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LGHL No Fall Weddings: Does Indiana have to beat Ohio State to earn a playoff berth?
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No Fall Weddings: Does Indiana have to beat Ohio State to earn a playoff berth?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Jami and Matt also make predictions for the final CFP rankings and the Heisman Trophy winner.
Every week during the college football season, Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich will be getting into all things Ohio State, previewing the weekend’s slate, unveiling their individual CFP rankings, and picking Heisman contenders on “No Fall Weddings.”
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On this episode of the Land-Grant Podcast Network’s “No Fall Weddings,” Jami Jurich and Matt Tamanini take a look at Saturday’s top-five matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Indiana. Full disclosure, this was recorded before word of Seth McLaughlin’s Achilles injury was released, so that is not part of the discussion. However, they do dive into whether or not the Hoosiers need to win to earn a College Football Playoff spot, or if a close loss is enough... what about a blowout defeat?
Then, after a break, Jami and Matt reveal their first College Football Playoff and Heisman Trophy finalist predictions, pick games to watch in each window of the college football weekend, and recommend something from outside the world of college football that you need to watch.
Connect with Jami Jurich:
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Connect with Matt Tamanini:
Online Portfolio: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
Theme music provided by audiio.com
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Jami and Matt also make predictions for the final CFP rankings and the Heisman Trophy winner.
Every week during the college football season, Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich will be getting into all things Ohio State, previewing the weekend’s slate, unveiling their individual CFP rankings, and picking Heisman contenders on “No Fall Weddings.”
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On this episode of the Land-Grant Podcast Network’s “No Fall Weddings,” Jami Jurich and Matt Tamanini take a look at Saturday’s top-five matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Indiana. Full disclosure, this was recorded before word of Seth McLaughlin’s Achilles injury was released, so that is not part of the discussion. However, they do dive into whether or not the Hoosiers need to win to earn a College Football Playoff spot, or if a close loss is enough... what about a blowout defeat?
Then, after a break, Jami and Matt reveal their first College Football Playoff and Heisman Trophy finalist predictions, pick games to watch in each window of the college football weekend, and recommend something from outside the world of college football that you need to watch.
Connect with Jami Jurich:
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Connect with Matt Tamanini:
Online Portfolio: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
Theme music provided by audiio.com
Continue reading...
LGHL MC&J: Ohio State and Indiana meet in Week 13’s monster Big Ten battle
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MC&J: Ohio State and Indiana meet in Week 13’s monster Big Ten battle
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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images
The Buckeyes are nearly two touchdown favorites over the Hoosiers in Columbus on Saturday. Plus, the rest of this week’s Big Ten picks.
Last week ATS: 6-8 (2-5 National, 4-3 B1G)
Season ATS: 94-103 (38-45 National, 56-58 B1G)
My picks for this weekend’s games outside the Big Ten can be found here.
Purdue v. Michigan State (-13.5) - Friday 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Do you really trust Michigan State laying nearly two touchdowns? I know Purdue is bad, but in a clown show game I do like taking the points here.
At some point the Boilermakers have to show some fight after getting kicked around by Ohio State and Penn State the last two weeks. Michigan State hasn’t impressed me enough to feel comfortable banking on them to win by at least 14 points.
Michigan State 31, Purdue 23
No. 25 Illinois (-1.5) v. Rutgers - 12:00 p.m. ET - Peacock
Rutgers righted their ship with wins over Minnesota and Maryland. It helped last week that Kyle Monangai was able to return to the field, rushing for 97 yards and two scores against Terrapins. Monangai now has over 1,000 yards rushing this season. If Monangai and the Scarlet Knights can get the run going to open things up for Athan Kaliakmanis, they’ll be in good shape.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25748448/2180321458.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 25 Rutgers at USC")
Illinois was able to halt a two-game losing streak with a 38-16 win over Michigan State last week. Josh McCray rumbled for three touchdowns last week in the victory. McCray will have some tougher sledding this week since Rutgers is stout against the run.
I like Rutgers in this spot. After a mid-season slump the Scarlet Knights look to have found their form against. Greg Schiano’s team is a little grittier than Bret Bielema’s Illinois squad.
Rutgers 27, Illinois 21
Iowa (-6.5) v. Maryland - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Cade McNamara is back at quarterback after Brendan Sullivan was lost for the rest of the season due to injury. Luckily for McNamara, running back Kaleb Johnson has done most of the heavy lifting for the Iowa offense this year.
Maryland is a huge mess, with their last four losses coming by at least 14 points. To me, Iowa is like Rutgers and the Terps just lost last week to the Scarlet Knights. This feels like a team that has given up on the season. Johnson and company run wild in College Park.
Iowa 24, Maryland 10
No. 4 Penn State (-11.5) v. Minnesota - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
We still don’t really know how good Penn State is. The Nittany Lions have feasted on cupcakes since their loss to Ohio State. I know their defense is solid and Drew Allar and the running backs can move the football, it’s just something about them doesn’t connect for me when talking about some of the best teams in the country.
Minnesota was surging before a loss to Rutgers two weeks ago. Max Brosmer and Daniel Jackson are a nice combo through the air. What the Golden Gophers need is more consistency from running back Darius Taylor. It’s unlikely Taylor will find much room this week against a stout Nittany Lions defense.
I do like the points here since traveling to Minneapolis later in the season is never an easy trip. Penn State will have a hard time finding separation against a team with a little bit of a pulse.
Penn State 28, Minnesota 20
Northwestern v. Michigan (-10.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FS1
Michigan enters this contest having lost four of their last five games. If the Wolverines can’t win here they are staring down needing a win in Columbus next week to become bowl eligible. At least Michigan didn’t give up after falling behind 17-3 two weeks ago at Indiana, closing the gap to 20-15 before time ran out on them.
Northwestern tries hard, I’ll give them that. The Wildcats just aren’t a good football team. I don’t see how they are going to be able to run the ball against the Michigan defense, and Jack Lausch is going to be under fire all game long.
Not that I’m ecstatic about backing Davis Warren, but Michigan has had a bye week to prep for this while Northwestern is coming off a physical contest against Ohio State. The Wolverines win this by at least two touchdowns.
Michigan 28, Northwestern 13
Wisconsin v. Nebraska (-2.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET- Big Ten Network
One of these teams will earn the magical sixth win of the season to get to bowl eligibility. Somehow Nebraska still isn’t there yet despite a 5-1 start to the season. Matt Rhule is being haunted by the ghosts of Mike Riley and Scott Frost, who both were experts at losing tight games. Last week the Cornhuskers fell 28-20 in Los Angeles to USC.
I’m wondering if Wisconsin might have put so much into last weekend’s close loss to Oregon that they’ll come out flat. Adding to their issues, offensive coordinator Phil Longo has been fired and the offense will be run by committee essentially. This feels like it’ll be a recipe for disaster since there will be too many cooks in the kitchen. Give me Nebraska and the short line on their home turf.
Nebraska 27, Wisconsin 17
USC (-4.5) v. UCLA - 10:30 p.m. ET - NBC
Just when I started to trust UCLA they laid an egg last week at Washington. Ethan Garbers was fine against the Huskies, the Bruins just couldn’t get their running game going like they did the previous week against Iowa. It’s not like Washington didn’t give them chances with some turnovers, UCLA just wasn’t able to capitalize on them.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25748453/2185487349.jpg "Nebraska v USC")
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
The Jayden Maiava experiment started off well last week, as USC beat Nebraska 28-20. Not only did Maiava throw for three touchdowns, Woody Marks ran for 146 yards in the victory. Now USC is just a win away from bowl eligibility. With Notre Dame up next, USC better get that win this week because it’s hard to see them beating the Fighting Irish.
As much as I’m trying to talk myself out of taking USC here, I just can’t trust UCLA after what I saw last week. The Bruins just don’t have the firepower to keep up with the Trojans. Garbers will give it his best effort, he just doesn’t have much help.
USC 31, UCLA 21
No. 5 Indiana v. No. 2 Ohio State (-13.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Prior to the season Ohio State fans saw this game as just a tune up before the Michigan game. Now Saturday’s contest with the Hoosiers is looking like it will be bigger than The Game. For the first time in school history Indiana is 10-0, and the Buckeyes and Hoosiers will be battling to stay in the driver’s seat to take on Oregon in next month’s Big Ten Championship Game.
Just after getting settled following Josh Simmons’ season-ending injury at Oregon, the Ohio State offensive line was thrown for another loop when Seth McLaughlin suffered an achilles injury in practice that will sideline him for the rest of the season. Carson Hinzman will slide over to center from left guard, but at least Hinzman does have prior experience at the position after starting there last year.
Luckily for the Buckeyes there aren’t many questions with the rest of the offense, as well as the defense. Will Howard looks cool under pressure, the running game is coming off solid performances from Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and the defense is the toughest unit in the country to score on.
Even though Kurtis Rourke and the Indiana offense has some pop, they don’t worry me quite as much as Oregon did. The Hoosiers have yet to try and solve a defense like they’ll see from the Buckeyes. Indiana did have trouble with Michigan in the second half two weeks ago, and I think Ohio State is even better than the Wolverines on defense. It’ll be interesting to see how Rourke responds if the Buckeyes are able to come out of the gates hot on defense and get some early stops.
In the end, I just think the Buckeyes are a better team on both sides of the ball. Not that Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers don’t deserve our respect, but this will be their first true road test and I think their undefeated start to the season ends on Saturday. Ohio State wins, it just isn’t a blowout that will knock the Hoosiers out of the playoff.
Ohio State 37, Indiana 21
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
The Buckeyes are nearly two touchdown favorites over the Hoosiers in Columbus on Saturday. Plus, the rest of this week’s Big Ten picks.
Last week ATS: 6-8 (2-5 National, 4-3 B1G)
Season ATS: 94-103 (38-45 National, 56-58 B1G)
My picks for this weekend’s games outside the Big Ten can be found here.
Big Ten games (All games Saturday unless otherwise noted)
Purdue v. Michigan State (-13.5) - Friday 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Do you really trust Michigan State laying nearly two touchdowns? I know Purdue is bad, but in a clown show game I do like taking the points here.
At some point the Boilermakers have to show some fight after getting kicked around by Ohio State and Penn State the last two weeks. Michigan State hasn’t impressed me enough to feel comfortable banking on them to win by at least 14 points.
Michigan State 31, Purdue 23
No. 25 Illinois (-1.5) v. Rutgers - 12:00 p.m. ET - Peacock
Rutgers righted their ship with wins over Minnesota and Maryland. It helped last week that Kyle Monangai was able to return to the field, rushing for 97 yards and two scores against Terrapins. Monangai now has over 1,000 yards rushing this season. If Monangai and the Scarlet Knights can get the run going to open things up for Athan Kaliakmanis, they’ll be in good shape.
Illinois was able to halt a two-game losing streak with a 38-16 win over Michigan State last week. Josh McCray rumbled for three touchdowns last week in the victory. McCray will have some tougher sledding this week since Rutgers is stout against the run.
I like Rutgers in this spot. After a mid-season slump the Scarlet Knights look to have found their form against. Greg Schiano’s team is a little grittier than Bret Bielema’s Illinois squad.
Rutgers 27, Illinois 21
Iowa (-6.5) v. Maryland - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Cade McNamara is back at quarterback after Brendan Sullivan was lost for the rest of the season due to injury. Luckily for McNamara, running back Kaleb Johnson has done most of the heavy lifting for the Iowa offense this year.
Maryland is a huge mess, with their last four losses coming by at least 14 points. To me, Iowa is like Rutgers and the Terps just lost last week to the Scarlet Knights. This feels like a team that has given up on the season. Johnson and company run wild in College Park.
Iowa 24, Maryland 10
No. 4 Penn State (-11.5) v. Minnesota - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
We still don’t really know how good Penn State is. The Nittany Lions have feasted on cupcakes since their loss to Ohio State. I know their defense is solid and Drew Allar and the running backs can move the football, it’s just something about them doesn’t connect for me when talking about some of the best teams in the country.
Minnesota was surging before a loss to Rutgers two weeks ago. Max Brosmer and Daniel Jackson are a nice combo through the air. What the Golden Gophers need is more consistency from running back Darius Taylor. It’s unlikely Taylor will find much room this week against a stout Nittany Lions defense.
I do like the points here since traveling to Minneapolis later in the season is never an easy trip. Penn State will have a hard time finding separation against a team with a little bit of a pulse.
Penn State 28, Minnesota 20
Northwestern v. Michigan (-10.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FS1
Michigan enters this contest having lost four of their last five games. If the Wolverines can’t win here they are staring down needing a win in Columbus next week to become bowl eligible. At least Michigan didn’t give up after falling behind 17-3 two weeks ago at Indiana, closing the gap to 20-15 before time ran out on them.
Northwestern tries hard, I’ll give them that. The Wildcats just aren’t a good football team. I don’t see how they are going to be able to run the ball against the Michigan defense, and Jack Lausch is going to be under fire all game long.
Not that I’m ecstatic about backing Davis Warren, but Michigan has had a bye week to prep for this while Northwestern is coming off a physical contest against Ohio State. The Wolverines win this by at least two touchdowns.
Michigan 28, Northwestern 13
Wisconsin v. Nebraska (-2.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET- Big Ten Network
One of these teams will earn the magical sixth win of the season to get to bowl eligibility. Somehow Nebraska still isn’t there yet despite a 5-1 start to the season. Matt Rhule is being haunted by the ghosts of Mike Riley and Scott Frost, who both were experts at losing tight games. Last week the Cornhuskers fell 28-20 in Los Angeles to USC.
I’m wondering if Wisconsin might have put so much into last weekend’s close loss to Oregon that they’ll come out flat. Adding to their issues, offensive coordinator Phil Longo has been fired and the offense will be run by committee essentially. This feels like it’ll be a recipe for disaster since there will be too many cooks in the kitchen. Give me Nebraska and the short line on their home turf.
Nebraska 27, Wisconsin 17
USC (-4.5) v. UCLA - 10:30 p.m. ET - NBC
Just when I started to trust UCLA they laid an egg last week at Washington. Ethan Garbers was fine against the Huskies, the Bruins just couldn’t get their running game going like they did the previous week against Iowa. It’s not like Washington didn’t give them chances with some turnovers, UCLA just wasn’t able to capitalize on them.
The Jayden Maiava experiment started off well last week, as USC beat Nebraska 28-20. Not only did Maiava throw for three touchdowns, Woody Marks ran for 146 yards in the victory. Now USC is just a win away from bowl eligibility. With Notre Dame up next, USC better get that win this week because it’s hard to see them beating the Fighting Irish.
As much as I’m trying to talk myself out of taking USC here, I just can’t trust UCLA after what I saw last week. The Bruins just don’t have the firepower to keep up with the Trojans. Garbers will give it his best effort, he just doesn’t have much help.
USC 31, UCLA 21
No. 5 Indiana v. No. 2 Ohio State (-13.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Prior to the season Ohio State fans saw this game as just a tune up before the Michigan game. Now Saturday’s contest with the Hoosiers is looking like it will be bigger than The Game. For the first time in school history Indiana is 10-0, and the Buckeyes and Hoosiers will be battling to stay in the driver’s seat to take on Oregon in next month’s Big Ten Championship Game.
Just after getting settled following Josh Simmons’ season-ending injury at Oregon, the Ohio State offensive line was thrown for another loop when Seth McLaughlin suffered an achilles injury in practice that will sideline him for the rest of the season. Carson Hinzman will slide over to center from left guard, but at least Hinzman does have prior experience at the position after starting there last year.
Luckily for the Buckeyes there aren’t many questions with the rest of the offense, as well as the defense. Will Howard looks cool under pressure, the running game is coming off solid performances from Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and the defense is the toughest unit in the country to score on.
Even though Kurtis Rourke and the Indiana offense has some pop, they don’t worry me quite as much as Oregon did. The Hoosiers have yet to try and solve a defense like they’ll see from the Buckeyes. Indiana did have trouble with Michigan in the second half two weeks ago, and I think Ohio State is even better than the Wolverines on defense. It’ll be interesting to see how Rourke responds if the Buckeyes are able to come out of the gates hot on defense and get some early stops.
In the end, I just think the Buckeyes are a better team on both sides of the ball. Not that Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers don’t deserve our respect, but this will be their first true road test and I think their undefeated start to the season ends on Saturday. Ohio State wins, it just isn’t a blowout that will knock the Hoosiers out of the playoff.
Ohio State 37, Indiana 21
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2025 Season Ticket Prices
- By ScriptOhio
- Tickets and Travel
- 0 Replies
Hell, Ohio State already sent out emails to pay for the 2025 season tickets; FWIW, here are the links that shows the prices and the new zone configurations:
ohiostatebuckeyes.com
On behalf of the Department of Athletics, we write to thank you for being a loyal Ohio State Football season ticket holder. Your 2025 Ohio State football season ticket invoice is available online beginning today for those interested in renewing early. The deadline to renew is March 3, 2025.
2025 Football Pricing Proration - NEW - Ohio State
2025 Football Pricing Proration - NEW
On behalf of the Department of Athletics, we write to thank you for being a loyal Ohio State Football season ticket holder. Your 2025 Ohio State football season ticket invoice is available online beginning today for those interested in renewing early. The deadline to renew is March 3, 2025.
LGHL Ohio State-Indiana could come down to Denzel Burke’s ability to cover in space
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Ohio State-Indiana could come down to Denzel Burke’s ability to cover in space
Matt Tamanini 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
The Buckeye cornerback was exposed against Oregon and can’t have a repeat performance is OSU wants to win on Saturday.
Obviously, Seth McLaughlin’s injury throws a lot of things into question across Ohio State’s offensive line. The unit had been the Buckeyes’ weak spot coming into the season, but had performed better than many pundits — myself included — had expected; even following the season-ending loss of starting left tackle Josh Simmons. However, now that OSU has to replace another starter upfront, it is reasonable to be concerned about how that will impact the team’s ability to function on offense.
With all of that being typed, I tend to think that one of Ohio State’s defenders might be the key to the No. 2 Buckeyes getting out of Saturday’s matchup against No. 5 Indiana with their second top-five win of the month.
The undefeated Hoosiers come to Columbus this weekend led on offense by the most efficient quarterback in the Big Ten Kurtis Rourke. He enters Saturday’s contest with 21 touchdowns and four interceptions, despite missing a game this season. His 10.1 yards per attempt are the best in the league and second nationally behind only Ole Miss’ Jaxon Dart. Rourke, a transfer from Ohio University, is averaging 267.8 yards per game and has a QB rating of 182.67, which is second nationally — Will Howard is third at 181.90.
Despite Rourke’s impressive passing numbers, IU doesn’t have a dominant receiver — at least from a raw numbers perspective. The team’s leading pass-catcher is junior James Madison transfer Elijah Sarratt with 685 yards over 10 games this season. While his yards-per-game average is good for just eighth in the Big Ten, the fact that he has put up those totals on just 38 receptions changes the outlook on the wide receiver. At 18.03 yards per catch, Sarratt leads Big Ten receivers who have 25 receptions or more; for comparison, OSU’s Jeremiah Smith is fourth at 17.65 ypc.
Ohio State is fourth nationally in rushing defense, allowing only 90.70 yards per game, so while they are equally adept against the pass (sixth nationally at 160.1 ypg), the more skilled opponents on the Buckeyes’ schedule this season have appeared to focus on one specific aspect of OSU’s defense with increasing regularity: cornerback Denzel Burke.
Against the now-No. 1 Oregon Ducks, OSU’s CB1 had inarguably the worst day of his career. His receivers were targeted eight times, leading to completions on every pass. Those eight catches resulted in 179 of Dillon Gabriel’s 341 passing yards and both of the quarterback’s touchdowns.
According to Pro Football Focus, Burke is allowing 84.4% of passes targeting the man he is covering to be completed this season. Against Northwestern in Wrigley Field last weekend, all four attempts in Burke’s direction were completed. Fortunately, the OSU corner has allowed only three total yards after the catch on those completions, perhaps the strongest part of his game this season. On the 27 completions that he has allowed on 32 targets, he is giving up under four yards per catch.
This stands in stark contrast to what the defensive back was able to do last year. In single coverage during the 2023 campaign, Burke was targeted just 19 allowing only three receptions. If Ohio State wants to maintain its inside track to a Big Ten Title Game berth — and a shot at a bye in the College Football Playoff — Burke will need to be much closer to 2023 form than he has been in recent weeks.
Sarratt will lineup in multiple sports across the field, so he likely won’t be covered exclusively by Burke — unless the OSU coaching staff designs it that way — but at 6-foot-2, 209 pounds, the IU WR is roughly the same size as the 6-foot-1, 193-pound Burke (at least to OSU’s seemingly generous official listings), so the Buckeye corner will not be out-physicaled when he is in coverage. Therefore, if Burke can stay tight with his man, he should have the opportunity to disrupt passes his way.
However, Indiana’s passing attack is more than just Sarratt. Five Hoosiers have gone for more than 285 yards this season including Omar Cooper Jr. (527), Myles Price (377), Ke’Shawn Williams (341), and Miles Cross (289) to go with Sarratt’s 685. This means that Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, and the entire Ohio State secondary will have to be on its game on Saturday, but Burke will be the one in the spotlight.
Following his disappointing performance against the Ducks, the Buckeyes need a much more productive and efficient Denzel Burke as the competition increases heading into the postseason, and that starts on Saturday in the Horseshoe.
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Matt Tamanini 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
The Buckeye cornerback was exposed against Oregon and can’t have a repeat performance is OSU wants to win on Saturday.
Obviously, Seth McLaughlin’s injury throws a lot of things into question across Ohio State’s offensive line. The unit had been the Buckeyes’ weak spot coming into the season, but had performed better than many pundits — myself included — had expected; even following the season-ending loss of starting left tackle Josh Simmons. However, now that OSU has to replace another starter upfront, it is reasonable to be concerned about how that will impact the team’s ability to function on offense.
With all of that being typed, I tend to think that one of Ohio State’s defenders might be the key to the No. 2 Buckeyes getting out of Saturday’s matchup against No. 5 Indiana with their second top-five win of the month.
The undefeated Hoosiers come to Columbus this weekend led on offense by the most efficient quarterback in the Big Ten Kurtis Rourke. He enters Saturday’s contest with 21 touchdowns and four interceptions, despite missing a game this season. His 10.1 yards per attempt are the best in the league and second nationally behind only Ole Miss’ Jaxon Dart. Rourke, a transfer from Ohio University, is averaging 267.8 yards per game and has a QB rating of 182.67, which is second nationally — Will Howard is third at 181.90.
Despite Rourke’s impressive passing numbers, IU doesn’t have a dominant receiver — at least from a raw numbers perspective. The team’s leading pass-catcher is junior James Madison transfer Elijah Sarratt with 685 yards over 10 games this season. While his yards-per-game average is good for just eighth in the Big Ten, the fact that he has put up those totals on just 38 receptions changes the outlook on the wide receiver. At 18.03 yards per catch, Sarratt leads Big Ten receivers who have 25 receptions or more; for comparison, OSU’s Jeremiah Smith is fourth at 17.65 ypc.
Ohio State is fourth nationally in rushing defense, allowing only 90.70 yards per game, so while they are equally adept against the pass (sixth nationally at 160.1 ypg), the more skilled opponents on the Buckeyes’ schedule this season have appeared to focus on one specific aspect of OSU’s defense with increasing regularity: cornerback Denzel Burke.
Against the now-No. 1 Oregon Ducks, OSU’s CB1 had inarguably the worst day of his career. His receivers were targeted eight times, leading to completions on every pass. Those eight catches resulted in 179 of Dillon Gabriel’s 341 passing yards and both of the quarterback’s touchdowns.
According to Pro Football Focus, Burke is allowing 84.4% of passes targeting the man he is covering to be completed this season. Against Northwestern in Wrigley Field last weekend, all four attempts in Burke’s direction were completed. Fortunately, the OSU corner has allowed only three total yards after the catch on those completions, perhaps the strongest part of his game this season. On the 27 completions that he has allowed on 32 targets, he is giving up under four yards per catch.
This stands in stark contrast to what the defensive back was able to do last year. In single coverage during the 2023 campaign, Burke was targeted just 19 allowing only three receptions. If Ohio State wants to maintain its inside track to a Big Ten Title Game berth — and a shot at a bye in the College Football Playoff — Burke will need to be much closer to 2023 form than he has been in recent weeks.
Sarratt will lineup in multiple sports across the field, so he likely won’t be covered exclusively by Burke — unless the OSU coaching staff designs it that way — but at 6-foot-2, 209 pounds, the IU WR is roughly the same size as the 6-foot-1, 193-pound Burke (at least to OSU’s seemingly generous official listings), so the Buckeye corner will not be out-physicaled when he is in coverage. Therefore, if Burke can stay tight with his man, he should have the opportunity to disrupt passes his way.
However, Indiana’s passing attack is more than just Sarratt. Five Hoosiers have gone for more than 285 yards this season including Omar Cooper Jr. (527), Myles Price (377), Ke’Shawn Williams (341), and Miles Cross (289) to go with Sarratt’s 685. This means that Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, and the entire Ohio State secondary will have to be on its game on Saturday, but Burke will be the one in the spotlight.
Following his disappointing performance against the Ducks, the Buckeyes need a much more productive and efficient Denzel Burke as the competition increases heading into the postseason, and that starts on Saturday in the Horseshoe.
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2026 PA DB Joey O'Brien (Verbal Offer)
- By brodybuck21
- Football Recruiting
- 2 Replies
LGHL What to make of lopsided Ohio State women’s basketball win over Ohio University
- News
- 0 Replies
What to make of lopsided Ohio State women’s basketball win over Ohio University
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 women’s basketball on Twitter | @OhioStateWBB
Coach McGuff’s Buckeyes broke a record against Ohio, but how does a 64-point win benefit Ohio State?
It’s ok to admit that non-conference basketball seasons are mostly boring. Subtract a couple of big-name opponents and the only thing getting fans to the conference schedule in one piece is the general excitement of a new season and counting the days until the next game against a side that brings a challenge.
If a Big Ten schedule release was accompanied by music, it would be a loud, exciting, marching band with games against new conference additions like USC and UCLA, and the tried and true rivalries against the Iowas and Indianas of the Big Ten’s old guard.
Ohio State women’s basketball’s non-conference schedule, however, would be accompanied by a sad trombone.
Outside of a game against a might-be-ranked Stanford on Dec. 20, it’s a slate of mid-majors whose most intriguing game element is likely a connection between the schools off the court. Wednesday, it was an in-state “rivalry” against the Ohio Bobcats of the MAC in which the Buckeyes hold a 24-1 record. The Buckeyes beat OU 106-42.
This is no offense to mid-majors whatsoever. The most exciting parts of the basketball season are often when squads not in a Power Four conference beat one of the big teams. Big meaning has more recruiting power and money.
However, until the game is played you never know how it's going to end up.
The Scarlet and Gray almost fell to one of the most consistent mid-majors in women’s basketball on Sunday. Belmont gave Ohio State their all, only to give up a nine-point lead with five minutes remaining. OSU came back to win that one 67-63. It was a diamond in the rough in the early goings of the season.
In Athens on Wednesday, from the jump the Buckeyes didn’t look like a team that was interested in repeating that performance.
“We had played really hard Sunday versus Belmont, but we didn’t execute very well on either end of the floor,” head coach Kevin McGuff said. “And so we wanted to, it was more of a mental thing with our execution, which I thought we were much better today.”
“Much better” is putting it lightly.
Ohio State outplayed the Bobcats in nearly every statistical category. The Buckeyes outshot Ohio 48.3 percent to 25.5 percent, hit 11 three-point shots compared to five for the home side, and had a total number of shots almost doubling the Bobcats 89-47.
Ohio did do one thing better, hitting more free throws, and with more efficiency, an issue that was key in the Buckeyes’ win Sunday when they shot 52 percent from the line, leaving 12 points on the free throw line.
That obviously didn’t matter on Wednesday, but it will down the road.
Away from missing free throws and everything clicked, but how does it help to beat up on a mid-major riddled with injury in the grand scheme of things?
It’s easy to discount the positives, even their own player did after the game.
“Yeah, so well, I was significant, not significantly, but somewhat bigger than most of the players on the other team,” said 6-foot-6 center Elsa Lemmilä. “So, I knew that that’s where I had my advantage so I just went for it.”
Lemmilä had a career-high 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the freshman’s fourth NCAA game. Despite height advantages, which give Lemmilä the chance to do things most NCAA players cannot do, the freshman was the shining example of how these games help.
Watch the Finnish center in the first three games of the season and, offensively, when Lemmilä received a pass or grabbed an offensive rebound, the follow-up shot was rushed. That resulted in a few misses going past the rim or high off the backboard, which then led to not getting the ball as much inside the paint.
That play started for Lemmilä Wednesday, but as the quarters moved on the center became more calm and confident. The game slowed down.
“Yeah, that’s something I’ve been trying to emphasize a lot and the coaches have been trying to get me to practice a lot,” said Lemmilä. “Practice being more intentional with my shots and being slower and more strong under the basket. So I think this was a great opportunity for me to practice that in-game in person.”
While Bobcat players aren’t 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts or Wisconsin star forward Serah Williams, Lemmilä and the Buckeyes’ had a strong rebounding performance. Size plays a role in rebounding, obviously, but it's also about timing, physicality, and — as cliche as it sounds — wanting it more.
Ohio State did all that in bunches with six of the nine available players grabbing at least five rebounds. Forwards Ajae Petty and Eboni Walker combined for 11 offensive boards.
The game also gave a chance for the Scarlet and Gray to adjust to an unwanted change to their roster since Sunday’s win — an injury to forward Cotie McMahon.
During practice this week, McMahon suffered a lower leg injury, which meant she was a bystander on the bench Wednesday, wearing a boot on her right leg. In her place, Kennedy Cambridge started alongside her sister Jaloni Cambridge for the first time in their college careers.
Cambridge scored four points in her first start as a Buckeye, but the minutes played build chemistry with the other three players who aren’t her sister.
Taylor Thierry has played in a lot of these types of games as a Buckeye. In her fourth season, Thierry started every game in the past two years with McMahon, never missing a start together until Wednesday. Thierry did what she always seems to do and she adjusted.
“She brings a lot of energy and just not having her on the court. I know how to step up as a veteran on the team, older person on the team,” said Thierry. “So just stepping up into that leadership role, I knew I had to take on a bigger responsibility since Cody was on the court.”
Thierry slid into a power-forward-like role and ended up leading the team in efficiency from beyond the arc. The senior hit three attempts to start the game but missed her fourth. Even so, it showed a team that is adjusting to any kind of adversity coming their way.
Through the non-conference schedule, there will be games like Wednesday. Maybe not ending with a 64-point margin of victory, but games where everything clicks for Ohio State and they run away with a win.
There will also be games like Sunday. Performances not necessarily hitting the mark and requiring the Buckeyes to claw out every possession, despite entering the game as heavy favorites.
These polar opposite performances make one thing about the Buckeyes clear — they’re young. Wednesday gave Ohio State players the confidence to reinforce their high ceiling.
“As I’ve told people, and hopefully didn’t create a self-fulfilling prophecy, that we have a lot of talent and a lot of potential, but with a lot of newcomers, we don’t look like the same as we looked maybe a year ago at this time with a bunch of veterans,” said McGuff.
“And so I think this team, it’s going to be, I don’t want to say slower developing, but for lack of a better term, it’s going to be a longer process throughout the year. But I do think we’ve got tremendous potential if we just stay focused on getting better.”
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Coach McGuff’s Buckeyes broke a record against Ohio, but how does a 64-point win benefit Ohio State?
It’s ok to admit that non-conference basketball seasons are mostly boring. Subtract a couple of big-name opponents and the only thing getting fans to the conference schedule in one piece is the general excitement of a new season and counting the days until the next game against a side that brings a challenge.
If a Big Ten schedule release was accompanied by music, it would be a loud, exciting, marching band with games against new conference additions like USC and UCLA, and the tried and true rivalries against the Iowas and Indianas of the Big Ten’s old guard.
Ohio State women’s basketball’s non-conference schedule, however, would be accompanied by a sad trombone.
Outside of a game against a might-be-ranked Stanford on Dec. 20, it’s a slate of mid-majors whose most intriguing game element is likely a connection between the schools off the court. Wednesday, it was an in-state “rivalry” against the Ohio Bobcats of the MAC in which the Buckeyes hold a 24-1 record. The Buckeyes beat OU 106-42.
This is no offense to mid-majors whatsoever. The most exciting parts of the basketball season are often when squads not in a Power Four conference beat one of the big teams. Big meaning has more recruiting power and money.
However, until the game is played you never know how it's going to end up.
The Scarlet and Gray almost fell to one of the most consistent mid-majors in women’s basketball on Sunday. Belmont gave Ohio State their all, only to give up a nine-point lead with five minutes remaining. OSU came back to win that one 67-63. It was a diamond in the rough in the early goings of the season.
In Athens on Wednesday, from the jump the Buckeyes didn’t look like a team that was interested in repeating that performance.
“We had played really hard Sunday versus Belmont, but we didn’t execute very well on either end of the floor,” head coach Kevin McGuff said. “And so we wanted to, it was more of a mental thing with our execution, which I thought we were much better today.”
“Much better” is putting it lightly.
Ohio State outplayed the Bobcats in nearly every statistical category. The Buckeyes outshot Ohio 48.3 percent to 25.5 percent, hit 11 three-point shots compared to five for the home side, and had a total number of shots almost doubling the Bobcats 89-47.
Ohio did do one thing better, hitting more free throws, and with more efficiency, an issue that was key in the Buckeyes’ win Sunday when they shot 52 percent from the line, leaving 12 points on the free throw line.
That obviously didn’t matter on Wednesday, but it will down the road.
Away from missing free throws and everything clicked, but how does it help to beat up on a mid-major riddled with injury in the grand scheme of things?
It’s easy to discount the positives, even their own player did after the game.
“Yeah, so well, I was significant, not significantly, but somewhat bigger than most of the players on the other team,” said 6-foot-6 center Elsa Lemmilä. “So, I knew that that’s where I had my advantage so I just went for it.”
Lemmilä had a career-high 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the freshman’s fourth NCAA game. Despite height advantages, which give Lemmilä the chance to do things most NCAA players cannot do, the freshman was the shining example of how these games help.
Watch the Finnish center in the first three games of the season and, offensively, when Lemmilä received a pass or grabbed an offensive rebound, the follow-up shot was rushed. That resulted in a few misses going past the rim or high off the backboard, which then led to not getting the ball as much inside the paint.
That play started for Lemmilä Wednesday, but as the quarters moved on the center became more calm and confident. The game slowed down.
“Yeah, that’s something I’ve been trying to emphasize a lot and the coaches have been trying to get me to practice a lot,” said Lemmilä. “Practice being more intentional with my shots and being slower and more strong under the basket. So I think this was a great opportunity for me to practice that in-game in person.”
While Bobcat players aren’t 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts or Wisconsin star forward Serah Williams, Lemmilä and the Buckeyes’ had a strong rebounding performance. Size plays a role in rebounding, obviously, but it's also about timing, physicality, and — as cliche as it sounds — wanting it more.
Ohio State did all that in bunches with six of the nine available players grabbing at least five rebounds. Forwards Ajae Petty and Eboni Walker combined for 11 offensive boards.
The game also gave a chance for the Scarlet and Gray to adjust to an unwanted change to their roster since Sunday’s win — an injury to forward Cotie McMahon.
During practice this week, McMahon suffered a lower leg injury, which meant she was a bystander on the bench Wednesday, wearing a boot on her right leg. In her place, Kennedy Cambridge started alongside her sister Jaloni Cambridge for the first time in their college careers.
Cambridge scored four points in her first start as a Buckeye, but the minutes played build chemistry with the other three players who aren’t her sister.
Taylor Thierry has played in a lot of these types of games as a Buckeye. In her fourth season, Thierry started every game in the past two years with McMahon, never missing a start together until Wednesday. Thierry did what she always seems to do and she adjusted.
“She brings a lot of energy and just not having her on the court. I know how to step up as a veteran on the team, older person on the team,” said Thierry. “So just stepping up into that leadership role, I knew I had to take on a bigger responsibility since Cody was on the court.”
Thierry slid into a power-forward-like role and ended up leading the team in efficiency from beyond the arc. The senior hit three attempts to start the game but missed her fourth. Even so, it showed a team that is adjusting to any kind of adversity coming their way.
Through the non-conference schedule, there will be games like Wednesday. Maybe not ending with a 64-point margin of victory, but games where everything clicks for Ohio State and they run away with a win.
There will also be games like Sunday. Performances not necessarily hitting the mark and requiring the Buckeyes to claw out every possession, despite entering the game as heavy favorites.
These polar opposite performances make one thing about the Buckeyes clear — they’re young. Wednesday gave Ohio State players the confidence to reinforce their high ceiling.
“As I’ve told people, and hopefully didn’t create a self-fulfilling prophecy, that we have a lot of talent and a lot of potential, but with a lot of newcomers, we don’t look like the same as we looked maybe a year ago at this time with a bunch of veterans,” said McGuff.
“And so I think this team, it’s going to be, I don’t want to say slower developing, but for lack of a better term, it’s going to be a longer process throughout the year. But I do think we’ve got tremendous potential if we just stay focused on getting better.”
Continue reading...
