Silver Bullets Podcast: Bowl season, the transfer portal, and Kyle McCord
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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It was an eventful week for the Ohio State Buckeyes and they didn’t even play a game.

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Ohio State’s first week off between the end of the regular season and... [checks notes] the Cotton Bowl... has been an eventful one. The Buckeyes may be preparing for a game against Missouri, but there’s no telling what that will look like.

Our show starts with a discussion of Ohio State’s bowl bid, the College Football Playoff, Florida State’s snub, and the other noteworthy games. We discuss where the other Big Ten teams ended up in terms of bowl season and how we think those matchups will go.

We then turned our attention to the transfer portal. The Buckeyes have had a dozen players declare for the portal so far. Most of them were unsurprising — players who had been backups, struggled with injuries, got passed on the depth chart by younger guys, or a combination of those things. However, there were a couple of big surprises, especially starting quarterback Kyle McCord.

We dive into McCord’s decision and how it may (or may not) work out for him, and discuss the other prominent quarterbacks who entered the portal. The other key name was Julian Fleming, and we touch on what he may be thinking in terms of improving his draft stock.

We also discussed Miyan Williams’ decision to enter the NFL Draft. Chop has struggled with injuries, but could be an intriguing player on Sundays if he can stay healthy. But is it better for him to get drafted or find a good situation as an undrafted free agent?

Finally, we are happy to talk about Tommy Eichenberg accepting his invitation to the Senior Bowl. These all-star games are a great way for players to make connections and show scouts how they stack up against other great players. It is also fun to have a rooting interest in the game, so we’re glad Tommy made the decision to accept his invitation.

We’ll be here with you every week from now until the end of the 2023 Ohio State football season (and then monthly). We’d love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.

Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Uncut Podcast: Chris Holtmann, Ben Johnson discuss Ohio State’s 84-74 win over Minnesota
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Both head coaches spoke to the media after the game, as well as select players.

Throughout the season, Land-Grant will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.

Listen to the episode and subscribe: ​

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Head coaches Chris Holtmann and Ben Johnson, as well as Jamison Battle and Bruce Thornton, spoke with the media following Ohio State’s 84-74 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Schott Sunday night.

Johnson said that the Buckeyes have “taken a step up” defensively since Minnesota last faced them — which was, of course, when they beat the Buckeyes in January in Columbus. Johnson said that Ohio State’s backcourt specifically is “very long and physical” and that the games they lost last year have undoubtedly played dividends this year and both Gayle and Thornton’s development.

Thornton talked about the final stretch where Ohio State put the game away with three three-pointers from three different players on three consecutive possessions, saying that he does not want other teams to be able to “key in on” any particular guy late in games. Battle talked about Dawson Garcia (who had 36 points), saying that they were roommates last year at Minnesota, but that on the court “it’s war.”

Holtmann praised Minnesota’s rebounding and Garcia’s ability to stay mobile, but also said that he loved his team’s start to the game, when it jumped ahead by 15 early. He said his team needs to close the first half better, but was proud of their poise in the closing minutes.

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Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com​

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Celeste Taylor named Big Ten Player of the Week after Tennessee performance
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

An impressive performance against the Vols gives Taylor her first conference hardware of the season

The Ohio State women’s basketball team looked impressive on Sunday in a total performance against the Tennessee Volunteers. In the 78-58 victory, head coach Kevin McGuff’s side led the game from the jump to the final buzzer, securing the Buckeyes’ first win against the Vols on Rocky Top after four previous defeats. From that victory, a member of the scarlet and gray secured solo recognition, when the Big Ten named guard Celeste Taylor the player of the week.

Taylor had her best performance in a short seven-game career in scarlet and gray. The graduate senior transfer from Duke University was everywhere Ohio State needed her to be against the Volunteers.

Offensively, Taylor scored a season high 15 points as a member of the Buckeyes. In addition, Taylor added six offensive rebounds, matching the entire roster of Tennessee players put together. Taylor also added three assists.

Defensively, Taylor played the game Ohio State fans are now coming to expect from the Long Island native. Taylor added two steals and a block. A look closer at the performance itself and Taylor didn’t relent.

In the first quarter, with Ohio State already up 20-9 with under four minutes remaining, the Volunteers had three players in the paint, waiting to grab a defensive rebound. With most of the Buckeyes already getting back on defense, Taylor noticed the rebound wasn’t falling cleanly to the Vols. Taylor jumped up from behind and grabbed the ball away from Tennessee for one of her six offensive rebounds on the night.

On the Buckeyes next defensive possession, 6-foot-3 forward Karoline Striplin had the ball in the paint and went up for a layup. The 5-foot-11 Taylor didn’t let Striplin get the ball in the net, swatting the ball away for her lone block of the game.

Taylor also excelled in the half court. Tennessee guard Jasmine Powell, who started against the Buckeyes Sunday, entered the game averaging 12.7 points per contest. With Taylor involved in guarding on defense, Powell ended the game scoring just two points.

Overall, the win against Tennessee put Taylor within one rebound of her four-year career high, spanning stops with the Texas Longhorns and Duke Blue Devils.

While it was a weekly award, Taylor’s defense has impressed all season. While still adjusting to a new system, Taylor averages 2.0 steals per game and is third on the roster in defensive rating.

This award is the first for Taylor, and the first Buckeye to win the honor since Taylor’s predecessor at shooting guard, now professional Taylor Mikesell, won on Jan. 9, 2023. In two seasons with the Blue Devils, Taylor didn’t earn the honor of ACC Player of the Week but did win Defensive Player of the Year and was one of three finalists for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

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Ohio State women’s basketball a different team from first game of the season
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

After starting the campaign with a tough defeat, the Buckeyes’ focus on key parts of its game yields results

Last season, the Ohio State women’s basketball team made a reputation for its ability to come back from deficits. Big deficits. The Buckeyes scaled 14, 17, and even 24-point mountains. Mountains might not be fair though; it was more like climbing out of self-dug holes. At the start of the 23-24 season, Ohio State almost did it again.

Down 18 points to the USC Trojans at halftime, the scarlet and gray ended the third quarter with a two-point lead. Except the script was a little different than the 22-23 season. The Buckeyes lost in a fourth quarter where USC looked like the dominant side behind 32 points and six rebounds from Juju Watkins, who might not be competing for only Freshman of the Year but maybe even Player of the Year.

Coming back from deficits is great for the onlooker but teams and coaches would rather have Sunday’s Buckeyes game against the Tennessee Volunteers.

The game was entertaining, highlighting talented teams with stars on each side, but competitively it was one-sided. The Buckeyes led from the jump, never relinquishing its lead; a juxtaposition to game one.

“I don’t think we put our best foot forward in that first game,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “I told the team after the game that this is the best week of practice that we had. And that’s why we improved and that’s why we played well.”

What did Ohio State practice that showed on the court? Rebounding.

Tennessee entered the game with four players averaging at least five rebounds a game, not including injured forward Rickea Jackson who averages 12 per game. Not a huge total but compared to the Buckeyes whose lone player above or close to that amount was guard/forward Taylor Thierry averaging 7.7 per game.

The Vols are a team with tall, athletic, forwards who can make things difficult inside the paint, limiting offensive rebounds. Ohio State had 17 against Tennessee. That’s the highest offensive rebound total in a game for the Buckeyes in almost four years, grabbing 17 against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Feb. 2, 2020.

Leading the way for the Scarlet and Gray weren’t the usual suspects of Thierry or forward Cotie McMahon. Nope, it was the starting guard duo of Celeste Taylor and Jacy Sheldon.

After making passes, the guards found solid positioning in the paint, boxing out taller Tennessee players, to better positions to jump and grab loose balls on the offensive boards. Of Taylor’s 12 rebounds on the night, half came offensively. It was by design.

“I knew rebounding would be a huge key to this game, but we did emphasize offensive rebounding all week because what happens is they’re so big around the basket. When you drive it, their post players do a good job. They come over, test shots, trying to take it away, which allows the person that they’re guarding to come in offensive,” said McGuff. “So I thought our guards did a good job attacking and making the post help.”

For Taylor and Sheldon, it wasn’t only rebounding. A look at the stat lines for the two guards tells the story of being everywhere on the court, and finding a way to make an impact:


It was part of an overall fantastic gift for coach McGuff on his birthday, with Taylor even regifting following the game, in the locker room.

Got @CoachMcGuff a 20-point ranked road win for his birthday pic.twitter.com/RkqApHDYbf

— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) December 4, 2023​

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The fun off the court matches how the Buckeyes played on it, in Knoxville. Now, the competition gets more difficult for the rest of December. On Dec. 18, the No. 2 team in the nation, the UCLA Bruins, descended on the Schottenstein Center. However, Sunday showed a team that’s growing in the early part of the season.

“We looked really connected out there today,” said McGuff. “I think both ends of the court did a really good job playing together.”

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They are into Iowa territory on the over/under, which is at either at 28 or 28.5 so far.

You’re Nuts: College Football Playoff predictions
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 Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images

Who is going to win it all?

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: Our College Football Playoff predictions.​

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Josh’s Take​

The 2023-24 College Football Playoff is officially set, and well, people certainly have feelings about the selection committee’s decision-making process, general intelligence, motive(s), and/or possible hatred toward their team. Not me, though... Not my team, not my problem.

I actually think that the selection committee nailed it this year. Breaking precedent to leave Florida State out was a bold and controversial decision, but in my opinion, also the right one. I mean, did you see the Noles against Florida and/or Louisville? Their offense was putrid without Jordan Travis. And I have nothing against FSU – you certainly don’t want to see them penalized because of injury – but we literally just saw what would have happened had they snuck in at No. 4. Here’s a hint: The Midwest version of Florida State played in Indianapolis a few nights ago, and it ended very, very poorly.

In the last year of the four-team playoff, I appreciate that the selection committee went with the four best — in their opinion. As opposed to the most deserving. It sucks for FSU, but them’s the breaks. If the Noles wanted to leave nothing up to chance, they should have simply waxed Louisville 59-0 — something that is absolutely and undeniably possible with a third-string QB.

Now that I have pissed off all of Tallahassee, I will just tell you that Gene and I picked some low-hanging fruit for today’s edition of You’re Nuts. We are going to share our CFP predictions, all of which will surely come to fruition. We were originally going to debate whether Kyle McCord eventually becomes Ohio State’s eighth Heisman Trophy winner (seventh individual), but that no longer appears to be likely.

Getting back to the CFP; I anticipate fireworks. The committee chose four really good teams, and as a result, I believe that we will see two close games. TTUN, Washington, Texas, and Alabama are all capable of winning it (the natty), but in the end, I expect superior coaching to determine the champion.

What do I mean by that? I just think that Nick Saban and Kalen DeBoer have a leg up in their respective matchups. The latter is viewed by some as the “new kid on the block”, but he has three NAIA championships on his resume and boasts a 24-2 record at Washington. I also love his aggressive mindset and willingness to let his guy make a play, regardless of the situation. As for the former, well, Saban is Saban, and he is going up against Jim Harbaugh who hasn’t won a bowl game since the Reagan administration.

I think Washington-Texas becomes a shootout, which will ultimately be won by Michael Penix Jr. and his impressive arsenal of weapons. The crowd will likely be full of burnt orange, but UT already lost their starting running back and saw Xavier Worthy go down in the Big 12 title game. So the Longhorns could be hurting/lacking weapons, while the Huskies appear to be firing on all cylinders.

In the other semifinal, I expect Alabama’s collective talent and experience to win out. Don’t get me wrong: TTUN has some guys. And they play well together on both sides of the ball. But Bama has a roster full of studs who also play well together — and are coached by the GOAT. The trump card here is that Saban will coach to win... Do with that comment what you will.

Then, if and/or when Washington and Alabama meet up, I think the Huskies pull off a minor upset. There’s just something about this DeBoer and this UW team that makes me believe. I think their defense plays ‘well enough’ in this hypothetical final matchup, and Rome Odunze goes bananas. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but give me 31-24 Washington.

Gene’s Take​

I want to start off by saying that unlike Josh, I find it patently ridiculous that Florida State was left out of the College Football Playoff as a 13-0 Power 5 conference champion. Sure, the Seminoles’ offense looked really bad in the win over Louisville in the ACC title game, but they still beat a top-15 team by double-digits to remain undefeated. Alabama beat Georgia in the SEC title game, which is obviously an impressive feat, but the rest of their season was pedestrian at best in what was a down year for the SEC — the league’s 7-9 OOC record was the worst among the P5. Florida State scheduled and beat two SEC teams this season in LSU and Florida, and for them to do everything possible in their power and still not make the CFP feels wrong.

That being said, there is nothing that can be done to change things now, and while I don’t think Alabama deserved to be here, there is still a very legitimate chance that the Crimson Tide go on to win it all, because at the end of the day Nick Saban is the greatest to ever do it in this sport.

I believe Alabama will defeat Michigan in the No. 1 vs. No. 4 matchup, and yes it is partially just because I am a hater. However, I also think that the Tide will challenge the Wolverines in ways that Ohio State could not, and that starts first and foremost with a head coach who wont be afraid of the moment and a defense that can pin its ears back and create pressure on J.J. McCarthy. Michigan allowed four sacks in the win over Iowa in the B1G title game, and guys like Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell will be a huge challenge for a Wolverines offensive line that has looked susceptible in pass protection at times. It will probably be a lower-scoring game, but I cannot in good faith pick a Jim Harbaugh-led team over a Saban one.

On the other side, I think Washington-Texas is going to be a banger, but I love this Huskies team. Michael Penix Jr. has been sensational this year, throwing for over 4,200 yards and 33 touchdowns, and he has a treasure trove of incredibly talented wide receivers at his disposal in Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan as well as a sturdy running back in Dillon Johnson. Texas has some great receiver talent as well in Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, and Quinn Ewers is no slouch either at QB, but I just like what Washington has going a lot more. Again, looking at the coaches on each sideline, I think Kalen DeBoer is one of the best head coaches in the sport and is never afraid to trust his best players in the biggest spots, while Steve Sarkisian has been known to throw up a stinker.

Back in September I picked Washington as my national title favorite, and while the other three teams in my CFP prediction turned out to be incorrect (Georgia, Ohio State and Florida State), I am sticking with the Huskies to win it all. I am incredibly worried that Josh and I picking the same champion will almost certainly backfire, but I do genuinely think Washington has been the most complete team in college football this season. Jalen Milroe has made tremendous strides from where he started the year, but he is still no Penix, and Alabama’s wide receiver core is nowhere near as talented as the Huskies’. This Crimson Tide team is clearly talented, but I cannot pick a team that needed to convert a 4th-and-31 to win the game against Auburn — a team that lost by 21 points to New Mexico State — to win the whole damn thing.

Both teams have strong defensive units, but I’ll take the team with a more dynamic offense in a 31-20 victory for Washington to secure the program’s third claimed national championship and the first since 1991.

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LIVE: Ohio State football transfer portal tracker
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 Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

An up-to-date list of Buckeyes that have entered their name in the transfer portal.

The college football transfer portal has turned into the Wild West. It can be hard to keep track of which players are coming and going in what has become a rapidly evolving space. As such, Land-Grant Holy Land is here to keep you updated on which Ohio State players will be looking for new homes this offseason. This tracker will only focus on outgoing names, as we will have individual breakdowns for any Buckeye newcomers.

The below is sorted in the order these decisions were announced, and we will keep this space updated as new names join the list, with the transfer portal period officially spanning from Dec. 4-Jan. 2.

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• Omari Abor - DE

Amor was the No. 63 overall player and No. 6 edge rusher in the 2022 class per the 247Sports Composite. The Texas native’s time in Columbus was mostly spent on the sideline as a result of injuries, playing just one game in 2022 before redshirting and then needing surgery for an undisclosed injury prior to the 2023 campaign. Abor officially played 29 total snaps this season, registering two total tackles — one each against Western Kentucky and Purdue — and one tackle for loss. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

• Cam Martinez - SAF

Martinez came to Ohio State as the No. 14 athlete and No. 7 player out of Michigan in the 2020 class, per the 247Sports Composite. After playing 175 snaps for the Buckeyes last season in a rotational role, Martinez played just 28 total snaps this year, with all but six of those coming in the team’s first three games. A dynamic player two-way player out of high school, it wasn’t clear which side of the ball he would end up at for the Buckeyes, but he spent his time almost exclusively in the defensive backfield. In his three years in Columbus, Martinez totaled 38 tackles, four pass breakups and a pick-six. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

• Victor Cutler - OL

After transferring to Ohio State prior to the 2023 season, Cutler is now back in the transfer portal. As the starting left tackle for UL Monroe in 2022, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound offensive lineman came to Columbus expecting to compete for the center job, but it was ultimately Carson Hinzman that earned the starting nod. Cutler appeared only in mop-up duty for Ohio State, playing 21 snaps spanning the course of five games. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

• Evan Pryor - RB

There was hope that Pryor would join the running back rotation at Ohio State as more of a pass-catching threat, but a torn patellar tendon that caused him to miss the entire 2022 season hampered those expectations. Pryor joined the Buckeyes as the No. 6 running back and No. 83 player nationally in the 2021 class, per the 247Sports Composite, and was highly sought-after because of his dual-threat ability as a runner and in the passing game. As a result of the injury and a crowded RB room, Pryor saw just 32 snaps this season, tallying 19 carries for 49 yards and one reception for two yards. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

• Ryan Turner - CB

Turner, a Florida native, came to Ohio State as a four-star prospect and the No. 37 corner in the 2022 class, per the 247Sports Composite. After playing in four games (20 snaps) and redshirting last season, Turner appeared in just two games this year, playing 14 snaps apiece in blowout wins over Michigan State and Minnesota. In total, the Chaminade-Madonna College Prep product recorded three tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack in his two years with the Buckeyes. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

• Parker Lewis - K

Lewis transferred to Ohio State in 2022, sitting behind Noah Ruggles for a year and looking to compete for the starting kicker role this season. That job was ultimately won by Jayden Fielding, and with Fielding being just a sophomore, that left Lewis without a clear path for playing time with the Buckeyes. Lewis appeared in just one game for OSU this season, taking a pair of kickoffs against Western Kentucky — both of which resulted in touchbacks. In his two years with the Trojans, Lewis made 26 of his 35 field goal attempts and went 46-of-47 on extra points. He enters the portal as a grad transfer.

• Jyaire Brown - CB

The third member of Ohio State’s secondary to enter the portal thus far, Brown was the No. 24 CB in the 2022 class and the No. 8 player out of Ohio, per the 247Sports Composite. It looked as though the Lakota West product was poised for an increase in playing time in his sophomore season after playing in 10 games (197 snaps) as a freshman, recording three pass breakups and a forced fumble, but saw just 47 snaps this year as he trailed Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock and Jermaine Mathews Jr. on the depth chart. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

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Let’s talk about the prospects for the future QB situation here.

I figured he won't be in CFB for much longer but will probably be worth posting about.

Whether he crashes and burns or finds success at the next level, it will probably be entertaining.

Didn't find a thread about him in the search bar, so firing up a thread.

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Ohio State survives second-half scare, beats Minnesota 84-74 to extend winning streak to six gamees
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes have now won six games in a row, and are 1-0 in the Big Ten.

After knocking off a maroon and gold team last week to extend its winning streak to five games (its longest such streak in nearly two years), the Ohio State men’s basketball team (7-1, 1-0) welcomed another maroon and gold team to the Schottenstein Center Sunday evening in the Big Ten opener.

Minnesota (5-3, 0-1) is coming off of a 97-64 blowout win over New Orleans Thursday night. The Golden Gophers had five different players score in double digits as the team nearly put up 100 points, but even with that performance, Minnesota was still just No. 127 in offensive efficiency in the nation coming into this game, according to KenPom. Conversely, Ohio State was No. 17. in the country entering this game.

Chris Holtmann went with the same starting lineup he’s used all season, with sophomores Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Felix Okpara, and Evan Mahaffey joined by senior (and former Minnesota star) Jamison Battle.

Ben Johnson’s Gophers rolled out a starting lineup of Johua Ola-Joseph, Elijah Hawkins, Braeden Carrington, Isaiah Ihnen, and Dawson Garcia.

Ohio State sprinted out to an 11-2 lead over the Gophers by the first media timeout, thanks in large part to the heroics of a former Gopher sticking it to his former team. Battle took three shots, including two three-pointers, over the first 3:23, and knocked down all three of them, leading to a quick eight points.

Hot start for @OhioStateHoops' Jamison Battle. pic.twitter.com/bheZXE9DTm

— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) December 3, 2023

Click to expand...

The Buckeyes pushed their lead out to 30-15 by the under-eight media timeout, mostly in thanks to Battle and Thornton. The pair both scored in double digits in the first half, and were given lots of extra opportunities thanks to plenty of Minnesota turnovers. However, Minnesota went on an 8-0 run over the final 2:37 of the first half to go into the break down 42-28, when things certainly looked like they were about to get much, much uglier.

PAYNE WITH THE SLAM @GopherMBB pic.twitter.com/gl94DEqKB5

— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) December 3, 2023

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Thornton, Gayle, and Battle all scored in double digits in the first half for Ohio State, which shot 55.6% overall over the first 20 minutes. Garcia had eight points and five rebounds in the first half for Minnesota.

Ohio State’s 14-point lead held firm by the under-12 timeout, with the Buckeyes leading 58-44. It turned into Dawson Garcia against the world, with Minnesota’s junior big man taking nearly half of his team’s shots for the second-straight year against the Buckeyes. Ohio State had no answer for him, but fortunately Minnesota wasn’t able to string enough stops together on the other end to cut into the deficit.

You simply can't stop Bruce @Bruce2T_ x @OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/s8d35BYpHR

— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) December 4, 2023

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After falling way behind over the first 10 minutes or so, the Golden Gophers hung with the Buckeyes for the remaining 30 but weren’t ever able to string enough stops together to make it a one-possession game again. What once looked like a Buckeye blowout wound up being a grind-it-out win, but a win nonetheless. By the time the buzzer sounded, Ohio State had locked up its sixth consecutive win, 84-74.

If you weren’t around tonight to see Ohio State open Big Ten play with a win and extend its winning streak to six, here are a few key moments and plays that had a hand in the big win:

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Just a bit of a sibling rivalry ​

As many times as he was asked about it this week, Battle would not bite on the idea that there was any exta motivation playing against his former home state school. Battle said multiple times this past week that the guys on Minnesota are “his brothers” and that there was nothing but love between him and his former Gopher teammates.

Maybe it wasn’t fueled by disdain for his “brothers”, but Battle came out scorching hot in the first few minutes of Sunday’s game, dropping eight points on his former team over the first 3:23 of the game. After knocking down a three from the far corner 1:46 into the game, he followed it with a step-back triple from the top of the key a moment later, and was converted a pair of free throws after being fouled at the 16:37 mark. Those free throws put Ohio State up 10-2 in the early going.

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Two-man wrecking crew ​

Thornton and Battle were about as close to perfect as could be in the first half of this one, combining for 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting. The two outscored Minnesota by themselves for most of the first half, finishing with six fewer points than the entire Minnesota team in the first half.

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Taking advantage of turnovers ​

Amongst several other issues, the Gophers did not take care of the ball at all. Minnesota turned over the biscuit nine times in the first half of Sunday night’s game, which led to 11 Ohio State points for the Buckeyes. Minnesota did better in the second half, only turning it over four times, which turned into seven second-chance points.

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Minnesota closes the first half strong ​

It looked like Minnesota was on the brink of getting run off the floor at the end of the first half, with Ohio State up 22 with 2:37 remaining until the bell. However, the Buckeyes gave up multiple easy dunks plus two extra buckets down the stretch, allowing Minnesota to end the half on an 8-0 run. That gave the Gophers some confidence heading the locker room, but in reality Ohio State should’ve been up 25+ points, and the game should’ve been all but over before the halftime bell.

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Ohio State was still not sure what to do with Dawson Garcia ​

Garcia was the main reason the Gophers were able to upset Ohio State in Columbus last season — aside from that arroneus foul call at the very end of the game. In that game, Garica had 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting, nine rebounds, and two assists.

Garcia wasn’t as efficient on Sunday, but he was still all over the box score. Minnesota’s leading scorer carries a heavy load for the Gophers — so much so, that he took nearly half of their shot attempts in this game.

Ohio State started the game with Mahaffey guarding him, but in the second half made a switch and put Okpara on him. At 6-foot-11, he’s a tough matchup since he can step several feet away from the basket and still knock down shots. Garcia finished with 36 points on 12-of-25 shooting in 38 minutes. He also had 11 rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

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Ref show​

The second half had absolutely no rhythm to it, with both teams getting into the bonus with 11:02 remaining in the game. With 11 minutes still to play, 30 fouls had been called, with nine different players getting called for multiple fouls by that point.

By the time the final horn sounded, the two teams had combined for 40 personal fouls (22 for Minnesota, 18 for Ohio State).

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Garcia cuts it to single-digits​

Ohio State never figured out how to stop Dawson Garica. Even when he missed his shots, he was somehow scoring points. With 5:55 remaining in the game and Ohio State up 66-55, Garcia drove to the basket and missed a shot. The rebound went high in the air above the rim, and both he and Mahaffey got a hand on it, tipping it into the air yet again. Garcia was able to get a hand on it the third time over Mahaffey, tipping the ball into the basket for 27th and 28th points of the game. This pulled Minnesota back within nine points for the first time since the 10:46 mark of the first half — a stretch of 24:51.

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Return of the salmon suit ​

Chris Holtmann’s infamous salmon suit jacket, which we have discussed numerous times over the years here at Land-Grant Holy Land, made an appearance for tonight’s game against the Gophers.


A favorite amongst fans and amongst his own players, Holtmann has typically only pulled out the salmon suit for one or two of the biggest home games each year. A few years ago, Holtmann wore it when the Buckeyes took on Cleveland State at historic St. John arena, and again when they faced Kent State over at that old barn across Lane Avenue.

Tonight did not seem like a big enough occasion to break out his first-string suit jacket, but in his defense, Holtmann did hype up this Minnesota team quite a bit this week, and the program gave out Deion Sanders-esque sunglasses to the first 500 students on Sunday ngiht.

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Up Next:​

Ohio State (7-1, 1-0) has a quick turnaround as in-state foe Miami (OH) travels to Columbus Wednesday night. The Redhawks (4-3) are the No. 249 team in the nation, and recently won on the road at Marshall. Miami was picked to finish sixth in the MAC this season.

Ohio State’s game against Miami tips off at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on BTN+.

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No. 16 Ohio State women’s basketball dominant over No. 20 Tennessee 78-58
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State University athletic department

The Buckeyes make program history with first Knoxville victory over the Tennessee Volunteers

Before the Ohio State women’s basketball team and Tennessee Volunteers could even make it to the tip off Sunday, there were already eyes firmly on the court. All looking for the status of Vols star forward Rickea Jackson. Missing five games in a row with a lower leg injury, Jackson didn’t warm up with Tennessee and sat for a sixth game in a row.

Questions linger on what difference Jackson would have made for the Vols, with the Buckeyes taking the away win, its first in program history against Tennessee on Rocky Top, in a 78-58 victory.

Ohio State was the fourth ranked opponent in a row for the Vols, and it looked like Tennessee went through the wringer early on. From the jump, the Buckeyes found success in the paint and perimeter. Guard Celeste Taylor and forward Cotie McMahon had duplicate drives to the paint to start the scoring, the second coming off the first turnover created by the Buckeyes on the day.

The Buckeyes hoped to go strong on defense like it did last year to start the 22-23 season, where Ohio State forced 29 turnovers against the Volunteers.

What didn’t work for the scarlet and gray was shooting deep. Tennessee’s been susceptible to the three-point shot so far this season, but halfway through the first quarter Ohio State was 1-for-3.

In the first, it was dueling scoring runs for each side. Ohio State went on an 11-point run, pushing an early 13-point lead. It didn't last however, with a Vol coming back from injury to make an immediate impact, and it wasn't Jackson.

Last season, center Tamari Key had the makings of an All-American season but went to the bench after only nine games. Blood clot concerns made Key a medical scratch for the Vols. Seeing Key back on the court Sunday was a feel-good story but didn’t make Ohio State feel so good.

Tennessee, with Key, went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter, with Ohio State leading 20-15. The Buckeyes were 8-for-11 shooting until the end of its run, but ended the quarter missing its final eight shots.

Quiet to start the game was forward/guard hybrid Taylor Thierry. It took 13 minutes for the forward to register a shot, that she didn’t make. It was a testament to the work getting done by the Tennessee defense. Thierry makes a lot of her points off her teammates finding her in the paint.

Key didn’t help. The size and physicality of the center gave the other four Tennessee Vols room to move and play more one-on-one against the Buckeyes’ shooters. In seven appearances off the bench though, Key hasn’t played more than seven minutes. Once Key went to the bench in the second quarter, Ohio State showed improvement.

Thankfully for the scarlet and gray, forward Rebeka Mikulášiková was also filling in the scoring for Thierry. The Slovakian hit Ohio State’s first two three-point shots, with the rest of the team missing the other six attempts. Mikulášiková’s shot fake was working because of those threes, but had to go to the bench early in the second quarter with two fouls.

It was a chess match between head coach Kevin McGuff and Tennessee coach Kellie Harper. After Mikulášiková went to the bench, Harper brought Key back in with two fouls to go up against the much smaller Eboni Walker. Key met her seven minutes game total for the year in the first half alone, scoring five points and three rebounds.

Shooting for Tennessee wasn’t helping though. The Vols only took 11 total shots in the second quarter, hitting 27.3% of its chances. On the other end, Ohio State played mistake free basketball.

The Buckeyes didn’t give up the ball once in the second quarter, and forced six for the Vols, extending its lead to 43-28, thanks to guard Jacy Sheldon.

With what Tennessee thought was the final offensive possession, guard Avery Strickland hit a three-point shot, cutting the deficit to 13. With 12 seconds remaining, Sheldon surged up the court, cut through two defenders and had the wherewithal to know the clock was coming to an end. Under the basket, Sheldon shot with a noticeably early release to beat the shot clock and put the Buckeyes up 15 points.

McMahon led the way for the Buckeyes in the second quarter, scoring 11 of her 18 first half points before halftime.

Expecting a first half adjustment from the Vols, Ohio State didn’t relent out of the locker room. The Buckeyes started it with a six-point run, featuring two turnovers in the Vols first two offensive possessions of the quarter. With only 1:44 ticking off the third quarter clock, coach Harper had to call a timeout, with the scarlet and gray going up 21 points.

The Vols weathered the pressure, and eventually found success from deep. After the early Buckeyes run, Tennessee scored 11 of the next 15 points, with two shots beyond the arc. Coach Harper brought Key back in to try and channel some of the second quarter play but success didn’t follow because of costly Tennessee turnovers; two in 20 seconds.

Ohio State used its renewed defensive pressure on the offensive side of the court. scoring seven of the next eight points, keeping its lead to 20 points.

In that run though, the Buckeyes lost McMahon to foul trouble. Sitting on 19 points, McMahon had three third quarter fouls, bringing her game total to four. That meant a seat on the bench, but Ohio State didn’t slow down in response.

Thierry did her own McMahon impression receiving a pass on the wing. With the shot clock winding down, Thierry didn’t opt for the deep shot. Instead, Thierry ran to the paint, hitting the layup plus a free throw from the line.

The Buckeyes took a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter, and Taylor added to it quickly, hitting her first three-point shot of the game. Tennessee needed to go on a monumentally big run but the Vols and Buckeyes traded baskets. Plus, when the Vols had possession of the ball, it took too long for anything to come to fruition.

Ohio State grabbed the win thanks to 19 points from McMahon, who fouled out in the fourth quarter, 18 from Mikulášiková and a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds for Taylor. Big Ten takes the win over the SEC 78-58.

Mikulášiková Milestone​

In Sunday’s game, Mikulášiková earned a personal milestone, hitting 1,000 points. The shot was appropriately a three-pointer.

Mikulášiková is the prototypical European big, the kind of player McGuff values for her ability to stretch the defense while posting up beyond the arc. Mikulášiková earned a single game record on the season in three-point shots made and points scored with three from deep, ending the game with 18 points.

Smart Basketball​

Ohio State’s known for causing turnovers, but on Sunday the Buckeyes were huge in not giving the ball away. With careful passing and more room to move on offense, the scarlet and gray didn't suffer a turnover in the second quarter, on a run of almost 13 and a half minutes stretching from the end of the first into the third quarter.

While coach McGuff’s side didn’t run up 29 turnovers like it did last year (a still impressive 20 turnovers forced), the margin leaned heavily in the Buckeyes’ favor Sunday night.

Happy Birthday to Coach McGuff​

The Buckeyes had quite the birthday gift for coach McGuff on Sunday. Entering the Big Ten/SEC matchup, Ohio State never beat the Vols in Knoxville, Tennessee and never twice in a row.

A ranked victory is a great gift for any coach, but the convincing nature of the Buckeyes’ win shows signs that Ohio State trajectory is moving in the right direction. That continued improvement will be crucial next Sunday against the 6-1 Penn State Nittany Lions and eight days after that against the No. 2 ranked UCLA Bruins.

What’s Next​

Ohio State heads straight back to Columbus following Sunday’s game in SEC country, because Tuesday the Buckeyes go again. This time, against Ohio University, of the MAC. Like the Vols, the scarlet and gray finish a home-and-home with the in-state rivals. This time, after defeating the Bobcats in Athens, Ohio last year 86-56.

The Bobcats enter the Schottenstein Center with a 2-3 record, coming off a 75-72 defeat to Longwood University on Nov. 29. The Buckeyes are 21-1 against Ohio University, but that lone loss came in 2019, with coach McGuff leading a freshman Sheldon and the scarlet and gray.

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Ohio State opens as 6.5-point favorites vs. Missouri in the Cotton Bowl
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 Ed Zurga/Getty Images

The Buckeyes will meet the Tigers in Dallas on Dec. 29

With Ohio State failing to make the College Football Playoff following a loss to Michigan in the regular season finale, the Buckeyes now know who and where they will be playing their final contest of the 2023 campaign.

The CFP Committee didn’t exactly get things right, as 13-0 ACC Champion Florida State was left out of the final field of four in favor of a 12-1 Alabama team that needed to convert a 4th-and-31 against Auburn to stay alive and won what was the worst version of the SEC in several years by knocking off Georgia in conference title game. Regardless, No. 1 seed Michigan will take on the No. 4 seed Crimson Tide, while No. 2 Washington will face off against No. 3 Texas.

Outside of the College Football Playoff, No. 7 Ohio State will be partaking in the Cotton Bowl, where they will meet No. 9 Missouri in Arlington, Texas. It will be interesting to see what version of the Buckeyes shows up on Dec. 29, as many of their top players — including wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. — are likely to opt out to prepare for the NFL Draft. Still, Ryan Day’s squad will enter the game as nearly a touchdown favorite.

All lines courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Spread: Ohio State -6.5​

Ohio State finished the regular season 11-1, losing 30-24 in the finale against Michigan in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes were led offensively this season by the nation’s No. 1 wide receiver in Harrison Jr., who racked up over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air. On the ground, TreVeyon Henderson led the way with 854 yards and 11 touchdowns in his nine games played, averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry. Ohio State ranks second nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 11 points per game. The 30 points allowed in the loss to the Wolverines was the only time all year the Buckeyes let up more than 17 points in a game. Ohio State did not do much in terms of creating havoc plays, tallying only seven picks and 22 sacks as a team, but did a great job of keeping teams out of the end zone.

Missouri finished the regular season at 10-2, losing a 49-39 contest to LSU and battling with Georgia in a 30-21 loss. Senior quarterback Brady Cook put up strong numbers to the tune of nearly 3,200 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions, and was aided by star receiver Luther Burden. Just a sophomore, Burden totaled 83 receptions for just under 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns. Cody Schrader was strong on the ground as well, compiling 1,500 yards and 13 TDs on 6.1 yards per attempt. The Tigers were middle of the road on defense, allowing 22.3 points per game, but defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine had a tremendous season with four picks and 12 PBUs, while defensive lineman Darius Robinson led the way in the sack department with 7.5.

As touched on earlier, what happens in this game could largely be determined by just how many opt-outs there are on the Ohio State side. While the Tigers don't have to worry about Burden leaving early, as he is not yet draft eligible, the Buckeyes could potentially be without three of their top offensive weapons if Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and TreVeyon Henderson all decide to opt out. Defensively, there is a good chance OSU is also without top corner Denzel Burke, in addition to defensive linemen J.T. Tuimoloau, Tyliek Williams, Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall as well as DBs Jordan Hancock and Lathan Ransom — all of whom have big decisions to make.

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

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Buckeyes will play Missouri in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Friday, Dec 29th at 8 ET on ESPN.

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Game Preview: No. 16 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. No. 20 Tennessee
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

While it might not have the star power of last year’s matchup, a win for the Buckeyes is crucial in a tough December

Following a long week off the for the Ohio State women’s basketball team, the Buckeyes are back at it in a big way. The scarlet and gray travel south to face a loud crowd of orange, in Knoxville, Tennessee against the Tennessee Volunteers.

While injuries are hurting the Vols to start the season, it's a program that can’t be taken lightly.

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Preview​

Last year, Buckeyes fans were spoiled. Right off the bat, Ohio State faced a top 10 team and beat them convincingly. Compare that to this season, where head coach Kevin McGuff’s side had another top team in the nation on the first day, but fell short. What’s followed is game-after-game where the Buckeyes were heavy favorites, and they fulfilled expectations at the final buzzer.

Sunday’s Tennessee game marks the first ranked opponent in five games, even if the Vols potentially slip out of the top 25 come Monday. Either way, going into a passionate away environment will go a long way for an Ohio State team still adjusting in early season games, A win today, and it sets the Buckeyes up for a tough end of the 2023 calendar.

A week from today, Ohio State welcomes the Penn State Nittany Lions for the first conference game of the season. Usually that’s not cause for concern, but Penn State is different this year. The Nittany Lions have one loss all season, and it was a one-point defeat to the USC Trojans, the same side who dispatched the Buckeyes on Nov. 6.

Fast forward eight days later and the No. 2 ranked UCLA Bruins descend on the Schottenstein Center. A tall task for any team in the nation. The month ends with a potentially tough game against Belmont and a trip to Ann Arbor to tip off the full conference season on Dec. 30. So, Sunday’s game against the Volunteers is big.

The storyline heading into Sunday’s Big Ten/SEC battle is the availability of forward Rickea Jackson. The graduate senior averages 22 points and 12 rebounds per game, although Jackson’s missed the last five games due to an ankle injury. How the Buckeyes play hinges on that availability.

Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper isn’t giving any information away about Jackson’s injury status, except she’s waiting for the medical staff to clear the star.

Either way, it’s not like the Volunteers suddenly shrink to a mid major side without Jackson. Ohio State still has to deal with a talented Tennessee team, led by point guard Destinee Wells.

The former Belmont Bear guard transferred to Rocky Top with two seasons left in eligibility. Before coming to Tennessee, Wells led the way for Belmont with 19.9 points and 4.9 assists per game. When the guard gets in big moments, she has the tendency to respond in a big way.

Take the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The No. 12 tournament ranked Bears defeated the No. 5 Oregon Ducks in double overtime. Wells had 16 points and seven assists in the victory, played coincidentally in the location of Sunday’s game: Thompson-Boling Arena. So it’s no shock that when Wells went into the transfer portal, Harper came calling.

Wells started this season off slowly, but has since started the last four games for the Vols, improving in each contest. In Wednesday’s narrow defeat to No. 18 Notre Dame, Wells had 13 points and five assists. When Wells is dishing, there are players around her who can put away shots, like fellow guard Jasmine Powell.

Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

With Jackson out, Powell’s slid into the primary scorer role for the Vols. The graduate senior, who played her first three years with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, can hurt teams at multiple levels. Powell has a compact three-point shot that given any space will go up, but the Michigan native will also go for the rim, pull up for midrange shots or find an open teammate.

The Wells/Powell combination will give Ohio State a handful, but this year guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor have been up to the assignment. Will that continue with a higher quality Tennessee backcourt?

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Lineup Notes​

• Forward Taylor Thierry is having her best rebounding season of her three-year NCAA career, averaging 7.7 per game.
• Sheldon and Taylor are second and sixth respectively in the Big Ten in steals per game, with Sheldon averaging 2.4 and Taylor with 2.0.
• Through six games last year, the Buckeyes took 118 three point shots, compared to 99 this year in the same timeframe.

Lineup Notes​

• Tennessee’s played with four different starting lineups in seven games this season, with the above matching Wednesday’s game against Notre Dame where the Vols looked more cohesive.
• Outside of Jackson’s team-leading rebounding, four players average at least five rebounds per game, compared to only one Buckeye averaging at least five on the entire roster.
• Powell played off the bench for three-straight games before coming back into the starting lineup Wednesday against the Fighting Irish, averaging 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the past four games

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Prediction​

What will work best for the Buckeyes on Sunday is if three-point shooting is going in its favor — and it will. Ohio State will reach at least 10 three-point shots made in the game, something the side’s done only once in six games. Expect Sheldon to make the most but the length and shooting of guard Emma Shumate should have more chances off the bench following an impressive run in the past three games.

The Buckeyes will lose the rebounding margin, but the speed of the scarlet and gray’s defense will wear down a Tennessee side that’s still getting its bearing with injuries and inconsistent lineups. It’ll be a close game in the end.

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How to Watch​

Date: Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee
Television: ESPN
Stream: ESPN App

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LGHL Prediction: 85-80 Ohio State Buckeyes​

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A Rare Feat​

If the Buckeyes win in Tennessee on Sunday, it’ll be a program first. It’s the fifth time these two teams faced off in Knoxville, and the first since a 97-65 NCAA Tournament defeat in 1996.

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Legendary head coach Pat Summitt lost once against the Buckeyes, back in 1981. Overall she had a 9-1 record vs. OSU

Overall, the Buckeyes are 2-10 against the Vols, so not only would it be the first away win for Ohio State in the series, but the first time the scarlet and gray have won two in a row against the SEC giants. Although it isn’t the same caliber of Tennessee side, Rocky top isn’t an easy place for opponents to play.

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Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs Minnesota: Game Preview and Prediction
Jami Jurich 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 Buckeyes will look to bury the Golden Gophers to open conference play.

Hot on a five-game win streak, the Ohio State Men’s Basketball team will take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-2) at the Schott in Columbus Sunday.

Led by sophomore guard Bruce Thornton, the Buckeyes (6-1) head into the matchup on the heels of an 88-61 routing of the Central Michigan Chippewas on Nov. 29.

Minnesota, for their part, is heading to Columbus on the heels of their 33-point victory over the New Orleans Privateers, a game in which Minnesota’s bench scored 62 points, with three reserve players scoring in the double digits.

The game kicks off Big Ten conference play for both teams this season.

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PREVIEW

For one Buckeye in particular, this game is personal.

Fifth-year graduate forward Jamison Battle will be facing off against his former team, having transferred to Ohio State from Minnesota (his hometown university) after last season ended (funnily enough, he took part in the Golden Gophers’ upset over the Buckeyes, a low point for OSU last season).

Battle, who has been a tremendous asset for the Buckeyes, refers to his former teammates as his “brothers,” but as many of us well know, sibling rivalry can be a powerful motivator, and it could factor in.

Still, Battle says that in spite of the emotional element, for him and his current teammates, Sunday is business as usual.

“Business as usual” is pretty successful these days. While the Gophers’ two losses have come against their two quality opponents (losing 70-68 against Missouri and 76-58 against San Francisco), the Buckeyes have held their own against Alabama and Santa Clara.

Thornton in particular is having a spectacular start to the season, putting up 25 points against Central Michigan and averaging 18.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. Thornton is joined in the backcourt by fellow sophomore Roddy Gayle, who is averaging 14.4 points per game with 4.1 assists. They are one of the top backcourt duos in the conference. Battle, for his part, is averaging 12.4 points and 2.4 3-pointers per game.

Minnesota is led by junior forward Dawson Garcia, who is averaging 18.3 points and 2.6 assists with 7.7 rebounds per game. In their Dec. 1 routing of New Orleans, the Gophers jumped to a 7-6 lead early, after a layup by sophomore forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (avg. 9 points per game), and never trailed again.

The Gophers come into this contest as the 127th-ranked offense in the nation, according to KenPom.

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PREDICTION

Minnesota has outscored opponents by an average of 13.1 points per game so far this season (compared to the Buckeyes’ 15.4 ppg), but this is the Golden Gophers’ first true road game, and it looks to be a lopsided match in the Buckeyes’ favor.

Both of the Gophers’ two losses were against quality opponents, dropping a close 70-68 battle against Missouri and losing by 18 to San Francisco in a neutral-site game (though it was on the West Coast), so this game looks to be a good indicator of what we can expect from the Gophers this season.

The Buckeyes, on the other hand, bounced back from their early 73-66 loss to No. 15 Texas A&M and went on to defeat No. 17 Alabama, 92-81 and beat Santa Clara by 30 points in back-to-back games.

OSU is shooting well to start the season, and if Minnesota continues to struggle with perimeter defense, this could be a long day for the visitors.

I expect the Buckeyes to extend their win streak to six, particularly if the Buckeyes can force turnovers (something the Gophers have struggled with this season).

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ESPN BPI: Ohio State 85.3%

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: Big Ten Network

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 83, Minnesota 70

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Five Storylines: No. 16 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Rickea Jackson’s availability, containing Rocky Top, rebounding and more

The start of the 23-24 season for the Ohio State women’s basketball team has been mostly favorable. In six games, the Buckeyes are 5-1 with the lone defeat coming on Nov. 6 against its only ranked opponent to date in the USC Trojans. Now, as the calendar changes to December, the scarlet and gray face its first of two, and maybe three, ranked opponents to close out the year. First up are the Tennessee Volunteers.

Before Sunday’s 5:00 p.m. ET tipoff, here are four storylines to watch as coach Kevin McGuff’s side travels south to Knoxville.

Rickea Jackson’s Availability ​

Tennessee’s success against Ohio State hinges on the availability of forward Rickea Jackson. The graduate senior, playing her final season before likely going as a lottery pick in the WNBA Draft, hasn’t seen the court in the last five Volunteers matchups, recovering from an ankle injury.

Head coach Kellie Harper hasn’t put a timeline on Jackson’s return, saying it’ll happen when the training and medical staff say it can happen. The hole left by Jackson’s absence is large.

Jackson is a 6-foot-2 forward who hurts teams with scoring and rebounding, although the graduate senior was mostly neutralized in last year’s matchup between the Big Ten and SEC sides. That’s because Jackson was playing her first game on a new team, following three seasons with the Mississippi State Bulldogs. This year, the team is Jackson.

In two games for the Vols this year, Jackson averages 22 points and 12 rebounds, and it’s not coming from a game you’d expect. The forward didn’t pad stats early against a small non-conference side but against a ranked Florida State.

Against the Seminoles, Jackson went off for a personally historic performance. In the narrow 91-92 defeat for the Vols, Jackson scored 31 points and grabbed a career single-game high of 17 rebounds. Jackson outrebounded fellow starters 17-12 and led the game in scoring.

Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

It isn’t clear if Jackson will still be out on Sunday, but it isn’t guaranteed. Even so, the Vols aren’t an easy win without Jackson. Although Tennessee is 3-2 with Jackson on the bench, on Wednesday, during the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge, Tennessee held its own against the No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, losing 74-69.

Big Game Jacy Sheldon ​

Ohio State’s had a wide variety of names leading the way game-in and game-out so far this season, but the one to watch Sunday is guard Jacy Sheldon. When the Buckeyes faced its toughest competitors this year, like the Trojans and defensive battles against the East Carolina Pirates and Oklahoma State Cowgirls, it’s been Sheldon consistently stepping up.

Sheldon’s led the Buckeyes with a 23.3 points per game average in those games, and scoring in different ways. Against USC and Oklahoma State, the guard turned steals into points. Against East Carolina, Sheldon scored 12 of her 20 points from beyond the arc. Sheldon is a chameleon, bringing different looks to each game.

Against Tennessee, it could be another strong game from deep. In two of the Vols' three losses, it’s been the three-point shot doing them in, allowing 13 and 10 in losses to the Seminoles and a lopsided defeat to the Indiana Hoosiers.

The Vols gave up 10 threes only twice in the entire 22-23 season, showing the impact of losing now WNBA rising star Jordan Horston. That favors Sheldon, who leads Ohio State in shooting from deep with 12 makes on the year, but that can benefit others in the offensive attack.

Diverse Scoring ​

While Sheldon continues to show why WNBA general managers wanted her to leave the NCAA last season, Ohio State is going to win through team basketball.

The aforementioned shooting defensive woes for the Vols will benefit more than Sheldon. The Buckeyes are working towards a team where anyone in the starting five can hurt you from deep. All five have hit from beyond the arc this season, and when they’re on, they’ll make it difficult on defenses.

Watch to see if the Buckeyes test from deep early. The more Ohio State hits those shots, the more room it gives on the inside. That Vols' defeat against the Hoosiers shows the formula. While the Scarlet and Gray don’t have forward Mackenzie Holmes, coach McGuff’s side has players who can attack the basket better than most in the conference.

Indiana beat Tennessee hitting 10 three-pointers, five alone from guard Yarden Garzon, and outscoring the Vols in the paint 32-18. If threes go in for Ohio State, forwards Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry will get more space to run from the perimeter to the post. It also allows forward Rebeka Mikulášiková more one-on-one chances to move in the paint, spinning towards the basket as she’s known to do.

Buckeyes Energy ​

Ohio State’s synonymous with a blistering full-court press, the kind of defense that forced 27 turnovers from the Vols last season, but that’s not the energy to look out for Sunday. It’s on the boards.

Look at the Buckeyes’ runs in games this year, alongside them is strong rebounding. Against Oklahoma State, the Buckeyes played their best in the first and fourth quarters. Ohio State outrebounded the Cowgirls a combined 30-13.

In the second quarter of that game, when the Buckeyes were held to 12 total points, Oklahoma State outrebounded Ohio State 20-7. After the game, McGuff cited a downtick in the team’s energy in the second quarter.

When Ohio State is up in games, and lets that intensity dip, it allows players to box out Buckeyes in the paint, or beat them to the spot altogether.

Thierry is key for the Buckeyes’ rebounding on Sunday. The guard/forward hybrid’s been everywhere this season, sitting seventh in the conference in rebounding per game with 7.7. Of those, 3.2 are on the offensive boards. The Vols don’t have center Tamari Key at the levels she was before the start of last season before a heart condition took the center out for the rest of the year. Key’s been back this year but in a much more limited role.

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

If Jackson is out, Thierry has even more of an advantage in the department. Should Thierry and the Buckeyes’ energy allow for the rebounding margin to go in their favor, it gives Sheldon, McMahon, and other scarlet and gray players the chance to push overall team intensity higher, making life difficult for the Vols.

Silencing Rocky Top ​

The marketing angle taken by the SEC is “it just means more.” While those sorts of things can be cliché, you can’t argue it by looking at a Tennessee basketball crowd.

Tennessee’s led the NCAA in scoring 11 straight seasons, back in the years of legendary head coach Pat Summit. While numbers have dipped due to the Vols backtracking from former NCAA Championship-filled glory, Tennessee is creeping back up into pre-COVID-19 attendance numbers.

Last season, the Vols averaged 8,150 people per game at Thompson-Boling Arena. Expect another large crowd in Knoxville on Sunday, and they’re going to be loud.

Rocky Top is known as one of the loudest fan bases in women’s basketball. Current championships or not, Tennessee fans are devoted and will let the Buckeyes know Sunday afternoon.

What can silence it for Ohio State is that full-court press and a strong shooting day. If anything, the loud environment might help the Buckeyes in the press, causing more havoc for Tennessee players as they try to move the ball up the court against the 10-second clock.

The Buckeyes have played in hostile basketball environments before. Last year, in Louisville, Kentucky, coach McGuff’s side came back from 14 points down to dominate 96-77. Even look at the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight in Seattle, Washington. Ohio State played a nationwide favorite UConn Huskies and came away with the victory in front of a crowd leaning heavily towards head coach Geno Auriemma’s side.

If the game goes the Buckeyes’ way, as the crowd’s intensity dies down, so might the intensity from the Vols on the court.

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Ohio State fans think Ryan Day needs to pass the sticks, but want the Buckeyes in the CFP
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

And I agree with them wholeheartedly.

Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

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Question 1: What is the biggest thing that the Ohio State football program must do in the offseason?​

Look, I have been beating this drum for just about two years now. I think Ryan Day is doing his players, his offense, his team, his program, his staff, and himself a disservice by continuing to call plays; and unfortunately, this has become an annual tradition to have to talk about it after disappointing losses late in the season (and after some ugly early-season wins as well).

And while I definitely think that Day’s habit of going conservative in many (but not all) big games hurt the Buckeyes in last week’s Michigan game, I don’t think that was the biggest issue this season; that would put as the quarterback position — which also is Day’s responsibility, but is a separate issue. However, I don’t know that QB would be my biggest concern moving forward.

I don’t think that Day will be especially active (or even active at all) in trying to land a big-name transfer quarterback, instead, I imagine that we will go into spring with all three returning QBs in a competition with the opportunity for Air Noland to get into the mix if he’s ready. I don’t think that the Buckeyes can go into 2024 with anything similar to this year’s version of Kyle McCord behind center. Presumably, the incumbent starter will improve, but if it is not substantially, I think you have to go in a different direction, and that has to be decided by the end of spring. I personally did not see enough from Devin Brown in his limited action to make me confident that he is capable of being the guy next year if McCord doesn’t take a major step. So, if push comes to shove — and Day doesn’t decide to go crazy and bring in a DJ Uiagalelei, Dante Moore, Cameron Ward, Will Howard, or Riley Leonard type — my completely uninsightful preference would be to go with the South Dakota Slinger Lincoln Kienholz. But, that’s a discussion for another day.

Ultimately, when discussing the question at hand, I do think that Day giving up playcalling is vital to the long-term health of the Ohio State football program. If the Buckeyes do not make the College Football Playoff, he absolutely needs to let Brian Hartline call the offense in whatever New Year’s Six bowl game they end up in.

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Question 2: Do you want the Buckeyes to make the College Football Playoff if chaos happens this weekend?​

I wrote about this earlier in the week, but this is where I’m at. There have certainly been times when I was less keen on Buckeye teams sneaking into the College Football Playoff, but in a year in which I don’t think that there are any dominant teams in the sport — and OSU was one drive away from beating one of the best teams in the country — I don’t see any reason to not want the team to have a shot and hope against hope that Ryan Day will find that rare postseason surge of guts and creativity he sometimes stumbles upon.


With the Washington Huskies beating the Oregon Ducks last night, that’s one thing that has to go Ohio State’s way for them to make the playoff field. I think it is a bit of an uphill climb the rest of the way — especially in the Big 12 Championship Game — but, as fans, it is in our nature to get our hopes up. So, I am ready to sweat along with another OSU in hopes of it benefitting our beloved OSU.

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Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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You’re Nuts: How long will the Ohio State men’s basketball winning streak last?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes are currently riding a five-game winning streak, its longest such streak in two years.

Many people are asking the same question this week: Will the Ohio State Buckeyes ever lose again?

Yes, they will. But when?

Chris Holtmann’s squad is currently riding a five-game winning streak, which is the programs first five-game winning streak since the 2021-2022 season. After winning just 16 games a year ago, Ohio State has an opportunity to stack some wins up before the calendar flips to 2024. More on this later.


Last week, Connor and Justin took a peak at Ohio State’s three-point shooting thus far and asked if the numbers are problematic or not. 55% of the readers sided with Connor, saying that the shooting from distance had some worrisome trends. 45% sided with Justin, saying that it is nothing to be concerned about.

After 128 weeks:​

Connor- 60
Justin- 50
Other- 14​

(There have been four ties)​

Since losing to Texas A&M, Ohio State has rattled off five-straight wins, and will look to make it six in a row Sunday against Minnesota. As they continue to extend this streak, our eyes have begun to drift to the schedule to see which upcoming teams will pose the biggest threat to break the winning streak.

Today’s Question: How long will the Ohio State men’s basketball winning streak last? ​

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Connor: Lose to Indiana on Jan. 6 (7 more wins)​

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

After growing up with Ohio State basketball for many years, I am typically a jaded, “Let’s just wait and see,” type of person with this team. Especially after the past 10 years or so, I’m generally skeptical of Ohio State ending the season on a high note during any given year. I’m not sure if this year will be different or not — probably not.

But this team is playing very well right now, and is currently enjoying its first five-game winning streak in nearly two years. The last five-game winning streak took place from December 2021 to January 2022.

With several winnable games coming up, plus a few where Ohio State absolutely has a chance to win (even if they aren’t the favorite), this winning streak could actually stretch out for a few weeks or even a month longer. After looking at the schedule closely, I think Ohio State’s next loss will be Jan. 6, at Indiana.

That means seven more wins. That means a 13-1 record to start the year. It looks crazy on paper, but the Buckeyes should be favored to win each of their next seven games. Here’s why I think this streak could go on for a bit, based on the next several games:

Minnesota: Picked to finish last in the Big Ten. Minnesota beat Ohio State at home last year, and I don’t think the Buckeyes will let it happen again.

Miami: Not a bad MAC school. Still a MAC school.

Penn State: Might take some guts to win on the road, but it’s a completely new regime in Happy Valley. If Ohio State is a serious team, they have to win this one.

UCLA: Coin-flip game, but it feels like Ohio State has a better idea of what its identity is than UCLA does at this point of the season. The Bruins are very good defensively, but I couldn’t tell you who “the guy” is on that team. Seems like the Buckeyes match up well here on a netutral floor.

New Orleans: Just lost to Minnesota by 30.

West Virginia: Program is in a transition period. Really bad offensive team, and not a very deep bench.

Rutgers: Elite defensive team, will be a great test for Ohio State. Rutgers is No. 162 in the country in offensive efficiency, and the Buckeyes have shown big imrpovements on the defensive side of the ball this year.

Indiana: This is where I can’t see Ohio State winning. Indiana hasn’t been great this year, but Assembly Hall on a Saturday night is one of the wildest, loudest, and crudest environments to play in. Things tend to spiral out of control for visiting teams, and I’m just not sure if the Buckeyes will be able to control the game and pace playing at Assembly Hall.

If Ohio State was able to hypothetically rip off 12 consecutive wins, it would be the first time that’s happened since the Buckeyes opened the 2013-2014 season with 15 consecutive wins.

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Justin: Lose to UCLA on Dec. 16 (3 more wins)​

Steven Erler-USA TODAY Sports

Normally, I am the optimistic one of the group, but I do think the winning streak will end at eight games, and they will fall in the CBS Sports Classic against UCLA.

I think they will beat Minnesota and Penn State, even though I think both games will be semi-close. Minnesota is the first conference game, and Dawson Garcia is good enough to keep it competitive. Penn State is on the road, and that is never an easy game for the Buckeyes, and they will beat Miami of Ohio by 20 points in a game that is never close.

Then, they will head to the CBS Sports Classic and take on UCLA. It is hard to get a gauge on UCLA, as they lost a lot of production to the draft last season, but they are extremely well-coached and reloaded well.

Adem Bona is a problem matchup for any team, averaging 15 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The main breakout star for the Bruins so far this season has been Sebastian Mack, who is averaging 15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals per contest.

This will be a close game, but I think the UCLA offense is tough to stop, and Ohio State won’t get enough stops down the stretch of the game. It won’t be the end of the world, but I have UCLA 76-70.

Obviously, I would love to be wrong.

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Conference opener....

OHIO STATE’S JAMISON BATTLE TREATING MATCHUP WITH FORMER TEAM MINNESOTA THE SAME AS ANY OTHER BIG TEN GAME​

By Andy Anders on December 1, 2023 at 1:40 pm @andyanders55

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There’s little that changes for Jamison Battle going into Ohio State’s matchup with Minnesota on Sunday.
Yes, the Buckeyes’ top transfer portal acquisition is facing off against the team he transferred from in the contest. But his focus remains on delivering his new bunch to victory and a step forward in their progression.
“You obviously have thoughts about that, but it’s just the first Big Ten game of the season, that’s how we’re looking at it,” Battle said. “As a team, we’ve got some things we need to improve on from the Central Michigan game and from games prior. I think we’re looking forward to opening the Big Ten season at home and playing a pretty solid Minnesota team.”
Still, Ohio State’s coaching staff will be working with him to ensure that he stays locked into that mindset as the Buckeyes look to extend their five-game winning streak against the Golden Gophers.
“We know this is a part of college basketball,” Holtmann said. “We’re not the only one that has interconference transfers, all over college basketball (there are). There will be an emotional element for him that he’ll have to keep in mind.”

There’s no ill will harbored by Battle toward his former program.
“Jamison has great respect for those players, those coaches, that program,” Holtmann said. “I think it did so much for him, meant so much to him. Every conversation I’ve ever had with him, he speaks really highly of the program and the coaches and the players.”
Battle remains close with many of his former teammates. Senior forward Parker Fox, junior forward Isaiah Ihnen and junior forward Dawson Garcia were among those he named as close friends.
He holds a special respect for Fox and Ihnen, who have both dealt with season-ending ACL tears in back-to-back years.
“I still keep up with those guys, it’s the relationship I have being there for two years and spending every day with those guys,” Battle said. “You’re never going to lose those relationships, and in the end, you want to make sure that those guys are being successful and you’re helping them with whatever they need.”
That said, the Gophers will become the enemy once Battle takes the Value City Arena floor for Sunday evening’s game.
“I talked about it with those guys beforehand when I did transfer, ‘We’re brothers off the court, but then on the court, we’re rivals,’” Battle said. “I think that’s something that we’re all looking forward to and I just can’t wait to get out there and play the game. I’m feeling excited – it’ll be a little bit different when we head to the Barn (in Minnesota).”
“IT’S JUST THE FIRST BIG TEN GAME OF THE SEASON, THAT’S HOW WE’RE LOOKING AT IT. AS A TEAM, WE’VE GOT SOME THINGS WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON FROM THE CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME AND FROM GAMES PRIOR.”– JAMISON BATTLE ON FACING HIS FORMER TEAM
Battle transferred to Ohio State from Minnesota this offseason after two years in Minneapolis. He previously spent two seasons with George Washington of the Atlantic 10.
The Golden Gophers’ leading scorer in 2021-22 and second-leading scorer the following year, Battle averaged 17.5 points his first year with the team and 12.4 in his second. He’s matched the latter total exactly thus far in his first campaign in Columbus.
A career 35.2% shooter from 3, Battle has bounced back from a career-low 31.1% from distance in 2022-23 to make 38.6% of his attempts through seven games this year.
“We’re challenging him in some of these other areas that he’s got to grow in,” Holtmann said Tuesday. “But he’s a really good shooter and scorer, and I think he’s getting a better and better feel for what we expect.”
The top areas in his game available for growth are playmaking and rebounding, Battle said.
“I think the biggest improvement for me has been making sure I’m getting everyone involved in that aspect of seeing open guys, I’m not forcing shots and I’m making sure that I’m making the right plays,” Battle said. “I think that’s something that I’ve grown into. I feel like, at times, I’ve made the right plays but at times I haven’t made the right plays.”
A knowledge of Minnesota’s system will give Battle some extra input over the coming days in terms of game prep, he said. The Buckeyes are fresh off a dominant 88-61 victory over Central Michigan on Wednesday, which came after they won the Emerald Coast Classic last weekend.
“There’s a lot of things that I can help with and just give the feedback that I see and help my teammates as well with personnel, with different stuff,” Battle said. “We’ve talked a little bit but today will be a big scouting day for us so we’ll see what happens there.”

Stock Market Report: Thank you Marvin Harrison Jr., and a lot of young players had great regular seasons
justingolba 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

Even though the Buckeyes are losing top tier talent, the future is still bright with the younger players who played a role this season.

Unfortunately, for the third season in a row, the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) are left wondering what went wrong after falling to No. 2 Michigan (12-0) 30-24 to likely end the Buckeyes playoff hopes and cancel their Big Ten Championship game trip.

With the regular season over, this stock market will take a look at some of the top performers this season and the young guys who shined.

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Blue Chip​

Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Marvin Harrison Jr.: His career is likely over in the Scarlet and Gray, as the Buckeyes have only a slim chance to make the College Football Playoff. If they do not, he will almost certainly sit out the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Harrison finished his Buckeye career with 155 catches, 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns. Those numbers look much better when you realize he only had 11 catches in his freshman season and is only a junior.

He will finish his Ohio State career as one of the top players to ever come through the program, and has a legitimate chance to be the first receiver to go No. 1 in the draft since Keyshawn Johnson. Thanks for the memories, MHJ.

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Solid Investments​

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jermaine Matthews Jr.: Ohio State has had many elite cornerbacks come through the program in its history, and with Denzel Burke likely heading to the league as a first-round draft pick, it is now time for Jermaine Matthews Jr. to step into the starting role. He showed great flashes this season, particularly when he was thrust into the starting role against Penn State and played well, and also on special teams.

Matthews Jr. is next up at DBU (in my humble opinion).

Cade Stover: Cade Stover had one of the best seasons we have seen from an Ohio State tight end in a while. Stover was named as a finalist for the Mackey Award, the nation’s top tight end. Before the season started, most people assumed that Georgia’s Brock Bowers would run away with this award, but his midseason injury opened the door for someone like Stover.

He finished the season with 41 catches, 576 yards, and five touchdowns, similar to his stat line last season.

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Junk Bond​

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Special teams: We have said all year that the special teams would bite the Buckeyes in a big game, and it did. Between the missed field goal by Jayden Fielding and the punting unit failing to flip the field, it was another poor day for Parker Fleming’s group. Michigan’s kicker James Turner recorded 12 points to Fielding’s six. Also, Michigan’s punter Tommy Doman averaged 52 yards per punt, while Ohio State’s Jesse Mirco averaged 37 yards per punt. They punted the ball three times.

Not ideal in a game where starting field position is key. The game was not lost because of this, but it was a contributing factor.

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Buy/Sell​

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Buy: Jordan Hancock. Anytime you are a freshman who has to play heavy minutes on an improved defense, it can be difficult. However, Hancock looked great this season, and he will be one of the anchors of the defense heading into next season when a lot of the top captains and producers will be gone.

Buy: Carnell Tate. This one is pretty simple to me. His production might be affected depending on whether Emeka Egbuka heads to the NFL Draft and whatever Julian Fleming decides to do, but in a long line of elite Ohio State receivers, Tate showed flashes this season that he is next.

Sell: Losing to Michigan. I am 27 years old, and I have been fortunate enough not to see the Buckeyes loss to Michigan that often. And I took it for granted. You don’t know what you got until it’s gone. I would like you to get back on the other side of this — and soon.

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I have been collecting game jerseys, cleats, and gloves for about the last 5 years. Now have over 200 jerseys, 100+ cleats, 100 + Pairs of gloves. Does anyone else out there collect these items? Does anyone have any items for sale?

MC&J: Who takes home the crowns on Conference Championship Weekend?
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 Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

Picks for the Pac-12, Big 12, Big Ten, and seven other conference championship games this weekend.

Last week ATS: 10-5 (5-3 National, 5-2 B1G)​

Season ATS: 108-98-1 (50-57-1 National, 58-41 B1G)​

Despite missing on Ohio State, the rest of the final week of the regular season went really well when it comes to the picks. Now we hope to have another big week before diving into bowl season.

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Conference championship games​

Conference USA: New Mexico State v. No. 24 Liberty (-10.5) - Friday 7:00 p.m. ET - CBS Sports Network

All the pressure is on Liberty in this game as the Flames look to stay undefeated in Jamey Chadwell’s first season as the team’s head coach. Kaidon Salter has been phenomenal at quarterback for Liberty this year, tossing 29 touchdowns. Along with Salter, running back Quinton Cooley has been a force, rushing for over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns.

After a 2-3 start to the season, New Mexico State enters this game on an eight-game winning streak, with one of those wins being a 31-10 win at Auburn a couple weeks ago. Jerry Kill’s team might not be as flashy as Liberty, but they make up for it with toughness. So far this season quarterback Diego Pavia has accounted for 28 total touchdowns..

In the first meeting between the schools back in early September, New Mexico State had a 17-13 lead in the second quarter before Liberty ran off 20 unanswered points to earn a 33-17 victory. The Aggies have improved since then and are playing with a ton of confidence after knocking off Auburn. While I think Liberty beats New Mexico State again, the Aggies hang around in this one and make Chadwell and the Flames work hard to stay undefeated

Liberty 28, New Mexico State 24

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Pac-12: No. 5 Oregon (-9.5) v. No. 3 Washington - Friday 8:00 p.m. ET - ABC

The Ducks and Huskies played a classic in mid-October, with Washington squeaking by Oregon 36-33 in Seattle. Since then, the Ducks have been rolling their opponents while the Huskies have won all of their six games following their win over Oregon by 10 points or less. Despite finishing the regular season undefeated, the Heisman Trophy buzz around quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has cooled since his numbers have dropped off following the win over Oregon.

On the other side, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix has been outstanding all year long. The former Auburn quarterback is in the mix for the Heisman, as he enters this game completing over 78 percent of his passes and has 43 total touchdowns. Washington will have their hands full with receivers Troy Franklin, Tez Johnson, and running back Bucky Irving.

Since their first meeting, Oregon looks like a team on the mission, while Washington has essentially been playing Tresselball. The Ducks aren’t like Oregon State or Washington State where Washington can mess around and still earn the victory. I’m not scared of this spread being nearly double digits since Dan Lanning has been a man possessed since blowing the game in Seattle with some of his coaching decisions.

Oregon 41, Washington 27

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Big 12: No. 18 Oklahoma State v. No. 7 Texas (-14.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ABC

Oklahoma State feels like they peaked with their win over Oklahoma in the final installment of Bedlam. Since then, the Cowboys were obliterated by Central Florida, beat Houston, and need a couple overtimes to beat BYU. Ollie Gordon II has been one of the running backs in the country this year, rolling up 1,580 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns.

Texas will be playing their final game in the Big 12 on Saturday. Since I’m a wrestling fan, I imagine Steve Sarkisian doing with the Big 12 trophy what Madusa did with the WWE Women’s Championship after she joined WCW: throwing it right in the trash. If there wasn’t so much money involved if Texas works their way into the playoff, it would be funny to see Big 12 commissioner Brent Yormark channeling Vince McMahon and having the refs pull off the Dallas Screwjob.

Even though Texas lost running back Jonathon Brooks a few weeks ago to a knee injury, the Longhorns enter this game with a ton of momentum after beating Texas Tech by 50 last week. Texas know they need a convincing win in this game if they want to have any shot at making the College Football Playoff.

Texas 45, Oklahoma State 21

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MAC: Miami (OH) v. Toledo (-7.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ESPN

This game will certainly be interesting since these two teams play different styles of football. Miami is all about defense, while Toledo has quarterback DeQuan Finn leading a potent offense. In their meeting earlier in the season, the Rockets beat the RedHawks 21-17 in October in Oxford.

In a game like this, I feel a lot more comfortable taking the points. Even if Miami falls behind early, they know they aren’t out of it, as Toledo opened up a 21-3 lead in their first meeting before the RedHawks closed the deficit to 21-17. I think Toledo wins this game, but we see a final score that is similar to what we saw in the first meeting. The RedHawks keep this game within a score.

Toledo 24, Miami (OH) 20

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Mountain West: Boise State (-2.5) v. UNLV - 3:00 p.m. ET - FOX

This game feels so odd to me since Boise State fired head coach Andy Avalos a couple weeks ago and now they are playing for a conference title. The Broncos are led by running back Ashton Jeanty, who has rushed for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns this year. After losing to Fresno State early in November, Boise State has won three straight games.

UNLV is having one of their best seasons in school history under former Missouri head coach Barry Odom. Ricky White has been the favorite target of quarterback Jayden Maiava, with White hauling in 75 passes for 1,300 yards and seven scores so far this year. The Rebels will have to put last week’s loss to San Jose State behind them if they want to win the conference crown.

Even though Boise State has rallied around their interim head coach, I like UNLV in this game, especially since this contest is being played in Las Vegas. The Rebels secure just their second 10-win season in program history by taking the down the Broncos on Saturday afternoon.

UNLV 31, Boise State 23

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SEC: No. 1 Georgia (-5.5) v. No. 8 Alabama - 4:00 p.m. ET - CBS

Ohio State fans will certainly be rooting for Georgia on Saturday, since a loss to the Crimson Tide could see the SEC place two teams in this year’s playoff. The Bulldogs are riding a 29-game winning streak, and are looking to win their third straight national title, but they might have to win this game without Brock Bowers or Ladd McConkey, who are both banged up heading into the weekend.

Alabama is looking to throw a curveball at the college football world by beating Georgia in Atlanta on Saturday. The Crimson Tide needed a miracle last week to beat Auburn last week, but that’s just what they got from Jalen Milroe on 4th & 31 to beat the Tigers 27-24. Milroe has been one of the most improved players from the start of the season, coming back from a benching against South Florida to become a contender for the Heisman.

While it’s tough to go against Nick Saban in a game like this, I still like Georgia even though they might not be at full healthy. Neither team is quite as dominant as they have been over the past few years, but I think Georgia is closer to being the more complete team. Give me the Bulldogs by at least a touchdown.

Georgia 34, Alabama 27

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American: SMU v. No. 22 Tulane (-3.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - ABC

SMU enters this game with one of the most potent offenses in the country, while Tulane has used their defense to try and return to a New Year’s Six bowl game. What the Green Wave will try and do is lean on quarterback Michael Pratt’s experience and running back Makhi Hughes to keep the football out of the hands of the SMU offense.

Preston Stone is the leader of an SMU offense that hasn’t scored less than 30 points in a game since losing to TCU back in September. The Mustangs have had a couple close calls in conference play, which should help them if this game is close late. If there was gonna be a team to keep Tulane from repeating as conference champs, SMU feels like the squad that could do it.

SMU 38, Tulane 28

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Sun Belt: Appalachian State v. Troy (-5.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - ESPN

Over the years, Appalachian State have been kings of the big upset, and they added another feather to their cap this year when they beat undefeated James Madison a few weeks ago. Most of what the Mountaineers do on offense is through the air, with quarterback Joey Aguilar throwing for 3,271 yards and 33 touchdowns so far this season.

Troy has really hit their stride after losing to Kansas State and James Madison early in the season, rolling off nine straight wins since the loss to the Dukes. The Trojans have a strong defense to compliment quarterback Gunnar Watson and running back Kimani Vidal. Troy will be a little too much on Saturday for Appalachian State, especially since they’ll have a home-field advantage in this one.

Troy 28, Appalachian State 20

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ACC: No. 14 Louisville v. No. 4 Florida State (-2.5) - 8:00 p.m. ET - ABC

Neither team enters this game with a ton of confidence. Louisville is coming off a loss to in-state rival Kentucky last week, while the Seminoles lost star quarterback Jordan Travis a couple weeks ago to a gruesome injury. Florida State was able to beat Florida last week to stay undefeated, but they’ll face an even tougher challenge on Saturday night.

I’m not putting a ton of stock in Louisville’s loss last week since it doesn’t change much. The Cardinals weren’t going to the playoff anyway, so really all they lost was bragging rights. I just feel a lot more comfortable taking the team that didn’t have to break in a new quarterback so late in the year. Sorry Florida State, you don’t have a Cardale Jones walking through that door.

Louisville 27, Florida State 21

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Big Ten: No. 2 Michigan (-21.5) v. No. 16 Iowa - 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX

Remember a couple years ago when Michigan beat Iowa 41-3 in the Big Ten title game? This game is going to look a lot like that. The Hawkeyes have a great defense, there’s no doubt about that. Unfortunately for Iowa, Michigan has too much talent on offense for them to handle, especially since they’ll be without star defender Cooper DeJean. The Wolverines pull away in the second half as they wear out the Iowa defense.

Michigan 38, Iowa 10

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Three Games To Watch on Championship Weekend as an Ohio State fan
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State no longer controls their playoff destiny and needs help.

“I don’t have to wait until the next morning to regret something I did that was kinda dumb.” ~ Bobby Knight

Absolutely, Coach Knight. For the players, coaches, and fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes, the painful 30-24 loss to That Team Up North is going to linger for the next year — the feelings of regret kicked in as soon as the clock hit zero in Michigan Stadium on Nov. 25.

The regret and remorse will be deeply felt by all associated with the program, and into the 2024 offseason of preparation. The reality is that Ohio State does have another bowl game to play, but has to play the waiting game to determine both their opponent and destination.

As Ohio State presently sits at No. 6 in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings, the Buckeyes are truly beholden to the help of other teams for any shred of assistance that might squeeze them into the fourth and final playoff spot. Is it impossible for Ohio State to reach the playoffs? No, but certain teams must lose in their respective conference championship games that are going to be played this weekend.

Below are Three Games To Watch, with random thoughts on which teams Ohio State fans should be rooting for, as well as my predictions on what may transpire...

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1. The Pac-12 Championship Game: No. 5 Oregon versus No. 3 Washington
   ABC, Friday @ 8pm ET

Washington defeated Oregon back on Oct. 14, 36-33. As soon as the game concluded, there were predictions that both teams were going to meet up in what appears to be the swan song performance for the Pac-12 conference championship game.

As to which team should Ohio State fans should root for, it is my belief that the winner is guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff, no matter what. Yes, there are thoughts that Ohio State fans should root for Washington, to ensure that Oregon gets a second loss and would be ranked below Ohio State, but the reality is that Oregon is one of the better teams in the nation, and will leapfrog the Buckeyes if they defeat Washington.

My prediction? Oregon has been looking especially formidable, while Washington has been having some very close calls down the stretch. It should be a good one to watch, and I believe Oregon defeats Washington to claim the Pac-12 conference championship, and is slotted third in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

2. The Big 12 Conference Championship Game: No. 18 Oklahoma State versus No. 7 Texas
ABC, Saturday @ 12pm ET

At first glance, it would be understandable for Ohio State fans to shrug this game off, as the Texas Longhorns are ranked seventh, one spot behind Ohio State. Why be concerned or pay attention to this game?

Think of it this way — Texas, like Ohio State, only has one loss. BUT the Longhorns are playing for their conference championship, unlike the Buckeyes. A Texas win, plus a Florida State loss (more on that below), could propel Texas past Ohio State into the fourth College Football Playoff spot.

Texas is heavily favored by the oddsmakers, but hope is not completely lost for Ohio State fans. Oklahoma State has won eight of the last 10 games against Texas, so here is to rooting for Mike Gundy and the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State has won 8 of the last 10 meetings against Texas

The last 6 games were one-possession games, how close will this one be? pic.twitter.com/9g7twEtf4t

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2023

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3. The ACC Championship Game: No. 14 Louisville versus No. 4 Florida State
ABC, Saturday @ 8pm ET

The conference championship game that most Ohio State or Big Ten fans do not watch, simply because it is going up against the same time as The Big Ten Championship Game on Fox. My suspicion is that this viewership, especially in the great state of Ohio, will be far better than any other previous ACC Championship Game.

Plain and simple, Ohio State fans need Florida State to lose. The Seminoles are trying to make due with Tate Rodemaker at quarterback, who is playing due to the loss of Jordan Travis a few weeks ago. Florida State defeated Florida 24-15 last week, but did not look overly impressive doing so, as the Gators made numerous mistakes that contributed to the loss. The oddsmakers must agree, as the Seminoles are only a 2.5 point favorite.

Louisville is coming off a disappointing 38-31 home loss to Kentucky, so the Cardinals should be eager for a shot at redemption. With a win, Louisville would not only clinch the ACC conference championship, but earn their ticket to The Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

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As for how I believe it will turn out, I believe Georgia will win the SEC Championship Game over Alabama, while Michigan will win The Big Ten Championship Game over Iowa, securing their respective spots in the College Football Playoff as the top two seeds. As I wrote up above, I believe Oregon will win on Friday night against Washington, landing them third.

Louisville does enough against Florida State to win the ACC Championship, while Texas wins against Oklahoma State, securing their last Big 12 Championship. By virtue of Texas’ conference championship, the College Football Playoff committee rewards the Longhorns with the fourth and final spot in the College Football Playoff, leaving Ohio State fifth and on the outside looking in.

It may not be what Ohio State fans want to read, and I certainly hope to be proven wrong, but these are the kind of things that happen when a team does not secure their own destiny. Should both Florida State and Texas lose, the Buckeyes have a shot at sneaking in with that fourth seed. Hope for the best, but Ohio State fans should prepare for a likely Orange Bowl game versus Louisville on Dec. 30.

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Buckeyes dish out offer to transfer portal defensive line target
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Ohio State is set to host Marley Cook in the coming weeks after offering on Thursday.

Tonight starts championship weekend, and Ohio State needs multiple things to go in their favor to even have a shot at the College Football Playoff. Of course you’d want the Buckeyes to take care of business on their own, but this team has a small chance of getting in, and they’d take what they can get.

This weekend will basically seal Ohio State’s bowl game fate, and if that’s on the back burner in your mind, there’s at least some recruiting to pass the time.

Ohio State offers transfer portal defensive target​

Some of the attrition the Ohio State roster will have in the offseason is already being seen thanks to multiple players announcing they intend to enter the transfer portal this coming Monday when it officially opens. Though there will be some players leaving, there will also certainly be some additions as the staff will pay close attention to who decides to enter from other programs. Maybe not as reliant on the portal as you’d like them to be, the Buckeyes have a plan and will surely go after the guys in positions that have clear holes.

Of those positions, defensive line will be near the top, and on Thursday Ohio State wasted no time getting in the mix as they dished out an offer to Middle Tennessee State defensive tackle prospect, Marley Cook.

A 6-foot-2, 300 pound tackle, Cook is currently ranked as the No. 20 player in the transfer portal and the fifth best defensive lineman up for grabs per 247Sports. A Mississippi native, Cook entered the portal on the same day where his MTSU head coach was fired and immediately started to draw some interest from other suitors. Though Ohio State was one of the bigger programs to offer, they certainly aren’t alone, as Miami, Tennessee, Missouri, Baylor, Oregon State, Pitt, and others have also offered the tackle target. With this trend, more on the way wouldn’t be a surprise.

For the Buckeyes, this new relationship with Cook is off to a solid start, as visit plans were scheduled almost as quick as he was offered. Learning that he will visit Ohio State on the weekend of Dec. 15, the coaching staff will have their chance to show why he’d be a great fit in Columbus. Still, plans to see Miami and Tennessee are also in the works, so this won’t be an automatic addition by any means.

The Buckeyes are going to be active in this portal window, and while Cook is one of the real first names to surface, there’s sure to be others in the near future.

Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State Univeristy @R2X_Rushmen1 @callmeagentdwil @FCProspects_ @TXRecruited pic.twitter.com/iCXjqvQHqp

— Marley Cook (@marl3ycook57) November 30, 2023

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Quick Hits​

• The latest addition to Ohio State’s 2024 class is of course Michigan native, Gabe VanSickle. The one-time Northwestern commit made the flip to the Buckeyes just a week ago, and on Thursday released his updated senior football season film.

A taste to what he’s bring to Ohio State, VanSickle is a mauler that will fit in very well at the next level at guard. A player that will need some time to develop, Gabe’s physicality can be seen in his latest tape, and of the many positive attributes to his game that he shows, his footwork may stand out the most.

Not enrolling early, VanSickle also plays on his school’s varsity basketball team and has no trouble getting up and down the floor. At 6-foot-5 and right now at 300 pounds, Gabe’s athleticism for his size is impressive to say the least and this should prove it. At any rate, it’s easy to see what Ohio State’s staff liked about his game.

Senior Year Film https://t.co/JlcVL9nuoW @AllenTrieu @Rivals_Clint @OhioStateFB @Bill_Kurelic

— 4️ (@gabe_vansickle) November 30, 2023

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