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Ohio State vs #19 Texas, Monday, Nov 4, 2024 @ 10 PM ET, in Las Vegas, TNT
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 114 Replies
Ohio State Opens 126th Season Monday vs. No. 19 Texas
Ohio State vs. #19 TexasDate: November 4, 2024
Time: 10 p.m.
Venue: T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, Nev.
TV: TNT
Ohio State opens its 126th season of men’s basketball on Monday night as the Buckeyes will play No. 19 Texas in the Hall of Fame Series event in Las Vegas, Nev. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena and the game will be televised on TNT. The all-star crew of Spero Dedes, Grant Hill, Candace Parker, and Taylor Rooks will call the action.
- This is the earliest Ohio State has started a season in terms of date.
- The matchup with No. 19 Texas marks just the third time that Ohio State has opened a season against a ranked team. The Buckeyes lost their previous two times, falling on the road at No. 12 Utah State on Dec. 1, 1970 and then lost to No. 15 Oklahoma on Nov. 25, 1988 in the opening round of the Maui Invitational.
- Ohio State and Texas are meeting for just the second time on the hardwood. The Buckeyes won 71-65 on March 17, 1986 in the second round of the NIT in Columbus.
- This is Ohio State’s fourth game in Las Vegas. The Buckeyes are 2-1 all-time with a win over Georgetown in 1990 in the Dual in the Desert and a win over Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic in 2019. The lone loss also came in the CBS Sports Classic to UCLA in 2016.
- Ohio State welcomes in nine newcomers to pair with seven returners and just two returning starters from last year’s team that finished 22-14 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT.
- Head coach Jake Diebler begins his first full season as head coach. He was the interim coach and later named the head coach at the end of last season and led the team to an 8-3 record down the stretch.
- Of the nine newcomers, five are transfers including Meechie Johnson Jr., who is returning to Ohio State to finish his career where it started. Aaron Bradshaw from Kentucky and Sean Stewart from Duke are both sophomores who were highly rated out of high school and have an opportunity to show their skills with the Buckeyes.
- Micah Parrish (SDSU) and Ques Glover (Kansas State) are both in their fifth years and bring a wealth of experience and veteran leadership. Parrish played in the national championship in 2023 with San Diego State.
- Freshman Colin White is the reigning Mr. Basketball in the state of Ohio while John Mobley Jr. was considered one of the top shooters in the 2024 class.
- Texas is coming off a 21-13 season that saw the Longhorns reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Tre Johnson and Tramon Mark were both named to the preseason All-SEC Team.
LGHL Stock Market Report: Ohio State shatters narratives in win over Penn State
- News
- 0 Replies
Stock Market Report: Ohio State shatters narratives in win over Penn State
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 via Imagn Images
Ryan Day won a big game, James Franklin lost another one to Ohio State and the offensive line showed up when it mattered most
In another “same day, same story” situation, No. 4 Ohio State defeated No. 3 Penn State 20-13 to hand the Nittany Lions their first loss and give Ryan Day his first win against a team that was 7-0 or better. He previously was 0-7 in those games.
This was a narrative-shifting game for the Buckeyes and Ryan Day, and now the Buckeyes still control their own destiny to get to Indianapolis.
Here is who and what we are higher and lower on after the showdown in Happy Valley.
Offensive line
All week long, the conversation was about the offensive line and how they were the team’s weakness. The criticism was fair since the line had struggled in the six quarters since Josh Simmons went down with an injury. But they absolutely stepped up today.
That final drive was the best evidence of this. They needed to step up and put together a drive to kill the clock and make sure Penn State did not get the ball back and have a chance to tie the game again. The offensive line stepped up hugely, and they deserve to be complimented.
Caleb Downs
It is hard to overstate how important Caleb Downs has been to this defense. He constantly saves touchdowns, plugs holes in the running game, shadows tight ends and running backs out of the backfield, and has been the best defender on the team through the first eight games.
Quinshon Judkins
Judkins and the offensive line both showed a different gear in this contest, and this was the game that showed why the Buckeyes brought in Judkins this season. He runs hard and plays hard, showing the toughness that the Buckeyes have needed and some people did not know if they had this season.
Costly turnovers
Will Howard does not make many mistakes. However, when he does, they tend to be incredibly significant. If that trend continues in the playoffs, it will be tough to overcome, and those one to two mental lapses per game have to stay in October with Halloween.
Buy: Ryan Day against Penn State
Ryan Day may struggle to beat SEC teams, and he is 1-3 against Michigan, but the guy knows how to get the job done against the Nittany Lions. Day is now 6-0 against Penn State and 3-0 in Happy Valley. He has to win some other games, too, but it’s safe to say he has Penn State’s and James Franklin’s numbers.
Buy: Brandon Innis
Although Innis hasn’t been a breakout player this year, given the quality of the receiving room, he has shown flashes of his potential and what he can bring next season when he is a main part of the rotation. In this one, he had two big catches and one that went for a touchdown. Innis is going to be a big piece to the Ohio State offense sooner rather than late.
Sell: James Franklin against Ohio State
At some point, there has to be a tipping point with Franklin against top teams, and this game may have been it. He is now 1-10 against Ohio State, and the one was due to a blocked field goal. We thought Andy Kotelnicki could be the difference, but Franklin has had six offensive coordinators in his time in Happy Valley, and only one of them has been able to get him over the hump.
Sell: Big Noon commercials
They could change the name of Big Noon Kickoff to Big Noon Commercials. Nothing is worse for a product than a score, commercial, kickoff, and commercial. That is 15 minutes of real-time and two plays. It’s not fun.
Continue reading...
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 via Imagn Images
Ryan Day won a big game, James Franklin lost another one to Ohio State and the offensive line showed up when it mattered most
In another “same day, same story” situation, No. 4 Ohio State defeated No. 3 Penn State 20-13 to hand the Nittany Lions their first loss and give Ryan Day his first win against a team that was 7-0 or better. He previously was 0-7 in those games.
This was a narrative-shifting game for the Buckeyes and Ryan Day, and now the Buckeyes still control their own destiny to get to Indianapolis.
Here is who and what we are higher and lower on after the showdown in Happy Valley.
Blue Chip
Offensive line
All week long, the conversation was about the offensive line and how they were the team’s weakness. The criticism was fair since the line had struggled in the six quarters since Josh Simmons went down with an injury. But they absolutely stepped up today.
That final drive was the best evidence of this. They needed to step up and put together a drive to kill the clock and make sure Penn State did not get the ball back and have a chance to tie the game again. The offensive line stepped up hugely, and they deserve to be complimented.
Solid Investments
Caleb Downs
It is hard to overstate how important Caleb Downs has been to this defense. He constantly saves touchdowns, plugs holes in the running game, shadows tight ends and running backs out of the backfield, and has been the best defender on the team through the first eight games.
Quinshon Judkins
Judkins and the offensive line both showed a different gear in this contest, and this was the game that showed why the Buckeyes brought in Judkins this season. He runs hard and plays hard, showing the toughness that the Buckeyes have needed and some people did not know if they had this season.
Junk Bond
Costly turnovers
Will Howard does not make many mistakes. However, when he does, they tend to be incredibly significant. If that trend continues in the playoffs, it will be tough to overcome, and those one to two mental lapses per game have to stay in October with Halloween.
Buy/Sell
Buy: Ryan Day against Penn State
Ryan Day may struggle to beat SEC teams, and he is 1-3 against Michigan, but the guy knows how to get the job done against the Nittany Lions. Day is now 6-0 against Penn State and 3-0 in Happy Valley. He has to win some other games, too, but it’s safe to say he has Penn State’s and James Franklin’s numbers.
Buy: Brandon Innis
Although Innis hasn’t been a breakout player this year, given the quality of the receiving room, he has shown flashes of his potential and what he can bring next season when he is a main part of the rotation. In this one, he had two big catches and one that went for a touchdown. Innis is going to be a big piece to the Ohio State offense sooner rather than late.
Sell: James Franklin against Ohio State
At some point, there has to be a tipping point with Franklin against top teams, and this game may have been it. He is now 1-10 against Ohio State, and the one was due to a blocked field goal. We thought Andy Kotelnicki could be the difference, but Franklin has had six offensive coordinators in his time in Happy Valley, and only one of them has been able to get him over the hump.
Sell: Big Noon commercials
They could change the name of Big Noon Kickoff to Big Noon Commercials. Nothing is worse for a product than a score, commercial, kickoff, and commercial. That is 15 minutes of real-time and two plays. It’s not fun.
Continue reading...
LGHL If This Were a Movie: Will Howard and Buckeyes channel Rocket Boys’ grit vs. Penn State
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- 0 Replies
If This Were a Movie: Will Howard and Buckeyes channel Rocket Boys’ grit vs. Penn State
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Look to the sky in Happy Valley, and you’ll see footballs soaring through the air, much like Homer Hickam’s rockets in “October Sky”
Growing up just a few hours from Penn State, Will Howard dreamed of one day donning a Nittany Lions jersey. His father went there (and his sister is currently a senior there), and with his sights set on his goal, Howard went to work. His mother recalled recently to The Athletic that when he was in high school, she would find him playing football alone in the front yard at midnight, practicing until she finally called him in.
So heading into this week’s top-5 matchup between No. 4 Ohio State and No. 3 Penn State, Howard was “stoked.” These were the kind of marquee matchups he probably dreamt of when practicing into the wee hours. Only he wouldn’t take the field wearing the white and navy jersey he had once longed for.
During a post-game interview last week, the Ohio State quarterback said, “I grew up a Penn State fan. I wanted to go there my whole life,” he said. “They didn’t think I was good enough. I guess we’ll see next week if I was.”
For him, this was personal. He had something to prove, a redemption storyline to work for.
It was reminiscent of another young man who had the odds stacked against him and set out to prove people wrong: Homer Hickam, the rocket scientist from Coalwood, West Virginia, whose life is portrayed in the 1999 film “October Sky,” based on Hickam’s memoir of the same name.
At the center of Coalwood’s economy is, well, a coal mine and Hickam is expected to grow up and work there like his father and most men in the town. But when Hickam watches the Russian satellite Sputnik soar across the night sky, Hickam, along with some of his friends, becomes fixated on rockets, much to the dismay of his father.
This brings us to Saturday, when Howard and his friends took the field in Happy Valley. Now, Howard wasn’t the only one facing doubts—the Ohio State offensive line was coming off one of their worst performances in recent memory and had to make further adjustments to account for injuries. The defense faced some criticism after the Oregon game for their inability to put pressure on Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Howard and his friends, like the Rocket Boys, were ready to defy expectations.
Defensively, the team couldn’t have been better, keeping the Nittany Lions out of the end zone even with two first-and-goal situations from within OSU’s five-yard line. The offensive line, with left guard Donovan Jackson taking over at left tackle to account for injuries, did a helluva job creating space for the run game and giving Howard time to read the play through the air.
Howard, for his part, didn’t play his cleanest game. He threw a pick-six on just his third play of the game (putting the Buckeyes behind 10-0 very early in the game), had a few messy incompletions that could have been disastrous, and fumbled at the goal line (turning what would have been a touchdown into a touchback and returning the ball the Nittany Lions).
Hickam, too, had some hiccups. Hickam similarly struggled early in his rocket-building ventures, with one of his first small rockets landing near his father’s office and nearly injuring some workers. It led to his father banning him from building rockets on the property.
Still, both Howard and Hickam persevered, and without giving away the ending, Hickam’s efforts came to a head at the National Science Fair in much the same way Howard’s did this weekend.
For Howard, the early nerves and adrenaline, the turnovers and incompletions didn’t keep him from having the last laugh: He finished the game with 16 of 24 passes and 24 rushing yards, including a 7-yard rush for the first down that sealed the team’s 20-13 victory.
And while his rockets flew through a November sky instead of an October one, they did just as much to impress as he secured the win for a team that now controls its own destiny.
Continue reading...
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Look to the sky in Happy Valley, and you’ll see footballs soaring through the air, much like Homer Hickam’s rockets in “October Sky”
Growing up just a few hours from Penn State, Will Howard dreamed of one day donning a Nittany Lions jersey. His father went there (and his sister is currently a senior there), and with his sights set on his goal, Howard went to work. His mother recalled recently to The Athletic that when he was in high school, she would find him playing football alone in the front yard at midnight, practicing until she finally called him in.
So heading into this week’s top-5 matchup between No. 4 Ohio State and No. 3 Penn State, Howard was “stoked.” These were the kind of marquee matchups he probably dreamt of when practicing into the wee hours. Only he wouldn’t take the field wearing the white and navy jersey he had once longed for.
During a post-game interview last week, the Ohio State quarterback said, “I grew up a Penn State fan. I wanted to go there my whole life,” he said. “They didn’t think I was good enough. I guess we’ll see next week if I was.”
For him, this was personal. He had something to prove, a redemption storyline to work for.
It was reminiscent of another young man who had the odds stacked against him and set out to prove people wrong: Homer Hickam, the rocket scientist from Coalwood, West Virginia, whose life is portrayed in the 1999 film “October Sky,” based on Hickam’s memoir of the same name.
At the center of Coalwood’s economy is, well, a coal mine and Hickam is expected to grow up and work there like his father and most men in the town. But when Hickam watches the Russian satellite Sputnik soar across the night sky, Hickam, along with some of his friends, becomes fixated on rockets, much to the dismay of his father.
This brings us to Saturday, when Howard and his friends took the field in Happy Valley. Now, Howard wasn’t the only one facing doubts—the Ohio State offensive line was coming off one of their worst performances in recent memory and had to make further adjustments to account for injuries. The defense faced some criticism after the Oregon game for their inability to put pressure on Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Howard and his friends, like the Rocket Boys, were ready to defy expectations.
Defensively, the team couldn’t have been better, keeping the Nittany Lions out of the end zone even with two first-and-goal situations from within OSU’s five-yard line. The offensive line, with left guard Donovan Jackson taking over at left tackle to account for injuries, did a helluva job creating space for the run game and giving Howard time to read the play through the air.
Howard, for his part, didn’t play his cleanest game. He threw a pick-six on just his third play of the game (putting the Buckeyes behind 10-0 very early in the game), had a few messy incompletions that could have been disastrous, and fumbled at the goal line (turning what would have been a touchdown into a touchback and returning the ball the Nittany Lions).
Hickam, too, had some hiccups. Hickam similarly struggled early in his rocket-building ventures, with one of his first small rockets landing near his father’s office and nearly injuring some workers. It led to his father banning him from building rockets on the property.
Still, both Howard and Hickam persevered, and without giving away the ending, Hickam’s efforts came to a head at the National Science Fair in much the same way Howard’s did this weekend.
For Howard, the early nerves and adrenaline, the turnovers and incompletions didn’t keep him from having the last laugh: He finished the game with 16 of 24 passes and 24 rushing yards, including a 7-yard rush for the first down that sealed the team’s 20-13 victory.
And while his rockets flew through a November sky instead of an October one, they did just as much to impress as he secured the win for a team that now controls its own destiny.
Continue reading...
LGHL All the news, analysis from Ohio State’s 20-13 win over Penn State
- News
- 0 Replies
All the news, analysis from Ohio State’s 20-13 win over Penn State
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 via Imagn Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Late Goal-Line Stand Lifts Buckeyes to 20-13 Win at Penn State
Ohio State Athletics
Defense lifts No. 4 Buckeyes to 20-13 win over No. 3 Penn State
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Defeats Penn State, 20-13, For Eighth Straight Win over Nittany Lions
By Dan Hope
Ryan Day, Ohio State bounce back as Buckeyes coach admits Penn State win was ‘big game’ for program
Grant Hughes, 247Sports
Ohio State finally took ‘action’ in win over Penn State, altering our view of the Buckeyes’ ceiling
Ari Wasserman, On3
Record Breaking: Jeremiah Smith breaks Cris Carter’s freshman receiving record in just eight games
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Tyleik Williams injury update: Ryan Day shares latest after Ohio State DT leaves Penn State game
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Ohio State vs. Penn State Notebook: Will Howard Bounces Back After “Worst Game of the Year,” Jayden Fielding Proves Dependable
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Football: No. 4 Buckeyes take the Happy out of the Valley, down No. 3 Penn State 20-13
Noah Weiskopf, The Lantern
Everything Penn State coach James Franklin said post-game about Buckeyes
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
James Franklin Said Ohio State “Had A Championship Drive” To Ice Win Over Penn State In Top-Five Matchup
Jack Emerson, Eleven Warriors
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25712825/Screenshot_2024_11_03_at_8.05.00_AM.png)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ohio State’s 20-13 win over Penn State
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Snap Judgments: Buckeyes fight off mat in slugfest win at Penn State
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
4 things we learned from Ohio State’s win at Penn State
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
First thoughts: Buckeyes grind out critical top-five win at Penn State
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Quick Takes: Will Howard, offensive line respond; Buckeye defense stands tall vs. Penn State
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Buckeyes show championship-level toughness in grind-it-out win
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Moment of the Game: Ohio State’s rebuilt offensive line won the game vs. Penn State
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Football: Photos: Ohio State vs. Penn State
Ohio State Athletics
Instant opinions: Chip Kelly earns his millions in win over Penn State
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State’s New-Look Offensive Line Carries Buckeyes to Victory at Penn State
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
‘He willed it to happen’: Will Howard made his Beaver Stadium moment count
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
How OSU defense made late goal-line stand in win at Penn State
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State’s Defense Shows It Can Still Be A Championship-Caliber Unit with Shutdown Performance Against Penn State
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Buckeye Leaves: Game-changing plays make the difference in top-four, road showdown
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Reshuffled OSU offensive line paves way to victory over Penn State
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Recapping Ohio State’s 20-13 win over Penn State
Late Goal-Line Stand Lifts Buckeyes to 20-13 Win at Penn State
Ohio State Athletics
Defense lifts No. 4 Buckeyes to 20-13 win over No. 3 Penn State
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Defeats Penn State, 20-13, For Eighth Straight Win over Nittany Lions
By Dan Hope
Ryan Day, Ohio State bounce back as Buckeyes coach admits Penn State win was ‘big game’ for program
Grant Hughes, 247Sports
Ohio State finally took ‘action’ in win over Penn State, altering our view of the Buckeyes’ ceiling
Ari Wasserman, On3
News From Ohio State’s 20-13 win over Penn State
"It just shows the grit and toughness of this team. There's a smile right here on my face and I'm really proud of this team and the physicality." @JennyTaft catches up with @OhioStateFB's Ryan Day after a massive win over Penn Statepic.twitter.com/dto7zA1tJs
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024
Record Breaking: Jeremiah Smith breaks Cris Carter’s freshman receiving record in just eight games
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Tyleik Williams injury update: Ryan Day shares latest after Ohio State DT leaves Penn State game
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Ohio State vs. Penn State Notebook: Will Howard Bounces Back After “Worst Game of the Year,” Jayden Fielding Proves Dependable
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Football: No. 4 Buckeyes take the Happy out of the Valley, down No. 3 Penn State 20-13
Noah Weiskopf, The Lantern
Everything Penn State coach James Franklin said post-game about Buckeyes
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
James Franklin Said Ohio State “Had A Championship Drive” To Ice Win Over Penn State In Top-Five Matchup
Jack Emerson, Eleven Warriors
Analyzing Ohio State’s 21-17 win over Nebraska
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ohio State’s 20-13 win over Penn State
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Snap Judgments: Buckeyes fight off mat in slugfest win at Penn State
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
4 things we learned from Ohio State’s win at Penn State
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
First thoughts: Buckeyes grind out critical top-five win at Penn State
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Quick Takes: Will Howard, offensive line respond; Buckeye defense stands tall vs. Penn State
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Buckeyes show championship-level toughness in grind-it-out win
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Looking at the Performances From Ohio State’s
Moment of the Game: Ohio State’s rebuilt offensive line won the game vs. Penn State
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Football: Photos: Ohio State vs. Penn State
Ohio State Athletics
Instant opinions: Chip Kelly earns his millions in win over Penn State
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State’s New-Look Offensive Line Carries Buckeyes to Victory at Penn State
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
‘He willed it to happen’: Will Howard made his Beaver Stadium moment count
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
How OSU defense made late goal-line stand in win at Penn State
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State’s Defense Shows It Can Still Be A Championship-Caliber Unit with Shutdown Performance Against Penn State
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Buckeye Leaves: Game-changing plays make the difference in top-four, road showdown
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Reshuffled OSU offensive line paves way to victory over Penn State
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Continue reading...
LGHL Why My Team Will Lose: Ohio State and Penn State alums strive to lower expectations
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Why My Team Will Lose: Ohio State and Penn State alums strive to lower expectations
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
Two writers try to preemptively take the sting out of their team potentially losing.
It’s not often here at Land-Grant Holy Land that we get to do an article featuring two of our writers who graduated from schools that are facing each other in a college football game. While we do have some Ohio State-loving MAC school grads on our writer rosters, I venture to say that for those games the former Kent State Flashes would probably prefer Ohio State to win.
However, today is a bit different as our women’s basketball beat writer Thomas Costello is a Penn State grad. But instead of trash-talking with OSU alum Matt Tamanini, they are going to do what all good Buckeye and Nittany Lion fans do, they are going to be pessimistic, cynical, and misanthropic.
So, here in the first — and probably last (until OSU and PSU play again) — installment of a new column we are calling “Why My Team Will Lose.”
At Land-Grant Holy Land, I’m the site’s women’s basketball beat writer and resident Penn State graduate. When it comes to basketball coverage, the focus stays down the middle, even when the Buckeyes are facing the Penn State Nittany Lions.
However, when it comes to football, my sports fandom heart has the same name etched on it as is on my degree from Penn State University.
With that said, that same heart tells the painful truth that Penn State is not going to win this game. Here’s why.
First, it’s Ohio State and Penn State. The Nittany Lions have a whopping two wins over the Buckeyes in the last 15 editions of the cross-border rivalry.
Even when it looks like Penn State will turn the corner, Ohio State always finds a way. For a perfect example, take a look back at 2017. Penn State led by as much as 17 points in the first half and still held onto a 15-point lead to start the fourth quarter.
I don’t have to tell Ohio State fans what happened next. J.T. Barrett threw three of his four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, part of a 328-yard passing and 95-yard rushing game that ended with a soul-crushing 39-38 Penn State defeat.
There are obviously scars, but the pessimism is also wrapped in current reality, not ghosts of James Franklin losses past.
Penn State is the higher-ranked side, but the AP ranking isn’t good for much more than a stronger argument for the playoff committee and bulletin board material for unranked sides.
The Nittany Lions don’t have the home run threat like the Buckeyes and Jeremiah Smith. The freshman wide receiver, who plays more like an NFL wide receiver, is guaranteed at least a touchdown a game and is capable of the fantastic. Those touchdowns go beyond the six points on the scoreboard and give the Buckeyes momentum to add more.
What makes matters worse, Smith has the same birthday as me (I won’t talk about the number of years difference between the dates on the calendar), rubbing his skill in my face even more.
For the Nittany Lions, they have to try and score against a Buckeyes defense that’s ranked in the top three for lowest rushing and passing totals allowed. Running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen will be the defensive focus because the Nittany Lions still haven’t completely addressed their need for their own big play threat down the field.
The closest Penn State has is tight end Tyler Warren. If you haven’t watched the Nittany Lions yet this season, you’ll hear multiple times from the over-ecstatic commentators how Warren’s lined up as a tight end, running back, wide receiver, quarterback, and even center this season. Warren leads the team with 559 receiving yards, with the closest wide receiver with 200 less than the Swiss Army knife tight end.
Not exactly the most diverse attacking threat.
Penn State will mask this through Andy Kotelnicki’s offensive schemes hiding what the real plan is with multiple formation shifts on each play.
It’s the same kind of smoke and mirrors that Franklin will implore this week with the question marks around the availability of Drew Allar. While the native-Ohioan did get hurt in the win over the Wisconsin Badgers, it feels like there’s a bit of “Tom Brady is always on the injury report” from the Penn State staff. A bold move.
There’s a lot of hope from Penn State fans that this is the year that the power shifts, especially playing in Happy Valley. Even so, it doesn’t feel right. It feels like another heartbreaker.
Abdul Carter, Zane Durant, and Dani Dennis-Sutton.
Donovan Jackson playing out of position. Austin Siereveld stepping in to start.
We have known for years that Ohio State’s weakness was on the offensive line, and entering the second game with their best o-lineman out (Josh Simmons), the Buckeyes are going to have to reshuffle things again as it is believed that Zen Michalski, who started at left tackle last week against Nebraska will be unable to go against Penn State.
Whether that is actually to the detriment of the Buckeyes or not is still very much up in the air, but what that likely means is that Donovan Jackson will kick over from left guard to left tackle and Austin Siereveld will go from being the backup right guard to the starting left guard — a position he played earlier this season when Jackson was injured.
While I do think that this configuration is probably better for the Buckeyes than what was run out there last week, it means that Jackson — who has been spotty at best this fall — is having to play a new position, and Siereveld will have to flip the side of the line he is used to playing on — despite having experience at LG.
We hear constantly about how important it is for offensive lines to gel and have cohesiveness. While a lot of these guys have played together a lot, this will be the first time for them to line up in this arrangement. However, if the goal is to get the best five guys on the field, then I do think that this probably accomplishes that.
However, even at their best, the Ohio State offensive line has not been especially effective this season. Admittedly, I do think that the pass protection has been generally solid, but it’s the run-blocking that has been south of suspect this season. We saw against the Huskers how detrimental it can be to the running game when one side of an already deficient line is blown up by injury, so I really question the ability of this group to go up against one of the best defensive front-sevens in the country.
Now, the Nits are dealing with injury concerns of their own as Dennis-Sutton is a game-time decision. Even if he plays, you can’t expect him to be 100%, so that could negate a portion of Penn State’s ability to disrupt the run game, but I still think that the PSU defense can make things very difficult for the OSU o-line.
The only way that I see to negate this is for Chip Kelly to scheme something up for Will Howard to get the ball into the hands of the playmakers as quickly as possible. Short drops, screens, quick outs, slants, mesh, pop passes, etc. That should prevent the pass rush from causing too much damage and from having to overly rely on the traditional running game.
However, if Ohio State loses, in my opinion, it will likely be because they just can’t get enough production against an intimidating Penn State defensive front.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Two writers try to preemptively take the sting out of their team potentially losing.
It’s not often here at Land-Grant Holy Land that we get to do an article featuring two of our writers who graduated from schools that are facing each other in a college football game. While we do have some Ohio State-loving MAC school grads on our writer rosters, I venture to say that for those games the former Kent State Flashes would probably prefer Ohio State to win.
However, today is a bit different as our women’s basketball beat writer Thomas Costello is a Penn State grad. But instead of trash-talking with OSU alum Matt Tamanini, they are going to do what all good Buckeye and Nittany Lion fans do, they are going to be pessimistic, cynical, and misanthropic.
So, here in the first — and probably last (until OSU and PSU play again) — installment of a new column we are calling “Why My Team Will Lose.”
Thomas’ Take: Why his alma mater will lose
At Land-Grant Holy Land, I’m the site’s women’s basketball beat writer and resident Penn State graduate. When it comes to basketball coverage, the focus stays down the middle, even when the Buckeyes are facing the Penn State Nittany Lions.
However, when it comes to football, my sports fandom heart has the same name etched on it as is on my degree from Penn State University.
With that said, that same heart tells the painful truth that Penn State is not going to win this game. Here’s why.
First, it’s Ohio State and Penn State. The Nittany Lions have a whopping two wins over the Buckeyes in the last 15 editions of the cross-border rivalry.
Even when it looks like Penn State will turn the corner, Ohio State always finds a way. For a perfect example, take a look back at 2017. Penn State led by as much as 17 points in the first half and still held onto a 15-point lead to start the fourth quarter.
I don’t have to tell Ohio State fans what happened next. J.T. Barrett threw three of his four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, part of a 328-yard passing and 95-yard rushing game that ended with a soul-crushing 39-38 Penn State defeat.
There are obviously scars, but the pessimism is also wrapped in current reality, not ghosts of James Franklin losses past.
Penn State is the higher-ranked side, but the AP ranking isn’t good for much more than a stronger argument for the playoff committee and bulletin board material for unranked sides.
The Nittany Lions don’t have the home run threat like the Buckeyes and Jeremiah Smith. The freshman wide receiver, who plays more like an NFL wide receiver, is guaranteed at least a touchdown a game and is capable of the fantastic. Those touchdowns go beyond the six points on the scoreboard and give the Buckeyes momentum to add more.
What makes matters worse, Smith has the same birthday as me (I won’t talk about the number of years difference between the dates on the calendar), rubbing his skill in my face even more.
For the Nittany Lions, they have to try and score against a Buckeyes defense that’s ranked in the top three for lowest rushing and passing totals allowed. Running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen will be the defensive focus because the Nittany Lions still haven’t completely addressed their need for their own big play threat down the field.
The closest Penn State has is tight end Tyler Warren. If you haven’t watched the Nittany Lions yet this season, you’ll hear multiple times from the over-ecstatic commentators how Warren’s lined up as a tight end, running back, wide receiver, quarterback, and even center this season. Warren leads the team with 559 receiving yards, with the closest wide receiver with 200 less than the Swiss Army knife tight end.
Not exactly the most diverse attacking threat.
Penn State will mask this through Andy Kotelnicki’s offensive schemes hiding what the real plan is with multiple formation shifts on each play.
It’s the same kind of smoke and mirrors that Franklin will implore this week with the question marks around the availability of Drew Allar. While the native-Ohioan did get hurt in the win over the Wisconsin Badgers, it feels like there’s a bit of “Tom Brady is always on the injury report” from the Penn State staff. A bold move.
There’s a lot of hope from Penn State fans that this is the year that the power shifts, especially playing in Happy Valley. Even so, it doesn’t feel right. It feels like another heartbreaker.
Matt’s Take: Why his alma mater will lose
Abdul Carter, Zane Durant, and Dani Dennis-Sutton.
Donovan Jackson playing out of position. Austin Siereveld stepping in to start.
We have known for years that Ohio State’s weakness was on the offensive line, and entering the second game with their best o-lineman out (Josh Simmons), the Buckeyes are going to have to reshuffle things again as it is believed that Zen Michalski, who started at left tackle last week against Nebraska will be unable to go against Penn State.
Whether that is actually to the detriment of the Buckeyes or not is still very much up in the air, but what that likely means is that Donovan Jackson will kick over from left guard to left tackle and Austin Siereveld will go from being the backup right guard to the starting left guard — a position he played earlier this season when Jackson was injured.
While I do think that this configuration is probably better for the Buckeyes than what was run out there last week, it means that Jackson — who has been spotty at best this fall — is having to play a new position, and Siereveld will have to flip the side of the line he is used to playing on — despite having experience at LG.
We hear constantly about how important it is for offensive lines to gel and have cohesiveness. While a lot of these guys have played together a lot, this will be the first time for them to line up in this arrangement. However, if the goal is to get the best five guys on the field, then I do think that this probably accomplishes that.
However, even at their best, the Ohio State offensive line has not been especially effective this season. Admittedly, I do think that the pass protection has been generally solid, but it’s the run-blocking that has been south of suspect this season. We saw against the Huskers how detrimental it can be to the running game when one side of an already deficient line is blown up by injury, so I really question the ability of this group to go up against one of the best defensive front-sevens in the country.
Now, the Nits are dealing with injury concerns of their own as Dennis-Sutton is a game-time decision. Even if he plays, you can’t expect him to be 100%, so that could negate a portion of Penn State’s ability to disrupt the run game, but I still think that the PSU defense can make things very difficult for the OSU o-line.
The only way that I see to negate this is for Chip Kelly to scheme something up for Will Howard to get the ball into the hands of the playmakers as quickly as possible. Short drops, screens, quick outs, slants, mesh, pop passes, etc. That should prevent the pass rush from causing too much damage and from having to overly rely on the traditional running game.
However, if Ohio State loses, in my opinion, it will likely be because they just can’t get enough production against an intimidating Penn State defensive front.
Continue reading...
LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land: Ohio State embraces the chaos and defeats Penn State
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Hangout in the Holy Land: Ohio State embraces the chaos and defeats Penn State
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 via Imagn Images
Ryan Day moves to 6-0 against Penn State, while James Franklin falls to 1-10 against the Buckeyes.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
We are back for another recap episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, and we must let our blood pressure settle down after this one.
No. 4 Ohio State (7-1) takes down No. 3 Penn State (7-1) by a score of 20-13 in one of the more roller coaster and chaotic games you will ever see. Both teams had a turnover in the red zone and the game started with a pick-six, but after all that the Buckeyes settled in and controlled the game in Happy Valley for the most part.
How did Ohio State pull this off? Who were the Buckeyes that made it happen? And how did this game shift all the narratives surrounding this team? We answer all of those questions and more.
Plus, our full thoughts about this game and the season in general now that the Buckeyes’ path to Indianapolis is a bit clearer.
Make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
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 via Imagn Images
Ryan Day moves to 6-0 against Penn State, while James Franklin falls to 1-10 against the Buckeyes.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
We are back for another recap episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, and we must let our blood pressure settle down after this one.
No. 4 Ohio State (7-1) takes down No. 3 Penn State (7-1) by a score of 20-13 in one of the more roller coaster and chaotic games you will ever see. Both teams had a turnover in the red zone and the game started with a pick-six, but after all that the Buckeyes settled in and controlled the game in Happy Valley for the most part.
How did Ohio State pull this off? Who were the Buckeyes that made it happen? And how did this game shift all the narratives surrounding this team? We answer all of those questions and more.
Plus, our full thoughts about this game and the season in general now that the Buckeyes’ path to Indianapolis is a bit clearer.
Make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...