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LGHL Ohio State’s returning draft-eligible players have just one remaining goal among the “unfinished business”
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Ohio State’s returning draft-eligible players have just one remaining goal among the “unfinished business”
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Seven players who likely would have been NFL Draft picks (some quite high) returned to OSU citing “unfinished business.” After not achieving two of those goals, the biggest is still out there.
Ohio State fans were delighted last off-season when several players announced they would return for another year in Columbus, despite having excellent NFL Draft outlooks. Those players included some of the team’s brightest stars, including running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, cornerback Denzel Burke, and offensive guard Donovan Jackson.
As each announcement dropped, we all read statements about unfinished business from a members of a group that had fallen short of some of the biggest team goals Ohio State has on its annual list — beating Michigan, winning the Big Ten Championship Game, and winning a national title. The Buckeyes had done none of those things over the past four seasons, meaning all of the above players had not experienced achieving any of those three goals.
They all started in 2021, which was the year Ryan Day’s Buckeyes began their current losing streak against the Wolverines. Collectively, this group of players and their classmates started their careers with a Rose Bowl win over Utah at the end of their first season, saw a late missed Noah Ruggles field goal sail wide against Georgia in 2022 that knocked them out of a shot at the national championship against TCU, and lost a miserable Cotton Bowl against Missouri last year.
The frustration was understandable, and the players did not shy away from expressing it in interviews and on social media. They vowed to work harder. They claimed to be more committed than ever. They would get the next one. They would bring it home for Buckeye Nation. For the brotherhood.
So far, that hasn’t happened.
And things haven’t been better in 2024 than in previous years, despite Ohio State perhaps having the most talent of any team in their collegiate careers. Each of those players coming back was the equivalent of getting a five-star recruit who already knew the system and had multiple years of college football experience.
Additionally, the team brought in an All-American safety, an additional starting-caliber running back to spell Henderson, the eventual Rimington Trophy-winning center, and you can also throw in perhaps the greatest wide receiver prospect in school history.
Ohio State was loaded entering 2024.
That doesn’t mean there weren’t holes. Everyone knew the offensive line was thin and needed to stay healthy to maximize the Buckeyes’ chances of a special season. That didn’t happen either.
Josh Simmons went down for the season. Then his replacement got banged up. Center Seth McLaughlin was the next to go out for the year with an injury. The coaching staff patched up the line as best they could, and it’s mostly worked, but things haven’t been nearly as smooth, especially in the running game.
The lack of a run game was a big factor in this group of players going out without a win against Michigan or a Big Ten title. Ohio State was well positioned to beat the Wolverines, but shockingly entered with a game plan that called for trusting a cobbled-together offensive line and slamming their running backs (and quarterback) into the teeth of Michigan’s strength — its defensive line.
We all saw how that worked out, and it brings no solace to hear the postgame confirmation from Day that he thought the Buckeyes ran the ball too much.
Fans saw it unfolding and knew it couldn’t continue, but the coaching staff didn’t change what it was doing while the team’s three goals could still be achieved. Ohio State lost, and in large part because the OSU coaches failed the players who came back to win that game and to play for a conference title.
It also, however, lost in part because those players didn’t play well enough against Michigan, although there were a few bright spots — Sawyer’s interception leaps to mind.
While the loss to Michigan was strike one, it brought with it strike two — also lost that day was the chance to face the Oregon Ducks in a rematch with a Big Ten championship on the line. The group of returnees is down to its collective last strike, and the odds have never been more difficult to overcome.
Ohio State is in the College Football Playoff. But unlike years (and decades) past, the Buckeyes won’t be champions by beating one or two great teams. Ohio State must run a gauntlet of four tough opponents to lift the crystal football at the end of the season and bring this group the one available prize remaining out of the three they were chasing in their quest to complete their unfinished business.
Their last chance begins Saturday in the Horseshoe against the Tennessee Volunteers out of the Southeastern Conference. Ohio State got a difficult draw, but the Buckeyes will be at home, playing in front of their fans under the lights on the bigggest stage. But even winning would only be the first step of the last chance for Henderson, Egbuka, Sawyer, Tuimoloau, Williams, Burke, and Jackson to accomplish one of the goals for which they returned.
They are by no means alone. Their teammates have the same goals. In fact, many of those teammates probably want to achieve this goal for that group more than they want it for themselves.
But how will this play out? Will we see Sawyer, Tuimoloau, and Williams help shut down the No. 8 offense in the country by stuffing the run and sacking the quarterback? Will Egbuka get back to catching five to seven passes for triple digits in yards, as was once commonplace? Will Jackson help keep Will Howard’s pocket clean and open holes for Henderson to gain not only the tough yards, but also so he can pop a couple of big runs?
Can Henderson break a tackle at a critical time and pick up a key first down to keep a drive alive or blast through the defense for one of those long rushing touchdowns that we’ve seen so many times in his career (but so little of since the line started suffering casualties)? Will Burke play like the lock-down guy we saw last year and up until the Oregon game in 2024?
I’ll be watching on Saturday, just like all of you. But I’ll especially be watching the guys who said they wanted this. The guys who had unfinished business.
They said they wanted to beat Michigan — they didn’t.
They said they wanted to win a conference title — they didn’t.
They said they wanted to win a national championship. Will they?
To do so, they need to win four big games. That has to start Saturday against Tennessee.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Seven players who likely would have been NFL Draft picks (some quite high) returned to OSU citing “unfinished business.” After not achieving two of those goals, the biggest is still out there.
Ohio State fans were delighted last off-season when several players announced they would return for another year in Columbus, despite having excellent NFL Draft outlooks. Those players included some of the team’s brightest stars, including running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, cornerback Denzel Burke, and offensive guard Donovan Jackson.
As each announcement dropped, we all read statements about unfinished business from a members of a group that had fallen short of some of the biggest team goals Ohio State has on its annual list — beating Michigan, winning the Big Ten Championship Game, and winning a national title. The Buckeyes had done none of those things over the past four seasons, meaning all of the above players had not experienced achieving any of those three goals.
They all started in 2021, which was the year Ryan Day’s Buckeyes began their current losing streak against the Wolverines. Collectively, this group of players and their classmates started their careers with a Rose Bowl win over Utah at the end of their first season, saw a late missed Noah Ruggles field goal sail wide against Georgia in 2022 that knocked them out of a shot at the national championship against TCU, and lost a miserable Cotton Bowl against Missouri last year.
The frustration was understandable, and the players did not shy away from expressing it in interviews and on social media. They vowed to work harder. They claimed to be more committed than ever. They would get the next one. They would bring it home for Buckeye Nation. For the brotherhood.
So far, that hasn’t happened.
And things haven’t been better in 2024 than in previous years, despite Ohio State perhaps having the most talent of any team in their collegiate careers. Each of those players coming back was the equivalent of getting a five-star recruit who already knew the system and had multiple years of college football experience.
Additionally, the team brought in an All-American safety, an additional starting-caliber running back to spell Henderson, the eventual Rimington Trophy-winning center, and you can also throw in perhaps the greatest wide receiver prospect in school history.
Ohio State was loaded entering 2024.
That doesn’t mean there weren’t holes. Everyone knew the offensive line was thin and needed to stay healthy to maximize the Buckeyes’ chances of a special season. That didn’t happen either.
Josh Simmons went down for the season. Then his replacement got banged up. Center Seth McLaughlin was the next to go out for the year with an injury. The coaching staff patched up the line as best they could, and it’s mostly worked, but things haven’t been nearly as smooth, especially in the running game.
The lack of a run game was a big factor in this group of players going out without a win against Michigan or a Big Ten title. Ohio State was well positioned to beat the Wolverines, but shockingly entered with a game plan that called for trusting a cobbled-together offensive line and slamming their running backs (and quarterback) into the teeth of Michigan’s strength — its defensive line.
We all saw how that worked out, and it brings no solace to hear the postgame confirmation from Day that he thought the Buckeyes ran the ball too much.
Fans saw it unfolding and knew it couldn’t continue, but the coaching staff didn’t change what it was doing while the team’s three goals could still be achieved. Ohio State lost, and in large part because the OSU coaches failed the players who came back to win that game and to play for a conference title.
It also, however, lost in part because those players didn’t play well enough against Michigan, although there were a few bright spots — Sawyer’s interception leaps to mind.
While the loss to Michigan was strike one, it brought with it strike two — also lost that day was the chance to face the Oregon Ducks in a rematch with a Big Ten championship on the line. The group of returnees is down to its collective last strike, and the odds have never been more difficult to overcome.
Ohio State is in the College Football Playoff. But unlike years (and decades) past, the Buckeyes won’t be champions by beating one or two great teams. Ohio State must run a gauntlet of four tough opponents to lift the crystal football at the end of the season and bring this group the one available prize remaining out of the three they were chasing in their quest to complete their unfinished business.
Their last chance begins Saturday in the Horseshoe against the Tennessee Volunteers out of the Southeastern Conference. Ohio State got a difficult draw, but the Buckeyes will be at home, playing in front of their fans under the lights on the bigggest stage. But even winning would only be the first step of the last chance for Henderson, Egbuka, Sawyer, Tuimoloau, Williams, Burke, and Jackson to accomplish one of the goals for which they returned.
They are by no means alone. Their teammates have the same goals. In fact, many of those teammates probably want to achieve this goal for that group more than they want it for themselves.
But how will this play out? Will we see Sawyer, Tuimoloau, and Williams help shut down the No. 8 offense in the country by stuffing the run and sacking the quarterback? Will Egbuka get back to catching five to seven passes for triple digits in yards, as was once commonplace? Will Jackson help keep Will Howard’s pocket clean and open holes for Henderson to gain not only the tough yards, but also so he can pop a couple of big runs?
Can Henderson break a tackle at a critical time and pick up a key first down to keep a drive alive or blast through the defense for one of those long rushing touchdowns that we’ve seen so many times in his career (but so little of since the line started suffering casualties)? Will Burke play like the lock-down guy we saw last year and up until the Oregon game in 2024?
I’ll be watching on Saturday, just like all of you. But I’ll especially be watching the guys who said they wanted this. The guys who had unfinished business.
They said they wanted to beat Michigan — they didn’t.
They said they wanted to win a conference title — they didn’t.
They said they wanted to win a national championship. Will they?
To do so, they need to win four big games. That has to start Saturday against Tennessee.
Continue reading...
LGHL No. 1 OT visits Ohio State; Buckeyes lose transfer portal target to Oregon
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No. 1 OT visits Ohio State; Buckeyes lose transfer portal target to Oregon
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 OT Jackson Cantrell | Via @jcantwell2499 on Twitter
Ohio State remains active on the recruiting trail with its CFP game less than a week away.
Ohio State has a College Football Playoff game at home in less than a week, but thanks to the NCAA’s eternal lack of foresight and planning, it is also a pivotal time for the Buckeyes to be active in the transfer portal. Ohio State’s staff also must maintain their focus on the traditional recruiting trail for the 2026 class, with only three players currently committed in next year’s cycle and a ton of work to be done.
Luckily, it seems as though game preparation has not prevented Ryan Day and his crew from hosting some big names on visits this past weekend. With offensive line a massive point of emphasis for the program moving forward, perhaps none of those visits are more important than 2026 offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell.
Making the trek to Columbus on Saturday, the 6-foot-7.5 lineman is the No. 1 OT and the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite. With at least 30 offers to his name from all of the nation’s top programs, Ohio State is obviously not alone in its pursuit of Cantwell, who also made a trip to Ann Arbor on Sunday to check in with rival Michigan. Following his visit, Cantwell told On3’s Steve Wiltfong that the Buckeyes are, “in the mix,” moving forward.
Having offered the standout tackle back in October of 2023, Ohio State has to be happy to get one of the early visits in the process, but will have their work cut out from them in luring him north from his home state of Missouri. The son of two Olympic shot put throwers, and a two-time Missouri Class 5A state champion in the shot put himself, Cantwell’s father is a Mizzou alum. On top of owning the national record for a sophomore in shot put, Cantwell was named the 2024 MaxPreps Missouri High School Football Player of the Year.
Speaking of offensive linemen, Ohio State will need to add at least two guys and probably even three through the transfer portal this offseason, and that have already begun zeroing in on a handful of big names. That includes former Northwestern OL Josh Thompson, former Nevada OT Isaiah World, and former Texas A&M OL Kam Dewberry.
Thompson, the No. 5 IOL in the transfer portal according to 247Sports, visited Ohio State on Friday, and has further visits scheduled with Michigan State, Michigan and Auburn. Set to be a fifth-year senior in 2025, Thompson has experience at both tackle and guard with the Wildcats, having spent the 2023 season as Northwestern’s starting tackle, but the Buckeyes would likely slot him in as a guard should be decide to continue his career in Columbus.
World, the No. 1 OT and No. 19 overall player in the transfer portal per 247Sports, appears to have some mutual interest with Ohio State. The 6-foot-8, 309-pound blocker reportedly plans to visit with the Buckeyes sometime this week, and is obvious a huge priority for Justin Frye and company as OSU will need two new tackles next season. World has three years of starting experience at Nevada, and allowed zero sacks in 13 games this past season per PFF.
Dewberry is an interesting prospect, as Ohio State had previously finished second in his initial recruitment before he ultimately committed to Texas A&M. At one point, he had told Alex Gleitman of On3 that his trip to Columbus was the, “best visit he ever had.” It is unclear whether Ohio State has reached out to Dewberry now that he is in the portal, but it would be surprising for the Buckeyes to not at least check in on the No. 9 transfer IOL having clearly had some mutual interest in the past.
Elsewhere, Ohio State would also like to add a running back via the transfer portal with both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins set to move on to the NFL. Position coach Carlos Locklyn brought in an impressive haul of backs in the 2025 class with the trio of Bo Jackson, Anthony Rogers and Isaiah West, but the Buckeyes would love to add an experienced ball-carrier to pair with second-year man James Peoples next season.
One of the names linked to Ohio State at the position has been former USC running back Quinten Joyner. Joyner, who visited Columbus this past weekend, is set to be just a redshirt sophomore in 2025, but has already racked up over 600 yards and four touchdowns over parts of two seasons with the Trojans. The 5-foot-11 Texas native is the No. 5 RB in the portal per 247Sports, has already proven he can be a successful runner in the Big Ten, and would be an instant contributor for the Buckeyes.
The other big running back linked to Ohio State is Alabama transfer Justice Haynes. Like the aforementioned Dewberry, Ohio State finished as the likely No. 2 during Haynes’ recruitment before he committed to Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide. Now back on the market, Pete Nakos on On3 has reported that there is, “significant interest” from the Buckeyes in the rising junior back. Of note, Haynes is good friends with Caleb Downs, with the two having both played high school football in Georgia in addition to their time in Tuscaloosa.
Haynes is the No. 1 RB in the transfer portal, per 247Sports. The sophomore ran for a little under 500 yards and seven touchdowns on just 79 carries while catching 17 passes for 99 for Alabama this past season.
Thieneman was the No. 1 safety in the transfer portal.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 OT Jackson Cantrell | Via @jcantwell2499 on Twitter
Ohio State remains active on the recruiting trail with its CFP game less than a week away.
Ohio State has a College Football Playoff game at home in less than a week, but thanks to the NCAA’s eternal lack of foresight and planning, it is also a pivotal time for the Buckeyes to be active in the transfer portal. Ohio State’s staff also must maintain their focus on the traditional recruiting trail for the 2026 class, with only three players currently committed in next year’s cycle and a ton of work to be done.
Big Time Visitor in Columbus
Luckily, it seems as though game preparation has not prevented Ryan Day and his crew from hosting some big names on visits this past weekend. With offensive line a massive point of emphasis for the program moving forward, perhaps none of those visits are more important than 2026 offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell.
Making the trek to Columbus on Saturday, the 6-foot-7.5 lineman is the No. 1 OT and the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite. With at least 30 offers to his name from all of the nation’s top programs, Ohio State is obviously not alone in its pursuit of Cantwell, who also made a trip to Ann Arbor on Sunday to check in with rival Michigan. Following his visit, Cantwell told On3’s Steve Wiltfong that the Buckeyes are, “in the mix,” moving forward.
Having offered the standout tackle back in October of 2023, Ohio State has to be happy to get one of the early visits in the process, but will have their work cut out from them in luring him north from his home state of Missouri. The son of two Olympic shot put throwers, and a two-time Missouri Class 5A state champion in the shot put himself, Cantwell’s father is a Mizzou alum. On top of owning the national record for a sophomore in shot put, Cantwell was named the 2024 MaxPreps Missouri High School Football Player of the Year.
The Latest Transfer Portal Rumblings
Speaking of offensive linemen, Ohio State will need to add at least two guys and probably even three through the transfer portal this offseason, and that have already begun zeroing in on a handful of big names. That includes former Northwestern OL Josh Thompson, former Nevada OT Isaiah World, and former Texas A&M OL Kam Dewberry.
Thompson, the No. 5 IOL in the transfer portal according to 247Sports, visited Ohio State on Friday, and has further visits scheduled with Michigan State, Michigan and Auburn. Set to be a fifth-year senior in 2025, Thompson has experience at both tackle and guard with the Wildcats, having spent the 2023 season as Northwestern’s starting tackle, but the Buckeyes would likely slot him in as a guard should be decide to continue his career in Columbus.
World, the No. 1 OT and No. 19 overall player in the transfer portal per 247Sports, appears to have some mutual interest with Ohio State. The 6-foot-8, 309-pound blocker reportedly plans to visit with the Buckeyes sometime this week, and is obvious a huge priority for Justin Frye and company as OSU will need two new tackles next season. World has three years of starting experience at Nevada, and allowed zero sacks in 13 games this past season per PFF.
Dewberry is an interesting prospect, as Ohio State had previously finished second in his initial recruitment before he ultimately committed to Texas A&M. At one point, he had told Alex Gleitman of On3 that his trip to Columbus was the, “best visit he ever had.” It is unclear whether Ohio State has reached out to Dewberry now that he is in the portal, but it would be surprising for the Buckeyes to not at least check in on the No. 9 transfer IOL having clearly had some mutual interest in the past.
Elsewhere, Ohio State would also like to add a running back via the transfer portal with both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins set to move on to the NFL. Position coach Carlos Locklyn brought in an impressive haul of backs in the 2025 class with the trio of Bo Jackson, Anthony Rogers and Isaiah West, but the Buckeyes would love to add an experienced ball-carrier to pair with second-year man James Peoples next season.
One of the names linked to Ohio State at the position has been former USC running back Quinten Joyner. Joyner, who visited Columbus this past weekend, is set to be just a redshirt sophomore in 2025, but has already racked up over 600 yards and four touchdowns over parts of two seasons with the Trojans. The 5-foot-11 Texas native is the No. 5 RB in the portal per 247Sports, has already proven he can be a successful runner in the Big Ten, and would be an instant contributor for the Buckeyes.
The other big running back linked to Ohio State is Alabama transfer Justice Haynes. Like the aforementioned Dewberry, Ohio State finished as the likely No. 2 during Haynes’ recruitment before he committed to Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide. Now back on the market, Pete Nakos on On3 has reported that there is, “significant interest” from the Buckeyes in the rising junior back. Of note, Haynes is good friends with Caleb Downs, with the two having both played high school football in Georgia in addition to their time in Tuscaloosa.
Haynes is the No. 1 RB in the transfer portal, per 247Sports. The sophomore ran for a little under 500 yards and seven touchdowns on just 79 carries while catching 17 passes for 99 for Alabama this past season.
Quick Hits
- One player Ohio State knows it will not be landing in the transfer portal this offseason is former Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman, who committed to Oregon over the weekend. The Buckeyes have gotten accustomed to losing out to the Ducks on premiere defensive back talent of late, including the signing day flip of five-star corner Na’eem Offord as well as fellow DB targets Dorian Brew and Trey McNutt.
Thieneman was the No. 1 safety in the transfer portal.
- Ohio State could potential see a familiar face lined up across the field next season, as Buckeyes wide receiver transfer Jayden Ballard made a trip to Wisconsin this past weekend. Ballard spent each of the past four seasons in Columbus, but caught only 11 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown during that time. Ohio State will play Wisconsin in Madison on Oct. 18, 2025.
Continue reading...
LGHL Using CFB 25 to predict the College Football Playoff
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Using CFB 25 to predict the College Football Playoff
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Who will the computers crown as this year’s national champion?
College football finally returned to the virtual world in 2024 with the release of EA Sports College Football 25, allowing fans of all 134 FBS schools to take control of their favorite team. For Buckeye Nation, that means getting to dominate with one of the best rosters in the game.
The new game also allows us to get a glimpse at what the season could look like, at least if the computers had their say. Each week, Land-Grant Holy Land will simulate Ohio State’s real-life matchup to see what our AI overlords think will happen.
With the Buckeyes still a week away from returning to this field, this weekend we will use CFB 25 to predict the entire 12-team College Football Playoff. Each matchup was simulated only one time using the correct home/bowl game locations, and we used each of those results to eventually crown a national champion.
Here is how it all went down, presented in chronological order of the real game dates/times...
Indiana 52 - Notre Dame 38
On Friday night in South Bend, No. 10 Indiana went on the road and defeated No. 7 Notre Dame. The Hoosiers dominated right from the start, jumping out to a 31-10 lead by halftime. Kurtis Rourke had a sensational game, throwing for 327 yards and six touchdowns, with Elijah Sarratt his favorite target with six catches for 97 yards and three scores. Notre Dame scored 21 of its 38 points in the fourth quarter, and the Irish finished 3-of-11 on third down.
SMU 41 - Penn State 42
Saturday kicked off with a banger, as No. 6 Penn State narrowly avoided the upset at home with a one-point win over No. 11 SMU. The Nittany Lions trailed 38-28 entering the fourth quarter, but a pair of Drew Allar touchdown passes, including one to Liam Clifford with 43 seconds remaining, earned Penn State the victory. Both Allar and SMU QB Kevin Jennings threw for more than 300 yards, and Tyler Warren stood out with 68 receiving yards and two TDs. The Nittany Lions averaged 5.8 yards per carry as a team.
Clemson 32 - Texas 35
The noon game was followed up by another close contest, as No. 5 Texas needed a second half rally to overcome No. 12 Clemson in Austin. The Longhorns put together a 21-point third quarter to take the lead, but the Tigers went back on top midway through the fourth quarter after scoring 15 unanswered points. Quinn Ewers would find Gunnar Helm on a 12-yard TD pass with four minutes remaining to regain the lead for good, as Ewers finished with 321 yards passing and five touchdowns overall. Each starting quarterback threw two picks in the game.
Tennessee 38 - Ohio State 31
Even though no real head coaches are in the game, it sure looked like virtual No. 8 Ohio State was coached by Ryan Day in a first round loss to No. 9 Tennessee. The Buckeyes got out to their customary slow start, falling behind 24-10 at the half, but battled back to tie things up in the fourth quarter. With 1:32 to go, Nico Iamaleava hit Dont’e Thornton on a 47-yard TD pass that would wind up as the game-winner. Iamaleava finished the night with five touchdown passes, but Ohio State actually out-gained Tennessee 428-382. Will Howard threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Fiesta Bowl: Penn State 32 - Boise State 21
Penn State advanced to the semifinals with a 32-21 win over Boise State in the lone New Year’s Eve CFP matchup in the Fiesta Bowl. The Nittany Lions trailed 10-9 at the midway point after three first-half field goals, but would finally score their first touchdown of the game in the third quarter to take the lead. The two sides would find themselves tied 18-18 entering the final frame, but a pair of touchdowns by Clifford and Warren proved too much for the Broncos to overcome. Penn State managed to hold Ashton Jeanty to 83 yards on 15 carries.
Peach Bowl: Texas 54 - Arizona State 52 (3OT)
New Years Day got off to an insane start, with Texas getting the best of Arizona State in a triple-overtime thriller. The Sun Devils led 28-14 early in the third quarter, but the Longhorns stormed all the way back and took a 35-28 lead by the middle of the fourth quarter. ASU re-tied the game on an 82-yard punt return TD by Melquan Stovall, and from there we headed to overtime.
Both teams threw for touchdowns in the first OT, and both teams had to settle for a field goal in double-overtime. Arizona State failed on its ensuing two-point try in 3OT, and Quinn Ewers ran it in to secure the win for Texas on its possession. Ewers threw for 478 yards and six touchdowns, while Cam Skattebo did his best for ASU with 173 yards rushing and two scores.
Rose Bowl: Tennessee 38 - Oregon 31
The Volunteers continued their Cinderella run with a second-straight win by the exact same score, this time against Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Tennessee scored the first 14 points of the game and led 24-14 at the half, but the Ducks managed to tie it up a 31 apiece with only six minutes left in the contest. With 28 seconds to go, Iamaleava ripped off a 24-yard touchdown run to secure a stunning victory for Tennessee.
Iamaleava attempted only 15 passes, but threw for 257 yards and two scores while adding 70 yards with his legs. Both teams ran for more than 200 yards, with Oregon’s Noah Whittington going off for 151 yards and two TDs on 14 carries and Dylan Sampson totaling 145 yards on 19 carries and two scores.
Sugar Bowl: Indiana 22 - Georgia 14
As the lowest remaining seed in the field, Curt Cignetti got the whole college football world Googling him with a huge win over Georgia in New Orleans. The Hoosiers only scored one touchdown in the game, kicking five field goals en route to victory — four of which were from at least 42 yards out. Indiana’s lone touchdown, which gave them a lead in the third quarter, was a 81-yard catch-and-run score by Sarratt. Georgia actually had the football with 1:08 to play and a chance to tie the game from Indiana’s 3-yard line, but an incomplete pass on fourth down sealed the deal.
The Bulldogs actually out-gained the Hoosiers in the game 437-320, but were awful in the red zone and even worse on third down, where they finished the game converting on just three of their 13 tries (not that Indiana was much better on third down at 5-of-17). Carson Beck threw for 204 yards with one TD and a pick, while Rourke threw for 285 yards with one TD and a pick as well.
Orange Bowl: Indiana 20 - Penn State 28
We got a good ole fashioned Big Ten matchup in the CFP Semifinals, and it was Penn State emerging victorious to advance to the national title game.
Despite the Hoosiers out-gaining Penn State 460-336, Indiana turned the ball over three times. The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of Nicholas Singleton touchdown runs, but Cignetti’s group made it a 14-10 game by halftime. Penn State tacked on with a short Allar TD run to begin the fourth quarter after both teams went scoreless in the third, and from there it was too little too late for the Hoosiers.
Allar finished with only 141 yards passing and two TDs, but Singleton kept the offense churning with 124 yards rushing and two TDs on the ground. Rourke, meanwhile threw for 327 yards but also had a trio of interceptions to go along with his two TDs. Indiana actually never entered the red zone in this game, with both of its touchdowns coming from more than 30 yards out. Penn State averaged 5.2 yards per carry as a team.
Cotton Bowl: Tennessee 34 - Texas 31
Two orange-clad units met in Arlington with a spot in the national title game on the line, and Tennessee proved the stronger of the SEC duo.
It was a back-and-forth affair throughout, with Tennessee jumping out to a 10-0 lead to begin the second quarter. Texas took the lead by halftime on a pair of Quinn Ewers TD passes to make it 14-10, and further extended that lead in the third quarter on a Jaydon Blue TD run and a short field goal. Now trailing 24-10, the Volunteers stormed back on a pair of long Dylan Sampson TD runs of 33 and 41 yards to tie it up. The Longhorns regained the lead on a 36-yard Isaiah Bond TD catch, but after a 33-yard Tennessee field goal, Iamaleava scored a game-winning touchdown with 52 seconds left.
Texas gained most of its yards through the air, with Ewers finishing 27-of-42 for 356 yards and three TDs with one pick. Tennessee, meanwhile, ran for 197 yards as a team, with Sampson accounting for 131 yards on 18 carries with two scores. Iamaleava was efficient throwing the football, completing 26-of-32 passes for 258 yards and a TD. Bru McCoy had a big day through the air with seven catches for 101 yards.
Penn State 23 - Tennessee 8
In an unlikely title game matchup, Penn State dominated en route to the program’s third national championship. It was a much lower scoring affair than most of the CFP games before it, as perhaps the grind of the 12-team field took its toll on two teams that did not receive a Round 1 bye.
Neither team would get on the scoreboard until the second quarter, where Kaytron Allen’s 1-yard TD run broke the scoreless tie. Penn State would add a field goal to take a 10-0 lead into halftime, and quickly added to that lead with a 4-yard TD by Liam Clifford to begin the third quarter. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Tennessee would score its lone touchdown, an 11-yard score from Iamaleava to Holden Staes plus a successful two-point conversion to make it 17-8. Penn State added a short Tyler Warren TD midway through the quarter but missed the extra point, and the 23-8 score would hold until the end.
Penn State significantly out-gained Tennessee, 408-270. The Nittany Lions’ rushing attack really showed out, as they ran for 231 yards on 5.4 yards per carry as a team. Singleton ran for 89 yards on 18 carries, and Allen totaled 126 yards on 15 carries with the lone TD. Allar had a quiet passing game, throwing for 167 yards and two TDs, as his running backs really paved the way for the victory. Iamaleava threw for 193 yards with a TD and a pick, and Sampson was held to just 40 yards on 17 carries. PSU held the ball for virtually the entire game, finishing with 38:57 of possession time.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Who will the computers crown as this year’s national champion?
College football finally returned to the virtual world in 2024 with the release of EA Sports College Football 25, allowing fans of all 134 FBS schools to take control of their favorite team. For Buckeye Nation, that means getting to dominate with one of the best rosters in the game.
The new game also allows us to get a glimpse at what the season could look like, at least if the computers had their say. Each week, Land-Grant Holy Land will simulate Ohio State’s real-life matchup to see what our AI overlords think will happen.
With the Buckeyes still a week away from returning to this field, this weekend we will use CFB 25 to predict the entire 12-team College Football Playoff. Each matchup was simulated only one time using the correct home/bowl game locations, and we used each of those results to eventually crown a national champion.
Here is how it all went down, presented in chronological order of the real game dates/times...
Round 1
Indiana 52 - Notre Dame 38
On Friday night in South Bend, No. 10 Indiana went on the road and defeated No. 7 Notre Dame. The Hoosiers dominated right from the start, jumping out to a 31-10 lead by halftime. Kurtis Rourke had a sensational game, throwing for 327 yards and six touchdowns, with Elijah Sarratt his favorite target with six catches for 97 yards and three scores. Notre Dame scored 21 of its 38 points in the fourth quarter, and the Irish finished 3-of-11 on third down.
SMU 41 - Penn State 42
Saturday kicked off with a banger, as No. 6 Penn State narrowly avoided the upset at home with a one-point win over No. 11 SMU. The Nittany Lions trailed 38-28 entering the fourth quarter, but a pair of Drew Allar touchdown passes, including one to Liam Clifford with 43 seconds remaining, earned Penn State the victory. Both Allar and SMU QB Kevin Jennings threw for more than 300 yards, and Tyler Warren stood out with 68 receiving yards and two TDs. The Nittany Lions averaged 5.8 yards per carry as a team.
Clemson 32 - Texas 35
The noon game was followed up by another close contest, as No. 5 Texas needed a second half rally to overcome No. 12 Clemson in Austin. The Longhorns put together a 21-point third quarter to take the lead, but the Tigers went back on top midway through the fourth quarter after scoring 15 unanswered points. Quinn Ewers would find Gunnar Helm on a 12-yard TD pass with four minutes remaining to regain the lead for good, as Ewers finished with 321 yards passing and five touchdowns overall. Each starting quarterback threw two picks in the game.
Tennessee 38 - Ohio State 31
Even though no real head coaches are in the game, it sure looked like virtual No. 8 Ohio State was coached by Ryan Day in a first round loss to No. 9 Tennessee. The Buckeyes got out to their customary slow start, falling behind 24-10 at the half, but battled back to tie things up in the fourth quarter. With 1:32 to go, Nico Iamaleava hit Dont’e Thornton on a 47-yard TD pass that would wind up as the game-winner. Iamaleava finished the night with five touchdown passes, but Ohio State actually out-gained Tennessee 428-382. Will Howard threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Quarterfinals
Fiesta Bowl: Penn State 32 - Boise State 21
Penn State advanced to the semifinals with a 32-21 win over Boise State in the lone New Year’s Eve CFP matchup in the Fiesta Bowl. The Nittany Lions trailed 10-9 at the midway point after three first-half field goals, but would finally score their first touchdown of the game in the third quarter to take the lead. The two sides would find themselves tied 18-18 entering the final frame, but a pair of touchdowns by Clifford and Warren proved too much for the Broncos to overcome. Penn State managed to hold Ashton Jeanty to 83 yards on 15 carries.
Peach Bowl: Texas 54 - Arizona State 52 (3OT)
New Years Day got off to an insane start, with Texas getting the best of Arizona State in a triple-overtime thriller. The Sun Devils led 28-14 early in the third quarter, but the Longhorns stormed all the way back and took a 35-28 lead by the middle of the fourth quarter. ASU re-tied the game on an 82-yard punt return TD by Melquan Stovall, and from there we headed to overtime.
Both teams threw for touchdowns in the first OT, and both teams had to settle for a field goal in double-overtime. Arizona State failed on its ensuing two-point try in 3OT, and Quinn Ewers ran it in to secure the win for Texas on its possession. Ewers threw for 478 yards and six touchdowns, while Cam Skattebo did his best for ASU with 173 yards rushing and two scores.
Rose Bowl: Tennessee 38 - Oregon 31
The Volunteers continued their Cinderella run with a second-straight win by the exact same score, this time against Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Tennessee scored the first 14 points of the game and led 24-14 at the half, but the Ducks managed to tie it up a 31 apiece with only six minutes left in the contest. With 28 seconds to go, Iamaleava ripped off a 24-yard touchdown run to secure a stunning victory for Tennessee.
Iamaleava attempted only 15 passes, but threw for 257 yards and two scores while adding 70 yards with his legs. Both teams ran for more than 200 yards, with Oregon’s Noah Whittington going off for 151 yards and two TDs on 14 carries and Dylan Sampson totaling 145 yards on 19 carries and two scores.
Sugar Bowl: Indiana 22 - Georgia 14
As the lowest remaining seed in the field, Curt Cignetti got the whole college football world Googling him with a huge win over Georgia in New Orleans. The Hoosiers only scored one touchdown in the game, kicking five field goals en route to victory — four of which were from at least 42 yards out. Indiana’s lone touchdown, which gave them a lead in the third quarter, was a 81-yard catch-and-run score by Sarratt. Georgia actually had the football with 1:08 to play and a chance to tie the game from Indiana’s 3-yard line, but an incomplete pass on fourth down sealed the deal.
The Bulldogs actually out-gained the Hoosiers in the game 437-320, but were awful in the red zone and even worse on third down, where they finished the game converting on just three of their 13 tries (not that Indiana was much better on third down at 5-of-17). Carson Beck threw for 204 yards with one TD and a pick, while Rourke threw for 285 yards with one TD and a pick as well.
Semifinals
Orange Bowl: Indiana 20 - Penn State 28
We got a good ole fashioned Big Ten matchup in the CFP Semifinals, and it was Penn State emerging victorious to advance to the national title game.
Despite the Hoosiers out-gaining Penn State 460-336, Indiana turned the ball over three times. The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of Nicholas Singleton touchdown runs, but Cignetti’s group made it a 14-10 game by halftime. Penn State tacked on with a short Allar TD run to begin the fourth quarter after both teams went scoreless in the third, and from there it was too little too late for the Hoosiers.
Allar finished with only 141 yards passing and two TDs, but Singleton kept the offense churning with 124 yards rushing and two TDs on the ground. Rourke, meanwhile threw for 327 yards but also had a trio of interceptions to go along with his two TDs. Indiana actually never entered the red zone in this game, with both of its touchdowns coming from more than 30 yards out. Penn State averaged 5.2 yards per carry as a team.
Cotton Bowl: Tennessee 34 - Texas 31
Two orange-clad units met in Arlington with a spot in the national title game on the line, and Tennessee proved the stronger of the SEC duo.
It was a back-and-forth affair throughout, with Tennessee jumping out to a 10-0 lead to begin the second quarter. Texas took the lead by halftime on a pair of Quinn Ewers TD passes to make it 14-10, and further extended that lead in the third quarter on a Jaydon Blue TD run and a short field goal. Now trailing 24-10, the Volunteers stormed back on a pair of long Dylan Sampson TD runs of 33 and 41 yards to tie it up. The Longhorns regained the lead on a 36-yard Isaiah Bond TD catch, but after a 33-yard Tennessee field goal, Iamaleava scored a game-winning touchdown with 52 seconds left.
Texas gained most of its yards through the air, with Ewers finishing 27-of-42 for 356 yards and three TDs with one pick. Tennessee, meanwhile, ran for 197 yards as a team, with Sampson accounting for 131 yards on 18 carries with two scores. Iamaleava was efficient throwing the football, completing 26-of-32 passes for 258 yards and a TD. Bru McCoy had a big day through the air with seven catches for 101 yards.
National Championship
Penn State 23 - Tennessee 8
In an unlikely title game matchup, Penn State dominated en route to the program’s third national championship. It was a much lower scoring affair than most of the CFP games before it, as perhaps the grind of the 12-team field took its toll on two teams that did not receive a Round 1 bye.
Neither team would get on the scoreboard until the second quarter, where Kaytron Allen’s 1-yard TD run broke the scoreless tie. Penn State would add a field goal to take a 10-0 lead into halftime, and quickly added to that lead with a 4-yard TD by Liam Clifford to begin the third quarter. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Tennessee would score its lone touchdown, an 11-yard score from Iamaleava to Holden Staes plus a successful two-point conversion to make it 17-8. Penn State added a short Tyler Warren TD midway through the quarter but missed the extra point, and the 23-8 score would hold until the end.
Penn State significantly out-gained Tennessee, 408-270. The Nittany Lions’ rushing attack really showed out, as they ran for 231 yards on 5.4 yards per carry as a team. Singleton ran for 89 yards on 18 carries, and Allen totaled 126 yards on 15 carries with the lone TD. Allar had a quiet passing game, throwing for 167 yards and two TDs, as his running backs really paved the way for the victory. Iamaleava threw for 193 yards with a TD and a pick, and Sampson was held to just 40 yards on 17 carries. PSU held the ball for virtually the entire game, finishing with 38:57 of possession time.
Champions: Penn State
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LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land: Our full College Football Playoff predictions
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Hangout in the Holy Land: Our full College Football Playoff predictions
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Also, we discuss the state of the Ohio State men’s basketball team after its blowout loss to Auburn.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On this brand new episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, we are officially one week out from kickoff, and it is game week for the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff! In honor of that, we make our full bracket predictions and preview each game, except for Ohio State and Tennessee as we will have a full preview of the matchup this week.
Before that, we talk about Ohio State men’s basketball getting run off the court by Auburn and what are panic and concern levels are for the team as we get ready to move into conference play.
Also, what are our best Christmas gifts of all time?
Make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Also, we discuss the state of the Ohio State men’s basketball team after its blowout loss to Auburn.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On this brand new episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, we are officially one week out from kickoff, and it is game week for the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff! In honor of that, we make our full bracket predictions and preview each game, except for Ohio State and Tennessee as we will have a full preview of the matchup this week.
Before that, we talk about Ohio State men’s basketball getting run off the court by Auburn and what are panic and concern levels are for the team as we get ready to move into conference play.
Also, what are our best Christmas gifts of all time?
Make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
LGHL ‘I just couldn’t stop smiling,’ the Thierrys reflect on a matchup four years in the making
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‘I just couldn’t stop smiling,’ the Thierrys reflect on a matchup four years in the making
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
A simple compliment, a surprise interaction and spending time with a best friend.
In the fourth quarter of No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball’s victory over Youngstown State, forward Taylor Thierry had a block. Thierry’s lone block of the game and 75th of her NCAA career, but it was far and away the most memorable. It didn’t win the game for the Buckeyes or stop a big Youngstown run, but it gave the Thierry twins a memory they’ll never forget.
“Thank you,” said Taylor to her twin sister Haley as they headed back down the court after Taylor blocked her sibling in the fourth quarter of the 87-39 Ohio State victory.
At that moment, nothing else mattered. Ohio State was up 42 points and even if nobody wants to see an opponent swipe away one of their shots, it didn’t phase the Youngstown guard.
Haley had a smile on her face the entire game. From the moment the guard stepped onto the court in the second quarter, it was evident joy. Their time against each other started with a surprise for Haley. The guard headed to the scorer’s table to check into the game as a substitute, something she’s done countless times in her life as a basketball player.
Seconds later, Ohio State’s Thierry got up off the bench and ran to the scorer’s table too. It looked almost planned by Buckeyes’ head coach Kevin McGuff.
“No, just random. So meant to be, I guess,” said McGuff.
Taylor ran to the scorer’s table and crouched down next to her sister. It wasn’t an immediate reunion with smiles and hugs. For nearly a minute the two just kneeled there, with Haley having no idea it was her fraternal twin.
“I didn’t know until she said, ‘Oh, Hey,’ and then she gave me a high five,” said Haley Thierry. “I didn’t expect it to be her. But obviously when I saw her, I got excited and happy.”
The two played only 1:11 of game time in the second quarter, a brief introduction but one that filled the hearts of fans in the know and a traveling supporter group from across the country to see the twins play — their family.
“We had 15 family members that came and then just lots of friends from high school,” said Taylor Thierry.
Their family sat in the first two rows of the Ohio State family section, with most donning some Thierry sister memorabilia in the form of buttons and a custom made Thierry shirt with the Ohio State “Block O” and the Youngstown State “Y.”
Elin Thierry, the sister’s mom, didn’t wear any sort of team paraphernalia, instead wearing a red sweater without a penguin or buckeye in sight. After all, their mom didn’t want to even see them play against each other, instead wishing the two were on the same side.
“I’m just not a fan of playing against my sister,” said Taylor Thierry, “I’d rather have her on the same team. So, but yeah, I guess my mom was the same thing.”
Regardless, the joy on Elin and their family’s faces, with some coming in from as far as Louisiana, was on the faces of the Thierry twins too in the second half when they played extended time against each other on the court.
That was due in part to the Buckeyes’ in-team sisters being injured and McGuff using an eight-player rotation in the Saturday victory.
A silver lining of the shorter bench of available players was more time for the Thierrys to bask in the moment. More time to make memories.
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Ohio State Women’s Basketball on Twitter | @OhioStateWBB
Taylor Thierry and Haley Thierry
On the court, Taylor won out on the competitive piece of the “rivalry.” Before the block, Thierry hit a layup over her sister. Those two moments combined, all within the span of 15 seconds, have a good chance of becoming stories the two will share for the rest of their lives, probably with some gentle ribbing from Taylor Thierry who, despite her quiet demeanor, has a quick wit and funnier facial reactions.
For Haley, she didn’t seem to care. She felt differently than Taylor on the excitement of the day too. While Taylor was happy, Haley was excited for the matchup and looking forward to it since she found out over the summer.
“Ever since warmup, when I saw her, I just couldn’t stop smiling,” said Haley.
It shows the juxtaposition of the fraternal twins who have different personalities, games on the court and are separated by a good four inches of height. The scoreline will one day be forgotten, but not the memories created by the senior sisters in their final years of NCAA basketball.
“I feel like that was a very memorable moment and exciting,” said Haley. “And I was, again, like, I’m just happy to be here and be able to play against, you know, my best friend right here.”
For more on the Thierry sisters, and the meaning behind Saturday’s game, read what they and their mom told Land-Grant Holy Land in the days leading up to Ohio State’s matchup with Youngstown State.
Taylor and Haley Thierry compete Saturday, celebrating a family legacy
Continue reading...
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
A simple compliment, a surprise interaction and spending time with a best friend.
In the fourth quarter of No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball’s victory over Youngstown State, forward Taylor Thierry had a block. Thierry’s lone block of the game and 75th of her NCAA career, but it was far and away the most memorable. It didn’t win the game for the Buckeyes or stop a big Youngstown run, but it gave the Thierry twins a memory they’ll never forget.
“Thank you,” said Taylor to her twin sister Haley as they headed back down the court after Taylor blocked her sibling in the fourth quarter of the 87-39 Ohio State victory.
At that moment, nothing else mattered. Ohio State was up 42 points and even if nobody wants to see an opponent swipe away one of their shots, it didn’t phase the Youngstown guard.
Haley had a smile on her face the entire game. From the moment the guard stepped onto the court in the second quarter, it was evident joy. Their time against each other started with a surprise for Haley. The guard headed to the scorer’s table to check into the game as a substitute, something she’s done countless times in her life as a basketball player.
Seconds later, Ohio State’s Thierry got up off the bench and ran to the scorer’s table too. It looked almost planned by Buckeyes’ head coach Kevin McGuff.
“No, just random. So meant to be, I guess,” said McGuff.
Taylor ran to the scorer’s table and crouched down next to her sister. It wasn’t an immediate reunion with smiles and hugs. For nearly a minute the two just kneeled there, with Haley having no idea it was her fraternal twin.
“I didn’t know until she said, ‘Oh, Hey,’ and then she gave me a high five,” said Haley Thierry. “I didn’t expect it to be her. But obviously when I saw her, I got excited and happy.”
The two played only 1:11 of game time in the second quarter, a brief introduction but one that filled the hearts of fans in the know and a traveling supporter group from across the country to see the twins play — their family.
“We had 15 family members that came and then just lots of friends from high school,” said Taylor Thierry.
Their family sat in the first two rows of the Ohio State family section, with most donning some Thierry sister memorabilia in the form of buttons and a custom made Thierry shirt with the Ohio State “Block O” and the Youngstown State “Y.”
Elin Thierry, the sister’s mom, didn’t wear any sort of team paraphernalia, instead wearing a red sweater without a penguin or buckeye in sight. After all, their mom didn’t want to even see them play against each other, instead wishing the two were on the same side.
“I’m just not a fan of playing against my sister,” said Taylor Thierry, “I’d rather have her on the same team. So, but yeah, I guess my mom was the same thing.”
Regardless, the joy on Elin and their family’s faces, with some coming in from as far as Louisiana, was on the faces of the Thierry twins too in the second half when they played extended time against each other on the court.
That was due in part to the Buckeyes’ in-team sisters being injured and McGuff using an eight-player rotation in the Saturday victory.
A silver lining of the shorter bench of available players was more time for the Thierrys to bask in the moment. More time to make memories.
Taylor Thierry and Haley Thierry
On the court, Taylor won out on the competitive piece of the “rivalry.” Before the block, Thierry hit a layup over her sister. Those two moments combined, all within the span of 15 seconds, have a good chance of becoming stories the two will share for the rest of their lives, probably with some gentle ribbing from Taylor Thierry who, despite her quiet demeanor, has a quick wit and funnier facial reactions.
For Haley, she didn’t seem to care. She felt differently than Taylor on the excitement of the day too. While Taylor was happy, Haley was excited for the matchup and looking forward to it since she found out over the summer.
“Ever since warmup, when I saw her, I just couldn’t stop smiling,” said Haley.
It shows the juxtaposition of the fraternal twins who have different personalities, games on the court and are separated by a good four inches of height. The scoreline will one day be forgotten, but not the memories created by the senior sisters in their final years of NCAA basketball.
“I feel like that was a very memorable moment and exciting,” said Haley. “And I was, again, like, I’m just happy to be here and be able to play against, you know, my best friend right here.”
For more on the Thierry sisters, and the meaning behind Saturday’s game, read what they and their mom told Land-Grant Holy Land in the days leading up to Ohio State’s matchup with Youngstown State.
Taylor and Haley Thierry compete Saturday, celebrating a family legacy
Continue reading...
