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LGHL Football ramps up for Indiana as men’s basketball faces Evansville
- News
- 0 Replies
Football ramps up for Indiana as men’s basketball faces Evansville
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
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
2025 four-star defensive end de-commits from Ohio State
Dan Hessler, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ross Bjork Views Kickoff Times As An “Offseason Conversation” But Thinks Ohio State Can Make Changes to Improve Ohio Stadium Environment
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Huh, I would not have guessed that:
First Look: Ohio State turns focus to first ever top-five game vs. Indiana
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Three Key Questions as Buckeyes start Championship Season
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
Five Things to Know About Indiana in Ohio State’s Third Top-Five Showdown of 2024 Season
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Setting the table: Buckeyes set for high-stakes top-five Indiana matchup
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Indiana Coach Curt Cignetti Press Conference: ‘I think we have a confident team’
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Ryan Day Expects A “Hostile, Angry” Environment in the Horseshoe Against No. 5 Indiana: “Let’s Make It the Loudest Ohio Stadium’s Ever Been”
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
J.K. All Day!
Grumpy Old Buckeye: Nitpicking Ohio State’s 31-7 win over Northwestern
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land
‘I see the smile on his face’: Judkins finds happiness with Ohio State
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Big Ten Top 10: Texas is the only non-B1G team in our poll’s top five
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Evansville: Game preview and prediction
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
What should Ohio State focus on as Evansville opens run of home games?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Jake Diebler Wants Better Shot Selection, Less Turnovers and Fouls From Ohio State
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Young Buckeyes rely on McMahon’s maturity after nearly falling in Belmont
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Buckeyes earn No. 1 overall seed in NCAA men’s soccer tournament
Staff Reports, The Columbus Dispatch
This is AWESOME!
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
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
2025 four-star defensive end de-commits from Ohio State
Dan Hessler, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ross Bjork Views Kickoff Times As An “Offseason Conversation” But Thinks Ohio State Can Make Changes to Improve Ohio Stadium Environment
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Huh, I would not have guessed that:
First Look: Ohio State turns focus to first ever top-five game vs. Indiana
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Three Key Questions as Buckeyes start Championship Season
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
Five Things to Know About Indiana in Ohio State’s Third Top-Five Showdown of 2024 Season
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Setting the table: Buckeyes set for high-stakes top-five Indiana matchup
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Indiana Coach Curt Cignetti Press Conference: ‘I think we have a confident team’
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Ryan Day Expects A “Hostile, Angry” Environment in the Horseshoe Against No. 5 Indiana: “Let’s Make It the Loudest Ohio Stadium’s Ever Been”
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
J.K. All Day!
Grumpy Old Buckeye: Nitpicking Ohio State’s 31-7 win over Northwestern
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land
‘I see the smile on his face’: Judkins finds happiness with Ohio State
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Big Ten Top 10: Texas is the only non-B1G team in our poll’s top five
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Evansville: Game preview and prediction
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
What should Ohio State focus on as Evansville opens run of home games?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Jake Diebler Wants Better Shot Selection, Less Turnovers and Fouls From Ohio State
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Young Buckeyes rely on McMahon’s maturity after nearly falling in Belmont
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
NEWS: 5️ Caleb Wilson is down to five schools, he tells @On3Recruits.
The 6-9 Wing / Forward is looking to make a commitment in either December or January. https://t.co/5em3Ybnbzl pic.twitter.com/wcz0rPZZZ2
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) November 18, 2024
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Buckeyes earn No. 1 overall seed in NCAA men’s soccer tournament
Staff Reports, The Columbus Dispatch
And now for something completely different...
This is AWESOME!
Continue reading...
LGHL 2025 four-star defensive end de-commits from Ohio State
- News
- 0 Replies
2025 four-star defensive end de-commits from Ohio State
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star edge Zahir Mathis | via Brian Dohn, 247Sports
Ohio State saw a major piece of its 2025 class decommit on Monday, and the Buckeyes will host 2026 four-star Ohio QB Saturday.
The Buckeyes are set to host Indiana in what is a matchup between two top five schools. While some may doubt the Hoosiers because of their schedule, there is no questioning the importance of this weekend’s game for Ohio State.
Because of this, many of the headlines surrounding the team will focus on the weekend’s game, and rightfully so. However, Ohio State will continue to make the recruiting headlines as well, as the team learned all too well Monday recruiting never stops and holds few certainties.
In case you missed Ohio State making the recruiting headlines Monday, Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.
Ohio State was the subject of an unfortunate update to the 2025 recruiting class on Monday, as the team learned four-star defensive edge commit Zahir Mathis (Philadelphia, PA / Imhotep Institute) reopened his recruitment and de-committed from the Buckeyes.
In Mathis’ announcement he titled it a, “life decision” and said that Ohio State will remain a top school for him. However, the Buckeyes are likely out of it for Mathis now, and Big Ten foe and hometown school Penn State are the new early favorites to land him. Penn State was the only other school to receive an official visit from Mathis, other than Ohio State.
Ohio State holds commitments from four-star edge Zion Grady, four-star defensive linemen Maxwell Roy, London Merritt, and three-star linemen Jarquez Carter and Trajen Odom. The Buckeyes are also still targeting a pair of defensive linemen in five-star Jahkeem Stewart and four-star Malik Autry, both of who are reportedly scheduled to visit Ohio State on Nov. 30 for the Michigan game.
The Buckeyes still hold claim to the top spot in the 2025 247Sports Class Rankings, but the gap between them and second place Georgia narrowed significantly due to the loss of Mathis.
Mathis is the No. 6 edge in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 76 overall prospect. He is also the No. 3 recruit out of Pennsylvania.
Ohio State is set to host a handful of prospects this weekend as it gears up to play Indiana in what looks to be a top 5 matchup. The visitor list for this weekend’s game will likely grow as the week progresses, and on Monday another up and coming prospect added his name to the list.
Rising 2026 four-star quarterback Nathan Bernhard (Ashland, OH / Ashland) confirmed on Monday that he will be in attendance for this weekend’s game.
The Ohio signal caller holds scholarship offers from the likes of Akron, Duke, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan State, Penn State, Toledo and West Virginia, but he does not yet hold one from Ohio State. If this weekend’s visit goes to plan, he may leave Columbus with more than just a good impression.
Ohio State currently holds just two commitments in next year’s class with five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. and the new addition of fellow WR Jaeden Ricketts, who committed to the Buckeyes last weekend.
Five-star QB Jared Curtis is still Ohio State’s top target at the position in next year’s class, but Bernhard now makes for another viable option for the Buckeyes. Bernhard is the No. 24 QB in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 345 overall prospect. He is also the No. 16 recruit out of Ohio.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star edge Zahir Mathis | via Brian Dohn, 247Sports
Ohio State saw a major piece of its 2025 class decommit on Monday, and the Buckeyes will host 2026 four-star Ohio QB Saturday.
The Buckeyes are set to host Indiana in what is a matchup between two top five schools. While some may doubt the Hoosiers because of their schedule, there is no questioning the importance of this weekend’s game for Ohio State.
Because of this, many of the headlines surrounding the team will focus on the weekend’s game, and rightfully so. However, Ohio State will continue to make the recruiting headlines as well, as the team learned all too well Monday recruiting never stops and holds few certainties.
In case you missed Ohio State making the recruiting headlines Monday, Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.
Four-star DE decommits from Ohio State
Ohio State was the subject of an unfortunate update to the 2025 recruiting class on Monday, as the team learned four-star defensive edge commit Zahir Mathis (Philadelphia, PA / Imhotep Institute) reopened his recruitment and de-committed from the Buckeyes.
In Mathis’ announcement he titled it a, “life decision” and said that Ohio State will remain a top school for him. However, the Buckeyes are likely out of it for Mathis now, and Big Ten foe and hometown school Penn State are the new early favorites to land him. Penn State was the only other school to receive an official visit from Mathis, other than Ohio State.
Ohio State holds commitments from four-star edge Zion Grady, four-star defensive linemen Maxwell Roy, London Merritt, and three-star linemen Jarquez Carter and Trajen Odom. The Buckeyes are also still targeting a pair of defensive linemen in five-star Jahkeem Stewart and four-star Malik Autry, both of who are reportedly scheduled to visit Ohio State on Nov. 30 for the Michigan game.
The Buckeyes still hold claim to the top spot in the 2025 247Sports Class Rankings, but the gap between them and second place Georgia narrowed significantly due to the loss of Mathis.
Mathis is the No. 6 edge in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 76 overall prospect. He is also the No. 3 recruit out of Pennsylvania.
Ohio State set to host four-star Ohio QB
Ohio State is set to host a handful of prospects this weekend as it gears up to play Indiana in what looks to be a top 5 matchup. The visitor list for this weekend’s game will likely grow as the week progresses, and on Monday another up and coming prospect added his name to the list.
Rising 2026 four-star quarterback Nathan Bernhard (Ashland, OH / Ashland) confirmed on Monday that he will be in attendance for this weekend’s game.
The Ohio signal caller holds scholarship offers from the likes of Akron, Duke, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan State, Penn State, Toledo and West Virginia, but he does not yet hold one from Ohio State. If this weekend’s visit goes to plan, he may leave Columbus with more than just a good impression.
Ohio State currently holds just two commitments in next year’s class with five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. and the new addition of fellow WR Jaeden Ricketts, who committed to the Buckeyes last weekend.
Five-star QB Jared Curtis is still Ohio State’s top target at the position in next year’s class, but Bernhard now makes for another viable option for the Buckeyes. Bernhard is the No. 24 QB in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 345 overall prospect. He is also the No. 16 recruit out of Ohio.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State is not only making headlines on the college football recruiting front, as Jake Diebler and the Ohio State men’s basketball team is also hitting the trail. The Buckeyes made the top five schools for 2025 five-star power forward Caleb Wilson, who will likely be announcing his decision in the next month or two. Alongside the Buckeyes, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina and UCF made his top schools.
NEWS: 5
The 6-9 Wing / Forward is looking to make a commitment in either December or January. https://t.co/5em3Ybnbzl pic.twitter.com/wcz0rPZZZ2
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) November 18, 2024
Continue reading...
LGHL Big Ten Top 10: Texas is the only non-B1G team in our poll’s top five
- News
- 0 Replies
Big Ten Top 10: Texas is the only non-B1G team in our poll’s top five
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
The official SB Nation Big Ten writers poll is the only truly unbiased poll any college football fan could ever need.
AP Poll? Shmay Pee Poll! Coaches Poll? We all know that coaches don’t have time to fill out a weekly survey, let alone watch enough games to make informed choices! That’s why your friendly neighborhood Big Ten writers from across the SB Nation universe have banded together to come up with the only fair, accurate, non-biased poll in all of college football.
Every week, a writer from the 16 sites covering specific B1G schools (lowly UCLA and USC don’t have SBN sites) will submit their picks, and O Basse from Michigan State site The Only Colors will compile them into the official SBN Big Ten Writers Poll
.
I will keep you updated on our selections here on Land-Grant Holy Land, and I will let you know how I vote every week because we believe in truth, justice, and transparency in journalism here in Buckeye Country.
There will also be a Player of the Week selected by the Big Ten writers and a Heisman Trophy leaderboard. So, without further ado, here is the post-Week 12 SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll.
These rankings coincide with my Top-12 picks every week on the “No Fall Weddings” podcast in the Land-Grant Podcast Network feed, which you can subscribe to anywhere you get your favorite audio entertainment.
New episodes generally come out on Wednesday afternoons, but sometimes on Friday mornings. “No Fall Weddings” is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the Buckeyes and the rest of the college football world.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25739916/2185146352.jpg "Utah v Colorado")
Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images
It is absolutely remarkable what this young man has been able to do. Against Utah this weekend, Travis Hunter had five receptions for 55 yards, a rushing touchdown, three tackles, and an interception... and that was kind of a down week for him.
Others receiving votes:
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
The official SB Nation Big Ten writers poll is the only truly unbiased poll any college football fan could ever need.
AP Poll? Shmay Pee Poll! Coaches Poll? We all know that coaches don’t have time to fill out a weekly survey, let alone watch enough games to make informed choices! That’s why your friendly neighborhood Big Ten writers from across the SB Nation universe have banded together to come up with the only fair, accurate, non-biased poll in all of college football.
Every week, a writer from the 16 sites covering specific B1G schools (lowly UCLA and USC don’t have SBN sites) will submit their picks, and O Basse from Michigan State site The Only Colors will compile them into the official SBN Big Ten Writers Poll
.I will keep you updated on our selections here on Land-Grant Holy Land, and I will let you know how I vote every week because we believe in truth, justice, and transparency in journalism here in Buckeye Country.
There will also be a Player of the Week selected by the Big Ten writers and a Heisman Trophy leaderboard. So, without further ado, here is the post-Week 12 SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll.
SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll | Week 12
My Personal Top-10 Rankings | Week 11
These rankings coincide with my Top-12 picks every week on the “No Fall Weddings” podcast in the Land-Grant Podcast Network feed, which you can subscribe to anywhere you get your favorite audio entertainment.
New episodes generally come out on Wednesday afternoons, but sometimes on Friday mornings. “No Fall Weddings” is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the Buckeyes and the rest of the college football world.
Player of the Week | Travis Hunter, Colorado, WR and DB
It is absolutely remarkable what this young man has been able to do. Against Utah this weekend, Travis Hunter had five receptions for 55 yards, a rushing touchdown, three tackles, and an interception... and that was kind of a down week for him.
Others receiving votes:
- Emmett Mosely V, Stanford, WR
- LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, QB
Heisman Trophy Leaderboard
Continue reading...
LGHL Young Buckeyes rely on McMahon’s maturity after nearly falling in Belmont
- News
- 0 Replies
Young Buckeyes rely on McMahon’s maturity after nearly falling in Belmont
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University Athletic Department
Ohio State is at a place where McMahon can’t take a night off, and it was the reason the team continues undefeated start
On paper, Ohio State women’s basketball was more than equipped to travel into Nashville and beat the Belmont Bruins soundly. While the mid-major side has key moments in the past few seasons, like a first-round win over the Oregon Ducks in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, recent history shows the talent gap between the schools.
Sunday, going off paper and onto the court, the Bruins gave the Buckeyes everything and a late nine-point Ohio State comeback gave head coach Kevin McGuff’s side their first road win of the season. Without Cotie McMahon on the court, it would’ve been a different story.
For two years, McMahon had those games where the headlines write themselves. Moments where she took games and put them on her shoulders. There were also games where it just wasn’t working in McMahon’s favor. While the highlights came more often than not, the underclassmen could afford to have a bad game here or there.
Now in year three, the forward from Centerville has graduated into a new role. The role of the steady foundation.
“I really can’t take games off,” said McMahon. “And that I mean I need to help my team this year, especially just because we’re young. We have all the pieces we need, but I’m a big part of that piece, so just making sure that I’m here to do what I can and do what I know I can do and what my team kind of believes in me to do.”
Ohio State needed all of McMahon Sunday, and she gave it. The junior scored 21 points, which came from her patented drives to the basket, taking contact and hitting the court hard. In the first quarter, it meant limping off the court holding her knee, but she came back quickly to still log a 40-minute game.
McMahon also shot from deep or found a midrange shot and was the only player to score in all four quarters for the Buckeyes.
“Coti, especially in the first half, kind of carried us offensively and yeah she made a lot of great plays,” said McGuff. “I like the fact that she was getting open shots in her perimeter, but also scoring around the basket and getting the free throw line. So she could balance her game, but you know we’re at our best and she’s playing really aggressively.”
McMahon averaged 14 points per game entering Sunday, but in each of the first two Buckeye games it wasn’t the junior taking total control. It was freshman Jaloni Cambridge in the first game and Chance Gray’s three-point shot in the second. Even so, McMahon was steady in each outing.
All offseason, McGuff’s talked about needing more three-point support. McMahon averaged .4 made threes per game in her first two seasons. In three games this year she’s at 2.0 per game.
Another element of a young team is giving the ball away. McMahon hasn’t had a season where she hasn’t given up at least 2.5 per game. In three games this year she’s only given up four total turnovers.
Whatever the Buckeyes need right now, McMahon is there to give it. Against Charlotte Tuesday, McMahon was the one who cut through a slow period in the third quarter to get Ohio State back on the right track following a fall that left Cambridge out of the rest of the game. Without McGuff calling a timeout to get the team back on the same page.
Then, after being that consistent force for Ohio State against Belmont, the lone force through most of the contest, McMahon stepped out of the way and Cambridge used that foundation to elevate the Scarlet and Gray.
Tied at 63-63 with 13 seconds remaining, the Buckeyes’ head coach drew up a play for either Cambridge or McMahon to go for the game-winning shot. Before that, Cambridge was 1-of-9 and missed eight shots in a row, but McMahon didn’t use that fact as a way to try and win the game herself.
Cambridge took the ball, was trusted with the decision-making between herself and McMahon, and nailed a layup plus a free throw. It was three of Cambridge’s four points in the final seconds of the game.
Following the game, McMahon sat next to Cambridge with the media as both were laughing and in high spirits following the late victory.
“I think at any point any of us could have done that and we definitely showed that throughout the stretch in that fourth quarter in the last couple of minutes that anyone could have made a shot for us,” said Cambridge. “It didn’t have to just be me, but the fact that everyone in my team believed in me is just I mean I proved out there that if I need to get a bucket then I can, but it’s not just about me.”
That comment from Cambridge is indicative of everything that’s been said by McMahon and the Buckeyes this season. Regardless of the class of the player, it’s a team effort, and with McMahon laying the foundation, Ohio State has tackled its first dose of true adversity in the 2024-25 season.
Overall, Sunday was a far cry from last year’s performance for McMahon. The then-sophomore had one point against Belmont, in Columbus, in an 84-55 rout of the Bruins. What did Belmont do differently on Sunday? Was it more of a Buckeye lull or Belmont adjustments? What did McMahon see last year that made her so effective on Sunday?
“100% honest answer, I don’t remember,” said McMahon. “All I know is I had one point.”
Even if McMahon is a different player on the court this season, she’s still Cotie McMahon.
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
Ohio State University Athletic Department
Ohio State is at a place where McMahon can’t take a night off, and it was the reason the team continues undefeated start
On paper, Ohio State women’s basketball was more than equipped to travel into Nashville and beat the Belmont Bruins soundly. While the mid-major side has key moments in the past few seasons, like a first-round win over the Oregon Ducks in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, recent history shows the talent gap between the schools.
Sunday, going off paper and onto the court, the Bruins gave the Buckeyes everything and a late nine-point Ohio State comeback gave head coach Kevin McGuff’s side their first road win of the season. Without Cotie McMahon on the court, it would’ve been a different story.
For two years, McMahon had those games where the headlines write themselves. Moments where she took games and put them on her shoulders. There were also games where it just wasn’t working in McMahon’s favor. While the highlights came more often than not, the underclassmen could afford to have a bad game here or there.
Now in year three, the forward from Centerville has graduated into a new role. The role of the steady foundation.
“I really can’t take games off,” said McMahon. “And that I mean I need to help my team this year, especially just because we’re young. We have all the pieces we need, but I’m a big part of that piece, so just making sure that I’m here to do what I can and do what I know I can do and what my team kind of believes in me to do.”
Ohio State needed all of McMahon Sunday, and she gave it. The junior scored 21 points, which came from her patented drives to the basket, taking contact and hitting the court hard. In the first quarter, it meant limping off the court holding her knee, but she came back quickly to still log a 40-minute game.
McMahon also shot from deep or found a midrange shot and was the only player to score in all four quarters for the Buckeyes.
“Coti, especially in the first half, kind of carried us offensively and yeah she made a lot of great plays,” said McGuff. “I like the fact that she was getting open shots in her perimeter, but also scoring around the basket and getting the free throw line. So she could balance her game, but you know we’re at our best and she’s playing really aggressively.”
McMahon averaged 14 points per game entering Sunday, but in each of the first two Buckeye games it wasn’t the junior taking total control. It was freshman Jaloni Cambridge in the first game and Chance Gray’s three-point shot in the second. Even so, McMahon was steady in each outing.
All offseason, McGuff’s talked about needing more three-point support. McMahon averaged .4 made threes per game in her first two seasons. In three games this year she’s at 2.0 per game.
Another element of a young team is giving the ball away. McMahon hasn’t had a season where she hasn’t given up at least 2.5 per game. In three games this year she’s only given up four total turnovers.
Whatever the Buckeyes need right now, McMahon is there to give it. Against Charlotte Tuesday, McMahon was the one who cut through a slow period in the third quarter to get Ohio State back on the right track following a fall that left Cambridge out of the rest of the game. Without McGuff calling a timeout to get the team back on the same page.
Then, after being that consistent force for Ohio State against Belmont, the lone force through most of the contest, McMahon stepped out of the way and Cambridge used that foundation to elevate the Scarlet and Gray.
Tied at 63-63 with 13 seconds remaining, the Buckeyes’ head coach drew up a play for either Cambridge or McMahon to go for the game-winning shot. Before that, Cambridge was 1-of-9 and missed eight shots in a row, but McMahon didn’t use that fact as a way to try and win the game herself.
Cambridge took the ball, was trusted with the decision-making between herself and McMahon, and nailed a layup plus a free throw. It was three of Cambridge’s four points in the final seconds of the game.
Following the game, McMahon sat next to Cambridge with the media as both were laughing and in high spirits following the late victory.
“I think at any point any of us could have done that and we definitely showed that throughout the stretch in that fourth quarter in the last couple of minutes that anyone could have made a shot for us,” said Cambridge. “It didn’t have to just be me, but the fact that everyone in my team believed in me is just I mean I proved out there that if I need to get a bucket then I can, but it’s not just about me.”
That comment from Cambridge is indicative of everything that’s been said by McMahon and the Buckeyes this season. Regardless of the class of the player, it’s a team effort, and with McMahon laying the foundation, Ohio State has tackled its first dose of true adversity in the 2024-25 season.
Overall, Sunday was a far cry from last year’s performance for McMahon. The then-sophomore had one point against Belmont, in Columbus, in an 84-55 rout of the Bruins. What did Belmont do differently on Sunday? Was it more of a Buckeye lull or Belmont adjustments? What did McMahon see last year that made her so effective on Sunday?
“100% honest answer, I don’t remember,” said McMahon. “All I know is I had one point.”
Even if McMahon is a different player on the court this season, she’s still Cotie McMahon.
Continue reading...
LGHL Grumpy Old Buckeye: Nitpicking Ohio State’s 31-7 win over Northwestern
- News
- 0 Replies
Grumpy Old Buckeye: Nitpicking Ohio State’s 31-7 win over Northwestern
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 played on a baseball field, so scoring fewer points was only natural.
Ohio State went to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field to play a football game against the Northwestern Wildcats, which was weird, and unfortunately, there was no getting away from the distraction of that as the broadcast team went out of its way to make baseball references throughout the game.
The Buckeyes came home with a 31-7 win, but at times — particularly early in the game — it was a bit annoying and seemingly harder than it had to be.
Here are the things that gave me cat scratch fever on Saturday.
Ohio State’s defense wasn’t ready for Northwestern’s 131st-ranked total offense at the start of the game. The Buckeyes missed a sack on the game’s first offensive snap, and then quickly got a Sonny Styles sack after Jack Sawyer missed the quarterback again on second down.
Ohio State then gave up a conversion on third-and-12 to the Wildcats’ No. 128 third-down offense when Sawyer took a wide rush up the field, allowing room underneath for an easy Cam Porter run for a first down. Barely-over-50%-passer Jack Lausch then turned into Patrick Mahomes, completing passes of 20 yards and 15 yards to work his team into scoring position.
Sawyer made up for his earlier miscues by forcing Lausch to fumble in the red zone. Davison Igbinosun recovered, making up for allowing one of those catches, and Ohio State finally took over after the Wildcats had taken seven minutes off the clock. One of the country’s worst offenses shredded the OSU defense to open the game, speaking to a lack of preparation and attitude.
The Buckeyes took over at their own 33-yard-line and started driving down the field. It wasn’t necessarily smooth sailing, as Ohio State had to convert a third down and a fourth down along the way, but the latter set the Buckeyes up at the Northwestern 38.
Chip Kelly then got cute for some reason, calling what appeared to be a reverse pass, as Emeka Egbuka took the ball from left to right looking to throw it. However, instead, he was tackled for a 5-yard loss, which put Ohio State behind the chains. Three plays later, the drive ended in an OSU punt.
The fourth-down conversion should have provided momentum, but instead, the Buckeyes got a bit too clever and stalled.
Lausch played way over his head in the early part of the game, hitting big plays down the field against Denzel Burke and Jermaine Matthews Jr. on the second Northwestern drive. The Wildcats took over on their own 8-yard line to start the possession and converted two more third downs, including a third-and-10 on a throw beating Burke.
The final two plays of the drive were the most humiliating, as Porter ran for 11 yards and Lausch capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run — both right up the middle against the heart of the defense. Northwestern took a 7-0 lead after the 13-play drive.
Ohio State may have dynamic athletes, but the kickoff returns against the Wildcats were ill-advised. TreVeyon Henderson decided to return the kick right after Northwestern’s touchdown and couldn’t get past the 15-yard line. To open the second half, Henderson again chose to return a kick and did slightly better, but the drive still started in poor field position due to a holding penalty.
While the special teams have blocked a couple of punts the last two games — on Saturday only due to an abysmal snap — Ohio State’s special teams continue to disappoint, and it’s an area where the Buckeyes should theoretically excel.
Former OSU offensive tackle J.B. Shugarts got a reputation for committing a false start just about every week. It got to be a running joke on Twitter that I still see in my feed whenever the Buckeyes move early. Davison Igbinosun has become the defensive equivalent, and his penalties cost Ohio State a lot more yards than Shugarts ever did.
Igbinosun again got grabby on Saturday, giving Northwestern a first down at Ohio State’s 21-yard line. Like he did at Penn State, Igbinosun made up for the penalty by making a play to end the drive, defending a fourth-down pass to turn the Wildcats over on downs. The veteran cornerback has to rein in his physicality and trust in his coverage a bit more, otherwise at some point, he’s not going to be able to make up for the error.
Those are the items that had me giving my cats serious side eye when the Buckeyes played Northwestern. Most of the game was fine, but the OSU defense didn’t seem prepared to play on the first couple of Northwestern drives. The offense was fine once it settled into the game.
It would by hypocritical of me to throw too much shade after a 31-7 win when I predicted a similar final score of 38-6. I suppose if there’s one other nit to pick, it’s that the starters stayed on the field about one drive too many.
Next up: The competition steps up in difficulty as the Buckeyes welcome the unbeaten Indiana Hoosiers to the Horseshoe at noon (yep, again) on Saturday.
Continue reading...
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The Buckeyes played on a baseball field, so scoring fewer points was only natural.
Ohio State went to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field to play a football game against the Northwestern Wildcats, which was weird, and unfortunately, there was no getting away from the distraction of that as the broadcast team went out of its way to make baseball references throughout the game.
The Buckeyes came home with a 31-7 win, but at times — particularly early in the game — it was a bit annoying and seemingly harder than it had to be.
Here are the things that gave me cat scratch fever on Saturday.
Early Defensive Issues
Ohio State’s defense wasn’t ready for Northwestern’s 131st-ranked total offense at the start of the game. The Buckeyes missed a sack on the game’s first offensive snap, and then quickly got a Sonny Styles sack after Jack Sawyer missed the quarterback again on second down.
Ohio State then gave up a conversion on third-and-12 to the Wildcats’ No. 128 third-down offense when Sawyer took a wide rush up the field, allowing room underneath for an easy Cam Porter run for a first down. Barely-over-50%-passer Jack Lausch then turned into Patrick Mahomes, completing passes of 20 yards and 15 yards to work his team into scoring position.
Sawyer made up for his earlier miscues by forcing Lausch to fumble in the red zone. Davison Igbinosun recovered, making up for allowing one of those catches, and Ohio State finally took over after the Wildcats had taken seven minutes off the clock. One of the country’s worst offenses shredded the OSU defense to open the game, speaking to a lack of preparation and attitude.
Unnecessary Trickeration
The Buckeyes took over at their own 33-yard-line and started driving down the field. It wasn’t necessarily smooth sailing, as Ohio State had to convert a third down and a fourth down along the way, but the latter set the Buckeyes up at the Northwestern 38.
Chip Kelly then got cute for some reason, calling what appeared to be a reverse pass, as Emeka Egbuka took the ball from left to right looking to throw it. However, instead, he was tackled for a 5-yard loss, which put Ohio State behind the chains. Three plays later, the drive ended in an OSU punt.
The fourth-down conversion should have provided momentum, but instead, the Buckeyes got a bit too clever and stalled.
More Defensive Issues
Lausch played way over his head in the early part of the game, hitting big plays down the field against Denzel Burke and Jermaine Matthews Jr. on the second Northwestern drive. The Wildcats took over on their own 8-yard line to start the possession and converted two more third downs, including a third-and-10 on a throw beating Burke.
The final two plays of the drive were the most humiliating, as Porter ran for 11 yards and Lausch capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run — both right up the middle against the heart of the defense. Northwestern took a 7-0 lead after the 13-play drive.
Kickoff Return Woes
Ohio State may have dynamic athletes, but the kickoff returns against the Wildcats were ill-advised. TreVeyon Henderson decided to return the kick right after Northwestern’s touchdown and couldn’t get past the 15-yard line. To open the second half, Henderson again chose to return a kick and did slightly better, but the drive still started in poor field position due to a holding penalty.
While the special teams have blocked a couple of punts the last two games — on Saturday only due to an abysmal snap — Ohio State’s special teams continue to disappoint, and it’s an area where the Buckeyes should theoretically excel.
Scheduled Grumpy Old Buckeye Complaint: Weekly Igbinosun Pass Interference
Former OSU offensive tackle J.B. Shugarts got a reputation for committing a false start just about every week. It got to be a running joke on Twitter that I still see in my feed whenever the Buckeyes move early. Davison Igbinosun has become the defensive equivalent, and his penalties cost Ohio State a lot more yards than Shugarts ever did.
Igbinosun again got grabby on Saturday, giving Northwestern a first down at Ohio State’s 21-yard line. Like he did at Penn State, Igbinosun made up for the penalty by making a play to end the drive, defending a fourth-down pass to turn the Wildcats over on downs. The veteran cornerback has to rein in his physicality and trust in his coverage a bit more, otherwise at some point, he’s not going to be able to make up for the error.
Those are the items that had me giving my cats serious side eye when the Buckeyes played Northwestern. Most of the game was fine, but the OSU defense didn’t seem prepared to play on the first couple of Northwestern drives. The offense was fine once it settled into the game.
It would by hypocritical of me to throw too much shade after a 31-7 win when I predicted a similar final score of 38-6. I suppose if there’s one other nit to pick, it’s that the starters stayed on the field about one drive too many.
Next up: The competition steps up in difficulty as the Buckeyes welcome the unbeaten Indiana Hoosiers to the Horseshoe at noon (yep, again) on Saturday.
Continue reading...
