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LGHL All of the news, previews, predictions you need to be prepared for the national title game

All of the news, previews, predictions you need to be prepared for the national title 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

NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-City Scenes

Kirby Lee-Imagn 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!

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

Our National Title Game Coverage​


Ohio State v. Notre Dame: National title game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State and Notre Dame injury reports heading into national championship game
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State is an 8.5-point favorite heading into the national title game
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

Three keys to Ohio State beating Notre Dame for the national title
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land


Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: Key matchups to watch
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

Three prop bets worth taking a look at in the national title game
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

In Conversation: Vegas insider Adam Burke is taking the under in Monday’s title game
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Game Previews ​


National Championship Game Preview: Notre Dame Defense, Run Game Stand in Way of College Football’s Ultimate Prize for Buckeyes
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors

What Ohio State has to do to beat Notre Dame, be crowned national champions
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Comparing Ohio State vs. Notre Dame at Every Position
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Ohio State must improve upon Cotton Bowl performance, here’s how
Noah Weiskopf, The Lantern

“It’s going to be a great challenge:” What Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said during final national title preview press conference
Mick Walker, Lettermen Row

Game Predictions​


Ohio State vs Notre Dame CFP championship predictions
Brian White, The Columbus Dispatch

Will Ohio State leave Atlanta with a national championship?
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Bold Predictions for Buckeyes, Notre Dame in national title game
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

College football SP+ rankings entering CFP championship game
Bill Connelly, ESPN

College football experts, talking heads, reporters predictions for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

The Game’s Xs and Os​


Has there ever been 2 RB & 2 WR each with over 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns pic.twitter.com/zP1IWEFBEd

— kevin (@kev2240212) January 18, 2025​
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‘It’s our DNA’: Notre Dame embraces playing man pass coverage vs. Buckeyes
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Caleb Downs thriving as key piece in middle of Ohio State’s defense
Bill Landis, Dotting The Eyes

Study haul: Ohio State smart safety Caleb Downs helped save season
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch

National Championship Game Data: Ohio State, Notre Dame playing for national title
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

The Game’s Off-Field Stories​


Foes on Monday, but Laurinaitis-Freeman friendship endures
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State players have rallied around Ryan Day on cusp of a national championship
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ryan Day, Marcus Freeman focus on the now as Ohio State, Notre Dame head into title game
Tim May, Lettermen Row

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LGHL OHIO STATE GAMEDAY: It’s a bad day to be the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

OHIO STATE GAMEDAY: It’s a bad day to be the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic - Ohio State v Texas

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

The Buckeyes look to secure their first national title since 2014.

Wake up, everyone. It’s Ohio State game day!

The moment we have all been waiting for has finally arrived: Ohio State is set to take on Notre Dame on Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish will square off in Atlanta looking to make college football history as the first-ever team to emerge victorious from a 12-team postseason bracket.

Over the past week, our talented group of writers and podcasters have put together preview pieces, analytical breakdowns, and everything in-between.

If you missed out on any of the coverage, we have you... well, covered. Below, each type of story is categorized. If you’re looking for podcasts and previews we’ve done, you can find them; if you’re looking for the betting lines and non-football topics, they are there, too.

Enjoy the day everyone. As always, Go Bucks!

Podcasts​

Previews​

Sports Betting​

Mens Basketball​

Women’s Basketball​

Recruiting​

Ask LGHL​

Other Columns​


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LGHL Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: Key matchups to watch

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: Key matchups to watch
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 10 CFP Semifinal Cotton Bowl Classic - Texas v Ohio State

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Buckeyes battle the Fighting Irish in the national title game.

In one of the greatest possible helmet matchups the College Football Playoff’s extended format could have asked for, Ohio State and Notre Dame will meet in the national title game in Atlanta on Monday night. Both teams have had to endure a gauntlet to reach this point, with the Buckeyes having knocked off the No. 1, No. 5 and No. 9 seeds and the Fighting Irish having defeated No. 2, No. 6 and No. 10. Now, the two storied programs are 60 minutes away from etching their name in history.

Here are some of the key matchups to watch when Ohio State and Notre Dame face-off on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Jack Sawyer vs. Aamil Wagner

Both of these two programs have been hit hard by the injury bug along the offensive line. For Ohio State, its issues came earlier in the year, losing starting left tackle Josh Simmons for the season against Oregon back on Oct. 12, and then starting center Seth McLaughlin prior to the Indiana game on Nov. 23. The Buckeyes have since been able to rebound, and have been largely saved by Donovan Jackson’s stellar performance at tackle since moving over from guard, in addition to a trio of guys who have stepped up in the middle.

Notre Dame, meanwhile, has had to shuffle guys around up front all season long due to injuries, but suffered even more losses in the Orange Bowl against Penn State. Starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp went down in the first half against the Nittany Lions, and will miss the national title game. Guard Rocco Spindler also exited the Penn State game, and is questionable for the Ohio State game but expected to play. Luckily for the Fighting Irish, their offensive line has depth and guys with prior starting experience to fill in.

That being said, the only Notre Dame offensive lineman that has started and finished every game this season is right tackle Aamil Wagner, who will be matched up against Jack Sawyer. A battle of two Ohio natives, as Wagner hails from Dayton, it will be strength on strength in the trenches for these two sides. In 417 pass-blocking snaps during the regular season, Wagner allowed just one sack, per PFF. Sawyer, meanwhile, has 4.5 sacks, five TFLs and seven pass breakups in three CFP games, plus his game-sealing touchdown against Texas.

How Wagner holds up against Sawyer, who has seemingly hit a new level during the postseason, will go a long way in determining the outcome of this game.

Jeremiyah Love vs. Cody Simon

Notre Dame is not a highly explosive offense — at least in the traditional sense. That isn’t to say that the Fighting Irish offense isn’t good, as they rank sixth in the country scoring 37.7 points per game. What Notre Dame lacks in explosiveness, it makes up for in efficiency. The Irish’s strong defense helps keep the offense in good field position, and a smart, effective quarterback like Riley Leonard keeps things moving and on schedule. As a result, Notre Dame has scored at least 30 points in nine of its 15 games this season, with six games of at least 49 points.

However, against a defense like Ohio State’s, which is allowing an average of 17.3 points per game in the postseason, it will be challenging to put together long, sustained drives over and over. Notre Dame will have to be able to hit on some explosive plays to put points on the board, which is where Jeremiyah Love comes in. While you don't typically think of a running back as a big-play generator, that has actually be the Fighting Irish’s specialty this season.

Notre Dame is tied for No. 4 nationally with 18 run plays of at least 30 yards, and is tied for No. 2 with eight run plays of at least 50 yards. This isn’t just limited to the regular season either, as we’ve seen Love make some huge plays in the CFP, including a 98-yard touchdown against Indiana. Love has been great all season, rushing for over 1,100 yards and 17 touchdowns, and scored one of the most impressive short-yardage touchdowns you’ll ever see in the win over Penn State, breaking multiple tackles and somehow remaining upright en rout to the end zone.

It will be on Cody Simon and the rest of the Ohio State defense, which ranks No. 3 in FBS allowing only 89.9 rushing yards per game, to slow down both Love and Leonard on the ground. The Buckeyes have been sensational against the run during the CFP, allowing 35 rushing yards combined in their last two games — Oregon had -23 rushing yards. Putting a stop to the Notre Dame rushing attack will be pivotal.

Xavier Watts vs. Caleb Downs

While these two guys will not be lining up directly across from one another, the matchup between Ohio State and Notre Dame is also a matchup of two of the best safeties in all of college football. The performance of each of these players will likely be indicative of how their respective units play as a whole.

Downs, a former Freshman All-American at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State prior to this season, has been the key to unlocking the Buckeyes’ defense. Ranking third on the team with 77 tackles to go along with eight TFLs, 0.5 sacks, two picks and seven pass breakups, the counting stats — while good — don't quite do him justice. Jim Knowles has moved Downs into the center of the Ohio State defense, functioning as almost a middle linebacker/safety hybrid, and it has made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.

If not for Downs, Watts would be the clear top safety in the country. Originally recruited to Notre Dame as a wide receiver, the Nebraska native made the move to safety as a sophomore and hasn't looked back. Now a senior, Watts is second on the team with 74 tackles to go along with three TFLs, nine pass breakups, a forced fumble and a team-high six interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Over his last two seasons, Watts has hauled in a whopping 13 interceptions, earning the Bronko Nagurski Award in 2023.

Both of these elite defensive backs will have their presence felt on Monday. In his hybrid role, Downs will likely find himself helping out in the run game and keeping an eye on Leonard when he goes mobile. Watts will almost certainly be tasked with helping to slow down Jeremiah Smith, making sure he doesn’t beat them over the top.

Leonard Moore vs. Jeremiah Smith

Speaking of Jeremiah Smith, Notre Dame’s ability to defend the freshman phenom wide receiver will be a huge focus in Atlanta. The Fighting Irish defense has been fantastic this season, ranking No. 2 in the country allowing only 14.3 points per game. They have allowed an average of 17 points across their three CFP matchups, holding both Indiana and Georgia under 20 points.

A big reason for Notre Dame’s success on defense, on top of having a really strong group of guys at all three levels, has been their ability to play man coverage. The Irish have played man coverage on 57.3% of opponent drop backs this season, which is second in the country behind only Purdue (63%). It is even more impressive that they’ve done most of it without top cover corner Benjamin Morrison, who sustained a season-ending hip injury in the win over Stanford on Oct. 12. Freshman Leonard Moore has stepped up big time in his place, recording a team-high 10 pass breakups this season with a pair of interceptions.

Moore and fellow corner Christian Gray have been excellent, but Notre Dame as a whole has not really played against a passing offense of Ohio State’s caliber. During the regular season, the Irish only played two opponents whose passing offenses ranked better than 30th nationally: Louisville and USC. The Cardinals’ Tyler Shough had a decent game, passing for 264 yards with three TDs and a pick, while Trojans backup quarterback Jaden Maiava threw for 360 yards with three TDs and two INTs, scoring 35 points in the process.

In the postseason, Notre Dame has faced the No. 35 (Indiana), No. 12 (Georgia) and No. 66 (Penn State) passing offenses. While the Bulldogs’ offense was good on paper coming in, they were without starting quarterback Carson Beck, who went down in the SEC Championship Game against Texas. The Buckeyes’ passing offense enters Monday ranked 25th, but Will Howard has averaged over 300 yards per game in the CFP.

Guarding Jeremiah Smith in man coverage is going to be a tall task, especially with the way Howard has been playing. The Longhorns were able to neutralize Smith using a variety of zone coverages, but Notre Dame isn’t going to scrap its base defense in an effort to stop one guy. The freshman-on-freshman battle between Smith and Moore will be one of if not the most important individual matchup of the night.

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LGHL Ohio State is an 8.5-point favorite heading into the national title game

Ohio State is an 8.5-point favorite heading into the national title game
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

CFP National Championship: Head Coaches News Conference

Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

The Buckeyes opened at around 9.5-point favorites, and the light has moved slightly as of Monday morning.

Ohio State has been favored in every game throughout this postseason. The Buckeyes opened as 7.5-point favorites over Tennessee, 1.5-point favorites over Oregon and six-point favorites over Texas. That will not change for OSU in the national title game, as Ryan Day’s group enters Monday’s contest as 8.5-point favorites — their largest spread in their four College Football Playoff games.

Opening Odds: Ohio State -8.5 | O/U 45.5 (per FanDuel Sportsbook)​


It was tough to get a read on Ohio State heading into the College Football Playoff, as the Buckeyes suffered one of the program’s worst losses of the last decade-plus to end the regular season, falling 13-10 to a bad Michigan team at home as massive favorites. It was clear that this group was supremely talented, but could they bounce back from that puzzling performance against the Wolverines and put together a run at a national title?

In the aftermath of Nov. 30, we have seen Ohio State respond by playing its absolute best football. The Buckeyes completely dismantled Tennessee in Columbus in the first round, and followed it up by running Oregon off the field at the Rose Bowl. Ohio State had to battle to come away victorious against Texas, but the Buckeyes were able to grind it out and win a type of game that this group has typically lost under Ryan Day. As a result, Ohio State is now one win away from completing the hardest national championship run in college football history.

The Buckeyes have been dominant on both sides of the ball during this postseason. Ohio State put up almost 1,000 yards of offense combined against the Vols and the Ducks, led by freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith’s 290 yards and four touchdowns. The defense, which has been great all season long, came up huge against the Longhorns, turning a goal line stand into points of their own with Jack Sawyer’s infamous sack-fumble, scoop-and-score to seal the game. Overall, Ohio State has averaged 37 points per game this postseason, while allowing only 17.3 points per game.

Like Ohio State, Notre Dame also had to overcome an embarrassing loss during the regular season, albeit one that came much earlier in the season when the Fighting Irish lost at home, 16-14, to Northern Illinois. Marcus Freeman’s group put that game in the rearview mirror rather quickly, and dominated each and every opponent in their path the rest of the way. Notre Dame averaged 44.1 points per game over its final 10 contests, and won by multiple scores in each of those matchups but one — a 31-24 victory over Louisville.

Notre Dame’s offense isn’t super flashy, but it is incredibly efficient, ranking sixth in FBS scoring 37 points per game this season. Riley Leonard has showcased his dual-threat ability in South Bend, throwing for over 2,600 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions while rushing for another 866 yards and 16 TDs. Jeremiyah Love has been one of the nation’s best running backs, rushing for more than 1,100 yards on an impressive 7.1 yards per carry with 17 touchdowns. Eight different Notre Dame players have caught at least two touchdown passes.

While the Fighting Irish have been great offensively, they have been even better defensively, with a unit that ranks No. 2 nationally allowing only 14.3 points per game. Notre Dame has held its CFP opponents to an average of 17 points, allowing more than 20 points in the postseason just once in the 27-24 win over Penn State. The group is led by a dominant linebacker duo of Jack Kiser and Drayk Bowen. Kiser leads the team with 85 total tackles, and Bowen isn’t too far behind with 70. Notre Dame also has an elite safety in Xavier Watts, who has picked off a team-high six passes this season.

Ohio State is more than a touchdown favorite in this matchup, but that doesn’t mean Notre Dame has no chance of upsetting the Buckeyes. The Fighting Irish will likely look to keep the clock moving when they have the ball, limiting the amount of possessions for Ohio State’s dynamic offense. Look for Notre Dame to keep a safety overtop of Smith, much like Texas was able to do in the Cotton Bowl. Freeman’s group will have to find a way to keep the chains moving on the ground against a Buckeyes’ defense that ranks third in the country in rushing defense.

On the flip side, Ohio State will look to attack Notre Dame’s man coverage. Will Howard has been sensational in the postseason, and even with extra attention paid to Smith, the Buckeyes still have two other elite receivers in Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate to throw to. Jim Knowles’ defense has been exceptional since changes were made following the loss to Oregon earlier this season, and it will be tough for the Irish to put together repeated sustained drives. If Ohio State plays how it did in its first three CFP matchups, they will be tough to beat.

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LGHL Uncut: McGuff on Ohio State women’s first loss following Penn State defeat

Uncut: McGuff on Ohio State women’s first loss following Penn State defeat
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

AUB08061.0.jpg

Ohio State University Athletic Department

What McGuff, McMahon and Gray saw was missing in the 62-59 defeat for the Scarlet and Gray.

Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio​


No. 9 Ohio State women’s basketball entered Sunday’s game against the Penn State Nittany Lions 17-0 this season. After a close contest, the Buckeyes picked up their first loss of the season, giving Penn State their first Big Ten win of the season in a 62-59 Ohio State defeat.

Following the game, head coach Kevin McGuff, Chance Gray, and Cotie McMahon spoke with the media.

Coach McGuff discussed the final play and how the missed threes weren’t the reason Ohio State lost. He dives into why the Buckeyes fell to the Nittany Lions and what the home side did defensively to make the game so difficult for the Scarlet and Gray.

McMahon and Gray talked about the post-game message from coach McGuff, how the players talked to each other following the game, and a team that lacked grit against the Nittany Lions.

That and more in the latest “Uncut.”


Connect with Thomas:
Bluesky: @ThomasCostello
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com

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Google Buckeyes, Irish used humbling losses as springboards to their national championship game showdown - Galveston County Daily News

Buckeyes, Irish used humbling losses as springboards to their national championship game showdown - Galveston County Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Buckeyes, Irish used humbling losses as springboards to their national championship game showdown Galveston County Daily News

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Google The CFP worked. Notre Dame and Ohio State are the best, if only by a sliver over UT. Who will win? - Houston Chronicle

The CFP worked. Notre Dame and Ohio State are the best, if only by a sliver over UT. Who will win? - Houston Chronicle
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

The CFP worked. Notre Dame and Ohio State are the best, if only by a sliver over UT. Who will win? Houston Chronicle

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Google On Monday night, Ohio State and Notre Dame will deliver something college football has never seen before - cleveland.com

On Monday night, Ohio State and Notre Dame will deliver something college football has never seen before - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

On Monday night, Ohio State and Notre Dame will deliver something college football has never seen before cleveland.com

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