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LGHL Ohio State women’s hoops stays hot and cruises past Ball State 80-48

Ohio State women’s hoops stays hot and cruises past Ball State 80-48
justingolba
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


NCAA Womens Basketball: Bowling Green At Ohio St

Samantha Madar/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

The Buckeyes got out an 18-6 lead early and never looked back, moving to 9-0 on the season

The No. 11 Ohio State Women’s Basketball team moved to a perfect 9-0 with a decisive 80-48 win over Ball State (6-4) on Tuesday night at the Schottenstein Center. The Buckeyes are now 5-0 at home.

The Buckeyes move to 5-2 all-time against Ball State, with both losses coming in the 1970s. The last time the two teams played, on Dec. 15, 1996, none of the players on either roster were alive.

Ball State has had a good start to the season, with a 6-3 record, a win over Texas A&M, and a close loss to No. 11 North Carolina.

The Buckeyes were led into this contest by Cotie McMahon, who is averaging 18.5 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game in four games played. Chance Gray and Jaloni Cambridge are averaging 15.6 and 15.1 points per game, respectively. Ajae Petty is averaging 11.4 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game, while Taylor Thierry is averaging 11.3 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Ball State was led into the game by guard Ally Becki, who is averaging 14.4 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 5.9 assists per game. Lachelle Austin, Madelyn Bischoff, and Elise Stuck are all double-digit scorers as well for the Cardinals.

Last time out, Ohio State beat No. 21 Illinois 83-74 to stay undefeated and earn its first win in the conference.

Ohio State got off to an expected hot start in this one, starting the contest on a 7-0 run with four points from Taylor Thierry and three points from Chance Gray. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 14-2 lead behind three more points from Gray and two points each from McMahon and Cambridge.


Jaloni with a tough take to get our second quarter started :triumph:@JaloniCambridge | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/6M3eLhdU9B

— Ohio State Women’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) December 10, 2024

The Buckeyes led 24-8 after the first quarter as seven different players scored, and Chance Gray and Ava Watson led the team with six points each. Four different players recorded two points for Ball State.

Two Cotie McMahon free throws and a layup from Taylor Thierry saw the Buckeyes take the lead to 17 and 32-15 heading into the media timeout in the second quarter. Ohio State ended up almost doubling up Ball State in the first half, taking a 38-20 lead after a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Ball State into the locker room, and once they took the double-digit lead, it never went below that.


Two down, two to go.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/HlWTcEIRFt

— Ohio State Women’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) December 10, 2024

The Buckeyes defense was suffocating in the first half, forcing the Cardinals into 9-for-25 from the field, 1-for-11 from three-point range, and forcing an impressive 15 turnovers. Ohio State has 20 points off turnovers, and Ball State had zero.

For Ball State, Elise Stuck and Zuri Ransom led the team with five points. For Ohio State, Chance Gray had nine points on 3-for-3 shooting from the field. Ava Watson added seven points and Taylor Thierry recorded six points and seven rebounds in the first half.

The Cardinals' third leading scorer Madelyn Bischoff only played one minute after leaving the game with an apparent wrist injury. She would not return.

To start the second half, the Buckeyes did what they do best and forced some more turnovers, getting the lead up to a game-high 21 points at 47-26 and forcing a Ball State timeout. Gray recorded a quick five more points to be the first player to hit double-digits in the contest.

At the third quarter media timeout, the Buckeyes pushed the lead to 51-26 for the largest lead of the game. They kept up the defensive pressure and ended the third quarter on a 13-3 run to extend the lead to 69-36 with one quarter of basketball remaining. Four Buckeyes (Chance Gray, Ava Watson, Ajae Petty, Taylor Thierry) were in double digits after the third quarter, with Gray leading the way with 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting.

The Buckeyes pushed the lead to 76-42 at the media timeout in the fourth quarter and would go on to win 80-48.

Chance Gray led the Buckeyes with 21 points, while Ava Watson added 15 points and Taylor Thierry recorded 12 points and seven rebounds. Ajae Petty added ten points and eight rebounds.


What’s Next


Ohio State will host the in-state Youngstown State Penguins on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET. The Penguins are led by Jewel Watkins, who is averaging 14.1 points per game, and Malia Magrestro, who is averaging 12.8 points per game.

Continue reading...

CFP first round vs. Tennessee

A bit of unique scenario with tickets potentially going to public sale and Tennessee fans looking to fill the shoe.

If any STM would be willing to purchase an extra 1-4 tickets during tomorrow’s presale window and make sure they are sold to screaming buckeye fans, I would be eternally grateful. Or if there is a generic presale code to share, that would be great.

I will be trying to get tickets on Thursday if there are any left for the general public sale, but I’m not very confident that will be successful.

Thank you and go bucks!

LGHL Thierry, Gray, McMahon bring years of history together to Ohio State’s lineup

Thierry, Gray, McMahon bring years of history together to Ohio State’s lineup
ThomasCostello
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


warnups_08.0.jpg

Ohio State University Athletic Department

The experience of a trio of the current group of Buckeyes goes back to before their time in scarlet and gray.

On Sunday, Ohio State women’s basketball took on a ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, a team chock full of experience. Starting with five seniors, and three graduate-level players, the Illini had a clear experience gap over the Buckeyes. After all, head coach Kevin McGuff has a starting lineup with two returns, two transfers, and a freshman playing her first NCAA games.

The Scarlet and Gray pulled away in a nine-point victory that wasn’t close from the start of the second quarter through the final buzzer. How can a team that is just learning each other’s tendencies, playing in their eighth competitive game together, beat the Fighting Illini who probably know their teammates' moves in their sleep?

Ohio State’s experience goes deeper than just their time as college athletes.

Sports City U on Twitter | @SportsCityU_AAU

There are a few familiar faces in this photo, taken of the Sports City AAU squad. Before swapping high school jerseys for collegiate threads, Buckeyes Cotie McMahon, Taylor Thierry, and Chance Gray succeeded on the AAU level.

In the world of AAU basketball, it’s no surprise that three aspiring college players from across Ohio crossed paths, even if they’re from different areas of the Buckeye State. Thierry from Cleveland, McMahon from Centerville, and Gray from Cincinnati traveled and competed together on the amateur level.

When Thierry left for Ohio State, the duo of Gray and McMahon kept competing together until they went their separate ways. Gray, along with fellow AAU teammate Grace Van Slooten, left for the West Coast and the Oregon Ducks.

McMahon and Thierry reunited in Columbus only a few months after Thierry’s freshman season, with McMahon enrolling early at the university. The chemistry built by McMahon and Thierry over two seasons is clear. In two years, starting every game together, the pair each played seasons that warranted All-Big Ten team honors and a run to the Elite Eight in 2023.

That streak of starting every game together ended this season, when McMahon went on the injury report for four games, but that brief stint ended Sunday.

Against Illinois, it didn’t look like the Buckeyes were the fresh-faced underdogs. Despite playing four times against Ohio State over the past three seasons, the Illini continued to struggle against McGuff’s havoc-inducing press. Ohio State forced 19 turnovers, turning into 30 points.

The trio of Thierry, McMahon, and Gray each excelled in their own ways. McMahon was the star of the show, scoring 25 points with five rebounds and three assists (two going to Thierry and Gray).

Thierry was the quiet foundation, with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including going 66 percent from beyond the arc, a skill she's added to her in-game repertoire this season.

For Gray, it was offensive firepower when the Buckeyes needed it most. In the second quarter, when the Illini scored seven of the first nine points of the quarter, taking a three-point lead. Their last lead of the game, thanks in part to Gray who returned the favor by scoring seven of the next nine points herself, starting an 11-point Buckeyes run.

Their performances are the fruits of labor from years of playing alongside each other, despite a two-year gap for Gray and the Buckeyes’ duo.

“I think it is so nice to be playing with each other,” said McMahon, sarcastically, about reuniting with Gray at Ohio State. “No, but seriously, we have that relationship where if she needs to, she can tell me to just get my shit together straight up.”

Sports City U on Twitter | @SportsCityU_AAU

With the talk of losing senior guards like Jacy Sheldon and Rikki Harris, and the chemistry they built in the program over five years, McMahon, Gray, and Thierry are upperclassmen who’ve brought their own style to the team. A style that’s still ending with success on the court, but the importance of their relationship stretches beyond what fans see in the Schottenstein Center or on television.

“And then also she’s just there for me in a lot of areas outside of basketball too, so that really helps,” said McMahon.

Also, despite the time away, neither think it's any different playing together now than when they spent time together In the AAU world. Well, it’s almost the same.

“I think she got better and it’s helping us and I love it,” said McMahon about Gray, who went to Oregon as a McDonald’s All-American before leaving for Ohio State this summer.

Ohio State fans are loving Gray’s addition too, watching the program get off to an 8-0 record. A perfect start to the season where the trio accounts for 51 percent of the team’s scoring.

It’s a run fostered through relationships built years before seeing the final product on the court this season.

“We talk to each other a lot about the game and adjustments we need to tell to our team and just different ways to play,” said Gray. “Obviously, she’s been here, she’s established a winning program and I just want to be a part of that and help in any way I can.”

Continue reading...

LGHL You’re Nuts: Could Ryan Day save his job with a deep College Football Playoff run?

You’re Nuts: Could Ryan Day save his job with a deep College Football Playoff run?
Josh Dooley
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State v Oregon

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images

How far do the Buckeyes need to make it in the postseason for the head coach to return in 2025?

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: How many College Football Playoff wins would it take for Ryan Day to save his job?


Josh’s Take


The 2024-25 College Football Playoff rankings – AKA the first ever 12-team field – were revealed this past weekend, and wouldn’t ya know it... people were/got mad online. And offline. And especially in certain parts of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. All over, really. Which can only mean one thing: It is postseason time for America’s most dysfunctional and unorganized sport!

Personally, I think that the selection committee got things mostly right. Did they do so intentionally? Not a chance in hell! But Georgia and SMU (by way of a buzzer-beating loss) bailed them out, leaving very little for the committee to actually do. Warde Manuel and the gang only had to make a choice between SMU and Alabama, and then decide how much to punish Notre Dame for believing that the Fighting Irish are somehow special and refusing to join a conference.

The only thing that really annoyed yours truly about the seeding(s) is that Penn State drew arguably the easiest path or route to a semifinal... But why, exactly? Because the committee values good losses over ANY win!? The Nittany Lions defeated exactly zero good teams and finished two spots ahead of an Ohio State team that beat them (PSU) at home.

That being said, we are talking about a James Franklin-coached team here, so maybe I shouldn’t be too upset. Also, hammer SMU and the points.

With that out of my system, let’s talk Buckeyes. OSU drew the 8-seed, meaning they will host 9-seed Tennessee on Dec. 21. And for the first time in months, Ryan Day’s squad will be kicking off at a time other than “Big Noon”. The Buckeyes and the Vols drew the primetime Saturday night slot, so we got that going for us, which is nice.

Not so nice is the vibe around Columbus, as it pertains to Ohio State’s embattled head coach. Day has been the subject of intense scrutiny since suffering his fourth consecutive loss to TTUN, a team that came into Columbus with a 6-5 record and without a functioning offense. But we’re not here to dwell on the past. Instead, we’re here to look into and talk about the future — or lack thereof for Day.

Many OSU fans are already out on Urban Meyer’s replacement and have been for some time. That’s kind of the deal when one fails to beat TTUN and/or win games of real consequence (B1G titles, bowl games, etc.). But this CFP seems like it might decide Day’s coaching fate once and for all. Either the Buckeyes will rise up and save his job, or... Well, you know I’m getting at.

So what does Day need to do in order to keep his job at Ohio State, if he even wants it (which I think is a real conversation)? That is what Gene and I decided to debate today, and I have a feeling that our opinions will differ quite a bit. Because, ya know, Gene hates Day with a fiery passion.

For me, it comes down to whether Day can exercise at least one of his coaching/football demons. I’m talking about Oregon. Day’s Buckeyes lost to the Ducks in 2021, before they even joined the Big Ten. Then Phil Knight’s fantasy team knocked off OSU in October of this year, in a back-and-forth affair that I think most Scarlet and Gray fans were “ok” with.

But then, Oregon poached 2025 recruit Na’eem Offord and won the Big Ten Championship Game, further establishing dominance over Day and the Ohio State program. Well, guess what. OSU fans and boosters don’t deal well with being an afterthought in their own conference. Let alone for four years! Which is why I believe that Day must end top-seeded Oregon’s season and exact his own football vengeance if he hopes to retain his job in Columbus.

Of course, to get to the Rose Bowl and face Oregon, the Buckeyes must first defeat Tennessee. And I’m not forgetting or assuming anything about the Vols. It’s just that if Ohio State loses a home playoff game, then this whole argument or conversation is null and void. If OSU loses to UT, I think Day is gone before Christmas.

But if he and the Buckeyes advance to the second round/quarterfinals and get revenge against Oregon, then I believe that Day will be the head coach at Ohio State for at least another season. Not only that, but if OSU gets past the Ducks, I also believe that Day and the boys can then win the whole CFP. I’m not ready to confidently predict such a thing, but I am confident in the talent of/on this team.

Long way to go in a short period of time, but here’s hoping Day and the Buckeyes can shock the world. Go Bucks.

Gene’s Take


I was out on Ryan Day after the 2022 loss to Michigan, and I am even more out now. The Ohio State head coach was handed one of the best rosters in college football from his predecessor, and in his now sixth year at the helm he has amassed only a single Big Ten title with a 1-4 record against the Wolverines and a 1-3 record in the College Football Playoff. Simply put: this is not working, and the results are not nearly good enough when accounting for the level of talent in Columbus.

For me personally, there is no outcome in this year’s College Football Playoff that would change my opinion of Day. Under his leadership, the Buckeyes seem far more likely to become a first round exit as opposed to a national champion. Day’s team’s constantly underperform in big games, whether as a result of lack of preparation, stubborn game plans or conservative play calls. Even if Ohio State was to overcome all of Day’s obvious flaws and stumble their way into a national title, I think the best course of action would be a mutual parting of ways that lands Day in the NFL and the Buckeyes with a new headman.

That being said, I know the powers that be probably don't want to have to fire Ryan Day, and will look for any excuse to keep him around for at least one more season to further deteriorate the program. As a result, like my counterpart Josh, I think a win over Oregon to advance to the CFP semifinal would likely be enough to stem the tide for at least a little bit longer and get Day into 2025 — unless Mike Vrabel is available, in which case you cut ties regardless and begin a new era.

Oregon has been eating Ohio State’s lunch for the past few years, completely flipping the script from the historical dominance of the Buckeyes in the matchup, which included a 9-0 all-time record and a national title victory over the Ducks in 2015. Since then, Oregon has won each of the last two meetings, and has become the new premier program atop the Big Ten. Dan Lanning’s group is dominating on the field and on the recruiting trail, and there are no signs that Oregon won’t reign supreme over the conference for years to come.

A win for Ohio State over the Ducks in the second round would do far more than just advance the Buckeyes to the next stage of the College Football Playoff. It would send a message that Ohio State can still be the team to beat in the league when they are playing their best football, and could maybe even earn them some clout in recruiting battles between the two schools. As Josh laid out, it would also exercise one of Day’s many demons, getting revenge for each of the head coach’s last two one-score losses to the Ducks.

If Day was to make a deep CFP run and remain Ohio State’s head coach in 2025, there would need to be a ton of other staff moves made to prevent another letdown season — one that, if ended with a loss to Michigan, would 100% be his last. That starts with cutting ties with a number of bad coaches and staffers, from Mark “Megachurch” Pantoni and Mick “Soft Tissue Injury” Marotti to Justin “No Offers” Frye and Larry “Please Retire” Johnson, just to name a few. The Buckeyes cannot maintain status quo at the top heading into a new season and expect different results without cutting the fat.

Even despite my negative view of the whole situation, there is a real chance that Ryan Day could actually turn things around if he makes the necessary changes. He needs to cut the big game “toughness” bullshit and call the offense that made him successful as Ohio State’s coordinator in the first place. If he can get back to his roots and find a way to win a few playoff games — and maybe even the whole damn thing — then he might find himself with a chance to put together a competent staff this offseason and change the narrative entirely heading into next season.

I won’t hold my breath, though.

Continue reading...

LGHL What do you think about No. 8 Ohio State playing Tennessee at night in The Shoe?

What do you think about No. 8 Ohio State playing Tennessee at night in The Shoe?
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State Buckeyes Vs. Wisconsin Badgers 10-29-2011


You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.

Throughout the
Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.



As of Sunday, we now know that the eighth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes are set to host the No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET in a game to be broadcast on ABC and ESPN. Not only does that mean that the Buckeyes will break the long-running noon-kickoff curse, but they will also do something that is rare in Ohio Stadium history, host a night game during the winter season.

So, to assess where Buckeye fans stand on these developments, we asked two questions in our weekly fan survey: one about where OSU was seeded by the CFP Committee and one about what the impact of a mid-December night game in The Horseshoe will be.

Take a look at the two questions below, and vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. Then, if you want to add your extra two cents, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments at the bottom of the page.


Question 1: What do you think of Ohio State’s playoff seeding?


I understand why Penn State ended up being ahead of Ohio State in the final CFP rankings since the Nittany Lions did make the Big Ten Championship Game, and they did finish the regular season with a better record. But given that OSU did beat Penn State in Happy Valley, I thought that there was a chance that the Buckeyes would get bumped up to a higher seed. I imagine that if the committee had been ranking based on perceived ability to win the tournament, the Buckeyes would have been higher, but they forfeited their right to complain about seeding when they lost to Michigan and therefore did not make the conference title game.

So, while I think that it is likely too in the scope of objectivity, I have zero actual complaints about it, because they did it to themselves.


Question 2: How do you feel about OSU facing Tennessee at night in The Shoe in mid-December?


Here’s the thing, Tennessee is in the South, but it’s not in a tropical climate. The average December temperatures in Knoxville are 51° highs and 30° lows. That’s compared to the 41°F high and 28°F lows in Columbus. An obvious difference on the upper end, but a negligible one on the low.

So, between that and Ryan Day’s refusal to throw the ball in moderately cold and windy conditions against Michigan, I don’t see the weather being a decisive advantage for OSU. In fact, given that the Vols are a team built to run the ball, it could actually benefit them even more than the home, Northern team.

However, unlike Kirk Herbstriet, I think that The Shoe is going to be rocking next weekend. While fans might boo if Chip Kelly calls consecutive runs into the boundary on first and second down (and they would be right to do so), this has all of the hallmarks of an incredible environment and atmosphere on the banks of the Olentangy.


Share your thoughts here:


Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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Non-CFP Bowl Games Discussion Thread

This is for all the postseason games that are NOT in the CFP. I left those in here for TV planning.

Saturday, Dec. 14
South Carolina State vs. Jackson State (Celebration Bowl) | 12 p.m. | ABC
Incarnate Word at South Dakota State (FCS quarterfinals) | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Minnesota State at Valdosta State (DII semifinals) | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Bethel (MN) at Susquehanna (DIII quarterfinals) | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Mary-Hardin Baylor at Johns Hopkins (DIII quarterfinals) | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Springfield at North Central (Ill.) (DIII quarterfinals) | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Mount Union at Salisbury (DIII quarterfinals) | 1 p.m. | ESPN+

Navy at No. 22 Army (Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD) | 3 p.m. | CBS

UC Davis at South Dakota (FCS quarterfinals) | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
Mercer at North Dakota State (FCS quarterfinals) | 3:30 p.m. | ABC
Slippery Rock at Ferris State (DII semifinals) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
South Alabama vs. Western Michigan (Salute to Veterans Bowl) | 9 p.m. | ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 17
No. 25 Memphis vs. West Virginia (Frisco Bowl) | 9 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 18
James Madison vs. Western Kentucky (Boca Raton Bowl) | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN
No. 24 UNLV vs. Cal (LA Bowl) | 9 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Dec. 19
Sam Houston vs. Georgia Southern (New Orleans Bowl) | 7 p.m. | ESPN2

Friday, Dec. 20
Ohio vs. Jacksonville State (Cure Bowl) | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Florida vs. Tulane (Gasparilla Bowl) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN

No. 8 Indiana at No. 5 Notre Dame (College Football Playoff first round) | 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 21
No. 10 SMU at No. 4 Penn State (College Football Playoff first round) | 12 p.m. | TNT/MAX

UC Davis/South Dakota vs. Idaho/Montana State (FCS semifinals) | 12 or 3:30 p.m. | ABC
UIW/South Dakota State vs. Mercer/North Dakota State (FCS semifinals) | 12 or 3:30 p.m. | ABC
TBD vs. TBD (DII championship game in McKinney, TX) | 2 p.m. | ESPN2
/
No. 16 Clemson at No. 3 Texas (College Football Playoff first round) | 4 p.m. | TNT/MAX
No. 7 Tennessee at No. 6 Ohio State (College Football Playoff first round) | 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
TBD vs. TBD (DIII semifinals) | TBA | ESPN+
TBD vs. TBD (DIII semifinals) | TBA | ESPN+

Monday, Dec. 23
Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA (Myrtle Beach Bowl) | 11 a.m. | ESPN
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 24
South Florida vs. San Jose State (Hawai'i Bowl) | 8 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Dec. 26
Pitt vs. Toledo (GameAbove Sports Bowl) | 2 p.m. | ESPN
Rutgers vs. Kansas State (Rate Bowl) | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN
Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green (68 Ventures Bowl) | 9 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Dec. 27
Navy vs. Oklahoma (Armed Forces Bowl) | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt (Birmingham Bowl) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Arkansas vs. Texas Tech (Liberty Bowl) | 7 p.m. | ESPN
No. 21 Syracuse vs. Washington State (Holiday Bowl) | 8 p.m. | FOX
USC vs. Texas A&M (Las Vegas Bowl) | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 28
UConn vs. North Carolina (Fenway Bowl) | 11 a.m. | ESPN
Boston College vs. Nebraska (Pinstripe Bowl) | 12 p.m. | ABC
TCU vs. Louisiana (New Mexico Bowl) | 2:15 p.m. | ESPN
No. 13 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 18 Iowa State (Pop-Tarts Bowl) | 3:30 p.m. | ABC
Colorado State vs. Miami (Ohio) (Arizona Bowl) | 4:30 p.m. | CW Network
NC State vs. East Carolina (Military Bowl) | 5:45 p.m. | ESPN
No. 17 BYU vs. No. 23 Colorado (Alamo Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
No. 22 Army vs. Marshall (Independence Bowl) | 9:15 p.m. | ESPN

Monday, Dec. 30
No. 19 Missouri vs. Iowa (Music City Bowl) | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 31
No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan (ReliaQuest Bowl) | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Louisville vs. Washington (Sun Bowl) | 2 p.m. | CBS
No. 15 South Carolina vs. No. 20 Illinois (Citrus Bowl) | 3 p.m. | ABC
LSU vs. Baylor (Texas Bowl) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
No. 9 Boise State vs. TBD (College Football Playoff quarterfinals — Fiesta Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Jan. 1
No. 12 Arizona State vs. TBD (College Football Playoff quarterfinals — Peach Bowl) | 1 p.m. | ESPN
No. 1 Oregon vs. TBD (College Football Playoff quarterfinals — Rose Bowl) | 5 p.m. | ESPN
No. 2 Georgia vs. TBD (College Football Playoff quarterfinals — Sugar Bowl) | 8:45 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Jan. 2
No. 14 Ole Miss vs. Duke (Gator Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Jan. 3
North Texas vs. Texas State (First Responder Bowl) | 4 p.m. | ESPN
Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech (Duke's Mayo Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, Jan. 4
Liberty vs. Buffalo (Bahamas Bowl) | 11 a.m. | ESPN2

Play Game Bowl Upset Contest for 2024 (Deadline 8 pm Friday)

This contest will be only for this season's bowl games. @muffler dragon was the winner for this year's Upset Contest, which ended last week. Only games that already know the matchup will be included in this contest, so that leaves out the last 7 CFP games.

2007 Bowl Upset Winner - 26.5 points, @Piney
2008 Bowl Upset Winner - 20.0 points, @EgonSchiele
2009 Bowl Upset Winner - 32.0 points, @sears3820
2010 Bowl Upset Winner - 21.5 points, @Piney
2011 Bowl Upset Winner - 12.5 points, @gracelhink & @MD Buckeye, tied
2012 Bowl Upset Winner - 26.0 points, @808 Buck
2013 Bowl Upset Winner - 41.0 points, @AuTX Buckeye (record total)
2014 Bowl Upset Winner - 29.0 points, @Mothra
2015 Bowl Upset Winner - 19.0 points, @osugrad21
2016 Bowl Upset Winner - 37.0 points, @AuTX Buckeye
2017 Bowl Upset Winner - 32.0 points, @TampaBuckeyes
2018 Bowl Upset Winner - 39.5 points, @buckeyemania11 (6 for 6)
2019 Bowl Upset Winner - 21.5 points, @Jake
2020 Bowl Upset Winner - 27.5 points, @BB73
2021 Bowl Upset Winner - 29.5 points, @Jake
2022 Bowl Upset Winner - 20.5 points, @TampaBuckeyes in a tiebreaker
2023 Bowl Upset Winner - 29.0 points, @kn1f3party

Pick 6 Underdogs that you think will win their games outright. If they cover the spread but lose the game, you get no points for that selection. The point spreads in this post are locked for purposes of this contest.

Picks are due before the kickoff of the Indiana-Notre Dame game at 8 pm Eastern on Friday, December 20th. There are games starting before that, but obviously you can't pick a game once it's kicked off.

Pick 6 underdogs to win outright
. For each game that you pick correctly, you receive the number of points for the pointspread in that game. The person with the most total points will win this game, and $25,000 SportsBook "vCash".

In the event of a tie, I'll contact the winners and have them pick the total points in the National Championship Game.

FAVORITE.......SPREAD.....UNDERDOG.......Must pick by
S Alabama…………...8.5...……..Western Mich…….Dec 14 9:00 pm ET
Memphis…………………….2.5……………….West Va………….…….Dec 17 9:00 pm ET
James Madison…….7.0…………………Western Ky………….Dec 18 5:30 pm ET
Cal……………………………….4.5……………….UNLV………………………….Dec 18 9:00 pm ET
Ga Southern……………6.5……………….Sam Houston……..Dec 19 7:00 pm ET
Ohio…………………………….2.5……………….Jax St…………………….Dec 20 noon ET
Florida.……………….12.5……………….Tulane…………………..Dec 20 3:30 pm ET
Notre Dame………...7.5.……....Indiana……….……..Dec 20 8:00 pm ET (all picks deadline)

Penn State......8.5....…….SMU
Texas……………………..11.5……………..Clemson
Ohio St…………………..7.5……………..Tennessee
UTSA…………………………….7.0……………….Coastal Car
Northern Ill.…..1.5……………..Fresno St
San Jose St………….2.5……………..USF
Pitt…………………………..9.5……………….Toledo
Kansas St…………………7.0……………..Rutgers
Bowling Green…….6.5……………..Ark St
Oklahoma……………………8.5……………..Navy
Ga Tech…………………….2.5……………..Vandy
Arkansas………………….3.0……………..Texas Tech
Syracuse………………….6.5……………..Wash St
Texas A&M……………..2.5……………….USC Trojans
N Carolina…………….4.5……………..UConn
Nebraska………………….3.5……………….Boston College
TCU……………………………….9.5……………..La Lafayette
Miami FL………………..3.5……………..Iowa St
Miami OH………………..2.5……………..Colo St
N.C. State………………5.5……………..East Carolina
Colorado………………….3.0……………..BYU
Army………………………….12.5……………..Marshall (note, Marshall opted out)
Mizzou……………………..3.5……………..Iowa
Bama………………………….11.5……………..tCun
Louisville…………..5.5……………..Washington
S Carolina………….11.5……………..Illinois
LSU…………………………...3.0……………….Baylor
Ole Miss……………..13.5……………..Duke
Texas St………………….9.5……………….N Texas
Minny………………………….4.5……………..Va Tech
Liberty…………………….2.5……………….Buffalo
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LGHL Silver Bullets Podcast: Ohio State roster moves, path through the College Football Playoff

Silver Bullets Podcast: Ohio State roster moves, path through the College Football Playoff
Michael Citro
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

News and awards out of Columbus, and Ohio State’s difficult road to the semifinals.


We start this week’s show with news and notes from Ohio State, including a brief look at the Buckeyes’ 2025 recruiting class. Although we don’t fancy ourselves as “recruiting guys,” there are still some conclusions we can draw from looking at Ryan Day’s latest class.

We also touched on a few Ohio State players who chose to enter the transfer portal and some guys who were honored for having standout seasons in the Big Ten in 2024. The transfer portal decisions weren’t terribly surprising, and we didn’t even get to touch on Devin Brown, who made his announcement while we were wrapping up our recording.

After the news segment, we discussed the Big Ten title game that pitted Oregon against Penn State. The Nittany Lions acquitted themselves well, but still didn’t play the Ducks as closely in Indianapolis as the Buckeyes did in Eugene. That didn’t matter much to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.

The final poll came out and the Buckeyes found themselves at No. 8. We talked about what we didn’t like about that decision, what we liked about other decisions, and then we broke down the bracket. Ohio State has a difficult road to the semifinals, and the committee did No. 1 Oregon no favors either with the way the bracket is set up. Let us know what you thought of our analysis of the CFP bracket as we look forward to seeing 12 teams in the postseason for the first time.

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!



0:21 - Digesting Ohio State’s class after National Signing Day, Buckeyes in the portal, other Buckeyes who won awards, and more.

22:27 - The B1G championship, Ohio State’s difficult draw, and the College Football Playoff bracket overall.

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LGHL Game Preview: No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Ball State

Game Preview: No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Ball State
Jami Jurich
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Buckeyes look to extend their win streak to 10-in-a-row when they welcome the Cardinals Tuesday night.

After kicking off Big Ten action against No. 21 Illinois on Sunday, No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball (9-0) remains unbeaten as they head into another non-conference matchup, this time against Ball State (6-3) at the Schottenstein Center.

The Cardinals are heading to Columbus on the heels of an 81-60 home victory over Davidson. Ball State is 1-0 in true road games this season and 1-2 in neutral site games.

The Buckeyes are 4-2 all-time against Ball State, but Tuesday’s game is the first meeting of the two programs since 1996.

Ohio State will celebrate pride night at Tuesday’s game.


Preview


After missing four games due to a right lower leg injury, senior forward Cotie McMahon was back in action against Illinois Sunday, leading the Buckeyes in their 83-74 win with 25 points. It was OSU’s first ranked win of the season.

In addition to McMahon, senior guard Taylor Thierry and junior guard Chance Gray scored in double-digits, with 14 and 13 points respectively.

Against the Fighting Illini, freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge found herself in foul trouble early and eventually fouled out of the game, though McMahon and co. had no trouble picking up the slack for the team’s second-highest scorer, who sits just behind Gray’s 15.6 average points per game at 15.1.

Despite the foul troubles, OSU fared better than their counterparts, posting 21 fouls to the Illini’s 25.

The Buckeyes’ success against the Illini was in no small part thanks to forwards Ajae Petty and Elsa Lemmilä, who are each averaging over 7 rebounds per game and had no problem containing Illinois standout forward Kendall Bostic. Additionally, the Buckeyes were on fire defensively, collectively logging 19 turnovers and converting them into 30 points. They were also good for nine steals.

Ultimately, Ohio State looked composed and in control for the majority of the game. They led by as many as 21 points, while the Illini’s largest lead was just three, thanks to a combination of powerful shooting, strong defense and forced errors. This well-rounded effort will serve them well against Ball State, a team who has plenty of high-powered scorers of their own.

The Cardinals are trying to follow a strong 2023-2024 season, in which they set program records for both overall wins (28) and Mid-American Conference victories (16) under head coach Brady Sallee.

Ball State has five players with double-digit scoring averages: team leader Ally Becki (14.4), Lachelle Austin (12.9), Alex Richard (12.3), Madelyn Bischoff (12.2) and Elise Stuck (10.0). Becki also leads the team in assists with 5.9 per game, while Marie Kiefer leads in rebounding with 6.6.

The Cardinals were named the preseason favorite to win the MAC conference and tournament titles, though they have not yet kicked off conference play. Their matchup with the Buckeyes marks their second game against a ranked opponent (they fell in a respectable effort against No. 16 North Carolina, 63-52, in November).


Projected Starters

Ohio State


G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty

Lineup Notes

  • McMahon has scored in double digits in all four games she’s played in this season, putting up 20 points in two of them.
  • McMahon, Thierry, and Gray all scored in double digits against the Fighting Illini.

Ball State


G - Lachelle Austin
G - Ally Becki
G - Madelyn Bischoff
G - Sydney Bolden
F - Marie Kiefer

Lineup Notes

  • Austin, Becki, and Kiefer have started all nine games, though head coach Brady Sallee has rotated the other two spots between five other players on the roster.
  • Becky, Kiefer and Bischoff, along with Alex Richard, are all returning starters from last year. Richard has started in four games this year, most recently, on Nov. 16 against Northern Iowa.

Prediction


Though Ball State has had a successful season and each of the Cardinals’ three losses came against respectable opponents (Columbia and South Dakota State, in addition to the aforementioned No. 16 North Carolina game), unless the Buckeyes have an extremely off night, this game shouldn’t be too much trouble for the Scarlet and Gray.

Look to Ball State to make enough runs to keep things interesting, especially if Becki is shooting well or the Buckeyes find themselves in foul trouble again. But in the end, the Buckeyes should have no trouble maintaining control to lock in the win.


How to Watch


Date: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Stream: B1G+


LGHL Score Prediction: Ohio State 88, Ball State 65


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