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LGHL Ohio State wilts after furious comeback, falls to No. 18 Michigan State 69-62
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Ohio State wilts after furious comeback, falls to No. 18 Michigan State 69-62
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes fought hard, but a poor shooting night was too big to overcome.
Welcome to conference play, boys and girls.
With the snow swirling outside and the forecast calling for up to 10 inches of snow by the end of the weekend in Columbus, Tom Izzo’s 30th Michigan State team made their way into the Schottenstein Center for the only scheduled meeting between the two teams this season.
Michigan State was nails defensively, forcing Ohio State into double-digit turnovers, including three shot clock violations, as the visiting Spartans beating the Buckeyes for the first time in almost two years, 68-62.
The No. 18 Spartans (12-2, 3-0) entered Friday night’s game riding a six-game winning streak, including wins over Big Ten foes Nebraska and Minnesota. However, MSU was also riding a two-game losing streak against these Buckeyes, having lost their only meeting last season to Ohio State in East Lansing and also losing in the Big Ten Tournament two seasons ago.
Ohio State (9-5, 1-2) entered Friday night’s showdown mostly healthy, with Meechie Johnson being the only noteworthy absence. Johnson is away from the team as he deals with a personal matter with his family. Micah Parrish re-entered the starting lineup after missing one game with an ankle injury, alongside Bruce Thornton, John Mobley, Devin Royal, and Sean Stewart.
Izzo went with a starting five of Tre Holloman, Jaden Akins, Jeremy Fears, Jaxon Kohler, and Szymon Zapala.
Kohler scored Michigan State’s first six points of the game, nearly matching his season average of 8.1 just in the first few minutes. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, he had nearly 30 pounds on Royal, who was tasked with guarding him early on. The score at the very first media timeout was 6-5 in favor of the Spartans.
Michigan State kept it going below the basket. Over the next several minutes it was the seven-foot-tall Longwood transfer Zapala making it happen, scoring seven points in just over two minutes to help give the Spartans a 27-21 lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half. On the season, Kohler and Zapala were averaging a combined 13.5 points per game entering Friday night’s game — they combined for 15 in the first half alone against the Buckeyes.
Ohio State was tied up in knots over the final several minutes of the half, finishing the opening frame with nine turnovers and trailing 37-29. Thornton was held to two points on 1-of-4 shooting in the first half after scoring 30+ in each of his last two games. Zapala had nine points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting in the first half.
The seven-footer continued to torment Ohio State in the second half, scoring three more baskets in the first 1:44 after the break to give Michigan State a 43-29 lead that forced Jake Diebler to use a timeout. He blew past his previous season-high of 10, getting to 15 with over 18 minutes left in the game.
Ohio State struggled to score below the basket for much of this game, with shot-blocking threats like Booker and Carr hovering around. They were also having one of their worst games from three-point range this season. Michigan State still led 47-43 at the under-12 timeout.
Michigan State went on an offensive lull that lasted over five minutes, allowing the Buckeyes to flip the four-point deficit to a one-point lead, 50-49, by the under-eight timeout with 7:59 remaining. Stewart was a catalyst for the run even when he wasn’t scoring, forcing multiple turnovers including two steals himself.
A Xavier Booker basket and-one put Michigan State back up 52-50, and Holloman followed it up with his first three-pointer of the game moments later to put the Spartans up five with seven minutes remaining.
Ohio State’s 15-2 run late in this one made it interesting, but the Spartans were able to regroup, hit their free throws down the stretch, and outlast the Buckeyes Friday night, 69-62.
If you weren’t around to catch Ohio State’s second B1G loss of the season Friday night, here are a few key moments and plays that proved crucial as the Buckeyes came up short against the Spartans:
Junior forward Jaxon Kohler put Royal in a locker early in this game, scoring six points over the first 2:53 while the sophomore was guarding him. Kohler has only taken about six shots per game this season, but took four shots (and hit three of them) before the first timeout of the game. It was pretty clear that Royal did not have the muscle to guard Kohler early in this game.
Trailing Michigan State 9-5 six minutes into the game, the Buckeyes ripped off an 8-0 run in just over 90 seconds, capped off by a bananas defensive play by Royal.
With Coen Carr dribbling the ball at the top of the key, Royal reached in and poked the ball away from the sophomore from California. The ball was loose and both guys dove for it, but Royal came up with it just in front of the scorer’s table.
He looked up and hit Thornton with a chest pass on the run from his seat, and he scored in transition to make it 13-9 Ohio State with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game.
After Xavier Booker knocked down a long two-pointer to put MSU up 27-21 with 7:21 left in the first half, Stewart went for a layup at the other end and was promptly stuffed at the rim by Booker.
Ques Glover grabbed the loose ball and found Colin White along the baseline with the shot clock dwindling, but Booker was able to turn around and swat his shot away, too. Ohio State got multiple good looks near the basket but was turned away both times.
After Ohio State cut the deficit to 31-29 with 2:28 left in the first half, they turned the ball over four times and only took one shot until halftime.
In the meantime, Michigan State scored three times to make it 37-29 at halftime, capped off by a two-handed slam by Zapala.
The seven-footer continued his career game (at least, in his Michigan State career) as soon as the second half started, scoring three more times in the first two minutes of the second half to give Michigan State a 43-29 lead with just over 18 minutes remaining. That got him to 15 points with nearly a whole half of basketball still to play.
Things had gotten out of hand for Ohio State momentarily, as the Spartans had opened up a 14-point lead at the beginning of the second half. But starting at the 13:09 mark the Buckeyes went on an 8-0 run, capped off by Stewart's steal from Fidler, followed by a sprint to the other end and a two-handed slam, to make it 47-43 with 11:58 left in the game.
Even with the shooting woes, Ohio State started to turn defense into offense in the second half and build off the energy of the crowd as the deficit got slimmer.
With Michigan State up 66-62 and 39 seconds remaining, Akins knocked down two free throws to give the Spartans a 68-62 lead.
The Buckeyes (9-5, 1-2) don’t have time to dwell on Friday night’s loss, as they’ll fly out to the twin cities Monday to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-6, 0-2) at the Barn. Minnesota has lost both of its Big Ten games by double-digits — including an 18-point loss to MSU at home.
The Buckeyes’ game with Minnesota will tip off at 9 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FS1.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes fought hard, but a poor shooting night was too big to overcome.
Welcome to conference play, boys and girls.
With the snow swirling outside and the forecast calling for up to 10 inches of snow by the end of the weekend in Columbus, Tom Izzo’s 30th Michigan State team made their way into the Schottenstein Center for the only scheduled meeting between the two teams this season.
Michigan State was nails defensively, forcing Ohio State into double-digit turnovers, including three shot clock violations, as the visiting Spartans beating the Buckeyes for the first time in almost two years, 68-62.
The No. 18 Spartans (12-2, 3-0) entered Friday night’s game riding a six-game winning streak, including wins over Big Ten foes Nebraska and Minnesota. However, MSU was also riding a two-game losing streak against these Buckeyes, having lost their only meeting last season to Ohio State in East Lansing and also losing in the Big Ten Tournament two seasons ago.
Ohio State (9-5, 1-2) entered Friday night’s showdown mostly healthy, with Meechie Johnson being the only noteworthy absence. Johnson is away from the team as he deals with a personal matter with his family. Micah Parrish re-entered the starting lineup after missing one game with an ankle injury, alongside Bruce Thornton, John Mobley, Devin Royal, and Sean Stewart.
Izzo went with a starting five of Tre Holloman, Jaden Akins, Jeremy Fears, Jaxon Kohler, and Szymon Zapala.
Kohler scored Michigan State’s first six points of the game, nearly matching his season average of 8.1 just in the first few minutes. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, he had nearly 30 pounds on Royal, who was tasked with guarding him early on. The score at the very first media timeout was 6-5 in favor of the Spartans.
Michigan State kept it going below the basket. Over the next several minutes it was the seven-foot-tall Longwood transfer Zapala making it happen, scoring seven points in just over two minutes to help give the Spartans a 27-21 lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half. On the season, Kohler and Zapala were averaging a combined 13.5 points per game entering Friday night’s game — they combined for 15 in the first half alone against the Buckeyes.
Ohio State was tied up in knots over the final several minutes of the half, finishing the opening frame with nine turnovers and trailing 37-29. Thornton was held to two points on 1-of-4 shooting in the first half after scoring 30+ in each of his last two games. Zapala had nine points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting in the first half.
The seven-footer continued to torment Ohio State in the second half, scoring three more baskets in the first 1:44 after the break to give Michigan State a 43-29 lead that forced Jake Diebler to use a timeout. He blew past his previous season-high of 10, getting to 15 with over 18 minutes left in the game.
Ohio State struggled to score below the basket for much of this game, with shot-blocking threats like Booker and Carr hovering around. They were also having one of their worst games from three-point range this season. Michigan State still led 47-43 at the under-12 timeout.
Michigan State went on an offensive lull that lasted over five minutes, allowing the Buckeyes to flip the four-point deficit to a one-point lead, 50-49, by the under-eight timeout with 7:59 remaining. Stewart was a catalyst for the run even when he wasn’t scoring, forcing multiple turnovers including two steals himself.
A Xavier Booker basket and-one put Michigan State back up 52-50, and Holloman followed it up with his first three-pointer of the game moments later to put the Spartans up five with seven minutes remaining.
Ohio State’s 15-2 run late in this one made it interesting, but the Spartans were able to regroup, hit their free throws down the stretch, and outlast the Buckeyes Friday night, 69-62.
If you weren’t around to catch Ohio State’s second B1G loss of the season Friday night, here are a few key moments and plays that proved crucial as the Buckeyes came up short against the Spartans:
Kohler can’t be stopped
Junior forward Jaxon Kohler put Royal in a locker early in this game, scoring six points over the first 2:53 while the sophomore was guarding him. Kohler has only taken about six shots per game this season, but took four shots (and hit three of them) before the first timeout of the game. It was pretty clear that Royal did not have the muscle to guard Kohler early in this game.
Royal’s diving play caps off an 8-0 Buckeye run
Buckeyes are bringing the pressureWhat a sequence for @OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/pYRLc2zUcj
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 4, 2025
Trailing Michigan State 9-5 six minutes into the game, the Buckeyes ripped off an 8-0 run in just over 90 seconds, capped off by a bananas defensive play by Royal.
With Coen Carr dribbling the ball at the top of the key, Royal reached in and poked the ball away from the sophomore from California. The ball was loose and both guys dove for it, but Royal came up with it just in front of the scorer’s table.
He looked up and hit Thornton with a chest pass on the run from his seat, and he scored in transition to make it 13-9 Ohio State with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game.
Booker blocks two shots in five seconds
After Xavier Booker knocked down a long two-pointer to put MSU up 27-21 with 7:21 left in the first half, Stewart went for a layup at the other end and was promptly stuffed at the rim by Booker.
Ques Glover grabbed the loose ball and found Colin White along the baseline with the shot clock dwindling, but Booker was able to turn around and swat his shot away, too. Ohio State got multiple good looks near the basket but was turned away both times.
Spartans close first half on 6-0 run
After Ohio State cut the deficit to 31-29 with 2:28 left in the first half, they turned the ball over four times and only took one shot until halftime.
In the meantime, Michigan State scored three times to make it 37-29 at halftime, capped off by a two-handed slam by Zapala.
Zapala sets a season-high with.....a ton of time to go
The seven-footer continued his career game (at least, in his Michigan State career) as soon as the second half started, scoring three more times in the first two minutes of the second half to give Michigan State a 43-29 lead with just over 18 minutes remaining. That got him to 15 points with nearly a whole half of basketball still to play.
Stewart’s steal and slam
Things had gotten out of hand for Ohio State momentarily, as the Spartans had opened up a 14-point lead at the beginning of the second half. But starting at the 13:09 mark the Buckeyes went on an 8-0 run, capped off by Stewart's steal from Fidler, followed by a sprint to the other end and a two-handed slam, to make it 47-43 with 11:58 left in the game.
Even with the shooting woes, Ohio State started to turn defense into offense in the second half and build off the energy of the crowd as the deficit got slimmer.
Akins knocks down both free throws to ice it
With Michigan State up 66-62 and 39 seconds remaining, Akins knocked down two free throws to give the Spartans a 68-62 lead.
What’s next?
The Buckeyes (9-5, 1-2) don’t have time to dwell on Friday night’s loss, as they’ll fly out to the twin cities Monday to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-6, 0-2) at the Barn. Minnesota has lost both of its Big Ten games by double-digits — including an 18-point loss to MSU at home.
The Buckeyes’ game with Minnesota will tip off at 9 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FS1.
Continue reading...
LGHL I-80 Football Show: Ohio State and Penn State can’t be stopped!
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I-80 Football Show: Ohio State and Penn State can’t be stopped!
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Ohio State gets revenge against Oregon in dominant fashion, while Penn State rolls into the playoff semi-final.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Happy New Year! 2025 is officially here as the college football season comes to an end. The Big Ten is having a strong showing in bowl season, going 8-5 with a 4-1 record against SEC teams — including Michigan upsetting Alabama and USC beating Texas A&M in a 35-31 shootout.
The good vibes continue for the conference, as they are in great position to have at least one team in the national championship game as Ohio State and Penn State have secured their bids to the College Football Playoff semi-finals.
Penn State continues to click at the end of the season while capitalizing on their easier path in the playoff, rolling Ashton Jeanty and Boise State. Jeanty entered the game needing a little over 130 yards to pass Barry Sanders’s single-season rushing record, but left the game in second place as the Nittany Lion’s defense made it impossible for him to get going in the running game.
When the 12-team playoff format was announced, Penn State was identified as the biggest beneficiary of the expanded playoff, and they are proving that sentiment true by reaching the semi-finals in their first appearance.
Ohio State can’t go back in time and fix their loss to Michigan. They also can’t erase the fact that they haven’t beaten Michigan or won the Big Ten in four seasons, but they can win a national championship after dominating Oregon.
The Buckeyes opened the game with 34 unanswered points before Oregon scored going into the half. Ohio State’s defense dominated all but the middle eight minutes of the game, finishing with eight sacks, double-digit tackles for loss, and nine pass breakups. Jeremiah Smith continues his impressive freshman season with seven receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes look like the hottest team in the playoffs.
In their weekly pitstops, Jordan calls for the Indianapolis Colts to fire their general manager and defensive staff. It’s time for major changes in that franchise. Dante believes that Eli Manning is an eventual Hall of Famer, but doesn’t think he should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. To keep up with the show, you can subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed, where new episodes drop every Thursday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Ohio State gets revenge against Oregon in dominant fashion, while Penn State rolls into the playoff semi-final.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Happy New Year! 2025 is officially here as the college football season comes to an end. The Big Ten is having a strong showing in bowl season, going 8-5 with a 4-1 record against SEC teams — including Michigan upsetting Alabama and USC beating Texas A&M in a 35-31 shootout.
The good vibes continue for the conference, as they are in great position to have at least one team in the national championship game as Ohio State and Penn State have secured their bids to the College Football Playoff semi-finals.
Penn State continues to click at the end of the season while capitalizing on their easier path in the playoff, rolling Ashton Jeanty and Boise State. Jeanty entered the game needing a little over 130 yards to pass Barry Sanders’s single-season rushing record, but left the game in second place as the Nittany Lion’s defense made it impossible for him to get going in the running game.
When the 12-team playoff format was announced, Penn State was identified as the biggest beneficiary of the expanded playoff, and they are proving that sentiment true by reaching the semi-finals in their first appearance.
Ohio State can’t go back in time and fix their loss to Michigan. They also can’t erase the fact that they haven’t beaten Michigan or won the Big Ten in four seasons, but they can win a national championship after dominating Oregon.
The Buckeyes opened the game with 34 unanswered points before Oregon scored going into the half. Ohio State’s defense dominated all but the middle eight minutes of the game, finishing with eight sacks, double-digit tackles for loss, and nine pass breakups. Jeremiah Smith continues his impressive freshman season with seven receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes look like the hottest team in the playoffs.
In their weekly pitstops, Jordan calls for the Indianapolis Colts to fire their general manager and defensive staff. It’s time for major changes in that franchise. Dante believes that Eli Manning is an eventual Hall of Famer, but doesn’t think he should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. To keep up with the show, you can subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed, where new episodes drop every Thursday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
LGHL Stock Market Report: No one can guard Jeremiah Smith
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Stock Market Report: No one can guard Jeremiah Smith
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Smith and Will Howard had their best games of the season, while the defense recorded eight sacks in the Buckeyes 41-21 win over Oregon
Over a month ago when Michigan beat Ohio State in Columbus, I said there was no Stock Market Report after a loss like that, because it just fell on everyone.
After the 41-21 win for the No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes over the No. 1 seed Oregon Ducks, it is hard to do a Stock Market Report for the exact opposite reason. Every single player, coach, and person affiliated with the Ohio State program deserves credit for the bounce back since the Michigan game that this team has shown.
Also, for this, I am excluding Jeremiah Smith and Cody Simon since they won offensive and defensive MVPs. At this point, I don’t need to point out Smith’s greatness. We just have to appreciate it.
Here is who and what we are high and low on after the Buckeye’s dominating win over the Ducks.
Complete team wins
As I said above, there are probably 20 different players or coaches that deserve to be mentioned in this, so the main award and stock just goes to Ohio State. You want to peak at the end of the season, and this team is easily playing the best football they have played all season.
Donovan Jackson
The entire offensive line has been fantastic in battling through the adversity this season, but Donavan Jackson has been a standout over the last two games. You could argue Jackson has been the MVP for the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff, and has helped elevate this unit with his play at left tackle.
James Laurinaitis
It is impossible not to see the impact the former Ohio State standout linebacker has had on this position group. He has turned Cody Simon and Sonny Styles into two of the top linebackers in the country. Arvell Reese has had an immediate impact on the team, and they have some of the top linebackers in the country in the 2025 recruiting class.
He is quickly becoming the Brian Hartline of the defense.
Four-team playoff
Ohio State is playing like the best team in college football, and they would not have been included in the four-team playoff. Sometimes, it is okay that more than four teams out of 130 can compete for a national title, and it doesn’t water down the regular season, but actually elevates it.
Buy: Fast starts
The College Football Playoff has been stress-free for Ohio State fans in the best way. The Buckeyes were up 21-0 against Tennessee and then 34-0 against Oregon. They have yet to trail in the College Football Playoff, and it has been a great viewing experience as a fan of a team that had garnered a reputation for being a slow-starting team. That is dead.
Buy: Secondary
The secondary deserves to be praised again for how they bounced back against this Oregon squad. Denzel Burke was only targeted one time, and he ran the route better than Tez Johnson on the play. Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom are two of the best safeties in the country, and the down-the-field coverage against Oregon and Tennessee was impressive.
That unit is playing its best ball.
Sell: Holding penalties
I am not one to harp on penalties or the lack thereof, but Ohio State’s lack of opponent penalties for holding is too obvious to ignore.
According to Michael Citro of Land-Grant Holy Land, Ohio State has been penalized for offensive holding nine times in 2024, while Ohio State’s opponents have been penalized for offensive holding one time in 2024.
A Western Michigan offensive holding penalty was offset by a targeting call on Ohio State, and a Michigan State offensive holding penalty was offset by defensive holding by Ohio State.
Ohio State was called for holding on special teams twice (a punt return vs. Penn State and a kickoff against Northwestern) and no OSU opponent has been called for holding on special teams. Also, Gee Scott has more holding penalties than all of Ohio State’s opponents combined.
Jack Sawyer hasn’t had a holding called against him since 2021. I feel like that speaks for itself.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Smith and Will Howard had their best games of the season, while the defense recorded eight sacks in the Buckeyes 41-21 win over Oregon
Over a month ago when Michigan beat Ohio State in Columbus, I said there was no Stock Market Report after a loss like that, because it just fell on everyone.
After the 41-21 win for the No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes over the No. 1 seed Oregon Ducks, it is hard to do a Stock Market Report for the exact opposite reason. Every single player, coach, and person affiliated with the Ohio State program deserves credit for the bounce back since the Michigan game that this team has shown.
Also, for this, I am excluding Jeremiah Smith and Cody Simon since they won offensive and defensive MVPs. At this point, I don’t need to point out Smith’s greatness. We just have to appreciate it.
Here is who and what we are high and low on after the Buckeye’s dominating win over the Ducks.
Blue Chip
Complete team wins
As I said above, there are probably 20 different players or coaches that deserve to be mentioned in this, so the main award and stock just goes to Ohio State. You want to peak at the end of the season, and this team is easily playing the best football they have played all season.
Solid Investments
Donovan Jackson
The entire offensive line has been fantastic in battling through the adversity this season, but Donavan Jackson has been a standout over the last two games. You could argue Jackson has been the MVP for the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff, and has helped elevate this unit with his play at left tackle.
James Laurinaitis
It is impossible not to see the impact the former Ohio State standout linebacker has had on this position group. He has turned Cody Simon and Sonny Styles into two of the top linebackers in the country. Arvell Reese has had an immediate impact on the team, and they have some of the top linebackers in the country in the 2025 recruiting class.
He is quickly becoming the Brian Hartline of the defense.
Junk Bond
Four-team playoff
Ohio State is playing like the best team in college football, and they would not have been included in the four-team playoff. Sometimes, it is okay that more than four teams out of 130 can compete for a national title, and it doesn’t water down the regular season, but actually elevates it.
Buy/Sell
Buy: Fast starts
The College Football Playoff has been stress-free for Ohio State fans in the best way. The Buckeyes were up 21-0 against Tennessee and then 34-0 against Oregon. They have yet to trail in the College Football Playoff, and it has been a great viewing experience as a fan of a team that had garnered a reputation for being a slow-starting team. That is dead.
Buy: Secondary
The secondary deserves to be praised again for how they bounced back against this Oregon squad. Denzel Burke was only targeted one time, and he ran the route better than Tez Johnson on the play. Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom are two of the best safeties in the country, and the down-the-field coverage against Oregon and Tennessee was impressive.
That unit is playing its best ball.
Sell: Holding penalties
I am not one to harp on penalties or the lack thereof, but Ohio State’s lack of opponent penalties for holding is too obvious to ignore.
According to Michael Citro of Land-Grant Holy Land, Ohio State has been penalized for offensive holding nine times in 2024, while Ohio State’s opponents have been penalized for offensive holding one time in 2024.
A Western Michigan offensive holding penalty was offset by a targeting call on Ohio State, and a Michigan State offensive holding penalty was offset by defensive holding by Ohio State.
Ohio State was called for holding on special teams twice (a punt return vs. Penn State and a kickoff against Northwestern) and no OSU opponent has been called for holding on special teams. Also, Gee Scott has more holding penalties than all of Ohio State’s opponents combined.
Jack Sawyer hasn’t had a holding called against him since 2021. I feel like that speaks for itself.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Michigan State: Game preview and prediction
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Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Michigan State: Game preview and prediction
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes will host the Tom Izzo led Spartans to open up the new year and conference play.
The Ohio State (9-4, 1-1) men’s basketball team will host Tom Izzo and the No. 18 Michigan State Spartans (11-2, 2-0) in a rare Friday night showdown at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.
Ohio State completed its non-conference slate on Sunday with a win over Indiana State, as the Buckeyes eclipsed 100 points for the third time this season.
Michigan State comes into the contest at 11-2 and 2-0 in the early part of conference play, with dominating wins over Minnesota and Nebraska. The Spartans have only two losses this season, coming against Kansas and Memphis, both by eight points.
Ohio State has lost one conference game to Maryland but lost three in the non-conference to Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, and Auburn. They were able to pick up a huge win two weeks ago against a top-five Kentucky team in the CBS Sports Classic to pick up some much-needed momentum heading into conference play.
Ohio State will still be without starting senior guard and South Carolina transfer Meechie Johnson, who left the team due to personal matters. He has missed three games, and his timetable to return is unknown, according to head coach Jake Diebler.
Michigan State only has one player averaging double digits, but it has eight players averaging six points or more per game. In an impressive display of depth, it also has ten players averaging 14 or more minutes per game.
Senior guard Jaden Akins is averaging 13.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Jase Richardson, the son of former NBA player and Michigan State great Jason Richardson, is averaging 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
Transfer senior forward Frankie Fidler averages 9.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while sophomore Coen Carr averages 8.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Spartan big man Jaxon Kohler averages 8.1 points and a team-high 8.4 rebounds per game.
Freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. averages 7.4 points and 5.9 assists per game as the Spartans’ main ball handler. Tre Holloman and Xavier Booker average 7.4 and 6.4 points per game, respectively.
Michigan State is ranked No. 20 overall on KenPom, No. 33 in offensive efficiency rating, and No. 17 in defensive efficiency rating. Ohio State is ranked No. 28 overall, No. 24 in offensive efficiency rating, and No. 36 in defensive efficiency rating.
The Buckeyes are led by junior guard Bruce Thornton, who is averaging 17.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He is having his most efficient season, shooting 55.8 percent from the field, 49 percent from three-point range, and 82.9 percent from the free-throw line. He also leads the Buckeyes with 32.9 minutes per game and is the only Buckeye playing over 30 minutes a game.
Thornton, a three-year captain, is coming off back-to-back 30-point performances, with 30 points in the win against Kentucky and 33 points against Indiana State. He is the first Buckeye to record back-to-back 30-point performances since Evan Turner.
Thornton is eighth in the conference in scoring, at 17.4 points per game, and is ninth in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio, at 3.71.
Sophomore forward Devin Royal continues his breakout season, averaging 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, which leads the team. Royal shoots 60.2 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free-throw line. He also leads the team with 1.2 steals per game.
Freshman phenom John Mobley Jr. averages 12.2 points per game and is shooting 47.8 percent from three-point range. He is going through a bit of a slump, shooting just 2-for-13 from beyond the arc over the last two games.
Micah Parrish is averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, but did not play in the Buckeyes’ win over Indiana State after suffering an ankle injury against Kentucky. Sophomore center Aaron Bradshaw is averaging 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game and has been a huge spark for the Buckeyes since returning from a prolonged absence due to a university investigation.
Ques Glover has only played five games after dealing with an injury, but he is averaging 7.0 points per game on 56 percent shooting from the field and 55 percent from three-point range.
Sean Stewart is averaging 5.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while Evan Mahaffey is averaging 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
This game could come down to perimeter shooting. Ohio State is one of the top three-point shooting teams in the conference at 39.6 percent, while Michigan State is one of the worst at 28.8 percent. Ohio State is also No. 17 in the country in three-point percentage, while Michigan State is No. 335.
Ohio State will have to be able to get something going in the paint to win this game. They have been able to generate more paint touches since Aaron Bradshaw returned to the lineup, and Sean Stewart continues to improve, but the Buckeyes need to show that they can consistently win games when their three-point shot is not there.
Also, Michigan State is a great offensive-rebounding team, so it will be key to keep them off the glass and not let them get second-chance opportunities. And not to turn the ball over.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 59.0%
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
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Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes will host the Tom Izzo led Spartans to open up the new year and conference play.
The Ohio State (9-4, 1-1) men’s basketball team will host Tom Izzo and the No. 18 Michigan State Spartans (11-2, 2-0) in a rare Friday night showdown at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.
Ohio State completed its non-conference slate on Sunday with a win over Indiana State, as the Buckeyes eclipsed 100 points for the third time this season.
Michigan State comes into the contest at 11-2 and 2-0 in the early part of conference play, with dominating wins over Minnesota and Nebraska. The Spartans have only two losses this season, coming against Kansas and Memphis, both by eight points.
Ohio State has lost one conference game to Maryland but lost three in the non-conference to Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, and Auburn. They were able to pick up a huge win two weeks ago against a top-five Kentucky team in the CBS Sports Classic to pick up some much-needed momentum heading into conference play.
Ohio State will still be without starting senior guard and South Carolina transfer Meechie Johnson, who left the team due to personal matters. He has missed three games, and his timetable to return is unknown, according to head coach Jake Diebler.
Preview
Michigan State only has one player averaging double digits, but it has eight players averaging six points or more per game. In an impressive display of depth, it also has ten players averaging 14 or more minutes per game.
Senior guard Jaden Akins is averaging 13.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Jase Richardson, the son of former NBA player and Michigan State great Jason Richardson, is averaging 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
Transfer senior forward Frankie Fidler averages 9.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while sophomore Coen Carr averages 8.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Spartan big man Jaxon Kohler averages 8.1 points and a team-high 8.4 rebounds per game.
Freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. averages 7.4 points and 5.9 assists per game as the Spartans’ main ball handler. Tre Holloman and Xavier Booker average 7.4 and 6.4 points per game, respectively.
Michigan State is ranked No. 20 overall on KenPom, No. 33 in offensive efficiency rating, and No. 17 in defensive efficiency rating. Ohio State is ranked No. 28 overall, No. 24 in offensive efficiency rating, and No. 36 in defensive efficiency rating.
The Buckeyes are led by junior guard Bruce Thornton, who is averaging 17.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He is having his most efficient season, shooting 55.8 percent from the field, 49 percent from three-point range, and 82.9 percent from the free-throw line. He also leads the Buckeyes with 32.9 minutes per game and is the only Buckeye playing over 30 minutes a game.
Thornton, a three-year captain, is coming off back-to-back 30-point performances, with 30 points in the win against Kentucky and 33 points against Indiana State. He is the first Buckeye to record back-to-back 30-point performances since Evan Turner.
Thornton is eighth in the conference in scoring, at 17.4 points per game, and is ninth in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio, at 3.71.
Sophomore forward Devin Royal continues his breakout season, averaging 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, which leads the team. Royal shoots 60.2 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free-throw line. He also leads the team with 1.2 steals per game.
Freshman phenom John Mobley Jr. averages 12.2 points per game and is shooting 47.8 percent from three-point range. He is going through a bit of a slump, shooting just 2-for-13 from beyond the arc over the last two games.
Micah Parrish is averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, but did not play in the Buckeyes’ win over Indiana State after suffering an ankle injury against Kentucky. Sophomore center Aaron Bradshaw is averaging 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game and has been a huge spark for the Buckeyes since returning from a prolonged absence due to a university investigation.
Ques Glover has only played five games after dealing with an injury, but he is averaging 7.0 points per game on 56 percent shooting from the field and 55 percent from three-point range.
Sean Stewart is averaging 5.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while Evan Mahaffey is averaging 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Prediction
This game could come down to perimeter shooting. Ohio State is one of the top three-point shooting teams in the conference at 39.6 percent, while Michigan State is one of the worst at 28.8 percent. Ohio State is also No. 17 in the country in three-point percentage, while Michigan State is No. 335.
Ohio State will have to be able to get something going in the paint to win this game. They have been able to generate more paint touches since Aaron Bradshaw returned to the lineup, and Sean Stewart continues to improve, but the Buckeyes need to show that they can consistently win games when their three-point shot is not there.
Also, Michigan State is a great offensive-rebounding team, so it will be key to keep them off the glass and not let them get second-chance opportunities. And not to turn the ball over.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 59.0%
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 78, Michigan State 71
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LGHL BOOOOM! Four-star 2026 athlete Jakob Weatherspoon commits to Ohio State
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BOOOOM! Four-star 2026 athlete Jakob Weatherspoon commits to Ohio State
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Jakob Weatherspoon | 247Sports
The Buckeyes have locked in a fourth commitment in the 2026 class.
After Thursday’s quarterfinal game, the College Football Playoff final four teams are set, and the Buckeyes may be the hottest team in the field right now. Two games under their belt that have shown nothing but dominance on both sides of the ball, Ohio State is halfway to their ultimate goal, but has to love where they currently stand.
Keeping up with all phases of the program including off-field efforts, the Buckeyes are rolling there too as Thursday also saw some great news for the future of the program with the latest commitment in the 2026 class.
As if things surrounding the Ohio State program couldn’t get ant better the past two weeks or so, the Buckeyes have added their latest commitment in the 2026 with in-state top target, Jakob Weatherspoon. Keeping their positive momentum going, the Buckeyes now have four commits in the next cycle, and more importantly keep one of the best Ohio natives at home for his college career.
A 5-foot-10, 175 pound athlete out of Avon, Ohio, Weatherspoon is currently ranked as the No. 164 player nationally and the ninth-best athlete in the class as well as the seventh-best player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite. Likely a cornerback at the next level once he gets to Columbus, position coach Tim Walton was all smiles after the Oregon game, and that only continues with this latest addition.
A dynamic player all over the field, Weatherspoon has lined up in several different positions for his prep team. This past season saw him win a state championship as one of the main leaders on Avon’s squad. A true winner, the Buckeyes know what they’re getting in Weathersppon, and that’s versatility. Seeing his sophomore film will give plenty of examples of why this Ohio State staff prioritized him early, and seeing his junior campaign only furthered that notion.
Knowing how critical the state of Ohio is every year for the Buckeyes and their recruiting efforts, this in-state 2026 class may be all the staff needs when it comes to defensive backs. Cornerbacks Elbert Hill and Victor Singleton are the top two players in the state, and having Weatherspoon already in the fold as well as being in solid position for the aforementioned names is exactly what you’d want.
No. 4 for 2026 is locked in, and now it will be his turn to further the success as a peer recruiter for the long-haul. Seen before many times, it’s the in-state kids who can be the class leaders, and Weatherspoon is no different. A job well done by Tim Walton and staff, this cycle is really just getting started.
The ability to line up both in the backfield and split outside, Rogers has the home run play-making ability an offensive staff desires. Seeing him perform like this is one thing, but taking into consideration the amount of talent in the game he’s going against and you see all the more reason why Ohio State tried to hard to uproot him from his former Alabama commitment.
The No. 143 player nationally and eighth-best running back in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, position coach Carlos Locklyn has another weapon on his way to Columbus.
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Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jakob Weatherspoon | 247Sports
The Buckeyes have locked in a fourth commitment in the 2026 class.
After Thursday’s quarterfinal game, the College Football Playoff final four teams are set, and the Buckeyes may be the hottest team in the field right now. Two games under their belt that have shown nothing but dominance on both sides of the ball, Ohio State is halfway to their ultimate goal, but has to love where they currently stand.
Keeping up with all phases of the program including off-field efforts, the Buckeyes are rolling there too as Thursday also saw some great news for the future of the program with the latest commitment in the 2026 class.
BOOM! Ohio State lands 2026 in-state four-star
As if things surrounding the Ohio State program couldn’t get ant better the past two weeks or so, the Buckeyes have added their latest commitment in the 2026 with in-state top target, Jakob Weatherspoon. Keeping their positive momentum going, the Buckeyes now have four commits in the next cycle, and more importantly keep one of the best Ohio natives at home for his college career.
A 5-foot-10, 175 pound athlete out of Avon, Ohio, Weatherspoon is currently ranked as the No. 164 player nationally and the ninth-best athlete in the class as well as the seventh-best player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite. Likely a cornerback at the next level once he gets to Columbus, position coach Tim Walton was all smiles after the Oregon game, and that only continues with this latest addition.
A dynamic player all over the field, Weatherspoon has lined up in several different positions for his prep team. This past season saw him win a state championship as one of the main leaders on Avon’s squad. A true winner, the Buckeyes know what they’re getting in Weathersppon, and that’s versatility. Seeing his sophomore film will give plenty of examples of why this Ohio State staff prioritized him early, and seeing his junior campaign only furthered that notion.
Knowing how critical the state of Ohio is every year for the Buckeyes and their recruiting efforts, this in-state 2026 class may be all the staff needs when it comes to defensive backs. Cornerbacks Elbert Hill and Victor Singleton are the top two players in the state, and having Weatherspoon already in the fold as well as being in solid position for the aforementioned names is exactly what you’d want.
No. 4 for 2026 is locked in, and now it will be his turn to further the success as a peer recruiter for the long-haul. Seen before many times, it’s the in-state kids who can be the class leaders, and Weatherspoon is no different. A job well done by Tim Walton and staff, this cycle is really just getting started.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State 2025 signee Anthony “Turbo” Rogers made his presence known in the Under Armour All-America Game. A late flip from Alabama in the 2025 class, the Buckeyes were thrilled to land one of the more athletic running backs in the country and for plays like this:
The ability to line up both in the backfield and split outside, Rogers has the home run play-making ability an offensive staff desires. Seeing him perform like this is one thing, but taking into consideration the amount of talent in the game he’s going against and you see all the more reason why Ohio State tried to hard to uproot him from his former Alabama commitment.
The No. 143 player nationally and eighth-best running back in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, position coach Carlos Locklyn has another weapon on his way to Columbus.
Continue reading...
