You’re Nuts: Who will win Big Ten Freshman of the Year?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images

Jon Rothstein thinks Juni Mobley will be, “one of the top newcomers,” in the country, but will he win Big Ten Freshman of the Year?

The official/unofficial preseason media poll was released this week, along with first and second-team All-Big Ten teams, Freshman of the Year and Transfer of the Year predictions, and more. The Buckeyes were picked to finish eighth in the conference, although one brave media member did pick them to finish first. Bruce Thornton was the only Ohio State representative on the first or second team — he was voted first team All-Big Ten.

Last week, Connor and Justin debated what Ohio State’s record will be once it completes its 11-game non conference portion of the schedule that includes four SEC teams and Pitt. Connor predicted a record of 9-2, with losses to Auburn and Texas A&M. Justin went with 8-3, and thinks the Buckeyes will lost to Auburn, Texas A&M, and Texas.

Justin won the poll by just a hair, with 29% of the vote. Right behind him was the “worse than 8-3” option, with 27% of the vote. 25% of the readers sided with Connor, and the remaining 19% believe Ohio State will end the non conference with fewer than two losses. Love the confidence there, 19%.

After 172 weeks:​

Connor- 81
Justin- 70
Other- 17​

(There have been four ties)​

Now that pre-season accolades are being dished out, we thought we would dish out our own. Unfortunately, neither of our basketball writers were brave enough to take Jon Rothstein’s advice and give it to Juni Mobley.

This week’s question: Who will win Big Ten Freshman of the Year? ​

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Connor: Daniel Jacobsen​

Meet Purdue’s new 7’3” center, Daniel Jacobsen:

9 PTS
10 REBS
5 BLKS

Team USA beats Argentina by 22-points in the FIBA U18 Americup

pic.twitter.com/xJQ1uimgdc

— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) June 4, 2024​

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There’s a pair of five-star freshmen at Rutgers you say? Two guys who will both be drafted in the lottery and are probably going to carry Rutgers to the NCAA Tournament? That’s nice, but I’ll take the next player who will be the product of the Purdue big man factory — Daniel Jacobsen.

Jacobsen is a 7-foot-4, 235-pound center from Chicago who finished his high school career at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire — the same high school former Buckeye Alonzo Gaffney graduated from. Jacobsen was the No. 148 player in the 2024 cycle, the No. 29 center, and the No. 3 player in the state of New Hampshire.

Jacobsen is as tall as Zach Edey, but he’s 65 pounds lighter than Edey was at this time last season. While expectations for Jacobsen are high among Purdue fans, there won’t be pressure on the freshman to step right into the lineup in November and start producing. The Boilermakers also have 7-foot-2 Will Berg, 6-foot-10 Caleb Furst, and 6-foot-9 Trey Kaufman-Renn on the roster, which means Matt Painter has a few different options at center if he doesn’t want to throw Jacobsen into the fire so soon.

But in the long term, Jacobsen may be the best option for Purdue at center. Being tall isn’t everything, but there’s no denying that it’s something. Jacobsen has a huge wingspan and can block and alter shots that nobody else can. He’s also coming into college with at least a little bit of a jump shot — something Edey never developed in college, even with all of his success.

Purdue was picked to win the Big Ten for the third consecutive season this week in the pre-season media poll, and I think to do that the Boilermakers will need to get some production out of Jacobsen this season. He didn’t receive a single vote for Freshman of the Year, but there’s a real chance he’s just as productive as any other freshman in this conference, recruiting rankings be damned.

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Justin: Ace Bailey​

There are a lot of talented freshmen in the conference, but I am going to go with the chalk pick and the one that is the most talented and will likely have the most opportunity.

Bailey is a 6-foot-8, 195-pound forward with elite athleticism and will be playing in the NBA next season. He was a five-star in the 2025 class and the No. 2 overall recruit, only behind generational talent Cooper Flagg. Bailey has no weaknesses in his game and will be one of the top players in the conference as soon as he steps on the court.

Adam Finkelstein, the Director of Scouting for 247Sports, said Bailey, “has terrific size and effortless athleticism on the wing. He covers the court fluidity, plays way above the rim, and can move laterally as well. Because his physical tools can be so glaring, it’s easy to underestimate his skill set, which includes a good-looking shooting stroke.”

He added, “On top of all that, Bailey has also shown signs of a real passing instinct. That overlap of physical tools, along with under-rated skill and feel, makes him a uniquely talented wing prospect in the national class. He’ll only continue to ascend as he develops his body, his ability to create his own shot off the dribble, and proves himself against top competition.”

No need to overthink this. His main competition for this will be his teammate Dylan Harper, but I think Bailey will average 16 and 8 per game and be a top five — or top two — NBA Draft pick.

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Continue reading...

Ohio State’s defense is actually good; Or, Are all college football fans as neurotic as we are?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Made with Google AI

A rambling argument for allowing joy into your college football fandom.

I’ve never been a fan of a college football team other than the Ohio State Buckeyes, so I have no frame of reference for the inner workings of how other fanbases react to the highs and lows of a given CFB game or season. However, as the son of two OSU alums, someone who grew up in Central Ohio, and a proud graduate of The Ohio State University, I feel like I’ve got a pretty good handle on how Buckeye Nation responds when things go well and when they don’t, and sometimes often more times than not there is always a portion of the fanbase who is violently angry about something.

Now, I want to make it clear, that I am not scolding or criticizing anyone for their natural reactions to what they see on or off the field. I am a strong believer that as long as you aren’t being a jerk about it, no one should tell you how you should or shouldn’t feel as a fan. Additionally, I recognize that over the years, we here at LGHL have had a tendency to be a bit more critical than many (ok, any) other outlets that cover the Buckeyes. So, this is not a condemnation of anyone in any way; it is simply an exploration of how we react to our team compared to other fanbases and in one particular case through the early part of this season, whether or not it is justified.

It has long been accepted as fact in college football circles that the majority of Ohio State supporters live in one of two equally extreme camps on opposite ends of the fandom spectrum; they either believe that the Buckeyes are the sun and the moon of the college football world and anything that goes even slightly wrong is a result of a multi-pronged global conspiracy that somehow always begins and ends with ESPN’s blind hatred of the program; or, they think that no matter what success OSU has, there are far more egregious flaws and incompetences in the program that the sheep in the fandom — including beat reporters — are too blind to recognize.

If you think that I am being hyperbolic, perhaps I am to a certain degree, but if you spend even a few minutes on social media during a game sampling the conversations amongst Buckeye fans, you will quickly find that my assessment is not that far off. But my question is, is that different for other fandoms? Is the Jekyll and Hyde nature of our fanbase somehow unique in the college football world?

Were Texas fans going apoplectic last weekend when the Longhorns, with a backup quarterback (albeit a five-star Manning), only beat a 1-and-4 conference opponent 35 to 13? Are Georgia fans calling for Kirby Smart to be fired following a horrible first-half performance and a late-game loss against Alabama?

While not apples-to-apples comparisons to what has been bothering Ohio State fans so far this season, I do wonder if the general level of agita that we feel on a weekly basis is similar to what fans of UGA, Bama, Texas, Oregon, Miami, and other blue-blood programs go through from game to game.

For example, one of the current concerns for the more critical Buckeye faithful is whether or not Ohio State’s defense is truly at a national championship level. The statistics would certainly suggest that it is, as Jim Knowles’ unit is No. 1 in the country in points allowed per game (6.8) and non-blitz pressure rate (45.1%); second in yards allowed per game (196.5), plays allowed of 10+ yards (28), and stop rate (88.9%); third in rushing yards per game allowed (61.75) and red zone conversion percentage (60%); and they haven’t given up a single play of 30 or more yards this season.

However, for some fans, that is as much a byproduct of the opponents that the Buckeyes have faced as it is a reflection of the unit’s true dominance. This section of the fanbase will point to the defensive line still not getting home consistently, issues with undisciplined linebackers, the lack of press coverage from cornerbacks, and coaching decisions like the defensive line rotation and playing three LBs even when the situation doesn’t appear to call for it.

I am not going to dismiss any of these concerns, because I think that they are all valid to varying degrees, but I get the sense that if Penn State or USC or Tennessee or Oklahoma fans had stats like those, regardless of who they were racked up against, the vast majority of those fans would be beating their chests about how dominant their defense has been.

Again, I don’t think that the questions about the Buckeye defense are necessarily off-base, and I certainly have questions of my own. My biggest one has to do with whether or not the right players are being put in the best positions to succeed. None of us fans are afforded the opportunity to see what happens at practices or sit in on staff meetings, so we don’t have anywhere near a full picture of what goes into coaches’ decisions, but we do have four games’ worth of film and data to analyze.

As an example, Sonny Styles's physical athleticism is undeniable, but early in his transition to linebacker, he still seems to be playing without the discipline needed for the position. He is relying on his natural abilities — which are admittedly immense — and when he looks best, it is often when he is able to attack a ball carrier and make a one-on-one play outside the framework of the scheme. However, the younger of OSU’s two Styles brothers seems to struggle when it comes to being patient and locking down his portion of the field as mandated by the play call.

However, Arvell Reese — who, like Sonny, is transitioning to LB this season — has appeared to be more well-rounded when it comes to what the Buckeyes have asked him to do. The sophomore has the best Pro Football Focus grade of any linebacker on the team with more than 20 snaps. Thus far, however, Reese has played just over half as much as Styles (who has PFF’s 22nd-best grade on OSU’s defense to Reese’s seventh).

Even though Reese appears to be more than capable of handling all aspects of the job, Knowles and position coach James Laurinaitis aren’t yet comfortable putting him out there in two-LB sets. Instead, he has been playing the Mike linebacker position with Styles on one side and Cody Simon on the other — at least when everyone is healthy. And since the Buckeyes’ base defense is a 4-2-5, that means that Reese is only getting first-team reps in an alternate package.

While I still think that there is considerable value in utilizing Styles’ athleticism and allowing him to get high-leverage game reps in order to add to his experience, it seems obvious to me that Reese deserves more of a shot in OSU’s base defense. I’ve also recently wondered if some of the backup defensive linemen needed to be seeing more time.

But, that is a further tangent that distracts from my main point, which is that while there are admitted issues with the defense, the unit is still incredibly good, especially if Tyleik Williams returns as planned against Iowa. With the added stability of Ohio State’s best defensive lineman back to anchor the front six (or seven), I don’t think that there is significant reason to be concerned about the long-term viability of the defense. Yes, the competition has been subpar, but this is the type of performance you want to see against subpar competition; overall dominance while getting guys reps in different situations and experimenting a bit to see who can handle what and when.

For those who want to see more sacks from Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, I’m there with you, but we are in a new era of college football where quarterbacks are getting the ball out much more quickly than they ever have before. Nonetheless, OSU is tied for 11th in the country with 3.25 sacks per game, so it’s not like they aren’t getting home at all. Throw Tyleik back into the lineup, and you have to feel better about where they stand on the pressure front.

While all of the general caveats about the level of competition are valid, when looking at the advanced analytics that factor in strength of opponent, the Buckeyes are No. 2 nationally in adjusted expected points added (EPA) per play, arguably the most important metric in analytical models. The OSU defense is also currently second according to SP+’s model, just slightly behind the Hawkeyes. So while the season stats and analytics thus far do not guarantee success against the best teams remaining on Ohio State’s schedule, I would much rather the early accolades than not.

There is room to grow for this defense, for sure; both in terms of player and coach performance. And I understand that despite similarly impressive numbers last season, the defense failed to turn in a spectacular game against their rival in the regular season finale robbing the team of a potential national championship. We have been burned before by seemingly paper-tiger defenses, so a certain level of doubt about the unit’s ability to perform in th marquee matchups on their schedule is warranted.

However, this defense — in my estimation — is markedly better than last year’s. The vast majority of starters are returning from the statistically great 2023 unit, and I don’t think that any of them have gotten worse. Then, of course, the OSU defense has added arguably the best safety in the country in Caleb Downs, and Ty Hamilton has been a solid replacement for the now departed (and suspended) Mike Hall Jr.

Is the Buckeye D perfect? No, of course not. Can it get better? I sure hope so, but I have to wonder if some Ohio State fans’ inherent inferiority complex and crippling need for perfection (and I am including myself in these ranks at times) are actually robbing us of the joy and pride that any other fanbase would feel given the performance witnessed on the field through four games.

I watch college football not as a parasocial way to define my existence as a human, but as a form of entertainment and connection to my home and my roots. In my mind, those efforts should always be centered on celebration whenever possible. From an objective perspective, there will never not be something that the team can improve, but I worry that our hyperfocus on those particular thorns ruins the view of the uniquely beautiful roses that we walk amongst as Buckeye fans.

Perhaps Dawsg fans, and Vols fans, and Canes fans, and Sooner fans, and Horns fans, and Tide fans go through the same pits of despair that we do following a five-touchdown victory, I don’t know. But, as I age, I increasingly think that it’s more than a little bit sad that anyone — especially Buckeye fans — would watch something that they love and get only pain and frustration out of it.

Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with being critical of something that you love when it warrants it, but when that is your default, and no evidence to the contrary can persuade you otherwise, I feel like you might be missing out on the best part of fandom: seizing every opportunity — no matter how minor — to overinflate your own, personal ego and rub it in the faces of everyone who has ever doubted you or your team before.

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Chance Gray helps Ohio State women’s basketball in multiple ways for 2024-25 season
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

How the Cincinnati, Ohio native returning home helps the Buckeyes in more ways than one.

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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When Ohio State women’s basketball steps onto the court this November for its first regular season game, the Buckeyes will be practically a brand new team. After losing three starters to the final seasons of NCAA eligibility, head coach Kevin McGuff retooled with a large freshman class and two transfers of ready-to-go starters.

Chance Gray is one of those starters.

The Ohio-raised former Oregon Duck joins the Buckeyes to help fill a spot left by another former Duck, and then some.

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Name: Chance Gray
Position: Shooting Guard
Class: Junior
High School: Winton Woods High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
2023-24 Stats: 13.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.0 apg, .347 FG%, .337 3FG%, .811 FT%

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Last Season​

After five-straight seasons with the Ducks in the NCAA Tournament, the then-Pac-12 program slumped to the lowest its been in for 11 seasons. After making a four-game run in the WNIT for the 2022-23 season, Oregon’s top two playmakers left for greener pastures. Endyia Rogers headed to Texas A&M and Te-Hina Paopao eventually became a national champion with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Staying put was a pair of Ohioans in Grace Vanslooten and Chance Gray. The two quickly became the focal point of the Ducks offense.

Gray, who started in all but one game for Oregon in her two NCAA seasons, averaged 36.3 minutes per game, the third most in the conference. Gray was second on the Ducks, averaging 13.9 points per game to help Oregon get off to a 9-4 start to the season.

Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

However, it wouldn’t last once conference play began. Oregon ended the season going 2-17, missing postseason basketball and ending the season with the Ducks’ worst season since the 12-13 season.

Despite a tough conference stretch, Gray was a catalyst for positive momentum. When the guard was creating offense, the Ducks were usually winning. Oregon was 9-5 in games where Gray had at least four assists, losing to the likes of the Stanford Cardinals and UCLA Bruins.

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What to Expect​

Ask coach McGuff what plagued the Buckeyes last season and his answer is clear.

“If you looked at kinda what our shortcomings were at times last year, one of them was we could have some nights where we didn’t shoot the ball from the three-point line.” said McGuff. “Chance is a really good shooter and overall scorer so I think she’s going to be really impactful in that way from day one.”

Gray led Oregon with 1.9 three-point shots made per game, the same output as former Buckeye Jacy Sheldon last season, but that was on a stifled Ducks offense. The team surrounding Gray in Columbus will afford the guard more opportunities to make an impact.

Where Gray and Sheldon differ is that Gray isn’t as effective going to the basket, but still has it in her arsenal as an available weapon.

With her deep shooting threat, it draws extra attention. That’s when Gray finds open teammates and helps create plays. Gray used outlets like Vanslooten and 6-foot-8 center Phillipina Kyei to her advantage.

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Prediction​

There’s no reason that Gray shouldn’t be in the starting lineup for the Buckeyes through the duration of the season. She’s the lone starting-caliber shooting guard on Ohio State’s roster, and the first offensive-minded shooting guard for McGuff since Taylor Mikesell left Oregon before the 21-22 season.

Now, Gray won’t make as many shots from deep as Mikesell but will have teammates to pass to like Jaloni Cambridge, Cotie McMahon, Taylor Thierry and fellow transfer Ajae Petty.

That means Gray won’t get the same kind of extra defensive pressure and can exploit one-on-one matchups. Once Ohio State’s fast paced offense hits its stride, Gray will get open looks and make things easier for those around her.

The offense and shooting is great, but Ohio State added five freshman in the offseason. Gray’s two years of playing far away from home, on a team that faced its challenges, transfers over to the new names on the roster.

Gray’s maturity as an upperclassmen will help No. 1 ranked freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge. They’re the likeliest backcourt duo for McGuff and Gray will provide a stabilizing presence for the new college star on day one.

Having an experienced guard, someone McGuff trusted enough to recruit out of high school and continue to pursue once she decided that she wasn’t a good fit in green and yellow, sets the Buckeyes up for her final two seasons of eligibility and beyond. That’s because behind Gray is another shooting guard with a bright future in freshman Ava Watson. The freshman fits the characteristics of a guard who thrives in the McGuff system.

Unless Gray takes longer to understand the offense, which watching the Buckeyes early in their practice doesn’t show someone struggling to adjust, seeing her play 35 to 37 minutes per game wouldn’t be a surprise.

Plus, having the advantage of a non-conference schedule featuring mostly mid major sides bodes well for an even shorter adjustment period.

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Highlights​

Here’s Gray showing her range of offense against Oklahoma State on Dec. 21, 2023.

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Other Player Previews​

Catch up on all the player previews you missed:

Madison Greene
Eboni Walker
Ava Watson

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247
Rivals
On3
Hudl



Class: 2026
Position: LB
School: Watkinsville (GA) Oconee County
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 215 lbs

Get ready for tomorrow’s Iowa game with all of the previews you need
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

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For your Earholes...​

Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land


Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio

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On the Gridiron​

Things you need to know about the Iowa Hawkeyes — and a few you don’t need to know, but are fun anyway
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

3 keys to victory for Ohio State against Iowa
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Evaluating grades for Buckeyes ahead of physical Iowa clash
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes

Three Keys for Buckeyes in pivotal Big Ten matchup against Iowa
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Calls Iowa “The Epitome of Winning the Turnover Battle and the Field-Position Game,” Asks Fans to “Get Really Loud” in the Shoe on Saturday
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors

How Ohio State plans to contain star Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch


Film Study: Breaking Tendencies As the Buckeyes Entered Big Ten Play
Kyle Jones, Eleven Warriors

Five Buckeyes who could become 2024 Heisman Trophy candidates
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

MC&J: Ohio State is nearly three-touchdown favorites over Iowa in Week 6 Big Ten action
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State Tight Ends, Wide Receivers Blocking Better on Perimeter in 2024
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors

We had @CJ1two build his all-time @OhioStateFB offense

QB --
RB - Ezekiel Elliott
WR1 -
WR2 - Garrett Wilson
WR3 -
TE - pic.twitter.com/b5qZkknr3i

— CBS Sports College Football (@CBSSportsCFB) October 3, 2024​

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On the Hardwood​

What did we learn from Ohio State’s Jake Diebler at Big Ten media day?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

OSU guard Bruce Thornton on why they are working hard in preseason:

“I’m tired of losing, I’m trying to win, I’m trying to get some hardware.”

— Steve Helwagen (@SteveHelwagen) October 3, 2024​

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Column: Ohio State fans drew the short end of the stick with this year’s home basketball schedule
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State’s Madison Green compares Jaloni Cambridge to Jacy Sheldon
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State men’s basketball receives one first-place vote in Big Ten media poll, lands eighth overall
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land

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Outside the Shoe and Schott​

Women’s Ice Hockey: Hailey MacLeod and Jordyn Petrie named WCHA players of the week
Emily Sculli, The Lantern

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And now for something completely different...​

I turned the game off when Cousins threw a pick with less than two minutes left... how the hell did it even get to overtime?

KHADAREL HODGE CALLED GAME#TNFonPrime | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/vtKobQt7gc

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 4, 2024​

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Ohio State v. Iowa: 2024 game preview and prediction
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 Matthew Holst/Getty Images

The Buckeyes host the Hawkeyes for the second time in three years.

Following their first road game of the season, Ohio State returns home to host the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday afternoon. The Buckeyes are coming off a 38-7 win over Michigan State last week, and this week’s game against the Hawkeyes will be Ohio State’s final contest before they head out west to battle the Oregon Ducks in a much-anticipated Big Ten showdown.

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The history between the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes​

This will be the second time in the last three years Iowa has made the journey to Columbus.

Back in 2022, the Buckeyes used four Noah Ruggles field goals, along with a Tommy Eichenberg interception return for a touchdown, to take a 26-10 lead into the halftime break. C.J. Stroud extended Ohio State’s lead with four second half touchdown passes in the 54-10 win. The Buckeye defense made life miserable for a listless Iowa offense by forcing six turnovers in the game, extending Ohio State’s edge in the series to 48-15-3.

The last time Iowa won in Columbus was back in 1991 when they beat the Buckeyes 16-9. At home, Ohio State is 31-9-1 against Iowa. This will be just the fourth meeting between the schools since 2013. The only win by the Hawkeyes during that span was the infamous 55-24 drubbing in Iowa City.

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Last time out for Ohio State​

Ohio State looked shaky at times early on against Michigan State but they weren’t really challenged by the Spartans last week. The Buckeyes never trailed in the game, scoring 31 unanswered points after Michigan State closed the gap to 10-7 in the first half. Jim Knowles’ defense not only gave up just 60 yards after halftime, they kept Michigan State from scoring on three of their four trips inside the red zone.

Ohio State forced three turnovers in the game, securing their 29th straight win when they have forced at least three turnovers. The win was also Ryan Day’s 42nd straight victory over unranked opponents.

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The offense continues to roll​

The big story coming out of Saturday night’s win was the performance of wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

The true freshman not only scored the first rushing touchdown of his career, he electrified the college football world by making two ridiculous one-handed catches on the same drive late in the first half. The second of those catches was a touchdown pass from Devin Brown, extending Ohio State’s lead to 24-7. Earlier this week, Smith was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While Smith received all the headlines in the victory, Emeka Egbuka was actually the team’s leading receiver in the game, finishing with seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Egbuka is now 34 yards away from passing Doug Donley for 10th place on the school’s career receiving yardage rankings, and 77 yards away from moving ahead of Santonio Holmes. Carnell Tate also had a solid game against the Spartans with three catches for 52 yards, while tight end Gee Scott Jr. scored the first touchdown of the game for the Buckeyes.

Will Howard is running an Ohio State offense that is fifth in the country, averaging 534.8 yards per game. Through the first four games of the season, Howard has 11 total touchdowns, with three of those scores coming on the ground. Late in the second quarter last week, Howard took a hard hit that forced him to the sidelines for a few plays, but he returned to the game in the second half and there is no worry about any lingering effects heading into this week’s game against the Hawkeyes.

A fun matchup on Saturday afternoon is going to be Ohio State’s rushing attack against the Iowa defense. The Buckeyes are averaging 227 per game rushing this year, which ranks 14th in the country. On the other side, the Hawkeyes have yet to give up a rushing touchdown or allow an opponent to run for more than 100 yards in a game this season. The combination of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson will be the best backs Iowa has had to try and tame this season.

The dynamic duo was actually pretty quiet last week, combining for just 123 yards on 18 carries, with neither back finding the end zone after they each scored two rushing touchdowns in each of the previous two games. Henderson did become the 12th Buckeyes to reach 3,000 rushing yards in his career, and is now 56 yards from passing Pepe Pearson for 11th all-time in school history. The senior will be looking to have more success against Iowa than he did in 2022 when he gained just 38 yards on 11 carries.

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Another impressive performance from the defense​

The Ohio State defense bent but didn’t break a number of times in the first half against Michigan State, allowing the Spartans to get into the red zone four times, but only allowing points on one of those drives. The Buckeyes forced fumbles twice inside the 20, while standing up Aidan Chiles on fourth down in the other unsuccessful red zone trip for the Spartans.

Entering this week, Ohio State is allowing just 6.8 points per game, which is the lowest mark in the country. Through four games the Buckeyes have allowed just 27 points, which is their fifth-lowest total through four games since 1950.

All three levels of the defense played major roles in shutting down Michigan State last week. Leading the Buckeyes in tackles was safety Caleb Downs, who finished with six tackles, which is his highest total since transferring into the program from Alabama in the offseason. Cornerback Denzel Burke grabbed his second interception of the season, and Lathan Ransom forced his second fumble of the year to round out the notable contributions from the secondary in the game.

Leading the team with 23 tackles so far this year is linebacker Sonny Styles. After missing the first game of the season, Cody Simon has been rounding into form in his final season as a Buckeye as the veteran of the unit. Arvell Reese is looking like the future at the position with 15 tackles and two TFLs. Reese has seen his role continue to expand each game since the beginning of the season. C.J. Hicks has also provided some depth at the position.

The defensive line received a boost last week with the return of defensive tackle Tyleik Williams after he missed the game against Marshall. Ohio State’s defense has 13 sacks so far this season, with J.T. Tuimoloau leading the charge with 2.5 sacks. Along with those sacks, the Buckeyes have also recorded 29 tackles for loss. With playmakers at each level of the defense, it is easy to see why opponents are having such a tough time putting points on the scoreboard against the Buckeyes.

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Ferentz keeps racking up wins​

Iowa enters Saturday’s game coming off a bye week following a 31-14 win at Minnesota to reclaim Floyd of Rosedale. The Hawkeyes are 3-1 on the season, with their only loss coming to Iowa State in a game where they blew a second half lead in Iowa City.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz currently has 199 career wins, which is tied with Amos Alonzo Stagg for second-most by a Big Ten coach. With seven more victories Ferentz will pass legendary Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes for the most wins ever by a coach from the conference.

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Ground game fuels the Iowa offense​

For Ohio State to win this game, they’ll need to slow down Kaleb Johnson, who has been one of the best running backs in the country this season. Johnson is coming off a performance against Minnesota that saw him run for 206 yards and three touchdowns, earning him Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week honors.

The Iowa running back has rushed for at least 100 yards in all four games this season, becoming the first Hawkeyes since Mark Weisman in 2014 to reach triple digits on the ground in the season’s first four games.

Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The running back from the Cincinnati area has been able to break off a bunch of big runs this year, with 12 rushes over 20 yards and four touchdowns runs of at least 25 yards. As a team, Iowa has rushed for at least 200 yards in all four games this season, marking the first time since 2013 they have reached that mark in the first third of the regular season.

Taking the snaps for Iowa will be former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara. After losing the starting quarterback job to J.J. McCarthy in Ann Arbor, McNamara found a new home in Iowa City but his 2023 season was cut short due to injury. Even though his play has been questioned at times, the most important stat when it comes to McNamara is he is 20-5 as a starter.

So far this season, McNamara has completed 64 of his 102 pass attempts for 588 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. McNamara’s only start against Ohio State came in 2021, throwing for 159 in Michigan’s win over the Buckeyes.

Even though Iowa prefers to run the football, they do have some capable targets in the passing game. Leading the team in receptions is Northwestern transfer Jacob Gill, who has 13 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown. The most familiar name catching footballs for Iowa is tight end Luke Lachey, the son of Ohio State offensive lineman Jim Lachey. Addison Ostrenga is the third Hawkeye with at least 10 catches this year, while Reece Vander Zee has a team-high two touchdown catches.

The Hawkeyes aren’t going to put 50 points on the scoreboard, but they are at least making strides under new offensive coordinator Tim Lester. Already this season, Iowa has two games with at least 400 yards of offense. The last time the Hawkeyes had two games of at least 400 offensive yards was back in 2021. If Iowa can get at least decent play from their offense in combination with their stingy defense, they could cause problems for a lot of teams around the country.

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A top tier defense​

The calling card of the Hawkeyes is Phil Parker’s defense, which is annually one of the best units in the country. Iowa is in the midst of a streak that has seen them allow less than 400 yards of offense to opponents in 32 consecutive games.

When Iowa and Ohio State met back in 2022, the Buckeyes finished with 360 yards of offense. As mentioned earlier, the run defense of the Hawkeyes has been especially tough to crack, allowing less than 100 yards in all four games this year, as well as no rushing touchdowns.

Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images

The strength of the Iowa defense is at linebacker with Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson. Higgins currently leads the team with 34 tackles and he also has a nose for the football, picking off two passes and a forced fumble. The senior has 251 career tackles, which seem like a lot but actually is over 200 less than Jackson, who is approaching 500 career stops. Jackson started his career at Virginia and has 25 tackles this season.

The Hawkeyes have a number of defensive linemen who have done a great job at creating chaos in the backfield over the first four games. Leading the charge for the unit is defensive tackle Aaron Graves, who has a team-high three sacks. Defensive ends Ethan Hackett, Brian Allen, and Max Llewellyn sit just behind Graves with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks each. Yahya Black has teamed with Graves on the interior of the line to create problems for opponents with 11 tackles and 2.5 TFLs.

While the secondary of the Hawkeyes will have their hands full with Ohio State’s receivers, they are a talented group that can make plays. Sebastian Castro is a sure tackler with 17 stops so far this year and has forced a fumble. Cornerback Jermari Harris leads the team with two picks. The safety spots are manned by Quinn Schulte and Xavier Nwankpa, who was the highest-rated recruit to ever commit to Iowa. TJ Hall will also see significant time in Saturday’s game at the cornerback spot opposite Harris.

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Prediction​

The Hawkeyes are undoubtedly going to be the toughest challenge Ohio State has faced this year, and will be a great tuneup for next week’s Oregon game. If Iowa had a little more to offer on offense they would have the capability to take the Buckeyes down to the wire. The Hawkeyes just aren’t equipped to handle a deficit if Ohio State can put a couple of early scores on the board.

Where the Buckeyes have to be careful is they can’t let Kaleb Johnson get going early on the ground. If Johnson is able to break off some runs, it will not only wear on the defense, it will keep Ohio State’s potent offense off the field. Plus, if the Hawkeyes can run the football more than they throw it they’ll have a better chance at putting a scare into the Buckeyes. Cade McNamara has the ability to make some plays with his arm, but he also can be forced into mistakes with the relentless pass rush of J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, and the rest of the Ohio State defense.

The scary thing is we likely haven’t even seen close to Chip Kelly’s full playbook yet since the level of competition Ohio State has played has been so weak so far this season. Since Iowa possesses the toughest defense the Buckeyes have seen so far, expect to see a few more wrinkles this week without giving away too much ahead of Oregon next week. This game could play out a bit like the 2022 contest with Iowa hanging around early before the Buckeyes pull away in the second half.

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 34, Iowa 14​

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WATCH: Ohio State basketball coach Jake Diebler is mic'd up as Buckeyes start practice - The Columbus Dispatch
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WATCH: Ohio State basketball coach Jake Diebler is mic'd up as Buckeyes start practice The Columbus Dispatch

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Could the Buckeyes get a five-star quarterback BOOM this weekend?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Brady Edmunds has been crystalballed to Ohio State since August and will be in Columbus for the third time.

There are a lot of reasons to be excited about Saturday’s game between the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes. With all due respect to the Michigan State Spartans, the game will be the first legitimate test that Ryan Day’s squad will have on the season as Kirk Ferentz’s squad will come to Columbus with an elite defense and a surprisingly not-completely-garbage offense.

While the vast majority of attention will be on whether or not OSU’s occasionally sloppy defense is able to stop Heisman-caliber running back Kaleb Johnson and if Chip Kelly’s offense is able to keep up its production against Phil Parker’s suffocating defense, there will be another potentially major storyline playing out on the sidelines of Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

As is almost always the case with a home game, the Buckeyes will be welcoming in a number of recruits of both the committed and uncommitted variety. In terms of the players that have already pledged to play for Ohio State, according to Bucknuts’ Bill Kurelic, as of now, the group will be led by 2025’s No. 6 player quarterback Tavien St. Clair. He will be joined by No. 5 defensive back Devin Sanchez, No. 28 linebacker Riley Pettijohn, No. 53 offensive lineman Carter Lowe, No. 62 LB Tarvos Alford, No. 97 defensive end Zion Grady, No. 289 DB Deshawn Stewart, No. 436 o-lineman Jake Cook, No. 471 LB Eli Lee, and No. 529 wide receiver Bodpegn Miller. It is also expected that No. 294 wide receiver De’zie Jones will be at The Shoe this weekend as well, but it hasn’t yet been confirmed.

Ohio State currently has the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2025 cycle, but they also have an eye on the future, as they will be welcoming in a handful of players from future classes as well. Planning to watch the OSU vs Iowa game in person will be 2026 prospects offensive linemen Adam Guthrie (No. 212) and Will Conroy (No. 337 nationally) and safety Kaden Gebhardt (No. 481). From the 2027 cycle, currently unranked linebacker Ellis McGaskin (it’s still early for sophomores) and No. 10 national player and No. 2 quarterback Brady Edmunds; and it’s that last name that could lead to some fireworks in Columbus this weekend.

The Huntington Beach, California native is the No. 3 player out of the state of California. Even though he is just a sophomore, he is 6 feet 5 and weighs in at 200 pounds. Edmunds’ grandfather is from Cuyahoga Falls, so he grew up a Buckeye fan — always a good sign when hoping for a commitment.

Thanks, in part to his familial connections to the state, Edmunds has been a regular visitor to Columbus and was crystalballed to the Buckeyes back in August. After getting an offer while camping in June, Edmunds is coming back to campus for his first-ever game in Ohio Stadium, and he’s bringing both of his parents with him... always a good sign if you are hoping to get a commitment from a player.

When 247Sports national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins predicted that the QB would eventually commit to OSU back in August, the expectation was that Edmunds would announce his school choice before the end of 2024, now Kurelic reports that Edmunds told him that it’s likely “going to happen sooner rather than later.”

The player still kept the end-of-the-year timetable in play but with a third trip to Central Ohio scheduled for this weekend, a marquee Big Ten matchup happening at The Shoe, both Edmund’s mom and dad being on hand, and his life-long love of the Buckeyes, it does feel like a recipe for a BOOM.

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Ohio State to host four-star guard, Toledo native Jerry Easter Jr. this weekend
Connor Lemons 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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Easter is a top-30 recruit and has been on Ohio State’s radar since before he was in high school.

Jerry Easter Jr. – one of the top guards in the nation and a Toledo native – will take an official visit to Ohio State this weekend, per Easter’s own Twitter/X account.

Easter, who is the No. 32 player in the class and the No. 4 combo guard in the nation according to 247Sports, grew up in Toledo and played two seasons at Emmanuel Christian before transferring to La Lumiere for his junior season. He is now set to play his senior year at Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, alongside three other prospects the Buckeyes have offered – guard Davion Hannah, and centers John Clark and A’mare Bynum.

Bynum, a three-star recruit and the No. 104 player in the nation, will also be visiting Ohio State this weekend.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Easter averaged 32.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Emmanuel Christian. He faced a sharp step up in competition this past season at La Lumiere, but still averaged 18.2 points per game in league play against other top schools in Nike EYBL play.

I started hearing the voices ! pic.twitter.com/zFN6peZVMd

— Jerry Easter II (@JerryEast8) January 31, 2024​

Click to expand...

To show how long Ohio State has been recruiting Easter, just look at when they originally offered him a scholarship. The Buckeyes extended a scholarship offer to Easter in September 2021 – a few weeks before his freshman year of high school began. The coach who made the phone call to Easter about the offer? That would be Jake Diebler, who at the time was an assistant on Chris Holtmann’s staff. Three years later, and the now-head coach of the program is still trying to turn Easter into a Buckeye.

Easter’s mother Trena played basketball at Michigan and is from that state up north, while Easter’s father Jerry is close friends with Ohio State legend Jim Jackson, who is also from Toledo. However, there’s no animosity from Easter’s mother toward the Buckeyes, especially since they’ve spent so much time recruiting her son.

“Whatever college makes us feel home, I think that’s where we’re going to go,” Easter’s father told the Columbus Dispatch in May 2022. “We love Ohio State though, we’re definitely looking at Ohio State. My wife, she was all Michigan, but since Michigan ain’t really come, she’s like ‘Whoever’s got love for my baby, that’s who I’ve got love for’ and that’s how she feels right now.”

Ohio State was the fourth school to offer Easter out of 44 total offers for the high four-star recruit, who at one point early in his high school career was considered one of the very top prospects in the 2025 class. Easter has not cut down a list of finalists, and does not plan on doing so. Easter told Sam Lance of ZagsBlog.com on September 26 that when it’s time to pick a school, he’s just going to pick one and be done with it.

“I might just pick a school to be honest,” Easter said. “I don’t see a point in narrowing it down. I know everybody does that, but I’ll probably just pick a school.”

Easter also said that would like to decide sometime this month, before the next signing period.

“Before the next signing period,” he said. “But if not, then in early January or February. Probably at Hoophall or some big event.”

2025 5️ Jerry Easter II (@JerryEast8) on his unofficial visit to Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/ldB4NaPZrz

— HS Top Recruits (@HSTopRecruiting) October 23, 2022​

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Easter has gone on official visits to Oregon, Georgia Tech, SMU, and Michigan State this year, and the only other school he has a visit planned for at the moment is USC the weekend of Oct. 17-18. Easter also did visit Ohio State in an unofficial capacity in October 2022. If he does make a decision before November, it could come down to those six programs.

Ohio State currently has one commitment in the 2025 recruiting class — four-star guard Dorian Jones from Richmond Heights. Jones will be on an unofficial visit this weekend as well as 2026 Ohio State commit Marcus Johnson, who is a five-star guard from Garfield Heights.

Other recruits that will be in attendance include Bynum (official visit), 2026 four-star forward T.J. Crumble (unofficial visit), and 2026 four-star forward Nate Miles (unofficial visit).


Diebler has previously said that he and his staff may take up to four players in this loaded 2025 class, and that recruiting players from the Buckeye state who want to win at Ohio State is his priority.

“We want to make sure that we’re building relationships across the state, doing our due diligence, spending time and prioritizing (Ohio),” Diebler told Land-Grant Holy Land last month. “That’s the key. We’re going to prioritize this state. And I think you’re seeing that in how we’ve hit the ground running since this new staff has come together.”

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In Conversation: ‘I look at Iowa’s passing game as warm jello’
Matt Tamanini 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 Athletic’s Scott Dochterman previews the OSU-Iowa game.

On Land-Grant’s “In Conversation” podcast, we talk to people in and around Ohio State athletics, and the sporting world at large, to bring you a different insight and perspective to the teams, athletes, and university that you love.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio​

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On today’s episode, Matt Tamanini is in conversation with the Iowa beat writer for The Athletic, Scott Dochterman. In the conversation, they discuss what have been the major changes for the Hawkeyes’ offense this year, as it is averaging almost 17 more points per game this year than it did last year. They discuss what makes Kaleb Johnson a Heisman-caliber running back and how the Iowa defense will look to contain Ohio State’s multi-faceted offense.

But most importantly, Scott drops the best analogy for Iowa’s offense you’ve ever heard. He compares it to warm jello... yep, that’s what he said.

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Connect with Scott Dochterman
Twitter: @ScottDochterman
Read his work here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/scott-dochterman/

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Online Portfolio: https://authory.com/MattTamanini

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Iowa Hawkeyes Could Get Major Boost for Ohio State Buckeyes Game - Sports Illustrated
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Iowa Hawkeyes Could Get Major Boost for Ohio State Buckeyes Game Sports Illustrated

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Ohio State Buckeyes' Jeremiah Smith Lands Wild Take From Analyst - Sports Illustrated
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Ohio State Buckeyes' Jeremiah Smith Lands Wild Take From Analyst Sports Illustrated

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Overlooked by the No. 3 Buckeyes, Iowa's Kaleb Johnson packs some extra motivation for his trip home - The Associated Press
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Overlooked by the No. 3 Buckeyes, Iowa's Kaleb Johnson packs some extra motivation for his trip home The Associated Press

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BM5: Iowa a big test for Buckeyes? | NIL dispute at UNLV dawn of a new day? Or an outlier? - 247Sports
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BM5: Iowa a big test for Buckeyes? | NIL dispute at UNLV dawn of a new day? Or an outlier? 247Sports

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3 Most Important Players for Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Iowa - Sports Illustrated
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3 Most Important Players for Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Iowa Sports Illustrated

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Ohio State vs Iowa Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines - College Football News
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Ohio State vs Iowa Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines College Football News

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Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Prediction 10/5/24 NCAAF Week 6 Picks Today - Tony's Picks
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Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Prediction 10/5/24 NCAAF Week 6 Picks Today Tony's Picks

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Section 26 C
Row 13 | Seats 23, 24. Message me if interested. Make an offer.

Overlooked by the No. 3 Buckeyes, Iowa's Kaleb Johnson packs some extra motivation for his trip home - FOX Sports
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Overlooked by the No. 3 Buckeyes, Iowa's Kaleb Johnson packs some extra motivation for his trip home FOX Sports

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No Fall Weddings: Will Ohio State’s defense be exposed by Iowa’s running game?
Matt Tamanini 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

Jami and Matt also pick their individual top 12 and handicap the Heisman Trophy race.

Every week during the college football season, Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich will be getting into all things Ohio State, previewing the weekend’s slate, unveiling their individual CFP rankings, and picking Heisman contenders on “No Fall Weddings.”

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio​

---

On this episode of the Land-Grant Podcast Network’s “No Fall Weddings,” Jami Jurich and Matt Tamanini drink the Kool-Aid on the greatness that is Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith before exploring whether or not the concerns surrounding the Buckeyes’ recent defensive performances are warranted or a bit overblown.

Then, after a break, Jami and Matt reveal their own personal top-12 lists, dive into the Heisman horserace, and recommend games in each window of the college football season.

---

Connect with Jami Jurich:
Twitter: @JamiJurich

Connect with Matt Tamanini:
Online Portfolio: https://authory.com/MattTamanini

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Twitter
HudL



Class: 2027
Position: RB
School: Chandler (AZ) Basha
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 200lbs

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MC&J: Ohio State is nearly three-touchdown favorites over Iowa in Week 6 Big Ten action
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 Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Plus picks against the spread for the rest of this week’s games around the conference.

Last week ATS: 6-9 (2-5 National, 4-4 B1G)

Season ATS: 48-47 (15-17 National, 33-30 B1G)

Last week certainly had some frustrating results. Michigan fell apart in the fourth quarter to lose the cover, Louisville and Arkansas narrowly missed covering on Saturday afternoon, while Auburn couldn’t finish off Oklahoma.

Our record would look a lot better had we had a little more luck in those games. I guess that’s why they call it gambling!

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B1G games (All games Saturday unless otherwise noted)​

Michigan State v. No. 6 Oregon (-24.5) - Friday 9:00 p.m. ET - FOX

The schedule makers certainly didn’t do Michigan State any favors in this spot. The Spartans are coming off a 38-7 loss to Ohio State on Saturday night, and now have to travel out to Eugene on a short week to take on the Ducks. Right now the only thing going for Michigan State is head coach Jonathan Smith has a lot of familiarity with going to Autzen Stadium from his time at Oregon State.

Oregon has finally started to look like the team we expected them to be prior to the season. After struggling with Idaho and Boise State, the Ducks had no problems with Oregon State and UCLA. About the only thing Oregon can be criticized about in their last two games is not covering against the Bruins last week. Just imagine what Dillon Gabriel is going to be able to do to the Michigan State defense after seeing how much success Will Howard had on Saturday night.

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

We have seen countless times how much a game against Ohio State takes out of teams the next week. Now Michigan State not only has to deal with all those body blows from Saturday night, they have to travel across the country to take on a talented Oregon team that will be hosting their first-ever Big Ten game.

The Spartans are way too sloppy with the football to stay inside the spread.

Oregon 45, Michigan State 17

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UCLA v. No. 7 Penn State (-27.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX

After missing on Penn State’s opener against West Virginia, I somehow have navigated the last three games for the Nittany Lions, correctly predicting they’d cover against Kent State, while siding with Bowling Green and Illinois in the other two contests.

Something still doesn’t feel quite right about the offense of the Nittany Lions, though. It looked like in the opener we’d see Drew Allar air out things more in new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s offense, but that really hasn’t been the case over the last few games.

UCLA is a mess right now. At least for new head coach Deshaun Foster, his team is playing hard. The Bruins didn’t get completely blown off the field against LSU and Oregon. Aside from effort, not much else is going right for UCLA. They have no running game and Ethan Garbers has struggled at quarterback, which is surprising since the Bruins have a couple receivers who played pretty well last year. Since the offense hasn’t been able to sustain drives, it has put more pressure on the defense.

UCLA has already gone to a tough environment and covered this year, squeezing inside the number against LSU a couple weeks ago. This trip to State College is going to be a lot different, especially since it starts at noon in the eastern time zone. Penn State has more to offer on defense than LSU did, so it is going to be extremely challenging for the Bruins to put points on the scoreboard.

I think the Nittany Lions blow out UCLA to send a message to USC, who they take on in Los Angeles next Saturday.

Penn State 44, UCLA 13

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Purdue v. Wisconsin (-13.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network

Wisconsin really needs to channel Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema in this game. If the Badgers don’t run the football at least 40 times, Luke Fickell should fire offensive coordinator Phil Longo on the spot. The running game was working against USC and then for some reason Wisconsin decided the best strategy after halftime would be to abandon what was working. USC outscored the Badgers 28-0 in the second half.

How bad are things in West Lafayette? Following last week’s 28-10 loss to Nebraska, head coach Ryan Walters got rid of offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. Opponents have had a lot of success running the football against the Boilermakers, which is another reason why Wisconsin should give Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker plenty of carries on Saturday afternoon.

Laying nearly two touchdowns with Wisconsin is pretty scary, but it feels like the right play since the Boilermakers haven’t been competitive in any of their three games against FBS foes this year. At least with the Badgers there feels like more of a path to right the ship a bit, where Purdue is lost at sea.

Wisconsin 31, Purdue 14

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No. 23 Indiana (-13.5) v. Northwestern - 3:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network

Apparently I haven’t learned my lesson when it comes to Indiana football, since I have backed the opponents of the Hoosiers to cover in each of the last three games. Maybe Curt Cignetti is printing on my picks and reading them to his team to fire them up before games. Kurtis Rourke had some rough moments early in last week’s game against Maryland, throwing his first two interceptions of the season in the first half of the 42-28 win. The Ohio transfer has thrown for at least 250 yards in each of the last four games.

Northwestern is a really tough watch. Take away their 31-7 win over Eastern Illinois and the Wildcats haven’t scored more than 20 points in their three games against FBS foes this year. Even when they scored 20 points against Duke, that was a game that went to double overtime. I have no idea how they are going to keep pace with an Indiana offense that has scored at least 31 points in every game this season, and at least 40 points in their last four contests.

The Hoosiers continue the fairly tale start to the Cignetti Era in Bloomington with an easy win over Northwestern in the temporary stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan that holds like seven people.

Indiana 38, Northwestern 10

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Rutgers v. Nebraska (-6.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - FS1

Nebraska was able to rebound from their overtime loss to Illinois by pulling away from Purdue in the second half in West Lafayette last week. Quarterback Dylan Raiola is playing more like an upperclassman and not a freshman, throwing for over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns over his first five games with the Cornhuskers. The Nebraska defense has also been really good, allowing 10 points or less in four games so far this season.

Not only is Indiana undefeated so far this season, Rutgers enters this game at 4-0. Last week the Scarlet Knights grinded out a 21-18 win over Washington. The formula for Greg Schiano’s team is to wear down defenses with their running game, have Athan Kaliakmanis make some smart throws, and then rely on your defense to close out games. Kyle Monangai has been one of the best running backs in the country so far this year, but he will be facing his toughest test of the season so far on Saturday afternoon.

I still don’t fully trust Nebraska. This has the feel of a game where Schiano is going to throw some looks at Raiola that will confuse him. The Cornhuskers have been cruising in games where they have built a sizable lead. I don’t think Nebraska is going to run away with this game, and we have all seen how they crumble in one-score contests.

Rutgers 24, Nebraska 20

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No. 10 Michigan v. Washington (-2.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC

We have a rematch of last year’s title game where pretty much nobody of note from either side is back. That’s not technically true since the Wolverines still have Donovan Edwards, who must be a victim of the video game cover curse since he is only averaging 4.4 yards per carry so far this season and has taken a backseat to Kalel Mullings in the backfield.

Quarterback Alex Orji will be making his third start of the season, and is still looking for his first game with at least 100 yards passing.

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

It feels like Washington is still trying to figure out who they are in Jedd Fisch’s first year as head coach. The Huskies have a solid defense, they just have sputtered on offense recently, scoring less than 20 points in two of their last three games, losing both of those contests. Washington is going to need quarterback Will Rogers to make some smart decisions since the Wolverines are led by their defense.

After starting the season with five games in Ann Arbor, now Michigan has to go a long way on their first road trip of the season. If Washington can shut down the run, they should be able to beat the Wolverines since we all have seen that Alex Orji can’t throw the football. The Huskies get some revenge for losing to Michigan in January.

Washington 21, Michigan 17

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No. 11 USC (-8.5) v. Minnesota - 7:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network

Lincoln Riley and the Trojans probably won’t even know where they are by the end of the week. After playing in their first Big Ten game a couple weeks ago in Ann Arbor, USC was back in Los Angeles last week to take on Wisconsin, and now they’ll be heading to Minneapolis to take on the Golden Gophers. At least USC should be happy this game isn’t a month later since we all know how suspect the weather in Minneapolis can be as the season moves along.

Minnesota did show a little life in the fourth quarter against Michigan, scoring 21 points to keep the Wolverines from covering. The Golden Gophers still are having a tough time running the football, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry this year. When Minnesota has been good under Fleck, they use the run to set up the pass. They haven’t been able to do that this year, which is why their only wins have come against Rhode Island and Nevada.

I can’t say I’m a fan of either coach in this game. What I do like is how the defense of the Trojans has played since D’Anton Lynn took over as defensive coordinator. USC has the ability to jump out to a lead over Minnesota, making the Golden Gophers throw the football, which they haven’t looked all that comfortable doing with Max Brosmer behind center.

USC 34, Minnesota 20

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Iowa v. No. 3 Ohio State (-19.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS

Ohio State was able to easily navigate their first road game of the season, defeating Michigan State 38-7 on Saturday night. All the talk following the win was about wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, with the true freshman receiver making two insane one-handed catches on the same drive late in the first half.

With how well Will Howard was slinging the football against the Spartans, the Buckeyes didn’t really need more from Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. The duo will be trying to find holes this week against a Iowa rush defense that hasn’t allowed over 100 yards on the ground this season.

Imagine if Iowa had gotten rid of Brian Ferentz sooner. The offense of the Hawkeyes has been solid in the first four games under offensive coordinator Tim Lester. The star of the offense has been running back Kaleb Johnson, who has ran for at least 100 yards in every Iowa game so far this season. Had the Hawkeyes not blown a second half lead at home to Iowa State, this would be a matchup of undefeated teams.

Iowa does a few things well on both sides of the football. Ohio State is great at pretty much everything. Honestly, it feels like we haven’t even had the full Chip Kelly experience on offense yet since the new Buckeye offensive coordinator hasn’t had to get too wild with his calls since Ohio State has played such weak competition so far. Kelly will have to get a little more funky this week since Iowa is stout on defense.

With Oregon on deck for the Buckeyes next week, Ryan Day will be looking for another complete performance from his team ahead of the trip to Eugene. This won’t be as ugly as 2022 for Hawkeye fans, but it also won’t be fun for them to watch.

Ohio State 37, Iowa 13

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Column: Ohio State fans drew the short end of the stick with this year’s home basketball schedule
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes were given two weekend home games by the Big Ten this season.

Fresh off of back-to-back seasons missing the NCAA Tournament, a combined 14-26 record in conference play the past two seasons, and record lows in home attendance, the Ohio State men’s basketball program was in desperate need of a refresh this past spring.

Former athletic director Gene Smith watched the product on the court decline, and the excitement around the program steadily fall with it. Ross Bjork, Smith’s replacement as of July 1, watched from the periphery after he was announced as the athletic director in waiting.

Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes went 2-6 after Ohio State President Ted Carter announced that Bjork would be the next athletic director on Jan. 17. On Feb. 14, Holtmann was relieved of his duties and Jake Diebler took it from there, finishing the season with a record of 8-3 and parlaying it into the full-time job.

Hiring Diebler as the next Ohio State men’s basketball coach was Bjork’s first move to reinvigorate the program. Bjork wasn’t just rewarding Diebler for his performance as the interim head coach, he was also trying to catch lightning in a bottle. There was more buzz around the program than there had been in over two years, and Diebler was the reason. Ideally, that buzz is going to carry over the summer into the fall, and ticket sales will jump accordingly.

Buckeye Students ️

Student tickets are on sale NOW We can’t wait to have the Schott rocking this season. Lock in your spot supporting the Scarlet & Gray at home all year long

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— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) September 24, 2024​

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The student ticket package is now $110 for 13 games, or $8.46 per game. Students can also buy tickets for $9 on a game-by-game basis. Season ticket prices were lowered, single-game prices were lowered, and Ohio State is now offering flexible four and eight-game packages for fans who aren’t ready to commit to full-season tickets.

Ohio State made tickets cheaper, sure, but the flip side of this whole deal? You need to give the fans a schedule that makes them want to come to games. Unfortunately for the fans, that did not happen this season.

Ohio State’s full schedule:


The biggest opponent that will visit Columbus during Ohio State’s non-conference schedule – Pitt – missed out on the NCAA Tournament last season. Unlike the Buckeyes, the Panthers declined an invitation to participate in the NIT. The two programs have not faced each other since 2002 and while I personally am excited for this game, most casual Ohio State fans and alumni are not too terribly fired up for a game against the Pitt Panthers.

Aside from the Pitt game, Ohio State fans get six more non-conference games at home, the toughest being against Indiana State, which also happens to be the only weekend home game on the non-conference schedule.

The Big Ten schedule – which, unlike the non-conference schedule, is completely out of Ohio State’s hands – isn’t much better for the fans, or any more convenient.

Weekend home games are the biggest draw for programs and are a head coach’s best friend. More families show up with kids, more students go to games, and they’re much easier to coordinate for potential recruiting visits. Weekend home games have better energy, louder, larger crowds, and generally provide a superior game day experience than say, a Tuesday night.

Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Big Ten gave Ohio State and its fans exactly two weekend Big Ten home games this season – the fewest of any team in the conference. The Buckeyes’ matchup with Rutgers on Saturday, Dec. 7 will likely be a noon tipoff between two NCAA Tournament-caliber teams, but the Ohio State football team could wind up playing in a rather important game in Indianapolis that evening, too.

Few fans — if any — are going to attend the basketball game that afternoon in Columbus and then hightail it to Indy to watch the football team (potentially) play in the Big Ten title game that evening. Even more likely — some fans might forget the basketball team plays altogether, considering it is the first Big Ten home game of the season and most people will be fixated on football that day. Tough break!

Ohio State’s second weekend Big Ten home game comes over two months later – yep, that’s a 10-week gap – when the Buckeyes welcome Roddy Gayle and the Michigan Wolverines to the Schottenstein Center on Sunday, Feb. 16. The arena should be nearly sold out for that one, for obvious reasons.

If things go well for Ohio State in Jake Diebler’s first year, the team’s momentum should be hitting its crescendo at that point, and over 18,000 fans should be in attendance to welcome back former Ohio State guard-turned Michigan man.


The Buckeyes host Northwestern the following Thursday at home (Feb. 20), and then senior night will feature the Nebraska Cornhuskers traveling to Columbus on Tuesday, March 4 – and that’s the end of the home schedule. Even senior day, which in its purest form is a weekend game against a regional foe such as Michigan State, Indiana, or Michigan, is being snuck in on a Tuesday night against a team that has no historical significance to the Big Ten and even less emotional relevance to Ohio State fans.

Long story short – the fans got hosed this year.

Not all of this is on Ohio State, and I would even go as far to say that much of it is not. The Buckeyes hosted a ranked Texas A&M team last year at home and lost – a phenomenal game against a great team in front of the home fans. This season, the Buckeyes have to fulfil their end of the home-and-home agreement and go play on campus at Texas A&M. That game will take place on Friday, Nov. 15.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State is still locked into a contract for the CBS Sports Classic, which will pit them against Kentucky on Dec. 21 in New York. A great opponent, albeit one that 99% of Buckeye fans won’t be able to see in person.

Diebler was also able to get Texas and Auburn on the schedule – two teams that will likely be ranked to start the season – but both are at neutral locations (Las Vegas and Atlanta). That’s just a sign of the times in college basketball, as fewer and fewer programs are willing to travel and play true road games on someone else’s campus other than the ones they’re required to play within their own conference.

Did Ohio State want to load up the schedule with multiple monster home games in Jake Diebler’s first season and potentially set him up for a rough first season, and risk popping the bubble of excitement that currently surrounds the program so early in the season if things went south? I would assume the answer is no.

But even if they wanted to replace the Evansville or Campbell game with a power conference opponent at home, would Ohio State have even found a willing opponent? When you consider conference challenges and early season tournaments like those we see during “Feast Week”, it gets tougher and tougher to find a quality opponent who’s willing to use another spot in their schedule on a fellow power conference team.

There’s a very clear excitement around the program as we grow closer and closer to the season. But now that the full season schedule is together, it’s clear that Ohio State fans drew the short end of the stick with the slate of games they’ll get in Columbus.

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