Stick to Sports Podcast: How good (and bad) things could get based on who wins The Game
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

Jami and Matt are bringing very different vibes into The Game on Saturday.

Land-Grant’s Stick to Sports is unlike any podcast you’ve heard on the Ohio State beat. Your hosts, Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, will (of course) talk Ohio State sports, but the primary focus of the show will be on what’s going on around the periphery, such as weird/funny happenings in college football and the sports world at large, as well as other things that keep us interested in between games, whether that’s pop culture, social media trends— you name it.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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

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On this episode of the Land-Grant Podcast Network’s sports-adjacent podcast “Stick to Sports,” Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich are bringing markedly different vibes into Ohio State’s rivalry game on Saturday. While Jami is guarding her heart by expecting the worst, Matt is feeling confident with his hope for the best.

However, the pair dives into all of the bad and good things that will happen in the short-term and long-term for the Buckeyes’ program based on the result of this year’s edition of The Game, everything from Ryan Day’s total vindication with a definitive win to existential uncertainty for the football program for the next decade with a third straight loss.

Jami’s Recommendation: “Sleigh”

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Matt’s Recommendation: Don’t feel like you have to do big holiday traditions if you don’t want to.

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Connect with Jami Jurich
Twitter: @JamiJurich

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com​

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What are advanced analytics predicting for The Game?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Most, but not all, of the models are giving TTUN a slight advantage, but they aren’t figuring in the impact of lose Harbaugh or stolen signs.

Now that Turkey Day is behind us, it is time to start turning our collective attention to The Game on Saturday — as if that hasn’t already been occupying every single thought that we’ve had for the past month. We have had a ton of conversations with college football experts in the podcast feed this week (and we will have more before kickoff), discussing everything from the sign-stealing scandal to how the talent stacks up to how much J.J. McCarthy misses Jim Harbaugh to the emergence of TreVeyon Henderson to why Marvin Harrison Jr. is a legit Heisman contender and much more.


But sometimes, all of that talking can get to be a bit much. So, we are going to dive into the hard numbers here by looking at what some of the analytical models across the college football landscape are saying about the game.

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What Does SP+ Predict for The Game?​

SP+ from ESPN’s Bill Connelly is considered by most to be the gold standard in the CFB analytics game, but like all analytical systems, there’s no real way for SP+ to take into account the impacts of sign-stealing or the offensive struggles that the Corn and Blue have had over the last two games. Therefore, considering the season as a whole, the SP+ model has the Harboys at No. 1 and the Buckeyes at No. 3.

Clearly, the OSU offense is not nearly as highly ranked as it has been in recent years, where Connelly’s metrics routinely had it as the top unit in the country. So while Ohio State’s 19th-rated offense is a bit of a stumble, the fact that SP+ has Jim Knowles’ defense as the top-performing side in the country this season is mindboggling, especially for those of us who have lived through the last few seasons where that side of the ball robbed the Buckeyes of legitimate chances to win multiple national titles.


While the Mitten Men are ranked higher in both offensive and special teams metrics (how in the hell is OSU No. 13 in special teams?), the scoring margin and win probability that SP+ is spitting out are fairly close. If the absence of their head coach matters at all, that very well could erase any advantage that the home team in tomorrow’s game comes in with.

SP+ Score Prediction: TTUN 26, Ohio State 20
SP+ TTUN Win Probability: 64%

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What Do the College Football Nerds Predict for The Game?​

On the podcast on Thanksgiving Day, we released an episode in which I spoke with Josh from the College Football Nerds who have been doing great analytical breakdowns of the biggest game in college football for years. This season, they have opened up their model to the world on their website collegefootballnerds.com.

Before we got into the metrics of the game, Josh dipped into his day job knowledge as a high-powered lawyer to explain just how ludicrous much of the reaction to TTUN’s blatant cheating scheme has been, especially when people whose only insight into the law is “A Few Good Men” and Judge Judy.


But once we dove into the numbers, Josh admitted that the model is not built to take into account the obvious changes that the Skunk Bears have gone through since the sign-stealing operation was exposed. So, while the metrics might be pointing to the Meerkats, the trends are clearly in Ohio State’s favor.

So much so that both he and Daniel actually went against their model in their 41-minute video breakdown of The Game and picked the Buckeyes to win.

College Football Nerds Score Prediction: TTUN 23.9, Ohio State 17.1
Daniel’s Prediction: Ohio State 27, TTUN 17
Josh’s Prediction: Ohio State 24, TTUN 21

Watch the College Football Nerds breakdown The Game:​

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What Does the NCAA Game Simulator Predict for The Game?​

I have been including the NCAA Game Simulator in our Saturday morning “Tailgate” podcasts for five years. Since it allows people to run multiple simulations, it provides a detailed analysis of every game sim. While most models only tell you the score projection, this one tells you percentages of how all of its sims played out.

As of publishing time, the Simulator has run 10,834 simulations and things are looking pretty good for the Buckeyes, even without taking into account all of the hullabaloo around their blatant cheating tactics.

NCAA Game Simulator Prediction: Ohio State 24.1, TTUN 21.8

• Ohio State won 6,063 times (56.1%)
• Michigan won 4,747 times (43.9%)
• Ohio State won by >20 pts 1,438 times (13.3%)
• Michigan won by >20 pts 843 times (7.8%)
• Number of games that went to overtime: 415 (3.8%)
• Number of games decided by < 5 pts 2,781 times (25.7%)

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What Does FPI Predict for The Game?​

ESPN’s Football Power Index doesn’t technically pick games, but in a head-to-head matchup in a regular season finale in which the winner is the division champion, they kind of do. Even though the Buckeyes are the No. 1 team in FPI’s rankings and have the best chance to win the national title of any team in the country, they are actually not favored to win the game according to the metrics. FPI is giving TTUN a 54.5% win probability in this game.

Because Ohio State’s schedule includes a road win over Notre Dame, the model is giving the Buckeyes a great chance to make the College Football Playoff even if they lose The Game. For context, I have included the national rankings for each percentage for non-Big Ten-specific metrics.

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What Do the Oddsmakers Predict for The Game?​

And while Las Vegas is not technically an analytics system, oddsmakers do curiously set lines pretty dang close to what most of the high-quality models do. So, let’s take a look at what our friends at DraftKings SportsBook are saying about the game.


When the official odds came out for The Game on Sunday, the Muskrats were favored by four points, but that has come down a bit since then, and it now sits at 3.5. This means that Vegas is essentially projecting that this game is a pick ‘em if it were played on a neutral site, since most home teams get 3 to 3.5 points for playing at home.

Line: TTUN -3.5
Over/Under: 47 points
Ohio State Moneyline: +142
TTUN Moneyline: -170
Implied Final Score: ≈TTUN 25, Ohio State 22

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You’re Nuts: Are the early three-point shooting numbers for the Buckeyes something to worry about?
justingolba 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

Ohio State is shooting 34.9% from deep this season.

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone, and happy Feast Week! As you’re digging in to some leftovers from Thursday, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land are digging into statistics and trying to figure out if this Ohio State team is going to be good at knocking down threes or not. More on that later.

Last week, Connor and Justin each gave their biggest takeaways of the season to this point. Connor said, “Ohio State will only go as far as Roddy Gayle and Bruce Thornton will take them” while Justin said, “Jamison Battle needs to be the No. 1 option on offense.” The readers voted, and 87% of them thought Connor was was more on the ball about the team thus far.

After 127 weeks:​

Connor- 59
Justin- 50
Other- 14​

(There have been four ties)​

We look at Twitter, and we see people complaining about Ohio State on a daily basis. One of the big gripes we see is people saying it’s, “another Chris Holtmann team that can’t shoot.” We are willing to entertain this possibility, even if the premise of the statement is wrong since the Buckeyes were third in the Big Ten last season in three-point shooting at 36.8%.

So, to feed the trolls, per se, we looked into it. Is there reason to be concerned about Ohio State’s three-point shooting?

Today’s Question: Are the early three-point shooting numbers for the Buckeyes something to worry about? ​

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Connor: Yes ​

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

I think this Ohio State team will finish somewhere around the middle of the Big Ten in three-point shooting, but it’s currently shooting better than I think it will as we get into the meat of the season. The Buckeyes are shooting 34.9% as a team at the moment, but when you cut some of the fat away, it’s not quite as impressive.

I’m still skeptical how many three-pointers Dale Bonner is going to hit this season for Ohio State in games that matter; In my opinion, that Western Michigan game didn’t matter all that much. I also don’t think Zed Key shooting threes will happen all that often. I’m not saying it didn’t happen, so I’m not erasing the stats, but for the sake of projecting forward, I am removing their three-pointers.

That takes their 34.9% and lowers it to 33.3%.

Next, let’s remove the entire Western Michigan game from the equation (they went 10-of-25 from deep), since the Broncos — bless their hearts — are the No. 295 defense in college basketball this year. Again, not saying it didn’t happen or that it doesn’t count, but I am just trying to project into the future, when Ohio State plays teams much better than WMU.

That takes their 34.9% and lowers it to 32.7%.

I’m also concerned that none of Ohio State’s four freshmen are going to contribute in this area. Scotty Middleton is 3-for-8 so far, but Taison Chatman hasn’t played, Austin Parks has only played a couple minutes, and Devin Royal is 0-for-2. That’s less than one three-pointer per game from freshmen thus far.

That 34.9% mark for the Buckeyes might be fourth in the conference right now, but it’s 121st nationally — that tells a better picture. If Bruce Thornton, Jamison Battle, and Roddy Gayle can all knock down threes at a clip of 40% or better, this team could be just fine. But I think it is a little bit of smoke and mirrors so far, and cutting back some of the fat shows that.

Only time will tell if Ohio State’s early-season shooting will carry into the Big Ten schedule, regress, or get better.

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Justin: No​

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

To be honest, I don’t think the three-point shooting numbers are all that bad to start the season. I recognize that in the only tough game of the year so far, they shot the ball an abysmal 3-for-18 from three-point range. However, Texas A&M is a really solid defensive team, and it was only the second game of the season, so you need to let the rust wear off a bit early on.

So far this season, and as of this publishing on Friday, Nov. 24, the Buckeyes are fourth in the conference in three-point percentage at 35.4 percent and are seventh in three-point field goals made at 29 and 7.3 field goals made per game. However, they have only played four games, and four teams ahead of the Buckeyes have played five games.

Jamison Battle is the only player on the team that has the potential to be an elite three-point shooter, but there are plenty of good shooters on the team. The debut of freshman guard Taison Chatman should not have much bearing on those numbers, as he is more of a driver and slasher than a shooter.

Freshman Scotty Middleton and Devin Royal are still adjusting to the collegiate game, and their numbers should go up through the season as they get more acclimated to the speed of the game and the offense.

With Battle, Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Scotty Middleton, and even Dale Bonner at times, this team can shoot the ball well enough to where not only is it not a detriment, it could even be a positive for the team.

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Ohio State vs. Michigan: 2023 game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

The Buckeyes will look to halt a two-game losing streak to the Wolverines when the teams meet in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

It’s finally here. The Game. On Saturday afternoon Ohio State and Michigan will square off in Ann Arbor with a whole lot on the line. Not only will bragging rights for a year be at stake, but also spots in the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff hang in the balance. High stakes are nothing new in this rivalry. This is the 13th meeting between the programs with both teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 5. In those games, Ohio State holds a 7-4-1 edge.

Overall in the series, Michigan holds a 60-51-6 advantage. After Ohio State had won eight straight meetings from 2012 to 2019, Michigan has taken the last two showdowns. Last year in Columbus, the Wolverines used five touchdowns of over 40 yards to beat the Buckeyes 45-23, earning their first victory at Ohio Stadium since 2000. Despite Ohio State having seven more first downs in the game, Michigan still rolled up 530 yards of offense and won by 22 points.

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The Ohio State offense is clicking at the right time​

Ohio State enters Saturday’s game playing their best football of the season. After beating Michigan State 38-3 two weeks ago, the Buckeyes closed out their 2023 home schedule by blowing out Minnesota 37-3 last week. Both scores for the Spartans and Golden Gophers came on field goals over 50 yards.

With the victory over Minnesota, Ohio State is now on an 11-game winning streak, which is their eighth streak of that length this century. Last year Ohio State also started their season by winning their first 11 games before falling to Michigan. Ryan Day is now 39-2 in the Big Ten as Ohio State head coach, with the only two setbacks coming at the hands of Jim Harbaugh, along with some assistance from Connor Stalions’ recording equipment.

Spuring the recent offensive uptick for Ohio State has been the return of running back TreVeyon Henderson. Since returning to the lineup against Wisconsin after missing three games because of an injury suffered in the Notre Dame game, the Buckeyes have averaged 33 more rushing yards per game than its season average. While the team is rushing for 145.5 yards per game this year, Henderson’s return has the Buckeyes averaging 178 yards per game over the last four contests. Along with putting up 124 yards per game rushing, the junior is a factor in the passing attack, adding over 40 receiving yards per game.

Henderson is a fantastic compliment to Marvin Harrison Jr., who is a possible Heisman Trophy finalist. After scoring three touchdowns against Michigan State, Harrison was pretty quiet last week, catching just three passes for 30 yards. Even though his numbers weren’t eye-popping, Harrison still found the end zone in the blowout. If Harrison is going to New York City next month, this is the game where he has to put up one of the biggest performances of his career.

Now Kyle McCord will look to do something the man he backed up for two years, C.J. Stroud, couldn’t do. Beat Michigan. While McCord’s performance throughout the season has ben uneven at times, the first-year starter has gained confidence recently and is playing his best football of the season. What will help McCord on Saturday is he already has some experience coming up big in a hostile environment, as he engineered a game-winning drive late in the game at Notre Dame. McCord is nearing 3,000 yards passing this year, tossing 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Along with finding Harrison through the air, a preferred target for McCord this year has been tight end Cade Stover. “Farmer Gronk” has hauled in 38 passes for 534 yards and five scores. After missing the Rutgers game due to injury, Stover has caught 11 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns over the last two games. The 26 yards he was credited with last week pushed Stover over 1,000 career receiving yards, allowing him to join John Frank as the only Ohio State tight ends to reach that mark.

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The Buckeye defense is playing with a ton of confidence​

On the defensive side of the football, Jack Sawyer enters Saturday’s game coming off his best game as a Buckeye. Against Minnesota, Sawyer had six tackles, with 3.5 of them coming behind the line of scrimmage. The defensive end also forced a fumble on a strip-sack. With his huge output against the Golden Gophers, Sawyer passed J.T. Tuimoloau for second on the team in tackles for loss, four behind Tyleik Williams’ team-leading 10 TFLs.

As a whole, the Buckeye defense has been dominant this year, not allowing more than 17 points in a game so far this season. Ohio State currently ranks first in the country in pass defense, second in scoring defense, and is third in total defense. After being burned for so many big plays last season, the only 40-yard play the defense of the Buckeyes have given up this year came on a fourth down play against Rutgers where the Scarlet Knights ran a “fumblerooski” play.

The biggest reason for the sharp turnaround in play from the defense this year has been because of the pass defense of the Buckeyes. Even though the unit took a hit with the injury to safety Lathan Ransom, Sonny Styles and Malik Hartford have stepped up to fill the void. Along with those two, Josh Proctor has eight pass breakups, which is tied with cornerback Denzel Burke for the team lead.

There’s no question Burke has rebounded from a disappointing sophomore season this year, but Jordan Hancock has gotten better as the year has gone on. Not only did Hancock return an interception 93 yards for a touchdown against Rutgers, last week the junior cornerback picked off a pass against Minnesota. Add in Ole Miss transfer Davison Igbinosun and freshman Jermaine Mathews Jr. and there is some quality depth at the cornerback position.

One Buckeye who is itching to get back on the field is linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, who has sat out the last two games because of injury. Eichenberg did everything he could to suit up for senior day last week, but the decision was made to give the linebacker an extra week to get healthy for the biggest game of the year. Even though he has sat out the last two games, Eichenberg leads the team with 73 tackles.

While Eichenberg has been on the sidelines, Steele Chambers has held it down at linebacker, and Cody Simon continued his improved play as he has seen more time on the field. Chambers is second on the team with 62 tackles this year, while Simon has 44 tackles. You just know the trio will be playing with a huge chip on their shoulder after how Michigan has run over the Ohio State defense the past two seasons.

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Michigan’s season entering The Game​

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh won’t be on the sidelines after being suspended three games by the Big Ten for the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal. This is the second suspension of the year for Harbaugh, who missed the first three games of the season. Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore has served as acting head coach while Harbaugh has been banned from the sidelines.

Despite Harbaugh not coaching on game days for a good portion of the season, Michigan enters Saturday 11-0, running their regular season winning streak to 27 games, which is the second-longest in Big Ten history. The 31-24 win over Maryland last week was the 1,000th win in program history for the Wolverines. Who knows, Michigan could be the first team to win 1,000 games twice if any wins from the last couple years are vacated due to the sign-stealing scandal.

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What to expect from the Michigan offense​

One of the reasons Michigan has been so successful this year is because of their tremendous play in the first half of games, where they are outscoring opponents 227-55 in the first 30 minutes of games. By building such big leads in the first half, the Wolverines have been able to focus on running the football in the second half, bleeding the clock out, and leaving no doubt in the result. Along with getting up on their foes early, Michigan is also only averaging 25.7 penalty yards per game, which is the lowest total in the country, so they aren’t beating themselves.

Leading the Michigan offense is quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who threw for 263 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns last year against the Buckeyes. The Wolverines haven’t been so reliant on the passing game the last two weeks though, with McCarthy totaling just 31 passing attempts in wins over Penn State and Maryland. Despite not always needing to air it out, the one consistent thing McCarthy has done at Michigan is win. In his first 24 starts, the only game McCarthy has lost was in last year’s Fiesta Bowl against TCU.

Shouldering the load lately for the Wolverines has been running back Blake Corum. The junior has carried the football 54 times over the past two games. After scoring 18 touchdowns last year before he was injured in the Illinois game, limiting him to just two carries against Ohio State, Corum has found the end zone 20 times on the ground this year, which is two touchdowns shy of tying Hassan Haskins for most in a season in school history. For his career, Corum is four touchdowns away from tying Anthony Thomas’ school record of 55 rushing touchdowns. With 112 more rushing yards, Corum will reach 1,000 yards rushing for the second straight season.

Michigan may not have a game-changing receiver like Marvin Harrison Jr., but they do have a solid group that can make plays. Roman Wilson leads the team with 37 catches for 612 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tight end Colston Loveland made a monster play against the Buckeyes last year, and has hauled in 32 passes for 464 yards and four scores. Rounding out the group, Cornelius Johnson, A.J. Barner, and Semaj Morgan all have at least 16 catches this year.

After winning the Joe Moore Award the last two years as the best offensive line in the country, the offensive line of the Wolverines have had to work in a few new faces this year. To fill some of the holes of departed offensive linemen, Michigan hit the transfer market, adding tackle LaDarius Henderson from Arizona State to go along with center Drake Nugent and Myles Hinton from Stanford. Returning to the group are first team all-Big Ten performers Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter.

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The Wolverines on defense​

What will be interesting to see on Saturday is if the Michigan defense is on par with what we saw from the unit the last two years. One of the stars of the defense this year has been cornerback Mike Sainristil, who started his career as a wide receiver. Sainristil has intercepted five passes this year, which puts him near the top among Big Ten defenders. Joining Sainristil in the secondary are cornerbacks Will Johnson and Josh Wallace, as well as safeties Makari Paige and Rod Moore.

The Ohio State offensive line will have their hands full with the Michigan defensive line, which belongs in the conversation as one of the best in the country. Anchoring the unit is Kris Jenkins, who is a massive athletic freak who will plug the middle of the line at nose tackle. Defensive end Jaylen Harrell leads the team with 5.5 sacks this year, while at the other end of the defensive line Mason Graham has 5.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Michigan has 27 sacks so far this season.

The linebackers of the Wolverines are paced by Junior Colson, who tops the team with 60 tackles. Joining Colson is Nebraska transfer Ernest Hausmann. The former Cornhusker has been credited with 32 stops through the first 11 games. Lining up at the EDGE position will be Braiden McGregor, who has started all 11 games this season. The tackle numbers for the Wolverines might not look to high, but you have to remember the offense dominates time of possession in games, keeping the defense off the field for long stretches.

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Summary​

This is going to be a game for the ages. There are so many storylines heading into this game. What will Ryan Day’s strategy be after losing the last two years to Michigan? Will this be the game where Jim Harbaugh not being on the sidelines finally catches up to the Wolverines? Does Marvin Harrison Jr. have a Heisman performance a couple weeks before the ceremony in New York City? Does TreVeyon Henderson continue his strong play since his return from injury? All this and more will be answered on Saturday.

The downfall over the last two years for Ohio State has been they haven’t been tough enough. This year feels a little different. After years of the offense being able to make up for some questionable defensive play, this year the Buckeye defense has been the driving force of the team. Ohio State still hasn’t given up more than 17 points in a game, and they have only allowed one play of over 40 yards. To win this game, Michigan is going to have do things to the Buckeye defense that nobody has been able to do so far this year.

This game is going to come down to quarterback play. J.J. McCarthy has feasted off cupcakes for most of the season, while Blake Corum has really come on over the last couple games for Michigan. The Wolverines have been so confident in their running game that they didn’t have to throw the ball after the midway point of the second quarter two weeks ago against Penn State. With how stout the Buckeyes have been against the run this year, it’s hard to see McCarthy getting another light day of work.

In the end, Ohio State is going to want this game just a little more than Michigan. This feels like a game where the offenses are going to struggle for a lot of the game, but the talent of the skill position players of the Buckeyes is going to be the difference. With all the talk about Marvin Harrison Jr. and Cade Stover, it seems like Emeka Egbuka is getting lost in the shuffle, which is wild considering Egbuka has been talked about as a possible first round pick.

With a loss on Saturday, Ryan Day won’t be fired, but his seat will get a little hotter, especially with a new athletic director coming in next year. If Day prepares for this game like he did the Georgia game it’s going to be hard for the Wolverines to beat the Buckeyes. Coaching is going to be to decide the game, and Day has experience in moments like these, where interim Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore doesn’t. Go Bucks!

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 24, Michigan 17​

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Should be a good test

Three Things To Watch in ‘The Game’
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State seeks its first win over That Team Up North since 2019.

In 2020, an outbreak of COVID-19 led to a cancellation. In 2021 and 2022, Ohio State suffered embarassing losses to their rival. Now in 2023, an ever-expanding scandal will keep Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of That Team Up North, off the sidelines.

It almost feels like another episode from a soap opera. The reality is that it is just another expansive chapter in what is known as “The Game”.

Both teams are 11-0, and can claim The Big Ten East Division with a victory. While the stakes have been comparably high in previous renditions, such as in 2006, the off the field drama for this year’s contest has both teams at an unparalleled intensity.

Below are Three Things To Watch for “The Game” when the ball kicks off on FOX at 12:00 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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1. The TTUN running game vs. the Ohio State defense

Traditionally, the team that has been able to run the ball better than the other has won this contest. While both teams pride themselves on their respective abilities to run the football, it is my contention that the Wolverines are much more dependent upon having an effective running game than the Buckeyes.

Ohio State is getting back key players such as Tommy Eichenberg and Michael Hall Jr. on defense, and both will be needed to slow down Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards of the Wolverines. J.J. McCarthy is a legitimate threat as a runner, whether on designed quarterback runs or improvised scrambles. It would not surprise me if Sonny Styles acts like a spy on McCarthy, as Styles has the versatility to both cover the pass while also hindering McCarthy on potential perimeter runs.

2. TreVeyon Henderson’s moment to shine

Henderson has played very well over the last several games, with big games against Wisconsin (162 yards), Rutgers (128 yards) and Minnesota (146 yards). Henderson would have had a big game against Michigan State, but the Ohio State coaching staff wisely pulled Henderson from the lineup after getting a big lead.

Henderson’s effectiveness as a receiver out of the backfield may be an area that the Wolverines have difficulty accounting for, as they will already have their hands full trying to cover Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Cade Stover. Henderson had five receptions for 80 yards against Rutgers, with one play covering 65 yards. Henderson will be counted upon to come up big against That Team Up North both on the ground and through the air.


3. Lessons learned by Ryan Day and Jim Knowles

One year ago, Ryan Day seemed bound and determined to show That Team Up North that the Buckeyes could be just as tough and physical as the Wolverines. Conversely, Jim Knowles was insistent upon playing a highly aggressive style that often put the secondary in single coverage situations, leaving the Ohio State defense vulnerable to big plays.

Fast forward to this season. After the painful home loss to That Team Up North, it seemed as though Ryan Day recognized that he coached far too conservatively, and seemed to let it all hang out in the playoff game against Georgia. Even though Ohio State lost, the Buckeyes left nothing to chance.

Conversely, Jim Knowles has the Ohio State defense playing exceptionally well, but not playing as much of a riverboat gambler style, like he did in the losses to That Team Up North and Georgia in 2022. The Buckeyes have not given up big plays on defense, and have become very difficult to score points against, as evidenced by the fact that Maryland scored the most points against Ohio State back on Oct. 7, a 37-17 Buckeye victory.

Both coaches know what is at stake, and both seem to be ignoring all of the outside noise and hype coming into this game. It will bear watching to see how the Ohio State game plan shakes out on both sides of the ball.

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A quick glance at the weather forecast for Ann Arbor has it in the high 30s, meaning ideal situations for the Ohio State offense to be thriving in both the running and passing game. Look for the Buckeyes to be effective in slowing down the running game of That Team Up North, and for the scarlet and gray to come home victorious for the first time since the 2019 season.

I have it Ohio State 28, That Team Up North 21.

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Ohio State adds 24th commit in the 2024 class in offensive lineman Gabe VanSickle
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 adds to their second-ranked recruiting class with offensive line target.

Ohio State lands Michigan native offensive line target​

In case you missed it, the Buckeyes added their 24th commitment to the 2024 class on Thanksgiving Day when Coopersville, Michigan product Gabe VanSickle announced via Twitter account that he was locked in with Ohio State. A 6-foot-5, 285-pound three-star talent, VanSickle projects as an interior lineman at the next level and will be a great depth piece upon his arrival in Columbus. Credit to Justin Frye down the stretch, the Buckeyes now have four guys at the position with at least one more spot open.

A consistent topic of discussion for the better part of two weeks now, VanSickle’s recruitment with Ohio State really started on Nov. 7 when he was offered by the Buckeyes. A Northwestern commit for months, Gabe chose to visit Ohio State twice in the last few weeks and broke the news this past Tuesday that he was de-committing from the Wildcats. That said, it didn’t take long for the masses to realize where this was trending.

Whether it be the scheduled visits — including an official — or the multiple 247Sports crystal ball predictions, VanSickle seemed to be all Buckeye as soon as he received the offer. Showing the recruiting chops this staff has, Ohio State was able to go in and throw its weight around for a prospect that had been solidly committed to another Big Ten program for months, and though the current situation surrounding Northwestern helps, it’s still a case of the Ohio State brand being among the best in college football.

Looking ahead, VanSickle’s addition to the 2024 class has no impact on the tackle spot. The Buckeyes are still very much trying their best with top remaining prospect Jordan Seaton and will continue to do so until he commits.

For Gabe, his projection as a guard fits his profile perfectly. His size fits that mold already, but it’s everything else in his game that translates super well. His ability to pull, get out of his stance, and be a hog in the run game is a perfect fit for any college offensive line, and though he will be a depth piece early on, his work ethic in the weight room as a high school player aides the thought that once he’s in a college strength program he will shine.

The No. 613 player nationally and the 41st best interior lineman in the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite Ratings, VanSickle chooses Ohio State over Northwestern, Indiana, and a host of other schools. While the ranking may not be as high as the ideal Ohio State lineman commit, trust that this staff sees what VanSickle brings to the table and after a dominant senior campaign on both sides of the ball, the Buckeyes know what they’re getting and are thrilled to have him in their class.

Just a kid from ichigan #committed @CoachJFrye @ryandaytime @OhioStateFB @CoachSollenne pic.twitter.com/7UC6gJP09O

— (@gabe_vansickle) November 23, 2023

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Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs Alabama: 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


Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes head to Florida for the bracket portion of the Emerald Coast Classic Friday night.

It is one of the best weeks in sports, and college basketball has a strong hand in that. It’s Feast Week, and The Ohio State Men’s Basketball team (3-1) is heading to Niceville, Fla., for the Emerald Coast Classic to take on the No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) in the first round of the bracket portion of the Emerald Coast Classic.

The Buckeyes defeated the Western Michigan Broncos 73-56 in the opening round of the Emerald Coast Classic (campus game) The Buckeyes led by as much as 31 at one points, and it was their best overall performance of the season, but was against a team they should be able to beat handily every single time.

Now, they get to face off against their second ranked opponent of the season. The Buckeyes lost to then No. 15 and now No. 12 Texas A&M Aggies 73-66 back on November 10. The Aggies are 4-0 on the season and one of the favorites to wi the SEC, along with this Alabama team.

Since the Buckeyes lost to the Aggies, they have taken down Merrimack and Western Michigan by double digits to ease into the two-games-in-two-days marathon they’ll face this weekend.

If the Buckeyes win this game, they will take on the winner of Oregon and Santa Clara at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. If they lose, they will play the loser of Oregon and Santa Clara at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.

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Preview​

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

It is no surprise that Bruce Thornton has led the Buckeyes through the season’s first four games. The sophomore guard is averaging 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game thus far. The most impressive stat is the fact that he is just one half of a turnover per game, while playing 30 minutes per night. That means in four games, he has recorded only two turnovers. Thornton has been one of the best point guards in the country in that regard, ranking seventh in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. It is early in the season, but that is promising from the young guard.

Sophomore guard Roddy Gayle has also been stuffing the stat sheet through the first four games, averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. Zed Key has been successful in his role off the bench as the sixth man, averaging 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 22 minutes per contest.

Alabama is a juggernaut on offense and a darling in the eyes of the analytics, as they rank No. 5 on KenPom with the most efficient offense in the nation and are No. 23 on the defensive side of the ball. The best offense in the country and a top-25 defense in the country is a mix that will make a great team, especially in March. The Crimson Tide is averaging an impressive 101.8 points per game on 57 percent shooting from the field.

Alabama lost a lot of talent from its top team in the country last season, namely freshman phenom Brandon Miller, who was the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft to the Charlotte Hornets. However, they hit the transfer portal hard, bringing in some incredibly talented players to fill the void.

Head coach Nate Oats brought in Hofstra transfer guard Aaron Estrada and North Dakota State transfer forward Grant Nelson. Estrada averaged 20.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game last season, while Nelson averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Both players were two of the most coveted transfers of the offseason.

The two transfers have acclimated to their new team nicely, as Estrada is averaging 15.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, while Nelson is averaging 13.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The Crimson Tide have been led in scoring by former Ohio University guard Mark Sears, who is averaging 19.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. This is Sears’ second year with the program.

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Prediction​

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

This is going to be a tough and unique test. Grant Nelson, Mark Sears, and Aaron Estrada can all score the ball at a high level, and Alabama has no lack of scorers on the floor at all times. The Buckeyes coaching staff and players have tried to emphasize the defensive end of the ball and improving on that side this season, and that will be tested tonight.

The matchup to watch will be Mark Sears and Bruce Thornton. Both point guards are the scoring leaders on their respective teams and will look to get the best of the other team’s lead man. Another player to watch is Grant Nelson. At 6-foot-11, look for the Buckeyes to throw Evan Mahaffey or potentially Jamison Battle at him, as the former North Dakota State star will operate on the perimeter and below the basket.

I don’t think the Crimson Tide are leaps better than the Buckeyes, but they are more dynamic on offense, and that could be the difference in this one. However, the Buckeyes have already been tested by Texas A&M, while Alabama has not played anyone yet, so they could still have some things to work out early on.

Ultimately, I think this will be a close game throughout, but the Buckeyes can’t get enough stops to keep the Crimson Tide at bay, and Alabama wins a close one.

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ESPN BPI: Alabama 71.0%

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

TV: CBS Sports Network

LGHL score prediction: Alabama 82, Ohio State 76​

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In Conversation Podcast: TTUN fans are ‘losing it’ after ‘disorienting month,’ The Athletic’s Austin Meeks says
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Austin also goes into how much J.J. McCarthy misses Jim Harbaugh on both a personal and football level.

On Land-Grant Holy Land In Conversation, we talk to people in and around Ohio State athletics, and the sporting world at large, to bring you a different insight and perspective to the teams, athletes, and university that you love.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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

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On this episode of “Land-Grant In Conversation,” Matt Tamanini talks to The Athletic beat writer covering the Michigan Wolverines, Autin Meek. They discuss what impact Jim Harbaugh’s absence will have on quarterback J.J. McCarthy, what the injury status is for players who have been banged up in recent weeks, what has led to the decline in production from all-purpose back Donovan Edwards, and more.

Then, they get into the sign-stealing scandal and subsequent fallout. Austin details how the investigation and suspension of Harbaugh have impacted both the fans and the team and what the latter will need to do to focus on the game, rather than the emotions of the situation.

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Connect with Austin Meek
https://theathletic.com/author/austin-meek
Twitter: @byaustinmeek

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Twitter: @BWWMatt

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In Conversation Podcast: The College Football Nerds and their analytical model disagree on the winner of The Game
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Hopefully, the human brain is better at picking winners than the computers in this case.

On Land-Grant Holy Land In Conversation, we talk to people in and around Ohio State athletics, and the sporting world at large, to bring you a different insight and perspective to the teams, athletes, and university that you love.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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

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On today’s episode, Matt Tamanini is in conversation with one of our regular and smartest guests, Josh from the College Football Nerds. In this episode, Josh puts on his big fancy lawyer hat to walk us through some of what’s going on with the lunacy surrounding TTUN’s sign-stealing scandal before pivoting into analytics mode to explain why the model favors the Harboys, even if he is going in a different direction.

The pair discuss J.J. McCarthy’s regression to the mean since the sing-stealing scheme was exposed, Marvin Harrison Jr.’s importance in the game, and much more.

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Connect with College Football Nerds
Twitter: @CFBNerds
Website: https://collegefootballnerds.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/CollegeFootballNerds

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Twitter: @BWWMatt

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Which under-the-radar Buckeye(s) could break through with a Chris Olave-esque performance in this year’s edition of The Game?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Set Number: X162339 TK1

Olave was a relative unknown in 2018 when he put the football world on notice with his legendary performance against TTUN.

Prior to Nov. 24, 2018, few outside of Columbus, Ohio had ever heard the name Chris Olave. Hell, there were plenty of people in Columbus at the time who would have been unable to pick him out of a lineup. And that is because he rarely saw Ohio State’s (football) lineup.

Olave was a three-star wide receiver out of California – recruited by Ryan Day – who had joined the Buckeyes’ roster to little fanfare. He sat behind the likes of Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, Johnnie Dixon, and Austin Mack, and totaled just five catches and 70 yards through the first 11 games of OSU’s 2018 season.

Prior to Rivalry Week, Olave hadn’t really provided any hints or clues that he would eventually become ‘a guy’. But his special teams prowess and overall effort had at least earned praise from coaches, setting him up for additional opportunities should they arise... And boy did they.

Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

When Mack went down with an injury in late October, Olave moved up on the Buckeyes’ depth chart. He only tallied three catches in his first three games running (part-time) with the ones, but more importantly, he began to earn additional trust from Ohio State coaches and the team’s quarterback, Dwayne Haskins. Then on Nov. 24, when real opportunity came-a-knockin’, Olave was there to answer the door. And/or kick it down, landing on top of the *ichigan Wolverines.

TTUN rolled into Columbus as the No. 4 team in the country in 2018, while OSU was ranked No. 10. But you never would have known had you been tasked with ‘sorting out the bodies’ post-game. Because the Buckeyes decimated their rival 62-39, thanks to a scoring barrage initiated by Olave.

Ohio State’s freshman WR scored the first two TDs of the game, putting the football world – and the Wolverines – on notice. Both tuddies came on 24-yard receptions, which would prove to be Olave’s only catches of the day. But he was not done making an impact. With just under five minutes left in the third quarter, Olave also blocked a punt that was then scooped up by Sevyn Banks and returned 33 yards for another Buckeye TD.

It was the pièce de resistance of Olave’s breakout performance, and just one of many memorable plays/performances the OSU legend would be a part of during his time in Columbus.

One could say that @chrisolave_ made the right play three times, each time he touched the ball.

The final example, after two TD grabs, came on this @OhioStateFB punt block.

BTN x @QuickenLoans pic.twitter.com/J57W4GyIMg

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2018

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Now, you likely already knew about The Legend of Olave... Olave ’18... 2 Tuddies, a Punt Block and a Pizza Place. But I thought that I needed to re-live it, re-tell it, whatever, in order to A) once again recognize a truly legendary performance in The Game and B) remind people of the backstory before I reveal candidates for this year’s Olave Award — created by me and given to the Ohio State Buckeye who enjoys an out-of-nowhere, unexpected, breakout performance against TTUN.

**UM players and/or players who benefitted from cheating are not eligible, apologies to retroactive snubs Hassan Haskins and Donovan Edwards

Without further ado, here are your 2023 Olave Award candidates:

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WR Carnell Tate​

Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Tate is/was an obvious choice. True freshman WR, behind a few guys on the depth chart. However, unlike Olave, Tate was a coveted recruit and carved out a role rather quickly in Columbus, catching at least one pass in 10 (different) games. But he has yet to experience a true breakout. He has just 17 total receptions and a single TD, to go with 260 yards. Nice numbers for a freshman – and he is clearly going to be a stud – but not enough to make Tate a household name... Yet.

That could all change come Saturday. TTUN will be focused on Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson and others, potentially opening the door for Tate to make an impact. The latter has already proven that he is Ohio State’s third most dangerous WR (will circle back), much like Olave did or was in 2018. So go nuts, young man. Show everyone that you are the next great Buckeye wideout.

WR Julian Fleming​

This is me circling back... Admittedly, I am nominating Fleming for an award for which he may or may not qualify. But has he ever experienced a breakout? Does the common football fan outside of Columbus and/or Catawissa, PA know his name? I don’t think so. So he gets the nod.

And you can all stop wondering if I’ll ever give up on Fleming. I’m not goin’ to, so quit askin’. Sure, it’s been a disappointing four years. But JF4 is my ride or die. I can’t help myself. And I would not be shocked if he came up big against the Wolverines.


Why? Because I still believe in Fleming’s talent. And because nobody on TTUN is worried about him, that’s why. Also, I just really want it to happen for this guy who has been through so much. So c’mon, Julian. Let’s do this! One time.

QB Devin Brown​

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Oh yeah. I’m going there. Brown is the backup to Ohio State’s starting QB Kyle McCord. If he (Brown) plays a bunch of snaps or is called upon to throw several passes, well then, OSU might be in trouble. But if not... If McCord plays fine and makes it through four quarters in one piece... Brown could still have a positive impact on Saturday’s game.

Because Brown can run the ball. He has potential to be a goal line guy, and that is an area in which the Buckeyes have struggled. The Wolverines have a very stingy defense, so points likely won’t come easy in Ann Arbor. If healthy, Brown could be a four-point player (TD over FG).

DT Hero Kanu​

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

It sounds like Ohio State will have Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton, AND Mike Hall Jr. against TTUN. But I want a dozen defensive tackles available, if at all possible. Because the Wolverines are going to run, run, and run again. It’s what they do.

Well, Kanu is a mountain of a man. And the thing about mountains is that they can be very difficult to run around. Hence the reason I believe Kanu could be of use on Saturday. The Buckeyes’ second-year DT has played sparingly but flashed potential while doing so. Interior linemen rarely get credit for turning the tide of a game, but what if German big man gets a timely stop or forces a game-altering turnover?

LB C.J. Hicks​

Likely? No, not even a little bit. Possible? I guess. But I’m not holding my breath. Because it seems like the OSU coaching staff is vehemently against putting their freaky-athletic LB on the field. But (this) Saturday afternoon between noon and whenever sure seems like a hell of a time to use all the tools at the team’s disposal.

WHY ISN’T CJ HICKS STARTING!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/uZmrbei2z7

— Benny (@BennyTheJet2017) November 17, 2023

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We know that TTUN loves to run the ball and throw to their TEs. Which means that Ohio State will need guys playing at a high level — at the second level. Even better if said guys boast coverage skills and/or the ability to chase down ball carriers. Has Hicks proven that he possesses either? No, not yet. But I haven’t been enamored with the play of Steele Chambers or Cody Simon, and who knows how banged up Tommy Eichenberg is going to be come kickoff.

Hicks seems like the closest thing the Buckeyes have had to Ryan Shazier since Ryan Shazier. And last time I checked, the latter was pretty damn special during his time in Columbus. So maybe we finally see the young Buck(eye) unleashed against the Wolverines. I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it.

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Does Ohio State NEED an unexpected breakout performance to defeat TTUN this weekend? No, I don’t believe that they do. This is a very, very good Scarlet and Gray squad with potential to be great. I think The Game ultimately comes down to QB play and which defense can make timely stops, perhaps in the red zone.

But I guess we shall see... Saturday is shaping up to be an epic battle, and yours truly is hoping for several special performances. Unexpected or not. Just give me a dub in that state up north!

GO BUCKS!​

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In Conversation Podcast: NFL Draft expert, former TTUN beat writer Nick Baumgardner breaks down the talent in The Game
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

Nick has a surprise frontrunner on his official Heisman ballot... and I think you are going to agree.

On Land-Grant Holy Land In Conversation, we talk to people in and around Ohio State athletics, and the sporting world at large, to bring you a different insight and perspective to the teams, athletes, and university that you love.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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

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On this episode of “Land-Grant In Conversation,” Matt Tamanini talks to The Athletic Senior Writer Nick Baumgardner. Having been the beat writer for the Michigan football team for years before transitioning into covering the NFL Draft, Nick has a unique vantage point to break down everything going on in the 2023 edition of The Game. First, they get into some talent breakdowns at key positions for both squads, then they discuss how the absence of Jim Harbaugh from the sideline will impact the home team, and then Nick reveals that he has a certain Ohio State wide receiver at the top of his Heisman ballot, even if he isn’t supposed to be saying that publicly at this point.

This conversation has a number of unique discussion points that haven’t been brought up much in the lead-up to The Game.

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Connect with Nick Baumgardner
https://theathletic.com/author/nick-baumgardner
Twitter: @nickbaumgardner

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Twitter: @BWWMatt

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com​

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I would like to wish a heartfelt Happy Thanksgiving to my Buckeye family.

hope y’all all have a great day filled with family, friends, and food (no tomatoes in Gumbo though).

oh, and Fuck Michigan

MC&J: Ohio State-Michigan is the star of Week 13 in the Big Ten
Brett Ludwiczak 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

All eyes will be on The Game on Saturday afternoon in the final week of the Big Ten regular season

Last week ATS: 9-6 (5-3 National, 4-3 B1G)​

Season ATS: 98-93-1 (45-54-1 National, 53-39 B1G)​

My picks for Oregon State-Oregon, Washington State-Washington, and six other interesting national games can be found here.

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B1G games​

No. 17 Iowa v. Nebraska (-2.5) - Friday 12:00 p.m. ET - CBS

It’s incredible that for as bad as Iowa has been offensively this year they have won nine games and will be representing the West in the Big Ten Championship Game next Saturday. The Hawkeyes have scored at least 24 points in just three games this year, with the last of those occurrences coming at the end of September against Michigan State. To be as successful as Iowa has been with no offense just tells you how good their defense and special teams has been.

Nebraska has been just as dreadful on offense as Iowa has this season. Much like the Hawkeyes, the Cornhuskers have reached 24 points in just three games this season. After a 5-3 start to the season, Nebraska has fallen flat, losing their last three games, putting their dreams of making a bowl game in Matt Rhule’s first season in Lincoln in serious jeopardy. Last week in the 24-17 overtime loss to Wisconsin, the Cornhuskers turned to Chubba Purdy at quarterback.

In a game where the offenses aren’t going to have much success, I’ll take the points and the team that has experience winning tight games. Nebraska has made losing one-score games an art-form over the last few years. This year four of their six losses have been by seven points or less. Iowa gets some revenge for last year when the Cornhuskers snapped a seven-game losing streak in the rivalry.

Iowa 17, Nebraska 10

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No. 11 Penn State (-21.5) v. Michigan State - Friday 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC

I would say this game feels so weird being played at Ford Field in Detroit, but it’s not like Michigan State has much of a home-field advantage this year. Plus, at least this way they won’t have a chance to put anything embarrassing up on their scoreboard before the game. Still, college football regular season games played at NFL stadiums sucks all the fun out of the game.

Penn State enters this game with some uncertainty when it comes to quarterback Drew Allar. While it sounds like Allar is going to play on Friday, it’s obvious the first-year starter isn’t anywhere close to 100 percent. Last week against Rutgers, Allar and Beau Pribula combined to throw for just 88 yards in the 27-6 win. Luckily the Nittany Lions have running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton to lean on.

Even though Penn State is great at beating up on bad teams, Michigan State does come into this game with a little confidence after beating Indiana last week. We should see a spirited effort from the Spartans since this will be their final game of the season, while Penn State still has a bowl game to prepare for. The Nittany Lions keep things pretty vanilla as they try and earn the win while not accumulating any more injuries ahead of their bowl game.

Penn State 28, Michigan State 13

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Indiana v. Purdue (-3.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network

Unless you’re an alum of either of these schools, or a true degenerate gambler, there really is no reason to watch this game. Honestly, they shouldn’t even award the Old Oaken Bucket this year since both of these teams have been awful, with both entering Saturday’s game with 3-8 records.

Indiana at least has been somewhat competitive recently, losing their last two games by a combined six points. Purdue lost 23-15 to Northwestern last week after somehow beating Minnesota a few weeks ago. While the future of Indiana head coach Tom Allen is uncertain, at least for Ryan Walters it is his first year at Purdue, so he’ll get some time to show some positive results before his seat starts to get hot.

I can’t say I’m totally comfortable with backing Purdue here, but I do at least feel a little more confident taking the Boilermakers than I would if I picked the Hoosiers. Purdue has at least found their running game recently, rushing for over 300 yards in each of their last two contests. Devin Mockobee and Tyrone Tracy Jr. help the Boilers control the clock, wear out the Indiana defense, and eventually it will open things up for Hudson Card to make a couple throws to lead Purdue to victory.

Purdue 27, Indiana 17

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Northwestern v. Illinois (-5.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network

Northwestern undoubtedly is one of the most improved teams in the country from the start of the season. In early October the Wildcats barely beat Howard, and now they’re bowl eligible and head coach David Braun had the interim tag removed from his job title because of how well Northwestern has been playing under him. Last week the Wildcats beat Purdue 23-15 to secure bowl eligibility a year after going 1-11.

On the other side, a year after playing in a January bowl game, Illinois needs a win this week just to become bowl eligible. Last week the Fighting Illini fell to Iowa 15-13. John Paddock again started at quarterback for Illinois, and it’s likely to see him behind center again since he has started the last two games and has played pretty well.

Taking the points in this game is very attractive since each of the last five games for Illinois have been decided by four points or less. Northwestern is playing with a lot of confidence, while the Fighting Illini could be pressing in this game because they know this is their last chance to become bowl eligible. I just like how the Wildcats are playing right now, so I’ll side with them to deny their in-state foe.

Northwestern 24, Illinois 20

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Wisconsin (-1.5) v. Minnesota - 3:30 p.m. ET - FS1

The Badgers avoided Luke Fickell’s first year in Madison being a total failure by beating Nebraska 24-17 in overtime last week to become bowl eligible. Don’t get it twisted, the first season for Fickell as the head coach of the Badgers has been disappointing. Injuries haven’t helped Fickell’s cause, as both quarterback Tanner Mordecai and running back Braelon Allen have missed time because of injuries.

Last week we saw just how basic Minnesota is. The Golden Gophers can’t really throw the football, and their running game isn’t nearly as prolific as it has been in the previous few years. After being just a win away from bowl eligibility, Minnesota has now lost three straight games. Along with the losing streak, their latest loss came to Ohio State, and we know there can be a hangover after being run over by the Buckeyes.

I think Wisconsin builds off their win last week. Mordecai is back at quarterback, so the Badgers can at least throw the football a little to take some of the pressure off of Allen and the running game. Plus, I think Fickell is a better coach than P.J. Fleck, so give me the better all-around team that has a better coach.

Wisconsin 23, Minnesota 13

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Maryland (-1.5) v. Rutgers - 3:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network

Neither of these teams enter this game with much confidence. Rutgers has lost three straight games, while Maryland has dropped five of six after a 5-0 start to the season. At least the Terrapins show bit of fight last week in their 31-24 loss to Michigan. The same can’t be said for the Scarlet Knights, who were rolled 27-6 by Penn State. Each of the three straight losses for Rutgers have come by at least 19 points.

We know Maryland does have some weapons of offense with Taulia Tagovailoa at quarterback. The same can’t be said for Rutgers. Who do the Scarlet Knights turn to when they need someone to make a play on offense? Nobody really comes to mind, which is why Rutgers relies so heavily on trick plays. With a short line, I feel a lot more comfortable taking the Terrapins here. While Tagovailoa hasn’t announced otherwise, who would blame him if he skipped Maryland’s bowl game this year to prepare for the NFL Draft? If that ends up being the case, expect to see him make some plays in his final game at Maryland.

Maryland 27, Rutgers 14

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No. 2 Ohio State v. No. 3 Michigan (-3.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX

We have finally made it to the most anticipated game on this year’s schedule. As if there wasn’t already enough hate between the rivals, the vitriol has been ratcheted up following the Michigan sign stealing scandal. Now we wonder how much Connor Stalions had to do with the last two years, which were Michigan victories after a decade of domination by Ohio State.

The punishment for Michigan by the Big Ten was the suspension of head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games, with the last of those games being Saturday’s contest. The formula under interim head coach Sherrone Moore has been simple: jump out to a lead and then plod along and don’t blow it. The Wolverines have been so successful at this because of their ability to run the football.

One good thing for Ohio State heading into this game is Michigan isn’t quite as dominant on either line. While Michigan has been able to run the football on all their previous opponents this year, they certainly haven’t had to line up against a defense as good as what they’ll see from the Buckeyes. Ohio State hasn’t given up more than 17 points in a game this year, and they have been stout against the run.

If Michigan can’t run the football, it will force the Wolverines to put the football in J.J. McCarthy’s hands more. That strategy worked last year against Ohio State, who was burnt for a number of huge passing touchdowns in the game in Columbus. Jim Knowles has transformed the defense this year, and the Buckeyes have only given up one play of more than 40 yards, and that was on a “fumblerooski” on fourth down against Rutgers.

Ohio State doesn’t have a C.J. Stroud or Justin Fields at quarterback this year. Kyle McCord has gained more confidence throughout the season, though. McCord already has played in a hostile environment went the Buckeyes went to Notre Dame at the end of September. It also helps that he has TreVeyon Henderson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Cade Stover lining up with him on offense.

Rent will be due on Saturday in Ann Arbor. Honestly, I wish Jim Harbaugh was on the sidelines since I don’t want there to be any excuse when the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines. Of course this is a homer pick, but I also think Ohio State is a better team. The Buckeyes not only have more talent on both sides of the football, they are the most tested team. Ohio State returns to the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff by beating Michigan in The Game.

Ohio State 24, Michigan 17

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Eight of Ohio State’s best individual performers in “The Game”
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The Buckeyes have had some incredible performances in The Game, but which has been the best?

As we approach the 2023 edition of “The Game,” one of the biggest things we always try to predict is who will have the biggest impact for each team.

From Troy Smith to Dwayne Haskins to Chris Spielman, many Buckeye greats cemented their names in history with a great game against the Team Up North. Let’s take a look at some of the greatest individual performances by those in the Scarlet and Gray in college football’s biggest rivalry.

These are not in any particular order.

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Troy Smith – 2006​

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In one of the most anticipated games in the history of college football, Smith led the Buckeyes to the 42-39 win and a berth in the 2007 National Championship game (we don’t have to talk about that).

Smith threw for 316 yards on 29-of-41 passing with four touchdowns and just one interception against an exceptional Michigan defense, and went on to win the 2006 Heisman Trophy. Ted Ginn Jr. was his top target, catching eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. In a back-and-forth game, Smith made every play to secure the victory.

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Chris Spielman - 1986​

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Even though Michigan won this game 26-24, and most of these performances are in wins, what Chris Spielman did in 1986 cannot be left out. He put together one of the greatest defensive performances in college football history.

The do-it-all linebacker recorded 29 tackles to break Ohio State’s single-game record. It was an iconic performance from Spielman, whose game solidified his status as an All-American that year.

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Dwayne Haskins - 2018​

Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Haskins put together one of the greatest single seasons by a quarterback in Big Ten history, and it was capped off by one of the greatest performances in the history of this contest, leading OSU to its highest point total in the rivalry in a 62-39 win. Haskins threw for 396 yards on 20-for-31 passing with an incredible six touchdowns.

He averaged a ridiculous 20 yards per completion in this game, including four touchdowns of 24 yards or more. Haskins’ six touchdowns in this game brought his season total to 42, which set the Big Ten record.

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David Boston - 1998​

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There is a long list of All-American wide receivers to play at Ohio State, but none of them had a performance against Michigan as good as Boston did in 1998. Boston recorded 10 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State’s 31-16 win. Boston is one of the greatest receivers in Buckeye history, leaving Ohio State with a then-school record 191 receptions, 2,855 receiving yards and 34 receiving scores.

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Chris “Beanie” Wells - 2007​

Ohio State traveled to Ann Arbor in 2007 looking to secure consecutive outright Big Ten titles for the first time in 50 years. Wells ran for a career-high 222 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to a 14-7 victory, their fourth-straight win in the series. Holding a 7-3 lead early in the third quarter, Wells busted open a 62-yard run for a touchdown, which ended up sealing the victory.

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JK Dobbins - 2019​

Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

There have been plenty of standout performances from the running back position in this classic Big Ten matchup, but Dobbins’ showing in 2019 was one of the best in the 116-year rivalry. Dobbins carried the ball 31 times for a career-high 211 yards and four touchdowns in OSU’s 56-27 win. Dobbins’ performance helped stamp the Buckeyes’ ticket to the Big Ten Championship Game, where they defeated Wisconsin and went on to play in the College Football Playoff.

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Arnie Jones - 1972​

While Spielman’s memorable 29-tackle game in 1986 is the greatest defensive performance in this rivalry, Jones’ outing all the way back in 1972 wasn’t too far behind. The talented Buckeyes’ linebacker was all over the field that day, recording 24 tackles while helping hold Michigan to just 11 points in an impressive defensive performance.

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Ezekiel Elliot - 2015​

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Elliott had plenty of outstanding performances during his time at Ohio State, but the standout running back saved his best for last. Elliott rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns in 2015, helping lead OSU to a commanding 42-13 win over Michigan.

Elliott surpassed 1,500 rushing yards for the season in the contest, joining the great Archie Griffin as the only player in Ohio State history to reach that mark more than once in their career.

Honorable Mentions:

• Carlos Hyde (2013) - 27 carries for 226 yards and a TD
• Vernon Gholston (2007) - four tackles for loss, three sacks
• Jim Otis (1968) - 34 carries for 143 yards and four TDs
• Troy Smith (2004) - 241 yards and two TDs passing, 145 yards and one TD rushing
• Antonio Pittman (2006) - 18 carries for 139 yards and a TD
• Ted Ginn Jr. (2006) - eight catches for 104 yards and a TD

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Ohio State gets flurry of crystal balls to land Michigan native offensive line
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Gabe VanSickle is looking like the next in line to join Ohio State’s 2024 class.

First and foremost, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! We have much to be thankful for as Ohio State fans and one of those is that we follow a football program that doesn’t — and never ever has in the history of the sport — cheat. Go Bucks!

A Boom in the near future could be coming​

In the last couple of weeks, Ohio State has made an effort to flip Michigan native, Gabe VanSickle. The Coopersville product committed to Northwestern in May and was solid in his verbal to the Wildcats for months, but a de-commitment earlier this week opened the door for the Buckeyes to make progress. With everything that has gone on in the Wildcat program, VanSickle’s decision to reopen his recruitment isn’t overly surprising, but the timing is pretty telling for where this could be headed.

Taking multiple trips to Ohio State in the past month, including an official visit, the de-commitment comes at a time when the momentum strongly suggests that Gabe will wind up in Ohio State’s 2024 class. For further proof, hours after his choice to end his Northwestern ties, a flurry of 247Sports crystal balls favoring the Buckeyes were submitted. While the crystal ball isn’t a lock, the predictions coming from Director of Recruiting for 247Sports Steve Wiltfong and Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.com pretty much tell you all you need to know.

Make no mistake about it, the Buckeyes are still trying desperately to get offensive tackle target, Jordan Seaton on campus so this isn’t a this-or-that-type of recruitment with VanSickle. Though Gabe plays tackle for his prep team, he will surely line up as a guard at the next level. The No. 613 player nationally, VanSickle is the 41st best interior offensive lineman for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite grades.

Having coached against VanSickle and his prep team the last two seasons, the 6-foot-5, 285-pound athlete is a wrecking ball in the trenches and is way more athletic than he’s probably credited for being. All that to say, if Ohio State is able to secure the commitment here and land a late addition to its 2024 offensive line haul, this is a solid depth piece and someone who has the work ethic to really develop over the next couple of seasons.

#OhioState has @247Sports No. 2 ranked recruiting class and trending for another top target: https://t.co/Ghao9tr9YM

— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) November 22, 2023

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Quick Hits: ​

Add another to the list. Ohio State, like many other top programs, watch their commits play their last prep football contest at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas and this year’s edition will have another solid amount of 2024 Buckeyes on the rosters.

The latest to receive his jersey, current 2024 quarterback commit Air Noland. The No. 34 player nationally and the fourth-best quarterback in the class per the 247Sports Composite grades, it will be a treat for Buckeye fans to see him compete on national television in January just before he gets to campus.

Southpaw named AIR

Welcome ️️️️ QB Air Noland (@AirNoland_) to the 2024 All-American Bowl @NBCSports #GoBucks #AABCO2ON4TION #AllAmericanBowl @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/1oJmHhu2eI

— All-American Bowl (@AABonNBC) November 23, 2023

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Knowing how important it is to build a wall around Ohio’s borders, Ohio State’s staff is already starting to lock it down in 2025 and beyond. With two in-state players already in the fold for 2025, the Buckeyes are off to a good start and are seeing both of their guys bring home accolades that further show why Ohio State was so interested.

Linebacker commit Eli Lee has only been committed for about a month now, but is already a really important piece to this next cycle. Maybe a bit lower ranked than the linebackers Ohio State usually lands, it’s really only a matter of time before Lee gets the rankings boost that tends to come with an Ohio State commitment. But until then the awards keep coming in for his play.

Named to the All-District First Team selection, Eli’s junior campaign is a solid sign of the caliber of player the Buckeyes are getting. Much like current linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, Lee is a little bit softer-spoken off the field, but a hard-hitting, old-school type of player on the field. Certainly, this won’t be the last award Lee receives for his play this season.

Blessed to be named Northeast Ohio Inland District First Team! #AGTG @HobanFootball @Hoban_Strength pic.twitter.com/CoHD4HabsR

— Eli Lee (@EliLee12) November 22, 2023

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Bucketheads Podcast: Ohio State takes down Western Michigan, looks ahead to Emerald Coast Classic
justingolba 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

Plus, we play a game of “overreaction or not” two weeks into the 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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In episode 93 of ‘Bucketheads,’ Connor and Justin talk about the Buckeyes’ 3-1 start to the season. Even though it was just Merrimack and Western Michigan, what was promising in the wins, and what can a team take away from blowouts?

Connor and Justin also play a game of “overreaction or not” as we enter the third week of the college basketball season. Can Michigan State recover from their early season losses, and what do we make of Indiana? To close, we preview Alabama and the upcoming Emerald Coast Classic, and give our Ohio State-Michigan predictions on the gridiron.

Be sure to like and subscribe to the podcast and leave a review of what you think of 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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Column: Ohio State’s most important player in The Game might not be a starter
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Could a Buckeye backup be the key to victory in Ann Arbor?

In a game of this magnitude, so much of the attention has been focused on the stars — and rightfully so. On the Ohio State side, guys like Marvin Harrison Jr., TreVeyon Henderson, Denzel Burke and Sonny Styles have been the focal point, while JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, Will Johnson and Mike Sainristil lead the charge for Michigan.

Harrison Jr. is the best player in this matchup, and college football at large for what its worth, and the other big names for each program will also be pivotal in the final outcome of The Game. But what if I told you that one of the most important players for the Buckeyes in this game might be a guy that doesn’t even start? Not only that, but this player has not actually seen the field since the Penn State game at the end of October...

The man is question is none other than backup quarterback, Devin Brown.

Now, this isn’t a shot at Kyle McCord by any means, as I’m not saying that Brown is going to replace McCord or anything like that. Brown’s contributions to this game would be purely in some form of a red zone package, something Ohio State had gone to earlier in the year. Of course, this relies on Brown being healthy enough to play, as the sophomore has missed each of the last four games with an injury, but it sounds as though he will be ready to go for Saturday if called upon — and I think he will be.

Ryan Day said on his radio show that Devin Brown is “practicing much more this week” and will be available for the Michigan game after he was listed as questionable and did not play against Minnesota. Day also said Ohio State expects everyone back on defense except Lathan Ransom.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) November 22, 2023​

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Ohio State’s offense under Ryan Day has been consistently one of the best units in the country year-in and year-out. However, for as consistent as the offensive output has been, so too have the red zone issues that have plagued Day’s teams. Regardless of talent and personnel, the Buckeyes have had more than their fair share of drives stall out in the red zone. It is a glaring shortcoming that has costed them in a handful of big games, including the 2019 Fiesta Bowl against Clemson and the 2022 loss to Michigan.

This season, Ohio State ranks 60th in the country in red zone offense, scoring points on 40 of 47 trips inside the 20-yard line. However, 11 of those scoring drives ended with field goals instead of touchdowns. The Buckeyes have only gotten into the end zone on 29-of-47 red zone trips — just a 61.7% clip. With the amount of offensive skill talent OSU has at its disposal, that is simply not going to cut it. You can afford to kick a few short field goals against the lesser teams on your schedule, but you cannot waste what few red zone trips you may have against a team like Michigan.

That is where Devin Brown comes into play. McCord, especially with a banged up ankle, is not a threat to run. He has shown a willingness to pick up a few yards with his legs when a play breaks down, but he isn’t a mobile quarterback that you have to worry about on something like an option keeper or a designed QB draw. Brown, on the other hand, is that running threat. While he has only ran for 35 yards on 19 carries this season, Brown showed his potential as a short-yardage scoring option when the Buckeyes deployed him in a red zone package against Purdue.


This wasn’t even a particularly well-executed play, as Chip Trayanum hardly sold the fake before running to block, but Ohio State was still able to score as Brown laid the shoulder and pushed his way forward into the end zone. In a game where the Buckeyes didn’t have the added threat of a healthy Henderson to include as another option in the backfield, putting a mobile quarterback on the field like Brown opens up the playbook wide. Especially since Brown can also throw the ball, it gives the opposing defense so much more to think about. Any little bit of hesitation from a defender can be the difference in scoring a touchdown or being stopped short and forced to kick.

If Brown is truly healthy, I would be very surprised if Day does not go to this package in the red zone should the opportunity present itself. Ohio State could flank Brown with both Henderson and Trayanum in the backfield, with Chip playing the role of lead blocker for whoever winds up with the football between Brown and Tre. The Buckeyes haven’t had a chance to use a personnel package like this all season, and it could really throw off the Wolverines defensively. Plus, if Michigan does defend the option well and fully commits to the run, you could always flip it to Harrison Jr. instead, adding another wrinkle for the defense to have to account for.

We’ve seen guys come out of nowhere in the past and play a pivotal role in The Game, like Chris Olave’s two-touchdown performance in 2018 before he became a household name. This matchup will still most likely come down to the play of the star players on each side, but Devin Brown could etch his name into Ohio State history as a crucial part of the Buckeyes’ red zone offense if he helps lead the scarlet and gray to a victory in Ann Arbor.

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No. 15 Ohio State women’s basketball beats Oklahoma State with defense, win 75-57
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State University athletic department

Buckeyes win the battle of the OSUs in a rough shooting night for both sides

Before the cold grip of winter hits, the Ohio State women’s basketball team got its last taste of summer Wednesday night. It’s when the battle of OSU, featuring the Buckeyes and Oklahoma State Cowgirls, featured on the final night of the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship.

Ohio State held Oklahoma State’s two best scorers to eight total points, beating the Big 12 side 75-57.

The Buckeyes began quickly, getting off to a 5-0 lead in the first 1:16 of the game. It featured a Cowgirls foul on the jump ball, an offensive rebound and put in by Buckeyes’ forward Taylor Thierry and a three-point shot by forward Cotie McMahon. Then clock issues stopped the game as the referee and IT crew at the Baha Mar resort.

When the clock continued, so did Ohio State. Coach Kevin McGuff’s side increased the lead up to a 12-2 scoreline. The Buckeyes got there with energy on the court and making small plays turn into big ones.

Guard Celeste Taylor leapt to save two balls from going out of bounds and giving Oklahoma State possession. Thierry grabbed two early rebounds on the offensive boards and McMahon was the key benefactor on the scoreboard. Within five minutes, the sophomore had 10 points, two rebounds and an assist.

Oklahoma State made adjustments though, mainly in improved rebounding. The Cowgirls sent numbers inside the paint and stopped Thierry after three early offensive rebounds.

At the end of the first quarter, Ohio State had a 24-13 lead, but Oklahoma State outscored the Buckeyes 11-6 in the final five minutes of the quarter. The problem was from deep. Guards Rikki Harris and Jacy Sheldon couldn’t hit and on the other end of the court the Cowgirls answered.

The poor shooting followed the Buckeyes into the start of the second quarter, and Oklahoma State quickly tacked on four more points to put the game within seven points. The side from Stillwater, Oklahoma could’ve tacked on more but it had shooting issues of its own. Through a quarter and a half, the Cowgirls were 1-for-9 from beyond the arc, with many misses on open looks. Make them and it’d require a Buckeyes comeback.

Instead, Ohio State made shots sporadically to keep Oklahoma State in the rearview mirror. Thierry was the catalyst at the start of the second quarter, picking up five points which was important considering the Buckeyes were only 2-for-7 from the floor. What kept Oklahoma State in the game was rebounding.

Oklahoma State continued dominating the boards in the second, out rebounding the Buckeyes 20-6, outscoring Ohio State too, 17-12. What makes the quarter more impressive for the Cowgirls is guard Anna Gret Asi scoring none of Oklahoma State’s points, although she entered the game leading the Big 12 side in scoring with 17.5 points per game. Even so, the first quarter for the scarlet and gray gave them the lead going into the halftime locker room.

Guard Emma Shumate hit one of the nine Buckeye-attempted shots from beyond the arc in the quarter, keeping Ohio State ahead two possessions. Thierry tried to bump it up to an eight-point lead at the buzzer, but was blocked under the rim.

To start the second half, the game plan on offense changed for the scarlet and gray. Instead of trying open looks from deep, the Buckeyes went into the paint, courtesy of forward Rebeka Mikulášiková. The Slovakian graduate senior scored four quick points, and Ohio State’s defense stifled the Cowgirls on the defensive side of the court. Ohio State pushed its lead up to 14 points halfway through the quarter.

Hurting the Cowgirls too was an early third quarter injury. Senior guard Chandler Prater, who led the team with 10 points and 11 rebounds, fell hard with an apparent ankle injury. After Ohio State started the quarter on a 10-2 run, the Cowgirls responded offensively, allowing them to put a half court press in play.

With their preferred defense set, Ohio State’s shooting suffered. The Buckeyes were 1-for-5 following a big start to the quarter. With two minutes remaining, Oklahoma State trimmed the Ohio State lead from 11 to five, and Coach McGuff saw enough, calling a timeout late in the quarter.

From the timeout, passing looked more crisp. Moving the ball around the perimeter, Ohio State was patient, waiting for Oklahoma to close two defenders in. Sheldon benefited, hitting a three-point shot, adding a defensive stop and Thierry layup to shoot the lead back up to double-digits.

The start of the fourth quarter was delayed because of clock issues inside the Baha Mar Resort ballroom. Once it did begin, the slow scoring game continued for the Buckeyes. Although rebounding improved, grabbing six quick rebounds (four on offense), the second chance shots couldn’t land. However, the scoring for Oklahoma State didn’t improve. After a three-point shot by Sheldon, the Ohio State lead increased to 12 points with six minutes remaining in the game.

With Prater out, Oklahoma State seemed to lose that fire on the offensive side of the board, and the Buckeyes slowly grew their lead, ultimately winning 75-57.

Quiet Scoring Quarters for McMahon​

The dynamic sophomore played the McMahon basketball folks are used to in the first five minutes of the game, scoring 10 quick points. For the next two and a half quarters though, it was tough going for the forward.

Fouls hurt McMahon, picking up three. In seven third quarter minutes, McMahon only took one shot, missing the chance. It wasn’t a huge blow though for Ohio State with Thierry and Sheldon backing up their teammate. Last year, a quiet game by the Buckeyes best players would cause the team to sink, but 13 Sheldon points and 12 for Thierry through three quarters.

In the fourth, McMahon started with her first points since that first quarter, but provided energy on defense and frustrated the Oklahoma State Cowgirls.

Thierry Double-Double​

For the first time since March 4, 2023, in the historic Buckeyes comeback win against the Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal, Thierry secured a double-double. After having 11 games within two rebounds of the statistical feat, the forward did it on the offensive boards.

Thierry had nine of her 14 rebounds come on the offensive side of the court. Even though the guard/forward hybrid had her worst shooting effectiveness of the season, going 6-for-13, the points and rebounds were key in the Buckeyes pulling out an at times nervy victory.

The forward ended the game with 16 points and 14 rebounds, second behind Sheldon’s 20 points.

What’s Next​

Ohio State is back to the court soon after the Thanksgiving holiday. Sunday, the Buckeyes welcome the Ivy League to Columbus with Cornell University’s Big Red. Cornell was 10-17 last season, and enter the Schottenstein Center with a 2-3 record.

It’s the final game before the scarlet and gray travel to orange country, facing the University of Tennessee on Dec. 3. Last season, Ohio State began the year against the SEC side, shocking the nation with an 87-75 victory.

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MC&J: Week 13’s national schedule will have plenty on the line
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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Outside of the Big Ten, there are a number of games with huge implications.

Last week ATS: 9-6 (5-3 National, 4-3 B1G)​

Season ATS: 98-93-1 (45-54-1 National, 53-39 B1G)​

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Hopefully over the next few days we’ll stuff ourselves with copious amounts of delicious food to go along with these winning picks. There is some great games spread over the next few days, so enjoy the last week of the regular season before the conference championship games next week,

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National games​

No. 9 Missouri (-7.5) v. Arkansas - Friday 4:00 p.m. ET - CBS

Last week’s game against Florida wasn’t the prettiest game for Missouri, but all that matters is the Tigers earned the victory over the Gators. With the win, Missouri kept their hopes for a New Year’s Six bowl bid alive. It was a group effort on Saturday night for the offense of the Tigers. Brady Cook threw for over 300 yards, Luther Burden hauled in nine passes for 158 yards, while Cody Schrader rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown in the victory.

This year will be one to forget for Arkansas. The Razorbacks enter Friday’s game with a 4-7 record, falling well short of expectations heading into the season. The only win for Sam Pittman’s team in SEC play this year was a 39-36 victory over Florida in overtime a few weeks ago. The problem for Arkansas this year is quarterback KJ Jefferson hasn’t gotten much help on the offensive end, and since the Razorbacks have had trouble moving the football, it has put more pressure on the defense.

There’s no question Missouri is the better team right now. It’s not like Arkansas has to play hard for head coach Sam Pittman, since the athletic department already announced Pittman would return for the 2024 season. Missouri will be looking for their 10th win of the season while the Razorbacks will be looking forward to their season finally ending.

Missouri 38, Arkansas 17

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Texas Tech v. No. 7 Texas (-12.5) - Friday 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC

This isn’t the Texas Tech team we have become accustomed to over the years. The Red Raiders actually prefer to run the football over throwing it. Tahj Brooks has rushed for 1,352 yards and nine touchdowns this year. Just how much is Texas Tech running the football? They actually have 18 more rushing attempts than passing attempts through the first 11 games of the season.

Texas is certainly going to need some help if they are going to make the College Football Playoff this year. Even if the Longhorns don’t earn a spot in the playoff, at least they still have a chance to win the Big 12 crown in their final year in the conference. Currently Texas controls their own destiny when it comes to earning a spot in next week’s Big 12 Championship Game. Last week the Longhorns earned a gritty 26-16 win over Iowa State in Ames.

Texas Tech has found something lately with their running game, as they enter this contest on a three-game winning streak. Texas has dealt with a lot this season. The loss to Oklahoma, an injury to Quinn Ewers that cost him a couple games, and the season-ending knee injury to running back Jonathon Brooks. 12.5 points feels like a few too many points to lay with a Texas team that has won four of their last five games by 10 points or less. The Red Raiders shorten the game by keeping it on the ground, putting a bit of a scare into Texas in their final meeting as conference foes.

Texas 28, Texas Tech 24

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No. 16 Oregon State v. No. 6 Oregon (-13.5) - Friday 8:30 p.m. ET - FOX

Last week felt like Oregon State’s Super Bowl. Had the Beavers been able to beat Washington, not only would they have thrown a wrench into the playoff hopes of the Huskies, they would have also put themselves in position to make the Pac-12 Championship Game. Not that the Beavers won’t be hyped for Friday night’s final conference game against their in-state rivals, there just isn’t as much juice flowing as there could have been if they had defeated Washington.

Right now Oregon is playing like the best team in the country. The Ducks left no doubt last week against Arizona State, with Bo Nix throwing six touchdowns in the first half of the blowout of the Sun Devils in Tempe. For as many weapons as Oregon State had to deal with last week against Washington, they’ll have even more on their plate this week when they travel to Eugene to take on the Ducks.

There is a lot going on in this matchup. Not only will Oregon be looking to state their case as a playoff contender, they’ll be trying to make the Pac-12 Championship Game, along with avenging last year’s loss to Oregon State. Maybe if the Beavers had won last week I’d like their chances to keep this game within two touchdowns, but the loss took a lot of wind out of their sails. Oregon jumps out to an early lead, forcing the Beavers and quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei to throw the football more than they’d like to.

Oregon 45, Oregon State 21

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Kentucky v. No. 10 Louisville (-6.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ABC

Last week Louisville was able to clinch a spot in the ACC Championship Game with their 38-31 win over Miami. In the grand scheme of things, this week’s game doesn’t mean much. Sure, the Cardinals would love to beat their in-state rival in Jeff Brohm’s first year as head coach. A loss to the Wildcats wouldn’t be the end of the world, though. Plus, Louisville saw their chances of winning an ACC Championship increase last week after Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a devastating leg injury.

After a 5-0 start to the season, the Kentucky train has derailed, as the Wildcats have lost five of their last six games. Even if Kentucky loses this game at least they have already secured the six wins necessary for bowl eligibility. What the Wildcats need to do in this game is get back to running the football, since running back Ray Davis has been very quiet over the last six games.

Kentucky feels like they are catching Louisville at the right time here. Even though this is a rivalry game, I could see Jeff Brohm not putting quite as much into this game since he knows how much next week’s game against Florida State will mean. Even if the Cardinals win, it feels like it will be by less than a touchdown.

Kentucky 24, Louisville 20

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Texas A&M v. No. 14 LSU (-11.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ESPN

Now that LSU is out of the SEC Championship Game picture, it’s quite obvious Brian Kelly just wants quarterback Jayden Daniels to put up some huge numbers to possibly earn a spot in New York City in a couple weeks as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Last week in the fourth quarter with LSU up 49-14 on Georgia State, Daniels was still in there slinging it. I doubt Daniels would have still been out there at that point if LSU was still in contention for the SEC title or a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Following their 51-10 win over Mississippi State a couple weeks ago, Texas A&M shocked everyone by firing head coach Jimbo Fisher, agreeing to pay the $75 million dollar buyout on Fisher’s contract. There is still this game left, as well as a bowl game, but I’m not expecting a lot from the Aggies in those games. Sure, they’ll play loose football, I just don’t know if they’ll end up playing sound football.

Texas A&M will put some points on the board against a poor LSU defense, it just won’t be enough to threaten LSU, who will want Daniels to put up some more monster numbers in their final regular season game. The Tigers should win this by at least two touchdowns.

LSU 48, Texas A&M 28

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No. 8 Alabama (-14.5) v. Auburn - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS

Auburn just lost by 21 points to human gopher Jerry Kill and New Mexico State. Do you really think the Tigers have what it takes to stay within the spread against an Alabama team that has figured things out after a shaky start to the season? After pretty much leaving the Crimson Tide for dead after their loss to Texas, Alabama is heading to the SEC Championship Game next week, and a win over Georgia would see them head to another College Football Playoff.

Even though stranger things have happened in sports, it’s almost impossible to see Auburn keeping this game close. Hugh Freeze hasn’t brought in enough talent yet to challenge the Crimson Tide. Things will likely be different in a couple years, but right now signs are pointing to Alabama destroying Auburn on Saturday afternoon.

Alabama 37, Auburn 13

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Washington State v. No. 4 Washington (-16.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - FOX

Think back to the last time Washington won a football game by at least 17 points. It was all the way back in September when they beat Cal 59-32. Since then the biggest margin of victory for the Huskies was a 10-point win over USC. Some of the Washington wins during that span have had a bit of a Tresselball feel to them, especially last week’s 22-20 victory in rainy Corvallis over Oregon State.

Last week Washington State humbled Colorado 56-14 in Pullman. Unfortunately for Washington State, it’s unlikely they’ll be bowling this year since they enter this game with just five wins on the season. Expect the Cougars to put everything they have into this game, since not only do they have a chance to spoil Washington’s perfect season, it will be their last game against their in-state rival before Washington heads to the Big Ten.

Washington State has nothing to lose in this game, while Washington has everything to lose. The Huskies are heading to the Pac-12 Championship Game next week, so they’ll likely be happy with a win here, it doesn’t have to be some huge blowout. With Washington’s habit of playing close games lately, it’s hard to see them winning by more than 17 points here. Washington State quarterback Cam Ward makes enough plays to keep the margin of victory for Washington at two touchdowns or less.

Washington 35, Washington State 24

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No. 1 Georgia (-24.5) v. Georgia Tech - 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC

The Bulldogs have won “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” by at least 23 points in each of their last five meetings with the Yellow Jackets. Even though Georgia Tech has been better this year than they have been over the last few years, Georgia is still miles ahead of their in-state foe. The Bulldogs are nearing full strength after Brock Bowers returned a couple weeks ago after missing a few weeks because of surgery. Kirby Smart will want his team to go into next week’s matchup against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game with confidence. An easy win to do just that is by tuning up one of your rivals.

Georgia 49, Georgia Tech 17

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Uncut Podcast: Day, Knowles provide injury updates while avoiding bulletin board material
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



There’s no reason to throw even more fuel on the fire at this point.

Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:


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On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Tuesday, Nov. 21 press conference featuring head football coach Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Since this is Thanksgiving Week, there will not be any other media availabilities before The Game, aside from Day’s radio show responsibilities, but reporters were able to talk to a handful of players on Tuesday. That audio will be in Thursday’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut.”

Both Day and Knowles attempted to stay as vanilla as they don’t want to set off another firestorm of controversy before heading up to Ann Arbor this weekend. However, they did discuss a handful of injuries and how they are progressing, some schematic changes that could come into play on Saturday, and some hindsight quarterback recruiting questions.

Watch the full press conference on the Ohio State Athletic Department’s Facebook: Login to view embedded media

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Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Music by: www.bensound.com​

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Ohio State and TTUN at No. 2 and No. 3 in the CFP rankings, but this game is No. 1 historically
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

It might not technically be No. 1 on your score cards, but it will be No. 1 in the history books.

As announced last night, the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs are again atop the College Football Playoff rankings for the second week in a row, with the Ohio State Buckeyes and Mitten Men in second and third respectively. That means that for the second year in a row, The Game will be between the No. 2 and No. 3 teams. Of course, last year, one of those squads was deeply enmeshed in a widespread cheating scheme that has landed its team’s head coach his second three-game suspension of the season and is currently threatening to bring down the entire program in a mass of crumbling destruction.

Even though neither side is the top-ranked team in the country, this game, for reasons on the field and off, is simply the biggest game in the history of the rivalry, and — with all due respect to Princeton and Rutgers — quite possible, in the history of college football.

Now, I know what you are thinking. Yes, I have a tendency to get swept up in the emotions of the moment, but I have been thinking this for a couple of weeks now, and I believe many of the other reporters and commentators around the beat believe this is true as well.

Let’s break it down from both the on-field and off-field perspectives.

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What Is at Stake for the Teams in the 2023 Ohio State vs. ichigan Game?​

• The final Big Ten East title
• A berth to the Big Ten Championship Game
• An almost certain Big Ten Conference title
• A nearly guaranteed spot in the College Football Playoff
• TTUN players want to prove that their success in recent years was not dependent on sign-stealing.
• If the Corn and Blue win the game, it would mean that Ohio State’s entire 2020 recruiting class would have gone four years without beating their rivals.
• For the Buckeyes, a pair of gold pants are on the line.
• Based on the amount of tearful tributes that we’ve seen coming out of Ann Arbor in recent weeks, clearly the players want to win for their coach.

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What Is at Stake for the Coaches in the 2023 Ohio State vs. ichigan Game?​

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

• OSU’s Ryan Day needs a win to fend off fans and boosters unhappy with his inability to win the big games.
• Day wants to prove that not only was he not born on third base, but the only way that Jim Harbaugh can beat him is to cheat.
• TTUN’s Jim Harbaugh — though he won’t be at the game — wants to prove that his program is the best in the conference and that sign-stealing had nothing to do with their recent rise.
• This very well might be Harbaugh’s final home game as his alma mater’s head coach, either because he wants to jump back to the NFL, or the threat of multiple looming NCAA violations necessitates it.
• These two guys absolutely hate each other.

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What Is at Stake Historically in the 2023 Ohio State vs. ichigan Game?​

• This is the final season of the Big Ten’s divisional lineup. So, starting in 2024, Ohio State and TTUN can meet in back-to-back weeks, first in the regular season finale and then in the conference title game. Therefore, this is officially the end of an era when it comes to the importance of The Game.
• With the CFP expanding to 12 teams next season, it will be far easier for the loser of this game to receive a berth into the playoffs. So, again, the end of an era in the rivalry.
• If Ohio State wins, they will forever have the ability to dismiss the 2021 and 2022 losses, especially if the NCAA vacates the Harboys’ wins. Since they still shouldn’t count those games as wins, that would put the Buckeyes’ winning streak at nine games, and OSU would not have lost to their rivals since 2011.
• If the Fighting Ferrets win, it would be the first time that they would have posted three consecutive wins in the rivalry since 1995-97.

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What Is at Stake for the Fans in the 2023 Ohio State vs. ichigan Game?​

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

• Bragging rights for the next calendar year
• The validation of their increasingly insane online rhetoric
• For many fans, their entire personalities are based on the outcome of this game.
• The ability for some fans to continue their unhinged conspiracy theories and history-rewriting fanfiction.
• The amount of hate between the most vocal members of these two fan bases has always been uncomfortably high, but over the past month — as there has been a new sign-stealing revelation every other day — the intensity between the two camps seems to have only intensified. With tin-foil hat conspiracy theories on both sides of the proverbial aisle, the animosity feels like it has grown from the typical levels of quasi-performative “sports-hate” to IRL venom where if a dude wearing scarlet and gray encounters a Michigan Man in a dark alley, I might put money on neither of them ever emerging.

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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: We don’t give a da*n for the whole state of *ichigan... Especially this week.
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State Football - X/Twitter

Josh and Chuck preview The Game. Because sometimes it’s better to just keep it simple.

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 focus solely on The Game and the best rivalry in sports: Ohio State vs. M*ichigan aka TTUN.

It’s here! We’re talking about Rivalry Week, baby! The Buckeyes and Wolverines will once again do battle on the gridiron, this time with a Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff implications on the line...

Oh, there might also be some reputations and various other things on the line as well.

As the Hangout Boys take a look at this year’s OSU vs. TTUN matchup, they see two great CFB teams, both capable of winning it all. So what will — or has the potential to — set them apart come Saturday? How much will coaching play a role? And which players need to step up and/or have a career-defining performance?

The hosts break it all down and then give predictions for the biggest game of the year.

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

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Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod

Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye

Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3

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What do you think is the No. 1 key to Ohio State winning The Game on Saturday?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.

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

I know this week often means that people are getting nervous about having to sit around a table with family members with polar opposite political views, or having to cook mountains of food, or having to withstand the hoards of people trying to get the best Black Friday deals, but for those of us in Buckeye Nation, all of the stress of Thanksgiving Week are about Saturday at 12 noon ET.

It is Rivalry Week, it is Hate Week, it is Beat ichigan Week, it is The Game Week! So, since the turkey hasn’t yet been carved and the levels of existential dread haven’t yet reached their fevered pitch, we wanted to check in and take the fandom’s temperature on how they were feeling about things.

So, in this week’s fan survey, we’ve got a couple of questions about The Game; one about what you think is the most important key to OSU’s victory and the other predicting the final score.

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 one thing that the Buckeyes have to do to beat their rivals?​

I would honestly love it if the Buckeyes did every single one of these things on Saturday in Ann Arbor; if they did, I would feel really good about their chances to win the game. But, I didn’t make that an option in this week’s survey. So, I suppose that I will need to just pick one. I don’t want to prejudice your selection though, so I will hold off on sharing my thoughts until after the results are in.

But, I do think that there are some interesting things to consider here. Starting first at the 10,000-foot level, do you go offense or defense? While it seems counterintuitive following the first four years of Ryan Day’s tenure as head coach in Columbus, I feel far more confident in the defense’s ability to find answers this season than the offense’s.

So, I think I would have to go with something on offense, because even if the D doesn’t get pressure on J.J. McCarthy, or they don’t clog up holes in the running game, or they don’t get UM off the field on third down regularly, or they don’t limit explosive plays, I think that they have enough other answers to pick up the slack.

Therefore, I am going to eventually pick one of the offensive options, because I have far less confidence in that unit’s ability to overcome things that don’t go its way.

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Question 2: What will the result of The Game be?​

Personally, I am not yet in the proper headspace to make a score prediction on this game; that will come in our “Tailgate” podcast on Saturday morning (I’m going to try and put that off until the last possible minute). Obviously, I’m going to be picking Ohio State to win, but beyond that, I have no idea. So, let’s take a look at some data to see if we can start to narrow things down.

Advanced Analytic Projections:

• SP+ Score Projection: TTUN 26, OSU 20
• College Football Nerds Model Projection: TTUN 23.2, OSU 16.9
• NCAA Game Simulator Projection: OSU 24.1, TTUN 22.0

Statistical Breakdown:

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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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I-80 Football Show: It all comes down to The Game
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

The end of the season is here, it’s rivalry week, and once again “The Game’ is for all the marbles!

Welcome to a new episode of Fans First Football Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. This is the only Big Ten Podcast that’ll cover all 18 teams. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.

Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball from New Jersey to California. With four new teams joining the conference in 2024, we’ll integrate them in the show, getting a head start on the 18-team conference.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:


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

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After a break from the podcast, the guys catch up on a lot of the news they missed. We discuss fired coaches, USC struggles, Northwestern’s turnaround, and the Michigan cheating scandal. While many in college football are too harsh on Caleb Williams, Jordan is happy that Lincoln Riley is struggling. Riley is self-absorbed and refuses to change, he now has to deal with the fact that he could not win the PAC-12 with Caleb Williams and wasted his most talented quarterbacks last season losing five games before Williams heads to the NFL.

It. Is. Time.

Rivalry week — a.k.a. Hate Week — is here. In the Big Ten, there are a bunch of rivalry games with meaning. Nebraska, Illinois, and Minnesota need wins against their rivals to reach bowl eligibility and end the season on a positive note. Rutgers, already bowl-eligible, is trying to end Maryland’s two-game win streak and finish the season on top of their East Coast counterpart.

The biggest game of all is of course ‘The Game’. Ohio State vs. Michigan is the best rivalry in all of sports and this time it’s for all the marbles. Two undefeated teams, the winner gets a chance to bully Iowa en route to a playoff berth while the loser has to watch the other compete for a national championship. This iteration of the game has massive stakes on its own but when you include the Michigan cheating scandal and Jim Harbaugh’s three-game suspension it has even bigger implications. Dante and Jordan both believe Ohio State gets the win, Dante has it 30-27 while Jordan has it 30-20. Put 60 minutes on the clock, the latest edition of ‘The Game’ is around almost here.

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Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @I80FootballShow

Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216

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