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LGHL Bold Predictions: OSU will win back-to-back national titles without a B1G title game appearance

Bold Predictions: OSU will win back-to-back national titles without a B1G title game appearance
Jami Jurich
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State v Penn State

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

But hey, at least I’m not predicting a loss to Michigan!

As preseason camp begins this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final theme every week of the off-season. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.



With so much freak athleticism (looking at you, Jeremiah Smith) and the ability to pick up where last year’s team left off, I do believe the Buckeyes will win a second consecutive national title.

I suppose that could be considered a bold prediction in and of itself. Since the Associated Press began naming a national champion in 1936, just 14 teams have won back-to-back titles. Only Georgia has accomplished the feat since the College Football Playoff era began in 2014.

But while each year brings with it new growing pains and adjustments, Ohio State still heads into the upcoming season with a high-powered offense, weapons from each angle, a tough and steady defense, and coaches with ample experience in marquee games.

It might be bold to assume they’ll win the title again, but it’s not an impossibility, nor is it where my bold prediction starts and stops, because I believe the Buckeyes will win these consecutive national titles without winning the Big Ten Championship.

If you need a refresher on last season, when Michigan handed the Buckeyes their second loss of the season, it threw a wrench into Ohio State’s plans in more ways than one. Undefeated Oregon had already locked in their spot in the Big Ten Championship, but the second spot — the one that Ohio State would have secured with a win over the Wolverines, instead went to an 11-1 Penn State team, which won the tiebreaker against Indiana.

Oregon went on to win the Big Ten title, 45-37, setting up its rematch with Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, which the Buckeyes, of course, won en route to the National Championship.

This season, I expect we’re going to see the same two teams in the Big Ten Championship, with Ohio State still ultimately going on to the title.

Here’s how: For Oregon, the road to the Big Ten Championship is a fairly easy one, given both the talent on their team and their schedule. The way I see it, they have two major hurdles to clear in their schedule: Penn State on the road on Sept. 27 and USC at home on Nov. 22.

On the Nittany Lions’ side, in addition to that home game against Oregon, they play Ohio State on the road Nov. 1 and Indiana at home on Nov. 8.

It’s college football, and upsets happen, so this bold prediction, which hinges on routine games playing out fairly predictably, could blow up quickly if someone comes out of left field this season the way Indiana did last year, for example. We’re working under the assumption that the aforementioned games are where this prediction lives and dies.

With their schedule this year, I just don’t see Oregon losing a regular-season game, setting them up for a second consecutive undefeated regular season and a trip to the Big Ten Championship.

If Oregon goes undefeated, that means Penn State loses at home to the Ducks. So, how do they get back into the mix in this scenario?

On the road in Columbus. Penn State is long overdue for a win over the Buckeyes, and with former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles jumping ship after the championship to take the same role with the Nits, this could very well be their time to shine. If anyone is going to be able to shut down the Buckeyes’ high-octane offense, it’s Knowles.

I do think, unfortunately for Ohio State, that this is going to be the best Penn State team in years (I know, I know. People say this every year). I also think, given the potential of the Penn State team, if head coach James Franklin doesn’t have something to show for the talent at the end of this season, he very well might be out of a job. Personally, I hope he stays forever, since I believe he’s the Nits’ Achilles heel, and he does seem to have nine lives, but at some point, he needs to start delivering some marquee wins. With Knowles on his sideline instead of ours this season, he might just be able to pull it off.

Realistically, Knowles hasn’t yet had the chance to recruit his own defense, so there will be a settling-in period for him, and even with his knowledge, the Buckeyes’ offense will be tough to stop.

But if they’re ever going to make it happen, this is the year.

That would set Penn State up with just the one loss to Oregon.

The Buckeyes, on their end, have two tough conference games and a couple of sticky ones. Their season opener against Texas, while important down the road for ranking and seeding, has no bearing on the Big Ten Championship, as only conference play is factored in (though I do think the Buckeyes will win that). OSU has Illinois and Wisconsin on the road, both games they should win easily, but ones that could trip them up if they’re caught sleeping, plus Penn State at home and Michigan in Ann Arbor.

I have to assume we will beat Michigan for the sake of my mental health (and if we don’t, I’ll be first in line to start demanding a new head coach). So, assuming OSU takes both sticky games and the Michigan game, their hypothetical loss to Penn State would be the only one factored into the Big Ten Championship.

A one-loss OSU loses the tiebreaker to a one-loss Penn State if Penn State has the head-to-head advantage, setting up an Oregon and Penn State Big Ten Championship rematch.

But just like it didn’t keep the Buckeyes down last season (and in many ways, the loss to Michigan actually seemed to light a fire under them), I believe Ohio State would be able to find a way to overcome and win the national title, whether or not they make an appearance in Indianapolis in December.

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LGHL How bold are your predictions for Ohio State’s football season?

How bold are your predictions for Ohio State’s football season?
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 20 CFP National Championship - Notre Dame vs Ohio State

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.

Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various
Ohio State teams, the players, 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.



It is Bold Predictions Week here at Land-Grant Holy Land. So all week, we will be focusing on takes that are spicy, out-of-the-box, and maybe even a little bit dangerous. The key, of course, is that these are actual predictions that we are making, so they are ones that we actually believe will (or at least can) happen.

So, in this week’s fan survey, we are asking you about some bold predictions. Take a look at the two Buckeye-focused bold prediction questions and then scroll down to the survey below and vote. If you want to go further in-depth about your selections, please hit up the comments at the bottom of the page.

And while you’re in the comments, if you have a bold prediction that’s not covered in our survey questions, please feel free to share it too. Then, don’t forget to check back later this week to see the results of the survey.


Question 1: Which bold prediction do you think is most likely to happen?


Now, obviously, all of us are rooting for all of these things to happen this season. I mean, could you imagine? The Buckeyes going undefeated, beating Michigan by 35 points after they get a semi-death penalty, and having three Heisman finalists and the winner, and picking up a second-consecutive national title while four other Big Ten teams make the playoffs? That would be one hell of a season.

But, since even I’m not an unhinged enough homer to predict that, I want to know which one of those things you think is the most likely to happen. To be honest with you, I’m not sure where I would go yet. I think the Big Ten is deep enough to get five teams in. I also think that the Buckeyes could go undefeated, and I would not be shocked if one (or more) Buckeyes get a Heisman invite to New York.

So, I’ll leave it to you? Which of these spicy possibilities is most likely to happen?


Question 2: Which under-the-radar Buckeye do you boldly predict will have a huge season?


I don’t know if there is really ever an under-the-radar player when it comes to Ohio State Buckeyes. By virtue of being on the OSU roster, you are already a stud, but I have compiled a list of a dozen players who could shock a lot of folks by having big seasons this fall.

At this point, only one of these players is set to be a starter, but you never know who could prove themselves in fall camp or early in the season, or if an injury will open up an opportunity for someone to step up.

As I was going through this list, it reminded me just how much exciting talent there is on this squad, and how much of it actually has a decent amount of experience. While there’s not a ton of starting or even playing experience from this group, it’s not expressly comprised of first and second-year players. There are a number of guys who have already been in the program for three years, working and waiting their turn.

So, which one of these guys do you think has the best chance to boldly break out this fall?


Share your thoughts here:


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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LGHL Bold Predictions: Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin will both be Hesiman Trophy Finalists

Bold Predictions: Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin will both be Hesiman Trophy Finalists
Alex Frank
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2025 CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T- Ohio State v Notre Dame

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rushes in for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2025 CFP National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. | Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Sayin and Smith could be one of the best quarterback-wide receiver combos in College Football in 2025.

As preseason camp begins this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final theme every week of the off-season. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.



There are lots of factors that go into a player becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith already has some of those boxes checked, and he very well could check the other ones off during the upcoming 2025 season.

The first box to check off for being a Heisman Trophy finalist is popularity. Is the player a big name going into the upcoming season? Are they on the covers of preseason preview magazines? Are they the headline topics on sports talk shows on the radio or television? Do they play for a name-brand and blue blood like Smith playing for Ohio State?

Popularity gets players exposure, and they need that to be considered as a finalist for the most prestigious award in college football. Plus, in this day and age of sports betting and there being odds for just about anything, popularity can boost a player’s odds of winning the Heisman Trophy.

Second on the boxes to check off is the body of work. Smith, despite only playing one season of college football, already has an elite body of work going into 2025.

He was an All-American by multiple outlets last season, and he saved his best performances for when the games mattered most in the College Football Playoff, with five touchdowns, 381 receiving yards and 19 receptions in four games. His 57-yard catch on third-and-11 to seal the National Championship will long live in Buckeyes lore.

That’s two boxes Smith has checked off going into this season. Everybody knows who he is, and he has the numbers and performances to back up who he is.

During the season, a player’s performance is another box to check off. They’re not going to be a Heisman Trophy finalist if they can’t back up their performance(s) from previous season(s). Smith should be great again in 2025. So, as long as his numbers are even just slightly better in 2025, he will be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Another factor is highlight reels. If a player is posting highlight-reel performances every week, that probably means his numbers are really good. That means he has a good chance of being a Heisman Trophy finalist. If Smith is making one-handed catches and breaking away for long touchdowns, there’s a good chance he’ll be a Heisman Trophy finalist.

What about Julian Sayin? His case is different, largely because he hasn’t had a lot of playing experience, and college football fans outside of Columbus may not know a lot about him.

There have been players who won the Heisman Trophy in recent seasons who weren’t well-known going into the seasons when they won the award. Joe Burrow in 2019. Jameis Winston in 2013. Robert Griffin III in 2011. Cam Newton in 2010. Those seasons from those players were unexpected, but they were prolific enough to earn them a trip to New York and, ultimately, win them the most prestigious honor in college football.

Sayin is capable of duplicating those kinds of performances in 2025. He has a lot around him that will help him have a great season. For starters, he has Jeremiah Smith. In addition, he has emerging star wide receiver Carnell Tate to throw to as well as new tight end Max Klare.

Not to mention, Brian Hartline is his offensive coordinator. Hartline was previously the Buckeyes wide receivers coach, which is the strength of this Buckeyes offense. Sayin will have plenty of great wide receivers to throw to this season.

Given those wide receivers and the offensive infrastructure at Ohio State, Sayin could be in for a huge season statistically.

There are a lot of great quarterbacks in College Football this season: Drew Allar (Penn State), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), and Carson Beck (Miami (FL)) to name a few. There is some tough competition to be a Heisman Trophy finalist, especially at the quarterback position, but Sayin is in a unique position given the talent that surrounds him on the Buckeyes.

This is a bold prediction to think that both Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin will be Heisman Trophy finalists this season. Smith definitely has a realistic shot, and it’s fair to say he probably will be. Sayin is bold because of his lack of playing experience, but a prolific season will earn him a ticket to New York in mid-December.

Again, Sayin is in a great position with the talent that surrounds him. If everything goes right for him, including having a prolific season, Sayin will be joining Smith as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy this season.

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LGHL We’ve got the ratings for every Buckeye in ‘EA College Football 26’

We’ve got the ratings for every Buckeye in ‘EA College Football 26’
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Texas v Arizona State

Photo by Jason Allen/ISI Photos/Getty Images

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!


On the Gridiron


Ryan Day is facing a pressure only the greatest sport on earth can produce pic.twitter.com/tqanKQPdiR

— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) July 7, 2025

Bold Predictions: Caleb Downs will be a Heisman Trophy finalist
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land

Revamped Ohio State backfield needs to fill big shoes in a hurry
Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

Ohio State’s 2024 National Championship Proved NIL, Revenue-Sharing Strategy Works Without Winning Every High School Recruit
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors

Ohio State in new college football video game: What we know
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ratings for Ohio State players in EA Sports College Football 26
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts


And now for something completely different...


So, you’re telling me that it’s not $5 million guaranteed like his agent said?


Additional info on Texas Tech’s deal with new five-star offensive tackle commit Felix Ojo:

A source tells @cbssports it’s a three-year deal averaging $775,000 a year with a verbal understanding that Tech will renegotiate up to $5 million if things shift back to a Wild West setup https://t.co/YjrV9oQdSy pic.twitter.com/T2MqDjOrKQ

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) July 4, 2025

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