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LGHL Ohio State vs. Western Michigan: 2024 game preview and prediction
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Ohio State vs. Western Michigan: 2024 game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
The Buckeyes take on another MAC team this week when they host Western Michigan.
After opening up their 2024 season with a 52-6 win over Akron, Ohio State will host another MAC opponent on Saturday when the Western Michigan Broncos come to Columbus.
This marks the second time the Buckeyes have played MAC schools in back-to-back weeks. In 2015, Ohio State hosted Northern Illinois, followed by their first-ever meeting with Western Michigan.
In their only previous meeting, the Buckeyes defeated Western Michigan, who was coached at the time by current Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, 38-12. Cardale Jones threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, while Ezekiel Elliott added 124 yards rushing and a score. With their win over Akron last week, Ohio State improved their record to 37-1 against MAC schools, with the only loss coming against Akron back in 1894.
The blowout of the Zips was Ohio State’s 25th straight season-opening victory. The Buckeyes came out of the gates a little sluggish, punting on their first offensive drive. On the first defensive snap, cornerback Davison Igbinosun was flagged for targeting after he hit Akron quarterback Ben Finley while he was sliding. While the targeting aspect of the penalty was removed after replay, the Zips would go on to kick a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.
Ohio State found their rhythm a bit after facing an early deficit, responding with Will Howard finding Jeremiah Smith for the wide receiver’s first collegiate touchdown. The two would hook up again for another score in the first half, making Smith the first Ohio State freshman receiver since Michael Wiley in 1996 to grab two receiving touchdowns in a game.
Smith finished with six catches for 92 yards, while Howards passed for 228 yards and three touchdowns in his Ohio State debut. Along with Smith’s output, Carnell Tate caught a touchdown, and Emeka Egbuka finished the game with four catches for 51 yards.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25605465/2168898437.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: AUG 31 Akron at Ohio State")
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
While there was a lot to like through the air for the Buckeyes, the rushing attack didn’t make many waves against Akron. Quinshon Judkins struggled in his Ohio State debut, carrying the football 13 times for 55 yards, finding the end zone once.
TreVeyon Henderson led the team with 65 yards on eight carries. The 8.1 yards per carry Henderson averaged was his eighth game as a Buckeye where he averaged at least eight yards per carry.
James Peoples added a touchdown in the second half.
On the other side of the football, the Ohio State defense was suffocating in the opener. Jack Sawyer and the defensive line punished Ben Finley after he returned to the game following Akron’s first drive. Finley would eventually leave the game for good in the second quarter, leaving Tahj Bullock to take most of the snaps for the Zips.
J.T. Tuimoloau finished with a sack and a half, and Tyleik Williams was credited with a sack. The Buckeyes finished with double -digit tackles for loss for the first time in 17 games.
As good as the defensive line was for Ohio State, the secondary was even better against the Zips. Safety Lathan Ransom led the team with nine tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown. Denzel Burke picked off a pass and now has 26 career pass breakups, which is sixth-most in school history. Burke is 10 PBUs away from tying Bradley Roby’s school record.
Alabama transfer Caleb Downs only made two tackles in his debut in the scarlet and gray, but he did have half a sack.
The linebackers were without Cody Simon in the opener, but Sonny Styles and C.J. Hicks filled in and had strong performances in Simon’s absence. Along with Styles and Hicks, Arvell Reese impressed in the second half, and Gabe Powers picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
If Simon isn’t able to go on Saturday night, at least it has become clear the linebackers have plenty of capable players to fill in.
Western Michigan had Wisconsin on the ropes in their season opener last Friday, taking a 14-13 lead early in the fourth quarter after running back Jalen Buckley’s 1-yard touchdown run. The Broncos forced the Badgers to punt on their next drive, but the punt bounced off a Western Michigan player, allowing Wisconsin to recover the fumble at the 20-yard-line of the Broncos. The Badgers would go on to score, taking the lead for good.
This marks Lance Taylor’s second year in charge in Kalamazoo after taking over for Tim Lester. Before becoming head coach at Western Michigan, Taylor was Notre Dame’s running backs coach and most recently Louisville’s offensive coordinator in 2022. Following a 4-8 season last year, Taylor is looking to lead the Broncos to their first bowl game since they beat Nevada in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl.
Starting at quarterback for Western Michigan will be Hayden Wolff, who was 12-of-18 for 141 against Wisconsin, throwing an interception in the loss. Malique Dieudonne caught two passes for 45 yards to lead the team. After not getting much through the air against the Badgers, things aren’t going to get any easier against Burke, Downs, Ransom, and the rest of the Ohio State secondary.
The most productive offensive player last week for the Broncos was running back Jalen Buckley, who carried the football 16 times for 64 yards, finding the end zone twice. Buckley is coming off a season where he ran for 1,003 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground in 2023. Last year Buckley had four games where he cracked 100 yards rushing. Overall, Western Michigan gained 120 yards rushing on their 33 carries in Madison.
What could turn into a strength this year for Western Michigan is their veteran offensive line that is made up of seniors or graduate students. At center is Jacob Gideon, who has made preseason watch lists for the Rimington Trophy, the Outland Trophy, and the Lombardi Award. New to the line this year isguard Quinn Murphy, who started his career at Notre Dame before coming to Western Michigan as a graduate transfer.
Against Wisconsin, the defense of the Broncos held their own for most of the game, giving up just under 400 yards of total offense to the Badgers. In the fourth quarter with Western Michigan up by one point, they were put in a tough spot after the Badgers recovered a punt that was touched by a Bronco, giving Wisconsin a very short field. Even though Western Michigan will be playing an even tougher offense this week, they know they can stand toe-to-toe with a Big Ten foe.
Expect to hear linebacker Donald Willis’ name called a lot this week. The senior recorded 10 tackles last week against the Badgers, with one of those stops coming behind the line of scrimmage. In 11 games last year, Willis was credited with 40 tackles and tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks.
Joining Willis at linebacker will be Jake Wahlberg and Damari Robinson. Wahlberg and Robinson each had over 60 tackles last year, with Wahlberg finishing the year with 6.5 TFLs. Even though he isn’t listed as a starter on the depth chart, Boone Boonema should see plenty of action after making nine stops last week.
In the secondary, the Broncos will start a number of upperclassmen on Saturday night. Cornerback Bilhal Kone was all over the field against Wisconsin, tying Willis for the team lead in tackles. Safeties Tate Hallock and Aaron Wofford were the top two tacklers on the team last season, and they had two interceptions each. Rounding out the group is redshirt junior Nyquann Washington at cornerback.
The area where Western Michigan could be a little more vulnerable is on the defensive line. While the Broncos have a quartet of juniors, Wisconsin was able to push them around a little and were able to roll up 196 yards on the ground. Isaiah Green was the leading tackler of the unit, finishing with six tackles and a sack, while Tyson Lee did pounce on a fumble.
The defensive line will be going up against an Ohio State offensive line that will be wanting to rebound from a subpar performance when it comes to creating holes for their running backs.
Even though Ohio State beat Akron by 46 points, there were some areas that the coaching staff undoubtedly were unhappy with — most notably the inability of the Buckeyes to run the football effectively.
There are reasons for optimism, though. The line was without Donovan Jackson, who was held out of the game due to injury. Plus, it will likely take some time for TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins to get used to the running back rotation that will be employed.
What will be fun to see is how quarterback Will Howard and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith build off their Ohio State debuts last week. After a few early jitters, Smith looked incredible last week, grabbing two touchdowns against Akron. It’s obvious Howard and Smith have built an early rapport, as Smith was the most targeted Buckeye receiver in the opener.
Expect Emeka Egbuka to continue to move up the Ohio State receiving ranks. Egbuka needs 36 yards to pass Ted Ginn Jr. for 13th most in school history when it comes to career yardage.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25605467/2169770415.jpg "Akron v Ohio State")
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Last week there was the excitement of the season opener at home. Now comes a game under the lights for the Buckeyes. Expect to see an even more complete performance from Ryan Day’s team, as they know they have a bye next week and there is nothing worse than having to sit with a subpar performance for two weeks.
Also, you have to wonder what where Western Michigan is at mentally after having an upset of Wisconsin in their grasp last week before a costly turnover cost them the game. While the Broncos have a lot of veterans on their roster, they expended a lot of energy and emotion to come up empty, and now they have to hit the road again this week to take on one of the best teams in the country.
In the NFL, often times a team struggles in the second of two consecutive away games, and that feels like the case here. Ohio State is too talented for Western Michigan to keep pace, and the Buckeyes will have a little extra juice this week with the game being played under the lights.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
The Buckeyes take on another MAC team this week when they host Western Michigan.
After opening up their 2024 season with a 52-6 win over Akron, Ohio State will host another MAC opponent on Saturday when the Western Michigan Broncos come to Columbus.
This marks the second time the Buckeyes have played MAC schools in back-to-back weeks. In 2015, Ohio State hosted Northern Illinois, followed by their first-ever meeting with Western Michigan.
History against Western Michigan and the MAC
In their only previous meeting, the Buckeyes defeated Western Michigan, who was coached at the time by current Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, 38-12. Cardale Jones threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, while Ezekiel Elliott added 124 yards rushing and a score. With their win over Akron last week, Ohio State improved their record to 37-1 against MAC schools, with the only loss coming against Akron back in 1894.
Slow start against Akron before finding their rhythm
The blowout of the Zips was Ohio State’s 25th straight season-opening victory. The Buckeyes came out of the gates a little sluggish, punting on their first offensive drive. On the first defensive snap, cornerback Davison Igbinosun was flagged for targeting after he hit Akron quarterback Ben Finley while he was sliding. While the targeting aspect of the penalty was removed after replay, the Zips would go on to kick a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.
Ohio State found their rhythm a bit after facing an early deficit, responding with Will Howard finding Jeremiah Smith for the wide receiver’s first collegiate touchdown. The two would hook up again for another score in the first half, making Smith the first Ohio State freshman receiver since Michael Wiley in 1996 to grab two receiving touchdowns in a game.
Smith finished with six catches for 92 yards, while Howards passed for 228 yards and three touchdowns in his Ohio State debut. Along with Smith’s output, Carnell Tate caught a touchdown, and Emeka Egbuka finished the game with four catches for 51 yards.
While there was a lot to like through the air for the Buckeyes, the rushing attack didn’t make many waves against Akron. Quinshon Judkins struggled in his Ohio State debut, carrying the football 13 times for 55 yards, finding the end zone once.
TreVeyon Henderson led the team with 65 yards on eight carries. The 8.1 yards per carry Henderson averaged was his eighth game as a Buckeye where he averaged at least eight yards per carry.
James Peoples added a touchdown in the second half.
Tough nuts to crack
On the other side of the football, the Ohio State defense was suffocating in the opener. Jack Sawyer and the defensive line punished Ben Finley after he returned to the game following Akron’s first drive. Finley would eventually leave the game for good in the second quarter, leaving Tahj Bullock to take most of the snaps for the Zips.
J.T. Tuimoloau finished with a sack and a half, and Tyleik Williams was credited with a sack. The Buckeyes finished with double -digit tackles for loss for the first time in 17 games.
As good as the defensive line was for Ohio State, the secondary was even better against the Zips. Safety Lathan Ransom led the team with nine tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown. Denzel Burke picked off a pass and now has 26 career pass breakups, which is sixth-most in school history. Burke is 10 PBUs away from tying Bradley Roby’s school record.
Alabama transfer Caleb Downs only made two tackles in his debut in the scarlet and gray, but he did have half a sack.
The linebackers were without Cody Simon in the opener, but Sonny Styles and C.J. Hicks filled in and had strong performances in Simon’s absence. Along with Styles and Hicks, Arvell Reese impressed in the second half, and Gabe Powers picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
If Simon isn’t able to go on Saturday night, at least it has become clear the linebackers have plenty of capable players to fill in.
Lance Taylor’s second year in charge at Western Michigan
Western Michigan had Wisconsin on the ropes in their season opener last Friday, taking a 14-13 lead early in the fourth quarter after running back Jalen Buckley’s 1-yard touchdown run. The Broncos forced the Badgers to punt on their next drive, but the punt bounced off a Western Michigan player, allowing Wisconsin to recover the fumble at the 20-yard-line of the Broncos. The Badgers would go on to score, taking the lead for good.
This marks Lance Taylor’s second year in charge in Kalamazoo after taking over for Tim Lester. Before becoming head coach at Western Michigan, Taylor was Notre Dame’s running backs coach and most recently Louisville’s offensive coordinator in 2022. Following a 4-8 season last year, Taylor is looking to lead the Broncos to their first bowl game since they beat Nevada in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl.
Western Michigan’s offense at a glance
Starting at quarterback for Western Michigan will be Hayden Wolff, who was 12-of-18 for 141 against Wisconsin, throwing an interception in the loss. Malique Dieudonne caught two passes for 45 yards to lead the team. After not getting much through the air against the Badgers, things aren’t going to get any easier against Burke, Downs, Ransom, and the rest of the Ohio State secondary.
The most productive offensive player last week for the Broncos was running back Jalen Buckley, who carried the football 16 times for 64 yards, finding the end zone twice. Buckley is coming off a season where he ran for 1,003 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground in 2023. Last year Buckley had four games where he cracked 100 yards rushing. Overall, Western Michigan gained 120 yards rushing on their 33 carries in Madison.
What could turn into a strength this year for Western Michigan is their veteran offensive line that is made up of seniors or graduate students. At center is Jacob Gideon, who has made preseason watch lists for the Rimington Trophy, the Outland Trophy, and the Lombardi Award. New to the line this year isguard Quinn Murphy, who started his career at Notre Dame before coming to Western Michigan as a graduate transfer.
What we’ll see from the defense of the Broncos
Against Wisconsin, the defense of the Broncos held their own for most of the game, giving up just under 400 yards of total offense to the Badgers. In the fourth quarter with Western Michigan up by one point, they were put in a tough spot after the Badgers recovered a punt that was touched by a Bronco, giving Wisconsin a very short field. Even though Western Michigan will be playing an even tougher offense this week, they know they can stand toe-to-toe with a Big Ten foe.
Expect to hear linebacker Donald Willis’ name called a lot this week. The senior recorded 10 tackles last week against the Badgers, with one of those stops coming behind the line of scrimmage. In 11 games last year, Willis was credited with 40 tackles and tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks.
Joining Willis at linebacker will be Jake Wahlberg and Damari Robinson. Wahlberg and Robinson each had over 60 tackles last year, with Wahlberg finishing the year with 6.5 TFLs. Even though he isn’t listed as a starter on the depth chart, Boone Boonema should see plenty of action after making nine stops last week.
In the secondary, the Broncos will start a number of upperclassmen on Saturday night. Cornerback Bilhal Kone was all over the field against Wisconsin, tying Willis for the team lead in tackles. Safeties Tate Hallock and Aaron Wofford were the top two tacklers on the team last season, and they had two interceptions each. Rounding out the group is redshirt junior Nyquann Washington at cornerback.
The area where Western Michigan could be a little more vulnerable is on the defensive line. While the Broncos have a quartet of juniors, Wisconsin was able to push them around a little and were able to roll up 196 yards on the ground. Isaiah Green was the leading tackler of the unit, finishing with six tackles and a sack, while Tyson Lee did pounce on a fumble.
The defensive line will be going up against an Ohio State offensive line that will be wanting to rebound from a subpar performance when it comes to creating holes for their running backs.
Prediction
Even though Ohio State beat Akron by 46 points, there were some areas that the coaching staff undoubtedly were unhappy with — most notably the inability of the Buckeyes to run the football effectively.
There are reasons for optimism, though. The line was without Donovan Jackson, who was held out of the game due to injury. Plus, it will likely take some time for TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins to get used to the running back rotation that will be employed.
What will be fun to see is how quarterback Will Howard and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith build off their Ohio State debuts last week. After a few early jitters, Smith looked incredible last week, grabbing two touchdowns against Akron. It’s obvious Howard and Smith have built an early rapport, as Smith was the most targeted Buckeye receiver in the opener.
Expect Emeka Egbuka to continue to move up the Ohio State receiving ranks. Egbuka needs 36 yards to pass Ted Ginn Jr. for 13th most in school history when it comes to career yardage.
Last week there was the excitement of the season opener at home. Now comes a game under the lights for the Buckeyes. Expect to see an even more complete performance from Ryan Day’s team, as they know they have a bye next week and there is nothing worse than having to sit with a subpar performance for two weeks.
Also, you have to wonder what where Western Michigan is at mentally after having an upset of Wisconsin in their grasp last week before a costly turnover cost them the game. While the Broncos have a lot of veterans on their roster, they expended a lot of energy and emotion to come up empty, and now they have to hit the road again this week to take on one of the best teams in the country.
In the NFL, often times a team struggles in the second of two consecutive away games, and that feels like the case here. Ohio State is too talented for Western Michigan to keep pace, and the Buckeyes will have a little extra juice this week with the game being played under the lights.
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 51, Western Michigan 13
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LGHL Streaming expert has the best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Western Michigan for free without cable
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Streaming expert has the best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Western Michigan for free without cable
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Andrew Weber-Imagn Images
You’ve got a number of free trials you can choose from of various lengths and breadths.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes are back in action today, Saturday, Sept. 7 as they will take on the Western Michigan Broncos in primetime. The Bucks and Broncos will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET in a game airing on the Big Ten Network. In Week 1, OSU beat MAC school Akron 52-6, while WMU — also a MAC school — put up a good fight against the Wisconsin Badgers before falling 28-14. So this should make for a fun Week 2 matchup.
This season, the Buckeyes will play on three different broadcast networks (CBS, Fox, and NBC), at least one cable channel (Big Ten Network), and exclusively on a streaming service (Peacock); it can be tough to keep up with where and how to watch your favorite team.
As cord-cutting has become far more the norm than the exception across the United States, it would not be a surprise if you gave up cable or a live-streaming service following last year’s season only to realize that it’s the day of the game and you have no way to watch it.
And I know it can be incredibly confusing to find the best way to watch a game in today’s entertainment landscape. Fortunately for you, I am something of a streaming expert... no really, I write about streaming services for a living. So, I am going to walk you through the best — and cheapest — ways for you to stream today’s game.
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Broadcasters: Jeff Levering, Jake Butt
Betting Line: Ohio State -37.5 | 54.5 o/u
Best Streaming Option for All College Football Games:
This week is the perfect time to sign up for Hulu + Live TV. Not only can you take advantage of the three-day free trial, but on Friday, Hulu + Live TV announced its latest deal. For any new customer who signs up for the service — and the complementary ad-supported Disney Bundle that comes with it — after one month, they will get a $30 rebate. Now this isn’t one of those things where they just give you a $30 credit on your bill effectively locking you into another month, no, they will automatically send you $30 via whatever your method of payment was.
Then, you can cancel the service, upgrade to the ad-free Disney bundle, or keep going with your subscription and pocket the extra $30; it’s a win-win. But, this deal is only available through Wednesday, Sept. 11, so hurry up and take advantage of it now.
Hulu + Live TV has one of the few guaranteed multi-day free trials in the industry and provides nearly all of the major cable channels on the market. The basic package comes with all of the major broadcast network channels — all of which have college football — ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. It also has ESPN, ESPN2, Big Ten Network, FS1, FS2, ESPNU, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, and the NFL Network (yes, they have college games) without having to sign up for any sports add-on plans. However, if you do want more sports, you can add NFL RedZone, MLB StrikeZone, FanDuel TV, the Tennis Channel, and more.
What’s great about Hulu + Live TV is that in addition to all of the broadcast and cable channels that you could possibly want, it also comes with the Disney Bundle for free. So, you also get the full on-demand Hulu library, Disney+, and ESPN+, which also has hundreds of college football games every season.
Currently, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV costs $76.99 per month after your three-day free trial. However, that will go up to $82.99 in mid-October. But between now and then, this is the best choice for watching college football
Fubo: $84.99 per month, at least a one-day free trial
DIRECTV STREAM: $79.99 per month
YouTube TV: $72.99 per month
Below is your Ohio State vs. Western Michigan 2024 game thread. Be respectful, be kind and — as always — keep it classy, BuckeyeNation. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s finish the season strong!
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Andrew Weber-Imagn Images
You’ve got a number of free trials you can choose from of various lengths and breadths.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes are back in action today, Saturday, Sept. 7 as they will take on the Western Michigan Broncos in primetime. The Bucks and Broncos will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET in a game airing on the Big Ten Network. In Week 1, OSU beat MAC school Akron 52-6, while WMU — also a MAC school — put up a good fight against the Wisconsin Badgers before falling 28-14. So this should make for a fun Week 2 matchup.
This season, the Buckeyes will play on three different broadcast networks (CBS, Fox, and NBC), at least one cable channel (Big Ten Network), and exclusively on a streaming service (Peacock); it can be tough to keep up with where and how to watch your favorite team.
As cord-cutting has become far more the norm than the exception across the United States, it would not be a surprise if you gave up cable or a live-streaming service following last year’s season only to realize that it’s the day of the game and you have no way to watch it.
And I know it can be incredibly confusing to find the best way to watch a game in today’s entertainment landscape. Fortunately for you, I am something of a streaming expert... no really, I write about streaming services for a living. So, I am going to walk you through the best — and cheapest — ways for you to stream today’s game.
How can I watch the No. 2 Ohio State vs. Western Michigan college football game?
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Broadcasters: Jeff Levering, Jake Butt
Betting Line: Ohio State -37.5 | 54.5 o/u
Best Streaming Option for All College Football Games:
Hulu + Live TV | 3-Day Free Trial
This week is the perfect time to sign up for Hulu + Live TV. Not only can you take advantage of the three-day free trial, but on Friday, Hulu + Live TV announced its latest deal. For any new customer who signs up for the service — and the complementary ad-supported Disney Bundle that comes with it — after one month, they will get a $30 rebate. Now this isn’t one of those things where they just give you a $30 credit on your bill effectively locking you into another month, no, they will automatically send you $30 via whatever your method of payment was.
Then, you can cancel the service, upgrade to the ad-free Disney bundle, or keep going with your subscription and pocket the extra $30; it’s a win-win. But, this deal is only available through Wednesday, Sept. 11, so hurry up and take advantage of it now.
Hulu + Live TV has one of the few guaranteed multi-day free trials in the industry and provides nearly all of the major cable channels on the market. The basic package comes with all of the major broadcast network channels — all of which have college football — ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. It also has ESPN, ESPN2, Big Ten Network, FS1, FS2, ESPNU, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, and the NFL Network (yes, they have college games) without having to sign up for any sports add-on plans. However, if you do want more sports, you can add NFL RedZone, MLB StrikeZone, FanDuel TV, the Tennis Channel, and more.
What’s great about Hulu + Live TV is that in addition to all of the broadcast and cable channels that you could possibly want, it also comes with the Disney Bundle for free. So, you also get the full on-demand Hulu library, Disney+, and ESPN+, which also has hundreds of college football games every season.
Currently, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV costs $76.99 per month after your three-day free trial. However, that will go up to $82.99 in mid-October. But between now and then, this is the best choice for watching college football
Other Streaming Options for the Ohio State and Akron Game:
Fubo: $84.99 per month, at least a one-day free trial
DIRECTV STREAM: $79.99 per month
YouTube TV: $72.99 per month
Join the conversation
Below is your Ohio State vs. Western Michigan 2024 game thread. Be respectful, be kind and — as always — keep it classy, BuckeyeNation. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s finish the season strong!
Continue reading...
LGHL MC&J: Week 2 nationally sees Tennessee and NC State battle in primetime
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MC&J: Week 2 nationally sees Tennessee and NC State battle in primetime
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
Plus picks for five other interesting games this week outside the Big Ten.
Last week ATS: 13-10 (3-2 National, 10-8 B1G)
You can find predictions for all this week’s games with a point spread involving Big Ten teams here.
Arkansas v. No. 16 Oklahoma State (-7.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Both Arkansas and Oklahoma State cruised to victories over FCS opponents last week. Now the real fun begins with what is shaping up to be an entertaining contest in Stillwater.
Boise State transfer quarterback was efficient in his first start for the Razorbacks, throwing for 229 yards and two scores in the 70-0 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Alan Bowman put up similar numbers for Oklahoma State last week, while Heisman hopeful running back Ollie Gordon III found the end zone three times against South Dakota State.
The Cowboys definitely have the star power in Gordon and wide receiver Brennan Presley, while Arkansas will likely win the war in the trenches. I certainly can see the Razorbacks covering, and wouldn’t be surprised if they pulled the upset here.
Arkansas 31, Oklahoma State 28
No. 17 Kansas State (-9.5) v. Tulane - 12:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
Neither team will look the same as two years ago when Tulane beat Kansas State in Manhattan. Will Howard is now at Ohio State, while former Tulane head coach Willie Fritz is at Houston and quarterback Michael Pratt has graduated. At quarterback for the Wildcats is Avery Johnson, who will likely lean on outstanding running back DJ Giddens, who rushed for 124 yards last week.
Tulane replaced Fritz with Troy’s Jon Sumrall. I wouldn’t really call what Tulane is going through now a rebuild, but they do have some work to do. Sumrall surprised a lot of people by going with Darian Mensah last week at quarterback in the opener. The move looked brilliant after Mensah was 10-of-12 for 205 yards and two touchdown passes. Mensah will face a lot more resistance from a gritty Kansas State defense this week.
Even though the Wildcats are on the road here, I like them in this spot against a Tulane team that will still be adjusting to life without Fritz and Pratt.
Kansas State 34, Tulane 21
No. 23 Georgia Tech (-2.5) v. Syracuse - 12:00 p.m. ET - ACC Network
You don’t just walk into the Carrier Dome (or whatever they are calling it now) and leave with a victory. I’m wondering if Georgia Tech might be a little overvalued after their win over Florida State. It’s obvious the Seminoles have some deep issues, so I’m not as impressed with the win as some others might be. Not to say Georgia Tech isn’t good, I’m just not a fan of them in this spot.
Our old friend Kyle McCord looked comfortable in a place where the lights aren’t as bright, passing for 354 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Ohio last week. The offense of the Orange could be really good this year with running back LeQuint Allen and tight end Orande Gadsden II complimenting McCord.
New head coach Fran Brown picks up his first ACC win at Syracuse.
Syracuse 35, Georgia Tech 27
Baylor v. No. 11 Utah (-14.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FOX
Remember Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn? He is at Baylor now! Finn had some mixed results last week in the 45-3 win over Tarleton State, throwing two touchdowns but also tossing two picks. The mistakes didn’t hurt Finn and the Bears last week, but they won’t get away with plays like that on the road against Utah.
I’m really high on this Utah squad. I think Cam Rising caps off his 22-year college career with a Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Last week Rising returned to the field for the first time in almost two years by throwing five touchdown passes. The Utes are so tough to beat in Salt Lake City, and even though this is a pretty big line, I think they overwhelm Finn and Baylor.
Utah 38, Baylor 17
No. 14 Tennessee (-9.5) v. No. 24 NC State - 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC
Tennessee was pretty good with quarterback Joe Milton last year. What’s scary is they might be even better now that Nico Iamaleava is taking the snaps. Last week Iamaleava passed for 314 yards and three scores as the Volunteers cruised to victory over Chattanooga. Iamaleava has a tremendous group of receivers to help him find some comfort as the starter.
The Wolfpack will counter with Coastal Carolina transfer quarterback Grayson McCall, who looked pretty good in his debut with the team last week. NC State has some talented skill position players, I’m just not convinced they have the beef and athleticism on the lines to keep up with the Volunteers.
Plus, I feel a lot better siding with Josh Heupel in the coaching battle over Dave Doeren.
Tennessee 37, NC State 24
Mississippi State v. Arizona State (-6.5) - 10:30 p.m. ET - ESPN
Arizona State surprised me a lot last week. I thought they would struggle with Wyoming. The Sun Devils proved me wrong by demolishing the Cowboys in Tempe, 48-7. While I’m not thinking Arizona State is going to be a contender in the Big 12, they should be able to keep the good vibes rolling for another week.
Jeff Lebby had a successful debut as Mississippi State head coach, beating Eastern Kentucky 56-7. What Lebby does have is a veteran quarterback in Baylor transfer Blake Shapen. What concerns me about the Bulldogs is they can’t really run the ball, which is going to be a problem against a nasty Sun Devil defense.
Arizona State should be able to win here by at least a touchdown.
Arizona State 33, Mississippi State 21
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
Plus picks for five other interesting games this week outside the Big Ten.
Last week ATS: 13-10 (3-2 National, 10-8 B1G)
You can find predictions for all this week’s games with a point spread involving Big Ten teams here.
National games:
Arkansas v. No. 16 Oklahoma State (-7.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Both Arkansas and Oklahoma State cruised to victories over FCS opponents last week. Now the real fun begins with what is shaping up to be an entertaining contest in Stillwater.
Boise State transfer quarterback was efficient in his first start for the Razorbacks, throwing for 229 yards and two scores in the 70-0 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Alan Bowman put up similar numbers for Oklahoma State last week, while Heisman hopeful running back Ollie Gordon III found the end zone three times against South Dakota State.
The Cowboys definitely have the star power in Gordon and wide receiver Brennan Presley, while Arkansas will likely win the war in the trenches. I certainly can see the Razorbacks covering, and wouldn’t be surprised if they pulled the upset here.
Arkansas 31, Oklahoma State 28
No. 17 Kansas State (-9.5) v. Tulane - 12:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
Neither team will look the same as two years ago when Tulane beat Kansas State in Manhattan. Will Howard is now at Ohio State, while former Tulane head coach Willie Fritz is at Houston and quarterback Michael Pratt has graduated. At quarterback for the Wildcats is Avery Johnson, who will likely lean on outstanding running back DJ Giddens, who rushed for 124 yards last week.
Tulane replaced Fritz with Troy’s Jon Sumrall. I wouldn’t really call what Tulane is going through now a rebuild, but they do have some work to do. Sumrall surprised a lot of people by going with Darian Mensah last week at quarterback in the opener. The move looked brilliant after Mensah was 10-of-12 for 205 yards and two touchdown passes. Mensah will face a lot more resistance from a gritty Kansas State defense this week.
Even though the Wildcats are on the road here, I like them in this spot against a Tulane team that will still be adjusting to life without Fritz and Pratt.
Kansas State 34, Tulane 21
No. 23 Georgia Tech (-2.5) v. Syracuse - 12:00 p.m. ET - ACC Network
You don’t just walk into the Carrier Dome (or whatever they are calling it now) and leave with a victory. I’m wondering if Georgia Tech might be a little overvalued after their win over Florida State. It’s obvious the Seminoles have some deep issues, so I’m not as impressed with the win as some others might be. Not to say Georgia Tech isn’t good, I’m just not a fan of them in this spot.
Our old friend Kyle McCord looked comfortable in a place where the lights aren’t as bright, passing for 354 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Ohio last week. The offense of the Orange could be really good this year with running back LeQuint Allen and tight end Orande Gadsden II complimenting McCord.
New head coach Fran Brown picks up his first ACC win at Syracuse.
Syracuse 35, Georgia Tech 27
Baylor v. No. 11 Utah (-14.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FOX
Remember Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn? He is at Baylor now! Finn had some mixed results last week in the 45-3 win over Tarleton State, throwing two touchdowns but also tossing two picks. The mistakes didn’t hurt Finn and the Bears last week, but they won’t get away with plays like that on the road against Utah.
I’m really high on this Utah squad. I think Cam Rising caps off his 22-year college career with a Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Last week Rising returned to the field for the first time in almost two years by throwing five touchdown passes. The Utes are so tough to beat in Salt Lake City, and even though this is a pretty big line, I think they overwhelm Finn and Baylor.
Utah 38, Baylor 17
No. 14 Tennessee (-9.5) v. No. 24 NC State - 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC
Tennessee was pretty good with quarterback Joe Milton last year. What’s scary is they might be even better now that Nico Iamaleava is taking the snaps. Last week Iamaleava passed for 314 yards and three scores as the Volunteers cruised to victory over Chattanooga. Iamaleava has a tremendous group of receivers to help him find some comfort as the starter.
The Wolfpack will counter with Coastal Carolina transfer quarterback Grayson McCall, who looked pretty good in his debut with the team last week. NC State has some talented skill position players, I’m just not convinced they have the beef and athleticism on the lines to keep up with the Volunteers.
Plus, I feel a lot better siding with Josh Heupel in the coaching battle over Dave Doeren.
Tennessee 37, NC State 24
Mississippi State v. Arizona State (-6.5) - 10:30 p.m. ET - ESPN
Arizona State surprised me a lot last week. I thought they would struggle with Wyoming. The Sun Devils proved me wrong by demolishing the Cowboys in Tempe, 48-7. While I’m not thinking Arizona State is going to be a contender in the Big 12, they should be able to keep the good vibes rolling for another week.
Jeff Lebby had a successful debut as Mississippi State head coach, beating Eastern Kentucky 56-7. What Lebby does have is a veteran quarterback in Baylor transfer Blake Shapen. What concerns me about the Bulldogs is they can’t really run the ball, which is going to be a problem against a nasty Sun Devil defense.
Arizona State should be able to win here by at least a touchdown.
Arizona State 33, Mississippi State 21
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LGHL Big Ten Top 10: Four conference schools in Week 1 rankings led by Ohio State
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Big Ten Top 10: Four conference schools in Week 1 rankings led by Ohio State
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
The official SB Nation Big Ten writers poll is the only truly unbiased poll any college football fan could ever need.
AP Poll? Shmay Pee Poll! Coaches Poll? We all know that coaches don’t have time to fill out a weekly survey, let alone watch enough games to make informed choices! That’s why your friendly neighborhood Big Ten writers from across the SB Nation universe have banded together to come up with the only fair, accurate, non-biased poll in all of college football.
Every week, a writer from the 16 sites covering specific B1G schools (lowly UCLA and USC don’t have SBN sites) will submit their picks, and Oren Basse from Michigan State site The Only Colors will compile them into the official SBN Big Ten Writers Poll
.
I will keep you updated on our selections here on Land-Grant Holy Land, and I will let you know how I vote every week because we believe in truth, justice, and transparency in journalism here in Buckeye Country.
There will also be a Player of the Week selected by the Big Ten writers. So, without further ado, here is the post-Week 1 SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll.
These rankings coincide with my Top-12 picks every week on the “No Fall Weddings” podcast in the Land-Grant Podcast Network feed, which you can subscribe to anywhere you get your favorite audio entertainment.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25606548/usa_today_24130783.jpg "NCAA Football: Boise State at Georgia Southern")
Richard Burkhart-Imagn Images
The Boise State back had a monster Week 1 game in the Broncos’ thrilling 56-45 victory over Georgia Southern last Saturday. In 20 carries, Jeanty went for 267 yards and six touchdowns. If Boise wants to knock off the No. 8 team in the SBN B1G poll the Oregon Ducks this weekend, the dynamic back will likely need to have another stellar performance.
Others receiving votes:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The official SB Nation Big Ten writers poll is the only truly unbiased poll any college football fan could ever need.
AP Poll? Shmay Pee Poll! Coaches Poll? We all know that coaches don’t have time to fill out a weekly survey, let alone watch enough games to make informed choices! That’s why your friendly neighborhood Big Ten writers from across the SB Nation universe have banded together to come up with the only fair, accurate, non-biased poll in all of college football.
Every week, a writer from the 16 sites covering specific B1G schools (lowly UCLA and USC don’t have SBN sites) will submit their picks, and Oren Basse from Michigan State site The Only Colors will compile them into the official SBN Big Ten Writers Poll
.I will keep you updated on our selections here on Land-Grant Holy Land, and I will let you know how I vote every week because we believe in truth, justice, and transparency in journalism here in Buckeye Country.
There will also be a Player of the Week selected by the Big Ten writers. So, without further ado, here is the post-Week 1 SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll.
SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll | Week 1
My Personal Top-10 Rankings | Week 1
These rankings coincide with my Top-12 picks every week on the “No Fall Weddings” podcast in the Land-Grant Podcast Network feed, which you can subscribe to anywhere you get your favorite audio entertainment.
Player of the Week | Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
The Boise State back had a monster Week 1 game in the Broncos’ thrilling 56-45 victory over Georgia Southern last Saturday. In 20 carries, Jeanty went for 267 yards and six touchdowns. If Boise wants to knock off the No. 8 team in the SBN B1G poll the Oregon Ducks this weekend, the dynamic back will likely need to have another stellar performance.
Others receiving votes:
- Jaxson Dart | QB, Ole Miss
- Kyron Hudson | WR, USC
- Travis Hunter | WR/CB, Colorado (my pick)
- Tetairoa McMillan | WR, Arizona.
- Miller Moss | QB, USC
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Which outgoing basketball transfer will have the most success at their new school?
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You’re Nuts: Which outgoing basketball transfer will have the most success at their new school?
Connor Lemons 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
All four former Buckeyes landed with programs that could be in the NCAA Tournament this year.
Happy college football season! The Ohio State Buckeyes take the field this week against the Western Michigan Broncos in Week 2, which means that college basketball is just around the corner.
Last week, Connor and Justin predicted how many players the Ohio State men’s basketball team will take in the 2025 recruiting class. Currently, the Buckeyes just have one player committed in that class — four-star guard Dorian Jones. However, there are a handful of Ohio guys and out of state talent that Jake Diebler and staff are pursuing, including Darryn Peterson, Jerry Easter, Niko Bundalo, and several others.
48% of the readers sided with Connor, who said the Buckeyes will take a total of three players in that class. 34% sided with Justin, who said they’d just take two. One reader said that Ohio State would take just Dorian Jones, and 16% of readers said the Buckeyes will take at least four guys in that class.
Connor- 81
This week, we are looking at the destinations of Ohio State’s four outgoing transfers from last season — Roddy Gayle, Felix Okpara, Bowen Hardman, and Scotty Middleton — and picking which will have the biggest season at their new school.
This is not a reflection of good they may or may not have been at Ohio State. This is simply their impact on their new team.
Gayle’s announcement that he was leaving Ohio State came as a surprise to many, and his landing spot was even more of a stunner. After playing for the Buckeyes for two seasons, Gayle opted to transfer to the other side of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.
The rivalry itself will look different, however, as both squads roll into the 2024-25 season with new coaches after Juwan Howard and Chris Holtmann were both relieved of their duties this spring. Rather than return to Ohio State and play for the guy who recruited him to Columbus, Gayle transferred to Michigan to play for former Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May — now the conductor of the Michigan men’s basketball program.
In an interview last month, Gayle described the way May allows his guards, especially taller guards, play a “freelance” role in the offense. Although we haven’t seen this in action at Michigan yet, May had two “longer” guards at FAU — Johnell Davis and Nick Boyd — who helped lead the Owls to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. It would make sense for May to use Gayle in a similar fashion he used Davis at FAU — he led the Owls in scoring each of the past two seasons.
May put together a talented group of transfers for his first year at Michigan, but the offense will likely revolve around Gayle and the twin-towers duo of Danny Wolf (Yale transfer) and Vlad Goldin (FAU transfer). Now listed at 6-foot-5, Gayle should generally have more space to operate with Wolf and Goldin on the floor with him.
If the Wolverines are able to find ways to play the big men together it would make it even more difficult for teams to double team Gayle, who more than doubled his scoring, rebounding, and assists per game last season from his freshman year.
I think the floor for Gayle this year — one season after averaging 13.5 points per game — is an “honorable mention” All-Big Ten award. I think Gayle’s ceiling is first or second-team All-Big Ten, followed by his name being called at the NBA Draft. He has most of the tools, and just needs to re-discover a more consistent three-point shot to really explode this year as a junior.
The Buckeyes hoops team lost many talented players from last season, and has brought in many talented players for this season. The one guy that hurt the most when he announced he was transferring is Scotty Middleton.
Middleton played one season in Columbus as a highly touted freshman who chose the Buckeyes over Kansas. Even though it was an up-and-down season, it was clear at times that his potential is sky-high.
After the season, due to the roster and coaching changes that happened, Middleton announced he would be transferring to Seton Hall. The destination was no surprise, as Seton Hall was in Middleton’s original final three schools. He has family in New Jersey and went to high school at Pirates head coach Shaheen Holloway’s alma mater.
Middleton is a guy who I would not be surprised to see in the NBA as early as next season. He has good size and instincts on defense, an efficient offensive game, and toward the end of last season got his three-point shot rolling.
Middleton will likely never be a volume scorer, but his ability as an elite three-and-D player will always be valuable, and I would have loved to see him grow in Columbus.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons 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
All four former Buckeyes landed with programs that could be in the NCAA Tournament this year.
Happy college football season! The Ohio State Buckeyes take the field this week against the Western Michigan Broncos in Week 2, which means that college basketball is just around the corner.
Last week, Connor and Justin predicted how many players the Ohio State men’s basketball team will take in the 2025 recruiting class. Currently, the Buckeyes just have one player committed in that class — four-star guard Dorian Jones. However, there are a handful of Ohio guys and out of state talent that Jake Diebler and staff are pursuing, including Darryn Peterson, Jerry Easter, Niko Bundalo, and several others.
48% of the readers sided with Connor, who said the Buckeyes will take a total of three players in that class. 34% sided with Justin, who said they’d just take two. One reader said that Ohio State would take just Dorian Jones, and 16% of readers said the Buckeyes will take at least four guys in that class.
After 168 weeks:
Connor- 81
Justin- 67
Other- 16
(There have been four ties)
This week, we are looking at the destinations of Ohio State’s four outgoing transfers from last season — Roddy Gayle, Felix Okpara, Bowen Hardman, and Scotty Middleton — and picking which will have the biggest season at their new school.
This is not a reflection of good they may or may not have been at Ohio State. This is simply their impact on their new team.
This week’s question: Which basketball outgoing transfer will have the most success at their new school?
Connor: Roddy Gayle
Gayle’s announcement that he was leaving Ohio State came as a surprise to many, and his landing spot was even more of a stunner. After playing for the Buckeyes for two seasons, Gayle opted to transfer to the other side of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.
The rivalry itself will look different, however, as both squads roll into the 2024-25 season with new coaches after Juwan Howard and Chris Holtmann were both relieved of their duties this spring. Rather than return to Ohio State and play for the guy who recruited him to Columbus, Gayle transferred to Michigan to play for former Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May — now the conductor of the Michigan men’s basketball program.
In an interview last month, Gayle described the way May allows his guards, especially taller guards, play a “freelance” role in the offense. Although we haven’t seen this in action at Michigan yet, May had two “longer” guards at FAU — Johnell Davis and Nick Boyd — who helped lead the Owls to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. It would make sense for May to use Gayle in a similar fashion he used Davis at FAU — he led the Owls in scoring each of the past two seasons.
May put together a talented group of transfers for his first year at Michigan, but the offense will likely revolve around Gayle and the twin-towers duo of Danny Wolf (Yale transfer) and Vlad Goldin (FAU transfer). Now listed at 6-foot-5, Gayle should generally have more space to operate with Wolf and Goldin on the floor with him.
If the Wolverines are able to find ways to play the big men together it would make it even more difficult for teams to double team Gayle, who more than doubled his scoring, rebounding, and assists per game last season from his freshman year.
I think the floor for Gayle this year — one season after averaging 13.5 points per game — is an “honorable mention” All-Big Ten award. I think Gayle’s ceiling is first or second-team All-Big Ten, followed by his name being called at the NBA Draft. He has most of the tools, and just needs to re-discover a more consistent three-point shot to really explode this year as a junior.
Justin: Scotty Middleton
The Buckeyes hoops team lost many talented players from last season, and has brought in many talented players for this season. The one guy that hurt the most when he announced he was transferring is Scotty Middleton.
Middleton played one season in Columbus as a highly touted freshman who chose the Buckeyes over Kansas. Even though it was an up-and-down season, it was clear at times that his potential is sky-high.
After the season, due to the roster and coaching changes that happened, Middleton announced he would be transferring to Seton Hall. The destination was no surprise, as Seton Hall was in Middleton’s original final three schools. He has family in New Jersey and went to high school at Pirates head coach Shaheen Holloway’s alma mater.
Middleton is a guy who I would not be surprised to see in the NBA as early as next season. He has good size and instincts on defense, an efficient offensive game, and toward the end of last season got his three-point shot rolling.
Middleton will likely never be a volume scorer, but his ability as an elite three-and-D player will always be valuable, and I would have loved to see him grow in Columbus.
Continue reading...
