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LGHL All the news, analysis from Ohio State’s 41-21 Rose Bowl win over Oregon
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All the news, analysis from Ohio State’s 41-21 Rose Bowl win over Oregon
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kirby Lee-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!
No. 8 Buckeyes Jump to Early Lead, Cruise to 41-21 Win Over No. 1 Oregon Ohio State advances to CFP Semifinals vs. Texas Jan. 10
Ohio State Athletics
Buckeyes rout Oregon in CFP, advance to face Texas in semifinals
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Bludgeons Oregon, 41-21, in College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State jumps on No. 1 Oregon early, rolls to 41-21 win in Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Buckeyes completely shut down Oregon offense
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State trounce Oregon 41-21, advance to CFP semifinal
Noah Weiskopf, The Lantern
Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Says Ohio State “Can Play With Anybody in the Country” When It Executes, Buckeyes Are “Far From Done” in the College Football Playoff
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
It’s Ohio State vs. Texas in CFP. Everything to know about Cotton Bowl
Brian White, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State new betting favorite to win CFP national championship
John Leuzzi, USA Today Network
Jeremiah Smith Caps Record-Setting Rose Bowl Performance with Offensive Player of the Game, Cody Simon Nabs Defensive Honors
11W Staff
Photos: Ohio State vs. Oregon
Ohio State Athletics
Top recruits across the country react to Ohio State’s dominating win over Oregon with Texas next
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
Buckeyes dominating Rose Bowl win over Oregon catches the eyes of commits and targets
Mick Walker, Lettermen Row
Oregon Coach Dan Lanning on Rose Bowl Loss to Ohio State: ”We Didn’t Really Have the Ability to Stop Them.”
11W Staff
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25813573/Screenshot_2025_01_02_at_8.08.43_AM.png)
The #LunaticFringe was right, but it’s time to retire the narrative and focus on winning it all
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
5 things we learned from Ohio State’s rout of Oregon
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Snap Judgments: Buckeyes demolish Ducks in Rose Bowl
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
Three Key Stats: Jeremiah Smith Backs It Up, the Silver Bullets Put on a Show, and a Near Flawless First Half in the Rose Bowl
11W Staff, Eleven Warriors
Quick Takes: Ohio State dominates Oregon in revenge Rose Bowl
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Glory and relief: Ryan Day’s unimaginable positon and an Ohio State team primed to win it all
Ari Wasserman, On3
First thoughts: Buckeyes race past top-seeded Oregon in Rose Bowl, advance to CFP semifinal
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Instant opinions: Jeremiah Smith greatness on display in OSU CFP win
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
Helmet Stickers: Jeremiah Smith shines as Ohio State rolls Oregon
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting The Eyes
Buckeye Leaves: Is Jeremiah Smith the best player in college football?
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Howard continues to prove Buckeyes can win with him at QB
Kevin Skiver, USA Today Network
Will Howard, Chip Kelly brilliance settle Ohio State’s score with Oregon
Brad Crawford, 247Sports
Ohio State Asserts Itself As Team to Beat in College Football Playoff With Championship-Caliber Performance vs. Oregon
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
How Ohio State’s defense changed for rematch with Oregon
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Dan Lanning and Oregon are going to be a problem for the entire Big Ten on the field and in recruiting for a long time, but you’ve got to respect the hell out of how they carry themselves.
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
Kirby Lee-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!
Recapping Ohio State’s 41-21 win over Oregon
No. 8 Buckeyes Jump to Early Lead, Cruise to 41-21 Win Over No. 1 Oregon Ohio State advances to CFP Semifinals vs. Texas Jan. 10
Ohio State Athletics
Buckeyes rout Oregon in CFP, advance to face Texas in semifinals
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Bludgeons Oregon, 41-21, in College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State jumps on No. 1 Oregon early, rolls to 41-21 win in Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Buckeyes completely shut down Oregon offense
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State trounce Oregon 41-21, advance to CFP semifinal
Noah Weiskopf, The Lantern
News From Ohio State’s 41-21 win over Oregon
Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Says Ohio State “Can Play With Anybody in the Country” When It Executes, Buckeyes Are “Far From Done” in the College Football Playoff
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
It’s Ohio State vs. Texas in CFP. Everything to know about Cotton Bowl
Brian White, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State new betting favorite to win CFP national championship
John Leuzzi, USA Today Network
Jeremiah Smith Caps Record-Setting Rose Bowl Performance with Offensive Player of the Game, Cody Simon Nabs Defensive Honors
11W Staff
Photos: Ohio State vs. Oregon
Ohio State Athletics
Top recruits across the country react to Ohio State’s dominating win over Oregon with Texas next
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
Buckeyes dominating Rose Bowl win over Oregon catches the eyes of commits and targets
Mick Walker, Lettermen Row
Oregon Coach Dan Lanning on Rose Bowl Loss to Ohio State: ”We Didn’t Really Have the Ability to Stop Them.”
11W Staff
Analyzing Ohio State’s 41-21 win over Oregon
The #LunaticFringe was right, but it’s time to retire the narrative and focus on winning it all
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
5 things we learned from Ohio State’s rout of Oregon
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Snap Judgments: Buckeyes demolish Ducks in Rose Bowl
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
Three Key Stats: Jeremiah Smith Backs It Up, the Silver Bullets Put on a Show, and a Near Flawless First Half in the Rose Bowl
11W Staff, Eleven Warriors
Quick Takes: Ohio State dominates Oregon in revenge Rose Bowl
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Glory and relief: Ryan Day’s unimaginable positon and an Ohio State team primed to win it all
Ari Wasserman, On3
First thoughts: Buckeyes race past top-seeded Oregon in Rose Bowl, advance to CFP semifinal
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Looking at the Performances from Ohio State’s 41-21 win over Oregon
JEREMIAH SMITH TD
OHIO STATE SCORES ON THEIR OPENING DRIVEpic.twitter.com/UC7BQAzReT
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 1, 2025
Instant opinions: Jeremiah Smith greatness on display in OSU CFP win
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
Helmet Stickers: Jeremiah Smith shines as Ohio State rolls Oregon
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting The Eyes
Buckeye Leaves: Is Jeremiah Smith the best player in college football?
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Howard continues to prove Buckeyes can win with him at QB
Kevin Skiver, USA Today Network
Will Howard, Chip Kelly brilliance settle Ohio State’s score with Oregon
Brad Crawford, 247Sports
Ohio State Asserts Itself As Team to Beat in College Football Playoff With Championship-Caliber Performance vs. Oregon
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
How Ohio State’s defense changed for rematch with Oregon
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
And Here It Is, Your Moment of Zen
Dan Lanning and Oregon are going to be a problem for the entire Big Ten on the field and in recruiting for a long time, but you’ve got to respect the hell out of how they carry themselves.
Continue reading...
LGHL The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ohio State’s 41-21 win vs. Oregon
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- 0 Replies
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ohio State’s 41-21 win vs. Oregon
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
The Buckeyes dominated the Ducks in the Rose Bowl.
We weren’t too far removed from Ohio State’s puzzling loss to Michigan, but the Buckeyes’ dominant victory over Tennessee showed everyone what this team could be when they’re playing their best football. The big question heading into the Rose Bowl was whether or not they would be able to maintain that level of play against the No. 1 team in the country — one that they had already lost to earlier this season.
The answer to that question was emphatic, as Ohio State built up an astonishing 34-0 lead over Oregon and coasted to a 41-21 victory to end the Ducks’ undefeated season. Ryan Day deserved a lot of the criticism following the loss to the Wolverines, but now deserves a ton of praise for getting this team back on the right path, as the Buckeyes are now only two wins away from a national title.
Here is the good, the bad and the ugly from Ohio State’s victory over Oregon.
Jeremiah Smith/Will Howard
“Good” isn’t nearly strong enough an adjective to describe Jeremiah Smith and what he has done for Ohio State in these first two College Football Playoff games. The freshman’s 103 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Tennessee was only an appetizer for his performance against Oregon, completely dismantling the Ducks’ defense to the tune of seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith wouldn’t be able to get the ball in his hands without a good quarterback, and Will Howard himself has been spectacular in these two postseason games as well. After having one of his best games of the year against Oregon in the regular season — one that ended with an infamous slide as time expired — he matched it with another big showing at the Rose Bowl, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns without a single turnover.
The two were instrumental in Ohio State’s success in Pasadena. Smith, especially, was completely un-guardable the entire game, and was a go-to guy whenever the Buckeyes needed to pick up yards in a pinch — or when they wanted an easy 40-yard touchdown. The five-star phenom was Howard’s favorite target, but he also helped open things up for other guys like Emeka Egbuka, who had a great game in his own right with five catches for 72 yards and a score.
Fast Starts
There was so much talk during the regular season about Ohio State getting off to slow starts. On far too many occasions the Buckeyes allowed their opponents to dictate the flow of the game, playing a slower tempo and letting less talented teams drain the clock and limit their offensive possessions. That script has completely flipped in the postseason, as Ryan Day and Chip Kelly have come out as the aggressor with huge success.
In both of Ohio State’s College Football Playoff matchups, the Buckeyes’ offense put up an avalanche of points immediately out of the gate, putting their opponents behind the eight ball and on their heels the rest of the way. Against Tennessee, it was a 21-0 lead in Columbus with still 3:27 to play in the first quarter. Then, against Oregon, the Buckeyes piled up a 31-0 lead early in the second quarter, expanding that lead as far as 34-0 before the Ducks even got on the scoreboard.
Defense
There was a clear turning point in the season for Ohio State’s defense after that October loss to Oregon. Following another defeat that saw the Buckeyes fail to get pressure on the opposing quarterback, Larry Johnson was finally forced to cede his control of the defensive line, and the reigns of the entire defensive unit as one cohesive group were handed over to Jim Knowles for really the first time in his Ohio State tenure.
The change has led to drastic improvement, and we’ve since seen a complete overhaul of the Silver Bullets and what they are capable of.
In that first meeting with the Ducks, the Buckeyes recorded zero sacks and only two tackles for loss. On Wednesday night, Ohio State EIGHT sacks and 13 (!!) tackles for loss. It was a huge game for many of the seniors on this team, including Jack Sawyer, Cody Simon and J.T. Tuimoloau, all of whom were credited with two sacks apiece. Simon was named the defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl with a game-high 11 tackles, three tackles for loss and a PBU on top of his pair of sacks.
Overall, it was an incredibly impressive display from a defense that allowed 32 points and almost 500 yards of offense to the same Oregon team back in October. This time, the Ducks finished with 276 total yards, including -23 (yes, negative 23) yards rushing.
Jayden Fielding
While it was overshadowed by the rest of Ohio State’s incredible performances on offense and defense, Jayden Fielding deserves a shoutout for his contributions. It has been a rough go for the Buckeyes’ kicker, with a very poor showing in the Michigan game and then a missed 56-yarder against Tennessee that wasn’t remotely close.
Fielding nailed both of his field goals against Oregon on Wednesday night, including a 46-yarder to start the second quarter that tied his career-long. It had to feel good for the junior to see a few go through the uprights, and it could prove valuable for Fielding to have found a little confidence as Ohio State continues its College Football Playoff run.
Middle Eight
Ohio State was in control from the opening kickoff, but they had a bit of a lapse in focus in the ‘middle eight’ of the game. The middle eight spans from the last four minutes of the first half to the first four minutes of the second half. Coaches will always tell you that winning this stretch of a game goes a long way towards winning the game itself, but that isn’t always the case when you find yourself in a 34-point hole.
That being said, Oregon definitely won the middle eight of the Rose Bowl. The Ducks executed a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive as time expired in the second quarter, culminating in a Dillon Gabriel touchdown pass to Traeshon Holden and a two-point conversion to make it 34-8. Oregon then scored on its opening possession of the third quarter — an 11-play, 75-yard drive — to cut the deficit to 34-15. Suddenly, it was three-score game with basically still two full quarters left to play.
Ohio State didn’t do itself any favors with a quick three-and-out to follow, but the Buckeyes’ defense was able to stand strong and force a punt on the Ducks’ ensuing possession after back-to-back sacks by Sawyer and Simon. TreVeyon Henderson scored one of his two touchdowns on Ohio State’s next drive, and from there order had been restored, but things felt a little shaky for a bit there with Oregon creeping back into it.
Third-and-Long
Speaking of that third quarter touchdown drive for Oregon, it was only possible after Ohio State’s defense failed to get off the field facing a third-and-22. After Noah Whittington ran for no gain on first down, Gabriel was sacked by Sawer on second down to set up the third-and-forever. The Ducks’ QB was able to escape the pocket and find Justius Lowe along the sideline for a 21-yard gain to lead to a fourth-and-1, which Gabriel picked up on a short keeper.
It was one of a few long third downs the Buckeyes failed to stop, including a 3rd-and-16 play that netted 44 yards on Oregon’s first touchdown drive. In fact, all three of the Ducks’ scoring drives included long third down conversions, with Gabriel finding Holden again for a 27-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-13 in the fourth quarter.
It’s tough to complain much about anything Ohio State’s defense did on Wednesday, but you can’t allow great offenses like Oregon’s — and next, Texas — to stay on the field after pushing them backwards on first and second town.
Officiating (again)
It feels silly to complain about officiating after a 20-point victory over the No. 1 team in the country, but the crew in Pasadena was just flat out awful. There wasn’t one specific call that changed the outcome of the game, but Ohio State’s defenders were being held egregiously throughout the contest without a single flag being thrown. Conversely, the Buckeyes’ offensive line was flagged for holding on a play that looked to be a clean pancake block.
This is nothing new for Ohio State, as it has not seen an opponent called for holding since the first quarter against Marshall back on Sept. 21. The Buckeyes went through the entirety of Big Ten play — and now two CFP games — without even so much as a single penalty called on the opposing offensive line for holding. Some of the worst examples on Wednesday night were against Jack Sawyer, who has not seen an offensive lineman called for holding against him since September of 2021 (that is a REAL stat, not hyperbole).
Ohio State’s defense still managed to rack up eight sacks despite being hugged and held all night, but it's at the point where it's no longer just a statical anomaly. Im not quite sure what the Buckeyes are doing so as to not draw holding penalties, but it's become a frustrating trend that could eventually prove costly if not rectified.
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 Harry How/Getty Images
The Buckeyes dominated the Ducks in the Rose Bowl.
We weren’t too far removed from Ohio State’s puzzling loss to Michigan, but the Buckeyes’ dominant victory over Tennessee showed everyone what this team could be when they’re playing their best football. The big question heading into the Rose Bowl was whether or not they would be able to maintain that level of play against the No. 1 team in the country — one that they had already lost to earlier this season.
The answer to that question was emphatic, as Ohio State built up an astonishing 34-0 lead over Oregon and coasted to a 41-21 victory to end the Ducks’ undefeated season. Ryan Day deserved a lot of the criticism following the loss to the Wolverines, but now deserves a ton of praise for getting this team back on the right path, as the Buckeyes are now only two wins away from a national title.
Here is the good, the bad and the ugly from Ohio State’s victory over Oregon.
The Good
Jeremiah Smith/Will Howard
“Good” isn’t nearly strong enough an adjective to describe Jeremiah Smith and what he has done for Ohio State in these first two College Football Playoff games. The freshman’s 103 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Tennessee was only an appetizer for his performance against Oregon, completely dismantling the Ducks’ defense to the tune of seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith wouldn’t be able to get the ball in his hands without a good quarterback, and Will Howard himself has been spectacular in these two postseason games as well. After having one of his best games of the year against Oregon in the regular season — one that ended with an infamous slide as time expired — he matched it with another big showing at the Rose Bowl, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns without a single turnover.
The two were instrumental in Ohio State’s success in Pasadena. Smith, especially, was completely un-guardable the entire game, and was a go-to guy whenever the Buckeyes needed to pick up yards in a pinch — or when they wanted an easy 40-yard touchdown. The five-star phenom was Howard’s favorite target, but he also helped open things up for other guys like Emeka Egbuka, who had a great game in his own right with five catches for 72 yards and a score.
Fast Starts
There was so much talk during the regular season about Ohio State getting off to slow starts. On far too many occasions the Buckeyes allowed their opponents to dictate the flow of the game, playing a slower tempo and letting less talented teams drain the clock and limit their offensive possessions. That script has completely flipped in the postseason, as Ryan Day and Chip Kelly have come out as the aggressor with huge success.
In both of Ohio State’s College Football Playoff matchups, the Buckeyes’ offense put up an avalanche of points immediately out of the gate, putting their opponents behind the eight ball and on their heels the rest of the way. Against Tennessee, it was a 21-0 lead in Columbus with still 3:27 to play in the first quarter. Then, against Oregon, the Buckeyes piled up a 31-0 lead early in the second quarter, expanding that lead as far as 34-0 before the Ducks even got on the scoreboard.
Defense
There was a clear turning point in the season for Ohio State’s defense after that October loss to Oregon. Following another defeat that saw the Buckeyes fail to get pressure on the opposing quarterback, Larry Johnson was finally forced to cede his control of the defensive line, and the reigns of the entire defensive unit as one cohesive group were handed over to Jim Knowles for really the first time in his Ohio State tenure.
The change has led to drastic improvement, and we’ve since seen a complete overhaul of the Silver Bullets and what they are capable of.
In that first meeting with the Ducks, the Buckeyes recorded zero sacks and only two tackles for loss. On Wednesday night, Ohio State EIGHT sacks and 13 (!!) tackles for loss. It was a huge game for many of the seniors on this team, including Jack Sawyer, Cody Simon and J.T. Tuimoloau, all of whom were credited with two sacks apiece. Simon was named the defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl with a game-high 11 tackles, three tackles for loss and a PBU on top of his pair of sacks.
Overall, it was an incredibly impressive display from a defense that allowed 32 points and almost 500 yards of offense to the same Oregon team back in October. This time, the Ducks finished with 276 total yards, including -23 (yes, negative 23) yards rushing.
Jayden Fielding
While it was overshadowed by the rest of Ohio State’s incredible performances on offense and defense, Jayden Fielding deserves a shoutout for his contributions. It has been a rough go for the Buckeyes’ kicker, with a very poor showing in the Michigan game and then a missed 56-yarder against Tennessee that wasn’t remotely close.
Fielding nailed both of his field goals against Oregon on Wednesday night, including a 46-yarder to start the second quarter that tied his career-long. It had to feel good for the junior to see a few go through the uprights, and it could prove valuable for Fielding to have found a little confidence as Ohio State continues its College Football Playoff run.
The Bad
Middle Eight
Ohio State was in control from the opening kickoff, but they had a bit of a lapse in focus in the ‘middle eight’ of the game. The middle eight spans from the last four minutes of the first half to the first four minutes of the second half. Coaches will always tell you that winning this stretch of a game goes a long way towards winning the game itself, but that isn’t always the case when you find yourself in a 34-point hole.
That being said, Oregon definitely won the middle eight of the Rose Bowl. The Ducks executed a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive as time expired in the second quarter, culminating in a Dillon Gabriel touchdown pass to Traeshon Holden and a two-point conversion to make it 34-8. Oregon then scored on its opening possession of the third quarter — an 11-play, 75-yard drive — to cut the deficit to 34-15. Suddenly, it was three-score game with basically still two full quarters left to play.
Ohio State didn’t do itself any favors with a quick three-and-out to follow, but the Buckeyes’ defense was able to stand strong and force a punt on the Ducks’ ensuing possession after back-to-back sacks by Sawyer and Simon. TreVeyon Henderson scored one of his two touchdowns on Ohio State’s next drive, and from there order had been restored, but things felt a little shaky for a bit there with Oregon creeping back into it.
Third-and-Long
Speaking of that third quarter touchdown drive for Oregon, it was only possible after Ohio State’s defense failed to get off the field facing a third-and-22. After Noah Whittington ran for no gain on first down, Gabriel was sacked by Sawer on second down to set up the third-and-forever. The Ducks’ QB was able to escape the pocket and find Justius Lowe along the sideline for a 21-yard gain to lead to a fourth-and-1, which Gabriel picked up on a short keeper.
It was one of a few long third downs the Buckeyes failed to stop, including a 3rd-and-16 play that netted 44 yards on Oregon’s first touchdown drive. In fact, all three of the Ducks’ scoring drives included long third down conversions, with Gabriel finding Holden again for a 27-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-13 in the fourth quarter.
It’s tough to complain much about anything Ohio State’s defense did on Wednesday, but you can’t allow great offenses like Oregon’s — and next, Texas — to stay on the field after pushing them backwards on first and second town.
The Ugly
Officiating (again)
It feels silly to complain about officiating after a 20-point victory over the No. 1 team in the country, but the crew in Pasadena was just flat out awful. There wasn’t one specific call that changed the outcome of the game, but Ohio State’s defenders were being held egregiously throughout the contest without a single flag being thrown. Conversely, the Buckeyes’ offensive line was flagged for holding on a play that looked to be a clean pancake block.
This is nothing new for Ohio State, as it has not seen an opponent called for holding since the first quarter against Marshall back on Sept. 21. The Buckeyes went through the entirety of Big Ten play — and now two CFP games — without even so much as a single penalty called on the opposing offensive line for holding. Some of the worst examples on Wednesday night were against Jack Sawyer, who has not seen an offensive lineman called for holding against him since September of 2021 (that is a REAL stat, not hyperbole).
Ohio State’s defense still managed to rack up eight sacks despite being hugged and held all night, but it's at the point where it's no longer just a statical anomaly. Im not quite sure what the Buckeyes are doing so as to not draw holding penalties, but it's become a frustrating trend that could eventually prove costly if not rectified.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State’s dominant Rose Bowl showing not only keeps its goals alive, but helps in recruiting too
- News
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Ohio State’s dominant Rose Bowl showing not only keeps its goals alive, but helps in recruiting too
Caleb Houser 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 showed out in front of millions watching in person and on television, proving how powerful their brand really is.
Rose Bowl champions has an incredible ring to it, and while the job is only half way finished, you cannot say enough about how stellar Wednesday’s game against Oregon was — and the previous game against Tennessee too, for that matter.
An Ohio State team that is clicking in all three phases of the game and seemingly peaking at the right time, Ryan Day and this coaching staff have to be praised for the work they are doing to prepare a team that is hitting their stride at the perfect point of the season. A credit to the players as well, of course, they are responding in a way that this fanbase dreamt of seeing, but I’m not sure anyone could have predicted or expected the team to look this good.
Either way, Texas is now on the clock, and there’s not a single team right now that has to be wanting to see this Ohio State squad if the current trends continue.
The most exciting piece to winning the Rose Bowl is being able to play on and keep their ultimate goals of a national title alive, but there’s another area that has to be mentioned as well because of the importance it has on the overall state of the program: Recruiting.
When a team looks as good as the Buckeyes have and are playing once again on the national stage, commanding all of the attention as they tend to do, recruiting has to come to mind. Not only with the top prep targets this staff is after, but the transfer portal targets as well, the Buckeyes are showing why Columbus can be the best place to spend your college career.
It’s no secret the power of Ohio State’s football brand. The Buckeyes are routinely atop of the college football landscape when it comes to viewership for their games. Certainly the opponent matters in many cases for sure, but it’s no secret as to why FOX continued slating the Buckeyes in their Big Noon Kickoff, and why many times Ohio State is the premier televised game of the day.
This program is always being watched, and whether it be by their massive fanbase or even their haters, all eyes are on Ohio State more times than not. Last night was no different, and you better believe top high school prospects from around the country saw what the Buckeyes did to Oregon and had to come away rather impressed.
A tip of the cap to Oregon, they had some sort of momentum streak going for them through signing day with how much NIL money they have backing their program. While that won’t change thanks to Phil Knight and Nike, beating them on the field is one way to help your cause when many of these recruiting battles are literally going head-to-head with the Ducks.
Dan Lanning is a heck of a recruiter, and honestly a very good football coach, so Oregon isn’t going to go away easy, but last night helped the Buckeyes keep their brand at an all-time high and show they’re not just going to hand over control of the Big Ten to the Ducks.
Seeing the Buckeyes lose five-star corner Na’eem Offord to Oregon on signing day, this win has to make the staff feel great about where they can go from here when it comes to pitching their program in recruiting battles against Oregon. In addition, thinking of in-state safety Trey McNutt and of course Dorian Brew, these are all players Ohio State was seriously in the mix for. Whether it was a “loss” or not, Oregon signed each one of them, showing there’s a real threat in the conference for top targets the Buckeyes want.
Down the road, Ohio State sits in great position for several of their key in-state 2026 targets, but recently even Elbert Hill has taken to his social media to share Oregon related posts. The No. 1 player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite in the next cycle, seeing Ohio State’s secondary lock down the Oregon passing attack basically all night shows the a player like Hill that he can stay right at home to be developed and can compete at the highest of levels if he chooses Ohio State in the end.
Several more examples could be pointed out, but the point is this: Ohio State winning head-to-head on the field means at least something in recruiting.
It’s shocking to believe he has two more collegiate seasons before he’s even draft eligible, but Jeremiah Smith continues to be the best receiver in the country at just 19 years old. The best true freshman I have watched in my lifetime, the performances he and his fellow teammates are putting out show this staff is right where it needs to be developing their players for the highest level of the game. That matters maybe more than anything when it comes to recruiting.
Not just with freshmen either, this team is improving its play, and that’s development at its finest. Seeing the play from guys like Cody Simon is a testament to his position coach, and tonight the old chatter of the Buckeyes not being able to pass rush was put to rest for the second game in a row. If you don’t think that matters to recruiting prep and transfer portal targets, I have some ocean front property in Ohio I would like to sell you.
Not to be forgotten, the offensive line play has to be discussed. A unit that is missing arguably it’s two best players, Justin Frye has had his dudes ready,. Sure, he can take some heat for recruiting misses — and Lord knows I’ve said it myself too — but he deserves recognition for the way his guys are playing right now. To me, that preaches he can develop his guys, and may just be the aspect he needed most to start winning these top national offensive tackle targets.
Without getting to rambling on much more, this win needs to be celebrated. Hopefully it is just one of two more games this team can win to achieve greatness as national champions.
A national title can do wonders for a football program in any and every aspect. It’s been a while since Ohio State has hoisted that trophy, and they really haven’t suffered much when it comes to recruiting or anything else hindering their goals to be one of the best programs annually.
The Buckeyes have two more games to go, and that’s not lost on me, but if you think about recruiting for just a moment and what these two games are telling recruits, it’s nothing but positive.
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Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The Buckeyes showed out in front of millions watching in person and on television, proving how powerful their brand really is.
Rose Bowl champions has an incredible ring to it, and while the job is only half way finished, you cannot say enough about how stellar Wednesday’s game against Oregon was — and the previous game against Tennessee too, for that matter.
An Ohio State team that is clicking in all three phases of the game and seemingly peaking at the right time, Ryan Day and this coaching staff have to be praised for the work they are doing to prepare a team that is hitting their stride at the perfect point of the season. A credit to the players as well, of course, they are responding in a way that this fanbase dreamt of seeing, but I’m not sure anyone could have predicted or expected the team to look this good.
Either way, Texas is now on the clock, and there’s not a single team right now that has to be wanting to see this Ohio State squad if the current trends continue.
The most exciting piece to winning the Rose Bowl is being able to play on and keep their ultimate goals of a national title alive, but there’s another area that has to be mentioned as well because of the importance it has on the overall state of the program: Recruiting.
When a team looks as good as the Buckeyes have and are playing once again on the national stage, commanding all of the attention as they tend to do, recruiting has to come to mind. Not only with the top prep targets this staff is after, but the transfer portal targets as well, the Buckeyes are showing why Columbus can be the best place to spend your college career.
All eyes on Ohio State
It’s no secret the power of Ohio State’s football brand. The Buckeyes are routinely atop of the college football landscape when it comes to viewership for their games. Certainly the opponent matters in many cases for sure, but it’s no secret as to why FOX continued slating the Buckeyes in their Big Noon Kickoff, and why many times Ohio State is the premier televised game of the day.
This program is always being watched, and whether it be by their massive fanbase or even their haters, all eyes are on Ohio State more times than not. Last night was no different, and you better believe top high school prospects from around the country saw what the Buckeyes did to Oregon and had to come away rather impressed.
A tip of the cap to Oregon, they had some sort of momentum streak going for them through signing day with how much NIL money they have backing their program. While that won’t change thanks to Phil Knight and Nike, beating them on the field is one way to help your cause when many of these recruiting battles are literally going head-to-head with the Ducks.
Dan Lanning is a heck of a recruiter, and honestly a very good football coach, so Oregon isn’t going to go away easy, but last night helped the Buckeyes keep their brand at an all-time high and show they’re not just going to hand over control of the Big Ten to the Ducks.
Seeing the Buckeyes lose five-star corner Na’eem Offord to Oregon on signing day, this win has to make the staff feel great about where they can go from here when it comes to pitching their program in recruiting battles against Oregon. In addition, thinking of in-state safety Trey McNutt and of course Dorian Brew, these are all players Ohio State was seriously in the mix for. Whether it was a “loss” or not, Oregon signed each one of them, showing there’s a real threat in the conference for top targets the Buckeyes want.
Down the road, Ohio State sits in great position for several of their key in-state 2026 targets, but recently even Elbert Hill has taken to his social media to share Oregon related posts. The No. 1 player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite in the next cycle, seeing Ohio State’s secondary lock down the Oregon passing attack basically all night shows the a player like Hill that he can stay right at home to be developed and can compete at the highest of levels if he chooses Ohio State in the end.
Several more examples could be pointed out, but the point is this: Ohio State winning head-to-head on the field means at least something in recruiting.
The stars showing out in Scarlet & Gray
It’s shocking to believe he has two more collegiate seasons before he’s even draft eligible, but Jeremiah Smith continues to be the best receiver in the country at just 19 years old. The best true freshman I have watched in my lifetime, the performances he and his fellow teammates are putting out show this staff is right where it needs to be developing their players for the highest level of the game. That matters maybe more than anything when it comes to recruiting.
Not just with freshmen either, this team is improving its play, and that’s development at its finest. Seeing the play from guys like Cody Simon is a testament to his position coach, and tonight the old chatter of the Buckeyes not being able to pass rush was put to rest for the second game in a row. If you don’t think that matters to recruiting prep and transfer portal targets, I have some ocean front property in Ohio I would like to sell you.
Not to be forgotten, the offensive line play has to be discussed. A unit that is missing arguably it’s two best players, Justin Frye has had his dudes ready,. Sure, he can take some heat for recruiting misses — and Lord knows I’ve said it myself too — but he deserves recognition for the way his guys are playing right now. To me, that preaches he can develop his guys, and may just be the aspect he needed most to start winning these top national offensive tackle targets.
Without getting to rambling on much more, this win needs to be celebrated. Hopefully it is just one of two more games this team can win to achieve greatness as national champions.
A national title can do wonders for a football program in any and every aspect. It’s been a while since Ohio State has hoisted that trophy, and they really haven’t suffered much when it comes to recruiting or anything else hindering their goals to be one of the best programs annually.
The Buckeyes have two more games to go, and that’s not lost on me, but if you think about recruiting for just a moment and what these two games are telling recruits, it’s nothing but positive.
Continue reading...
Game Thread CFP Playoff Cotton Bowl, tOSU vs Texas, Fri. Jan. 10th, 7:30 ET on ESPN
- By BB73
- 2024 Football Season Capsule
- 2714 Replies
