-
Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
LGHL You’re Nuts: What is the biggest surprise of the college football AP top 25 preseason rankings?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: What is the biggest surprise of the college football AP top 25 preseason rankings?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Last week college football’s preseason AP top 25 rankings were revealed. While the usual suspects sit at the top of the rankings, there were some surprises throughout the rest of the top 25. There are some teams that will be looked at as overrated, while others might be underrated. Then there are some teams that feel like they are ranked right where they should be, like two-time defending champion Georgia at the top spot, and Ohio State being ranked fourth in the poll. All this and we haven’t even seen a down of college football played yet this season!
Does the preseason AP poll really matter? Yes and no. Obviously, it is helpful to be ranked as high as possible to start the season, as that will bring more attention your way. Then again, it’s not a death sentence. Last year TCU wasn’t ranked in the preseason top 25, yet they were able to make the College Football Playoff and beat Michigan in one of the semifinal games. For some teams, making the top 25 could end up setting expectations that might be a little too high, while others might play with a chip on their shoulder if they aren’t ranked.
Today what we want to know is what stood out the most to you with the preseason AP top 25 rankings. Was there a team you feel is getting too much respect? Or is there a team like TCU out there this year that isn’t getting the credit that you think it should be getting? Maybe you feel one team should be ranked ahead of another team that is higher than them. Outside of the first four teams in the rankings, since it feels like those four are ranked exactly where they should be, there are plenty of options when it comes to changes that could be made.
I know winning ugly is still winning, but Iowa was an absolutely dreadful watch last season. The Hawkeyes finished the season 8-5 but scored more than 30 points in just one game, and that scoring explosion came against Northwestern, who was one of the worst teams in the country last year. Spencer Petras started the year at quarterback before being replaced by Alex Padilla, who transferred to SMU during the offseason. Redshirt freshman Joe Labas closed out the year under center in the 21-0 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.
The disgusting offensive output from the Hawkeyes led to goals being set for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz this year. Whether failure to reach those goals will have any consequences, I’m not entirely convinced since Ferentz is the son of Iowa’s head coach. If anything, I feel like it’ll be like Casino where when Ace Rothstein is denied his gaming license he just switches job titles. Although I would pay to watch Kirk Ferentz be forced to fire his son because the offense was that bad.
There is reason for hope for the Iowa offense this year though, since they did scour the transfer portal and brought in Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All, as well as Ohio State wide receiver Kaleb Brown. Even though Iowa did upgrade its quarterback position, the bar was ridiculously low. Maybe McNamara will be good, I just wasn’t blown away with his play when he was at Michigan.
The reason Iowa is ranked is because of its defense. Even though defensive end Lukas Van Ness and linebacker Jack Campbell were drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Hawkeyes probably have a couple of cornfed bruisers waiting for their shot. Also returning this year is punter Tory Taylor, who can make up for some offensive deficiencies by flipping the field with some of his booming punts and pinpoint accuracy.
Will Iowa likely finish the season ranked in the top 25? It feels very likely with the relatively weak schedule. Aside from games at Penn State and Wisconsin, there isn’t a ton to be worried about. I just would have rather seen the Hawkeyes show some competency on offense for a couple of games before ranking them in the top 25. If any Iowa fans are mad about this, at least you’ll always have 55-24 to look back on.
Now I know that I am technically a year early on this, but let’s run through the top 10 in the 2023 AP Preseason College Football Poll:
According to the esteemed and educated reporters entrusted with this sacred voting right by the Associated Press, the 10 best teams in the country to start the 2023 college football season will all be Big Ten teams in less than five months’ time. Of course, if USC or Washington goes on to win a national title in January, we can’t technically claim them (although, I would be tweeting B1G! B1G! B1G! throughout the entire game), but it does bring up the question as to whether or not the new look Big Ten will be the best conference in college football.
Obviously, at the same time in which the Big Ten welcomes Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, the SEC will also bring Oklahoma and Texas on board as well, but those two teams aren’t starting the season in the top 10. I realize that the SEC is the superior conference and thanks to population migration, weather, and high school football rules, the South has an advantage over the Midwest in terms of the development of elite-level football players, but when you add in the four most competitive West Coast schools to the mix — featuring a completely different recruiting footprint — things do seem to get a bit closer.
In any given year, the tops, middles, and bottoms of the leagues could ebb and flow in competitiveness, but I think that there is a legitimate claim to be made that if things go well for B1G teams (current and future) this fall that the conference could legitimately lay claim to the Best College Football crown when the realignment dust settles in 2024.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Last week college football’s preseason AP top 25 rankings were revealed. While the usual suspects sit at the top of the rankings, there were some surprises throughout the rest of the top 25. There are some teams that will be looked at as overrated, while others might be underrated. Then there are some teams that feel like they are ranked right where they should be, like two-time defending champion Georgia at the top spot, and Ohio State being ranked fourth in the poll. All this and we haven’t even seen a down of college football played yet this season!
Does the preseason AP poll really matter? Yes and no. Obviously, it is helpful to be ranked as high as possible to start the season, as that will bring more attention your way. Then again, it’s not a death sentence. Last year TCU wasn’t ranked in the preseason top 25, yet they were able to make the College Football Playoff and beat Michigan in one of the semifinal games. For some teams, making the top 25 could end up setting expectations that might be a little too high, while others might play with a chip on their shoulder if they aren’t ranked.
Today what we want to know is what stood out the most to you with the preseason AP top 25 rankings. Was there a team you feel is getting too much respect? Or is there a team like TCU out there this year that isn’t getting the credit that you think it should be getting? Maybe you feel one team should be ranked ahead of another team that is higher than them. Outside of the first four teams in the rankings, since it feels like those four are ranked exactly where they should be, there are plenty of options when it comes to changes that could be made.
Today’s question: What is the biggest surprise of the college football AP top 25 preseason rankings?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Iowa being ranked
I know winning ugly is still winning, but Iowa was an absolutely dreadful watch last season. The Hawkeyes finished the season 8-5 but scored more than 30 points in just one game, and that scoring explosion came against Northwestern, who was one of the worst teams in the country last year. Spencer Petras started the year at quarterback before being replaced by Alex Padilla, who transferred to SMU during the offseason. Redshirt freshman Joe Labas closed out the year under center in the 21-0 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.
The disgusting offensive output from the Hawkeyes led to goals being set for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz this year. Whether failure to reach those goals will have any consequences, I’m not entirely convinced since Ferentz is the son of Iowa’s head coach. If anything, I feel like it’ll be like Casino where when Ace Rothstein is denied his gaming license he just switches job titles. Although I would pay to watch Kirk Ferentz be forced to fire his son because the offense was that bad.
There is reason for hope for the Iowa offense this year though, since they did scour the transfer portal and brought in Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All, as well as Ohio State wide receiver Kaleb Brown. Even though Iowa did upgrade its quarterback position, the bar was ridiculously low. Maybe McNamara will be good, I just wasn’t blown away with his play when he was at Michigan.
The reason Iowa is ranked is because of its defense. Even though defensive end Lukas Van Ness and linebacker Jack Campbell were drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Hawkeyes probably have a couple of cornfed bruisers waiting for their shot. Also returning this year is punter Tory Taylor, who can make up for some offensive deficiencies by flipping the field with some of his booming punts and pinpoint accuracy.
Will Iowa likely finish the season ranked in the top 25? It feels very likely with the relatively weak schedule. Aside from games at Penn State and Wisconsin, there isn’t a ton to be worried about. I just would have rather seen the Hawkeyes show some competency on offense for a couple of games before ranking them in the top 25. If any Iowa fans are mad about this, at least you’ll always have 55-24 to look back on.
Matt’s answer: Big Ten gets half of the top 10
Now I know that I am technically a year early on this, but let’s run through the top 10 in the 2023 AP Preseason College Football Poll:
According to the esteemed and educated reporters entrusted with this sacred voting right by the Associated Press, the 10 best teams in the country to start the 2023 college football season will all be Big Ten teams in less than five months’ time. Of course, if USC or Washington goes on to win a national title in January, we can’t technically claim them (although, I would be tweeting B1G! B1G! B1G! throughout the entire game), but it does bring up the question as to whether or not the new look Big Ten will be the best conference in college football.
Obviously, at the same time in which the Big Ten welcomes Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, the SEC will also bring Oklahoma and Texas on board as well, but those two teams aren’t starting the season in the top 10. I realize that the SEC is the superior conference and thanks to population migration, weather, and high school football rules, the South has an advantage over the Midwest in terms of the development of elite-level football players, but when you add in the four most competitive West Coast schools to the mix — featuring a completely different recruiting footprint — things do seem to get a bit closer.
In any given year, the tops, middles, and bottoms of the leagues could ebb and flow in competitiveness, but I think that there is a legitimate claim to be made that if things go well for B1G teams (current and future) this fall that the conference could legitimately lay claim to the Best College Football crown when the realignment dust settles in 2024.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 11
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State Football Countdown: 11
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 11 days remaining.
It’s not often that a football team puts up nearly 80 points in a game, but Ohio State did exactly that when they scored a whopping 11 touchdowns against Toledo this past season. Of course, the usual suspects had their days: C.J. Stroud passed for 367 yards and five touchdowns, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka each had over 100 yards receiving and combined for three scores, but the more fun part of the box score are the lesser known guys getting in on the action. Jayden Ballard scored on a long 72-yard TD to give him over 100 receiving yards on the day as well, while Dallan Hayden and TC Caffey each scored their first career TDs — Caffey being a walk-on.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 11 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Ohio State scores 11 touchdowns vs. Toledo (2022)
It’s not often that a football team puts up nearly 80 points in a game, but Ohio State did exactly that when they scored a whopping 11 touchdowns against Toledo this past season. Of course, the usual suspects had their days: C.J. Stroud passed for 367 yards and five touchdowns, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka each had over 100 yards receiving and combined for three scores, but the more fun part of the box score are the lesser known guys getting in on the action. Jayden Ballard scored on a long 72-yard TD to give him over 100 receiving yards on the day as well, while Dallan Hayden and TC Caffey each scored their first career TDs — Caffey being a walk-on.
Players to Wear the #11 (since 2010):
- Jake Stoneburner (2008-12)
- Vonn Bell (2013-15)
- Justin Cook (2015-16)
- Jalyn Holmes (2016-17)
- Austin Mack (2016-19)
- Tyreke Smith (2018-21)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2020-22)
- C.J. Hicks (2022-present)
- Brandon Inniss (present)
Continue reading...
2025 FL LB Elijah Melendez (Auburn Signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 25 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2025
Position: LB
School: Kissimmee(FL) Osceola
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 225lbs
Login to view embedded media
Rivals
HudL
Class: 2025
Position: LB
School: Kissimmee(FL) Osceola
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 225lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL Ryan Day still hasn’t made a starting quarterback decision, but the offensive line seems set
- News
- 0 Replies
Ryan Day still hasn’t made a starting quarterback decision, but the offensive line seems set
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Day actually had a lot to say except the one thing we all wanted to hear.
Monday was supposed to be THE day. The day Buckeye fans have been waiting for ever since C.J. Stroud declared for the NFL Draft: Who is the new starting quarterback going to be? Well, turns out no one knows that answer, even still. Here are some overall updates on the team from head coach Ryan Day.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24864437/1482662291.jpg "Ohio State Spring Football Game")
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Day said the staff is split “almost 50/50” on who the new QB1 should be. He loved using the analogy of a racehorse, comparing one to Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, saying how one would pull ahead, and then the other one would get even right alongside him.
“There’s not one that’s won the job and there’s not one that lost the job,” Day said.
He said the entire team and staff is confident in both guys, and the decision might not even be made in time for the Indiana game. A reporter asked if a decision wasn’t made by the end of this week, would both quarterbacks play in the first game of the season? Day responded, “Yeah, that’s fair to say.”
It was brought up how QB battles in the NFL differ from in college, and Day said it was pretty much the same criteria, but in the NFL, 99% of the time the guy who is the larger contract is going to be the starter. Clearly, that is not a problem in college football.
As for how McCord and Brown are progressing, Day said the passing game is improving in terms of decision-making and staying in the pocket. Obviously, these skills are not learned overnight, and playing in games will truly sharpen them, but it sounded like Day likes what he sees in that area.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24864454/1243174585.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 10 Arkansas State at Ohio State")
Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The starters haven’t been named yet for the offensive line, but there has been some leaders. Day said Josh Simmons at left tackle, Donovan Jackson at left guard, Carson Hinzman is “a little ahead of Vic [Cutler]” at center, Matt Jones at right guard and Josh Fryar at right tackle are his projected (yet undeclared) starters. True freshman Luke Montgomery sounds like he will definitely see some playing time as well.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24864463/1245916217.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 31 Semifinal Game Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl")
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The conversation surrounding the captains was pretty insightful. It was noted how only three were selected this year, whereas in years past there have been double that amount. Day commented on “the gap” that separates those who are voted captains from the other leaders of the team and said the space between Cade Stover and Tommy Eichenberg, then Xavier Johnson, then the rest of the team was substantial.
He said Johnson got the third-most votes, and his being a sixth-year player is huge in terms of leadership and maturity. The fact that he plays offense, defense, and special teams brings a ton of versatility to the team. Johnson was also a walk-on who earned a scholarship and had two huge touchdowns last season, one against Notre Dame and one against Georgia. Day had high praises for the Swiss army knife.
Stay tuned... maybe next week will be the BIG announcement. Or not.
Continue reading...
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Day actually had a lot to say except the one thing we all wanted to hear.
Monday was supposed to be THE day. The day Buckeye fans have been waiting for ever since C.J. Stroud declared for the NFL Draft: Who is the new starting quarterback going to be? Well, turns out no one knows that answer, even still. Here are some overall updates on the team from head coach Ryan Day.
Quarterback battle
Day said the staff is split “almost 50/50” on who the new QB1 should be. He loved using the analogy of a racehorse, comparing one to Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, saying how one would pull ahead, and then the other one would get even right alongside him.
“There’s not one that’s won the job and there’s not one that lost the job,” Day said.
He said the entire team and staff is confident in both guys, and the decision might not even be made in time for the Indiana game. A reporter asked if a decision wasn’t made by the end of this week, would both quarterbacks play in the first game of the season? Day responded, “Yeah, that’s fair to say.”
It was brought up how QB battles in the NFL differ from in college, and Day said it was pretty much the same criteria, but in the NFL, 99% of the time the guy who is the larger contract is going to be the starter. Clearly, that is not a problem in college football.
As for how McCord and Brown are progressing, Day said the passing game is improving in terms of decision-making and staying in the pocket. Obviously, these skills are not learned overnight, and playing in games will truly sharpen them, but it sounded like Day likes what he sees in that area.
Offensive Line Updates
The starters haven’t been named yet for the offensive line, but there has been some leaders. Day said Josh Simmons at left tackle, Donovan Jackson at left guard, Carson Hinzman is “a little ahead of Vic [Cutler]” at center, Matt Jones at right guard and Josh Fryar at right tackle are his projected (yet undeclared) starters. True freshman Luke Montgomery sounds like he will definitely see some playing time as well.
Captain Talk and Block O Recipient
The conversation surrounding the captains was pretty insightful. It was noted how only three were selected this year, whereas in years past there have been double that amount. Day commented on “the gap” that separates those who are voted captains from the other leaders of the team and said the space between Cade Stover and Tommy Eichenberg, then Xavier Johnson, then the rest of the team was substantial.
He said Johnson got the third-most votes, and his being a sixth-year player is huge in terms of leadership and maturity. The fact that he plays offense, defense, and special teams brings a ton of versatility to the team. Johnson was also a walk-on who earned a scholarship and had two huge touchdowns last season, one against Notre Dame and one against Georgia. Day had high praises for the Swiss army knife.
Random notes
- In fall camp he was surprised by the offensive line’s progress and the depth at defensive end. Jim Knowles said J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Kenyatta Jackson, and Caden Curry are as good as any DE in the country.
- Wide receiver Carnell Tate continues to impress Day, especially after everything he has gone through. Tate lost his mother earlier this summer in a Chicago shooting. The freshman has exhibited a ton of maturity according to Day.
- The starting kicker has been decided but not announced to the team and therefore the media.
- The defense is more aggressive this season; overall bigger size-wise, and seems to be getting more touches.
- Jim Knowles said Sonny Styles has solidified himself as a starting safety along with Lathan Ransom, but Ja’Had Carter, Josh Proctor, and Malik Hartford are still competing for the other starting spot.
Stay tuned... maybe next week will be the BIG announcement. Or not.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Which Week 0 college football game are you most excited for?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Which Week 0 college football game are you most excited for?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The slate doesn’t look all that appetizing, but there are still games to be watched.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Which Week 0 game are you most excited for?
Ahem... In a big, booming voice a la The Rock (the entertaining wrestler, not the guy who made Jungle Cruise): Finally! College football has come back... To our sports-viewing lives. And this could not have happened soon enough, Gene, because honestly, I am starting to feel a little weird about betting on the Little League World Series. Not enough to stop, mind you. But it has become quite evident that I need something else to occupy my time and place wagers on. You know how this stuff goes.
So it is great that Week 1 of the CFB season is upon us, but not before... That’s right, Week 0! And I am going to be honest here real quick; I do not understand Week 0. If the powers that be wanted to schedule one or two marquee matchups and make a real spectacle out of it, that would make sense. As it is, we have seven ‘meh’ games to look forward to this weekend, which is too many to make things feel special but not enough to really wet the ol’ whistle. I guess beggars can’t be choosers, though. Right?
None of this weekend’s games are truly spectacular or special, but still, college football is back. And to celebrate and/or ring in the new season, Gene and I decided to write about which Week 0 game has us most excited for the return of this glorious, glorious sport (and season).
For me, this was an easy one. I am most excited about Navy vs. Notre Dame, a re-scheduled game from the pandemic being played in Dublin, Ireland. And I will be absolutely dialed in for several reasons.
First and foremost is the pageantry of it. A matchup between historic ND and the freaking US Naval Academy, in one of the most beautiful places on Earth!? Are you kidding me? How could one not romanticize this occasion? It also helps that I have a wee bit or Irish in me as well, which makes the event even more special. And let’s not forget that last year’s Aer Lingus Classic was Nebraska vs. Northwestern. So to go from Scott Frost and Pat Fitzgerald to pretty much anything/anybody else is just a massive, massive win for all.
Another reason I am excited about this game is that I actually enjoy watching Navy football. Call me a sicko if you want, but the triple option is a thing of beauty. I love it with all my heart. It (triple option) is fun to watch because it is incredibly sophisticated and complex, in my opinion. I mean, multiple reads of the opposing defensive line and linebackers are not easy to pull off in what equates to the blink of an eye.
But Navy is and pretty much always has been very effective with their version of the triple option. The offense might look different in 2023, with Ken Niumatalolo no longer in the fold, but I would guess that this specialized rushing attack will still be the Midshipmen’s bread and butter.
And of course, the most intriguing aspect of this game is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. You know ‘em, I know ‘em, and the Ohio State Buckeyes know ‘em. The two teams will face each other again in late September, so as a Buckeye fan, Week 0 is a nice little preview of the enemy. Of particular interest to me is new ND quarterback Sam Hartman. The former Wake Forest signal caller threw the ball all over the yard for the Demon Deacons, but this ND team is and has been lacking proven weapons on the outside. Will he infuse new life into their passing game?
On the other side of the ball, the Fighting Irish return a bunch of players from a unit that ranked No. 22 in total defense last season (YPG allowed). But Marcus Freeman’s squad also lost Isaiah Foskey and Brandon Joseph, two former All-Americans. So will others step up? Is old friend Javontae Jean-Baptiste going to come back and haunt OSU? I doubt it! But we will see – or begin to see – this freaking Saturday!
It’s so close I can taste it, Gene. Come 2:30 ET on Saturday afternoon, I might find myself chugging Guinness and diving into a Shepherd’s pie. And it’s all because of Navy vs. Notre Dame.
I thought this would be a fun topic to tackle with Josh being that college football is upon us — sort of. Week 0 is here, and I thought to myself, “wow, there has to be at least one or two fun games to dive into this week! Any college football is good college football!”
And then I looked at the slate.
Navy vs. Notre Dame is likely the most intriguing option on the board. Not only is it the first game of the day, making it the first official game of the 2023 season, but it will take place in Ireland, adding an extra level of fun to the opener. Will the game be close on the field? Probably not, as the Fighting Irish are favored by nearly three touchdowns. However, service academies do tend to keep things relatively interesting, and if nothing else it will give us a glimpse at what Notre Dame is bringing to the table this year before their matchup with Ohio State.
There are a couple of real stinkers on this list, too. FIU vs. Louisiana Tech as the night cap? I’ll pass on that one (still probably a good chance I catch a few snaps). Hawaii vs. Vanderbilt in a battle between two of the worst programs in their own respective divisions? Think I'm good there too.
Then there are a few potentially fun games between lesser brand names. UTEP vs. Jacksonville State at 5:30 p.m. ET should be a pretty evenly matched football game, with the Miners currently listed as a one-point favorite on the road. Ohio vs. San Diego state could be interesting as well, and there’s nobody stopping you from rooting on the in-state Bobcats as 2.5-point underdogs. UMass vs. New Mexico State? ...it exists!
The game I'm most interested in is ironically probably going to be one of if not the biggest blowout of the day, and that is of course San Jose State hitting the road to face off against USC.
The Trojans are obviously interesting to Ohio State and the rest of the Big Ten as they will be joining the conference next season, but for now they enter the year as the Pac-12 title favorites. It’s easy to see why too, as Caleb Williams returns as one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. Do I think that Lincoln Riley runs a Mickey Mouse offense that makes all of his QBs look better than they are and leads to inflated stats and boosted Heisman Trophy campaigns? Yes, yes I do, but there is no denying that Williams is talented.
He should have little issue picking apart the Spartan defense this weekend, but I’ll be interested to see who steps up in that USC wide receiver core with Jordan Addison off to the NFL. They do return both Tahj Washington and Mario Williams from last season, but Arizona transfer Dorian Singer may come in and steal the spotlight. Guys like Zachariah Branch, Raleek Brown and Duce Robinson will also provide receiving threats from all over the field.
The offense should pick up right where it left off, but the real spotlight will be on that Alex Grinch led defense. It seemed very odd that Riley willingly brought one of the nation’s worst defensive coordinators with him from Oklahoma to the West Coast, but he got exactly what he bargained for when the Trojans ranked 94th nationally in scoring defense. This unit has a bunch of talent, and added even more with Georgia transfer Bear Alexander to join returnees Calen Bullock and Eric Gentry. Still, I will not trust a defense coached by Grinch until I see it.
We likely won’t learn all that much about USC in a game they should win rather handily, as they’re favored by more than 30 points. Still, it will be a first-look at this years’ College Football Playoff hopeful Trojan squad that Ohio State could very well see on the schedule before next year if the two teams were to meet in the postseason.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The slate doesn’t look all that appetizing, but there are still games to be watched.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Which Week 0 game are you most excited for?
Josh’s Take
Ahem... In a big, booming voice a la The Rock (the entertaining wrestler, not the guy who made Jungle Cruise): Finally! College football has come back... To our sports-viewing lives. And this could not have happened soon enough, Gene, because honestly, I am starting to feel a little weird about betting on the Little League World Series. Not enough to stop, mind you. But it has become quite evident that I need something else to occupy my time and place wagers on. You know how this stuff goes.
So it is great that Week 1 of the CFB season is upon us, but not before... That’s right, Week 0! And I am going to be honest here real quick; I do not understand Week 0. If the powers that be wanted to schedule one or two marquee matchups and make a real spectacle out of it, that would make sense. As it is, we have seven ‘meh’ games to look forward to this weekend, which is too many to make things feel special but not enough to really wet the ol’ whistle. I guess beggars can’t be choosers, though. Right?
None of this weekend’s games are truly spectacular or special, but still, college football is back. And to celebrate and/or ring in the new season, Gene and I decided to write about which Week 0 game has us most excited for the return of this glorious, glorious sport (and season).
For me, this was an easy one. I am most excited about Navy vs. Notre Dame, a re-scheduled game from the pandemic being played in Dublin, Ireland. And I will be absolutely dialed in for several reasons.
First and foremost is the pageantry of it. A matchup between historic ND and the freaking US Naval Academy, in one of the most beautiful places on Earth!? Are you kidding me? How could one not romanticize this occasion? It also helps that I have a wee bit or Irish in me as well, which makes the event even more special. And let’s not forget that last year’s Aer Lingus Classic was Nebraska vs. Northwestern. So to go from Scott Frost and Pat Fitzgerald to pretty much anything/anybody else is just a massive, massive win for all.
Another reason I am excited about this game is that I actually enjoy watching Navy football. Call me a sicko if you want, but the triple option is a thing of beauty. I love it with all my heart. It (triple option) is fun to watch because it is incredibly sophisticated and complex, in my opinion. I mean, multiple reads of the opposing defensive line and linebackers are not easy to pull off in what equates to the blink of an eye.
But Navy is and pretty much always has been very effective with their version of the triple option. The offense might look different in 2023, with Ken Niumatalolo no longer in the fold, but I would guess that this specialized rushing attack will still be the Midshipmen’s bread and butter.
And of course, the most intriguing aspect of this game is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. You know ‘em, I know ‘em, and the Ohio State Buckeyes know ‘em. The two teams will face each other again in late September, so as a Buckeye fan, Week 0 is a nice little preview of the enemy. Of particular interest to me is new ND quarterback Sam Hartman. The former Wake Forest signal caller threw the ball all over the yard for the Demon Deacons, but this ND team is and has been lacking proven weapons on the outside. Will he infuse new life into their passing game?
On the other side of the ball, the Fighting Irish return a bunch of players from a unit that ranked No. 22 in total defense last season (YPG allowed). But Marcus Freeman’s squad also lost Isaiah Foskey and Brandon Joseph, two former All-Americans. So will others step up? Is old friend Javontae Jean-Baptiste going to come back and haunt OSU? I doubt it! But we will see – or begin to see – this freaking Saturday!
It’s so close I can taste it, Gene. Come 2:30 ET on Saturday afternoon, I might find myself chugging Guinness and diving into a Shepherd’s pie. And it’s all because of Navy vs. Notre Dame.
Gene’s Take
I thought this would be a fun topic to tackle with Josh being that college football is upon us — sort of. Week 0 is here, and I thought to myself, “wow, there has to be at least one or two fun games to dive into this week! Any college football is good college football!”
And then I looked at the slate.
Navy vs. Notre Dame is likely the most intriguing option on the board. Not only is it the first game of the day, making it the first official game of the 2023 season, but it will take place in Ireland, adding an extra level of fun to the opener. Will the game be close on the field? Probably not, as the Fighting Irish are favored by nearly three touchdowns. However, service academies do tend to keep things relatively interesting, and if nothing else it will give us a glimpse at what Notre Dame is bringing to the table this year before their matchup with Ohio State.
There are a couple of real stinkers on this list, too. FIU vs. Louisiana Tech as the night cap? I’ll pass on that one (still probably a good chance I catch a few snaps). Hawaii vs. Vanderbilt in a battle between two of the worst programs in their own respective divisions? Think I'm good there too.
Then there are a few potentially fun games between lesser brand names. UTEP vs. Jacksonville State at 5:30 p.m. ET should be a pretty evenly matched football game, with the Miners currently listed as a one-point favorite on the road. Ohio vs. San Diego state could be interesting as well, and there’s nobody stopping you from rooting on the in-state Bobcats as 2.5-point underdogs. UMass vs. New Mexico State? ...it exists!
The game I'm most interested in is ironically probably going to be one of if not the biggest blowout of the day, and that is of course San Jose State hitting the road to face off against USC.
The Trojans are obviously interesting to Ohio State and the rest of the Big Ten as they will be joining the conference next season, but for now they enter the year as the Pac-12 title favorites. It’s easy to see why too, as Caleb Williams returns as one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. Do I think that Lincoln Riley runs a Mickey Mouse offense that makes all of his QBs look better than they are and leads to inflated stats and boosted Heisman Trophy campaigns? Yes, yes I do, but there is no denying that Williams is talented.
He should have little issue picking apart the Spartan defense this weekend, but I’ll be interested to see who steps up in that USC wide receiver core with Jordan Addison off to the NFL. They do return both Tahj Washington and Mario Williams from last season, but Arizona transfer Dorian Singer may come in and steal the spotlight. Guys like Zachariah Branch, Raleek Brown and Duce Robinson will also provide receiving threats from all over the field.
The offense should pick up right where it left off, but the real spotlight will be on that Alex Grinch led defense. It seemed very odd that Riley willingly brought one of the nation’s worst defensive coordinators with him from Oklahoma to the West Coast, but he got exactly what he bargained for when the Trojans ranked 94th nationally in scoring defense. This unit has a bunch of talent, and added even more with Georgia transfer Bear Alexander to join returnees Calen Bullock and Eric Gentry. Still, I will not trust a defense coached by Grinch until I see it.
We likely won’t learn all that much about USC in a game they should win rather handily, as they’re favored by more than 30 points. Still, it will be a first-look at this years’ College Football Playoff hopeful Trojan squad that Ohio State could very well see on the schedule before next year if the two teams were to meet in the postseason.
Continue reading...
LGHL Player to Watch: Chip Trayanum has earned more carries in 2023
- News
- 0 Replies
Player to Watch: Chip Trayanum has earned more carries in 2023
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State is stacked at running back when everyone is healthy, but Trayanum might get more snaps even if the injury bug doesn’t bite as often in 2023.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Indiana.
Arizona State transfer Chip Trayanum has been an intriguing player since his arrival in Columbus. His player bio on the official Ohio State athletics website calls him “one of the strongest and fastest players on the team,” and he has split time between running back and linebacker.
He arrived with the expectations of playing linebacker, earning the right to remove the black stripe from his helmet last August in the run-up to the 2022 season. He began the season as a backup linebacker, providing depth at the position. He managed eight solo tackles and five assists on the year in limited action. That included a season-high three tackles (all solo stops) against Michigan State.
But a series of injuries to OSU running backs changed the plan. TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, and Dallan Hayden all sustained knocks to varying degrees during the year. Some played hurt while others had to sit out. Seemingly a different player saw the bulk of the carries each week.
Trayanum’s first carry as a Buckeye came on Oct. 22 in a 54-10 dismantling of Iowa in Ohio Stadium. He only toted the rock once, but he gained nine yards on the play. He didn’t log another rushing attempt until the Michigan game on Nov. 26. Despite being pressed into a more prominent role on the big stage, Trayanum acquitted himself well, rushing for 83 yards on just 14 carries — a respectable 5.93 yards-per-carry average. He also had a reception for 14 yards.
All told, Trayanum’s versatility got him on the field in nearly every way possible in 2022. He saw 46 snaps on offense, 36 on defense, and 154 on special teams. The coaching staff must have liked what they saw in Trayanum at running back.
The Akron native excelled at running back in the 2023 Ohio State Spring Game, rushing for 110 yards — including a 65-yard touchdown — on just eight carries. He also caught two passes for 15 more yards. He showed good patience to allow a hole to open on the touchdown.
Trayanum even threw a pass in the Spring Game, completing it for seven yards to quarterback Chad Ray.
With his speed, strength and size (5-foot-11, 233 pounds), Trayanum has the tools to fill in on either side of the ball, but with the injury history of the guys in front of him on the depth chart, it’s a luxury for Ohio State to have someone who racked up 691 yards in 13 games spread across his first two seasons in college at Arizona State.
But, more than that, Ryan Day has a guy who is pushing for more snaps at running back. Those snaps will be difficult to come by if Henderson and Williams stay healthy, although Trayanum will still likely see more second-half carries this season.
And if the injury bug does strike again, Ohio State might not see the running game fall off much.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State is stacked at running back when everyone is healthy, but Trayanum might get more snaps even if the injury bug doesn’t bite as often in 2023.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Indiana.
Arizona State transfer Chip Trayanum has been an intriguing player since his arrival in Columbus. His player bio on the official Ohio State athletics website calls him “one of the strongest and fastest players on the team,” and he has split time between running back and linebacker.
He arrived with the expectations of playing linebacker, earning the right to remove the black stripe from his helmet last August in the run-up to the 2022 season. He began the season as a backup linebacker, providing depth at the position. He managed eight solo tackles and five assists on the year in limited action. That included a season-high three tackles (all solo stops) against Michigan State.
But a series of injuries to OSU running backs changed the plan. TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, and Dallan Hayden all sustained knocks to varying degrees during the year. Some played hurt while others had to sit out. Seemingly a different player saw the bulk of the carries each week.
Trayanum’s first carry as a Buckeye came on Oct. 22 in a 54-10 dismantling of Iowa in Ohio Stadium. He only toted the rock once, but he gained nine yards on the play. He didn’t log another rushing attempt until the Michigan game on Nov. 26. Despite being pressed into a more prominent role on the big stage, Trayanum acquitted himself well, rushing for 83 yards on just 14 carries — a respectable 5.93 yards-per-carry average. He also had a reception for 14 yards.
All told, Trayanum’s versatility got him on the field in nearly every way possible in 2022. He saw 46 snaps on offense, 36 on defense, and 154 on special teams. The coaching staff must have liked what they saw in Trayanum at running back.
The Akron native excelled at running back in the 2023 Ohio State Spring Game, rushing for 110 yards — including a 65-yard touchdown — on just eight carries. He also caught two passes for 15 more yards. He showed good patience to allow a hole to open on the touchdown.
Trayanum even threw a pass in the Spring Game, completing it for seven yards to quarterback Chad Ray.
With his speed, strength and size (5-foot-11, 233 pounds), Trayanum has the tools to fill in on either side of the ball, but with the injury history of the guys in front of him on the depth chart, it’s a luxury for Ohio State to have someone who racked up 691 yards in 13 games spread across his first two seasons in college at Arizona State.
But, more than that, Ryan Day has a guy who is pushing for more snaps at running back. Those snaps will be difficult to come by if Henderson and Williams stay healthy, although Trayanum will still likely see more second-half carries this season.
And if the injury bug does strike again, Ohio State might not see the running game fall off much.
Continue reading...
