All the news from Ohio State’s 56-0 blowout of WMU; Howard, Judkins, Smith dominate
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

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

---

News From Ohio State’s 56-0 Victory Over Western Michigan​

Ohio State Rushers Lead in 56-0 Win over Broncos
Ohio State Athletics

OSU offense lights up like Fourth of July on Western Michigan
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch

Buckeyes get out of the starting block fast, bury Western Michigan 56-0
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

Ohio State Steamrolls Western Michigan, 56-0, For Second Win of 2024 Season
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Buckeyes defense finally notches shutout in dominant performance (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Buckeyes shut out Broncos 56-0 in dominant performance
Samuel Cipriani, The Lantern


Postgame Quotes vs. Western Michigan
Ohio State Athletics

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ohio State’s 56-0 win over Western Michigan
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

Snap Judgments: Buckeyes start fast, throttle Western Michigan
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

5 things we learned from OSU’s 56-0 win over Western Michigan
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Quick Takes: Buckeyes start fast, dominate defensively against Western Michigan
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Moment of the Game: Will Howard brings a much-needed extra dimension to Ohio State’s offense
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

This is what the second play in Week 1 was supposed to look like:

JJ appreciation post.
pic.twitter.com/ivfLbIn7fp

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 8, 2024​

Click to expand...

Postgame Notes vs. Western Michigan
Ohio State Athletics

First thoughts: Buckeyes steamroll Western Michigan (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ohio State Shows How Elite It Can Be in 2024 with Dominant Performance Against Western Michigan
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Helmet Stickers: Ohio State newcomers get comfortable in blowout win
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes

Ohio State’s Defense Posts First Shutout Since 2019, Allows Just 99 Yards in Dismantling of Western Michigan
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors

Already the best receiver in the country:

Ohio State true freshman WR Jeremiah Smith through his first 6 quarters of College Football:

11 receptions
211 receiving yards
3 TDs https://t.co/2Yvay92Rgk pic.twitter.com/PC735c4RUP

— On3 (@On3sports) September 8, 2024​

Click to expand...

Stock Market Report: Ohio State puts on cruise control, takes down Western Michigan 56-0
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land

Oller’s OSU instant thoughts: Michigan meltdown, Buckeyes in a blowout
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch

Report Card: Grading Buckeyes Week 2 win over Western Michigan (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row

Donovan Jackson Expected Back vs. Marshall, Arvell Reese Emerges As Third Linebacker and Denzel Burke Ejected for Targeting
Dan Hope and Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors

It is long past ridiculous:

Does every team in college football have as many controversial targeting calls as Ohio State?

It feels like at least four times a year we have this conversation.

— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) September 8, 2024​

Click to expand...

Continue reading...

Back to the familiar format. A weak week, with the Buckeyes on a BYE, Bama at Wiscy, and not much else.

Week 3​

Thursday, Sept. 12

7:30 p.m. | Northwestern State at South Alabama | ESPN
7:30 p.m | Arizona State at Texas State | ESPN+

Friday, Sept. 13

7 p.m. | UNLV at Kansas | ESPN
8 p.m. | No. 20 Arizona at No. 14 Kansas State | FOX

Saturday, Sept. 14

12 p.m. | No. 4 Alabama at Wisconsin | FOX
12 p.m. | Arkansas State at No. 17 Michigan | Big Ten Network
12 p.m. | No. 13 Oklahoma State at Tulsa | ESPN2
12 p.m. | No. 16 LSU at South Carolina | ABC
12 p.m. | Louisiana Tech at NC State | ACC Network
12 p.m. | Central Michigan at Illinois | Peacock
12 p.m. | Memphis at Florida State | ESPN
12 p.m. | Cincinnati at Miami (OH) | ESPNU
12 p.m. | North Texas at Texas Tech | FS1
12 p.m. | Central Connecticut State at Saint Francis (PA) | NEC Front Row
12 p.m. | Lehigh at LIU | NEC Front Row
12 p.m. | North Greenville at The Citadel | ESPN+
12 p.m. | Mercyhurst at Robert Morris | ESPN+

12:30 p.m. | Marist at Lafayette | ESPN+
12:45 p.m. | No. 24 Boston College at No. 6 Missouri | SEC Network
1 p.m. | Massachusetts at Buffalo | CBS Sports Network
1 p.m. | Delaware at North Carolina A&T | FloSports
1 p.m. | Stony Brook at Fordham | ESPN+
1 p.m. | Western Illinois at Illinois State | ESPN+
1 p.m. | Georgetown at Sacred Heart | ESPN+
1 p.m. | Virginia-Lynchburg at Presbyterian | ESPN+
2 p.m. | Coastal Carolina at Temple | ESPN+
2 p.m. | Charleston Southern at Richmond | FloSports
2 p.m. | Holy Cross at Bryant | FloSports
2 p.m. | Idaho State at North Dakota | ESPN+
2 p.m. | Duquesne at Youngstown State | ESPN+
2 p.m. | Stetson at Furman | ESPN+
3 p.m. | Wagner at Delaware State | ESPN+
3 p.m. | Morehead State at Montana | ESPN+
3 p.m. | Morehouse at Howard | CNBC

3:30 p.m. | No. 18 Notre Dame at Purdue | CBS
3:30 p.m. | No. 9 Oregon at Oregon State | FOX
3:30 p.m. | Ball State at No. 10 Miami | ACC Network
3:30 p.m. | Tulane at No. 15 Oklahoma | ESPN
3:30 p.m. | VMI at Georgia Tech | ESPN+
3:30 p.m. | Texas A&M at Florida | ABC
3:30 p.m. | Prairie View A&M at Michigan State | Big Ten Network
3:30 p.m. | Nevada at Minnesota | Big Ten Network
3:30 p.m. | Washington State at Washington | Peacock
3:30 p.m. | West Virginia at Pittsburgh | ESPN2
3:30 p.m. | Morgan State at Ohio | ESPN+
3:30 p.m. | Monmouth at Maine | FloSports
3:30 p.m. | Towson at Villanova | FloSports

4 p.m. | Troy at Iowa | FS1
4 p.m. | App State at East Carolina | ESPNU
4 p.m. | Hampton at Norfolk State | ESPN+
4 p.m. | UAlbany at Idaho | ESPN+
4 p.m. | South Dakota at Portland State | ESPN+
4 p.m. | Abilene Christian at Northern Colorado | ESPN+
4:15 p.m. | UAB at Arkansas | SEC Network
4:30 p.m. | No. 12 Utah at Utah State | CBS Sports Network
5:30 p.m. | North Dakota State at ETSU | ESPN+

6 p.m. | UConn at Duke | ESPN+
6 p.m. | Virginia Tech at Old Dominion | ESPN+
6 p.m. | FIU at FAU | ESPN+
6 p.m. | UTEP at Liberty | ESPN+
6 p.m. | South Carolina State at Georgia Southern | ESPN+
6 p.m. | North Carolina Central at North Carolina | ESPN+
6 p.m. | Colgate at Akron | ESPN+
6 p.m. | Gardner-Webb at Charlotte | ESPN+
6 p.m. | Campbell at Rhode Island | FloSports
6 p.m. | William & Mary at Wofford | ESPN+
6 p.m. | Western Carolina at Elon | FloSports
6 p.m. | Stonehill at New Hampshire | FloSports
6 p.m. | West Georgia at Eastern Kentucky | ESPN+
6 p.m. | Mercer at Chattanooga | ESPN+
6 p.m. | Dayton at Indiana State | ESPN+
6 p.m. | Merrimack at Bucknell | ESPN+
6:30 p.m. | No. 5 Ole Miss at Wake Forest | The CW Network
6:30 p.m. | Bethune-Cookman at Western Michigan | ESPN+

7 p.m. | UTSA at No. 2 Texas | ESPN
7 p.m. | Vanderbilt at Georgia State | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Jacksonville State at Eastern Michigan | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Kennesaw State at San José State | truTV/Max
7 p.m. | Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Hawai'i at Sam Houston | ESPN+
7 p.m. | South Florida at Southern Miss | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Austin Peay at Central Arkansas | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Lindenwood at Missouri State | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Mississippi Valley State at Murray State | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Augustana (SD) at South Dakota State | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Incarnate Word at Southern Illinois | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Alabama State at Samford | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Tennessee State | HBCUGO
7 p.m. | Southern at Jackson State | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Edward Waters at Alcorn State | SWAC Digital Network
7 p.m. | North Alabama at UT Martin | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Grambling State at Texas A&M-Commerce | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Louisiana Christian at Houston Christian | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Weber State at Lamar | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Eastern Washington at Southeastern Louisiana | ESPN+
7 p.m. | Georgetown (KY) at Alabama A&M | SWAC Digital Network
7:30 p.m. | No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky | ABC
7:30 p.m. | New Mexico at Auburn | ESPN2
7:30 p.m. | Toledo at Mississippi State | ESPNU
7:30 p.m. | Indiana at UCLA | NBC/Peacock
7:30 p.m. | Northern Iowa at No. 23 Nebraska | Big Ten Network
7:30 p.m. | Air Force at Baylor | FS1
7:30 p.m. | Colorado at Colorado State | CBS
7:30 p.m. | UCF at TCU | FOX
7:30 p.m. | Eastern Illinois at Northwestern | Big Ten Network
7:30 p.m. | Indiana Wesleyan at Valparaiso | ESPN+
7:45 p.m. | Kent State at No. 7 Tennessee | SEC Network

8 p.m. | Maryland at Virginia | ACC Network
8 p.m. | Rice at Houston | ESPN+
8 p.m. | UC Davis at Southern Utah | ESPN+
8 p.m. | Western Oregon at Cal Poly | ESPN+
8 p.m. | Stephen F. Austin at McNeese | ESPN+
9 p.m. | BYU at Wyoming | CBS Sports Network
9 p.m. | Northern Arizona at Utah Tech | ESPN+
9 p.m. | Nicholls at Sacramento State | ESPN+

10:30 p.m. | San Diego State at California | ESPN
10:30 p.m. | New Mexico State at Fresno State | truTV/Max

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ohio State’s 56-0 win over Western Michigan
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

There was a whole lot to like about the Buckeyes

Ryan Day was hoping to see his team get out to a faster start in Week 2, and that is exactly what Ohio State did as a 21-0 first quarter paved the way for a 56-0 win for the Buckeyes over Western Michigan. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins each scored twice, Jeremiah Smith did his thing and the Silver Bullets allowed less than 100 yards of total offense in a comprehensive beatdown of the Broncos.

Here is the good, the bad and the ugly from Ohio State’s victory over Western Michigan.

---

The Good​

Jeremiah Smith

For the second-straight week, Smith led Ohio State in the receiving department, recording five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. The bulk of his yardage came on one long catch-and-run score of 70 yards in the first quarter, outrunning the entire Western Michigan defense en route to the end zone. It is clear that Will Howard has zoned in on Smith as one of his favorite targets, and that’s for good reason.

The first-year phenom is well on his way to shattering all of Ohio State’s receiving records. With three touchdowns in just his first two games, Smith is already tied for 5th on the Buckeyes’ freshman TDs list. The record is currently held by Cris Carter, who scored eight times as a freshman in 1984. The five-star is already nearly halfway there despite playing less than six full quarters of collegiate football.

Offensive Line

Ohio State’s offensive line was not all that impressive in the season opener against Akron. It wasn’t terrible by any means, but it definitely left something to be desired. Fans began to wonder if they would have to wait until the return of starting guard Donovan Jackson to get a full picture of what the unit would look like, but Jackson sat out for a second-straight game against Western Michigan despite being designated as available before the contest.

Even without Jackson, Ohio State’s offensive line played much better in Week 2. The Buckeyes were able to run the ball at will, with Quinshon Judkins the star of the show tallying 108 yards on nine carries (12 yards per carry) with two touchdowns, and TreVeyon Henderson right behind him with 10 carries for 66 yards (6.6 YPC) and two scores. The starting unit also kept a majority clean pocket for Will Howard, who threw for 292 yards and a TD while also rushing for a six-yard score.

RPOs

Speaking of Howard, a lot of his success passing the ball was a result of a strong RPO game by Ohio State. Chip Kelly has a plethora of weapons at his disposal on this offense, and the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator was finding really creative ways to keep the defense guessing. The long TD by Smith was set up on one of these RPOs, with Howard faking the handoff to Judkins and looking at Carnell Tate in the flat before firing to the freshman on an in-breaking route upfield.

Ohio State is dangerous enough with all of the playmakers it has on that side of the ball alone, but some of these new looks and wrinkles add another whole element that opposing defenses will have to game plan for. Howard seems really comfortable running this offense, and made some great reads time and time again. We have likely only scratched the surface of what these guys are capable of when everything is clicking.

Shutouts

Defensively, Ohio State held Western Michigan without a single point — the Buckeyes’ first shutout victory since defeating Cincinnati 42-0 in 2019. The Broncos were able to muster only 99 yards of total offense, with quarterback Hayden Wolff completing 8-of-15 passes for 71 yards and the run game averaging less than one yard per carry.

The Buckeyes did not come away with any takeaways in this one, but they were consistently flying to the ball and making it nearly impossible for Western Michigan to move the chains. The Silver Bullets recorded two sacks — one each by Cody Simon and Jack Sawyer, with Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton each getting credit for a half-sack — five tackles for loss and held the Broncos to just 3-of-15 on third down.

The Bad​

One-Minute Drill

In a performance as good as Ohio State’s on Saturday, we’re going to have to get a little nit-picky to find the bad stuff. One of those areas we can look at is the Buckeyes’ attempt at practicing a one-minute drill at the end of the first half.

Ohio State got the ball at its own 13-yard line with 1:04 remaining in the second quarter. The drive started off well enough, with Smith leaping to snag a slightly overthrown ball for a gain of 15 yards. The Buckeyes followed that up with another 6-yard gain by Smith, but two straight incompletions after that forced OSU to punt the ball back with 35 seconds remaining before the break.

It obviously isn’t the end of the world, but Ohio State will need to get some reps in those types of situations for when they go up against the better teams on their schedule. The Buckeyes had a few breakdowns up front that led to the incompletions on that drive, and it will give them something to work on as they head into an off week.

That One Will Howard Throw

Again, nitpicking, but probably the worst throw of the night for Howard — other than a ball that simply slipped out of his hand and fell harmlessly to the turf — was on a deep ball to Jeremiah Smith early in the second quarter. Howard had the freshman wide open over the top for what would have been a 55-yard touchdown, but he under-threw the receiver and the ball wound up incomplete. Ohio State would wind up punting on the drive.

Howard has been excellent overall for the Buckeyes in his first few games, showcasing the ability to make correct reads, move around in the pocket to avoid pressure and even use his legs to pick up yards. The one area we have really yet to see from the Kansas State transfer is the deep ball, which was a knock of his when he first got to Ohio State. We will have to wait and see how that develops as the season rolls along.

The Ugly​

Officiating

It was not exactly a banner night for the officials at Ohio Stadium on Saturday night.

The most egregious call by far was the targeting call and subsequent ejection of Denzel Burke late in the first quarter. Western Michigan running back Jaden Nixon ran towards the sideline and lowered his helmet into contact as he was hit by both Burke and Caleb Downs. There was no flag thrown on the play, but the booth buzzed down to call for a review, and Burke was then ejected for targeting despite there being no intentional helmet-to-helmet contact.

There was another questionable call on Ohio State’s first offensive play of the second quarter, where a holding penalty was called on Bryson Rodgers to negate what would have been an 80-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins. The former Ole Miss running back would wind up scoring a 23-yard touchdown later on the drive anyway, but it was a real ticky-tack call on what was an electric run by Judkins.

Overall, Ohio State was called for six penalties worth 58 yards. Some of that will have to be cleaned up, of course, but the majority of them could have been let go by the officials or were just flat out wrong.

Continue reading...

Michigan Wolverines Fans Fire Brutal Shot At Ohio State Buckeyes - Sports Illustrated
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Michigan Wolverines Fans Fire Brutal Shot At Ohio State Buckeyes Sports Illustrated

Continue reading...

2024 Ohio State football schedule: Dates, times, TV channels, scores - NCAA.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

2024 Ohio State football schedule: Dates, times, TV channels, scores NCAA.com

Continue reading...

How Sonny Styles is finding new ways to impress Buckeyes - BuckeyeGrove.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

How Sonny Styles is finding new ways to impress Buckeyes BuckeyeGrove.com

Continue reading...

Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes set for host Western Michigan under the lights - On3.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes set for host Western Michigan under the lights On3.com

Continue reading...

Ryan Day's Vision: Ohio State Buckeyes Path to Perfection | Ohio State Buckeyes Podcast - WKYC.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ryan Day's Vision: Ohio State Buckeyes Path to Perfection | Ohio State Buckeyes Podcast WKYC.com

Continue reading...

Predictions: Ohio State Has No Trouble With Western Michigan - Buckeye Sports Bulletin
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Predictions: Ohio State Has No Trouble With Western Michigan Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Continue reading...

The Hurry-Up: 2027 Ohio Tight End D’Angelo White Lauds Ohio State's “Great Culture” and In-State 2025 Prospect Chaz Coleman Drawing Interest from OSU - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

The Hurry-Up: 2027 Ohio Tight End D’Angelo White Lauds Ohio State's “Great Culture” and In-State 2025 Prospect Chaz Coleman Drawing Interest from OSU Eleven Warriors

Continue reading...

Former Ohio State tight end sheds new light on Michigan sign stealing controversy - Buckeyes Wire
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Former Ohio State tight end sheds new light on Michigan sign stealing controversy Buckeyes Wire

Continue reading...

Ohio State On This Date: Braxton Miller’s Virginia Tech Spin Move Highlights Buckeyes’ 6-0 Record on Sept. - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ohio State On This Date: Braxton Miller’s Virginia Tech Spin Move Highlights Buckeyes’ 6-0 Record on Sept. Eleven Warriors

Continue reading...

Moment of the Game: Will Howard brings a much-needed extra dimension to Ohio State’s offense
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

I wish for nothing but good things for Kyle McCord, but Will Howard is an upgrade in almost every category.

We are going to pick out one moment from every single game that carries special significance. It can be a game-winning score, it can be a heart-warming moment, it can be something that speaks to a larger storyline for the Buckeyes. Relive the season via the Moments of the Game.

---

This might not have been the most exciting play of the day — Jeremiah Smith’s touchdown, or one of Quinshon Judkins’ were more thrilling — but Will Howard’s second-quarter, six-yard touchdown run might be the most important. The Buckeyes’ first-year starting quarterback finished the game with 292 yards passing on 18-for-26 yards passing with one score through the air, and this ground score as well. Ohio State dominated Western Michigan in The Horseshoe by a score of 56-0.

Through two games, Kyle McCord has thrown for 735 yards and eight touchdowns for the Syracuse Orange, and — despite his and his dad’s salty exit from Columbus — I am happy for his success and hope that Cuse finds a way to contend for the ACC title.

But Howard is an upgrade at quarterback in nearly every imaginable way. His leadership is evident in press conferences and on the field, which is something that McCord just wasn’t able to achieve in Columbus. At OSU, you need a quarterback who can be a leader in both word and action. McCord’s personality never really allowed him to grab the mantle on the former, and I would say he got a B+ in the latter when factoring in on-field performance and off-field work ethic and leading by example.

I loved seeing, immediately after scoring this touchdown, Will ran toward the stands and gave the crowd an “O-H!” He just seems to be comfortable in his position as the leader of this team and as the center of attention for an entire fanbase. Of course, the absolutely loaded nature of this roster allows him to share the spotlight, but he is still the quarterback at Ohio State, arguably the most dissected position in all of college football. Howard seems to be at ease with that responsibility, while it never felt like it fit Kyle in quite the same way for whatever reason,

Then, Will’s on-field skill set is just so better suited for what Ohio State ants to do than Kyle’s. The latter is a fairly traditional, sit-in-the-pocket-and-throw QB while Howard has the ability to pick defenses apart from the pocket, he also can avoid pass rushers — which we saw him do multiple times tonight — and then he can do this. He can keep the ball, avoid multiple defenders, and scamper into the end zone.

Will Howard takes it himself for the @OhioStateFB TD! pic.twitter.com/W2jc8kHvJZ

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 8, 2024​

Click to expand...

This is an extra dimension that Howard brings to the Buckeye offense that I think is going to be incredibly important throughout the season. Not only will they eventually play better defenses that will put him in situations where his legs will have to save plays, but the possibility of him keeping a ball on an RPO will likely freeze defenses — if even for a split second — and will change the way that defensive coordinators call plays and bring pressure.

Kyle, admittedly, probably still has a better arm and throws a better deep ball than Howard — he did miss an obvious touchdown connection to Jeremiah Smith — but as evidenced on other passes, the K-State transfer can put the ball on a dime when called for.

I wrote about it after Week 1, but I was thoroughly impressed with what OSU’s new starting quarterback did against Akron. It might not have been a perfect game — and neither was this one, honestly — but the diversity of ways that he can make plays is something that I think will make a major difference this year, and can potentially win the Buckeyes a game or two this season.

Continue reading...

How to watch the Western Michigan vs. Ohio State NCAA college football game today: Livestream options, more - CBS News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

How to watch the Western Michigan vs. Ohio State NCAA college football game today: Livestream options, more CBS News

Continue reading...

Western Michigan moves on to powerhouse No. 2 Ohio State - The Daily Times
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Western Michigan moves on to powerhouse No. 2 Ohio State The Daily Times

Continue reading...

What channel is the Ohio State football game on? Time, TV channel for OSU-Western Michigan - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

1. What channel is the Ohio State football game on? Time, TV channel for OSU-Western Michigan The Columbus Dispatch
2. Three Storylines To Watch For Ohio State Buckeyes Against Western Michigan Sports Illustrated
3. How to watch the Ohio State-Western Michigan game this weekend 10TV

Continue reading...

Ohio St vs. WMU live stream, TV channel, odds | Week 2 - Buckeyes Wire
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ohio St vs. WMU live stream, TV channel, odds | Week 2 Buckeyes Wire

Continue reading...

Buckeyes Shutout Colgate On the Road, Improve to 3-0 - Ohio State University
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Buckeyes Shutout Colgate On the Road, Improve to 3-0 Ohio State University

Continue reading...

Ohio State vs Western Michigan predictions, odds: Who wins Week 2 college football game? - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ohio State vs Western Michigan predictions, odds: Who wins Week 2 college football game? The Columbus Dispatch

Continue reading...

Ohio State vs. Western Michigan: 2024 game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

The Buckeyes take on another MAC team this week when they host Western Michigan.

After opening up their 2024 season with a 52-6 win over Akron, Ohio State will host another MAC opponent on Saturday when the Western Michigan Broncos come to Columbus.

This marks the second time the Buckeyes have played MAC schools in back-to-back weeks. In 2015, Ohio State hosted Northern Illinois, followed by their first-ever meeting with Western Michigan.

---

History against Western Michigan and the MAC​

In their only previous meeting, the Buckeyes defeated Western Michigan, who was coached at the time by current Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, 38-12. Cardale Jones threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, while Ezekiel Elliott added 124 yards rushing and a score. With their win over Akron last week, Ohio State improved their record to 37-1 against MAC schools, with the only loss coming against Akron back in 1894.

---

Slow start against Akron before finding their rhythm​

The blowout of the Zips was Ohio State’s 25th straight season-opening victory. The Buckeyes came out of the gates a little sluggish, punting on their first offensive drive. On the first defensive snap, cornerback Davison Igbinosun was flagged for targeting after he hit Akron quarterback Ben Finley while he was sliding. While the targeting aspect of the penalty was removed after replay, the Zips would go on to kick a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.

Ohio State found their rhythm a bit after facing an early deficit, responding with Will Howard finding Jeremiah Smith for the wide receiver’s first collegiate touchdown. The two would hook up again for another score in the first half, making Smith the first Ohio State freshman receiver since Michael Wiley in 1996 to grab two receiving touchdowns in a game.

Smith finished with six catches for 92 yards, while Howards passed for 228 yards and three touchdowns in his Ohio State debut. Along with Smith’s output, Carnell Tate caught a touchdown, and Emeka Egbuka finished the game with four catches for 51 yards.

Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

While there was a lot to like through the air for the Buckeyes, the rushing attack didn’t make many waves against Akron. Quinshon Judkins struggled in his Ohio State debut, carrying the football 13 times for 55 yards, finding the end zone once.

TreVeyon Henderson led the team with 65 yards on eight carries. The 8.1 yards per carry Henderson averaged was his eighth game as a Buckeye where he averaged at least eight yards per carry.

James Peoples added a touchdown in the second half.

---

Tough nuts to crack​

On the other side of the football, the Ohio State defense was suffocating in the opener. Jack Sawyer and the defensive line punished Ben Finley after he returned to the game following Akron’s first drive. Finley would eventually leave the game for good in the second quarter, leaving Tahj Bullock to take most of the snaps for the Zips.

J.T. Tuimoloau finished with a sack and a half, and Tyleik Williams was credited with a sack. The Buckeyes finished with double -digit tackles for loss for the first time in 17 games.

As good as the defensive line was for Ohio State, the secondary was even better against the Zips. Safety Lathan Ransom led the team with nine tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown. Denzel Burke picked off a pass and now has 26 career pass breakups, which is sixth-most in school history. Burke is 10 PBUs away from tying Bradley Roby’s school record.

Alabama transfer Caleb Downs only made two tackles in his debut in the scarlet and gray, but he did have half a sack.

The linebackers were without Cody Simon in the opener, but Sonny Styles and C.J. Hicks filled in and had strong performances in Simon’s absence. Along with Styles and Hicks, Arvell Reese impressed in the second half, and Gabe Powers picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

If Simon isn’t able to go on Saturday night, at least it has become clear the linebackers have plenty of capable players to fill in.

---

Lance Taylor’s second year in charge at Western Michigan​

Western Michigan had Wisconsin on the ropes in their season opener last Friday, taking a 14-13 lead early in the fourth quarter after running back Jalen Buckley’s 1-yard touchdown run. The Broncos forced the Badgers to punt on their next drive, but the punt bounced off a Western Michigan player, allowing Wisconsin to recover the fumble at the 20-yard-line of the Broncos. The Badgers would go on to score, taking the lead for good.

This marks Lance Taylor’s second year in charge in Kalamazoo after taking over for Tim Lester. Before becoming head coach at Western Michigan, Taylor was Notre Dame’s running backs coach and most recently Louisville’s offensive coordinator in 2022. Following a 4-8 season last year, Taylor is looking to lead the Broncos to their first bowl game since they beat Nevada in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl.

---

Western Michigan’s offense at a glance​

Starting at quarterback for Western Michigan will be Hayden Wolff, who was 12-of-18 for 141 against Wisconsin, throwing an interception in the loss. Malique Dieudonne caught two passes for 45 yards to lead the team. After not getting much through the air against the Badgers, things aren’t going to get any easier against Burke, Downs, Ransom, and the rest of the Ohio State secondary.

The most productive offensive player last week for the Broncos was running back Jalen Buckley, who carried the football 16 times for 64 yards, finding the end zone twice. Buckley is coming off a season where he ran for 1,003 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground in 2023. Last year Buckley had four games where he cracked 100 yards rushing. Overall, Western Michigan gained 120 yards rushing on their 33 carries in Madison.

What could turn into a strength this year for Western Michigan is their veteran offensive line that is made up of seniors or graduate students. At center is Jacob Gideon, who has made preseason watch lists for the Rimington Trophy, the Outland Trophy, and the Lombardi Award. New to the line this year isguard Quinn Murphy, who started his career at Notre Dame before coming to Western Michigan as a graduate transfer.

---

What we’ll see from the defense of the Broncos​

Against Wisconsin, the defense of the Broncos held their own for most of the game, giving up just under 400 yards of total offense to the Badgers. In the fourth quarter with Western Michigan up by one point, they were put in a tough spot after the Badgers recovered a punt that was touched by a Bronco, giving Wisconsin a very short field. Even though Western Michigan will be playing an even tougher offense this week, they know they can stand toe-to-toe with a Big Ten foe.

Expect to hear linebacker Donald Willis’ name called a lot this week. The senior recorded 10 tackles last week against the Badgers, with one of those stops coming behind the line of scrimmage. In 11 games last year, Willis was credited with 40 tackles and tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks.

Joining Willis at linebacker will be Jake Wahlberg and Damari Robinson. Wahlberg and Robinson each had over 60 tackles last year, with Wahlberg finishing the year with 6.5 TFLs. Even though he isn’t listed as a starter on the depth chart, Boone Boonema should see plenty of action after making nine stops last week.

In the secondary, the Broncos will start a number of upperclassmen on Saturday night. Cornerback Bilhal Kone was all over the field against Wisconsin, tying Willis for the team lead in tackles. Safeties Tate Hallock and Aaron Wofford were the top two tacklers on the team last season, and they had two interceptions each. Rounding out the group is redshirt junior Nyquann Washington at cornerback.

The area where Western Michigan could be a little more vulnerable is on the defensive line. While the Broncos have a quartet of juniors, Wisconsin was able to push them around a little and were able to roll up 196 yards on the ground. Isaiah Green was the leading tackler of the unit, finishing with six tackles and a sack, while Tyson Lee did pounce on a fumble.

The defensive line will be going up against an Ohio State offensive line that will be wanting to rebound from a subpar performance when it comes to creating holes for their running backs.

---

Prediction​

Even though Ohio State beat Akron by 46 points, there were some areas that the coaching staff undoubtedly were unhappy with — most notably the inability of the Buckeyes to run the football effectively.

There are reasons for optimism, though. The line was without Donovan Jackson, who was held out of the game due to injury. Plus, it will likely take some time for TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins to get used to the running back rotation that will be employed.

What will be fun to see is how quarterback Will Howard and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith build off their Ohio State debuts last week. After a few early jitters, Smith looked incredible last week, grabbing two touchdowns against Akron. It’s obvious Howard and Smith have built an early rapport, as Smith was the most targeted Buckeye receiver in the opener.

Expect Emeka Egbuka to continue to move up the Ohio State receiving ranks. Egbuka needs 36 yards to pass Ted Ginn Jr. for 13th most in school history when it comes to career yardage.

Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images

Last week there was the excitement of the season opener at home. Now comes a game under the lights for the Buckeyes. Expect to see an even more complete performance from Ryan Day’s team, as they know they have a bye next week and there is nothing worse than having to sit with a subpar performance for two weeks.

Also, you have to wonder what where Western Michigan is at mentally after having an upset of Wisconsin in their grasp last week before a costly turnover cost them the game. While the Broncos have a lot of veterans on their roster, they expended a lot of energy and emotion to come up empty, and now they have to hit the road again this week to take on one of the best teams in the country.

In the NFL, often times a team struggles in the second of two consecutive away games, and that feels like the case here. Ohio State is too talented for Western Michigan to keep pace, and the Buckeyes will have a little extra juice this week with the game being played under the lights.

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 51, Western Michigan 13​

Continue reading...

Tim May: Buckeyes won't be thrown off by new-look Western Michigan defense - On3.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Tim May: Buckeyes won't be thrown off by new-look Western Michigan defense On3.com

Continue reading...

Cade Stover Addresses Alleged Michigan Sign-Stealing Operation - Buckeye Sports Bulletin
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Cade Stover Addresses Alleged Michigan Sign-Stealing Operation Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Continue reading...

Is Ohio State’s 2026 five-star target Jahkeem Stewart reclassifying? - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Is Ohio State’s 2026 five-star target Jahkeem Stewart reclassifying? cleveland.com

Continue reading...

Ohio State transfer linebacker, a former Michigan star, loses black stripe - Lettermen Row
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ohio State transfer linebacker, a former Michigan star, loses black stripe Lettermen Row

Continue reading...

Why did Quinn Ewers transfer to Texas? QB joined Longhorns after one season at Ohio State - Detroit Free Press
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Why did Quinn Ewers transfer to Texas? QB joined Longhorns after one season at Ohio State Detroit Free Press

Continue reading...