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LGHL You’re Nuts: What has concerned you most about Ohio State so far this season?
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You’re Nuts: What has concerned you most about Ohio State so far this season?
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 Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Ohio State is coming off a 20-12 win over Penn State on Saturday, improving to 7-0 this season. Following the tough game against Penn State, the Buckeyes should have an easier time in games before battling Michigan in Ann Arbor at the end of next month. After hitting the road to take on Wisconsin and Rutgers over the next two weeks, Ohio State will return home for games against Michigan State and Minnesota before the showdown with the Wolverines.
Even though Ohio State has a couple of wins against top-10 teams this season, there is always room for improvement. This year in college football feels even more wide open than normal. so while there might be some areas for concern, there is a little more margin for error than some past years. Aside from Michigan, which has still yet to be tested since they have played an incredibly soft schedule so far this year, every team in college football has some issues that are concerning. Georgia will be without Brock Bowers for a while, Washington has had some inconsistent performances, Florida State is still unproven, and there are other questions out there for all the teams contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Today we want to know what concerns you the most about Ohio State this year. This question isn’t meant to make Buckeye Nation think the sky is falling, since Ryan Day’s team is still going to play a huge factor in this year’s CFP. Since no college football is playing perfect football, we just want to address a concern about the team this year. Hopefully over the next month, Ohio State will be able to work on some areas that have been lagging so far this year, since the Buckeyes will have to be near perfect to beat the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game. There is no way to avoid injuries, you just have to hope the injury bug doesn’t hit your team too hard. Ohio State has struggled over the last few years with injuries to key players. Last year the Buckeyes had to deal with injuries to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, TreVeyon Henderson, and Miyan Williams. This year Henderson and Williams have both missed some time due to injury, while Emeka Egbuka and Denzel Burke were unavailable for Saturday’s game against Penn State.
Ohio State was able to beat the Nittany Lions without Henderson, Egbuka, and Burke. It is going to be a lot tougher to do the same to Michigan if those three aren’t able to play. The injury issue Henderson is dealing with is especially frustrating since he missed so much time last year with a foot injury. Following a stellar freshman year, Henderson has had a hard time consistently staying on the field over the last two years. The running back’s bad luck with injuries over the past couple of seasons is the only reason why he isn’t in the conversation as one of the best running backs in the country.
Hopefully what Emeka Egbuka is dealing with doesn’t turn into an extended issue like we saw with Jaxon-Smith Njigba last year. There is a difference in the type of injuries between the two players, as well as at what point of the season they happened. Last year it was a little easier for Ohio State to deal with the loss of Smith-Njigba since the Buckeyes not only had Marvin Harrison Jr. and Egbuka to pick up the slack, as well as an experienced starting quarterback in C.J. Stroud. This year could be a little tougher since Kyle McCord is in his first year as a starter, and could use another trusted option aside from Harrison and tight end Cade Stover.
When it comes to Denzel Burke, when he is on, there are not many cornerbacks in the country that are better. Luckily for the junior, it sounds like the injury issue he is dealing with isn’t one that is going to keep him out for an extended amount of time. Ohio State was able to get strong play from Jermaine Matthews Jr. and Jordan Hancock on Saturday, which eased some of the sting from not having Burke on the field. With an upcoming schedule that doesn’t have much to worry about when it comes to opponents throwing the football, Ryan Day can afford to be cautious with Burke returning to the field since having him as close to 100 percent as possible for Michigan is a lot more important than having him over the next few weeks.
There are going to be more injuries that pop up between now and the Michigan game. There is no avoiding injuries in football, you just hope those that do happen are as minor as possible. If only every Buckeye was like Marvin Harrison Jr. and could shake off what looked like a season-ending injury in a matter of minutes like the wide receiver did in the second half against Notre Dame. Until then, we just have to hope Ohio State has some injury luck this year since the Buckeyes have the talent to contend for a national title, but one injury could change everything.
As it has been since before the season started — honestly, since before last season even ended when they didn’t hit the initial portal window hard enough pre-playoffs — my biggest concern is the offensive line, but with a caveat. I have been generally and genuinely pleased with the pass protection from this group. It hasn’t been perfect, or at times pretty, but on the whole, it has been solid. They are tied for 41st nationally allowing 1.71 sacks per game — again, not great, but honestly better than I anticipated.
So, while I will put that in the acceptable-to-positive category, the thing that is still making me nervous is the run-blocking. I know that it takes time for offensive lines to gel, so I am in no way saying that they can’t get to where they need to be, but they just really aren’t there right now.
I never want to put too much credence into Pro Football Focus’ college grades, but currently, OSU’s starting offensive lineman are grading out at a not-so-nice 69.74. The team as a whole — factoring in backups, running backs, tight ends, etc. — is actually at 72.3, good for 16th nationally. Again, I don’t know what — if anything — that means, but watching the games, it’s pretty clear that they are still struggling to find their footing... sometimes literally.
The Buckeyes have the 101st-ranked rushing offense in the country with 127 yards per game, and only modestly climb up to 93rd with their 3.85 yards per carry average. Of course, that is not all on the o-line, it also is on the backs themselves, other offensive players, and the coaches, but it is certainly a collective effort led by the line that is currently falling far short of a championship level.
The injuries that Brett talked about certainly play a significant factor in the rushing output, but the starting five linemen have been healthy all year, so at some point, it would be nice to see them break through and start to grade the road enough to give Henderson, Trayanum, Williams, Hayden, whoever gets the ball room to run.
I don’t actually believe that you have to be an incredibly balanced offensive team to win a national title, but I think the legitimate threat of a running game is pretty important to what Ohio State wants to do on offense, so since they haven’t been able to do that yet, I am more than a little concerned.
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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 Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Ohio State is coming off a 20-12 win over Penn State on Saturday, improving to 7-0 this season. Following the tough game against Penn State, the Buckeyes should have an easier time in games before battling Michigan in Ann Arbor at the end of next month. After hitting the road to take on Wisconsin and Rutgers over the next two weeks, Ohio State will return home for games against Michigan State and Minnesota before the showdown with the Wolverines.
Even though Ohio State has a couple of wins against top-10 teams this season, there is always room for improvement. This year in college football feels even more wide open than normal. so while there might be some areas for concern, there is a little more margin for error than some past years. Aside from Michigan, which has still yet to be tested since they have played an incredibly soft schedule so far this year, every team in college football has some issues that are concerning. Georgia will be without Brock Bowers for a while, Washington has had some inconsistent performances, Florida State is still unproven, and there are other questions out there for all the teams contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Today we want to know what concerns you the most about Ohio State this year. This question isn’t meant to make Buckeye Nation think the sky is falling, since Ryan Day’s team is still going to play a huge factor in this year’s CFP. Since no college football is playing perfect football, we just want to address a concern about the team this year. Hopefully over the next month, Ohio State will be able to work on some areas that have been lagging so far this year, since the Buckeyes will have to be near perfect to beat the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
Today’s question: What has concerned you the most about Ohio State so far this season?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Injuries
Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game. There is no way to avoid injuries, you just have to hope the injury bug doesn’t hit your team too hard. Ohio State has struggled over the last few years with injuries to key players. Last year the Buckeyes had to deal with injuries to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, TreVeyon Henderson, and Miyan Williams. This year Henderson and Williams have both missed some time due to injury, while Emeka Egbuka and Denzel Burke were unavailable for Saturday’s game against Penn State.
Ohio State was able to beat the Nittany Lions without Henderson, Egbuka, and Burke. It is going to be a lot tougher to do the same to Michigan if those three aren’t able to play. The injury issue Henderson is dealing with is especially frustrating since he missed so much time last year with a foot injury. Following a stellar freshman year, Henderson has had a hard time consistently staying on the field over the last two years. The running back’s bad luck with injuries over the past couple of seasons is the only reason why he isn’t in the conversation as one of the best running backs in the country.
Hopefully what Emeka Egbuka is dealing with doesn’t turn into an extended issue like we saw with Jaxon-Smith Njigba last year. There is a difference in the type of injuries between the two players, as well as at what point of the season they happened. Last year it was a little easier for Ohio State to deal with the loss of Smith-Njigba since the Buckeyes not only had Marvin Harrison Jr. and Egbuka to pick up the slack, as well as an experienced starting quarterback in C.J. Stroud. This year could be a little tougher since Kyle McCord is in his first year as a starter, and could use another trusted option aside from Harrison and tight end Cade Stover.
When it comes to Denzel Burke, when he is on, there are not many cornerbacks in the country that are better. Luckily for the junior, it sounds like the injury issue he is dealing with isn’t one that is going to keep him out for an extended amount of time. Ohio State was able to get strong play from Jermaine Matthews Jr. and Jordan Hancock on Saturday, which eased some of the sting from not having Burke on the field. With an upcoming schedule that doesn’t have much to worry about when it comes to opponents throwing the football, Ryan Day can afford to be cautious with Burke returning to the field since having him as close to 100 percent as possible for Michigan is a lot more important than having him over the next few weeks.
There are going to be more injuries that pop up between now and the Michigan game. There is no avoiding injuries in football, you just hope those that do happen are as minor as possible. If only every Buckeye was like Marvin Harrison Jr. and could shake off what looked like a season-ending injury in a matter of minutes like the wide receiver did in the second half against Notre Dame. Until then, we just have to hope Ohio State has some injury luck this year since the Buckeyes have the talent to contend for a national title, but one injury could change everything.
Matt’s answer: Offensive line run blocking
As it has been since before the season started — honestly, since before last season even ended when they didn’t hit the initial portal window hard enough pre-playoffs — my biggest concern is the offensive line, but with a caveat. I have been generally and genuinely pleased with the pass protection from this group. It hasn’t been perfect, or at times pretty, but on the whole, it has been solid. They are tied for 41st nationally allowing 1.71 sacks per game — again, not great, but honestly better than I anticipated.
So, while I will put that in the acceptable-to-positive category, the thing that is still making me nervous is the run-blocking. I know that it takes time for offensive lines to gel, so I am in no way saying that they can’t get to where they need to be, but they just really aren’t there right now.
I never want to put too much credence into Pro Football Focus’ college grades, but currently, OSU’s starting offensive lineman are grading out at a not-so-nice 69.74. The team as a whole — factoring in backups, running backs, tight ends, etc. — is actually at 72.3, good for 16th nationally. Again, I don’t know what — if anything — that means, but watching the games, it’s pretty clear that they are still struggling to find their footing... sometimes literally.
The Buckeyes have the 101st-ranked rushing offense in the country with 127 yards per game, and only modestly climb up to 93rd with their 3.85 yards per carry average. Of course, that is not all on the o-line, it also is on the backs themselves, other offensive players, and the coaches, but it is certainly a collective effort led by the line that is currently falling far short of a championship level.
The injuries that Brett talked about certainly play a significant factor in the rushing output, but the starting five linemen have been healthy all year, so at some point, it would be nice to see them break through and start to grade the road enough to give Henderson, Trayanum, Williams, Hayden, whoever gets the ball room to run.
I don’t actually believe that you have to be an incredibly balanced offensive team to win a national title, but I think the legitimate threat of a running game is pretty important to what Ohio State wants to do on offense, so since they haven’t been able to do that yet, I am more than a little concerned.
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LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Spy Games! Plus the Buckeyes head to Madison to face old friend Luke Fickell
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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Spy Games! Plus the Buckeyes head to Madison to face old friend Luke Fickell
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Josh and Chuck talk TTUN’s ‘salacious’ scandal, before previewing Ohio State’s business trip to Wisconsin, where they will take on a Scarlet and Gray legend.
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:
On this episode of ‘Hangout in the Holy Land,’ Josh and Chuck attempt to break down and intelligently discuss TTUN’s (alleged) sign stealing. Thing or not a thing? Were punishable lines crossed? And who was directly involved? In other words: Who ordered the code red!?
After ‘Conspiracy Hour’, the hosts look ahead to Ohio State’s upcoming road game against Wisconsin. Led by former OSU player and coach Luke Fickell, the Badgers looked like a team struggling with transition for the first month of the season. But thanks to a few gritty wins and Iowa’s surprising loss to Minnesota, Fickell and Co. are firmly back in the Big Ten West race, looking to upset the Buckeyes and set up a possible rematch in Indianapolis.
Despite each team dealing with impactful injuries, both Ohio State and Wisconsin took care of business last weekend, leading to or creating this pivotal cross-division matchup. And while the Buckeyes are currently a two-score favorite, the Badgers and their coach should not be taken lightly.
On top of Fickell being one of the best coaches in the country, the atmosphere in and around Camp Randall Stadium will be raucous and potentially game-altering on Saturday night. Can OSU quarterback Kyle McCord quiet the noise like he did against Notre Dame? And how many offensive weapons will he have at his disposal?
This has all the makings of a classic trap game for the Buckeyes, but the Hangout boys are optimistic that Ohio State’s clutch offense and stingy defense will travel.
Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
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Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Josh and Chuck talk TTUN’s ‘salacious’ scandal, before previewing Ohio State’s business trip to Wisconsin, where they will take on a Scarlet and Gray legend.
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 attempt to break down and intelligently discuss TTUN’s (alleged) sign stealing. Thing or not a thing? Were punishable lines crossed? And who was directly involved? In other words: Who ordered the code red!?
After ‘Conspiracy Hour’, the hosts look ahead to Ohio State’s upcoming road game against Wisconsin. Led by former OSU player and coach Luke Fickell, the Badgers looked like a team struggling with transition for the first month of the season. But thanks to a few gritty wins and Iowa’s surprising loss to Minnesota, Fickell and Co. are firmly back in the Big Ten West race, looking to upset the Buckeyes and set up a possible rematch in Indianapolis.
Despite each team dealing with impactful injuries, both Ohio State and Wisconsin took care of business last weekend, leading to or creating this pivotal cross-division matchup. And while the Buckeyes are currently a two-score favorite, the Badgers and their coach should not be taken lightly.
On top of Fickell being one of the best coaches in the country, the atmosphere in and around Camp Randall Stadium will be raucous and potentially game-altering on Saturday night. Can OSU quarterback Kyle McCord quiet the noise like he did against Notre Dame? And how many offensive weapons will he have at his disposal?
This has all the makings of a classic trap game for the Buckeyes, but the Hangout boys are optimistic that Ohio State’s clutch offense and stingy defense will travel.
Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
Continue reading...
LGHL Kyle McCord has proven he’s Ohio State’s QB1, but he’s a different kind of quarterback than we’re used to
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Kyle McCord has proven he’s Ohio State’s QB1, but he’s a different kind of quarterback than we’re used to
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Penn State’s defense is obviously great, too.
Saturday’s game against Penn State was definitely a tale of two of the best defenses in the country; the final score of 20-12 is a clear indicator of that. Both quarterbacks were limited in this game, but it got me thinking: is Kyle McCord the guy for the job? Or was Penn State’s defense really that good?
Let’s take a look at McCord’s stats from the game. He was 22-of-35 and threw for 286 yards and one touchdown. That means he completed about 63% of his passes. There were a lot of overthrows and overall inaccurate passes in this game, which yes, was somewhat brought on by pressure from the Nittany Lions’ defense.
However, even the throws he did complete weren’t the best. Yes, he had some good ones in there, but a lot of them weren’t pretty. In the first half, he was not connecting with any of the receivers, not even Marvin Harrison Jr.; if Marv can’t catch them, you know they’re uncatchable.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25025308/usa_today_21713033.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Things improved a bit from a statistical standpoint as McCord went 11-for-14 after halftime, but a big part of that felt like it was Marv going into Beast Mode. McCord did settle down a bit, but he was just really struggling to find a rhythm.
Throughout the season, McCord has led this team to two huge wins, and The Game hasn’t even been played yet. Now, was the defense the main factor in this game? Yes. But did McCord keep the offense in it, especially with that TD to Marv that sealed the deal? Also yes.
You really can’t even call Saturday that much of an “off day” for McCord, as he still threw for almost 300 yards and — thanks in large part to a defensive holding penalty — was turnover-free. During the Ryan Day era, Buckeye fans have become spoiled by 300 and 400-yard passing games so anything short of that can be a bit underwhelming. It also was a bit nostalgic having C.J. Stroud on the sidelines, as he routinely put up big numbers during the past two years at Ohio State, especially in his final campaign in 2022 — the one most fresh in fans’ minds.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25025320/usa_today_21713049.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
That’s not to say that McCord has been bad this season. His 1,937 passing yards in 2023 currently rank 20th in FBS and he has the 17th quarterback rating in the country as well. Very solid numbers for a first-year starter, even if they aren’t what Buckeye fans have gotten used to after Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, and Stroud for the past five years. However, the most important stats are that McCord is undefeated as a starter, as thrown 12 touchdown passes and only a single interception.
But, something should be said for McCord’s occasional inaccuracy — especially in the first halves of games — and how at times he seems to be rushing himself in the pocket, even when there isn’t any pressure. It all worked out on Saturday as he overcame Penn State’s defense, but moving forward, these issues will need to be addressed; he cannot do those types of things against Michigan or any games that follow.
Early in the season — and during certain games so far this season — a number of Buckeye fans have called for Devin Brown to be the starter? Day said on his Monday radio show, and reiterated in Tuesday’s press conference, that Brown will be out for a week or two following a sprained ankle suffered on a redzone play on Saturday, so the option of making a mid-season switch isn’t really in play right now. But even if he were completely healthy, it’s pretty clear that the coaching staff is all-in on McCord and he has proven that he’s able to lead the team to major wins — even if they look differently than the ones under Stroud and Fields.
It’s hard not to compare McCord to other quarterbacks in the country right now, though. LSU’s Jayden Daniels has 25 passing touchdowns on the season, while McCord has 12. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. has 2,576 passing yards and McCord has 1,937. Once again, these are good stats. But I think many Buckeye fans expected a bit more out of him by this point in the season.
Maybe I’m nitpicking. Maybe I have unreasonably high standards. Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter at the moment. The Buckeyes are 7-0, so clearly McCord is doing something right. I just really hope he continues to improve week after week, so by the time the big games roll around, he’s peaking at the right time and looking like the type of dominant, play-making quarterback that Ohio State fans have become accustomed to. If he can, considering how great the defense has been this season, this could end up being a truly special season.
Continue reading...
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Penn State’s defense is obviously great, too.
Saturday’s game against Penn State was definitely a tale of two of the best defenses in the country; the final score of 20-12 is a clear indicator of that. Both quarterbacks were limited in this game, but it got me thinking: is Kyle McCord the guy for the job? Or was Penn State’s defense really that good?
Let’s take a look at McCord’s stats from the game. He was 22-of-35 and threw for 286 yards and one touchdown. That means he completed about 63% of his passes. There were a lot of overthrows and overall inaccurate passes in this game, which yes, was somewhat brought on by pressure from the Nittany Lions’ defense.
However, even the throws he did complete weren’t the best. Yes, he had some good ones in there, but a lot of them weren’t pretty. In the first half, he was not connecting with any of the receivers, not even Marvin Harrison Jr.; if Marv can’t catch them, you know they’re uncatchable.
Things improved a bit from a statistical standpoint as McCord went 11-for-14 after halftime, but a big part of that felt like it was Marv going into Beast Mode. McCord did settle down a bit, but he was just really struggling to find a rhythm.
Throughout the season, McCord has led this team to two huge wins, and The Game hasn’t even been played yet. Now, was the defense the main factor in this game? Yes. But did McCord keep the offense in it, especially with that TD to Marv that sealed the deal? Also yes.
You really can’t even call Saturday that much of an “off day” for McCord, as he still threw for almost 300 yards and — thanks in large part to a defensive holding penalty — was turnover-free. During the Ryan Day era, Buckeye fans have become spoiled by 300 and 400-yard passing games so anything short of that can be a bit underwhelming. It also was a bit nostalgic having C.J. Stroud on the sidelines, as he routinely put up big numbers during the past two years at Ohio State, especially in his final campaign in 2022 — the one most fresh in fans’ minds.
That’s not to say that McCord has been bad this season. His 1,937 passing yards in 2023 currently rank 20th in FBS and he has the 17th quarterback rating in the country as well. Very solid numbers for a first-year starter, even if they aren’t what Buckeye fans have gotten used to after Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, and Stroud for the past five years. However, the most important stats are that McCord is undefeated as a starter, as thrown 12 touchdown passes and only a single interception.
But, something should be said for McCord’s occasional inaccuracy — especially in the first halves of games — and how at times he seems to be rushing himself in the pocket, even when there isn’t any pressure. It all worked out on Saturday as he overcame Penn State’s defense, but moving forward, these issues will need to be addressed; he cannot do those types of things against Michigan or any games that follow.
Early in the season — and during certain games so far this season — a number of Buckeye fans have called for Devin Brown to be the starter? Day said on his Monday radio show, and reiterated in Tuesday’s press conference, that Brown will be out for a week or two following a sprained ankle suffered on a redzone play on Saturday, so the option of making a mid-season switch isn’t really in play right now. But even if he were completely healthy, it’s pretty clear that the coaching staff is all-in on McCord and he has proven that he’s able to lead the team to major wins — even if they look differently than the ones under Stroud and Fields.
It’s hard not to compare McCord to other quarterbacks in the country right now, though. LSU’s Jayden Daniels has 25 passing touchdowns on the season, while McCord has 12. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. has 2,576 passing yards and McCord has 1,937. Once again, these are good stats. But I think many Buckeye fans expected a bit more out of him by this point in the season.
Maybe I’m nitpicking. Maybe I have unreasonably high standards. Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter at the moment. The Buckeyes are 7-0, so clearly McCord is doing something right. I just really hope he continues to improve week after week, so by the time the big games roll around, he’s peaking at the right time and looking like the type of dominant, play-making quarterback that Ohio State fans have become accustomed to. If he can, considering how great the defense has been this season, this could end up being a truly special season.
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LGHL If you want to see Caitlin Clark face Ohio State women’s basketball, it will cost you
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If you want to see Caitlin Clark face Ohio State women’s basketball, it will cost you
ThomasCostello 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
Fans hoping to buy reasonably priced tickets to the Jan. 21 Buckeyes and Hawkeyes game are out of luck
On Oct. 18, the Ohio State women’s basketball team tickets went live for all to purchase. The slate of conference and non-conference games brings in the likes of the UCLA Bruins and Indiana Hoosiers, all for criminally low prices. Before most could even get online to secure their tickets, one game was already out of university-released tickets. To get into the Jan. 21 game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, fans will have to pay at least $144.
Normally, the Buckeyes’ ticket prices make a night of family entertainment less expensive than most other events in the city. Ohio State sells women’s basketball tickets to the public for $11 on non-conference games, $15 for in-conference, and $19 for premier matchups against teams like the Hoosiers, Bruins, Maryland Terrapins, and Michigan Wolverines.
The slimiest of internet trolls will make fun of the draw of women’s basketball as the reason prices are so low, but there’s ample proof to the contrary. Ohio State broke multiple records in attendance and viewership during the 22/23 season.
At the Sweet Sixteen in Seattle, Washington, a shocking Buckeyes win over the UConn Huskies drew 2.5 million viewers on ABC. Closer to home, home games for Ohio State averaged the largest increase in attendance in the nation, increasing by 2,674 per game. Part of that is increased emphasis on promotions like meeting the team and giveaways but increased notoriety of opponents and the outstanding play of the Buckeyes made games a can’t-miss.
Now, many will miss the 2024 edition of the Buckeyes going up against superstar guard Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes. Iowa is part of that premier group, but already the tickets for the game were gone, with only resale tickets available. Those tickets range from $144 to $2,000, that’s a 657% to over 10,426% increase in price over the $19 per ticket premier level general sale amount.
There’s no breakdown of who sells that high from the team’s ticket office, likely a combination of season ticketholders and scalpers capitalizing on Clark’s visit.
Last season, Ohio State hosted Clark and it was the lone sellout of the season. The Buckeyes only sell tickets in the lower bowl, a decision made prior to the season due to the logistics and additional requirements to host a game in the entire arena like paying employees and having enough security.
Overall, the lack of affordable tickets is a good and bad thing. The obvious negative is the price. Nobody truly had a chance to purchase a ticket to the Iowa game at the $19 advertised price, which isn’t a problem for the remaining premier contests.
On the positive end, it shows the growth of women’s basketball, even if fueled by the stardom of one person in this case. With the growth in popularity comes the annoyances that come along with it, like dealing with people who make Ticketmaster a frustrating place to lose hundreds of dollars.
However, a positive about the $144 lowest ticket price is that it's less than what you’d pay to see the same game in Iowa City, Iowa on March 3. The final regular season game of the season, pitting the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes against each other for potentially a conference championship, has tickets available starting at $277.
Iowa’s already sold out their supply of season tickets and set a record for highest attended NCAA women’s basketball game in history, a cool event if you were one of the few thousand who could see the game up close.
The good thing about all of this is the extra eyes watching the Buckeyes this season, and women’s basketball overall. There are plenty of tickets available to see the No. 4 preseason-ranked UCLA Bruins or in-conference rivals from Indiana.
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ThomasCostello 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
Fans hoping to buy reasonably priced tickets to the Jan. 21 Buckeyes and Hawkeyes game are out of luck
On Oct. 18, the Ohio State women’s basketball team tickets went live for all to purchase. The slate of conference and non-conference games brings in the likes of the UCLA Bruins and Indiana Hoosiers, all for criminally low prices. Before most could even get online to secure their tickets, one game was already out of university-released tickets. To get into the Jan. 21 game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, fans will have to pay at least $144.
Normally, the Buckeyes’ ticket prices make a night of family entertainment less expensive than most other events in the city. Ohio State sells women’s basketball tickets to the public for $11 on non-conference games, $15 for in-conference, and $19 for premier matchups against teams like the Hoosiers, Bruins, Maryland Terrapins, and Michigan Wolverines.
The slimiest of internet trolls will make fun of the draw of women’s basketball as the reason prices are so low, but there’s ample proof to the contrary. Ohio State broke multiple records in attendance and viewership during the 22/23 season.
At the Sweet Sixteen in Seattle, Washington, a shocking Buckeyes win over the UConn Huskies drew 2.5 million viewers on ABC. Closer to home, home games for Ohio State averaged the largest increase in attendance in the nation, increasing by 2,674 per game. Part of that is increased emphasis on promotions like meeting the team and giveaways but increased notoriety of opponents and the outstanding play of the Buckeyes made games a can’t-miss.
Now, many will miss the 2024 edition of the Buckeyes going up against superstar guard Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes. Iowa is part of that premier group, but already the tickets for the game were gone, with only resale tickets available. Those tickets range from $144 to $2,000, that’s a 657% to over 10,426% increase in price over the $19 per ticket premier level general sale amount.
There’s no breakdown of who sells that high from the team’s ticket office, likely a combination of season ticketholders and scalpers capitalizing on Clark’s visit.
Last season, Ohio State hosted Clark and it was the lone sellout of the season. The Buckeyes only sell tickets in the lower bowl, a decision made prior to the season due to the logistics and additional requirements to host a game in the entire arena like paying employees and having enough security.
Overall, the lack of affordable tickets is a good and bad thing. The obvious negative is the price. Nobody truly had a chance to purchase a ticket to the Iowa game at the $19 advertised price, which isn’t a problem for the remaining premier contests.
On the positive end, it shows the growth of women’s basketball, even if fueled by the stardom of one person in this case. With the growth in popularity comes the annoyances that come along with it, like dealing with people who make Ticketmaster a frustrating place to lose hundreds of dollars.
However, a positive about the $144 lowest ticket price is that it's less than what you’d pay to see the same game in Iowa City, Iowa on March 3. The final regular season game of the season, pitting the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes against each other for potentially a conference championship, has tickets available starting at $277.
Iowa’s already sold out their supply of season tickets and set a record for highest attended NCAA women’s basketball game in history, a cool event if you were one of the few thousand who could see the game up close.
The good thing about all of this is the extra eyes watching the Buckeyes this season, and women’s basketball overall. There are plenty of tickets available to see the No. 4 preseason-ranked UCLA Bruins or in-conference rivals from Indiana.
Continue reading...
LGHL Stock Market Report: Marvin Harrison Jr. makes the difference and the defense is elite
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Stock Market Report: Marvin Harrison Jr. makes the difference and the defense is elite
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
And do the Buckeyes have the best resume in football?
It was just another Saturday in Columbus as the Buckeyes did what they do best and moved to 7-0 on the season. The Buckeyes defeated Penn State (6-1) 20-12 and now have one of the best resumes in football.
Here are some of the players and things that I am higher and lower on after Saturday.
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Marvin Harrison Jr.: I am going to take the easy one here. And it’s because I think it is very simple. Ohio State beat Penn State because one team has Marvin Harrison Jr., and one doesn’t. The best players have to step up in the biggest moments, and that is all Marvin Harrison does. Over the last two seasons against Penn State, Harrison has 21 catches, 347 yards, and a touchdown. And all of those stats have been against guys playing on Sunday.
If the Heisman were truly the best player in the sport (it’s not), MHJ would have a great argument to win it. Harrison continues to impress, and he is going to be a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL draft and make a team very lucky.
Jim Knowles: You could just argue the defense, but I think it’s time Knowles gets his flowers. He came in last season to a unit that was really struggling to find an identity, and even though last year didn’t end great, they looked good most of last year and now all of this season thus far. This team is now winning games on the defensive end of the ball, and when you still have weapons like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka on the other side, good things will happen.
Jesse Mirco: As Ohio State fans, we love criticizing the special teams. And a lot of it is deserved, but I think Jesse Mirco made a huge difference in this game. He had six punts for an average of just over 42 yards per punt, downed two inside the 20-yard line, and had a 72-yard punt that completely flipped the field on the Nittany Lions. That is so important in a close game where points are at a premium. Also, Jayden Felding missed his first field goal, but on the season, he is 9-for-10 on field goals and 29-for-30 on extra points.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25026810/usa_today_21594216.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Cade Stover: Don’t look now, but it is possible Farmer Gronk will win the Mackey Award. That’s the award given to the top tight end every season, and Stover has been right up there with the best of them. With Brock Bowers injured, that award could be up for grabs. Stover has stepped into a huge role now and was a great second option Saturday, with Egbuka still out. Stover will continue to be a weapon for the Buckeyes.
Divisions: This is obviously more of a general statement, but it just doesn’t seem right that only one of Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan will play in the conference championship. With Iowa losing to Minnesota, it is very murky who will win the Big Ten West. It could be Nebraska. No one wants that. Just get rid of divisions tomorrow so we can all get the conference championship we want as fans.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24910311/usa_today_21381434.jpg "NCAA Football: Youngstown State at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Buy: Third down defense. This season, the offense has had some struggles on third down. It was nice watching that shoe on the other foot in this one. Penn State was abysmal on third down, only going 1-for-16 and 1-for-3 on fourth down. Against other good offenses, the Buckeyes have fared well too. They held Notre Dame to 5-for-10 and 0-for-3 on fourth down and held Maryland to 8-for-19 on third down. If the defense can keep up this trend, they will fare well against Michigan and other top teams they may see.
Buy: Mistake-free football. Kyle McCord has one interception this season. The Buckeyes have only lost four fumbles this season. McCord isn't Justin Fields or CJ Stroud yet, but what he lacks in experience and consistency he has made up for in decision-making. And so far, in every close game the Buckeyes have had, they have not turned the ball over, and that is as important as anything. If they can continue to not turn the ball over, they can compete with anyone.
Sell: “Maserati Marv.” This is only in reference to that particular nickname. Because I like nicknames in general, and obviously, the player is not the issue. But I don’t love it. I like Magnificent Marvin a little better. I think maybe Gus Johnson just said it too many times on Saturday, and I will give it another shot. But on first review, I think I am selling it for now.
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justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
And do the Buckeyes have the best resume in football?
It was just another Saturday in Columbus as the Buckeyes did what they do best and moved to 7-0 on the season. The Buckeyes defeated Penn State (6-1) 20-12 and now have one of the best resumes in football.
Here are some of the players and things that I am higher and lower on after Saturday.
Blue Chip
Marvin Harrison Jr.: I am going to take the easy one here. And it’s because I think it is very simple. Ohio State beat Penn State because one team has Marvin Harrison Jr., and one doesn’t. The best players have to step up in the biggest moments, and that is all Marvin Harrison does. Over the last two seasons against Penn State, Harrison has 21 catches, 347 yards, and a touchdown. And all of those stats have been against guys playing on Sunday.
If the Heisman were truly the best player in the sport (it’s not), MHJ would have a great argument to win it. Harrison continues to impress, and he is going to be a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL draft and make a team very lucky.
Solid Investments
Jim Knowles: You could just argue the defense, but I think it’s time Knowles gets his flowers. He came in last season to a unit that was really struggling to find an identity, and even though last year didn’t end great, they looked good most of last year and now all of this season thus far. This team is now winning games on the defensive end of the ball, and when you still have weapons like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka on the other side, good things will happen.
Jesse Mirco: As Ohio State fans, we love criticizing the special teams. And a lot of it is deserved, but I think Jesse Mirco made a huge difference in this game. He had six punts for an average of just over 42 yards per punt, downed two inside the 20-yard line, and had a 72-yard punt that completely flipped the field on the Nittany Lions. That is so important in a close game where points are at a premium. Also, Jayden Felding missed his first field goal, but on the season, he is 9-for-10 on field goals and 29-for-30 on extra points.
Cade Stover: Don’t look now, but it is possible Farmer Gronk will win the Mackey Award. That’s the award given to the top tight end every season, and Stover has been right up there with the best of them. With Brock Bowers injured, that award could be up for grabs. Stover has stepped into a huge role now and was a great second option Saturday, with Egbuka still out. Stover will continue to be a weapon for the Buckeyes.
Junk Bonds
Divisions: This is obviously more of a general statement, but it just doesn’t seem right that only one of Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan will play in the conference championship. With Iowa losing to Minnesota, it is very murky who will win the Big Ten West. It could be Nebraska. No one wants that. Just get rid of divisions tomorrow so we can all get the conference championship we want as fans.
Buy/Sell
Buy: Third down defense. This season, the offense has had some struggles on third down. It was nice watching that shoe on the other foot in this one. Penn State was abysmal on third down, only going 1-for-16 and 1-for-3 on fourth down. Against other good offenses, the Buckeyes have fared well too. They held Notre Dame to 5-for-10 and 0-for-3 on fourth down and held Maryland to 8-for-19 on third down. If the defense can keep up this trend, they will fare well against Michigan and other top teams they may see.
Buy: Mistake-free football. Kyle McCord has one interception this season. The Buckeyes have only lost four fumbles this season. McCord isn't Justin Fields or CJ Stroud yet, but what he lacks in experience and consistency he has made up for in decision-making. And so far, in every close game the Buckeyes have had, they have not turned the ball over, and that is as important as anything. If they can continue to not turn the ball over, they can compete with anyone.
Sell: “Maserati Marv.” This is only in reference to that particular nickname. Because I like nicknames in general, and obviously, the player is not the issue. But I don’t love it. I like Magnificent Marvin a little better. I think maybe Gus Johnson just said it too many times on Saturday, and I will give it another shot. But on first review, I think I am selling it for now.
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LGHL Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Rikki Harris
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Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Rikki Harris
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
A staple of the Buckeyes for the past two seasons has at least one season left to make an impact in scarlet and gray
The Ohio State women’s basketball team is a roster full of upperclassmen. Of that group, one joined the Buckeyes back in 2019 and is now a leader. In the past two seasons, the Indianapolis area five-star recruit went from an early career injury to a consistent name for the program.
Now, with at least one season remaining, redshirt senior guard Rikki Harris is back with Ohio State for potentially one last season in scarlet and gray.
Name: Rikki Harris
Position: Guard
Class: Redshirt Senior
High School: North Central High School (Indianapolis, Indiana)
2022-23 Stats: 6.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, .430 FG%, .236 3FG%, .590 FT%
After ending the 21-22 season in the No. 3 role for the Buckeyes, head coach Kevin McGuff had Harris back on the bench through the end of December. Playing only 27 minutes in the first two games of the year, it looked like Harris was going to come off the bench behind Madison Greene, who returned from injury at the start of the year.
Harris made her big introduction on Nov. 30 in Louisville. McGuff brought the Indiana native into the game after freshman Cotie McMahon had a tough first quarter and sat after six minutes.
McGuff used Harris in a smaller lineup, with the only forward on the court in sophomore Taylor Thierry. Harris played a key role in the Buckeyes’ 96-77 win, leading the team with 10 rebounds in the 14-point comeback. After the game, Harris wasn’t expecting to play that night, fighting a nasty cold.
The battling didn’t stop there for Harris. Less than a month later, Harris was back in a position she hadn’t played since high school. With injuries to guards Jacy Sheldon and Madison Greene, Harris stepped into the starting lineup as point guard.
Staying in the role for all but one game through the end of the Big Ten Tournament, Harris scored 8.0 points, grabbed 4.5 rebounds and added 4.3 assists per game, all above her NCAA career averages.
Before the regular season was done, Harris’ best scoring outing of the year came against the Michigan Wolverines. Not known as a consistent three-point shooter in her time as a Buckeye, Harris went off. The guard hit 4-for-5 from deep, showing the extra practice put in on long-range shooting paying off for a career high 23 points.
For the NCAA Tournament, Harris’ minutes and production on the court lessened with the return of Sheldon. The guard didn’t start any of the four March Madness contests, scoring nine points across 65 total minutes.
Ohio State prides itself on defense and the environment in and around the team. Harris personifies all of that.
Harris is a player who says they’ll do whatever to help the team win, and it isn’t a meritless sports cliché. From grabbing rebounds and hitting a clutch shot with a horrible cold, jumping in as point guard and grabbing seven steals and 23 points against bitter rivals or diving onto a table to get the ball back to her team.
The guard will hustle, find open teammates and put herself into every play.
In terms of scoring, Harris isn’t a lights out shooter like a Taylor Mikesell or the best player at dishing assists like Sheldon or Greene, but there won’t be a game where Harris doesn’t make a crucial shot or find someone to do the same.
Defensively, watch for Harris to grab steals and force bad passes from opponents in the press. It’ll be interesting to see how Harris is used by McGuff this season, but with experience at almost every position, don’t expect a big minutes drop.
That also means anytime there’s someone out with injury, Harris’ name is the first to slide into the starting lineup to take their place.
With guard Celeste Taylor joining the Buckeyes, and forward Taylor Thierry’s play demanding a starting position, Harris is the likeliest candidate for the Buckeyes’ sixth player. Harris will be the first to come off the bench, most of the time.
Harris’ main role will be that third guard position, but as she’s shown over the past two seasons, there’s no one place she has to fit. Until guard Madison Greene comes back from injury, Harris could come in for small spurts as point guard. Harris’ defensive ability puts her as someone who can give Taylor a break too.
There’s also the forward position. The likelihood of McMahon and Thierry being off the court at the same time is minimal, but if it does happen Harris can slide into the No. 4 role for coach McGuff.
As the sixth player, Harris will have less of a chance for an offensive impact, but the guard showed shooting improvement at times over last season. Harris hitting career highs in shooting wouldn’t be a surprise.
Early in the fourth quarter in Ohio State’s 24-point comeback against the Indiana Hoosiers, Harris showed what she’s willing to do on a play. Harris’ jump to stop an Indiana pass led to the guard falling onto the media table and smashing a laptop. The guard even apologized while getting back on the court.
Miss a player preview? Here’s who you can read about so far:
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
A staple of the Buckeyes for the past two seasons has at least one season left to make an impact in scarlet and gray
The Ohio State women’s basketball team is a roster full of upperclassmen. Of that group, one joined the Buckeyes back in 2019 and is now a leader. In the past two seasons, the Indianapolis area five-star recruit went from an early career injury to a consistent name for the program.
Now, with at least one season remaining, redshirt senior guard Rikki Harris is back with Ohio State for potentially one last season in scarlet and gray.
Name: Rikki Harris
Position: Guard
Class: Redshirt Senior
High School: North Central High School (Indianapolis, Indiana)
2022-23 Stats: 6.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, .430 FG%, .236 3FG%, .590 FT%
Last Season
After ending the 21-22 season in the No. 3 role for the Buckeyes, head coach Kevin McGuff had Harris back on the bench through the end of December. Playing only 27 minutes in the first two games of the year, it looked like Harris was going to come off the bench behind Madison Greene, who returned from injury at the start of the year.
Harris made her big introduction on Nov. 30 in Louisville. McGuff brought the Indiana native into the game after freshman Cotie McMahon had a tough first quarter and sat after six minutes.
McGuff used Harris in a smaller lineup, with the only forward on the court in sophomore Taylor Thierry. Harris played a key role in the Buckeyes’ 96-77 win, leading the team with 10 rebounds in the 14-point comeback. After the game, Harris wasn’t expecting to play that night, fighting a nasty cold.
The battling didn’t stop there for Harris. Less than a month later, Harris was back in a position she hadn’t played since high school. With injuries to guards Jacy Sheldon and Madison Greene, Harris stepped into the starting lineup as point guard.
Staying in the role for all but one game through the end of the Big Ten Tournament, Harris scored 8.0 points, grabbed 4.5 rebounds and added 4.3 assists per game, all above her NCAA career averages.
Before the regular season was done, Harris’ best scoring outing of the year came against the Michigan Wolverines. Not known as a consistent three-point shooter in her time as a Buckeye, Harris went off. The guard hit 4-for-5 from deep, showing the extra practice put in on long-range shooting paying off for a career high 23 points.
For the NCAA Tournament, Harris’ minutes and production on the court lessened with the return of Sheldon. The guard didn’t start any of the four March Madness contests, scoring nine points across 65 total minutes.
What to Expect
Ohio State prides itself on defense and the environment in and around the team. Harris personifies all of that.
Harris is a player who says they’ll do whatever to help the team win, and it isn’t a meritless sports cliché. From grabbing rebounds and hitting a clutch shot with a horrible cold, jumping in as point guard and grabbing seven steals and 23 points against bitter rivals or diving onto a table to get the ball back to her team.
The guard will hustle, find open teammates and put herself into every play.
In terms of scoring, Harris isn’t a lights out shooter like a Taylor Mikesell or the best player at dishing assists like Sheldon or Greene, but there won’t be a game where Harris doesn’t make a crucial shot or find someone to do the same.
Defensively, watch for Harris to grab steals and force bad passes from opponents in the press. It’ll be interesting to see how Harris is used by McGuff this season, but with experience at almost every position, don’t expect a big minutes drop.
That also means anytime there’s someone out with injury, Harris’ name is the first to slide into the starting lineup to take their place.
Prediction
With guard Celeste Taylor joining the Buckeyes, and forward Taylor Thierry’s play demanding a starting position, Harris is the likeliest candidate for the Buckeyes’ sixth player. Harris will be the first to come off the bench, most of the time.
Harris’ main role will be that third guard position, but as she’s shown over the past two seasons, there’s no one place she has to fit. Until guard Madison Greene comes back from injury, Harris could come in for small spurts as point guard. Harris’ defensive ability puts her as someone who can give Taylor a break too.
There’s also the forward position. The likelihood of McMahon and Thierry being off the court at the same time is minimal, but if it does happen Harris can slide into the No. 4 role for coach McGuff.
As the sixth player, Harris will have less of a chance for an offensive impact, but the guard showed shooting improvement at times over last season. Harris hitting career highs in shooting wouldn’t be a surprise.
Highlights
Early in the fourth quarter in Ohio State’s 24-point comeback against the Indiana Hoosiers, Harris showed what she’s willing to do on a play. Harris’ jump to stop an Indiana pass led to the guard falling onto the media table and smashing a laptop. The guard even apologized while getting back on the court.
Miss a player preview? Here’s who you can read about so far:
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LGHL Great teams do not always make for great football, which is why this season is so fun
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Great teams do not always make for great football, which is why this season is so fun
JamiJurich 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
In a season with no clear favorite, the fans are the ultimate winners.
In recent memory, there have been college football seasons where the ultimate National Champion looked unbeatable. Teams such as the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs and the 2019 LSU Tigers have looked almost professional, steamrolling over even the ranked opponents in their wake.
Not so, this season.
Look at the top three teams.
Georgia (still holding that No. 1 spot after back-to-back titles) lost 13 players to the NFL Draft last year and though they remain undefeated and top-ranked, their cracks have started to show. Their margins of victory over unranked opponents like South Carolina and Auburn have been much narrower than they would have been in years past.
With three games against ranked opponents remaining (plus Florida on the road), Georgia could very well end the season with more than one loss.
Michigan very well might be the best team in the country at the moment, but we can’t say that for sure because they haven’t played anyone of note. To their credit, they have blown out their opponent in pretty much every single game. In their last three games, they’ve won 52-10 against Minnesota, beat Indiana 52-7, and shut out their in-state rivals Michigan State 49-0.
But would those results ring true against a Georgia or a powerhouse team? We probably won’t know until they play Ohio State in the final week of the season.
Ohio State, for its part, is currently ranked No. 3, and while the Buckeyes have two marquee wins under their belts (a 17-14 victory over Notre Dame and this past weekend’s 20-12 win over Penn State), both of those wins have looked shaky at best.
The Buckeye offense continues to struggle to run the football, desperately needing to come up with a solution before they play Michigan, while Kyle McCord goes hot and cold. When he’s on, he’s really on, but when he’s off, it’s hard to watch.
In addition to the top three teams in the country, Florida State, Washington, and Oklahoma remain undefeated.
And of the six remaining unbeaten teams, it’s anyone’s guess who will make the playoffs.
I’d argue this is a good thing.
The best seasons of football are the ones that come full of surprises. Why watch the game if the outcome is clear or feels predetermined? On any given day, all six of these teams have the ability to beat the other five, which adds a little element of chaos into the mix each Saturday.
In years where Georgia, Alabama, or even Clemson feel unbeatable, watching your team excel in a top-4 spot feels a little like prolonging your own funeral: It’s just a matter of time until they’re matched up with the professionals and get curb-stomped. And when the time comes, it’s absolutely miserable to watch.
This year? Nothing about the rest of this season is clear. We can make predictions all we want, but at the end of the day, it’s really anyone’s guess. It feels fresh.
Two of the top four will play each other on the last weekend of the regular season. The No. 1 seed has three tough games toward the end of conference play. A week ago, Michael Penix Jr. winning the Heisman Trophy seemed like maybe the only predictable thing left in this season.
Then he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble against an unranked Arizona State team, barely eking out a win this past Saturday.
Penix, Jr.’s two interceptions came just a week after Caleb Williams’ downfall. The reigning Heisman Winner had been favored to repeat through the first few weeks of the season until USC lost to Notre Dame in a performance that saw Williams throw three interceptions.
It’s a season where even the best teams, even the best players, have had moments of mediocrity.
And it’s been an absolute blast to watch.
As an analyst, we spend so much time trying to guess who will win based on Xs and Os, tangible statistics, and patterns. Sometimes, something intangible takes over though, for better or worse. It defies predicting.
So we tune into the game with no real answers, no clear picture of how things will shake out. Games surprise us. We get frustrated. We get excited. Sometimes we get to say, “I told you so” (me predicting Colorado’s Week 1 win over TCU) before putting our foot in our mouth a few weeks later (me when Colorado ultimately got blown out by Oregon in Week 4).
Ultimately, in a season like this, your team might not win every game. The teams are more evenly matched. There are holes to exploit. There’s more room for an upset.
There’s also more room for fun.
I hope you’re all enjoying this chaotic ride as much as I am.
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JamiJurich 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
In a season with no clear favorite, the fans are the ultimate winners.
In recent memory, there have been college football seasons where the ultimate National Champion looked unbeatable. Teams such as the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs and the 2019 LSU Tigers have looked almost professional, steamrolling over even the ranked opponents in their wake.
Not so, this season.
Look at the top three teams.
Georgia (still holding that No. 1 spot after back-to-back titles) lost 13 players to the NFL Draft last year and though they remain undefeated and top-ranked, their cracks have started to show. Their margins of victory over unranked opponents like South Carolina and Auburn have been much narrower than they would have been in years past.
With three games against ranked opponents remaining (plus Florida on the road), Georgia could very well end the season with more than one loss.
Michigan very well might be the best team in the country at the moment, but we can’t say that for sure because they haven’t played anyone of note. To their credit, they have blown out their opponent in pretty much every single game. In their last three games, they’ve won 52-10 against Minnesota, beat Indiana 52-7, and shut out their in-state rivals Michigan State 49-0.
But would those results ring true against a Georgia or a powerhouse team? We probably won’t know until they play Ohio State in the final week of the season.
Ohio State, for its part, is currently ranked No. 3, and while the Buckeyes have two marquee wins under their belts (a 17-14 victory over Notre Dame and this past weekend’s 20-12 win over Penn State), both of those wins have looked shaky at best.
The Buckeye offense continues to struggle to run the football, desperately needing to come up with a solution before they play Michigan, while Kyle McCord goes hot and cold. When he’s on, he’s really on, but when he’s off, it’s hard to watch.
In addition to the top three teams in the country, Florida State, Washington, and Oklahoma remain undefeated.
And of the six remaining unbeaten teams, it’s anyone’s guess who will make the playoffs.
I’d argue this is a good thing.
The best seasons of football are the ones that come full of surprises. Why watch the game if the outcome is clear or feels predetermined? On any given day, all six of these teams have the ability to beat the other five, which adds a little element of chaos into the mix each Saturday.
In years where Georgia, Alabama, or even Clemson feel unbeatable, watching your team excel in a top-4 spot feels a little like prolonging your own funeral: It’s just a matter of time until they’re matched up with the professionals and get curb-stomped. And when the time comes, it’s absolutely miserable to watch.
This year? Nothing about the rest of this season is clear. We can make predictions all we want, but at the end of the day, it’s really anyone’s guess. It feels fresh.
Two of the top four will play each other on the last weekend of the regular season. The No. 1 seed has three tough games toward the end of conference play. A week ago, Michael Penix Jr. winning the Heisman Trophy seemed like maybe the only predictable thing left in this season.
Then he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble against an unranked Arizona State team, barely eking out a win this past Saturday.
Penix, Jr.’s two interceptions came just a week after Caleb Williams’ downfall. The reigning Heisman Winner had been favored to repeat through the first few weeks of the season until USC lost to Notre Dame in a performance that saw Williams throw three interceptions.
It’s a season where even the best teams, even the best players, have had moments of mediocrity.
And it’s been an absolute blast to watch.
As an analyst, we spend so much time trying to guess who will win based on Xs and Os, tangible statistics, and patterns. Sometimes, something intangible takes over though, for better or worse. It defies predicting.
So we tune into the game with no real answers, no clear picture of how things will shake out. Games surprise us. We get frustrated. We get excited. Sometimes we get to say, “I told you so” (me predicting Colorado’s Week 1 win over TCU) before putting our foot in our mouth a few weeks later (me when Colorado ultimately got blown out by Oregon in Week 4).
Ultimately, in a season like this, your team might not win every game. The teams are more evenly matched. There are holes to exploit. There’s more room for an upset.
There’s also more room for fun.
I hope you’re all enjoying this chaotic ride as much as I am.
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2025 TX DB/LB Jonah Williams (Texas Signee)
- By brodybuck21
- Football Recruiting
- 7 Replies
247
Rivals
HUDL
ON3
Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Defensive Back/Linebacker
School: Galveston (TX) Ball
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 200 lbs
One kid who’s quietly been a very big priority for Perry Eliano is Jonah Williams out of Houston. Made his first visit to Ohio State this weekend and loved it.
Rivals
HUDL
ON3
Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Defensive Back/Linebacker
School: Galveston (TX) Ball
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 200 lbs
One kid who’s quietly been a very big priority for Perry Eliano is Jonah Williams out of Houston. Made his first visit to Ohio State this weekend and loved it.
Williams was initially being recruited as a Safety which is why Eliano was his recruiter, along with Eliano being the Houston area recruiter, but he’s now on our LB board. If you’re looking for a kid who could be another Sonny Styles, this is him.
LGHL Silver Bullets Podcast: Penn State rewind and Wisconsin preview
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Silver Bullets Podcast: Penn State rewind and Wisconsin preview
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Ohio State outlasted one physical opponent and will immediately face another.
The Buckeyes passed their second huge test of the 2023 college football season, outlasting the Penn State Nittany Lions 20-12 in a rock fight of a game. The Buckeye defense played lights out, but it probably helped that James Franklin decided not to try to persistently run, because Drew Allar did not look much like a five-star recruit on Saturday. That could be due to the pressure of the OSU front, the hostile atmosphere, or some other factor, but despite a couple of decent early runs, Penn State curiously strayed from it a bit and became both predictable and ineffective.
We broke down Saturday’s scarlet-out win, and checked back on our score predictions and our picks to click to see how close our pregame imaginations came to the real thing. After that, we took our weekly stroll through the Big Ten scoreboard to see which B1G West team threw away its turn in the division’s driver’s seat on Saturday (it was Iowa). Wisconsin appears to have moved to the top of the pile out west after a complete collapse by Illinois in the fourth quarter. We also have to tell our children about a bowl-eligible Rutgers team.
Finally, we looked ahead to the Buckeyes’ trip to Madison for a Saturday night game at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin figures to be every bit as physical and tough as Penn State. The Badgers may not have the Nittany Lions’ talent across the board, but they’ve got the intimidating home crowd in a night game, and this will be a good test to see if Ohio State can keep from resting on its laurels after a hard-fought win against a fellow Top 10 opponent.
We’ll be here with you every week from now until the end of the 2023 Ohio State football season. We’d love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
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Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Ohio State outlasted one physical opponent and will immediately face another.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
The Buckeyes passed their second huge test of the 2023 college football season, outlasting the Penn State Nittany Lions 20-12 in a rock fight of a game. The Buckeye defense played lights out, but it probably helped that James Franklin decided not to try to persistently run, because Drew Allar did not look much like a five-star recruit on Saturday. That could be due to the pressure of the OSU front, the hostile atmosphere, or some other factor, but despite a couple of decent early runs, Penn State curiously strayed from it a bit and became both predictable and ineffective.
We broke down Saturday’s scarlet-out win, and checked back on our score predictions and our picks to click to see how close our pregame imaginations came to the real thing. After that, we took our weekly stroll through the Big Ten scoreboard to see which B1G West team threw away its turn in the division’s driver’s seat on Saturday (it was Iowa). Wisconsin appears to have moved to the top of the pile out west after a complete collapse by Illinois in the fourth quarter. We also have to tell our children about a bowl-eligible Rutgers team.
Finally, we looked ahead to the Buckeyes’ trip to Madison for a Saturday night game at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin figures to be every bit as physical and tough as Penn State. The Badgers may not have the Nittany Lions’ talent across the board, but they’ve got the intimidating home crowd in a night game, and this will be a good test to see if Ohio State can keep from resting on its laurels after a hard-fought win against a fellow Top 10 opponent.
We’ll be here with you every week from now until the end of the 2023 Ohio State football season. We’d love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State trending for four-star OT, earn prediction for five-star corner
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Ohio State trending for four-star OT, earn prediction for five-star corner
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe via @big_carter72 on X
Following Ohio State’s victory over Penn State, the Buckeyes are trending for a 2025 in-state four-star offensive tackle.
Ohio State is now 7-0 following a 20-12 win over Penn State. With another top-10 win under their belt, the Buckeyes will travel to Camp Randell to take on former Ohio State coach Luke Fickell and Wisconsin. Because of this, the majority of the headlines surrounding the Ohio State football team will focus on the upcoming game, and rightfully so. However, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes will continue to make recruiting a priority and will continue to make the recruiting headlines.
Ohio State had a boatload of recruits on campus for last weekend’s game against Penn State. The majority of the 2024 recruiting class was on hand, but so were plenty of targets in both the 2025 and 2026 classes. The matchup was the first in-game experience for many of the Ohio State targets in future classes, and the atmosphere in ‘The Shoe’ Saturday has proven to be a powerful recruiting tool once again.
Following a visit for the Penn State game, the Buckeyes have been rumored to be the leaders in multiple recruitments, including 2025 offensive tackle Carter Lowe (Toledo, OH / Whitmer).
Ryan Day has made it known that recruiting Ohio is a priority of his. Day believes that keeping the state’s best recruits at home is a recipe for success. As a result, Ohio State got a head start in Lowe’s recruitment, offering him back in January. He then took his first visit with Ohio State back in March for a spring recruiting camp. Shortly after, he attended another recruiting camp in June, and was named the camp’s MVP.
Saturday’s visit was his first in Columbus for a game day experience and it seems like the visit has already paid dividends for the Buckeyes. Shortly after the game Saturday 247Sports Director of Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, submitted a Crystal Ball prediction for Lowe in favor of the Buckeyes. The selection is now the second favoring Ohio State, as Ohio State Insider Bill Kurelic submitted a prediction for the Buckeyes earlier this month.
These predictions are far from guarantees, but Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye and Ryan Day have to like where they sit following the visit. However, the Buckeyes are not completely out of the woods and they have some stiff competition for Lowe. The blue-chip prospect holds scholarship offers from programs like Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, etc.
Ohio State is in a great position for Lowe, but this doesn’t seem like a recruitment that will be ending soon. Lowe will likely take multiple visits with other schools that have offered him, especially Michigan, West Virginia and Georgia who also seem to be gaining in his recruitment.
Lowe is the No. 13 OT in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and is the No. 149 overall prospect. He is also the No. 6 recruit from the state of Ohio.
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Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe via @big_carter72 on X
Following Ohio State’s victory over Penn State, the Buckeyes are trending for a 2025 in-state four-star offensive tackle.
Ohio State is now 7-0 following a 20-12 win over Penn State. With another top-10 win under their belt, the Buckeyes will travel to Camp Randell to take on former Ohio State coach Luke Fickell and Wisconsin. Because of this, the majority of the headlines surrounding the Ohio State football team will focus on the upcoming game, and rightfully so. However, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes will continue to make recruiting a priority and will continue to make the recruiting headlines.
Ohio four-star OT trending towards Buckeyes
Ohio State had a boatload of recruits on campus for last weekend’s game against Penn State. The majority of the 2024 recruiting class was on hand, but so were plenty of targets in both the 2025 and 2026 classes. The matchup was the first in-game experience for many of the Ohio State targets in future classes, and the atmosphere in ‘The Shoe’ Saturday has proven to be a powerful recruiting tool once again.
Following a visit for the Penn State game, the Buckeyes have been rumored to be the leaders in multiple recruitments, including 2025 offensive tackle Carter Lowe (Toledo, OH / Whitmer).
Ryan Day has made it known that recruiting Ohio is a priority of his. Day believes that keeping the state’s best recruits at home is a recipe for success. As a result, Ohio State got a head start in Lowe’s recruitment, offering him back in January. He then took his first visit with Ohio State back in March for a spring recruiting camp. Shortly after, he attended another recruiting camp in June, and was named the camp’s MVP.
Saturday’s visit was his first in Columbus for a game day experience and it seems like the visit has already paid dividends for the Buckeyes. Shortly after the game Saturday 247Sports Director of Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, submitted a Crystal Ball prediction for Lowe in favor of the Buckeyes. The selection is now the second favoring Ohio State, as Ohio State Insider Bill Kurelic submitted a prediction for the Buckeyes earlier this month.
These predictions are far from guarantees, but Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye and Ryan Day have to like where they sit following the visit. However, the Buckeyes are not completely out of the woods and they have some stiff competition for Lowe. The blue-chip prospect holds scholarship offers from programs like Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, etc.
Ohio State is in a great position for Lowe, but this doesn’t seem like a recruitment that will be ending soon. Lowe will likely take multiple visits with other schools that have offered him, especially Michigan, West Virginia and Georgia who also seem to be gaining in his recruitment.
Lowe is the No. 13 OT in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and is the No. 149 overall prospect. He is also the No. 6 recruit from the state of Ohio.
Quick Hits
- Land-Grant Holy Land’s own Gene Ross wrote yesterday about how the Buckeyes are trending for five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez. The Buckeyes gained even more steam in his recruitment on Monday, as On3’s recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman logged an expert prediction for Sanchez in favor of the Buckeyes. Again, these predictions are not guarantees, but they do offer an insight into how a recruit is currently feeling in their recruitment.
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LGHL Uncut Podcast: Chris Holtmann, players discuss Ohio State’s pre-season win over Dayton
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Uncut Podcast: Chris Holtmann, players discuss Ohio State’s pre-season win over Dayton
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The final score was far less significant than the money that was raised, but getting a win in Dayton was a long time coming.
Throughout the season, Land-Grant will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Following Ohio State’s 78-70 win over Dayton on Sunday night during a charity exhibition match, Chris Holtmann, Jamison Battle, Bruce Thornton, and Devin Royal spoke to the media about the game, their thoughts about the team moving forward, and mental health.
Holtmann spoke first and repeated over and over that the result of today’s game was the least important aspect of the event. He told his team that, “everything coming out of today would be positive, regardless of how this ends.” It took him a while to get through some questions on mental health, taking some time to hold his composure before speaking on something that’s important to him and the Ohio State program.
Afterward, Battle, Royal, and Thornton spoke to the media about the results of the game, what can be improved on, and their thoughts on mental health, and what they do to keep everything right in their mind during a grueling basketball season.
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The final score was far less significant than the money that was raised, but getting a win in Dayton was a long time coming.
Throughout the season, Land-Grant 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 | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Following Ohio State’s 78-70 win over Dayton on Sunday night during a charity exhibition match, Chris Holtmann, Jamison Battle, Bruce Thornton, and Devin Royal spoke to the media about the game, their thoughts about the team moving forward, and mental health.
Holtmann spoke first and repeated over and over that the result of today’s game was the least important aspect of the event. He told his team that, “everything coming out of today would be positive, regardless of how this ends.” It took him a while to get through some questions on mental health, taking some time to hold his composure before speaking on something that’s important to him and the Ohio State program.
Afterward, Battle, Royal, and Thornton spoke to the media about the results of the game, what can be improved on, and their thoughts on mental health, and what they do to keep everything right in their mind during a grueling basketball season.
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Who was the unsung hero of the Penn State game?
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- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Who was the unsung hero of the Penn State game?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Which lesser-talked-about Buckeye deserves more credit for the big win on Saturday.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Who was the unsung hero of the Penn State game?
While not pretty at all points throughout the game, Ohio State secured its second top-10 victory of the 2023 season on Saturday, this one coming at the expense of James Franklin and his previously No. 7 Penn State squad. The Buckeyes did just enough on offense, smothered the Nittany Lions on defense, and despite a final score that read 20-12, pretty much imposed their will for four quarters. As a result, Ryan Day ran his record to 18-6 against ranked opponents and a perfect 5-0 against PSU.
That last sentence has no bearing on what Gene and I are about to discuss, but I gotta defend my guy when I can.
Unlike most games that Day has won in Columbus and at Ohio State, it was his team’s defense that turned in a dominating performance against Penn State. The Buckeyes’ offense was once again stagnant for long stretches and unable to establish any semblance of a ground game, leaving most of the heavy lifting to Jim Knowles, Larry Johnson, Tim Walton, Perry Eliano, and several standout players on the defensive side of the ball.
Saturday’s performance against the Nittany Lions was, in my opinion, the best by an OSU defense under Day and hopefully a sign of things to come for that particular unit. At the very least, it was proof that Knowles and Co. are heading in the right direction.
So who gets or deserves the most credit for Saturday’s defensive destruction of Penn State? That was something my writing partner and I pondered before realizing the error of our ways... Because it’s a trick question, you see.
In reality, all defensive players and coaches deserve a tremendous amount of credit for limiting the Nittany Lions to two field goals and a meaningless late touchdown. Glory does not go to just one person, although Knowles is likely to receive the lion’s share (see what I did there?) of praise.
Regardless, what Gene and I decided to do for this edition of You’re Nuts is/was look at a few ‘unsung heroes’ from the PSU game. Players who don’t typically get their name(s) added to the marquee but turned in a baller performance against the Nittany Lions. Who did the dirty work, stepped up in place of others, and/or just made things happen when called upon?
And to kick things off, I just want to let you (all) know that I plan on cheating. Blatantly. Because if you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’. Plus, Gene pretty much laid claim to the player I would have picked, forcing me to call an audible. Which is no big deal. Because we adjust, adapt, and dominate, just like Larry Johnson has done with his ‘Rushmen’. So he gets my nod as an unsung hero — for not only the Penn State game, but also the entire month of October.
Dating back to last season (and possibly even further), OSU fans, including myself, have expressed frustration with the Buckeyes’ pass rush. Or lack thereof. Where are the sacks? Why can’t Tuimoloau and Sawyer get any pressure? Who let Jean-Baptiste on the field? And for the most part, I believe this frustration was warranted. Ohio State finished near the bottom of the Big Ten in sacks in 2022 and was unable to generate pressure against the Michigans and Georgias of the world, when it was needed most.
The same pass rush issues appeared to be carrying over into this season, as OSU was credited with just five sacks in the team’s first four games. But at the same time, explosive plays (for the opponent) were down, guys were at least getting their hands on passes, and the Buckeyes were generally stout against the run. So I started to accept the fact that this group was not destined to be the ‘84 Bears... And that they could still be effective without a killer pass rush.
Then something clicked. The boys started getting home. Ohio State racked up five combined sacks against Maryland and Purdue, and Tuimoloau in particular started to resemble the monster we saw against Penn State last year. And what did he do against the Nittany Lions this past Saturday? Another sack to go with several impact plays.
However, Tuimoloau was not the only defensive lineman to make an impact. Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry were also credited with sacks, and Sawyer and Ty Hamilton led the DL group with three tackles each. Tyleik Williams was pushing Nittany Lions around, and Mike Hall Jr. was just sort of waiting for a big play that never came his way.
The entire DL group made life very uncomfortable for Penn State QB Drew Allar, as well as the Nittany Lions’ running backs. And this has been my long way of saying that Larry Johnson deserves a ton of credit for their improved play. The GOAT has been on the receiving end of much recent criticism, some of it deserved. But he continued to put his faith in Tuimoloau, Sawyer, and others – while coaching them up and teaching technique – resulting in a big-time performance in a big-time game.
So here’s to LJ. An unsung hero for many years and again against his former employer. Maybe the Buckeyes should keep him around just a little bit longer.
I do have to give credit where credit is due. I was very critical of Larry Johnson’s unit earlier this season. The defensive line was not getting the job done, with little to no pressure on opposing quarterbacks through the first several weeks despite a massive talent advantage for the Buckeyes. While it is still crazy to me to have a defensive coordinator and defensive line coach that are openly feuding, with Johnson still not allowing Jim Knowles to employ his signature ‘Jack’ position, the defensive line has rounded into form, and really put it all together against Penn State.
In our various postgame recaps here at Land-Grant Holy Land, we have given a ton of credit to many of the deserving players that helped Ohio State win that game on Saturday. Marvin Harrison Jr. and J.T. Tuimoloau are two of the obvious names that led their respective units, but guys like Cody Simon, Josh Proctor, Lathan Ransom, Jermaine Mathews Jr. and for the most part the offensive line also deserve a ton of praise for their performances against the Nittany Lions, among others.
However, the guy that I really wanted to highlight here is Jordan Hancock.
To the average non-Ohio State fan watching the game, they may not have even noticed that the Buckeyes were without their top cover corner in Denzel Burke, who was sidelined with a non-specified injury sustained in the second half against Purdue. To hold Penn State quarterback Drew Allar to 18-of-42 passing — a 42.9% completion rate good, the worst of Allar’s career as a starter — without Burke on the field is an incredibly impressive feat. A large part of that lockdown effort was because of the exceptional play of Hancock.
It has been a long and winding road for the Georgia native to get to this point. The No. 5 cornerback and No. 73 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class, Hancock was originally committed to Clemson before flipping to Ohio State in the summer of 2020. His career in Columbus got off to a rocky start, with his 2022 season being cut short as a result of a nagging hamstring injury. It led to Hancock’s breakout campaign arriving a year later than expected, but now healthy, the talented DB is finally able to put his full skillset on display, and he has become one of the Buckeyes’ most versatile players in the secondary.
When Burke is healthy, Hancock has spent the majority of the season as Ohio State’s nickel/slot corner, with Burke and Davison Igbinosun patrolling the outside. Without Burke, Hancock spent time both outside and in the slot, showcasing that versatility and a willingness to do whatever is asked of him to help the team win. In just his second official start of his Buckeye career, Hancock registered five total tackles — four of them solo — and a pass breakup on a 3rd-and-1 play in the fourth quarter. Burke’s absence could have really hindered Ohio State’s defense, but Hancock’s strong performance kept it at an elite level.
The freshman Mathews deserves a ton of credit as well, stepping into a larger role with no prior starting experience to draw on. Having already registered a pick-six this season, it is looking more and more like the former No. 1 player in Ohio in the 2023 class has a chance to be one of the next great Silver Bullets. But for now, when Burke is healthy — and there is a chance that he returns this weekend against Wisconsin — Hancock will continue to see the majority of the reps alongside Burke and Igbinosun.
Either way, Tim Walton has to feel good having at least four really good players in his room he can have the utmost confidence in day in and day out. Hancock did not fill up the stat sheet against Penn State, but stepping in for one of Ohio State’s best defensive players without the unit missing a beat is certainly impressive and worthy of a shoutout.
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Josh Dooley 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
Which lesser-talked-about Buckeye deserves more credit for the big win on Saturday.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Who was the unsung hero of the Penn State game?
Josh’s Take
While not pretty at all points throughout the game, Ohio State secured its second top-10 victory of the 2023 season on Saturday, this one coming at the expense of James Franklin and his previously No. 7 Penn State squad. The Buckeyes did just enough on offense, smothered the Nittany Lions on defense, and despite a final score that read 20-12, pretty much imposed their will for four quarters. As a result, Ryan Day ran his record to 18-6 against ranked opponents and a perfect 5-0 against PSU.
That last sentence has no bearing on what Gene and I are about to discuss, but I gotta defend my guy when I can.
Unlike most games that Day has won in Columbus and at Ohio State, it was his team’s defense that turned in a dominating performance against Penn State. The Buckeyes’ offense was once again stagnant for long stretches and unable to establish any semblance of a ground game, leaving most of the heavy lifting to Jim Knowles, Larry Johnson, Tim Walton, Perry Eliano, and several standout players on the defensive side of the ball.
Saturday’s performance against the Nittany Lions was, in my opinion, the best by an OSU defense under Day and hopefully a sign of things to come for that particular unit. At the very least, it was proof that Knowles and Co. are heading in the right direction.
So who gets or deserves the most credit for Saturday’s defensive destruction of Penn State? That was something my writing partner and I pondered before realizing the error of our ways... Because it’s a trick question, you see.
In reality, all defensive players and coaches deserve a tremendous amount of credit for limiting the Nittany Lions to two field goals and a meaningless late touchdown. Glory does not go to just one person, although Knowles is likely to receive the lion’s share (see what I did there?) of praise.
Regardless, what Gene and I decided to do for this edition of You’re Nuts is/was look at a few ‘unsung heroes’ from the PSU game. Players who don’t typically get their name(s) added to the marquee but turned in a baller performance against the Nittany Lions. Who did the dirty work, stepped up in place of others, and/or just made things happen when called upon?
And to kick things off, I just want to let you (all) know that I plan on cheating. Blatantly. Because if you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’. Plus, Gene pretty much laid claim to the player I would have picked, forcing me to call an audible. Which is no big deal. Because we adjust, adapt, and dominate, just like Larry Johnson has done with his ‘Rushmen’. So he gets my nod as an unsung hero — for not only the Penn State game, but also the entire month of October.
Dating back to last season (and possibly even further), OSU fans, including myself, have expressed frustration with the Buckeyes’ pass rush. Or lack thereof. Where are the sacks? Why can’t Tuimoloau and Sawyer get any pressure? Who let Jean-Baptiste on the field? And for the most part, I believe this frustration was warranted. Ohio State finished near the bottom of the Big Ten in sacks in 2022 and was unable to generate pressure against the Michigans and Georgias of the world, when it was needed most.
The same pass rush issues appeared to be carrying over into this season, as OSU was credited with just five sacks in the team’s first four games. But at the same time, explosive plays (for the opponent) were down, guys were at least getting their hands on passes, and the Buckeyes were generally stout against the run. So I started to accept the fact that this group was not destined to be the ‘84 Bears... And that they could still be effective without a killer pass rush.
Then something clicked. The boys started getting home. Ohio State racked up five combined sacks against Maryland and Purdue, and Tuimoloau in particular started to resemble the monster we saw against Penn State last year. And what did he do against the Nittany Lions this past Saturday? Another sack to go with several impact plays.
However, Tuimoloau was not the only defensive lineman to make an impact. Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry were also credited with sacks, and Sawyer and Ty Hamilton led the DL group with three tackles each. Tyleik Williams was pushing Nittany Lions around, and Mike Hall Jr. was just sort of waiting for a big play that never came his way.
The entire DL group made life very uncomfortable for Penn State QB Drew Allar, as well as the Nittany Lions’ running backs. And this has been my long way of saying that Larry Johnson deserves a ton of credit for their improved play. The GOAT has been on the receiving end of much recent criticism, some of it deserved. But he continued to put his faith in Tuimoloau, Sawyer, and others – while coaching them up and teaching technique – resulting in a big-time performance in a big-time game.
So here’s to LJ. An unsung hero for many years and again against his former employer. Maybe the Buckeyes should keep him around just a little bit longer.
Gene’s Take
I do have to give credit where credit is due. I was very critical of Larry Johnson’s unit earlier this season. The defensive line was not getting the job done, with little to no pressure on opposing quarterbacks through the first several weeks despite a massive talent advantage for the Buckeyes. While it is still crazy to me to have a defensive coordinator and defensive line coach that are openly feuding, with Johnson still not allowing Jim Knowles to employ his signature ‘Jack’ position, the defensive line has rounded into form, and really put it all together against Penn State.
In our various postgame recaps here at Land-Grant Holy Land, we have given a ton of credit to many of the deserving players that helped Ohio State win that game on Saturday. Marvin Harrison Jr. and J.T. Tuimoloau are two of the obvious names that led their respective units, but guys like Cody Simon, Josh Proctor, Lathan Ransom, Jermaine Mathews Jr. and for the most part the offensive line also deserve a ton of praise for their performances against the Nittany Lions, among others.
However, the guy that I really wanted to highlight here is Jordan Hancock.
To the average non-Ohio State fan watching the game, they may not have even noticed that the Buckeyes were without their top cover corner in Denzel Burke, who was sidelined with a non-specified injury sustained in the second half against Purdue. To hold Penn State quarterback Drew Allar to 18-of-42 passing — a 42.9% completion rate good, the worst of Allar’s career as a starter — without Burke on the field is an incredibly impressive feat. A large part of that lockdown effort was because of the exceptional play of Hancock.
It has been a long and winding road for the Georgia native to get to this point. The No. 5 cornerback and No. 73 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class, Hancock was originally committed to Clemson before flipping to Ohio State in the summer of 2020. His career in Columbus got off to a rocky start, with his 2022 season being cut short as a result of a nagging hamstring injury. It led to Hancock’s breakout campaign arriving a year later than expected, but now healthy, the talented DB is finally able to put his full skillset on display, and he has become one of the Buckeyes’ most versatile players in the secondary.
When Burke is healthy, Hancock has spent the majority of the season as Ohio State’s nickel/slot corner, with Burke and Davison Igbinosun patrolling the outside. Without Burke, Hancock spent time both outside and in the slot, showcasing that versatility and a willingness to do whatever is asked of him to help the team win. In just his second official start of his Buckeye career, Hancock registered five total tackles — four of them solo — and a pass breakup on a 3rd-and-1 play in the fourth quarter. Burke’s absence could have really hindered Ohio State’s defense, but Hancock’s strong performance kept it at an elite level.
The freshman Mathews deserves a ton of credit as well, stepping into a larger role with no prior starting experience to draw on. Having already registered a pick-six this season, it is looking more and more like the former No. 1 player in Ohio in the 2023 class has a chance to be one of the next great Silver Bullets. But for now, when Burke is healthy — and there is a chance that he returns this weekend against Wisconsin — Hancock will continue to see the majority of the reps alongside Burke and Igbinosun.
Either way, Tim Walton has to feel good having at least four really good players in his room he can have the utmost confidence in day in and day out. Hancock did not fill up the stat sheet against Penn State, but stepping in for one of Ohio State’s best defensive players without the unit missing a beat is certainly impressive and worthy of a shoutout.
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LGHL Big Ten Men’s Basketball Team Previews: Purdue Boilermakers
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Big Ten Men’s Basketball Team Previews: Purdue Boilermakers
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
Can the Boilermakers veteran-laden team make a deep tournament run this season?
As we enter the fall season and college football gets underway, college basketball is right around the corner. As always, to prepare you for the season, Land-Grant Holy Land will be publishing Big Ten Team Previews and Ohio State Basketball Player Previews, starting now with the Team Previews.
Team: Purdue Boilermakers
Head coach: Matt Painter
2022-23 record: 29-6 (15-5)
All-time record against Ohio State: 60-70
Returners: Zach Edey, Caleb Furst, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, Mason Gillis, Ethan Morton, Brian Waddell, Camden Heide, William Berg
Departures: Brandon Newman, David Jenkins
Newcomers: Myles Colvin, Lance Jones
Purdue is returning most of its roster that went 29-6 last season and won the Big Ten, so the expectations are high. The Boilermakers will start the season as the No. 3 team in the AP poll, only behind Kansas and Duke.
Last season, Purdue snuck up on people with some big non-conference wins and started the season 14-1. The emergence of freshman guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer as solid starters for Purdue immediately was something no one really saw coming, and it helped Zach Edey to have one of the best seasons of any player over the last couple of seasons.
Edey averaged a double-double with 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds per game to win the 2022 National Player of the Year. Smith and Loyer were second and third on the team in scoring at 11.0 and 9.7 points per game, respectively.
Another key piece to this team will be top-75 freshman Myles Colvin. The 6-foot-5 wing is a versatile two-way player who can provide a spark with Smith and Loyer. If he can make an immediate impact, which he is expected to, that will be another playmaker that the Boilermakers have outside of Edey.
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Caleb Furst, Mason Gillis, and Ethan Morton are all role players who can give Matt Painter 20-30 minutes per night and help complement the starting guards and Edey.
There might not be a team in college basketball with more expectations than Purdue this season. They were the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Big Ten Champions, and are returning almost all of its production from last season.
However, with their loss to Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round, all eyes are on West Lafayette to see how they will respond to the disappointing end to the season. Only one other No. 1 seed has lost to a No. 16 seed in the first round, and that team won a national championship the next season. No pressure, Purdue.
Edey is back, and there is no reason to believe he won’t be the most dominant player in college basketball again this season. The main thing that will decide whether or not Purdue is a great regular season team that loses in the Elite Eight or is a legitimate national title contender will be the development of the two guards in Smith and Loyer.
Painter is one of the best coaches in the country, and the Boilermakers have the best player in the country. If Smith and Loyer are able to take a solid sophomore jump, the Boilermakers can compete with anyone in the country and could easily be the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament again.
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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
Can the Boilermakers veteran-laden team make a deep tournament run this season?
As we enter the fall season and college football gets underway, college basketball is right around the corner. As always, to prepare you for the season, Land-Grant Holy Land will be publishing Big Ten Team Previews and Ohio State Basketball Player Previews, starting now with the Team Previews.
Team: Purdue Boilermakers
Head coach: Matt Painter
2022-23 record: 29-6 (15-5)
All-time record against Ohio State: 60-70
Returners: Zach Edey, Caleb Furst, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, Mason Gillis, Ethan Morton, Brian Waddell, Camden Heide, William Berg
Departures: Brandon Newman, David Jenkins
Newcomers: Myles Colvin, Lance Jones
Outlook
Purdue is returning most of its roster that went 29-6 last season and won the Big Ten, so the expectations are high. The Boilermakers will start the season as the No. 3 team in the AP poll, only behind Kansas and Duke.
Last season, Purdue snuck up on people with some big non-conference wins and started the season 14-1. The emergence of freshman guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer as solid starters for Purdue immediately was something no one really saw coming, and it helped Zach Edey to have one of the best seasons of any player over the last couple of seasons.
Edey averaged a double-double with 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds per game to win the 2022 National Player of the Year. Smith and Loyer were second and third on the team in scoring at 11.0 and 9.7 points per game, respectively.
Another key piece to this team will be top-75 freshman Myles Colvin. The 6-foot-5 wing is a versatile two-way player who can provide a spark with Smith and Loyer. If he can make an immediate impact, which he is expected to, that will be another playmaker that the Boilermakers have outside of Edey.
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Caleb Furst, Mason Gillis, and Ethan Morton are all role players who can give Matt Painter 20-30 minutes per night and help complement the starting guards and Edey.
Prediction
There might not be a team in college basketball with more expectations than Purdue this season. They were the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Big Ten Champions, and are returning almost all of its production from last season.
However, with their loss to Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round, all eyes are on West Lafayette to see how they will respond to the disappointing end to the season. Only one other No. 1 seed has lost to a No. 16 seed in the first round, and that team won a national championship the next season. No pressure, Purdue.
Edey is back, and there is no reason to believe he won’t be the most dominant player in college basketball again this season. The main thing that will decide whether or not Purdue is a great regular season team that loses in the Elite Eight or is a legitimate national title contender will be the development of the two guards in Smith and Loyer.
Painter is one of the best coaches in the country, and the Boilermakers have the best player in the country. If Smith and Loyer are able to take a solid sophomore jump, the Boilermakers can compete with anyone in the country and could easily be the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament again.
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LGHL Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Taiyier Parks
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Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Taiyier Parks
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
A look at the Buckeyes’ new big who gives options in the paint.
Ohio State women’s basketball became a transfer hotspot in the 2023 offseason. The Buckeyes added names from the ACC, SEC and one from a rival Big Ten school. Up next in a series previewing everyone on the 15-player roster is the Big Ten defector: Forward Taiyier Parks.
The graduate senior has one last season to make an impact, and the former head coach Kevin McGuff recruiting target has a lot to bring to Ohio State before running out of NCAA eligibility.
Name: Taiyier Parks
Position: Forward
Class: Graduate Senior
High School: North Royalton High School (Cleveland, Ohio)
2022-23 Stats: 8.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.5 apg, .575 FG%, .000 3FG%, .560FT%
Michigan State had a difficult 2022-23. The Spartans ended ninth in the Big Ten with a 7-10 conference record, and sat outside of the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. When Michigan State was winning, it was connected to the success of Parks.
When the Spartans got Parks involved, it usually ended in good things. In six games where Parks scored at least 14 points, Michigan State won; Take the shock upset win Sparty had over the Indiana Hoosiers.
Parks had 18 points, eight steals and two steals in the victory over the then No. 4 team in the country. That was against All-American forward MacKenzie Holmes. That kind of production came with Parks only playing half of the game too, playing off the bench for 20 minutes.
Then-Spartans head coach Suzy Merchant never seemed sold on keeping Parks as a starting option. Last season, Parks made her most starts in a season, 11 in 29 games. Whether it was from the starting lineup or off the bench, Parks made an impact. Those 18 points against Indiana was a career high. On Dec. 5 against the Purdue Boilermakers, Parks tied a career high with four steals.
Parks makes a living working inside the paint. The 6-foot-3 forward won’t be easy for opponents to get around, because not only is Parks strong but she is by no means a statue under the basket. The Cleveland, Ohio native moves stride for stride with opponents hoping for an easy layup.
There’s also rebounding. Last season, the Buckeyes were 12th in the Big Ten with 35.4 rebounds per game, and 10th in allowing rebounds at a 37.6 per game clip. Parks averaged 5.2 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game, mostly off the bench. That kind of production gives Ohio State’s leading rebounder Taylor Thierry a chance to have a break, or combine them to give opponents less of an opportunity for second chance baskets.
On both sides of the court, Parks will make her impact with her back to the basket. Defensively, its clogging lanes and making shooters think twice about going to the rim, but the strength also shines offensively.
Expect Parks to post up on opponents. The forward can back defenders closer to the basket for turnaround layups or use quick hands to find an open player on the perimeter. Parks will also be a target for teammates.
Last year, forward Cotie McMahon drew extra attention from defenders. This year, the sophomore has Parks to catch and hit easy baskets in the paint when the defense decides to call for help.
The best guess for Parks is a strong role-player coming off the bench early in games. While McGuff focuses and talks about defense more than anything else, starting Parks game in and game out isn’t likely.
That doesn’t mean Parks doesn’t make an impact. With the forward’s ability to close down players attacking the basket with mobility and blocking ability, McGuff has a defensive game changer at his disposal. Especially if Ohio State starts having trouble in games against some of the best bigs in the conference like Illinois’ Kendall Bostic and Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski.
Those moments will just come behind Rebeka Mikulášiková and Eboni Walker.
Earning more minutes is contingent on how Parks adjusts to McGuff’s system after playing for Merchant for the past four years. If knowledge of how the coach wants her to play and conditioning grow, expect Parks to have that much stronger of an impact.
Get an entire NCAA career’s worth of highlights for Parks. Watch the defensive ability and strong paint presence that Ohio State fans can see this season.
Miss a player preview? Here’s who you can read about so far:
Jacy Sheldon
Rebeka Mikulášiková
Diana Collins
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
A look at the Buckeyes’ new big who gives options in the paint.
Ohio State women’s basketball became a transfer hotspot in the 2023 offseason. The Buckeyes added names from the ACC, SEC and one from a rival Big Ten school. Up next in a series previewing everyone on the 15-player roster is the Big Ten defector: Forward Taiyier Parks.
The graduate senior has one last season to make an impact, and the former head coach Kevin McGuff recruiting target has a lot to bring to Ohio State before running out of NCAA eligibility.
Name: Taiyier Parks
Position: Forward
Class: Graduate Senior
High School: North Royalton High School (Cleveland, Ohio)
2022-23 Stats: 8.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.5 apg, .575 FG%, .000 3FG%, .560FT%
Last Season
Michigan State had a difficult 2022-23. The Spartans ended ninth in the Big Ten with a 7-10 conference record, and sat outside of the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. When Michigan State was winning, it was connected to the success of Parks.
When the Spartans got Parks involved, it usually ended in good things. In six games where Parks scored at least 14 points, Michigan State won; Take the shock upset win Sparty had over the Indiana Hoosiers.
Parks had 18 points, eight steals and two steals in the victory over the then No. 4 team in the country. That was against All-American forward MacKenzie Holmes. That kind of production came with Parks only playing half of the game too, playing off the bench for 20 minutes.
Then-Spartans head coach Suzy Merchant never seemed sold on keeping Parks as a starting option. Last season, Parks made her most starts in a season, 11 in 29 games. Whether it was from the starting lineup or off the bench, Parks made an impact. Those 18 points against Indiana was a career high. On Dec. 5 against the Purdue Boilermakers, Parks tied a career high with four steals.
What to Expect
Parks makes a living working inside the paint. The 6-foot-3 forward won’t be easy for opponents to get around, because not only is Parks strong but she is by no means a statue under the basket. The Cleveland, Ohio native moves stride for stride with opponents hoping for an easy layup.
There’s also rebounding. Last season, the Buckeyes were 12th in the Big Ten with 35.4 rebounds per game, and 10th in allowing rebounds at a 37.6 per game clip. Parks averaged 5.2 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game, mostly off the bench. That kind of production gives Ohio State’s leading rebounder Taylor Thierry a chance to have a break, or combine them to give opponents less of an opportunity for second chance baskets.
On both sides of the court, Parks will make her impact with her back to the basket. Defensively, its clogging lanes and making shooters think twice about going to the rim, but the strength also shines offensively.
Expect Parks to post up on opponents. The forward can back defenders closer to the basket for turnaround layups or use quick hands to find an open player on the perimeter. Parks will also be a target for teammates.
Last year, forward Cotie McMahon drew extra attention from defenders. This year, the sophomore has Parks to catch and hit easy baskets in the paint when the defense decides to call for help.
Prediction
The best guess for Parks is a strong role-player coming off the bench early in games. While McGuff focuses and talks about defense more than anything else, starting Parks game in and game out isn’t likely.
That doesn’t mean Parks doesn’t make an impact. With the forward’s ability to close down players attacking the basket with mobility and blocking ability, McGuff has a defensive game changer at his disposal. Especially if Ohio State starts having trouble in games against some of the best bigs in the conference like Illinois’ Kendall Bostic and Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski.
Those moments will just come behind Rebeka Mikulášiková and Eboni Walker.
Earning more minutes is contingent on how Parks adjusts to McGuff’s system after playing for Merchant for the past four years. If knowledge of how the coach wants her to play and conditioning grow, expect Parks to have that much stronger of an impact.
Highlights
Get an entire NCAA career’s worth of highlights for Parks. Watch the defensive ability and strong paint presence that Ohio State fans can see this season.
Miss a player preview? Here’s who you can read about so far:
Jacy Sheldon
Rebeka Mikulášiková
Diana Collins
Continue reading...
LGHL Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Penn State
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Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Penn State
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This is pass interference, in case any Big Ten referees are reading this column. | Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
A win over a Top 10 team still leaves plenty of things to grumble about.
The Penn State Nittany Lions presented Ohio State’s second big challenge of the 2023 season. The Buckeyes went into the game missing a few key players, but still managed to come away with a 20-12 victory in Ohio Stadium.
Like any close game, there were a number of plays and moments that were frustrating or aggravating, and you can credit Penn State for some of that, but Ohio State did plenty to let the visitors hang around in the game and have some hope of leaving the Horseshoe with a win.
Here are the things that had me grinding my teeth down to stumps on Saturday afternoon.
The Buckeyes got a stop on Penn State’s opening possession, and then proceeded to drive, drive on down the field on their first offensive series. Kyle McCord started the game hot, hitting his first five passes, and there seemed to be at least a little room to run for Chip Trayanum.
However, that opening drive stalled in the red zone as the wheels came off for McCord. Once the team was in the red zone, a poor throw behind Marvin Harrison Jr. on first down put Ohio State behind the chains. Then McCord tried to force a high ball to Carnell Tate when he had Harrison wide open on the play (the same route across the middle that resulted in a touchdown later in the game). McCord threw poorly again to Julian Fleming on third down, on a play that probably wouldn’t have gotten the 10 yards anyway if he’d caught it.
The drive stalled and Ohio State had to settle for three. It worked out OK in the end, but that can’t happen against Michigan again this year. Never bring field goals to a touchdown fight.
Ohio State’s defense came up big again, as it would all day, getting the Buckeyes a chance to put an early stranglehold on the game. But the Buckeyes went nowhere on the ensuing drive, allowing the Penn State defense to build some momentum.
It started with another of those runs to the short side that haven’t worked much at all this season. Ohio State seems to be in love with this play, but is not capable of running it with much success. Second down saw another off-target throw that Harrison maybe could have made a better effort of catching, although I won’t quite classify it as a drop. The receiver expects that ball to be where he can grab it on the run and get extra yards after the catch, but not all passes are perfect and sometimes one has to sacrifice YAC just to haul in the pass.
Third down was a debacle as Trayanum completely whiffed on picking up the blitzer in pass protection. Johnny Dixon got an easy sack as a result of the miss, and Ohio State punted.
After two solid defensive series, Ohio State gave the Nittany Lions hope with poor run defense on the first two plays of the third drive. With consecutive runs up the middle, Penn State went 20 yards and then 15, building some offensive rhythm that culminated with the visitors’ first points of the game. Penn State tied the game at 3-3.
Thankfully, James Franklin’s team curiously avoided committing to the running game on Saturday, despite seeing some success and entering the game with a solid rushing attack, so Penn State was unable to build on that success. Some of that had to do with Ohio State adjusting and not having the Buckeye defensive ends going as wide in the pass rush, but overall, there was probably some room to run more consistently had Penn State been persistent.
After conceding the field goal, Ohio State nearly had a miscue on the ensuing Penn State kickoff. On a short, in-between ball, Trayanum got in Xavier Johnson’s way, disrupting the timing of the return. As a result, he then failed to reach the 25-yard line. To make matters worse, he ran into teammate Ja’Had Carter, who had to be helped off the field.
In the third quarter, Ohio State’s defense had yet another solid stop and Penn State punted from deep in its own territory. The punt was short and Jayden Ballard opted not to run up and make the fair catch. He tried to warn his teammates to stay away from it, but Lorenzo Styles Jr. didn’t get the message. The punt bounced off of him and Penn State recovered. The defense held again, but the ensuing punt pushed Ohio State back to its own 10-yard line, costing about 40 yards of field position.
If you add in a lack of decent return yardage and a missed field goal in the fourth quarter, it was quite the day for Parker Fleming’s unit — but not in a good way.
As mentioned previously, McCord started the game hot, hitting his first five throws. But from that point until halftime, he was borderline dreadful and it’s hard to give Penn State too much credit for that, as well as the Nittany Lions played on defense. He went 2-for-8 in the first quarter following his opening burst on the first drive, and then went just 4-for-8 in the second quarter. Meaning after his first five passes, McCord finished the first half on a 6-for-16 skid.
The young quarterback rebounded nicely in the second half, going 11-for-14 (6-of-7 in the third quarter and 5-of-7 in the fourth). That middle section of the first half was poor, both in terms of accuracy and reading the defense.
The Buckeyes picked up seven yards on a rush by Miyan Williams late in the first quarter, moving the ball out near midfield. With two downs to pick up three yards, Ohio State went pass happy. McCord threw incomplete on second down, and on third down the pass went to Williams for a loss of one yard. Once again, the lack of trust in his team to pick up short yardage — this time with two downs to get it — ended an OSU drive.
Ohio State was driving and was in field goal range when disaster struck. McCord held the ball too long, had it knocked loose, and Penn State scooped and scored. Thans to a defensive holding penalty as the Nittany Lions struggled to cover Harrison (legally, anyway), the turnover and the touchdown were nullified. However, McCord has to be smarter in that situation and take care of the football. In a tight, defensive struggle, every point matters and you have to get rid of it and at least protect your field goal.
After Ohio State’s touchdown in the second quarter, an obvious hold right in front of PSU quarterback Drew Allar prevented JT Tuimoloau from getting to the passer. The play picked up good yardage and Penn State eventually kicked a field goal on the drive. Later in the game, another blatant hold right in front of Allar was ignored.
Not every hold is as blatant and I don’t expect the referee to call them all, but the ones that can change the game should be called, and few are easier to spot than one in space right in front of the quarterback. There was no traffic to impede the officials’ view of it on either of those would-be sacks.
Similarly, there could be no easier example of defensive pass interference than when Julian Fleming was held during his entire route down the field. No flag flew, Ohio State punted, and Jesse Mirco shanked it — another demerit for Fleming’s unit.
Ohio State eschewed a short field goal to go up seven points in the third quarter and went for it on fourth-and-goal. Penn State clearly knew what was coming with all of the Nittany Lions’ pointing and shifting toward the side of the field where the ball went. The Buckeyes were left to run a throw short of the goal line with not nearly enough blockers (one) to handle all four of the Penn State defenders. The play failed spectacularly, and points were left off the scoreboard.
Those are the things that made me throw up in my mouth on Saturday. Obviously, any win over a Top 10 team is a good thing, and the good outweighed the bad, as it usually does. Harrison had another monster game, Cade Stover gutted out a solid performance, Tuimoloau and the defensive line were dominant, and Jordan Hancock and Jermaine Mathews Jr. flashed all over the place. What stood out to you, good or bad?
Next up for Ohio State is a trip to Madison to face Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers in a road game under the lights.
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Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This is pass interference, in case any Big Ten referees are reading this column. | Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
A win over a Top 10 team still leaves plenty of things to grumble about.
The Penn State Nittany Lions presented Ohio State’s second big challenge of the 2023 season. The Buckeyes went into the game missing a few key players, but still managed to come away with a 20-12 victory in Ohio Stadium.
Like any close game, there were a number of plays and moments that were frustrating or aggravating, and you can credit Penn State for some of that, but Ohio State did plenty to let the visitors hang around in the game and have some hope of leaving the Horseshoe with a win.
Here are the things that had me grinding my teeth down to stumps on Saturday afternoon.
Stalling
The Buckeyes got a stop on Penn State’s opening possession, and then proceeded to drive, drive on down the field on their first offensive series. Kyle McCord started the game hot, hitting his first five passes, and there seemed to be at least a little room to run for Chip Trayanum.
However, that opening drive stalled in the red zone as the wheels came off for McCord. Once the team was in the red zone, a poor throw behind Marvin Harrison Jr. on first down put Ohio State behind the chains. Then McCord tried to force a high ball to Carnell Tate when he had Harrison wide open on the play (the same route across the middle that resulted in a touchdown later in the game). McCord threw poorly again to Julian Fleming on third down, on a play that probably wouldn’t have gotten the 10 yards anyway if he’d caught it.
The drive stalled and Ohio State had to settle for three. It worked out OK in the end, but that can’t happen against Michigan again this year. Never bring field goals to a touchdown fight.
Going Nowhere
Ohio State’s defense came up big again, as it would all day, getting the Buckeyes a chance to put an early stranglehold on the game. But the Buckeyes went nowhere on the ensuing drive, allowing the Penn State defense to build some momentum.
It started with another of those runs to the short side that haven’t worked much at all this season. Ohio State seems to be in love with this play, but is not capable of running it with much success. Second down saw another off-target throw that Harrison maybe could have made a better effort of catching, although I won’t quite classify it as a drop. The receiver expects that ball to be where he can grab it on the run and get extra yards after the catch, but not all passes are perfect and sometimes one has to sacrifice YAC just to haul in the pass.
Third down was a debacle as Trayanum completely whiffed on picking up the blitzer in pass protection. Johnny Dixon got an easy sack as a result of the miss, and Ohio State punted.
Soft in the Middle
After two solid defensive series, Ohio State gave the Nittany Lions hope with poor run defense on the first two plays of the third drive. With consecutive runs up the middle, Penn State went 20 yards and then 15, building some offensive rhythm that culminated with the visitors’ first points of the game. Penn State tied the game at 3-3.
Thankfully, James Franklin’s team curiously avoided committing to the running game on Saturday, despite seeing some success and entering the game with a solid rushing attack, so Penn State was unable to build on that success. Some of that had to do with Ohio State adjusting and not having the Buckeye defensive ends going as wide in the pass rush, but overall, there was probably some room to run more consistently had Penn State been persistent.
Not-So-Special Teams
After conceding the field goal, Ohio State nearly had a miscue on the ensuing Penn State kickoff. On a short, in-between ball, Trayanum got in Xavier Johnson’s way, disrupting the timing of the return. As a result, he then failed to reach the 25-yard line. To make matters worse, he ran into teammate Ja’Had Carter, who had to be helped off the field.
In the third quarter, Ohio State’s defense had yet another solid stop and Penn State punted from deep in its own territory. The punt was short and Jayden Ballard opted not to run up and make the fair catch. He tried to warn his teammates to stay away from it, but Lorenzo Styles Jr. didn’t get the message. The punt bounced off of him and Penn State recovered. The defense held again, but the ensuing punt pushed Ohio State back to its own 10-yard line, costing about 40 yards of field position.
If you add in a lack of decent return yardage and a missed field goal in the fourth quarter, it was quite the day for Parker Fleming’s unit — but not in a good way.
McCord in the Middle
As mentioned previously, McCord started the game hot, hitting his first five throws. But from that point until halftime, he was borderline dreadful and it’s hard to give Penn State too much credit for that, as well as the Nittany Lions played on defense. He went 2-for-8 in the first quarter following his opening burst on the first drive, and then went just 4-for-8 in the second quarter. Meaning after his first five passes, McCord finished the first half on a 6-for-16 skid.
The young quarterback rebounded nicely in the second half, going 11-for-14 (6-of-7 in the third quarter and 5-of-7 in the fourth). That middle section of the first half was poor, both in terms of accuracy and reading the defense.
Run the Dang Ball!
The Buckeyes picked up seven yards on a rush by Miyan Williams late in the first quarter, moving the ball out near midfield. With two downs to pick up three yards, Ohio State went pass happy. McCord threw incomplete on second down, and on third down the pass went to Williams for a loss of one yard. Once again, the lack of trust in his team to pick up short yardage — this time with two downs to get it — ended an OSU drive.
The Almost-Disaster
Ohio State was driving and was in field goal range when disaster struck. McCord held the ball too long, had it knocked loose, and Penn State scooped and scored. Thans to a defensive holding penalty as the Nittany Lions struggled to cover Harrison (legally, anyway), the turnover and the touchdown were nullified. However, McCord has to be smarter in that situation and take care of the football. In a tight, defensive struggle, every point matters and you have to get rid of it and at least protect your field goal.
Call It!
After Ohio State’s touchdown in the second quarter, an obvious hold right in front of PSU quarterback Drew Allar prevented JT Tuimoloau from getting to the passer. The play picked up good yardage and Penn State eventually kicked a field goal on the drive. Later in the game, another blatant hold right in front of Allar was ignored.
Not every hold is as blatant and I don’t expect the referee to call them all, but the ones that can change the game should be called, and few are easier to spot than one in space right in front of the quarterback. There was no traffic to impede the officials’ view of it on either of those would-be sacks.
Similarly, there could be no easier example of defensive pass interference than when Julian Fleming was held during his entire route down the field. No flag flew, Ohio State punted, and Jesse Mirco shanked it — another demerit for Fleming’s unit.
The Fourth Down
Ohio State eschewed a short field goal to go up seven points in the third quarter and went for it on fourth-and-goal. Penn State clearly knew what was coming with all of the Nittany Lions’ pointing and shifting toward the side of the field where the ball went. The Buckeyes were left to run a throw short of the goal line with not nearly enough blockers (one) to handle all four of the Penn State defenders. The play failed spectacularly, and points were left off the scoreboard.
Those are the things that made me throw up in my mouth on Saturday. Obviously, any win over a Top 10 team is a good thing, and the good outweighed the bad, as it usually does. Harrison had another monster game, Cade Stover gutted out a solid performance, Tuimoloau and the defensive line were dominant, and Jordan Hancock and Jermaine Mathews Jr. flashed all over the place. What stood out to you, good or bad?
Next up for Ohio State is a trip to Madison to face Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers in a road game under the lights.
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'25 OH SG Antione West Jr. (Purdue Verbal)
- By brodybuck21
- 2011 & Beyond Basketball Recruiting
- 3 Replies
247
Rivals
HUDL
ON3
Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Shooting Guard
School: Toledo (OH) Whitmer
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 175 lbs
Login to view embedded media
Rivals
HUDL
ON3
Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Shooting Guard
School: Toledo (OH) Whitmer
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 175 lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL Uncut Podcast: After Penn State game, Day is very comfortable winning with defense
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Uncut Podcast: After Penn State game, Day is very comfortable winning with defense
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ryan Day, Jim Knowles, and Kyle McCord react to defensive performance in 20-12 win over Nittany Lions.
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
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Saturday, Oct. 21 postgame press conferences following the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes’ 20-12 victory over the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions from head coach Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and starting quarterback Kyle McCord.
They discuss the dominating effort from the defense, Marvin Harrison Jr.’s outstanding performance, some areas that could have gone better, ongoing injury concerns, and much more.
Watch the full press conference on the Ohio State Athletic Department’s Facebook: Login to view embedded media
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ryan Day, Jim Knowles, and Kyle McCord react to defensive performance in 20-12 win over Nittany Lions.
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
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Saturday, Oct. 21 postgame press conferences following the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes’ 20-12 victory over the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions from head coach Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and starting quarterback Kyle McCord.
They discuss the dominating effort from the defense, Marvin Harrison Jr.’s outstanding performance, some areas that could have gone better, ongoing injury concerns, and much more.
Watch the full press conference on the Ohio State Athletic Department’s Facebook: Login to view embedded media
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Music by: www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
OL Gabe VanSickle (National Champion)
- By brodybuck21
- Buckeye Football
- 52 Replies
247
Rivals
HUDL
ON3
Class: 2024 (high school)
Position: Offensive Line
School: Coopersville (MI) Coopersville
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 300 lbs
Birm said watch this kid as a potential replacement for Marc Nave in the class.
The fact that the staff asked him to visit for the Ped St seems like a big hint to Birm. Could be on offer watch this weekend
Rivals
HUDL
ON3
Class: 2024 (high school)
Position: Offensive Line
School: Coopersville (MI) Coopersville
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 300 lbs
Birm said watch this kid as a potential replacement for Marc Nave in the class.
The fact that the staff asked him to visit for the Ped St seems like a big hint to Birm. Could be on offer watch this weekend
- Three-star 2024 offensive lineman Gabe VanSickle: “The atmosphere there was crazy. And the coaches talked to me about building a relationship with them.”
2026 OH DB Jakob Weatherspoon (OSU decommit, North Carolina Verbal)
- By brodybuck21
- Football Recruiting
- 48 Replies
247
Rivals
HUDL
ON3
Class: 2026 (high school)
Position: Athlete
School: Avon (OH) Avon
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 175 lbs
Holds a ttun offer already
Login to view embedded media
Rivals
HUDL
ON3
Class: 2026 (high school)
Position: Athlete
School: Avon (OH) Avon
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 175 lbs
Holds a ttun offer already
Login to view embedded media
LGHL If This Were A Movie: It’s just a bunch of ‘Hocus Pocus’
- News
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If This Were A Movie: It’s just a bunch of ‘Hocus Pocus’
JamiJurich 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’s magic powers got them past Penn State. Will they soon run out, though?
Each week, we’ll analyze the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games as well) through the lens of cinema. If this game were the next “Remember the Titans,” “Space Jam” or “The Notebook,” what storylines would keep us talking? What would make us laugh, reach for the box of tissues, or have us on the edge of our seats? Grab your popcorn and get ready for pop culture references, a hint of snark, and a trip back in time to the Blockbuster Video days.
Some victories are small and could come with expiration dates if you’re not careful. This is certainly true of our three Salem witches in the 90s classic Halloween film “Hocus Pocus.” And it felt true of the Ohio State Buckeyes yesterday.
When we first meet our witches in 1690s Salem, it becomes clear right away that Winifred is the ringleader of the three sisters. Her bumbling companions Sarah and Mary are fairly useless for anything but laughs. Against all odds, the three sisters pull it together long enough to eat the soul of a small girl called Emily and to turn her older brother Thackery into a black cat, doomed to live forever with the guilt of allowing his sister to be killed.
By sucking the souls out of children, the witches are essentially able to steal the kids’ youth, with the intention of keeping themselves young forever.
When it is discovered that Emily is missing, a mob of Salem townsfolk descends upon the witches’ house and hangs them for their crimes, but not before Winifred can cast a spell that on Halloween night, 300 years later, they will be brought back to life.
Fast forward 300 years and new kid in town Max takes his little sister Dani trick or treating around Salem, stumbling upon the house of his crush Allison. When Max asks Allison to take him to the Sanderson Sisters’ house (now a defunct museum), he accidentally brings the witches back to life and has to protect his sister and the other children of Salem.
It’s a temporary W for the witches, but there’s a catch — unless they can suck the lives out of enough children to turn back their clock before dawn on November 1, the witches will turn to dust at sunrise.
Watching the Buckeyes felt a bit like watching the witches’ hijinks in Hocus Pocus yesterday. Sure, we won a marquee game against a major conference opponent ranked in the top 10. It’s absolutely worth celebrating, in the same way, the witches celebrate when they realize their curse worked and they return 300 years later.
But the witches also had work to do in order to stay winning, and it’s evident from yesterday’s game that the Buckeyes do as well, or their hopes and dreams might turn to dust come the end of the season.
Let’s be clear—it wasn’t all bad. The defense held Penn State beautifully, pulling their weight in the same way Winifred Sanderson does the heavy lifting. OSU held Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions to two first-half field goals, and Penn State’s only touchdown of the day came in the final minute of the game. They held Penn State off on third down for the first fifteen third-down attempts, sacked Allar four times, and kept a very good Penn State offense off the field for much of the game.
Defensively, the potion worked. Offensively? Thank goodness Marvin Harrison, Jr. has magic powers.
The All-American seemed to reference a spell book of his own, managing to stay open despite having a major target on his back from Penn State’s No. 1-ranked defense in the country. In fact, Harrison was the only offensive player on either side yesterday who seemed to have his composure.
McCord looked strong on the first two drives before stumbling through much of the game, and the Buckeyes again struggled to establish any sort of reliable run game. Running back TreVeyon Henderson was once again out of the game with an injury, and while Miyan Williams saw some substantial playing time and put up 56 of Ohio State’s 79 rushing yards, averaged only 2.6 yards a carry.
Ultimately, the Buckeyes should take some time to celebrate their victory. It silenced some doubters, myself included, as to whether they could hang with a team as good as Penn State. But before the sun rises on the Michigan game, Ryan Day and his Buckeyes will need to find some solutions for the shaky run game and get Marv some backup lest the Buckeyes’ playoff hopes turn to dust on the last weekend of November.
Continue reading...
JamiJurich 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’s magic powers got them past Penn State. Will they soon run out, though?
Each week, we’ll analyze the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games as well) through the lens of cinema. If this game were the next “Remember the Titans,” “Space Jam” or “The Notebook,” what storylines would keep us talking? What would make us laugh, reach for the box of tissues, or have us on the edge of our seats? Grab your popcorn and get ready for pop culture references, a hint of snark, and a trip back in time to the Blockbuster Video days.
Some victories are small and could come with expiration dates if you’re not careful. This is certainly true of our three Salem witches in the 90s classic Halloween film “Hocus Pocus.” And it felt true of the Ohio State Buckeyes yesterday.
When we first meet our witches in 1690s Salem, it becomes clear right away that Winifred is the ringleader of the three sisters. Her bumbling companions Sarah and Mary are fairly useless for anything but laughs. Against all odds, the three sisters pull it together long enough to eat the soul of a small girl called Emily and to turn her older brother Thackery into a black cat, doomed to live forever with the guilt of allowing his sister to be killed.
By sucking the souls out of children, the witches are essentially able to steal the kids’ youth, with the intention of keeping themselves young forever.
When it is discovered that Emily is missing, a mob of Salem townsfolk descends upon the witches’ house and hangs them for their crimes, but not before Winifred can cast a spell that on Halloween night, 300 years later, they will be brought back to life.
Fast forward 300 years and new kid in town Max takes his little sister Dani trick or treating around Salem, stumbling upon the house of his crush Allison. When Max asks Allison to take him to the Sanderson Sisters’ house (now a defunct museum), he accidentally brings the witches back to life and has to protect his sister and the other children of Salem.
It’s a temporary W for the witches, but there’s a catch — unless they can suck the lives out of enough children to turn back their clock before dawn on November 1, the witches will turn to dust at sunrise.
Watching the Buckeyes felt a bit like watching the witches’ hijinks in Hocus Pocus yesterday. Sure, we won a marquee game against a major conference opponent ranked in the top 10. It’s absolutely worth celebrating, in the same way, the witches celebrate when they realize their curse worked and they return 300 years later.
But the witches also had work to do in order to stay winning, and it’s evident from yesterday’s game that the Buckeyes do as well, or their hopes and dreams might turn to dust come the end of the season.
Let’s be clear—it wasn’t all bad. The defense held Penn State beautifully, pulling their weight in the same way Winifred Sanderson does the heavy lifting. OSU held Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions to two first-half field goals, and Penn State’s only touchdown of the day came in the final minute of the game. They held Penn State off on third down for the first fifteen third-down attempts, sacked Allar four times, and kept a very good Penn State offense off the field for much of the game.
Defensively, the potion worked. Offensively? Thank goodness Marvin Harrison, Jr. has magic powers.
The All-American seemed to reference a spell book of his own, managing to stay open despite having a major target on his back from Penn State’s No. 1-ranked defense in the country. In fact, Harrison was the only offensive player on either side yesterday who seemed to have his composure.
McCord looked strong on the first two drives before stumbling through much of the game, and the Buckeyes again struggled to establish any sort of reliable run game. Running back TreVeyon Henderson was once again out of the game with an injury, and while Miyan Williams saw some substantial playing time and put up 56 of Ohio State’s 79 rushing yards, averaged only 2.6 yards a carry.
Ultimately, the Buckeyes should take some time to celebrate their victory. It silenced some doubters, myself included, as to whether they could hang with a team as good as Penn State. But before the sun rises on the Michigan game, Ryan Day and his Buckeyes will need to find some solutions for the shaky run game and get Marv some backup lest the Buckeyes’ playoff hopes turn to dust on the last weekend of November.
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LGHL Ohio State trending for five-star CB, makes top schools for pair of four-star LBs
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Ohio State trending for five-star CB, makes top schools for pair of four-star LBs
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Five-star 2025 CB Devin Sanchez | Collin Kennedy, 247Sports
The Buckeyes’ massive recruiting weekend resulted in a handful of new offers and several top prospects loving what they saw in Columbus.
Ohio State’s 20-12 win over Penn State on Saturday was obviously huge in terms of the 2023 season, but it was equally large for the Buckeyes’ recruiting efforts, as Ryan Day and his staff hosted over 80 recruits in Columbus for the top-10 matchup. All seems to have gone well for those in attendance, with many having left their visit feeling really good about the program.
One of those guys was Devin Sanchez, a five-star cornerback in the 2025 class. The No. 1 CB and No. 7 player overall in the cycle, the Houston, Texas native holds over 30 offers to his name, but after taking in the atmosphere at Ohio Stadium this past weekend, Ohio State sounds like they are in a great position with the talented defensive back.
“The defense when it counted, they made some big plays when it was needed,” Sanchez told Bill Kurelic of 247Sports. “The DB’s played good, especially Jermaine (Mathews) to play like that against a team that’s probably going to win the rest of their games. And to hold a Top 10 team to 12 points is real impressive. And the crowd is crazy.”
From everything Sanchez has said, it sounds like as of right now Ohio State is very much in the lead for the 6-foot-2 North Shore High School product, going as far as to tell On3’s Sam Spiegelman that the Buckeyes are, “starting to run away with it,” and that Ohio State is, “becoming a heavy frontrunner,” in his recruitment.
With both Tim Walton and Perry Eliano working on Sanchez, the Buckeyes have to feel good about where they currently stand. There is still a ton of time remaining until the 2025 class signs on the dotted line, and Sanchez has not alluded to any sort of timetable for his commitment, but things are trending well for Ohio State to add the nation’s top corner in the next cycle after securing a trio of excellent four-star CBs in 2024.
In addition to the momentum they have with Sanchez, the Buckeyes also seemed to have made some headway with four-star linebacker Elijah Melendez. A Kissimmee, Florida native, Melendez currently ranks as the No. 21 LB and No. 181 overall player in the 2025 class, per the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-2 high school junior officially dropped his top 10 schools list on Sunday, and Ohio State made the cut alongside programs such as Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, USC and others.
“The win was huge,” Melendez told Bucknuts. “The fan base was very electric and the game was really fun. The coaching staff is really good and they really treat me like I’m really wanted here. And the defense is amazing.”
Melendez received his Ohio State offer back in July from assistant linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, and at that time he had said that the Buckeyes were among his top five schools. Clearly not much has changed since then, as OSU has made the cut on his official top-10 list and expects to return to Columbus at some point for one of his official visits. With the way Jim Knowles’ defense is playing right now, getting to see that group in person had to be another big step in the right direction in this recruitment.
In addition to making a positive impact on guys the program was already recruiting, Ohio State got to kick off some new relationships this weekend with a handful of new offers. Two of those such offers went out to a pair of highly-touted wide receivers in 2025’s Dylan McCutcheon and 2026’s Aaron Gregory.
McCutcheon, a 6-foot pass-catcher out of Lucas, Texas, currently ranks as the No. 18 wide receiver in the 2025 class and the No. 105 prospect nationally, per the 247Sports Composite. The track athlete has nearly 30 offers to his name thus far, including programs like Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas and many more. The Buckeyes are a little later to the party than some of these other big brands, but you can never count out Brian Hartline when it comes to recruiting the best receivers in the country.
Gregory, on the other hand, is officially listed as an athlete — the No. 1 ATH in the nation in the 2026 class, in fact. The Douglasville, Georgia native plays both wide receiver and defensive back at Douglas County High School, but seems like he will suit up on offense at the next level. The No. 16 overall player in the cycle, the five-star holds offers from offer 30 schools, including all the usual suspects in Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, USC, etc. Ohio State is again a little tardy to the party here, even for a player two cycles away, but once again if Gregory is looking to play wide receiver, Hartline has a better pitch than any other position coach in the country.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Five-star 2025 CB Devin Sanchez | Collin Kennedy, 247Sports
The Buckeyes’ massive recruiting weekend resulted in a handful of new offers and several top prospects loving what they saw in Columbus.
Ohio State’s 20-12 win over Penn State on Saturday was obviously huge in terms of the 2023 season, but it was equally large for the Buckeyes’ recruiting efforts, as Ryan Day and his staff hosted over 80 recruits in Columbus for the top-10 matchup. All seems to have gone well for those in attendance, with many having left their visit feeling really good about the program.
One of those guys was Devin Sanchez, a five-star cornerback in the 2025 class. The No. 1 CB and No. 7 player overall in the cycle, the Houston, Texas native holds over 30 offers to his name, but after taking in the atmosphere at Ohio Stadium this past weekend, Ohio State sounds like they are in a great position with the talented defensive back.
“The defense when it counted, they made some big plays when it was needed,” Sanchez told Bill Kurelic of 247Sports. “The DB’s played good, especially Jermaine (Mathews) to play like that against a team that’s probably going to win the rest of their games. And to hold a Top 10 team to 12 points is real impressive. And the crowd is crazy.”
From everything Sanchez has said, it sounds like as of right now Ohio State is very much in the lead for the 6-foot-2 North Shore High School product, going as far as to tell On3’s Sam Spiegelman that the Buckeyes are, “starting to run away with it,” and that Ohio State is, “becoming a heavy frontrunner,” in his recruitment.
With both Tim Walton and Perry Eliano working on Sanchez, the Buckeyes have to feel good about where they currently stand. There is still a ton of time remaining until the 2025 class signs on the dotted line, and Sanchez has not alluded to any sort of timetable for his commitment, but things are trending well for Ohio State to add the nation’s top corner in the next cycle after securing a trio of excellent four-star CBs in 2024.
In addition to the momentum they have with Sanchez, the Buckeyes also seemed to have made some headway with four-star linebacker Elijah Melendez. A Kissimmee, Florida native, Melendez currently ranks as the No. 21 LB and No. 181 overall player in the 2025 class, per the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-2 high school junior officially dropped his top 10 schools list on Sunday, and Ohio State made the cut alongside programs such as Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, USC and others.
“The win was huge,” Melendez told Bucknuts. “The fan base was very electric and the game was really fun. The coaching staff is really good and they really treat me like I’m really wanted here. And the defense is amazing.”
Melendez received his Ohio State offer back in July from assistant linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, and at that time he had said that the Buckeyes were among his top five schools. Clearly not much has changed since then, as OSU has made the cut on his official top-10 list and expects to return to Columbus at some point for one of his official visits. With the way Jim Knowles’ defense is playing right now, getting to see that group in person had to be another big step in the right direction in this recruitment.
In addition to making a positive impact on guys the program was already recruiting, Ohio State got to kick off some new relationships this weekend with a handful of new offers. Two of those such offers went out to a pair of highly-touted wide receivers in 2025’s Dylan McCutcheon and 2026’s Aaron Gregory.
McCutcheon, a 6-foot pass-catcher out of Lucas, Texas, currently ranks as the No. 18 wide receiver in the 2025 class and the No. 105 prospect nationally, per the 247Sports Composite. The track athlete has nearly 30 offers to his name thus far, including programs like Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas and many more. The Buckeyes are a little later to the party than some of these other big brands, but you can never count out Brian Hartline when it comes to recruiting the best receivers in the country.
Gregory, on the other hand, is officially listed as an athlete — the No. 1 ATH in the nation in the 2026 class, in fact. The Douglasville, Georgia native plays both wide receiver and defensive back at Douglas County High School, but seems like he will suit up on offense at the next level. The No. 16 overall player in the cycle, the five-star holds offers from offer 30 schools, including all the usual suspects in Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, USC, etc. Ohio State is again a little tardy to the party here, even for a player two cycles away, but once again if Gregory is looking to play wide receiver, Hartline has a better pitch than any other position coach in the country.
Quick Hits
- In addition to the pair of new offers on the football field, Chris Holtmann got some work in this past weekend with an offer on the hardwood. On the receiving end was 2025 shooting guard Antoine West Jr., an in-state prospect hailing from Toledo. The 6-foot-3 hooper does not yet have a star rating yet due to his class status, but has received offers thus far form the likes of Dayton, Georgia, Penn State and a handful of others. West averaged 21.5 points per game as a sophomore, and was the player of the year in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference.
After a great visit I have received an offer from Ohio State university!!@OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/Bfm0JvEqpg
— Antione West Jr (@antione_west) October 22, 2023
- Before Ohio State even kicked off against Penn State on Saturday, the Buckeyes had made the top schools list for a talented linebacker out of Texas. Riley Pettijohn dropped his top 12 schools on Friday afternoon, and OSU made the cut alongside Colorado, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, TCU, USC and a few others. Pettijohn is the No. 5 linebacker and just outside of five-star status as the No. 37 overall player in the 2025 class, per the 247Sports Composite.
Elite 2025 LB Riley Pettijohn is down toSchools!
The 6’2 210 LB from McKinney, TX is ranked as a Top 30 Player in the ‘25 Class (No. 3 LB)
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/EdtV50nx72 pic.twitter.com/bwLNa5dsqb
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 19, 2023
- In addition to all the other positive news swirling around Ohio State from this weekend, Saturday also saw the Buckeyes earn a Crystal Ball prediction for a top in-state offensive tackle, courtesy of 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong. The player in question is 2025 offensive tackle Carter Lowe, as the Toledo native now has two Crystal Balls in favor of Ohio State, the other by Bill Kurelic from back on Oct. 4. Lowe is the No. 13 OT and No. 151 overall prospect in the class, per the 247Sports Composite, as well as the No. 6 player from Ohio in the cycle.
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LGHL Six Things: What we saw in Ohio State’s 78-70 win at UD Arena
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Six Things: What we saw in Ohio State’s 78-70 win at UD Arena
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Dayton fans have been clamoring for this game for 35 years. Ohio State finally obliged, for a great cause.
Alright, enough talk. Enough predicting, hypothesizing, and pandering. The Buckeyes hit the hardwood this evening, which means college basketball season is officially upon us.
Well, kind of.
For the first time in 35 years, Ohio State took on the Dayton Fliers at UD Arena in a 40-minute and fully officiated basketball game in front of a sold-out crowd in Dayton. However, tonight’s long-awaited battle between the Buckeyes and their foes from 75 miles down the road wasn’t the season opener, and did not count towards either team’s record. Tonight’s exhibition was a part of a larger, four-day event at UD surrounding mental health, especially the stigma it carries among young people.
Both teams wore “Take Hope to the Hoop” warm-ups, and all proceeds of the event were donated to the Jay Light Foundation, a fund that honors Dayton Coach Anthony Grant’s daughter Jayda, who passed away last year at age 20 after a prolonged battle with mental illness. It also supports other community organizations and initiatives that support adolescent and youth mental health in the Dayton area.
Although this game technically didn’t count, someone forgot to tell the Flyer fans that. The UD student section was full an hour ahead of time, and the event was sold out a week in advance. In the grand scheme of things, tonight’s game at UD Arena was one of the more intimidating environments the Buckeyes will see this year — official contest or otherwise.
The Buckeyes rolled with a starting five of Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle Jr., Jamison Battle, Evan Mahaffey, and Felix Okpara in their first live action of the year. Dayton went with Malachi Smith, Nate Santos, Kobe Elvis, Daron Holmes, and Enoch Cheeks.
The Flyers burst out of the gate, knocking down a couple quick triples to take a 6-0 lead two minutes into the game. But Ohio State was patient, and instead tried to force the ball below the basket. That resulted in five easy points for Okpara and a baseline jumper for Battle, as the Buckeyes went into the first media timeout down 11-9.
Over the next three minutes Thornton and Cheeks became two men possessed, with the former scoring eight points (two three-pointers) over a span of 2:13 to help Ohio State take the lead. At the same time, Cheeks — a transfer from Robert Morris — knocked down two consecutive threes to keep Dayton right on pace with the Buckeyes. OSU led 20-19 after eight minutes of play, while subbing in and out most of their roster, including freshmen.
Ohio State clung to a 42-39 lead at the halftime buzzer after shooting 60% overall and 63% from beyond the arc. On the other side, Dayton shot 46% overall and 39% from three-point land. The difference maker? Definitely the seven offensive rebounds Dayton grabbed over the first 20 minutes, which led to 13 second-chance points.
The Buckeyes fell apart a little bit in the beginning of the second half, turning it over on six possessions out of seven at one point and squandering a nine-point lead. But just when the crowd hit their highest decibel level of the night, Gayle knocked down a three from the left wing to put Ohio State back up, 55-52. That was our score at the under-12 timeout with 11:56 remaining in the game.
Thanks to more heroics from Thornton, the Buckeyes pushed their lead to seven points with 7:58 remaining in the game, 65-58. Ohio State’s sophomore point guard scored 10 of the Buckeyes’ first 18 points coming out halftime break, and just generally looked in control of the pace of the game. When Bruce wanted to go fast, Ohio State went fast. If he wanted to be more methodical, that’s what happened. Thornton scored through 33 minutes of game play (28 of which he was on the floor for), he scored 21 points on just nine shot attempts.
The Buckeyes’ defense will need to improve if they plan on making some noise at the top of the Big Ten this season, but their shot selection was nearly impeccable at UD Arena as they topped the Flyers in front of their home fans, 78-70. They were led by Thornton, who had 21 points on 7-9 shooting. He knocked down three of his four three-point attempts, and hit four out of five free throws. Battle and Gayle each scored in double digits as well, with 15 and 12, respectively.
As a team, the Buckeyes shot 55% overall, and 44.4% from beyond the arc. They gave up a whopping 14 offensive rebound and turned the ball over way too much (15 times), but even with that, they still beat a Dayton team that’s been picked to win the A-10 by pretty much everyone that knows ball.
If you weren’t able to make it out to Dayton for tonight’s game or catch it on TV, here are a few of the key takeaways from the first live action for Team 125.
As was the case last season, Ohio State really struggled to come down with defensive rebounds at times against the Flyers. Dayton grabbed six offensive rebounds in the first half alone, and the problem was wisdespread. Mahaffey, Battle, and Zed Key were all beat to rebounds that were right below the basket in the first half, leading to 11 second-chance points for Dayton. Even though it was just an exhibiton, it made Chris Holtmann slap ever-loving crap out of the scoring table time and time again.
Even though the Buckeyes struggled at times, it was evident that defensive rebounding was a big point of focus this evening. When someone did grab a tough defensive rebounds, the entire bench was standing to clap and shout at whoever did it. After letting Dayton grab 11 of them in the first half, they only had three in the second half.
We’ve speculated a little bit if Chris Holtmann would start three guards, and it looks like the answer is no. However, Dale Bonner was the first Ohio State sub about six minutes into the game, and he remained in with Gayle and Thornton, playing 10 of the final 14 minutes. Ohio State likes his ability to push tempo as well as the experience he has with some other technical things, like inbounding the ball against various presses and moving the ball up the court quickly against a full court press.
If anyone is curious, the other two guys in there with the three guards (initially) were Key and Mahaffey. For the game, Thornton played 28 minutes, Bonner played 26, and Gayle 25.
Out of everyone on the floor, Thornton and Battle stood out to me as the two guys who look the most prepared if the regular season started tomorrow. The two combined to shoot 6-8 in the first half for 18 points, with each guy knocking down a pair of three-pointers. Battle struggled at times on the defensive glass — and that will be a concern if it doesn’t improve eventually — but the most important thing for Battle is his offensive output. What version of Battle Ohio State gets this season will determine how many games they’ll play next March. He finished with 15 points on 6-7 shooting, and 3-4 from downtown. In his 22 minutes, Battle grabbed five rebounds and recorded two assists to boot.
Ohio State’s final basket of the first half was a bucket executed solely by freshmen. With 28 seconds remaining in the half, Dayton freshman forward Petras Padegimas had the ball near half court, looking for somewhere to go with it. Devin Royal swung his hand under the ball and popped it out of his hand into the air, and then grabbed the ball and took it upcourt. Scotty Middleton saw the play unfold from the opposite side of the floor and shadowed Royal up the floor, allowing one freshman to dish to the other, leading to an easy fast break bucket to put Ohio State up, 42-37.
Middleton played 18 minutes tonight, scoring five points on 2-7 shooting. Royal played 19 minutes and had six points on 2-3 shooting, while also grabbing three rebounds, dishing out two assists, and recording one steal.
The Buckeyes had five turnovers in the entire first half, but crumbled against Dayton’s pressure to start the second half, turning it over eight times over the first 7:54 of the second half. What was once a nine-point lead melted down to a 52-52 tie, until Gayle knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing to put the Buckeyes back up three points with 12:02 left in the game. Chris Holtmann immediately called a timeout, trying to bottle that progress and talk to the team with the crowd no longer roaring.
Ohio State turned the ball over just three times over the final 12 minutes after Holtmann’s timeout.
There are times to send dozens of threes flying, and there are times to be a bit more methodical with your shot selection. While 27 of Dayton’s first 49 shots (55%) tonight came from beyod the arc, the Buckeyes took just 14 out of their first 38 shots (37%) came from beyond the arc. Ohio State knocked down a higher percentage as well, meaning they were being more efficient with the shots they took, as well as being more particular about when they let it rip from downtown.
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Dayton fans have been clamoring for this game for 35 years. Ohio State finally obliged, for a great cause.
Alright, enough talk. Enough predicting, hypothesizing, and pandering. The Buckeyes hit the hardwood this evening, which means college basketball season is officially upon us.
Well, kind of.
For the first time in 35 years, Ohio State took on the Dayton Fliers at UD Arena in a 40-minute and fully officiated basketball game in front of a sold-out crowd in Dayton. However, tonight’s long-awaited battle between the Buckeyes and their foes from 75 miles down the road wasn’t the season opener, and did not count towards either team’s record. Tonight’s exhibition was a part of a larger, four-day event at UD surrounding mental health, especially the stigma it carries among young people.
Both teams wore “Take Hope to the Hoop” warm-ups, and all proceeds of the event were donated to the Jay Light Foundation, a fund that honors Dayton Coach Anthony Grant’s daughter Jayda, who passed away last year at age 20 after a prolonged battle with mental illness. It also supports other community organizations and initiatives that support adolescent and youth mental health in the Dayton area.
Although this game technically didn’t count, someone forgot to tell the Flyer fans that. The UD student section was full an hour ahead of time, and the event was sold out a week in advance. In the grand scheme of things, tonight’s game at UD Arena was one of the more intimidating environments the Buckeyes will see this year — official contest or otherwise.
The Buckeyes rolled with a starting five of Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle Jr., Jamison Battle, Evan Mahaffey, and Felix Okpara in their first live action of the year. Dayton went with Malachi Smith, Nate Santos, Kobe Elvis, Daron Holmes, and Enoch Cheeks.
The Flyers burst out of the gate, knocking down a couple quick triples to take a 6-0 lead two minutes into the game. But Ohio State was patient, and instead tried to force the ball below the basket. That resulted in five easy points for Okpara and a baseline jumper for Battle, as the Buckeyes went into the first media timeout down 11-9.
Over the next three minutes Thornton and Cheeks became two men possessed, with the former scoring eight points (two three-pointers) over a span of 2:13 to help Ohio State take the lead. At the same time, Cheeks — a transfer from Robert Morris — knocked down two consecutive threes to keep Dayton right on pace with the Buckeyes. OSU led 20-19 after eight minutes of play, while subbing in and out most of their roster, including freshmen.
Ohio State clung to a 42-39 lead at the halftime buzzer after shooting 60% overall and 63% from beyond the arc. On the other side, Dayton shot 46% overall and 39% from three-point land. The difference maker? Definitely the seven offensive rebounds Dayton grabbed over the first 20 minutes, which led to 13 second-chance points.
The Buckeyes fell apart a little bit in the beginning of the second half, turning it over on six possessions out of seven at one point and squandering a nine-point lead. But just when the crowd hit their highest decibel level of the night, Gayle knocked down a three from the left wing to put Ohio State back up, 55-52. That was our score at the under-12 timeout with 11:56 remaining in the game.
Thanks to more heroics from Thornton, the Buckeyes pushed their lead to seven points with 7:58 remaining in the game, 65-58. Ohio State’s sophomore point guard scored 10 of the Buckeyes’ first 18 points coming out halftime break, and just generally looked in control of the pace of the game. When Bruce wanted to go fast, Ohio State went fast. If he wanted to be more methodical, that’s what happened. Thornton scored through 33 minutes of game play (28 of which he was on the floor for), he scored 21 points on just nine shot attempts.
The Buckeyes’ defense will need to improve if they plan on making some noise at the top of the Big Ten this season, but their shot selection was nearly impeccable at UD Arena as they topped the Flyers in front of their home fans, 78-70. They were led by Thornton, who had 21 points on 7-9 shooting. He knocked down three of his four three-point attempts, and hit four out of five free throws. Battle and Gayle each scored in double digits as well, with 15 and 12, respectively.
As a team, the Buckeyes shot 55% overall, and 44.4% from beyond the arc. They gave up a whopping 14 offensive rebound and turned the ball over way too much (15 times), but even with that, they still beat a Dayton team that’s been picked to win the A-10 by pretty much everyone that knows ball.
If you weren’t able to make it out to Dayton for tonight’s game or catch it on TV, here are a few of the key takeaways from the first live action for Team 125.
Buckeyes struggled to control the glass
As was the case last season, Ohio State really struggled to come down with defensive rebounds at times against the Flyers. Dayton grabbed six offensive rebounds in the first half alone, and the problem was wisdespread. Mahaffey, Battle, and Zed Key were all beat to rebounds that were right below the basket in the first half, leading to 11 second-chance points for Dayton. Even though it was just an exhibiton, it made Chris Holtmann slap ever-loving crap out of the scoring table time and time again.
Even though the Buckeyes struggled at times, it was evident that defensive rebounding was a big point of focus this evening. When someone did grab a tough defensive rebounds, the entire bench was standing to clap and shout at whoever did it. After letting Dayton grab 11 of them in the first half, they only had three in the second half.
Ohio State will run a three-guard lineup
We’ve speculated a little bit if Chris Holtmann would start three guards, and it looks like the answer is no. However, Dale Bonner was the first Ohio State sub about six minutes into the game, and he remained in with Gayle and Thornton, playing 10 of the final 14 minutes. Ohio State likes his ability to push tempo as well as the experience he has with some other technical things, like inbounding the ball against various presses and moving the ball up the court quickly against a full court press.
If anyone is curious, the other two guys in there with the three guards (initially) were Key and Mahaffey. For the game, Thornton played 28 minutes, Bonner played 26, and Gayle 25.
Thornton, Battle look game-ready
Out of everyone on the floor, Thornton and Battle stood out to me as the two guys who look the most prepared if the regular season started tomorrow. The two combined to shoot 6-8 in the first half for 18 points, with each guy knocking down a pair of three-pointers. Battle struggled at times on the defensive glass — and that will be a concern if it doesn’t improve eventually — but the most important thing for Battle is his offensive output. What version of Battle Ohio State gets this season will determine how many games they’ll play next March. He finished with 15 points on 6-7 shooting, and 3-4 from downtown. In his 22 minutes, Battle grabbed five rebounds and recorded two assists to boot.
Freshman to freshman connection
Ohio State’s final basket of the first half was a bucket executed solely by freshmen. With 28 seconds remaining in the half, Dayton freshman forward Petras Padegimas had the ball near half court, looking for somewhere to go with it. Devin Royal swung his hand under the ball and popped it out of his hand into the air, and then grabbed the ball and took it upcourt. Scotty Middleton saw the play unfold from the opposite side of the floor and shadowed Royal up the floor, allowing one freshman to dish to the other, leading to an easy fast break bucket to put Ohio State up, 42-37.
Middleton played 18 minutes tonight, scoring five points on 2-7 shooting. Royal played 19 minutes and had six points on 2-3 shooting, while also grabbing three rebounds, dishing out two assists, and recording one steal.
Tons of turnovers to start the second half
The Buckeyes had five turnovers in the entire first half, but crumbled against Dayton’s pressure to start the second half, turning it over eight times over the first 7:54 of the second half. What was once a nine-point lead melted down to a 52-52 tie, until Gayle knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing to put the Buckeyes back up three points with 12:02 left in the game. Chris Holtmann immediately called a timeout, trying to bottle that progress and talk to the team with the crowd no longer roaring.
Ohio State turned the ball over just three times over the final 12 minutes after Holtmann’s timeout.
Let’s not settle
There are times to send dozens of threes flying, and there are times to be a bit more methodical with your shot selection. While 27 of Dayton’s first 49 shots (55%) tonight came from beyod the arc, the Buckeyes took just 14 out of their first 38 shots (37%) came from beyond the arc. Ohio State knocked down a higher percentage as well, meaning they were being more efficient with the shots they took, as well as being more particular about when they let it rip from downtown.
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2025 TX WR Daylan McCutcheon (Texas Signee)
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- Football Recruiting
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Class: 2025
Position: WR
School: Lucas(TX)Lovejoy
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 160lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2025
Position: WR
School: Lucas(TX)Lovejoy
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 160lbs
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