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One would believe that when you are Kirk Herbstreit’s son, your loyalty would lie to the Scarlet and Gray. However, that was not the case for Zak Herbstreit. The Buckeyes remain unbeatable this season and have clinched their No. 1 spot for 9 weeks. But Zak, on the other hand, chose a different program altogether, which is trailing just behind Ohio State. Zak Herbstreit used to play tight end at Ohio State as a walk-on. But a severe heart condition put a stop to his playing career. He even served as a student coach last year, before graduating in the spring. However, that run didn’t really matter when On3 posted Zak Herbstreit’s Week 10 CFB superlatives. Indiana snagged the title of the season’s ‘best’ team for their relentless dominance. Meanwhile, Ohio State earned the ‘Heisman’ tag, highlighting their star quarterback, Julian Sayin. Now that’s a bit of a betrayal from Kirk Herbstreit’s son, who is also a former OSU player. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad After his college playing days ended, Zak couldn’t walk away from the game he loved. That’s why he took a job as an analyst with On3. “I’m grateful for the path that led me here,” Zak said. “And I’m excited to bring real passion, insight, and a player’s mindset to the content that On3 creates.” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad One could say Zak’s time with the Buckeyes was brief, and moving into an analyst role makes him relatively neutral when it comes to taking sides. But his connection to Columbus runs deeper. His dad, Kirk Herbstreit, and his grandpa, Jim Herbstreit, were both Ohio State football captains. So, with a legacy like that, Zak’s lean towards the Hoosiers might come as a shock to many. Zak pointed out that Auburn’s 10-3 loss against Kentucky, landing them 3-5, makes them the “worst”. Plus, Hugh Freeze’s firing from the program speaks for itself. Herbstreit didn’t shy away from validating the Longhorns as the “Riser.” Arch Manning beautifully racked up three passing touchdowns for 328 yards, as the offense finally gave some relief, racking up 428 total yards against the Commodores. And as for the Bucks having Julian Sayin’s picture, the OSU QB becomes the front-runner in the Heisman race. Twenty completions on 23 throws, 316 yards, four touchdowns. Yeah, that’s Heisman stuff. After Saturday, ESPN BET’s got him sitting as the Heisman favorite at +175, and honestly, it feels like everyone else is playing catch-up. However, Indiana made everyone aware of their presence in the sport. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Look at the Maryland game, for example. The game started a bit shaky for Indiana, with QB Fernando Mendoza throwing an early interception and star receiver Elijah Sarratt leaving due to injury. But the Hoosiers shrugged it off and turned on the steam. Indiana ran for a whopping 367 yards, their highest total since a fan-favorite win in 2016. Three different backs dashed for 80+ yards, and Mendoza himself chipped in with a rushing touchdown and 24 yards. By halftime, Indiana had piled on 236 rushing yards and three TDs in the second half alone. But the ‘best’ compliment isn’t just based on their performance. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Curt Cignetti’s culture installation plays another definitive role here. Like after such a big win, the players sprinted to the student section to celebrate with their fans, chanting “Hoo-Hoo-Hoo, Hoosiers” as if it were just another day at the office. The Hoosiers are now 9-0 and 6-0 in the Big Ten, a resume that clearly defines ‘best.’ The Herbstreit legacy at Columbus Zak Herbstreit’s time at OSU was cut short due to his heart condition. And his leaning towards Indiana contradicts too much about his previous generations stacking up achievements being a Buckeye. Along with his father and grandfather being OSU captains, his mom cheered on the team from the sidelines. From 1989 to 1993, Kirk played quarterback for the Buckeyes, biding his time before taking over as the starter in 1992. That season, he led as co-captain, earned team MVP honors, and threw for 1,904 yards, with four games topping 200 yards. His grandpa Jim was a co-captain back in 1960 and later coached under the legendary Woody Hayes. When Kirk became co-captain in ’92, he and Jim became just the second father-son duo to both wear the captain’s “C” for Ohio State. But Zak couldn’t see that time for himself. So instead of following his father’s footsteps a little later, he stepped into the analyst role right away. In his new gig with On3, Zak’s hosting a show called Off Script with Zak Herbstreit, where he’ll chat with some of the biggest names in college football and make more content from games along the way. “Zak has tremendous natural talent and has grown up immersed in college sports,” On3 founder and CEO Shannon Terry said. “His ability to connect with today’s college stars will bring a fresh and authentic perspective to the On3 network.”
