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LGHL Game of the Year: How important is Ohio State’s season opener against Texas?
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Game of the Year: How important is Ohio State’s season opener against Texas?
AlexFrank via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates after returning a fumble recovery for a touchdown with cornerback Jordan Hancock (7) during the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images | Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes open up the new campaign with a bang.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about this season’s marquee matchups. Whether they feature the Buckeyes, other Big Ten schools, or major teams across the country. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Game of the Year” articles here.
Ohio State must beat Texas in its season opener on Aug. 30.
Okay, correction; It’s not a must-win game, largely due to the safety net that is a 12-team College Football Playoff. However, it is a game Ohio State really needs to win.
The Buckeyes went into Texas’s backyard in the CFP Semifinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic this past January and beat the Longhorns 28-14. Jack Sawyer’s scoop-and-score was the most memorable play of the game, and it’s a play that will long live in Ohio State lore.
Ryan Day has earned back a lot of equity, vindication and faith from the fanbase for what the Buckeyes did over the one-month duration of the College Football Playoff this past Winter. Even though he’s only 1-4 against Michigan, he now has a national championship. At the end of the day, that’s the ultimate end-goal for the Buckeyes going into every season.
Day guided the Buckeyes through the shock of losing at home to Michigan and parlayed it into four postseason victories that were all by double-digits. Not to mention, the Buckeyes were the lower seed in the latter three of those games.
However, losing at home to Texas could open up the door again for more criticism directed towards Day.
The Buckeyes losing their first game after winning a national championship would mark their first season-opening loss since 1999. If you think losing four-straight to Michigan isn’t normal these days, losing a season opener is practically not even in the realm of possibilities.
The last time a non-current Big Ten team beat Ohio State in Columbus was Oklahoma in 2017. If the Longhorns win the season opener, that could be viewed, potentially, as a more impressive win than Ohio State winning a neutral site game at Texas.
I disagree with that potential viewpoint because it was a CFP win with a national championship berth at stake for the Buckeyes this past January. Still, you can’t let the team you beat in that Semifinal come into your stadium and beat you in the first game of a season where you are defending a national championship.
Beating Texas is not a “must” for Ohio State. However, it is a game that could form a lot of early opinions, and will put additional pressure on the Buckeyes who already have a massive target on their backs. Ohio State needs to feed off the energy over 100,000 fans will have in The Shoe on Aug. 30 and block out the rest of the noise.
Ohio State vs. Texas. One team will be 1-0, and the other will be 0-1. There is a big difference between the two recrods, even in the 12-team College Football Playoff era. The Buckeyes need to be on the right side of that difference.
Continue reading...
AlexFrank via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates after returning a fumble recovery for a touchdown with cornerback Jordan Hancock (7) during the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images | Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes open up the new campaign with a bang.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about this season’s marquee matchups. Whether they feature the Buckeyes, other Big Ten schools, or major teams across the country. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Game of the Year” articles here.
Ohio State must beat Texas in its season opener on Aug. 30.
Okay, correction; It’s not a must-win game, largely due to the safety net that is a 12-team College Football Playoff. However, it is a game Ohio State really needs to win.
The Buckeyes went into Texas’s backyard in the CFP Semifinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic this past January and beat the Longhorns 28-14. Jack Sawyer’s scoop-and-score was the most memorable play of the game, and it’s a play that will long live in Ohio State lore.
Ryan Day has earned back a lot of equity, vindication and faith from the fanbase for what the Buckeyes did over the one-month duration of the College Football Playoff this past Winter. Even though he’s only 1-4 against Michigan, he now has a national championship. At the end of the day, that’s the ultimate end-goal for the Buckeyes going into every season.
Day guided the Buckeyes through the shock of losing at home to Michigan and parlayed it into four postseason victories that were all by double-digits. Not to mention, the Buckeyes were the lower seed in the latter three of those games.
However, losing at home to Texas could open up the door again for more criticism directed towards Day.
The Buckeyes losing their first game after winning a national championship would mark their first season-opening loss since 1999. If you think losing four-straight to Michigan isn’t normal these days, losing a season opener is practically not even in the realm of possibilities.
The last time a non-current Big Ten team beat Ohio State in Columbus was Oklahoma in 2017. If the Longhorns win the season opener, that could be viewed, potentially, as a more impressive win than Ohio State winning a neutral site game at Texas.
I disagree with that potential viewpoint because it was a CFP win with a national championship berth at stake for the Buckeyes this past January. Still, you can’t let the team you beat in that Semifinal come into your stadium and beat you in the first game of a season where you are defending a national championship.
Beating Texas is not a “must” for Ohio State. However, it is a game that could form a lot of early opinions, and will put additional pressure on the Buckeyes who already have a massive target on their backs. Ohio State needs to feed off the energy over 100,000 fans will have in The Shoe on Aug. 30 and block out the rest of the noise.
Ohio State vs. Texas. One team will be 1-0, and the other will be 0-1. There is a big difference between the two recrods, even in the 12-team College Football Playoff era. The Buckeyes need to be on the right side of that difference.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State loses in-state prospect as Jakob Weatherspoon flips commitment to UNC
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Ohio State loses in-state prospect as Jakob Weatherspoon flips commitment to UNC
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Weatherspoon is no longer a member of the Buckeyes’ 2026 recruiting class.
Recruiting in 2025 is an ever-changing realm of college football. Each day bringing something new to the table, it can be hard to keep up with the constant rollercoaster ride this has become not only for Ohio State, but any major program in the current landscape.
The Buckeyes have a class that ranks in the top-ten by every major outlet, and while that’s impressive for most schools, Ohio State rarely sees the outside of the top five. Fresh off a national championship, one would think this recruiting cycle for the 2026 class would be a breeze.
That said, while there’s plenty of top talent committed right now, it’s a bit of a toss up depending on who you ask on whether or not Ohio State’s haul thus far is up to the standard.
A group that sits at 20 players, Wednesday brought a shake up to the Buckeyes’ class.
Heading into the 2026 class, the in-state defensive back targets for this cycle were extremely exciting on paper. Three players that were among the top in the country at their positions, Ohio State looked to have several answers right within their own backyard.
Elbert Hill, Victor Singleton, and Jakob Weatherspoon being those key three guys, it’s been a wild ride to say the least concerning each respective recruitment.
Hill picked USC over the Buckeyes, and Singleton took his talents Texas A&M. The Buckeyes did land the commitment of Avon, Ohio native Weatherspoon way back in January of this year, but on Wednesday that relationship changed when he surprised the masses by announcing he was de-committing from Ohio State and committing to North Carolina.
A 5-foot-11, 180 pound athlete, Weatherspoon is the No. 178 player nationally and 14th best safety per the 247Sports Composite. A player Ohio State had long been associated with, Weatherspoon was likely to play cornerback for the Buckeyes, so this loss certainly impacts the class as a whole and the outlook for the position.
Ohio State still boasts the likes of Blaine Bradford and Simeon Caldwell, but the coaching staff now really needs to either pivot elsewhere or plan to be plenty active when the transfer portal comes around at cornerback based on what is still left on the board in regards to uncommitted players and potential flip candidates.
Rumors still have Ohio State atop of the list for another elite safety in Bralan Womack, who is set to announce in August, but again, cornerback has to be addressed. Regardless of the reason for Weatherspoon’s decision, feelings on either side probably have some sense of justification, but it’s back to drawing board at least for now.
In an area of the game that is constantly throwing curveballs, Ohio State has to adjust a bit. The few months left of this cycle will tell a lot about where the Buckeyes are looking to spend their resources.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Weatherspoon is no longer a member of the Buckeyes’ 2026 recruiting class.
Recruiting in 2025 is an ever-changing realm of college football. Each day bringing something new to the table, it can be hard to keep up with the constant rollercoaster ride this has become not only for Ohio State, but any major program in the current landscape.
The Buckeyes have a class that ranks in the top-ten by every major outlet, and while that’s impressive for most schools, Ohio State rarely sees the outside of the top five. Fresh off a national championship, one would think this recruiting cycle for the 2026 class would be a breeze.
That said, while there’s plenty of top talent committed right now, it’s a bit of a toss up depending on who you ask on whether or not Ohio State’s haul thus far is up to the standard.
A group that sits at 20 players, Wednesday brought a shake up to the Buckeyes’ class.
Heading into the 2026 class, the in-state defensive back targets for this cycle were extremely exciting on paper. Three players that were among the top in the country at their positions, Ohio State looked to have several answers right within their own backyard.
Elbert Hill, Victor Singleton, and Jakob Weatherspoon being those key three guys, it’s been a wild ride to say the least concerning each respective recruitment.
Hill picked USC over the Buckeyes, and Singleton took his talents Texas A&M. The Buckeyes did land the commitment of Avon, Ohio native Weatherspoon way back in January of this year, but on Wednesday that relationship changed when he surprised the masses by announcing he was de-committing from Ohio State and committing to North Carolina.
A 5-foot-11, 180 pound athlete, Weatherspoon is the No. 178 player nationally and 14th best safety per the 247Sports Composite. A player Ohio State had long been associated with, Weatherspoon was likely to play cornerback for the Buckeyes, so this loss certainly impacts the class as a whole and the outlook for the position.
Ohio State still boasts the likes of Blaine Bradford and Simeon Caldwell, but the coaching staff now really needs to either pivot elsewhere or plan to be plenty active when the transfer portal comes around at cornerback based on what is still left on the board in regards to uncommitted players and potential flip candidates.
Rumors still have Ohio State atop of the list for another elite safety in Bralan Womack, who is set to announce in August, but again, cornerback has to be addressed. Regardless of the reason for Weatherspoon’s decision, feelings on either side probably have some sense of justification, but it’s back to drawing board at least for now.
In an area of the game that is constantly throwing curveballs, Ohio State has to adjust a bit. The few months left of this cycle will tell a lot about where the Buckeyes are looking to spend their resources.
Continue reading...
LGHL Game of the Year: The best non-conference games involving Big Ten teams
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Game of the Year: The best non-conference games involving Big Ten teams
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Texas-Ohio State tilt kicks off an entertaining slate of non-conference games involving Big Ten teams this season.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about this season’s marquee matchups. Whether they feature the Buckeyes, other Big Ten schools, or major teams across the country. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Game of the Year” articles here.
Before the grind that is Big Ten play begins, teams around the conference will test themselves against other schools from around the country. While not every team in the Big Ten will be playing exciting non-conference games, the majority of the programs in the conference will play at least one interesting opponent from another conference, which could help bolster their playoff resumé as the regular season comes to a close.
While the Texas-Ohio State tilt will get top billing when it comes to interesting non-conference games this season, there are a number of other games outside of Big Ten play that deserve your attention.
Who knows, maybe the majority of these games don’t end up living up to the hype, but right now it’s fun to imagine a lot of these games coming down to the wire and leaving us on the edge of our seats. At the very least, getting a lay of the land for some of the best non-conference games involving Big Ten teams can help to pass a little time in mid-July.
The only negative about this game is it is being played at noon. A game of this magnitude should be under the lights, but unfortunately the Big Ten is in bed with FOX and Big Noon Saturday. Honestly though, if this game kicked off at 2 AM on a Tuesday morning, the start of another Buckeye football season would have all of us sitting in front of our TVs and ready to run through walls.
Not only is this a rematch of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal, both teams will enter this game having to replace numerous starters from last year’s squads on both sides of the football. The most noteworthy replacements are going to be the quarterbacks. Texas will start Arch Manning, who started a couple games for the Longhorns last year after Quinn Ewers was injured. Ohio State will counter with Julian Sayin, who will be making his first start at the collegiate level.
Unlike 2005 when Texas and Ohio State met in Columbus in a game that was essentially a BCS elimination game, the loser of this year’s game will still be in the mix for a playoff spot. Last year both teams lost two games and still made the playoff, hosting games in the first round. What neither team wants to do is get hammered in the opener, which could set the tone for a disappointing 2025 season.
Even though I don’t feel like this game is quite on the same level as Texas-Ohio State, I still thinking it could be entertaining in a way. Like one of those comedy movies that is so bad it ends up being funny.
This contest has already gotten off to a roaring start before kickoff with the news that Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore wouldn’t have to serve a two-game suspension until his team’s third and fourth games of the season. Moore is an Oklahoma alum so it’s understandable why he fought to be able to coach in this game, but it doesn’t make the ruling any less hilarious.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26057875/2211364548.jpg "Michigan Maize vs Blue Spring Game")
Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images for ONIT
Nobody knows what we are going to get with either of these teams. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Wolverines or Sooners make the playoff. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see the two teams go 6-6 during the regular season.
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is on the hot seat after a few underwhelming seasons in charge in Norman, while Moore looks like he’ll be dealing with the brunt of the punishment Michigan will have to deal with when the NCAA finally rules on a number of infractions that were committed while Jim Harbaugh was in charge in Ann Arbor.
It’s not a proper list of the best non-conference games in the country unless it includes El Assico! Last year the Cyclones were just a win away from making the College Football Playoff as champions of the Big 12.
This year Iowa State returns quarterback Rocco Becht and some other important contributors from last year’s team. The Cyclones will have two games under their belt when this game kicks off since they’ll meet Kansas State in Dublin in Week 0, followed by a home game against South Dakota the next week.
Iowa really needs this game since they have a Big Ten schedule that includes games against Penn State, Oregon, and USC. Along with some tough conference games, the Hawkeyes will need to replace running back Kaleb Johnson, who did just about everything on offense for Iowa last year.
Keep an eye on how Iowa’s offense looks in Tim Lester’s second season as offensive coordinator. Maybe Lester opens things up a little more now that he has a year under his belt as OC of the Hawkeyes. Quarterback Mark Gronowski put up big numbers as starting quarterback at South Dakota State, so it’ll be interesting to see if he is able to have similar success in Iowa City.
This game might not be the sexiest non-conference game, but it could mean a lot for Illinois. The Fighting Illini are talking like they think they are a playoff contender this year. Since the schedule for Illinois isn’t all that tough, Bret Bielema’s team can’t afford any slip-ups in games where they don’t play Ohio State.
Duke was a respectable 9-4 last year, with one of those victories being a double overtime win at Northwestern. The Fighting Illini can’t let the Blue Devils make it two straight seasons with a win over a Big Ten foe.
Did Luke Fickell and Wisconsin learn anything from the beatdown they suffered at the hands of Alabama in Madison last year? If they didn’t, the Badgers could be in for a long afternoon in Tuscaloosa.
At least Wisconsin will be facing a Crimson Tide squad that will be breaking in a new quarterback. Although, if Ty Simpson is as good as advertised then it’s hard to imagine the Badgers keeping pace in this one, especially in what could be a very toasty atmosphere at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Notre Dame has gotten the better of USC lately in the Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh, winning six of the last seven over the Trojans. The Fighting Irish have really let the football fly in the last two meetings, scoring 97 total points.
After making the College Football Playoff National Championship Game last year, Marcus Freeman and company have designs on a title this year after falling just short last season. The Fighting Irish are replacing defensive coordinator Al Golden with former Ohio State DC Chris Ash, and will have a new starting quarterback after Riley Leonard graduated.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26057874/2187583752.jpg "Notre Dame v USC")
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
USC and Lincoln Riley feel like they have a real shot at making the playoff this year. With a manageable schedule, it’s easy to see why there is optimism in Los Angeles. What will tell the story of the season is how the defense progresses in the second season under defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.
If the Trojans are able to enter this game undefeated and get by Notre Dame, USC should be able to enter a game in late November against Oregon with a spotless record.
Honorable mention:
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Texas-Ohio State tilt kicks off an entertaining slate of non-conference games involving Big Ten teams this season.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about this season’s marquee matchups. Whether they feature the Buckeyes, other Big Ten schools, or major teams across the country. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Game of the Year” articles here.
Before the grind that is Big Ten play begins, teams around the conference will test themselves against other schools from around the country. While not every team in the Big Ten will be playing exciting non-conference games, the majority of the programs in the conference will play at least one interesting opponent from another conference, which could help bolster their playoff resumé as the regular season comes to a close.
While the Texas-Ohio State tilt will get top billing when it comes to interesting non-conference games this season, there are a number of other games outside of Big Ten play that deserve your attention.
Who knows, maybe the majority of these games don’t end up living up to the hype, but right now it’s fun to imagine a lot of these games coming down to the wire and leaving us on the edge of our seats. At the very least, getting a lay of the land for some of the best non-conference games involving Big Ten teams can help to pass a little time in mid-July.
Texas vs. Ohio State - Aug. 30
The only negative about this game is it is being played at noon. A game of this magnitude should be under the lights, but unfortunately the Big Ten is in bed with FOX and Big Noon Saturday. Honestly though, if this game kicked off at 2 AM on a Tuesday morning, the start of another Buckeye football season would have all of us sitting in front of our TVs and ready to run through walls.
Not only is this a rematch of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal, both teams will enter this game having to replace numerous starters from last year’s squads on both sides of the football. The most noteworthy replacements are going to be the quarterbacks. Texas will start Arch Manning, who started a couple games for the Longhorns last year after Quinn Ewers was injured. Ohio State will counter with Julian Sayin, who will be making his first start at the collegiate level.
Unlike 2005 when Texas and Ohio State met in Columbus in a game that was essentially a BCS elimination game, the loser of this year’s game will still be in the mix for a playoff spot. Last year both teams lost two games and still made the playoff, hosting games in the first round. What neither team wants to do is get hammered in the opener, which could set the tone for a disappointing 2025 season.
Michigan vs. Oklahoma - Sept. 6
Even though I don’t feel like this game is quite on the same level as Texas-Ohio State, I still thinking it could be entertaining in a way. Like one of those comedy movies that is so bad it ends up being funny.
This contest has already gotten off to a roaring start before kickoff with the news that Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore wouldn’t have to serve a two-game suspension until his team’s third and fourth games of the season. Moore is an Oklahoma alum so it’s understandable why he fought to be able to coach in this game, but it doesn’t make the ruling any less hilarious.
Nobody knows what we are going to get with either of these teams. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Wolverines or Sooners make the playoff. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see the two teams go 6-6 during the regular season.
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is on the hot seat after a few underwhelming seasons in charge in Norman, while Moore looks like he’ll be dealing with the brunt of the punishment Michigan will have to deal with when the NCAA finally rules on a number of infractions that were committed while Jim Harbaugh was in charge in Ann Arbor.
Iowa vs. Iowa State - Sept. 6
It’s not a proper list of the best non-conference games in the country unless it includes El Assico! Last year the Cyclones were just a win away from making the College Football Playoff as champions of the Big 12.
This year Iowa State returns quarterback Rocco Becht and some other important contributors from last year’s team. The Cyclones will have two games under their belt when this game kicks off since they’ll meet Kansas State in Dublin in Week 0, followed by a home game against South Dakota the next week.
Iowa really needs this game since they have a Big Ten schedule that includes games against Penn State, Oregon, and USC. Along with some tough conference games, the Hawkeyes will need to replace running back Kaleb Johnson, who did just about everything on offense for Iowa last year.
Keep an eye on how Iowa’s offense looks in Tim Lester’s second season as offensive coordinator. Maybe Lester opens things up a little more now that he has a year under his belt as OC of the Hawkeyes. Quarterback Mark Gronowski put up big numbers as starting quarterback at South Dakota State, so it’ll be interesting to see if he is able to have similar success in Iowa City.
Illinois vs. Duke - Sept. 6
This game might not be the sexiest non-conference game, but it could mean a lot for Illinois. The Fighting Illini are talking like they think they are a playoff contender this year. Since the schedule for Illinois isn’t all that tough, Bret Bielema’s team can’t afford any slip-ups in games where they don’t play Ohio State.
Duke was a respectable 9-4 last year, with one of those victories being a double overtime win at Northwestern. The Fighting Illini can’t let the Blue Devils make it two straight seasons with a win over a Big Ten foe.
Wisconsin vs. Alabama - Sept. 13
Did Luke Fickell and Wisconsin learn anything from the beatdown they suffered at the hands of Alabama in Madison last year? If they didn’t, the Badgers could be in for a long afternoon in Tuscaloosa.
At least Wisconsin will be facing a Crimson Tide squad that will be breaking in a new quarterback. Although, if Ty Simpson is as good as advertised then it’s hard to imagine the Badgers keeping pace in this one, especially in what could be a very toasty atmosphere at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
USC vs. Notre Dame - Oct. 18
Notre Dame has gotten the better of USC lately in the Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh, winning six of the last seven over the Trojans. The Fighting Irish have really let the football fly in the last two meetings, scoring 97 total points.
After making the College Football Playoff National Championship Game last year, Marcus Freeman and company have designs on a title this year after falling just short last season. The Fighting Irish are replacing defensive coordinator Al Golden with former Ohio State DC Chris Ash, and will have a new starting quarterback after Riley Leonard graduated.
USC and Lincoln Riley feel like they have a real shot at making the playoff this year. With a manageable schedule, it’s easy to see why there is optimism in Los Angeles. What will tell the story of the season is how the defense progresses in the second season under defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.
If the Trojans are able to enter this game undefeated and get by Notre Dame, USC should be able to enter a game in late November against Oregon with a spotless record.
Honorable mention:
- Nebraska vs. Cincinnati (Aug. 28)
- Oklahoma State vs. Oregon (Sept. 6)
- Washington vs. Washington State (Sept. 20)
- Boston College vs. Michigan State (Sept. 6)
Continue reading...