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LGHL I-80 Football Show: Oregon wins the Big Ten in their first year
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I-80 Football Show: Oregon wins the Big Ten in their first year
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Oregon and Penn State battled for the Big Ten Championship in a shootout, plus coaching carousel updates.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Oregon is officially the Big Ten Champs after beating Penn State 45-37 in a surprising shootout in Indianapolis. Oregon, the only West Coast team who seemed prepared for the Big Ten, entered the conference with a loaded roster and National Championship expectations. They finish their first season as champs with a 13-0 record and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
With a few weeks off before a date with the winner of the Ohio State-Tennessee game, the Ducks are in prime position to compete for a national title despite having the hardest path to the championship game. It was a banner season for Oregon, and the only question now is can they finish the season a perfect 16-0 and win the first national championship in the history of their program?
The coaching carousel, while muted due to the lack of big-time jobs, is in full swing as Purdue has found their new head coach by hiring Barry Odom away from UNLV. Nebraska reloaded at defensive coordinator by promoting John Butler, while Michigan and Wisconsin also filled their vacant offensive coordinator positions by hiring Chip Lindsey from UNC and Jeff Grimes from Kansas, respectively.
There are still a few vacant coordinator roles, but the Big Ten officially has all 18 head coaches, unless Ohio State decides to move on from Ryan Day with a poor showing in the postseason.
In other news, the Big Ten released its 2025 football schedule. There are a couple of key games we’re looking forward to, starting with Ohio State-Texas in Week 1. Ohio State welcomes Penn State into the Shoe and will be hoping to end their losing streak in the Big House.
Oregon plays Penn State in a championship game rematch, while USC-UCLA is being moved back to its rightful place: Rivalry Week. Overall the conference looks to have fewer marque matchups than this season, but it will be hoping to recreate the magic with upstarts like Indiana and end the season with at least four teams in the 12-team playoff field once again.
In their weekly pitstop, Jordan is on the fence about the Yankees losing Juan Soto. On one hand, a 15-year contract for any player doesn’t make sense and it is so much money when you don’t know how a player will age. On the other hand, Soto is one of the best younger players in the game and a truly generational talent. Losing him to the Mets makes it even worse. The Yankees must find a way to rebound after losing Soto to their crosstown rival.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. To keep up with the show, you can subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed, where new episodes drop every Thursday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Oregon and Penn State battled for the Big Ten Championship in a shootout, plus coaching carousel updates.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Oregon is officially the Big Ten Champs after beating Penn State 45-37 in a surprising shootout in Indianapolis. Oregon, the only West Coast team who seemed prepared for the Big Ten, entered the conference with a loaded roster and National Championship expectations. They finish their first season as champs with a 13-0 record and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
With a few weeks off before a date with the winner of the Ohio State-Tennessee game, the Ducks are in prime position to compete for a national title despite having the hardest path to the championship game. It was a banner season for Oregon, and the only question now is can they finish the season a perfect 16-0 and win the first national championship in the history of their program?
The coaching carousel, while muted due to the lack of big-time jobs, is in full swing as Purdue has found their new head coach by hiring Barry Odom away from UNLV. Nebraska reloaded at defensive coordinator by promoting John Butler, while Michigan and Wisconsin also filled their vacant offensive coordinator positions by hiring Chip Lindsey from UNC and Jeff Grimes from Kansas, respectively.
There are still a few vacant coordinator roles, but the Big Ten officially has all 18 head coaches, unless Ohio State decides to move on from Ryan Day with a poor showing in the postseason.
In other news, the Big Ten released its 2025 football schedule. There are a couple of key games we’re looking forward to, starting with Ohio State-Texas in Week 1. Ohio State welcomes Penn State into the Shoe and will be hoping to end their losing streak in the Big House.
Oregon plays Penn State in a championship game rematch, while USC-UCLA is being moved back to its rightful place: Rivalry Week. Overall the conference looks to have fewer marque matchups than this season, but it will be hoping to recreate the magic with upstarts like Indiana and end the season with at least four teams in the 12-team playoff field once again.
In their weekly pitstop, Jordan is on the fence about the Yankees losing Juan Soto. On one hand, a 15-year contract for any player doesn’t make sense and it is so much money when you don’t know how a player will age. On the other hand, Soto is one of the best younger players in the game and a truly generational talent. Losing him to the Mets makes it even worse. The Yankees must find a way to rebound after losing Soto to their crosstown rival.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. To keep up with the show, you can subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed, where new episodes drop every Thursday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
LGHL Check out Ohio State’s 2025 football schedule; Texas, Penn State, UCLA coming to The Shoe
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Check out Ohio State’s 2025 football schedule; Texas, Penn State, UCLA coming to The Shoe
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 via Imagn Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
2025 Ohio State Football Schedule is Set
Ohio State Athletics
Three Thoughts as Buckeyes get 2025 schedule breakdown
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
Three big takeaways from 2025 Ohio State football schedule reveal
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Analyzing Ohio State’s 2025 schedule
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Wouldn’t it be such a shame if the Ohio State crowd booed Kirk Herbstreit when “GameDay” is on campus?
West Virginia Reportedly Interviews Ohio State Wide Receivers Coach Brian Hartline for Head Coaching Vacancy, But Expected to Hire Rich Rodriguez
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State Safety Caleb Downs, Center Seth McLaughlin Named First-Team All-Americans By CBS Sports, The Athletic
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Will Howard was the right choice for Ohio State at quarterback
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land
Is Ohio Stadium prepared for Buckeyes’ playoff game vs. Tennessee?
Sheridan Hendrix, The Columbus Dispatch
You’re Nuts: Which non-CFP bowl game are you most looking forward to?
Brett Ludwiczak and Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
This is just engagement farm BS, but it’s working on me:
Everything you need to know about Ohio State’s campus before the College Football Playoffs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Men’s Soccer: Adedokun, Magnusson Semifinalists for MAC Hermann Trophy
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Soccer: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 13 Marshall Set for College Cup Semifinals Friday
Ohio State Athletics
Honestly, what the fuck are we doing here?
Ohio lawmaker wants to make it a felony to plant a flag at OSU stadium
Anthony Shoemaker and Erin Glynn, The Columbus Dispatch
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 via Imagn Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
2025 Ohio State Football Schedule is Set
Ohio State Athletics
Three Thoughts as Buckeyes get 2025 schedule breakdown
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
Three big takeaways from 2025 Ohio State football schedule reveal
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Analyzing Ohio State’s 2025 schedule
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Wouldn’t it be such a shame if the Ohio State crowd booed Kirk Herbstreit when “GameDay” is on campus?
West Virginia Reportedly Interviews Ohio State Wide Receivers Coach Brian Hartline for Head Coaching Vacancy, But Expected to Hire Rich Rodriguez
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State Safety Caleb Downs, Center Seth McLaughlin Named First-Team All-Americans By CBS Sports, The Athletic
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Will Howard was the right choice for Ohio State at quarterback
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land
Is Ohio Stadium prepared for Buckeyes’ playoff game vs. Tennessee?
Sheridan Hendrix, The Columbus Dispatch
You’re Nuts: Which non-CFP bowl game are you most looking forward to?
Brett Ludwiczak and Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
This is just engagement farm BS, but it’s working on me:
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Everything you need to know about Ohio State’s campus before the College Football Playoffs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Men’s Soccer: Adedokun, Magnusson Semifinalists for MAC Hermann Trophy
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Soccer: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 13 Marshall Set for College Cup Semifinals Friday
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
Honestly, what the fuck are we doing here?
Ohio lawmaker wants to make it a felony to plant a flag at OSU stadium
Anthony Shoemaker and Erin Glynn, The Columbus Dispatch
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Which non-CFP bowl game are you most looking forward to?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Which non-CFP bowl game are you most looking forward to?
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 Bryan Bennett/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Not only were the seedings for the 12-team College Football Playoff made known on Sunday afternoon, but the matchups for all the bowl games outside of the CFP were revealed. Overall, there will be 47 bowl games between December 14 and January 20, with 11 of those contests being games inside the College Football Playoff. While all the focus will be on the CFP games since the results actually mean something, it doesn’t mean that the bowl games outside the playoff can’t be fun.
Even though bowl season isn’t the same as it used to be because of the transfer portal and players opting out of bowl games to focus on preparing for the NFL, the exhibitions still serve a purpose. Teams that do play in bowls get 15 extra practices, which allows coaches to get an even longer look at returning players ahead of the next season. For college football fanatics, a healthy schedule of games over the holidays gives fans of the sport something to turn to when they are off work, or they have had enough family time around Christmas and New Year’s.
This year’s non-CFP bowl schedule has some incredible highlights. Along with a winning coach having a bucket of mayo dumped on them, and some Pop-Tarts fulfilling their lifelong dream of being murdered after a game, there are some fun matchups on the field. Today we want to know which bowl game outside the College Football Playoff you are most looking forward to.
Maybe it’s a game that has an entertaining sponsor and always provides hijinks off the field, or it could just be because you want to see a rival team embarrassed in a pointless exhibition game. In the end, just try and consume as much college football as you can during bowl season, since January 20th is going to come a lot quicker than you think it will.
This game has the potential to be one of the most entertaining bowls of the year. As long as both quarterbacks play in this game, I’d say to take the over in this game, which is currently set at 60.5. Syracuse finished the regular season with a three-game winning streak, spoiling the playoff hopes of Miami along the way by beating the Hurricanes in their regular season finale to finish with a 9-3 record. Former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord threw for over 4,300 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024 but also tossed 12 interceptions. With how much Syracuse threw the football, four players caught at least 60 passes this season. As of now, head coach Fran Brown said he expects McCord to play in the December 27th bowl game in San Diego.
Unlike Syracuse, Washington State had a rough finish to the regular season, losing their last three games by a combined seven points. When the Cougars were clicking they were one of the toughest teams in the country to slow down. John Mateer was a dual-threat quarterback, throwing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 826 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Mateer may have run out of gas carrying the offense down the stretch, but with a month off to recharge his batteries, he should be in fine form for the clash with the Orange two days after Christmas.
Even though there may have been some ill-will towards McCord for the way he left Ohio State, I honestly hope he has a great game against the Cougars and is able to boost his draft stock if he decides to declare for the NFL Draft. There are always a couple of bowl games that don’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things but are remembered because they are fun to watch. There’s no reason to take a game like this seriously. Hopefully, the 2024 Holiday Bowl just lives in the moment and has fun with itself since the Orange and Cougars have the offensive firepower to entertain the masses.
It’s the Pop-Tarts Bowl. How could it not be the Pop-Tarts Bowl? You have multiple anthropomorphized breakfast pastries as the mascots for the game and the MVP of the winning team gets to pick which one is going to be toasted and then eaten by his teammates? If that is not theatre, I don’t know what is!
Beyond the breakfast pastry pageantry, the game will feature a pair of teams that came within perhaps one win of being in the College Football Playoff and also have wind-related natural disaster mascots. Now, sure, they both will likely have a large number of players sit out — including the Hurricane’s Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Cam Ward — I think both Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and The U’s Mario Cristobal will want to use this opportunity against a good team to get the program focused on good things for the 2025 season.
It also might color my opinion of the game that it is happening in Orlando, where I live, but a Saturday, Dec. 28, 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff feels perfect for this type of matchup. There will be no CFP games that day, and the only other major matchup is BYU vs. Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.
The Iowa State Cyclones come into bowl season No. 4 nationally allowing only 161.7 passing yards per game, however, the Miami Hurricanes’ offense is second nationally in passing yards per game with 359.3. Again, Ward almost certainly doesn’t play, but that likely won’t change the philosophy for Cristobal.
This game should be a thoroughly entertaining matchup both in terms of the crazy mascot shenanigans and the potential for high-caliber football — at least judging by modern on-CFP bowl standards.
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 Bryan Bennett/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Not only were the seedings for the 12-team College Football Playoff made known on Sunday afternoon, but the matchups for all the bowl games outside of the CFP were revealed. Overall, there will be 47 bowl games between December 14 and January 20, with 11 of those contests being games inside the College Football Playoff. While all the focus will be on the CFP games since the results actually mean something, it doesn’t mean that the bowl games outside the playoff can’t be fun.
Even though bowl season isn’t the same as it used to be because of the transfer portal and players opting out of bowl games to focus on preparing for the NFL, the exhibitions still serve a purpose. Teams that do play in bowls get 15 extra practices, which allows coaches to get an even longer look at returning players ahead of the next season. For college football fanatics, a healthy schedule of games over the holidays gives fans of the sport something to turn to when they are off work, or they have had enough family time around Christmas and New Year’s.
This year’s non-CFP bowl schedule has some incredible highlights. Along with a winning coach having a bucket of mayo dumped on them, and some Pop-Tarts fulfilling their lifelong dream of being murdered after a game, there are some fun matchups on the field. Today we want to know which bowl game outside the College Football Playoff you are most looking forward to.
Maybe it’s a game that has an entertaining sponsor and always provides hijinks off the field, or it could just be because you want to see a rival team embarrassed in a pointless exhibition game. In the end, just try and consume as much college football as you can during bowl season, since January 20th is going to come a lot quicker than you think it will.
Today’s question: Which non-CFP bowl game are you most looking forward to?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Holiday Bowl - Syracuse v. Washington State
This game has the potential to be one of the most entertaining bowls of the year. As long as both quarterbacks play in this game, I’d say to take the over in this game, which is currently set at 60.5. Syracuse finished the regular season with a three-game winning streak, spoiling the playoff hopes of Miami along the way by beating the Hurricanes in their regular season finale to finish with a 9-3 record. Former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord threw for over 4,300 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024 but also tossed 12 interceptions. With how much Syracuse threw the football, four players caught at least 60 passes this season. As of now, head coach Fran Brown said he expects McCord to play in the December 27th bowl game in San Diego.
Unlike Syracuse, Washington State had a rough finish to the regular season, losing their last three games by a combined seven points. When the Cougars were clicking they were one of the toughest teams in the country to slow down. John Mateer was a dual-threat quarterback, throwing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 826 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Mateer may have run out of gas carrying the offense down the stretch, but with a month off to recharge his batteries, he should be in fine form for the clash with the Orange two days after Christmas.
Even though there may have been some ill-will towards McCord for the way he left Ohio State, I honestly hope he has a great game against the Cougars and is able to boost his draft stock if he decides to declare for the NFL Draft. There are always a couple of bowl games that don’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things but are remembered because they are fun to watch. There’s no reason to take a game like this seriously. Hopefully, the 2024 Holiday Bowl just lives in the moment and has fun with itself since the Orange and Cougars have the offensive firepower to entertain the masses.
Matt’s answer: Pop-Tarts Bowl - Iowa State vs. Miami
It’s the Pop-Tarts Bowl. How could it not be the Pop-Tarts Bowl? You have multiple anthropomorphized breakfast pastries as the mascots for the game and the MVP of the winning team gets to pick which one is going to be toasted and then eaten by his teammates? If that is not theatre, I don’t know what is!
Beyond the breakfast pastry pageantry, the game will feature a pair of teams that came within perhaps one win of being in the College Football Playoff and also have wind-related natural disaster mascots. Now, sure, they both will likely have a large number of players sit out — including the Hurricane’s Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Cam Ward — I think both Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and The U’s Mario Cristobal will want to use this opportunity against a good team to get the program focused on good things for the 2025 season.
It also might color my opinion of the game that it is happening in Orlando, where I live, but a Saturday, Dec. 28, 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff feels perfect for this type of matchup. There will be no CFP games that day, and the only other major matchup is BYU vs. Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.
The Iowa State Cyclones come into bowl season No. 4 nationally allowing only 161.7 passing yards per game, however, the Miami Hurricanes’ offense is second nationally in passing yards per game with 359.3. Again, Ward almost certainly doesn’t play, but that likely won’t change the philosophy for Cristobal.
This game should be a thoroughly entertaining matchup both in terms of the crazy mascot shenanigans and the potential for high-caliber football — at least judging by modern on-CFP bowl standards.
Continue reading...
LGHL Everything you need to know about Ohio State’s campus before the College Football Playoffs
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- 0 Replies
Everything you need to know about Ohio State’s campus before the College Football Playoffs
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
From travel to restaurants, from bars to sights, we’ve got it all broken down for you.
I know what you’re thinking, Tennesseans, “Columbus, Ohio is just a cowtown! There won’t be anything to do there when we go for the College Football Playoff game on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET airing on ABC and ESPN.”
Well, my orange and white checkered friends, how very wrong you are. Columbus is the 14th-largest city in the country, and while CBus does have its fair share of cows, at 905,748 it is nearly five times larger than Knoxville. Did you know that Columbus — the largest city in the world named after Christopher Columbus — is the second largest city in the Midwest, behind only Chicago, and the third largest capital city in these 50 great United States (only Phoenix and Austin are larger)?
So, if you are planning to visit our fair city for the first-round matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and Ohio State Buckeyes on the Saturday before Christmas, then I’ve got some things that you will need to know.
Driving:
It takes about 5 and a half hours to drive from Knoxville, Tennessee to Ohio Stadium, depending on where you are coming from in or around Knoxville. You will essentially take I-75 north until you hit I-70 which you will take east. When you get close to campus, you will want to get off at OH-315 North and follow signs for Lane Avenue.
There are some outer belts along the way that will help you avoid congested downtown traffic, but it is more or less a straight shot with one 90° turn to the right.
Ohio Stadium’s address is 411 Woody Hayes Dr, Columbus, OH 43210. So, just drop that into your GPS and you will be in Columbus faster than it would take you to listen to Kenny Chesney’s entire discography.
Flying:
If you are going to take to the skies to get from Rocky Top to Columbus, according to Kayak.com, it looks like the cheapest available flights coming in on Friday, Dec. 20 and leaving on Sunday, Dec. 22 would be on United for $478. These round-trip flights will also give you plenty of time to explore our fair city before and after the game.
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I admit, it has been a fewyears decades since I lived on campus, so I asked around to the generally younger Land-Grant staff to get some suggestions for places on and around campus that might be of note to Vols fans visiting for the game.
Buckeye Donuts
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An absolute staple of the Ohio State community since 1969, you cannot take a trip to Columbus without stopping at Buckeye Donuts. Open 24 hours, the establishment is right across High Street from the north side of campus and is practically a hallowed institution.
Obviously donuts are this joint’s specialty (of course you have to try the hometown favorite chocolate and peanut butter Buckeye Donut), but in addition to pastries, they’ve also got a pretty robust food menu, including breakfast sandwiches, salads, gyros, french fries, and much more.
Hang Over Easy
This place opened up a few years after I graduated, but even I know how popular it has become. If you are looking for a cool sit-down spot in the morning, Hang Over Easy is at the top of the list. It’s a small diner located on the South side of campus which opened up in 2007.
The restaurant features creative dishes with comical names, like the Walk of Shame (a bacon, egg and cheese served on a glazed donut), the Silence of the Hams omelet, and other traditional breakfast favorites. They also offer Hair of the Dog options, including a variety of Bloody Mary concoctions.
Hot Chicken Takeover
This one might be the perfect spot for Tennessee fans, as it is campus’ entry into the world of Nashville fried chicken. Hot Chicken Takeover has a handful of locations both in and near Columbus, including spots in Grandview, Clintonville and North Market. HCT offers wings, tenders, a sandwich,h and more at four different levels of heat ranging from mild to “Holy.”
I have heard that the baked beans and Ma’s Mac are also killer side dishes. The house ranch is apparently legendary as well, and also comes in a spicy variation.
Mikey’s Late Night Slice
While Columbus has its own specific style of pizza (more on that in a minute), if you are looking for a traditional New York-style slice. Mikey’s Late Night Slice is it. The place sells pizza by the slice as well as full pies, and offers a variety of different toppings in addition to a special “Pizza of the Week” and alcoholic beverages options.
The Short North location is probably the most popular, but there are eight locations around Columbus in total, with most open well past midnight.
Donatos Pizza
Just a block away from Buckeye Donuts, Donatos is a Central Ohio institution. The company has changed hands a couple of times, but after previously being owned by McDonald’s, it is now firmly back in the ownership of the Grote family. While there are other options in town, Donato’s is the most popular and widely available Columbus style pizza.
Unlike a New York pie, Columbus Pizza is cut into rectangles. It still has a pretty thin crust, but it is a little cripser and solid. The pizza itself is stacked with edge-to-edge toppings, provolone cheese and a slightly sweet sauce. Not living in Ohio any more, every time I’m back home, I have to grab some Donato’s.
Out-R-Inn
There are so many bars to choose from around Ohio State, but far and away the longest-standing student favorite is Out-R-Inn. Opened in 1969, the campus staple has some of the best drink specials you’ll find, highlighted by Mug Night, which offers low-priced beer re-fills in a nice souvenir mug.
While certainly what you would expect from a campus hole-in-the-wall, the bar has a tremendous atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor spaces, pool tables, picnic benches, corn hole, and more. Out-R-Inn is a fan favorite for both current students and alumni alike. While it might be a bit cold to visit in December, if you are looking for an authentic Ohio State experience, check this one out.
Ethyl & Tank
Ethyl & Tank is a bit of a smaller joint, but it is still extremely well regarded and is known for itsy inviting and relaxed atmosphere. During the day it is more of a restaurant, offering affordable eats for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a brunch menu and a full coffee bar.
At night, it turns into a classic bar and hangout spot, with nightly specials and good music. Their 32-ounce beer “tanks” on Thursday nights are a big hit if you are in town a couple of days early. The bar has two levels and a good amount of tables and seating, so it’s a good spot to kick back and relax.
Land-Grant Brewing Company
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While this one is about four miles from campus, I couldn’t not include it on our list. While we are not officially associate with the Land-Grant Brewing Company, they do have really great taste in selecting a name.
However, they are an excellent brewery over by the Scioto River south of campus. Their tap room and beer gardens are epic, and they’ve expanded to a few other facilities s well, so there is plenty of room for everyone.
Buckeye Grove
Located just outside the south side of Ohio Stadium, the Buckeye Memorial Grove is a natural museum honoring Ohio State’s football greats. Established in 1929 as a dedication to the first OSU football team, Buckeye Grove now features over 200 buckeye trees that are planted to honor players that are named All-Americans. Each tree is designated with a plaque denoting the honored player.
Marvin Harrison Jr. earned a tree following last season.
The Woody Hayes Athletic Center
While you obviously can’t just walk right onto the practice field at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the facility’s lobby is open to the public, and on display are a variety of accolades and accomplishments from throughout the history of Ohio State football.
Here you can find the 2014 National Championship trophy, multiple Heisman Trophies, and bowl game trophies in addition to Big Ten Championships and more. Outside the building stands a statue of Woody Hayes himself.
The Oval
If you’re just looking to take a leisurely stroll around campus, then the Oval is a great place to start. A lawn originally used for livestock to graze, the Oval became the heart of Ohio State’s campus as it connects a number of important academic buildings.
At the western end stands the Thompson Library, and in front you will find the state of William Oxley Thompson. The many crossing paths that make up the Oval are a result of the paths that students took over the years walking between the many buildings that surround the space. During the warmer months, you will find students here lounging around, studying, tanning or partaking in outdoor activities.
William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library
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Originally built in 1912, the university’s main library has been renovated multiple times over the years, most recently in 2009. The introduction of the windows both inside and outside of the building adds natural light and drama to the building. You can watch students perusing individual stacks from the main entrance and the grand reading room is a book-lover’s paradise.
Mirror Lake
Recently renovated and restored, Mirror Lake is one of the more picturesque parts of Ohio State’s campus. Beginning in the fall of 2016, Mirror Lake underwent a massive facelift, and now features abundant plant life, a stone grotto, fountains and benches.
It is a pretty and relaxing place to take a stroll, sit and read a book, or just get away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of a busy campus and city. If you’ve never been to Ohio State before, Mirror Lake is definitely a place worth checking out.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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From travel to restaurants, from bars to sights, we’ve got it all broken down for you.
I know what you’re thinking, Tennesseans, “Columbus, Ohio is just a cowtown! There won’t be anything to do there when we go for the College Football Playoff game on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET airing on ABC and ESPN.”
Well, my orange and white checkered friends, how very wrong you are. Columbus is the 14th-largest city in the country, and while CBus does have its fair share of cows, at 905,748 it is nearly five times larger than Knoxville. Did you know that Columbus — the largest city in the world named after Christopher Columbus — is the second largest city in the Midwest, behind only Chicago, and the third largest capital city in these 50 great United States (only Phoenix and Austin are larger)?
So, if you are planning to visit our fair city for the first-round matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and Ohio State Buckeyes on the Saturday before Christmas, then I’ve got some things that you will need to know.
Getting to Columbus
Driving:
It takes about 5 and a half hours to drive from Knoxville, Tennessee to Ohio Stadium, depending on where you are coming from in or around Knoxville. You will essentially take I-75 north until you hit I-70 which you will take east. When you get close to campus, you will want to get off at OH-315 North and follow signs for Lane Avenue.
There are some outer belts along the way that will help you avoid congested downtown traffic, but it is more or less a straight shot with one 90° turn to the right.
Ohio Stadium’s address is 411 Woody Hayes Dr, Columbus, OH 43210. So, just drop that into your GPS and you will be in Columbus faster than it would take you to listen to Kenny Chesney’s entire discography.
Flying:
If you are going to take to the skies to get from Rocky Top to Columbus, according to Kayak.com, it looks like the cheapest available flights coming in on Friday, Dec. 20 and leaving on Sunday, Dec. 22 would be on United for $478. These round-trip flights will also give you plenty of time to explore our fair city before and after the game.
Campus Eats
I admit, it has been a few
Buckeye Donuts
An absolute staple of the Ohio State community since 1969, you cannot take a trip to Columbus without stopping at Buckeye Donuts. Open 24 hours, the establishment is right across High Street from the north side of campus and is practically a hallowed institution.
Obviously donuts are this joint’s specialty (of course you have to try the hometown favorite chocolate and peanut butter Buckeye Donut), but in addition to pastries, they’ve also got a pretty robust food menu, including breakfast sandwiches, salads, gyros, french fries, and much more.
Hang Over Easy
This place opened up a few years after I graduated, but even I know how popular it has become. If you are looking for a cool sit-down spot in the morning, Hang Over Easy is at the top of the list. It’s a small diner located on the South side of campus which opened up in 2007.
The restaurant features creative dishes with comical names, like the Walk of Shame (a bacon, egg and cheese served on a glazed donut), the Silence of the Hams omelet, and other traditional breakfast favorites. They also offer Hair of the Dog options, including a variety of Bloody Mary concoctions.
Hot Chicken Takeover
This one might be the perfect spot for Tennessee fans, as it is campus’ entry into the world of Nashville fried chicken. Hot Chicken Takeover has a handful of locations both in and near Columbus, including spots in Grandview, Clintonville and North Market. HCT offers wings, tenders, a sandwich,h and more at four different levels of heat ranging from mild to “Holy.”
I have heard that the baked beans and Ma’s Mac are also killer side dishes. The house ranch is apparently legendary as well, and also comes in a spicy variation.
Mikey’s Late Night Slice
While Columbus has its own specific style of pizza (more on that in a minute), if you are looking for a traditional New York-style slice. Mikey’s Late Night Slice is it. The place sells pizza by the slice as well as full pies, and offers a variety of different toppings in addition to a special “Pizza of the Week” and alcoholic beverages options.
The Short North location is probably the most popular, but there are eight locations around Columbus in total, with most open well past midnight.
Donatos Pizza
Just a block away from Buckeye Donuts, Donatos is a Central Ohio institution. The company has changed hands a couple of times, but after previously being owned by McDonald’s, it is now firmly back in the ownership of the Grote family. While there are other options in town, Donato’s is the most popular and widely available Columbus style pizza.
Unlike a New York pie, Columbus Pizza is cut into rectangles. It still has a pretty thin crust, but it is a little cripser and solid. The pizza itself is stacked with edge-to-edge toppings, provolone cheese and a slightly sweet sauce. Not living in Ohio any more, every time I’m back home, I have to grab some Donato’s.
Drinks
Out-R-Inn
There are so many bars to choose from around Ohio State, but far and away the longest-standing student favorite is Out-R-Inn. Opened in 1969, the campus staple has some of the best drink specials you’ll find, highlighted by Mug Night, which offers low-priced beer re-fills in a nice souvenir mug.
While certainly what you would expect from a campus hole-in-the-wall, the bar has a tremendous atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor spaces, pool tables, picnic benches, corn hole, and more. Out-R-Inn is a fan favorite for both current students and alumni alike. While it might be a bit cold to visit in December, if you are looking for an authentic Ohio State experience, check this one out.
Ethyl & Tank
Ethyl & Tank is a bit of a smaller joint, but it is still extremely well regarded and is known for itsy inviting and relaxed atmosphere. During the day it is more of a restaurant, offering affordable eats for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a brunch menu and a full coffee bar.
At night, it turns into a classic bar and hangout spot, with nightly specials and good music. Their 32-ounce beer “tanks” on Thursday nights are a big hit if you are in town a couple of days early. The bar has two levels and a good amount of tables and seating, so it’s a good spot to kick back and relax.
Land-Grant Brewing Company
While this one is about four miles from campus, I couldn’t not include it on our list. While we are not officially associate with the Land-Grant Brewing Company, they do have really great taste in selecting a name.
However, they are an excellent brewery over by the Scioto River south of campus. Their tap room and beer gardens are epic, and they’ve expanded to a few other facilities s well, so there is plenty of room for everyone.
Campus Sights
Buckeye Grove
Located just outside the south side of Ohio Stadium, the Buckeye Memorial Grove is a natural museum honoring Ohio State’s football greats. Established in 1929 as a dedication to the first OSU football team, Buckeye Grove now features over 200 buckeye trees that are planted to honor players that are named All-Americans. Each tree is designated with a plaque denoting the honored player.
Marvin Harrison Jr. earned a tree following last season.
The Woody Hayes Athletic Center
While you obviously can’t just walk right onto the practice field at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the facility’s lobby is open to the public, and on display are a variety of accolades and accomplishments from throughout the history of Ohio State football.
Here you can find the 2014 National Championship trophy, multiple Heisman Trophies, and bowl game trophies in addition to Big Ten Championships and more. Outside the building stands a statue of Woody Hayes himself.
The Oval
If you’re just looking to take a leisurely stroll around campus, then the Oval is a great place to start. A lawn originally used for livestock to graze, the Oval became the heart of Ohio State’s campus as it connects a number of important academic buildings.
At the western end stands the Thompson Library, and in front you will find the state of William Oxley Thompson. The many crossing paths that make up the Oval are a result of the paths that students took over the years walking between the many buildings that surround the space. During the warmer months, you will find students here lounging around, studying, tanning or partaking in outdoor activities.
William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library
Originally built in 1912, the university’s main library has been renovated multiple times over the years, most recently in 2009. The introduction of the windows both inside and outside of the building adds natural light and drama to the building. You can watch students perusing individual stacks from the main entrance and the grand reading room is a book-lover’s paradise.
Mirror Lake
Recently renovated and restored, Mirror Lake is one of the more picturesque parts of Ohio State’s campus. Beginning in the fall of 2016, Mirror Lake underwent a massive facelift, and now features abundant plant life, a stone grotto, fountains and benches.
It is a pretty and relaxing place to take a stroll, sit and read a book, or just get away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of a busy campus and city. If you’ve never been to Ohio State before, Mirror Lake is definitely a place worth checking out.
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