-
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 Ohio State gets college football’s equivalent of the “Group of Death” in the playoff
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State gets college football’s equivalent of the “Group of Death” in the playoff
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes could hardly have a tougher path to the semifinals than the one they’ve been given, but that’s what losing to Michigan gets them.
Now that we know who is in, which teams will play in the first round, and who will host on-campus games in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, it’s worth taking a look at each team’s path to the semifinals.
But first, a reminder of where everyone is seeded.
The top four rated conference champions get a first-round bye. This theoretically makes for an easier path to a national championship, as it’s one fewer win needed to get there and less wear and tear on the players during the playoff run. The drawback is not getting a game on campus, and perhaps losing momentum with a week off while other teams might gain momentum with a first-round win.
In this first season with 12 teams in the playoff, those four slots went to:
They’ll each have this weekend off while they wait for their next opponents.
Texas fell to No. 5 by losing in overtime to Georgia after the Longhorns largely approached their matchup with Georgia the way Ohio State decided to play against Michigan — which is to say they played into their opponents’ strengths and away from their own.
The No. 6 seed is Penn State. It’s understandable if Ohio State fans aren’t happy with that decision, because the Nittany Lions lost at home to the Buckeyes and lost by more against common opponent Oregon on a neutral field than OSU did in a true road contest.
Semi-independent and part-time ACC moonlighters Notre Dame got the No. 7 seed, with the Buckeyes getting the last home game at No. 8.
The first-round matchups then were set by figuring out which teams got to be the ninth through 12th seeds. Tennessee was placed ninth after finishing behind Georgia in the SEC at 10-2 by suffering a two-touchdown loss to the Bulldogs. Indiana was placed 10th, with ACC runners-up SMU getting the No. 11 seed and ACC champions Clemson getting in at No. 12.
Because Clemson won the ACC Championship Game, it got in over Alabama, Miami, Ole Miss, and South Carolina, which all finished higher in the final CFP rankings.
Looking at the first-round matchups, the final seeding appears to give Ohio State or Tennessee the toughest road to the semifinals, while Penn State may have the easiest.
The Buckeyes have to play a physical and athletic Tennessee team, although they get to be at home for the game. Ryan Day’s track record in big games isn’t going to make OSU fans anything other than nervous going into Saturday, but it is a winnable game if the Buckeyes can play defense they way they have all season and get the offense back on track. The Vols may claim the toughest road to the semis because they are literally on the road, but there is no lack of swagger in Knoxville and the Vols will be ready for the challenge.
The winner gets Oregon in the Rose Bowl, so it’s a longer trip for the winner of the first-round game, although the Buckeyes have had success against the Ducks in Rose Bowls before. Still, having to play the best team in college football throughout the season is a difficult second step on the journey.
On the other end of the spectrum is Penn State, which gets to host SMU at Beaver Stadium Saturday at noon. The Nittany Lions are tough to beat at home, and may be feeling confident after playing Oregon fairly close in the Big Ten Championship Game. Should they get past SMU, they’ll face Boise State, which has had some scares this season. I would expect Penn State to be favored in a Fiesta Bowl matchup against the Mountain West winners.
If Ohio State and Tennessee aren’t the teams with the most difficult path through, it might be Indiana. The Hoosiers get to stay in state, but they’ll travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame Friday night. Indiana can win that game, but this is unfamiliar territory for the Hoosiers. If they do get past the Irish, their reward will be a Sugar Bowl meeting with Georgia.
Texas fans will like their path to the semifinals. First up is a home game Saturday afternoon against a three-loss Clemson team that got destroyed by Georgia to open the season, lost at home to Louisville, and lost a close rivalry matchup against South Carolina. The Tigers were fortunate to get a long kickoff return after SMU tied the game with seconds left on Saturday, allowing them to get into long field-goal range to make the last-second winning kick rather than facing a momentum-laden Mustangs team in overtime.
The Texas-Clemson winner will face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. It’s hard to know exactly how good the 11-2 Big XII champs are. They lost to Texas Tech and Cincinnati, which weren’t exactly juggernauts, and had narrow wins against the likes of North Texas, Mississippi State, Kansas, UCF, and BYU before blowing out Arizona and Iowa State.
If I had to handicap the path to the semifinals for the eight teams that have to play the extra game in this College Football Playoff from hardest to easiest, I’d go:
Beyond the first weekend, Oregon was given no favors by earning the No. 1 seed, as the Ducks would have to play the Tennessee-Ohio State winner, while Georgia would seem to have the easiest bowl opponent. Arizona State and Boise State will have a tough matchup whoever wins in the first round, but I like the Broncos over SMU much more than their chances against Penn State.
Arizona State is a complete wild card to me, but I like Texas to get past them, and if somehow Clemson dumps the Longhorns, I think the Sun Devils would take that result happily.
But enough about what I think. What do you think the easiest and toughest paths through the postseason are? Let me know in the comments section.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes could hardly have a tougher path to the semifinals than the one they’ve been given, but that’s what losing to Michigan gets them.
Now that we know who is in, which teams will play in the first round, and who will host on-campus games in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, it’s worth taking a look at each team’s path to the semifinals.
But first, a reminder of where everyone is seeded.
THE BRACKET IS SET
Who are you taking to win the #CFBPlayoff? pic.twitter.com/9BDWwesEVL
— ESPN (@espn) December 8, 2024
The top four rated conference champions get a first-round bye. This theoretically makes for an easier path to a national championship, as it’s one fewer win needed to get there and less wear and tear on the players during the playoff run. The drawback is not getting a game on campus, and perhaps losing momentum with a week off while other teams might gain momentum with a first-round win.
In this first season with 12 teams in the playoff, those four slots went to:
- Top-seeded Oregon, the Big Ten champion
- Second-seeded Georgia, the SEC winner that lost a couple of games and escaped in overtime in each of the last two weeks
- Third-seeded Boise State, which won the Mountain West champion, went 12-1 and finished ninth in the final CFP standings
- Arizona State, which won the Big XII Saturday by beating Iowa State.
They’ll each have this weekend off while they wait for their next opponents.
Texas fell to No. 5 by losing in overtime to Georgia after the Longhorns largely approached their matchup with Georgia the way Ohio State decided to play against Michigan — which is to say they played into their opponents’ strengths and away from their own.
The No. 6 seed is Penn State. It’s understandable if Ohio State fans aren’t happy with that decision, because the Nittany Lions lost at home to the Buckeyes and lost by more against common opponent Oregon on a neutral field than OSU did in a true road contest.
Semi-independent and part-time ACC moonlighters Notre Dame got the No. 7 seed, with the Buckeyes getting the last home game at No. 8.
The first-round matchups then were set by figuring out which teams got to be the ninth through 12th seeds. Tennessee was placed ninth after finishing behind Georgia in the SEC at 10-2 by suffering a two-touchdown loss to the Bulldogs. Indiana was placed 10th, with ACC runners-up SMU getting the No. 11 seed and ACC champions Clemson getting in at No. 12.
Because Clemson won the ACC Championship Game, it got in over Alabama, Miami, Ole Miss, and South Carolina, which all finished higher in the final CFP rankings.
The Path to Glory
Looking at the first-round matchups, the final seeding appears to give Ohio State or Tennessee the toughest road to the semifinals, while Penn State may have the easiest.
The Buckeyes have to play a physical and athletic Tennessee team, although they get to be at home for the game. Ryan Day’s track record in big games isn’t going to make OSU fans anything other than nervous going into Saturday, but it is a winnable game if the Buckeyes can play defense they way they have all season and get the offense back on track. The Vols may claim the toughest road to the semis because they are literally on the road, but there is no lack of swagger in Knoxville and the Vols will be ready for the challenge.
The winner gets Oregon in the Rose Bowl, so it’s a longer trip for the winner of the first-round game, although the Buckeyes have had success against the Ducks in Rose Bowls before. Still, having to play the best team in college football throughout the season is a difficult second step on the journey.
On the other end of the spectrum is Penn State, which gets to host SMU at Beaver Stadium Saturday at noon. The Nittany Lions are tough to beat at home, and may be feeling confident after playing Oregon fairly close in the Big Ten Championship Game. Should they get past SMU, they’ll face Boise State, which has had some scares this season. I would expect Penn State to be favored in a Fiesta Bowl matchup against the Mountain West winners.
If Ohio State and Tennessee aren’t the teams with the most difficult path through, it might be Indiana. The Hoosiers get to stay in state, but they’ll travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame Friday night. Indiana can win that game, but this is unfamiliar territory for the Hoosiers. If they do get past the Irish, their reward will be a Sugar Bowl meeting with Georgia.
Texas fans will like their path to the semifinals. First up is a home game Saturday afternoon against a three-loss Clemson team that got destroyed by Georgia to open the season, lost at home to Louisville, and lost a close rivalry matchup against South Carolina. The Tigers were fortunate to get a long kickoff return after SMU tied the game with seconds left on Saturday, allowing them to get into long field-goal range to make the last-second winning kick rather than facing a momentum-laden Mustangs team in overtime.
The Texas-Clemson winner will face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. It’s hard to know exactly how good the 11-2 Big XII champs are. They lost to Texas Tech and Cincinnati, which weren’t exactly juggernauts, and had narrow wins against the likes of North Texas, Mississippi State, Kansas, UCF, and BYU before blowing out Arizona and Iowa State.
If I had to handicap the path to the semifinals for the eight teams that have to play the extra game in this College Football Playoff from hardest to easiest, I’d go:
- Ohio State
- Tennessee
- Indiana
- Notre Dame
- SMU
- Clemson
- Texas
- Penn State
Beyond the first weekend, Oregon was given no favors by earning the No. 1 seed, as the Ducks would have to play the Tennessee-Ohio State winner, while Georgia would seem to have the easiest bowl opponent. Arizona State and Boise State will have a tough matchup whoever wins in the first round, but I like the Broncos over SMU much more than their chances against Penn State.
Arizona State is a complete wild card to me, but I like Texas to get past them, and if somehow Clemson dumps the Longhorns, I think the Sun Devils would take that result happily.
But enough about what I think. What do you think the easiest and toughest paths through the postseason are? Let me know in the comments section.
Continue reading...
LGHL Uncut: Ryan Day breaks down what he’s seen from Tennessee on film
- News
- 0 Replies
Uncut: Ryan Day breaks down what he’s seen from Tennessee on film
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
He also discusses what changes we could see from the Buckeyes in the CFP.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 press conference with Ohio State football coach Ryan Day following the announcement of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff bracket. We now know that the No. 8-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes will host the No. 9-seeded Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET in Ohio Stadium.
During the media availability, Day talked about what he has seen on tape from the Vols thus far, what changes — both in scheme and personnel — could happen for his team heading into the playoff, and much more.
Watch the full press conferences on Ohio State’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/buckeyes/live_videos
Contact Matt Tamanini
Online Profile: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
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
He also discusses what changes we could see from the Buckeyes in the CFP.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 press conference with Ohio State football coach Ryan Day following the announcement of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff bracket. We now know that the No. 8-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes will host the No. 9-seeded Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET in Ohio Stadium.
During the media availability, Day talked about what he has seen on tape from the Vols thus far, what changes — both in scheme and personnel — could happen for his team heading into the playoff, and much more.
Watch the full press conferences on Ohio State’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/buckeyes/live_videos
Contact Matt Tamanini
Online Profile: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
Music by: www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State gets hosed by the committee and will play Tennessee in night home game
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State gets hosed by the committee and will play Tennessee in night home game
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Ohio State to play home game against Tennessee in CFP first round
Brian White, Lori Schmidt, and Bill Rabinowitz; The Columbus Dispatch
December? Prime Time in Ohio Stadium? Ohio State Hosts Tennessee in an Unprecedented Game at the Shoe
11W Staff, Eleven Warriors
Presser Bullets: Luke Montgomery and Josh Padilla to Compete For Roles On Offensive Line, Ryan Day Excited For “Once-In-A-Lifetime” Playoff Opportunity
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ryan Day Press Conference: Ohio State coach discusses CFP match-up with Tennessee
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Key Takeaways as Ryan Day, Buckeyes get playoff path confirmed
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
With Tennessee matchup set, Buckeyes turn focus to ‘electric’ first-round home game
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ryan Day delivers initial take on Tennessee, touts ‘complementary’ Vols team ahead of Ohio State’s CFP clash
Carter Bahns, 247Sports
What Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said about Buckeyes, first-round CFP matchup
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State Quarterback Devin Brown Entering Transfer Portal After Three Years With the Buckeyes
11W Staff, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State fans need to see two playoff wins to feel good about Ryan Day
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Michigan lands commitment from 2025 QB Chase Herbstreit
Allen Trieu, 247Sports
Cotie McMahon returns, leads No. 12 Ohio State women over No. 21 Illinois 83-74
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Devin Royal puts Buckeyes on his back, carries Ohio State past Rutgers 80-66
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
No. 12 Ohio State opens Big Ten play with win over No. 21 Illinois
Brianna Mac Kay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State bounces back with decisive win against Rutgers: 7 takeaways
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Men’s Soccer: No. 1 Ohio State Advances to 2024 College Cup!
Ohio State Athletics
Magical midfielder leads Buckeyes to NCAA soccer Final Four
Michael Arace, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Club Football Wins Third National Championship
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Wrestling: Mendez, Welsh, Cannon Earn Titles Saturday
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Ice Hockey: No. 17/16 Buckeyes Down Penn State, 3-2, to Complete Sweep
Ohio State Athletics
Unbelievable:
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 via Imagn Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Ohio State to play home game against Tennessee in CFP first round
Brian White, Lori Schmidt, and Bill Rabinowitz; The Columbus Dispatch
December? Prime Time in Ohio Stadium? Ohio State Hosts Tennessee in an Unprecedented Game at the Shoe
11W Staff, Eleven Warriors
Presser Bullets: Luke Montgomery and Josh Padilla to Compete For Roles On Offensive Line, Ryan Day Excited For “Once-In-A-Lifetime” Playoff Opportunity
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ryan Day Press Conference: Ohio State coach discusses CFP match-up with Tennessee
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Key Takeaways as Ryan Day, Buckeyes get playoff path confirmed
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
With Tennessee matchup set, Buckeyes turn focus to ‘electric’ first-round home game
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ryan Day delivers initial take on Tennessee, touts ‘complementary’ Vols team ahead of Ohio State’s CFP clash
Carter Bahns, 247Sports
What Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said about Buckeyes, first-round CFP matchup
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State Quarterback Devin Brown Entering Transfer Portal After Three Years With the Buckeyes
11W Staff, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State fans need to see two playoff wins to feel good about Ryan Day
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Michigan lands commitment from 2025 QB Chase Herbstreit
Allen Trieu, 247Sports
On the Hardwood
Cotie McMahon returns, leads No. 12 Ohio State women over No. 21 Illinois 83-74
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Devin Royal puts Buckeyes on his back, carries Ohio State past Rutgers 80-66
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
No. 12 Ohio State opens Big Ten play with win over No. 21 Illinois
Brianna Mac Kay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State bounces back with decisive win against Rutgers: 7 takeaways
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Men’s Soccer: No. 1 Ohio State Advances to 2024 College Cup!
Ohio State Athletics
Magical midfielder leads Buckeyes to NCAA soccer Final Four
Michael Arace, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Club Football Wins Third National Championship
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Wrestling: Mendez, Welsh, Cannon Earn Titles Saturday
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Ice Hockey: No. 17/16 Buckeyes Down Penn State, 3-2, to Complete Sweep
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
Unbelievable:
Continue reading...
LGHL Power Two Podcast: The 2024 College Football Playoff is set!
- News
- 0 Replies
Power Two Podcast: The 2024 College Football Playoff is set!
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 David Jensen/Getty Images
The 2024 College Football Playoff selections have been made. SMU is in and Bama is out, plus coaching carousel updates.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
On this week’s episode, Jordan and DJ share their thoughts about the college football regular season since it is officially over. It’s unreal how quickly the 2024 season came and went. In the news, Jordan shares all the coaches’ hirings and movements, including three coaches who accepted new jobs after winning their respective conference championships.
They review the conference championship games and champions in the two-minute drill. There was extensive discussion about the overwhelming disingenuous conversation surrounding Alabama and whether they should be given a playoff spot over SMU. DJ is especially happy that they made the right choice in that matter. She is frustrated with how politic-y the College Football Playoff selections seem to feel.
Jordan and DJ discuss the bowl game selections and which games they will be tuning into. Plus we share some thoughts about which schools deserved to go to certain locations over others. It should be a rule that only cold-weather teams get to go to Hawaii and the Bahamas.
Jordan reviews the 2024 College Football Playoff teams, and they discuss who has the “easiest” path to the championship. There will be a dedicated episode where Jordan and DJ will share their official predictions for the games so they shared a sneak peek this week.
In the two-minute warning, Jordan lays out his case for Ashton Jeanty to win the Heisman. DJ shares her thoughts about the WNBA Expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images
The 2024 College Football Playoff selections have been made. SMU is in and Bama is out, plus coaching carousel updates.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
On this week’s episode, Jordan and DJ share their thoughts about the college football regular season since it is officially over. It’s unreal how quickly the 2024 season came and went. In the news, Jordan shares all the coaches’ hirings and movements, including three coaches who accepted new jobs after winning their respective conference championships.
They review the conference championship games and champions in the two-minute drill. There was extensive discussion about the overwhelming disingenuous conversation surrounding Alabama and whether they should be given a playoff spot over SMU. DJ is especially happy that they made the right choice in that matter. She is frustrated with how politic-y the College Football Playoff selections seem to feel.
Jordan and DJ discuss the bowl game selections and which games they will be tuning into. Plus we share some thoughts about which schools deserved to go to certain locations over others. It should be a rule that only cold-weather teams get to go to Hawaii and the Bahamas.
Jordan reviews the 2024 College Football Playoff teams, and they discuss who has the “easiest” path to the championship. There will be a dedicated episode where Jordan and DJ will share their official predictions for the games so they shared a sneak peek this week.
In the two-minute warning, Jordan lays out his case for Ashton Jeanty to win the Heisman. DJ shares her thoughts about the WNBA Expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State opens as 7.5-point favorites over Tennessee
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State opens as 7.5-point favorites over Tennessee
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
The Buckeyes get to host a College Football Playoff game.
Ohio State ended the regular season in incredibly disappointing fashion, finishing 10-2 on the year after falling to its bitter rival as a result of its head coach trying to prove a point from a statement made four years ago by a coach that is no longer employed by said opponent... but I digress.
Even despite the loss to Michigan, the Buckeyes have been rewarded with a home game in the College Football Playoff as the No. 8 seed, hosting No. 9 Tennessee. Not only that, but Ohio State has finally escaped the shackles of Big Noon, with the matchup set to kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 21.
With Ryan Day likely coaching for his job, the head coach will look to right his wrongs from The Game as more than a touchdown favorite at home against Josh Heupel’s Volunteers.
When Ohio State actually plays up to its talent, the Buckeyes are one of the best teams in the country. Outside the loss to the Wolverines, the scarlet and gray’s only other defeat came at the hands of No. 1 Oregon — a matchup OSU lost on the road by one point in early October. On the flip side, Ohio State picked up wins over a pair of other College Football Playoff teams with a 20-13 victory over Penn State on the road and a 38-15 drubbing of Indiana in the penultimate game of the season.
The Buckeyes’ strength offensively — if the coaching staff allows it to be — are their wide receivers. Freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, senior Emeka Egubka and rising star Carnell Tate form one of the best trios in the country. Smith led the team with 934 yards and a Big Ten-high 10 receiving touchdowns, while Egbuka added 743 yards and nine touchdowns and Tate tallied 583 yards and four scores. Quarterback Will Howard, while having a few off games, has been a steady, efficient presence, completing over 72% of his passes with 27 touchdowns to eight picks.
Ohio State’s defense has been one of the top units nationwide, leading all of FBS allowing only 10.9 points per game. Jim Knowles’ group has really shined since the defensive coordinator took over full control following the loss to the Ducks, and guys like Caleb Downs and Cody Simon have helped lead the way. Downs is one of college football’s best defenders, consistently making plays at all three levels of the defense, while Simon has been the quarterback of the unit from his middle linebacker spot.
Tennessee had a bit of an up-and-down season, and like Ohio State finished 10-2 while missing its conference title game. The Volunteers lost an early October game to an Arkansas team that would go on to finish .500, and also dropped a 31-17 road contest against Georgia. Unlike the Buckeyes, Heupel’s group doesn’t have any wins over CFP teams to hang its hat on, as their best wins likely came against a three-loss Alabama and a 7-5 Florida.
What the Vols do have is one of the nation’s best offenses, ranking eighth in FBS in scoring with 37.2 points per game. That unit is led by redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who threw for over 2,500 yards with 19 touchdowns and only five picks. Tennessee features a potent rushing attack, headed by Dylan Sampson’s SEC-leading 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. Dont’e Thornton is the leader through the air, totaling 647 receiving yards on a whopping 25.9 yards per catch.
For as good as they are offensively, Tennessee is likely even better defensively, ranking fifth nationally allowing 13.9 points per game. The Volunteer defense lays claim to one of the best pass rushers in the country in James Pearce Jr. The junior defensive lineman leads the team with 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss, and will be a tough matchup for Ohio State’s battered offensive line. In the secondary, defensive backs Jermod McCoy and Will Brooks have combined for seven interceptions.
It will be interesting to see which version of Ohio State we get in two weeks. When the Buckeyes play to their strengths, attacking teams through the air on offense and swarming them with creative blitz packages on defense, they are tough to beat. When their head coach goes into his shell, as he has been one to do in big games, they play conservative on both sides of the ball and open themselves up to getting beat. Even with his job on the line, Day can’t afford to catch scared against Tennessee.
On top of improved play-calling, Ohio State will need to shore up its offensive line play and its special teams if it wants its season to continue beyond the first round. If the Buckeyes can play its style of football and improve along the margins, then they could be staring at a rematch against Oregon in the second round.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
The Buckeyes get to host a College Football Playoff game.
Ohio State ended the regular season in incredibly disappointing fashion, finishing 10-2 on the year after falling to its bitter rival as a result of its head coach trying to prove a point from a statement made four years ago by a coach that is no longer employed by said opponent... but I digress.
Even despite the loss to Michigan, the Buckeyes have been rewarded with a home game in the College Football Playoff as the No. 8 seed, hosting No. 9 Tennessee. Not only that, but Ohio State has finally escaped the shackles of Big Noon, with the matchup set to kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 21.
With Ryan Day likely coaching for his job, the head coach will look to right his wrongs from The Game as more than a touchdown favorite at home against Josh Heupel’s Volunteers.
Betting Odds: Ohio State -7.5 | O/U 47.5 (per FanDuel Sportsbook)
When Ohio State actually plays up to its talent, the Buckeyes are one of the best teams in the country. Outside the loss to the Wolverines, the scarlet and gray’s only other defeat came at the hands of No. 1 Oregon — a matchup OSU lost on the road by one point in early October. On the flip side, Ohio State picked up wins over a pair of other College Football Playoff teams with a 20-13 victory over Penn State on the road and a 38-15 drubbing of Indiana in the penultimate game of the season.
The Buckeyes’ strength offensively — if the coaching staff allows it to be — are their wide receivers. Freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, senior Emeka Egubka and rising star Carnell Tate form one of the best trios in the country. Smith led the team with 934 yards and a Big Ten-high 10 receiving touchdowns, while Egbuka added 743 yards and nine touchdowns and Tate tallied 583 yards and four scores. Quarterback Will Howard, while having a few off games, has been a steady, efficient presence, completing over 72% of his passes with 27 touchdowns to eight picks.
Ohio State’s defense has been one of the top units nationwide, leading all of FBS allowing only 10.9 points per game. Jim Knowles’ group has really shined since the defensive coordinator took over full control following the loss to the Ducks, and guys like Caleb Downs and Cody Simon have helped lead the way. Downs is one of college football’s best defenders, consistently making plays at all three levels of the defense, while Simon has been the quarterback of the unit from his middle linebacker spot.
Tennessee had a bit of an up-and-down season, and like Ohio State finished 10-2 while missing its conference title game. The Volunteers lost an early October game to an Arkansas team that would go on to finish .500, and also dropped a 31-17 road contest against Georgia. Unlike the Buckeyes, Heupel’s group doesn’t have any wins over CFP teams to hang its hat on, as their best wins likely came against a three-loss Alabama and a 7-5 Florida.
What the Vols do have is one of the nation’s best offenses, ranking eighth in FBS in scoring with 37.2 points per game. That unit is led by redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who threw for over 2,500 yards with 19 touchdowns and only five picks. Tennessee features a potent rushing attack, headed by Dylan Sampson’s SEC-leading 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. Dont’e Thornton is the leader through the air, totaling 647 receiving yards on a whopping 25.9 yards per catch.
For as good as they are offensively, Tennessee is likely even better defensively, ranking fifth nationally allowing 13.9 points per game. The Volunteer defense lays claim to one of the best pass rushers in the country in James Pearce Jr. The junior defensive lineman leads the team with 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss, and will be a tough matchup for Ohio State’s battered offensive line. In the secondary, defensive backs Jermod McCoy and Will Brooks have combined for seven interceptions.
It will be interesting to see which version of Ohio State we get in two weeks. When the Buckeyes play to their strengths, attacking teams through the air on offense and swarming them with creative blitz packages on defense, they are tough to beat. When their head coach goes into his shell, as he has been one to do in big games, they play conservative on both sides of the ball and open themselves up to getting beat. Even with his job on the line, Day can’t afford to catch scared against Tennessee.
On top of improved play-calling, Ohio State will need to shore up its offensive line play and its special teams if it wants its season to continue beyond the first round. If the Buckeyes can play its style of football and improve along the margins, then they could be staring at a rematch against Oregon in the second round.
Continue reading...
LGHL Cotie McMahon returns, leads No. 12 Ohio State women over No. 21 Illinois 83-74
- News
- 0 Replies
Cotie McMahon returns, leads No. 12 Ohio State women over No. 21 Illinois 83-74
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Cotie McMahon returned to lead the Buckeyes to their first conference win of the season.
Forward Cotie McMahon returned from injury for No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball to lead the Buckeyes with 25 points in an 83-74 win over the No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini.
McMahon didn’t take long to get on the scorer’s sheet Sunday, hitting Ohio State’s second shot of the game, and first from beyond the arc. The junior forward didn’t show hesitation in her play, or an overexcitement to be back on the court. Instead, McMahon played her game, which meant taking hits.
With almost five minutes off the clock in the first quarter, McMahon went to the basket, hit a layup, and took contact, leading to a free throw. It didn’t look like McMahon was on any kind of minutes restriction either, playing 16 first-half minutes.
Ohio State needed McMahon too, with freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge picking up fouls early. In the first quarter, Cambridge had two but head coach Kevin McGuff opted to keep the first-year point guard in the game. So, when Cambridge picked up a third with 5:35 remaining in the half, graduate senior Madison Greene led the Buckeyes until halftime.
Entering Sunday, the paint was the story with Kendall Bostic normally having standout performances when facing Ohio State. In the first half, Bostic had her normal high rebounding clip, grabbing seven boards, but going 3-of-7 from the floor. A far cry from the 57.4 percent shooting percentage she had before Sunday.
The combination of forwards Ajae Petty and Elsa Lemmilä was the reason for the dip. Lemmilä had three blocks in the first half, and two were on Bostic, something the Illinois forward isn’t used to in her five NCAA seasons.
That defense also forced turnovers against the experienced Illini. At the start of the second quarter, the visitors scored seven of the first nine points, then the Scarlet and Gray hit their stride defensively and forced five turnovers in the quarter and creating eight points off those turnovers.
Ohio State scored 20 of the final 23 points of the quarter, nine of those points came from guard Chance Gray. The Buckeyes took a 40-26 lead into the halftime locker room.
In the third quarter, McMahon took over. It started 14 seconds into the period, when the forward went to the basket again, hit a layup and was fouled in the act. It sent McMahon into a moment of pure adrenaline and excitement. McMahon pound her fists and yelled in celebration. Something the Buckeyes missed over the last four games.
McMahon led all scorers with 11 points in the third, and Ohio State extended their lead to 18 points. Illinois looked dejected, unable to string together any substantial runs of offensive form, and allowing five and six-point runs from the Scarlet and Gray.
Even a large contingent of visiting Illini students, creating their own student section in the stands, were feeling the intensity when an usher had the visiting students do the O-H-I-O during “Hang On Sloopy.”
The lone negative for the Buckeyes was a fourth foul call against Cambridge. With 5:18 remaining in the quarter, Cambridge heard her fourth whistle when she jumped to get out of the way of an approaching Illinois player.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes showed their first cracks of the second quarter and Illinois took advantage. The Illini scored nine of the first 11 points of the final frame, and it cut Ohio State’s lead down to 11 points. It was due in part to missed shots, going 1-of-4 to start the quarter, and that meant the press couldn’t establish.
Petty stopped a six-point run with play in the paint, with the forward battling Bostic near the rim and scoring three points to get Ohio State back on the scoreboard. Then, immediately after, Cambridge picked up her fifth foul and it gave the freshman another first — the first time fouling out.
It wasn’t only Cambridge hearing whistles on Sunday, with both sides going into the bonus with over half the fourth quarter remaining. Ohio State had a season high 21 fouls.
Illinois kept up the pressure, bringing the deficit down to eight points, but late turnovers were too much to overcome. The Buckeyes went on a seven-point run to extend the lead back up to double-digits, holding on to pick up their first Big Ten win of the season.
Ohio State is back in non-conference mode on Tuesday when the Ball State Cardinals from the MAC land in Columbus. MAC voters predicted Ball State would win the conference this season and so far the Cardinals sit at 6-3, with losses against No. 16 North Carolina, Columbia, and South Dakota State, all respectable teams with realistic aspirations of making the NCAA Tournament.
The Buckeyes are 4-2 all-time against Ball State, with both losses coming in the 1970s. The last time the two teams played, none of the players on either roster were alive, back on Dec. 15, 1996.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Cotie McMahon returned to lead the Buckeyes to their first conference win of the season.
Forward Cotie McMahon returned from injury for No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball to lead the Buckeyes with 25 points in an 83-74 win over the No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini.
McMahon didn’t take long to get on the scorer’s sheet Sunday, hitting Ohio State’s second shot of the game, and first from beyond the arc. The junior forward didn’t show hesitation in her play, or an overexcitement to be back on the court. Instead, McMahon played her game, which meant taking hits.
With almost five minutes off the clock in the first quarter, McMahon went to the basket, hit a layup, and took contact, leading to a free throw. It didn’t look like McMahon was on any kind of minutes restriction either, playing 16 first-half minutes.
Ohio State needed McMahon too, with freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge picking up fouls early. In the first quarter, Cambridge had two but head coach Kevin McGuff opted to keep the first-year point guard in the game. So, when Cambridge picked up a third with 5:35 remaining in the half, graduate senior Madison Greene led the Buckeyes until halftime.
Entering Sunday, the paint was the story with Kendall Bostic normally having standout performances when facing Ohio State. In the first half, Bostic had her normal high rebounding clip, grabbing seven boards, but going 3-of-7 from the floor. A far cry from the 57.4 percent shooting percentage she had before Sunday.
The combination of forwards Ajae Petty and Elsa Lemmilä was the reason for the dip. Lemmilä had three blocks in the first half, and two were on Bostic, something the Illinois forward isn’t used to in her five NCAA seasons.
That defense also forced turnovers against the experienced Illini. At the start of the second quarter, the visitors scored seven of the first nine points, then the Scarlet and Gray hit their stride defensively and forced five turnovers in the quarter and creating eight points off those turnovers.
Ohio State scored 20 of the final 23 points of the quarter, nine of those points came from guard Chance Gray. The Buckeyes took a 40-26 lead into the halftime locker room.
In the third quarter, McMahon took over. It started 14 seconds into the period, when the forward went to the basket again, hit a layup and was fouled in the act. It sent McMahon into a moment of pure adrenaline and excitement. McMahon pound her fists and yelled in celebration. Something the Buckeyes missed over the last four games.
McMahon led all scorers with 11 points in the third, and Ohio State extended their lead to 18 points. Illinois looked dejected, unable to string together any substantial runs of offensive form, and allowing five and six-point runs from the Scarlet and Gray.
Even a large contingent of visiting Illini students, creating their own student section in the stands, were feeling the intensity when an usher had the visiting students do the O-H-I-O during “Hang On Sloopy.”
The lone negative for the Buckeyes was a fourth foul call against Cambridge. With 5:18 remaining in the quarter, Cambridge heard her fourth whistle when she jumped to get out of the way of an approaching Illinois player.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes showed their first cracks of the second quarter and Illinois took advantage. The Illini scored nine of the first 11 points of the final frame, and it cut Ohio State’s lead down to 11 points. It was due in part to missed shots, going 1-of-4 to start the quarter, and that meant the press couldn’t establish.
Petty stopped a six-point run with play in the paint, with the forward battling Bostic near the rim and scoring three points to get Ohio State back on the scoreboard. Then, immediately after, Cambridge picked up her fifth foul and it gave the freshman another first — the first time fouling out.
It wasn’t only Cambridge hearing whistles on Sunday, with both sides going into the bonus with over half the fourth quarter remaining. Ohio State had a season high 21 fouls.
Illinois kept up the pressure, bringing the deficit down to eight points, but late turnovers were too much to overcome. The Buckeyes went on a seven-point run to extend the lead back up to double-digits, holding on to pick up their first Big Ten win of the season.
What’s Next
Ohio State is back in non-conference mode on Tuesday when the Ball State Cardinals from the MAC land in Columbus. MAC voters predicted Ball State would win the conference this season and so far the Cardinals sit at 6-3, with losses against No. 16 North Carolina, Columbia, and South Dakota State, all respectable teams with realistic aspirations of making the NCAA Tournament.
The Buckeyes are 4-2 all-time against Ball State, with both losses coming in the 1970s. The last time the two teams played, none of the players on either roster were alive, back on Dec. 15, 1996.
Continue reading...
LGHL Uncut: Cotie McMahon talks return from injury, lessons learned from the bench
- News
- 0 Replies
Uncut: Cotie McMahon talks return from injury, lessons learned from the bench
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes’ star, head coach and transfer guard spoke with the media following Sunday’s win
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
The No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball team was back after over a week off, and it was against the strongest opponent to date in the No. 12 Illinois Fighting Illini. After a close first quarter, the Scarlet and Gray built a lead and held on through the final buzzer, beating the Illini 83-74. Following the game, head coach Kevin McGuff, Cotie McMahon and Chance Gray spoke with the media.
McGuff talked about his side playing their first ranked opponent, the increased post presence of Ajae Petty and Elsa Lemmilä and how the team is different when Cotie McMahon is healthy and in the game.
McMahon talked about not having any hesitancy coming back from injury. Plus, what she learned watching the team on the bench for four games, the calming presence of Madison Greene and what it’s like being reunited with former AAU teammate Gray.
Gray talked about the rhythm of the game and the amount of fouls and what its like having McMahon on the court in games.
That and more in the latest “Uncut.”
Connect with Thomas:
Bluesky: @ThomasCostello
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes’ star, head coach and transfer guard spoke with the media following Sunday’s win
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
The No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball team was back after over a week off, and it was against the strongest opponent to date in the No. 12 Illinois Fighting Illini. After a close first quarter, the Scarlet and Gray built a lead and held on through the final buzzer, beating the Illini 83-74. Following the game, head coach Kevin McGuff, Cotie McMahon and Chance Gray spoke with the media.
McGuff talked about his side playing their first ranked opponent, the increased post presence of Ajae Petty and Elsa Lemmilä and how the team is different when Cotie McMahon is healthy and in the game.
McMahon talked about not having any hesitancy coming back from injury. Plus, what she learned watching the team on the bench for four games, the calming presence of Madison Greene and what it’s like being reunited with former AAU teammate Gray.
Gray talked about the rhythm of the game and the amount of fouls and what its like having McMahon on the court in games.
That and more in the latest “Uncut.”
Connect with Thomas:
Bluesky: @ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State fans need to see two playoff wins to feel good about Ryan Day
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State fans need to see two playoff wins to feel good about Ryan Day
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 via Imagn Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering 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.
It’s been a rough week for Buckeye fans, but optimism is officially allowed to return today as the College Football Playoff Committee will reveal the official CFP bracket beginning at 12 noon ET on ESPN. It is then that Ryan Day and his squad will know what their path looks like toward a national championship. Will that include a first-round home game against Tennessee and a return engagement with No. 1 Oregon? Only time will tell.
Earlier this week we asked Buckeye Nation two questions about Day and Ohio State’s playoff chances in our weekly fan survey, and we now have the results.
We wanted to know where people sat in terms of Day’s job security and what he needs to do this postseason to solidify it. Then we asked a question about where fans believe the Buckeyes will conclude their season.
Check out the results below and if you have any comments or want to make any additions, feel free to respond at the bottom of the page.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25779770/OhioState_1_120324.png)
While I am not surprised that there is a sizable contingent of Buckeye fans not ready to fire Ryan Day just yet (we are nothing if not a forgiving group), but I am surprised that such a strong majority settled on just making the semifinals — which is important considering the results of the second question below.
If I had to put a specific benchmark that Day would have to achieve for me to be on board with him remaining at the helm in 2025, honestly, it would be to win a national championship. I know that is an incredibly difficult task to accomplish, especially since as of this article’s publication we don’t yet know what the playoff bracket will look like.
But, to be honest, I am not especially concerned about a specific number of wins for Day to keep his job. As I wrote following the latest loss to Michigan, I think that it is time for Ohio State to move in a different direction. Despite what I think are Day’s immense coaching abilities, he just constantly seems to get in his own way. So proving that he has worked through that is what would be most encouraging for me about his future tenure in Columbus.
If Day comes out and doesn’t get unnecessarily conservative in the game plan, utilizes the incredible collection of talent on his roster, and puts his position to win multiple games (just doing it once won’t be enough), then I can probably get on board to welcoming him back. However, during his entire tenure at Ohio State, he has shirked from those opportunities more often than not, so I don’t know that I think he can completely change his stripes in one postseason. However, if he can, then I would be semi-comfortable with him being back next season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25779771/OhioState_2_120324.png)
It is very interesting to me that 72% of respondents to the survey said that Day needs to win two games to get in their good graces. That would mean that the Buckeyes would need to win their first-round game and then their quarterfinal matchup as well... which would lead to a spot in the semifinals.
Perhaps coincidentally, many of those same respondents predicted that OSU would make, but lose in, the semifinals. Another 33% think that the Buckeyes won’t even make it to the semifinals, while 8% believe Day’s team will win the semis and play for the national title.
I am not going to go out on a limb and predict how far Ohio State will go until I see the seedings, but if the coaching staff can get out of their own way, I don’t see any reason why the Buckeyes can’t win the national title.
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.
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 via Imagn Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering 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.
It’s been a rough week for Buckeye fans, but optimism is officially allowed to return today as the College Football Playoff Committee will reveal the official CFP bracket beginning at 12 noon ET on ESPN. It is then that Ryan Day and his squad will know what their path looks like toward a national championship. Will that include a first-round home game against Tennessee and a return engagement with No. 1 Oregon? Only time will tell.
Earlier this week we asked Buckeye Nation two questions about Day and Ohio State’s playoff chances in our weekly fan survey, and we now have the results.
We wanted to know where people sat in terms of Day’s job security and what he needs to do this postseason to solidify it. Then we asked a question about where fans believe the Buckeyes will conclude their season.
Check out the results below and if you have any comments or want to make any additions, feel free to respond at the bottom of the page.
Question 1: If you were making the decision, what would Ryan Day need to do to remain Ohio State’s head coach for next season?
While I am not surprised that there is a sizable contingent of Buckeye fans not ready to fire Ryan Day just yet (we are nothing if not a forgiving group), but I am surprised that such a strong majority settled on just making the semifinals — which is important considering the results of the second question below.
If I had to put a specific benchmark that Day would have to achieve for me to be on board with him remaining at the helm in 2025, honestly, it would be to win a national championship. I know that is an incredibly difficult task to accomplish, especially since as of this article’s publication we don’t yet know what the playoff bracket will look like.
But, to be honest, I am not especially concerned about a specific number of wins for Day to keep his job. As I wrote following the latest loss to Michigan, I think that it is time for Ohio State to move in a different direction. Despite what I think are Day’s immense coaching abilities, he just constantly seems to get in his own way. So proving that he has worked through that is what would be most encouraging for me about his future tenure in Columbus.
If Day comes out and doesn’t get unnecessarily conservative in the game plan, utilizes the incredible collection of talent on his roster, and puts his position to win multiple games (just doing it once won’t be enough), then I can probably get on board to welcoming him back. However, during his entire tenure at Ohio State, he has shirked from those opportunities more often than not, so I don’t know that I think he can completely change his stripes in one postseason. However, if he can, then I would be semi-comfortable with him being back next season.
Question 2: What do you think Ohio State’s fate will be in the College Football Playoff?
It is very interesting to me that 72% of respondents to the survey said that Day needs to win two games to get in their good graces. That would mean that the Buckeyes would need to win their first-round game and then their quarterfinal matchup as well... which would lead to a spot in the semifinals.
Perhaps coincidentally, many of those same respondents predicted that OSU would make, but lose in, the semifinals. Another 33% think that the Buckeyes won’t even make it to the semifinals, while 8% believe Day’s team will win the semis and play for the national title.
I am not going to go out on a limb and predict how far Ohio State will go until I see the seedings, but if the coaching staff can get out of their own way, I don’t see any reason why the Buckeyes can’t win the national title.
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.
Continue reading...
LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land: LIVE reaction to the College Football Playoff bracket
- News
- 0 Replies
Hangout in the Holy Land: LIVE reaction to the College Football Playoff bracket
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We react live as the CFP bracket is announced and Ohio State’s path to a national title is revealed
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
For this Sunday episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, we tried something a little different. For the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, we are reacting live to the bracket reveal and giving our reactions.
Which teams got the easiest route? Who has the toughest path? And what do we think about Ohio State getting the No. 8 seed, hosting No. 9 seed Tennessee, and then playing No. 1 seed Oregon if they win?
Before that, we predict the playoff bracket and recap a thrilling Conference Championship week.
Make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We react live as the CFP bracket is announced and Ohio State’s path to a national title is revealed
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
For this Sunday episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, we tried something a little different. For the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, we are reacting live to the bracket reveal and giving our reactions.
Which teams got the easiest route? Who has the toughest path? And what do we think about Ohio State getting the No. 8 seed, hosting No. 9 seed Tennessee, and then playing No. 1 seed Oregon if they win?
Before that, we predict the playoff bracket and recap a thrilling Conference Championship week.
Make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...