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LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball non-conference schedule to have a heavy SEC flare this season

Ohio State men’s basketball non-conference schedule to have a heavy SEC flare this season
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

NCAA Basketball: Alabama A&M at Ohio State

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Buckeyes are set to take on three SEC opponents in the non-conference portion of their schedule.

The schedule is far from set five months before the season begins, but the big dogs Ohio State will play in the non-conference portion of their schedule this season have already been identified. Of the potential five Power 5 conference teams the Buckeyes could see this season in the non-conference, three are from the SEC, giving this year’s non-con schedule an unusually strong scent of southern hospitality.

In addition to the three SEC squads — which we will discuss momentarily — the Buckeyes will also face off with West Virginia in a neutral site game in Cleveland, and either the Oregon Ducks out of the PAC-12 or the Santa Clara Broncos out of the West Coast Conference.

That leaves five open games for “bye” games, although we’ve seen in recent years that at times bye games can be anything but. The Buckeyes have had close calls with Akron and Niagara at home in recent years in games that were supposed to be tune-ups for Big Ten play. This season, the Buckeyes will welcome Oakland (Nov. 6), Merrimack (Nov. 15), and Western Michigan (Nov. 19) at home, with at least two more games yet to be announced.

Ohio State has played just two SEC teams since Chris Holtmann became Ohio State’s head coach in 2017. The Buckeyes beat Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic in 2019, and were beaten by Florida in 2021 while participating in the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament.

The Buckeyes have not played three SEC teams in one season since the 2010-2011 season, when they beat Florida and South Carolina in the non-conference portion of the schedule and lost to Kentucky in the Sweet 16. That Ohio State team finished the season with a 34-3 record.

Noteworthy non-conference opponents​

Texas A&M - Nov. 10​

NCAA Basketball: SEC Conference Tournament Semifinals - Texas A&M vs Vanderbilt
Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Record last season: 25-10
Conference standing: 2nd in SEC
KenPom rank: 33

Ohio State will need to go through some grueling conditioning in the fall to prepare for A&M, which was one of the most physical teams in the nation last season. Similar to how they had San Diego State on the schedule right away last season, Texas A&M will set a high bar for the rest of the year in physicality.

The Aggies were a surprise team in the SEC last season, finishing just behind Alabama in the standings. While they do lose one of their big hitters in Dexter Dennis, A&M returns all-SEC honoree Wade Taylor, Tyrese Radford, and former Michigan State center Julius Marble. A&M was top-45 in both offense and defense last year in the nation, according to KenPom.

Alabama - Nov. 24​

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament South Regional-San Diego State vs Alabama
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Record last season: 31-6
Conference standing: 1st in SEC
KenPom rank: 4

The Crimson Tide have quickly become one of the premier men’s basketball programs in the nation under Nate Oats, amassing a combined record of 92-42 in his four seasons, plus making two Sweet Sixteens. This particular Alabama team is intriguing because it stands to lose a ton of talent from last year’s SEC Champion team, including the potential No. 2 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, Brandon Miller.

Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly could return to provide a nasty 1-2 punch in the backcourt, but both are testing the NBA Draft waters currently and it is not clear if they will be back. Even if Alabama loses its five leading scorers from a season ago, Oats will still field a feisty and competitive team, which will now include former Hofstra star Aaron Estrada.

Kentucky - Dec. 16​

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Providence vs Kentucky
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Record last season: 22-12
Conference standing: 3rd in SEC
KenPom rank: 27

Kentucky set to play Ohio State in CBS Sports Classic, per report #BBN #GoCats https://t.co/NtX5TMjmgu

— A Sea of Blue (@ASeaOfBlue) May 2, 2023
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Similar to Alabama, the looming threat of Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic hinges on who returns and who does not. Antonio Reeves and Oscar Tshiebwe could both come back and make Kentucky a sure-fire top-25 team once again. If both leave, plus Cason Wallace, John Calipari will rely heavily on his incoming freshman class, which boasts four five-star recruits, all of which are in the top-15 in the 2023 class.

Sometimes teams led by five-star freshmen go on to big things. But Calipari would certainly like to have the stability of returning his two leading scorers from a season ago to pair with one of the most talented recruiting classes in college basketball history. If both of Kentucky’s leading scorers from a season ago leave, this is a team Ohio State could beat in Atlanta.

West Virginia - Dec. 30​

NCAA Basketball: Arizona at UCLA
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Record last season: 19-15
Conference standing: 8th in Big 12
KenPom rank: 19

West Virginia lagged towards the bottom of the Big 12 last season, but got credit for playing in the toughest conference in America and earned an NCAA Tournament bid despite losing 14 games. The offseason has been a rollercoaster for WVU, and your guess is as good as mine if the new transfer additions (Kerr Krissa, RaeQuan Battle, Jesse Edwards) will mesh together or not. All three are likely to start come November.

Additionally, there’s the whole Bob Huggins thing. The Hall of Fame head coach will serve an unpaid, three-game suspension to start the season after using a gay slur during a radio appearance back on May 8. Huggins will be back from his suspension well before Ohio State takes on WVU on December 30, but there’s just a lot of unknowns — on and off the court — for West Virginia.

The winner of the Ohio State - Alabama game on Nov. 24 will face the winner of the Oregon-Santa Clara game on Nov. 25. The losers would face-off in a third-place game

Oregon​


Record last season: 21-15
Conference standing: 4th in PAC-12
KenPom rank: 42

Santa Clara​


Record last season: 23-10
Conference standing: 3rd in WCC
KenPom rank: 85

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LGHL Five-star linebacker, defensive lineman set Ohio State official visits

Five-star linebacker, defensive lineman set Ohio State official visits
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

11290735.0.jpg

Five-star 2024 LB Sammy Brown | Tom Loy, 247Sports

The Buckeyes are looking to make June a huge month for recruiting — especially on defense.

With the evaluation period set to come to an end on May 31, the transition to June will lead us into a new quiet period. For the Buckeyes, this will be anything but a quiet time, as Ohio State will be hosting a number of high-profile recruits in the coming weeks. The 2024 class has almost the entirety of its offensive group set, but the focus in the near future will be on the other side of the ball.

That being said, Ryan Day and co. will host a massive name on defense when Sammy Brown visits Columbus for multiple days June 23-25. One of the top overall players in the 2024 class overall, Brown currently ranks as the No. 1 linebacker and No. 5 overall prospect on 247Sports’ own rankings. Announcing where he will take his five official visits this summer, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has to like where he stands.

Five-Star LB Sammy Brown will take official visits to these 5️⃣ Schools, starting with Tennessee this weekend

The 6’2 230 LB from Jefferson, GA is ranked as a Top 20 Player in the ‘24 Class.

Where Should He Go? https://t.co/sEN3gSrNlL pic.twitter.com/gtun04zD6P

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 28, 2023
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Ohio State will be the last official visit on Brown’s schedule, with his other four being Tennesee, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma in that order. Holding around 30 total offers to his name, the Buckeyes now sit among the final few with a chance to land the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Georgia native. Knowles, alongside linebackers assistant James Laurinaitis, will look to roll out the read carpet and leave a lasting impression with one of the nation’s best players as the school that gets to be the final stop on the docket.

In addition to Brown, Ohio State will also get another big name on defense on campus towards the end of June when five-star defensive end Dylan Stewart takes his multi-day OV June 16-18.

Five-Star EDGE Dylan Stewart will take Official Visits to these 4️⃣ schools starting next weekend

The 6’6 250 EDGE from Washington D.C. is ranked as the No. 1 Player in the ‘24 Class https://t.co/O6UoMSwKAU pic.twitter.com/NAjVHom6Nu

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 27, 2023
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Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes have long been in on Stewart, and they will now get to show the Washington, DC product all the program has to offer in-person. The nation’s No. 2 EDGE and No. 10 overall player in the 247Sports Composite, Stewart will also be taking trips to Georgia and Miami as well as closing things out with a stop at South Carolina. With over 35 schools on his offer sheet, Stewart is a hot commodity that coach LJ would be ecstatic to land.

Speaking of defensive ends Ohio State has been interested in, three-star DL Sean Sevillano Jr. is set to make his college decision on June 2. With his four finalists coming down to Auburn, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State, it appears the Fighting Irish have the inside track for his services with all three Crystal Ball predictions in their favor. Sevillano Jr. is the No. 87 DL in the 2024 class on the 247Sports Composite.

THE COMMITMENT on 247 sports - June 2nd, 12:00pm ET | #blessed pic.twitter.com/NJqZrXDOkv

— Sean Sevillano Jr. (@SevillanoSean) May 28, 2023
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Quick Hits​

  • Ohio State has already scooped up the majority of its offensive commitments in the 2024 class, but they are still looking to add to the offensive line group. On Friday, four-star IOL Liam Andrews dropped his top eight schools, and the Buckeyes made the cut alongside Florida, LSU, Penn State, Oklahoma and others. Andrews is the No. 4 IOL and and No. 82 overall player in the 247Sports Composite.
BREAKING: Four-Star IOL Liam Andrews is down to 8️⃣ Schools!

The 6’5 270 IOL from Brookline, MA is ranked as the No. 1 IOL in the ‘24 Class

Where Should He Go? https://t.co/2ZGM1mPNb3 pic.twitter.com/aMFv0kUBb4

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 26, 2023
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Indianapolis 500 & IndyCar Series

ScriptOhio
Tomateaux Quinoa Gumbeaux said:
Didn’t see an Indy car thread but the 500 is important so will post this here

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Remember the tire that flew over the fence during the wreck?

www.wthr.com

Penske finally gets a full house for Indy 500

Roger Penske will at last be able to open the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to a capacity crowd this Sunday for his first true Indy 500 since buying the property.
www.wthr.com www.wthr.com

Indy 500 fan whose car was struck by errant tire invited to kiss the bricks​

FxQZiZaaMAAN9Wl


The 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 was a memorable event for many, not the least of whom was Indianapolis resident Robin Mathews.
In the late stages of the race Sunday, a crash involving Felix Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood sent a wheel sailing over the track fence, just clearing a grandstand packed with fans.

The tire smashed the hood of Mathews' Chevrolet Cruze, which was parked in a lot next to the grandstand.
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LGHL Unpopular Opinion: It’s time for Ohio State to move on LeBron James

Unpopular Opinion: It’s time for Ohio State to move on LeBron James
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Ohio State University vs University of Michigan

Set Number: SI628 TK1

As the NBA legend’s professional career winds down, the school he never went to doesn’t need to give him so many benefits.

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.


Before I write anything in this article, I should be completely transparent about my feelings. I’m not a LeBron James fan. I respect his achievements and some of the incredible moments he has created during his legendary NBA career, I’m just not going to cheer for him. This has nothing to do with China, thinking he needs to “shut up and dribble”, or any other political reason.

There was a time when I was a LeBron stan. A few years after I moved down to Columbus, the Cavaliers played the Spurs in the NBA Finals. The run by James to carry Cleveland to the finals was outstanding, and I was hoping he would be able to take the Cavs back there, especially since that would likely mean they would beat Boston, which is a city I hate everything about.

Instead, the Celtics beat Cleveland in the 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals. A couple months later LeBron would announce he was taking his talents to South Beach. If “The Decision” wasn’t hard enough to stomach, it happened on my birthday. From that day, LeBron was on my shit list. Not that he cares since he is like a billionaire and I’m a nobody, but when I hold a grudge, it’s for life.

LeBron has always said that if he had to play college basketball before heading to the NBA, he would have gone to Ohio State. While he says that, I’m not totally convinced that would have been the case. Not that Ohio State wasn’t a marquee basketball program, just look at some of the top recruits Thad Matta brought into the program over the years. I just think he would have thought a little harder than he says he would have about going to Duke, Kentucky, or another blue blood program.

Luckily for LeBron it wasn’t an issue he ever had to deal with, since it was obvious there was no need for him to play college basketball for any length of time.

There’s no questioning that LeBron is an Ohio State fan. We have seen him either at big Buckeye games, or tweeting about them if he couldn’t make it. There have been times where James has gifted items to Ohio State players, and he even has an honorary locker at the facility. It’s a smart move by Ohio State to highlight their relationship with him, since it could make a difference as they vie for some of the top recruits in the country.

You just know that Gene Smith and Chris Holtmann were hoping the relationship with LeBron would help Ohio State land James’ oldest son, Bronny. While the Buckeyes made Bronny’s top-three, he eventually committed to USC. Even though Holtmann is bringing in a very strong recruiting class, adding Bronny to it would have been huge for the Ohio State basketball program.

2023 McDonald’s All American Game
Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images

Honestly though, I’m not mad that Ohio State wasn’t able to land Bronny’s commitment. Even though his father is a huge Buckeye fan, Bronny can’t go to Ohio State just for that reason. He has to do what he feels is best for him. Plus, I can understand how it would be hard to leave Los Angeles after spending the last few years there while LeBron has played for the Lakers. It’s a perfect spot for Bronny if LeBron doesn’t follow through with retirement talk, since he’ll still be close to his father.

Really what I think we don’t need any more is things like the LeBron/Ohio State jerseys, his own locker at the facility, and as much association between him and the school. He’s a fan, no different than you or I. The only difference is he has the ability to give a lot more money to the school if he wants to. It’s not like he’s going to be as big of a fan in the near future either, since you know he’ll be rooting for USC because of Bronny. Plus, I have to imagine we are likely going to see him on the sidelines of a USC football game this year before he is at an Ohio State game.

LeBron has done a lot of great things for the state of Ohio and Ohio State. It’s time for everyone to move on, though. The athletic department in Columbus will survive just fine without giving LeBron any preferential treatment. I’m never going to tell him not to be a Buckeye fan, but if he wants field passes or some of those sweet seats that were likely given to him, then he can break out the checkbook. Maybe transfer that LeBron locker at the facility into one for Mike Conley or another Buckeye that actually played here and went on to see success at the professional level.

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LGHL Unpopular Opinion: College football’s less draconian pass interference penalty is better than NFL’s

Unpopular Opinion: College football’s less draconian pass interference penalty is better than NFL’s
JamiJurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

NCAA Football: Penn State at Ohio State

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s stop giving NFL refs the chance to play God.

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.

While the bright lights and loud fans of college football give the impression that NCAA football resembles NFL football, football at these two levels is actually different enough to almost be a unique game. Sure, on the surface, it’s the same game, but rule and strategy differences between the two make them different beasts.

Some of these differences are major — the size of the field, the overtime rules, and the fact that NFL games can end in a tie (stupid, this isn’t European football). But there is one difference I take issue with in particular.

It’s a seemingly minor difference, but my take seems to be unpopular nonetheless. In fact, every time I bring it up with my friends and family, I get yelled at. So if you think I’m an idiot, by all means, say so. I promise I’ve heard it all before. Or, if by chance you agree with me, let me know so I can rest peacefully in my vindication.

I don’t know much, but I know that I absolutely HATE the NFL penalty for defensive pass interference.

Let me first explain defensive pass interference for those who might not be familiar. Per the NFL rulebook, defensive pass interference is any act by a defensive player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage that significantly hinders an eligible player’s opportunity to catch the ball. The rules apply from the time the ball is thrown until the time the ball is touched.

In the NCAA, defensive pass interference is contact beyond the neutral zone by a defensive player intentionally and obviously impeding an eligible opponent to prevent the opponent from catching a legal forward pass.

In both instances, there are lists of behaviors that are not considered pass interference (such as legal defensive contact before the ball is thrown), along with lists of prohibited behavior. Offensive pass interference also exists in both college and pros, though I’m really only looking at defensive pass interference today. We don’t need to get into the nitty-gritty of how these penalties are called here, because what I really take issue with is what happens when such a penalty is called in the NFL.

In the NFL, the penalty for defensive pass interference is an automatic first down at the spot of the foul. In the NCAA, if the spot of the foul is less than 15 yards from the line of scrimmage, the penalty is an automatic first down at the spot of the foul. If the penalty is more than 15 yards from the line of scrimmage, it’s a 15-yard penalty with an automatic first down.

I hate the NFL’s rule.

There are two main arguments I hear from haters of the NCAA version (my own father included) time and time again. The first is that having such a minimal penalty in college might actually make pass interference part of the strategy. While the NFL’s harsh penalty for defensive pass interference serves to really discourage such a move, there are times in the NCAA when taking a 15-yard penalty to stop a huge pass play or potential scoring drive could actually be a strategic move that entices guys to take the 15-yard hit if it means stopping a touchdown.

I actually think there is some merit to this argument. In fact, when defensive pass interference discourse came to a head in 2019, the play in question would probably be a good example of when you might want to intentionally interfere.

In the final two minutes of the 2019 NFC Championship game, the Saints and Rams were tied. Tommylee Lewis looked set to make a huge catch for the Saints when, out of nowhere, he was absolutely obliterated by the Rams’ Nickell Robey-Coleman. The interference was so obvious my grandmother could have seen it from space without her glasses, and yet, it was crickets from the ref.

This no-call arguably cost the Saints the game, spurred discussion and debate in the NFL, and led to a year-long trial of reviewing/challenging pass interference calls.

The NFL has since done away with this pass interference review system though (another story for another day), which brings us to my main problem: Defensive pass interference is incredibly subjective.

Some refs let guys play, while other officials are more eager to throw the flag. And in all circumstances, officials are humans with margins of error.

In critical situations late in a close game, a defensive pass interference call has the ability to determine the outcome of a game. Just as the no-call stole a potential score from the Saints in 2019, so too can a mistaken toss of the flag hand points to a team that didn’t earn them. The review system implemented by the NFL was certainly flawed, but to have no recourse on a bad call that could realistically hand 40-80 yards to an opponent in a crucial moment feels insane.

The second argument I hear from pro-NFL-versioners is that the NFL way keeps things exciting.

I also agree with this, but at what cost? A little excitement, to me, is not good enough reason to let one flawed person potentially change the outcome of a football game.

Let’s not act like 15 yards and an automatic first down isn’t a huge momentum shift in its own right. Give a team a first down in a critical situation, and that too can change the game. But it feels different than handing them a potentially extreme number of yards. It’s costly, but the punishment fits the crime.

If the NFL really wants to course-correct to avoid referees playing God late in the game, they should take the NCAA’s approach and make it a harsh penalty but not so harsh that it gives the game away.

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LGHL Unpopular Opinion: Ohio State needs to stop recruiting dual-threat quarterbacks

Unpopular Opinion: Ohio State needs to stop recruiting dual-threat quarterbacks
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T - Ohio State v Alabama

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

It’s time for a change!

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.


The dual-threat quarterback: isn’t it every college football coach’s dream? One man who is able to pass AND run efficiently? I mean, it gives the offense more options to work with and makes it trickier for defenses to be successful. What’s not to like? For me, there are more cons than pros. Here is my case for why the Buckeyes need to stop recruiting dual-threat QBs.

Let’s reflect on the past couple of Ohio State dual-threat quarterbacks, as the rise of this type of player has happened in the past decade or so. Starting with J.T. Barrett, he was one of the greatest players statistically ever for Ohio State at the position. He could run the ball very well and had great pocket awareness, in addition to a pretty good arm.

However, his ability to throw the ball accurately and deep in a consistent manner was subpar. Barrett’s completion percentage dropped dramatically once he was under pressure. In the 2016 season, he completed 66.9 percent of his passes when he was given a clean pocket, but when facing pressure, his completion percentage dipped to 46.8 percent and threw only three touchdowns to one interception.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl - USC v Ohio State
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

What does all of this mean? Barrett was a talented quarterback who was gifted in multiple areas, but especially his legs. It is crucial for a QB to be able to consistently complete the deep ball and make accurate throws under pressure, but when it comes to being dual-threat, typically (and there are exceptions), you cannot be great at both running and passing.

A better example to examine is Justin Fields. Clearly, Fields was also an all-time great Buckeye QB. He is one of those unusual cases where he can both run and throw the ball exceptionally well. One of the main problems I have with this, though, is his durability. Fields is a decently-sized guy— 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds. However, during his two years at Ohio State, we saw him take hit after hit, and the biggest one of all came from James Skalski against Clemson in the CFB Playoff.

Fields’ ribs were severely injured, and he physically couldn’t play at his usual high level after that hit. Even though the Buckeyes won that game, when they played Alabama in the National Championship, they got destroyed and Fields struggled, as he completed 17 of 33 passes for 194 yards and only one touchdown.

CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl - Clemson v Ohio State
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Could that hit happen to a non-dual-threat QB? Absolutely. However, the risk of taking a severe hit increases dramatically the more run options you have for your quarterback. In the pros, we are seeing the exact same thing from Fields. His talent is obvious, yet he has been getting demolished by NFL defenses, as it is extremely hard to find success as a dual-threat player in the pros.

We have seen time and time again how this type of QB simply doesn’t translate well to the NFL. Long-term success is almost impossible! Robert Griffin III suffered many injuries, Tim Tebow didn’t make it, Cam Newton had a few great years before falling off, Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb... the list goes on and on. These guys made a name for themselves because of their ability to run, not their tremendous arm.

Atlanta Falcons v Carolina Panthers
Photo by Lance King/Getty Images

However, when you look at the greatest quarterbacks from the past couple of decades such as Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers, it is clear that they are all pocket passers first. Passing is their strongest asset. And they all have won Super Bowls. They are the type of quarterback that succeeds at the pro level.

Now, that isn’t to say that dual-threat quarterbacks don’t succeed at the college level, because clearly, they do. However, when thinking about durability and the necessity of being able to have a strong and accurate arm, I think it is better for teams to have a pro-style QB.

Both Kyle McCord and Devin Brown aren’t regarded as dual-threat quarterbacks, and clearly neither was C.J. Stroud, but now with a new starter under center, I am interested to see the type of offense that is conducted with McCord or Brown at the helm. As for Stroud, I’m curious how he will perform and how long his body can last at the professional level versus Fields. I love me some Justin Fields, but I will take a pro-style QB over a dual-threat one any day of the week.

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LGHL LGHL Asks: Ohio State fans pick who they want to eventually succeed Ryan Day as head coach

LGHL Asks: Ohio State fans pick who they want to eventually succeed Ryan Day as head coach
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns / USA TODAY NETWORK

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

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.

We are wrapping up Unpopular Opinion Week here at Land-Grant Holy Land, so it’s time for us to look back at the latest Ohio State fan survey results. Earlier this week, we asked two questions, one that could have a very unpopular opinion depending on how you answer, and another that is likely less unpopular but could lead to a lot of good-natured discussions.

Question 1: Who is the best football program in the Big Ten?​



Ohio State has been the best football program in the Big Ten since Jim Tressel burst onto the scene over 20 years ago. For nearly the entirety of those two decades, the Buckeyes have also been the best team in the conference as well. However, that latter point is admittedly up for debate at this point.

Despite the fact that Ryan Day’s squad has lost the last two editions of The Game, they are still the best program in the league. While the gap between the two teams in terms of on-field, head-to-head success has shifted towards the Maize and Blue, when you factor in recruiting, NFL Draft results, and other off-field factors, the edge still belongs with the Buckeyes.

That being typed, should Day lose three straight to his rivals, I don’t think that we will be able to say that six months from now. For the 26% who jumped the gun and said that the Harboys are already the best program in the B1G, either you are Corn and Blue fans who have infiltrated our sacred survey, or you are Buckeye fans who need to start seeing the glass half full, rather than empty.

Question 2: Who should be the head coach of OSU football whenever Ryan Day leaves?​



When looking at the top three vote-getters here, I think this is all a matter of personal preference. I do think that in modern college football, having a head coach who comes from the offensive side of the ball is likely the best bet. However, Brian Hartline is just now beginning his offensive coordinator career, so I don’t know if I would be super comfortable bestowing the honor on him just yet. It’s not that I don’t think he could do it, I just would like a little bit more proof of concept before we make it official.

When it comes to Vrabel, I don’t know if you could ask much more in terms of pedigree. Not only was he a consensus All-American as a player at Ohio State, but in the NFL he was an All-Pro and a three-time Super Bowl champion.

He then started his coaching career back home in Columbus before going to the NFL where he has been named NFL Coach of the Year and taken the Tennessee Titans to the AFC Championship game. In his five seasons as an NFL head coach, Vrabel has four winning seasons and a winning percentage of .585.

If he were interested in replacing Day at some point in the future, I personally would find it hard to go anywhere else.

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