Ohio State women’s basketball freshman Ava Watson’s ability to make early impact
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State women’s basketball on Twitter | @OhioStateWBB

With the mass exodus of upperclassmen guards, Watson has all the characteristics of an impact player in the McGuff offense.

College basketball season is fast approaching and Land-Grant Holy Land is getting you ready with a series of player previews. Before the season starts this fall, check back regularly for more player previews, schedule news, features, and more heading into the 2024-25 Ohio State women’s basketball season.

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Over the past few seasons, Ohio State women’s basketball hasn’t had to rely much on freshmen. Outside of Cotie McMahon, who’s started every game since joining as a freshman two seasons ago, it’s taken time for young players to break into the lineup and earn — and retain — meaningful minutes.

There’s a freshman in the 2024 Buckeyes recruiting class who could do just that, and their name isn’t Jaloni Cambridge. It’s Ava Watson, who could be an answer to Ohio State's depth at shooting guard.

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Name: Ava Watson
Position: Guard
Class: Freshman
High School: Buford High School (Buford, Georgia)
2023-24 Stats: 24 ppg, 6 rpg, 5.2 apg, 4.3 spg

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Last Season​

Watson enters Ohio State as the No. 52 recruit in the nation, according to ESPN’s HoopGurlz. In three seasons starting for Buford, Watson amassed over 2,000 points and received all the accolades you’d expect from a top-100 recruit.

The 5-foot-8 guard committed to the Buckeyes in January of 2023. After picking Ohio State, Watson went on to earn an honorable mention on the MaxPreps All-American team for the 23-24 season, leading Buford to a regional championship and a trip to the Georgia Elite Eight.

In the Elite Eight, Buford trailed for most of the game, but Watson’s play put the Wolves back into it. Watson scored 10 of her game-high 36 points in the fourth quarter, which tied the game. Buford lost in overtime 74-69.

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What to Expect​

What fits in coach Kevin McGuff’s game plan is somebody who can run, play defense and shoot the ball from deep. Expect all of that from Watson.

In high school, Watson led a full-court defense with Buford and averaged 4.2 steals per game. When it comes to conditioning, Watson doesn’t seem to get tired and can run up and down the court with ease. A lot of characteristics are shared with former Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon.

With that kind of work rate, it’s no surprise that Watson also excels on the boards. As a shooting guard, Watson averaged six rebounds per game for the Wolves, because she gets into good positions and can outpace opponents to the ball.

Offensively, Watson is a three-level scorer. She has a quick, compact, release from beyond the arc and can turn on another level to go to the basket.

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Prediction​

Coach McGuff thinks highly of the freshman. Monday, McGuff talked about the new Buckeye highly, praising her shooting ability and a “high basketball IQ.” In other words, Watson knows what’s going on in the game and has the ability to pick up the offense quickly.

During practice, Watson paired up with the second grouping of Buckeyes. That means Watson could be one of the first guards off the bench behind expected starting shooting guard Chance Gray. Ohio State only has two traditional upperclassmen guards who will receive substantial minutes in McGuff’s rotation, so Watson will be needed.

Looking at Ohio State’s non-conference schedule, the opponents early in the season are all mid-major sides. That will give Watson the chance to earn early minutes. Should the guard gel into the system and show it on the court, that could bode well for the McGuff rotation once Big Ten basketball begins.

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Highlights​

Watch an extended interview with the new guard, part of the Jr. NBA program.

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Other Player Previews​

Miss a player preview? Click the links below to learn more about the 24-25 Buckeyes roster:

Madison Greene
Eboni Walker

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Big Ten Top 10: Alabama takes top spot, Ohio State leads 3 Big Ten teams in top 10
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

The official SB Nation Big Ten writers poll is the only truly unbiased poll any college football fan could ever need.

AP Poll? Shmay Pee Poll! Coaches Poll? We all know that coaches don’t have time to fill out a weekly survey, let alone watch enough games to make informed choices! That’s why your friendly neighborhood Big Ten writers from across the SB Nation universe have banded together to come up with the only fair, accurate, non-biased poll in all of college football.

Every week, a writer from the 16 sites covering specific B1G schools (lowly UCLA and USC don’t have SBN sites) will submit their picks, and O Basse from Michigan State site The Only Colors will compile them into the official SBN Big Ten Writers Poll.

I will keep you updated on our selections here on Land-Grant Holy Land, and I will let you know how I vote every week because we believe in truth, justice, and transparency in journalism here in Buckeye Country.

There will also be a Player of the Week selected by the Big Ten writers and a Heisman Trophy leaderboard. So, without further ado, here is the post-Week 5 SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll.

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SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll | Week 5​

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My Personal Top-10 Rankings | Week 5​

These rankings coincide with my Top-12 picks every week on the “No Fall Weddings” podcast in the Land-Grant Podcast Network feed, which you can subscribe to anywhere you get your favorite audio entertainment.


New episodes generally come out on Wednesday afternoons, but sometimes Friday mornings. “No Fall Weddings” is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the Buckeyes and the rest of the college football world.

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Player of the Week | Jalen Milroe, Alabama​

William McLelland-Imagn Images

It was a first half for the ages and a finish that will live in the minds of college football fans for decades to come. Last Saturday, the Alabama quarterback orchestrated one of the most impressive first halves in recent memory and one of the most improbable finishes in the whole of college football history.

His Crimson Tide outlasted the Georgia Bulldogs 41-34, in large part because of Milroe’s performance. Through the air, he had 374 yards and 2 touchdowns (and 1 interception), and on the ground, he added 119 yards and another 2 scores.

Others receiving votes:

Ashton Jeanty | Boise State, Running Back

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Heisman Trophy Leaderboard​

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Silver Bullets Podcast: Michigan State rewind and Iowa preview
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes enter Big Ten play and the competition is getting tougher.


A win on the road in the Big Ten is rarely easy, and Ohio State’s trip to East Lansing was not without its struggles, but the defense stiffened, the offense kept scoring and Jeremiah Smith kept doing Jeremiah Smith things in the Buckeyes’ 38-7 victory over the Spartans of Michigan State.

We break down the good, the bad, and the ugly from the road win, digest the Buckeyes’ statistics, check in to see if our Buckeye picks to click did just that, and looked back to see who came closest to predicting the final score.

After our Sparty rewind, we took a look at the other games around the Big Ten over the weekend, including a tale of two halves at USC, a defensive struggle in Happy Valley, odd officiating that will make no Gophers happy, and the Bizarro World of a 5-0 Indiana team.

Finally, we look ahead to what is easily Ohio State’s most difficult opponent so far this season. The Iowa Hawkeyes will visit Ohio Stadium on Saturday, bringing an army of tight ends to run free through the Buckeye secondary and a defense that will make Michigan State’s look like Western Michigan’s. We expect Iowa to be a pain in the neck on Saturday. Another blowout win for Ohio State would not be unwelcome, just unexpected.

We would love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email. Any questions directed toward us will be answered on our next show.

Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.

As always, thanks for listening!

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0:21 - A big road win over Sparty in the Buckeyes’ conference opener.

32:31 - Other results around the B1G, including some officiating shennanigans in Ann Arbor.

53:40 - Our look ahead to the Iowa Hawkeyes with predictions.

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Grumpy Old Buckeye: Nitpicking Ohio State’s 38-7 win at Michigan State
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Just because the Buckeyes beat a Big Ten opponent by 31 on the road, it doesn’t mean I’m not going to complain about it.

Ohio State improved to 4-0 on the season and won its conference opener in its first road trip of the campaign with a 38-7 victory over the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing. While there’s not much complaining that can be done about a 31-point road win, that’s precisely what this column is all about.

If you’re new here, don’t take this as a sign of discontent or being spoiled — it’s all in good fun. No game is perfect, and it is the imperfections that I shine my spotlight on every week.

With that said, here’s what bugged me when the Buckeyes visited the Spartans.

Kacmarek’s Killer Penalty​

Tight end Will Kacmarek’s personal foul in the red zone disrupted a second-and-goal from the 6-yard line, moving it back to the 21. Two plays later, the Buckeyes had to kick a field goal because of the lost yardage.

He was correctly pulled from the game after the foul, and hopefully he got the message that preventable penalties will not be tolerated, because one of the few things that can stop the Ohio State offense is the Ohio State offense doing dumb things. No dumb things is a good road map for success. Dead ball penalties, however, are dumb things.

Not Setting the Tone​

After opening the game with a scoring drive, the Buckeyes had a chance to set the tone defensively on Michigan State’s first possession. The tone wasn’t a good one, with an explosive run by Nate Carter for 19 yards on the first play. Ohio State’s cornerbacks both blitzed and Carter ran underneath the rush by Denzel Burke. Sonny Styles failed to set the edge to keep the run inside, and it left a huge hole for a big run.

The defense needed a fourth-down stop to prevent the Spartans from answering the Buckeyes’ opening score.

Red Zone Difficulties​

After the first drive bogged down with a red-zone penalty, Ohio State drove into scoring position again on its second drive, where things got a little stifled. Although the Buckeyes did eventually break through, it required a fourth-down conversion by the offense.

After a decent run by TreVeyon Henderson took the ball inside the 5-yard line, Chip Kelly got pass happy and it almost backfired. Emeka Egbuka couldn’t hold onto the ball on second down, trying to fight through contact at the goal line. On third down, Will Howard never saw safety Malik Spencer, who should have intercepted the pass in the end zone. Gee Scott finally got the team into the end zone on a fourth-down play that could have swung momentum if the Spartans had managed to hold.

I would be remiss if I didn’t add that the red zone offense was basically fine the rest of the night. But you didn’t come here for “fine,” did you?

Shredded Secondary​

Michigan State’s third drive sliced right through the OSU secondary as if the Buckeyes weren’t even there. Aidan Chiles hit passes for nine yards, 24 yards, and 26 yards without an incompletion. Ohio State would likely have conceded points on the drive had Jordan Hancock not saved the day with a strip, which Sonny Styles recovered.

However, it only saved the defense for a moment, because...

The Pick​

Will Howard threw an interception on the ensuing OSU offensive series with a poor decision. Howard threw the ball into double coverage trying to hit Scott, while he had a wide-open Jeremiah Smith — who is pretty good at football — outside and a bit further down the field.

Jordan Turner returned the interception 36 yards, and Sparty cashed in on the very next play, because…

Too Much Cushion​

Davison Igbinosun was Michigan State’s best friend after the change of possession, playing way off the ball in the red zone. The starting corner even gave ground after the catch, giving himself no chance to prevent Jaron Glover from scoring, making it a 10-7 game in the second quarter.

More Soft Defense​

Trailing 17-7, Michigan State again drove right down the field with a mixture of runs and passes, reaching the OSU 16-yard line. It started with no gain for two consecutive plays, and then the defense gave up a third-and-10 conversion with a 15-yard pass completion.

The Spartans gained 25 yards with a pass, seven yards with a run, and five more yards with a pass to get into the red zone. The defense took the ball away with a fumble forced by Lathan Ransom and recovered by Jack Sawyer, but the Buckeyes were fortunate not to have a facemask penalty called on Tywone Malone to extend the drive, which most likely would have cut the OSU lead back to one score and left the Spartans with belief.

As it turned out, Ohio State would beat the belief out of Sparty with a strong finish to the second quarter.

Take the Yards​

TreVeyon Henderson was shaken up, and momentarily was responsible for a fumble call, when he caught a pass and had room to the outside to perhaps get his first down. He could at least have gotten close. He instead tried to cut inside and failed to fool Turner, who tackled Henderson awkwardly.

Henderson lost the ball when he went to ground, and it was ruled a fumble, but the correct decision was made to reverse the call, as the ball popped out after the runner’s forearm touched the ground.

While Henderson has made plenty of big plays in his career, a simple burst to the outside would have likely resulted in a first down, certainly wouldn’t have initially been ruled a turnover, and perhaps would have prevented a minor injury that took Henderson off the field for a spell.

Peacock? More Like Poppycock, Amirite?​

Ohio State didn’t exactly get the best broadcast crew for this game. Andrew Siciliano was paired with Colt McCoy on the call, and while McCoy was mostly fine in his analyst role, Siciliano struggled mightily at times, butchering the names of several OSU players.

Early in the game, he referred to Gee Scott Jr., as “Jerry Gee,” pronouncing “Gee” with a hard G. He later called Quinshon Judkins “Jenkins.” Broadcasting isn’t easy, and we all stumble over our words sometimes, but your job is to at least know who the players are.

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The dirty little secret about this column is that if I’m not griping about anything in the second half, there really wasn’t a lot to complain about.

The Buckeyes could have been a bit cleaner on defense and up front on the offensive line at times. Emeka Egbuka had a big game that could have been even bigger without a pair of drops.

Still, there were so many memorable good moments, such as basically everything Smith did running the ball, catching it (ridiculously at times), and even while blocking. Even if it wasn’t always sharp, the defense took the ball away three times. Jayden Fielding’s kicks and kickoffs went straight and stayed in bounds. Henderson averaged nearly 10 yards per carry and was a stud in pass protection. It was a lopsided win the coaching staff can still build on.

Ohio State’s victory in East Lansing was a good road test, and showed the Buckeyes that the competition is getting tougher. That will definitely be the case Saturday, when the Buckeyes return home in what is sure to be an annoying game against Iowa.

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2026 four-star UNC edge commit to visit Ohio State
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2026 four-star edge Zavion Griffin-Haynes | via Jim Hawkins/Inside Carolina, 247Sports

The Buckeyes will also host a blue-chip Ohio safety this weekend.

Ohio State is now 4-0 following an impressive showing Saturday, traveling to East Lansing to beat Michigan State 38-7. The Buckeyes will now prepare for this weekend, where they will play host to Iowa.

With much of the talk surrounding this current crop of Buckeyes, it is easy to miss Ohio State making recruiting headlines. Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff never take a break from recruiting, and because of this the Buckeyes are making headlines on the daily.

This held true Monday as Ohio State learned it will soon play host to a couple of key 2026 targets.

Ohio State to host UNC edge commit​

Ohio State has been targeting 2026 four-star edge Zavion Griffin-Haynes (Rolesville, NC / Rolesville) since the summer. He took an unofficial visit with the Buckeyes in August and left with an official scholarship offer.

The offer was not the only news surrounding Griffin-Haynes following his visit to Ohio State, as predictions were also cast in favor of Ohio State for his recruitment. However, earlier this month the North Carolina native committed to the home state school of North Carolina.

The news of the commitment came as a surprise to those in Buckeye Nation as it was shortly following the visit. The Buckeyes have also not stopped recruiting him. Griffin-Haynes scheduled four upcoming visits, and due to the continued efforts of the Ohio State coaching staff, they were included on the list.

Four-star North Carolina DE commit Zavion Griffin-Haynes has four visits lined up beginning with a trip to Georgia this weekend and visits back to Florida State, Ohio State and Chapel Hill

More on the Rivals250 inside: https://t.co/HiSmutxAJr pic.twitter.com/O73hy4LKox

— Sam Spiegelman (@samspiegs) September 30, 2024​

Click to expand...

Griffin-Haynes will visit with Ohio State on Nov. 23 when the Buckeyes play host to Indiana. The visit with the Buckeyes will be his third and the only one that will be after is the school he is committed to, UNC.

Ohio State has just one commitment in its 2026 class in five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. The team is making the defensive line a priority in this class and Griffin-Haynes is a recruit Ohio State has identified as one they want.

Griffin-Haynes is the No. 11 edge in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 114 overall prospect. He is also the No. 9 recruit out of North Carolina.

Ohio State to host in-state safety this weekend​

Ohio State is not only scheduling future visits, as they have a home game this weekend against Iowa and the Buckeyes are once again set to host a handful of recruits. The most recent name to be added to this week’s visitor list is 2026 three-star safety Kaden Gebhardt (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy).

I will be at The Ohio State University this weekend for a gameday visit!! @Kstaff07 @MattGuerrieri @jchorba16 @CoachJimKnowles @bzdebski @OHSBravesFB @Bill_Kurelic @MattParkerLR @markpantoni @mickdwalker @alexgleitman pic.twitter.com/SQJpi0W9pO

— Kaden Gebhardt 4️ S/ATH (@kaden_gebhardt) September 30, 2024​

Click to expand...

Gebhardt saw his recruitment take off this summer, and since the start of this current season of high school football, the momentum has only increased. Because of this, he is building an impressive offer sheet including programs like Ohio State, Akron, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Duke, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and many others.

Ohio State has made recruiting in-state talents a priority in its recruiting strategy since the arrival of NIL and the revamping of the transfer portal. Gebhardt is one of many in-state talents the Buckeyes have offered in the 2026 class and he is one the Buckeyes are making a priority.

The Buckeyes got him on campus twice this summer, making this weekend’s visit his third in a matter of months. If this visit goes as well as the previous two, it would not be out of reach to view the Buckeyes as the leaders in his recruitment. Although, Penn State has also made him a priority target for their class so the Buckeyes are not alone.

Gebhardt is the No. 41 safety in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 481 overall prospect. However, 247Sports has him as its No. 17 safety and No. 213 overall prospect, so his recruiting ranking will likely rise as more recruiting databases update their 2026 class rankings.

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Iowa Football Opponent Preview: Five things to know about the Ohio State Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Iowa Football Opponent Preview: Five things to know about the Ohio State Buckeyes 247Sports

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Did Michigan State expose a massive red flag for Ohio State entering the Buckeyes' showdown against Iowa? - AtoZ Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Did Michigan State expose a massive red flag for Ohio State entering the Buckeyes' showdown against Iowa? AtoZ Sports

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OFFICIAL Oregon Ducks, Ohio State Time Released: Schedule, Network, Prime Time - Sports Illustrated
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

OFFICIAL Oregon Ducks, Ohio State Time Released: Schedule, Network, Prime Time Sports Illustrated

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Game time announced for Oregon Ducks marquee showdown vs. Ohio State Buckeyes - Ducks Wire
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Game time announced for Oregon Ducks marquee showdown vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Ducks Wire

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Five Things To Know About Iowa Before Ohio State Buckeyes' Week 6 Matchup - Sports Illustrated
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Five Things To Know About Iowa Before Ohio State Buckeyes' Week 6 Matchup Sports Illustrated

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Kickoff time, TV channel finalized for Ohio State football's Oct. 12 game at Oregon - The Columbus Dispatch
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Kickoff time, TV channel finalized for Ohio State football's Oct. 12 game at Oregon The Columbus Dispatch

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Stock Market Report: The defense bends, but doesn't break against Michigan State
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

JJ Smith makes another incredible play, the defense holds the Spartans to seven points, and the Peacock broadcast wasn’t great

In its first “test” of the season, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes went to East Lansing and came away with a comfortable 38-7 win to move to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play.

Here is who and what we are high on and low on after Week 5 heading into the Iowa game.

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Blue Chip​

I think saying Jeremiah Smith is too easy, but I have to say Jeremiah Smith

I mean, I genuinely don’t know what else there is to say. I wouldn’t argue with anyone if they said JJ Smith was the most talented receiver in Ohio State history already. He could play in the NFL tomorrow, and he has two and a half more seasons left in Columbus.

This feels like it is too simple, but it is impossible not to acknowledge.

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Solid Investments​

Bend don’t break

No one will argue that the defense was perfect in East Lansing. However, the end result has to matter. The Buckeyes went on the road and only gave up seven points, 246 yards, and 47 yards rushing. Michigan State was also only 2-for-9 on third-down conversions.

They forced some turnovers late in drives and got a huge fourth-down stop early in the game. Iowa and Oregon coming up are different challenges, but a bend but don’t break defense can still win a lot of games. You just have to make sure it doesn’t break.

Fourth Down Efficiency

In a perfect world, you never have to convert on fourth down because you convert at a high level on third down. And to be fair, the Buckeyes were 8-for-17 on third down this week, which isn’t bad.

The Buckeyes were 3-for-4 on fourth down with two touchdowns. Ryan Day and Chip Kelly were aggressive, and it paid off in a major way. That needs to continue until the later part of the season.

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Junk Bond​

Quarterback pressure

Sometimes, a team’s sack numbers can be deceiving, and Ohio State was able to get to Aidan Chiles four times on Saturday, but they have to put more pressure on the quarterback moving forward. It won’t matter against Iowa, but Dillon Gabriel and Oregon can pick any defense apart if given the time and opportunity.

The good part is that the second unit looks great, so there is depth. They just need more from the starting unit. Hopefully getting Tyleik Williams will help that as well.

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Buy/Sell​

Buy: The playmaker’s blocking ability

On the one-handed catch by J.J. Smith from Devin Brown for the touchdown, a lot of people pointed out that TreVeyon Henderson was the man to thank. He picked up a blitzing linebacker on a block that gave Brown the time to get the ball out.

However, all the running backs and receivers are good blockers. Egbuka, Tate, Henderson, and everyone else buy into their roles as not only playmakers but also blockers. And it makes everyone better.

Buy: Carnell Tate

I just mentioned Carnell Tate in the above buy, but I wanted to mention him again because I think it is important what he is doing gets recognized. I know JJ Smith (also see above) and Emeka Egbuka are great, but Tate has settled into his role as the third option so well and is fully bought into this offense and what he brings to it. His breakout game is coming, but until then, he will continue to be mister consistent for the offense and Will Howard.

Sell: Colt McCoy broadcasting

This is more of a tongue-in-cheek one because I really don’t care about broadcasters all that much. Ohio State won’t play on Peacock again this year, but the early returns on Colt McCoy as a broadcaster aren’t great.

I loved McCoy as a player, and I hope he improves. It’s only week five, anyway.

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You’re Nuts: Jeremiah Smith is the best Ohio State freshman since...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



The Buckeyes’ star wide receiver has already put his name on an elite list.

Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.

In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.

This week’s topic: Jeremiah Smith is the best Ohio State freshman since...​

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Josh’s Take​

Ohio State pushed its record to a perfect 4-0 on Saturday night with a comfortable win over Michigan State in the Buckeyes’ Big Ten opener. Going on the road for the first time this season, OSU took a while to get going in East Lansing, resulting in “just” a 3-0 lead after one quarter.

But then – similar to what we saw against Akron and Marshall – Ryan Day’s squad pulled away in the second and third (quarters), eventually going up 38-7 and pulling starters. All in all, it was a productive and prosperous business trip for the Scarlet and Gray, despite another slow(ish) start.

Another common theme is, was, and has been the outstanding play of Ohio State true freshman Jeremiah Smith. The seemingly AI-generated wide receiver produced at least two more insane highlights on Saturday night, as part of a six-touch, two-touchdown outing — his second two-TD performance in just four games. Sorry, that was a lot of twos.

Smith’s continued excellence already has people labeling him the best true freshman and possibly best wide receiver in OSU history. Which might sound crazy after just four games, but I mean, there’s an argument to be made, right? And that argument is more or less what inspired today’s edition of You’re Nuts.

Gene and I acknowledge and agree that Smith is up there, somewhere, in terms of all-time first-year greats for the Buckeyes. But we were wondering: Best since when? Or best since whom?

By leading off, I know that I get/have an advantage. I get the pick of the litter. And in my opinion, the pick of the litter is Andy Katzenmoyer, who was a true freshman in 1996... A scorching hot take, right?

As a true freshman in ‘96, the Big Kat became the first freshman linebacker ever to start Week 1 for Ohio State. He then proceeded to wreck shop all season for the Buckeyes, earning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten, and All-American honors/status along the way. Katzenmoyer also helped OSU reach and win the 1997 Rose Bowl while setting multiple school records. Not freshman records, mind you. School records.

Now, I acknowledge(d) that my pick of Katzenmoyer is not the hottest take ever published. But here’s where I will spice things up a bit: Not only do I think that Katenzmoyer is the best freshman in Ohio State history, but I also don’t think that Jeremiah Smith will come close to “catching” the Big Kat, relatively speaking. Allow me to explain.

Katzenmoyer was a Second Team All-American as a freshman. He racked up 12 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions and a pick-6. He did things that no other Buckeye had ever done before, and hasn’t done since! Hell, there’s an argument to be made that Katzenmoyer produced the single greatest defensive season in OSU history. As a damn freshman.

So yeah, Smith is doing some crazy things. He is quite possibly the most talented football player I’ve ever laid eyes on. And he could very well break every OSU receiving record by the time he leaves Columbus. But to put Smith in the conversation with Katzenmoyer (frosh season(s) only), I need to see something like 1,800 yards and 15 TD from the former.

And if Smith does put up those numbers – as a true freshman – well then, we might just have to start talking about him as potentially the best player in Ohio State history. Not freshman... Player.

Until then, I’m riding with the Big Kat.

Gene’s Take​

It is honestly unfair to Jeremiah Smith that he has to spend three full seasons playing college football, as I realistically think he would be perfectly fine to enter the NFL after this season and would quickly become one of the league’s best wide receivers. That being said, Ohio State is certainly happy that they get multiple years of Smith, as he is already one of the program’s top dogs after just four career games.

Unlike Josh, my Buckeyes fandom didn’t start until much later in life when I enrolled at Ohio State in 2014 — a pretty good year to do it, I might add. That said, my four years in Columbus and subsequent following of the team has led me to pick up on a lot of the history of the storied program, and so while my recency bias for guys I’ve actually watched play would probably lead me to talk about J.K. Dobbins’ 1,400-yard season as a freshman in 2017, I will instead go with the more obvious standout freshman running back.

That, of course, is Maurice Clarett.

An Ohio kid like Katzenmoyer, Clarett attended Warren G. Harding High School, where he was awarded Ohio Mr. Football and was named a U.S. Army All-American. Clarett committed to Ohio State coach Jim Tressel in 2002, having already been familiar with the head coach after his previous run at Youngstown State, with Clarett having been born in Youngstown. The 6-foot tailback came to Columbus as the No. 5 RB in the country and a top-40 player nationally.

Much like Smith, Clarett became a household name almost immediately upon his arrival. In the Buckeyes’ very first game of the 2002 season against Texas Tech, Clarett racked up 175 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries as he helped lead Ohio State to a 45-21 victory in front of the home crowd. He followed it up with another two-touchdown performance in a blowout win over Kent State, and from there tallied five-straight games of at least 100 yards rushing, with at least two touchdowns in four of the five games and a 230-yard rushing performance against Washington State.

Despite not playing in three games and battling a shoulder injury in the latter half of the season, Clarett went on to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year after racking up 1,237 yards on the ground — at the time a freshman record — and 18 touchdowns. However, Clarett’s magical first-year run did not stop there, as he was also a pivotal part of Ohio State’s 2002 National Championship.

Clarett scored twice in the hotly contested matchup against Miami, including what would end up being the winning score in double overtime on a 5-yard touchdown run to seal a 31-24 victory for the Buckeyes. He also made a crucial play in that game without the ball in his hands, stripping the ball from Hurricanes’ safety Sean Taylor on an interception return to get Ohio State the ball back.

Obviously Clarett had his issues off the field, but he has since really turned his life around and has become an active member of his community. Clarett has used his struggles to keep others on the right path, sharing his story at prisons, juvenile detention facilities and at youth football camps to keep others from repeating it. He has since been invited back to Ohio State on several occasions, including for the 10-yard anniversary the of 2002 championship season in 2012.

Clarett completely dominated on the field as a freshman, and it is a shame we didn’t get to see how the rest of his collegiate career at Ohio State would have unfolded. Still, the Buckeyes will always be grateful for Clarrett’s role in helping them to win a national title in his first year on campus. Hopefully Smith can be a part of his own national championship run as a freshman with the Buckeyes.

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Time, Network Set for Ohio State at Oregon, #3 at #6 - Athlon Sports
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Time, Network Set for Ohio State at Oregon, #3 at #6 Athlon Sports

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Ohio State film study: What worked — and what didn’t — in the Buckeyes’ win at Michigan State - The New York Times
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Ohio State film study: What worked — and what didn’t — in the Buckeyes’ win at Michigan State The New York Times

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NBC4 to broadcast Ohio State-Oregon showdown - NBC4 WCMH-TV
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NBC4 to broadcast Ohio State-Oregon showdown NBC4 WCMH-TV

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Ohio State football stock report: Caleb Downs makes first major impact at Michigan State - The Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football stock report: Caleb Downs makes first major impact at Michigan State The Columbus Dispatch

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Ohio State football reporters roundtable: Evaluating the Buckeyes' start to Big Ten play - The Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football reporters roundtable: Evaluating the Buckeyes' start to Big Ten play The Columbus Dispatch

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You’re Nuts: Jeremiah Smith is the best Ohio State freshman since... - Land Grant Holy Land
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You’re Nuts: Jeremiah Smith is the best Ohio State freshman since... Land Grant Holy Land

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Heavyweight Ohio State vs. Oregon Big Ten bout to air on NBC, Peacock in college football Week 7 - NBC Sports
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Heavyweight Ohio State vs. Oregon Big Ten bout to air on NBC, Peacock in college football Week 7 NBC Sports

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COLUMN: Most popular use of yellow buckeye nuts is, well, nuts - InnisfilToday.ca
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COLUMN: Most popular use of yellow buckeye nuts is, well, nuts InnisfilToday.ca

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Will Howard injury update: Peacock broadcast reveals update on Ohio State QB status - On3
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Will Howard injury update: Peacock broadcast reveals update on Ohio State QB status On3

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WATCH: Ohio State with some trickery to extend lead at Michigan State in the first half - Buckeyes Wire
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WATCH: Ohio State with some trickery to extend lead at Michigan State in the first half Buckeyes Wire

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Power Two Podcast: Alabama-Georgia will go down as a timeless classic
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

An epic battle between two powerhouse programs that will be etched in college football history.

Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football… and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.

After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.

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Jordan and DJ start today’s show with a general conversation about Roc Nation athletes and DJs’ connections with the NFL. Jordan dives into his boomer opinions about conference realignment and gives the latest update regarding the Mountain West.

This week’s two-minute drill starts with the controversial call that ended the Miami-Virginia Tech game. Mario Cristobal is still a loser, so we anticipate that even with this bailout, there will be a game where it happens.

Jordan shares his thoughts on the dissolution of the Big Ten East and how Maryland, Rutgers, and Indiana stand to benefit from it. They then relish in the beauty that was the Alabama-Georgia game, and wrap up with a lively discussion about Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter’s Heisman contention.

For once, we were not completely irritated by the AP Rankings. They could be reordered, but the addition of Indiana and UNLV gives us hope that we are finally rewarding teams for their efforts not just for their conference or previous season.

We are really on a roll in our Pregame Power Sweep, having projected five of the top games from Week 5. For Week 6, we suggested these games:

• Friday: Syracuse-UNLV
• Saturday, Noon: Mizzou-A&M or SMU-Louisville
• Mid-Day: Iowa-Ohio State
• Primetime: Michigan-Washington\
• After Dark: Miami-Cal
• Honorable Mentions: Ole Miss-South Carolina (mid-day), Rutgers-Nebraska (mid-day), and Indiana-Northwestern (mid-day).

In the two-minute warning, Jordan shares his excitement for the New York Yankees being the No. 1 seed. DJ shares an update about the WNBA Playoffs — Round Two starts this week and the matchups will be great basketball to watch.

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If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.

You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.

Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast

Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia

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Ohio State reveals players of the game from win over Michigan State - On3.com
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Ohio State reveals players of the game from win over Michigan State On3.com

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