-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL Buckeyes’ first-round game vs. Iowa feels eerily similar to 2019 Big Ten Tournament
- News
- 0 Replies
Buckeyes’ first-round game vs. Iowa feels eerily similar to 2019 Big Ten Tournament
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Five years to the day of another Big Ten Tournament elimination game, Ohio State once again finds itself fighting for its NCAA Tournament life.
On March 14, 2019, the Ohio State men’s basketball team found itself in a win-or-miss the NCAA Tournament situation against Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament. The ninth-seeded Buckeyes were taking on the eighth-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in the first game of the second round at the United Center in Chicago, knowing that a loss would put them in the NIT.
Before the game, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had Ohio State as the final team in the tournament and Indiana as the first team out. That meant a win would cement an at-large berth for whoever came out on top that Thursday afternoon.
Ironically enough, that 2019 Indiana team played the same role that this year’s Ohio State team is playing — dumpster fire turned plucky underdog. The Hoosiers started that year 3-0 in the Big Ten before losing 11 of its next 12 games to fall to 4-11 in conference play. They rallied back at the end of the season to win their final four games — including two over ranked teams — to finish 8-12 in the Big Ten and (stunningly) put itself back in the NCAA Tournament conversation after looking like a corpse in mid-February.
Things didn’t turn out in Indiana’s favor in Archie Miller’s second season, as Ohio State hung on in the closing seconds to win 79-75 and lock up its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The 11-seed Buckeyes would go on to beat six-seed Iowa State in the opening round before getting popped by three-seed Houston in the second round. The Hoosiers would advance to the quarterfinals of the NIT before falling to Wichita State.
Fast forward exactly five years, and the 2023-24 Ohio State team is in an eerily similar spot.
The Buckeyes began the season 2-1 in the Big Ten, then lost nine of their next 11 games to fall to 4-10 in conference play. On the morning of Feb. 14 — 12 hours after losing to Wisconsin in Madison — head coach Chris Holtmann was fired with six games remaining in the season, including No. 2 Purdue coming up in four days.
All interim head coach Jake Diebler did was slide down a chair and guide Ohio State to a 5-1 record in its final six games, finishing with a record of 19-12, and 9-11 in the Big Ten.
The unlikely push at the end of the season, paired with the fact that two of the wins were over No. 2 Purdue and Michigan State on the road, oh so slowly nudged Ohio State back into the NCAA Tournament picture. A season that once looked so incredibly lost that Athletic Director Gene Smith chose to fire Holtmann quickly developed into one of the best stories in college basketball.
By going 5-1 over the final six games, Ohio State rose from the No. 13 seed to the No. 10 seed, earning a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament. That paired the surging Buckeyes with No. 7 Iowa, which — wouldn’t you know — is also fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives after finishing 10-10 in the Big Ten.
Both the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes are listed in various Bracketology predictions as part of the “next four out” group, meaning if either team wants to make the NCAA Tournament, they need to win this opening game plus at least one more. Unlike 2019, neither of these teams are guaranteed a spot simply by winning this first-round game.
But at the same time — just like Indiana and Ohio State in 2019 — both Ohio State and Iowa are within a short reach of making the Big Dance. A win will put them on the doorstep of the tournament, while a loss will close the book on someone’s March Madness aspirations for good.
The stakes are incredibly high for both programs. Diebler has unexpectedly put incoming athletic director Ross Bjork in a difficult spot with his first big hire at Ohio State. Can Bjork afford to hire Diebler — a man who has now been a head coach for a total of eight games — with his first hire? He has one of the biggest athletic budgets in the country, and already has been vetting multiple sitting high-major coaches for the position.
And yet, Diebler is staring him right in the face and just keeps on winning.
If Diebler is able to galvanize a group that was left for dead one month ago — the youngest team in the Big Ten, mind you — and get them to the NCAA Tournament, will he force Bjork’s hand? Two wins in the Big Ten Tournament could get the Buckeyes dancing, and would also mean the 38-year old would improve his record this season to 7-1 under unique and very difficult circumstances. It was a hell of a hypothetical three weeks ago. Now it’s very real.
For Iowa, it is the ongoing and eternal search for a Sweet Sixteen under Fran McCaffery. Now in his 14th season, McCaffery’s Hawkeyes have made the NCAA Tournament eight out of 13 seasons and have won 20+ games eight times as well. Iowa perennially has one of, if not the, best offense in the Big Ten, and has produced multiple Big Ten Players of the Year as well as a National Player of the Year.
However, Iowa still has not been to the Sweet Sixteen since 1999. There hasn’t been any smoke about McCaffery moving on from Iowa, but next year would be the first season since 2017 that he won’t have one of his sons on the team once Patrick McCaffery exhausts his eligibility after this season. After losing to a lower-seeded team in the first round each of the last two seasons, a similar result this year would not be appreciated by the fans in Iowa City. Not even getting to the tournament would be worse.
Five years to the day that Ohio State gutted out a win against Indiana and forced its way into the NCAA Tournament, they will have the chance to do it again if they can toppled Iowa and its high-powered offense and then string another win or two together after that.
It will not be easy, but this team has been playing with house money for over a month. Led by a bulldog point guard in Bruce Thornton who has to be drug off the floor and a sharp-shooting senior in Jamison Battle who came to Ohio State just to play in the NCAA Tournament, this team is embracing this challenge and the chaos that comes with it.
“Tomorrow is March,” Battle said after Ohio State’s 78-69 win over Nebraska. “Let the madness begin.”
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
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Five years to the day of another Big Ten Tournament elimination game, Ohio State once again finds itself fighting for its NCAA Tournament life.
On March 14, 2019, the Ohio State men’s basketball team found itself in a win-or-miss the NCAA Tournament situation against Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament. The ninth-seeded Buckeyes were taking on the eighth-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in the first game of the second round at the United Center in Chicago, knowing that a loss would put them in the NIT.
Before the game, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had Ohio State as the final team in the tournament and Indiana as the first team out. That meant a win would cement an at-large berth for whoever came out on top that Thursday afternoon.
Ironically enough, that 2019 Indiana team played the same role that this year’s Ohio State team is playing — dumpster fire turned plucky underdog. The Hoosiers started that year 3-0 in the Big Ten before losing 11 of its next 12 games to fall to 4-11 in conference play. They rallied back at the end of the season to win their final four games — including two over ranked teams — to finish 8-12 in the Big Ten and (stunningly) put itself back in the NCAA Tournament conversation after looking like a corpse in mid-February.
Things didn’t turn out in Indiana’s favor in Archie Miller’s second season, as Ohio State hung on in the closing seconds to win 79-75 and lock up its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The 11-seed Buckeyes would go on to beat six-seed Iowa State in the opening round before getting popped by three-seed Houston in the second round. The Hoosiers would advance to the quarterfinals of the NIT before falling to Wichita State.
Fast forward exactly five years, and the 2023-24 Ohio State team is in an eerily similar spot.
The Buckeyes began the season 2-1 in the Big Ten, then lost nine of their next 11 games to fall to 4-10 in conference play. On the morning of Feb. 14 — 12 hours after losing to Wisconsin in Madison — head coach Chris Holtmann was fired with six games remaining in the season, including No. 2 Purdue coming up in four days.
All interim head coach Jake Diebler did was slide down a chair and guide Ohio State to a 5-1 record in its final six games, finishing with a record of 19-12, and 9-11 in the Big Ten.
The unlikely push at the end of the season, paired with the fact that two of the wins were over No. 2 Purdue and Michigan State on the road, oh so slowly nudged Ohio State back into the NCAA Tournament picture. A season that once looked so incredibly lost that Athletic Director Gene Smith chose to fire Holtmann quickly developed into one of the best stories in college basketball.
By going 5-1 over the final six games, Ohio State rose from the No. 13 seed to the No. 10 seed, earning a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament. That paired the surging Buckeyes with No. 7 Iowa, which — wouldn’t you know — is also fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives after finishing 10-10 in the Big Ten.
Both the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes are listed in various Bracketology predictions as part of the “next four out” group, meaning if either team wants to make the NCAA Tournament, they need to win this opening game plus at least one more. Unlike 2019, neither of these teams are guaranteed a spot simply by winning this first-round game.
But at the same time — just like Indiana and Ohio State in 2019 — both Ohio State and Iowa are within a short reach of making the Big Dance. A win will put them on the doorstep of the tournament, while a loss will close the book on someone’s March Madness aspirations for good.
The stakes are incredibly high for both programs. Diebler has unexpectedly put incoming athletic director Ross Bjork in a difficult spot with his first big hire at Ohio State. Can Bjork afford to hire Diebler — a man who has now been a head coach for a total of eight games — with his first hire? He has one of the biggest athletic budgets in the country, and already has been vetting multiple sitting high-major coaches for the position.
And yet, Diebler is staring him right in the face and just keeps on winning.
If Diebler is able to galvanize a group that was left for dead one month ago — the youngest team in the Big Ten, mind you — and get them to the NCAA Tournament, will he force Bjork’s hand? Two wins in the Big Ten Tournament could get the Buckeyes dancing, and would also mean the 38-year old would improve his record this season to 7-1 under unique and very difficult circumstances. It was a hell of a hypothetical three weeks ago. Now it’s very real.
For Iowa, it is the ongoing and eternal search for a Sweet Sixteen under Fran McCaffery. Now in his 14th season, McCaffery’s Hawkeyes have made the NCAA Tournament eight out of 13 seasons and have won 20+ games eight times as well. Iowa perennially has one of, if not the, best offense in the Big Ten, and has produced multiple Big Ten Players of the Year as well as a National Player of the Year.
However, Iowa still has not been to the Sweet Sixteen since 1999. There hasn’t been any smoke about McCaffery moving on from Iowa, but next year would be the first season since 2017 that he won’t have one of his sons on the team once Patrick McCaffery exhausts his eligibility after this season. After losing to a lower-seeded team in the first round each of the last two seasons, a similar result this year would not be appreciated by the fans in Iowa City. Not even getting to the tournament would be worse.
Five years to the day that Ohio State gutted out a win against Indiana and forced its way into the NCAA Tournament, they will have the chance to do it again if they can toppled Iowa and its high-powered offense and then string another win or two together after that.
It will not be easy, but this team has been playing with house money for over a month. Led by a bulldog point guard in Bruce Thornton who has to be drug off the floor and a sharp-shooting senior in Jamison Battle who came to Ohio State just to play in the NCAA Tournament, this team is embracing this challenge and the chaos that comes with it.
“Tomorrow is March,” Battle said after Ohio State’s 78-69 win over Nebraska. “Let the madness begin.”
Continue reading...
LGHL Thornton, Battle earn B1G honors, early enrollee Smith named high school player of the year
- News
- 0 Replies
Thornton, Battle earn B1G honors, early enrollee Smith named high school player of the year
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
While the football team is on Spring Break, lots of news from other OSU sports.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith named Maxwell High School Player of the Year
Matt Parker, Lettermen Row
Ohio State: 38 thoughts on 38 offensive scholarship players in spring camp (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Happy Belated Birthday, Coach!
Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau still aiming to improve in final spring at Ohio State (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Talented freshman QB Lincoln Kienholz working with third team, focused on development
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts
Four Buckeyes flashing on offense early in spring camp (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
B1G Thoughts: Five offensive players to watch in the Big Ten this spring
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land
Which new Ohio State football player are you most excited about and who should be the next men’s basketball coach?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, Jamison Battle earn All-Big Ten honors
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
Evaluating How the Resumes of 10 NCAA Tournament Bubble Teams Compare With Ohio State Entering Big Ten Tournament
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Pros and Cons for Emergin Candidates in Ohio State Basketball Head Coaching Search
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Devin Royal, Scotty Middleton part of deeper bench fueling Ohio State
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Big Ten Tourney Primer: Buckeyes hope to secure NCAA bid this weekend
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Rough weekend for Buckeye sports, but here is why I think everyone will be fine
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Former Ohio State Wrestler, UFC Legend Mark Coleman Hospitalized for Smoke Inhalation After Sabing Parents from House Fire
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Men’s Lacrosse: Buckeyes Defeat Detroit Mercy, 16-10
Ohio State Athletics
Fencing: Buckeyes Selected for NCAA Championships
Ohio State Athletics
Softball: Two-Out Hitting Keys 8-0 Five-Inning Win over Belmont
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Lacrosse: Buckeyes Down Marquette in High-Scoring Game, 22-17
Ohio State Athletics
I am so ready for “Monkey Man”:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
While the football team is on Spring Break, lots of news from other OSU sports.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith named Maxwell High School Player of the Year
Matt Parker, Lettermen Row
Ohio State: 38 thoughts on 38 offensive scholarship players in spring camp (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Happy Belated Birthday, Coach!
Happyth, Ryan Day! @ryandaytime x @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/MkOyUhLPXp
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) March 12, 2024
Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau still aiming to improve in final spring at Ohio State (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Talented freshman QB Lincoln Kienholz working with third team, focused on development
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts
Four Buckeyes flashing on offense early in spring camp (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
B1G Thoughts: Five offensive players to watch in the Big Ten this spring
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land
Which new Ohio State football player are you most excited about and who should be the next men’s basketball coach?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, Jamison Battle earn All-Big Ten honors
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
Evaluating How the Resumes of 10 NCAA Tournament Bubble Teams Compare With Ohio State Entering Big Ten Tournament
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Pros and Cons for Emergin Candidates in Ohio State Basketball Head Coaching Search
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Devin Royal, Scotty Middleton part of deeper bench fueling Ohio State
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Big Ten Tourney Primer: Buckeyes hope to secure NCAA bid this weekend
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Rough weekend for Buckeye sports, but here is why I think everyone will be fine
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Former Ohio State Wrestler, UFC Legend Mark Coleman Hospitalized for Smoke Inhalation After Sabing Parents from House Fire
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Men’s Lacrosse: Buckeyes Defeat Detroit Mercy, 16-10
Ohio State Athletics
Fencing: Buckeyes Selected for NCAA Championships
Ohio State Athletics
Softball: Two-Out Hitting Keys 8-0 Five-Inning Win over Belmont
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Lacrosse: Buckeyes Down Marquette in High-Scoring Game, 22-17
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
I am so ready for “Monkey Man”:
Continue reading...
LGHL B1G Thoughts: Five offensive players to watch in the Big Ten this spring
- News
- 0 Replies
B1G Thoughts: Five offensive players to watch in the Big Ten this spring
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
Spring ball is officially here as Jordan takes a look at five offensive players in the Big Ten worth watching this spring.
Every week after the Big Ten games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and more. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024, this article will also include the newest members — Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington. Check out the I-80 Football Show for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.
The College football offseason never stops, and this year seems busier than others. This offseason featured multiple late coaching changes, plus head coaches leaving their jobs for “lesser” roles in the conference and the NFL. There have also been major changes to the sport, with the rule changes, lawsuits, and updates to the College Football Playoff all happening simultaneously.
No one would blame you if you were caught by surprise that spring ball is already here, but no worries: I got you! Here is a list of five players who have something to prove, need to fill a vital hole, or have added pressure on their shoulders heading into the 2024 football season.
It’s been said for years that Penn State would be the biggest beneficiary of the Big Ten getting rid of divisions and the playoffs expanding. Well luckily for the Nittany Lions, both things are happening in 2024, and it’s time for Penn State to capitalize.
Drew Allar had an up-and-down first year as the starter. He showed a lot of talent and why people were already claiming him to be the best quarterback of the James Franklin era, but he also led a very inefficient offense and felt at times like his coaches didn’t trust him to throw the ball. Penn State had other offensive issues outside of Allar, as evidenced by them firing their offensive coordinator.
This is Allar’s second year as the starter and the third and maybe final year for their two-headed monster of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton at running back. This is a big spring for Allar. If he can connect with his new offensive coordinator, Penn State should once again contend for the Big Ten and make the playoffs.
This could finally be their year to challenge for the title. They still play Ohio State, but they have a chance to show USC and Washington that there is an extra gear needed to play in the Big Ten. Many think the conference will run through Ohio State and Oregon, but a good spring by Allar could throw Penn State back into that conversation.
As a freshman, Zachariah Branch was one of the most exciting players to watch last season. In the return game, it felt like any time he touched the ball he could score a touchdown, and did score two special teams touchdowns averaging 18.4 yards and 20.8 yards on kick returns and punt returns, respectively. Branch had a tangible impact on games, but it was largely relegated to special teams as he only recorded 320 receiving yards on 31 receptions and matched his special teams total of two touchdowns.
USC is going through a transition on defense and trying to bounce back from arguably Lincoln Riley’s worst season while his best quarterback was at the helm. Entering 2024, USC is in an unenviable position where their coach has placed a lot of pressure on himself and his program, but may not have built the roster to meet those expectations.
Branch is one of if not the best player on the USC roster, and for the Trojans to reach their goals in 2024 he will need to be more than a special teams standout. Branch will hopefully continue his dynamic playmaking skills as a returner, but he will also need to be an every-down wide receiver.
There are talented players on offense of course, but if Branch can get closer to 1,000 yards and six or seven touchdowns outside of his production as a returner, USC may actually have a chance to compete in the new Big Ten.
It’s time for a new era at Michigan State. Amid a terrible stretch on the field and the firing of their head coach, the Spartans had to watch their biggest rival, who treats them like an annoying little brother, win a national championship. In response, they went out and hired Jonathon Smith from Oregon State.
Smith took Oregon State from basically irrelevant to going 18-7 in his last two seasons with three-straight bowl appearances. One of the first things Smith did was get rid of every quarterback on the roster. Then, instead of going for some of the bigger names in the portal or bringing in his starting quarterback from Oregon State, he brought the backup: Aidan Chiles.
Chiles was ranked the 58th-best player nationally and the seventh-best quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class. Without much playing experience, he was ranked as the second-best quarterback in 247Sports transfer portal rankings, meaning Smith landing him twice is a big deal. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Chiles is the leader to win the Michigan State job, and there is a lot on his shoulders.
Firstly, he needs to reward his coach for the continued faith in him when it seemed every other coach in America wanted the older vet transfer. Also, he has the hearts of a Michigan State fan base that hasn’t seen many lower points and wants to make the playoffs in this new 12-team era. It’s never easy being a first-time starter, but Chiles must have a good spring and step into a new era as the starting quarterback of the Michigan State Spartans.
Donovan Edwards is a known commodity in college football. In three years at Michigan, he has rushed for 1,662 yards and 16 touchdowns to go with 714 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The reason Edwards is on this list is because this is the first year that he enters the season as the No. 1 back.
In his freshman year, he was the third-string running back and had more receiving yards than rushing. The previous two seasons he was the clear backup to maybe Michigan’s best running back in program history in Blake Corum. Lastly, after a super successful 2022 campaign, he had an objectively bad 2023 season outside of the national championship game. His yards per attempt dropped three yards, and in 15 games he didn’t eclipse 500 total yards rushing.
Now he must be the bell cow for a Michigan team in transition. There is no more Corum or JJ McCarthy. Michigan is also losing a decent amount of their offensive line, and they have a new coach. Moore, like Harbaugh, is expected to be a run-first coach. It was Moore, not Harbaugh, who ran the ball 25-plus straight times against Penn State.
Michigan needs a lot of things to go well for them to continue to win 10-plus games and compete for a national championship, but it starts with Donovan Edwards being able to fill Corum’s shoes. This spring is going to be pivotal for the Wolverines, and Edwards is going to have to step up on the field and as a leader for them to be successful.
Dylan Raiola, the former five-star Ohio State and Georgia commit, spurned two of the top programs in college football to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a Nebraska Cornhusker. Among the reasons for doing so, for one his dad is on the short list of best players in Nebraska’s history, and two, his uncle is the offensive line coach.
While I’m sure both of those factors factored into his decision, it would be naive to believe that this choice did not depend on his ability to be a day one starter. Raiola, who originally committed to Ohio State, decommitted when Ohio State continued to recruit other quarterbacks. After committing to Georgia, he moved to the state of Georgia to play football at Buford High School and be close to his future school, but when Carson Beck broke out and decided to stay for another season, Raiola went looking for a new place to play.
There were rumors before Raiola committed to the Huskers that Nebraska was the clear favorite to land former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord. Once Raiola reignited his interest, McCord ended up landing elsewhere (at Syracuse). All of this movement ensures that Raiola should be in line to be a day-one starter at Nebraska.
Those in the Raiola camp believes he is ready to take the reins, and Nebraska, coming off of an up-and-down season due to quarterback play, needs Raiola to prove them right. It is a big task to start college football as a freshman, especially at quarterback. The Big Ten is expanding, the College Football Playoff is now at 12 teams, and Nebraska needs to stake its claim in the upper half of the conference or risk being a bottom-feeder.
This is a huge spring for Raiola and the Cornhuskers. Can he live up to the hype and lead Nebraska to a bright future, or will they continue to struggle to win six games and reach bowl eligibility in a tougher Big Ten?
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
Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
Spring ball is officially here as Jordan takes a look at five offensive players in the Big Ten worth watching this spring.
Every week after the Big Ten games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and more. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024, this article will also include the newest members — Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington. Check out the I-80 Football Show for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.
The College football offseason never stops, and this year seems busier than others. This offseason featured multiple late coaching changes, plus head coaches leaving their jobs for “lesser” roles in the conference and the NFL. There have also been major changes to the sport, with the rule changes, lawsuits, and updates to the College Football Playoff all happening simultaneously.
No one would blame you if you were caught by surprise that spring ball is already here, but no worries: I got you! Here is a list of five players who have something to prove, need to fill a vital hole, or have added pressure on their shoulders heading into the 2024 football season.
Drew Allar - Quarterback, Penn State
It’s been said for years that Penn State would be the biggest beneficiary of the Big Ten getting rid of divisions and the playoffs expanding. Well luckily for the Nittany Lions, both things are happening in 2024, and it’s time for Penn State to capitalize.
Drew Allar had an up-and-down first year as the starter. He showed a lot of talent and why people were already claiming him to be the best quarterback of the James Franklin era, but he also led a very inefficient offense and felt at times like his coaches didn’t trust him to throw the ball. Penn State had other offensive issues outside of Allar, as evidenced by them firing their offensive coordinator.
This is Allar’s second year as the starter and the third and maybe final year for their two-headed monster of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton at running back. This is a big spring for Allar. If he can connect with his new offensive coordinator, Penn State should once again contend for the Big Ten and make the playoffs.
This could finally be their year to challenge for the title. They still play Ohio State, but they have a chance to show USC and Washington that there is an extra gear needed to play in the Big Ten. Many think the conference will run through Ohio State and Oregon, but a good spring by Allar could throw Penn State back into that conversation.
Zachariah Branch - Wide Receiver, USC
As a freshman, Zachariah Branch was one of the most exciting players to watch last season. In the return game, it felt like any time he touched the ball he could score a touchdown, and did score two special teams touchdowns averaging 18.4 yards and 20.8 yards on kick returns and punt returns, respectively. Branch had a tangible impact on games, but it was largely relegated to special teams as he only recorded 320 receiving yards on 31 receptions and matched his special teams total of two touchdowns.
USC is going through a transition on defense and trying to bounce back from arguably Lincoln Riley’s worst season while his best quarterback was at the helm. Entering 2024, USC is in an unenviable position where their coach has placed a lot of pressure on himself and his program, but may not have built the roster to meet those expectations.
Branch is one of if not the best player on the USC roster, and for the Trojans to reach their goals in 2024 he will need to be more than a special teams standout. Branch will hopefully continue his dynamic playmaking skills as a returner, but he will also need to be an every-down wide receiver.
There are talented players on offense of course, but if Branch can get closer to 1,000 yards and six or seven touchdowns outside of his production as a returner, USC may actually have a chance to compete in the new Big Ten.
Aidan Chiles - Quarterback, Michigan State
It’s time for a new era at Michigan State. Amid a terrible stretch on the field and the firing of their head coach, the Spartans had to watch their biggest rival, who treats them like an annoying little brother, win a national championship. In response, they went out and hired Jonathon Smith from Oregon State.
Smith took Oregon State from basically irrelevant to going 18-7 in his last two seasons with three-straight bowl appearances. One of the first things Smith did was get rid of every quarterback on the roster. Then, instead of going for some of the bigger names in the portal or bringing in his starting quarterback from Oregon State, he brought the backup: Aidan Chiles.
Chiles was ranked the 58th-best player nationally and the seventh-best quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class. Without much playing experience, he was ranked as the second-best quarterback in 247Sports transfer portal rankings, meaning Smith landing him twice is a big deal. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Chiles is the leader to win the Michigan State job, and there is a lot on his shoulders.
Firstly, he needs to reward his coach for the continued faith in him when it seemed every other coach in America wanted the older vet transfer. Also, he has the hearts of a Michigan State fan base that hasn’t seen many lower points and wants to make the playoffs in this new 12-team era. It’s never easy being a first-time starter, but Chiles must have a good spring and step into a new era as the starting quarterback of the Michigan State Spartans.
Donovan Edwards - Running Back, Michigan
Donovan Edwards is a known commodity in college football. In three years at Michigan, he has rushed for 1,662 yards and 16 touchdowns to go with 714 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The reason Edwards is on this list is because this is the first year that he enters the season as the No. 1 back.
In his freshman year, he was the third-string running back and had more receiving yards than rushing. The previous two seasons he was the clear backup to maybe Michigan’s best running back in program history in Blake Corum. Lastly, after a super successful 2022 campaign, he had an objectively bad 2023 season outside of the national championship game. His yards per attempt dropped three yards, and in 15 games he didn’t eclipse 500 total yards rushing.
Now he must be the bell cow for a Michigan team in transition. There is no more Corum or JJ McCarthy. Michigan is also losing a decent amount of their offensive line, and they have a new coach. Moore, like Harbaugh, is expected to be a run-first coach. It was Moore, not Harbaugh, who ran the ball 25-plus straight times against Penn State.
Michigan needs a lot of things to go well for them to continue to win 10-plus games and compete for a national championship, but it starts with Donovan Edwards being able to fill Corum’s shoes. This spring is going to be pivotal for the Wolverines, and Edwards is going to have to step up on the field and as a leader for them to be successful.
Dylan Raiola - Quarterback, Nebraska
Dylan Raiola, the former five-star Ohio State and Georgia commit, spurned two of the top programs in college football to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a Nebraska Cornhusker. Among the reasons for doing so, for one his dad is on the short list of best players in Nebraska’s history, and two, his uncle is the offensive line coach.
While I’m sure both of those factors factored into his decision, it would be naive to believe that this choice did not depend on his ability to be a day one starter. Raiola, who originally committed to Ohio State, decommitted when Ohio State continued to recruit other quarterbacks. After committing to Georgia, he moved to the state of Georgia to play football at Buford High School and be close to his future school, but when Carson Beck broke out and decided to stay for another season, Raiola went looking for a new place to play.
There were rumors before Raiola committed to the Huskers that Nebraska was the clear favorite to land former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord. Once Raiola reignited his interest, McCord ended up landing elsewhere (at Syracuse). All of this movement ensures that Raiola should be in line to be a day-one starter at Nebraska.
Those in the Raiola camp believes he is ready to take the reins, and Nebraska, coming off of an up-and-down season due to quarterback play, needs Raiola to prove them right. It is a big task to start college football as a freshman, especially at quarterback. The Big Ten is expanding, the College Football Playoff is now at 12 teams, and Nebraska needs to stake its claim in the upper half of the conference or risk being a bottom-feeder.
This is a huge spring for Raiola and the Cornhuskers. Can he live up to the hype and lead Nebraska to a bright future, or will they continue to struggle to win six games and reach bowl eligibility in a tougher Big Ten?
Continue reading...
LGHL Five-star, 2025 wide receiver LSU commit to visit Ohio State; 2026 No. 1 QB to visit as well
- News
- 0 Replies
Five-star, 2025 wide receiver LSU commit to visit Ohio State; 2026 No. 1 QB to visit as well
Matt Tamanini 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
The Buckeyes make the cut for a number of top players.
The Ohio State football players might be on spring break, but that doesn’t mean that the coaches aren’t putting in work to make the team better.
Ohio State wide receiver coach Brian Hartline has a knack for getting the guys he really wants, and there’s no doubt that he wants Dakorien Moore, so LSU better watch out. Moore is the No. 3 player in the 2025 recruiting class and the No. 1 WR in the country. Even though he is currently committed to play for Brian Kelly and the Bayou Bengals, he will be in Columbus on Monday, March 18.
According to Dotting the Eyes’ Jeremy Birmingham, the trip to Ohio State will follow one to Baton Rouge and precede another to Autin, Texas to meet with the Longhorns’ coaching staff. Moore has told 247Sports that these schools — along with Oregon — are the only ones that he will talk to about his recruitment moving forward.
Moore is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver from Duncanville, Texas, and has offers from over 30 programs across the country. His speed is one of his best attributes as a receiver, he was the anchor in a state-title-winning 4x200 relay team, while also competing in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
It will likely be an uphill battle for anyone to steal his services from LSU, but you always have to feel good about Hartline getting a WR on campus.
Moore isn’t the only top talent coming to Columbus over the next few weeks. The day after the No. 1 WR arrives on camps, 2026 quarterback Will Griffin will be visiting Ohio State, according to Bucknuts’ Bill Kurelic. Griffin will be in town on Tuesday, March 19, and is especially excited to meet with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
Currently ranked as the No. 61 player in his recruiting cycle, Griffen is the fourth-ranked quarterback and the No. 8 player in the state of Florida. The Tampa native picked up his Ohio State offer last June, but a lot has changed for the Buckeyes since his last trip to Columbus.
“I’m excited about Ohio State hiring Chip Kelly and look forward to meeting him,” Griffin told Kurelic. “He’s an offensive genius and it’s scary good to think about him devoting all his efforts to just OC.”
No fooling, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 class Jared Curtis will visit the Buckeyes on April 1, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound sophomore from Nashville Christian School holds three dozen offers and one crystal ball in favor of the Georgia Bulldogs, which he will visit on March 23. However, he will also visit Auburn a week later before heading up to Columbus, and then Oklahoma and Texas later in April.
According to Wiltfong, Curtis is also looking forward to getting to know OSU’s new OC.
The Buckeyes continue to make the cut for high-level players in future recruiting classes. Yesterday, four-star running back Tory Blaylock included Ohio State in this list of six finalists, along with Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Tennessee. Blaylock is the No. 219 player and No. 17 running back in the 2025 recruiting class according to 247Sports Composite Ratings.
Moving over to the 2026 class, the No. 68 player in the country, interior offensive lineman Micah DeBose kept the Buckeyes in his list of schools when he cut down his 30 offers to 10. The Mobile, Alabama native already has multiple crystal balls for LSU, so it looks like the Buckeyes will have to really fight hard to pull him out of the south if they are to land the massive offensive line talent.
And finally, the No. 11 player in the 2026 cycle Tyler Atkinson is planning to be in Columbus on Tuesday, March 19 along with Will Griffen, according to Eleven Warriors’ Garrick Hodges. Atkinson picked up his Ohio State offer following his eighth-grade year and has since risen to be the No. 2 linebacker in the country and the No. 1 player from the football-rich state of Georgia. The trip will be his second to OSU’s campus since receiving the Buckeyes’ offer.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini 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
The Buckeyes make the cut for a number of top players.
The Ohio State football players might be on spring break, but that doesn’t mean that the coaches aren’t putting in work to make the team better.
Can Hartline Do It Again?
Ohio State wide receiver coach Brian Hartline has a knack for getting the guys he really wants, and there’s no doubt that he wants Dakorien Moore, so LSU better watch out. Moore is the No. 3 player in the 2025 recruiting class and the No. 1 WR in the country. Even though he is currently committed to play for Brian Kelly and the Bayou Bengals, he will be in Columbus on Monday, March 18.
According to Dotting the Eyes’ Jeremy Birmingham, the trip to Ohio State will follow one to Baton Rouge and precede another to Autin, Texas to meet with the Longhorns’ coaching staff. Moore has told 247Sports that these schools — along with Oregon — are the only ones that he will talk to about his recruitment moving forward.
Moore is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver from Duncanville, Texas, and has offers from over 30 programs across the country. His speed is one of his best attributes as a receiver, he was the anchor in a state-title-winning 4x200 relay team, while also competing in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
It will likely be an uphill battle for anyone to steal his services from LSU, but you always have to feel good about Hartline getting a WR on campus.
Chip Kelly Set to Meet Top QB Prospects
Moore isn’t the only top talent coming to Columbus over the next few weeks. The day after the No. 1 WR arrives on camps, 2026 quarterback Will Griffin will be visiting Ohio State, according to Bucknuts’ Bill Kurelic. Griffin will be in town on Tuesday, March 19, and is especially excited to meet with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
Currently ranked as the No. 61 player in his recruiting cycle, Griffen is the fourth-ranked quarterback and the No. 8 player in the state of Florida. The Tampa native picked up his Ohio State offer last June, but a lot has changed for the Buckeyes since his last trip to Columbus.
“I’m excited about Ohio State hiring Chip Kelly and look forward to meeting him,” Griffin told Kurelic. “He’s an offensive genius and it’s scary good to think about him devoting all his efforts to just OC.”
No fooling, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 class Jared Curtis will visit the Buckeyes on April 1, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound sophomore from Nashville Christian School holds three dozen offers and one crystal ball in favor of the Georgia Bulldogs, which he will visit on March 23. However, he will also visit Auburn a week later before heading up to Columbus, and then Oklahoma and Texas later in April.
According to Wiltfong, Curtis is also looking forward to getting to know OSU’s new OC.
Quick Hits
The Buckeyes continue to make the cut for high-level players in future recruiting classes. Yesterday, four-star running back Tory Blaylock included Ohio State in this list of six finalists, along with Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Tennessee. Blaylock is the No. 219 player and No. 17 running back in the 2025 recruiting class according to 247Sports Composite Ratings.
NEWS: Four-Star RB Tory Blaylock is down toSchools!
The 6’0 197 RB from Houston, TX is ranked as the No. 4 RB in Texas (per On3)
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/6addwYlBdv pic.twitter.com/lWV7GL9p0g
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 9, 2024
Moving over to the 2026 class, the No. 68 player in the country, interior offensive lineman Micah DeBose kept the Buckeyes in his list of schools when he cut down his 30 offers to 10. The Mobile, Alabama native already has multiple crystal balls for LSU, so it looks like the Buckeyes will have to really fight hard to pull him out of the south if they are to land the massive offensive line talent.
And finally, the No. 11 player in the 2026 cycle Tyler Atkinson is planning to be in Columbus on Tuesday, March 19 along with Will Griffen, according to Eleven Warriors’ Garrick Hodges. Atkinson picked up his Ohio State offer following his eighth-grade year and has since risen to be the No. 2 linebacker in the country and the No. 1 player from the football-rich state of Georgia. The trip will be his second to OSU’s campus since receiving the Buckeyes’ offer.
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: What is the Buckeyes’ path to a Big Ten Championship?
- News
- 0 Replies
Bucketheads Podcast: What is the Buckeyes’ path to a Big Ten Championship?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
We are also joined by Thomas Costello to discuss the Ohio State Women’s team and their NCAA Tournament hopes.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
For Episode 109, we are officially in college basketball championship season, and we are here to break it down.
To open the episode, Connor and Justin talk about Ohio State’s draw in the Big Ten Tournament and its path to Sunday. If they beat Iowa on Thursday, they will play Illinois on Friday. How will they contain those high-octane offenses, and what is the Buckeyes NCAA tournament resume? And, of course, we have a coaching search conversation.
Then, we interview Land Grant Holy Land’s resident Women’s Basketball beat writer, Thomas Costello. What happened to the women’s team against Maryland, and what do they have to do better heading into the NCAA tournament?
Make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
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
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
We are also joined by Thomas Costello to discuss the Ohio State Women’s team and their NCAA Tournament hopes.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
For Episode 109, we are officially in college basketball championship season, and we are here to break it down.
To open the episode, Connor and Justin talk about Ohio State’s draw in the Big Ten Tournament and its path to Sunday. If they beat Iowa on Thursday, they will play Illinois on Friday. How will they contain those high-octane offenses, and what is the Buckeyes NCAA tournament resume? And, of course, we have a coaching search conversation.
Then, we interview Land Grant Holy Land’s resident Women’s Basketball beat writer, Thomas Costello. What happened to the women’s team against Maryland, and what do they have to do better heading into the NCAA tournament?
Make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State makes the cut for top TE target, adds to its spring visitor list
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State makes the cut for top TE target, adds to its spring visitor list
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star TE Nate Roberts via @nateroberts2025 on X
The Buckeyes had a busy start to the week, making the cut for a pair of blue-chip prospects and adding more names to its spring visitor list.
Even though the rest of us just set our clocks back last Sunday, the Ohio State football team is in the thick of spring. Ryan Day and the coaching staff are busy holding spring practices and ensuring this current roster of Buckeyes meets the high expectations set by Buckeye Nation, all while also hosting recruits on visits and holding spring recruiting camps.
The coming months will only get busier for the Ohio State staff, and this held true on Monday.
Ohio State has made the tight end position one of great important in its 2025 recruiting class. The Buckeyes have offered eight prospects at the position, and there is no more important to the staff than four-star Nate Roberts (Washington, OK /Wahsington). The Buckeyes have long been recruiting Roberts, offering him in May of 2023.
Since the offer, Roberts has visited with the Buckeyes on multiple occasions, and the program has made it clear he is their top option at the position. On Monday, the team learned the hard work has paid off, making his top five schools and that they will soon be hosting him on an official visit.
The Buckeyes are not alone in their pursuit of Roberts, as Oregon, Ole Miss, Penn State and Oklahoma all made his top five schools. However, the hard work by the Ohio State staff has them sitting as the current favorites to land Roberts, holding all three of the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions. While these predictions are far from guarantees, they do provide a great insight into how a recruit is feeling in his recruitment at a given time.
Ohio State will have an opportunity to keep up its momentum in Roberts’ recruitment as the team will host him on an official visit June 7. While he also has official visits lined up with his other finalists, Ohio State will also get to host him for an unofficial visit on April 13 for the annual Spring Game.
Roberts is the No. 5 TE in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 118 overall prospect. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of Oklahoma.
Brian Hartline is good at recruiting. He is the driving force into making Ohio State WRU, and his ability to recruit at the position continues to get more and more impressive. Because of this, Ohio State is never truly out of the running for a wide receiver recruit it wants until pen is put to paper.
This is the case with five-star WR Dakorien Moore (Duncanville, TX / Duncanville), who committed to LSU in August of last year, but has continued talking with other schools. That is until Monday, when he announced his top four schools and that he will now only communicate with said schools. Ohio State, in large part to Hartline, made the cut.
Alongside Ohio State, Texas and Oregon were also listed in his top schools as well as his current pledge, LSU.
Ohio State has been increasing its communication with Moore this year, and the staff is getting help from five-star Texas cornerback and Ohio State commit Devin Sanchez, who has been in Moore’s ear since joining the Buckeyes class in January of this year.
The Buckeyes will also get a chance to further their case this weekend when they are scheduled to host Moore for an unofficial visit. A de-commitment is not expected, but if he leaves Columbus more interested in Ohio State than LSU, one could come.
Moore is the No. 1 WR in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 3 overall prospect. He is also the No. 1 recruit out of the talent-rich state of Texas.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star TE Nate Roberts via @nateroberts2025 on X
The Buckeyes had a busy start to the week, making the cut for a pair of blue-chip prospects and adding more names to its spring visitor list.
Even though the rest of us just set our clocks back last Sunday, the Ohio State football team is in the thick of spring. Ryan Day and the coaching staff are busy holding spring practices and ensuring this current roster of Buckeyes meets the high expectations set by Buckeye Nation, all while also hosting recruits on visits and holding spring recruiting camps.
The coming months will only get busier for the Ohio State staff, and this held true on Monday.
Nate Roberts has Ohio State in top schools, sets official visit
Ohio State has made the tight end position one of great important in its 2025 recruiting class. The Buckeyes have offered eight prospects at the position, and there is no more important to the staff than four-star Nate Roberts (Washington, OK /Wahsington). The Buckeyes have long been recruiting Roberts, offering him in May of 2023.
Since the offer, Roberts has visited with the Buckeyes on multiple occasions, and the program has made it clear he is their top option at the position. On Monday, the team learned the hard work has paid off, making his top five schools and that they will soon be hosting him on an official visit.
The Buckeyes are not alone in their pursuit of Roberts, as Oregon, Ole Miss, Penn State and Oklahoma all made his top five schools. However, the hard work by the Ohio State staff has them sitting as the current favorites to land Roberts, holding all three of the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions. While these predictions are far from guarantees, they do provide a great insight into how a recruit is feeling in his recruitment at a given time.
Ohio State will have an opportunity to keep up its momentum in Roberts’ recruitment as the team will host him on an official visit June 7. While he also has official visits lined up with his other finalists, Ohio State will also get to host him for an unofficial visit on April 13 for the annual Spring Game.
Roberts is the No. 5 TE in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 118 overall prospect. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of Oklahoma.
Ohio State in top four for five-star LSU WR commit
Brian Hartline is good at recruiting. He is the driving force into making Ohio State WRU, and his ability to recruit at the position continues to get more and more impressive. Because of this, Ohio State is never truly out of the running for a wide receiver recruit it wants until pen is put to paper.
This is the case with five-star WR Dakorien Moore (Duncanville, TX / Duncanville), who committed to LSU in August of last year, but has continued talking with other schools. That is until Monday, when he announced his top four schools and that he will now only communicate with said schools. Ohio State, in large part to Hartline, made the cut.
Alongside Ohio State, Texas and Oregon were also listed in his top schools as well as his current pledge, LSU.
Ohio State has been increasing its communication with Moore this year, and the staff is getting help from five-star Texas cornerback and Ohio State commit Devin Sanchez, who has been in Moore’s ear since joining the Buckeyes class in January of this year.
The Buckeyes will also get a chance to further their case this weekend when they are scheduled to host Moore for an unofficial visit. A de-commitment is not expected, but if he leaves Columbus more interested in Ohio State than LSU, one could come.
Moore is the No. 1 WR in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 3 overall prospect. He is also the No. 1 recruit out of the talent-rich state of Texas.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State seemingly adds to its spring visitor list every day. The Buckeyes learned late Sunday evening that 2025 four-star WR Tayln Taylor (Geneva, IL / Geneva) has added his name to the list and will be visiting the team March 30 for an unofficial visit. Taylor is the No. 13 WR in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 109 overall prospect. He is also the No. 4 recruit out of Illinois.
Continue reading...
LGHL Which new Ohio State football player are you most excited about and who should be the next men’s basketball coach?
- News
- 0 Replies
Which new Ohio State football player are you most excited about and who should be the next men’s basketball coach?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Let us know your thoughts, Buckeye Nation!
Before, during, and after the Ohio State football season, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land like to ask and answer questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
There have been some pretty big changes for the Ohio State football and men’s basketball programs in recent months; from transfer losses and additions to coaching changes, it has been a hectic first two and a half months of the year. So, in our weekly fan survey, we are asking you, Buckeye Nation, to chime in on two of those topics.
First, we want to know which new Buckeye player you are most eager to see on the field in either the spring or fall. Then, we will pivot over to the hardwood and ask who you would like to see leading the men’s program in the 2024-25 season.
Answer the simple, two-question survey down the page, and if you have additional thoughts, please feel free to share them in the comments. The options in the survey are obviously not exclusive, so if you have other possibilities that you would like to posit, please do.
There are some really intriguing options in this question, and while it would be easy to pick a guy like Caleb Down, Quinshon Judkins, or even Jeremiah Smith, I feel like I have a pretty solid grasp on what those three players are going to be like this season; either because they have a proven on-field track record of excellence, or because their talent is so elite that they are bound to thrive.
However, for me, the guys that I am most excited to watch are the ones that have something to prove. Quarterback Will Howard will perhaps be chief amongst them as he takes a step up in competition and surrounding talent, will he be capable of leading a team to a national championship? We will see.
The last game that Seth McLaughlin played was less than a stellar performance, as he had snapping issues throughout Alabama’s College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan. There is no doubt that he has something to prove this fall, and the Buckeyes certainly need a step up in offensive line play, so they will be counting on him.
Then there’s Will Kacmarek. The tight end went through a recruiting process that was nearly completely shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic and has gone on to have a decent amount of success for the Ohio Bobcats. However, if he is going to step up and be the next starting TE for Ohio State, he is going to need to prove that he can both block and catch the ball in ways that guys from the Group of 5 level rarely can.
So, scroll to the bottom and tell me who you got.
Look, if Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes find a way to win two games this week and absolutely shock the college basketball world by making the NCAA Tournament, I think it’s going to be difficult to not give him the full-time head coaching job. However, there are tons of other options on the table.
Reporting has indicated that Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May and Xavier’s Sean Miller are two candidates high on Ohio State’s board, while former players and NBA assistants Chris Jent and Scoonie Penn have also expressed interest. Of course, there are some fans full of nostalgia who would like to see a return of Thad Matta.
Personally, while Chris Jent was my favorite Buckeye player growing up, I am partial to the idea of bringing in May and having Diebler be the associate head coach. What do you think?
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Let us know your thoughts, Buckeye Nation!
Before, during, and after the Ohio State football season, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land like to ask and answer questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
There have been some pretty big changes for the Ohio State football and men’s basketball programs in recent months; from transfer losses and additions to coaching changes, it has been a hectic first two and a half months of the year. So, in our weekly fan survey, we are asking you, Buckeye Nation, to chime in on two of those topics.
First, we want to know which new Buckeye player you are most eager to see on the field in either the spring or fall. Then, we will pivot over to the hardwood and ask who you would like to see leading the men’s program in the 2024-25 season.
Answer the simple, two-question survey down the page, and if you have additional thoughts, please feel free to share them in the comments. The options in the survey are obviously not exclusive, so if you have other possibilities that you would like to posit, please do.
Question 1: Which new Ohio State football player are you most excited to watch?
There are some really intriguing options in this question, and while it would be easy to pick a guy like Caleb Down, Quinshon Judkins, or even Jeremiah Smith, I feel like I have a pretty solid grasp on what those three players are going to be like this season; either because they have a proven on-field track record of excellence, or because their talent is so elite that they are bound to thrive.
However, for me, the guys that I am most excited to watch are the ones that have something to prove. Quarterback Will Howard will perhaps be chief amongst them as he takes a step up in competition and surrounding talent, will he be capable of leading a team to a national championship? We will see.
The last game that Seth McLaughlin played was less than a stellar performance, as he had snapping issues throughout Alabama’s College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan. There is no doubt that he has something to prove this fall, and the Buckeyes certainly need a step up in offensive line play, so they will be counting on him.
Then there’s Will Kacmarek. The tight end went through a recruiting process that was nearly completely shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic and has gone on to have a decent amount of success for the Ohio Bobcats. However, if he is going to step up and be the next starting TE for Ohio State, he is going to need to prove that he can both block and catch the ball in ways that guys from the Group of 5 level rarely can.
So, scroll to the bottom and tell me who you got.
Question 2: Who do you think should be Ohio State men’s basketball coach in 2024-25?
Look, if Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes find a way to win two games this week and absolutely shock the college basketball world by making the NCAA Tournament, I think it’s going to be difficult to not give him the full-time head coaching job. However, there are tons of other options on the table.
Reporting has indicated that Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May and Xavier’s Sean Miller are two candidates high on Ohio State’s board, while former players and NBA assistants Chris Jent and Scoonie Penn have also expressed interest. Of course, there are some fans full of nostalgia who would like to see a return of Thad Matta.
Personally, while Chris Jent was my favorite Buckeye player growing up, I am partial to the idea of bringing in May and having Diebler be the associate head coach. What do you think?
Share your thoughts here:
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
Continue reading...
