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Readers give Dispatch sports editor Brian White their takes on the Ohio State football, the Cleveland Browns and more.

Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at [email protected]. Letters are lightly edited for clarity.

On Ohio State football

To Brian: Ohio State has its hands full down the stretch:

Nov. 15: A UCLA program that revived overnight after head-coaching and play-caller changes. But, mostly, a rejuvenated QB who's returning to the 'Shoe (a '24 CFP loss while with Tennessee.)
Nov. 29: A Michigan team that is better than last season and hosting The Game. Earle Bruce said November separates the contenders from the pretenders.

As Lori Schmidt pointed out, run-game stats can be overlooked - not quickly evident when you're winning. For OSU, is that due to a problem with the O-line or play-design lacking that "wow" factor? Maturity got the Buckeyes a championship. Will reliance on defense and passing, in this case, be enough to get into the CFP? I believe so, but defeating Penn State with a once-healthy Drew Allar would have added weight. Defeating Michigan will get them ready to repeat.

Larry Cheek, Dublin

To Larry: Actually, one could argue the opposite, that Ohio State's schedule down the stretch will not have them prepared for a playoff. As it stands now, not one of the Buckeyes' five remaining opponents are ranked. Also, only one of their season-long opponents − No. 21 Texas − is ranked as of this weekend. Yes, a soft schedule that will leave many doubting Ohio State is worthy of the top seed.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day and his players take the field before a game against Minnesota on Oct. 4.

To Brian: With all the well deserved praise of Julian Sayin’s passing, how about giving some props to the offensive line? How many sacks or even hurries has he had this year? Granted, Sayin has a very quick release, but often he’s had all day (no pun intended Ryan) to find receivers due to his outstanding protection.

Bob Weiler

On Penn State football

To Brian: I guess it really was now or never for James Franklin at Penn State, and we have another school dealing with a huge buyout. But it's not even close to the $76 million Texas A&M is paying Jimbo Fisher not to coach them anymore. When Urban Meyer stepped down at OSU, I thought Iowa State coach Ohio native Matt Campbell would be an excellent replacement. While not choosing him certainly worked out for us, I wonder if Penn State might bring Campbell in to coach them and finally put the roar back into the Nittany Lions. And I wonder whatever happened to that Texas A&M AD who agreed to that awful contract extension with Fisher. Oh yeah, that would be Ross Bjork, now making the decisions as AD at The Ohio State University.

Dennis Singleton, Dayton

On the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns

Hi, Brian: Last week's Mailbox includes a letter from Larry from Dublin, who teases me for being a Packer-backer and says our coach should have been fired for one questionable play call in our lone loss of this season (so far), calling a 3-point loss a "collective embarrassment" and a "meltdown." Wow. Pretty harsh.

He then goes on to say, "The Browns are ending 25 years of bad luck, bad decisions and beating a 25-year dead horse." Really?

As I write this letter, the Browns are 1-5. When, exactly, may we expect this reversal of (mis)fortune to begin?

Mike Adamkosky, Columbus

To Mike: What are you talking about? Didn't you see the way Joe Flacco lit up the Steelers' defense on Thursday. That shows the Browns know how to pick the right personnel. Oh, wait ...