenzo Styles Jr. exhausting their eligibility, but Aaron Scott Jr. and Bryce West entering the transfer portal made it the Buckeyes’ biggest non-specialist position of need. Ohio State is now losing four of its top six corners and nickels from 2025, leaving the depth chart thin and unproven behind Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Devin Sanchez.

With only two other returning cornerbacks (Miles Lockhart and Jordyn Woods) from this past season, plus two incoming freshmen (Jay Timmons and Jordan Thomas), the Buckeyes need to add someone who can start alongside Mathews and Sanchez and ideally another starting-caliber cornerback to bolster their depth behind the starters.

Ohio State has hosted two potential candidates to fill those holes in former Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee and former Maryland cornerback La’Khi Roland, both of whom were starters at their previous schools.

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Priority Positions

Defensive End

This will become a pressing need if Kenyatta Jackson Jr. leaves for the NFL draft alongside Caden Curry, who’s out of eligibility. Even if Jackson stays for his fifth-year senior season, adding an immediate contributor at defensive end for 2026 should still be a priority. While Zion Grady looks like a future starter and Beau Atkinson gives the Buckeyes veteran depth, Larry Johnson didn’t trust either of them enough to rotate in regularly in big games this past season – and ideally, Ohio State should have multiple rotational defensive ends to keep the starters fresh.

Ohio State could fill this need if it’s able to beat out LSU and Tennessee for coveted Penn State transfer defensive end Chaz Coleman, the Buckeyes’ top target in the transfer portal. Should the Buckeyes land Coleman and retain Jackson, they’d likely be set at defensive end, barring any further attrition; if they miss out on Coleman or lose Jackson, other potential options could include Florida transfer Jayden Woods and Missouri transfer Damon Wilson.

Wide Receiver

Ohio State never added a scholarship transfer at wide receiver during Brian Hartline’s tenure coaching the position, but it needs to this year.

With Carnell Tate expected to enter the NFL draft and top backups Bryson Rodgers and Mylan Graham entering the transfer portal, Ohio State has minimal experience at the position outside of returning starters Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss. While Quincy Porter is a candidate to play a bigger role in year two and Chris Henry Jr. should contend for playing time right away as a freshman, the Buckeyes are looking for a veteran who can step in and play the Z position opposite Smith, which Tate occupied for the past two seasons.

Ohio State’s top target to fill that need right now appears to be former Texas wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr., who visited OSU over the weekend in between visits to Kentucky, Louisville and Colorado. Moore caught 77 passes for 988 yards and 11 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

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RELATED Ohio State Transfer Portal Tracker: John Walker and Mason Williams Among Ohio State’s First Transfer Additions of 2026

Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Upgrade

Offensive Line

Ohio State could get by without adding any transfer offensive linemen. Even with Tegra Tshabola’s departure, the Buckeyes are set to return seven of their top eight offensive linemen from 2025, barring any surprise draft entries or portal exits. They have plenty of promising young talent to fill out their depth chart behind them and are currently slated to have 16 scholarship offensive linemen in 2026.

But considering the offensive line was Ohio State’s biggest weakness that led to its losses in its final two games of the season, the Buckeyes shouldn’t be content to stand pat with what they have. Offensive line coach Tyler Bowen said after the Cotton Bowl that he had to “look at everything” to figure out how to get the offensive line’s performance up to standard, and that should include adding talent if the right fit emerges in the portal.

Right guard is the most obvious position where Ohio State could add a plug-and-play starter to replace Tshabola, but adding a tackle to compete with Phillip Daniels on the right side or potentially moving Austin Siereveld back inside could also be in play as the Buckeyes look to build their best five for 2026.

Punter

Joe McGuire got better as the 2025 season progressed after a rough start to the year, but Ohio State still ranked just 79th nationally in average yards per punt. At the very least, the Buckeyes should be looking to add competition for McGuire through the transfer portal, especially considering they need another punter anyway following Nick McLarty’s departure for Arizona State.

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Linebacker

While Ohio State has a promising pair of up-and-coming linebackers in Payton Pierce and Riley Pettijohn, who could prove to be an excellent starting tandem if they take over for Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, the Buckeyes don’t have a single linebacker on their 2026 roster – assuming Reese enters the NFL draft as expected – who has started a game at the FBS level. As such, the Buckeyes should be looking for a starting-caliber veteran to add a proven commodity to their linebacker corps next season.

A potential candidate to fill that need could be Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro, a two-year starter for the Badgers, who visited Ohio State on Tuesday, according to Lettermen Row. Another possible candidate is former Pittsburgh linebacker and Columbus native Rasheem Biles, who was expected to visit Ohio State this week, though Biles hadn’t made a confirmed trip to campus as of Tuesday.

Defensive Tackle

Defensive tackle was in the pressing need category until Tuesday morning, when Ohio State landed John Walker. That commitment addressed the Buckeyes’ need for a starting-caliber nose tackle to replace Kayden McDonald if he enters the 2026 NFL draft – but that doesn’t necessarily mean Ohio State should be done pursuing transfer DTs yet.

From a numbers standpoint, Ohio State has what it needs now at defensive tackle. But with Tywone Malone Jr. exhausting his eligibility, Ohio State will have only two returning defensive tackles with significant experience (Eddrick Houston and Will Smith Jr.) if McDonald goes pro. The Buckeyes could be content to stick with what they have if they believe Jason Moore or Jarquez Carter is ready to be a consistent factor in the rotation next season, but adding another experienced, starting-caliber defensive tackle would be a smart move.

Safety

Assuming Caleb Downs enters the NFL draft, Ohio State will have to replace the best safety in college football. The Buckeyes have plenty of depth at safety, and a few potential options to pair with Jaylen McClain in the 2026 starting lineup in Malik Hartford, Leroy Roker III and Faheem Delane, but as with linebacker, they’d be relying on an inexperienced group to fill a major role if they don’t add anyone.

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The obvious candidate in the portal to replace Downs would be former Minnesota safety Koi Perich, a two-time All-Big Ten honoree (first team in 2024, second team in 2025) in two seasons with the Gophers. Perich would give the Buckeyes a plug-and-play free safety to replace Downs, and Ohio State was the runner-up in his high school recruitment. But Miami, where he’d reunite with former Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Heatherman, is viewed as the frontrunner to land him.

Duke safety Terry Moore, a second-team All-ACC honoree in 2024 with one remaining season of eligibility who was recruited to Duke by current Ohio State safeties coach Matt Guerrieri, could be another candidate to join the Buckeyes as a potential starting safety for 2026.

Tight End

If Max Klare stays at Ohio State for his fifth-year senior season, the Buckeyes would be set at tight end for 2026 with the addition of Mason Williams. If Klare enters the NFL draft, however, Ohio State would have reason to consider adding a second transfer tight end, particularly one who can be a weapon in the passing game.

Nate Roberts, Williams and Bennett Christian would give Ohio State a solid top trio of tight ends, but the Buckeyes would be relying on a big jump in production from Roberts and/or Williams to replace Klare’s pass-catching at the position. 

Depth Wanted

Running Back

Bo Jackson will remain Ohio State’s starting running back in 2026 after topping 1,000 yards in his freshman season, while Isaiah West showed the capability as a freshman to be a quality No. 2 running back. The departures of CJ Donaldson, James Peoples and Sam Dixon, however, leave Ohio State without any other running backs who have played a collegiate snap.

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As such, the Buckeyes are in the market for a veteran running back to bolster their depth for 2026. They hosted one potential candidate to fill that role last weekend when Florida seventh-year senior Ja’Kobi Jackson visited Ohio State.

Quarterback

Ohio State has its starting quarterback for 2026 with Julian Sayin returning for at least one more year, and Tavien St. Clair is likely in line to be his top backup. But Ryan Day likes to have four scholarship quarterbacks on his roster, so Ohio State will look to bring in a veteran to provide depth at the position, much like it did with Eli Brickhandler this past season and with Tristan Gebbia, Gunnar Hoak and Chris Chugunov in past years.

One potential candidate to fill that role as Ohio State’s No. 3 or 4 quarterback in 2026 could be former Washington State QB Jaxon Potter, who announced Monday that he had received an offer from the Buckeyes.



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Police release video showing person of interest in killing of Ohio dentist and his wife

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January 6, 2026

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Police release video showing person of interest in killing of Ohio dentist and his wife


Authorities investigating the apparent shooting deaths of a dentist and his wife in Ohio released security video Monday of a person of interest in the case.

Columbus police said the video was recorded between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Dec. 30 in an alley next to the Columbus home of Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39.

In a statement, the police department said investigators believe the couple were killed on the top floor of their home during that three-hour window.

The brief video shows a person walking in the alley wearing light-colored pants and a hooded dark jacket.

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Security video shows a person of interest in the killings of Spencer and Monique Tepe in Columbus, Ohio.Columbus Police Department

The department asked the public for information about the identity of the person and said detectives are following up on numerous tips.

Authorities discovered the Tepes’ bodies after several 911 calls from colleagues and loved ones on the morning of Dec. 30. Among the callers was a friend who reported having found Spencer Tepe’s body next to his bed.

The couple appeared to have been shot, according to an incident report.

The Franklin County coroner’s office told NBC Chicago on Monday that the pair died in an apparent homicide by gunshot wounds, adding that the case is not finalized and that additional reports are pending.

Three 9 mm shell casings were found in the family’s home, a preliminary investigative report shows. The couple’s two young children were in the house unharmed.

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Authorities have not identified a possible motive. The police department previously said it does not believe the killings were a murder-suicide.

Spencer Tepe worked at a dental practice in Athens, Ohio, where he focused on comprehensive dentistry and implant therapy, according to a company biography.

The Tepe family has described the pair as “extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy, and deep connection to others.”

“Our family is devastated by the tragic and senseless loss of Spencer and Monique,” the family said in a statement.

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Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Selina Guevara contributed.



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Ohio State vs Nebraska live score updates, highlights, how to watch game

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2 days ago

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January 5, 2026

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Ohio State vs Nebraska live score updates, highlights, how to watch game


Ohio State’s men’s basketball players were on the bus to the airport after having won at Rutgers when they switched on the Nebraska-Michigan State game. The drive from Piscataway to Trenton allowed the Buckeyes to see the Cornhuskers prevail in the final seconds and improve to 14-0 with a 58-56 win against the Spartans.

Now, Nebraska brings the nation’s longest winning streak to the Jerome Schottenstein Center, presenting a challenge Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said is one his team is excited for.

“When they saw they won, (our players were) was excited about how big of an opportunity this is for us,” Diebler said Jan. 4. “It’s an early-season Big Ten game, but it’s one at home and it’s one against a team that’s established themselves. You have a top-10 team coming into your building, it’s a huge opportunity and our guys know that. We’ll be ready for it.”

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Ohio State is 10-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten after the Jan. 2 win against Rutgers.

Follow along with all the action at our Dispatch live game blog below.

The Buckeyes will be wearing some new Nike shoes for the Nebraska game, as the team showed in a video posted to social media.

Neither team has any surprises on its official availability report. Ohio State is still without Josh Ojianwuna (knee surgery) and Myles Herro (redshirt), while Nebraska’s Henry Burt is out. None of the three have played in a game this season.

Ohio State vs Nebraska score updates

This section will be updated when the game begins.

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  • Date: Monday, Jan. 5
  • Start time: 5:30 p.m. ET

The Ohio State vs Nebraska game starts at 6:30 p.m. from the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.

  • TV Channel: FS1
  • Livestream: Fox Sports App
  • Radio: WBNS-FM (97.1)

The Buckeyes’ 14th game of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season will air nationally on FS1. Brandon Gaudin and Steve Smith will call the game from the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Stream Ohio State vs. Nebraska

  • Series record: Ohio State leads 22-8
  • Ohio State’s last win: March 4, 2025 (116-114, 2OT, in Columbus)
  • Nebraska’s last win: Feb. 9, 2025 (79-71 in Lincoln)

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday, Jan. 4

Spread: Ohio State by 2.5

Over/under: 154.5

Moneyline: Ohio State (-140) | Nebraska (+115)

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Ohio State men’s basketball schedule

  • Oct. 26 – Ohio University (exhibition) W, 103-74 (takeaways)
  • Nov. 3 – IU Indy, W, 118-102 (takeaways)
  • Nov. 7 – Purdue Fort Wayne, W, 94-68 (takeaways)
  • Nov. 11 – Appalachian State, W 75-53 (takeaways)
  • Nov. 16 – Notre Dame, W 64-63 (takeaways)
  • Nov. 20 – Western Michigan W, 91-58 (takeaways)
  • Nov. 25 – Mount St. Mary’s W, 113-60 (takeaways)
  • Nov. 28 – at Pitt L, 67-66 (takeaways)
  • Dec. 6 – at Northwestern W, 86-82 (takeaways)
  • Dec. 9 – Illinois L, 88-80 (takeaways)
  • Dec. 13 – vs. West Virginia (Cleveland Hoops Showdown, Cleveland) W, 89-88, 2OT (takeaways)
  • Dec. 20 – vs. North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic, Atlanta) L, 71-70 (takeaways)
  • Dec. 23 – Grambling State W, 89-63 (takeaways)
  • Jan. 2 – at Rutgers W, 80-73 (takeaways)
  • Jan. 5 – Nebraska
  • Jan. 8 – at Oregon
  • Jan. 11 – at Washington
  • Jan. 17 – UCLA
  • Jan. 20 – Minnesota
  • Jan. 23 – at Michigan
  • Jan. 26 – Penn State
  • Jan. 31 – at Wisconsin
  • Feb. 5 – at Maryland
  • Feb. 8 – Michigan
  • Feb. 11 – USC
  • Feb. 14 – vs. Virginia (Nashville Hoops Showdown, Nashville)
  • Feb. 17 – Wisconsin
  • Feb. 22 – at Michigan State
  • Feb. 25 – at Iowa
  • March 1 – Purdue
  • March 4 – at Penn State
  • March 7 – Indiana

Buy Ohio State vs. Nebraska men’s basketball tickets

  • In ‘fascinating’ hoops era, Ohio State’s Jake Diebler wants clarity
  • At Rutgers, Jake Diebler, Ohio State celebrated another Big Ten road win
  • Could Ohio State men’s basketball add a player to its roster midseason?
  • After last year, Ohio State enjoying less chaotic locker room situation
  • Ohio State’s ‘loyal, humble’ Bruce Thornton to have prep jersey retired
  • How is Ohio State’s Devin Royal handling his position change so far?
  • Pointed talks with Jake Diebler fueled Brandon Noel’s breakout game
  • Ohio State’s Christoph Tilly, John Mobley battle injuries at Northwestern
  • What will happen to the naming rights to Ohio State’s Value City Arena?
  • Freshman Amare Bynum bringing dunks, scoring and ‘joy’ to Ohio State
  • Ohio State’s Devin Royal gifts new jerseys to Pickerington Central
  • On memorable evening, Ohio State pays tribute to Jerry Lucas with statue unveiling
  • Alex Smith celebrates reaching milestone, signing to play basketball for Ohio State
  • After signing for Ohio State, five-star forward Anthony Thompson has prolific game
  • BTN analyst Raphael Davis says Ohio State will earn double bye in conference tournament
  • Who is Ohio State’s best shooter? Dunker? Dresser? The Buckeyes sound off in annual poll
  • Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton talking trash, playing freer and ready for his senior year

Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.



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