Ohio State’s Caleb Downs has one older brother who isn’t afraid to make the demands loud and clear. Josh Downs is the NFL polished WR making noise with the Indianapolis Colts and one half of the brotherly podcast, Downs 2 Business. Launched August 27, the show has quickly become a place for unfiltered banter, behind-the-scenes Buckeye talk, and brotherly honesty. So what’s the demand now?

In the most recent episode on X on September 30, Caleb and Josh Downs brought along Lorenzo and Sonny Styles for some locker-room energy. The older Downs was clear about his expectations when he said, “Y’all are my favorite, no bias, to winning the natty.” Fans were also treated to Caleb calling out his “guys from P-Town” and even dropping the nugget that Sonny is the “biggest troll on our team.” The senior Buckeye LB shrugged it off with a grin saying, “It’s a fun hobby.” Josh, however, spoke on the game with a veteran’s perspective. 

“It’s called the 24-hour rule. You watch the tape today, but when you wake up tomorrow, it’s over with. We on to the Raiders,” Josh Downs said. It’s a reminder that for every playful troll, there’s a professional mindset needed to drive the progress. The Buckeyes’ dominance over Washington in Seattle was the latest statement win, pushing Ryan Day’s squad to 4-0 and keeping the AP No. 1 spot safe. The road ahead has some quality opponents, but it is possible for Ohio State to complete the regular season without a loss.

ESPN’s predictor gives the Buckeyes a jaw-dropping 98.6% chance against UCLA but just a 60.1% edge over the Wolverines. November 29 in Ann Arbor is already circled in red ink. But for Caleb Downs, that noise is fuel. “I love road games. That type of energy, the little hate in the crowd. I love it,” he said. But behind his story lies a family legacy that shaped Caleb Downs into who he is today.

Childhood differences between Josh and Caleb Downs

Caleb Downs’ journey feels almost pre-written. His father, Gary Downs, starred at NC State. His uncle, Dre Bly, was an All-American at UNC and an NFL Pro Bowler. His brother, Josh, turned himself into an All-ACC star and an NFL playmaker. The 20-year-old resisted early, swearing at six years old that football wasn’t his path. His dad disagreed. “I remember saying, ‘He’s a pro football player,’ That’s what he looked like,” he told The New York Times. “He just understood what everybody was supposed to be doing all the time.”

By age eight, Caleb Downs was watching film like a coach. By his freshman year at Alabama, he was SEC Freshman of the Year. Now, he’s Ohio State’s chess piece safety, a unanimous All-American, Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, First Team All-Big Ten who helped Ohio State capture the first-ever 12-team CFP crown.

For all the early doubters, the Downs are collaborating and building a legacy on the field and behind the mic. Because when Josh Downs says the Buckeyes are “his favorite to win the natty,” it’s not just brotherly bias, it’s a challenge to the rest of the nation.