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LGHL MC&J: Predictions for the final set of bowl games outside the College Football Playoff
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MC&J: Predictions for the final set of bowl games outside the College Football Playoff
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 Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Starting with today’s ReliaQuest Bowl, there are only eight non-CFP bowl games left this season.
Bowl record ATS: 18-13 (16-9 National, 2-4 B1G)
Season ATS: 142-128 (68-63 National, 74-65 B1G)
ReliaQuest Bowl: No. 11 Alabama (-12.5) v. Michigan - Tuesday 12/31 12:00 p.m. - ESPN
Two teams that met on the first day of 2024 will close out the year. A lot has changed for both programs since the Rose Bowl on January 1st. Nick Saban retired, Jim Harbaugh is now coaching in the NFL, leaving a coaching matchup between Kalen DeBoer and Sherrone Moore.
While there were some that thought Alabama deserved a spot in this year’s playoff, Michigan never really came close to contending to be part of the 12-team field. Despite entering the game with just a 7-5 record, all the Wolverines really care about is the 13-10 victory over Ohio State in Columbus on the last day of November.
This game should be called the Opt-Out Bowl because of the number of players that won’t play in this game. Alabama will be without starting cornerback DeVonta Smith, who is in the transfer portal, and All-American safety Malachi Moore. The problem for Michigan is Davis Warren won’t have any help since running backs Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, as well as tight end Colston Loveland won’t play.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will also find things a little easier without having defensive linemen Mason Graham, Larry Grant, and Josiah Stewart breathing down his neck. The Crimson Tide get a little revenge for the overtime loss in the Rose Bowl they suffered.
Alabama 27, Michigan 10
Sun Bowl: Louisville (-2.5) v. Washington - Tuesday 12/31 2:00 p.m. - CBS
The Cardinals and Huskies will both be starting new quarterbacks for different reasons in the Sun Bowl.
Louisville’s Tyler Shough has opted out of this game to prepare for the NFL Draft, while Washington’s Will Rogers was benched prior to the Oregon game in favor of freshman Demond Williams Jr., since head coach Jedd Fisch wants to see what he has in the young quarterback ahead of the 2025 season. Williams should have a better handle on the offense in this game with the extra bowl practices.
Louisville may have finished the season with an 8-4 record, but they didn’t really impress me all that much. I could see the Cardinals mailing it in since they’ll be missing so many key pieces in this game, while the Huskies will want to finish the season strong and create a little bit of momentum for the 2025 season, especially after running back Jonah Coleman announced he would be returning to Seattle next season.
Washington 28, Louisville 20
Citrus Bowl: No. 15 South Carolina (-10.5) v. No. 20 Illinois - Tuesday 12/31 3:00 p.m. - ABC
When I first saw this line I expected to see something like Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer was opting out of this game. Altmyer will play, but will be without top receiver Pat Bryant, who entered the transfer portal after the regular season.
I still think this line is pretty disrespectful to Illinois, who will be looking for their first 10-win season since 2001. Bret Bielema is going to have his team hungry to snap a three-game bowl losing streak.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25811159/2187603349.jpg "Illinois v Northwestern")
Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images
If we are talking about an SEC team that should have made the playoff, I think it should have been South Carolina, who is one of the hottest teams in the country. The Gamecocks have won six straight games, with their last victory being a comeback win over in-state rival Clemson.
While quarterback LaNorris Sellers will be playing on New Year’s Eve, running back Rocket Sanders and defensive end Kyle Kennard won’t suit up. South Carolina wins this game, I just feel like the Fighting Illini are going to provide some resistance in Orlando.
South Carolina 31, Illinois 24
Texas Bowl: Baylor (-3.5) v. LSU - Tuesday 12/31 3:30 p.m. - ESPN
I feel like Baylor head coach Dave Aranda and LSU’s Brian Kelly should come dressed in some ridiculous outfit like women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, since she coached at both schools. Something like that would be perfect for Kelly since he loves to stick his foot in his mouth, just like Mulkey. Aranda, a former LSU defensive coordinator, is just a bald dude that is sort of there on the sidelines, so I don’t really have as much disdain for him.
When it comes to the actual football that will be played in this game, this isn’t quite the dominant LSU team that we have become used to recently. Garrett Nussmeier is an exciting quarterback, but he will be without a number of weapons. Wide receiver Kyren Lacy and tight end Mason Taylor won’t play in this game.
Baylor doesn’t have any notable opt-outs from a team that won their last six games of the regular season. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson attacks a soft LSU defense and leads the Bears to the win in an exciting game ahead of the first CFP quarterfinal to close out 2024.
Baylor 38, LSU 28
Gator Bowl: Duke v. No. 14 Ole Miss (-17.5) - Thursday 1/2 7:30 p.m. - ESPN
David Cutcliffe should be special guest referee or grand marshal for this game since he coached at both Ole Miss and Duke. Even though the schools have shared a head coach, they have never shared the field before, as this will be the first meeting between the programs.
Speaking of head coaches, I wonder how close to kickoff Lane Kiffin will have a crybaby tweet about the playoff and how his team isn’t in it. It seems like Kiffin has been focusing on every game but his team’s own game lately.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25811162/2187736955.jpg "Missisippi State v Ole Miss")
Photo by Wes Hale/Getty Images
If we’re being serious, Kiffin probably doesn’t have to put much into a game plan for Duke since the Blue Devils will be without starting quarterback Maalik Murphy, who is headed to Oregon State, as well as his backup quarterback. Taking the snaps for Duke will be Henry Belin IV, who has thrown one pass in his career. Talk about a quarterback mismatch since Ole Miss will trot out Jaxson Dart.
Kiffin and Dart take out some of their frustrations on a Duke squad that will struggle mightily to move the football.
Ole Miss 34, Duke 13
First Responder Bowl: North Texas v. Texas State (-13.5) - Friday 1/3 4:00 p.m. - ESPN
It feels like we are being cheated a bit in this game since North Texas quarterback Chandler Morris won’t play after hitting the transfer portal and committing to Virginia, while Texas State’s Jordan McCloud likely won’t play much on Friday. The two quarterbacks combined to throw 60 touchdowns this season.
Along with Morris, North Texas will be without top receiver DT Sheffield, who is headed to Rutgers. Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi is also on the move as well, with Arizona his home for the 2025 season. Will the last one left for this game turn out the lights when you’re done?
I guess I’ll ride with Texas State here since McCloud could play a little bit, and they don’t have a walk-on true freshman quarterback starting.
Texas State 37, North Texas 17
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Minnesota (-7.5) v. Virginia Tech - Friday 1/3 7:30 p.m. - ESPN
How great would it be to see mayo dumped on P.J. Fleck’s head? I want Minnesota to win just to see how Fleck would try and weasel his way out of it. If the Golden Gophers win, they should just sneak attack him with the mayo bucket since Fleck is always so put together with what he wears on the sidelines.
At least to Fleck’s credit, it doesn’t sound like Minnesota has many opt-outs for this game, aside from offensive lineman Phillip Daniels, who is coming to Ohio State.
The same can’t be said for Virginia Tech. Quarterback Kyron Drones likely won’t play due to injury, and by the time the game starts the Hokies could be down at least 10 starters. Not a good recipe against a Minnesota team that can grind down teams at full strength. Brent Pry is just treading water in Blacksburg and this game won’t change that.
Minnesota 31, Virginia Tech 14
Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo (-2.5) v. Liberty - Saturday 1/4 11:00 a.m. - ESPN2
Imagine being a Buffalo player and being told you are going to the Bahamas in early January. That would be about as close to winning a national title. I would know, since I spent the first 20 years of my life dealing with winters in Western New York. The Bulls closed the season strong, winning their last four games, scoring at least 37 points in each contest.
After making a New Year’s Six bowl last year, Liberty finished the regular season at 8-3. Quarterback Kaidon Salter wasn’t able to replicate the magic from 2023. Salter won’t play in this game since he already committed to Colorado after entering the transfer portal. For the Flames the Bahamas Bowl probably feels like a disappointment after playing in the Fiesta Bowl last year, while Buffalo will look to earn their ninth win in Pete Lembo’s first season as head coach.
Buffalo 27, Liberty 20
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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 Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Starting with today’s ReliaQuest Bowl, there are only eight non-CFP bowl games left this season.
Bowl record ATS: 18-13 (16-9 National, 2-4 B1G)
Season ATS: 142-128 (68-63 National, 74-65 B1G)
Non-CFP bowl games 12/31 - 1/4
ReliaQuest Bowl: No. 11 Alabama (-12.5) v. Michigan - Tuesday 12/31 12:00 p.m. - ESPN
Two teams that met on the first day of 2024 will close out the year. A lot has changed for both programs since the Rose Bowl on January 1st. Nick Saban retired, Jim Harbaugh is now coaching in the NFL, leaving a coaching matchup between Kalen DeBoer and Sherrone Moore.
While there were some that thought Alabama deserved a spot in this year’s playoff, Michigan never really came close to contending to be part of the 12-team field. Despite entering the game with just a 7-5 record, all the Wolverines really care about is the 13-10 victory over Ohio State in Columbus on the last day of November.
This game should be called the Opt-Out Bowl because of the number of players that won’t play in this game. Alabama will be without starting cornerback DeVonta Smith, who is in the transfer portal, and All-American safety Malachi Moore. The problem for Michigan is Davis Warren won’t have any help since running backs Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, as well as tight end Colston Loveland won’t play.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will also find things a little easier without having defensive linemen Mason Graham, Larry Grant, and Josiah Stewart breathing down his neck. The Crimson Tide get a little revenge for the overtime loss in the Rose Bowl they suffered.
Alabama 27, Michigan 10
Sun Bowl: Louisville (-2.5) v. Washington - Tuesday 12/31 2:00 p.m. - CBS
The Cardinals and Huskies will both be starting new quarterbacks for different reasons in the Sun Bowl.
Louisville’s Tyler Shough has opted out of this game to prepare for the NFL Draft, while Washington’s Will Rogers was benched prior to the Oregon game in favor of freshman Demond Williams Jr., since head coach Jedd Fisch wants to see what he has in the young quarterback ahead of the 2025 season. Williams should have a better handle on the offense in this game with the extra bowl practices.
Louisville may have finished the season with an 8-4 record, but they didn’t really impress me all that much. I could see the Cardinals mailing it in since they’ll be missing so many key pieces in this game, while the Huskies will want to finish the season strong and create a little bit of momentum for the 2025 season, especially after running back Jonah Coleman announced he would be returning to Seattle next season.
Washington 28, Louisville 20
Citrus Bowl: No. 15 South Carolina (-10.5) v. No. 20 Illinois - Tuesday 12/31 3:00 p.m. - ABC
When I first saw this line I expected to see something like Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer was opting out of this game. Altmyer will play, but will be without top receiver Pat Bryant, who entered the transfer portal after the regular season.
I still think this line is pretty disrespectful to Illinois, who will be looking for their first 10-win season since 2001. Bret Bielema is going to have his team hungry to snap a three-game bowl losing streak.
If we are talking about an SEC team that should have made the playoff, I think it should have been South Carolina, who is one of the hottest teams in the country. The Gamecocks have won six straight games, with their last victory being a comeback win over in-state rival Clemson.
While quarterback LaNorris Sellers will be playing on New Year’s Eve, running back Rocket Sanders and defensive end Kyle Kennard won’t suit up. South Carolina wins this game, I just feel like the Fighting Illini are going to provide some resistance in Orlando.
South Carolina 31, Illinois 24
Texas Bowl: Baylor (-3.5) v. LSU - Tuesday 12/31 3:30 p.m. - ESPN
I feel like Baylor head coach Dave Aranda and LSU’s Brian Kelly should come dressed in some ridiculous outfit like women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, since she coached at both schools. Something like that would be perfect for Kelly since he loves to stick his foot in his mouth, just like Mulkey. Aranda, a former LSU defensive coordinator, is just a bald dude that is sort of there on the sidelines, so I don’t really have as much disdain for him.
When it comes to the actual football that will be played in this game, this isn’t quite the dominant LSU team that we have become used to recently. Garrett Nussmeier is an exciting quarterback, but he will be without a number of weapons. Wide receiver Kyren Lacy and tight end Mason Taylor won’t play in this game.
Baylor doesn’t have any notable opt-outs from a team that won their last six games of the regular season. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson attacks a soft LSU defense and leads the Bears to the win in an exciting game ahead of the first CFP quarterfinal to close out 2024.
Baylor 38, LSU 28
Gator Bowl: Duke v. No. 14 Ole Miss (-17.5) - Thursday 1/2 7:30 p.m. - ESPN
David Cutcliffe should be special guest referee or grand marshal for this game since he coached at both Ole Miss and Duke. Even though the schools have shared a head coach, they have never shared the field before, as this will be the first meeting between the programs.
Speaking of head coaches, I wonder how close to kickoff Lane Kiffin will have a crybaby tweet about the playoff and how his team isn’t in it. It seems like Kiffin has been focusing on every game but his team’s own game lately.
If we’re being serious, Kiffin probably doesn’t have to put much into a game plan for Duke since the Blue Devils will be without starting quarterback Maalik Murphy, who is headed to Oregon State, as well as his backup quarterback. Taking the snaps for Duke will be Henry Belin IV, who has thrown one pass in his career. Talk about a quarterback mismatch since Ole Miss will trot out Jaxson Dart.
Kiffin and Dart take out some of their frustrations on a Duke squad that will struggle mightily to move the football.
Ole Miss 34, Duke 13
First Responder Bowl: North Texas v. Texas State (-13.5) - Friday 1/3 4:00 p.m. - ESPN
It feels like we are being cheated a bit in this game since North Texas quarterback Chandler Morris won’t play after hitting the transfer portal and committing to Virginia, while Texas State’s Jordan McCloud likely won’t play much on Friday. The two quarterbacks combined to throw 60 touchdowns this season.
Along with Morris, North Texas will be without top receiver DT Sheffield, who is headed to Rutgers. Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi is also on the move as well, with Arizona his home for the 2025 season. Will the last one left for this game turn out the lights when you’re done?
I guess I’ll ride with Texas State here since McCloud could play a little bit, and they don’t have a walk-on true freshman quarterback starting.
Texas State 37, North Texas 17
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Minnesota (-7.5) v. Virginia Tech - Friday 1/3 7:30 p.m. - ESPN
How great would it be to see mayo dumped on P.J. Fleck’s head? I want Minnesota to win just to see how Fleck would try and weasel his way out of it. If the Golden Gophers win, they should just sneak attack him with the mayo bucket since Fleck is always so put together with what he wears on the sidelines.
At least to Fleck’s credit, it doesn’t sound like Minnesota has many opt-outs for this game, aside from offensive lineman Phillip Daniels, who is coming to Ohio State.
The same can’t be said for Virginia Tech. Quarterback Kyron Drones likely won’t play due to injury, and by the time the game starts the Hokies could be down at least 10 starters. Not a good recipe against a Minnesota team that can grind down teams at full strength. Brent Pry is just treading water in Blacksburg and this game won’t change that.
Minnesota 31, Virginia Tech 14
Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo (-2.5) v. Liberty - Saturday 1/4 11:00 a.m. - ESPN2
Imagine being a Buffalo player and being told you are going to the Bahamas in early January. That would be about as close to winning a national title. I would know, since I spent the first 20 years of my life dealing with winters in Western New York. The Bulls closed the season strong, winning their last four games, scoring at least 37 points in each contest.
After making a New Year’s Six bowl last year, Liberty finished the regular season at 8-3. Quarterback Kaidon Salter wasn’t able to replicate the magic from 2023. Salter won’t play in this game since he already committed to Colorado after entering the transfer portal. For the Flames the Bahamas Bowl probably feels like a disappointment after playing in the Fiesta Bowl last year, while Buffalo will look to earn their ninth win in Pete Lembo’s first season as head coach.
Buffalo 27, Liberty 20
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LGHL Five key factors for Ohio State to beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl
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Five key factors for Ohio State to beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
As it did with Tennessee it all comes down to whether or not we get Turtle Ryan Day or Dark Ryan Day
On Saturday, Oct. 12, the Ohio State Buckeyes ventured across the country to take on the Oregon Ducks. On Wednesday, Jan. 1, Ryan Day’s Buckeyes will once again head to the West Coast to face Dan Lanning’s Ducks, but this time the marquee matchup will not be in Eugene, Oregon, but instead it will be in the most picturesque setting in all of sports, the Rose Bowl.
In the first meeting between the teams this season, Oregon won 32-31 in a sloppy, but thrilling game. Although the Ducks are undefeated and already hold a victory over the Buckeyes, it is the Scarlet and Gray that come into the College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup as the favorites. The defensive adjustments that coordinator Jim Knowles has employed following the loss in Eugene, and the rediscovered offensive aggression and creativity seen in the first-round win over Tennessee, have many football fans, analysts, and bettors across the country jumping back on the Buckeye bandwagon.
Despite the surge in support for OSU, this game is clearly anything but a foregone conclusion. In many onlookers’ minds — myself included — the matchup will likely serve as the de facto national championship game between the two best teams in the country. So, I am going to break down the five key factors that I think will determine whether or not the Buckeyes advance to the CFP semifinals or lose to a team on multiple occassions in one season for the first time since falling to Marietta twice in 1898.
The biggest question for Ohio State all season has been the reliability and durability of its offensive line. Coming into the season, the unit was considered the weakest link on the team, and that was only exacerbated by the season-ending injuries to its two best players, left tackle Josh Simmons and center Seth McLaughlin.
But give credit to much-maligned offensive line coach Justin Frye and the backups in the room as OSU has cobbled together a unit that has played about as well as could be hoped for in recent weeks. With Donovan Jackson kicking out from left guard to left tackle and Carson Hinzman back as OSU’s starting center, the Buckeyes settled on a three-man rotation at guard for the game against the Volunteers and have said that they will again deploy Luke Montgomery, Austin Seireveld, and Tegra Tshabola at the two guard spots against the Ducks.
Against Tennessee, Ohio State did not give up a single sack and the three guards allowed only three combined quarterback pressures all game. In total, the Vols had seven tackles for loss, but they only amounted to 11 negative yards, and five of those yards (on three TFLs) came after the Buckeye starters had exited the game.
While the offensive line wasn’t perfect in the first-round contest — the three guards graded out far more favorably in run blocking than pass protection according to Pro Football Focus — when combined with Chip Kelly’s creative play calling, what was expected to be significant liability for OSU ended up being anything but.
If the Ohio State offensive line is able to continue to keep quarterback Will Howard clean — while also opening up holes for running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins — it will likely be very difficult for the Ducks to remain undefeated.
In the first meeting between Ohio State and Oregon, the Buckeye defense accounted for zero sacks and only two tackles for loss. While that looks like a complete failure by the defensive line — and it is — it is even more so a failure by Knowles and his staff. The game plan in Euegene put little emphasis on disrupting Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel hoping that the four down linemen would be able to beat Oregon’s five offensive linemen, tight ends, and any running backs staying in to block all on their own... that did not happen.
Instead, Gabriel — who went on to be a Heisman finalist — had a clean pocket on almost 64% of his 36 dropbacks, as the Buckeyes brought an extra defender just 13 times. Against those blitzes, the Oregon QB was 7-for-12 (58.3%) and when he wasn’t blitzed, he was 16-of-22 (72.7%). Gabriel is simply far too good of a quarterback to be given that much time.
However, since then, Knowles and company have admittedly “reengineered” the defense; not necessarily completely starting from scratch, but clearly bending what they had been doing to more closely resemble what Knowles did in his first season at Ohio State and during his tenure at Oklahoma State.
According to PFF, in the eight games since the loss in Eugene, the OSU defense has blitzed exactly 100 times. Those dropbacks have resulted in just 39 completions on 78 pass attempts, for a 50% completion percentage, almost exactly 10% better than on non-blitzed attempts.
While the increased blitzes have been very helpful to the OSU defense, that is not the only reason for the improved production. Knowles' playcalling has also ventured outside of the vanilla line-up-and-run-straight-ahead designs that plagued the unit against Oregon. Instead, we have seen far more creative calls that have allowed the front four to come from different positions and angles. There have been stunts, delays, and much more specifically designed to confuse opposing lines, and it has worked. Because of this, the defense hasn’t needed to blitz as much over the past few games as the defensive line — especially senior ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau — have been monstorously disruptive on their own.
Since the game in Eugene, Ohio State has not given up a single passing touchdown and has intercepted opposing offenses five times. In their first meeting, Gabriel was 23-of-34 for 341 yards and two touchdowns. If the Buckeyes want to neutralize Oregon’s elite quarterback, they will need to make things much more difficult for him in the pocket than they did the first time around.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25809812/usa_today_24477995.jpg "NCAA Football: Ohio State at Oregon")
Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
The major byproduct of the Buckeyes not being able to get pressure on Gabriel in the first meeting with Oregon was that OSU’s defensive backs were forced to be in coverage for far longer than they should ever have to be. In an absolutely disastrous performance, receivers being covered by Ohio State’s top cornerback Denzel Burke were targeted seven times, resulting in seven completions for a total of 162 yards and two touchdowns.
Wide receiver Evan Stewart was especially problematic for the Buckeyes accounting for 7 receptions, 149 yards, and 1 score on 8 targets (4 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD on 4 targets vs. Burke). Meanwhile, All-Big Ten Second Team WR Tez Johnson went for 75 yards and a TD on the day. Stewart and Johnson have thus far represented the No. 1 and No. 3 receiving performances against the Buckeyes this season, with the 92-yard day from Northwestern’s Bryce Kirtz coming in between them.
There is no way around it: Oct. 12 was a horrendous day for Burke and, therefore, for the Buckeyes. If Ohio State wants to keep its title hopes alive, it must get better play out of its corners on Wednesday.
While the increased pass rush mentioned previously will no doubt have an impact on the Buckeye DBs’ ability to lock up wide receivers, Knowles has also been experimenting more with the team’s corner rotation recently. Last week, the defensive coordinator said that he considers sophomore Jermain Mathews Jr. to be a starter, even if he is not on the field at the beginning of the game; currently starting alongside Burke is veteran Davison Igbinosun.
While getting burnt in coverage has not been the same type of problem for Igbinosun as it has been for Burke, the former Ole Miss Rebel has had his own bugaboo this season. The OSU corner has been flagged for 13 defensive penalties so far, routinely being called for defensive pass interference, often being in otherwise good position to make a play. Admittedly, Igbinosun has not been flagged at all over the past two games against Michigan and Tennessee, but against a talented and aggressive passing attack like Oregon’s, it very well could come into play again.
In obviously far less field time, Mathews Jr. has been reliable for the Buckeyes. He has been targeted by opposing quarterbacks 20 times this season, allowing only 11 receptions (55%) for 84 yards. Mathews has had over 25 snaps in five of OSU’s last seven games, so the youngster has been working his way up to this point, and it seems like he will be a part of the game plan on Wednesday.
I would imagine that should Burke find himself struggling to keep up in coverage, or Igbinosun getting handsy at inopportune times, Knowles and cornerback coach Tim Walton won’t be shy about putting Mathews out there for extended periods of time.
Ohio State has so many offensive weapons that it seems foolish and a little disrespectful to single one out as a key to victory. However, when that player is arguably the best true freshman in program history, I suppose we can make an exception.
Jeremiah Smith has obliterated all of Cris Carter’s freshman receiving records and has been an integral part of the OSU offense all season long. In the first game against Oregon, he was targeted 13 times and accounted for 100 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions. While that was one of his four games of 100 receiving yards or more, it was also the only time that he received double-digit targets. Since the loss in Eugene, he has not been targeted more than seven times.
Of course, there is a lot that goes into how many times a receiver is targeted, including how the opposing defense decides to cover him. Following that game, which was OSU’s sixth of the season, we saw far more bracket and double coverage against the freshman phenom, which will obviously limit the amount of times Howard throws his way. And — with other wide receivers like Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, not to mention tight end Gee Scott Jr. and TreVeyon Henderson out of the backfield — if a defensive coordinator makes it a point to double up Smith, OSU will happily take one of their other stars in single coverage.
However, the Buckeyes’ first-round CFP game brought a new wrinkle into the Jeremiah Smith Equation that should make it more attractive to throw his way. During the regular season, Smith lined up in the slot just 39 times — 12.4% of the time — but against the Volunteers, he was inside 14 times or 41.2% of his snaps. While the receiver was only targeted seven times on the game, he did have six catches (the one incompletion was the blatant, uncalled pass interference that led to a questionable interception in the end zone) for 103 yards and a touchdown. His 85.7% completion percentage was tied for this highest mark on the season.
So, having the best wide receiver in the country lining up both inside and outside obviously had a positive impact on his stat line, but it also helped his quarterback. Howard arguably had the best game of his collegiate career, going 24-of-29 for 311 yards, 2 touchdowns, and that 1 shoddy interception. His 82.8% completion percentage was his sixth time at 80% or above this season, and his second-highest behind his 21-of-25 showing against Iowa.
Additionally, Egbuka had 81 yards receiving, Henderson had 54, and Scott had 39, leading to what I think was easily the most impressive Buckeye passing performances since C.J. Stroud was wearing scarlet and gray.
Now clearly Lanning and his staff will be well-prepared for Smith to line up in the slot on Wednesday, but there is only so much that you can do to a) shut down the best receiver in the game and b) contend with the greatest compliment of weapons in the sport.
I am a firm believer that unless you are just head-and-shoulders physically better than your opponent, variety and creativity is the best tool you have to be successful in football. So, if Ohio State wants to continue its impressive offensive output against Oregon, it needs to not only get the ball to Jeremiah Smith as many times as possible, but it also needs to make the Ducks’ defense think about how to contend with him in as many unusual ways it can. Hell, I would not be opposed to Smith lining up in the backfield or even taking a direct snap at some point in the game if it gets the Ducks a bit discombobulated.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25809867/dark_ryan_day.jpg "NCAA Football: Indiana at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images | Editing Gene Ross LGHL
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day takes the field before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images, Editing Gene Ross Land-Grant Holy Land
Over the years, I have made my feelings about Ryan Day’s play calling and leadership very clear here at Land-Grant Holy Land. I have always known that Ohio State’s head coach possesses an incredibly skilled and creative offensive mind, but it has also long been evident that he often gets in his own way, undermining and even sabotaging his team, most recently in the worst loss in program history against Michigan. That disappointment prompted me to finally accept the fact that — barring a 180° turnaround and/or a national title — it is probably time to make a change in leadership.
Now, one playoff home win does not negate years of big-game collapses, but if Day is going to prove his doubters — me included — wrong, the win over Tennessee is the perfect way to start. As I said just hours before the first-round matchup kicked off, Ohio State’s fate really depends on which version of Day shows up. For me, it has never been a question of player talent, or even coaching acumen; instead, it has been a question of coaching mentality.
I believe that much of the frustration from the fanbase’s “lunatic fringe” — as Kirk Herbstreit condescendingly calls fans with expectations higher than losing to your rival for four-straight years — has been because we know that the difference between winning and losing these big games is often determined by the slimmest of margins. And, when you have a head coach who all too often regresses to an unproductive, ultra-conservative version of himself when the lights are brightest, it is frustrating to know that the only one beating the team is the man in charge.
All season, and especially since the playoffs have begun, Day has preached that he wants his team to leave no doubt. I feel completely confident that his players are capable of that, and I am, perhaps foolishly, starting to talk myself into believing that the head coach is too.
Again, I don’t want to assume that Day’s entire coaching M.O. has done a complete about-face based on a single data point (especially since we have seen him have elite aberrations after three weeks to prepare before). But, if Day has finally learned the lessons that we have all been begging him to over the past four seasons, then I don’t think that there is anyone who can beat this team with him no longer in the way.
So, if the Buckeyes want to take another step toward the national title, bring on Dark Ryan Day and the Death Star Buckeyes.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
As it did with Tennessee it all comes down to whether or not we get Turtle Ryan Day or Dark Ryan Day
On Saturday, Oct. 12, the Ohio State Buckeyes ventured across the country to take on the Oregon Ducks. On Wednesday, Jan. 1, Ryan Day’s Buckeyes will once again head to the West Coast to face Dan Lanning’s Ducks, but this time the marquee matchup will not be in Eugene, Oregon, but instead it will be in the most picturesque setting in all of sports, the Rose Bowl.
In the first meeting between the teams this season, Oregon won 32-31 in a sloppy, but thrilling game. Although the Ducks are undefeated and already hold a victory over the Buckeyes, it is the Scarlet and Gray that come into the College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup as the favorites. The defensive adjustments that coordinator Jim Knowles has employed following the loss in Eugene, and the rediscovered offensive aggression and creativity seen in the first-round win over Tennessee, have many football fans, analysts, and bettors across the country jumping back on the Buckeye bandwagon.
Despite the surge in support for OSU, this game is clearly anything but a foregone conclusion. In many onlookers’ minds — myself included — the matchup will likely serve as the de facto national championship game between the two best teams in the country. So, I am going to break down the five key factors that I think will determine whether or not the Buckeyes advance to the CFP semifinals or lose to a team on multiple occassions in one season for the first time since falling to Marietta twice in 1898.
Offensive line needs to stay strong
The biggest question for Ohio State all season has been the reliability and durability of its offensive line. Coming into the season, the unit was considered the weakest link on the team, and that was only exacerbated by the season-ending injuries to its two best players, left tackle Josh Simmons and center Seth McLaughlin.
But give credit to much-maligned offensive line coach Justin Frye and the backups in the room as OSU has cobbled together a unit that has played about as well as could be hoped for in recent weeks. With Donovan Jackson kicking out from left guard to left tackle and Carson Hinzman back as OSU’s starting center, the Buckeyes settled on a three-man rotation at guard for the game against the Volunteers and have said that they will again deploy Luke Montgomery, Austin Seireveld, and Tegra Tshabola at the two guard spots against the Ducks.
Against Tennessee, Ohio State did not give up a single sack and the three guards allowed only three combined quarterback pressures all game. In total, the Vols had seven tackles for loss, but they only amounted to 11 negative yards, and five of those yards (on three TFLs) came after the Buckeye starters had exited the game.
While the offensive line wasn’t perfect in the first-round contest — the three guards graded out far more favorably in run blocking than pass protection according to Pro Football Focus — when combined with Chip Kelly’s creative play calling, what was expected to be significant liability for OSU ended up being anything but.
If the Ohio State offensive line is able to continue to keep quarterback Will Howard clean — while also opening up holes for running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins — it will likely be very difficult for the Ducks to remain undefeated.
Pass rush needs to get home
In the first meeting between Ohio State and Oregon, the Buckeye defense accounted for zero sacks and only two tackles for loss. While that looks like a complete failure by the defensive line — and it is — it is even more so a failure by Knowles and his staff. The game plan in Euegene put little emphasis on disrupting Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel hoping that the four down linemen would be able to beat Oregon’s five offensive linemen, tight ends, and any running backs staying in to block all on their own... that did not happen.
Instead, Gabriel — who went on to be a Heisman finalist — had a clean pocket on almost 64% of his 36 dropbacks, as the Buckeyes brought an extra defender just 13 times. Against those blitzes, the Oregon QB was 7-for-12 (58.3%) and when he wasn’t blitzed, he was 16-of-22 (72.7%). Gabriel is simply far too good of a quarterback to be given that much time.
However, since then, Knowles and company have admittedly “reengineered” the defense; not necessarily completely starting from scratch, but clearly bending what they had been doing to more closely resemble what Knowles did in his first season at Ohio State and during his tenure at Oklahoma State.
According to PFF, in the eight games since the loss in Eugene, the OSU defense has blitzed exactly 100 times. Those dropbacks have resulted in just 39 completions on 78 pass attempts, for a 50% completion percentage, almost exactly 10% better than on non-blitzed attempts.
While the increased blitzes have been very helpful to the OSU defense, that is not the only reason for the improved production. Knowles' playcalling has also ventured outside of the vanilla line-up-and-run-straight-ahead designs that plagued the unit against Oregon. Instead, we have seen far more creative calls that have allowed the front four to come from different positions and angles. There have been stunts, delays, and much more specifically designed to confuse opposing lines, and it has worked. Because of this, the defense hasn’t needed to blitz as much over the past few games as the defensive line — especially senior ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau — have been monstorously disruptive on their own.
Since the game in Eugene, Ohio State has not given up a single passing touchdown and has intercepted opposing offenses five times. In their first meeting, Gabriel was 23-of-34 for 341 yards and two touchdowns. If the Buckeyes want to neutralize Oregon’s elite quarterback, they will need to make things much more difficult for him in the pocket than they did the first time around.
Cornerbacks have to lock up Duck receivers
The major byproduct of the Buckeyes not being able to get pressure on Gabriel in the first meeting with Oregon was that OSU’s defensive backs were forced to be in coverage for far longer than they should ever have to be. In an absolutely disastrous performance, receivers being covered by Ohio State’s top cornerback Denzel Burke were targeted seven times, resulting in seven completions for a total of 162 yards and two touchdowns.
Wide receiver Evan Stewart was especially problematic for the Buckeyes accounting for 7 receptions, 149 yards, and 1 score on 8 targets (4 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD on 4 targets vs. Burke). Meanwhile, All-Big Ten Second Team WR Tez Johnson went for 75 yards and a TD on the day. Stewart and Johnson have thus far represented the No. 1 and No. 3 receiving performances against the Buckeyes this season, with the 92-yard day from Northwestern’s Bryce Kirtz coming in between them.
There is no way around it: Oct. 12 was a horrendous day for Burke and, therefore, for the Buckeyes. If Ohio State wants to keep its title hopes alive, it must get better play out of its corners on Wednesday.
While the increased pass rush mentioned previously will no doubt have an impact on the Buckeye DBs’ ability to lock up wide receivers, Knowles has also been experimenting more with the team’s corner rotation recently. Last week, the defensive coordinator said that he considers sophomore Jermain Mathews Jr. to be a starter, even if he is not on the field at the beginning of the game; currently starting alongside Burke is veteran Davison Igbinosun.
While getting burnt in coverage has not been the same type of problem for Igbinosun as it has been for Burke, the former Ole Miss Rebel has had his own bugaboo this season. The OSU corner has been flagged for 13 defensive penalties so far, routinely being called for defensive pass interference, often being in otherwise good position to make a play. Admittedly, Igbinosun has not been flagged at all over the past two games against Michigan and Tennessee, but against a talented and aggressive passing attack like Oregon’s, it very well could come into play again.
In obviously far less field time, Mathews Jr. has been reliable for the Buckeyes. He has been targeted by opposing quarterbacks 20 times this season, allowing only 11 receptions (55%) for 84 yards. Mathews has had over 25 snaps in five of OSU’s last seven games, so the youngster has been working his way up to this point, and it seems like he will be a part of the game plan on Wednesday.
I would imagine that should Burke find himself struggling to keep up in coverage, or Igbinosun getting handsy at inopportune times, Knowles and cornerback coach Tim Walton won’t be shy about putting Mathews out there for extended periods of time.
Jeremiah Smith should have double-digit targets across multiple spots
Ohio State has so many offensive weapons that it seems foolish and a little disrespectful to single one out as a key to victory. However, when that player is arguably the best true freshman in program history, I suppose we can make an exception.
Jeremiah Smith has obliterated all of Cris Carter’s freshman receiving records and has been an integral part of the OSU offense all season long. In the first game against Oregon, he was targeted 13 times and accounted for 100 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions. While that was one of his four games of 100 receiving yards or more, it was also the only time that he received double-digit targets. Since the loss in Eugene, he has not been targeted more than seven times.
Of course, there is a lot that goes into how many times a receiver is targeted, including how the opposing defense decides to cover him. Following that game, which was OSU’s sixth of the season, we saw far more bracket and double coverage against the freshman phenom, which will obviously limit the amount of times Howard throws his way. And — with other wide receivers like Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, not to mention tight end Gee Scott Jr. and TreVeyon Henderson out of the backfield — if a defensive coordinator makes it a point to double up Smith, OSU will happily take one of their other stars in single coverage.
However, the Buckeyes’ first-round CFP game brought a new wrinkle into the Jeremiah Smith Equation that should make it more attractive to throw his way. During the regular season, Smith lined up in the slot just 39 times — 12.4% of the time — but against the Volunteers, he was inside 14 times or 41.2% of his snaps. While the receiver was only targeted seven times on the game, he did have six catches (the one incompletion was the blatant, uncalled pass interference that led to a questionable interception in the end zone) for 103 yards and a touchdown. His 85.7% completion percentage was tied for this highest mark on the season.
So, having the best wide receiver in the country lining up both inside and outside obviously had a positive impact on his stat line, but it also helped his quarterback. Howard arguably had the best game of his collegiate career, going 24-of-29 for 311 yards, 2 touchdowns, and that 1 shoddy interception. His 82.8% completion percentage was his sixth time at 80% or above this season, and his second-highest behind his 21-of-25 showing against Iowa.
Additionally, Egbuka had 81 yards receiving, Henderson had 54, and Scott had 39, leading to what I think was easily the most impressive Buckeye passing performances since C.J. Stroud was wearing scarlet and gray.
Now clearly Lanning and his staff will be well-prepared for Smith to line up in the slot on Wednesday, but there is only so much that you can do to a) shut down the best receiver in the game and b) contend with the greatest compliment of weapons in the sport.
I am a firm believer that unless you are just head-and-shoulders physically better than your opponent, variety and creativity is the best tool you have to be successful in football. So, if Ohio State wants to continue its impressive offensive output against Oregon, it needs to not only get the ball to Jeremiah Smith as many times as possible, but it also needs to make the Ducks’ defense think about how to contend with him in as many unusual ways it can. Hell, I would not be opposed to Smith lining up in the backfield or even taking a direct snap at some point in the game if it gets the Ducks a bit discombobulated.
Dark Ryan Day needs to ‘leave no doubt’
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day takes the field before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images, Editing Gene Ross Land-Grant Holy Land
Over the years, I have made my feelings about Ryan Day’s play calling and leadership very clear here at Land-Grant Holy Land. I have always known that Ohio State’s head coach possesses an incredibly skilled and creative offensive mind, but it has also long been evident that he often gets in his own way, undermining and even sabotaging his team, most recently in the worst loss in program history against Michigan. That disappointment prompted me to finally accept the fact that — barring a 180° turnaround and/or a national title — it is probably time to make a change in leadership.
Now, one playoff home win does not negate years of big-game collapses, but if Day is going to prove his doubters — me included — wrong, the win over Tennessee is the perfect way to start. As I said just hours before the first-round matchup kicked off, Ohio State’s fate really depends on which version of Day shows up. For me, it has never been a question of player talent, or even coaching acumen; instead, it has been a question of coaching mentality.
I believe that much of the frustration from the fanbase’s “lunatic fringe” — as Kirk Herbstreit condescendingly calls fans with expectations higher than losing to your rival for four-straight years — has been because we know that the difference between winning and losing these big games is often determined by the slimmest of margins. And, when you have a head coach who all too often regresses to an unproductive, ultra-conservative version of himself when the lights are brightest, it is frustrating to know that the only one beating the team is the man in charge.
All season, and especially since the playoffs have begun, Day has preached that he wants his team to leave no doubt. I feel completely confident that his players are capable of that, and I am, perhaps foolishly, starting to talk myself into believing that the head coach is too.
Again, I don’t want to assume that Day’s entire coaching M.O. has done a complete about-face based on a single data point (especially since we have seen him have elite aberrations after three weeks to prepare before). But, if Day has finally learned the lessons that we have all been begging him to over the past four seasons, then I don’t think that there is anyone who can beat this team with him no longer in the way.
So, if the Buckeyes want to take another step toward the national title, bring on Dark Ryan Day and the Death Star Buckeyes.
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LGHL Ohio State v. Oregon: 2025 game preview and prediction
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Ohio State v. Oregon: 2025 game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Ducks square off in Pasadena on Wednesday afternoon with a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinal on the line.
With their 42-17 victory over Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Ohio State secured a rematch with top seed Oregon on Wednesday in the Rose Bowl in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
The winner of the contest between the Buckeyes and the Ducks will move on to face the winner of the Peach Bowl between Texas and Arizona State, which will take place in Atlanta on Wednesday prior to the Rose Bowl.
Ohio State and Oregon met back in October in Eugene, with the Ducks winning 32-31 in one of the most thrilling games of the college football season.
The game had just about everything: Points, an ejection for spitting, eight lead changes, Dan Lanning legally cheating, and Will Howard running out of time as he put the Buckeyes into position for a potential game-winning field goal. Howard and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel combined to throw for 667 yards, four touchdowns, and neither quarterback was intercepted in the game.
The victory by the Ducks in October was their second straight over the Buckeyes after losing their first nine meetings with Ohio State. This will be the third time the schools have met in the Rose Bowl.
The Buckeyes beat the Ducks 10-7 in the 1958 Rose Bowl, followed by a 26-17 victory in 2010. In the first year of the four-team College Football Playoff, Ohio State defeated Oregon 42-20 in the title game, so it is fitting they meet in the first year of the 12-team playoff.
The Buckeyes will be playing in their 17th Rose Bowl, along with their 52nd bowl game in school history. Ohio State’s record in Pasadena is 9-7, winning their last four trips to the iconic bowl game.
The last time the Buckeyes played for the roses was on the first day of 2022, beating Utah 48-45 that not only saw C.J. Stroud toss six touchdowns, Jaxon Smith-Njigba set a school and FBS record with 347 yards receiving. Nine current Buckeyes played in the victory over Utah in Pasadena. Overall in bowl games, Ohio State has a 25-26 record, losing their last two.
This will be the fifth game of the season for Ohio State against a top 10 team, with four of those contests coming against teams ranked in the top 5 at the time. Along with all of those high-profile games, this marks the third time since 1951 where the Buckeyes have played a team twince in the same season.
In 1975, Ohio State split two meetings with UCLA, losing the 1976 Rose Bowl to the Bruins. 2019 saw the Buckeyes sweep both meetings with Wisconsin, beating the Badgers 38-7 in Columbus, followed by a 34-21 victory in the Big Ten Championship Game.
There were a lot of questions about Ohio State’s mindset heading into the Tennessee game after the 13-10 loss to Michigan. The Buckeyes answered those questions early, jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter in the first Ohio State football game ever played at Ohio Stadium in December.
Following a few weeks of doubt from fans and the media, the Buckeyes showed why they are one of the favorites to win the national title since when they play like they did against the Volunteers, they are nearly impossible to beat.
Will Howard was able to put a terrible performance against Michigan behind him, only missing on five of his 29 pass attempts, throwing for 311 yards and two touchdowns against the Volunteers. Through 13 games this season, Howard has amassed over 3,000 total yards and 36 touchdowns, with 29 of those scores coming through the air. Three of those 36 touchdowns came in the loss to Oregon in October.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25810943/2191002475.jpg "Tennessee v Ohio State - Playoff First Round")
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and Howard did a very smart thing against Tennessee. They fed wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Not only did Smith haul in the two touchdown passes from Howard, the fantastic freshman caught six balls for 103 yards, both high marks among receivers in the game. Smith has now reached 100 yards receiving in four games this season, one of which came against Oregon. The 1,037 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns are both most on the team among receivers.
The one statistic Smith doesn’t lead Ohio State receivers in is receptions. Emeka Egbuka currently holds the top spot, catching 65 passes to Smith’s 63 receptions. After finishing with 81 yards receiving on his five catches against Tennessee, Egbuka continues to move up the school’s all-time receiving ranks. The senior has 189 catches in his career, three shy of passing David Boston for second place at Ohio State, and 13 from knocking K.J. Hill out of the top spot.
Egbuka is 31 yards from moving into the top 5 when it comes to receiving yardage, as Chris Olave currently occupies that spot with 2,711 career receiving yards. Both Egbuka and Smith caught at least nine passes for 90 yards, each scoring a touchdown in the first meeting with Oregon this season.
The Buckeye offense was able to be so successful in their first round game because of the resurgence of their running game. Both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins found the end zone twice, combining to rush for 114 yards. Henderson now is fifth in school history with 3,576 rushing yards, passing Tim Spencer.
Together, Henderson and Judkins have rushed for 1,670 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. All the Ohio State running backs will likely be playing with an extra gear on Wednesday since running backs coach Carlos Locklyn spent two years on Dan Lanning’s staff at Oregon before accepting the same position on Ryan Day’s staff in the offseason.
Locklyn joins offensive coordinator Chip Kelly as current Buckeye coaches who have spent time coaching in Eugene, with Kelly holding the head coaching job with the Ducks from 2009 to 2012.
In the first meeting in Eugene, Oregon’s speedy offense got the better of Ohio State’s defense, as the Ducks rolled up nearly 500 yards of offense. Since the disappointing performance the Buckeyes have been especially stingy, allowing just seven touchdowns, which all have come on the ground.
Jim Knowles’ defense ranks first in the country in scoring defense, yards per game allowed, and passing yards per game allowed. In the victory over Tennessee, Ohio State gave up 256 yards of total offense.
There has been a common theme in Ohio State’s two losses this season. Against Oregon and Michigan, the Buckeyes weren’t able to register a sack. By comparison, in the last game against Tennessee, Ohio State sacked Nico Iamaleava four times. When the Buckeyes are able to make the opposing quarterback uncomfortable they often end up winning.
Leading the charge for the Ohio State defense against Tennessee were defensive ends J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. Tuimoloau had two sacks in the victory, raising his team-leading total on the season to eight sacks. The senior from Seattle also has 14 tackles for loss this season.
Sawyer continued the strong second half to his final season in the scarlet and gray with 1.5 sacks against the Volunteers, and now the Pickerington product has six sacks this year. Defensive tackle Ty Hamilton also stuck his nose in some plays against Tennessee, finishing with four tackles and half a sack, lining up next to Tyleik Williams on the interior of the defensive line.
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Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Cody Simon continued to make sure his final season as a Buckeye is a memorable one, recording 12 tackles in his final home game at Ohio Stadium. With his output against Tennessee, Simon is now the team’s leading tackler this season, entering the Rose Bowl with 86 tackles.
The linebacker has also been a source of pressure, especially in the second half of the season, recording five sacks. Just behind Simon in the tackling totals is fellow linebacker Sonny Styles, who has 81 stops after he was credited with five tackles against the Volunteers.
Ohio State’s secondary has been tough to crack since the Oregon game, where they gave up 341 yards passing and two touchdowns to Dillon Gabriel. Since the loss to the Ducks, the Buckeyes have not given up a passing touchdown. Opponents are averaging 141.2 yards passing per game against Ohio State, which is the lowest mark in the country.
Quarterbacking the secondary is All-American safety Caleb Downs. The Alabama transfer is third on the team with 69 tackles this year after recording seven stops in the win over Tennessee. Lining up next to Downs is Lathan Ransom. The senior not only has 62 tackles, he has forced three fumbles this season.
The cornerbacks really struggled in the first game against Oregon, especially Denzel Burke. Both Burke and Davison Igbinosun have intercepted two passes this season. Igbinosun will have to be on his best behavior against the Ducks since the former Ole Miss cornerback has had issues with pass interference penalties throughout the year.
Jordan Hancock has done a great job patrolling the nickelback spot, intercepting a pass and breaking up six passes this season. Despite going up against one of the nation’s top receiving corps, the Ohio State secondary has the talent to slow them down.
Oregon is the only undefeated FBS team left, with their 14-game winning streak being the longest active streak in the country. To secure their spot as the top seed in the playoff, the Ducks beat Penn State 45-37 in the Big Ten Championship Game, winning the conference in their first season as a member.
Dillon Gabriel threw four touchdown passes in a game the Ducks never trailed in. Oregon is the only team in the country ranked in the top 15 in scoring offense, total offense, scoring defense, and total defense.
This marks the first CFP appearance for the Ducks since the 2014 season, where they lost to Ohio State in the title game after beating Florida State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon will be playing in their ninth Rose Bowl, posting a 4-4 record in their previous eight appearances. Their last trip to Pasadena on New Year’s Day was for the 2020 Rose Bowl, where they beat Wisconsin 28-27, extending their winning streak in the annual classic to three. Last year Oregon played in the Fiesta Bowl, demolishing Liberty 45-6 in Bo Nix’s final collegiate game.
In their first meeting this season with Ohio State, the Ducks won on a 19-yard field goal by Atticus Sappington with 1:47 left. Dan Lanning took a lot of heat for intentionally taking a penalty to bleed more time off the clock. Lanning has been nearly flawless since coming to Eugene from Georgia to replace Mario Cristobal. Lanning enters Wednesday’s game with a 35-5 record in his three seasons as head coach of the Ducks.
Running the Oregon offense is Dillon Gabriel, who finished third in the voting for this year’s Heisman Trophy. The former UCF and Oklahoma quarterback is one of the most prolific passers in college football history, tossing 153 touchdown passes, which is two shy of tying Case Keenum for most touchdown passes by an FBS quarterback in a career. Gabriel has accounted for 187 total touchdowns since his college career began in 2019. Wednesday will mark Gabriel’s 63rd start at quarterback, which will be the most in history for an FBS quarterback.
Lining up with Gabriel in the offensive backfield is Jordan James. The running back has been a workhorse, rushing for 1,253 yards and 15 touchdowns through 13 games. In the first game with Ohio State this year, James carried the football 23 times, rolling up 115 yards and a touchdown.
After taking over for Bucky Irving, who is now playing in the NFL, James secured his first 1,000-yard rushing season, and the 29th in school history. With 19 more yards on the ground, James will move into the top 10 in school history for rushing yards in a season, passing Travis Dye’s total from 2021.
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Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Headlining Oregon’s receiving corps is Tez Johnson, who has 78 catches this year, putting him eight shy of tying his single-season school record total from last year. What makes Johnson’s output this season even more impressive is he missed two games after leaving the Michigan game with an injury.
Last time out Johnson caught 11 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown against Penn State. The Troy transfer made life miserable for Denzel Burke and the rest of the Buckeye defensive backs in Eugene, catching seven passes, with the biggest being a 48-yard touchdown with 1:17 left in the first half.
Another threat at wide receiver for the Ducks is Evan Stewart, who joined Oregon from the transfer portal in the offseason after starting his college career at Texas A&M. Stewart also had seven catches in the first matchup with the Buckeyes, but he had nearly double the yardage as Johnson, finishing with 149 yards and a touchdown. Stewart’s efforts against Ohio State were much needed after Alabama transfer receiver Traeshon Holden was ejected for spitting on cornerback Davison Igbinosun.
Along with all the weapons on offense already mentioned, Oregon has a pair of tight ends that are tough to slow down. Terrance Ferguson is the school’s all-time leader among tight ends with 129 career receptions and 16 touchdown catches. Ferguson hauled in four passes for 62 yards in the showdown with Ohio State in Eugene.
Following the win over the Buckeyes, Ferguson missed two games due to injury, which allowed Kenyon Sadiq to emerge as a threat. Penn State lost track of Sadiq in a couple critical moments in Indianapolis, as the tight end caught his first two touchdowns of the season.
In the trenches for the Oregon defense are a pair of dynamic defensive ends. Matayo Uiagalelei made himself known in the first meeting with Ohio State, making two stops behind the line of scrimmage, with one of them being a sack. Uiagalelei enters this game with a team-high 10.5 sacks this year.
While Uiagalelei lines up at a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker spot, at the other defensive end position is Jordan Burch, who didn’t play in the October game between these two schools. Despite only playing in nine games this year, the South Carolina native has 8.5 sacks, which is tied with defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, who started his career at Michigan State before entering the transfer portal. Jamaree Caldwell teams with Harmon on the interior of the line, with both players starting all 13 games this year for the Ducks.
Leading Oregon in tackles this year is Bryce Boettcher, who was also a baseball standout for the Ducks this year. The linebacker has 87 tackles and eight tackles for loss this year. Boettcher was drafted in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros.
Along with Boettcher, Teitum Tuioti has been a key linebacker for Oregon this year. Tuioti provides a little more quarterback pressure than Boettcher, notching 5.5 sacks. The third starter at linebacker for Oregon is the Defensive MVP of the 2024 Fiesta Bowl, Jeffrey Bassa.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25810948/2181035439.jpg "Illinois v Oregon")
Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
The star of the Oregon secondary is cornerback Jabbar Muhammad. The transfer from Washington doesn’t have an interception this season, but he has been tough to complete passes against, breaking up 11 passes this season. Starting at the other cornerback spot is Nikko Reed, who picked off a pass in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The Oregon safeties are a couple of transfers, with Kobe Savage coming to Eugene from Kansas State, while Tysheem Johnson started his college career at Ole Miss. Duke transfer Brandon Johnson will line up at the STAR position in the secondary. Tysheem Johnson leads the team with three interceptions, and sits behind Boettcher with 64 tackles, while Savage has 61 stops this year.
What a way to kick off 2025! The rematch between the Buckeyes and Ducks is the most anticipated quarterfinal matchup after seeing what these two teams are capable of when they met back in October. Obviously falling just short of beating Oregon at their place has Buckeye Nation salivating for another shot at the Ducks.
For a while it was looking like the rematch would happen in the Big Ten Championship Game, but the unimaginative offensive game plan of Ohio State against Michigan dashed those plans.
The Buckeyes have renewed confidence after their beatdown of Tennessee before Christmas. Despite Ryan Day continuing to be under a microscope, it feels like all the pressure is on Oregon heading into the Rose Bowl. The Ducks are undefeated, have the nation’s longest active win streak, and are seeking their first national title.
After finishing as a bridesmaid twice since 2010, if there was ever a year for the Ducks to win it all, this would be the year. Instead, they are taking on a team that is just as talented as they are, who already pushed them to the limit once this year.
It seems obvious Ohio State players aired their grievances to the coaching staff following the Michigan game. It’s no coincidence that after so many slow starts this season, the Buckeyes came out hot against Tennessee, burying the Volunteers before they even had a chance to get into the game.
While Oregon has a more explosive offense than Tennessee, Ohio State has already got an up close and personal look at Dillon Gabriel and the Ducks. Even though mistakes were made by Ohio State in Eugene, Jim Knowles’ defense has been playing at a different level since the loss to the Ducks.
The Ohio State senior class still has business to take care of. Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, and the rest of the seniors don’t want their Buckeye careers to end with nothing to show for it. So far the seniors don’t have a win against Michigan, no Big Ten titles, and no national championships to their credit.
Even though a win on Wednesday over Oregon doesn’t earn the Buckeyes the trophy they are focused on, it gets them one step closer to a national title, which they will be the favorite to win after winning the rematch with the Ducks in another tight classic.
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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 John Fisher/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Ducks square off in Pasadena on Wednesday afternoon with a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinal on the line.
With their 42-17 victory over Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Ohio State secured a rematch with top seed Oregon on Wednesday in the Rose Bowl in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
The winner of the contest between the Buckeyes and the Ducks will move on to face the winner of the Peach Bowl between Texas and Arizona State, which will take place in Atlanta on Wednesday prior to the Rose Bowl.
History with Oregon
Ohio State and Oregon met back in October in Eugene, with the Ducks winning 32-31 in one of the most thrilling games of the college football season.
The game had just about everything: Points, an ejection for spitting, eight lead changes, Dan Lanning legally cheating, and Will Howard running out of time as he put the Buckeyes into position for a potential game-winning field goal. Howard and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel combined to throw for 667 yards, four touchdowns, and neither quarterback was intercepted in the game.
The victory by the Ducks in October was their second straight over the Buckeyes after losing their first nine meetings with Ohio State. This will be the third time the schools have met in the Rose Bowl.
The Buckeyes beat the Ducks 10-7 in the 1958 Rose Bowl, followed by a 26-17 victory in 2010. In the first year of the four-team College Football Playoff, Ohio State defeated Oregon 42-20 in the title game, so it is fitting they meet in the first year of the 12-team playoff.
Ohio State’s bowl history
The Buckeyes will be playing in their 17th Rose Bowl, along with their 52nd bowl game in school history. Ohio State’s record in Pasadena is 9-7, winning their last four trips to the iconic bowl game.
The last time the Buckeyes played for the roses was on the first day of 2022, beating Utah 48-45 that not only saw C.J. Stroud toss six touchdowns, Jaxon Smith-Njigba set a school and FBS record with 347 yards receiving. Nine current Buckeyes played in the victory over Utah in Pasadena. Overall in bowl games, Ohio State has a 25-26 record, losing their last two.
This will be the fifth game of the season for Ohio State against a top 10 team, with four of those contests coming against teams ranked in the top 5 at the time. Along with all of those high-profile games, this marks the third time since 1951 where the Buckeyes have played a team twince in the same season.
In 1975, Ohio State split two meetings with UCLA, losing the 1976 Rose Bowl to the Bruins. 2019 saw the Buckeyes sweep both meetings with Wisconsin, beating the Badgers 38-7 in Columbus, followed by a 34-21 victory in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The Buckeye offense returned to form
There were a lot of questions about Ohio State’s mindset heading into the Tennessee game after the 13-10 loss to Michigan. The Buckeyes answered those questions early, jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter in the first Ohio State football game ever played at Ohio Stadium in December.
Following a few weeks of doubt from fans and the media, the Buckeyes showed why they are one of the favorites to win the national title since when they play like they did against the Volunteers, they are nearly impossible to beat.
Will Howard was able to put a terrible performance against Michigan behind him, only missing on five of his 29 pass attempts, throwing for 311 yards and two touchdowns against the Volunteers. Through 13 games this season, Howard has amassed over 3,000 total yards and 36 touchdowns, with 29 of those scores coming through the air. Three of those 36 touchdowns came in the loss to Oregon in October.
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and Howard did a very smart thing against Tennessee. They fed wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Not only did Smith haul in the two touchdown passes from Howard, the fantastic freshman caught six balls for 103 yards, both high marks among receivers in the game. Smith has now reached 100 yards receiving in four games this season, one of which came against Oregon. The 1,037 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns are both most on the team among receivers.
The one statistic Smith doesn’t lead Ohio State receivers in is receptions. Emeka Egbuka currently holds the top spot, catching 65 passes to Smith’s 63 receptions. After finishing with 81 yards receiving on his five catches against Tennessee, Egbuka continues to move up the school’s all-time receiving ranks. The senior has 189 catches in his career, three shy of passing David Boston for second place at Ohio State, and 13 from knocking K.J. Hill out of the top spot.
Egbuka is 31 yards from moving into the top 5 when it comes to receiving yardage, as Chris Olave currently occupies that spot with 2,711 career receiving yards. Both Egbuka and Smith caught at least nine passes for 90 yards, each scoring a touchdown in the first meeting with Oregon this season.
The Buckeye offense was able to be so successful in their first round game because of the resurgence of their running game. Both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins found the end zone twice, combining to rush for 114 yards. Henderson now is fifth in school history with 3,576 rushing yards, passing Tim Spencer.
Together, Henderson and Judkins have rushed for 1,670 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. All the Ohio State running backs will likely be playing with an extra gear on Wednesday since running backs coach Carlos Locklyn spent two years on Dan Lanning’s staff at Oregon before accepting the same position on Ryan Day’s staff in the offseason.
Locklyn joins offensive coordinator Chip Kelly as current Buckeye coaches who have spent time coaching in Eugene, with Kelly holding the head coaching job with the Ducks from 2009 to 2012.
The defense is working to right a big wrong
In the first meeting in Eugene, Oregon’s speedy offense got the better of Ohio State’s defense, as the Ducks rolled up nearly 500 yards of offense. Since the disappointing performance the Buckeyes have been especially stingy, allowing just seven touchdowns, which all have come on the ground.
Jim Knowles’ defense ranks first in the country in scoring defense, yards per game allowed, and passing yards per game allowed. In the victory over Tennessee, Ohio State gave up 256 yards of total offense.
There has been a common theme in Ohio State’s two losses this season. Against Oregon and Michigan, the Buckeyes weren’t able to register a sack. By comparison, in the last game against Tennessee, Ohio State sacked Nico Iamaleava four times. When the Buckeyes are able to make the opposing quarterback uncomfortable they often end up winning.
Leading the charge for the Ohio State defense against Tennessee were defensive ends J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. Tuimoloau had two sacks in the victory, raising his team-leading total on the season to eight sacks. The senior from Seattle also has 14 tackles for loss this season.
Sawyer continued the strong second half to his final season in the scarlet and gray with 1.5 sacks against the Volunteers, and now the Pickerington product has six sacks this year. Defensive tackle Ty Hamilton also stuck his nose in some plays against Tennessee, finishing with four tackles and half a sack, lining up next to Tyleik Williams on the interior of the defensive line.
Cody Simon continued to make sure his final season as a Buckeye is a memorable one, recording 12 tackles in his final home game at Ohio Stadium. With his output against Tennessee, Simon is now the team’s leading tackler this season, entering the Rose Bowl with 86 tackles.
The linebacker has also been a source of pressure, especially in the second half of the season, recording five sacks. Just behind Simon in the tackling totals is fellow linebacker Sonny Styles, who has 81 stops after he was credited with five tackles against the Volunteers.
Ohio State’s secondary has been tough to crack since the Oregon game, where they gave up 341 yards passing and two touchdowns to Dillon Gabriel. Since the loss to the Ducks, the Buckeyes have not given up a passing touchdown. Opponents are averaging 141.2 yards passing per game against Ohio State, which is the lowest mark in the country.
Quarterbacking the secondary is All-American safety Caleb Downs. The Alabama transfer is third on the team with 69 tackles this year after recording seven stops in the win over Tennessee. Lining up next to Downs is Lathan Ransom. The senior not only has 62 tackles, he has forced three fumbles this season.
The cornerbacks really struggled in the first game against Oregon, especially Denzel Burke. Both Burke and Davison Igbinosun have intercepted two passes this season. Igbinosun will have to be on his best behavior against the Ducks since the former Ole Miss cornerback has had issues with pass interference penalties throughout the year.
Jordan Hancock has done a great job patrolling the nickelback spot, intercepting a pass and breaking up six passes this season. Despite going up against one of the nation’s top receiving corps, the Ohio State secondary has the talent to slow them down.
Oregon’s season up to now and bowl history
Oregon is the only undefeated FBS team left, with their 14-game winning streak being the longest active streak in the country. To secure their spot as the top seed in the playoff, the Ducks beat Penn State 45-37 in the Big Ten Championship Game, winning the conference in their first season as a member.
Dillon Gabriel threw four touchdown passes in a game the Ducks never trailed in. Oregon is the only team in the country ranked in the top 15 in scoring offense, total offense, scoring defense, and total defense.
This marks the first CFP appearance for the Ducks since the 2014 season, where they lost to Ohio State in the title game after beating Florida State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon will be playing in their ninth Rose Bowl, posting a 4-4 record in their previous eight appearances. Their last trip to Pasadena on New Year’s Day was for the 2020 Rose Bowl, where they beat Wisconsin 28-27, extending their winning streak in the annual classic to three. Last year Oregon played in the Fiesta Bowl, demolishing Liberty 45-6 in Bo Nix’s final collegiate game.
In their first meeting this season with Ohio State, the Ducks won on a 19-yard field goal by Atticus Sappington with 1:47 left. Dan Lanning took a lot of heat for intentionally taking a penalty to bleed more time off the clock. Lanning has been nearly flawless since coming to Eugene from Georgia to replace Mario Cristobal. Lanning enters Wednesday’s game with a 35-5 record in his three seasons as head coach of the Ducks.
Quack attack
Running the Oregon offense is Dillon Gabriel, who finished third in the voting for this year’s Heisman Trophy. The former UCF and Oklahoma quarterback is one of the most prolific passers in college football history, tossing 153 touchdown passes, which is two shy of tying Case Keenum for most touchdown passes by an FBS quarterback in a career. Gabriel has accounted for 187 total touchdowns since his college career began in 2019. Wednesday will mark Gabriel’s 63rd start at quarterback, which will be the most in history for an FBS quarterback.
Lining up with Gabriel in the offensive backfield is Jordan James. The running back has been a workhorse, rushing for 1,253 yards and 15 touchdowns through 13 games. In the first game with Ohio State this year, James carried the football 23 times, rolling up 115 yards and a touchdown.
After taking over for Bucky Irving, who is now playing in the NFL, James secured his first 1,000-yard rushing season, and the 29th in school history. With 19 more yards on the ground, James will move into the top 10 in school history for rushing yards in a season, passing Travis Dye’s total from 2021.
Headlining Oregon’s receiving corps is Tez Johnson, who has 78 catches this year, putting him eight shy of tying his single-season school record total from last year. What makes Johnson’s output this season even more impressive is he missed two games after leaving the Michigan game with an injury.
Last time out Johnson caught 11 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown against Penn State. The Troy transfer made life miserable for Denzel Burke and the rest of the Buckeye defensive backs in Eugene, catching seven passes, with the biggest being a 48-yard touchdown with 1:17 left in the first half.
Another threat at wide receiver for the Ducks is Evan Stewart, who joined Oregon from the transfer portal in the offseason after starting his college career at Texas A&M. Stewart also had seven catches in the first matchup with the Buckeyes, but he had nearly double the yardage as Johnson, finishing with 149 yards and a touchdown. Stewart’s efforts against Ohio State were much needed after Alabama transfer receiver Traeshon Holden was ejected for spitting on cornerback Davison Igbinosun.
Along with all the weapons on offense already mentioned, Oregon has a pair of tight ends that are tough to slow down. Terrance Ferguson is the school’s all-time leader among tight ends with 129 career receptions and 16 touchdown catches. Ferguson hauled in four passes for 62 yards in the showdown with Ohio State in Eugene.
Following the win over the Buckeyes, Ferguson missed two games due to injury, which allowed Kenyon Sadiq to emerge as a threat. Penn State lost track of Sadiq in a couple critical moments in Indianapolis, as the tight end caught his first two touchdowns of the season.
The Ducks on defense
In the trenches for the Oregon defense are a pair of dynamic defensive ends. Matayo Uiagalelei made himself known in the first meeting with Ohio State, making two stops behind the line of scrimmage, with one of them being a sack. Uiagalelei enters this game with a team-high 10.5 sacks this year.
While Uiagalelei lines up at a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker spot, at the other defensive end position is Jordan Burch, who didn’t play in the October game between these two schools. Despite only playing in nine games this year, the South Carolina native has 8.5 sacks, which is tied with defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, who started his career at Michigan State before entering the transfer portal. Jamaree Caldwell teams with Harmon on the interior of the line, with both players starting all 13 games this year for the Ducks.
Leading Oregon in tackles this year is Bryce Boettcher, who was also a baseball standout for the Ducks this year. The linebacker has 87 tackles and eight tackles for loss this year. Boettcher was drafted in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros.
Along with Boettcher, Teitum Tuioti has been a key linebacker for Oregon this year. Tuioti provides a little more quarterback pressure than Boettcher, notching 5.5 sacks. The third starter at linebacker for Oregon is the Defensive MVP of the 2024 Fiesta Bowl, Jeffrey Bassa.
The star of the Oregon secondary is cornerback Jabbar Muhammad. The transfer from Washington doesn’t have an interception this season, but he has been tough to complete passes against, breaking up 11 passes this season. Starting at the other cornerback spot is Nikko Reed, who picked off a pass in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The Oregon safeties are a couple of transfers, with Kobe Savage coming to Eugene from Kansas State, while Tysheem Johnson started his college career at Ole Miss. Duke transfer Brandon Johnson will line up at the STAR position in the secondary. Tysheem Johnson leads the team with three interceptions, and sits behind Boettcher with 64 tackles, while Savage has 61 stops this year.
Prediction
What a way to kick off 2025! The rematch between the Buckeyes and Ducks is the most anticipated quarterfinal matchup after seeing what these two teams are capable of when they met back in October. Obviously falling just short of beating Oregon at their place has Buckeye Nation salivating for another shot at the Ducks.
For a while it was looking like the rematch would happen in the Big Ten Championship Game, but the unimaginative offensive game plan of Ohio State against Michigan dashed those plans.
The Buckeyes have renewed confidence after their beatdown of Tennessee before Christmas. Despite Ryan Day continuing to be under a microscope, it feels like all the pressure is on Oregon heading into the Rose Bowl. The Ducks are undefeated, have the nation’s longest active win streak, and are seeking their first national title.
After finishing as a bridesmaid twice since 2010, if there was ever a year for the Ducks to win it all, this would be the year. Instead, they are taking on a team that is just as talented as they are, who already pushed them to the limit once this year.
It seems obvious Ohio State players aired their grievances to the coaching staff following the Michigan game. It’s no coincidence that after so many slow starts this season, the Buckeyes came out hot against Tennessee, burying the Volunteers before they even had a chance to get into the game.
While Oregon has a more explosive offense than Tennessee, Ohio State has already got an up close and personal look at Dillon Gabriel and the Ducks. Even though mistakes were made by Ohio State in Eugene, Jim Knowles’ defense has been playing at a different level since the loss to the Ducks.
The Ohio State senior class still has business to take care of. Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, and the rest of the seniors don’t want their Buckeye careers to end with nothing to show for it. So far the seniors don’t have a win against Michigan, no Big Ten titles, and no national championships to their credit.
Even though a win on Wednesday over Oregon doesn’t earn the Buckeyes the trophy they are focused on, it gets them one step closer to a national title, which they will be the favorite to win after winning the rematch with the Ducks in another tight classic.
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 27
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LGHL Silver Bullets Podcast: Ohio State news, B1G bowl results, and Oregon preview
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Silver Bullets Podcast: Ohio State news, B1G bowl results, and Oregon preview
Michael Citro 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
Transfer portal happenings, the Big Ten against everyone, and our preview and predictions for Bucks vs. Ducks.
It’s our final show of the 2024 calendar year, and it’s a doozy.
We started it off by discussing the latest Ohio State transfer portal news, with the most recent incoming and outgoing names and what those transfers mean for the Buckeyes. After the portal talk, it’s time to walk through the other Big Ten results from the bowl games that have taken place since our episode last week.
Rutgers kind of blew it, but Nebraska and USC took care of business in the lead-up to the College Football Playoff quarterfinal games in the middle of this week (which start tonight with Penn State facing Boise State). Oh, and we also talked a little about the Pop-Tarts Bowl because it was a lot of fun, lack of defense notwithstanding.
Speaking of the Nittany Lions and the Broncos, we gave our thoughts on what we think will happen as the three “other” big games this week pare the CFP pool down to just four semifinalists.
Finally, it was time to weigh in on Ohio State against Oregon on New Year’s Day.
The Buckeyes will be out for revenge, but which OSU team will we see in the Rose Bowl? We talk about the offensive and defensive rankings in what looks to be a game that mixes physicality with skill on both sides, make our choices for our offensive and defensive picks to click for the Buckeyes, and give our final score predictions.
We would love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email. Any questions directed toward us will be answered on our next show.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
0:20 - Ohio State transfer portal arrivals and a quarterback departure (and where he’s headed). Also, the Big Ten’s bowl season so far.
29:55 - The College Football Playoff schedule and matchups, as well as our picks to click and score predictions for Ohio State vs. Oregon.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Transfer portal happenings, the Big Ten against everyone, and our preview and predictions for Bucks vs. Ducks.
It’s our final show of the 2024 calendar year, and it’s a doozy.
We started it off by discussing the latest Ohio State transfer portal news, with the most recent incoming and outgoing names and what those transfers mean for the Buckeyes. After the portal talk, it’s time to walk through the other Big Ten results from the bowl games that have taken place since our episode last week.
Rutgers kind of blew it, but Nebraska and USC took care of business in the lead-up to the College Football Playoff quarterfinal games in the middle of this week (which start tonight with Penn State facing Boise State). Oh, and we also talked a little about the Pop-Tarts Bowl because it was a lot of fun, lack of defense notwithstanding.
Speaking of the Nittany Lions and the Broncos, we gave our thoughts on what we think will happen as the three “other” big games this week pare the CFP pool down to just four semifinalists.
Finally, it was time to weigh in on Ohio State against Oregon on New Year’s Day.
The Buckeyes will be out for revenge, but which OSU team will we see in the Rose Bowl? We talk about the offensive and defensive rankings in what looks to be a game that mixes physicality with skill on both sides, make our choices for our offensive and defensive picks to click for the Buckeyes, and give our final score predictions.
We would love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email. Any questions directed toward us will be answered on our next show.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
0:20 - Ohio State transfer portal arrivals and a quarterback departure (and where he’s headed). Also, the Big Ten’s bowl season so far.
29:55 - The College Football Playoff schedule and matchups, as well as our picks to click and score predictions for Ohio State vs. Oregon.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State named a top school for a pair of 2026 five-star RBs
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Ohio State named a top school for a pair of 2026 five-star RBs
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 five-star RB Savion Hiter and Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day | via @5starsavi on X.com
The Buckeyes were named a top school for two of premier running backs in the 2026 recruiting class.
Ohio State and head coach Ryan Day are hard at work preparing for tomorrow’s Rose Bowl matchup against Oregon. The Ducks were able to secure the win against the Buckeyes in the regular season, but the Buckeyes are looking to win the second time around.
If Ohio State is able to beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl, it would move to the semifinals of newly expanded College Football Playoff. Because of this, many of the headlines surrounding the team will focus on the upcoming game, and rightfully so.
However, Ohio State always makes time to recruit, and the team is constantly making recruiting headlines even with everything else going on. Monday was no different.
Ohio State has had a luxury of running backs lately, and the duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins is a large reason why Ohio State has had the success it has had this season. However, both backs could leave the team after the current playoff run if Judkins decides to forego his final season of college football in favor of the NFL Draft.
Ohio State has some young talent returning for next season, but it is certainly also looking to add more depth behind them. The Buckeyes earned commitments from three running backs in the 2025 class with four-stars Bo Jackson and Anthony Rogers and three-star Isaiah West. Ohio State also added former West Virginia back CJ Donaldson recently through the transfer portal.
The coaching staff is actively targeting the position in the 2026 class, and the Buckeyes recently received good news regarding a duo of backs in the class. Both five-stars Derrek Cooper and Savion Hitler recently spoke on their recruitments and the schools that are leading the charge, and Ohio State was listed by both.
As is the case with any top schools list the Buckeyes make, they are not alone, as Cooper also included Georgia, Miami, Texas A&M, Alabama and Auburn in his top schools, and Hiter has Michigan, Georgia and Tennessee in his. Penn State has long been recruiting him heavily as well.
Both backs were able to visit Ohio State this season for an in-game experience and both were on campus in November when the Buckeyes played host to Purdue. The visit apparently went as well as possible for both Cooper and Hiter, as both have the Buckeyes as a top school at this point in their recruitments.
Look for the Buckeyes to continue their pursuit for both Cooper and Hiter and the coaching staff will do its best to get them both back on campus again for an official visit. If Ohio State were to be able to land a commitment from either of the two, it would be a major win for the team, let alone if it is able to get both.
Cooper is listed as an athlete in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, but projects to be a running back at the next level. He is regarded as the No. 3 ATH and the No. 23 overall recruit. He is also the No. 3 recruit out of Florida.
Hiter is the No. 1 RB in the 247 Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 14 overall recruit. He is also the No. 1 recruit out of Virginia.
He has made multiple visits with Ohio State, with the most recent being in November for the Indiana game. The Buckeyes will need to continue their efforts in recruiting him to hold off the pack, but if they do so, they have a good chance at adding a blue-chip talent at a position of big importance in the class.
Smith it the No. 6 IOL in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 81 overall prospect. He is also the No. 14 recruit out of Florida.
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Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 five-star RB Savion Hiter and Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day | via @5starsavi on X.com
The Buckeyes were named a top school for two of premier running backs in the 2026 recruiting class.
Ohio State and head coach Ryan Day are hard at work preparing for tomorrow’s Rose Bowl matchup against Oregon. The Ducks were able to secure the win against the Buckeyes in the regular season, but the Buckeyes are looking to win the second time around.
If Ohio State is able to beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl, it would move to the semifinals of newly expanded College Football Playoff. Because of this, many of the headlines surrounding the team will focus on the upcoming game, and rightfully so.
However, Ohio State always makes time to recruit, and the team is constantly making recruiting headlines even with everything else going on. Monday was no different.
Ohio State makes top schools for pair of five-star RBs
Ohio State has had a luxury of running backs lately, and the duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins is a large reason why Ohio State has had the success it has had this season. However, both backs could leave the team after the current playoff run if Judkins decides to forego his final season of college football in favor of the NFL Draft.
Ohio State has some young talent returning for next season, but it is certainly also looking to add more depth behind them. The Buckeyes earned commitments from three running backs in the 2025 class with four-stars Bo Jackson and Anthony Rogers and three-star Isaiah West. Ohio State also added former West Virginia back CJ Donaldson recently through the transfer portal.
The coaching staff is actively targeting the position in the 2026 class, and the Buckeyes recently received good news regarding a duo of backs in the class. Both five-stars Derrek Cooper and Savion Hitler recently spoke on their recruitments and the schools that are leading the charge, and Ohio State was listed by both.
As is the case with any top schools list the Buckeyes make, they are not alone, as Cooper also included Georgia, Miami, Texas A&M, Alabama and Auburn in his top schools, and Hiter has Michigan, Georgia and Tennessee in his. Penn State has long been recruiting him heavily as well.
Both backs were able to visit Ohio State this season for an in-game experience and both were on campus in November when the Buckeyes played host to Purdue. The visit apparently went as well as possible for both Cooper and Hiter, as both have the Buckeyes as a top school at this point in their recruitments.
Look for the Buckeyes to continue their pursuit for both Cooper and Hiter and the coaching staff will do its best to get them both back on campus again for an official visit. If Ohio State were to be able to land a commitment from either of the two, it would be a major win for the team, let alone if it is able to get both.
Cooper is listed as an athlete in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, but projects to be a running back at the next level. He is regarded as the No. 3 ATH and the No. 23 overall recruit. He is also the No. 3 recruit out of Florida.
Hiter is the No. 1 RB in the 247 Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 14 overall recruit. He is also the No. 1 recruit out of Virginia.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State has also trending for 2026 four-star offensive lineman Micah Smith, but Steve Wiltfong of On3.com reported on Monday both Miami and South Carolina are just a couple of teams that have been increasing their focus on Smith. The three schools were all listed in his top six schools in November along with Tennessee, Oregon and UCLA.
He has made multiple visits with Ohio State, with the most recent being in November for the Indiana game. The Buckeyes will need to continue their efforts in recruiting him to hold off the pack, but if they do so, they have a good chance at adding a blue-chip talent at a position of big importance in the class.
Smith it the No. 6 IOL in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 81 overall prospect. He is also the No. 14 recruit out of Florida.
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UConn Huskies
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Mora: Other schools tampering with UConn players
In social media posts Monday, two days after winning a bowl game, UConn football coach Jim Mora said he plans to "pursue all avenues" against programs that tamper with Huskies players, warning such teams to "think hard before you tamper with our players."
Other programs tampering with UConn's players, Mora says
UConn coach Jim Mora plans to "pursue all avenues" against teams that tamper with Huskies players, warning such teams to "think hard before you tamper with our players."Mora posted on social media Monday, hours before star defensive lineman Pryce Yates re-entered the transfer portal. Yates, a three-year starter with 29.5 career tackles for loss, initially entered the portal Dec. 13 before withdrawing Dec. 21 and posting a social media graphic that indicated his intention to return for the 2025 season.
Yates, a redshirt junior from San Antonio, Texas, earned defensive MVP honors Saturday in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl, recording a sack and three tackles for loss in UConn's 27-14 win against North Carolina. Yates led UConn with 14 tackles for loss in 2023 and had 12.5 career sacks, including 3.5 this season despite being limited to seven games because of injury.
"A simple note to the schools and coaches that have blatantly broken @NCAAFootball rules by tampering with our players in the last 24 hours," Mora wrote Monday on X. "We do know who you are, we will pursue all avenues to hold you accountable. We are excited that we've built a program where coaches have to cheat to beat us and we will protect that program. Think hard before you tamper with our players."
Mora later wrote in response to a post that he doesn't know how to fix the tampering issue in college football, but that "we will expose any program and coach that violates" NCAA rules. He added: "I'm 100 percent against grown men cheating the rules and teaching players horrible life lessons."
Just sayin':
1) With NIL and the transfer portal, college football recruiting has radically changed. Many players' loyalty is now to the most NIL dollars and not to any specific team. I seriously doubt that the NCAA knows how to fix it either (other than just abolishing the tampering rules....
).and
Re: "I'm 100 percent against grown men cheating the rules and teaching players horrible life lessons."
2) I'm just thankful/glad that the NCAA (as incompetent as they are) actually caught the "cheats up north" for cheating the the last 3 years.
LGHL Life in Simulation: EA CFB 25 predicts Ohio State vs. Oregon in the Rose Bowl
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Life in Simulation: EA CFB 25 predicts Ohio State vs. Oregon in the Rose Bowl
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Ducks in the Rose Bowl.
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 Rose Bowl sim:
The first quarter featured a barrage of points, as it took a bit for both defenses to get settled in. Ohio State opened up the action with a 79-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Emeka Egbuka on its first possession, and the Buckeyes added on a short while later with a five-yard TD run by Quinshon Judkins to take a 14-0 lead less than five minutes in. Oregon responded in a big way, however, with a 100-yard kick return TD by Noah Whittington to get the Ducks on the board.
Ohio State found the end zone yet again on another short scamper by Judkins, which was answered by a long 75-yard touchdown pass from Dillon Gabriel to Traeshon Holden. All told, the Buckeyes led 21-14 after the first quarter, and while it looked as though we were in store for an offensive shootout, that would not be the case the rest of the way.
The Oregon defense held Ohio State scoreless over the next two quarters, slowly chipping away at the Buckeyes’ lead with a pair of field goals in the second quarter as Ryan Day’s team would take a 21-20 lead into halftime. Out of the break, the Ducks took their first lead of the game on a two-yard TD run by Jordan James, succeeding on the two-point conversion to make it 28-21, Oregon.
The Ducks added to that lead with a long 51-yard field goal to open up the fourth quarter, but Ohio State would fight back. Egbuka hauled in his second touchdown catch of the afternoon, this one from 20 yards out, as the Buckeyes cut the deficit to 31-28. Oregon knocked through another field goal with a little over two minutes remaining in the game, making it 34-28.
Again, just like back in October, Ohio State would get one final drive to try and win the game.
The Buckeyes reached the Ducks’ 48-yard line with 52 seconds to go after a couple big catches by Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. An 11-yard grab by Smith and a seven-yard scramble by Howard gave Ohio State the ball at the Oregon 30-yard line with just 10 seconds left. Will Howard got two chances to take a shot at the end zone, but both attempts fell incomplete as Ohio State came up short once again.
Despite the loss, Ohio State’s offense played well. Howard completed 16-of-28 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, and Egbuka did most of the work through the air with eight catches for 167 yards and two scores. Smith was second on the team with six receptions for 81 yards. The Buckeyes ran the ball a good amount, led by TreVeyon Henderson’s 12 carries for 62 yards. Howard himself ran it 14 times for 47 yards, and Judkins had seven carries for 31 yards and the two TDs.
As was the case in their first meeting, the Buckeyes’ defense struggled to get pressure on Gabriel, recording only one sack — by Kayden McDonald — and five tackles for loss, three of which came from Jack Sawyer. Denzel Burke did manage to come away with an interception, helping to exercise some of his demons from that prior matchup. It was a big game for Jordan Hancock, who led the team with 11 tackles to go along with two pass breakups and a TFL.
It was a pretty evenly matched game overall, with Oregon out-gaining Ohio State 438 yards to 418 yards. Neither team was particularly great on third down, with the Buckeyes converting 6-of-15 tries (40%) and the Ducks converting 5-of-14 (35%). Special teams mistakes by Ohio State proved costly, as that kick return touchdown was ultimately the difference in the outcome. The Buckeyes also missed a field goal from 39 yards in the second quarter, which had they made it could have allowed for a game-tying field goal attempt in the closing seconds.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Ducks in the Rose Bowl.
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 Rose Bowl sim:
Ohio State 28 - Oregon 34
The first quarter featured a barrage of points, as it took a bit for both defenses to get settled in. Ohio State opened up the action with a 79-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Emeka Egbuka on its first possession, and the Buckeyes added on a short while later with a five-yard TD run by Quinshon Judkins to take a 14-0 lead less than five minutes in. Oregon responded in a big way, however, with a 100-yard kick return TD by Noah Whittington to get the Ducks on the board.
Ohio State found the end zone yet again on another short scamper by Judkins, which was answered by a long 75-yard touchdown pass from Dillon Gabriel to Traeshon Holden. All told, the Buckeyes led 21-14 after the first quarter, and while it looked as though we were in store for an offensive shootout, that would not be the case the rest of the way.
The Oregon defense held Ohio State scoreless over the next two quarters, slowly chipping away at the Buckeyes’ lead with a pair of field goals in the second quarter as Ryan Day’s team would take a 21-20 lead into halftime. Out of the break, the Ducks took their first lead of the game on a two-yard TD run by Jordan James, succeeding on the two-point conversion to make it 28-21, Oregon.
The Ducks added to that lead with a long 51-yard field goal to open up the fourth quarter, but Ohio State would fight back. Egbuka hauled in his second touchdown catch of the afternoon, this one from 20 yards out, as the Buckeyes cut the deficit to 31-28. Oregon knocked through another field goal with a little over two minutes remaining in the game, making it 34-28.
Again, just like back in October, Ohio State would get one final drive to try and win the game.
The Buckeyes reached the Ducks’ 48-yard line with 52 seconds to go after a couple big catches by Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. An 11-yard grab by Smith and a seven-yard scramble by Howard gave Ohio State the ball at the Oregon 30-yard line with just 10 seconds left. Will Howard got two chances to take a shot at the end zone, but both attempts fell incomplete as Ohio State came up short once again.
Despite the loss, Ohio State’s offense played well. Howard completed 16-of-28 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, and Egbuka did most of the work through the air with eight catches for 167 yards and two scores. Smith was second on the team with six receptions for 81 yards. The Buckeyes ran the ball a good amount, led by TreVeyon Henderson’s 12 carries for 62 yards. Howard himself ran it 14 times for 47 yards, and Judkins had seven carries for 31 yards and the two TDs.
As was the case in their first meeting, the Buckeyes’ defense struggled to get pressure on Gabriel, recording only one sack — by Kayden McDonald — and five tackles for loss, three of which came from Jack Sawyer. Denzel Burke did manage to come away with an interception, helping to exercise some of his demons from that prior matchup. It was a big game for Jordan Hancock, who led the team with 11 tackles to go along with two pass breakups and a TFL.
It was a pretty evenly matched game overall, with Oregon out-gaining Ohio State 438 yards to 418 yards. Neither team was particularly great on third down, with the Buckeyes converting 6-of-15 tries (40%) and the Ducks converting 5-of-14 (35%). Special teams mistakes by Ohio State proved costly, as that kick return touchdown was ultimately the difference in the outcome. The Buckeyes also missed a field goal from 39 yards in the second quarter, which had they made it could have allowed for a game-tying field goal attempt in the closing seconds.
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