Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for January 18, 2023
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

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For your Earholes...​

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

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On the Gridiron​

Buckeyes WR Kamryn Babb won’t return for extra season of eligibility
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Good luck with whatever your next chapter is, 0.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and helped me throughout my journey! Glory to Jesus my God for carrying me through every moment in my life. Whatever you may battle in life, keep fighting and know that there is a God in heaven who loves you so deeply. God Bless! pic.twitter.com/jGTcfmWMa0

— Kamryn Babb (@kamm_o) January 17, 2023

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Former Oregon State Quarterback Tristan Gebbia Transferring to Ohio State
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

What adding transfer Tristan Gebbia means for Buckeyes (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Making sense of Ohio State adding transfer portal quarterback Tristan Gebbia (paywall)
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

What addition of transfer quarterback Tristan Gebbia means for Buckeyes (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ohio State in the transfer portal — the hits, misses and what’s to come (paywall)
Cameron Teague Robinson, The Athletic

I’m ready for a full season of healthy Trey and Miyan!

I was down, now im up again they don’t know what I was up against.. #ThankYouGod pic.twitter.com/n9cSUepFkK

— TreVeyon Henderson (@TreVeyonH4) January 17, 2023

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Ohio State roster reset: How the scholarship numbers look at each position (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Making way-too-early projection for Buckeyes offensive depth chart next season (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Looking To 2023: Where do pundits have Ohio State pegged for next year’s playoff race
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

What Lathan Ransom’s return means for Ohio State football’s safeties in 2023
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Did you know that Sam was once committed to play lacrosse at Notre Dam until Urban Meyer saw him playing dodgeball in gym class?

legend has it, he’s still running… #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/7g2OMJ7WCs

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 17, 2023

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Column: Harbaugh’s return is good for the Buckeyes
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land

Former Ohio State Wide Receivers Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson Finalists for NFL Rookie of the Year
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors

Remembering five great Buckeye moments in recent years
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

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On the Hardwood​

Buckeyes hope smarter paint decisions can reignite offense
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Five stats to know about four-game Buckeyes losing streak (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row

Ohio State in Desperate Need of Win on the Road at Nebraska with Buckeyes at Risk of Dropping Five Straight
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Who says Ohio State basketball is having a down year?

Introducing @OhioStateWBB, otherwise known as your #NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/2oJWbfGF5P

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) January 17, 2023

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Women’s Basketball: Mikulášiková Named to Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll
Ohio State Athletics

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Outside the Shoe and Schott​

Ohio State’s big men open up big lead, help shorthanded wrestling squad take down Rutgers
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

Men’s Lacrosse: Inaugural Season in Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium Set For Buckeye Lacrosse Programs
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Tennis: JJ Wolf Wins Open Round Match at Australian Open
Ohio State Athletics

You’re Nuts: Who are your favorite Ohio State sports siblings?
Brett Ludwiczak and Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

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And now for something completely different...​

I generally think gender reveals are douchey and dumb, as a former prolific backyard professional wrestler, I can get behind ones like this!

View this post on Instagram​

A post shared by Taylor Calmus (@dudedad)​

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Three takeaways from Ohio State’s painful loss on the road to Nebraska
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

The Buckeyes losing streak is extended to five.

The Ohio State Buckeyes (10-8, 2-5) lost to the Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-9, 3-5) 63-60 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, extending the Buckeyes losing streak to five games.

The Buckeyes were slow to start, scoring just nine points through the first 12 minutes and trailing 12-9 heading into the under-8 media timeout in the first half.

However, despite all of the offensive struggles, the Buckeyes took a 22-21 lead into the halftime period. The Buckeyes have led at the half in two of their last three games, but have been unable to secure wins.

Bucks lead at the half.#Team124 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/7sIcNt2o1e

— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) January 19, 2023

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The Buckeyes were led by freshman Brice Sensabaugh, who recorded seven points and six rebounds, but he was just 2-for-11 from the field and the freshman uncharacteristically missed some open mid-range looks.

In the second half, the Buckeyes went on an almost six-minute scoring drought that allowed Nebraska to take a 55-48 lead. After some back-and-forth basketball, the Buckeyes cut the lead to 61-58 after a Brice Sensabaugh three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining, but Nebraska was able to get a couple of defensive stops and hit their free throws late and win the game and won 63-60.

Sam Griesel led the Cornhuskers with 14 points and Brice Sensabaugh led the way for the Buckeyes with 18.

Here are three things we took away from Wednesday night’s contest in Lincoln.

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More Roddy Gayle and Eugene Brown​

Offense is fun and guys like Brice Sensabaugh, Zed Key, and Sean McNeil can provide it in a hurry. However, when their offense is struggling, it can take a toll on their defensive effort and it led to breakdowns on both ends.

Junior Eugene Brown and freshman Roddy Gayle are not as great of options on the offensive side, but they have shown top-tier defense at times and most importantly during a losing streak, bringing a fresh set of energy and a spark off the bench.

Also, Gayle was a 27-point-per-game scorer his sophomore year in high school (his junior and senior seasons he dealt with injuries) and is a more-than-capable scorer, he is just young and still finding his footing. And Eugene Brown is a solid shooter who showed flashes of his three-and-D game his freshman season.

These guys can help provide a spark off the team while also working on their own individual offensive games which will be helpful in February and March as every team’s depth gets tested.

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Brice Sensabaugh should come off the bench​

We put a lot of weight into starting lineups and who we see on the floor at the opening tip. However, at this rate, the Buckeyes might be best off bringing their star freshman scorer off the bench.

To be clear, in every game this would involve him coming off the bench and onto the floor at the under-16 media timeout. This is not him sitting out for more than the first four-five minutes of the game.

Sensabaugh is a part of the Buckeyes' best lineup so far, in terms of plus/minus, according to the Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy.

#Buckeyes starters at Nebraska:

Bruce Thornton
Sean McNeil
Justice Sueing
Brice Sensabaugh
Zed Key

This lineup started six straight before Key's shoulder injury. Is +39 on the season and +26 in Big Ten play.

— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) January 18, 2023

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To be clear, in every game this would involve him coming off the bench and onto the floor at the under-16 media timeout. This is not him sitting out for more than the first four-five minutes of the game.

What this does is it brings your best scorer off the bench after the starters have played a hard four to five minutes to open the game when the adrenaline is pumping and are tired. Now, Sensabaugh can attack immediately and take advantage of some tired bodies and force some coaches to go to their bench earlier than they might want to, especially teams with less depth than others.

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One game at a time​

The Buckeyes’ four-game losing streak makes it feel like the sky is falling and in this conference, it can be. Every game is a battle and when you go two weeks without a win, it makes it hard to bounce back. The Buckeyes have gone from a solid 5 or 6 seed in the tournament to being on the bubble.

Ohio State’s next four games are at home against Iowa, at Illinois, at Indiana, and at home against Wisconsin. This is a difficult stretch that involves playing at two of the toughest venues in the conference.

It is still just January and there are a lot of games to be played. If Ohio State wants to get back on track, they have to take each individual game at a time and attempt to stack up some wins. This is a good enough team to win games, they just cannot look forward and have to try to take each game in a vacuum.

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Column: The Urban Meyer NFL experiment was an even bigger disaster than we realized
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Sorry, Jacksonville.

Like many watching Saturday night’s Wild Card matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers, I tuned out at halftime, feeling confident that the beatdown we’d witnessed in the first 30 minutes would lead to a W for the Chargers and an early playoff exit for the Jags on their home turf.

But then the improbable happened. After throwing four first-half interceptions, Trevor Lawrence turned it on in the second half (and at the end of the first) with four touchdowns in the last 31 minutes of play. The Jacksonville defense stepped up, allowing just three points in the final two quarters. Jacksonville emerged with a one-point win.

After this game, we learned three things that we’ve probably suspected throughout this season:

1. Doug Pederson is a better coach than we realized
2. Trevor Lawrence is a quarterback with a bright future
3. The Urban Meyer experiment in Jacksonville was even worse than we realized

Turnarounds happen. They’re meant to happen. It’s the reason the NFL Draft is structured the way it is, so the worst teams in the league can have a shot at redemption. And yet, we don’t often see turnarounds from teams being the worst in the league to winning a playoff game in a single season. That’s why we have to give credit to Doug Pederson and the effort he’s made in Jacksonville.

But it’s not all on the head coach. Of course it makes sense that a quarterback like Trevor Lawrence would show some improvement during his sophomore season in the league since it’s hard to have a sophomore slump when there’s nowhere to go but up after the freshman season.

And credit the $175.3 million Jacksonville doled out in free agency this year to secure players like Christian Kirk and Brandon Scherff.

The thing is, though, teams don’t simply go from 0 to 60 in a single year. There was clearly untapped talent that Pederson was able to put to work in 2022 in ways that weren’t possible in 2021. In business we might call it “building operational efficiencies” — because coaching an NFL team is, after all, like running a business.

So why did this talent not thrive in 2021? Why did these efficiencies remain untapped? For all the reasons Urban Meyer had success at Ohio State, they led to abject failure in Jacksonville.

There’s no doubt that Meyer was a phenomenal college coach because he was good at the things that were required of him as a college coach. And the thing you need to be successful at in college is, uncompromisingly, recruiting. For Meyer, that meant bringing to life a winning culture and then convincing 17 and 18-year-olds to join the program because of that winning tradition — and he was really good at it. When Meyer was still at Ohio State, it was easy to point to the mutually reinforcing recruiting, championship and NFL Draft pick machines that were all but unstoppable. The “developed here” mantra was real when recruits could see guys a few years their senior being taken in the first round with a handful of Big Ten titles under their belts.

In college, even scheming doesn’t need to be all that brilliant (consider the service academies which send one or two teams to bowl games every season running the triple option). Here, recruiting once again played a role. Meyer was able to take his athletes who, because they were four- and five-star recruits, were generally better at their positions than most of the athletes on the other side of the field, and draw up schemes that made his teams look like dynamite.

Unfortunately, there’s really no such thing as recruiting in the NFL and you can’t scheme when your athletes are just as good as those on the other team. And the latter point, unfortunately for Meyer, is what matters in the pros.

Every player Meyer coached at Jacksonville was one of the top players on their teams in college, which is why they’re in the NFL. Trying to overpower opposing NFL teams simply doesn’t work; there’s more nuance to it. That’s why NFL point spreads are usually less than two touchdowns while college spreads are much, much higher. There is simply greater parity as teams are more evenly matched.

Individual game strategy matters much more in the NFL than it does in college football. That’s why even the worst teams in the league generally win a few games every season. Meyer learned the hard way that he simply cannot rely on talent mismatches to win games.

To the first point on recruiting, Meyer’s plan in the NFL revolved around the idea, so successful in college, that building a culture would lead to championships. There’s a reason we hear the Meyer-coached players on Sunday Night Football announce they went to “THE Ohio State University,” while Ryan Day-coached players (as we’ve seen throughout this season) fall back on “Ohio State.” Having come from the NFL, Day seems to approach Ohio State as a business manager.

Meyer’s culture-centric program doesn’t work with adults who are earning a paycheck and who, if given the opportunity, could earn a paycheck elsewhere. His methods of treating them like he did a complete college team seem absurd in retrospect.

Unfortunately, when culture building didn’t work, the culture in Jacksonville got so severely toxic that we couldn’t go a whole week without another wild story from the locker room. We don’t need to get into the allegations of verbal and even physical abuse that clouded the short-lived experiment in Jacksonville.

In business and football, the danger is not learning from the lessons we’ve seen. It’s one more data point of why some college coaches don’t make good NFL coaches. Sometimes, things have to get worse before they get better, but especially with the benefit of hindsight, it’s clear that things got much, much worse than they had to in Jacksonville under Meyer’s tenure.

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B1G WBB Week 10: Indiana and Maryland battle, Ohio State shines in award predictions
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The non-Buckeyes news you need from across Big Ten women’s basketball

It’s easy to get into an Ohio State bubble but there’s a lot going on around the Big Ten, especially this season in women’s basketball. The conference has the most teams in the AP Top-25 poll and features a wide array of talented seniors who are destined for the professional level.

Last week, two teams with those types of players were on display. Also, with the end of the season approaching, it’s time to predict some awards.

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Indiana and Maryland Battle​

Thursday, Jan. 12, it was a top-10 showdown between the No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers and No. 9 Maryland Terrapins. It was Indiana’s dynamic duo of center Mackenzie Holmes and guard Grace Berger versus soon-to-be WNBA lottery pick in Maryland’s star guard Diamond Miller.

Played at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, the Hoosiers’ fans witnessed a physical game. In Maryland’s starting five, four players picked up at least three fouls with three starters grabbing four apiece.

The Terrapins picked up 20 overall. Miraculously, nobody fouled out and Maryland kept it a close game for three of four quarters.

Indiana’s halfcourt defense held Maryland to 61 points, but the quarter that hurt the Terrapins the most was the second. The Hoosiers held Miller and her side to 27.3% from the field, compared to the best shooting quarter of the game for either team by Indiana, shooting 63.6%.

Leading Indiana in that category was Indiana native and Oregon Ducks transfer Sydney Parrish. The guard notched a team-high 18 points for Indiana. That performance plus freshman Yarden Garzon going 3-for-5 from deep was the difference in the 68-61 victory.

Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Maryland guard Diamond Miller (left) guarding Sydney Parrish (right) in a physical game on Thursday, Jan. 12.

On Maryland’s side, Miller still played an impressive game, scoring 19 points and six rebounds. Unfortunately for the Terrapins, only one of her teammates, substitute guard Brinae Alexander, contributed more than 10 points and they couldn’t match an even scoring day for the Hoosiers in the 68-61 Indiana victory.

Unfortunately for fans of the conference, the two sides don’t meet again in the regular season. Hopefully, there’s a Big Ten tournament rematch between the two sides with even more on the line.

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Predicting Conference Awards​

Land-Grant Holy Land doesn’t have a media vote in any of the postseason awards, so consider this a draft of what we could potentially send to the Big Ten come season’s end. There’s still time for players to make an impact but with 10 weeks of the season down, it’s a good time to take a guess at the individual awards.

Player of the Year: Caitlin Clark, Iowa Hawkeyes​

Duh. Iowa guard Caitlin Clark is having the best scoring season of her career, which is saying a lot. It’s not in the total points per game, that’s slightly down, but the Naismith Player of the Year contender is shooting 1.5% higher than last season, shooting 46.7%. With South Carolina Gamecocks center Aaliyah Boston getting more attention on defense and playing under her normal game-shattering impact, Clark is a good pick to win not only B1G Player of the Year but the Naismith award too.

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Freshman of the Year: Cotie McMahon, Ohio State Buckeyes​

This one is a close between McMahon, Minnesota Guard Mara Braun, Indiana’s Garzon, and Rutgers guard Kaylene Smikle but McMahon edges them out. The freshman forward might not have the same scoring numbers as Braun, but in-game impact McMahon’s becoming a key piece of the No. 2 team in the country, which says a lot.

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Defensive Player of the Year: Diamond Miller, Maryland Terrapins​

Now that Northwestern Wildcat forward Veronica Burton is out of college, it’s someone else’s turn to win Defensive Player of the Year. Miller’s ability to cover the best player on the court, steal, block, and rebound are unmatched. With Clark the surefire pick for Player of the Year, it seems fair that Miller wins the Defensive Player of the Year Award for her incredible play.

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Sixth Player of the Year: Rikki Harris, Ohio State Buckeyes​

Sixth player is normally the player who consistently comes off the bench first for a team and impacts the game. Now, Harris has started due to injuries, but the guard’s ability to play four out of five positions on the court, and even the move to starting point guard, shows versatility. The Indiana native’s part of the reason the Buckeyes are undefeated. If guard Jacy Sheldon returns, Harris moves back to that traditional sixth player but starting shouldn’t punish the redshirt junior for her accolades in the Big Ten.

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Coach of the Year: Shauna Green, Illinois Fighting Illini​

We know, we know. Buckeyes’ head coach Kevin McGuff is leading a surprise Ohio State side to their best season ever. That’s great, and in any other year he’s a lock for Coach of the Year, but what Green’s done is incomparable in the Big Ten.


Illinois Fighting Illini coach Shauna Green at Big Ten media day on Oct. 11, 2022.

The former Dayton Flyers coach came to a seven-win Illinois team who returned only five players. Through a combination of former Dayton players, other transfers, and impact players within those five returners, the Illini are playing their best season in program history. Illinois already doubled their wins from last season and are back in the top-25 AP poll for the first time since 2000.

If you have your own picks, share them on the Land-Grant Holy Land Twitter page or in the comments below.

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Elsewhere Around the B1G​

• The Michigan Wolverines had a week showing they’re not out of the running yet, beating the Purdue Boilermakers convincingly and a 15-point win over in-state rivals, the Michigan State Spartans. Maize & Blue is still a team to watch in the Big Ten.
• Clark and the Hawkeyes showed no mercy against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Iowa beat the visitors 108-67, with Clark playing well into the fourth quarter.
• Still no conference wins for the Northwestern Wildcats, losing to Purdue and Iowa.
• Wisconsin’s comeback from a tough start to the season to win two conference games in a row, with an overtime win over the Spartans, led by forward Serah Williams who had 31 points and 13 rebounds.

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Conference Standings​

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AP Poll​

The same six teams represent the Big Ten in the most recent AP poll, but the Hawkeyes jump the Terrapins for a spot in the top 10.

2 - Ohio State (+1)
6 - Indiana (NC)
10 - Iowa (+2)
11 - Maryland (-2)
14 - Michigan (+3)
21 - Illinois (+3)

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Conference Schedule​

Here’s what the rest of the conference schedule looks like in week 11, plus the first day of Week 12 because, just look at it.

Wednesday, Jan. 18​

• No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes at Michigan State Spartans - 7:00 p.m. ET
• Nebraska Cornhuskers at Purdue Boilermakers - 7:00 p.m. ET
• Minnesota Golden Gophers at Penn State Nittany Lions - 7:00 p.m. ET
• No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers at No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini - 8:00 p.m ET

Thursday, Jan. 19

• Northwestern Wildcats at No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes - 6:30 p.m. ET
• No. 11 Maryland Terrapins at Wisconsin Badgers - 7:30 p.m. ET
• No. 14 Michigan Wolverines at Rutgers Scarlet Knights - 8:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, Jan 22​

• Minnesota Golden Gophers at Purdue Boilermakers - 2:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, Jan. 23​

• No. 11 Maryland Terrapins at Nebraska Cornhuskers - 2:00 p.m. ET
• No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini at Northwestern Wildcats - 3:00 p.m. ET
• Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Michigan State Spartans - 3:00 p.m. ET
• Wisconsin Badgers at Penn State Nittany Lions - 5:00 p.m. ET

Monday, Jan. 24

• No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes at No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes - 7:00 p.m. ET
• No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers at No. 14 Michigan Wolverines - 8:00 p.m. ET

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Home Stretch​

There are 39 days until the Big Ten regular season ends. Week 11, and the spillover into Week 12, shows how the schedule was put together with a purpose. The top teams are starting to play.

While this week won’t decide who wins the conference, Indiana’s two ranked opponents and Iowa’s trip to Columbus on Monday will start to separate teams or bring the pack even closer together.

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Oof, reached this lull in the season. No thread.

Bucks lead Rutgers 23-20 at half.

You’re Nuts: Who will replace C.J. Stroud as Ohio State’s quarterback?
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

Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

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.

Today’s Question: Who will replace C.J. Stroud as Ohio State’s quarterback?​

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Jami’s Take: Kyle McCord​

When C.J. Stroud declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on Monday, the Buckeyes’ first battle for next season became choosing QB1.

Stroud’s shoes won’t be easy to fill. A team leader who threw for 8,123 yards and 85 touchdowns in his time as a Buckeye, Stroud set 16 Ohio State records for passing or offense, three Big Ten records, and he was the first quarterback in conference history to have back-to-back seasons with 30+ touchdown passes. These stats led him to be named a two-time Big Ten Conference offensive player of the year and quarterback of the year, along with being the only two-time Heisman finalist in Ohio State history (Finalists weren’t named prior to 1982).

For Kyle McCord, the wait to compete for the starting job has been particularly grueling. Now, his time has come to show Buckeye Nation what he is truly capable of.

McCord came into the program a five-star recruit with the 2021 class with a stronger recruiting profile than Stroud. But stats aren’t everything, as Stroud won the starting spot over McCord when it came time to choose Justin Fields’ replacement.

But McCord isn’t completely without experience at the collegiate level – he is currently the most experienced quarterback on the Buckeyes’ roster. And experience can be a game-changer when it comes to high-stakes games.

McCord, by his own admission, is still working on his leadership skills, so that’s not to say his experience will be enough to win him the starting job, but it should certainly be a factor, especially considering he is the only quarterback to have started in place of Stroud during Stroud’s time as QB1.

McCord made his debut as a true freshman (one of only four in program history to do so) in 2021 with a 59-7 victory over Akron when Stroud was battling a shoulder injury. While he was a little shaky to start, he did eventually settle in, throwing for 319 yards and two touchdowns.

Now listen, I’m not delusional enough to state with certainty that one starting win against Akron of all teams qualifies someone to follow Stroud as the starter. McCord wasn’t perfect in that game by any means, even ending his night with an interception. He has a tendency to throw off his back foot, which could interfere with his accuracy. And though McCord has taken snaps in other games, we haven’t really seen the breadth of what he can do when captaining the ship against ranked opponents like Michigan.

There is a plus side to that win though – his messy moments were fixable, and the coaches were able to start working on them back in 2021.

So this gives McCord the advantage of far more reps than his competition Devin Brown. In fact, it makes McCord more experienced than Stroud was when he was named the starter.

McCord’s experience with Buckeye playmakers actually extends beyond his collegiate career. He and Marvin Harrison Jr. played together in high school, giving him the added benefit of established chemistry with one of the Buckeyes’ star receivers.

When you consider the elements that create a star turn for quarterbacks, it goes beyond the Xs and Os. An accurate arm is just part of what it takes to excel with an elite program (which is to say nothing of excelling in the pros), and McCord has proven his patience and work ethic over the last two seasons, in addition to having the technical skills.

For example, McCord could bring some added rushing ability to the quarterback position, a nice change of pace after Stroud’s two years of being mostly a pocket player. McCord has shown that he is capable of throwing accurately on the run or rushing to pick up a few extra yards, both elements the Buckeyes have been lacking in the last two years.

After keeping his head down and biding his time, McCord’s patience and experience should pay off come this fall.

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Matt’s Take: Devin Brown​

If I’m being honest, I recognize that McCord is the most likely candidate to take over behind center for the Buckeyes in the fall. He has more time in the program, he was a five-star prospect, he has the longstanding relationship with Marvin Harrison Jr. and everything else that Jami talked about above.

But here’s the thing that has me hung up, despite starting a game in 2021 while Stroud was dealing with a shoulder injury, he only threw a total of 20 passes in 2022. Now, I know that Ryan Day is frustratingly hesitant to let his offensive backups cook late in games for fear of embarrassing his opponents. I also know that he essentially did the same thing to C.J. when he was the heir apparent behind Justin Fields, but that was in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and Day said he regretted how he handled that situation.

Of course, that very well could just be coach speak, because Day basically didn’t change a damn thing in what he had to assume would be Stroud’s final season in Columbus (despite the fact that he waited to declare until nearly the last possible second). So either Day didn’t follow his own advice in handling his backup QB this season, lied about regretting it in the first place, or he wasn’t comfortable with running McCord out there.

Kyle’s numbers were good — 16 for 20 (80%), 9.5 yards per attempt, 1 touchdown — but he was mostly doing check downs and almost never got a chance to run anything even resembling the actual Ohio State offense, and that makes me curious. It could just be Day’s fear of rubbing it in, or it could be that he doesn’t think McCord is ready.

So, if Kyle wasn’t ready in Year 2, is it better to run him out there in Year 3, or give the younger player the chance to start in his sophomore season? Brown was also a top-50 prospect, but he seemingly has something that McCord doesn’t, but Buckeye fans have been dying to see more of... elite running ability. While he doesn’t have Terrelle Pryor or Justin Fields athleticism, reports from Buckeye practices this season have made it sound like Brown might have an extra gear that could come in handy for a first-time starter playing behind a rebuilt offensive line.

We know that under Day, Buckeye quarterbacks have been hesitant to run the ball, but this fall could be the perfect opportunity to change that narrative with a willing runner who might be scrambling for his life more than other recent OSU QBs.

I imagine that Ryan Day will play this out as long as possible in an effort to maintain his roster and not give either quarterback reason to leave before the season (for the record, if McCord is the starter, I don’t expect Brown to transfer), but given the fact that Day actively avoided getting McCord any actual experience this past season and the athletic advantages that Brown can bring to the offense, I would not be shocked if he ended up being the guy when the Buckeyes opened the season in Bloomington, Ind.

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A larger coaching role should lead to a larger recruiting role for Brian Hartline and Ohio State
Caleb Houser 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

Brian Hartline is an incredible recruiter. This new role should only expand his recruiting responsibilities.

It’s no secret how valuable Brian Hartline is to Ohio State’s football program. An alum, NFL veteran, and dynamic position coach ever since he stepped foot on campus, everything Hartline has put his hands on has seen success. Whether it be the on-field numbers his players have put up in their careers or the NFL success his guys are having each year, Hartline quickly cemented himself as the top receivers coach in the country.

Arguably Ryan Day’s most important position coach on offense, what Hartline has done as a receivers coach alone is worthy of continued praise, and is one of the main reasons Day has worked so hard to keep him over the last couple years. That has included pay raises, new titles, and now of course his latest promotion as the offensive coordinator.

Looking specifically at the job he’s done with his position, the receiver production has never been higher at Ohio State. Hartline has raised the level to an all-time high, and that’s seen at both the collegiate and professional levels when you look at this season of Marvin Harrison Jr. and in the NFL with rookies like Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. Hartline is incredible at development, and virtually everything else he’s tasked with on a daily basis as an Ohio State coach.

With an increased role as the team’s new offensive coordinator, there should also be an increased role in his recruiting responsibilities that stem beyond just his immediate position group. Hartline has basically focused solely on receivers when it comes to recruiting, but seeing how successful he’s been when it comes to landing elite playmakers and building relationships, surely him helping with other position groups would be beneficial for the program as a whole.

Seemingly every cycle Hartline is getting who he wants when it comes to landing players for his position room. Likewise, landing the top receiver in the country has happened more times than not since he’s been at the helm. Ehile Day has crushed it with quarterback recruiting, seeing Hartline help in other areas such as offensive line or even with running backs is reasonable, as he will in large part be calling a lot of the shots from here on with Day overseeing the operation.

Looking at offensive line, Justin Frye is only entering year two with Ohio State, and as he saw his title grow to run game coordinator this coming season, offensive line recruiting is where it all starts. The best college football programs are elite up front, and the Buckeyes have been very good, but there’s always room for improvement. Who better to help land elite players along the offensive trenches than Hartline?

He has experience recruiting in every corner of the country, and his track record alone would give him a foot in the door. Additionally, when you look at where he’s pulling these top players, many times it’s those same regions that are also producing the best offensive linemen — and even other skill positions.

It’s easier said than done, but it also doesn’t really seem that Hartline would be spread too thin in multiple areas rather than just his lone position group. Having a bigger role with the offense is something that he’s earned, and while he’s never done it before, his success everywhere else gives reason to believe that this too will go in Ohio State’s favor.

The 2024 cycle is already off and running, and recruiting efforts are being put to work daily. If the Buckeyes really want to continue being atop of the college football landscape when it comes to both recruiting and on-field success, Hartline needs to have an extended role on the trail where he’s seen so much success already.

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And lets try not to have too much side discussion about them.

So far I saw:

-BpSpy missing
-Bookies can't make new events
-New Posts button is in Forum drop down (as opposed the top bar or something like that)
-2FA is shown as enabled in my profile but I was not prompted for an Authenticator App code either from my PC or my phone to login.
-Need to Nuke Donate button

(Also, it looks like Buckeye Huddle, and I think we MAY play with the color schemes some, but I did see an upvote for "Night Game" as it is)

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Class: 2026 (high school)
Position: Athlete
School: Ft. Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 165 lbs

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Nebraska vs. Ohio State: How to watch NCAAB online, TV channel, live stream info, game time​

The Buckeyes are a solid 5.5-point favorite against the Cornhuskers, according to the latest college basketball odds.
The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Buckeyes as a 4.5-point favorite.
Over/Under: -110

Entire article: https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...-channel-live-stream-info-game-time-28986351/

College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions for Ohio State vs. Nebraska (Wednesday, Jan. 18)​

Ohio State needs to rebound, and outside of matching up with Minnesota at home — whom it lost to — Nebraska is the next best bet for an “easy” win.
That said, Lincoln, Nebraska is not the easiest place to play, and the Cornhuskers carry a pretty strong defensive squad.
Unfortunately, the Cornhuskers are only good when it comes to not fouling. Teams are shooting well against them, so OSU will probably come out on fire.
In addition, the Buckeyes have a top-four offense because they are sound when it comes to taking care of the ball and crashing the glass offensively.
Since Nebraska struggles in these areas, the Buckeyes should take advantage and notch a win and a cover.

Entire article: https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaab...-vs-nebraska-cornhuskers-wednesday-january-18

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Tough choice!

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Class: 2024
School: Santa Ana(CA) Mater Dei
Position: CB
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 180lbs

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Class: 2024
School: Carlsbad(CA) Carlsbad
Position: QB
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 185lbs

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Class: 2024
Position : Defensive End
School: Chicago(IL) Kenwood
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 225lbs


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Class: 2024
Position: Running Back
School: Longview(TX) Longview
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 190lbs

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Was originally a 4-star 2017 Nebraska signee (NATL #200, PRO #9) in the same class as Tyjon Lindsey.

Per 11W:

"A seventh-year senior who started his career at Nebraska as a member of the recruiting class of 2017, Gebbia is expected to be a backup for the Buckeyes. While he started five games for Oregon State between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, he did not play at all in 2021 due to a hamstring injury and played in just four games in 2022, completing 10 of 11 passes for 79 yards."

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