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LGHL B1G Thoughts: Is Ohio State’s Season Already Over or Can They Bounce Back?
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B1G Thoughts: Is Ohio State’s Season Already Over or Can They Bounce Back?
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
The last time the vibes around Ohio State were this bad they laid an egg, can they right the ship in time for the Tennessee game? Plus first-round playoff predictions.
Every week after the Big Ten games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and more. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024 we will have a bunch of storylines to follow.
Ryan Day and Ohio State are all in for the 2024 season. Is Oregon a national championship contender or will they stumble in their first Big Ten season? How do the former members of the Big Ten West fair in the new divisionless format? We will track all these storylines and more as the Big Ten hopes to win back-to-back national championships.
Check out the I-80 Football Show for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.
Recently Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day sat down for an interview that has been making its rounds on social media and has made fans upset. In said interview, Day lays out a list of reasons — or excuses, depending on who you ask — explaining why the Buckeyes didn’t reach their goals in 2024, including the conference changing and injuries.
Day also goes on to say multiple times that the goal of this season was to make the 12-team playoff, which is simply not true. For years, including this entire offseason, Day has preached that the Buckeyes have three goals: Beat That Team Up North, win the Big Ten Conference, and compete for a National Championship. For the fourth year in a row under Day, the Buckeyes have failed to complete the first two of their goals, and unless there is a miraculous turnaround, they won’t compete for a national championship either.
The last time the vibes were this bad around the Buckeyes, they went out and lost 14-3 to Mizzou in their bowl game. This time they still have an arguably overrated SEC team in front of them, but it’s a home playoff game instead of a meaningless bowl game.
For most fans it’s been a brutal couple of weeks, with losing to Michigan, getting out-recruited by Oregon both on the large scale and with individual recruiting battles, and the lack of transfer portal commitments despite the portal being open for eight days already. The one hope that fans have is that this team will bounce back and play well on the field, as they have for most of Day’s tenure and at least 10 of their 12 games this year outside Michigan and Nebraska.
The stakes of this game should be low enough after the athletic director doubled down on his commitment to Day being the head coach next season that Day should have his team ready to play. Yet, if that interview is any indication of where this program and its head coach are right now, then we may have a problem.
The clips of the interview feel like Day is trying to convince himself that there is more to play for, and it’s hard to believe that even he has faith in his own words. Right now Ohio State feels like a juiceless program, and we can only hope that they come out on Saturday with an edge and wash this nasty taste out of the mouths of the fanbase.
After a largely stellar season for the conference, the Big Ten landed four teams — Oregon, Penn State, Ohio, State, and Indiana — in the College Football Playoff. Oregon has the No. 1 seed and first-round bye, while Penn State and Ohio State are both hosting playoff games. Indiana is the only program going on the road, but they have a short trip after landing in-state foe Notre Dame.
Heading into Saturday, the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions are expected to make it to the second round of the playoffs, as Ohio State is a 7.5-point favorite over Tennesse and Penn State is an 8.5-point favorite over SMU. Indiana is a 7.5-point underdog to Notre Dame, but if I was a betting man I might put money on that. I’m not sure Notre Dame is a better team than the Hoosiers.
This is not betting advice, but you can check out my predictions below.
Notre Dame is on a heater, winning 10-straight games after their shocking upset loss to Northern Illinois. Since then, the Fighting Irish has played a weak schedule headlined by Louisville, Army, and Navy. Army and Navy are fake wins, as service academies rarely compete against teams with superior talent. Notre Dame is a beatable team when it faces a talented team, and even sometimes when it doesn’t.
Indiana on the other hand has only struggled twice this season, including a blowout loss to Ohio State. In 12 games, Indiana has looked unstoppable unless their opponent has a team that can physically dominate their offensive line. If they can keep Kurtis Rourke upright, their offense is going to move the ball. While Notre Dame is physical on offense, I’m not sure if they’ll bully Indiana on defense.
Prediction: Indiana 24-21
Since the playoff bracket has dropped, many media pundits and fans alike have claimed that Penn State has the easiest path in the College Football Playoff by getting to face SMU in the first round and a date with Boise State if they win. Penn State should be wary of overlooking the Mustangs, who rank sixth in scoring offense and 27th in scoring defense.
SMU struggled under the pressure of their first ACC playoff game, but found a way to overcome and tied the game late in the fourth quarter only to lose on a 56-yard field goal. If SMU could hang with Clemson, they can hang with Penn State. James Franklin and Co. are going to need to play like they did in the Big Ten Championship Game, as this match-up has shootout potential.
Prediction: Penn State 38-34
On paper, Ohio State should win this game. Tennesse has the fourth-ranked defense and the eighth-ranked offense, but those numbers are inflated by four blowout wins against Chattanooga, NC State, Kent State, and UTEP. In their other eight games, the Volunteers have only scored 30 points twice, including being held to 14 and 17 points against Arkansas and Georgia.
Ohio State’s defense has played at a special level all season, and should be able to shut down Tennessee’s hot and cold passing game. The problem is which team will show up on offense. Specifically, which coaches will show up.
Under Ryan Day, Ohio State tends to forget its talent and try to play a bruising style of football that it’s not designed to play. When Ohio State gets its athletes in space and throws to their bevy of first-round wide receivers, they’re almost impossible to stop. As soon as you try to focus on the passing game, Quinshon Judkins or TreVeyon Henderson can break off big runs to steal momentum.
The problem with the Buckeyes is whether they will choose to play this way or not. Tennesse has one of the better defensive lines in the country, and Ohio State has some injuries on the offensive line. With three weeks off to prepare the Buckeyes should be able to manage. If Day and Chip Kelly press the right buttons, they should get a win.
Prediction: Ohio State 31-20
Follow The I-80 Football Show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork.
Subscribe to the podcast: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Connect with me on Twitter: @JordanW330
Follow I-80 Football Show on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
The last time the vibes around Ohio State were this bad they laid an egg, can they right the ship in time for the Tennessee game? Plus first-round playoff predictions.
Every week after the Big Ten games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and more. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024 we will have a bunch of storylines to follow.
Ryan Day and Ohio State are all in for the 2024 season. Is Oregon a national championship contender or will they stumble in their first Big Ten season? How do the former members of the Big Ten West fair in the new divisionless format? We will track all these storylines and more as the Big Ten hopes to win back-to-back national championships.
Check out the I-80 Football Show for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.
In a sport dominated by vibes, the Buckeyes’ vibes are awful
Recently Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day sat down for an interview that has been making its rounds on social media and has made fans upset. In said interview, Day lays out a list of reasons — or excuses, depending on who you ask — explaining why the Buckeyes didn’t reach their goals in 2024, including the conference changing and injuries.
Day also goes on to say multiple times that the goal of this season was to make the 12-team playoff, which is simply not true. For years, including this entire offseason, Day has preached that the Buckeyes have three goals: Beat That Team Up North, win the Big Ten Conference, and compete for a National Championship. For the fourth year in a row under Day, the Buckeyes have failed to complete the first two of their goals, and unless there is a miraculous turnaround, they won’t compete for a national championship either.
The last time the vibes were this bad around the Buckeyes, they went out and lost 14-3 to Mizzou in their bowl game. This time they still have an arguably overrated SEC team in front of them, but it’s a home playoff game instead of a meaningless bowl game.
For most fans it’s been a brutal couple of weeks, with losing to Michigan, getting out-recruited by Oregon both on the large scale and with individual recruiting battles, and the lack of transfer portal commitments despite the portal being open for eight days already. The one hope that fans have is that this team will bounce back and play well on the field, as they have for most of Day’s tenure and at least 10 of their 12 games this year outside Michigan and Nebraska.
The stakes of this game should be low enough after the athletic director doubled down on his commitment to Day being the head coach next season that Day should have his team ready to play. Yet, if that interview is any indication of where this program and its head coach are right now, then we may have a problem.
The clips of the interview feel like Day is trying to convince himself that there is more to play for, and it’s hard to believe that even he has faith in his own words. Right now Ohio State feels like a juiceless program, and we can only hope that they come out on Saturday with an edge and wash this nasty taste out of the mouths of the fanbase.
️B (@Buckeye_Mob) First round playoff prediction! - Big Ten edition
After a largely stellar season for the conference, the Big Ten landed four teams — Oregon, Penn State, Ohio, State, and Indiana — in the College Football Playoff. Oregon has the No. 1 seed and first-round bye, while Penn State and Ohio State are both hosting playoff games. Indiana is the only program going on the road, but they have a short trip after landing in-state foe Notre Dame.
Heading into Saturday, the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions are expected to make it to the second round of the playoffs, as Ohio State is a 7.5-point favorite over Tennesse and Penn State is an 8.5-point favorite over SMU. Indiana is a 7.5-point underdog to Notre Dame, but if I was a betting man I might put money on that. I’m not sure Notre Dame is a better team than the Hoosiers.
This is not betting advice, but you can check out my predictions below.
Indiana vs. Notre Dame - Friday, Dec. 20 - 8:00 p.m. ET
Notre Dame is on a heater, winning 10-straight games after their shocking upset loss to Northern Illinois. Since then, the Fighting Irish has played a weak schedule headlined by Louisville, Army, and Navy. Army and Navy are fake wins, as service academies rarely compete against teams with superior talent. Notre Dame is a beatable team when it faces a talented team, and even sometimes when it doesn’t.
Indiana on the other hand has only struggled twice this season, including a blowout loss to Ohio State. In 12 games, Indiana has looked unstoppable unless their opponent has a team that can physically dominate their offensive line. If they can keep Kurtis Rourke upright, their offense is going to move the ball. While Notre Dame is physical on offense, I’m not sure if they’ll bully Indiana on defense.
Prediction: Indiana 24-21
SMU vs. Penn State - Saturday, Dec. 21 - Noon ET
Since the playoff bracket has dropped, many media pundits and fans alike have claimed that Penn State has the easiest path in the College Football Playoff by getting to face SMU in the first round and a date with Boise State if they win. Penn State should be wary of overlooking the Mustangs, who rank sixth in scoring offense and 27th in scoring defense.
SMU struggled under the pressure of their first ACC playoff game, but found a way to overcome and tied the game late in the fourth quarter only to lose on a 56-yard field goal. If SMU could hang with Clemson, they can hang with Penn State. James Franklin and Co. are going to need to play like they did in the Big Ten Championship Game, as this match-up has shootout potential.
Prediction: Penn State 38-34
Tennesse vs. Ohio State - Saturday, December 22nd, 8 pm.
On paper, Ohio State should win this game. Tennesse has the fourth-ranked defense and the eighth-ranked offense, but those numbers are inflated by four blowout wins against Chattanooga, NC State, Kent State, and UTEP. In their other eight games, the Volunteers have only scored 30 points twice, including being held to 14 and 17 points against Arkansas and Georgia.
Ohio State’s defense has played at a special level all season, and should be able to shut down Tennessee’s hot and cold passing game. The problem is which team will show up on offense. Specifically, which coaches will show up.
Under Ryan Day, Ohio State tends to forget its talent and try to play a bruising style of football that it’s not designed to play. When Ohio State gets its athletes in space and throws to their bevy of first-round wide receivers, they’re almost impossible to stop. As soon as you try to focus on the passing game, Quinshon Judkins or TreVeyon Henderson can break off big runs to steal momentum.
The problem with the Buckeyes is whether they will choose to play this way or not. Tennesse has one of the better defensive lines in the country, and Ohio State has some injuries on the offensive line. With three weeks off to prepare the Buckeyes should be able to manage. If Day and Chip Kelly press the right buttons, they should get a win.
Prediction: Ohio State 31-20
Follow The I-80 Football Show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork.
Subscribe to the podcast: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Connect with me on Twitter: @JordanW330
Follow I-80 Football Show on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Continue reading...
LGHL Power Two Podcast: Are you sure SMU can’t beat Penn State?
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Power Two Podcast: Are you sure SMU can’t beat Penn State?
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
From Rich Rod’s homecoming to Deion’s legacy, Jordan and DJ tackle the week’s biggest stories and pick their first-round winners.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
In this week’s episode, Jordan and DJ discuss high school reunions and food. After they get the random topics out of the way, they dive into the news of, shocker, coaches’ hirings.
WVU welcomes Rich Rod home, which prompted some nostalgia from Jordan. DJ and Jordan discuss the ridiculousness of Bill Belichick getting the first college head coaching job of his career. It feels like a publicity stunt, so we will see how that goes. Jackson State won the Celebration Bowl, prompting a conversation about Deion Sanders’ impact on HBCUs.
In the two-minute drill, Jordan and DJ discuss the schedule of the College Football Playoff. Jordan isn’t the biggest fan of all the eight-to-10 day breaks between each game. DJ isn’t the biggest fan of the home team hosting because these games are so close to graduation. Jordan believes that CFP should be pushed up a couple of weeks to mitigate that. Only time will tell...
In the pre-game power sweep, Jordan and DJ share the schedule. The games are:
DJ and Jordan also share their projected winners and we will see if they are right.
In the two-minute warning, Jordan talks about how great it is to work in higher ed and get two weeks of holiday vacation. DJ shares her excitement about attending the SMU vs Duke basketball game.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
From Rich Rod’s homecoming to Deion’s legacy, Jordan and DJ tackle the week’s biggest stories and pick their first-round winners.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
In this week’s episode, Jordan and DJ discuss high school reunions and food. After they get the random topics out of the way, they dive into the news of, shocker, coaches’ hirings.
WVU welcomes Rich Rod home, which prompted some nostalgia from Jordan. DJ and Jordan discuss the ridiculousness of Bill Belichick getting the first college head coaching job of his career. It feels like a publicity stunt, so we will see how that goes. Jackson State won the Celebration Bowl, prompting a conversation about Deion Sanders’ impact on HBCUs.
In the two-minute drill, Jordan and DJ discuss the schedule of the College Football Playoff. Jordan isn’t the biggest fan of all the eight-to-10 day breaks between each game. DJ isn’t the biggest fan of the home team hosting because these games are so close to graduation. Jordan believes that CFP should be pushed up a couple of weeks to mitigate that. Only time will tell...
In the pre-game power sweep, Jordan and DJ share the schedule. The games are:
- Friday: Indiana-Notre Dame
- Saturday, Noon: SMU-Penn State
- Saturday, Mid-Day: Clemson-Texas
- Saturday, Primetime: Tennessee-OSU.
DJ and Jordan also share their projected winners and we will see if they are right.
In the two-minute warning, Jordan talks about how great it is to work in higher ed and get two weeks of holiday vacation. DJ shares her excitement about attending the SMU vs Duke basketball game.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State welcomes big-time transfer prospects, men’s soccer falls in semifinals
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Ohio State welcomes big-time transfer prospects, men’s soccer falls in semifinals
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
No. 1 OT visits Ohio State; Buckeyes lose transfer portal target to Oregon
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State related Transfer Portal info as new week begins
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
What we know after one week of Buckeyes transfer portal activity
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith is the 247Sports True Freshman of the Year
Chris Hummer, 247Sports
Buckeye fans expect The Shoe to be rocking vs. Tennessee, and they are absolutely right
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Interior Linemen Joshua Padilla, Luke Montgomery Competing for Spots As Buckeyes Evaluate Best Offensive Line for CFP
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Using CFB 25 to predict the College Football Playoff
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Thierry sisters reunite, No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball defeat Youngstown 87-39
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
‘I just couldn’t stop smiling,’ the Thierrys reflect on a matchup four years in the making
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State gets run off the court by Auburn, falling to the Tigers 91-53
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Size a big issue after Ohio State’s loss to Auburn: 5 takeaways
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Where does Ohio State basketball go after another blowout loss?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Buckeyes Set to Earn Degrees at Autumn Commencement
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Soccer: Season Ends For No. 1 Ohio State in 1-0 loss to No. 13 Marshall
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Soccer: Adedokun/Magnusson Named USC 2024 1st Team All-Americans
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Ice Hockey: No. 15 Buckeyes Down Irish, 3-1
Ohio State Athletics
Wrestling: No. 6 Ohio State Rallies for 20-17 Win at Pitt
Ohio State Athletics
I love Ashton Jeanty, but, to me, this was the right call.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
No. 1 OT visits Ohio State; Buckeyes lose transfer portal target to Oregon
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State related Transfer Portal info as new week begins
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
What we know after one week of Buckeyes transfer portal activity
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith is the 247Sports True Freshman of the Year
Chris Hummer, 247Sports
Buckeye fans expect The Shoe to be rocking vs. Tennessee, and they are absolutely right
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Interior Linemen Joshua Padilla, Luke Montgomery Competing for Spots As Buckeyes Evaluate Best Offensive Line for CFP
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Using CFB 25 to predict the College Football Playoff
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
Thierry sisters reunite, No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball defeat Youngstown 87-39
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
‘I just couldn’t stop smiling,’ the Thierrys reflect on a matchup four years in the making
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State gets run off the court by Auburn, falling to the Tigers 91-53
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Size a big issue after Ohio State’s loss to Auburn: 5 takeaways
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Where does Ohio State basketball go after another blowout loss?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Outside The Shoe and The Schott
Buckeyes Set to Earn Degrees at Autumn Commencement
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Soccer: Season Ends For No. 1 Ohio State in 1-0 loss to No. 13 Marshall
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Soccer: Adedokun/Magnusson Named USC 2024 1st Team All-Americans
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Ice Hockey: No. 15 Buckeyes Down Irish, 3-1
Ohio State Athletics
Wrestling: No. 6 Ohio State Rallies for 20-17 Win at Pitt
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
I love Ashton Jeanty, but, to me, this was the right call.
Continue reading...
LGHL Column: Ohio State needs double-digit transfer additions this offseason to even compete in 2025
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Column: Ohio State needs double-digit transfer additions this offseason to even compete in 2025
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
With a roster in compete flux heading into next season, there has never been a more perfect time to find a new head coach...
The No. 1 thing on Ryan Day’s mind right now is getting his team ready for Saturday’s College Football Playoff matchup against Tennessee. However, we are also currently in the midst of the first transfer portal window, which opened last week and closes on Dec. 28.
The Buckeyes will be losing a mass exodus of players this offseason to the NFL Draft and graduation, and they cannot afford to be complacent in adding talent for next year’s roster despite still competing this year.
Ohio State brought back a huge contingency of players in 2024 with hopes of righting the wrongs of seasons past. That did not happen — barring a miracle national title run — but now all of those guys will be leaving for real, on top of the obvious holes the current roster has even with that glut of returnees. All told, the 2025 team is going to look a lot different, and it is going to need a ton of help from the transfer portal.
The obvious focus on that front is along the offensive line, where Ohio State will need to add three offensive linemen at minimum. The Buckeyes are set to lose both starting tackles and their starting center. You can probably find two interior starters among the group of Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld, Tegra Tshabola, Luke Montgomery and Josh Padilla — the first three of which played extensively this season — but you will need at least one more proven commodity up the middle as well as both tackles replaced.
The other side of the trenches is in an equally dire position, as Ohio State is set to lose its entire starting defensive line. Behind those guys are only two defensive ends who have played any meaningful snaps in Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson with nothing to speak of behind them. Kayden McDonald is your top returnee at defensive tackle, and outside of freshman end-turned-tackle Eddrick Houston, there is little proven depth there either. The Buckeyes likely need to add at least one if not two edge rushers to feel comfortable about that unit.
Elsewhere, Ohio State will also need to add a running back, as both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are set to leave — there’s a small chance Judkins returns, but very unlikely. That leaves freshman James Peoples as the only player in the room to have played gotten any significant reps, and even he played less than 100 snaps total. The Buckeyes have been linked to both USC transfer Quinten Joyner and Alabama transfer Justice Haynes, and I’d have to imagine one of those guys ends up in scarlet and gray.
They could also use a tight end, as the Buckeyes’ entire position group in 2024 combined to be less productive than Joe Royer, who transferred from Ohio State to Cincinnati this past offseason and went on to catch 50 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns for the Bearcats.
On defense, Ohio State will also likely need two defensive backs — one at corner and one at safety. Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock will be gone, leaving only Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Davison Igbinosun at corner. Igbinosun struggled mightily this past season with penalties, and could be better suited with a move to safety. The Buckeyes will also lose Lathan Ransom at said safety spot, so should Iggy move to the back end alongside Caleb Downs, you’re looking at adding at least one corner and probably a slot guy or another safety just to be safe.
The team will also need to find some new specialists, as both the kicking and punting game have been completely inadequate. Ohio State has already lost too many games over the past few seasons because of bad special teams play and the inability to make field goals, and that cannot continue as the margins against other top teams continues to get smaller and smaller.
That brings the conservative total of transfer portal additions needed to 10 players. That is a ton of roster turnover for a team coming off a year where they were supposed to be one of the best units in the country, and it will be hard to replicate the talent base the Buckeyes had in 2024 by piecing it together with transfers in 2025. As such, it begs the question:
What is the benefit of bringing Ryan Day back for another season?
I’m not trying to belabor the point, as I’m well established on record as wanting Day gone, but on paper there is no better time for Ohio State to move on from its head coach than right now.
There is very little to provide optimism for next season as things are currently constructed in Columbus. On top of the obvious flaws plaguing the roster and the staff, Ohio State’s schedule only gets harder in 2025, opening the season against Texas and playing what will be a much improved Michigan team on the road. With Penn State also coming to town and intriguing road games at Washington and Wisconsin, the Buckeyes’ ceiling could be 10-2 with a fifth-straight loss in the rivalry and another year without a Big Ten title.
So the roster is already in flux, the road to achieve the program’s goals is only getting tougher, and even more to the point a clear and obvious replacement is sitting right there for the taking in Mike Vrabel. The Buckeyes would not have to pay any sort of buyout on Vrabel to land the Ohio State alum, he would be a slam dunk hire who by all accounts would be interested in the job and would likely be the best case to limit any sort of further attrition via a potential transfer portal exodus.
Even if Ohio State was to lose players as a result of firing Day, it seems pretty clear that 2025 is going to be a bit of a step back for the team anyway. The Buckeyes also just brought in a five-star quarterback in Tavien St. Clair, who has been a lifelong Ohio State fan and committed to the program itself and not the head coach. You would have St. Clair ready and waiting in the wings for a bounce-back season in 2026, and there is no reason to believe a guy like Vrabel wouldn’t attract talent to Columbus to accompany him — both on the field and on his coaching staff.
The stars are aligned for Ohio State make the change and stop the skid. There has been no better opportunity for the Buckeyes to move on from this failing regime than right now. What is the point in retaining Day for one more season, just to ultimately fire him a year from now anyway and potentially miss out on an obvious upgrade while falling even further down the pecking order of the sport’s elite programs?
Ryan Day just suffered one of the worst losses in Ohio State football history, and all of the things that once made him an attractive option — dominant offenses, elite recruiting, maintaining a strong locker room — have all started to slip. Barring an unlikely run at a national title, it’s time to pull the plug and begin a new era of Ohio State football.
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With a roster in compete flux heading into next season, there has never been a more perfect time to find a new head coach...
The No. 1 thing on Ryan Day’s mind right now is getting his team ready for Saturday’s College Football Playoff matchup against Tennessee. However, we are also currently in the midst of the first transfer portal window, which opened last week and closes on Dec. 28.
The Buckeyes will be losing a mass exodus of players this offseason to the NFL Draft and graduation, and they cannot afford to be complacent in adding talent for next year’s roster despite still competing this year.
Ohio State brought back a huge contingency of players in 2024 with hopes of righting the wrongs of seasons past. That did not happen — barring a miracle national title run — but now all of those guys will be leaving for real, on top of the obvious holes the current roster has even with that glut of returnees. All told, the 2025 team is going to look a lot different, and it is going to need a ton of help from the transfer portal.
The obvious focus on that front is along the offensive line, where Ohio State will need to add three offensive linemen at minimum. The Buckeyes are set to lose both starting tackles and their starting center. You can probably find two interior starters among the group of Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld, Tegra Tshabola, Luke Montgomery and Josh Padilla — the first three of which played extensively this season — but you will need at least one more proven commodity up the middle as well as both tackles replaced.
The other side of the trenches is in an equally dire position, as Ohio State is set to lose its entire starting defensive line. Behind those guys are only two defensive ends who have played any meaningful snaps in Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson with nothing to speak of behind them. Kayden McDonald is your top returnee at defensive tackle, and outside of freshman end-turned-tackle Eddrick Houston, there is little proven depth there either. The Buckeyes likely need to add at least one if not two edge rushers to feel comfortable about that unit.
Elsewhere, Ohio State will also need to add a running back, as both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are set to leave — there’s a small chance Judkins returns, but very unlikely. That leaves freshman James Peoples as the only player in the room to have played gotten any significant reps, and even he played less than 100 snaps total. The Buckeyes have been linked to both USC transfer Quinten Joyner and Alabama transfer Justice Haynes, and I’d have to imagine one of those guys ends up in scarlet and gray.
They could also use a tight end, as the Buckeyes’ entire position group in 2024 combined to be less productive than Joe Royer, who transferred from Ohio State to Cincinnati this past offseason and went on to catch 50 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns for the Bearcats.
On defense, Ohio State will also likely need two defensive backs — one at corner and one at safety. Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock will be gone, leaving only Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Davison Igbinosun at corner. Igbinosun struggled mightily this past season with penalties, and could be better suited with a move to safety. The Buckeyes will also lose Lathan Ransom at said safety spot, so should Iggy move to the back end alongside Caleb Downs, you’re looking at adding at least one corner and probably a slot guy or another safety just to be safe.
The team will also need to find some new specialists, as both the kicking and punting game have been completely inadequate. Ohio State has already lost too many games over the past few seasons because of bad special teams play and the inability to make field goals, and that cannot continue as the margins against other top teams continues to get smaller and smaller.
That brings the conservative total of transfer portal additions needed to 10 players. That is a ton of roster turnover for a team coming off a year where they were supposed to be one of the best units in the country, and it will be hard to replicate the talent base the Buckeyes had in 2024 by piecing it together with transfers in 2025. As such, it begs the question:
What is the benefit of bringing Ryan Day back for another season?
I’m not trying to belabor the point, as I’m well established on record as wanting Day gone, but on paper there is no better time for Ohio State to move on from its head coach than right now.
There is very little to provide optimism for next season as things are currently constructed in Columbus. On top of the obvious flaws plaguing the roster and the staff, Ohio State’s schedule only gets harder in 2025, opening the season against Texas and playing what will be a much improved Michigan team on the road. With Penn State also coming to town and intriguing road games at Washington and Wisconsin, the Buckeyes’ ceiling could be 10-2 with a fifth-straight loss in the rivalry and another year without a Big Ten title.
So the roster is already in flux, the road to achieve the program’s goals is only getting tougher, and even more to the point a clear and obvious replacement is sitting right there for the taking in Mike Vrabel. The Buckeyes would not have to pay any sort of buyout on Vrabel to land the Ohio State alum, he would be a slam dunk hire who by all accounts would be interested in the job and would likely be the best case to limit any sort of further attrition via a potential transfer portal exodus.
Even if Ohio State was to lose players as a result of firing Day, it seems pretty clear that 2025 is going to be a bit of a step back for the team anyway. The Buckeyes also just brought in a five-star quarterback in Tavien St. Clair, who has been a lifelong Ohio State fan and committed to the program itself and not the head coach. You would have St. Clair ready and waiting in the wings for a bounce-back season in 2026, and there is no reason to believe a guy like Vrabel wouldn’t attract talent to Columbus to accompany him — both on the field and on his coaching staff.
The stars are aligned for Ohio State make the change and stop the skid. There has been no better opportunity for the Buckeyes to move on from this failing regime than right now. What is the point in retaining Day for one more season, just to ultimately fire him a year from now anyway and potentially miss out on an obvious upgrade while falling even further down the pecking order of the sport’s elite programs?
Ryan Day just suffered one of the worst losses in Ohio State football history, and all of the things that once made him an attractive option — dominant offenses, elite recruiting, maintaining a strong locker room — have all started to slip. Barring an unlikely run at a national title, it’s time to pull the plug and begin a new era of Ohio State football.
Continue reading...