Ohio
Overheard at NFL combine: Harbaugh haircut, a ‘household name’, Michigan-Ohio State
The NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis, and linebackers and defensive linemen were the first position groups to speak with media during the week-long event.
Michigan has a record 18 players at this year’s combine, and a handful of them took the podium Wednesday in Indianapolis. Not surprisingly, their former head coach, Jim Harbaugh, was a popular topic after he accepted the Los Angeles Chargers coaching job last month.
With defensive line being a position of need for the Detroit Lions, there’s a chance they could use their first, No. 29 overall, to bolster their front.
Overall, dozens of players spoke to reporters Wednesday, with notable quotes highlighted below. Linebackers and defensive linemen will participate in drills Thursday, while tight ends and defensive backs will speak to media.
Michigan edge Braiden McGregor on Harbaugh asking his mom for a haircut at a home visit during his senior year of high school: “It was funny. I don’t think a lot of people have stories like that. My mom, I know she was nervous because, I mean, it’s Coach Harbaugh. He is gonna be on TV the next week. She was excited. He still asked me about it every once and a while, like, ‘Your mom still cut?’ It was just funny. Made me feel like I made the right decision out of high school to go there.”
Penn State edge Chop Robinson, a potential first-round pick, on origins of his name: “I have a household name. It’s actually ‘Plump.’ But outside of there, it’s ‘Chop.’ … I was 14 pounds when I was born, and my mom nicknamed me ‘Pork Chop.’ Then once I got older and started to slim down, and couldn’t have people calling me ‘Pork Chop.’ So I just shortened it to ‘Chop.’”
Missouri DL Darius Robinson, a Southfield native and potential first-round option for the Lions, on meeting with Detroit: “My heart was bumping, man. I’m telling you, it was like a dream just to see all the names (and) faces, growing up a Lions fan. That was a great interview.”
STORY: Violent pass rusher meets with hometown Lions: ‘My heart was bumping, man’
Michigan LB Michael Barrett on funny Harbaugh story: “When he was recruiting me, he came on an official visit to my home. My mom had bought pizza. I think it was like three boxes we had, and he ate a whole entire box while he was there. He was like, ‘I’ve been flying all over the place and I’m kind of hungry.’ That’s the first thing that came to my mind. It’s just says all the stories he has, just random little small things he give on a day to day basis.”
Ohio State LB Tommy Eichenberg on losing to Michigan three times: “I felt like I let down so many people. I mean, especially being a captain, too. That’s a standard is winning that game. It’s very hard for me. But you gotta keep moving forward. They got good. Like, they’re good. They’re a good team. I know from now on the Buckeyes will be good.”
Western Michigan DL Marshawn Kneeland on who he sees himself in: “Just somebody that I’ve noticed that plays a lot like how I play is Aidan Hutchinson. His high motor, high effort. He’s always running to the ball. I looked at the times; some of his times are a little faster than mine, and some of mine are a little faster than his. But I think I’m close to him.”
Michigan LB Junior Colson, who was adopted from Haiti in 2010, on when the NFL became a possibility for him: “Ever since I stepped onto the football field. I always wanted to be the best. Whatever you put your name to, whenever you lay down, you always want to try and be the best at it. Or why try and do it at all?”
STORY: Michigan linebacker believes he can make an instant impact in the NFL
Ohio State LB Steele Chambers on the four animals he’d take to war with him: “I typically go with the elephant. I’m going to mount that — I’m going have a sword with me, so I’m going to be on top of the elephant with that. I’ll have a polar bear or grizzly bear; whatever I’m feeling depending on the climate. I’ll probably go tiger — it’s probably the biggest, fastest big cat. And then I gotta go hippo — just because it’s tenacious.”
Bills GM Brandon Beane on 2018 trade, when the team sent the No. 12 overall pick and two second-rounders to move up to No. 7 and draft QB Josh Allen: “We got criticized for how much we gave up for Josh. And I’m like, if he doesn’t work out, I’m not going to be here anyway. And if he does work out, nobody’s gonna give a (expletive).”
Washington edge Bralen Trice, a top-75 draft prospect, on his dog mentality: “I think it goes hand-in-hand with the killer mentality. Attacking everything you do, you line up on the line and look at the guy across from you, and you’re thinking, ‘I’m putting this guy in the dirt, immediately.’ It’s just showing up every day and giving everything you got, regardless of the situation. Leaving everything outside the door when you walk in, thinking only football. Putting all the fear out, that’s the dog mentality. What plays into that, at UW, a huge part of it is just brotherhood when you’re playing next to the guys who you work with every single day. It’s just I go back to that every single time.”
MLive’s Kyle Meinke, Ben Raven and Aaron McMann contributed to this story.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio health leaders are urging people to take extra precautions when handling produce as cases of a parasitic illness causing “explosive diarrhea” are rising in the state.
There are nearly 200 cases of cyclosporiasis in Ohio, with more than 20 in Franklin County. The state sits only behind Michigan, where cases have topped a thousand.
Franklin County Medical Director Miller Sullivan said cases typically rise each summer because the parasite thrives in heat.
“If the water becomes contaminated with this organism, that’s how it gets into the food supply,” Sullivan said.
Officials have not identified the exact source of this outbreak, which is hitting states nationwide, but said the parasite is most commonly found in produce. They said simple steps when handling food can help prevent getting sick.
To help prevent the illness, Ohio Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff said to thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables under running water and wash your hands with soap before and after preparing food.
“Prepare your food properly,” Vanderhoff said. “If you do that, you’re going to dramatically reduce the likelihood that you might acquire this infection.”
Health officials don’t think it’s necessary to avoid fresh produce.
“Go ahead and buy them,” Sullivan said. “Especially if you buy them from a store or a local farmer’s market. It should be fine, but wash them well.”
The disease is typically not life-threatening but can cause watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea. If left untreated, symptoms could return multiple times.
“You may begin to feel better, but then start getting sick again,” Vanderhoff said. “That’s really characteristic of this particular infection.”
Experts said to see a doctor as soon as you think you may be experiencing symptoms. It can be treated with antibiotics, which helps shorten the length of the illness, but added that prevention is the best way to stay healthy.
Where do bed bugs come from? How they get could get into your home
Does the thought of bed bugs keep you up at night? Here’s what to know.
Columbus remains one of the nation’s top cities for bed bug treatments, according to Orkin’s latest annual rankings, while Ohio continues to dominate the list more than any other state.
Orkin ranked Columbus eighth on its 2026 list of U.S. cities with the most bed bug treatments, the same position the city held last year. Cleveland ranked even higher at No. 4. Cincinnati came in at No. 15.
Overall, six Ohio cities made the Top 50, more than any other state: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Youngstown, Dayton and Toledo. The rankings are based on residential and commercial bed bug treatments Orkin performed between May 2025 and May 2026.
Chicago claimed the top spot for the sixth consecutive year, followed by Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis.
Ohio continues to rank high for bed bugs
Ohio’s strong showing on the list comes as the state has repeatedly appeared near the top of national pest rankings.
A recent USA TODAY report, citing an analysis by Casino.ca, estimated Ohio has the second-highest bed bug risk for travelers in the country, behind only Michigan.
The Orkin rankings do not measure the total number of bed bugs in a city. Instead, they reflect where the company performed the greatest number of residential and commercial treatments over the past year.
Columbus has dealt with bed bug sightings before
The rankings also follow several high-profile bed bug incidents in downtown Columbus government offices.
Last fall, The Dispatch reported a bed bug was discovered inside the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s downtown office, prompting treatment of the affected area.
The Dispatch also reported that employees at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation had reported bed bug sightings, leading to inspections and pest-control efforts.
Those incidents highlighted the challenges large office buildings face when dealing with pests that can hitch rides on clothing, backpacks and luggage rather than originating inside the buildings themselves.
It’s not just bed bugs
Bed bugs aren’t the only pests putting Columbus on Orkin’s radar.
In October 2025, Orkin ranked Columbus No. 21 on its annual “Rattiest Cities” list, a slight improvement from previous years but still among the nation’s leading metro areas for rodent treatments.
Taken together, the rankings suggest central Ohio remains a busy market for pest-control companies as the city holds steady on this year’s bed bug list.
Which Ohio cities made Orkin’s 2026 list?
Among Ohio cities, the rankings were:
- Cleveland– No. 4
- Columbus– No. 8
- Cincinnati– No. 15
- Youngstown– No. 32
- Dayton– No. 38
- Toledo– No. 42
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
After years of unchecked dominance from the SEC, the Big Ten Conference cemented its place as the best in college football in the 2025-2026 season.
The Indiana Hoosiers completed a remarkable 16-0 season by winning a National Championship, beating Ohio State in the conference championship game, dominating Alabama in the Rose Bowl, then blowing out Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
That completed a Big Ten trifecta, with the Michigan Wolverines winning a championship in 2024, then the Buckeyes following it up by beating Notre Dame to win the title in 2025. While the SEC might have better depth overall, it’s no question that the top of the Big Ten is as good or better than anyone.
SEC, BIG TEN ARE DOMINATING COLLEGE FOOTBALL THANKS TO MASSIVE ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER CONFERENCES
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Jan. 19, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
And a new program might be ready to take their turn at the top of the Big Ten: those same Oregon Ducks.
One of the most predictive measures of a team’s strength from year to year is how much production they return from the previous season. It makes sense; the more key players that stay with the team, the better it is for continuity and development.
The Big Ten, oddly enough, has several teams that return much of their production on both sides of the ball. ESPN’s Bill Connelly ran the numbers, finding that teams like Maryland, Nebraska, Minnesota and UCLA all ranked in the top 10 nationally in returning value. Though given how these teams played in 2025, that’s less important. Number 12, though? The Oregon Ducks.
And that carryover production is coming from a team that lost just two games all season, both to Indiana. They handled a very good USC team, 42-27, overcame miserable conditions to outlast the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road, beat the rival Washington Huskies, and most impressively, shut out an elite Texas Tech team 23-0 in the College Football Playoff. And they bring back the players responsible for 66% of their overall production, including star quarterback Dante Moore.
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) warms up prior to the 2025 Orange Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Sam Navarro / Imagn Images)
Just behind them at 65%? USC, heading into a pivotal season under Lincoln Riley.
Here’s where Oregon has the advantage, however. They bring that percentage back from a team that was significantly better than USC. It’s no surprise then, that per Connelly’s SP+ projections, Oregon is expected to be the No. 2 team in the country, by efficiency on offense, defense and special teams.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A BIG 12 WINNER NOT NAMED TEXAS TECH OR BYU, CONSIDER THE HOUSTON COUGARS
What about the other Big Ten schools, though?
USC is the biggest wildcard. They sit at No. 13 in the SP+ projections, thanks to an elite offense and a defense that’s expected to be solid, if unspectacular. But their special teams projections are all the way down at No. 100 in the country, thanks to a series of disastrous mistakes in 2025. Special teams, though, should be the easiest area to improve upon. So if the Trojans can make some adjustments, they could exceed the eight game win expectancy.
Ohio State and Indiana, the two most recent champions, have a bit of a tougher hill to climb, though their roster composition is far from disastrous. The Buckeyes bring back 60% of their production, while Indiana is at 56%, even with several huge departures. That ranks at No. 31 and No. 52, respectively. Important, but not enough to push either team out of the top 5 in the national projections. And Ohio State sits at No. 1, thanks to consistently elite recruiting and key players like Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith returning.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning attends Oregon Pro Day on March 17, 2026, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
But if there is an upset brewing at the top of the conference, Oregon might be the place to look. The question then becomes, can they put it all together against a difficult schedule? The Ducks play USC on the road, host Nebraska, travel to Illinois, play Ohio State on the road, host Michigan and have their rivalry game against Washington at Autzen.
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It won’t be easy, but don’t be surprised if at the end of the season, Dan Lanning and the Ducks are right back in the mix.
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