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LGHL Jared Sullinger is putting the scarlet and gray back on for Carmen’s Crew
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Jared Sullinger is putting the scarlet and gray back on for Carmen’s Crew
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Preseason magazines put Ohio State atop expanded Big Ten in 2024
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Behind Enemy Lines: Oregon joins the Big Ten with a big-name quarterback transfer leading the way
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Nine Candidates to Be Ohio State Captains in 2024
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Behind Enemy Lines: Five best games on (and off) Ohio State’s 2024 schedule
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land
Social Reactions From Ohio State’s players, Alumni Following Release of EA Sports College Football 25
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
#Justice4Braxton
Former Ohio State star Jared Sullinger to play for Carmen’s Crew in 2024 TBT
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Toronto Raptors sign Jamison Battle following strong start to NBA Summer League
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Ohio State P Gavin Bruni selected by Nationals in 2024 MLB draft
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Men’s Tennis: Hunter Callahan Named Assistant Coach
Ohio State Athletics
Man, this was heartbreaking to see KrissyB go out like this:
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
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Preseason magazines put Ohio State atop expanded Big Ten in 2024
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Behind Enemy Lines: Oregon joins the Big Ten with a big-name quarterback transfer leading the way
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Nine Candidates to Be Ohio State Captains in 2024
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Behind Enemy Lines: Five best games on (and off) Ohio State’s 2024 schedule
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land
Social Reactions From Ohio State’s players, Alumni Following Release of EA Sports College Football 25
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
#Justice4Braxton
On the Hardwood
Former Ohio State star Jared Sullinger to play for Carmen’s Crew in 2024 TBT
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
BREAKING NEWS: After coaching for the past few TBTs (including the 2019 Championship), Jared Sullinger WILL MAKE HIS TBT PLAYING RETURN with Carmen’s Crew@Jared_Sully0 is an @OhioStateHoops LEGEND!
TBT Tickets: https://t.co/qFJbGhryeF
Carmen’s Crew’s FINAL TBT Rosterpic.twitter.com/tLpxIpKmsw
— TBT (@thetournament) July 16, 2024
Toronto Raptors sign Jamison Battle following strong start to NBA Summer League
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Ohio State P Gavin Bruni selected by Nationals in 2024 MLB draft
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Day 3 of the #MLBDraft = COMPLETE
https://t.co/V0PAjO6RBe pic.twitter.com/6OfQ6PX8fy
— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) July 16, 2024
Men’s Tennis: Hunter Callahan Named Assistant Coach
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
Man, this was heartbreaking to see KrissyB go out like this:
Continue reading...
LGHL ‘EA College Football 25’ is finally here, all of the Ohio State rankings and holdouts
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- 0 Replies
‘EA College Football 25’ is finally here, all of the Ohio State rankings and holdouts
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Ratings for Ohio State players in EA Sports College Football 25
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Which Ohio State players are not in EA Sports College Football 25?
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Jeremiah Smith highest-rated freshman in EA College Football 25
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Preseason magazines put Ohio State atop expanded Big Ten in 2024
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State moving in right direction for 2026 four-star offensive tackle
Dan Hessler, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: Behind Enemy Lines - Potential trap games for Ohio State
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, John Mobley square off in Kingdom League
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Basketball Coach Jake Diebler Feels Freshmen Will Provide “Real Value” for Ohio State in Year One
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
The Derby is always an entertaining evening:
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
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
On the Gridiron
Ratings for Ohio State players in EA Sports College Football 25
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Which Ohio State players are not in EA Sports College Football 25?
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Jeremiah Smith highest-rated freshman in EA College Football 25
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Preseason magazines put Ohio State atop expanded Big Ten in 2024
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State moving in right direction for 2026 four-star offensive tackle
Dan Hessler, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: Behind Enemy Lines - Potential trap games for Ohio State
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, John Mobley square off in Kingdom League
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Basketball Coach Jake Diebler Feels Freshmen Will Provide “Real Value” for Ohio State in Year One
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
And now for something completely different...
The Derby is always an entertaining evening:
Continue reading...
LGHL Behind Enemy Lines: Oregon joins the Big Ten with a big-name quarterback transfer leading the way
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- 0 Replies
Behind Enemy Lines: Oregon joins the Big Ten with a big-name quarterback transfer leading the way
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images
This is going to be a good one.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State’s opponents. From looking at the Big Ten Conference to individual opponents to specific players, we will bring it all to you. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Lines” articles here.
If any year is going to be Oregon’s year, it’s going to be this one. With the transfer of quarterback Dillon Gabriel to replace Bo Nix and a very talented team led by Dan Lanning, there is a lot of hype surrounding the Ducks. Let’s take a look at Ohio State’s opponent at the halfway point of the season.
The 2024 season will be Oregon’s first year in the Big Ten, and they are not going to have an easy transition. Some of the Ducks’ opponents include Oregon State, UCLA, Ohio State, TTUN, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Washington. Yikes!
However, they are poised to make a nice run this year. Especially with the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams, they are almost guaranteed to make the field.
So, what does this Oregon team have to offer? Well, they had one of the top offenses in the nation last season, and even with the losses of Nix and some of their top weapons to the pros, the returners, and incoming transfers shouldn’t have any trouble maintaining their status as one of the best.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25532618/1910216769.jpg "Vrbo Fiesta Bowl - Liberty v Oregon")
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Last season at Oklahoma, Gabriel passed for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns. As one of the top QBs in the country in 2023, he is looking to match that again this year. His backup will be the highly-touted recruit, former UCLA Bruin Dante Moore. So, the Ducks are definitely set at the quarterback position.
Gabriel will have plenty of protection, too, as tackles Josh Conerly and Ajani Cornelius are both future NFL Draft picks. Guard Matthew Bedford from Indiana is also a very solid player.
While the Ducks’ starting running back, Bucky Irving, went pro, they still have plenty of depth. Jordan James scored 11 times and averaged over seven yards per run, and Noah Whittingham also averaged seven yards per carry, so this duo should be pretty successful.
Their receiving core is also impressive. Texas A&M transfer Evan Stewart had over 500 yards on 38 receptions last year and is expected to take a step up this upcoming season. Additionally, Tez Johnson caught 10 touchdown passes and came close to getting 1,200 yards, while All-Pac-12 tight end Terrance Ferguson caught 42 passes and six TDs.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25532642/1902996441.jpg "Vrbo Fiesta Bowl - Liberty v Oregon")
Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images
As for the defense, it is also filled with talent thanks to the transfer portal. Last year, the Ducks were the best in the Pac-12 in scoring defense and allowed just 318 yards per game. The secondary is expected to be very good, led by senior cornerback transfer Jabbar Muhammad who has 28 broken-up passes, four picks, and 117 tackles over the last three seasons. He started out at Oklahoma State, was a star at Washington last year, and now he should be an All-Big Ten performer at Oregon.
Oregon’s biggest weakness last year was pass defense, but with a secondary filled with talented transfers including Muhammad, Brandon Johnson, who made 128 tackles with 11 broken-up passes over three years, and Kobe Savage, who made 115 tackles with six picks at Kansas State over two years, there should be improvement this year.
Overall, this team is going to be very good. There are definitely going to be some tough matchups for the Ducks, the toughest being Ohio State. However, a showdown in Eugene is not going to be an easy one for the Buckeyes. Expect a very good game, but I believe the Buckeyes’ offense will overpower the Duck’s defense.
Continue reading...
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images
This is going to be a good one.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State’s opponents. From looking at the Big Ten Conference to individual opponents to specific players, we will bring it all to you. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Lines” articles here.
If any year is going to be Oregon’s year, it’s going to be this one. With the transfer of quarterback Dillon Gabriel to replace Bo Nix and a very talented team led by Dan Lanning, there is a lot of hype surrounding the Ducks. Let’s take a look at Ohio State’s opponent at the halfway point of the season.
The 2024 season will be Oregon’s first year in the Big Ten, and they are not going to have an easy transition. Some of the Ducks’ opponents include Oregon State, UCLA, Ohio State, TTUN, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Washington. Yikes!
However, they are poised to make a nice run this year. Especially with the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams, they are almost guaranteed to make the field.
So, what does this Oregon team have to offer? Well, they had one of the top offenses in the nation last season, and even with the losses of Nix and some of their top weapons to the pros, the returners, and incoming transfers shouldn’t have any trouble maintaining their status as one of the best.
Last season at Oklahoma, Gabriel passed for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns. As one of the top QBs in the country in 2023, he is looking to match that again this year. His backup will be the highly-touted recruit, former UCLA Bruin Dante Moore. So, the Ducks are definitely set at the quarterback position.
Gabriel will have plenty of protection, too, as tackles Josh Conerly and Ajani Cornelius are both future NFL Draft picks. Guard Matthew Bedford from Indiana is also a very solid player.
While the Ducks’ starting running back, Bucky Irving, went pro, they still have plenty of depth. Jordan James scored 11 times and averaged over seven yards per run, and Noah Whittingham also averaged seven yards per carry, so this duo should be pretty successful.
Their receiving core is also impressive. Texas A&M transfer Evan Stewart had over 500 yards on 38 receptions last year and is expected to take a step up this upcoming season. Additionally, Tez Johnson caught 10 touchdown passes and came close to getting 1,200 yards, while All-Pac-12 tight end Terrance Ferguson caught 42 passes and six TDs.
As for the defense, it is also filled with talent thanks to the transfer portal. Last year, the Ducks were the best in the Pac-12 in scoring defense and allowed just 318 yards per game. The secondary is expected to be very good, led by senior cornerback transfer Jabbar Muhammad who has 28 broken-up passes, four picks, and 117 tackles over the last three seasons. He started out at Oklahoma State, was a star at Washington last year, and now he should be an All-Big Ten performer at Oregon.
Oregon’s biggest weakness last year was pass defense, but with a secondary filled with talented transfers including Muhammad, Brandon Johnson, who made 128 tackles with 11 broken-up passes over three years, and Kobe Savage, who made 115 tackles with six picks at Kansas State over two years, there should be improvement this year.
Overall, this team is going to be very good. There are definitely going to be some tough matchups for the Ducks, the toughest being Ohio State. However, a showdown in Eugene is not going to be an easy one for the Buckeyes. Expect a very good game, but I believe the Buckeyes’ offense will overpower the Duck’s defense.
Continue reading...
LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Debating Ohio State’s toughest matchups this season
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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Debating Ohio State’s toughest matchups this season
justingolba 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
There are two obvious ones, but who else could give the Buckeyes some trouble this year?
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
Josh and Justin are back for another episode of Hangout in the Holy Land. This time, we are discussing the Ohio State Buckeyes' schedule for this season.
Road games against Oregon and Penn State stand out as the toughest games this season, but will Michigan State or Nebraska prove to be tough games with revamped rosters? Michigan comes to Columbus, but what will that Michigan team look like in November? And what will Iowa be this season?
Before that, we discuss July weddings outside and the Ohio State ratings in the new college football game.
Please like, rate, review, 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
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
There are two obvious ones, but who else could give the Buckeyes some trouble this year?
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
Josh and Justin are back for another episode of Hangout in the Holy Land. This time, we are discussing the Ohio State Buckeyes' schedule for this season.
Road games against Oregon and Penn State stand out as the toughest games this season, but will Michigan State or Nebraska prove to be tough games with revamped rosters? Michigan comes to Columbus, but what will that Michigan team look like in November? And what will Iowa be this season?
Before that, we discuss July weddings outside and the Ohio State ratings in the new college football game.
Please like, rate, review, 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...
LGHL Ohio State picks up three crystal balls for 2025 four-star defensive lineman
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Ohio State picks up three crystal balls for 2025 four-star defensive lineman
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jarquez Carter
If Jarquez Carter commits to Ohio State, he would be the sixth defensive lineman in Larry Johnson’s 2025 class
Much of the Ohio State fanbase is becoming increasingly focused on the football team’s offensive line recruiting, and while there has not been much news on that front recently, on Tuesday a wave of crystal balls in favor of the Buckeyes came in on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
Ohio State recruiting expert BIll Kurelic led the way with the first commitment prediction for four-star defensive lineman Jarquez Carter yesterday, and that was quickly followed by 247Sports’ national recruiting analyst Tom Loy and Gaby Urrutia from InsideTheU. The Florida native is set to announce his commitment on Thursday, July 18 just before 2 p.m. ET.
Carter is a rising senior at Newberry High School in Newberry, Florida, which as about 20 miles due west of Gainesville. Carter stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs in at 284 pounds. The interest between the lineman and the Buckeyes has been strong for a while and was only solidified when he took his official visit to Columbus in mid-June.
The lineman currently holds offers from 37 schools, including Miami, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Colorado, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Washington, and more. Over the summer, Carter has visited the Miami Hurricanes, Penn State Nittany Lions, UCF Knights, and Florida Gators in addition to the Buckeyes.
The recruit is currently ranked as the No. 395 player in the 2025 recruiting class and the No. 42 defensive lineman according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is considered the No. 54 player from the state of Florida. One cool feather in Carter’s cap is that last month, he put up 27 bench press reps to win the championship belt at Rival’s Five-Star camp.
If Carter does end up committing to OSU tomorrow, he will join a defensive line recruiting class that features fellow four-stars Zion Grady, Zahir Mathis, London Merritt, Maxwell Roy, and Trajen Odom.
Ohio State currently sits atop 247Sports’ class rankings with Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, and Notre Dame rounding out the top five.
Check out Jarquez Carter’s Junior Year Highlights:
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
Jarquez Carter
If Jarquez Carter commits to Ohio State, he would be the sixth defensive lineman in Larry Johnson’s 2025 class
Much of the Ohio State fanbase is becoming increasingly focused on the football team’s offensive line recruiting, and while there has not been much news on that front recently, on Tuesday a wave of crystal balls in favor of the Buckeyes came in on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
Ohio State recruiting expert BIll Kurelic led the way with the first commitment prediction for four-star defensive lineman Jarquez Carter yesterday, and that was quickly followed by 247Sports’ national recruiting analyst Tom Loy and Gaby Urrutia from InsideTheU. The Florida native is set to announce his commitment on Thursday, July 18 just before 2 p.m. ET.
Carter is a rising senior at Newberry High School in Newberry, Florida, which as about 20 miles due west of Gainesville. Carter stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs in at 284 pounds. The interest between the lineman and the Buckeyes has been strong for a while and was only solidified when he took his official visit to Columbus in mid-June.
The lineman currently holds offers from 37 schools, including Miami, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Colorado, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Washington, and more. Over the summer, Carter has visited the Miami Hurricanes, Penn State Nittany Lions, UCF Knights, and Florida Gators in addition to the Buckeyes.
The recruit is currently ranked as the No. 395 player in the 2025 recruiting class and the No. 42 defensive lineman according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is considered the No. 54 player from the state of Florida. One cool feather in Carter’s cap is that last month, he put up 27 bench press reps to win the championship belt at Rival’s Five-Star camp.
If Carter does end up committing to OSU tomorrow, he will join a defensive line recruiting class that features fellow four-stars Zion Grady, Zahir Mathis, London Merritt, Maxwell Roy, and Trajen Odom.
Ohio State currently sits atop 247Sports’ class rankings with Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, and Notre Dame rounding out the top five.
Check out Jarquez Carter’s Junior Year Highlights:
Continue reading...
LGHL Behind Enemy Lines: Five best games on (and off) Ohio State’s 2024 schedule
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Behind Enemy Lines: Five best games on (and off) Ohio State’s 2024 schedule
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
While the Buckeyes can’t play every Big Ten school this season, here are the schedule makers’ biggest hits and misses.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State’s opponents. From looking at the Big Ten Conference to individual opponents, to specific players, we will bring it all to you. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Lines” articles here.
The 2024 Big Ten Conference football season will look different than what we’re used to. Not only does the B1G bulge from 14 to 18 teams for the 2024 season, but the league has dropped divisions, piling all the teams into one, big jumble.
The additions of USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon present an exciting new wrinkle for longtime fans of the conference, but it also creates some logistical challenges. After all, not every team can play each of the other teams without going to a 17-game schedule. Additionally, some schools will end up with much easier/more difficult schedules than others (and what might appear to be a weak/strong schedule may prove otherwise before the season ends).
Ohio State’s schedule is a mixture of attractive matchups and meh games, and while it would be a grind to play all the league’s top teams, the first Buckeye football schedule of the 18-team Big Ten feels a bit anticlimactic. The Buckeyes only play one of the four conference newcomers, after all.
The following are my picks for the five most attractive games on the Ohio State schedule in 2024, as well as the five biggest misses by the schedule makers in making for an exciting schedule. (Note: I’m not advocating that the Buckeyes should play 10 conference games. Think of it more as the five conference matchups I’m happiest to see on the schedule for the upcoming season, plus the five omissions I most lament not being on it.)
1. Michigan
Any Ohio State schedule must include That Team Up North. It should be the first game the schedule makers write down. The Buckeyes against the Wolverines is called “The Game” for a reason. It’s arguably the most storied rivalry in all of sports.
Regardless of records, this game has such a rich history that it requires no explanation or rationalization. It must be on the schedule, and I can’t imagine it not being there. And without divisions and with an expanded playoff field, there’s a chance this matchup could happen twice in 2024. Maybe three times? We’ll see.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25533291/1339906283.jpg "Oregon v Ohio State")
Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images
Is a new conference rivalry brewing?
2. Oregon
One of the four newbies to the conference, Oregon has become an OSU rival — at least on the recruiting trail. The Buckeyes have had some big wins over the Ducks, so there is some history to this matchup.
Ohio State topped Oregon 42-20 to win the national championship on Jan. 12, 2015. The two schools also battled in the 2010 Rose Bowl game, with Terrelle Pryor leading Ohio State to a 26-17 victory. The Ducks should have a playoff-caliber team in 2024 under Dan Lanning, so this may be one of the marquee matchups of the college football season, and if you can’t get excited about the Buckeyes playing at Autzen Stadium, please check to make sure you have a pulse.
3. Penn State
The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions usually play one of the season’s most tightly contested conference games. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a rivalry (although some do), however, there’s something to be said about a game that nearly always seems to finish with the two teams separated by a touchdown or less.
I expect Penn State to have a good defense again in 2024, and a team with a good defense can hang with any team. The game will be in Happy Valley, where it’s always difficult for opponents.
4. Iowa
Speaking of teams with good defenses, the Iowa Hawkeyes visit Columbus on Oct. 5. While the Hawkeyes’ offense has been the subject of a lot of… let’s call it discussion… over the last couple of seasons, Iowa can hang around against anyone and can turn a game around with a defensive or special teams score. Along with the Michigan game, this will be Ohio State’s most difficult home matchup.
5. Nebraska
While I don’t necessarily expect Nebraska to be great in 2024, I had to put something fifth on this list. I thought long and hard about putting Michigan State in this spot, but ultimately I went with a traditional college football program that at least has nice fans.
A visit from Purdue doesn’t excite me, and I am not interested in the gimmick of the Buckeyes playing Northwestern at Wrigley Field. Ohio State should handle Indiana at home easily. That leaves Nebraska by default. This is definitely a game on the 2024 Big Ten schedule.
1-3. USC, UCLA, and Washington (Tie)
Is it cheating to place the three Pac-12 imports together at the top of this list? No, because these are my rules.
While it would be impractical to have Ohio State play all four West Coast teams, it feels like the Buckeyes should face two of them each year, with one at home and one on the road. I would love to see Ohio State pound Lincoln Riley’s Trojans into a fine paste. As an old, I have a lot of pent-up resentment for what were essentially road game losses to USC in the Rose Bowl. I expect USC to have a prolific offense, but I don’t believe in the Trojan defense just yet.
UCLA would be a fun matchup with Chip Kelly on the Ohio State sidelines. Kelly spent five seasons in Los Angeles, leading the Bruins to a (barely) winning record. The Bruins have been the second-class citizens (football-wise) in the City of Angels for a while, but Kelly made them competitive again and led them to three straight bowl games before his departure. I have some childhood Rose Bowl-related trauma when it comes to UCLA, too, so it would be fun to play the Bruins.
Washington is coming off a monster season, but the Huskies, though talented, will be in a transition year. Jedd Fisch left Arizona for Seattle after the departure of Kalen DeBoer to Alabama. An Ohio State-Washington matchup would have been fun to see, and the Huskies visiting Ohio Stadium would be an enjoyable counterpoint to the Buckeyes’ trip to Oregon.
4. Wisconsin
I love a good storyline in college football, so Luke Fickell’s return to the Horseshoe at the helm of the Badgers would have scratched that itch nicely. Fickell is in his second season in Madison, and while I don’t expect his transformation of Wisconsin to be complete yet, the team should start to turn in the right direction this season.
If Fickell can be as successful at Wisconsin as he was at Cincinnati, this would be a good year to face the Badgers, because they might evolve into a bit of a Culver’s-fueled problem in the coming seasons.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25533281/876051774.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 18 Illinois at Ohio State")
Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
To me, this trophy is more beautiful than the Stanley Cup.
5. Illinois
Many people don’t care about the Illibuck Trophy as much as old guys like me do. I can’t help it. I was raised on difficult games against the Fighting Illini. The first game I ever saw in the Horseshoe was an epic 49-42 aerial battle between Ohio State’s Art Schlichter and Illini quarterback Dave Wilson.
So, the Illinois rivalry, while not what it once was, will always have a special place in my heart. The teams have played some intense and close games over the years, but my main reason for including the Illini is the Illibuck Trophy rivalry.
What are the five conference games you’re most excited for, and what are the five omissions on the schedule you most want to see in 2024? Let us know in the comments section below.
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While the Buckeyes can’t play every Big Ten school this season, here are the schedule makers’ biggest hits and misses.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State’s opponents. From looking at the Big Ten Conference to individual opponents, to specific players, we will bring it all to you. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Lines” articles here.
The 2024 Big Ten Conference football season will look different than what we’re used to. Not only does the B1G bulge from 14 to 18 teams for the 2024 season, but the league has dropped divisions, piling all the teams into one, big jumble.
The additions of USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon present an exciting new wrinkle for longtime fans of the conference, but it also creates some logistical challenges. After all, not every team can play each of the other teams without going to a 17-game schedule. Additionally, some schools will end up with much easier/more difficult schedules than others (and what might appear to be a weak/strong schedule may prove otherwise before the season ends).
Ohio State’s schedule is a mixture of attractive matchups and meh games, and while it would be a grind to play all the league’s top teams, the first Buckeye football schedule of the 18-team Big Ten feels a bit anticlimactic. The Buckeyes only play one of the four conference newcomers, after all.
The following are my picks for the five most attractive games on the Ohio State schedule in 2024, as well as the five biggest misses by the schedule makers in making for an exciting schedule. (Note: I’m not advocating that the Buckeyes should play 10 conference games. Think of it more as the five conference matchups I’m happiest to see on the schedule for the upcoming season, plus the five omissions I most lament not being on it.)
The five best Ohio State conference games
1. Michigan
Any Ohio State schedule must include That Team Up North. It should be the first game the schedule makers write down. The Buckeyes against the Wolverines is called “The Game” for a reason. It’s arguably the most storied rivalry in all of sports.
Regardless of records, this game has such a rich history that it requires no explanation or rationalization. It must be on the schedule, and I can’t imagine it not being there. And without divisions and with an expanded playoff field, there’s a chance this matchup could happen twice in 2024. Maybe three times? We’ll see.
Is a new conference rivalry brewing?
2. Oregon
One of the four newbies to the conference, Oregon has become an OSU rival — at least on the recruiting trail. The Buckeyes have had some big wins over the Ducks, so there is some history to this matchup.
Ohio State topped Oregon 42-20 to win the national championship on Jan. 12, 2015. The two schools also battled in the 2010 Rose Bowl game, with Terrelle Pryor leading Ohio State to a 26-17 victory. The Ducks should have a playoff-caliber team in 2024 under Dan Lanning, so this may be one of the marquee matchups of the college football season, and if you can’t get excited about the Buckeyes playing at Autzen Stadium, please check to make sure you have a pulse.
3. Penn State
The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions usually play one of the season’s most tightly contested conference games. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a rivalry (although some do), however, there’s something to be said about a game that nearly always seems to finish with the two teams separated by a touchdown or less.
I expect Penn State to have a good defense again in 2024, and a team with a good defense can hang with any team. The game will be in Happy Valley, where it’s always difficult for opponents.
4. Iowa
Speaking of teams with good defenses, the Iowa Hawkeyes visit Columbus on Oct. 5. While the Hawkeyes’ offense has been the subject of a lot of… let’s call it discussion… over the last couple of seasons, Iowa can hang around against anyone and can turn a game around with a defensive or special teams score. Along with the Michigan game, this will be Ohio State’s most difficult home matchup.
5. Nebraska
While I don’t necessarily expect Nebraska to be great in 2024, I had to put something fifth on this list. I thought long and hard about putting Michigan State in this spot, but ultimately I went with a traditional college football program that at least has nice fans.
A visit from Purdue doesn’t excite me, and I am not interested in the gimmick of the Buckeyes playing Northwestern at Wrigley Field. Ohio State should handle Indiana at home easily. That leaves Nebraska by default. This is definitely a game on the 2024 Big Ten schedule.
The five biggest omissions on Ohio State’s schedule
1-3. USC, UCLA, and Washington (Tie)
Is it cheating to place the three Pac-12 imports together at the top of this list? No, because these are my rules.
While it would be impractical to have Ohio State play all four West Coast teams, it feels like the Buckeyes should face two of them each year, with one at home and one on the road. I would love to see Ohio State pound Lincoln Riley’s Trojans into a fine paste. As an old, I have a lot of pent-up resentment for what were essentially road game losses to USC in the Rose Bowl. I expect USC to have a prolific offense, but I don’t believe in the Trojan defense just yet.
UCLA would be a fun matchup with Chip Kelly on the Ohio State sidelines. Kelly spent five seasons in Los Angeles, leading the Bruins to a (barely) winning record. The Bruins have been the second-class citizens (football-wise) in the City of Angels for a while, but Kelly made them competitive again and led them to three straight bowl games before his departure. I have some childhood Rose Bowl-related trauma when it comes to UCLA, too, so it would be fun to play the Bruins.
Washington is coming off a monster season, but the Huskies, though talented, will be in a transition year. Jedd Fisch left Arizona for Seattle after the departure of Kalen DeBoer to Alabama. An Ohio State-Washington matchup would have been fun to see, and the Huskies visiting Ohio Stadium would be an enjoyable counterpoint to the Buckeyes’ trip to Oregon.
4. Wisconsin
I love a good storyline in college football, so Luke Fickell’s return to the Horseshoe at the helm of the Badgers would have scratched that itch nicely. Fickell is in his second season in Madison, and while I don’t expect his transformation of Wisconsin to be complete yet, the team should start to turn in the right direction this season.
If Fickell can be as successful at Wisconsin as he was at Cincinnati, this would be a good year to face the Badgers, because they might evolve into a bit of a Culver’s-fueled problem in the coming seasons.
To me, this trophy is more beautiful than the Stanley Cup.
5. Illinois
Many people don’t care about the Illibuck Trophy as much as old guys like me do. I can’t help it. I was raised on difficult games against the Fighting Illini. The first game I ever saw in the Horseshoe was an epic 49-42 aerial battle between Ohio State’s Art Schlichter and Illini quarterback Dave Wilson.
So, the Illinois rivalry, while not what it once was, will always have a special place in my heart. The teams have played some intense and close games over the years, but my main reason for including the Illini is the Illibuck Trophy rivalry.
What are the five conference games you’re most excited for, and what are the five omissions on the schedule you most want to see in 2024? Let us know in the comments section below.
Continue reading...