Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs Minnesota: Game Preview and Prediction
Jami Jurich 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

The Buckeyes will look to bury the Golden Gophers to open conference play.

Hot on a five-game win streak, the Ohio State Men’s Basketball team will take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-2) at the Schott in Columbus Sunday.

Led by sophomore guard Bruce Thornton, the Buckeyes (6-1) head into the matchup on the heels of an 88-61 routing of the Central Michigan Chippewas on Nov. 29.

Minnesota, for their part, is heading to Columbus on the heels of their 33-point victory over the New Orleans Privateers, a game in which Minnesota’s bench scored 62 points, with three reserve players scoring in the double digits.

The game kicks off Big Ten conference play for both teams this season.

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PREVIEW

For one Buckeye in particular, this game is personal.

Fifth-year graduate forward Jamison Battle will be facing off against his former team, having transferred to Ohio State from Minnesota (his hometown university) after last season ended (funnily enough, he took part in the Golden Gophers’ upset over the Buckeyes, a low point for OSU last season).

Battle, who has been a tremendous asset for the Buckeyes, refers to his former teammates as his “brothers,” but as many of us well know, sibling rivalry can be a powerful motivator, and it could factor in.

Still, Battle says that in spite of the emotional element, for him and his current teammates, Sunday is business as usual.

“Business as usual” is pretty successful these days. While the Gophers’ two losses have come against their two quality opponents (losing 70-68 against Missouri and 76-58 against San Francisco), the Buckeyes have held their own against Alabama and Santa Clara.

Thornton in particular is having a spectacular start to the season, putting up 25 points against Central Michigan and averaging 18.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. Thornton is joined in the backcourt by fellow sophomore Roddy Gayle, who is averaging 14.4 points per game with 4.1 assists. They are one of the top backcourt duos in the conference. Battle, for his part, is averaging 12.4 points and 2.4 3-pointers per game.

Minnesota is led by junior forward Dawson Garcia, who is averaging 18.3 points and 2.6 assists with 7.7 rebounds per game. In their Dec. 1 routing of New Orleans, the Gophers jumped to a 7-6 lead early, after a layup by sophomore forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (avg. 9 points per game), and never trailed again.

The Gophers come into this contest as the 127th-ranked offense in the nation, according to KenPom.

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PREDICTION

Minnesota has outscored opponents by an average of 13.1 points per game so far this season (compared to the Buckeyes’ 15.4 ppg), but this is the Golden Gophers’ first true road game, and it looks to be a lopsided match in the Buckeyes’ favor.

Both of the Gophers’ two losses were against quality opponents, dropping a close 70-68 battle against Missouri and losing by 18 to San Francisco in a neutral-site game (though it was on the West Coast), so this game looks to be a good indicator of what we can expect from the Gophers this season.

The Buckeyes, on the other hand, bounced back from their early 73-66 loss to No. 15 Texas A&M and went on to defeat No. 17 Alabama, 92-81 and beat Santa Clara by 30 points in back-to-back games.

OSU is shooting well to start the season, and if Minnesota continues to struggle with perimeter defense, this could be a long day for the visitors.

I expect the Buckeyes to extend their win streak to six, particularly if the Buckeyes can force turnovers (something the Gophers have struggled with this season).

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ESPN BPI: Ohio State 85.3%

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: Big Ten Network

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 83, Minnesota 70

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Five Storylines: No. 16 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Rickea Jackson’s availability, containing Rocky Top, rebounding and more

The start of the 23-24 season for the Ohio State women’s basketball team has been mostly favorable. In six games, the Buckeyes are 5-1 with the lone defeat coming on Nov. 6 against its only ranked opponent to date in the USC Trojans. Now, as the calendar changes to December, the scarlet and gray face its first of two, and maybe three, ranked opponents to close out the year. First up are the Tennessee Volunteers.

Before Sunday’s 5:00 p.m. ET tipoff, here are four storylines to watch as coach Kevin McGuff’s side travels south to Knoxville.

Rickea Jackson’s Availability ​

Tennessee’s success against Ohio State hinges on the availability of forward Rickea Jackson. The graduate senior, playing her final season before likely going as a lottery pick in the WNBA Draft, hasn’t seen the court in the last five Volunteers matchups, recovering from an ankle injury.

Head coach Kellie Harper hasn’t put a timeline on Jackson’s return, saying it’ll happen when the training and medical staff say it can happen. The hole left by Jackson’s absence is large.

Jackson is a 6-foot-2 forward who hurts teams with scoring and rebounding, although the graduate senior was mostly neutralized in last year’s matchup between the Big Ten and SEC sides. That’s because Jackson was playing her first game on a new team, following three seasons with the Mississippi State Bulldogs. This year, the team is Jackson.

In two games for the Vols this year, Jackson averages 22 points and 12 rebounds, and it’s not coming from a game you’d expect. The forward didn’t pad stats early against a small non-conference side but against a ranked Florida State.

Against the Seminoles, Jackson went off for a personally historic performance. In the narrow 91-92 defeat for the Vols, Jackson scored 31 points and grabbed a career single-game high of 17 rebounds. Jackson outrebounded fellow starters 17-12 and led the game in scoring.

Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

It isn’t clear if Jackson will still be out on Sunday, but it isn’t guaranteed. Even so, the Vols aren’t an easy win without Jackson. Although Tennessee is 3-2 with Jackson on the bench, on Wednesday, during the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge, Tennessee held its own against the No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, losing 74-69.

Big Game Jacy Sheldon ​

Ohio State’s had a wide variety of names leading the way game-in and game-out so far this season, but the one to watch Sunday is guard Jacy Sheldon. When the Buckeyes faced its toughest competitors this year, like the Trojans and defensive battles against the East Carolina Pirates and Oklahoma State Cowgirls, it’s been Sheldon consistently stepping up.

Sheldon’s led the Buckeyes with a 23.3 points per game average in those games, and scoring in different ways. Against USC and Oklahoma State, the guard turned steals into points. Against East Carolina, Sheldon scored 12 of her 20 points from beyond the arc. Sheldon is a chameleon, bringing different looks to each game.

Against Tennessee, it could be another strong game from deep. In two of the Vols' three losses, it’s been the three-point shot doing them in, allowing 13 and 10 in losses to the Seminoles and a lopsided defeat to the Indiana Hoosiers.

The Vols gave up 10 threes only twice in the entire 22-23 season, showing the impact of losing now WNBA rising star Jordan Horston. That favors Sheldon, who leads Ohio State in shooting from deep with 12 makes on the year, but that can benefit others in the offensive attack.

Diverse Scoring ​

While Sheldon continues to show why WNBA general managers wanted her to leave the NCAA last season, Ohio State is going to win through team basketball.

The aforementioned shooting defensive woes for the Vols will benefit more than Sheldon. The Buckeyes are working towards a team where anyone in the starting five can hurt you from deep. All five have hit from beyond the arc this season, and when they’re on, they’ll make it difficult on defenses.

Watch to see if the Buckeyes test from deep early. The more Ohio State hits those shots, the more room it gives on the inside. That Vols' defeat against the Hoosiers shows the formula. While the Scarlet and Gray don’t have forward Mackenzie Holmes, coach McGuff’s side has players who can attack the basket better than most in the conference.

Indiana beat Tennessee hitting 10 three-pointers, five alone from guard Yarden Garzon, and outscoring the Vols in the paint 32-18. If threes go in for Ohio State, forwards Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry will get more space to run from the perimeter to the post. It also allows forward Rebeka Mikulášiková more one-on-one chances to move in the paint, spinning towards the basket as she’s known to do.

Buckeyes Energy ​

Ohio State’s synonymous with a blistering full-court press, the kind of defense that forced 27 turnovers from the Vols last season, but that’s not the energy to look out for Sunday. It’s on the boards.

Look at the Buckeyes’ runs in games this year, alongside them is strong rebounding. Against Oklahoma State, the Buckeyes played their best in the first and fourth quarters. Ohio State outrebounded the Cowgirls a combined 30-13.

In the second quarter of that game, when the Buckeyes were held to 12 total points, Oklahoma State outrebounded Ohio State 20-7. After the game, McGuff cited a downtick in the team’s energy in the second quarter.

When Ohio State is up in games, and lets that intensity dip, it allows players to box out Buckeyes in the paint, or beat them to the spot altogether.

Thierry is key for the Buckeyes’ rebounding on Sunday. The guard/forward hybrid’s been everywhere this season, sitting seventh in the conference in rebounding per game with 7.7. Of those, 3.2 are on the offensive boards. The Vols don’t have center Tamari Key at the levels she was before the start of last season before a heart condition took the center out for the rest of the year. Key’s been back this year but in a much more limited role.

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

If Jackson is out, Thierry has even more of an advantage in the department. Should Thierry and the Buckeyes’ energy allow for the rebounding margin to go in their favor, it gives Sheldon, McMahon, and other scarlet and gray players the chance to push overall team intensity higher, making life difficult for the Vols.

Silencing Rocky Top ​

The marketing angle taken by the SEC is “it just means more.” While those sorts of things can be cliché, you can’t argue it by looking at a Tennessee basketball crowd.

Tennessee’s led the NCAA in scoring 11 straight seasons, back in the years of legendary head coach Pat Summit. While numbers have dipped due to the Vols backtracking from former NCAA Championship-filled glory, Tennessee is creeping back up into pre-COVID-19 attendance numbers.

Last season, the Vols averaged 8,150 people per game at Thompson-Boling Arena. Expect another large crowd in Knoxville on Sunday, and they’re going to be loud.

Rocky Top is known as one of the loudest fan bases in women’s basketball. Current championships or not, Tennessee fans are devoted and will let the Buckeyes know Sunday afternoon.

What can silence it for Ohio State is that full-court press and a strong shooting day. If anything, the loud environment might help the Buckeyes in the press, causing more havoc for Tennessee players as they try to move the ball up the court against the 10-second clock.

The Buckeyes have played in hostile basketball environments before. Last year, in Louisville, Kentucky, coach McGuff’s side came back from 14 points down to dominate 96-77. Even look at the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight in Seattle, Washington. Ohio State played a nationwide favorite UConn Huskies and came away with the victory in front of a crowd leaning heavily towards head coach Geno Auriemma’s side.

If the game goes the Buckeyes’ way, as the crowd’s intensity dies down, so might the intensity from the Vols on the court.

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Ohio State fans think Ryan Day needs to pass the sticks, but want the Buckeyes in the CFP
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

And I agree with them wholeheartedly.

Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

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Question 1: What is the biggest thing that the Ohio State football program must do in the offseason?​

Look, I have been beating this drum for just about two years now. I think Ryan Day is doing his players, his offense, his team, his program, his staff, and himself a disservice by continuing to call plays; and unfortunately, this has become an annual tradition to have to talk about it after disappointing losses late in the season (and after some ugly early-season wins as well).

And while I definitely think that Day’s habit of going conservative in many (but not all) big games hurt the Buckeyes in last week’s Michigan game, I don’t think that was the biggest issue this season; that would put as the quarterback position — which also is Day’s responsibility, but is a separate issue. However, I don’t know that QB would be my biggest concern moving forward.

I don’t think that Day will be especially active (or even active at all) in trying to land a big-name transfer quarterback, instead, I imagine that we will go into spring with all three returning QBs in a competition with the opportunity for Air Noland to get into the mix if he’s ready. I don’t think that the Buckeyes can go into 2024 with anything similar to this year’s version of Kyle McCord behind center. Presumably, the incumbent starter will improve, but if it is not substantially, I think you have to go in a different direction, and that has to be decided by the end of spring. I personally did not see enough from Devin Brown in his limited action to make me confident that he is capable of being the guy next year if McCord doesn’t take a major step. So, if push comes to shove — and Day doesn’t decide to go crazy and bring in a DJ Uiagalelei, Dante Moore, Cameron Ward, Will Howard, or Riley Leonard type — my completely uninsightful preference would be to go with the South Dakota Slinger Lincoln Kienholz. But, that’s a discussion for another day.

Ultimately, when discussing the question at hand, I do think that Day giving up playcalling is vital to the long-term health of the Ohio State football program. If the Buckeyes do not make the College Football Playoff, he absolutely needs to let Brian Hartline call the offense in whatever New Year’s Six bowl game they end up in.

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Question 2: Do you want the Buckeyes to make the College Football Playoff if chaos happens this weekend?​

I wrote about this earlier in the week, but this is where I’m at. There have certainly been times when I was less keen on Buckeye teams sneaking into the College Football Playoff, but in a year in which I don’t think that there are any dominant teams in the sport — and OSU was one drive away from beating one of the best teams in the country — I don’t see any reason to not want the team to have a shot and hope against hope that Ryan Day will find that rare postseason surge of guts and creativity he sometimes stumbles upon.


With the Washington Huskies beating the Oregon Ducks last night, that’s one thing that has to go Ohio State’s way for them to make the playoff field. I think it is a bit of an uphill climb the rest of the way — especially in the Big 12 Championship Game — but, as fans, it is in our nature to get our hopes up. So, I am ready to sweat along with another OSU in hopes of it benefitting our beloved OSU.

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Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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You’re Nuts: How long will the Ohio State men’s basketball winning streak last?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes are currently riding a five-game winning streak, its longest such streak in two years.

Many people are asking the same question this week: Will the Ohio State Buckeyes ever lose again?

Yes, they will. But when?

Chris Holtmann’s squad is currently riding a five-game winning streak, which is the programs first five-game winning streak since the 2021-2022 season. After winning just 16 games a year ago, Ohio State has an opportunity to stack some wins up before the calendar flips to 2024. More on this later.


Last week, Connor and Justin took a peak at Ohio State’s three-point shooting thus far and asked if the numbers are problematic or not. 55% of the readers sided with Connor, saying that the shooting from distance had some worrisome trends. 45% sided with Justin, saying that it is nothing to be concerned about.

After 128 weeks:​

Connor- 60
Justin- 50
Other- 14​

(There have been four ties)​

Since losing to Texas A&M, Ohio State has rattled off five-straight wins, and will look to make it six in a row Sunday against Minnesota. As they continue to extend this streak, our eyes have begun to drift to the schedule to see which upcoming teams will pose the biggest threat to break the winning streak.

Today’s Question: How long will the Ohio State men’s basketball winning streak last? ​

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Connor: Lose to Indiana on Jan. 6 (7 more wins)​

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

After growing up with Ohio State basketball for many years, I am typically a jaded, “Let’s just wait and see,” type of person with this team. Especially after the past 10 years or so, I’m generally skeptical of Ohio State ending the season on a high note during any given year. I’m not sure if this year will be different or not — probably not.

But this team is playing very well right now, and is currently enjoying its first five-game winning streak in nearly two years. The last five-game winning streak took place from December 2021 to January 2022.

With several winnable games coming up, plus a few where Ohio State absolutely has a chance to win (even if they aren’t the favorite), this winning streak could actually stretch out for a few weeks or even a month longer. After looking at the schedule closely, I think Ohio State’s next loss will be Jan. 6, at Indiana.

That means seven more wins. That means a 13-1 record to start the year. It looks crazy on paper, but the Buckeyes should be favored to win each of their next seven games. Here’s why I think this streak could go on for a bit, based on the next several games:

Minnesota: Picked to finish last in the Big Ten. Minnesota beat Ohio State at home last year, and I don’t think the Buckeyes will let it happen again.

Miami: Not a bad MAC school. Still a MAC school.

Penn State: Might take some guts to win on the road, but it’s a completely new regime in Happy Valley. If Ohio State is a serious team, they have to win this one.

UCLA: Coin-flip game, but it feels like Ohio State has a better idea of what its identity is than UCLA does at this point of the season. The Bruins are very good defensively, but I couldn’t tell you who “the guy” is on that team. Seems like the Buckeyes match up well here on a netutral floor.

New Orleans: Just lost to Minnesota by 30.

West Virginia: Program is in a transition period. Really bad offensive team, and not a very deep bench.

Rutgers: Elite defensive team, will be a great test for Ohio State. Rutgers is No. 162 in the country in offensive efficiency, and the Buckeyes have shown big imrpovements on the defensive side of the ball this year.

Indiana: This is where I can’t see Ohio State winning. Indiana hasn’t been great this year, but Assembly Hall on a Saturday night is one of the wildest, loudest, and crudest environments to play in. Things tend to spiral out of control for visiting teams, and I’m just not sure if the Buckeyes will be able to control the game and pace playing at Assembly Hall.

If Ohio State was able to hypothetically rip off 12 consecutive wins, it would be the first time that’s happened since the Buckeyes opened the 2013-2014 season with 15 consecutive wins.

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Justin: Lose to UCLA on Dec. 16 (3 more wins)​

Steven Erler-USA TODAY Sports

Normally, I am the optimistic one of the group, but I do think the winning streak will end at eight games, and they will fall in the CBS Sports Classic against UCLA.

I think they will beat Minnesota and Penn State, even though I think both games will be semi-close. Minnesota is the first conference game, and Dawson Garcia is good enough to keep it competitive. Penn State is on the road, and that is never an easy game for the Buckeyes, and they will beat Miami of Ohio by 20 points in a game that is never close.

Then, they will head to the CBS Sports Classic and take on UCLA. It is hard to get a gauge on UCLA, as they lost a lot of production to the draft last season, but they are extremely well-coached and reloaded well.

Adem Bona is a problem matchup for any team, averaging 15 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The main breakout star for the Bruins so far this season has been Sebastian Mack, who is averaging 15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals per contest.

This will be a close game, but I think the UCLA offense is tough to stop, and Ohio State won’t get enough stops down the stretch of the game. It won’t be the end of the world, but I have UCLA 76-70.

Obviously, I would love to be wrong.

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Conference opener....

OHIO STATE’S JAMISON BATTLE TREATING MATCHUP WITH FORMER TEAM MINNESOTA THE SAME AS ANY OTHER BIG TEN GAME​

By Andy Anders on December 1, 2023 at 1:40 pm @andyanders55

• OSU BASKETBALL

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There’s little that changes for Jamison Battle going into Ohio State’s matchup with Minnesota on Sunday.
Yes, the Buckeyes’ top transfer portal acquisition is facing off against the team he transferred from in the contest. But his focus remains on delivering his new bunch to victory and a step forward in their progression.
“You obviously have thoughts about that, but it’s just the first Big Ten game of the season, that’s how we’re looking at it,” Battle said. “As a team, we’ve got some things we need to improve on from the Central Michigan game and from games prior. I think we’re looking forward to opening the Big Ten season at home and playing a pretty solid Minnesota team.”
Still, Ohio State’s coaching staff will be working with him to ensure that he stays locked into that mindset as the Buckeyes look to extend their five-game winning streak against the Golden Gophers.
“We know this is a part of college basketball,” Holtmann said. “We’re not the only one that has interconference transfers, all over college basketball (there are). There will be an emotional element for him that he’ll have to keep in mind.”

There’s no ill will harbored by Battle toward his former program.
“Jamison has great respect for those players, those coaches, that program,” Holtmann said. “I think it did so much for him, meant so much to him. Every conversation I’ve ever had with him, he speaks really highly of the program and the coaches and the players.”
Battle remains close with many of his former teammates. Senior forward Parker Fox, junior forward Isaiah Ihnen and junior forward Dawson Garcia were among those he named as close friends.
He holds a special respect for Fox and Ihnen, who have both dealt with season-ending ACL tears in back-to-back years.
“I still keep up with those guys, it’s the relationship I have being there for two years and spending every day with those guys,” Battle said. “You’re never going to lose those relationships, and in the end, you want to make sure that those guys are being successful and you’re helping them with whatever they need.”
That said, the Gophers will become the enemy once Battle takes the Value City Arena floor for Sunday evening’s game.
“I talked about it with those guys beforehand when I did transfer, ‘We’re brothers off the court, but then on the court, we’re rivals,’” Battle said. “I think that’s something that we’re all looking forward to and I just can’t wait to get out there and play the game. I’m feeling excited – it’ll be a little bit different when we head to the Barn (in Minnesota).”
“IT’S JUST THE FIRST BIG TEN GAME OF THE SEASON, THAT’S HOW WE’RE LOOKING AT IT. AS A TEAM, WE’VE GOT SOME THINGS WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON FROM THE CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME AND FROM GAMES PRIOR.”– JAMISON BATTLE ON FACING HIS FORMER TEAM
Battle transferred to Ohio State from Minnesota this offseason after two years in Minneapolis. He previously spent two seasons with George Washington of the Atlantic 10.
The Golden Gophers’ leading scorer in 2021-22 and second-leading scorer the following year, Battle averaged 17.5 points his first year with the team and 12.4 in his second. He’s matched the latter total exactly thus far in his first campaign in Columbus.
A career 35.2% shooter from 3, Battle has bounced back from a career-low 31.1% from distance in 2022-23 to make 38.6% of his attempts through seven games this year.
“We’re challenging him in some of these other areas that he’s got to grow in,” Holtmann said Tuesday. “But he’s a really good shooter and scorer, and I think he’s getting a better and better feel for what we expect.”
The top areas in his game available for growth are playmaking and rebounding, Battle said.
“I think the biggest improvement for me has been making sure I’m getting everyone involved in that aspect of seeing open guys, I’m not forcing shots and I’m making sure that I’m making the right plays,” Battle said. “I think that’s something that I’ve grown into. I feel like, at times, I’ve made the right plays but at times I haven’t made the right plays.”
A knowledge of Minnesota’s system will give Battle some extra input over the coming days in terms of game prep, he said. The Buckeyes are fresh off a dominant 88-61 victory over Central Michigan on Wednesday, which came after they won the Emerald Coast Classic last weekend.
“There’s a lot of things that I can help with and just give the feedback that I see and help my teammates as well with personnel, with different stuff,” Battle said. “We’ve talked a little bit but today will be a big scouting day for us so we’ll see what happens there.”

Stock Market Report: Thank you Marvin Harrison Jr., and a lot of young players had great regular seasons
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Even though the Buckeyes are losing top tier talent, the future is still bright with the younger players who played a role this season.

Unfortunately, for the third season in a row, the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) are left wondering what went wrong after falling to No. 2 Michigan (12-0) 30-24 to likely end the Buckeyes playoff hopes and cancel their Big Ten Championship game trip.

With the regular season over, this stock market will take a look at some of the top performers this season and the young guys who shined.

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Blue Chip​

Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Marvin Harrison Jr.: His career is likely over in the Scarlet and Gray, as the Buckeyes have only a slim chance to make the College Football Playoff. If they do not, he will almost certainly sit out the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Harrison finished his Buckeye career with 155 catches, 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns. Those numbers look much better when you realize he only had 11 catches in his freshman season and is only a junior.

He will finish his Ohio State career as one of the top players to ever come through the program, and has a legitimate chance to be the first receiver to go No. 1 in the draft since Keyshawn Johnson. Thanks for the memories, MHJ.

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Solid Investments​

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jermaine Matthews Jr.: Ohio State has had many elite cornerbacks come through the program in its history, and with Denzel Burke likely heading to the league as a first-round draft pick, it is now time for Jermaine Matthews Jr. to step into the starting role. He showed great flashes this season, particularly when he was thrust into the starting role against Penn State and played well, and also on special teams.

Matthews Jr. is next up at DBU (in my humble opinion).

Cade Stover: Cade Stover had one of the best seasons we have seen from an Ohio State tight end in a while. Stover was named as a finalist for the Mackey Award, the nation’s top tight end. Before the season started, most people assumed that Georgia’s Brock Bowers would run away with this award, but his midseason injury opened the door for someone like Stover.

He finished the season with 41 catches, 576 yards, and five touchdowns, similar to his stat line last season.

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Junk Bond​

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Special teams: We have said all year that the special teams would bite the Buckeyes in a big game, and it did. Between the missed field goal by Jayden Fielding and the punting unit failing to flip the field, it was another poor day for Parker Fleming’s group. Michigan’s kicker James Turner recorded 12 points to Fielding’s six. Also, Michigan’s punter Tommy Doman averaged 52 yards per punt, while Ohio State’s Jesse Mirco averaged 37 yards per punt. They punted the ball three times.

Not ideal in a game where starting field position is key. The game was not lost because of this, but it was a contributing factor.

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Buy/Sell​

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Buy: Jordan Hancock. Anytime you are a freshman who has to play heavy minutes on an improved defense, it can be difficult. However, Hancock looked great this season, and he will be one of the anchors of the defense heading into next season when a lot of the top captains and producers will be gone.

Buy: Carnell Tate. This one is pretty simple to me. His production might be affected depending on whether Emeka Egbuka heads to the NFL Draft and whatever Julian Fleming decides to do, but in a long line of elite Ohio State receivers, Tate showed flashes this season that he is next.

Sell: Losing to Michigan. I am 27 years old, and I have been fortunate enough not to see the Buckeyes loss to Michigan that often. And I took it for granted. You don’t know what you got until it’s gone. I would like you to get back on the other side of this — and soon.

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I have been collecting game jerseys, cleats, and gloves for about the last 5 years. Now have over 200 jerseys, 100+ cleats, 100 + Pairs of gloves. Does anyone else out there collect these items? Does anyone have any items for sale?

MC&J: Who takes home the crowns on Conference Championship Weekend?
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 Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

Picks for the Pac-12, Big 12, Big Ten, and seven other conference championship games this weekend.

Last week ATS: 10-5 (5-3 National, 5-2 B1G)​

Season ATS: 108-98-1 (50-57-1 National, 58-41 B1G)​

Despite missing on Ohio State, the rest of the final week of the regular season went really well when it comes to the picks. Now we hope to have another big week before diving into bowl season.

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Conference championship games​

Conference USA: New Mexico State v. No. 24 Liberty (-10.5) - Friday 7:00 p.m. ET - CBS Sports Network

All the pressure is on Liberty in this game as the Flames look to stay undefeated in Jamey Chadwell’s first season as the team’s head coach. Kaidon Salter has been phenomenal at quarterback for Liberty this year, tossing 29 touchdowns. Along with Salter, running back Quinton Cooley has been a force, rushing for over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns.

After a 2-3 start to the season, New Mexico State enters this game on an eight-game winning streak, with one of those wins being a 31-10 win at Auburn a couple weeks ago. Jerry Kill’s team might not be as flashy as Liberty, but they make up for it with toughness. So far this season quarterback Diego Pavia has accounted for 28 total touchdowns..

In the first meeting between the schools back in early September, New Mexico State had a 17-13 lead in the second quarter before Liberty ran off 20 unanswered points to earn a 33-17 victory. The Aggies have improved since then and are playing with a ton of confidence after knocking off Auburn. While I think Liberty beats New Mexico State again, the Aggies hang around in this one and make Chadwell and the Flames work hard to stay undefeated

Liberty 28, New Mexico State 24

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Pac-12: No. 5 Oregon (-9.5) v. No. 3 Washington - Friday 8:00 p.m. ET - ABC

The Ducks and Huskies played a classic in mid-October, with Washington squeaking by Oregon 36-33 in Seattle. Since then, the Ducks have been rolling their opponents while the Huskies have won all of their six games following their win over Oregon by 10 points or less. Despite finishing the regular season undefeated, the Heisman Trophy buzz around quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has cooled since his numbers have dropped off following the win over Oregon.

On the other side, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix has been outstanding all year long. The former Auburn quarterback is in the mix for the Heisman, as he enters this game completing over 78 percent of his passes and has 43 total touchdowns. Washington will have their hands full with receivers Troy Franklin, Tez Johnson, and running back Bucky Irving.

Since their first meeting, Oregon looks like a team on the mission, while Washington has essentially been playing Tresselball. The Ducks aren’t like Oregon State or Washington State where Washington can mess around and still earn the victory. I’m not scared of this spread being nearly double digits since Dan Lanning has been a man possessed since blowing the game in Seattle with some of his coaching decisions.

Oregon 41, Washington 27

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Big 12: No. 18 Oklahoma State v. No. 7 Texas (-14.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ABC

Oklahoma State feels like they peaked with their win over Oklahoma in the final installment of Bedlam. Since then, the Cowboys were obliterated by Central Florida, beat Houston, and need a couple overtimes to beat BYU. Ollie Gordon II has been one of the running backs in the country this year, rolling up 1,580 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns.

Texas will be playing their final game in the Big 12 on Saturday. Since I’m a wrestling fan, I imagine Steve Sarkisian doing with the Big 12 trophy what Madusa did with the WWE Women’s Championship after she joined WCW: throwing it right in the trash. If there wasn’t so much money involved if Texas works their way into the playoff, it would be funny to see Big 12 commissioner Brent Yormark channeling Vince McMahon and having the refs pull off the Dallas Screwjob.

Even though Texas lost running back Jonathon Brooks a few weeks ago to a knee injury, the Longhorns enter this game with a ton of momentum after beating Texas Tech by 50 last week. Texas know they need a convincing win in this game if they want to have any shot at making the College Football Playoff.

Texas 45, Oklahoma State 21

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MAC: Miami (OH) v. Toledo (-7.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ESPN

This game will certainly be interesting since these two teams play different styles of football. Miami is all about defense, while Toledo has quarterback DeQuan Finn leading a potent offense. In their meeting earlier in the season, the Rockets beat the RedHawks 21-17 in October in Oxford.

In a game like this, I feel a lot more comfortable taking the points. Even if Miami falls behind early, they know they aren’t out of it, as Toledo opened up a 21-3 lead in their first meeting before the RedHawks closed the deficit to 21-17. I think Toledo wins this game, but we see a final score that is similar to what we saw in the first meeting. The RedHawks keep this game within a score.

Toledo 24, Miami (OH) 20

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Mountain West: Boise State (-2.5) v. UNLV - 3:00 p.m. ET - FOX

This game feels so odd to me since Boise State fired head coach Andy Avalos a couple weeks ago and now they are playing for a conference title. The Broncos are led by running back Ashton Jeanty, who has rushed for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns this year. After losing to Fresno State early in November, Boise State has won three straight games.

UNLV is having one of their best seasons in school history under former Missouri head coach Barry Odom. Ricky White has been the favorite target of quarterback Jayden Maiava, with White hauling in 75 passes for 1,300 yards and seven scores so far this year. The Rebels will have to put last week’s loss to San Jose State behind them if they want to win the conference crown.

Even though Boise State has rallied around their interim head coach, I like UNLV in this game, especially since this contest is being played in Las Vegas. The Rebels secure just their second 10-win season in program history by taking the down the Broncos on Saturday afternoon.

UNLV 31, Boise State 23

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SEC: No. 1 Georgia (-5.5) v. No. 8 Alabama - 4:00 p.m. ET - CBS

Ohio State fans will certainly be rooting for Georgia on Saturday, since a loss to the Crimson Tide could see the SEC place two teams in this year’s playoff. The Bulldogs are riding a 29-game winning streak, and are looking to win their third straight national title, but they might have to win this game without Brock Bowers or Ladd McConkey, who are both banged up heading into the weekend.

Alabama is looking to throw a curveball at the college football world by beating Georgia in Atlanta on Saturday. The Crimson Tide needed a miracle last week to beat Auburn last week, but that’s just what they got from Jalen Milroe on 4th & 31 to beat the Tigers 27-24. Milroe has been one of the most improved players from the start of the season, coming back from a benching against South Florida to become a contender for the Heisman.

While it’s tough to go against Nick Saban in a game like this, I still like Georgia even though they might not be at full healthy. Neither team is quite as dominant as they have been over the past few years, but I think Georgia is closer to being the more complete team. Give me the Bulldogs by at least a touchdown.

Georgia 34, Alabama 27

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American: SMU v. No. 22 Tulane (-3.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - ABC

SMU enters this game with one of the most potent offenses in the country, while Tulane has used their defense to try and return to a New Year’s Six bowl game. What the Green Wave will try and do is lean on quarterback Michael Pratt’s experience and running back Makhi Hughes to keep the football out of the hands of the SMU offense.

Preston Stone is the leader of an SMU offense that hasn’t scored less than 30 points in a game since losing to TCU back in September. The Mustangs have had a couple close calls in conference play, which should help them if this game is close late. If there was gonna be a team to keep Tulane from repeating as conference champs, SMU feels like the squad that could do it.

SMU 38, Tulane 28

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Sun Belt: Appalachian State v. Troy (-5.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - ESPN

Over the years, Appalachian State have been kings of the big upset, and they added another feather to their cap this year when they beat undefeated James Madison a few weeks ago. Most of what the Mountaineers do on offense is through the air, with quarterback Joey Aguilar throwing for 3,271 yards and 33 touchdowns so far this season.

Troy has really hit their stride after losing to Kansas State and James Madison early in the season, rolling off nine straight wins since the loss to the Dukes. The Trojans have a strong defense to compliment quarterback Gunnar Watson and running back Kimani Vidal. Troy will be a little too much on Saturday for Appalachian State, especially since they’ll have a home-field advantage in this one.

Troy 28, Appalachian State 20

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ACC: No. 14 Louisville v. No. 4 Florida State (-2.5) - 8:00 p.m. ET - ABC

Neither team enters this game with a ton of confidence. Louisville is coming off a loss to in-state rival Kentucky last week, while the Seminoles lost star quarterback Jordan Travis a couple weeks ago to a gruesome injury. Florida State was able to beat Florida last week to stay undefeated, but they’ll face an even tougher challenge on Saturday night.

I’m not putting a ton of stock in Louisville’s loss last week since it doesn’t change much. The Cardinals weren’t going to the playoff anyway, so really all they lost was bragging rights. I just feel a lot more comfortable taking the team that didn’t have to break in a new quarterback so late in the year. Sorry Florida State, you don’t have a Cardale Jones walking through that door.

Louisville 27, Florida State 21

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Big Ten: No. 2 Michigan (-21.5) v. No. 16 Iowa - 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX

Remember a couple years ago when Michigan beat Iowa 41-3 in the Big Ten title game? This game is going to look a lot like that. The Hawkeyes have a great defense, there’s no doubt about that. Unfortunately for Iowa, Michigan has too much talent on offense for them to handle, especially since they’ll be without star defender Cooper DeJean. The Wolverines pull away in the second half as they wear out the Iowa defense.

Michigan 38, Iowa 10

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Three Games To Watch on Championship Weekend as an Ohio State fan
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State no longer controls their playoff destiny and needs help.

“I don’t have to wait until the next morning to regret something I did that was kinda dumb.” ~ Bobby Knight

Absolutely, Coach Knight. For the players, coaches, and fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes, the painful 30-24 loss to That Team Up North is going to linger for the next year — the feelings of regret kicked in as soon as the clock hit zero in Michigan Stadium on Nov. 25.

The regret and remorse will be deeply felt by all associated with the program, and into the 2024 offseason of preparation. The reality is that Ohio State does have another bowl game to play, but has to play the waiting game to determine both their opponent and destination.

As Ohio State presently sits at No. 6 in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings, the Buckeyes are truly beholden to the help of other teams for any shred of assistance that might squeeze them into the fourth and final playoff spot. Is it impossible for Ohio State to reach the playoffs? No, but certain teams must lose in their respective conference championship games that are going to be played this weekend.

Below are Three Games To Watch, with random thoughts on which teams Ohio State fans should be rooting for, as well as my predictions on what may transpire...

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1. The Pac-12 Championship Game: No. 5 Oregon versus No. 3 Washington
   ABC, Friday @ 8pm ET

Washington defeated Oregon back on Oct. 14, 36-33. As soon as the game concluded, there were predictions that both teams were going to meet up in what appears to be the swan song performance for the Pac-12 conference championship game.

As to which team should Ohio State fans should root for, it is my belief that the winner is guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff, no matter what. Yes, there are thoughts that Ohio State fans should root for Washington, to ensure that Oregon gets a second loss and would be ranked below Ohio State, but the reality is that Oregon is one of the better teams in the nation, and will leapfrog the Buckeyes if they defeat Washington.

My prediction? Oregon has been looking especially formidable, while Washington has been having some very close calls down the stretch. It should be a good one to watch, and I believe Oregon defeats Washington to claim the Pac-12 conference championship, and is slotted third in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

2. The Big 12 Conference Championship Game: No. 18 Oklahoma State versus No. 7 Texas
ABC, Saturday @ 12pm ET

At first glance, it would be understandable for Ohio State fans to shrug this game off, as the Texas Longhorns are ranked seventh, one spot behind Ohio State. Why be concerned or pay attention to this game?

Think of it this way — Texas, like Ohio State, only has one loss. BUT the Longhorns are playing for their conference championship, unlike the Buckeyes. A Texas win, plus a Florida State loss (more on that below), could propel Texas past Ohio State into the fourth College Football Playoff spot.

Texas is heavily favored by the oddsmakers, but hope is not completely lost for Ohio State fans. Oklahoma State has won eight of the last 10 games against Texas, so here is to rooting for Mike Gundy and the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State has won 8 of the last 10 meetings against Texas

The last 6 games were one-possession games, how close will this one be? pic.twitter.com/9g7twEtf4t

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2023

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3. The ACC Championship Game: No. 14 Louisville versus No. 4 Florida State
ABC, Saturday @ 8pm ET

The conference championship game that most Ohio State or Big Ten fans do not watch, simply because it is going up against the same time as The Big Ten Championship Game on Fox. My suspicion is that this viewership, especially in the great state of Ohio, will be far better than any other previous ACC Championship Game.

Plain and simple, Ohio State fans need Florida State to lose. The Seminoles are trying to make due with Tate Rodemaker at quarterback, who is playing due to the loss of Jordan Travis a few weeks ago. Florida State defeated Florida 24-15 last week, but did not look overly impressive doing so, as the Gators made numerous mistakes that contributed to the loss. The oddsmakers must agree, as the Seminoles are only a 2.5 point favorite.

Louisville is coming off a disappointing 38-31 home loss to Kentucky, so the Cardinals should be eager for a shot at redemption. With a win, Louisville would not only clinch the ACC conference championship, but earn their ticket to The Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

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As for how I believe it will turn out, I believe Georgia will win the SEC Championship Game over Alabama, while Michigan will win The Big Ten Championship Game over Iowa, securing their respective spots in the College Football Playoff as the top two seeds. As I wrote up above, I believe Oregon will win on Friday night against Washington, landing them third.

Louisville does enough against Florida State to win the ACC Championship, while Texas wins against Oklahoma State, securing their last Big 12 Championship. By virtue of Texas’ conference championship, the College Football Playoff committee rewards the Longhorns with the fourth and final spot in the College Football Playoff, leaving Ohio State fifth and on the outside looking in.

It may not be what Ohio State fans want to read, and I certainly hope to be proven wrong, but these are the kind of things that happen when a team does not secure their own destiny. Should both Florida State and Texas lose, the Buckeyes have a shot at sneaking in with that fourth seed. Hope for the best, but Ohio State fans should prepare for a likely Orange Bowl game versus Louisville on Dec. 30.

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Buckeyes dish out offer to transfer portal defensive line target
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State is set to host Marley Cook in the coming weeks after offering on Thursday.

Tonight starts championship weekend, and Ohio State needs multiple things to go in their favor to even have a shot at the College Football Playoff. Of course you’d want the Buckeyes to take care of business on their own, but this team has a small chance of getting in, and they’d take what they can get.

This weekend will basically seal Ohio State’s bowl game fate, and if that’s on the back burner in your mind, there’s at least some recruiting to pass the time.

Ohio State offers transfer portal defensive target​

Some of the attrition the Ohio State roster will have in the offseason is already being seen thanks to multiple players announcing they intend to enter the transfer portal this coming Monday when it officially opens. Though there will be some players leaving, there will also certainly be some additions as the staff will pay close attention to who decides to enter from other programs. Maybe not as reliant on the portal as you’d like them to be, the Buckeyes have a plan and will surely go after the guys in positions that have clear holes.

Of those positions, defensive line will be near the top, and on Thursday Ohio State wasted no time getting in the mix as they dished out an offer to Middle Tennessee State defensive tackle prospect, Marley Cook.

A 6-foot-2, 300 pound tackle, Cook is currently ranked as the No. 20 player in the transfer portal and the fifth best defensive lineman up for grabs per 247Sports. A Mississippi native, Cook entered the portal on the same day where his MTSU head coach was fired and immediately started to draw some interest from other suitors. Though Ohio State was one of the bigger programs to offer, they certainly aren’t alone, as Miami, Tennessee, Missouri, Baylor, Oregon State, Pitt, and others have also offered the tackle target. With this trend, more on the way wouldn’t be a surprise.

For the Buckeyes, this new relationship with Cook is off to a solid start, as visit plans were scheduled almost as quick as he was offered. Learning that he will visit Ohio State on the weekend of Dec. 15, the coaching staff will have their chance to show why he’d be a great fit in Columbus. Still, plans to see Miami and Tennessee are also in the works, so this won’t be an automatic addition by any means.

The Buckeyes are going to be active in this portal window, and while Cook is one of the real first names to surface, there’s sure to be others in the near future.

Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State Univeristy @R2X_Rushmen1 @callmeagentdwil @FCProspects_ @TXRecruited pic.twitter.com/iCXjqvQHqp

— Marley Cook (@marl3ycook57) November 30, 2023

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Quick Hits​

• The latest addition to Ohio State’s 2024 class is of course Michigan native, Gabe VanSickle. The one-time Northwestern commit made the flip to the Buckeyes just a week ago, and on Thursday released his updated senior football season film.

A taste to what he’s bring to Ohio State, VanSickle is a mauler that will fit in very well at the next level at guard. A player that will need some time to develop, Gabe’s physicality can be seen in his latest tape, and of the many positive attributes to his game that he shows, his footwork may stand out the most.

Not enrolling early, VanSickle also plays on his school’s varsity basketball team and has no trouble getting up and down the floor. At 6-foot-5 and right now at 300 pounds, Gabe’s athleticism for his size is impressive to say the least and this should prove it. At any rate, it’s easy to see what Ohio State’s staff liked about his game.

Senior Year Film https://t.co/JlcVL9nuoW @AllenTrieu @Rivals_Clint @OhioStateFB @Bill_Kurelic

— 4️ (@gabe_vansickle) November 30, 2023

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Buckeyes lose five-star 2024 defensive line commit to Miami
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Ohio State’s second-ranked 2024 class takes a major hit with the loss of Justin Scott.

Still dealing with the emotions of losing a third-straight game to TTUN, the negative news for Ohio State unfortunately continued last night when the Buckeyes lost long-time five-star defensive line commit, Justin Scott to Miami. Simply put, it has not been a great week for Ohio State.

The Decision​

Committing to the Buckeyes this past July, The No. 12 player nationally and third best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite, Scott chose Ohio State over his two other top schools, Michigan and Notre Dame. A Chicago native, the desire to play closer to home fit his Ohio State decision, and Larry Johnson with his development proved to be the final piece in sealing the deal. Now committed to Miami, it’s pretty fair to question what in the world is going on in Columbus right now, because it seems like the saying “when it rains, it pours” couldn’t be any more true.

This is certainly a matter of NIL more than Scott not being content with the Buckeyes. When looking at the announcement graphic and seeing a literal pile of money edited into the photo, it’s safe to say money was the real motivation for this decision being made.

A true thorn in the side of Ohio State, Miami has done whatever they can with multiple Ohio State commits and targets to try and sway them south, and this time money won out in the end. As mentioned, for months Scott was solid to the Buckeyes, and that reasoning was for the development he was going to have under Johnson during his career in Columbus. With that now out of the cards, there’s a variety of ways you can feel about this latest development.

BREAKING: Five-Star DL Justin Scott tells me he has Flipped his Commitment from Ohio State to Miami!

The Top 10 Recruit in the ‘24 Class had been Committed to the Buckeyes since July

“From the first time they offered me to now, they never changed.”

Huge flip for the Hurricanes… pic.twitter.com/oePehaWLRl

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 30, 2023

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Where to go from here​

One one hand, you can simply chalk this one up as a loss thanks to NIL and a student-athlete being promised something Ohio State really doesn’t do with their targeted recruits. Sure, the coaching staff and several other key members of the administration have really ramped up their NIL efforts as of late, but they’re clearly not the ones with the highest bids. If they were, you wouldn’t see them losing out with Scott or on other names that are more NIL-geared recruitments.

Ohio State’s staff feels that if a recruiting battle comes down simply to NIL amounts, they would would rather look elsewhere, but I am done with that. Pay the kids if you have to! Something has to give, because this cannot continue. Looking at Ohio State recruiting classes, you see a mass of talent, but it’s really stockpiling at only certain positions. The offensive and defensive line are where games are won and lost, and the truth is that the level desired is not being achieved right now on either side in recruiting.

Specifically on the defensive line, that leads me to my next thought, and that’s pointing towards the position coach. Should Johnson be blamed entirely for this flip? No, but with how often this has happened, it can’t be dismissed either.

In 2023’s recruiting class, LJ wasn’t able to land any of his three top defensive end targets. In the 2024 class, he lost to South Carolina for Dylan Stewart, Miami for Marquise Lightfoot, and now Miami again with Scott. For how incredible he’s been in his tenure with the Buckeyes, he flat out hasn’t been great the last couple of years. Recruiting and development for years is what he’s been so good at, but when you think of all the talent he’s had at his disposal this season, it shouldn’t be a case where Ohio State is 12th in the Big Ten in sacks. That just cannot happen.

This probably should be looked at mainly from an unfortunate NIL situation, but there’s just so many frustrations that come with that. All in all, the Buckeyes need to figure it out and fast. Losing a player isn’t the end of the world, but when it’s a five-star talent at a position that is critical and has lacked over the last couple cycles, it hurts that much worse.

Whether it’s a change in philosophy, a come to Jesus moment for LJ, or backing up the Brinks truck, something just needs to be done — and done now. Ohio State fans have a reason to be sour right now, and Wednesday was no help.

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Ryan Day, Ohio State missed a golden opportunity to bury Jim Harbaugh and TTUN
Josh Dooley 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

Between the sign stealing scandal, Harbaugh’s suspension, and the end of the Big Ten as we know it, OSU could have banished their rival to the shadow realm.

Let’s just get this part out of the way: Ohio State losing to Michigan really, really, really sucked. Selfishly, it ruined a late Thanksgiving gathering with my family. Because I am a fan, which is short for fanatic, and I become an insufferable prick when my team loses. Especially the one that I have rooted for since birth, which represents the school I attended, in the city where I was born and raised.

I can only imagine how it felt for most of the OSU players and coaches.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Going into The Game, I firmly believed that the Buckeyes would win. I felt confident in their defense and thought that Kyle McCord would be able to get the ball to his playmakers and let them (Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson) cook. I certainly did not anticipate risk-averse coaching, interceptions, dropped balls, and missed tackles. Nor would I ever have imagined a visible lack of emotion and/or leadership when the chips were down.

Granted, we as fans are not privy to sideline interactions, but I sure as shit did not see McCord or any veteran defender(s) firing up the troops. If I missed that, then I own it. And I offer up a sincere apology. Each and every player who throws on the pads has my utmost respect regardless.

Unfortunately, what most of the current Ohio State roster does not have is a pair of coveted gold pants. The Buckeyes have not won this rivalry game since 2019, despite copious amounts of talent passing through Columbus. Seriously, we’re talking C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Paris Johnson Jr., and every single member of OSU’s 2021 recruiting class (the highest-rated class in program history). Not to mention all the others.

And the young Bucks on this roster, who probably grew up thinking it was damn-near impossible for the Scarlet and Gray to lose to the Maize and Blue... All without gold pants.

2021: Michigan, 42-27
2022: Michigan, 45-23
2023: Michigan, 30-24

No. 3 @UMichFootball beats rival Ohio State for the third straight season. pic.twitter.com/zYmvirbxl1

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2023

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But guess what? I’ll get over it. I know that I will. Because I lived through the John Cooper era. Because I was somewhat surprised that Ohio State was in this position (11-0, chance to dance) to begin with — with a new QB, injuries, etc. Because TTUN was ranked No. 3 and playing at home. And above all else, because I am a realist, ok?

I know that my team is not entitled to anything. Knocking off a College Football Playoff contender at their place is never easy, I don’t care if the coach is Ryan Day, Nick Saban, or Vince freaking Lombardi. Last Saturday was never going to be a cakewalk. I mean, the Buckeyes were underdogs for a reason! That means they were not expected to win.

So I/you/we can all be mad at Day, McCord, whomever, but they lost to arguably the best CFB team in the country. The Game came down to turnovers, tackles, and a few fourth downs, as is the case with just about every football game ever played. And sometimes good-to-great teams just lose.

Now, all of that being said, the loss still sucks. Big time. And being a realist does not prohibit me from also being petty and vindictive. Those character flaws traits are why this particular OSU loss cuts so painfully deep. It stings and it hurts because the Buckeyes had a chance to do something special. Nay, magical. Something that would have brought a tear to my eye(s)...

With a win in the last ‘Game’ of its kind, Ohio State could have driven a nail into their rival’s coffin. Day and Co. could have buried Jim Harbaugh and TTUN six feet deep (metaphorically, of course), dumped shame and embarrassment on said coffin, and earned bragging rights for all of eternity.

Think about it: Harbaugh was embarrassingly sidelined for the sixth time this season, meaning he coached in as many regular season games as he was suspended for. This most recent suspension was the result of an ongoing sign-stealing investigation, which is only like the 20th different act, action, exploit, thing, whatever, that has earned ol’ Khaki Jim the ire of the NCAA and/or Big Ten. TTUN even had an interim head coach at the helm this past Saturday, who just a few weeks ago gave a tearful interview as if THEY had been done a tragic injustice...

Like, dude, what world are you living in!?

Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Beating a team and a program known the world over as your rival, while the latter is/was potentially on the ropes, would have been enjoyable enough for the Buckeyes, their fans, and perhaps most of all, their head coach. But that would not (even) have been the end or the extent of it. No, because this ‘Game’ was also the last of its kind.

With the B1G expanding and divisions going away – and the CFP expanding as well – OSU and TTUN will likely never play another regular season game with absolutely everything on the line. I’m talking conference title, CFP berth, AND bragging rights for at least a year.

Ohio State could have invalidated Harbaugh’s entire U of M coaching existence. His entire existence! Lost 100 straight bowl games... Cringey videos... Recruiting violations... Ducked the Buckeyes in 2020... Couldn’t beat them without stolen signs... Harbaugh would have become the laughingstock of the football world.

Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

And his beloved program may have followed suit. For those TUN fans who thought the Brady Hoke era was bad, how does the Butch Davis/vacated wins/bowl ban/scholly reduction era sound?

Who knows what will ultimately come of this whole sign-stealing saga, but now that program up north holds an odd arrow in their quiver. They can argue rogue agent, oblivious coach(es), AND attempt to minimize any advantage gained: “Hey Tony Panini, we know we had a few shady characters in the building, but why would we knowingly cheat in order to pants Ryan Day? We don’t need to!”

Unfortunately, we will never find out what could or would have happened to the coach and the team up north with an Ohio State win. Because Day did not have (or at least show) a killer instinct. Afraid is probably the wrong word, but the Buckeyes’ coach was definitely risk averse. Day seemed to be coaching not to lose. And in his defense, there were also players who just didn’t play well. As opposed to the most recent Peach Bowl, when Day and most of his guys were hitting on all cylinders.

An opportunity wasted is how I will remember this past Saturday’s game. A golden opportunity wasted. Ryan Day and Ohio State could have buried Harbaugh and TTUN — and then prepared to dance on their rival’s grave. Instead, this moment got the best of Buckeyes and their coaching staff. And that sucks, too.

But I’ll get over it. For real, I will.

Go Bucks!

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Class: 2019
School: Middle Tennessee St.
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Bucketheads Podcast: Ohio State men win the Emerald Coast Classic, currently at five wins in a row
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeye's next game is against Minnesota, and they will need to exercise some demons from last season.

“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.

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Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

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On episode 94 of “Bucketheads,” Connor and Justin have three games to discuss.

The Buckeyes won the Emerald Coast Classic and defeated Alabama and Santa Clara over the weekend to help lessen the blow of “The Game,” and then came home to Columbus and took down Central Michigan 88-61 to start the season 6-1.

How real is this team? What has been different from last season so far? And the Buckeyes lost to Minnesota last season as the season started to snowball, time for revenge?

Be sure to like and subscribe to the podcast and leave a review of your thoughts on the show!

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Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

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This dude doesn't even have a thread here, yet he's referenced often. Here's why: this bum should've been fired a decade earlier.

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Ohio State men blow past Central Michigan 88-61 led by Bruce Thornton’s 25-point night
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes have gone streaking, winning their fifth game in a row Wednesday night.

Riding a four-game winning streak and suddenly the owner of a nice, tall trophy, the Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1) welcomed the Central Michigan Chippewas (2-5) to the Schott Wednesday night for another B1G-MAC showdown. Ohio State beat Western Michigan earlier this month to start their trio of MAC games in the non-conference and will face off with in-state foe Miami a week from Wednesday to close out the three-pack.

CMU entered this game as the No. 304 team in the nation according to KenPom — the worst team on Ohio State’s schedule, if you trust the scholarly mind of Ken Pomeroy. The ‘Chips were beaten up pretty good by Oklahoma and Florida State before facing Ohio State, but also have an upset win over South Florida this year. CMU was picked to finish last in the MAC in the preseason.

Third-year head coach Tony Barbee went with a starting five of Brian Taylor, Cayden Vasko, Derrick Butler, Anthony Pritchard, and Hunter Harding. Chris Holtmann went with the same five he’s used all season — Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Jamison Battle, Evan Mahaffey, and Felix Okpara.

It was a lethargic start for both teams in this one, with the Chippewas scoring just two points over the first four-plus minutes of play. Ohio State jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, but it had a hard time speeding things up against a CMU team that is ranked No. 299 in defensive efficiency. The Buckeyes were hitting at a reasonable clip, but only taking six shots in the first five or so minutes of play means they weren’t creating open looks as quickly as they’d like.

ARE YOU KIDDING, @roddy_gayle?! pic.twitter.com/vhFpINWXHR

— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) November 30, 2023

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Central Michigan hung tight to the Buckeyes, trailing 22-20 at the under-eight media timeout. After looking so good in Florida, Ohio State looked sleepy and unaware on the defensive end for the first 14 minutes of the first half. But the switch was flipped around the six-minute mark, and the Buckeyes outscored CMU 19-8 over the final 6:18 of the first half to head to the locker room with a 41-29 lead. Thornton led Ohio State with 19 first-half points, whilst his teammates combined for the other 22. Davis, Pritchard, and Taylor each had seven points for CMU, which shot 38.7% overall in the first half.

Buckeyes on top through .@Bruce2T_ leads the way with points so far tonight #Team125 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/ExAnFMAqEA

— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) November 30, 2023

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The second half was all Buckeyes. The scarlet and gray outscored the maroon and gold 22-5 over the first eight-plus minutes of the second half, taking a 63-34 lead into the under-12 media timeout. Thornton and Gayle continued to stir the drink and set the tone with their ability to penetrate below the basket and then either dish it off in tight windows or score themselves. Chris Holtmann even went with the never-before-used lineup of Dale Bonner, Taison Chatman, Devin Royal, Evan Mahaffey, and Zed Key for a stretch once the lead ballooned to 29.

Not today. @iamzedkey x @OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/EVlDtYPWCt

— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) November 30, 2023

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By the time the final buzzer sounded, Ohio State had wrapped up a 88-61 win over yet another directional Michigan school. Thornton led Ohio State with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting — his third 20-point game of the season. Okpara, Gayle, Battle, and Devin Royal all scored in double digits as well for the Buckeyes. Jemal Davis led CMU with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting.

If you weren’t around tonight to catch Ohio State extend its winning streak to five games, here are a few key moments and plays that helped carry the Buckeyes to victory:

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Zed Key, always open ​

Key hasn’t played enough minutes per game to qualify for statistical leaderboards this season, but if he did, his 71.4% shooting percentage would lead the Big Ten conference heading into Wednesday night’s game. The senior big has maximized the opportunities he’s been given and is knocking on the door for more minutes while Felix Okpara (4.8 PPG) has not been as much of an offensive factor.

Key checked in for the first time at the 15:50 mark tonight, and scored on his first touch two minutes later. After Battle missed a three-point attempt, Key was able to grab the board and score over the top for his first bucket of the evening.

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‘Chips take an early lead, but Thornton takes it right back ​

Junior forward Jemal Davis capped off a 7-2 CMU run with a three-pointer, giving the Chippewas a 12-11 lead seven minutes into the game.

However, Thornton, who had one of his best halves of basketball of the season, got to the other end and knocked down a three of his own 12 seconds later, putting the Buckeyes back ahead, 14-12. Thornton then scored on each of Ohio State’s next two possessions, pushing the lead to 18-12 less than two minutes later.

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15-0 run puts Buckeyes back in control ​

Vasko’s hoop-and-the-harm got Central Michigan back within one point with 6:35 left in the first half, but that would be the last CMU bucket for quite some time. The Buckeyes responded with an assertive 15-0 run over 3:33 — highlighted by seven points from Thornton in a 60-second span — that put them up, 37-21. Thornton had one of his best all-around halves of basketball ever, scoring 19 first-half points on 7-of-9 shooting

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Gone streakin’​

In a game that always has been and always will be determined by runs, the Buckeyes put a few together Wednesday night that were absolute back-breakers for their directional Michigan foes. After closing the first half on a 19-8 run, Ohio State opened the second half with a quick 9-0 run to take that 12-point lead and turn it into a 21-point lead. Gayle scored his second basket of the night, followed by consecutive buckets from Thornton, and then a Battle three-pointer from the deep corner in front of Ohio State’s bench 3:19 into the second half.

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Another #HotRod sighting​

Gayle was impactful in the first half without scoring the ball, dishing out four assists, grabbing three rebounds, and recording one steal while scoring just two points on 1-of-2 shooting.

He opened it up a bit in the second half, scoring seven points over the first six minutes of the second half. In the blink of an eye, Gayle was knocking on the door of another double-digit game, as well as a handful of rebounds and assists.

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Zed Key, to the time-out chair ​

Key has exceeded expectations in pretty much every way this season, and we’ve made sure to give him his flowers. But everyone has their “D’oh!” moments, and Zed had one in the second half of tonight’s contest.

With Ohio State leading 67-43 and 9:39 remaining in the game, Thornton swung the ball over to Key on the right wing, who hoisted his second three-point attempt of the season. It was too long, and CMU’s Paul McMillan grabbed the rebound.

Key raced down the floor, and eight seconds later lost his man and wound up fouling Jemal Davis on a three-point attempt from the far corner. Holtmann immediately had Okpara check in for Key, who had a brutal eight-second stretch on the floor.

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Five in a row ​

With the win, Ohio State has now won five games in a row for the first time since the 2021-2022 season. The Buckeyes will have a chance to extend that streak over the next two weeks, with very winnable games against Minnesota, Miami, and Penn State.

During the 2021-2022 season, Ohio State beat Duke, Penn State, Towson, Wisconsin, and Nebraska from November 30 to January 2. The Buckeyes did not string together five wins in a row for the remainder of that season, or the entirety of the 2022-2023 season.

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Up Next:​

Ohio State (6-1) has three days off and then will welcome the Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2) to Columbus on Sunday evening in the Big Ten opener. At No. 133, Minnesota is the lowest-rated Big Ten team in KenPom, and was picked to finish last in the Big Ten this season. Minnesota only won two conference games last season, but one of them was on the road at Ohio State on January 12.

Ohio State’s game against Minnesota will tip off at 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on BTN.

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for those interested

Visiting Locker Room: Talking Tennessee Volunteers with Lo Dreher
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

There are tough times for the Volunteers heading into a clash with the Buckeyes.

Ohio State women’s basketball put its name back on the national college basketball map last season, in part because of a key win against the Tennessee Volunteers. This season, the home-and-home agreement ends, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

In that Buckeyes victory, Tennessee was a formidable powerhouse featuring top names like center Tamari Key, guard Jordan Horston, and forward Rickea Jackson. Now, Horston is in the WNBA, Key is recovering from almost a season off the court and Jackson is the linchpin in the Volunteers’ chances this season, but is currently away with an injury.

To talk about the state of Tennessee with a Big Ten/SEC battle coming up between the sides on Sunday, Land-Grant Holy Land reached out to SEC basketball expert Lo Dreher of The Committee. Dreher talks about Jackson’s impact, who — if anyone — can hurt the Buckeyes in the paint, and an outlook at the 2023-24 edition of a basketball staple.

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Land-Grant Holy Land: Last season, the Buckeyes saw the Volunteers in the first game of the season. The first game as a Vol for Jackson. Now, after a year with Tennessee, the senior is playing the best basketball of her career, averaging a double-double with over 20 points per game. How crucial is Jackson to Tennessee’s success?

Lo Dreher: Jackson is the backbone of Tennessee’s team and the key to their success. She is their do all player, and in my opinion she masks a lot of roster concerns for the Lady Vols. They have struggled mightily without her. I can’t say enough about RJ and her talents, she is going to make some WNBA GM supper happy. Just an all around type player whose ceiling is … whew!

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LGHL: Going into the first game of last year, Key had everything to make Ohio State’s life extremely difficult. Fouls held Key back in Columbus and then an unfortunate heart condition kept her out for the rest of the season. The center is back this year, but not starting anymore. So, who is the player who can exploit the Buckeyes defense in the paint like many have in the past few seasons?

LD: Without Jackson, I’m honestly not completely sure! There isn’t one name that just jumps out. COULD they? Maybe, but I’m not sure enough to hypothetically put my money on it.

For instance, I could say forward Jillian Hollingshead but the reality is she can be a little on and off. We never truly know what we are going to get. Forward Karolina Striplin, as well, could be her. She definitely works hard! Key isn’t really in game shape yet, and I’m not sure if the Buckeyes will allow the game to slow down enough for her to be a huge factor. So the jury is out on that one!

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LGHL: The start of last year was tumultuous for the Vols as they adjusted to transfers, injuries, and a tough non-conference schedule. Tennessee ended the season strong, but this year they’ve hit a couple of speed bumps to kick off the season. How is the team different this year and how can they hurt teams?

LD: This team is different in my opinion because they have a legitimate point guard! Jordy (Walker) did fine and definitely held it down, but when we think of traditional PGs getting Destiny Wells in the building was perfect.

They also added a dynamic scorer with Jewell Spear! When she wants to take over a game she most definitely will. When Rickea comes back that one two punch of her and Jewell can really keep things off balance. I do think, on the flip, they lost a bit of intensity and fire with Jordy leaving and their defense misses her as well.

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Ohio State still has a shot at the playoffs, but do you really want them to make it?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Speaking just for myself, I know I do.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have three goals every season, and thanks to last weekend’s loss in the rivalry game, two of them are now off the table for Ryan Day’s team, but there is still an outside chance that they could still sneak their way into a shot at the national title.

While it would take a decent amount of help and luck, the Buckeyes do still have the opportunity to hear their name called on Sunday when the playoff field is officially unveiled. Will it happen? Probably not. Could it happen? Definitely. Do you want it to happen? Well, that’s a difficult question for many Buckeye fans to answer.

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Where does Ohio State stand in the College Football Playoff rankings?​

On Tuesday night, the College Football Playoff committee released its penultimate rankings of the 2023 season. Following their loss in The Game last weekend, the Ohio State Buckeyes fell from second to sixth. By my calculations, there are still eight teams in the hunt for CFP berths. The top two teams are essentially guaranteed spots at this point, with the No. 3 team very close to that status as well.

But, let’s take a look at the teams still capable of winning the national title.

• 1) Georgia Bulldogs
• 2) Michigan Wolverines
• 3) Washington Huskies
• 4) Florida State Seminoles

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• 5) Oregon Ducks
• 6) Ohio State Buckeyes
• 7) Texas Longhorns
• 8) Alabama Crimson Tide

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What needs to happen for Ohio State to make the 2023-24 College Football Playoff?​

As I mentioned above, I think it is pretty clear that UGA and TTUN are both firmly in the playoff field, even if they were to lose their respective conference championship games — some far less likely to happen to Michigan than it is Georgia.

So, if those two spots are secured, that means that there are two spots remaining for six teams to fight over. The Buckeyes are the one of that half dozen that does not play in Championship Weekend, so they will just have to sit and wait to see what happens.

So, let’s run through the scenarios:

Pac-12 Championship Game | No. 3 Washington vs. No. 5 Oregon​

The winner of this game is obviously in with Washington currently at No. 3 and Oregon at No. 5. The real question becomes what happens to UW if it loses? That would mean that the two teams would have split their season series, but the Huskies have seemed to fade down the stretch, and their sure-fire Heisman Trophy contender Michael Penix Jr. has almost taken a backseat to the team’s running game.

Ohio State has been ranked higher than the Huskies all season, so all things being equal, I think it’s safe to say that the committee prefers the Buckeyes. So, I do think that it is possible that OSU gets in over Washington, especially if Oregon looks dominate, but it obviously would be better for Ohio State’s playoff chances if Washington just won and completely eliminated the Ducks.

Best outcome for the Buckeye: Washington wins

ACC Championship Game | No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 14 Lousiville​

The Florida Gators almost made this one irrelevant last weekend, but the Florida State Seminoles were able to secure the victory. With starting quarterback Jordan Travis out for the season, FSU will not get any benefit of the doubt if they fall from the ranks of the unbeaten against Louisville this weekend. If that happens, the ACC will be shut out of the CFP picture altogether.

Best outcome for the Buckeye: Louisville wins

SEC Championship Game | No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama​

As mentioned above, Georgia is in the playoff no matter what, so if the Dawgs were to lose to Bama, then both SEC schools would make it, nearly completely eliminating Ohio State’s chances to sneak in. Despite being down at No. 8, there is no question that the Tide would jump to at least the No. 4 spot (probably higher) win a win.

Best outcome for the Buckeye: Georgia wins

Big 12 Championship Game | No. 7 Texas vs. No. 18 Oklahoma State​

This is one that I’m not really sure I have a great handle on. Obviously, it is best for the Buckeyes if Texas loses, which would eliminate the Horns’ ability to leapfrog them into a playoff spot by virtue of a conference title, but I’m not so sure that this would happen anyway. Clearly, the committee believes that the Buckeyes are a better team than Texas as it stands now, by virtue of their higher ranking.

And a win against a top-20 team in the Cowboyws would certainly bolster their resume, but would that be enough to get them ahead of OSU? I think so, but I’m not so sure. It is vaguely similar to the 2014 situation where Ohio State got in over the TCU Horned Frogs, despite not playing in the Big Ten Championship Game.

So, while I think an ugly win for Texas might not be enough to push them based the idle Buckeyes, if you are pulling for OSU to have a shot, it’s best to root for the Pokes.

Best outcome for the Buckeye: Oklahoma State wins

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Do you really want Ohio State to make the College Football Playoff?​

Five years ago, here on these very same pages of Land-Grant Holy Land, I argued that I didn’t want Ohio State to make the 2018 College Football Playoff, because 1) I didn’t want to see a team that I loved, but didn’t believe could legitimately compete for a national title, get embarrassed on yet another national stage, and 2) I thought that it could potentially damage recruiting if they got blowout by superior Alabama or Clemson teams.


However, things are different this year from where I sit. I think that Georgia and Michigan are clearly the top two teams in the country, but beyond that, I still think that Ohio State is the third-best squad in the country. And considering that the Buckeyes were within one score of beating the Wolverines in the Big House despite an extremely questionable touchdown review that went the home team’s way, two terribly timed interceptions by Kyle McCord, and yet another example of Day coaching scared in big games, I think that it is safe to say that given another shot, OSU would at least have a puncher’s chance against their rivals and potentially the two-time defending national champions.

Therefore, if there is even a shot that the Buckeyes could still win the title, I want them to have it. The college football landscape has changed tremendously since my 2018 column, and I think getting back to the playoff and having a strong showing — even if it ends in another loss — can help eliminate some of the bad taste from the mouths of OSU fans and recruits.

Now, I certainly understand the feelings of those in Buckeye Nation who would rather see the team play in a non-CFP New Year’s Six Bowl like facing the Louisville Cardinals in the Orange Bowl. I try to make it a point never to question how anyone else authentically manages their fandom, as long as they aren’t being complete and total asshats about it.

So, if it is better for your heart and psyche for the Buckeyes to avoid another backdoor entry into the College Football Playoff, I completely understand. But for me, I still think that this very flawed iteration of the Ohio State Buckeyes football program has enough talent to win a national title, especially during a season where even the cream of the crop don’t appear to be world beaters.

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Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs Central Michigan: Game Preview and Prediction
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

The Buckeyes will look to take down a different directional Michigan school, this one being centrally located.

The Ohio State men’s basketball team is coming off a successful trip to Florida, winning the Emerald Coast Classic and securing wins over No. 22 Alabama and Santa Clara. The Buckeyes (5-1) now head back to Columbus to face Central Michigan (2-4), their second Mid-American Conference opponent this year. They defeated Western Michigan 73-56 on Nov. 19.


Since the Buckeyes’ loss to Texas A&M, they have won four games in a row by an average of just over 20 points per game. Central Michigan has suffered 30-point losses to Florida State and Oklahoma this season, and is coming off a 10-point loss to Stetson.

For the first time this season, the Buckeyes received votes in the AP Poll, and sit in the No. 29 spot (if you count past the initial top-25 and expand to the other teams receiving votes). Ohio State will play two non-conference games and two Big Ten games over the next two weeks and look to improve to 9-1 as they head into the CBS Sports Classic to play UCLA on Dec. 16.

But first, they have to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas.

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Preview​

Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Ohio State is being led into this one by sophomore guards Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle, who are becoming one of if not the best backcourt duo in the conference.

Thornton comes into the game leading the Buckeyes, averaging 17.2 points, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He is also only averaging just a singular turnover per game. Through six contests, he has a 4.8 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Gayle scored 31 points over two games in the Emerald Coast Classic, bringing his scoring average up to 15.0 points to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Minnesota transfer Jamison Battle had his best game in a Buckeye uniform against Santa Clara, recording 21 points and bringing his scoring average to 12.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, and is shooting 39.5 percent from three-point range.

Zed Key has been a force off the bench this season, averaging 11.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest in 21 minutes per night. He has been incredibly efficient, shooting over 71 percent from the field — tops on the team. This mark would also lead the Big Ten if he had played enough minutes to qualify. At 21 minutes per game, Key does not qualify to lead the conference in any stat categories that are based on averages.

Central Michigan is led by junior guard and Tulsa transfer Anthony Pritchard, who is averaging 14.5 points, 5.7 boards and 5.3 assists per game, as well as averaging 2.3 steals. Junior forward Markus Harding averages 11.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and senior guard Brian Taylor averages 11.2 points and 6.7 boards per game.

The Chippewas are led by third-year head Coach Tony Barbee, who has a 19-48 record there in three seasons. CMU is No. 304 in KenPom, making it the lowest-ranked KenPom team Ohio State has faced so far.

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Prediction​

Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

This is the type of game that can derail a season if Ohio State loses. Western Michigan is better than Central Michigan this season, and at one point, the Buckeyes were up by 30 on the Broncos. Ohio State is playing its best basketball of the season, and Central Michigan is in the bottom tier of the MAC.

It will be interesting to see if Taison Chatman gets more run in this one. Chatman is a highly regarded freshman guard for the Buckeyes who underwent offseason surgery. He made his debut against Alabama, but was only in for 30 seconds to give Bruce Thornton a quick rest, and then he played in about three minutes of garbage time against Santa Clara after the bow was put on that one.

He seems ready to go, and the Buckeyes will surely ease him in, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays 10-plus minutes in this contest since it will likely be in hand for most of the second half.

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ESPN BPI: Ohio State 95.1%
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 84, Central Michigan 62​

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What is the one thing Ohio State needs to do this offseason in order to get back to the top?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

And, do you want to see the Buckeyes back in the CFP?

Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

Well, it’s been a tough one, hasn’t it, Buckeye fans? We are all still reeling from a third-straight loss at the hands of the Michigan Wolverines, and even though there is a chance that Ohio State could still make the College Football Playoff, much of the post-rivalry game discussion has been about what needs to change to get the OSU football program back to the dominance it held just a few short years ago.

So, in this week’s fan survey, we want to know what you think is the biggest change that has to be made this offseason to get the Buckeyes back on top of the Big Ten and whether or not you want to see them sneak into the CFP again this year. Take a look below and make sure to register your vote in the survey. Then, if you have additional thoughts, hit up the comments at the bottom of the page!

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Question 1: What is the biggest thing that the Ohio State football program must do in the offseason?​

The Ohio State football team has three expressed goals every season but has failed to accomplish any of them over the past three seasons; despite all of the wins they have had, they have failed to beat Michigan, win the Big Ten, or win the national title. While not actually the definition of insanity, if those goals truly are the three most important things that the program is attempting to achieve each season, it would be crazy to expect different results while doing the exact same things.

So, there needs to be changes over at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, but the question is, which ones? I know that there are many people in the Ohio State fandom who want to see a change at the top, and while I think at this point that is a valid opinion, I am going to eliminate Ryan Day being replaced from consideration because I just don’t think it is a possibility this offseason.

Long-time athletic director Gene Smith is retiring following this academic year, and barring some sort of scandal, for both personal or professional reasons, there is just no way Smith will fire Day. Not only did Smith hire the current OSU coach, but he has been Day’s biggest supporter during his tenure, but perhaps the biggest reason why Smith wouldn’t relieve him of his duties is out of respect for his successor. If and when a new football coach is hired, Smith almost certainly sees it as a decision the new AD should make.

So, if Day will be back next season, which of the options listed in the survey below do you think absolutely must happen before the team kicks off in September 2024? I personally have my choice, but I won’t put my thumb on the scale of the survey. However, when we get the results back later in the week, I will certainly share my opinion.

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Question 2: Do you want the Buckeyes to make the College Football Playoff if chaos happens this weekend?​

On Tuesday night, the College Football Playoff committee slotted Ohio State at No. 6 in the penultimate rankings. That means that the Buckeyes still very much have a shot to make the playoffs, should things break their way.

The question is, do you want them to sneak into the CFP through the backdoor like they did last year? Following the loss in The Game, I saw a lot of very disappointed fans online making it very clear that they didn’t want to see this team face off against Georgia or — heaven forbid — Michigan again. But, I wonder if after a few days, whether or not those hurt feelings have subsided a bit, and they want another shot at the title.

I know that last year, once the Buckeyes were officially in the playoff, my entire opinion of the possibility changed, so I am curious about what the whole of Buckeye Nation feels with that possibility still looming, even if it isn’t particularly likely.

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Share your thoughts here:​

Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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You’re Nuts: What do you want to see for Ohio State’s bowl game?
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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

We all saw what happened on Saturday in Ann Arbor. Buckeye Nation is still in mourning for a third straight loss to Michigan and will be for quite some time. If there was ever a year to take down Michigan, 2023 was the year to do it with Jim Harbaugh finishing out a three-game suspension for the Connor Stalions cheating scandal. Instead, Ryan Day coached scared and Kyle McCord threw a couple of interceptions in Ohio State’s 30-24 loss to the Wolverines.

Now Ohio State will miss out on playing in the Big Ten Championship Game for a third straight year, and while the Buckeyes should be heading to a New Year’s Six bowl, they won’t be playing in the College Football Playoff. Since Ohio State won’t be playing for a national title, it’s likely we have seen the last of Marvin Harrison Jr. and TreVeyon Henderson in a Buckeye uniform since it wouldn’t make any sense to put themselves at risk if they declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Even though there might be a number of Ohio State players sitting out, there will be plenty of Buckeyes looking to mark their mark, whether it be to end the season on a high mark and raise expectations for next year, or they might be looking to close out their Ohio State career with one last strong performance. Despite whatever bowl game they play in technically being meaningless, there are still some important things that can come out of the game.

What we want to know is what you most want to see for Ohio State’s bowl game. It could be a certain opponent, a specific bowl game, a player you want to see get some more playing time, or the coaching staff preparing for the game in a different way. The Buckeyes will likely get an intriguing opponent in a desirable vacation setting, so even though the game is meaningless when it comes to the result mattering, there is still reason to watch, especially since it will be the last time Ohio State takes the field until the spring game in April.

Today’s question: What do you want to see for Ohio State’s bowl game?​

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.​

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Brett’s answer: Ryan Day to let Brian Hartline call the offensive plays in the bowl game​

It feels like Ryan Day has too much on his plate right now. Despite having a great offensive mind, Day turtles in the biggest games. Why not give Hartline a shot to see what he can cook up for the bowl game? When Day elevated Hartline to offensive coordinator in the offseason, it sounded like it would be more of a collaboration between the two with some shared play-calling. If that is what actually happened, it certainly wasn’t obvious.

There’s no question that Hartline is a rising star in the coaching ranks. I just wonder if Day elevated Hartline’s position to keep him from looking at and taking head coaching jobs. At some point, Hartline is going to move on to a position where he calls all the shots and isn’t looked at as just an outstanding recruiter. I get why Day is doing what he has done with Hartline, but it’s only sustainable for so long.

Unfortunately, Day is such a control freak it feels like he wouldn’t even be able to stomach somebody else calling the plays for even a series. What Day is doing right now obviously isn’t working against Michigan or in other high-pressure games, so he needs to take a long look at himself in the mirror and make some changes. Unfortunately, I doubt he does that since the College Football Playoff is expanding after this season and the Big Ten going without divisions increases the margin for error for Ohio State.

Believe me, I’m not expecting Day to give up play-calling in the bowl game since he is too proud to admit there are things that need to change. It’s just fun to think about how a bowl game might look if Hartline was given a little power and could show what he has to offer when it comes to offensive game-planning.

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Matt’s answer: I still want them to make the College Football Playoff​

This is going to be a bit redundant because I am going to have another article about this topic coming up later on Wednesday, but I still want to see the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff. I realize that this incarnation of the Ohio State football team is far from perfect, but so was last year’s team, and it came within a last-second field goal of almost certainly winning the national title.

Unlike last year, the Buckeyes had every opportunity to beat Michigan in the regular season finale last Saturday, and I think it is pretty clear that the Wolverines are one of the two best teams in the country. So, if a questionable replay review goes the other way, OSU very well could be preparing to play Iowa in the Big Ten title game. In all honesty, despite the sub-par play from the quarterback position, I have more confidence in the ability of this year’s team to make a championship run than I did in the 2022 squad’s.

While it is clear that Jim Knowles pulled back on the reins a bit in Ann Arbor, the current Ohio State defense is a unit that can level the playing field with anyone. Last year, the Buckeyes had a dominant offense, but still got smoked by their rival in The Horseshoe. This year, warts and all, the defense made it a one-score game on the road. That says something to me.

So, if the Buckeyes were to sneak into the CFP this year (and they would need a significant amount of help to do so), I do think that the issues that led to last weekend’s loss are correctable enough to not only upset the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs, but also to win the title. Is that outcome guaranteed? No, of course not, but I do think that they have a shot, and, as long as they have a legitimate chance to win it all, I want to see them have the opportunity.

The team was clearly rejuvenated by making the playoff last season, and Ryan Day and company clearly put forth their best effort of the year in the semifinals. If they are fortunate enough to have another shot at it this year, I expect something similar, which could have historic implications for the team.

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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Post-Rivalry Week randomness — OSU is a basketball school now, offseason changes, and Ryan Day’s popularity
Josh Dooley 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

Josh and Chuck attempt to move past The Game by celebrating Buckeye basketball and pondering the future... Of Ohio State football, not so much their own.

The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they discuss Ohio State football, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio​

On this episode of “Hangout in the Holy Land,” Josh and Chuck ignore Ohio State football completely and instead focus on basketball, wrestling, and synchronized swimming... Just kidding, but kudos to those Scarlet and Gray teams currently taking care of business.

Still a little salty as a result of The Game, the Hangout Boys attempt to boost morale by talking a little roundball. Both of Ohio State’s basketball teams are currently thriving; one doing so rather unexpectedly. So what has been the key to the OSU men’s team’s hot start? And can Chris Holtmann’s squad keep it up?

Elsewhere, some football was recently played. Have you heard? And it will continue to be played by teams seeking a blissful end to their 2023-24 season. However, Ohio State will likely not be one of them. So how can the Buckeyes improve this offseason, and put themselves in a better position to win big games — not just the ones they’re supposed to?

Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!

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Twitter: @HolyLandPod

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B1G Thoughts: Michigan three-peats and Michigan State hires a coach
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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Jonathan Smith, welcome to the Big Ten! Plus, Michigan outlasts Ohio State in a massive showdown.

Every week after the Big Ten slate of games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and maybe a joke. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024 this article will also include the newest members, Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington. Check out the I-80 Football Show for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.

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Michigan continues to reign supreme in the Big Ten ​

Michigan is once again the class of the Big Ten after outlasting Ohio State in a heavyweight showdown. With Jim Harbaugh sidelined for his third-straight game, interim head coach Sherrone Moore led the Wolverines past their biggest rivals by simply believing in his players more.

In the 30-24 win, Moore went 3-for-3 on fourth down, got a big play on a running back pass, and brought in his backup quarterback for a brief QB run package. In key moments, Moore put the ball in the hands of his players and Ryan Day did not. That was the difference. Michigan now gets a playoff warm-up game against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship before getting another shot at winning the national title.

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Which means more: 56 wins or 7 losses? ​

Ryan Day, after a third-straight loss to Michigan, has a career record of 56-7. That is one of the best winning percentages in college football history, but is it full of empty calories?

Ryan Day’s record includes an undefeated mark against every conference foe besides Michigan. He deserves credit for that. Day has not been susceptible to the weird upset that rules college football. The seven losses are tough though when you look at them.

Day is 1-7 against top-five opponents. He is 1-3 in playoff games, with three losses against Michigan and the seventh loss against Oregon in non-conference play. So, is it more important that Day has 56 wins and doesn’t lose games he shouldn’t? Or is it more critical that he has only one win compared to seven losses when he plays the best teams in the sport?

It is not an easy question to answer. Just check Buckeye Nation Twitter where fans are split on whether it’s time to fire Day or if the fanbase standards are too high.

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Jonathan Smith, welcome to the Big Ten ​

After a long season following a shocking scandal that led to the firing of Mel Tucker, Michigan State has a new head coach. Michigan State has announced the hiring of former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith. Smith has a career record of 34-35, which is a little deceiving as he turned around a barren program by winning seven, 10, and eight games in the last three seasons.

Smith, unlike Tucker, is a straight-up ball coach who has a proven track record of building a winning program and culture. With more resources and the Big Ten brand, Smith should be able to build a solid program in East Lansing. The Big Ten is expanding to 18 teams and Michigan State is firmly in the middle class, but if Smith can get the Spartans to a playoff appearance every couple of years and the occasional Big Ten championship appearance, they will be more than happy.

Smith has a tough task ahead of him, but he is going to go down as one of the better hires of this cycle.

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Tom Allen, here is $15.5 million not to coach! ​

Indiana has finally decided to move on from head coach Tom Allen. Allen had a couple of solid seasons for the Hoosiers, but the last three seasons have been hard to stomach and it was clear he lost the locker room.

The biggest concern with firing Allen was the buyout, which was over $20 million due to the ill-advised contract extension they gave him after the pandemic season. Allen, who has a great reputation and is well-liked, did Indiana a favor by agreeing to a smaller buyout of $15.5 million split into two payments of $7.75 million. It’s not much of a sacrifice to lose a little over $5 million when you’re getting $15.5, but that money will go a long way towards hiring their new coach and Allen could’ve made them pay the whole thing as stated in his contract.

Allen should be a hot name as a defensive coordinator if he wants to jump right back into coaching, but he has 15.5 million reasons not to rush his decision. Indiana is now in the market for a new coach, with names like former IU defensive coordinator and current South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack being mentioned as potential replacements.

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Disappointing finish for three West Division teams​

Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska all entered rivalry week at 5-6, needing a win over their rival to reach bowl eligibility. All three of them fell short by a combined total of nine points. They all fought hard, but ultimately came up short to end their season.

These three programs are in different places, but they have a few things in common. They all couldn’t overcome an exodus of talent and bad quarterback play. None of the coaches are in danger of losing their jobs entering 2024, but they will need to take a deep look at their roster, starting with the quarterback position, if they want to have any success in the new Big Ten. It’s now or never as the landscape changes.

Someone has to be at the bottom, and they need to turn it around before it’s them.

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David Braun the miracle worker ​

David Braun weathered the storm of the Pat Fitzgerald hazing scandal and led Northwestern to seven wins. That’s the same number of wins as Fitzgerald had in his last three non-pandemic seasons combined. Braun should win the Big Ten Coach of the Year and should be a finalist for the national coach of the year, although that will likely go to Jerry Kill of New Mexico State.

I have no idea how Braun pulled this out, but he’s earned the right to lead the Wildcats full-time and build on this positive momentum. Northwestern would’ve never fired Fitzgerald for football reasons and their problems are far from over, but they lucked into a good coach.

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Taulia Tagoviloa, the Big Ten’s newest record-holder​

Taulia Tagoviloa has been the starting quarterback for the Maryland Terrapins for the past four seasons. He’s been a top-three quarterback in the conference for the past three. This past Saturday, he became the Big Ten’s all-time leader in passing yards with 11,256. Maryland has reached a bowl game three seasons in a row for the first time since 2006-2008 behind his play.

He will go down as one of if not the best quarterback in school history. This record will probably stand for a long time, as not many prolific passers stick around for four years. Congrats to Taulia, a well deserved record for a good quarterback.

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A sad end, here’s to a bright future ​

The 2023 season is over, We have bowl games remaining, but the regular season is final and it’s a bittersweet end.

College football as a whole changes as soon as this season ends. The Pac-12 will be no more, unless Oregon State and Washington State find a way to keep it alive. The Big Ten moves to 18 teams while the SEC will be a 16-team conference. The College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams, and you will no longer be able to watch the Big Ten on ESPN.

While I genuinely believe most of these changes are for the better, it’s hard not to get whiplash as the sport changes in the blink of an eye.

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Column: Ryan Day’s record says 56-7, but over the past three seasons, he’s really 0-9 in what matters
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Buckeyes come into every season with three goals in mind, and have failed on all of them for the third-straight year.

I promise this is not going to be another ‘Ohio State needs to fire Ryan Day’ article. I said he should be on the hot seat back in October, and while all my points from that piece still stand, I understand the Buckeyes are not going to search for a new head coach this offseason. Still, I cannot get past people blindly defending Day for his 56-7 record, because while that is an impressive mark that nearly every school in the country would be happy with, a peek behind the curtain shows why those seven losses outweigh the 56 victories.

Ohio State is one of the premier programs in the country, bringing in some of the nation’s best talents year over year and entering every season with the realistic goal of winning a national title. As the head coach of the Buckeyes, and by Day’s own admission, the team has three goals each year:

1. Beat Michigan
2. Win the Big Ten
3. Win a national title

Over the last three seasons, Ohio State is 0-9 in accomplishing those goals. This latest loss to Michigan brings Day’s record to 1-3 against the team’s biggest rival, the Buckeyes previously having not lost to the Wolverines since 2011. He has just two Big Ten titles in his five-year stint at the helm, with the last one coming in 2020. Sure, he has avoided the odd loss to a Purdue or an Iowa like Urban Meyer would occasionally suffer, but in his last five years Meyer won three Big Ten titles AND a national championship, on top of his perfect 7-0 record against Michigan.

Aside from his struggles against TTUN, Day has not performed well against the better teams on Ohio State’s schedule. He is 1-6 against teams ranked in the top five of the College Football Playoff rankings, including a 1-3 mark in the CFP itself. The Buckeyes have lost games to a No. 12 Oregon team (at home), had two blowout losses to Michigan in 2021 and 2022, and very easily could have lost to Notre Dame this season if not for 1-yard touchdown on the game’s final play. While Day is lauded as an offensive-minded aggressive coach, that all seems to evade him when the opposition isn’t at a massive talent deficit.

Day is a flawed head coach, but Ohio State is not going to move on, especially with Gene Smith set to retire this summer. It is incredibly strange to see Day go away from the mesh concept offense that were wildly successful and led to some of the Buckeyes’ best offenses, even more so given the fact the the wide receiver talent is way better than it was when that was the game plan. I don’t understand why Day is trying to re-invent the wheel, and it is clear that talks of giving up the play-calling to Brian Hartline this season never came to fruition. The head coach is making life harder on himself by both going away from what worked best and by trying to do the work of several people at once.

You cannot be the CEO of the roster, the head coach during the week AND the primary play-caller on game day. It is too much to put on one man’s plate, and even the areas that Day is known for like a high-powered offense and elite quarterback play have taken a massive hit because of it. He has to start delegating some of these tasks, starting with giving up the play-calling — for real this time — heading into next season. On top of that, there are a number of tough decisions Day will have to make this offseason in regards to his coaching staff in order for Ohio State to even have a chance to win anything of substance with him at the helm.

The first, and most obvious, coaching move is to dump the waste of space colloquially known as Parker Fleming. Having a special team’s coach as one of your 11 allotted full-time coaches is stupid, especially when it results in only four defensive assistants on a team with an offense-oriented head coach and an atrocious special teams unit. It is not a shock that Ohio State’s defense has let them down in the games that matter most, showing glaring issues at linebacker in some of the biggest matchups — the group that does not have a full-time position coach. The Buckeyes also had one of the worst special teams in the country in all facets, from punting and kickoff returns to areas as simple as getting lined up correctly.

I wouldn’t trust Fleming to bag my groceries, and he should have been gone a year ago. In his place, Ohio State should promote James Laurinaitis, who is already on staff as a graduate assistant, to full-time linebackers coach. The promotion would both give him more of a hands-on role in developing the position, as well as allow him to get on the road as a recruiter, where I believe he could have a huge impact in bringing in some real difference makers on the trail. Fleming isn’t recruiting anything, sucks at his job, and is wasting a coaching spot. All of this is easily rectifiable, and should have been done already even before Ohio State learns what meaningless bowl game it will play in this season.

Secondly, it is time to fire Mickey Marotti and finally bring the Buckeyes’ strength and conditioning program into the 21st century. For the past three seasons, Ohio State has spent half the year missing key players seemingly out of nowhere with avoidable soft tissue injuries and other bumps and bruises that would be fewer and farther between if the Buckeyes were training to be football players rather than bodybuilders. Marotti is constantly making guys add or lose weight to fit some made up specification for whatever position they play, regardless of how it impacts their abilities — see: Jack Sawyer. His methods are wildly outdated, and Ohio State is lacking behind other top competitors as a result.

Thirdly, and this may be more of an unpopular opinion, but it is time to move on from Larry Johnson. I understand that he is a legend in his respective area and he has produced some truly elite players during his time in Columbus, but his room has fallen off since Chase Young left in 2019. The recruiting is still largely okay, but Ohio State has gotten abysmal production from its defensive lines over the last few seasons relative to the amount of five-star talent along that unit. The Buckeyes ranked 12th in the Big Ten this season with 22 sacks despite having a pair of five-star ends in J.T. Tuimoloau and Sawyer. That isn’t going to cut it.

On top of the issues with Johnson’s unit himself, his open feud with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has been ridiculous from the start, and Day should not have allowed it to continue on into the season — let alone all the way through. Johnson has refused to let Knowles incorporate his ‘Jack’ position, which has been a staple of Knowles’ defensive schemes, and instead has stuck to his antiquated four-down front. Ohio State has had issues getting to the quarterback and stopping some of the better rushing attacks it has faced, and something resembling a MINT front would fix a lot of those issues, but Johnson has gotten in the way. You don’t have to outright fire him, but a mutual parting of ways or letting him retire would improve the defense as a whole.

I was critical of Knowles’ defense on Twitter following The Game, as Ohio State did not force a single Michigan punt in the second half, but after breaking it down thoroughly in the aftermath of the loss, I think he did about as well as he could with virtually one arm tied behind his back. Knowles was put in a position to fail by not having a full-time linebackers coach and having a defensive line coach that refused to let him run one of the most important parts of his scheme. Even despite those massive hinderances, the Ohio State defense was really good this season, which I think is more of a testament to Knowles’ coaching ability than anything else.

Elsewhere, it would probably help to bring in a real quarterbacks coach to try and at least take some of that work off of Day’s plate. Corey Dennis tricked us into thinking he was good at his job when Ohio State had elite quarterbacks on the roster like Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud, but Kyle McCord did not show any sort of development this season as he finished the year looking like the same QB in Week 12 as he was in Week 1. Day will likely still maintain a hands-on approach at the position, but having an assistant that is actually qualified for the job rather than just being a family member of Urban Meyer would go a long way in making sure things continue to run smoothly when the head coach has other responsibilities — maybe even one that can assist in play-calling as well.

The rest of the staff seems pretty good. People want to blame Justin Frye for Ohio State’s poor offensive line play, but he was given a raw hand with the barren room he inherited from Greg Studrawa — again, Day’s fault for letting a bad coach stick around too long. I’m willing to give him another season. Perry Eliano and Tim Walton did a great job in the secondary, Brian Hartline is obviously tremendous at what he does, and Tony Alford is largely inoffensive. The Buckeyes’ rushing attack hasn’t been truly elite for quite a bit, but I don’t know how much of that falls on Alford. I can take or leave Keenan Bailey at tight ends coach, who seems mostly fine even though blocking at that position has been lacking.

There will obviously also have to be some tough personnel decisions to be made on the field heading into next season. Ohio State should not guarantee the starting quarterback job to McCord again, and it should be an open condition between himself and Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and even incoming freshman Air Noland. The Buckeyes should be aggressive in the transfer portal, looking to add potential impact players along the offensive line, in the running backs room, and anywhere on defense where an outgoing player may leave a potential hole. Day whiffed in the portal last year when it was clear Ohio State needed offensive linemen, and he cannot afford to do so again in key areas.

While I’m not sure I trust Ryan Day to win anything of substance at Ohio State after watching him turtle against Michigan three years in a row, and I definitely don’t trust him to make the necessary moves mentioned above, I know we will be going into next season with him at the helm once again. If things remain status quo, the Buckeyes will fall short of their ultimate goals, even if they are still good enough to make what will be a 12-team College Football Playoff. The Big Ten is only going to get tougher with the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washignton, and Day cannot afford to hamstring his team with poor decision making, bad coaching staff construction, and a lack of aggression both in the transfer portal and on the field.

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