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LGHL Stock Market Report: For the first time ever, there is no stock to take
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Stock Market Report: For the first time ever, there is no stock to take
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
After the worst loss the Buckeyes have suffered in a long time, the whole program has to look in the mirror.
Normally, after every Ohio State game no matter the results, we do a Stock Market Report, focusing on players and other things that have raised or lowered its stock depending on how they played and how the game played out. But it doesn’t feel right to do that this week.
I was born on June 25, 1996, which makes me 28, plus some change. I remember all the games I have watched since I was about six or so, and that was the worst loss I have ever seen for Ohio State. It’s not the worst team I have seen them lose to. It is not the biggest loss I have seen, and this isn’t the worst season I have seen, but it is the worst individual loss I have seen.
For this Ohio State team to lose at home to that Michigan team in the manner that they did with all of the conversations that have surrounded it — Ryan Day saying how much losing this game haunts him, the seniors that came back for this game specifically, and the predictions that Ohio State would use this game to get three years of losses out of their system.
When a loss like this happens, there are no positives to be taken away. There is nothing to take stock of. You have to sit in the suck, and then figure out how you move on.
For the Buckeyes, moving on will have to have to happen with a quick turnaround, because the season is not over. They will be in the College Football Playoff and maybe even still host a first-round game. That look in the mirror is going to have to come very quickly.
Also, normally, the Stock Market Report is more positive than negative. There is more buy than sell. I don’t know what the positive takeaway from this game is.
Carnell Tate dropped a pass in a key situation, maybe the first drop of his career. Jayden Felding, who had never missed a kick inside 40 yards in his career, missed two. Kaleel Mullings was seemingly tackled behind the line of scrimmage to stall a drive in the fourth quarter, and he ended up getting 30 yards to set up the game-winning field goal.
There were about 10 plays that, if they had gone differently, Ohio State would have won this game. But they didn’t, and it set up for the worst loss in a long, long time.
Those aren’t excuses, but it is just more examples of a team that can’t execute against Michigan, no matter how the rest of the season goes.
That is why it is impossible to accurately do a Stock Market Report. This is The Game, and things work differently in The Game. Ryan Day is 47-1 against Big Ten teams that aren’t named Michigan, and 1-4 against teams that are named Michigan.
The 1-4 record is much more important than the 47-1 record.
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
After the worst loss the Buckeyes have suffered in a long time, the whole program has to look in the mirror.
Normally, after every Ohio State game no matter the results, we do a Stock Market Report, focusing on players and other things that have raised or lowered its stock depending on how they played and how the game played out. But it doesn’t feel right to do that this week.
I was born on June 25, 1996, which makes me 28, plus some change. I remember all the games I have watched since I was about six or so, and that was the worst loss I have ever seen for Ohio State. It’s not the worst team I have seen them lose to. It is not the biggest loss I have seen, and this isn’t the worst season I have seen, but it is the worst individual loss I have seen.
For this Ohio State team to lose at home to that Michigan team in the manner that they did with all of the conversations that have surrounded it — Ryan Day saying how much losing this game haunts him, the seniors that came back for this game specifically, and the predictions that Ohio State would use this game to get three years of losses out of their system.
When a loss like this happens, there are no positives to be taken away. There is nothing to take stock of. You have to sit in the suck, and then figure out how you move on.
For the Buckeyes, moving on will have to have to happen with a quick turnaround, because the season is not over. They will be in the College Football Playoff and maybe even still host a first-round game. That look in the mirror is going to have to come very quickly.
Also, normally, the Stock Market Report is more positive than negative. There is more buy than sell. I don’t know what the positive takeaway from this game is.
Carnell Tate dropped a pass in a key situation, maybe the first drop of his career. Jayden Felding, who had never missed a kick inside 40 yards in his career, missed two. Kaleel Mullings was seemingly tackled behind the line of scrimmage to stall a drive in the fourth quarter, and he ended up getting 30 yards to set up the game-winning field goal.
There were about 10 plays that, if they had gone differently, Ohio State would have won this game. But they didn’t, and it set up for the worst loss in a long, long time.
Those aren’t excuses, but it is just more examples of a team that can’t execute against Michigan, no matter how the rest of the season goes.
That is why it is impossible to accurately do a Stock Market Report. This is The Game, and things work differently in The Game. Ryan Day is 47-1 against Big Ten teams that aren’t named Michigan, and 1-4 against teams that are named Michigan.
The 1-4 record is much more important than the 47-1 record.
Continue reading...
LGHL Grumpy Old Buckeye: Examining the remains of Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Michigan
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Grumpy Old Buckeye: Examining the remains of Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Michigan
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Everything about Saturday was questionable, from the coaching to whether the team’s quarterback seemed healthy enough to be out there.
To say Saturday didn’t go as planned for Ohio State fans is an understatement of epic proportions. The Buckeyes’ 13-10 loss was shocking in many ways, including the failures of special teams, offense, and coaching on a combined scale not seen in Columbus in years.
This column typically accentuates the negative, because there are generally so few. This week, the column could conceivably fill all available space on the internet. As such, I’ll try to keep it broad to make for a manageable reading experience.
The following had me yelling The Expletive at The TV during The Game.
Do Things that Work; Don’t Do Things that Don’t Work
The obvious thing that most OSU fans are upset about is whatever that game plan was on offense. There was no discernible logic to a scheme that seemed to involve more running straight at Michigan’s large future NFL defensive tackles at the same time it became more and more obvious that it wouldn’t work.
Ohio State’s first scoring drive included six passes and only three runs, ending in a short field goal. The Buckeyes’ only touchdown drive of the day consisted of eight passes and one run. Both of those scoring drives — the only two on the day — started with a pass play. Every single drive of the second half started with a running play until the final drive with less than a minute remaining and no timeouts left.
Will Howard attempted 33 passes on Saturday, and 18 of those came on the two scoring drives plus the futile final possession.
Will Howard
Howard’s first interception turned out to be a backbreaker, although at the time, with so much clock left, it didn’t seem like it. There was no reason not to sail that ball high, where it would have gone out of play if Carnell Tate couldn’t reach it. That was a bad throw. The second pick was worse, because it took away a scoring opportunity, his man (Emeka Egbuka) wasn’t open, and the throw was well behind the receiver.
However, there was a bigger issue with Howard. The shot that he took that sent him to the medical tent looked bad. He took a shoulder hit to the head, which may have glanced off the top of his shoulder pad first, but it didn’t negate the violence of the collision. The quarterback was off the field a shockingly short amount of time to get checked for a concussion.
Once he came back on, he didn’t play the same way. This was exacerbated when the coaching staff inexplicably called another quarterback run and he took a helmet-to-helmet shot in the earhole. From that point in the game, Howard only threw two passes that looked anything like his usual form — a key completion to Egbuka for a first down and a dropped pass by Tate that could have gotten Ohio State’s second-to-last drive started on the right foot.
I’m not saying Howard played concussed, but he didn’t look at all the same after the second hit to the head, and the offensive play calling was even more conservative afterwards (notably, a middle run on third-and-long prior to Jayden Fielding’s second missed field goal on the day by a team that includes Jeremiah Smith).
What I will say, however, is that if Howard was playing while concussed, everyone involved in letting him back on the field must answer for it. I don’t have an explanation for his performance after the second helmet shot, but it was noticeably worse.
After the game, Ryan Day said part of the reason they ran so often was that there was a lot of pressure on the quarterback. To that remark, I will point out that Howard was not sacked on Saturday.
Bringing Field Goals to a Touchdown Fight
Big games require big decisions, including trying to score touchdowns. Caleb Downs made a huge play to pick off Davis Warren, setting the Buckeyes up at the Michigan 16. After a(nother) first-down rush for no gain, a pass to Gee Scott also netted zero yards.
The handoff to TreVeyon Henderson on third down was a cowardly white flag with little chance of success, which was almost certainly always going to result in a field-goal attempt. Fielding missed for the second time, which is about what teams deserve for playing like that.
Speaking of Fielding…
Ohio State’s kicker entered The Game having missed only one field goal in 2024 and having never missed a try from less than 40 yards. In this one game, one in which he hit an early attempt to put Ohio State on top, he tripled his miss total for the season and failed from inside 40 for the first two times in his career.
Making both short kicks would have forced a different end game out of the Wolverines. Missing two of three was fatal.
Befuddlement and Wasteful Confusion
College coaches haven’t had the two-minute timeout (sorry, just call it the two-minute warning — it’s what we’re used to and it sounds weird not to call it that) very long, so it may take some adjusting, but Day is a former NFL assistant coach. Chip Kelly is a former NFL head coach. They have no excuse not to understand how taking timeouts before the two-minute mark can save additional time.
However, Ohio State did not opt to use a timeout before that point in the game. To make matters worse, when the Buckeyes did call timeout, they failed to get the correct personnel out there and lineup up properly, taking a costly penalty by trying to take a second timeout in succession. That allowed Michigan to use more clock.
The timeout you took is for getting your house in order. Not doing so is wasting the resource you just used. It was yet another gaffe on a day filled with them.
Catch It
A key moment in the game was a 68-yard punt that seemingly didn’t have to go that far. Ohio State had just missed a field goal, with Michigan starting at its own 20. The defense held and forced a quick punt. Caleb Downs appeared to be in position to catch the line drive effort and even perhaps make a big return out of it. At worst, the Buckeyes would have been near midfield to start their drive.
However, Downs let it go, and it rolled deep into OSU territory. I can’t blame Downs much, as punt returners are supposed to let it go if there is any doubt in their mind about whether they can come up with it cleanly. In other words, he did the right thing as instructed, but I wish he hadn’t.
If he did catch it, it would likely have been a big play and wouldn’t have flipped the field, helping the Wolverines, who held on the ensuing defensive series, took over in great field position, and kicked a 54-yard field goal on their next possession as a result of flipping the field.
It did not help that Ohio State’s coaching staff turtled on the possession, which started at the OSU 7-yard line. That possession consisted of a 2-yard run by Henderson, an incomplete pass, and a Henderson run for a loss of yardage.
More Field Position Woes
Henderson erred on the second-half kickoff, scrambling to cover the ball at his own 6-yard line, putting Ohio State in a bad spot again after regaining momentum late in the first half. That drive was somewhat successful anyway, due to calling seven pass plays out of 10 total, as the Buckeyes drove it down to the Michigan 38-yard line.
If you’re keeping score, I have now accounted for 25 of Howard’s 33 pass attempts on just four drives, including three of the team’s most successful ones on the day. I guess I just see a pattern that somehow escaped the notice of both Day and Kelly.
The drive bogged down at that point, as it was a choice between a 55-yard field goal or going for it on fourth-and-7. Day would go for that first down against Purdue. He would go for it against Northwestern. He would go for it against Michigan State. To summarize, he would go for that first down in most cases.
He did not go for it against Michigan. Scared money don’t make money.
Those are the things that made me want to stomp off into the woods and fight a real wolverine on Saturday (disclaimer: never do this). What stood out to you?
Normally, I would put a whole slew of good things that the Buckeyes did in this section, but there weren’t many you could point to on Saturday. The defense basically did its job. Even when they gave up a few too many yards, they made a fourth-down stop inside their own 5-yard line and got a Jack Sawyer interception in the end zone.
That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. There were not many positives, and in five decades of watching Ohio State football, this is the most perplexed I’ve ever been after a game about what I saw.
Next up is a mystery for the time being. Ohio State will play at least one more game this season, but it won’t be in the Big Ten title game, meaning it’ll be the second failed accomplishment for the Buckeyes who returned to complete “unfinished business.”
All that’s left is a national championship (yeah, that’s all), but it’s understandable if no one in Buckeye Nation has the confidence that a team that just lost to the most mediocre Michigan team in years can pull off that kind of run.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Everything about Saturday was questionable, from the coaching to whether the team’s quarterback seemed healthy enough to be out there.
To say Saturday didn’t go as planned for Ohio State fans is an understatement of epic proportions. The Buckeyes’ 13-10 loss was shocking in many ways, including the failures of special teams, offense, and coaching on a combined scale not seen in Columbus in years.
This column typically accentuates the negative, because there are generally so few. This week, the column could conceivably fill all available space on the internet. As such, I’ll try to keep it broad to make for a manageable reading experience.
The following had me yelling The Expletive at The TV during The Game.
Do Things that Work; Don’t Do Things that Don’t Work
The obvious thing that most OSU fans are upset about is whatever that game plan was on offense. There was no discernible logic to a scheme that seemed to involve more running straight at Michigan’s large future NFL defensive tackles at the same time it became more and more obvious that it wouldn’t work.
Ohio State’s first scoring drive included six passes and only three runs, ending in a short field goal. The Buckeyes’ only touchdown drive of the day consisted of eight passes and one run. Both of those scoring drives — the only two on the day — started with a pass play. Every single drive of the second half started with a running play until the final drive with less than a minute remaining and no timeouts left.
Will Howard attempted 33 passes on Saturday, and 18 of those came on the two scoring drives plus the futile final possession.
Will Howard
Howard’s first interception turned out to be a backbreaker, although at the time, with so much clock left, it didn’t seem like it. There was no reason not to sail that ball high, where it would have gone out of play if Carnell Tate couldn’t reach it. That was a bad throw. The second pick was worse, because it took away a scoring opportunity, his man (Emeka Egbuka) wasn’t open, and the throw was well behind the receiver.
However, there was a bigger issue with Howard. The shot that he took that sent him to the medical tent looked bad. He took a shoulder hit to the head, which may have glanced off the top of his shoulder pad first, but it didn’t negate the violence of the collision. The quarterback was off the field a shockingly short amount of time to get checked for a concussion.
Once he came back on, he didn’t play the same way. This was exacerbated when the coaching staff inexplicably called another quarterback run and he took a helmet-to-helmet shot in the earhole. From that point in the game, Howard only threw two passes that looked anything like his usual form — a key completion to Egbuka for a first down and a dropped pass by Tate that could have gotten Ohio State’s second-to-last drive started on the right foot.
I’m not saying Howard played concussed, but he didn’t look at all the same after the second hit to the head, and the offensive play calling was even more conservative afterwards (notably, a middle run on third-and-long prior to Jayden Fielding’s second missed field goal on the day by a team that includes Jeremiah Smith).
What I will say, however, is that if Howard was playing while concussed, everyone involved in letting him back on the field must answer for it. I don’t have an explanation for his performance after the second helmet shot, but it was noticeably worse.
After the game, Ryan Day said part of the reason they ran so often was that there was a lot of pressure on the quarterback. To that remark, I will point out that Howard was not sacked on Saturday.
Bringing Field Goals to a Touchdown Fight
Big games require big decisions, including trying to score touchdowns. Caleb Downs made a huge play to pick off Davis Warren, setting the Buckeyes up at the Michigan 16. After a(nother) first-down rush for no gain, a pass to Gee Scott also netted zero yards.
The handoff to TreVeyon Henderson on third down was a cowardly white flag with little chance of success, which was almost certainly always going to result in a field-goal attempt. Fielding missed for the second time, which is about what teams deserve for playing like that.
Speaking of Fielding…
Ohio State’s kicker entered The Game having missed only one field goal in 2024 and having never missed a try from less than 40 yards. In this one game, one in which he hit an early attempt to put Ohio State on top, he tripled his miss total for the season and failed from inside 40 for the first two times in his career.
Making both short kicks would have forced a different end game out of the Wolverines. Missing two of three was fatal.
Befuddlement and Wasteful Confusion
College coaches haven’t had the two-minute timeout (sorry, just call it the two-minute warning — it’s what we’re used to and it sounds weird not to call it that) very long, so it may take some adjusting, but Day is a former NFL assistant coach. Chip Kelly is a former NFL head coach. They have no excuse not to understand how taking timeouts before the two-minute mark can save additional time.
However, Ohio State did not opt to use a timeout before that point in the game. To make matters worse, when the Buckeyes did call timeout, they failed to get the correct personnel out there and lineup up properly, taking a costly penalty by trying to take a second timeout in succession. That allowed Michigan to use more clock.
The timeout you took is for getting your house in order. Not doing so is wasting the resource you just used. It was yet another gaffe on a day filled with them.
Catch It
A key moment in the game was a 68-yard punt that seemingly didn’t have to go that far. Ohio State had just missed a field goal, with Michigan starting at its own 20. The defense held and forced a quick punt. Caleb Downs appeared to be in position to catch the line drive effort and even perhaps make a big return out of it. At worst, the Buckeyes would have been near midfield to start their drive.
However, Downs let it go, and it rolled deep into OSU territory. I can’t blame Downs much, as punt returners are supposed to let it go if there is any doubt in their mind about whether they can come up with it cleanly. In other words, he did the right thing as instructed, but I wish he hadn’t.
If he did catch it, it would likely have been a big play and wouldn’t have flipped the field, helping the Wolverines, who held on the ensuing defensive series, took over in great field position, and kicked a 54-yard field goal on their next possession as a result of flipping the field.
It did not help that Ohio State’s coaching staff turtled on the possession, which started at the OSU 7-yard line. That possession consisted of a 2-yard run by Henderson, an incomplete pass, and a Henderson run for a loss of yardage.
More Field Position Woes
Henderson erred on the second-half kickoff, scrambling to cover the ball at his own 6-yard line, putting Ohio State in a bad spot again after regaining momentum late in the first half. That drive was somewhat successful anyway, due to calling seven pass plays out of 10 total, as the Buckeyes drove it down to the Michigan 38-yard line.
If you’re keeping score, I have now accounted for 25 of Howard’s 33 pass attempts on just four drives, including three of the team’s most successful ones on the day. I guess I just see a pattern that somehow escaped the notice of both Day and Kelly.
The drive bogged down at that point, as it was a choice between a 55-yard field goal or going for it on fourth-and-7. Day would go for that first down against Purdue. He would go for it against Northwestern. He would go for it against Michigan State. To summarize, he would go for that first down in most cases.
He did not go for it against Michigan. Scared money don’t make money.
Those are the things that made me want to stomp off into the woods and fight a real wolverine on Saturday (disclaimer: never do this). What stood out to you?
Normally, I would put a whole slew of good things that the Buckeyes did in this section, but there weren’t many you could point to on Saturday. The defense basically did its job. Even when they gave up a few too many yards, they made a fourth-down stop inside their own 5-yard line and got a Jack Sawyer interception in the end zone.
That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. There were not many positives, and in five decades of watching Ohio State football, this is the most perplexed I’ve ever been after a game about what I saw.
Next up is a mystery for the time being. Ohio State will play at least one more game this season, but it won’t be in the Big Ten title game, meaning it’ll be the second failed accomplishment for the Buckeyes who returned to complete “unfinished business.”
All that’s left is a national championship (yeah, that’s all), but it’s understandable if no one in Buckeye Nation has the confidence that a team that just lost to the most mediocre Michigan team in years can pull off that kind of run.
Continue reading...
LGHL A very James Earl Jones look at Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Michigan
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A very James Earl Jones look at Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Michigan
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
The iconic actor was a Michigan graduate, and a number of his works describe what was seen Saturday in Columbus.
Buckeye Nation was left scratching their heads on Saturday as Ohio State fell to Michigan for the fourth-straight season. Heading into The Game, this year felt like the result was going to be different from the last three since the Wolverines had struggled most of the season, entering their regular season finale with a 6-5 record. Unfortunately, nothing can be taken for granted in a heated rivalry game as the Buckeyes have found out over the years.
Since Michigan won, we are going to give a nod to one of their most famous alums by using some works from James Earl Jones to describe what was seen on Saturday in Columbus.
After he was born in Mississippi, Jones moved to Michigan during the Great Migration, eventually graduating from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in 1955, majoring in drama. Known for his iconic voice, Jones became one of the most recognizable actors once his film career began 60 years ago. In September, Jones passes away at the age of 93.
Jones’ most famous role is that of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise. Vader is known as one of the biggest villains in cinema, which fits Michigan because they are the biggest villains to Ohio State fans.
From the Connor Stalions cheating scandal which went a long way to helping the Wolverines win the title last year, to being a thorn in the side of the Buckeyes over the last four years. Right now Buckeye Nation feels like they are watching a movie where the bad guy wins.
This was supposed to be the year where Ryan Day channeled his Luke Skywalker and put down Darth Vader. I hope that reference is right because I’ve never really been into Star Wars, so I’m relying on a Cliff Notes version of the films.
The Buckeyes were more talented and on their home turf, yet they still couldn’t get the job done. Watching how the second half played out was nauseating since Ohio State was playing like their lightsabers were out of batteries. C-3PO could have probably called a better game than whatever the Buckeyes were trying to do.
In the end, Michigan said to Ohio State, “May the 4th be with you” since that’s how many straight losses the Buckeyes have had to eat from That Team Up North.
There’s no other way to describe what Ryan Day is in right now. It’s obvious that Michigan is in his head and there really might be some truth to Day being born on third base.
The game plan Day put together for Saturday’s game was baffling. Apparently Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly thought that continually trying to run the football was the best option even though the Wolverines have one of the best rush defenses in the country.
Michigan hasn’t done a lot right this year, but one of the few things they have excelled at is stopping the run. The choice to focus on the run was even more puzzling since Ohio State has three great receivers in Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, and Carnell Tate, while the Wolverines were without cornerback Will Johnson.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25768506/2187648548.jpg "Michigan v Ohio State")
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
So what does the future hold for Day? It’s hard to believe Ohio State would fire their head coach since the Buckeyes are still in line for a spot in the playoffs, where anything can happen. A school isn’t going to fire their head coach if they make it to the semifinal or even go on to win a title.
If anything, Day will likely leave for an NFL job if a team comes calling, that way he can land in a cushy spot and save the university from having to make a tough decision. Until that happens, Day will have to grow some thick skin and eat all the criticism he is facing.
Speaking of the College Football Playoff, all hope is not lost for Ohio State. With two losses this season, with one of them coming to Oregon by a point in Eugene, the Buckeyes still can claim to be one of the best 12 teams in the country.
Wins over Penn State and Indiana in Top 5 clashes will help Ohio State out in their argument that they deserve a home playoff game. At least the loss to Michigan isn’t the most shocking by a playoff team this season, since that belongs to Notre Dame, who fell earlier this season at home to Northern Illinois.
What the Buckeyes need to do is reset and refocus ahead of a playoff game in a few weeks. With the loss, Ohio State won’t play in the Big Ten Championship Game, allowing them some extra time to recharge. Even though a Big Ten title was a goal of the team, not playing in Indianapolis on Saturday night isn’t the worst thing in the world.
At least the last time the Buckeyes went into a playoff game after missing the Big Ten Championship Game they nearly upset Georgia in 2022. Day just needs to lock himself in a room at the WHAC and put together a plan of attack when the matchups are announced.
It’s easy to criticize the Buckeyes for their play on Saturday, but there was one player who did everything he could to lead the team to victory. Defensive end Jack Sawyer made an amazing play when he intercepted Davis Warren at the goal line in the fourth quarter with the game tied.
Some of the shine was taken away when he wasn’t able to wrap up Kalel Mullings on the game-winning drive, but it was a tough tackle for Sawyer to make and his teammates should have been able to finish the job on the tackle, so I’ll give him a pass there.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25768507/2187597990.jpg "Michigan v Ohio State")
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
What hurts so much about Saturday’s loss is knowing guys like Sawyer aren’t able to get their pair of gold pants. Sawyer is a Pickerington product, and it’s obvious the rivalry means a lot to him.
There have been times where Sawyer’s play hasn’t matched his recruiting ranking, but he is out there giving it his all and trying to make plays. Hopefully the Buckeyes can make a deep run in the playoff so Sawyer and the rest of the seniors’ decision to return to school for another year pays off.
While nothing is a given with how the transfer portal has changed college football, at least the way things stand now Ohio State should have two of the best players in college football on their squad next year. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs each had memorable moments on Saturday. Smith caught a touchdown, and Downs had 11 tackles and an interception in each of their first edition of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.
Why Smith wasn’t targeted more in the second half is an argument for another day, but he made a great move to get open for the first and only Ohio State touchdown of the day. Smith finished the regular season with 57 catches for 934 yards and 10 touchdowns. There’s no doubt Smith will be in the mix for the Biletnikoff Award next year since he’ll be even better with a year of college football under his belt.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25768509/2187065010.jpg "Michigan v Ohio State")
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Downs has a chance for some national hardware this year as he is a finalist for the Thorpe and Bednarik Awards. The sophomore safety from Alabama had his best game in the scarlet and gray on Saturday. After a slow start to the season, Downs has playing better and better each week. Expect even more from Downs next year since he’ll have to shoulder even more of the defensive weight with so many starters moving on to the professional level.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
The iconic actor was a Michigan graduate, and a number of his works describe what was seen Saturday in Columbus.
Buckeye Nation was left scratching their heads on Saturday as Ohio State fell to Michigan for the fourth-straight season. Heading into The Game, this year felt like the result was going to be different from the last three since the Wolverines had struggled most of the season, entering their regular season finale with a 6-5 record. Unfortunately, nothing can be taken for granted in a heated rivalry game as the Buckeyes have found out over the years.
Since Michigan won, we are going to give a nod to one of their most famous alums by using some works from James Earl Jones to describe what was seen on Saturday in Columbus.
After he was born in Mississippi, Jones moved to Michigan during the Great Migration, eventually graduating from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in 1955, majoring in drama. Known for his iconic voice, Jones became one of the most recognizable actors once his film career began 60 years ago. In September, Jones passes away at the age of 93.
Darth Vader
Jones’ most famous role is that of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise. Vader is known as one of the biggest villains in cinema, which fits Michigan because they are the biggest villains to Ohio State fans.
From the Connor Stalions cheating scandal which went a long way to helping the Wolverines win the title last year, to being a thorn in the side of the Buckeyes over the last four years. Right now Buckeye Nation feels like they are watching a movie where the bad guy wins.
This was supposed to be the year where Ryan Day channeled his Luke Skywalker and put down Darth Vader. I hope that reference is right because I’ve never really been into Star Wars, so I’m relying on a Cliff Notes version of the films.
The Buckeyes were more talented and on their home turf, yet they still couldn’t get the job done. Watching how the second half played out was nauseating since Ohio State was playing like their lightsabers were out of batteries. C-3PO could have probably called a better game than whatever the Buckeyes were trying to do.
In the end, Michigan said to Ohio State, “May the 4th be with you” since that’s how many straight losses the Buckeyes have had to eat from That Team Up North.
Clear and Present Danger
There’s no other way to describe what Ryan Day is in right now. It’s obvious that Michigan is in his head and there really might be some truth to Day being born on third base.
The game plan Day put together for Saturday’s game was baffling. Apparently Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly thought that continually trying to run the football was the best option even though the Wolverines have one of the best rush defenses in the country.
Michigan hasn’t done a lot right this year, but one of the few things they have excelled at is stopping the run. The choice to focus on the run was even more puzzling since Ohio State has three great receivers in Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, and Carnell Tate, while the Wolverines were without cornerback Will Johnson.
So what does the future hold for Day? It’s hard to believe Ohio State would fire their head coach since the Buckeyes are still in line for a spot in the playoffs, where anything can happen. A school isn’t going to fire their head coach if they make it to the semifinal or even go on to win a title.
If anything, Day will likely leave for an NFL job if a team comes calling, that way he can land in a cushy spot and save the university from having to make a tough decision. Until that happens, Day will have to grow some thick skin and eat all the criticism he is facing.
A Piece of the Action
Speaking of the College Football Playoff, all hope is not lost for Ohio State. With two losses this season, with one of them coming to Oregon by a point in Eugene, the Buckeyes still can claim to be one of the best 12 teams in the country.
Wins over Penn State and Indiana in Top 5 clashes will help Ohio State out in their argument that they deserve a home playoff game. At least the loss to Michigan isn’t the most shocking by a playoff team this season, since that belongs to Notre Dame, who fell earlier this season at home to Northern Illinois.
What the Buckeyes need to do is reset and refocus ahead of a playoff game in a few weeks. With the loss, Ohio State won’t play in the Big Ten Championship Game, allowing them some extra time to recharge. Even though a Big Ten title was a goal of the team, not playing in Indianapolis on Saturday night isn’t the worst thing in the world.
At least the last time the Buckeyes went into a playoff game after missing the Big Ten Championship Game they nearly upset Georgia in 2022. Day just needs to lock himself in a room at the WHAC and put together a plan of attack when the matchups are announced.
Jack and the Beanstalk
It’s easy to criticize the Buckeyes for their play on Saturday, but there was one player who did everything he could to lead the team to victory. Defensive end Jack Sawyer made an amazing play when he intercepted Davis Warren at the goal line in the fourth quarter with the game tied.
Some of the shine was taken away when he wasn’t able to wrap up Kalel Mullings on the game-winning drive, but it was a tough tackle for Sawyer to make and his teammates should have been able to finish the job on the tackle, so I’ll give him a pass there.
What hurts so much about Saturday’s loss is knowing guys like Sawyer aren’t able to get their pair of gold pants. Sawyer is a Pickerington product, and it’s obvious the rivalry means a lot to him.
There have been times where Sawyer’s play hasn’t matched his recruiting ranking, but he is out there giving it his all and trying to make plays. Hopefully the Buckeyes can make a deep run in the playoff so Sawyer and the rest of the seniors’ decision to return to school for another year pays off.
Best of the Best
While nothing is a given with how the transfer portal has changed college football, at least the way things stand now Ohio State should have two of the best players in college football on their squad next year. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs each had memorable moments on Saturday. Smith caught a touchdown, and Downs had 11 tackles and an interception in each of their first edition of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.
Why Smith wasn’t targeted more in the second half is an argument for another day, but he made a great move to get open for the first and only Ohio State touchdown of the day. Smith finished the regular season with 57 catches for 934 yards and 10 touchdowns. There’s no doubt Smith will be in the mix for the Biletnikoff Award next year since he’ll be even better with a year of college football under his belt.
Downs has a chance for some national hardware this year as he is a finalist for the Thorpe and Bednarik Awards. The sophomore safety from Alabama had his best game in the scarlet and gray on Saturday. After a slow start to the season, Downs has playing better and better each week. Expect even more from Downs next year since he’ll have to shoulder even more of the defensive weight with so many starters moving on to the professional level.
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LGHL Power Two Podcast: Quit or get fired — It’s time for Ryan Day to leave Ohio State
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Power Two Podcast: Quit or get fired — It’s time for Ryan Day to leave Ohio State
JordanW330 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 conference championship games are set. Michigan upsets Ohio State to win four-straight games in the rivalry.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
On this week’s episode, Jordan and DJ take a moment to absorb the fact that the 2024 college football regular season is officially over.
Jordan shares his thoughts about how Ohio State’s season has gone. It’s time for Ryan Day to lose his job. It doesn’t matter if he quits or gets fired, but Ohio State needs a new coach as soon as possible. DJ, an SMU alum, speaks about SMU making the ACC championship game in their first season in the conference.
With the season coming to an end, we take a minute to review the teams in all seven conference championships games being held this weekend.
In the two-minute drill, Jordan spends much longer than two minutes on the state of the Ohio State program. From the lack of adding a kicker in the transfer portal to the poor decision-making and playcalling, Ryan Day has a program he can not coach. He has a mental block when it comes to Michigan, and it’s time to move on.
After the Ohio State game, a major fight broke out due to Michigan trying to plant its flag at Ohio State’s 50-yard line. The same scenario happened and led to fights in multiple games this Saturday, including Florida-Florida State and UNC-NC State. DJ and Jordan express how embarrassing it is for programs to win, try to disrespect the losing program, and then be shocked when there are consequences. Fights shouldn’t happen, but teams also shouldn’t outwardly disrespect their opponent and expect them to accept it lying down.
Two of our predictions ended up right this weekend as Syracuse overcame a 21-point deficit to beat Miami, ending their chances to make the ACC championship game. Throughout his career, Mario Cristobal has failed to win big games, so this loss was easy to see coming. South Carolina also pulled an upset, beating Clemson in their in-state rivalry game to end the season 9-3 — a perfect end to a great year for the the Gamecocks.
For the power sweep segment, we have five great conference championship games for you to check out, starting with UNLV-Boise State on Friday. On Saturday at Noon, we have Iowa State vs. Arizona State followed by a Georgia-Texas rematch for the SEC championship game. We have two bangers in the primetime slot with Oregon and Penn State playing for the Big Ten championship and SMU hoping to upset Clemson to win the ACC. We have a Saturday full of great games to watch even though it’s a smaller slate.
In the two-minute warning, DJ celebrates Beyonce headlining the NFL’s Christmas Day game, while Jordan is annoyed by the lack of good deals on Black Friday. 25% isn’t a good deal. If the deal doesn’t start at 40% or higher, they can keep it!
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
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
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The conference championship games are set. Michigan upsets Ohio State to win four-straight games in the rivalry.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
On this week’s episode, Jordan and DJ take a moment to absorb the fact that the 2024 college football regular season is officially over.
Jordan shares his thoughts about how Ohio State’s season has gone. It’s time for Ryan Day to lose his job. It doesn’t matter if he quits or gets fired, but Ohio State needs a new coach as soon as possible. DJ, an SMU alum, speaks about SMU making the ACC championship game in their first season in the conference.
With the season coming to an end, we take a minute to review the teams in all seven conference championships games being held this weekend.
In the two-minute drill, Jordan spends much longer than two minutes on the state of the Ohio State program. From the lack of adding a kicker in the transfer portal to the poor decision-making and playcalling, Ryan Day has a program he can not coach. He has a mental block when it comes to Michigan, and it’s time to move on.
After the Ohio State game, a major fight broke out due to Michigan trying to plant its flag at Ohio State’s 50-yard line. The same scenario happened and led to fights in multiple games this Saturday, including Florida-Florida State and UNC-NC State. DJ and Jordan express how embarrassing it is for programs to win, try to disrespect the losing program, and then be shocked when there are consequences. Fights shouldn’t happen, but teams also shouldn’t outwardly disrespect their opponent and expect them to accept it lying down.
Two of our predictions ended up right this weekend as Syracuse overcame a 21-point deficit to beat Miami, ending their chances to make the ACC championship game. Throughout his career, Mario Cristobal has failed to win big games, so this loss was easy to see coming. South Carolina also pulled an upset, beating Clemson in their in-state rivalry game to end the season 9-3 — a perfect end to a great year for the the Gamecocks.
For the power sweep segment, we have five great conference championship games for you to check out, starting with UNLV-Boise State on Friday. On Saturday at Noon, we have Iowa State vs. Arizona State followed by a Georgia-Texas rematch for the SEC championship game. We have two bangers in the primetime slot with Oregon and Penn State playing for the Big Ten championship and SMU hoping to upset Clemson to win the ACC. We have a Saturday full of great games to watch even though it’s a smaller slate.
In the two-minute warning, DJ celebrates Beyonce headlining the NFL’s Christmas Day game, while Jordan is annoyed by the lack of good deals on Black Friday. 25% isn’t a good deal. If the deal doesn’t start at 40% or higher, they can keep it!
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
Continue reading...
Yell at clouds here...
- By Steve19
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This thread is provided for posters who'd like to yell at clouds.
LGHL It’s Over: No logical arguments remain for Ohio State to keep Ryan Day
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- 0 Replies
It’s Over: No logical arguments remain for Ohio State to keep Ryan Day
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
It is time for the Buckeyes to finally move on from their failed head coach.
On Nov. 27, 2022, I wrote that Ohio State needed to fire Ryan Day. One day prior, the Buckeyes had lost their second-straight game to Michigan, and suffered their first loss to the Wolverines at home since 2000.
The response back then was mostly in defense of the head coach. Day’s defenders championed his 45-5 overall record at the time, his dominance on the recruiting trail, and his three College Football Playoff appearances in his five years in charge of the program. Fans of other teams laughed at the idea of wanting to fire a coach who won the vast majority of his games and had even gotten his team to a national title game — which they notably lost by a million.
While I would love to sit here and gloat about being right, it brings me no joy to report that I was absolutely correct, and now we are all paying the price.
Here we are two years later, and not much has changed since the Buckeyes lost that 45-23 contest in Columbus. All of the incredibly obvious flaws under this coaching staff have come home to roost time and time again, culminating in Ohio State’s worst loss in program history on Saturday.
As a 20-point favorite at home, Ohio State lost to a 6-5 Michigan team without its best player on each side of the ball. The group of Wolverines that handed the Buckeyes their fourth-straight loss in the rivalry is the least talented group that program will ever have again, without a single notable quarterback, wide receiver or defensive back on the field for the 13-10 upset. Michigan is only going to get better moving forward, but the talent gap didn’t matter in the slightest because of the coaches on the home sideline.
The only advantage Sherrone Moore’s team had in that game on paper was its defensive tackles, and Ohio State’s offensive game plan was to run directly into their face masks 25 times. The duo of Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham forms the best interior defensive line in the country, and they were matched up against an interior offensive line that just lost its starting center and needed to completely re-form the depth chart.
It doesn’t take a genius to understand who has the upper hand in that battle.
So what was the plan for the braintrust of Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly? A steady diet of runs between the tackles, resulting in little to no yardage each and every time and keeping the offense behind the chains for the entire afternoon.
Ohio State ran the ball 26 times for 77 yards, and without the one chunk run by Quinshon Judkins for 17 yards, gained 60 yards on 25 carries — 2.4 yards per attempt. No matter how many times the Buckeyes literally and figuratively rammed their heads into a wall, they just kept going back to the well.
Ohio State had one drive all game where they decided to go up-tempo and attack the Michigan defense through the air vertically. On that series, which began with two minutes remaining until halftime, Will Howard completed six of eight passes for 58 yards, drew a pass inference and scored the only touchdown of the game on a 10-yard throw to Jeremiah Smith.
Howard had more passing yards on that one scoring drive than in the entire second half combined, where he attempted only 15 passes and completed seven for 56 yards.
You would think following the success of that drive that Ohio State would’ve made adjustments coming out of halftime, but you would be wrong. Of the Buckeyes’ 10 plays on first down in the second half, seven of them were runs. Outside of the one 17-yard run by Judkins — the team’s longest rush of the game — the other six attempts totaled 17 yards. Even when playing behind the sticks, they doubled down with three more runs on second down in the second half for a net gain of three whole yards.
The overall split for Ohio State in the second half was 15 passing plays to 12 run plays, with four of those passes coming on the Buckeyes’ final desperation drive. Those 12 rushes gained 41 total yards, which, again, without the outlier 17-yarder, means OSU ran the ball 11 other times for 24 yards — a mind-numbing 2.18 yards per carry.
There are a few obvious reasons why this happened, and an obvious reason why it failed so spectacularly.
Firstly, Michigan defensive coordinator knew he could trick Chip Kelly into running into a light box. A lot of Kelly’s offense revolves around having a numbers advantage, and the Wolverines were not stacking the box against the run. What the OSU offensive coordinator failed to account for were the actual names on the jerseys, and the Graham/Grant duo against a maligned interior OL was a win for UM every time, regardless of what the numbers said.
The bigger reason why this was the case, in my opinion, is that the 2021 loss to Michigan has completely broken Day’s brain. Following that game, Jim Harbaugh came out with his famous ‘born on third base,’ comment. Even more detrimental to Day’s coaching philosophy is what Wolverines then-defensive coordinator Josh Gattis had to say of Day’s program:
“They’re a good team. They’re a finesse team, they’re not a tough team.”
So much of what made Ryan Day a great fit both as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and then its head coach was his offensive scheme. Even before Brian Hartline started dominating the recruiting trail with five-star talent after five-star talent, Day’s offenses were a quarterback’s dream. His passing concepts, which heavily involved mesh routes and other crossing patterns, opened up the field and made it easy for guys to get open.
C.J. Stroud threw for almost 400 yards in that game with two touchdowns, while TreVeyon Henderson ran for 74 yards and a TD. The offense was not the problem.
Ohio State ultimately lost because Day made a terrible decision to retain an overmatched Kerry Coombs as defensive coordinator. He would rectify that decision with the hiring of Jim Knowles — whom he actively hamstrung with a stubborn, over-the-hill defensive line coach until this year, but more on that another time — but from that point on to this very day, everything about the way Day runs the program became about chasing toughness.
Day fundamentally misunderstands what it means to be a tough team. The Buckeyes’ head coach has spent the last three years trying to prove Gattis wrong by insisting on running the football, even despite obvious weaknesses along the offensive line and a treasure trove of future NFL talent at wide receiver.
In Day’s mind, running the football at will is the only true measure of toughness. In reality, being able to run your offense and do whatever it is that you’re good at even when the other team knows it's coming is toughness — and would actually win football games.
Even in his postgame press conference following this cataclysmic loss, Day proved that he still doesn't get it:
“We struggled to run the ball.” Day said. “We have to establish the run, especially in this game. [...] That ultimately, with the turnovers and the missed field goals, was the difference in the game.”
Ohio State’s wide receiver trio of Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate is far and away the best unit in the country. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are great players, but with your offensive line missing its two best players and the opposing team featuring a pair of dominant tackles, ‘establishing the run’ was never the way the Buckeyes were going to win this football game.
There are so many other reasons why Ohio State lost its rivalry game for the fourth-straight year, and all of them fall squarely on the shoulders of its head coach.
Kicker Jayden Fielding had a miserable game, missing a pair of sub-40-yard field goals. Punter Joe McGuire’s average punt distance was 36 yards. On the other side, Michigan’s Dominic Zvada, whom they added through the transfer portal, nailed a 54-yarder with ease. The Wolverines’ punter, Tommy Doman, boomed a 68-yard punt to flip the field.
Ohio State has lost a number of games over the past few seasons because of poor special teams play, and frequently the inability to make field goals. There is zero reason a program of this magnitude should not have been able to solve that problem by now. Michigan went out and got better at kicker, while the Buckeyes let the 2023 Groza Award winner at Miami of Ohio transfer to Alabama without a fight.
Clock management has also been a massive flaw during Day’s tenure. Ohio State led by two scores in the fourth quarter against Georgia in 2022 and lost the game. This year, the Buckeyes had the ball inside Oregon’s 30-yard line with 30 seconds left and one timeout and didn’t even get a chance to attempt a game-wining field goal.
Against Michigan, the Wolverines had a 3rd-and-2 with two minutes left, and instead of having a chance to make a stop and getting the ball back with some time, the Buckeyes committed an illegal substitution penalty — even AFTER a timeout — and provided a free first down.
The list goes on and on, but the general problems for the Buckeyes remain the same. There is only one way that things are going to truly change in Columbus: Ohio State needs to fire Ryan Day.
In my eyes, there are no remaining logical arguments for keeping Day around.
The biggest negative of the program moving on would be a likely exodus of players, which would obviously suck. Guys like Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs are generational talents, and it would be brutal to see them go. However, Day has already proven that he cannot win with these guys, so what good is having them in the first place?
The Buckeyes might take a few years to get back on their feet from a talent standpoint, but we’ve already seen Day’s ceiling even with the most elite players money could buy.
Ohio State’s 2021 recruiting class was the No. 2 group in the nation, and they went 0-4 against Michigan and 0-12 in Day’s self proclaimed goals of beating TTUN, winning a Big Ten title and winning a national title, barring an incredibly unlikely miracle run this year. The head coach’s recruiting has been something his defenders have pointed to throughout his tenure, but again I ask: What good are all these top-five recruiting classes if you aren’t going to win anything of substance with them?
For so long Day has been propped up by his overall record, which now stands at 66-10. His defenders have somehow deemed it impressive that Ohio State had never lost to an unranked team during his tenure, which is no longer true after this loss to a 6-5 Michigan team. Personally, I think any average college football head coach would have no problem winning the vast majority of its games with this roster, especially with how the Big Ten was constructed in the first three years of Day’s tenure.
Those 66 wins mean nothing to me when you can’t beat anyone of equal talent in the games that matter most, but congrats on beating up on Purdue and Iowa, I guess.
Ohio State fans get a lot of flack for complaining about 11-1 and 10-2 seasons, but that should be the absolute floor for one of the biggest brands in college football. The Buckeyes get to trot out an army of five-stars every week against teams that are four-score underdogs. The talent disparity between the top and bottom of the sport has only grown, and Day shouldn’t get a free pass just because he can win games against Northwestern and Rutgers.
What is the defining win of the Ryan Day era at Ohio State? What is one game you could point to where Day out-coached his opponent? His most notable victory is probably the 2020 Sugar Bowl against Clemson during the shortened COVID season, and even that was followed up by an embarrassing blowout loss in the national title game where he gave up on his team at halftime.
You’re telling me there isn't anyone else out there who could at least match that kind of production given Ohio State’s resources?
I don't buy into the narrative either that Day is this un-replaceable entity and that Ohio State would have to have some home run hire immediately lined up if they are to move on. Before Urban Meyer hired him as his offensive coordinator he was a completely unknown commodity. Ohio State is not a program where a guy should be learning on the job for his first head coaching gig, and we are seeing the fallout of that decision now.
This is one of if not the single most desirable head coaching job in all of football, and the powers that be would have virtually limitless options to replace Day with anyone they see fit.
It’s not like Ohio State would completely fall off the map with a new head coach, as some seem to think. This program’s brand has been built over decades and decades, and it isn’t going to instantly crumble because it fired a bad head coach. The Buckeyes may need a transition year in 2025, but they aren’t suddenly going to become a team that regularly finishes 7-5 or 8-4.
Ohio State didn’t cease to exist when Woody Hayes or John Cooper got fired, and it will continue on as a national powerhouse far after Ryan Day is gone.
Day has had more than his fair chance to change the narrative. The Buckeyes could have come out and bludgeoned a bad Michigan team and gotten the bad taste of the last three years out of their mouths. Even had Ohio State gone on to lose in the College Football Playoff, fans could hang their hats on restoring order to the rivalry and getting a chance to compete for a Big Ten title.
Instead, here we are. Ohio State is still going to make the College Football Playoff, but is there any reason to believe Day won’t lose to the first talent-equated team he faces? Even a stunning national title run would feel hollow after another loss in The Game, and would only make Saturday’s outcome that much more frustrating.
It is time to move on. Is Ohio State going to go out and hire a stud head coach this offseason, go undefeated in 2025 and win the national title? Probably not, but the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over against an expecting different results, and that is where the program is right now.
The Buckeyes need a complete reset, and that starts with finding a new leader.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
It is time for the Buckeyes to finally move on from their failed head coach.
On Nov. 27, 2022, I wrote that Ohio State needed to fire Ryan Day. One day prior, the Buckeyes had lost their second-straight game to Michigan, and suffered their first loss to the Wolverines at home since 2000.
The response back then was mostly in defense of the head coach. Day’s defenders championed his 45-5 overall record at the time, his dominance on the recruiting trail, and his three College Football Playoff appearances in his five years in charge of the program. Fans of other teams laughed at the idea of wanting to fire a coach who won the vast majority of his games and had even gotten his team to a national title game — which they notably lost by a million.
While I would love to sit here and gloat about being right, it brings me no joy to report that I was absolutely correct, and now we are all paying the price.
Here we are two years later, and not much has changed since the Buckeyes lost that 45-23 contest in Columbus. All of the incredibly obvious flaws under this coaching staff have come home to roost time and time again, culminating in Ohio State’s worst loss in program history on Saturday.
As a 20-point favorite at home, Ohio State lost to a 6-5 Michigan team without its best player on each side of the ball. The group of Wolverines that handed the Buckeyes their fourth-straight loss in the rivalry is the least talented group that program will ever have again, without a single notable quarterback, wide receiver or defensive back on the field for the 13-10 upset. Michigan is only going to get better moving forward, but the talent gap didn’t matter in the slightest because of the coaches on the home sideline.
The only advantage Sherrone Moore’s team had in that game on paper was its defensive tackles, and Ohio State’s offensive game plan was to run directly into their face masks 25 times. The duo of Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham forms the best interior defensive line in the country, and they were matched up against an interior offensive line that just lost its starting center and needed to completely re-form the depth chart.
It doesn’t take a genius to understand who has the upper hand in that battle.
So what was the plan for the braintrust of Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly? A steady diet of runs between the tackles, resulting in little to no yardage each and every time and keeping the offense behind the chains for the entire afternoon.
Ohio State ran the ball 26 times for 77 yards, and without the one chunk run by Quinshon Judkins for 17 yards, gained 60 yards on 25 carries — 2.4 yards per attempt. No matter how many times the Buckeyes literally and figuratively rammed their heads into a wall, they just kept going back to the well.
Ohio State had one drive all game where they decided to go up-tempo and attack the Michigan defense through the air vertically. On that series, which began with two minutes remaining until halftime, Will Howard completed six of eight passes for 58 yards, drew a pass inference and scored the only touchdown of the game on a 10-yard throw to Jeremiah Smith.
Howard had more passing yards on that one scoring drive than in the entire second half combined, where he attempted only 15 passes and completed seven for 56 yards.
You would think following the success of that drive that Ohio State would’ve made adjustments coming out of halftime, but you would be wrong. Of the Buckeyes’ 10 plays on first down in the second half, seven of them were runs. Outside of the one 17-yard run by Judkins — the team’s longest rush of the game — the other six attempts totaled 17 yards. Even when playing behind the sticks, they doubled down with three more runs on second down in the second half for a net gain of three whole yards.
The overall split for Ohio State in the second half was 15 passing plays to 12 run plays, with four of those passes coming on the Buckeyes’ final desperation drive. Those 12 rushes gained 41 total yards, which, again, without the outlier 17-yarder, means OSU ran the ball 11 other times for 24 yards — a mind-numbing 2.18 yards per carry.
There are a few obvious reasons why this happened, and an obvious reason why it failed so spectacularly.
Firstly, Michigan defensive coordinator knew he could trick Chip Kelly into running into a light box. A lot of Kelly’s offense revolves around having a numbers advantage, and the Wolverines were not stacking the box against the run. What the OSU offensive coordinator failed to account for were the actual names on the jerseys, and the Graham/Grant duo against a maligned interior OL was a win for UM every time, regardless of what the numbers said.
The bigger reason why this was the case, in my opinion, is that the 2021 loss to Michigan has completely broken Day’s brain. Following that game, Jim Harbaugh came out with his famous ‘born on third base,’ comment. Even more detrimental to Day’s coaching philosophy is what Wolverines then-defensive coordinator Josh Gattis had to say of Day’s program:
“They’re a good team. They’re a finesse team, they’re not a tough team.”
So much of what made Ryan Day a great fit both as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and then its head coach was his offensive scheme. Even before Brian Hartline started dominating the recruiting trail with five-star talent after five-star talent, Day’s offenses were a quarterback’s dream. His passing concepts, which heavily involved mesh routes and other crossing patterns, opened up the field and made it easy for guys to get open.
C.J. Stroud threw for almost 400 yards in that game with two touchdowns, while TreVeyon Henderson ran for 74 yards and a TD. The offense was not the problem.
Ohio State ultimately lost because Day made a terrible decision to retain an overmatched Kerry Coombs as defensive coordinator. He would rectify that decision with the hiring of Jim Knowles — whom he actively hamstrung with a stubborn, over-the-hill defensive line coach until this year, but more on that another time — but from that point on to this very day, everything about the way Day runs the program became about chasing toughness.
Day fundamentally misunderstands what it means to be a tough team. The Buckeyes’ head coach has spent the last three years trying to prove Gattis wrong by insisting on running the football, even despite obvious weaknesses along the offensive line and a treasure trove of future NFL talent at wide receiver.
In Day’s mind, running the football at will is the only true measure of toughness. In reality, being able to run your offense and do whatever it is that you’re good at even when the other team knows it's coming is toughness — and would actually win football games.
Even in his postgame press conference following this cataclysmic loss, Day proved that he still doesn't get it:
“We struggled to run the ball.” Day said. “We have to establish the run, especially in this game. [...] That ultimately, with the turnovers and the missed field goals, was the difference in the game.”
Ohio State’s wide receiver trio of Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate is far and away the best unit in the country. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are great players, but with your offensive line missing its two best players and the opposing team featuring a pair of dominant tackles, ‘establishing the run’ was never the way the Buckeyes were going to win this football game.
There are so many other reasons why Ohio State lost its rivalry game for the fourth-straight year, and all of them fall squarely on the shoulders of its head coach.
Kicker Jayden Fielding had a miserable game, missing a pair of sub-40-yard field goals. Punter Joe McGuire’s average punt distance was 36 yards. On the other side, Michigan’s Dominic Zvada, whom they added through the transfer portal, nailed a 54-yarder with ease. The Wolverines’ punter, Tommy Doman, boomed a 68-yard punt to flip the field.
Ohio State has lost a number of games over the past few seasons because of poor special teams play, and frequently the inability to make field goals. There is zero reason a program of this magnitude should not have been able to solve that problem by now. Michigan went out and got better at kicker, while the Buckeyes let the 2023 Groza Award winner at Miami of Ohio transfer to Alabama without a fight.
Clock management has also been a massive flaw during Day’s tenure. Ohio State led by two scores in the fourth quarter against Georgia in 2022 and lost the game. This year, the Buckeyes had the ball inside Oregon’s 30-yard line with 30 seconds left and one timeout and didn’t even get a chance to attempt a game-wining field goal.
Against Michigan, the Wolverines had a 3rd-and-2 with two minutes left, and instead of having a chance to make a stop and getting the ball back with some time, the Buckeyes committed an illegal substitution penalty — even AFTER a timeout — and provided a free first down.
The list goes on and on, but the general problems for the Buckeyes remain the same. There is only one way that things are going to truly change in Columbus: Ohio State needs to fire Ryan Day.
In my eyes, there are no remaining logical arguments for keeping Day around.
The biggest negative of the program moving on would be a likely exodus of players, which would obviously suck. Guys like Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs are generational talents, and it would be brutal to see them go. However, Day has already proven that he cannot win with these guys, so what good is having them in the first place?
The Buckeyes might take a few years to get back on their feet from a talent standpoint, but we’ve already seen Day’s ceiling even with the most elite players money could buy.
Ohio State’s 2021 recruiting class was the No. 2 group in the nation, and they went 0-4 against Michigan and 0-12 in Day’s self proclaimed goals of beating TTUN, winning a Big Ten title and winning a national title, barring an incredibly unlikely miracle run this year. The head coach’s recruiting has been something his defenders have pointed to throughout his tenure, but again I ask: What good are all these top-five recruiting classes if you aren’t going to win anything of substance with them?
For so long Day has been propped up by his overall record, which now stands at 66-10. His defenders have somehow deemed it impressive that Ohio State had never lost to an unranked team during his tenure, which is no longer true after this loss to a 6-5 Michigan team. Personally, I think any average college football head coach would have no problem winning the vast majority of its games with this roster, especially with how the Big Ten was constructed in the first three years of Day’s tenure.
Those 66 wins mean nothing to me when you can’t beat anyone of equal talent in the games that matter most, but congrats on beating up on Purdue and Iowa, I guess.
Ohio State fans get a lot of flack for complaining about 11-1 and 10-2 seasons, but that should be the absolute floor for one of the biggest brands in college football. The Buckeyes get to trot out an army of five-stars every week against teams that are four-score underdogs. The talent disparity between the top and bottom of the sport has only grown, and Day shouldn’t get a free pass just because he can win games against Northwestern and Rutgers.
What is the defining win of the Ryan Day era at Ohio State? What is one game you could point to where Day out-coached his opponent? His most notable victory is probably the 2020 Sugar Bowl against Clemson during the shortened COVID season, and even that was followed up by an embarrassing blowout loss in the national title game where he gave up on his team at halftime.
You’re telling me there isn't anyone else out there who could at least match that kind of production given Ohio State’s resources?
I don't buy into the narrative either that Day is this un-replaceable entity and that Ohio State would have to have some home run hire immediately lined up if they are to move on. Before Urban Meyer hired him as his offensive coordinator he was a completely unknown commodity. Ohio State is not a program where a guy should be learning on the job for his first head coaching gig, and we are seeing the fallout of that decision now.
This is one of if not the single most desirable head coaching job in all of football, and the powers that be would have virtually limitless options to replace Day with anyone they see fit.
It’s not like Ohio State would completely fall off the map with a new head coach, as some seem to think. This program’s brand has been built over decades and decades, and it isn’t going to instantly crumble because it fired a bad head coach. The Buckeyes may need a transition year in 2025, but they aren’t suddenly going to become a team that regularly finishes 7-5 or 8-4.
Ohio State didn’t cease to exist when Woody Hayes or John Cooper got fired, and it will continue on as a national powerhouse far after Ryan Day is gone.
Day has had more than his fair chance to change the narrative. The Buckeyes could have come out and bludgeoned a bad Michigan team and gotten the bad taste of the last three years out of their mouths. Even had Ohio State gone on to lose in the College Football Playoff, fans could hang their hats on restoring order to the rivalry and getting a chance to compete for a Big Ten title.
Instead, here we are. Ohio State is still going to make the College Football Playoff, but is there any reason to believe Day won’t lose to the first talent-equated team he faces? Even a stunning national title run would feel hollow after another loss in The Game, and would only make Saturday’s outcome that much more frustrating.
It is time to move on. Is Ohio State going to go out and hire a stud head coach this offseason, go undefeated in 2025 and win the national title? Probably not, but the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over against an expecting different results, and that is where the program is right now.
The Buckeyes need a complete reset, and that starts with finding a new leader.
Continue reading...
LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land: What just happened?
- News
- 0 Replies
Hangout in the Holy Land: What just happened?
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
Every Ohio State fan’s worst nightmare came to life on Saturday, and we talked through all of it.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
For this recap episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, Josh and Justin are in a bad space mentally, and it is time to talk about it. The No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes fall for the fourth consecutive season to the Michigan Wolverines, and this one hurts the most.
So, what happened? How is it possible that the 10-1 Buckeyes lost 13-10 at home to the 6-5 Wolverines?
We discuss the offensive game plan (if you want to call it that), the lack of execution, and why the Buckeyes lost this game.
We then have the inevitable Ryan Day discussion and the college football playoff discussion.
Make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
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
Every Ohio State fan’s worst nightmare came to life on Saturday, and we talked through all of it.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
For this recap episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, Josh and Justin are in a bad space mentally, and it is time to talk about it. The No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes fall for the fourth consecutive season to the Michigan Wolverines, and this one hurts the most.
So, what happened? How is it possible that the 10-1 Buckeyes lost 13-10 at home to the 6-5 Wolverines?
We discuss the offensive game plan (if you want to call it that), the lack of execution, and why the Buckeyes lost this game.
We then have the inevitable Ryan Day discussion and the college football playoff discussion.
Make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
Ohio State at Maryland, Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 @ 6:30 PM, BTN
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 47 Replies
Maryland basketball shows more promising signs in another blowout win
In its final tuneup before the Big Ten schedule begins, Maryland basketball cruised past another overmatched opponent from a lower level of college basketball. The Terps tied a program record with their fifth win by 30 points or more.
247sports.com
Maryland basketball shows more promising signs in another blowout win
In its final tuneup before the Big Ten schedule begins, Maryland basketball cruised past another overmatched opponent from a lower level of college basketball. The Terps tied a program record with their fifth win by 30 points or more.
In its final tuneup before the Big Ten schedule begins, Maryland basketball cruised past another overmatched opponent from a lower level of college basketball. The Terps tied a program record with their fifth win by 30 points or more, handling Alcorn State, 96-58.Mid-half run seals the deal early ... There was a tiny smattering of fans in the stands, no surprise given students have been gone for Thanksgiving break, it's an NFL Sunday and the opponent was an 0-8 team from a school most only know as the alma mater of former NFL star Steve McNair. This game was scheduled to get a sweat in during the break, bridging the gap between the holiday and the Big Ten opener against Ohio State this week. So with no energy in the building, it wasn't surprising to see a flat start by the Terps, who saw Alcorn State (0-9) go on a 12-1 run to take the lead.
But Maryland abruptly turned it on. DeShawn Harris-Smith knocked down a free throw and then was the beneficiary of the latest sweet pass by Derik Queen, who found him cutting to the basket for a layup. Rodney Rice (12 points, five assists) missed a couple of threes but was undeterred, driving to the basket for a fastbreak layup to give Maryland a 20-18 lead. Queen showed off his face-up game, knocking down a 15-footer from atop the key. Rice drilled a three, Queen blocked a shot and Rice whipped the ball to Jay Young for a run-out layup. With that, the Terps had retaken control of the game, making seven of nine shots during their run.
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Miguel started his Maryland career slowly, shooting less than 50 percent in each of the first four games and sometimes taking questionable shots. But he appears to be getting more comfortable with his new teammates. He shot 5-for-10 and has been above 50 percent while scoring at least 13 points in three of the past four games. Never bashful about hunting his shot, he showed unselfishness in the second half by passing on an open breakaway layup and lobbing the ball to Gapare for a dunk.
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Julian Reese started the season a bit slowly, perhaps because he was getting used to playing alongside another big man in Queen. He continued to look increasingly comfortable and assertive today, though, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds on 2-for-4 shooting. The senior center posted his 25th career double-double with more than 13 minutes left and made 10 of 12 from the free throw line, a welcome sight given his struggles there. He made his first three free throws and after a miss was negated by an Alcorn State lane violation, made his fourth. Then he swatted a shot and set a screen for Rice, freeing him to knock down an open jumper. Later in the half, he remained perfect at the line, making his fifth and sixth free throws.
In the past six games, Reese is averaging 14.8 points on 67 percent shooting.
Tafara Gapare's recent emergence has added even more balance and firepower. Coming off that breakout 19-point game against Bucknell, the reserve forward posted nine points, eight rebounds and seven blocks, again showing off his bounciness near the rim. Gapare looks like an increasingly impactful player off the bench this year and potentially a key starter next season.
Maryland's passing is improving fast and it was seamless today. The Terps unselfishly whipped the ball around sharply all afternoon, recording 25 assists on 32 made baskets, an elite ratio. Queen (6-of-9 for 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks) again showed off his unusual passing ability, dropping several dimes.It's easy to see their chemistry growing. Rice posted five assists in the first half and is increasingly looking like a reliable secondary ballhandler, which some wouldn't have predicted based on his reputation as a shooter.
They entered the day ranked 11th nationally in both turnovers per game (11.7) and turnovers forced (17.1), a formula for winning lots of games.
They also had their best 3-point shooting day of the young season, going 11 for 23. That's been a weakness. Seven players made at least one. It won't be nearly this easy against Big Ten teams.
Late in the game, Harris-Smith (10 points) might've generated some much-needed confidence, driving for a layup on the break and then knocking down a three. Seconds later, Young hit from the same spot to extend their lead to 38 points.
Up next ... After a run of mostly overmatched opponents Maryland used to gain cohesiveness, the Terps will have an opportunity to gauge where they stand when Ohio State visits on Wednesday. The Buckeyes (5-2) are coming off a deflating loss against Pitt, during which they squandered late leads in regulation and overtime.
Just sayin': Maryland is 7-1 beating Manhattan, Mount St. Mary's, Florida A&M, Canisius, Villanova, Bucknell, and Alcorn State; while losing to #15 Marquette (the only ranked team that have played).
I saw a picture of their Infinity Center (below), are the yellow shirts all students or did they have some free give away t-shirt promotion?
