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LGHL Three Things To Watch at Rutgers
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Three Things To Watch at Rutgers
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes cannot look past an improved and determined Scarlet Knights squad.
Rutgers joined The Big Ten in 2014, and has been one of the conference’s doormat programs during that time frame. While I recognize how harsh that statement reads, here are some simple facts that I can share with all of you...
Now that I have lulled you all into a false sense of confidence, here is the reality about this game against Rutgers this season — the Scarlet Knights are no longer a pushover. Yes, Ohio State is a heavy favorite, and the Buckeyes should get that 10th consecutive win that I wrote about up above, but Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano has slowly and methodically been making the Scarlet Knights a tougher and better team, and already has Rutgers in bowl contention with a 6-2 record.
Below are Three Things To Watch at Rutgers, when the game kicks off on CBS at 12pm ET from SHI Stadium...
As noted up above, Rutgers has improved, and while not an explosive offense by any stretch, the Scarlet Knights have a strong running game that allows them to control the clock and wear down their opposition. Key players to watch from Rutgers are RB Kyle Monangai and QB Gavin Wimsatt. Both have averaged better than five yards a carry, both have long runs of better than 50 yards, and both have scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
If Ohio State can truly make Rutgers one-dimensional, forcing Wimsatt to throw more out of necessity than by design, than Ohio State will be in good shape. Keeping Rutgers to 2nd and long, or 3rd and long, will be a good sign for Ohio State defensively. Along those lines, a key player I will be looking and listening for will be Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams. Williams can be effective at clamping down on the Rutgers running game, while also helping to collapse the offensive line pocket for Gavin Wimsatt on passing downs.
2. Will Emeka Egbuka return to play for this game?
Egbuka has been withheld from game action ever since he sustained an ankle injury, and according to Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, Egbuka should be good to go at Rutgers. While Marvin Harrison Jr. has demonstrated his worthiness for the Heisman Trophy, it would not surprise me if Greg Schiano has his defense double-team Harrison to try and limit the star wideout’s effectiveness.
A healthy Egbuka would give Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord another viable option in the passing game, and could make the Scarlet Knights pay if they tried to cover Egbuka with only single coverage. Plus, it would be good for Ohio State if Egbuka can knock off some of the rust after missing the last few games.
3. Look for Rutgers to pull out all of the stops
Greg Schiano is not going to hold anything back in this game against Ohio State, knowing that the Scarlet Knights have improved but the talent gap between the programs is still considerable. Onside kicks, fake punts, trick plays — any and all of these are things Ohio State needs to be concerned about from Rutgers, as the Scarlet Knights will need to do these type of things to keep drives going against the Buckeyes.
For embattled Ohio State special teams coach Parker Fleming, making sure his units look prepared will be something to keep eyes and ears open for during the game.
On the latest Silver Bullets Podcast, Michael Citro and I have come to the agreement that this 2023 Ohio State offense is not going to be as explosive as Ohio State fans have grown accustomed to seeing in the Ryan Day era. The running game has not emerged as strongly as the Buckeyes need, and the season-ending injury to Miyan Williams only has added to the offense’s challenges.
Look for Rutgers to try and limit the Ohio State offense from making any big plays, and this game may be more of a grind it out type affair. Ohio State will win, but this game will not feel truly decided until the 4th quarter, not the 1st quarter like Ohio State fans have grown used to against Rutgers in previous seasons.
I have it Ohio State 31, Rutgers 14.
Continue reading...
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes cannot look past an improved and determined Scarlet Knights squad.
Rutgers joined The Big Ten in 2014, and has been one of the conference’s doormat programs during that time frame. While I recognize how harsh that statement reads, here are some simple facts that I can share with all of you...
- The lowest point total Ohio State has scored when on the road at Rutgers was in 2015, when Ohio State defeated Rutgers, 49-7. Every other trip to New Jersey has seen Ohio State score at least 52 points or more against the Scarlet Knights.
- If Ohio State defeats Rutgers, as most are expecting, it will mark the 10th consecutive win over an opponent. This will mark the first time in program history that Ohio State will have defeated an opponent 10-straight times.
Now that I have lulled you all into a false sense of confidence, here is the reality about this game against Rutgers this season — the Scarlet Knights are no longer a pushover. Yes, Ohio State is a heavy favorite, and the Buckeyes should get that 10th consecutive win that I wrote about up above, but Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano has slowly and methodically been making the Scarlet Knights a tougher and better team, and already has Rutgers in bowl contention with a 6-2 record.
Below are Three Things To Watch at Rutgers, when the game kicks off on CBS at 12pm ET from SHI Stadium...
- The Rutgers running game versus the Ohio State defense
As noted up above, Rutgers has improved, and while not an explosive offense by any stretch, the Scarlet Knights have a strong running game that allows them to control the clock and wear down their opposition. Key players to watch from Rutgers are RB Kyle Monangai and QB Gavin Wimsatt. Both have averaged better than five yards a carry, both have long runs of better than 50 yards, and both have scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
If Ohio State can truly make Rutgers one-dimensional, forcing Wimsatt to throw more out of necessity than by design, than Ohio State will be in good shape. Keeping Rutgers to 2nd and long, or 3rd and long, will be a good sign for Ohio State defensively. Along those lines, a key player I will be looking and listening for will be Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams. Williams can be effective at clamping down on the Rutgers running game, while also helping to collapse the offensive line pocket for Gavin Wimsatt on passing downs.
2. Will Emeka Egbuka return to play for this game?
Egbuka has been withheld from game action ever since he sustained an ankle injury, and according to Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, Egbuka should be good to go at Rutgers. While Marvin Harrison Jr. has demonstrated his worthiness for the Heisman Trophy, it would not surprise me if Greg Schiano has his defense double-team Harrison to try and limit the star wideout’s effectiveness.
A healthy Egbuka would give Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord another viable option in the passing game, and could make the Scarlet Knights pay if they tried to cover Egbuka with only single coverage. Plus, it would be good for Ohio State if Egbuka can knock off some of the rust after missing the last few games.
3. Look for Rutgers to pull out all of the stops
Greg Schiano is not going to hold anything back in this game against Ohio State, knowing that the Scarlet Knights have improved but the talent gap between the programs is still considerable. Onside kicks, fake punts, trick plays — any and all of these are things Ohio State needs to be concerned about from Rutgers, as the Scarlet Knights will need to do these type of things to keep drives going against the Buckeyes.
For embattled Ohio State special teams coach Parker Fleming, making sure his units look prepared will be something to keep eyes and ears open for during the game.
On the latest Silver Bullets Podcast, Michael Citro and I have come to the agreement that this 2023 Ohio State offense is not going to be as explosive as Ohio State fans have grown accustomed to seeing in the Ryan Day era. The running game has not emerged as strongly as the Buckeyes need, and the season-ending injury to Miyan Williams only has added to the offense’s challenges.
Look for Rutgers to try and limit the Ohio State offense from making any big plays, and this game may be more of a grind it out type affair. Ohio State will win, but this game will not feel truly decided until the 4th quarter, not the 1st quarter like Ohio State fans have grown used to against Rutgers in previous seasons.
I have it Ohio State 31, Rutgers 14.
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LGHL MC&J: Week 10 in the Big Ten will see Ohio State trying to stay perfect against Rutgers
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MC&J: Week 10 in the Big Ten will see Ohio State trying to stay perfect against Rutgers
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
The Buckeyes 18.5-point favorites heading into this week’s game against the Scarlet Knights in New Jersey.
Picks for Washington-USC, LSU-Alabama, and a number of other big games nationally can be found here.
Wisconsin (-9.5) v. Indiana - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Which team will have less of a hangover in this game? Wisconsin is coming off a 24-10 loss to Ohio State, while Indiana took Penn State to the limit last week. The Badgers are battered and bruised heading to Bloomington. Wisconsin has lost running back Chez Mellusi and quarterback Tanner Mordecai, while Braelon Allen and Chimere Dike were banged up against the Buckeyes
Brendan Sorsby threw for 269 yards against the Nittany Lions, but really 160 of those yards came on two touchdown passes. Still, at least the Hoosiers showed some fight against a tough opponent. I think the performance carries over to this week when Indiana returns home. Even though the Badgers end up winning the game, the Hoosiers are pesky and hang around at home.
Wisconsin 24, Indiana 17
Nebraska (-3) v. Michigan State - 12:00 p.m. ET - FS1
Who would’ve thought before the season that at this point of the season we’d be able to trust Nebraska more than Michigan State. Head coach Matt Rhule has turned the culture around in Lincoln, and it feels like now the Cornhuskers are expecting to win games and not feeling lucky when they do get a victory.
Calling Michigan State a mess might be an understatement. After winning their first two games of the season, the Spartans have lost six-straight games. Quarterback Noah Kim has thrown six interceptions this year, and I expect him to throw a couple more on Saturday since the Nebraska defense has gotten a bit of their mojo back this year.
With a win, Nebraska will be bowl eligible for the first time since 2016. The Cornhuskers are going to have a ton of motivation in this game, while Michigan State is playing out their disaster of a season. Give me the team playing smart, confident football right now.
Nebraska 23, Michigan State 14
No. 11 Penn State (-8.5) v. Maryland - 3:30 p.m. ET - FOX
Imagine how good Maryland would be if the season ended at the end of September. The loss to Ohio State in early October kicked off a three-game losing streak for the Terrapins, with their latest setback being a puzzling loss to Northwestern. Defense has been what has failed Maryland lately, as they have given up a combined 60 points to the Wildcats and Illinois.
Following their loss to Ohio State, Penn State survived a scare in State College last week from Indiana. This is a crucial game for the Nittany Lions to put things back together with a game against Michigan looming next week. Penn State gets back to running the football, while also tightening up on defense. I know Maryland has Taulia Tagovailoa, but if he can’t solve Northwestern and Illinois, I don’t see how he is going to find enough success against the Nittany Lions to halt his team’s slide.
Penn State 34, Maryland 21
Illinois v. Minnesota (-1.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Defensive backs for both teams have to be licking their chops heading into this contest. Quarterbacks Luke Altmyer and Athan Kaliakmanis have combined to throw 16 interceptions so far this season. An even more incredible stat is last week Kaliakmanis hit 200 yards passing for the first time this season in the 27-12 win over Michigan State.
Illinois had a week off to process blowing a fourth quarter lead to Wisconsin. The Fighting Illini might need a few more weeks off to try and put things back together since they are really struggling this year, and don’t have much room for error if they want to become bowl eligible. The running game hasn’t been there for Bret Bielema’s team, while the defense has taken a few steps back from last year.
Minnesota at least feels like the more complete of the two teams, which isn’t saying much. Somehow the Golden Gophers control their own destiny in the Big Ten West, but they also have a game against Ohio State ahead of them in a couple weeks. P.J. Fleck knows his teams needs to get as many wins as they can before coming to Columbus. They squeak out a win against the Fighting Illini on Saturday.
Minnesota 21, Illinois 17
Iowa (-5.5) v. Northwestern - 3:30 p.m. ET - Peacock
Honestly, Iowa fans probably have to feel like they won a national championship with the news this week that offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz won’t return next year. Saying the Iowa offense has been trash would be an insult to trash. So far this season, the Hawkeyes have scored more than 24 points in just two games. Michigan transfers Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All Jr. have both been lost for the season to injury.
What Northwestern did last week to Maryland isn’t going to fly this week against the Iowa defense. For as bad as the Hawkeyes have been on offense, they have been that good on defense. There’s no chance quarterback Brendan Sullivan comes anywhere close to throwing for 265 yards and two scores like he did last week against the Terrapins. Iowa stays in the Big Ten West race with an ugly win against Northwestern.
Iowa 20, Northwestern 10
Purdue v. No. 3 Michigan (-32.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC
The good news for Michigan is they don’t need to steal signs to beat up on Purdue. The Boilermakers are the latest in a long line of cupcakes the Wolverines have on their schedule to start the season. Things will get real for Michigan next week when they have to travel to Penn State. Until then, it’s going to be more of the same for the Wolverines, as they beat up on a Purdue team that hasn’t had anything go right in Ryan Walters’ first season as head coach.
Plus, Jim Harbaugh might be chapped Michigan is ranked third in the first CFP rankings, so he could keep his foot on the gas a little longer in this game.
Michigan 48, Purdue 10
No. 1 Ohio State (-18.5) v. Rutgers - 12:00 p.m. ET - CBS
The Buckeyes are coming off a 24-10 win at Wisconsin, but really the score could’ve been a lot more lopsided had it not been for three turnovers in the game. TreVeyon Henderson returned to the field and had one of his best performances in scarlet and gray, totaling over 200 yards of total offense in the game. Along with Henderson, Marvin Harrison Jr. not only continued his streak of 100-yard games, establishing himself as a legit Heisman Trophy contender.
Rutgers haven’t even played their first game in November and they are already bowl eligible. It’s obvious Greg Schiano is turning around the football program in East Piscataway for the second time. The Scarlet Knights don’t play sexy football, but they do play hard. That might be enough against teams like Indiana, Michigan State, and others. It won’t fly against Ohio State, though. The talent gap is too big for Rutgers to overcome on Saturday.
What the Scarlet Knights want to do is run the football, control the clock, and then use their defense to make some plays. Ohio State is great at stopping the run, which will force Gavin Wimsatt to make more plays. I just don’t see Wimsatt being able to solve the Buckeye secondary, which is playing at a high level this year. The only victory for Rutgers in this one is they won’t let Ohio State score at least 49 points, which is something the Buckeyes have done in each meeting since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten.
Ohio State 41, Rutgers 13
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
The Buckeyes 18.5-point favorites heading into this week’s game against the Scarlet Knights in New Jersey.
Last week ATS: 5-7 (4-3 National, 1-4 B1G)
Season ATS: 74-74 (33-44 National, 41-30 B1G)
Picks for Washington-USC, LSU-Alabama, and a number of other big games nationally can be found here.
B1G games
Wisconsin (-9.5) v. Indiana - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Which team will have less of a hangover in this game? Wisconsin is coming off a 24-10 loss to Ohio State, while Indiana took Penn State to the limit last week. The Badgers are battered and bruised heading to Bloomington. Wisconsin has lost running back Chez Mellusi and quarterback Tanner Mordecai, while Braelon Allen and Chimere Dike were banged up against the Buckeyes
Brendan Sorsby threw for 269 yards against the Nittany Lions, but really 160 of those yards came on two touchdown passes. Still, at least the Hoosiers showed some fight against a tough opponent. I think the performance carries over to this week when Indiana returns home. Even though the Badgers end up winning the game, the Hoosiers are pesky and hang around at home.
Wisconsin 24, Indiana 17
Nebraska (-3) v. Michigan State - 12:00 p.m. ET - FS1
Who would’ve thought before the season that at this point of the season we’d be able to trust Nebraska more than Michigan State. Head coach Matt Rhule has turned the culture around in Lincoln, and it feels like now the Cornhuskers are expecting to win games and not feeling lucky when they do get a victory.
Calling Michigan State a mess might be an understatement. After winning their first two games of the season, the Spartans have lost six-straight games. Quarterback Noah Kim has thrown six interceptions this year, and I expect him to throw a couple more on Saturday since the Nebraska defense has gotten a bit of their mojo back this year.
With a win, Nebraska will be bowl eligible for the first time since 2016. The Cornhuskers are going to have a ton of motivation in this game, while Michigan State is playing out their disaster of a season. Give me the team playing smart, confident football right now.
Nebraska 23, Michigan State 14
No. 11 Penn State (-8.5) v. Maryland - 3:30 p.m. ET - FOX
Imagine how good Maryland would be if the season ended at the end of September. The loss to Ohio State in early October kicked off a three-game losing streak for the Terrapins, with their latest setback being a puzzling loss to Northwestern. Defense has been what has failed Maryland lately, as they have given up a combined 60 points to the Wildcats and Illinois.
Following their loss to Ohio State, Penn State survived a scare in State College last week from Indiana. This is a crucial game for the Nittany Lions to put things back together with a game against Michigan looming next week. Penn State gets back to running the football, while also tightening up on defense. I know Maryland has Taulia Tagovailoa, but if he can’t solve Northwestern and Illinois, I don’t see how he is going to find enough success against the Nittany Lions to halt his team’s slide.
Penn State 34, Maryland 21
Illinois v. Minnesota (-1.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Defensive backs for both teams have to be licking their chops heading into this contest. Quarterbacks Luke Altmyer and Athan Kaliakmanis have combined to throw 16 interceptions so far this season. An even more incredible stat is last week Kaliakmanis hit 200 yards passing for the first time this season in the 27-12 win over Michigan State.
Illinois had a week off to process blowing a fourth quarter lead to Wisconsin. The Fighting Illini might need a few more weeks off to try and put things back together since they are really struggling this year, and don’t have much room for error if they want to become bowl eligible. The running game hasn’t been there for Bret Bielema’s team, while the defense has taken a few steps back from last year.
Minnesota at least feels like the more complete of the two teams, which isn’t saying much. Somehow the Golden Gophers control their own destiny in the Big Ten West, but they also have a game against Ohio State ahead of them in a couple weeks. P.J. Fleck knows his teams needs to get as many wins as they can before coming to Columbus. They squeak out a win against the Fighting Illini on Saturday.
Minnesota 21, Illinois 17
Iowa (-5.5) v. Northwestern - 3:30 p.m. ET - Peacock
Honestly, Iowa fans probably have to feel like they won a national championship with the news this week that offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz won’t return next year. Saying the Iowa offense has been trash would be an insult to trash. So far this season, the Hawkeyes have scored more than 24 points in just two games. Michigan transfers Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All Jr. have both been lost for the season to injury.
What Northwestern did last week to Maryland isn’t going to fly this week against the Iowa defense. For as bad as the Hawkeyes have been on offense, they have been that good on defense. There’s no chance quarterback Brendan Sullivan comes anywhere close to throwing for 265 yards and two scores like he did last week against the Terrapins. Iowa stays in the Big Ten West race with an ugly win against Northwestern.
Iowa 20, Northwestern 10
Purdue v. No. 3 Michigan (-32.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC
The good news for Michigan is they don’t need to steal signs to beat up on Purdue. The Boilermakers are the latest in a long line of cupcakes the Wolverines have on their schedule to start the season. Things will get real for Michigan next week when they have to travel to Penn State. Until then, it’s going to be more of the same for the Wolverines, as they beat up on a Purdue team that hasn’t had anything go right in Ryan Walters’ first season as head coach.
Plus, Jim Harbaugh might be chapped Michigan is ranked third in the first CFP rankings, so he could keep his foot on the gas a little longer in this game.
Michigan 48, Purdue 10
No. 1 Ohio State (-18.5) v. Rutgers - 12:00 p.m. ET - CBS
The Buckeyes are coming off a 24-10 win at Wisconsin, but really the score could’ve been a lot more lopsided had it not been for three turnovers in the game. TreVeyon Henderson returned to the field and had one of his best performances in scarlet and gray, totaling over 200 yards of total offense in the game. Along with Henderson, Marvin Harrison Jr. not only continued his streak of 100-yard games, establishing himself as a legit Heisman Trophy contender.
Rutgers haven’t even played their first game in November and they are already bowl eligible. It’s obvious Greg Schiano is turning around the football program in East Piscataway for the second time. The Scarlet Knights don’t play sexy football, but they do play hard. That might be enough against teams like Indiana, Michigan State, and others. It won’t fly against Ohio State, though. The talent gap is too big for Rutgers to overcome on Saturday.
What the Scarlet Knights want to do is run the football, control the clock, and then use their defense to make some plays. Ohio State is great at stopping the run, which will force Gavin Wimsatt to make more plays. I just don’t see Wimsatt being able to solve the Buckeye secondary, which is playing at a high level this year. The only victory for Rutgers in this one is they won’t let Ohio State score at least 49 points, which is something the Buckeyes have done in each meeting since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten.
Ohio State 41, Rutgers 13
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LGHL Four Storylines: No. 7 Ohio State women’s basketball season opener vs. No. 21 USC
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Four Storylines: No. 7 Ohio State women’s basketball season opener vs. No. 21 USC
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The wait is almost over, with the Buckeyes tipping off the 23-24 season Monday against the USC Trojans
The Ohio State women’s basketball team is on its way to Las Vegas, Nevada. On the other end of its trip is a matchup against the USC Trojans for the first game of the 23-24 regular season. It's a matchup that starts to tell the story of who the scarlet and gray are going to be this year, highlight new names, and face a Trojan side full of potential.
Of the Buckeyes' 34 games in the 2022-23 season, two players led Ohio State in scoring across 20 contests; in eight of those games, it was graduate senior — and now pro basketball player — Taylor Mikesell. The Northeast Ohioan led the team in points, average points per game, and three-point shooting, playing an even stronger role than her senior season in scarlet and gray.
Mikesell’s 116 shots from beyond the arc had no close second, with forward Rebeka Mikulášiková hitting 41. Entering Monday, there’s no like-for-like match on the current 15-player Buckeyes roster who can fill those enormous shoes. While others will need to help fill that hole, Ohio State still has a player who led the team in scoring in more games than anyone else: Forward Cotie McMahon.
While McMahon isn’t going to fill the deep shooting need herself, the forward entering her second NCAA season came on strong at the end of last season. McMahon averaged 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in seven postseason games. Of those, two ended in double-doubles for the freshman.
Against USC, McMahon has her first chance to continue her upward trend. This offseason, McMahon’s worked on improving her shooting, but it won’t all be on her. The Buckeyes return guard/forward Taylor Thierry and guard Jacy Sheldon. Including Mikulášiková, the four returning starters have chemistry that will give the Buckeyes an advantage but how will it look without the locked-in shooting of Mikesell?
The old adage of “the best offense is a good defense” fits the Buckeyes well. Everyone in the nation knows about the team’s havoc-inducing full-court press but head coach Kevin McGuff’s focus entering this year is on half-court defense.
Ohio State had issues in the postseason, especially against the likes of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Virginia Tech Hokies while playing in the half-court. Enter new transfer guard Celeste Taylor. While there will be questions about how she fits into the Buckeyes’ offense, there's no question about the defense she brings.
Taylor is the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and was eighth in the nation in defensive rating, allowing 72.7 points on every 100 offensive possessions. The athletic and smart guard stays with players on offense, gets her hands in the face of the opponent, and limits player effectiveness. Combine that with graduate senior guard Sheldon and it’s a dangerous combination.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25054695/usa_today_20136420.jpg "NCAA Womens Basketball: ACC Conference Tournament Quarterfinals-Duke vs North Carolina")
William Howard-USA TODAY Sports
Like Taylor, Sheldon doesn’t relent on defense in the full or half-court. Although Sheldon excelled in grabbing steals and forcing mistakes in the full-court variety, the guard can play like Taylor when the court shrinks and Ohio State can’t solely rely on running and getting into lanes in the press.
Playing USC is the first time these two will play together in a game that matters, following a preseason of practice and closed-door scrimmages. There’s always a learning curve but two years ago, Sheldon and Mikesell were in a similar position, thrust into a new starting combination and it thrived offensively relatively early. That same thing can be true for Taylor and Sheldon on the defensive side of the ball.
While the “splash sisters” of Sheldon and Mikesell are now a thing of the past, enter the era of the “steal sisters.”
Something the Buckeyes need to contend with is forward Rayah Marshall. Averaging 12.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, Marshall causes issues in the paint, something that Ohio State hasn’t done well against over the past two seasons. Monday is a chance for another new transfer to show their effectiveness.
Former Michigan State Spartan and new Buckeye graduate senior Taiyier Parks brings something new to this group. Parks will likely have minutes on Monday to slow down Marshall. It’s because she brings a different look than likely starting forward Mikulášiková.
While Mikulášiková can shoot for three and spread the defense, Parks is a strong physical presence making life in the paint hard. It surfaces in defensive stops in the post and increased rebounding, both something to expect with the Ohioan Parks.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25054706/usa_today_19798038.jpg "NCAA Womens Basketball: Stanford at Southern California")
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Marshall is a heck of a way for Parks to get introduced to a new team in real game minutes. Stopping her will be next to impossible, but slowing her down can happen. When Ohio State performed well against notable post players last season, it mostly came by getting them into foul trouble, taking the onus off Parks alone.
The more the Buckeyes attack the basket, the more chances for whistles and getting Marshall to the bench. The additional focus on half-court defense is another piece to watch in terms of trying to neutralize the USC forward.
Another piece of the USC team to watch for, and is likely a talking point that’ll arise on the live broadcast, is freshman Judea “Juju” Watkins.
The 6-foot-2 guard enters her first year as the No. 1 recruit in the nation. While the recruiting is over and games will dictate the accuracy of the rating, Watkins has the power, speed, and drive that makes her a name to watch in the NCAA.
Monday is Watkins’ introduction to college basketball and will Ohio State be able to match the guard and give her a less-than-neighborly welcome. That will fall onto the shoulders of the Buckeyes guards. Sheldon and Taylor have the defensive chops but a good name to watch on Watkins is Thierry.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25054714/usa_today_21619953.jpg "NCAA Women’s Basketball: Pac-12 Media Day")
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The sophomore Thierry is better matched against Watkins, who can stack up to the guard’s size. Also, Thierry anticipates passes and movement well. Plus, her athletic ability can’t be matched on the court. Regardless of whether it's Thierry or her fellow guards Sheldon and Taylor, Monday could be a moment for all fans who watch and say that they saw the start of Watkins’ career. It’s Ohio State’s hope that it isn’t a historic game to remember for the freshman and USC.
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The wait is almost over, with the Buckeyes tipping off the 23-24 season Monday against the USC Trojans
The Ohio State women’s basketball team is on its way to Las Vegas, Nevada. On the other end of its trip is a matchup against the USC Trojans for the first game of the 23-24 regular season. It's a matchup that starts to tell the story of who the scarlet and gray are going to be this year, highlight new names, and face a Trojan side full of potential.
Ohio State Offense
Of the Buckeyes' 34 games in the 2022-23 season, two players led Ohio State in scoring across 20 contests; in eight of those games, it was graduate senior — and now pro basketball player — Taylor Mikesell. The Northeast Ohioan led the team in points, average points per game, and three-point shooting, playing an even stronger role than her senior season in scarlet and gray.
Mikesell’s 116 shots from beyond the arc had no close second, with forward Rebeka Mikulášiková hitting 41. Entering Monday, there’s no like-for-like match on the current 15-player Buckeyes roster who can fill those enormous shoes. While others will need to help fill that hole, Ohio State still has a player who led the team in scoring in more games than anyone else: Forward Cotie McMahon.
While McMahon isn’t going to fill the deep shooting need herself, the forward entering her second NCAA season came on strong at the end of last season. McMahon averaged 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in seven postseason games. Of those, two ended in double-doubles for the freshman.
Against USC, McMahon has her first chance to continue her upward trend. This offseason, McMahon’s worked on improving her shooting, but it won’t all be on her. The Buckeyes return guard/forward Taylor Thierry and guard Jacy Sheldon. Including Mikulášiková, the four returning starters have chemistry that will give the Buckeyes an advantage but how will it look without the locked-in shooting of Mikesell?
Steal Sisters
The old adage of “the best offense is a good defense” fits the Buckeyes well. Everyone in the nation knows about the team’s havoc-inducing full-court press but head coach Kevin McGuff’s focus entering this year is on half-court defense.
Ohio State had issues in the postseason, especially against the likes of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Virginia Tech Hokies while playing in the half-court. Enter new transfer guard Celeste Taylor. While there will be questions about how she fits into the Buckeyes’ offense, there's no question about the defense she brings.
Taylor is the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and was eighth in the nation in defensive rating, allowing 72.7 points on every 100 offensive possessions. The athletic and smart guard stays with players on offense, gets her hands in the face of the opponent, and limits player effectiveness. Combine that with graduate senior guard Sheldon and it’s a dangerous combination.
Like Taylor, Sheldon doesn’t relent on defense in the full or half-court. Although Sheldon excelled in grabbing steals and forcing mistakes in the full-court variety, the guard can play like Taylor when the court shrinks and Ohio State can’t solely rely on running and getting into lanes in the press.
Playing USC is the first time these two will play together in a game that matters, following a preseason of practice and closed-door scrimmages. There’s always a learning curve but two years ago, Sheldon and Mikesell were in a similar position, thrust into a new starting combination and it thrived offensively relatively early. That same thing can be true for Taylor and Sheldon on the defensive side of the ball.
While the “splash sisters” of Sheldon and Mikesell are now a thing of the past, enter the era of the “steal sisters.”
Paint Presence
Something the Buckeyes need to contend with is forward Rayah Marshall. Averaging 12.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, Marshall causes issues in the paint, something that Ohio State hasn’t done well against over the past two seasons. Monday is a chance for another new transfer to show their effectiveness.
Former Michigan State Spartan and new Buckeye graduate senior Taiyier Parks brings something new to this group. Parks will likely have minutes on Monday to slow down Marshall. It’s because she brings a different look than likely starting forward Mikulášiková.
While Mikulášiková can shoot for three and spread the defense, Parks is a strong physical presence making life in the paint hard. It surfaces in defensive stops in the post and increased rebounding, both something to expect with the Ohioan Parks.
Marshall is a heck of a way for Parks to get introduced to a new team in real game minutes. Stopping her will be next to impossible, but slowing her down can happen. When Ohio State performed well against notable post players last season, it mostly came by getting them into foul trouble, taking the onus off Parks alone.
The more the Buckeyes attack the basket, the more chances for whistles and getting Marshall to the bench. The additional focus on half-court defense is another piece to watch in terms of trying to neutralize the USC forward.
Freshman Introduction
Another piece of the USC team to watch for, and is likely a talking point that’ll arise on the live broadcast, is freshman Judea “Juju” Watkins.
The 6-foot-2 guard enters her first year as the No. 1 recruit in the nation. While the recruiting is over and games will dictate the accuracy of the rating, Watkins has the power, speed, and drive that makes her a name to watch in the NCAA.
Monday is Watkins’ introduction to college basketball and will Ohio State be able to match the guard and give her a less-than-neighborly welcome. That will fall onto the shoulders of the Buckeyes guards. Sheldon and Taylor have the defensive chops but a good name to watch on Watkins is Thierry.
The sophomore Thierry is better matched against Watkins, who can stack up to the guard’s size. Also, Thierry anticipates passes and movement well. Plus, her athletic ability can’t be matched on the court. Regardless of whether it's Thierry or her fellow guards Sheldon and Taylor, Monday could be a moment for all fans who watch and say that they saw the start of Watkins’ career. It’s Ohio State’s hope that it isn’t a historic game to remember for the freshman and USC.
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Things to watch for in Ohio State men’s basketball’s opener against Oakland
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You’re Nuts: Things to watch for in Ohio State men’s basketball’s opener against Oakland
Connor Lemons 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
It’s time to see if last year’s baby Bucks are ready to make the leap that so many people have been predicting.
Happy opening week, everyone! Ohio State’s first game is Monday night at home against Oakland, which means that we have officially made it through the off-season. If you read our basketball-related debate articles all throughout the spring, summer, and fall — kudos to you. The content will be plentiful for the next six months.
Last week, Connor and Justin made their pre-season Final Four picks. Connor went with Arizona, Arkansas, Creighton, and Miami. Justin also picked Creighton, but his other three were Duke, Kansas, and Michigan State. The people sided with Justin — 77% of the people, specifically.
Connor- 56
Now that it’s game week, we’re shifting our eyes to the Buckeyes and their opponent this week, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. We’ve essentially been previewing this season since January when it became clear that the 2022-2023 season wasn’t going anywhere.
There are plenty of storylines or areas of concern that we’ll be paying attention to Monday night, as we begin to learn more and more about the 125th iteration of Ohio State men’s basketball. Here are the specific things that Connor and Justin are going to keep an eye on Monday night.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25054549/usa_today_21713634.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State was eighth in the Big Ten in defensive rebounding last season. That’s not awful, but it’s not where you want to be if you truly believe you’re capable of winning the Big Ten. They were pretty bad at this in the Dayton exhibition a few weeks ago, allowing the Flyers to grab seven offensive rebounds in the first half and another seven in the second half, leading to 17 second-chance points.
Overall, Ohio State only lost the rebounding battle 33-31 and actually out-rebounded Dayton in the second half. But the 14 offensive rebounds allowed aren’t going to cut it against good teams in the Big Ten, some of whom are comparable to the Flyers.
The reason it’s so problematic for this team in particular is because Ohio State has been downright stinky on the defensive end since 2020. They allow teams to go on extended runs where their opponent might score on five out of six possessions, so when the Buckeyes finally get a stop, they have to be able to get the rebound and end the possession.
Giving teams an additional possession when you have the numbers advantage below the basket for the rebound is a killer. Defensive rebounding has been one of — if not the singular — biggest priority for Ohio State this offseason.
It was one of Chris Holtmann’s first concerns after the Dayton exhibition last month. It’s something he has specifically mentioned Jamison Battle needs to be better at, but he also goes out of his way to praise other players’ rebounding when they do it well. During the Dayton game, the players on the very end of the bench (Owen Spencer, Colby Baumann, Bowen Hardman, and Kalen Etzler) were jumping up and shouting “board, board, board!” every time Dayton took a shot. And if one of their teammates grabbed the rebound, everyone on the bench pointed it out and shouted at their teammate on the floor who snagged it.
It’s something they’ve been emphasizing, and it’s mostly effort-based. We’ll see how the Buckeyes do against Oakland, a team they should have a size advantage over.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25054613/usa_today_21686300.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Hopefully, there is not too much to take away from this one because the Buckeyes win by a bunch. But, no matter what, we are going to see Felix Okpara and Zed Key on the floor. The two questions are simple.
Will Okpara and Key play together? And, throughout the 40 minutes of game time, what will the minute’s distribution look like?
This has been a key topic on a lot of fans’ minds. Who will start, and more importantly, who will finish games? We did not get a great look at who will finish games in the exhibition game against Dayton, but Okpara did get the start, and it looks like Okpara will get the start against Oakland on Monday night.
This is a fun topic because Key and Okpara bring different attributes and skills to the table. Okpara is a defensive juggernaut that will affect every drive to the paint that happens and be a force for the Buckeyes as a rim protector. However, he has some growing to do on offense.
However, Key is an offensive threat that can give you 12-15 points per game and started last season with five straight double-doubles. But he is not nearly the rim protector that Okpara is. He is also a new man after he trimmed about 20 pounds off this offseason, and should help his agility in the paint.
Chris Holtmann has implied that Okpara and Key will see the floor together, but that is a wait-and-see for me. Floor spacing could be an issue with that lineup if Key has not added to his perimeter game. So we will see on that, but I am skeptical.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
It’s time to see if last year’s baby Bucks are ready to make the leap that so many people have been predicting.
Happy opening week, everyone! Ohio State’s first game is Monday night at home against Oakland, which means that we have officially made it through the off-season. If you read our basketball-related debate articles all throughout the spring, summer, and fall — kudos to you. The content will be plentiful for the next six months.
Last week, Connor and Justin made their pre-season Final Four picks. Connor went with Arizona, Arkansas, Creighton, and Miami. Justin also picked Creighton, but his other three were Duke, Kansas, and Michigan State. The people sided with Justin — 77% of the people, specifically.
After 124 weeks:
Connor- 56
Justin- 50
Other- 14
(There have been four ties)
Now that it’s game week, we’re shifting our eyes to the Buckeyes and their opponent this week, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. We’ve essentially been previewing this season since January when it became clear that the 2022-2023 season wasn’t going anywhere.
There are plenty of storylines or areas of concern that we’ll be paying attention to Monday night, as we begin to learn more and more about the 125th iteration of Ohio State men’s basketball. Here are the specific things that Connor and Justin are going to keep an eye on Monday night.
Today’s Question: What will you be watching for in Ohio State’s season opener against Oakland?
Connor: Defensive rebounding
Ohio State was eighth in the Big Ten in defensive rebounding last season. That’s not awful, but it’s not where you want to be if you truly believe you’re capable of winning the Big Ten. They were pretty bad at this in the Dayton exhibition a few weeks ago, allowing the Flyers to grab seven offensive rebounds in the first half and another seven in the second half, leading to 17 second-chance points.
Overall, Ohio State only lost the rebounding battle 33-31 and actually out-rebounded Dayton in the second half. But the 14 offensive rebounds allowed aren’t going to cut it against good teams in the Big Ten, some of whom are comparable to the Flyers.
The reason it’s so problematic for this team in particular is because Ohio State has been downright stinky on the defensive end since 2020. They allow teams to go on extended runs where their opponent might score on five out of six possessions, so when the Buckeyes finally get a stop, they have to be able to get the rebound and end the possession.
Giving teams an additional possession when you have the numbers advantage below the basket for the rebound is a killer. Defensive rebounding has been one of — if not the singular — biggest priority for Ohio State this offseason.
It was one of Chris Holtmann’s first concerns after the Dayton exhibition last month. It’s something he has specifically mentioned Jamison Battle needs to be better at, but he also goes out of his way to praise other players’ rebounding when they do it well. During the Dayton game, the players on the very end of the bench (Owen Spencer, Colby Baumann, Bowen Hardman, and Kalen Etzler) were jumping up and shouting “board, board, board!” every time Dayton took a shot. And if one of their teammates grabbed the rebound, everyone on the bench pointed it out and shouted at their teammate on the floor who snagged it.
It’s something they’ve been emphasizing, and it’s mostly effort-based. We’ll see how the Buckeyes do against Oakland, a team they should have a size advantage over.
Justin: How the minutes are split at center
Hopefully, there is not too much to take away from this one because the Buckeyes win by a bunch. But, no matter what, we are going to see Felix Okpara and Zed Key on the floor. The two questions are simple.
Will Okpara and Key play together? And, throughout the 40 minutes of game time, what will the minute’s distribution look like?
This has been a key topic on a lot of fans’ minds. Who will start, and more importantly, who will finish games? We did not get a great look at who will finish games in the exhibition game against Dayton, but Okpara did get the start, and it looks like Okpara will get the start against Oakland on Monday night.
This is a fun topic because Key and Okpara bring different attributes and skills to the table. Okpara is a defensive juggernaut that will affect every drive to the paint that happens and be a force for the Buckeyes as a rim protector. However, he has some growing to do on offense.
However, Key is an offensive threat that can give you 12-15 points per game and started last season with five straight double-doubles. But he is not nearly the rim protector that Okpara is. He is also a new man after he trimmed about 20 pounds off this offseason, and should help his agility in the paint.
Chris Holtmann has implied that Okpara and Key will see the floor together, but that is a wait-and-see for me. Floor spacing could be an issue with that lineup if Key has not added to his perimeter game. So we will see on that, but I am skeptical.
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LGHL Five-star CB Devin Sanchez receives Crystal Ball to Ohio State, Tony Alford builds positive momentum
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Five-star CB Devin Sanchez receives Crystal Ball to Ohio State, Tony Alford builds positive momentum
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Devin Sanchez | 247Sports
Ohio State takes another step towards landing an elite cornerback.
One could make the argument for any position on the defensive side of the ball for being the most important, but when Ohio State’s defense has looked its best, it’s been in large part because of the defensive secondary holding their own. Whether it’s this season or in the past, Ohio State’s cornerback and safety play has allowed them to take major steps of improvement. While a ton of that success comes from development, it also comes from recruiting elite talents to take those spots on the field.
Right now the Buckeyes have a great secondary, and thanks to some major wins in the 2024 cycle, the position group will be reloading rather than rebuilding. Knowing continued success is going to be needed on the recruiting front, both Tim Walton and Perry Eliano are all over it in the 2025 class, looking to go back-to-back with recruiting classes that boast some of the nation’s best players. Right now, there’s some serious momentum in the 2025 cycle, and Thursday was another step in the right direction for Ohio State to land the top cornerback in the nation.
Texas native Devin Sanchez is the No. six player nationally and the top cornerback in 2025 per the 247Sports Composite. A 6-foot-2, 175 pound athlete, Sanchez has long been the apple of any major program’s eye when it comes to defensive back recruiting, and an offer list of over 30 schools shows just how coveted he is. With programs such as Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, LSU, and a ton of others all vying for his services, it’s starting to take shape at least for now who Sanchez is really considering.
Fortunately for the Buckeyes, things are trending their way. Making it to campus for the Penn State contest just last month, Sanchez came away from his visit more than just impressed with Ohio State. Certainly the environment plays a role in that, but more importantly is the play of the secondary. In that game and the others this season, Devin has to be pleased with the level of play and development being seen. So much so that after his departure from Columbus, thoughts were the Buckeyes had put themselves in a great spot, and that continues to be the case.
While it’s not everything, on Thursday Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong placed his Crystal Ball prediction for Sanchez in favor of Ohio State, and when it comes from him, that means something. There’s still plenty of work to do in this case, but with the feelings between Sanchez and the Buckeyes the way they are right now, Ohio State has the lead in this recruitment, and this typically works out for the coaches who try and lock it up early and often.
Maybe it’s an entirely different subject matter, but yesterday position coach Tony Alford took to his Twitter account and shared a rather cryptic message that could be made out in a couple of ways. Trying to piece together what it could mean, the closest thing that comes to mind is the situation with the aforementioned Lyle who may have been wavering in his commitment. If so, clearly Alford is doing what he can to calm the waters between the two parties and keep his pledge to Ohio State.
At any rate, with the early signing period quickly approaching, the Buckeyes and their second-ranked class will look to put the finishing touches on some few remaining open spots, but also keep a guy like Lyle locked in and run off the other suitors, mainly Miami.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Devin Sanchez | 247Sports
Ohio State takes another step towards landing an elite cornerback.
One could make the argument for any position on the defensive side of the ball for being the most important, but when Ohio State’s defense has looked its best, it’s been in large part because of the defensive secondary holding their own. Whether it’s this season or in the past, Ohio State’s cornerback and safety play has allowed them to take major steps of improvement. While a ton of that success comes from development, it also comes from recruiting elite talents to take those spots on the field.
Right now the Buckeyes have a great secondary, and thanks to some major wins in the 2024 cycle, the position group will be reloading rather than rebuilding. Knowing continued success is going to be needed on the recruiting front, both Tim Walton and Perry Eliano are all over it in the 2025 class, looking to go back-to-back with recruiting classes that boast some of the nation’s best players. Right now, there’s some serious momentum in the 2025 cycle, and Thursday was another step in the right direction for Ohio State to land the top cornerback in the nation.
Texas native Devin Sanchez is the No. six player nationally and the top cornerback in 2025 per the 247Sports Composite. A 6-foot-2, 175 pound athlete, Sanchez has long been the apple of any major program’s eye when it comes to defensive back recruiting, and an offer list of over 30 schools shows just how coveted he is. With programs such as Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, LSU, and a ton of others all vying for his services, it’s starting to take shape at least for now who Sanchez is really considering.
Fortunately for the Buckeyes, things are trending their way. Making it to campus for the Penn State contest just last month, Sanchez came away from his visit more than just impressed with Ohio State. Certainly the environment plays a role in that, but more importantly is the play of the secondary. In that game and the others this season, Devin has to be pleased with the level of play and development being seen. So much so that after his departure from Columbus, thoughts were the Buckeyes had put themselves in a great spot, and that continues to be the case.
While it’s not everything, on Thursday Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong placed his Crystal Ball prediction for Sanchez in favor of Ohio State, and when it comes from him, that means something. There’s still plenty of work to do in this case, but with the feelings between Sanchez and the Buckeyes the way they are right now, Ohio State has the lead in this recruitment, and this typically works out for the coaches who try and lock it up early and often.
Quick Hits
- If you follow Ohio State recruiting at all, you would probably know by now that there’s some rumors swirling current Buckeye commit Jordan Lyle and the potential for him to flip his commitment status. Lyle has been the subject of several conversations, and the theme has been a worry that he would end up staying closer to home and picking Miami. While that’s still certainly an option for the No. 147 player nationally and 13th best running back per the 247Sports Composite, the coaching staff would love to keep him in the fold.
Maybe it’s an entirely different subject matter, but yesterday position coach Tony Alford took to his Twitter account and shared a rather cryptic message that could be made out in a couple of ways. Trying to piece together what it could mean, the closest thing that comes to mind is the situation with the aforementioned Lyle who may have been wavering in his commitment. If so, clearly Alford is doing what he can to calm the waters between the two parties and keep his pledge to Ohio State.
At any rate, with the early signing period quickly approaching, the Buckeyes and their second-ranked class will look to put the finishing touches on some few remaining open spots, but also keep a guy like Lyle locked in and run off the other suitors, mainly Miami.
Continue reading...
LGHL Get your limited edition Stroud, Smith-Njigba Mini Bighead bobbleheads
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Get your limited edition Stroud, Smith-Njigba Mini Bighead bobbleheads
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Come on, you know you need these!
While Saturdays might be all about college football, that doesn’t mean that you have to stop rooting for the Buckeyes on Sundays. Our friends at Foco are helping you do just that with two Mini Bigheads of former Buckeyes who are now setting the NFL on fire during their rookie seasons; the Houston Texans’ record-breaking quarterback C.J. Stroud and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Bigheads are similar to standard bobbleheads but come with an even larger head for you to bobble with. The mini version scales them down, but keeps all of the meticulous detail that you expect, and it means that they are far cheaper than their larger counterparts. Each OSU Mini Bighead is available for just $35! Both C.J. and JSN are decked out in scarlet and grey and stand atop an Ohio State base with their names displayed in front and the school’s logo in multiple places.
There are only 144 individually numbered units available for preorder, so don’t miss your opportunity to get one of these before they are gone.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25053293/Ohio_State_Buckeyes_Mini_Bigheads.jpg)
FOCO has been killing it with Ohio State bobbleheads over the past year. Just last month, they released a very cool Brutus bobblehead with a hidden version of The Horseshoe. This fall they’ve also released 15 different sport-specific Brutus bobbleheads. Earlier this month, they introduced Snoopy and Charlie Brown Buckeye bobblehead, and in August, they introduced a Brutus training camp bobblehead and for Memorial Day, the company released an “I Want You” Uncle Sam-inspired Brutus bobblehead. Those followed the NFL Draft, when FOCO released figures to celebrate the selections of C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr., and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Then, last fall, they released an absolute must-have Brutus “Then and Now” bobblehead featuring the current and original versions of everybody’s favorite poisonous nut!
And in October 2022, to celebrate Halloween, the company released a “Phantom of the Opera-themed bobblehead featuring our boy Brutus in a picture-perfect Spooky Season costume. The company also released a Thanksgiving Day Parade-inspired Brutus bobblehead and a Brutus in Christmas pajamas in front of the fireplace bobblehead. Also, last summer, FOCO released a very snazzy Brutus Buckeye Bighead.
In addition, FOCO just released a pair of bobbleheads to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ohio Stadium. One features Brutus, while the other shows Woody Hayes strutting above The Horseshoe.
As someone with a borderline unhealthy Ohio State bobblehead/collectible addiction, I can think of no better way to celebrate the final unofficial season before college football than with one (or all) of these magnificent merchandising masterpieces.
And, if actually care about teams other than Ohio State, FOCO has some other college team Peanut options that you might be interested in as well.
If for some reason you think you might need one of these for another school, I guess you can find the right one here.
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
Come on, you know you need these!
While Saturdays might be all about college football, that doesn’t mean that you have to stop rooting for the Buckeyes on Sundays. Our friends at Foco are helping you do just that with two Mini Bigheads of former Buckeyes who are now setting the NFL on fire during their rookie seasons; the Houston Texans’ record-breaking quarterback C.J. Stroud and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Bigheads are similar to standard bobbleheads but come with an even larger head for you to bobble with. The mini version scales them down, but keeps all of the meticulous detail that you expect, and it means that they are far cheaper than their larger counterparts. Each OSU Mini Bighead is available for just $35! Both C.J. and JSN are decked out in scarlet and grey and stand atop an Ohio State base with their names displayed in front and the school’s logo in multiple places.
There are only 144 individually numbered units available for preorder, so don’t miss your opportunity to get one of these before they are gone.
Get Your Stroud, Smith-Njigba Mini Bigheads NOW!
FOCO has been killing it with Ohio State bobbleheads over the past year. Just last month, they released a very cool Brutus bobblehead with a hidden version of The Horseshoe. This fall they’ve also released 15 different sport-specific Brutus bobbleheads. Earlier this month, they introduced Snoopy and Charlie Brown Buckeye bobblehead, and in August, they introduced a Brutus training camp bobblehead and for Memorial Day, the company released an “I Want You” Uncle Sam-inspired Brutus bobblehead. Those followed the NFL Draft, when FOCO released figures to celebrate the selections of C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr., and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Then, last fall, they released an absolute must-have Brutus “Then and Now” bobblehead featuring the current and original versions of everybody’s favorite poisonous nut!
And in October 2022, to celebrate Halloween, the company released a “Phantom of the Opera-themed bobblehead featuring our boy Brutus in a picture-perfect Spooky Season costume. The company also released a Thanksgiving Day Parade-inspired Brutus bobblehead and a Brutus in Christmas pajamas in front of the fireplace bobblehead. Also, last summer, FOCO released a very snazzy Brutus Buckeye Bighead.
In addition, FOCO just released a pair of bobbleheads to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ohio Stadium. One features Brutus, while the other shows Woody Hayes strutting above The Horseshoe.
As someone with a borderline unhealthy Ohio State bobblehead/collectible addiction, I can think of no better way to celebrate the final unofficial season before college football than with one (or all) of these magnificent merchandising masterpieces.
And, if actually care about teams other than Ohio State, FOCO has some other college team Peanut options that you might be interested in as well.
If for some reason you think you might need one of these for another school, I guess you can find the right one here.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State vs. Rutgers: 2023 game preview and prediction
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Ohio State vs. Rutgers: 2023 game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will look to run their record to 10-0 all-time against the Scarlet Knights.
Following last week’s 24-10 win at Wisconsin, Ohio State hits the road again this week. The Buckeyes will be in New Jersey to take on Rutgers, who they are 9-0 against all-time. A win over the Scarlet Knights on Saturday would mark the first time Ohio State has won their first 10 meetings with one opponent. Last year the Buckeyes had little trouble with Rutgers in Columbus, beating the Scarlet Knights 49-10. Ohio State has scored at least 49 points in each of their previous nine meetings with Rutgers.
Last week the Buckeyes were sparked by the return of running back TreVeyon Henderson, who put together a massive performance in the hard-fought win over the Badgers in Madison. After missing the previous three games after suffering an injury in the second half against Notre Dame, Henderson looked sharp against Wisconsin, rushing for 162 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, while also hauling in four passes for 45 yards. The 33-yard touchdown run with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for the Buckeyes, extending their lead to two touchdowns.
Along with Henderson’s performance, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. continued to state his case as a Heisman Trophy candidate. Harrison finished with six catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns. The second touchdown reception from Harrison broke a 10-10 tie in the third quarter, giving Ohio State the lead for good in the game. The wide receiver is now 111 yards from reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the second time, which would make him the only Buckeye receiver to ever record 1,000 receiving yards in two seasons.
Harrison is also working his way up the Ohio State career receiving record books. With another 100-yard receiving performance, Harrison now has 13 games where he has reached triple digits in a game, putting him just one 100-yard game away from tying David Boston’s school record. For his career, Harrison has 2,291 yards receiving, which is five yards away from passing Santonio Holmes for 10th place in school history, and 42 away from moving past K.J. Hill. Harrison also needs just five catches to move past Holmes’ career total of 140 catches, and move into the top-10.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Ohio State on Saturday night, though. The Buckeyes did turn the football over three times in the victory, marking the first time since the Indiana game in 2020 where they had three turnovers in a game. After throwing one interception in the first seven games this year, Kyle McCord was picked off twice against the Badgers, and he also coughed up the football which resulted in a fumble recovery by Wisconsin. To go along with his two interceptions, McCord completed 17 of his 26 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns in Madison.
While Henderson returned to the lineup last week, the Ohio State running back room seems like it is never fully healthy. Not only did Miyan Williams miss the game against Wisconsin, on Tuesday head coach Ryan Day announced Williams would miss the rest of the season after undergoing a medical procedure. With Williams now sidelined, that leaves Chip Trayanum’s bruising running style to complement Henderson’s speed and shiftiness. It will be interesting to see if Evan Pryor plays a bigger role with Williams injured since it’s obvious Day is doing everything possible to try and preserve Dallan Hayden’s redshirt.
On the other side of the football, the Ohio State defense continued their domination of their opponents this year. The Buckeyes have not only not allowed more than 17 points in a game so far this season, the Silver Bullets are one of just two teams in the country that have yet to give up a play of more than 40 yards this season, with Rutgers being the other team. Overall, the Ohio State defense is allowing just 260 yards per game, which ranks fourth in the country.
The Buckeye secondary received a boost with the return of Denzel Burke after the cornerback missed the Penn State game. Unfortunately the good health news wouldn’t last through the game, as safety Lathan Ransom was injured early in the fourth quarter on Saturday night after suffering an apparent lower leg injury. It is unknown how long Ransom will be sidelined for, but while Ransom is out of action expect Sonny Styles to step in at the “bandit” position. With Styles taking over for Ransom, cornerback Jordan Hancock will now see even more time at the nickel position, which is a spot where he and Styles had been splitting time.
One defensive back that will be itching to have a big performance on Saturday is Davison Igbinosun, who grew up in New Jersey. The cornerback has had little trouble settling into his role at Ohio State after transferring to Columbus after one season at Ole Miss. Igbinosun has 35 tackles this season, three pass breakups, and after recovering a fumble last week against Wisconsin, he now has two fumble recoveries this season. As if returning to his home state wasn’t motivation enough for Igbinosun, he’ll also want to outperform his brother, who is a safety at Rutgers.
One thing Ohio State wasn’t able to do a lot of against Wisconsin was put pressure on the quarterback. There was one exception, as defensive tackle Tyleik Williams recorded a sack and two tackles for loss against the Badgers. Williams is now the team’s leading tackler amongst defensive lineman, as he has 33 stops, and his eight tackles for loss are a team-high. Along with the strong work he is doing on the defensive line, Williams has also been able to get his big paws up at the right time, registering five pass breakups so far this year.
A big reason the Buckeyes weren’t able to put quite as much pressure on Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke was because J.T. Tuimoloau was injured in the first half against the Badgers. Even though Tuimoloau was able to return to the game in the second half, it was obvious he wasn’t at 100 percent. Since he wasn’t able to get to the quarterback, Tuimoloau saw his three-game streak of recording at least one sack snapped.
Even though Ohio State’s defensive line wasn’t able to get into the backfield much on Saturday night, defensive end Jack Sawyer was still working hard in the game. Sawyer finished the contest with a career-high six tackles. The tackle output for Sawyer ranked second on the team in the game, one behind Tommy Eichenberg and one ahead of Steele Chambers. The linebackers are the team’s top-two tacklers so far this year. Eichenberg heads into the Rutgers game with 61 tackles, while Chambers has 47 stops.
This isn’t quite the same Rutgers team we have become used to since they joined the Big Ten. The improved Scarlet Knights are playing with pride and confidence. With their 31-14 win two weeks ago over Indiana, Rutgers is already bowl eligible. Their 6-2 start is their best start to a season since they started the 2012 season 7-1. Not only do the Scarlet Knights have six wins before entering November for the first time since joining the Big Ten, their three conference wins already have tied a season-high.
Standing across the sidelines from Ryan Day will be Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. These two coaches are very familiar with each other since they were both members of the Ohio State coaching staff under Urban Meyer. Day knows Schiano is going to throw every trick he can at the Buckeyes, and it’s likely Schiano will have even more odd looks up his sleeve for Ohio State on Saturday since Rutgers is coming off a bye week. Under Schiano, the Scarlet Knights are 11-5 when coming off a bye.
One of the biggest surprises this year in the Big Ten has been the improvement of Rutgers on offense. The Scarlet Knights are the most improved team in the conference on offense, averaging 45 more yards of total offense per game this year, as well as 10.7 more points per game. The area on offense where Rutgers has been excelling the most this year has been with their running game, as the Scarlet Knights already have four games with at least 250 rushing yards. Prior to this year, Rutgers had just four games with 250 yards rushing over their last 70 games.
In their most recent game against Indiana, Rutgers ran for 276 yards, which set a school Big Ten record. Leading the charge on the ground was quarterback Gavin Wimsatt, who ran for 143 yards, which was the most be a quarterback in school history. Wimsatt also found the end zone three times on the ground. For the season, Wimsatt has ran for 362 yards and seven touchdowns. Along with his rushing prowess, Wimsatt has thrown for 1,134 yards and seven touchdowns, but also has tossed four interceptions.
Along with Wimsatt, Kyle Monangai powers the running attack of the Scarlet Knights. Monangai is the workhorse of the Rutgers ground game, carrying the football 144 times, which is the most in the Big Ten. Monangai has rushed for 744 yards and seven touchdowns entering Saturday’s contest. Not only has Monangai hit the 100-yard mark on the ground in four games this season, he has done so in each of the last two games. With 76 rushing yards, Monangai will reach 1,500 career rushing yards.
With how much they run the football, the Rutgers receivers don’t have huge numbers. That doesn’t mean Ohio State can overlook Wimsatt’s targets. Senior wide receiver Christian Dremel leads the team with 23 catches, 294 yards, and three touchdowns. JaQuae Jackson ranks second with 17 catches and 290 yards. The only other receivers with more than 100 yards receiving are Isaiah Washington and Ian Strong.
Not only has the offense of Rutgers reached new levels this season, the defense of the Scarlet Knights has been stout. The 126 points allowed through their first eight games is the fewest points given up at this point of the season since 2012 when they allowed just 114 points through their first eight games. Like the Buckeyes, Rutgers is averaging less than 300 yards per game entering Saturday’s contest.
Leading the way for the defense of the Scarlet Knights are linebackers Tyreem Powell and Deion Jennings. Powell leads Rutgers with 53 tackles, while Deion Jennings is just two tackles behind his partner at linebacker. At the third linebacker spot is Desmond Igbinosun, who is the brother of Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun. The Rutgers Igbinosun has made it a habit of making his way into the backfield of opponents this year, registering 5.5 tackles for loss. Mohamed Toure has also played a big roll with the unit as he has comeback from a knee injury suffered last year.
Even though they’ll have their work cut out for them against the Ohio State receiving corps, Rutgers does have some quality talent at defensive back. Safety Flip Dixon leads the secondary with 48 tackles and five pass breakups. At cornerback, the Scarlet Knights have a couple players who have made some impact plays throughout the season. Robert Longerbeam has two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a pick. On the other side, Max Melton has a sack, interception, fumble recovery, and forced fumble.
On the defensive line, defensive ends Aaron Lewis and Wesley Bailey lead the team with three sacks each. On the inside of the defensive line are tackles Isaiah Iton and Mayan Ahanotu. As a team, Rutgers has 17 sacks through their first eight games this season, and will look to add to that total against an Ohio State offensive line that has struggled so far this year.
As if Ohio State didn’t already have a big enough target on them as one of the top teams in the Big Ten, that target got even bigger on Tuesday night when the Buckeyes were put atop the College Football Playoff rankings. Ohio State knows they have a showdown in Ann Arbor with Michigan at the end of the month that will have massive implications in the Big Ten, as well as the CFP. The Buckeyes can’t afford to overlook their opponents the next three weeks.
What Ohio State needs to do on Saturday is play sound football. Greg Schiano knows the Buckeyes are the more talented team, so he’ll have to come up with some quirky ways to generate offense. We saw it back in 2020 when the Scarlet Knights threw about every trick play they could at Ohio State in the closest matchup between the two teams, although the Buckeyes still won by more than three touchdowns in Columbus.
The key for Ohio State is going to be to get Kyle McCord into a rhythm early on. If McCord is on his mark and finding Harrison and tight end Cade Stover, it will allow things to open up for TreVeyon Henderson, who can take over a game with his big play ability. Where McCord gets into trouble is when he gets flustered early and starts missing passes. While he usually ends up settling down in the second half, when he is off it allows opponents to hang around longer than they should.
The defense for Ohio State shouldn’t have too much trouble bottling up the Rutgers offense. Since they don’t have a ton to offer throwing the football, the Buckeyes should be able to load up to stop the run. If Ohio State is able to force a few quick punts they could put some distance on the Scarlet Knights early, which will be a problem for Rutgers because they aren’t built to put points on the scoreboard quickly.
Obviously it’s not a good idea to overlook a Greg Schiano team since he has ways to help his team stay close. Ohio State should be able to handle their business against the Scarlet Knights, much like Michigan did against Rutgers. While the Scarlet Knights will play tough as they try and defend their home turf, there is still a pretty big gap between the two teams. About the only things Rutgers will likely accomplish in this game is hold the Buckeyes under 49 points for the first time in 10 meetings between the schools.
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will look to run their record to 10-0 all-time against the Scarlet Knights.
Following last week’s 24-10 win at Wisconsin, Ohio State hits the road again this week. The Buckeyes will be in New Jersey to take on Rutgers, who they are 9-0 against all-time. A win over the Scarlet Knights on Saturday would mark the first time Ohio State has won their first 10 meetings with one opponent. Last year the Buckeyes had little trouble with Rutgers in Columbus, beating the Scarlet Knights 49-10. Ohio State has scored at least 49 points in each of their previous nine meetings with Rutgers.
Hendo, Harrison, and the rest of the Ohio State offense
Last week the Buckeyes were sparked by the return of running back TreVeyon Henderson, who put together a massive performance in the hard-fought win over the Badgers in Madison. After missing the previous three games after suffering an injury in the second half against Notre Dame, Henderson looked sharp against Wisconsin, rushing for 162 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, while also hauling in four passes for 45 yards. The 33-yard touchdown run with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for the Buckeyes, extending their lead to two touchdowns.
Along with Henderson’s performance, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. continued to state his case as a Heisman Trophy candidate. Harrison finished with six catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns. The second touchdown reception from Harrison broke a 10-10 tie in the third quarter, giving Ohio State the lead for good in the game. The wide receiver is now 111 yards from reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the second time, which would make him the only Buckeye receiver to ever record 1,000 receiving yards in two seasons.
Harrison is also working his way up the Ohio State career receiving record books. With another 100-yard receiving performance, Harrison now has 13 games where he has reached triple digits in a game, putting him just one 100-yard game away from tying David Boston’s school record. For his career, Harrison has 2,291 yards receiving, which is five yards away from passing Santonio Holmes for 10th place in school history, and 42 away from moving past K.J. Hill. Harrison also needs just five catches to move past Holmes’ career total of 140 catches, and move into the top-10.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Ohio State on Saturday night, though. The Buckeyes did turn the football over three times in the victory, marking the first time since the Indiana game in 2020 where they had three turnovers in a game. After throwing one interception in the first seven games this year, Kyle McCord was picked off twice against the Badgers, and he also coughed up the football which resulted in a fumble recovery by Wisconsin. To go along with his two interceptions, McCord completed 17 of his 26 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns in Madison.
While Henderson returned to the lineup last week, the Ohio State running back room seems like it is never fully healthy. Not only did Miyan Williams miss the game against Wisconsin, on Tuesday head coach Ryan Day announced Williams would miss the rest of the season after undergoing a medical procedure. With Williams now sidelined, that leaves Chip Trayanum’s bruising running style to complement Henderson’s speed and shiftiness. It will be interesting to see if Evan Pryor plays a bigger role with Williams injured since it’s obvious Day is doing everything possible to try and preserve Dallan Hayden’s redshirt.
The Silver Bullets continue to fly
On the other side of the football, the Ohio State defense continued their domination of their opponents this year. The Buckeyes have not only not allowed more than 17 points in a game so far this season, the Silver Bullets are one of just two teams in the country that have yet to give up a play of more than 40 yards this season, with Rutgers being the other team. Overall, the Ohio State defense is allowing just 260 yards per game, which ranks fourth in the country.
The Buckeye secondary received a boost with the return of Denzel Burke after the cornerback missed the Penn State game. Unfortunately the good health news wouldn’t last through the game, as safety Lathan Ransom was injured early in the fourth quarter on Saturday night after suffering an apparent lower leg injury. It is unknown how long Ransom will be sidelined for, but while Ransom is out of action expect Sonny Styles to step in at the “bandit” position. With Styles taking over for Ransom, cornerback Jordan Hancock will now see even more time at the nickel position, which is a spot where he and Styles had been splitting time.
One defensive back that will be itching to have a big performance on Saturday is Davison Igbinosun, who grew up in New Jersey. The cornerback has had little trouble settling into his role at Ohio State after transferring to Columbus after one season at Ole Miss. Igbinosun has 35 tackles this season, three pass breakups, and after recovering a fumble last week against Wisconsin, he now has two fumble recoveries this season. As if returning to his home state wasn’t motivation enough for Igbinosun, he’ll also want to outperform his brother, who is a safety at Rutgers.
One thing Ohio State wasn’t able to do a lot of against Wisconsin was put pressure on the quarterback. There was one exception, as defensive tackle Tyleik Williams recorded a sack and two tackles for loss against the Badgers. Williams is now the team’s leading tackler amongst defensive lineman, as he has 33 stops, and his eight tackles for loss are a team-high. Along with the strong work he is doing on the defensive line, Williams has also been able to get his big paws up at the right time, registering five pass breakups so far this year.
A big reason the Buckeyes weren’t able to put quite as much pressure on Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke was because J.T. Tuimoloau was injured in the first half against the Badgers. Even though Tuimoloau was able to return to the game in the second half, it was obvious he wasn’t at 100 percent. Since he wasn’t able to get to the quarterback, Tuimoloau saw his three-game streak of recording at least one sack snapped.
Even though Ohio State’s defensive line wasn’t able to get into the backfield much on Saturday night, defensive end Jack Sawyer was still working hard in the game. Sawyer finished the contest with a career-high six tackles. The tackle output for Sawyer ranked second on the team in the game, one behind Tommy Eichenberg and one ahead of Steele Chambers. The linebackers are the team’s top-two tacklers so far this year. Eichenberg heads into the Rutgers game with 61 tackles, while Chambers has 47 stops.
The Schianoman is thriving at Rutgers
This isn’t quite the same Rutgers team we have become used to since they joined the Big Ten. The improved Scarlet Knights are playing with pride and confidence. With their 31-14 win two weeks ago over Indiana, Rutgers is already bowl eligible. Their 6-2 start is their best start to a season since they started the 2012 season 7-1. Not only do the Scarlet Knights have six wins before entering November for the first time since joining the Big Ten, their three conference wins already have tied a season-high.
Standing across the sidelines from Ryan Day will be Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. These two coaches are very familiar with each other since they were both members of the Ohio State coaching staff under Urban Meyer. Day knows Schiano is going to throw every trick he can at the Buckeyes, and it’s likely Schiano will have even more odd looks up his sleeve for Ohio State on Saturday since Rutgers is coming off a bye week. Under Schiano, the Scarlet Knights are 11-5 when coming off a bye.
The offense of the Scarlet Knights
One of the biggest surprises this year in the Big Ten has been the improvement of Rutgers on offense. The Scarlet Knights are the most improved team in the conference on offense, averaging 45 more yards of total offense per game this year, as well as 10.7 more points per game. The area on offense where Rutgers has been excelling the most this year has been with their running game, as the Scarlet Knights already have four games with at least 250 rushing yards. Prior to this year, Rutgers had just four games with 250 yards rushing over their last 70 games.
In their most recent game against Indiana, Rutgers ran for 276 yards, which set a school Big Ten record. Leading the charge on the ground was quarterback Gavin Wimsatt, who ran for 143 yards, which was the most be a quarterback in school history. Wimsatt also found the end zone three times on the ground. For the season, Wimsatt has ran for 362 yards and seven touchdowns. Along with his rushing prowess, Wimsatt has thrown for 1,134 yards and seven touchdowns, but also has tossed four interceptions.
Along with Wimsatt, Kyle Monangai powers the running attack of the Scarlet Knights. Monangai is the workhorse of the Rutgers ground game, carrying the football 144 times, which is the most in the Big Ten. Monangai has rushed for 744 yards and seven touchdowns entering Saturday’s contest. Not only has Monangai hit the 100-yard mark on the ground in four games this season, he has done so in each of the last two games. With 76 rushing yards, Monangai will reach 1,500 career rushing yards.
With how much they run the football, the Rutgers receivers don’t have huge numbers. That doesn’t mean Ohio State can overlook Wimsatt’s targets. Senior wide receiver Christian Dremel leads the team with 23 catches, 294 yards, and three touchdowns. JaQuae Jackson ranks second with 17 catches and 290 yards. The only other receivers with more than 100 yards receiving are Isaiah Washington and Ian Strong.
Rutgers on defense
Not only has the offense of Rutgers reached new levels this season, the defense of the Scarlet Knights has been stout. The 126 points allowed through their first eight games is the fewest points given up at this point of the season since 2012 when they allowed just 114 points through their first eight games. Like the Buckeyes, Rutgers is averaging less than 300 yards per game entering Saturday’s contest.
Leading the way for the defense of the Scarlet Knights are linebackers Tyreem Powell and Deion Jennings. Powell leads Rutgers with 53 tackles, while Deion Jennings is just two tackles behind his partner at linebacker. At the third linebacker spot is Desmond Igbinosun, who is the brother of Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun. The Rutgers Igbinosun has made it a habit of making his way into the backfield of opponents this year, registering 5.5 tackles for loss. Mohamed Toure has also played a big roll with the unit as he has comeback from a knee injury suffered last year.
Even though they’ll have their work cut out for them against the Ohio State receiving corps, Rutgers does have some quality talent at defensive back. Safety Flip Dixon leads the secondary with 48 tackles and five pass breakups. At cornerback, the Scarlet Knights have a couple players who have made some impact plays throughout the season. Robert Longerbeam has two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a pick. On the other side, Max Melton has a sack, interception, fumble recovery, and forced fumble.
On the defensive line, defensive ends Aaron Lewis and Wesley Bailey lead the team with three sacks each. On the inside of the defensive line are tackles Isaiah Iton and Mayan Ahanotu. As a team, Rutgers has 17 sacks through their first eight games this season, and will look to add to that total against an Ohio State offensive line that has struggled so far this year.
Summary
As if Ohio State didn’t already have a big enough target on them as one of the top teams in the Big Ten, that target got even bigger on Tuesday night when the Buckeyes were put atop the College Football Playoff rankings. Ohio State knows they have a showdown in Ann Arbor with Michigan at the end of the month that will have massive implications in the Big Ten, as well as the CFP. The Buckeyes can’t afford to overlook their opponents the next three weeks.
What Ohio State needs to do on Saturday is play sound football. Greg Schiano knows the Buckeyes are the more talented team, so he’ll have to come up with some quirky ways to generate offense. We saw it back in 2020 when the Scarlet Knights threw about every trick play they could at Ohio State in the closest matchup between the two teams, although the Buckeyes still won by more than three touchdowns in Columbus.
The key for Ohio State is going to be to get Kyle McCord into a rhythm early on. If McCord is on his mark and finding Harrison and tight end Cade Stover, it will allow things to open up for TreVeyon Henderson, who can take over a game with his big play ability. Where McCord gets into trouble is when he gets flustered early and starts missing passes. While he usually ends up settling down in the second half, when he is off it allows opponents to hang around longer than they should.
The defense for Ohio State shouldn’t have too much trouble bottling up the Rutgers offense. Since they don’t have a ton to offer throwing the football, the Buckeyes should be able to load up to stop the run. If Ohio State is able to force a few quick punts they could put some distance on the Scarlet Knights early, which will be a problem for Rutgers because they aren’t built to put points on the scoreboard quickly.
Obviously it’s not a good idea to overlook a Greg Schiano team since he has ways to help his team stay close. Ohio State should be able to handle their business against the Scarlet Knights, much like Michigan did against Rutgers. While the Scarlet Knights will play tough as they try and defend their home turf, there is still a pretty big gap between the two teams. About the only things Rutgers will likely accomplish in this game is hold the Buckeyes under 49 points for the first time in 10 meetings between the schools.
LGHL Prediction: Ohio State 41, Rutgers 13
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LGHL Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Emma Shumate
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Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Emma Shumate
ThomasCostello 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
After a quiet first season in Columbus, can the shooter find her stride on a team needing offense?
The Ohio State women’s basketball team lost one player last year from its starting lineup. Not a bad year of turnover for most schools, but for the Buckeyes, the loss of guard Taylor Mikesell leaves an empty spot on the roster for distance shooting.
While all starters will be responsible for filling the void, someone off the bench has potential to surprise people. That could be guard Emma Shumate.
Name: Emma Shumate
Position: Guard
Class: Redshirt sophomore
High School: Newark High School (Newark, Ohio)
2022-23 Stats: 1.6 ppg, 1.03 rpg, 0.5 apg, .240 FG%, .231 3FG%, .500 FT%
Shumate came to the Buckeyes following one season with the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Newark, Ohio guard who head coach Kevin McGuff initially recruited added Shumate via the transfer portal after one year south of the Buckeye state border.
Redshirted in her first season, Shumate came to Ohio State with four years of eligibility and family history surrounding the game of basketball. Raised by then Newark High School basketball coach J.R. Shumate, the guard came into a Buckeyes team that had a solidified starting lineup.
Off the bench, Shumate never made the impact some fans of local high school basketball expected. Known as a strong deep shooter, Shumate never had the time on the court to reinforce the stories. In 32 appearances, the guard averaged 11.3 minutes per game, going 12-for-52 from beyond the arc. Shumate’s scoring high was six, achieved twice at opposite ends of the regular season.
Shumate is a tall guard who’s known for her shooting stroke, even if last year’s limited minutes didn’t necessarily show it. During the season, McGuff referenced that he can see Shumate as someone hitting multiple three-point shots a game. Of the guard’s 31 appearances last season, Shumate hit two three-point shots in two games.
For the offensive struggle, one surprise area where the Buckeyes benefited from Shumate’s play was inside the paint. The 6-foot-1 guard with impressive wingspan used her long arms to swat down 27 blocks, which led everyone on the scarlet and gray.
Ohio State’s struggled in the paint defensively over the past two seasons. This year, with reinforcements joining the team in the paint, Shumate may be able to focus more on contributing on the offensive half of the court.
With the abundance of upperclassmen guard depth, Shumate is a name to watch off the bench. Even then, it’ll be behind guard Rikki Harris, who’s the likely sixth player for the Buckeyes this season.
Shumate’s role this year could look a lot like Hevynne Bristow’s time with the Buckeyes before transferring to James Madison University in the summer. Last year, Bristow played around 15 minutes per game during the middle of the season, before losing minutes late in the year.
If Shumate’s shooting adjusts to the NCAA, those minutes are sure to rise.
Of Shumate’s made shots, the most memorable came against rivals. On New Year’s Eve, 2022, Shumate sent the Buckeyes into halftime up three thanks to a buzzer beating three.
Miss a player preview? Here’s who you can read about so far:
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ThomasCostello 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
After a quiet first season in Columbus, can the shooter find her stride on a team needing offense?
The Ohio State women’s basketball team lost one player last year from its starting lineup. Not a bad year of turnover for most schools, but for the Buckeyes, the loss of guard Taylor Mikesell leaves an empty spot on the roster for distance shooting.
While all starters will be responsible for filling the void, someone off the bench has potential to surprise people. That could be guard Emma Shumate.
Name: Emma Shumate
Position: Guard
Class: Redshirt sophomore
High School: Newark High School (Newark, Ohio)
2022-23 Stats: 1.6 ppg, 1.03 rpg, 0.5 apg, .240 FG%, .231 3FG%, .500 FT%
Last Season
Shumate came to the Buckeyes following one season with the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Newark, Ohio guard who head coach Kevin McGuff initially recruited added Shumate via the transfer portal after one year south of the Buckeye state border.
Redshirted in her first season, Shumate came to Ohio State with four years of eligibility and family history surrounding the game of basketball. Raised by then Newark High School basketball coach J.R. Shumate, the guard came into a Buckeyes team that had a solidified starting lineup.
Off the bench, Shumate never made the impact some fans of local high school basketball expected. Known as a strong deep shooter, Shumate never had the time on the court to reinforce the stories. In 32 appearances, the guard averaged 11.3 minutes per game, going 12-for-52 from beyond the arc. Shumate’s scoring high was six, achieved twice at opposite ends of the regular season.
What to Expect
Shumate is a tall guard who’s known for her shooting stroke, even if last year’s limited minutes didn’t necessarily show it. During the season, McGuff referenced that he can see Shumate as someone hitting multiple three-point shots a game. Of the guard’s 31 appearances last season, Shumate hit two three-point shots in two games.
For the offensive struggle, one surprise area where the Buckeyes benefited from Shumate’s play was inside the paint. The 6-foot-1 guard with impressive wingspan used her long arms to swat down 27 blocks, which led everyone on the scarlet and gray.
Ohio State’s struggled in the paint defensively over the past two seasons. This year, with reinforcements joining the team in the paint, Shumate may be able to focus more on contributing on the offensive half of the court.
Prediction
With the abundance of upperclassmen guard depth, Shumate is a name to watch off the bench. Even then, it’ll be behind guard Rikki Harris, who’s the likely sixth player for the Buckeyes this season.
Shumate’s role this year could look a lot like Hevynne Bristow’s time with the Buckeyes before transferring to James Madison University in the summer. Last year, Bristow played around 15 minutes per game during the middle of the season, before losing minutes late in the year.
If Shumate’s shooting adjusts to the NCAA, those minutes are sure to rise.
Highlights
Of Shumate’s made shots, the most memorable came against rivals. On New Year’s Eve, 2022, Shumate sent the Buckeyes into halftime up three thanks to a buzzer beating three.
Miss a player preview? Here’s who you can read about so far:
- Jacy Sheldon
- Rebeka Mikulášiková
- Diana Collins
- Taiyier Parks
- Rikki Harris
- Taylor Thierry
- Kennedy Cambridge
- Faith Carson
- Madison Greene
- Celeste Taylor
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LGHL Uncut Podcast: McGuff, Sheldon, McMahon on new season of Ohio State women’s basketball
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Uncut Podcast: McGuff, Sheldon, McMahon on new season of Ohio State women’s basketball
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Before the start of the Buckeyes’ 23-24 season, Ohio State talks expectations, starters for the season and more
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.
Monday, the Ohio State women’s basketball team held a public practice one week before the start of the 23-24 season. Before practice, head coach Kevin McGuff, forward Cotie McMahon, and guard Jacy Sheldon spoke with the media.
Coach McGuff talked about the upcoming game against USC, how he thinks this Buckeyes team could be special, and how they aren’t close to where they could be right now. Also, the scarlet and gray’s leader named Rebeka Mikulášiková the starting forward following the end of the 22-23 season where the Slovakian graduate senior lost her starting role at the end of the season.
McMahon talks about going into her sophomore season with a lot more preseason accolades following a breakout second half of her freshman season. The forward also talks about her growing role as a leader on the team, playing alongside people that she’ll play against Monday against USC, and what she’s worked on in the offseason to make her a better basketball player.
For Sheldon, the guard discussed how she doesn’t think much about this being her final season, or at least tries not to. She also talks about the growing relationship between her and shooting guard Celeste Taylor and more.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Before the start of the Buckeyes’ 23-24 season, Ohio State talks expectations, starters for the season and more
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.
Monday, the Ohio State women’s basketball team held a public practice one week before the start of the 23-24 season. Before practice, head coach Kevin McGuff, forward Cotie McMahon, and guard Jacy Sheldon spoke with the media.
Coach McGuff talked about the upcoming game against USC, how he thinks this Buckeyes team could be special, and how they aren’t close to where they could be right now. Also, the scarlet and gray’s leader named Rebeka Mikulášiková the starting forward following the end of the 22-23 season where the Slovakian graduate senior lost her starting role at the end of the season.
McMahon talks about going into her sophomore season with a lot more preseason accolades following a breakout second half of her freshman season. The forward also talks about her growing role as a leader on the team, playing alongside people that she’ll play against Monday against USC, and what she’s worked on in the offseason to make her a better basketball player.
For Sheldon, the guard discussed how she doesn’t think much about this being her final season, or at least tries not to. She also talks about the growing relationship between her and shooting guard Celeste Taylor and more.
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