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LGHL Majority of Ohio State fans don’t think Buckeyes will make playoff semifinals
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Majority of Ohio State fans don’t think Buckeyes will make playoff semifinals
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 / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
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Not gonna lie, this one surprised me more than a little bit. As I look across the landscape of college football, I don’t see any great teams. I see a bunch of good, but flawed teams. Coincidentally, that is also how I see the Buckeyes, but when I stack their “goodness” next to the “goodness” of other teams, I think that Ohio State comes out considerably further ahead in nearly every case.
I think the same is true for their weaknesses. No doubt that the OSU offensive line has been a point of concern for the past two seasons, and while I’m certainly not saying that it has all of a sudden become an elite unit based on one game, I do think that it is substantially better than it was just a few weeks ago.
By combining two seasoned starters on the rebuilt left side of the line with a more creative call sheet from Chip Kelly, I do believe that the offensive line has gone from a negative to at least a push, and — with two games against sub-par competition before the stretch run — has the chance to become a positive.
If that happens, I think that it becomes increasingly difficult to find a team that is better than Ohio State. Obviously, the coaching staff needs to continue to up its game as well, from schemes to creativity to play calling to rotation, but their backs are against the wall, and there is no reason for them not to go for broke at this point.
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Look, Purdue is bad... like 1-and-8 bad. Ohio State should be able to name its score against the Boilermakers. The only questions should be how long they keep the starters in the game and how hard they actually try to score in the second half. Ohio State Buckeyes enter the game as a 37.5-point favorite and the gold-standard college football analytics model projects SP+ has the Buckeyes to win by a score of 47-5.
You can check out the predictions of a handful of Land-Grant Holy Land experts in the link above, but I am going with the Ohio State Buckeyes: 49, the Little Engines That Couldn’t: 3.
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
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 / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
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Question 1: After the Penn State win, where do you think Ohio State ends its season?
Not gonna lie, this one surprised me more than a little bit. As I look across the landscape of college football, I don’t see any great teams. I see a bunch of good, but flawed teams. Coincidentally, that is also how I see the Buckeyes, but when I stack their “goodness” next to the “goodness” of other teams, I think that Ohio State comes out considerably further ahead in nearly every case.
I think the same is true for their weaknesses. No doubt that the OSU offensive line has been a point of concern for the past two seasons, and while I’m certainly not saying that it has all of a sudden become an elite unit based on one game, I do think that it is substantially better than it was just a few weeks ago.
By combining two seasoned starters on the rebuilt left side of the line with a more creative call sheet from Chip Kelly, I do believe that the offensive line has gone from a negative to at least a push, and — with two games against sub-par competition before the stretch run — has the chance to become a positive.
If that happens, I think that it becomes increasingly difficult to find a team that is better than Ohio State. Obviously, the coaching staff needs to continue to up its game as well, from schemes to creativity to play calling to rotation, but their backs are against the wall, and there is no reason for them not to go for broke at this point.
Question 2: What will the margin of victory be in Saturday’s game against Purdue?
Look, Purdue is bad... like 1-and-8 bad. Ohio State should be able to name its score against the Boilermakers. The only questions should be how long they keep the starters in the game and how hard they actually try to score in the second half. Ohio State Buckeyes enter the game as a 37.5-point favorite and the gold-standard college football analytics model projects SP+ has the Buckeyes to win by a score of 47-5.
You can check out the predictions of a handful of Land-Grant Holy Land experts in the link above, but I am going with the Ohio State Buckeyes: 49, the Little Engines That Couldn’t: 3.
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State vs. Purdue: Land-Grant’s experts make their picks
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Ohio State vs. Purdue: Land-Grant’s experts make their picks
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
Every week, we will be picking the score, MVP, and major storyline for each Buckeye game.
Being the Buckeye beat’s black sheep blog, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land like to pat ourselves on the back. So, throughout the season, members of our staff will be making predictions about that day’s game. They will go on the record with what they think the final score will be, who the game’s MVP will be, and what the major storyline will be coming out of the day.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will be back home at Ohio Stadium to host the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12 noon ET in a game to be broadcast on Fox. As of this article’s writing, the Bucks are 37.5-point favorites according to FanDuel Sportsbook. College football’s gold-standard advanced analytics model SP+ is predicting a score of 47-5 in favor of Ohio State.
Check out what our staff members think and then let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments below. As we move forward with the season, you will be able to keep up with just how well our prognosticators do on a weekly basis HERE.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 45, Purdue 10
Game MVP: TreVeyon Henderson
Major Storyline: Ohio State’s defense continues to mix it up, while the revamped offensive line looks steady.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 45, Purdue 7
Game MVP: Quinshon Judkins
Major Storyline: Ohio State will be up 35-0 at half.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 49, Purdue 10
Game MVP: TreVeyon Henderson
Major Storyline: Ohio State has re-gained momentum and put the Nebraska game completely behind them.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 51, Purdue 19
Game MVP: TreVeyon Henderson
Major Storyline: Buckeyes get back to early season blowout form by dismantling Purdue.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 56, Purdue 10
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith
Major Storyline: Kayden McDonald starts and gets a sack.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 49, Purdue 3
Game MVP: James Peoples
Major Storyline: The Buckeyes and their coaching staff have turned the corner and are now well-focused on the task at hand. While the starters won’t play all that much, there will be little to no backslide when the second and third teams are in.
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
Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
Every week, we will be picking the score, MVP, and major storyline for each Buckeye game.
Being the Buckeye beat’s black sheep blog, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land like to pat ourselves on the back. So, throughout the season, members of our staff will be making predictions about that day’s game. They will go on the record with what they think the final score will be, who the game’s MVP will be, and what the major storyline will be coming out of the day.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will be back home at Ohio Stadium to host the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12 noon ET in a game to be broadcast on Fox. As of this article’s writing, the Bucks are 37.5-point favorites according to FanDuel Sportsbook. College football’s gold-standard advanced analytics model SP+ is predicting a score of 47-5 in favor of Ohio State.
Check out what our staff members think and then let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments below. As we move forward with the season, you will be able to keep up with just how well our prognosticators do on a weekly basis HERE.
Josh Dooley
Score Prediction: Ohio State 45, Purdue 10
Game MVP: TreVeyon Henderson
Major Storyline: Ohio State’s defense continues to mix it up, while the revamped offensive line looks steady.
Justin Golba
Score Prediction: Ohio State 45, Purdue 7
Game MVP: Quinshon Judkins
Major Storyline: Ohio State will be up 35-0 at half.
Connor Lemons
Score Prediction: Ohio State 49, Purdue 10
Game MVP: TreVeyon Henderson
Major Storyline: Ohio State has re-gained momentum and put the Nebraska game completely behind them.
Brett Ludwiczak
Score Prediction: Ohio State 51, Purdue 19
Game MVP: TreVeyon Henderson
Major Storyline: Buckeyes get back to early season blowout form by dismantling Purdue.
Gene Ross
Score Prediction: Ohio State 56, Purdue 10
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith
Major Storyline: Kayden McDonald starts and gets a sack.
Matt Tamanini
Score Prediction: Ohio State 49, Purdue 3
Game MVP: James Peoples
Major Storyline: The Buckeyes and their coaching staff have turned the corner and are now well-focused on the task at hand. While the starters won’t play all that much, there will be little to no backslide when the second and third teams are in.
Continue reading...
LGHL Streaming expert has the best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Purdue for free without cable
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- 0 Replies
Streaming expert has the best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Purdue 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
Made with Google AI
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 after knocking off the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions in Happy Valley last Saturday. This week, the Bucks will host the Purdue Boilermakers at 12 noon ET in a game airing on Fox. While the game isn’t getting the whole “Big Noon Kickoff” — that is reserved for Colorado and Texas A&M — it is OSU’s third straight noon game on Fox, with likely two more to come against the Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan Wolverines.
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, Nov. 9 at 12 noon ET
TV: Fox
Broadcasters: Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jenny Taft
Betting Line: Ohio State -37.5 | 53.5 o/u
Best Streaming Option for All College Football Games:
If you’re either looking for a streaming service just for this weekend of football or to watch as much college football as possible, then Hulu + Live TV very well might be the perfect option. Everyone who signs up gets a three-day free trial, so you can watch the entire college football Saturday, NFL Sunday, and “Monday Night Football” without having to pay a single penny.
But, if you are looking for something for the whole season, then Hulu is great because it comes with ESPN+ (more on that below), so in addition to all of the channels available on the live streaming service, you also get all of the streaming-exclusive games via the worldwide leader’s platform.
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 $82.99 per month after your three-day free trial. It is a little more expensive than some of the other options, but if you are just looking to watch this game, Hulu + Live TV is your best option.
DIRECTV STREAM: $87.99 per month five-day free trial
Sling TV: As low as $40 per month | First month 50% off
Fubo: $94.99 per month, at least a one-day free trial
YouTube TV: $72.99 per month
Below is your Ohio State vs. Purdue 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
Made with Google AI
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 after knocking off the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions in Happy Valley last Saturday. This week, the Bucks will host the Purdue Boilermakers at 12 noon ET in a game airing on Fox. While the game isn’t getting the whole “Big Noon Kickoff” — that is reserved for Colorado and Texas A&M — it is OSU’s third straight noon game on Fox, with likely two more to come against the Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan Wolverines.
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. the Purdue Boilermakers college football game?
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 12 noon ET
TV: Fox
Broadcasters: Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jenny Taft
Betting Line: Ohio State -37.5 | 53.5 o/u
Best Streaming Option for All College Football Games:
Hulu + Live TV | 3-Day Free Trial
If you’re either looking for a streaming service just for this weekend of football or to watch as much college football as possible, then Hulu + Live TV very well might be the perfect option. Everyone who signs up gets a three-day free trial, so you can watch the entire college football Saturday, NFL Sunday, and “Monday Night Football” without having to pay a single penny.
But, if you are looking for something for the whole season, then Hulu is great because it comes with ESPN+ (more on that below), so in addition to all of the channels available on the live streaming service, you also get all of the streaming-exclusive games via the worldwide leader’s platform.
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 $82.99 per month after your three-day free trial. It is a little more expensive than some of the other options, but if you are just looking to watch this game, Hulu + Live TV is your best option.
Other Streaming Options for the Ohio State and PurdueGame:
DIRECTV STREAM: $87.99 per month five-day free trial
Sling TV: As low as $40 per month | First month 50% off
Fubo: $94.99 per month, at least a one-day free trial
YouTube TV: $72.99 per month
Join the conversation
Below is your Ohio State vs. Purdue 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...
2026 TX OL Day’Jon Moore (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 0 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: IOL
School: Willis(TX) Willis
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 305lbs
Login to view embedded media
Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: IOL
School: Willis(TX) Willis
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 305lbs
Login to view embedded media
2026 TN OL Gabriel Osenda (Tennessee Verbal)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 1 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Chattanooga(TN) Baylor School
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 320lbs
Login to view embedded media
Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Chattanooga(TN) Baylor School
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 320lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL You’re Nuts: Who had the best individual performance in Ohio State’s win over Texas?
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You’re Nuts: Who had the best individual performance in Ohio State’s win over Texas?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Four different players scored 14 or more points for the Buckeyes Monday night in Las Vegas.
Thanks to key contributions from four players, the Ohio State men’s basketball team is 1-0 after knocking off the 19th-ranked Texas Longhorns Monday night, 80-72. Multiple starters struggled, but the bench picked them up, as Ohio State’s reserves outscored Texas’ bench 33-10.
Not only was it a solid win for the resume — it will almost certainly wind up a Quad-1 win — it also brought relief to fans after watching the Buckeyes get popped by Cincinnati in their pre-season game a few weeks ago.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which four teams would make the 2025 men’s Final Four. The guys didn’t do well with these predictions last year but they took another swing this season. Connor went with Alabama, UConn, Baylor, and Oregon. Justin picked Alabama, Kansas, Duke and the now-winless Texas Longhorns.
The readers voted, and 63% felt that Justin’s Final Four selections were more reasonable.
Connor- 81
The Buckeyes knocked off Texas this week thanks to their depth. Jake Diebler got 10 players into the game within the first 10 minutes, and Texas struggled to cover up every hole in the Ohio State whack-a-mole machine. The Buckeyes took an 8-0 lead to start the game, and never looked back, leading this game for all but the first 13 seconds, when it was still scoreless.
Some people were disappointed when it became clear that sophomore forward Devin Royal wasn’t going to begin the year as a starter, but it’s clear now that if he’s doing good things, he’s going to play plenty this year. Whether he’s part of the group of five that starts the game is not relevant, he’s going to be part of the group of five that ends the game.
Against Texas, Royal had his best collegiate game to date, finishing with a career-high 16 points on an uber-efficient 7-of-11 shooting over 25 minutes, which was also a career-high.
He knocked down two of his four three-point tries, which doesn’t look too crazy on the surface level until you realize that Royal hit three three-pointers all of last season, combined. Over the course of five months, freshman Devin Royal hit three triples. He nearly matched that just in the win over Texas.
Royal scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half, which harkens back to Ohio State’s win in East Lansing last season, when Royal led the Buckeyes with 14 points, but scored 10 of them in the second half. The now-sophomore just has a knack for hitting timely shots, especially the “settle down” shots. When an offensive possession isn’t going anywhere and the shot clock is winding down, that’s when Royal hits big shots.
Or perhaps Ohio State is trying to answer their opponent’s basket with one of their own, but they miss. Suddenly Royal flies in out of nowhere to snatch the offensive rebounds and slam it home for a second-chance dunk, which prevents a momentum swing. Those are the types of shots he hit against Texas in the second half Monday night.
Royal is expected to take a jump from the 4.7 points per game he averaged last season, but I don’t think anyone expected him to drop 16 off the bench against a ranked Texas squad to start the season. Consider the bar officially raised for the 6-foot-6, 220-pound sophomore from nearby Pickerington.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25720748/2182350482.jpg "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NOV 04 Hall of Fame Series Texas vs Ohio State")
Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes brought in a ton of talent through the transfer portal heading into this season after losing Felix Okpara, Roddy Gayle, and Scotty Middleton. Ohio State added All-SEC selection Meechie Johnson, as well as McDonald’s All-Americans in Aaron Bradshaw and Sean Stewart.
Regardless of all of those talented players, and I am excited for all of them, I was most excited when I saw that San Diego State’s Micah Parrish was a key contributor over the past two seasons, including their national championship run in 2023.
In his first game as a Buckeye, Parrish recorded 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists on 5-for-11 from the field, 3-for-6 from three-point range, and 4-for-5 from the free throw line in 30 minutes. Parrish was also one of Ohio State’s best defenders, guarding multiple positions and helping contain Jordan Pope and Jayson Kent.
Parrish is not the most talented player on the roster, but he showed what he can bring to this team against Texas. He is a capable scorer, a versatile defender, and, most importantly, a veteran who has played in the big moments and won’t be rattled by anything.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Four different players scored 14 or more points for the Buckeyes Monday night in Las Vegas.
Thanks to key contributions from four players, the Ohio State men’s basketball team is 1-0 after knocking off the 19th-ranked Texas Longhorns Monday night, 80-72. Multiple starters struggled, but the bench picked them up, as Ohio State’s reserves outscored Texas’ bench 33-10.
Not only was it a solid win for the resume — it will almost certainly wind up a Quad-1 win — it also brought relief to fans after watching the Buckeyes get popped by Cincinnati in their pre-season game a few weeks ago.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which four teams would make the 2025 men’s Final Four. The guys didn’t do well with these predictions last year but they took another swing this season. Connor went with Alabama, UConn, Baylor, and Oregon. Justin picked Alabama, Kansas, Duke and the now-winless Texas Longhorns.
The readers voted, and 63% felt that Justin’s Final Four selections were more reasonable.
After 177 weeks:
Connor- 81
Justin- 73
Other- 18
(There have been five ties)
The Buckeyes knocked off Texas this week thanks to their depth. Jake Diebler got 10 players into the game within the first 10 minutes, and Texas struggled to cover up every hole in the Ohio State whack-a-mole machine. The Buckeyes took an 8-0 lead to start the game, and never looked back, leading this game for all but the first 13 seconds, when it was still scoreless.
This week’s question: Who had the best individual performance against Texas?
Connor: Devin Royal
DEVIN FROM DOWNTOWN FIRE US UP
OSU: 71
Texas: 59
2H 5:10 #Team126 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/OI5i7LlEV8
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) November 5, 2024
Some people were disappointed when it became clear that sophomore forward Devin Royal wasn’t going to begin the year as a starter, but it’s clear now that if he’s doing good things, he’s going to play plenty this year. Whether he’s part of the group of five that starts the game is not relevant, he’s going to be part of the group of five that ends the game.
Against Texas, Royal had his best collegiate game to date, finishing with a career-high 16 points on an uber-efficient 7-of-11 shooting over 25 minutes, which was also a career-high.
He knocked down two of his four three-point tries, which doesn’t look too crazy on the surface level until you realize that Royal hit three three-pointers all of last season, combined. Over the course of five months, freshman Devin Royal hit three triples. He nearly matched that just in the win over Texas.
Royal scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half, which harkens back to Ohio State’s win in East Lansing last season, when Royal led the Buckeyes with 14 points, but scored 10 of them in the second half. The now-sophomore just has a knack for hitting timely shots, especially the “settle down” shots. When an offensive possession isn’t going anywhere and the shot clock is winding down, that’s when Royal hits big shots.
Or perhaps Ohio State is trying to answer their opponent’s basket with one of their own, but they miss. Suddenly Royal flies in out of nowhere to snatch the offensive rebounds and slam it home for a second-chance dunk, which prevents a momentum swing. Those are the types of shots he hit against Texas in the second half Monday night.
Royal is expected to take a jump from the 4.7 points per game he averaged last season, but I don’t think anyone expected him to drop 16 off the bench against a ranked Texas squad to start the season. Consider the bar officially raised for the 6-foot-6, 220-pound sophomore from nearby Pickerington.
Justin: Micah Parrish
The Buckeyes brought in a ton of talent through the transfer portal heading into this season after losing Felix Okpara, Roddy Gayle, and Scotty Middleton. Ohio State added All-SEC selection Meechie Johnson, as well as McDonald’s All-Americans in Aaron Bradshaw and Sean Stewart.
Regardless of all of those talented players, and I am excited for all of them, I was most excited when I saw that San Diego State’s Micah Parrish was a key contributor over the past two seasons, including their national championship run in 2023.
In his first game as a Buckeye, Parrish recorded 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists on 5-for-11 from the field, 3-for-6 from three-point range, and 4-for-5 from the free throw line in 30 minutes. Parrish was also one of Ohio State’s best defenders, guarding multiple positions and helping contain Jordan Pope and Jayson Kent.
Parrish is not the most talented player on the roster, but he showed what he can bring to this team against Texas. He is a capable scorer, a versatile defender, and, most importantly, a veteran who has played in the big moments and won’t be rattled by anything.
Continue reading...
Utah Hockey Club
- By ScriptOhio
- Other OSU and Professional Sports
- 0 Replies
'Holy cow. What's going on in Utah?' Inside the Hockey Club's plan for long-term success
Here's how the franchise aims to give fans a unique experience at the arena -- and achieve on-ice success -- in order to create generational fandom.
Inside the Utah Hockey Club's plan for long-term success
There are two versions of Ryan Smith. There's the public-facing 40-something billionaire tech mogul who answers questions in a way that can be direct, earnest and open to admitting he might not have the right answer ... or an answer at all.
That's the version most people see. But there's also another version of Smith that's unapologetically Utahn. That version comes out in the way he talks about Salt Lake City, the state of Utah and the preconceived beliefs many people have about a place that they've likely never visited.
While the first version of Smith is the reason the Utah Hockey Club exists, it's the second version that is hell-bent on ensuring that the franchise is going to thrive in the most Utah way possible.
"I put everything in Utah. They said we couldn't build tech here, and we'd have to move to the Bay Area," Smith said. "We couldn't get venture funding here. We couldn't IPO a company from here. We couldn't sell. We proved every single person wrong.
"Then I think that people started believing, 'Holy cow. What's going on in Utah?' That's incredibly gratifying when you're fighting for a bigger cause."
This is the mission facing the Utah Hockey Club when it comes to achieving success long term. While the UHC is a new venture, the team relocated from Arizona where they were the Coyotes. Before that, they were the original Winnipeg Jets, relocating to the desert in 1996.
The club is trying to prove that Salt Lake City and Utah as a whole can support the NHL. It's trying to prove that it can make hockey a staple, just like the Utah Jazz have been doing in the NBA for several decades.
Perhaps the most important point the Utah Hockey Club could make is that as Salt Lake City keeps growing, so could the city's professional sports landscape.
"Utahns especially want to show they are more than a flyover state," said Josh Furlong, a broadcaster and the sports director for KSL. "They recognize they are not going to be Los Angeles, Seattle or New York. They want to showcase what Utah has to offer. You have a rabid fan base that will support your team. I think you have a bunch of people who want to showcase that. I don't know if it is some type of FOMO situation where they feel like they're not being included. But they want to be in that mix among the best places.
"You want people to feel what you see. You have this beautiful landscape, friendly people and a great atmosphere for sports culture."
"Utah! Getting bigger and better. Utah! Always leading the way. New technology is here. Growing faster each year. This is the place!"
Those are lyrics from "Utah ... This Is The Place." Written in 1996, it later became the state song in 2003. At the time of the song's creation, Utah was on the verge of announcing itself to more of the world, using sports and entertainment as a mechanism.
The Jazz reached three straight Western Conference finals from 1996 through 1998, with two NBA Finals appearances. Salt Lake City received international exposure during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. In 2005, the University of Utah was the first school to have the No. 1 picks in both the NBA and NFL drafts in the same year, with Andrew Bogut and Alex Smith. The state's fortune was also extended to film in 2004 when a few graduates of BYU's film school made the coming of age cult classic "Napoleon Dynamite."
Decades later, it appears Utah could once again be following a similar path, but with more to gain.
Utah Hockey Club president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong didn't quote the lyrics from the state song when asked about the future. But his words resemble a similar sentiment when he mentions Utah having the nation's No. 3 economy and the youngest state based on median age (30.7 years old).
"It's a unique moment in time where we're building something new from the ground up and we get to do it with everybody here," Armstrong said. "So that is why we see a successful and thriving future. It's only continuing to grow that outpaces most cities in North America, and we think that's a great opportunity for a new sports franchise."
The history of sports fandom in Utah began with major college programs BYU and the University of Utah establishing athletic programs. Smaller schools such as Southern Utah, Utah State, Utah Valley and Weber State have also built followings in various sports.
Professional sports came on the scene in 1979 when the Jazz relocated from New Orleans and eventually became one of the NBA's most successful franchises throughout the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.
MLS came to the area in 2004 with Real Salt Lake, which averages 20,291 fans per game, and extends to the Utah Royals of the NWSL, a team that was revived in 2024. The Royals' first game drew 20,370 fans which set a state record for the most fans at a women's sporting event.
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Just sayin': An interesting story on the Utah Hockey Club.
Florida Gators
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
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Florida Basketball Coach Todd Golden accused of sexual harassment, stalking in Title IX complaint
The UF men's basketball coach is accused of sexually harassing and stalking female students according to a Title IX complaint
www.wcjb.com
Florida Basketball Coach Todd Golden accused of sexual harassment, stalking in Title IX complaint
he University of Florida’s men’s basketball coach is accused of sexually harassing, exploiting, and stalking female students according to a Title IX complaint.That complaint was sent anonymously to TV20 and other media organizations. The Title IX investigation document alleges Todd Golden made unwanted sexual advances on social media, requested sexual favors, and sent photos of his genitalia while traveling for UF.
He’s alleged to have taken photos of women and their cars, and later sent them the photos.
Multiple times he’s accused of showing up at locations he knew the women would be.
To avoid detection online, he’s alleged to have “liked” women’s Instagram photos, waited for them to see the notification, then “un-liked” the images.
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Gators' Golden facing Title IX stalking inquiry
Florida men's basketball coach Todd Golden is the subject of a Title IX investigation following allegations of sexual harassment and stalking.
Florida basketball coach Todd Golden facing Title IX stalking probe
Florida Gators men's basketball coach Todd Golden is the subject of a Title IX investigation following allegations of sexual harassment, stalking and cyberstalking from multiple women, including students, according to a complaint sent anonymously to Gainesville media outlets and later obtained by ESPN on Friday.Florida received a formal Title IX complaint against Golden on Sept. 27 that includes allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking, The Alligator, the university's independent student newspaper, first reported.
Golden, 39, aimed these behaviors toward Florida students and former Florida students, according to the Title IX complaint, which was also obtained by WCJB TV20 in Gainesville.
The Title IX complaint includes allegations that Golden sent photos and videos of his genitalia, made unwanted sexual advances on Instagram and requested sexual favors.
On multiple occasions, Golden allegedly took photos of women walking or driving -- or their cars in various locations -- and then sent those photos to the subjects of the photos. He also allegedly showed up to locations where he knew the women would be, according to the Title IX complaint.
University spokeswoman Cynthia Roldan Hernandez refused a request Friday to provide a copy of the complaint and declined to answer any questions about Golden, a married father of two young boys. Hernandez said that in order to "comply with federal law" the university could not confirm or comment on any Title IX complaint.
Title IX is regulated by the U.S. Department of Education. ESPN confirmed with federal education officials Friday that a school can disclose whether an employee has been accused of sexual harassment in a Title IX complaint if such disclosure is required under another federal or state law.
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Just sayin': In the not too distant future Florida could be looking for both a new football and a new basketball coach.
LGHL MC&J: Week 11 in the Big Ten sees Ohio State as a massive favorite over Purdue
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MC&J: Week 11 in the Big Ten sees Ohio State as a massive favorite over Purdue
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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will look for an easy win on Saturday in Columbus. Plus, picks for the five other Big Ten games this week.
Last week ATS: 8-7 (3-4 National, 5-3 B1G)
Season ATS: 83-87 (33-36 National, 50-51 B1G
My picks for this week’s interesting games outside the Big Ten can be found here.
Iowa (-5.5) v. UCLA - Friday 9:00 p.m. ET - FOX
The Hawkeyes continued their recent strong form, scoring 40 points for the third time in the last four games. Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan started last week with Cade McNamara in concussion protocol. Sullivan didn’t have to do much since Kaleb Johnson continued his tremendous season, rushing for 135 yards and three scores in the blowout of Wisconsin.
Another team that has been playing better football of late is UCLA, who has won their last two contests. In those victories, Ethan Garbers has totaled seven touchdowns. Garbers won’t have as easy of a time this week since he’ll be going up against one of the stingiest defenses in the country. Linebackers Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson will give Garbers and the Bruins all they can handle.
In their recent wins, UCLA has played a couple head cases in Rutgers and Nebraska. Iowa is a lot more sound on both sides of the football. The Hawkeyes will grind out the Bruins with defense followed by Kaleb Johnson, who again rushes for at least 100 yards and multiple touchdowns.
Iowa 30, UCLA 17
Minnesota (-6.5) v. Rutgers - 12:00 p.m. ET - NBC
Will this be the Athan Kaliakmanis revenge game? The quarterback transferred to Rutgers after starting his college career at Minnesota. Kaliakmanis is coming off his best yardage performance of the season, throwing for 313 yards. Unfortunately for Rutgers, Kaliakmanis had to throw more since the Scarlet Knights lost to USC 42-20. Along with the blowout, running back Kyle Monangai left the game in the third quarter with a head injury.
Minnesota has been one of the hottest teams in the country over the last month, winning their last four games. Last week, the Golden Gophers went on the road and beat Illinois 25-17. Running back Darius Taylor recorded his third 100-yard game of the season, finishing with 131 yards in the win.
This is a game between teams headed in opposite directions. Minnesota has won four straight, while Rutgers has lost four in a row. Even though the Scarlet Knights had a bye last week, it’s hard to see them snapping their recent skid, especially with Monangai’s health in question. Minnesota wins by at least a touchdown in New Jersey.
Minnesota 31, Rutgers 20
Michigan v. No. 8 Indiana (-13.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
This has been a dream season for the Hoosiers. Last week Indiana trailed for the first time this season, as Michigan State jumped out to a 10-0 lead. All the Hoosiers did was reel off 47 unanswered points to stay undefeated. After missing the Washington game, Kurtis Rourke returned to the field last week, tossing four touchdowns.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25720505/2181875540.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 02 Indiana at Michigan State")
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
At least Michigan showed a little bit of fight last week, pulling to within 28-17 in the second half before Oregon added 10 more points. The Wolverines should be encouraged that Davis Warren and Colston Loveland formed a bit of a connection, since Loveland is their biggest threat through the air.
Indiana comes into this game on a high after being projected into the College Football Playoff after the first reveal of the rankings. Curt Cignetti knows his team can’t let off the gas, especially with a trip to Columbus coming in a couple weeks. The Hoosiers stay perfect with another dominant performance against a Michigan team that is reeling.
Indiana 34, Michigan 14
Maryland v. No. 1 Oregon (-24.5) - 7:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
The consistency of Oregon on offense has been incredible. Over the last six games, the Ducks have scored at least 31 points, but no more than 38. The Ducks did take a hit last week when Tez Johnson was injured against Michigan. Even without Johnson, Oregon still has plenty of weapons on offense.
Maryland is not a good football team. The Terrapins have lost three of their last four games, with their only win coming at home against a broken USC squad. Last time out, Maryland gave up 48 points to noted offensive juggernaut Minnesota.
I just don’t see how the Terrapins keep this one close. The defense of Oregon has been tough to crack this year, and I have no reason to think that Maryland will cause them any issues. The Ducks break 40 points for the first time since September.
Oregon 44, Maryland 13
Washington v. No. 6 Penn State (-13.5) - 8:00 p.m. ET - Peacock
Getting up for a game after playing Ohio State is always tough. Luckily for Penn State they’ll get some added juice from the “White Out” on Saturday night. The Nittany Lions can’t wallow after the loss to the Buckeyes since they are currently projected to host a first round playoff game.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25720502/2181624482.jpg "Penn State v Wisconsin")
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
Washington was able to earn a much needed win last week, beating USC in Seattle 26-21. The win doesn’t fix the struggles of the Huskies, though. Washington still has issues generating offense, and those struggles will be magnified by a hungry Penn State defense.
The Nittany Lions are going to take out their frustrations on Washington on Saturday night. The atmosphere in State College is going to be too much for Jedd Fisch’s team to handle as Warren rebounds with a big game after Ohio State slowed down the talented tight end.
Penn State 35, Washington 17
Purdue v. No. 2 Ohio State (-37.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Ohio State enters this game coming off a huge win at Penn State last week. The Buckeyes desperately needed the win because it would have been a tough argument for the Buckeyes to be a part of the College Football Playoff with two losses, especially with the insanely soft non-conference schedule they played. Ohio State now controls their own destiny when it comes to earning a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game next month.
While the defense has stepped up following the Oregon game, the Ohio State offense has been lacking, scoring just 41 points over the last two games. Some of those issues can be attributed to the play of the offensive line against Nebraska, and last week the Buckeyes went up against a very tough Penn State defense.
At least last week the rushing attack was more productive than they were against Nebraska. Chip Kelly needs to continue to put the ball in the hands of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson to try and capitalize off of last week’s positive performance.
Purdue has really fallen on hard times after Jeff Brohm left for Louisville following the 2022 season. The Boilermakers have only scored more than 20 points in two of their eight games this season. The lack of offense has been a huge reason why Purdue has lost seven straight games.
Despite having two productive running backs in Devin Mockobee and Reggie Love III, the offense of the Boilermakers seems to favor the pass. Quarterback Hudson Card could be in trouble on Saturday since the Buckeyes can tee off on the Texas transfer because Ohio State knows Purdue wants to throw the football.
I always feel bad when I talk bad about Purdue since my uncle is a Boilermaker. Unfortunately it is unavoidable this year since Purdue has been so bad. The Buckeyes need to jump out on the Boilers early and leave no doubt so they can protect their starters since they close out the regular season with Indiana and Michigan.
There’s no reason this game should be close with these teams being on opposite ends of the Big Ten standings. This contest should have about as much suspense as the non-conference games for Ohio State did this year.
Ohio State 51, Purdue 10
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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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will look for an easy win on Saturday in Columbus. Plus, picks for the five other Big Ten games this week.
Last week ATS: 8-7 (3-4 National, 5-3 B1G)
Season ATS: 83-87 (33-36 National, 50-51 B1G
My picks for this week’s interesting games outside the Big Ten can be found here.
Big Ten games (All games Saturday unless noted):
Iowa (-5.5) v. UCLA - Friday 9:00 p.m. ET - FOX
The Hawkeyes continued their recent strong form, scoring 40 points for the third time in the last four games. Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan started last week with Cade McNamara in concussion protocol. Sullivan didn’t have to do much since Kaleb Johnson continued his tremendous season, rushing for 135 yards and three scores in the blowout of Wisconsin.
Another team that has been playing better football of late is UCLA, who has won their last two contests. In those victories, Ethan Garbers has totaled seven touchdowns. Garbers won’t have as easy of a time this week since he’ll be going up against one of the stingiest defenses in the country. Linebackers Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson will give Garbers and the Bruins all they can handle.
In their recent wins, UCLA has played a couple head cases in Rutgers and Nebraska. Iowa is a lot more sound on both sides of the football. The Hawkeyes will grind out the Bruins with defense followed by Kaleb Johnson, who again rushes for at least 100 yards and multiple touchdowns.
Iowa 30, UCLA 17
Minnesota (-6.5) v. Rutgers - 12:00 p.m. ET - NBC
Will this be the Athan Kaliakmanis revenge game? The quarterback transferred to Rutgers after starting his college career at Minnesota. Kaliakmanis is coming off his best yardage performance of the season, throwing for 313 yards. Unfortunately for Rutgers, Kaliakmanis had to throw more since the Scarlet Knights lost to USC 42-20. Along with the blowout, running back Kyle Monangai left the game in the third quarter with a head injury.
Minnesota has been one of the hottest teams in the country over the last month, winning their last four games. Last week, the Golden Gophers went on the road and beat Illinois 25-17. Running back Darius Taylor recorded his third 100-yard game of the season, finishing with 131 yards in the win.
This is a game between teams headed in opposite directions. Minnesota has won four straight, while Rutgers has lost four in a row. Even though the Scarlet Knights had a bye last week, it’s hard to see them snapping their recent skid, especially with Monangai’s health in question. Minnesota wins by at least a touchdown in New Jersey.
Minnesota 31, Rutgers 20
Michigan v. No. 8 Indiana (-13.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
This has been a dream season for the Hoosiers. Last week Indiana trailed for the first time this season, as Michigan State jumped out to a 10-0 lead. All the Hoosiers did was reel off 47 unanswered points to stay undefeated. After missing the Washington game, Kurtis Rourke returned to the field last week, tossing four touchdowns.
At least Michigan showed a little bit of fight last week, pulling to within 28-17 in the second half before Oregon added 10 more points. The Wolverines should be encouraged that Davis Warren and Colston Loveland formed a bit of a connection, since Loveland is their biggest threat through the air.
Indiana comes into this game on a high after being projected into the College Football Playoff after the first reveal of the rankings. Curt Cignetti knows his team can’t let off the gas, especially with a trip to Columbus coming in a couple weeks. The Hoosiers stay perfect with another dominant performance against a Michigan team that is reeling.
Indiana 34, Michigan 14
Maryland v. No. 1 Oregon (-24.5) - 7:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
The consistency of Oregon on offense has been incredible. Over the last six games, the Ducks have scored at least 31 points, but no more than 38. The Ducks did take a hit last week when Tez Johnson was injured against Michigan. Even without Johnson, Oregon still has plenty of weapons on offense.
Maryland is not a good football team. The Terrapins have lost three of their last four games, with their only win coming at home against a broken USC squad. Last time out, Maryland gave up 48 points to noted offensive juggernaut Minnesota.
I just don’t see how the Terrapins keep this one close. The defense of Oregon has been tough to crack this year, and I have no reason to think that Maryland will cause them any issues. The Ducks break 40 points for the first time since September.
Oregon 44, Maryland 13
Washington v. No. 6 Penn State (-13.5) - 8:00 p.m. ET - Peacock
Getting up for a game after playing Ohio State is always tough. Luckily for Penn State they’ll get some added juice from the “White Out” on Saturday night. The Nittany Lions can’t wallow after the loss to the Buckeyes since they are currently projected to host a first round playoff game.
Washington was able to earn a much needed win last week, beating USC in Seattle 26-21. The win doesn’t fix the struggles of the Huskies, though. Washington still has issues generating offense, and those struggles will be magnified by a hungry Penn State defense.
The Nittany Lions are going to take out their frustrations on Washington on Saturday night. The atmosphere in State College is going to be too much for Jedd Fisch’s team to handle as Warren rebounds with a big game after Ohio State slowed down the talented tight end.
Penn State 35, Washington 17
Purdue v. No. 2 Ohio State (-37.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Ohio State enters this game coming off a huge win at Penn State last week. The Buckeyes desperately needed the win because it would have been a tough argument for the Buckeyes to be a part of the College Football Playoff with two losses, especially with the insanely soft non-conference schedule they played. Ohio State now controls their own destiny when it comes to earning a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game next month.
While the defense has stepped up following the Oregon game, the Ohio State offense has been lacking, scoring just 41 points over the last two games. Some of those issues can be attributed to the play of the offensive line against Nebraska, and last week the Buckeyes went up against a very tough Penn State defense.
At least last week the rushing attack was more productive than they were against Nebraska. Chip Kelly needs to continue to put the ball in the hands of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson to try and capitalize off of last week’s positive performance.
Purdue has really fallen on hard times after Jeff Brohm left for Louisville following the 2022 season. The Boilermakers have only scored more than 20 points in two of their eight games this season. The lack of offense has been a huge reason why Purdue has lost seven straight games.
Despite having two productive running backs in Devin Mockobee and Reggie Love III, the offense of the Boilermakers seems to favor the pass. Quarterback Hudson Card could be in trouble on Saturday since the Buckeyes can tee off on the Texas transfer because Ohio State knows Purdue wants to throw the football.
I always feel bad when I talk bad about Purdue since my uncle is a Boilermaker. Unfortunately it is unavoidable this year since Purdue has been so bad. The Buckeyes need to jump out on the Boilers early and leave no doubt so they can protect their starters since they close out the regular season with Indiana and Michigan.
There’s no reason this game should be close with these teams being on opposite ends of the Big Ten standings. This contest should have about as much suspense as the non-conference games for Ohio State did this year.
Ohio State 51, Purdue 10
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LGHL Life in Simulation: EA CFB 25 predicts Ohio State vs. Purdue
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Life in Simulation: EA CFB 25 predicts Ohio State vs. Purdue
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 Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Boilermakers in Week 11.
College football finally returned to the virtual world in 2024 with the release of EA Sports College Football 25, allowing fans of all 134 FBS schools to take control of their favorite team. For Buckeye Nation, that means getting to dominate with one of the best rosters in the game.
The new game also allows us to get a glimpse at what the season could look like, at least if the computers had their say. Each week, Land-Grant Holy Land will simulate Ohio State’s real-life matchup to see what our AI overlords think will happen.
Here are the results of our Week 11 sim:
Ohio State is looking to return home and build off the momentum from its impressive win over Penn State last weekend, and the virtual Buckeyes did just that this week with an easy victory over a lowly Purdue squad. It was a huge day for Will Howard and Jeremiah Smith as Ryan Day’s unit jumped all over the Boilermakers.
It was all Ohio State right from the jump in this one, as Smith hauled in a 45-yard touchdown catch on the team’s first drive of the game to give the Buckeyes an immediate 7-0 lead. Gee Scott Jr. followed that up with an 18-yard touchdown a short while later, and Jayden Fielding’s 28-yard field goal to end the quarter made it 17-0 after the first frame.
Purdue tried to fight back a little bit, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run by Reggie Love III to open the second quarter, but that was quickly negated by a 34-yard TD by Carnell Tate to make it 24-7. The Boilermakers would add three more points at the end of the first half on a 50-yard field goal, and so the game wasn’t entirely out of reach just yet as the two sides headed into the break with Ohio State up 24-10.
From there, the Buckeyes suffocated Purdue on defense, and Jeremiah Smith did the rest. Ohio State would score the only three touchdowns of the second half — all by Smith on plays of 18 yards, 45 yards and 82 yards — and the Silver Bullets took the ball away twice on an interception by Jordan Hancock and a forced fumble by Sonny Styles as the home team left no doubt about their victory.
It was an insane day for the freshman wide receiver, making up for his first scoreless performance of the season against Penn State. Smith finished the game with eight catches for an eye-popping 223 yards and four (!) touchdowns. He was far an away the favorite target for Howard, who had a fantastic bounce back game in his own right with 391 yards passing and six touchdowns. Egbuka added six catches for 94 yards, while Gee Scott Jr. had two grabs for 39 yards.
It was a strangely quiet day for Ohio State’s ground game, as TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins finished with a combined 88 yards on 23 carries, good for only 3.8 yards per attempt. The Buckeyes’ longest rush of the day was actually by Egbuka, who picked up 28 yards on his only carry of the afternoon. Still, the Ohio State offense managed 540 yards of total offense thanks to a big showing through the air.
Ohio State’s defense was impressive as well, racking up four sacks in the contest — one apiece by Styles, Jack Sawyer, Tyler Bourne (J.T. Tuimoloau) and Kayden McDonald. Cody Simon was the tackles leader in the game with eight, followed by Caleb Downs and Davison Igbinson with seven each. Hancock had the team’s lone interception and also broke up two passes. As a group, the Buckeyes held Purdue to 6-of-17 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth down.
While the real life Buckeyes are 7-1 with a chance to move to 8-1, the virtual Buckeyes move to a perfect 9-0 on the year. Check back next week to see how Ohio State actually performed on the field compared to the simulation, and see how they fare in our Week 12 simulation against Northwestern.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Boilermakers in Week 11.
College football finally returned to the virtual world in 2024 with the release of EA Sports College Football 25, allowing fans of all 134 FBS schools to take control of their favorite team. For Buckeye Nation, that means getting to dominate with one of the best rosters in the game.
The new game also allows us to get a glimpse at what the season could look like, at least if the computers had their say. Each week, Land-Grant Holy Land will simulate Ohio State’s real-life matchup to see what our AI overlords think will happen.
Here are the results of our Week 11 sim:
Ohio State 45 - Purdue 10
Ohio State is looking to return home and build off the momentum from its impressive win over Penn State last weekend, and the virtual Buckeyes did just that this week with an easy victory over a lowly Purdue squad. It was a huge day for Will Howard and Jeremiah Smith as Ryan Day’s unit jumped all over the Boilermakers.
It was all Ohio State right from the jump in this one, as Smith hauled in a 45-yard touchdown catch on the team’s first drive of the game to give the Buckeyes an immediate 7-0 lead. Gee Scott Jr. followed that up with an 18-yard touchdown a short while later, and Jayden Fielding’s 28-yard field goal to end the quarter made it 17-0 after the first frame.
Purdue tried to fight back a little bit, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run by Reggie Love III to open the second quarter, but that was quickly negated by a 34-yard TD by Carnell Tate to make it 24-7. The Boilermakers would add three more points at the end of the first half on a 50-yard field goal, and so the game wasn’t entirely out of reach just yet as the two sides headed into the break with Ohio State up 24-10.
From there, the Buckeyes suffocated Purdue on defense, and Jeremiah Smith did the rest. Ohio State would score the only three touchdowns of the second half — all by Smith on plays of 18 yards, 45 yards and 82 yards — and the Silver Bullets took the ball away twice on an interception by Jordan Hancock and a forced fumble by Sonny Styles as the home team left no doubt about their victory.
It was an insane day for the freshman wide receiver, making up for his first scoreless performance of the season against Penn State. Smith finished the game with eight catches for an eye-popping 223 yards and four (!) touchdowns. He was far an away the favorite target for Howard, who had a fantastic bounce back game in his own right with 391 yards passing and six touchdowns. Egbuka added six catches for 94 yards, while Gee Scott Jr. had two grabs for 39 yards.
It was a strangely quiet day for Ohio State’s ground game, as TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins finished with a combined 88 yards on 23 carries, good for only 3.8 yards per attempt. The Buckeyes’ longest rush of the day was actually by Egbuka, who picked up 28 yards on his only carry of the afternoon. Still, the Ohio State offense managed 540 yards of total offense thanks to a big showing through the air.
Ohio State’s defense was impressive as well, racking up four sacks in the contest — one apiece by Styles, Jack Sawyer, Tyler Bourne (J.T. Tuimoloau) and Kayden McDonald. Cody Simon was the tackles leader in the game with eight, followed by Caleb Downs and Davison Igbinson with seven each. Hancock had the team’s lone interception and also broke up two passes. As a group, the Buckeyes held Purdue to 6-of-17 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth down.
While the real life Buckeyes are 7-1 with a chance to move to 8-1, the virtual Buckeyes move to a perfect 9-0 on the year. Check back next week to see how Ohio State actually performed on the field compared to the simulation, and see how they fare in our Week 12 simulation against Northwestern.
Continue reading...