Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ryan Day and team were outcoached, outplayed, and out of excuses
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Josh and Chuck recap The Game. Not because they want to, but because they are dedicated professionals... Who need a Scarlet and Gray therapy session.

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... In which Ohio State failed its mission, both on the field and on the sideline.

Reluctantly, the Hangout Boys discuss all that went wrong for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor. Outcoached and outplayed in every facet, OSU is or should also be out of CFP contention and excuses.

Where did it all go wrong? Did anything actually go right? And/or was this year’s outcome a further indictment of the Day regime?

The guys talk through the pain and make some strong statements about the future of the Ohio State football program.

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

Continue reading...

Minnich’s Musings about 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


Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes lose to TTTUN 30-24 at Michigan Stadium

This is awful.

— 97.1 The Fan (@971thefan) November 25, 2023

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A picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, a singular tweet does the trick for me.

Three years in a row, Ohio State has lost to That Team Up North. Making matters worse, the Wolverines were led by assistant coach Sherrone Moore, who was filling in for the suspended Jim Harbaugh.

Where does this loss rank on the pain scale for me, as a lifelong Ohio State fan? It is up there - not as bad as the 13-9 loss at home in 1996, when Ohio State was undefeated and lost at home to a team that finished the year 8-4, ruining their national championship dreams, but this is close.

Below are some thoughts that I have about this loss, and as always, I am looking for comments and ideas about what can be done ~

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Ryan Day needs to make changes in personnel​

It goes beyond making a change at special teams coordinator, in case you are wondering. In the postgame show on Fox, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer noted how controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the line needs to be regained, and that is where the transfer portal comes in for Ohio State. Yes, they have some talented players arriving via recruiting, but high school linemen need time to get stronger, and Ohio State has no time to waste. Find about four linemen, two on either side of the ball, who can be plugged in and become immediate contributors.

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Ryan Day is not going anywhere​

Not unless someone wants to foot the bill for the $46 million buyout that his contract would require. The last time I checked, Ohio State was looking forward to its new university president taking office in January 2024, and Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith is going to be retiring in June 2024. Throw in the fact that the 2024 recruiting class is only a few weeks from signing with Ohio State, and you would have a perfect recipe for disaster.

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Ryan Day waited way too long to use his timeouts in the second half​

It almost worked out for the Buckeyes, but when the Wolverines were slowly burning clock, running the ball, with about five minutes remaining, I was screaming to use a timeout. Eventually, Ohio State was able to force a field goal attempt that gave the Wolverines the 30-24 lead with only about a minute remaining. Kyle McCord nearly pulled it off, but it would have been better if the Buckeyes were not so rushed in the final seconds of the game. Speaking of Kyle McCord...

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Kyle McCord’s overall play​

McCord needed to play mistake-free, and could not have started off worse. The forced pass to Marvin Harrison, Jr. that resulted in an interception, leading to That Team Up North’s first touchdown, could not have put Ohio State in a worse position. Ohio State trailed early, and psychologically the offense appeared to slump after that big mistake. McCord played much better in the second half, until the last pass that was intercepted, but the poor play of the first half helped to dig a hole for the Buckeyes that they never seemed able to get out of for the entire game.

Ryan Day breaks down the final offensive play for Ohio State against Michigan that ended up being a Kyle McCord interception. pic.twitter.com/HO67nW1AC2

— Lantern Sports (@LanternSports) November 25, 2023

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The field goal attempt at the end of the first half​

I understand Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s logic of trying for the points at the end of the first half, but I would have gone for it on 4th and 3 late in the first half. At worst, TTUN would get the ball with under thirty seconds in the first half. At best, Ohio State would have gained a first down, possibly a touchdown, and would have still been in closer yardage for a possible field goal attempt. Late in the game, those three missed points loomed very large.

Ryan Day on his decision to attempt a field goal going into halftime that ended up being missed. pic.twitter.com/1YycVuDBxc

— Lantern Sports (@LanternSports) November 25, 2023

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We are now in “Cooper Country”​

The aforementioned interceptions, missed field goal, etc., were the type of killer mistakes Ohio State fans, such as myself, were resigned to seeing during John Cooper’s tenure. Fair or not, overly harsh perhaps, but the reality is Ryan Day is going to feel the heat from Ohio State boosters and fans this entire offseason because of this loss, no matter what happens in the bowl game (more on that below). How Ryan Day responds to this painful loss is going to be worth watching as the preparations for this game begin - in 1969, Woody Hayes immediately went to work after losing 24-12 to the Wolverines; I suspect Day will be doing something comparable.

For all of you who wanted Michigan to be good - who either forgot or didn't live through the 90s in Columbus - I'd like you to know that this is EXACTLY L what it felt like.

If I had to place the year specifically, I'd say this one tastes like a vintage 1997 loss.

— Jonathan Smith (@DegenerateTBone) November 25, 2023

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The officiating was terrible, but I am quite confident that any Wolverines fan would be quick to point out that they were outraged with the fumbled reception recovered by Ohio State that put the Buckeyes in excellent field position with only about thirty seconds to go. The good teams are able to overcome bad calls, and Ohio State was not able to do that, in the biggest game of the year.

Where does Ohio State go from here, for the remainder of the 2023 season? More than likely a trip to The Orange Bowl or another comparable bowl game. For Ohio State fans clinging to College Football Playoff hopes, it is not beyond the realm of possibility, as it happened last season, but tremendously unlikely, given the current college football landscape.

A bowl game that is not part of the College Football Playoff rotation this season would likely mean Ohio State players such as Marvin Harrison, Jr., TreVeyon Henderson, and other projected NFL players would likely sit out that game, to protect themselves from potential injury. The same thing happened after the 2021 season.

In other words, the painful ending for the 2023 season could be a preview of what the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes may look like. It is not the way any Ohio State fan wanted to think about before this game kicked off in Ann Arbor, but it is realistically about where the program is right now.

Other than the ending, how was the rest of the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

Continue reading...

Projections that are more accurate are coming out now. Most have OSU going to the Orange Bowl against either Louisville or North Carolina State.

One question: for guys "opting out" of the bowl game, how does that effect their NIL deals? I say, no play-ee, no pay-ee

Well, here’s what’s left for the teams still playing for conference titles.

Week 14

Friday, Dec. 1

New Mexico State at Liberty (CUSA CCG) | 7 p.m. | CBSSN
Oregon vs. Washington, Pac-12 CCG in Las Vegas | 8 p.m. | ABC

Saturday, Dec. 2

Oklahoma St vs. Texas, Big 12 CCG in Arlington, Texas | 12 p.m. | ABC
Miami (Ohio) vs. Toledo (MAC CCG in Detroit) | 12 p.m. | ESPN

Boise St at UNLV, Mountain West CCG | 3 p.m. | FOX, 3 computer rankings dropped San Jose St
Georgia vs. Alabama (SEC CCG in Atlanta) | 4 p.m. | CBS
SMU at Tulane, AAC CCG | 4 p.m.
App St at Troy, Sun Belt CCG | 4 p.m.
Prairie View A&M at Florida A&M, SWAC CCG | 4 p.m. | ESPN2

Louisville vs Florida St, ACC CCG in Charlotte | 8 p.m. | ABC
Iowa vs tCun, B1G CCG in Indianapolis | 8 p.m. | FOX

Ohio State dominates Santa Clara 86-56 to win the 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


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes trip to Florida was a success, as they left 2-0, and with a trophy.

Despite the disappointment on the football field on Saturday, the Ohio State men’s basketball team (5-1) won its second game in as many nights to win the Emerald Coast Classic in Detin, Florida by beating the Santa Clara Broncos (6-1) 86-56.

OSU defeated No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) 92-81 on Friday night in the semifinals to solidify a berth in the championship game. Santa Clara beat Oregon (4-2) 88-82 to set up the ECC Championship matchup against the Buckeyes. In the third-place game earlier on Saturday, Alabama defeated Oregon 99-91.

Carlos Marshall led the Broncos into this matchup, averaging 16.7 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game. Adama Bal led the Broncos in scoring in the win over Oregon, recording 25 points. He is averaging 14.2 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game.

For the Buckeyes, the star sophomore backcourt led them into this one. Bruce Thornton entered the contest averaging 18.0 points per game after his 29-point breakout against Alabama. Roddy Gayle entered this one averaging 16.4 points per game after his career-high 23-point performance against the Crimson Tide.

As we got underway against Santa Clara, the Buckeyes struck first, as they picked up where they left off last game and knocked down three three-pointers early, two from Jamison Battle and one from Roddy Gayle, to take an early 11-4 lead.

Dale Bonner added another three-pointer to help the Buckeyes go up 14-6. After a few more stops and baskets for the Buckeyes, they took a 13-point lead at 24-11.

Santa Clara was able to weather the early storm and pull back within six to make the score 28-22. The Buckeyes and Broncos would trade baskets back and forth to end the first half, and the Buckeyes took a 34-26 lead into the locker room.

Jamison Battle led the Buckeyes with 16 points. Bruce Thornton added six points, five assists, and three steals in the opening half.

Santa Clara was led by Adama Bal in the first half with seven points, but he was 3-for-11 from the field.

Ohio State started the second half off with a bang going on an 8-0 run and extended the lead to 42-28, the largest of the game thus far. After two Felx Okpara dunks and two Gayle free-throws, the Buckeyes extended the lead to 48-31 at the under-16 timeout.

A three-pointer from Bruce Thornton with just under 12 minutes left gave the Buckeyes a 22-point lead at 55-33. The Broncos really struggled to score the ball coming out of the half, recording just nine points in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

Santa Clara continued to attempt to mount a comeback but struggled to record enough stops on defense, including back-to-back turnovers on travels on offensive possessions.

Dale Bonner went on his own 5-0 run, recording a three-pointer, a steal, and a layup to balloon the score to 67-44 with six minutes left in the game.

Ohio State continued to score on the offensive end and get stops on the defensive end, and they would go on to win 86-56.

Jamison Battle led the way for Ohio State, recording 21 points on 5-for-10 shooting from three-point range. Bruce Thornton added 13 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals.

Adama Bal recorded 13 points to lead the Broncos.

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Here are some key moments from the game:

A hot start from deep​

The Buckeyes shot a scorching 10-for-18 from the three-point line and beat Alabama at its own strength on Friday. The Buckeyes continued this streaky shooting on Saturday night, knocking down four of their first five shots from deep and shooting 6-for-14 from three-point range in the first half

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Gayle gets in early foul trouble​

Sophomore guard Roddy Gayle only struggled with foul trouble in the first half, picking up two fouls early and did not return all for the remainder of the half. Gayle recorded a career-high 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting in Friday’s win over Alabama.

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Battle starts to heat up​

Minnesota transfer Jamison Battle was brought in to be one of the top-scoring options for Ohio State this season, and so far, he has been decent but not great in that regard. In this contest, Battle averaged just over 10 points a game. However, in this one, he recorded 12 of Ohio State’s first 20 points and 16 first-half points to find his groove early on. It was important because Thornton and Gayle did not score much in the first half, and battle was the reason the Buckeyes held the lead going into the second half.

Jamison's hot early

Ohio State 17
Santa Clara 11
11:10, 1st half#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/xt2xvgZfNi

— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) November 26, 2023

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Thornton brings the defense​

Bruce Thornton is becoming a jack of all trades for the Buckeyes, recording a career-high 29 points against Alabama to lead the Buckeyes to a big win on Friday. Thornton was only 1-for-5 from the field in the first half for the Buckeyes against Santa Clara, but he recorded three steals that led to six points for the Buckeyes.

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Another halftime lead​

It is early in the season, but the Buckeyes are 4-0 when leading games at the half and 0-1 when trailing at the half. The lone deficit was 34-33 against Texas A&M.

Halfway there!#Team125 | @EmeraldCClassic pic.twitter.com/rVLJTUwokF

— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) November 26, 2023

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The transfers impress​

Evan Mahaffey, Dale Bonner, and Jamison Battle were all brought into the program this season for different reasons. In this game, they all showed what those reasons were. Battle showed his scoring prowess, recording 21 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Dale Bonner made some big shots and played great defense and Evan Mahaffey showed how he can lockdown in man-to-man defense. These three will all be key to the Buckeyes success moving forward.

Continue reading...

Predictions Podcast: Land-Grant staffers weigh in on the outcome 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


Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

You might not like some of them, but overall, these feel like pretty solid predictions

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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

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In this special episode of the Land-Grant Podcast Network, members of the Land-Grant Holy Land and Land-Grant Podcast Network staff give their predictions for what will happen when the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 3 Ann Arbor Astros face off on Saturday, Nov. 25.

Earlier on Saturday, we published an article that included even more predictions for this game, so make sure to check that out. for the most part, the prognostications are ones that I think you will be able to get behind, but we did have a few people who sided with the enemy.


Whether that is in an effort to guard themselves from heartache or if they really feel that way, I don’t know, but there is more than enough homerism here at LGHL to counteract their disloyalty.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think in the comments below, and, of course, Go Bucks!

Continue reading...

What prop bets can you make for the Ohio State vs. ichigan 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


Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

If you’re betting on whether the final score is even or odd, you need to seek help!

How are your nerves? You doing ok? Do you think it’s going to get better or worse as game time approaches? Well, if you need a little something to pass the time before the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes take on the No. 3 Ann Arbor Astros at 12 noon ET on Fox, perhaps you would be interested in what unusual prop bets our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook have to offer.

Not only can prop bets provide you with a distraction from your ever-escalating levels of anxiety before the game starts, but they can also give you something to focus on during the game, so you don’t live and die with every up and down of the emotional rollercoaster that will undoubtedly be today’s game.

So, take a look at some of the game props below, and check out what DraftKings Sportsbook has to offer in terms of player props as well.

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

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How Much Will the Largest Lead of the Game Be?​

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the line for the game has dropped from the four-point advantage that That Team Up North opened with to a 3.5-point advantage as of publishing time. So it seems a bit unusual to me that a game that is pegged to be within the home-field advantage margin would have a prop bet putting the largest lead of the game at over two touchdowns. I’m a homer and am picking Ohio State to win by double digits, but even I think a 16-point lead for either team in this one might be tough.

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Which Team Will Have the Longest Touchdown of the Game?​

Considering that Ohio State has only allowed one 40+ yard play all season and it was on a faux-fumblerooski to Rutgers, I feel pretty good about the Buckeyes’ chances, especially since they are tied for 13th this season nationally with nine plays of 50+ yards this season. Conversely, the Skunk Bears have only three plays of that length.

Admittedly, neither team gives up a lot of long plays. In fact, they are No. 1 and No. 2 in FBS in plays of over 10 yards allowed (TTUN has given up just 95, while OSU has allowed 97). They are second and third respectively in 20+ yard plays allowed, and fourth and second in 30+ yard plays.

Ohio State is obviously No. 1 in both 40+ and 50+ ard plays allowed, while their rivals are fifth and 22nd respectively.

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How Many Touchdowns Will Be Scored?​

Knowing that the over/under is set at 46.5 points, this one tells you a lot about how Vegas sees it playing out; a game that will see a decent number of touchdowns, with a few field goals thrown in.

Another reason why I always love this prop is because of how mixed up the touchdown totals are; it’s fun to see where things start bouncing around. It goes 5 to 4 to 6 to 7 to 3 to 8 to 2 all the way up to 9, then to 10 or more, one, and no TDs scored being the longest shot. The distribution of odds is fascinating.

The total touchdowns line is set at five, and that’s not really all that interesting to me either because, in my predicted 31-16 win for the Buckeyes, that’s exactly what I am foreseeing. However, I will be trying to decode the pattern in the odds breakdown until kickoff.

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Who Will Score X Number of Points First?​

The answer to all of these is Ohio State. Just take Ohio State in all of them.

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Will the Final Score Be an Even or Odd Number?​

This is for absolute degenerates only, but I need someone who is not completely worthless when it comes to math to walk me through why odd is a favorite here.

Continue reading...

LGHL staffers predict the outcome of The Game, and some of them need to be fired!
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

Who do you think has the closest prediction to what will actually happen today?

It’s almost time for all of the talking to end as the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will take to the field in the Big House to face the No. 3 Ann Arbor Astros at 12:14 p.m. ET. At this point, I almost certainly don’t have to tell you what is at stake in this matchup today. Not only are there the obvious postseason implications, but in many ways this installment of The Game is a referendum on both programs.

If That Team Up North wins, at least in their eyes, it would vindicate them from all of the slings and arrows associated with their multi-year sign-stealing operation. However, if the Buckeyes win, in many people’s eyes, that would prove that the losses in this rivalry over the last two years were tainted by the desperate act of cheating that — at least temporarily — saved Jim Harbaugh’s job.

So, with just two hours until kickoff, we wanted to check in with the Land-Grant Holy Land staff to see just how they see the game shaking out, and note to Chuck and Connor, your employment status will be put under review starting on Monday... lol, just kidding... or am I?

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Josh Dooley | OSU 24, TTUN 23​

I think this is an old-school Big Ten battle. I think both teams make an effort to lean on their respective ground games — yes, even Ohio State — and don’t ask too much of their quarterback(s). Both defenses will come to play, but the game will be won by stars, of which I believe OSU boasts more. On offense, TreVeyon Henderson will produce, and Marvin Harrison Jr. will get as much as Kyle McCord can give him. On the other side of the ball, J.T. Tuimoloau and Tommy Eichenberg will be all over the place, and Denzel Burke will snag an interception.

TTUN gets into the red zone a number of times, but Jim Knowles’ defense executes a bend-but-don’t-break gameplan and forces the Wolverines to kick multiple field goals and the big plays will go in favor of Ohio State this time around. McCord comes up with a big fourth-quarter drive, and the Buckeyes win 24-23... also, Jim Harbaugh takes the Chicago Bears job on Sunday. Go Bucks!

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Justin Golba | OSU 28, TTUN 17​

I think the Buckeyes will win 28-17. The mix of everyone getting healthy and Marvin Harrison Jr. and TreVeyon Henderson will be what is needed to get the Buckeyes in the endzone enough times for the defense to get the necessary stops to win. One team has No. 18, and one team doesn’t. That’s the difference.

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Chuck Holmes | TTUN 20, OSU 16​

Red zone offense breakdowns force OSU to kick field goals, and a special teams issue leads to a cheap TTUN score at some point.

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Megan Husslein | OSU 24, TTUN 21​

I believe that Ohio State will emerge victorious over TTUN, in a close game. The last time a game in this rivalry was within three points was back in 2016, and I see that happening again this year. I think TreVeyon Henderson is going to be the MVP today, rushing for AT LEAST 150 yards, as he and Blake Corum will battle it out.

I also see the Silver Bullets showing out, limiting J.J. McCarthy to under 200 yards passing. Marvin Harrison Jr. will have a performance like he did last year against TTUN, where he put up 120 receiving yards.

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Connor Lemons | TTUN 24, OSU 17​

Along with several other LGHL staff writers, I picked Michigan to win The Game and the Big Ten back in August before the season began. After back-to-back thorough beatings, it looks like Michigan has turned the tables on Ohio State and has firmly established itself as the top dog in the Big Ten. Unfortunately, I have not seen enough from Ohio State or Michigan to make me change my mind from what I thought in August.

Michigan still has the best defense in the country, and I still have reservations about Kyle McCord. Ninety-five percent of the teams in college football would love to trade their current quarterback for McCord, but I’m not convinced he can march up to Ann Arbor and slay that dragon on their turf. I’m confident that Ohio State will not get blown out this year, but I am not confident that they will win The Game.

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Chip Minnich | OSU 28, TTUN 21​

I believe Ryan Day and Jim Knowles have learned their respective lessons from a year ago. Day learned in the painful aftermath of last year’s loss that he needed to be true to himself and be aggressive on offense, and we saw that versus Georgia when Ohio State played much better than when they lost to That Team Up North. And for Knowles, I believe he has learned not to put the secondary in challenging situations like a year ago and will be able to make things very difficult for the Wolverines on offense.

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Gene Ross | OSU 21, TTUN 17​

I am feeling cautiously optimistic about The Game this year, although that being said I will still be filled with existential dread come 12:01 on Saturday. Ohio State is playing its best football of the season, while the Wolverines have not looked sharp without Jim Harbaugh and stolen signals. I think this is a very low-scoring game with two good defenses, but I like TreVeyon Henderson to break off a big run and Marvin Harrison Jr. to show out like he did against Penn State. I have it 21-17 Ohio State

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Matt Tamanini | OSU 31, TTUN 16​

I think that the OSU defense bends a bit — perhaps even by design — but doesn’t often break, holding their rivals to field goals far more often than they would like. I think that McCarthy will be under 150 yards passing and running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards will combine for less than that total as well.

On offense, I think the Buckeyes will have just too much firepower for a good — but not nearly as good as the last two years — defense. McCord will throw for a modest, but well-timed 225 yards with a pair of TDs, while Henderson will go for 150 all-purpose yards.

Marvin Harrison Jr. will be the focus of the Corn and Blue defense, but will still eclipse 100 yards and will have a pair of scores.

Hear Matt’s full thoughts, analysis, and predictions for the game in today’s ”Tailgate” podcast:

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Jordan Williams | OSU 30, TTUN 20​

I believe that Ohio State is the better team. The best way I can say it is that Michigan reminds me of Ohio State in 2021. They have holes in the roster and bad moments that are being glossed over because of their recent success. Fairly or unfairly Michigan has earned the benefit of the doubt and no one they’ve played has been able to capitalize on their weaknesses.

Just like Michigan was the team that could capitalize on Ohio State’s weaknesses in 2021, the Buckeyes are the team. Michigan’s offensive line is not great, it may still be better than Ohio State but it is not in contention for the Joe Moore Award like it has been in the years it won. Their running game hasn’t been as effective and it seems as though Sherrone Moore does not trust McCarthy to win them a game in the air. Harbaugh might but he is not on the sideline making those decisions.

Michigan has the best defense in the country, ranking No. One in-stop rate for the entire season. Kyle McCord will need to take a step up if the Buckeyes want to win the game but they have the best player in the country on their team in Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State has the second-best defense in the country according to to stop rate and they have one of the better run-stopping defenses in the country. Ohio State has stepped back on offense but their defense has taken a massive jump forward. I believe Ohio State has arguably the three best players in the game with Marvin Harrison Jr., JT Tuimoloua, and Sonny Styles. That hasn’t stopped them from losing the past two years though.

Ultimately, this game will be won in the trenches. If Ohio State wins this game it means their offensive line has improved enough to withstand Michigan’s incredible interior defensive line. Michigan wins this game by bullying Ohio State up front and making McCord uncomfortable. Ohio State is better in every area on defense from last year and their offense is starting to click. Ohio State will win this game and win the Big Ten.

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What are you predicting in this game? Let us know in the comments below.

Continue reading...

We don’t want to hear it right now but there’s a path.

Louisville got beat by the Ky Jelly Cats today, so there are only 8 P5 teams with either 0 or 1 loss.

1. Georgia
2. tCun
3. Oregon Washington winner
4. Florida State if they beat Florida AND Louisville without Jordan Travis
5. Texas if they beat Oklahoma State or Oklahoma in their CCG
6. 1-loss tOSU
7. Oregon-Washington loser
8, Bama if they lose to UGA

So if Florida State AND Texas AND Bama lose 1 more game, I think tOSU is #4 in the CFP.

Our streaming expert has the best ways to watch The Game for free without cable
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

You’ve got a number of free trials you can choose from of various lengths and breadths.

Today’s the day. The culmination of an entire season of preparation for the coaches and players and an entire year of angst for fans. Today is The Game. At 12 noon ET — kickoff is actually scheduled for 12:14 p.m. — the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0, 8-0) will visit their third-ranked rivals (11-0, 8-0) on Fox for the Big Noon Game of the Week.

Due to the historically comical cheating scandal that The Team Up North has perpetrated over the past two-plus seasons, the anticipation for this game is through the roof. The amount of hate between the most vocal members of these two fanbases has always been uncomfortably high, but over the past month, the intensity between the 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. In just a few hours' time, we will see if either side is able to emerge unscathed.

Of course, far more important than fans’ bragging rights is what this game means for the teams on the field. The winner of the matchup will be the final Big Ten East champion and will represent the division in the Big Ten Championship Game. Whoever that is will be heavily favored to win the conference title over the Iowa Hawkeyes and would then be no worse than No. 2 in the College Football Playoff when the seeds are announced a week from tomorrow.

Obviously, no self-respecting sports fan can afford to miss this game. But, I know it can be incredibly confusing to find the best way to watch a game in today’s entertainment landscape. Fortunately for you, I am something of a streaming expert... no really, I write about streaming services for a living. So, I am going to walk you through the best — and cheapest — ways for you to stream today’s game.

Also, if you want to put a little money on the game over at DraftKings Sportsbook, not only would it make what could be a blowout even more exciting, but you could make enough cash to pay for a full month of cable or streaming!

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How can I watch the Ohio State vs. M*ch*g*n college football game?​

Game Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 25 at 12:14 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Broadcasters: Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jenny Taft
Betting Line: TTUN +3.5 | 46.5 o/u
Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

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Best Streaming Option to Watch Ohio State vs. TTUN: DIRECTV STREAM | 5-Day Free Trial​

It is getting a little unusual for Ohio State games to not have a native streaming home. When their games air on CBS, they are also on Paramount+. If OSU plays on NBC, the games are also available to stream on Peacock — not to mention that last week’s Purdue game was a Peacock exclusive.

However, Fox does not have a subscription streaming service that broadcasts its live programming. So, if you are looking to stream the game, DIRECTV STREAM is your best option. The live TV streaming service has the only guaranteed multi-day free trial in the industry and provides the most top cable channels of all of its competitors. The basic, Entertainment package comes with all of the major network channels — all of which have college football — ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. It also has ESPN, ESPN2, and FS1. Then, if you want to upgrade, other packages include the ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, SEC Network, CBS Sports Network, Longhorn Network, and more.

What’s great about DIRECTV STREAM’s free trial is that you are able to sign up for whatever package you want for free. You don’t have to worry about being charged for upgraded plans. So, you can simply sign up for the top-tier Premier package — which normally costs $154.99 per month — enjoy all 140 channels for five days and then cancel.

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Other Streaming Options for the Ohio State and Harboys Game: ​

Fubo: $84.99 per month, at least a one-day free trial
Sling TV: $40 per month, 50% off first month (Fox is only available in select media markets)
Hulu + Live TV: $69.99 per month, comes with Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ included
YouTube TV: $72.99 per month

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Join the conversation​

Below is your Ohio State vs. M*ch*g*n 2023 game thread. Be respectful, be kind and — as always — keep it classy, BuckeyeNation. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s finish the season strong!

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.​

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You’re Nuts: Who is your biggest Ohio State hero in The Game?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

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

So what’s everybody doing at noon on Saturday? Just kidding, we know that all eyes will be on Ann Arbor this Saturday when Ohio State and Michigan square off with not only a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game on the line, but the winner will also be heading to the College Football Playoff. This year’s contest between the hated rivals will be even more combustible after the suspension of Jim Harbaugh because of the cheating scandal that became public last month.

While we know that Harbaugh, J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, and the rest of the players in maize and blue are villains, today we are going to keep things positive and focus on the heroes we have seen in scarlet and gray that have stepped up big over the years in The Game. There have been plenty of Ohio State players and coaches that have left a huge mark in the rivalry, especially over the last 20 years since the Buckeyes have won the majority of the meetings with Michigan.

There are plenty of ways you can go with your answer to today’s question. Your biggest hero could be a player or coach. Your choice could be because of one single moment in The Game, or it could be because of what they did over their career against Michigan. No matter who you end up rolling with, the one thing we can all agree on is BEAT MICHIGAN!

Today’s question: Who is your biggest Ohio State hero in The Game?​

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

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Brett’s answer: Jim Tressel​

Even if John Cooper had gone .500 against Michigan during his time in Columbus, he would have been a legend. Instead, Cooper was 2-10-1 against the Wolverines, with his record against That Team Up North being a major reason why he was fired following the 2000 season. There were questions about how seriously Cooper took the rivalry, which is something that can’t be said about the man who replaced him.

Enter Jim Tressel, who was hired from Youngstown State following the 2000 season. It didn’t take Tressel long to show Buckeye fans just how serious he was about beating Michigan, as during halftime of an Ohio State-Michigan basketball game, Tressel promised fans would be proud of Ohio State on the football field in 310 days when the Buckeyes took on the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. Ohio State would go on to beat Michigan 26-20 in the 2001 season, marking the first time in 14 years the Buckeyes had won at Michigan Stadium.

During his time as Ohio State head coach, Tressel would only suffer one setback against Michigan, which came in 2003 when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 35-21 in Ann Arbor in 2003. Tressel would finish his Ohio State coaching career with a 9-1 record (yes, we are including the vacated win in 2010) before he resigned in May 2011 because of the Tatgate scandal.

I wasn’t around while Woody Hayes was head coach, but it was well-known just how much Hayes hated the whole state of Michigan. Hayes was a lot more vocal about his disdain for Michigan than Tressel was. What makes me love Jim Tressel so much is just how calculating he was with how he motivated his team and fans heading into The Game. Tressel wasn’t as vocal, he just let the work his team put into preparing for The Game speak for itself.

Essentially what Jim Tressel was able to do against Michigan laid the groundwork for Urban Meyer to be so successful against the Wolverines. Meyer took some of the best from Hayes and Tressel and put his own spin on it to finish his Ohio State coaching career with an undefeated record against Michigan. Had Tressel done what he did against Michigan, who knows if the Buckeyes have nearly as much success as they have had against the Wolverines over the last 20 years?

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Matt’s answer: Troy Smith​

As Brett alluded to, Jim Tressel was already well underway to dominating this rivalry when Troy Smith showed up as the starting quarterback in 2004. But the eventual 2006 Heisman Trophy winner changed the game for Ohio State, not only in this rivalry but in terms of what a Buckeye quarterback could be in the 21st Century.

Smith had an NFL-caliber arm but was also athletic enough to change the game with his legs. He was the type of QB that OSU had never seen before, and after winning the 2002 national title with the brainy and gutsy — but less than athletically gifted — Craig Krenzel, Smith was a breath of fresh air.

I think that it is a legitimate question to ask whether Terrell Pryor, Braxton Miller, Justin Fields, or C.J. Stroud — all guys with elite athleticism — would have come to Columbus, had Troy Smith not paved the way.

But, to bring it back to the rivalry, Smith was 3-0 as the starter against That Team Up North, going a very nice 69-for-101 for 857 yards, 7 touchdowns, and just 1 interception. But that’s not all, on the ground, No. 10 rushed for 194 yards, including 145 in 2004. He added two more TDs on the ground as well.

I have gone on record as saying that J.T. Barrett is the greatest quarterback in Ohio State history (a distinction that I believe takes into account more than just his on-field accomplishments) and that Fields is the best QB the program has ever seen. But, I believe that there is a legitimate argument that Troy Smith is the most important signal-caller ever to wear the scarlet and gray, and his performances against That Team Up North play more than a small part in that distinction.

If you don’t remember how electric Troy Smith was, take a look at these highlights put together by our old friend Colton Denning:

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


Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

The Buckeyes will look to win the Emerald Coast Classic by taking down the surging Broncos out of the WCC.

In the Ohio State Men’s Basketball team’s second game in two days, the Buckeyes will take on Santa Clara (6-0) in the championship game of the Emerald Coast Classic in Destin, Fla., at Northwest Florida College.

The Buckeyes (4-1) secured a huge win on Friday in the first round of the bracket portion of the Emerald Coast Classic, upsetting No. 17 Alabama (4-1) 92-81 in what was easily the top performance of the year by Ohio State. The Buckeyes defeated Western Michigan 73-56 in the campus game of the tournament last Sunday.

Santa Clara took down the Oregon Ducks 88-82 in another high-scoring semifinal to set up the matchup with Ohio State. The Broncos have had a solid start to its season, starting 6-0 and defeating Stanford 89-77 earlier this season. They defeated Southeastern Louisiana in the campus game portion of the tournament.

The Buckeyes and the Broncos will face off for a first-place finish in the Emerald Coast Classic.

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Preview​

Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

A career performance by Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle Jr. led the Buckeyes past the offensive juggernaut Crimson Tide.

Thornton recorded a career-high 29 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the field and 4-for-6 shooting from three-point range over 35 minutes against the Crimson Tide. Thornton added four assists, three rebounds, and only two turnovers. Most impressively, Thornton was 13-for-14 from the free-throw line and helped the Buckeyes ice the game late.

Gayle recorded a career-high 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting, four rebounds, and three assists. Gayle was also 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in 36 minutes on the floor against Alabama.

Starting center Felix Okpara played with foul trouble for much of the second half, but still was able to record 10 rebounds in 18 minutes — although he scored just two points on one made basket. Zed Key had another impressive showing as the sixth man, recording 11 points and three rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench.

Grant Nelson led Alabama with 20 points and six rebounds over 32 minutes. Alabama entered the game as the nation’s leading three-point and scoring team, shooting better than 49% from beyond the arc and averaging 101 points per game. Against the Buckeyes, they were 9-of-30 from beyond the arc (30%) and scored 81 points.

Through five games, Bruce Thornton is averaging 18.0 points per game, and Roddy Gayle is averaging 16.4 points per game. The two talented sophomores have cemented themselves as one of the top backcourts in the conference.

Santa Clara was led by guard Adama Bal against Oregon, who doubled his scoring average, recording 25 points on 10-for-14 shooting. The junior guard was averaging 12 points per game before blowing up on Friday night. Center Christoph Tilly added 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting, and Tyeree Bryan and Carlos Marshall added 12 points each.

Even with the win Friday night, Santa Clara is still No. 95 in KenPom, and is sitting outside the top 100 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They were picked to finish fifth in the WCC, but to this point have shown the “experts” that perhaps they were picked a bit too low.

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Prediction​

Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

Santa Clara is a solid team, but Ohio State is likely the best team they will have faced to this point in the season.

Ohio State might have found a secret to its success this season in the Alabama game. They beat Alabama at its own game, scoring in transition, winning the rebounding battle, and using that to get out on offense and down the court quickly, setting up transition baskets and forcing fouls. In the past, Ohio State has not had the personnel to play that way, but with the way Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Evan Mahaffey, and Dale Bonner run the floor, they can implement it a bit more this year.

Taison Chatman was able to get on the floor for a minute in this contest, his first appearance of the season. He will be gently rotated in, but it was promising to see that he is ready for any type of game action.

Jamison Battle played 27 minutes but was not a factor late in Friday’s game, and only shot 2-for-7 from the field and 1-for-5 from three-point range. They will need him to be more of a contributor as teams start to key in on Thornton and Gayle, and a third and fourth scorer needs to emerge.

Ohio State is coming in off its two best performances of the season, and I think they will keep it rolling, winning the Emerald Coast Classic and really using this two-game stretch to propel them into some big games in December.

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Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: CBS Sports Network

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 80, Santa Clara 72​

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Bucks face the Broncos in the champ game

Ohio State fans are split as to what the key to The Game is for the Buckeyes
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

But unsurprisingly, they are picking the non-cheaters to win!

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.

Heading into The Game, there has been an unbelievable amount of vitriol spewed on both sides of this rivalry. However, we are well aware that the loudest voices in any fandom often come from a relatively small corner of the community, so as we head into what is arguably the most anticipated and potentially influential game in the history of the greatest rivalry in all of sports, we wanted to check in with the larger fanbase in order to see what you were thinking about the game in that cesspool known as Ann Arbor — which reports indicate is a whore.


Earlier this week, as part of our OSU fan survey, we asked Buckeye Nation for their thoughts on what the major key to victory would be for Ohio State and what fans were predicting the score to be. Check out the results below.

Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

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Question 1: What is the one thing that the Buckeyes have to do to beat their rivals?​

I love how close these top-four results are, and I honestly can’t fault anyone for picking any of these options. I think for me, I would go with scoring touchdowns in the red zone, because that has obviously been an issue for the Buckeyes this season. Coming into The Game, they are 66th nationally in red zone touchdown percentage, getting into the end zone on just 29 of their 47 trips inside the 20. They have hit an additional 11 field goals, but that only moves them up to 59th in FBS, and we know that FGs aren’t going to win this game today.

Conversely, the Mitten State Astros are No. 2 nationally in red zone scoring defense and No. 1 in touchdowns allowed from inside the red zone. In 18 defensive trips inside the 20, they have only allowed six touchdowns and six field goals on the season.

But you know what’s kind of wild? Seven of those 12 total scores have come in the past two weeks against Penn State and Maryland — the Nits were three-for-three in the red zone (one FG, two TDs) and the Terps were four-for-four (one FG, three TDs). So, perhaps that’s a fluke, or maybe the improved competition highlighted some weaknesses in the Pompous Princes’ defense, or maybe they just aren’t as good in the most high-pressure situations when they don’t know what the other team is going to run.

So, if the Buckeyes are able to come up with some creative ways to punch it in — either with a returning Devin Brown in short-yardage, getting the ball to Marvin Harrison Jr. or Emeka Egbuka on some trick plays, or throwing when everyone expects them to run — and the Weasels have to actually play straight-up, this could be the difference between a win and a loss.

Interestingly, I spoke to a number of college football experts this week over on the podcast (check out those episodes in the player below), and they were all split on what the key to a Buckeye victory was as well. So, even though all OSU fans might not be official college football reporters and analysts, it’s nice to know that we aren’t to far off from the experts either.

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

I am nothing if not a homer, so in traditional homer fashion, I not only picked the Buckeyes to win on our “Tailgate” podcast that was released earlier this morning, but I picked them to win by 15 points. I went with a score of. Good Guys 31, Sign-Stealing Scoundrels 16.

You can listen to the entire podcast here, and I think you should, because I go out of my way to call Ohio State’s rivals by anything other than their actual name, and I also avoid calling their coach by his name as often as humanly possible.

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

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OHIO STATE GAMEDAY: It’s a bad day to be a Michigan Wolverine
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Game has arrived.

Wake up, everyone. It’s Ohio State game day!

This is it. This one is for all the marbles. No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Michigan in Ann Arbor. The winner gets a trip to Indianapolis to take on Iowa in the Big Ten title game. The loser is almost certainly out of College Football Playoff contention unless they get some lucky breaks. Ryan Day will look to lead the Buckeyes to their first win in The Game since the 2019 season after the Wolverines dodged the game in 2020 and cheated in both 2021 and 2022. Sherrone Moore will look to lead TTUN in the absence of Jim Harbaugh, who is suspended for said cheating.

It doesn’t get much better than this, folks.

Over the past week, our talented group of writers and podcasters have put together preview pieces, analytical breakdowns, and everything in-between.

If you missed out on any of the coverage, we have you... well, covered. Below, each type of story is categorized. If you’re looking for podcasts and previews we’ve done, you can find them; if you’re looking for the betting lines and non-football topics, they are there, too.

Enjoy the day everyone. As always, Go Bucks!

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Podcasts​

• Silver Bullets: Minnesota rewind and Michigan preview
• Hangout in the Holy Land: We don’t give a da*n for the whole state of *ichigan
• In Conversation: Mike Golic Jr. breaks down The Game, laughs at sign-stealing idiocy
• I-80 Football Show: It all comes down to The Game
• Uncut: Day, Knowles provide injury updates, avoid bulletin board material
• In Conversation: The College Football Nerds on The Game
• In Conversation: Former TTUN beat writer Nick Baumgardner on The Game
• In Conversation: The Athletic’s Austin Meeks on TTUN fans ‘losing it’
• Stick to Sports: How good (and bad) things could get based on who wins The Game
• Uncut: Holtmann, Bonner, Battle discuss 73-56 win over Western Michigan
• Uncut: McGuff, Thierry talk confrontation; Mikulášiková on improved shooting
• Bucketheads: Ohio State takes down WMU, looks to Emerald Coast Classic

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Previews​

• Ohio State vs. Michigan: 2023 game preview and prediction
• Three Things To Watch in ‘The Game’
• What are advanced analytics predicting for The Game?
• Predictions, bold or otherwise, for Ohio State vs. Michigan
• Under-the-radar Buckeye(s) on Chris Olave-esque performance watch in The Game?
• Ohio State’s most important player in The Game might not be a starter
• Three stats that could determine the winner of The Game

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Sports Betting​

• Ohio State opens as 4-point underdogs against Michigan
• Week 13 Big Ten games
• Week 13 national games

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Basketball​

• Ohio State men get impressive win against No. 17 Alabama
• Are early three-point shooting numbers for the Buckeyes worrisome?
• No. 15 Ohio State women beat Oklahoma State with defense, 75-57

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Recruiting​

• Ohio State adds 24th commit in 2024 with offensive lineman Gabe VanSickle
• Ohio State gets flurry of Crystal Balls to land Michigan native offensive line
• Five-star 2024 offensive tackle has Ohio State in top schools
• Ohio State offers a trio of 2025 prospects over the weekend

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Ask LGHL​

• What do you think is the No. 1 key to Ohio State winning The Game?

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Other Columns​

• Ohio State and TTUN ranked No. 2 and No. 3, but this game is No. 1 historically
• How did Michigan turn around its rivalry with OSU? LGHL breaks it down
• If This Were A Movie: Ryan Day and Jim Harbaugh star in ‘Grumpy Old Men’
• A letter to this year’s Buckeyes from an Ohio State senior, pleading for a win
• Eight of Ohio State’s best individual performers in ‘The Game’
• B1G Thoughts: It’s Ryan Day vs. Sherrone Moore in ‘The Game’

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Tailgate Podcast: Everything you need to know to watch the Ohio State vs. M*ch*g*n 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


Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatc / USA TODAY NETWORK

The only Ohio State game day podcast you need.

Before every Ohio State football game, Matt Tamanini will get you ready with all of the information that you need for that day’s game on the “LGHL Tailgate” podcast.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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

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No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (+3.5) vs. TTUN | over/under 46.5​

Game Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 25 at 12:14 p.m. ET
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
TV: Fox
Radio: 97.1 FM/1460 AM

Today at 12:14 p.m. ET in the house some people refer to as big, the No. 2 and 11-0 Ohio State Buckeyes — coached by Ryan Day — will take on the No. 3 and also 11-0 Mitten State Weasels coached by Jim Harb…. strike that, for the third straight game, Ohio State’s rivals will be coached by Sure-own Moore due to Jimbo Harbizzle’s second three-game suspension of the season.

This past Tuesday, the top three of the College Football Playoff rankings remained the same with the Georgia Bulldogs remaining atop with the Buckeyes at No. 2 and the Corn and Blue in third.

There was movement in the two major polls last week after the Mitten Men struggled with Maryland. Ohio State jumped their rivals to take over the No. 2 spot in both the AP and Coaches polls with one first-place vote from both the media and the coaches.

As you undoubtedly know, That Team up North is 11-0 this season, but their production and efficiency have seemed a bit different following the revelations that they’ve been cheating for the past two seasons, especially as they were outplayed by Maryland last week, aside from the Terps essentially gifting them 16 points.

On every level of this game, there is something on the line, which only makes this rivalry even more intense than, I believe, it ever has been before.

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Matt’s Prediction: Ohio State 31, TTUN 16​

Kyle McCord: 225 yards passing, 2 touchdowns
TreVeyon Henderson: 150 all-purpose yards
Marvin Harrison Jr: 100 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
J.J. McCarthy: < 150 passing yards
Blake Corum, Donovan Edwards: 45+ carries for < 150 rushing yards.

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Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Music by: epidemicsound.com​

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.​

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We all know The Game will get pulled down quickly for copyright. Other options like youtubetv will not accept VPNs without verification of a local TV provider.

Suggestions very much appreciated.

Ohio State men get impressive win against No. 17 Alabama behind career days for Thornton, Gayle
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

This was a statement game for Chris Holtmann’s young Buckeyes.

The Ohio State Men’s Basketball team defeated the No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide 92-81 in the first game of the bracket portion in the Emerald Coast Classic in Destin, Florida. The Buckeyes defeated Western Michigan 73-56 in the campus game of the tournament in Columbus last Sunday.

Coming into the contest, Alabama was averaging over 101 points per game and was listed as the No. 1 offense in the country, according to KenPom. Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, and Aaron Estrada led the team in scoring.

The Buckeyes were led into this one by sophomore guards Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle. Zed Key and Jamison Battle were also averaging double-digits in scoring coming into this one.

To start the game, Ohio State turned the ball over three times in the first minute, and Alabama went up 6-0. However, the Buckeyes answered with an 11-2 run to make the game 11-8 at the under-16 media timeout.

The teams traded baskets throughout the first half, as the Buckeyes settled down eventually and stopped turning the ball over. They did record 10 first-half turnovers that led to 12 Alabama points.

In the second half, the Buckeyes found a groove playing Alabama’s style of basketball. The Buckeyes quickly pushed their lead to double-digits, the first time Alabama had trailed by double digits all season.

With eight minutes remaining in the game, Ohio State led 63-56, and Bruce Thornton knocked down two three-pointers and made two free-throws to push the Buckeye lead to 71-56.

Alabama answered with an 11-5 run to cut the Buckeye lead to single digits, as a Mark Sears three-pointer made the score 76-67.

With just under five minutes, Ohio State switched to a defensive-minded lineup, bringing in Dale Bonner and Evan Mahaffey for Jamison Battle as they led by 10 points.

After two free throws from Roddy Gayle and two free throws from Ohio State, the Buckeyes took an 83-69 lead.

After two free throws with 1:24 left in the game from Grant Nelson, the Crimson Tide made the score 85-78.

But an and-one from Roddy Gayle gave the Buckeyes a 10-point lead again.

The Buckeyes would make their free throws to close out the game and go on to win 92-81.

Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes with 29 points on 6-for-12 shooting. He added four assists and three rebounds. Roddy Gayle added 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting, four rebounds and two assists. Grant Nelson led Alabama with 20 points.

Ohio State shot 28-for-30 from the free-throw line, while the Tide was 20-for-26. Both teams shot well as the refs decided to call things much closer after halftime. In the first 20 minutes of action, the teams combined for only 16 fouls, but after the intermission, the two teams were whistled for 34 fouls.

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Here are some key moments from the game:

Trouble watching? You weren’t alone.​

This was the season's most anticipated game this far for the Buckeyes, and if you were trying to watch it live, you missed the entire first half. The Utah State and New Mexico football game was going long in regulation and to make matters worse, the game went to two overtimes. All you could do was watch the game on the CBS Sports Mobile App, but not on the TV app or the computer.

When the game finally ended, there was 1:08 left in the first quarter of the Buckeye game.

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Sloppy play to start​

The Buckeyes turned the ball over three times in the first 53 seconds of the game and four times in its first six possessions. I don’t have to explain why that is not ideal to start a game. However, they still held the first-quarter lead.

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Scotty does it himself​

Freshman wing Scotty Middleton came into the game and provided a huge spark, knocking down a three-pointer and then getting an offensive rebound and a putback.

Threeeee @ScottyMiddleto9

OSU: 16
ALA: 19#Tea125 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Waylqg9vei

— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) November 25, 2023

Click to expand...

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Taison Chatman makes his debut​

Taison Chatman is a highly regarded freshman guard who underwent surgery in the offseason and has not played yet this season. However, he checked into the game for under a minute in the first half to help give Bruce Thornton a breather. He was not in for long, but it was great to see that he is healthy enough to give them any minutes in-game action. He will play more as the non-conference schedule progresses.

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Bruce Thornton’s hot first half​

The star sophomore for the Buckeyes had 14 points, two assists, and two rebounds in the opening half. He led the way for the Buckeyes to hold the lead heading into halftime, and most importantly, he bounced back from some early turnovers and did a good job setting down the Ohio State offense.

Getting it going tonight @Bruce2T_

points, rebounds, and assists in the first half pic.twitter.com/UtaiVwn6rl

— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) November 25, 2023

Click to expand...

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Fouls galore​

In the second half, the whistles came early and often, as Ohio State committed seven team fouls in the first eight minutes to put the Crimson Tide in the penalty and shooting free throws with 12 minutes left in the game.

Ohio State was not far behind, as they entered the bonus with eight minutes left in the game.

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Thornton gets hot​

Just as it seemed that Alabama might be turning the momentum in their favor, Bruce Thornton went on an 8-0 run by himself to turn a seven-point Buckeye lead into a game-high 15-point lead. He recorded two three-pointers and two free throws during the run.

Give hi 20@Bruce2T_ knocks down two shots back to back fro downtown

OSU: 69
ALA: 56 pic.twitter.com/74OrRlgQmy

— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) November 25, 2023

Click to expand...

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Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle sets career high ​

Roddy Gayle has looked better and better each game on offense, and this was his best game in a Buckeye uniform. Every time a basket was needed, Gayle was there with an answer. Gayle recorded a career-high 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting.

His backcourt counterpart Bruce Thornton also set a career-high in points, recording 29 in the contest.

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Uncut Podcast: ‘We’re gonna get it done for the state of Ohio’; Ohio State players confident 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


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke makes a Tressel-like declaration.

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:


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

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On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Tuesday, Nov. 21 player media availability featuring multiple Ohio State Buckeyes. With Thanksgiving on Thursday, players met with the media earlier than normal. We have audio from cornerback Denzel Burke, quarterback Kyle McCord, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., and linebacker Cody Simon.

All four of the players seemed calm and confident with the game coming up on Saturday, but no one was out-of-hand cocky. Burke did make a matter-of-fact declaration that felt very similar to Jim Tressel’s statement in front of an OSU basketball crowd on the day that he was named the Buckeyes’ head coach.

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Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Music by: www.bensound.com​

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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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