They never did. 2 singles in 9 innings as AL wins 4-0. Cody Bellinger is MVP

AKAK said:

Happy Bastille day

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They didn’t really storm jack shit today …

If Joe Germaine's kid also walks on at RB, we're going to get to reinstate the greatest starting position debate of all time.

DubCoffman62 said:

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Those look delicious.

I'll throw in one of my favorite recipes from a fellow Buckeye alumnus and First Lady of Golf, Barbara Nicklaus. Flank steak, and it is good. This is a grab from an old newspaper clipping my mother-in-law has (sorry my picture cuts off a bit of one side).

ESPN analyst Matt Miller’s arm is amputated after ‘serious car accident​

The NFL draft analyst said he sustained multiple fractures and broken ribs in the June 17 crash and “underwent a life-saving amputation of my left arm.”

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Matt Miller car crash caught on camera, adds context to devastating injuries​

The footage shows Miller's 2023 Ford Bronco veer over the centerline of a two-way road and strike a semitruck.

Per the California Post, Missouri State Highway Patrol wrote in a crash report that Miller had been wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, but the belt was cut and Miller was ejected from his car during the collision. The ESPN analyst had his left arm amputated as a result of the crash.

Aside from the devastating injuries, Miller’s crash has garnered outsized attention as a result of allegations surfaced by dozens of people following the incident that Miller failed to pay out the winners of fantasy football leagues he ran for charity. After reporting on the allegations, Awful Announcing subsequently reported that the Missouri Attorney General’s Office is opening an investigation into Miller.

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NFBuck said:

DPIA

Dirtiest. Program. In. America.

I think less of Whittingham for voluntarily associating himself with that dreck.

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I don't think Whittingham ever took the job actually caring what happens or being fully into it. It's a nice retirement tour paycheck for him for a couple of years and he got to hook his mormon sphere buddies up with a major job and pay bump as well. He's a guy with 1 foot out the door from the second he stepped foot at scUM.

Bold Predictions: An Ohio State player not named Smith or Sayin will win Heisman​

Ohio State’s next Heisman winner will have more in common with Eddie George than Troy Smith.

I have to admit I got a bit discombobulated with being out of town for the holiday weekend and I didn’t get a chance to lay my bold predictions piece on you during last week’s theme week. However, the saying “better late than never,” exists for a reason, and today it exists for me to get in my bold prediction ahead of the 2026 college football season. Please forgive me for being tardy.

That bold prediction, spicy take, or whatever you prefer calling it is this: An Ohio State player will win the Heisman Trophy following the upcoming season, but it won’t be Jeremiah Smith or Julian Sayin.

Sure, Smith and Sayin are the two most logical candidates, but I’m putting all me eggs in an entirely different basket. It’s a basket shaped like running back Bo Jackson.

A few weeks back, I posited that if Jackson could rush for at least 1,500 yards, Ohio State would have a top-five offense nationally. Just a couple of days ago, our Alex Frank boldly predicted Jackson would lead the Big Ten in rushing.

Like Alex, I believe the combination of Arthur Smith’s system and Jackson’s year of experience and having more time in the Ohio State training program will work wonders for the second-year rusher.

Jackson will break more tackles in 2026, and hopefully he’ll remain healthy from start to finish — something that didn’t happen in 2025 and hampered him in the second half of his freshman year. A healthy Jackson in 2026 will almost certainly contribute more explosion plays, and I think he’ll emerge as a good red zone runner as well.
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Bro looks fatigued

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The rare tight end capable of doing everything​

Roberts arrived in Columbus as one of the nation’s premier tight end recruits. The Oklahoma native finished his high school career with 42 receptions for 848 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior, averaging more than 20 yards per catch while showcasing the athleticism that made him one of the top tight ends in the 2025 recruiting class. At 6-foot-5 and roughly 240 pounds, he possessed the frame of a traditional inline tight end, but his movement skills immediately separated him from many players at the position.

Ohio State saw more than a receiving threat. They saw versatility. Even as a true freshman, Roberts appeared in all 13 games and was trusted with responsibilities that extended well beyond running routes. He finished the season with four receptions for 30 yards, but those numbers barely scratched the surface of his role. The Buckeyes lined him up in line, used him as an H-back, motioned him across formations, asked him to split-zone block, and even handed him the football twice. For a freshman tight end, earning that level of trust is highly uncommon.

That early usage matters because tight end remains one of the most difficult positions to play in Ryan Day’s offense. Blocking assignments change every week. Route responsibilities change every series. Protection calls require communication with the offensive line. Freshmen rarely handle all of those responsibilities unless coaches believe they are capable of becoming complete players, and Ohio State clearly believed Roberts could. Now comes the next step.

Five USMNT Prospects to Watch for 2030 World Cup and Beyond​

The USMNT has plenty of young talents that could bring a bright future.
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Noahkai Banks​

Noahkai Banks had a standout season in 2025–26 with Augsburg.

If Noahkai Banks had made a decision, there’s a very good chance he would’ve been on the roster this summer. The 19-year-old central defender has been among the best defenders in the USMNT pool, but has yet to decide whether his international future lies with Germany or the U.S. given he holds eligibility for both.

With Tim Ream likely done with the USMNT and an opportunity to start at center back, there could be an enticing option with the Stars and Stripes. At the same time, Banks has had U.S. Soccer in his Instagram bio for months, despite never committing to the senior team.

In his young career, he already has 31 first-team appearances for Augsburg in the Bundesliga, Germany’s first division, and other competitions, and last season, he started 20 of the club’s 34 league games.

The 6'3" center back may not be as physically imposing as Ream, but should he commit, he would add a more skilled defensive option alongside Chris Richards, with the expectation of remaining in Germany at least through the end of his current deal in 2029.

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Zavier Gozo​

Zavier Gozo made a late push for the USMNT 2026 World Cup squad.

In the world of star MLS youngsters, Zavier Gozo is among the best. The 19-year-old made a strong late push for this summer’s USMNT, but ultimately didn’t have enough time to impress Pochettino in a tremendous start to the season with Real Salt Lake.

In his second full season, he has six goals and five assists in 14 games and is a skillful, elusive presence on a team that lacks immense talent. While he’s already impressed with the youth national teams, expect him to get a chance in the near future and to develop into a key piece by 2030.

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Julian Hall​

Julian Hall is an MLS All-Star at 18 years old.

The USMNT found its main striker in Folarin Balogun, but how about a younger option that has shown a knack for goalscoring in MLS at just 18 years old?

Julian Zakrzewski Hall has nine goals and four assists in 15 games with a youthful Red Bull New York team this season, and is already in his fourth season in MLS. Early in his career, he had to leave matches midway through and couldn’t play after 7 p.m. due to New Jersey state regulations limiting labor for those under 16.

Now able to play full matches, the team has had a revelation season under former USMNT midfielder Michael Bradley, who is in his first year as the team’s manager. Hall’s production landed him a place on the MLS All-Star roster, as well.

The big question, though, is whether the USMNT can get him into the Stars and Stripes as the Polish national team, for which he is eligible through his mother, has already begun recruiting.

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Diego Kochen​

Diego Kochen has been a regular at the youth levels for U.S. Soccer. |

USMNT goalkeeping isn’t what it was in Tim Howard’s day. Diego Kochen might just be the best bet for a stellar young goalkeeper who could make an impact in the years to come. What comes next for him, though, will be critical.

Last season, he spent most of the year riding the bench for FC Barcelona as a 20-year-old backstop. While training in that environment regularly was undoubtedly beneficial, he’s taking a new step in 2026–27.

This fall, the Miami native will suit up for Danish Superligaen club Lyngby on loan from Barcelona, where he hopes to become the No. 1 and put himself in position for a USMNT call-up and a spot on the squad for the 2028 LA Olympics.

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Cavan Sullivan​

Cavan Sullivan will be able to join Manchester City once he turns 18.

If there’s one name you’re going to be seeing a lot of, if you haven’t already, it’s that of 16-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan. Currently of the Philadelphia Union, the same club that produced Brendan Aaronson, Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty, he is pre-signed to Manchester City and will join the Premier League giants when he turns 18.

While Philadelphia manager Bradley Carnell hasn’t given him many opportunities, those chances increased ahead of the World Cup, with the 2025 Supporters’ Shield winners sitting in last, well out of MLS Cup playoff contention.

Thornton had another good game today: 26 minutes, 18 points, 5/9 FGs, 3/7 3PTs, 2 REBs, 4 assists, 0 TOs, 2 steals and 1 PF.

They said this last time and then killed it.

S.4668 - Protect College Sports Act of 2026​

This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights. The requirements address elements of the court-approved agreement to settle In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (i.e., House settlement).

First, the bill statutorily prohibits institutions, conferences, or interstate intercollegiate athletic associations (e.g., the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]) from restricting student athletes from entering NIL agreements (subject to specified limitations). Students must report to their institution NIL compensation greater than $600.

The bill requires agents to register with a state and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%.

The bill also provides student athletes with one transfer without losing athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming the head football coach at a different institution during the same season.

Further, the bill prohibits institutions, conferences, or specified entities acting for the benefit of an institution from providing athletes with compensation that circumvents the limit on sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement. The bill also makes the limit permanent and provides for an annual inflation adjustment.

Additionally, the bill establishes (subject to specified conditions) a limited antitrust exemption for institutions or conferences that form joint agreements to transfer their sports telecasting rights to a third party. Such an agreement requires participation from at least 75% of the institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

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Ohio State’s Ravi Bellamkonda, Other Big Ten Presidents Have “Very Productive” Meetings with U.S. Senators About National College Sports Legislation​

Ohio State’s Ravi Bellamkonda was among four Big Ten presidents who met with a group of U.S. Senators on Tuesday as the push for national college sports legislation continues.

Bellamkonda, Michigan president Domenico Grasso, Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi and USC president Beong-Soo Kim met Tuesday with a group of seven U.S. Senators – Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, the authors of the Protect College Sports Act, as well as Ohio’s Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, Michigan’s Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin and Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman – to “work toward a national legislative solution that serves student-athletes, provides regulatory certainty, and maintains America’s long tradition of exceptional collegiate athletics.”

A joint statement released by Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and USC described the meetings as “very productive.”

The presidents of Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State and USC had very productive meetings today with legislative partners as we work toward a national legislative solution that serves student-athletes, provides regulatory certainty, and maintains America’s long tradition of exceptional collegiate athletics.
We appreciate the effort behind the Protect College Sports Act and support the bill’s intent. At the same time, key issues should be addressed to ensure the bill protects student-athletes and provides long-term stability for colleges, universities and conferences. We support the priorities previously outlined by the Big Ten Conference, including an NIL and revenue-sharing framework that is workable, enforceable and fair to student-athletes, and liability protection and preemption of state law that is sufficiently clear and brings an end to the nonstop litigation and fragmentation that is eroding the educational mission of college sports and making fair competition impossible.
In addition, colleges and universities are differently situated and have always retained flexibility over conference membership, sponsored sports, scholarships, scheduling, and media rights. Preserving this flexibility will enhance universities’ ability to offer broad-based sports programs, support Olympic sports, and safeguard the student-athlete experience.
We look forward to continuing conversations with the bill sponsors and other legislative partners as we pursue our shared goal of a strong, sustainable national legislative solution for all sports, conferences and divisions.

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The Protect College Sports Act, introduced by Cruz and Cantwell in late May, is a bipartisan college sports bill that would grant the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption that would allow it to enforce rules around transfers and eligibility without facing challenges from state and local courts. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill before its recess in early August.

That said, the current framework of the bill has faced opposition from both the Big Ten and SEC. Specifically, the Big Ten and SEC are opposed to provisions in the bill that would allow FBS schools to pool their media rights if 75% or more of FBS institutions vote in favor of a joint agreement, as well as prohibiting the Power 4 conferences from expanding. The conferences have also expressed concerns that the bill “leaves critical issues unresolved.”

“It does not meaningfully preempt the patchwork of state laws or provide the protections needed to make and enforce consistent rules, both essential to long-term stability in college athletics. It also shifts ongoing rulemaking to Congress, limiting the ability to adapt quickly as the landscape evolves,” the Big Ten and SEC said in a joint statement in June. “Rather than reducing litigation, the bill likely expands it without offering clear alternatives for dispute resolution. Finally, the bill alters the House settlement revenue sharing framework in a way that may result in fewer student-athletes receiving direct revenue share payments.
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He should be complementary to Smith and whomever is on the other side. That's what's been frustrating so far. Hoping for a big year for and from him.

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“He’s going to be a dog for us. He’s an animal. He plays really fast and aggressive.”

Been long committed and is locked with Ohio State. He doesn’t sell info for rivals. They will move him into top 30 after end of year

BB73 said:

So you‘d have been OK if he hadn’t nabbed that sideline throw on 4th and 14 in OT?

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That’s the one I was talking about.

What did you think I meant? Did he catch some other big pass I am forgetting?

pnuts34 said:

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He's going to play. His ball skills and nose for the ball as a tackler are elite. He's very good in coverage and now he's shredded. He'll be on the field for the opener.