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LGHL Ohio State gets college football’s equivalent of the “Group of Death” in the playoff
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Ohio State gets college football’s equivalent of the “Group of Death” in the playoff
Michael Citro 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
The Buckeyes could hardly have a tougher path to the semifinals than the one they’ve been given, but that’s what losing to Michigan gets them.
Now that we know who is in, which teams will play in the first round, and who will host on-campus games in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, it’s worth taking a look at each team’s path to the semifinals.
But first, a reminder of where everyone is seeded.
The top four rated conference champions get a first-round bye. This theoretically makes for an easier path to a national championship, as it’s one fewer win needed to get there and less wear and tear on the players during the playoff run. The drawback is not getting a game on campus, and perhaps losing momentum with a week off while other teams might gain momentum with a first-round win.
In this first season with 12 teams in the playoff, those four slots went to:
They’ll each have this weekend off while they wait for their next opponents.
Texas fell to No. 5 by losing in overtime to Georgia after the Longhorns largely approached their matchup with Georgia the way Ohio State decided to play against Michigan — which is to say they played into their opponents’ strengths and away from their own.
The No. 6 seed is Penn State. It’s understandable if Ohio State fans aren’t happy with that decision, because the Nittany Lions lost at home to the Buckeyes and lost by more against common opponent Oregon on a neutral field than OSU did in a true road contest.
Semi-independent and part-time ACC moonlighters Notre Dame got the No. 7 seed, with the Buckeyes getting the last home game at No. 8.
The first-round matchups then were set by figuring out which teams got to be the ninth through 12th seeds. Tennessee was placed ninth after finishing behind Georgia in the SEC at 10-2 by suffering a two-touchdown loss to the Bulldogs. Indiana was placed 10th, with ACC runners-up SMU getting the No. 11 seed and ACC champions Clemson getting in at No. 12.
Because Clemson won the ACC Championship Game, it got in over Alabama, Miami, Ole Miss, and South Carolina, which all finished higher in the final CFP rankings.
Looking at the first-round matchups, the final seeding appears to give Ohio State or Tennessee the toughest road to the semifinals, while Penn State may have the easiest.
The Buckeyes have to play a physical and athletic Tennessee team, although they get to be at home for the game. Ryan Day’s track record in big games isn’t going to make OSU fans anything other than nervous going into Saturday, but it is a winnable game if the Buckeyes can play defense they way they have all season and get the offense back on track. The Vols may claim the toughest road to the semis because they are literally on the road, but there is no lack of swagger in Knoxville and the Vols will be ready for the challenge.
The winner gets Oregon in the Rose Bowl, so it’s a longer trip for the winner of the first-round game, although the Buckeyes have had success against the Ducks in Rose Bowls before. Still, having to play the best team in college football throughout the season is a difficult second step on the journey.
On the other end of the spectrum is Penn State, which gets to host SMU at Beaver Stadium Saturday at noon. The Nittany Lions are tough to beat at home, and may be feeling confident after playing Oregon fairly close in the Big Ten Championship Game. Should they get past SMU, they’ll face Boise State, which has had some scares this season. I would expect Penn State to be favored in a Fiesta Bowl matchup against the Mountain West winners.
If Ohio State and Tennessee aren’t the teams with the most difficult path through, it might be Indiana. The Hoosiers get to stay in state, but they’ll travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame Friday night. Indiana can win that game, but this is unfamiliar territory for the Hoosiers. If they do get past the Irish, their reward will be a Sugar Bowl meeting with Georgia.
Texas fans will like their path to the semifinals. First up is a home game Saturday afternoon against a three-loss Clemson team that got destroyed by Georgia to open the season, lost at home to Louisville, and lost a close rivalry matchup against South Carolina. The Tigers were fortunate to get a long kickoff return after SMU tied the game with seconds left on Saturday, allowing them to get into long field-goal range to make the last-second winning kick rather than facing a momentum-laden Mustangs team in overtime.
The Texas-Clemson winner will face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. It’s hard to know exactly how good the 11-2 Big XII champs are. They lost to Texas Tech and Cincinnati, which weren’t exactly juggernauts, and had narrow wins against the likes of North Texas, Mississippi State, Kansas, UCF, and BYU before blowing out Arizona and Iowa State.
If I had to handicap the path to the semifinals for the eight teams that have to play the extra game in this College Football Playoff from hardest to easiest, I’d go:
Beyond the first weekend, Oregon was given no favors by earning the No. 1 seed, as the Ducks would have to play the Tennessee-Ohio State winner, while Georgia would seem to have the easiest bowl opponent. Arizona State and Boise State will have a tough matchup whoever wins in the first round, but I like the Broncos over SMU much more than their chances against Penn State.
Arizona State is a complete wild card to me, but I like Texas to get past them, and if somehow Clemson dumps the Longhorns, I think the Sun Devils would take that result happily.
But enough about what I think. What do you think the easiest and toughest paths through the postseason are? Let me know in the comments section.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes could hardly have a tougher path to the semifinals than the one they’ve been given, but that’s what losing to Michigan gets them.
Now that we know who is in, which teams will play in the first round, and who will host on-campus games in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, it’s worth taking a look at each team’s path to the semifinals.
But first, a reminder of where everyone is seeded.
THE BRACKET IS SET
Who are you taking to win the #CFBPlayoff? pic.twitter.com/9BDWwesEVL
— ESPN (@espn) December 8, 2024
The top four rated conference champions get a first-round bye. This theoretically makes for an easier path to a national championship, as it’s one fewer win needed to get there and less wear and tear on the players during the playoff run. The drawback is not getting a game on campus, and perhaps losing momentum with a week off while other teams might gain momentum with a first-round win.
In this first season with 12 teams in the playoff, those four slots went to:
- Top-seeded Oregon, the Big Ten champion
- Second-seeded Georgia, the SEC winner that lost a couple of games and escaped in overtime in each of the last two weeks
- Third-seeded Boise State, which won the Mountain West champion, went 12-1 and finished ninth in the final CFP standings
- Arizona State, which won the Big XII Saturday by beating Iowa State.
They’ll each have this weekend off while they wait for their next opponents.
Texas fell to No. 5 by losing in overtime to Georgia after the Longhorns largely approached their matchup with Georgia the way Ohio State decided to play against Michigan — which is to say they played into their opponents’ strengths and away from their own.
The No. 6 seed is Penn State. It’s understandable if Ohio State fans aren’t happy with that decision, because the Nittany Lions lost at home to the Buckeyes and lost by more against common opponent Oregon on a neutral field than OSU did in a true road contest.
Semi-independent and part-time ACC moonlighters Notre Dame got the No. 7 seed, with the Buckeyes getting the last home game at No. 8.
The first-round matchups then were set by figuring out which teams got to be the ninth through 12th seeds. Tennessee was placed ninth after finishing behind Georgia in the SEC at 10-2 by suffering a two-touchdown loss to the Bulldogs. Indiana was placed 10th, with ACC runners-up SMU getting the No. 11 seed and ACC champions Clemson getting in at No. 12.
Because Clemson won the ACC Championship Game, it got in over Alabama, Miami, Ole Miss, and South Carolina, which all finished higher in the final CFP rankings.
The Path to Glory
Looking at the first-round matchups, the final seeding appears to give Ohio State or Tennessee the toughest road to the semifinals, while Penn State may have the easiest.
The Buckeyes have to play a physical and athletic Tennessee team, although they get to be at home for the game. Ryan Day’s track record in big games isn’t going to make OSU fans anything other than nervous going into Saturday, but it is a winnable game if the Buckeyes can play defense they way they have all season and get the offense back on track. The Vols may claim the toughest road to the semis because they are literally on the road, but there is no lack of swagger in Knoxville and the Vols will be ready for the challenge.
The winner gets Oregon in the Rose Bowl, so it’s a longer trip for the winner of the first-round game, although the Buckeyes have had success against the Ducks in Rose Bowls before. Still, having to play the best team in college football throughout the season is a difficult second step on the journey.
On the other end of the spectrum is Penn State, which gets to host SMU at Beaver Stadium Saturday at noon. The Nittany Lions are tough to beat at home, and may be feeling confident after playing Oregon fairly close in the Big Ten Championship Game. Should they get past SMU, they’ll face Boise State, which has had some scares this season. I would expect Penn State to be favored in a Fiesta Bowl matchup against the Mountain West winners.
If Ohio State and Tennessee aren’t the teams with the most difficult path through, it might be Indiana. The Hoosiers get to stay in state, but they’ll travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame Friday night. Indiana can win that game, but this is unfamiliar territory for the Hoosiers. If they do get past the Irish, their reward will be a Sugar Bowl meeting with Georgia.
Texas fans will like their path to the semifinals. First up is a home game Saturday afternoon against a three-loss Clemson team that got destroyed by Georgia to open the season, lost at home to Louisville, and lost a close rivalry matchup against South Carolina. The Tigers were fortunate to get a long kickoff return after SMU tied the game with seconds left on Saturday, allowing them to get into long field-goal range to make the last-second winning kick rather than facing a momentum-laden Mustangs team in overtime.
The Texas-Clemson winner will face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. It’s hard to know exactly how good the 11-2 Big XII champs are. They lost to Texas Tech and Cincinnati, which weren’t exactly juggernauts, and had narrow wins against the likes of North Texas, Mississippi State, Kansas, UCF, and BYU before blowing out Arizona and Iowa State.
If I had to handicap the path to the semifinals for the eight teams that have to play the extra game in this College Football Playoff from hardest to easiest, I’d go:
- Ohio State
- Tennessee
- Indiana
- Notre Dame
- SMU
- Clemson
- Texas
- Penn State
Beyond the first weekend, Oregon was given no favors by earning the No. 1 seed, as the Ducks would have to play the Tennessee-Ohio State winner, while Georgia would seem to have the easiest bowl opponent. Arizona State and Boise State will have a tough matchup whoever wins in the first round, but I like the Broncos over SMU much more than their chances against Penn State.
Arizona State is a complete wild card to me, but I like Texas to get past them, and if somehow Clemson dumps the Longhorns, I think the Sun Devils would take that result happily.
But enough about what I think. What do you think the easiest and toughest paths through the postseason are? Let me know in the comments section.
Continue reading...
LGHL Uncut: Ryan Day breaks down what he’s seen from Tennessee on film
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Uncut: Ryan Day breaks down what he’s seen from Tennessee on film
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
He also discusses what changes we could see from the Buckeyes in the CFP.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 press conference with Ohio State football coach Ryan Day following the announcement of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff bracket. We now know that the No. 8-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes will host the No. 9-seeded Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET in Ohio Stadium.
During the media availability, Day talked about what he has seen on tape from the Vols thus far, what changes — both in scheme and personnel — could happen for his team heading into the playoff, and much more.
Watch the full press conferences on Ohio State’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/buckeyes/live_videos
Contact Matt Tamanini
Online Profile: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
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
He also discusses what changes we could see from the Buckeyes in the CFP.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 press conference with Ohio State football coach Ryan Day following the announcement of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff bracket. We now know that the No. 8-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes will host the No. 9-seeded Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET in Ohio Stadium.
During the media availability, Day talked about what he has seen on tape from the Vols thus far, what changes — both in scheme and personnel — could happen for his team heading into the playoff, and much more.
Watch the full press conferences on Ohio State’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/buckeyes/live_videos
Contact Matt Tamanini
Online Profile: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
Music by: www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State gets hosed by the committee and will play Tennessee in night home game
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Ohio State gets hosed by the committee and will play Tennessee in night home game
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
Ohio State to play home game against Tennessee in CFP first round
Brian White, Lori Schmidt, and Bill Rabinowitz; The Columbus Dispatch
December? Prime Time in Ohio Stadium? Ohio State Hosts Tennessee in an Unprecedented Game at the Shoe
11W Staff, Eleven Warriors
Presser Bullets: Luke Montgomery and Josh Padilla to Compete For Roles On Offensive Line, Ryan Day Excited For “Once-In-A-Lifetime” Playoff Opportunity
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ryan Day Press Conference: Ohio State coach discusses CFP match-up with Tennessee
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Key Takeaways as Ryan Day, Buckeyes get playoff path confirmed
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
With Tennessee matchup set, Buckeyes turn focus to ‘electric’ first-round home game
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ryan Day delivers initial take on Tennessee, touts ‘complementary’ Vols team ahead of Ohio State’s CFP clash
Carter Bahns, 247Sports
What Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said about Buckeyes, first-round CFP matchup
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State Quarterback Devin Brown Entering Transfer Portal After Three Years With the Buckeyes
11W Staff, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State fans need to see two playoff wins to feel good about Ryan Day
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Michigan lands commitment from 2025 QB Chase Herbstreit
Allen Trieu, 247Sports
Cotie McMahon returns, leads No. 12 Ohio State women over No. 21 Illinois 83-74
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Devin Royal puts Buckeyes on his back, carries Ohio State past Rutgers 80-66
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
No. 12 Ohio State opens Big Ten play with win over No. 21 Illinois
Brianna Mac Kay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State bounces back with decisive win against Rutgers: 7 takeaways
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Men’s Soccer: No. 1 Ohio State Advances to 2024 College Cup!
Ohio State Athletics
Magical midfielder leads Buckeyes to NCAA soccer Final Four
Michael Arace, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Club Football Wins Third National Championship
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Wrestling: Mendez, Welsh, Cannon Earn Titles Saturday
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Ice Hockey: No. 17/16 Buckeyes Down Penn State, 3-2, to Complete Sweep
Ohio State Athletics
Unbelievable:
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
Ohio State to play home game against Tennessee in CFP first round
Brian White, Lori Schmidt, and Bill Rabinowitz; The Columbus Dispatch
December? Prime Time in Ohio Stadium? Ohio State Hosts Tennessee in an Unprecedented Game at the Shoe
11W Staff, Eleven Warriors
Presser Bullets: Luke Montgomery and Josh Padilla to Compete For Roles On Offensive Line, Ryan Day Excited For “Once-In-A-Lifetime” Playoff Opportunity
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ryan Day Press Conference: Ohio State coach discusses CFP match-up with Tennessee
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Key Takeaways as Ryan Day, Buckeyes get playoff path confirmed
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
With Tennessee matchup set, Buckeyes turn focus to ‘electric’ first-round home game
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ryan Day delivers initial take on Tennessee, touts ‘complementary’ Vols team ahead of Ohio State’s CFP clash
Carter Bahns, 247Sports
What Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said about Buckeyes, first-round CFP matchup
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State Quarterback Devin Brown Entering Transfer Portal After Three Years With the Buckeyes
11W Staff, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State fans need to see two playoff wins to feel good about Ryan Day
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Michigan lands commitment from 2025 QB Chase Herbstreit
Allen Trieu, 247Sports
On the Hardwood
Cotie McMahon returns, leads No. 12 Ohio State women over No. 21 Illinois 83-74
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Devin Royal puts Buckeyes on his back, carries Ohio State past Rutgers 80-66
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
No. 12 Ohio State opens Big Ten play with win over No. 21 Illinois
Brianna Mac Kay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State bounces back with decisive win against Rutgers: 7 takeaways
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Men’s Soccer: No. 1 Ohio State Advances to 2024 College Cup!
Ohio State Athletics
Magical midfielder leads Buckeyes to NCAA soccer Final Four
Michael Arace, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Club Football Wins Third National Championship
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Wrestling: Mendez, Welsh, Cannon Earn Titles Saturday
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Ice Hockey: No. 17/16 Buckeyes Down Penn State, 3-2, to Complete Sweep
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
Unbelievable:
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LGHL Power Two Podcast: The 2024 College Football Playoff is set!
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Power Two Podcast: The 2024 College Football Playoff is set!
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 David Jensen/Getty Images
The 2024 College Football Playoff selections have been made. SMU is in and Bama is out, plus coaching carousel updates.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, 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 DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
On this week’s episode, Jordan and DJ share their thoughts about the college football regular season since it is officially over. It’s unreal how quickly the 2024 season came and went. In the news, Jordan shares all the coaches’ hirings and movements, including three coaches who accepted new jobs after winning their respective conference championships.
They review the conference championship games and champions in the two-minute drill. There was extensive discussion about the overwhelming disingenuous conversation surrounding Alabama and whether they should be given a playoff spot over SMU. DJ is especially happy that they made the right choice in that matter. She is frustrated with how politic-y the College Football Playoff selections seem to feel.
Jordan and DJ discuss the bowl game selections and which games they will be tuning into. Plus we share some thoughts about which schools deserved to go to certain locations over others. It should be a rule that only cold-weather teams get to go to Hawaii and the Bahamas.
Jordan reviews the 2024 College Football Playoff teams, and they discuss who has the “easiest” path to the championship. There will be a dedicated episode where Jordan and DJ will share their official predictions for the games so they shared a sneak peek this week.
In the two-minute warning, Jordan lays out his case for Ashton Jeanty to win the Heisman. DJ shares her thoughts about the WNBA Expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
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: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
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 David Jensen/Getty Images
The 2024 College Football Playoff selections have been made. SMU is in and Bama is out, plus coaching carousel updates.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, 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 DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
On this week’s episode, Jordan and DJ share their thoughts about the college football regular season since it is officially over. It’s unreal how quickly the 2024 season came and went. In the news, Jordan shares all the coaches’ hirings and movements, including three coaches who accepted new jobs after winning their respective conference championships.
They review the conference championship games and champions in the two-minute drill. There was extensive discussion about the overwhelming disingenuous conversation surrounding Alabama and whether they should be given a playoff spot over SMU. DJ is especially happy that they made the right choice in that matter. She is frustrated with how politic-y the College Football Playoff selections seem to feel.
Jordan and DJ discuss the bowl game selections and which games they will be tuning into. Plus we share some thoughts about which schools deserved to go to certain locations over others. It should be a rule that only cold-weather teams get to go to Hawaii and the Bahamas.
Jordan reviews the 2024 College Football Playoff teams, and they discuss who has the “easiest” path to the championship. There will be a dedicated episode where Jordan and DJ will share their official predictions for the games so they shared a sneak peek this week.
In the two-minute warning, Jordan lays out his case for Ashton Jeanty to win the Heisman. DJ shares her thoughts about the WNBA Expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
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: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State opens as 7.5-point favorites over Tennessee
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Ohio State opens as 7.5-point favorites over Tennessee
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
The Buckeyes get to host a College Football Playoff game.
Ohio State ended the regular season in incredibly disappointing fashion, finishing 10-2 on the year after falling to its bitter rival as a result of its head coach trying to prove a point from a statement made four years ago by a coach that is no longer employed by said opponent... but I digress.
Even despite the loss to Michigan, the Buckeyes have been rewarded with a home game in the College Football Playoff as the No. 8 seed, hosting No. 9 Tennessee. Not only that, but Ohio State has finally escaped the shackles of Big Noon, with the matchup set to kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 21.
With Ryan Day likely coaching for his job, the head coach will look to right his wrongs from The Game as more than a touchdown favorite at home against Josh Heupel’s Volunteers.
When Ohio State actually plays up to its talent, the Buckeyes are one of the best teams in the country. Outside the loss to the Wolverines, the scarlet and gray’s only other defeat came at the hands of No. 1 Oregon — a matchup OSU lost on the road by one point in early October. On the flip side, Ohio State picked up wins over a pair of other College Football Playoff teams with a 20-13 victory over Penn State on the road and a 38-15 drubbing of Indiana in the penultimate game of the season.
The Buckeyes’ strength offensively — if the coaching staff allows it to be — are their wide receivers. Freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, senior Emeka Egubka and rising star Carnell Tate form one of the best trios in the country. Smith led the team with 934 yards and a Big Ten-high 10 receiving touchdowns, while Egbuka added 743 yards and nine touchdowns and Tate tallied 583 yards and four scores. Quarterback Will Howard, while having a few off games, has been a steady, efficient presence, completing over 72% of his passes with 27 touchdowns to eight picks.
Ohio State’s defense has been one of the top units nationwide, leading all of FBS allowing only 10.9 points per game. Jim Knowles’ group has really shined since the defensive coordinator took over full control following the loss to the Ducks, and guys like Caleb Downs and Cody Simon have helped lead the way. Downs is one of college football’s best defenders, consistently making plays at all three levels of the defense, while Simon has been the quarterback of the unit from his middle linebacker spot.
Tennessee had a bit of an up-and-down season, and like Ohio State finished 10-2 while missing its conference title game. The Volunteers lost an early October game to an Arkansas team that would go on to finish .500, and also dropped a 31-17 road contest against Georgia. Unlike the Buckeyes, Heupel’s group doesn’t have any wins over CFP teams to hang its hat on, as their best wins likely came against a three-loss Alabama and a 7-5 Florida.
What the Vols do have is one of the nation’s best offenses, ranking eighth in FBS in scoring with 37.2 points per game. That unit is led by redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who threw for over 2,500 yards with 19 touchdowns and only five picks. Tennessee features a potent rushing attack, headed by Dylan Sampson’s SEC-leading 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. Dont’e Thornton is the leader through the air, totaling 647 receiving yards on a whopping 25.9 yards per catch.
For as good as they are offensively, Tennessee is likely even better defensively, ranking fifth nationally allowing 13.9 points per game. The Volunteer defense lays claim to one of the best pass rushers in the country in James Pearce Jr. The junior defensive lineman leads the team with 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss, and will be a tough matchup for Ohio State’s battered offensive line. In the secondary, defensive backs Jermod McCoy and Will Brooks have combined for seven interceptions.
It will be interesting to see which version of Ohio State we get in two weeks. When the Buckeyes play to their strengths, attacking teams through the air on offense and swarming them with creative blitz packages on defense, they are tough to beat. When their head coach goes into his shell, as he has been one to do in big games, they play conservative on both sides of the ball and open themselves up to getting beat. Even with his job on the line, Day can’t afford to catch scared against Tennessee.
On top of improved play-calling, Ohio State will need to shore up its offensive line play and its special teams if it wants its season to continue beyond the first round. If the Buckeyes can play its style of football and improve along the margins, then they could be staring at a rematch against Oregon in the second round.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The Buckeyes get to host a College Football Playoff game.
Ohio State ended the regular season in incredibly disappointing fashion, finishing 10-2 on the year after falling to its bitter rival as a result of its head coach trying to prove a point from a statement made four years ago by a coach that is no longer employed by said opponent... but I digress.
Even despite the loss to Michigan, the Buckeyes have been rewarded with a home game in the College Football Playoff as the No. 8 seed, hosting No. 9 Tennessee. Not only that, but Ohio State has finally escaped the shackles of Big Noon, with the matchup set to kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 21.
With Ryan Day likely coaching for his job, the head coach will look to right his wrongs from The Game as more than a touchdown favorite at home against Josh Heupel’s Volunteers.
Betting Odds: Ohio State -7.5 | O/U 47.5 (per FanDuel Sportsbook)
When Ohio State actually plays up to its talent, the Buckeyes are one of the best teams in the country. Outside the loss to the Wolverines, the scarlet and gray’s only other defeat came at the hands of No. 1 Oregon — a matchup OSU lost on the road by one point in early October. On the flip side, Ohio State picked up wins over a pair of other College Football Playoff teams with a 20-13 victory over Penn State on the road and a 38-15 drubbing of Indiana in the penultimate game of the season.
The Buckeyes’ strength offensively — if the coaching staff allows it to be — are their wide receivers. Freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, senior Emeka Egubka and rising star Carnell Tate form one of the best trios in the country. Smith led the team with 934 yards and a Big Ten-high 10 receiving touchdowns, while Egbuka added 743 yards and nine touchdowns and Tate tallied 583 yards and four scores. Quarterback Will Howard, while having a few off games, has been a steady, efficient presence, completing over 72% of his passes with 27 touchdowns to eight picks.
Ohio State’s defense has been one of the top units nationwide, leading all of FBS allowing only 10.9 points per game. Jim Knowles’ group has really shined since the defensive coordinator took over full control following the loss to the Ducks, and guys like Caleb Downs and Cody Simon have helped lead the way. Downs is one of college football’s best defenders, consistently making plays at all three levels of the defense, while Simon has been the quarterback of the unit from his middle linebacker spot.
Tennessee had a bit of an up-and-down season, and like Ohio State finished 10-2 while missing its conference title game. The Volunteers lost an early October game to an Arkansas team that would go on to finish .500, and also dropped a 31-17 road contest against Georgia. Unlike the Buckeyes, Heupel’s group doesn’t have any wins over CFP teams to hang its hat on, as their best wins likely came against a three-loss Alabama and a 7-5 Florida.
What the Vols do have is one of the nation’s best offenses, ranking eighth in FBS in scoring with 37.2 points per game. That unit is led by redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who threw for over 2,500 yards with 19 touchdowns and only five picks. Tennessee features a potent rushing attack, headed by Dylan Sampson’s SEC-leading 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. Dont’e Thornton is the leader through the air, totaling 647 receiving yards on a whopping 25.9 yards per catch.
For as good as they are offensively, Tennessee is likely even better defensively, ranking fifth nationally allowing 13.9 points per game. The Volunteer defense lays claim to one of the best pass rushers in the country in James Pearce Jr. The junior defensive lineman leads the team with 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss, and will be a tough matchup for Ohio State’s battered offensive line. In the secondary, defensive backs Jermod McCoy and Will Brooks have combined for seven interceptions.
It will be interesting to see which version of Ohio State we get in two weeks. When the Buckeyes play to their strengths, attacking teams through the air on offense and swarming them with creative blitz packages on defense, they are tough to beat. When their head coach goes into his shell, as he has been one to do in big games, they play conservative on both sides of the ball and open themselves up to getting beat. Even with his job on the line, Day can’t afford to catch scared against Tennessee.
On top of improved play-calling, Ohio State will need to shore up its offensive line play and its special teams if it wants its season to continue beyond the first round. If the Buckeyes can play its style of football and improve along the margins, then they could be staring at a rematch against Oregon in the second round.
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