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Oct 26, 2023

MC&J: Oregon travels to Utah for Week 9’s national College Football game of the week
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 Lydia Ely/Getty Images

The battle in Salt Lake City is one of two games this week between ranked teams.

Last week ATS: 9-4 (4-3 National, 5-1 B1G)

Season ATS; 69-69 (29-41 National, 40-26 B1G)

I would be happy if every week was like last week. While there were a few setbacks with the national picks, it’s hard to find fault with a 9-4 week. Had it not been for Big Ten refs calling back an Iowa punt return touchdown because of a fair catch, they week would have been even better!

Now that we are back to .500 on the season, hopefully we can keep things positive as we head towards the final month of the regular season.

National games

No. 6 Oklahoma (-10) v. Kansas - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX

Apparently Oklahoma spent their bye week celebrating their win over Texas, since it was obvious they didn’t prepare much for UCF. The Sooners trailed the Golden Knights heading into the fourth quarter, only surviving because UCF missed a two-point conversion late in the game that would have tied the game. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel did toss three touchdowns against his former team.

Kansas has been a tough team to pinpoint this year because of the injury woes of quarterback Jalon Daniels, who has been struggling with back issues. In their last game two weeks ago, Jason Bean filled in and threw five touchdown passes against Oklahoma State. The problem for the Jayhawks is their defense couldn’t stop Ollie Gordon II and the Cowboys.

The Sooners have won 18 straight games against the Jayhawks, but it feels like the gap is shrinking a bit. I’m not confident enough in Kansas to think they’ll win the last game between the teams as conference foes. However, I do like the Jayhawks to keep things within a touchdown in Lawrence in an exciting game that comes down to the wire.

Oklahoma 38, Kansas 31

No. 1 Georgia (-14.5) v. Florida - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS

Georgia took a huge hit a couple weeks ago when Brock Bowers left the Vanderbilt game in the first half due to injury. The loss of Bowers is a huge hit to the Bulldogs, who were just starting to find their rhythm on offense prior to the injury. Now it’s back to square one for quarterback Carson Beck and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, as they’ll have to figure out how to put up points without their biggest offensive threat.

Florida has had a really strange season so far. The Gators lost at Utah in their season opener, beat Tennessee in Gainesville, lost to Kentucky a couple weeks later, and won a wild game against South Carolina two weeks ago. Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz has actually been pretty good so far this year at quarterback, tossing 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Mertz threw for 423 yards and three touchdowns in the thrilling 41-39 win over the Gamecocks last time out.

Georgia has largely dominated The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (I’ll never stop calling it that) recently, winning five of the last six over Florida, with four of those wins coming by at least 19 points. I’m not convinced this one is going to be another blowout in favor of the Bulldogs. The Gators will provide just enough resistance to keep the final score inside two touchdowns as Georgia struggles a bit on offense without Bowers.

Georgia 33, Florida 21

No. 8 Oregon (-6.5) v. No. 13 Utah - 3:30 p.m. ET - FOX

Whatever Kyle Whittingham is making, it isn’t nearly enough since he is certainly worth at least double his current salary. Most teams would have already lost control of their season if they had to go through what the Utes have gone through. Quarterback Cam Rising hasn’t played this year after suffering a knee injury in the Rose Bowl, and has since been ruled out the rest of the season. As if being without their starting quarterback wasn’t challenging enough, Utah has a brutal schedule in the Pac-12.

One thing not working in Utah’s favor this week is Oregon certainly isn’t USC. The Ducks are mean and will try and bury you every chance they get. Say what you will about some of the points Oregon left on the table against Washington, but at least Dan Lanning wasn’t coaching scared. Plus, the Ducks at least have a semblance of defense, which is a lot more than the Trojans have.

It would be such a Kyle Whittingham thing for Utah to beat Oregon here. As tough as the Utes are in Salt Lake City, this is where having a backup quarterback comes back to bite them. Bo Nix and Oregon’s offense will be too much for the defense of the Utes to keep up with, especially after the group has had to work so hard all season to keep Utah in games.

Oregon 31, Utah 17

BYU v. No. 7 Texas (-17.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - ABC

You know how we had Clemsoning? Maybe the new Clemsoning is Texasing. After looking like one of the best teams in the country, the Longhorns lost to Oklahoma in the beginning of the month, and after a bye week they jumped out 21-0 on Houston only to have quarterback Quinn Ewers get hurt, and then they almost blew the game against the Cougars. Freshman Maalik Murphy will fill in while Ewers is hurt, as Arch Manning still hasn’t seen the field this year for Texas.

Following a 3-0 start to the season, BYU has alternated wins and losses over their last four games in their first season in the Big 12. Luckily the Cougars have an experienced quarterback in Kedon Slovis since the offense hasn’t had much success running the football. Even if BYU had success running coming into this game, they likely wouldn’t be able to get much against a Texas defense allowing less than 100 yards per game on the ground.

Texas is definitely the more talented team here. The issue with the Longhorns is there is so much uncertainty following the injury to Ewers. It helps that Texas will play this game at home, but I think BYU and Slovis will be able to hang around in this one. While the Cougars might not push the Longhorns like Houston did last week, BYU at least doesn’t get blown out.

Texas 37, BYU 23

No. 20 Duke v. No. 18 Louisville (-4.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - ESPN

Louisville was cruising towards a victory a couple weeks ago at Pitt before the Panthers reeled off 24 unanswered points in the second half to beat the Cardinals 38-21, ending the dreams of an undefeated season for Jeff Brohm in his first campaign as head coach at his alma mater. Quarterback Jack Plummer is going to have cut down on the turnovers he is committing, as he has already thrown eight picks this year.

Duke actually led Florida State last week 20-17 heading into the fourth quarter before the Seminoles took over in the final 15 minutes, sending the Blue Devils back to Durham with a 38-20 loss. Who knows how the game would have gone if quarterback Riley Leonard was healthy. Leonard played last week with an injured ankle, and it is unknown if he will be able to play this week.

The Blue Devils want to run the football, which plays right into Louisville’s hands since the Cardinals allow less than 100 yards per game on the ground. Plus, we all saw in the Notre Dame game how tough it can be to go into Papa John’s KFC Burger King Panera Chipotle Fast Food Thunderdome in Louisville and leave with a win.

Louisville 27, Duke 17

No. 21 Tennessee (-3.5) v. Kentucky - 7:00 p.m. ET - ESPN

Tennessee had Alabama right where they wanted them last week after the Volunteers jumped out to a 20-7 lead at halftime. Then the Crimson Tide did the thing they usually do, regrouping at halftime to stage a second half comeback, downing Josh Heupel’s team 34-20 in Tuscaloosa. Joe Milton actually wasn’t that bad in the loss, throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns.

Kentucky enters this game on a two-game losing streak, falling to Georgia and Missouri before a bye week. NC State transfer quarterback Devin Leary has been brutal over the last three games, going 33-of-72 for 317 yards and two interceptions. Luckily, Leary has thrown five touchdowns to offset some of his inaccurate passes.

Much like when teams play Ohio State, they often come out flat in their next game because of the toll a game against the Buckeyes takes on players. I feel like something similar happens after playing Alabama. This will be noticeable on Saturday night since this will also be the second road game in a row for the Volunteers, while Kentucky is coming off a bye. The Wildcats win straight up.

Kentucky 28, Tennessee 24

No. 11 Oregon State (-3.5) v. Arizona - 10:30 p.m. ET - ESPN

The Arizona teams certainly put a scare into Washington over the last month, with the Wildcats and Sun Devils both keeping things tight in the fourth quarter. While Oregon State doesn’t quite have a passing attack like the Huskies, the Beavers have a strong defense and a running game that is very effective. Damien Martinez and Deshaun Fenwick are powering a rushing attack that is averaging nearly 200 yards per game.

Along with their ability to run the football, Clemson transfer D.J. Uiagalelei has found a favorite target through the air in the red zone, with tight end Jack Velling hauling in nearly half of Uiagalelei’s 15 touchdown tosses this season.

It is not yet known who will start at quarterback for Arizona in this game. Jayden de Laura was the starting quarterback for the Wildcats at the beginning of the season before suffering an ankle injury, which has left Noah Fifita to fill in while de Laura has been sidelined. Arizona has been feisty no matter who has been taking the snaps this year, with two of their three losses coming in overtime.

As much as I like Oregon State, it feels like the Pac-12 is destined to beat up on each other as the season rolls along. Arizona upsetting the Beavers seems like something that fits perfectly into the conference cannibalising itself, especially with the Wildcats having a bye to see if de Laura can get healthy enough to return to his starting quarterback role. Arizona wins an entertaining game late Saturday night.

Arizona 35, Oregon State 31

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Oct 26, 2023

Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Taylor Thierry
ThomasCostello 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

Thierry made a leap from her freshman to sophomore year. Can another jump come in 2023-24?

For basketball fans paying attention to the preseason awards dished out by the Big Ten and NCAA, one name hasn’t come up for Ohio State women’s basketball. It’s someone who’s the backbone of the Buckeyes on offense and defense. She’s somebody whose consistency and versatility make her a must-start for head coach Kevin McGuff.

It’s Taylor Thierry, the 22/23 Second Team All-B1G and All-Defensive Team guard/forward who could end the season as not only a star for Ohio State but across the Big Ten and beyond.

Name: Taylor Thierry
Position: Guard/Forward
Class: Junior
High School: Laurel High School (Cleveland, Ohio)
2022-23 Stats: 13.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.1 spg, .625 FG%, .387 3FG%, .667 FT%

Last Season

Last season’s opening game against the Tennessee Volunteers featured what some could consider a surprise starter for the Buckeyes, except Land-Grant Holy Land who predicted that very thing happening. It was Thierry starting.

It came after a season where the Northeast Ohioan didn’t start a single game. It wasn’t until January 2022 that Thierry entered games outside of the end of quarters or the game when there was much-needed rest for the starting five. However, through those freshman minutes, the ability of Thierry was starting to show.

The quiet and reserved Thierry off the court is a different person in the game. Last season, Thierry was crucial for Ohio State; she was consistent enough to set your watch by. Thierry was an outlet in the paint off of screens and when the defense closed down on the Taylor Mikesells and Cotie McMahons of the world.

Thierry was third in the Big Ten and sixth in the country in field goal percentage at 62.5%. Those came mostly through runs to the basket and hitting layups usually connected to power forwards and centers. She rebounded like one too, leading Ohio State with 233 (104 on offense which no Buckeye was within 50 of Thierry’s total). It was all done under the ruse of Thierry starting at “guard.”

Even so, Thierry also exhibited the play of a guard, taking more three-point attempts as the season went on and using ballhandling to run past defenders. Also, unlike the 6-foot-4 and taller centers and forwards, Thierry played in the press in the backcourt and led the team in steals (75).

To pick one game that best represented Thierry, it’s the semifinal of the Big Ten Tournament, against the Indiana Hoosiers. Down 23 points entering the second half, Thierry was everywhere. In the third quarter, Thierry had 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal, assist and block. Thierry added another three rebounds and four points in the fourth quarter to help give Ohio State a historic 24-point comeback victory. The forward led the team with 19 points, adding 12 total rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

What to Expect

Thierry is part Illinois forward Kendall Bostic’s rebounding in the paint, Indiana forward MacKenzie Holmes’ offensive ability near the basket, and former Maryland guard Diamond Miller’s drive to the hoop. All that and the hard-working, athletic, Thierry is also improving her shooting from the perimeter.

Basically, expect everything from Thierry. The Cleveland, Ohio native will start every game for the Buckeyes, when healthy. So far, the forward hasn’t had too many injury concerns, outside of the usual wear and tear of playing a physical game under the rim. A blow to the face did require Thierry to wear a mask towards the end of last year.

Because of Thierry’s versatility and athleticism, she played the second most minutes on Ohio State last year, below outstanding shooting guard Taylor Mikesell. That’s likely to continue as Thierry and forward Cotie McMahon are every-game starters. If recent injuries to Buckeye guards over the last couple of seasons continue, Thierry could log even more.

With all the good, also expect Thierry to foul out. It comes with the territory of the position, but last year the forward fouled out six times. The good thing for the Buckeyes is the fouls don’t slow down the work of Thierry.

Prediction

This season, Thierry is going to be better. Last season, Thierry went from a freshman coming off the bench, lacking confidence and losing energy when calls didn’t go her way to the most consistent player on the 22-23 Buckeyes squad.

Thierry puts in the extra work outside of practice, often joining former teammate Mikesell in taking shots over an hour before tipoffs. Like Mikesell, Thierry is going to hit more threes this season.

In the Buckeyes Elite Eight season of 22-23, Thierry took 31 threes and hit 12. Not bad for the hybrid guard/forward who makes a living in the paint. With Mikesell gone, Thierry will be a part of filling that offensive gap. Increasing points per game up to 15 or 16 points per game wouldn’t be a surprise.

Also, when guard Madison Greene returns from injury, there could be more opportunities for Thierry to slide into the No. 5 center-like role for Ohio State, playing alongside McMahon and the three dynamic starting guards at the Buckeyes’ disposal in Greene, Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor.

A Big Ten All-Defensive Team and Big Ten All-First Team selection is a good group to lump Thierry into for the 23-24 season.

Highlights

Gathering one highlight of Thierry is unfair. Here are the vastly different ways Thierry impacts games for the Buckeyes. Steals, blocks, scoring, etc.

from Taylor Thierry #NCAAWBB x BTN / @OhioStateWBB

pic.twitter.com/FJ1gkJdVBQ

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 3, 2023

Q3 | Taylor Thierry draws three defenders down the lane to end the third quarter!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/AOCEFdJrjM

— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) March 25, 2023

Q2| Clean. Block from Taylor Thierry.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/HvSJFNTCzF

— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) February 11, 2022

Miss a player preview? Here’s who you can read about so far:

Oct 26, 2023

Bucketheads Podcast: Recurring guest Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch helps us preview Ohio State’s season
justingolba 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

Adam helps us dissect the Ohio State-Dayton exhibition game and preview the upcoming season for the Buckeyes

“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.

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

On this episode of “Bucketheads”, Connor and Justin welcome back for the third time Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch. Adam is the men’s basketball beat reporter for The Columbus Dispatch, and has the most insight into the program out of anyone.

We discussed the exhibition game against Dayton, where both Adam and Connor were in attendance. What were some takeaways from the scrimmage, and also, what did we learn with the first actual gameplay from the Buckeyes? Also, what should we expect from Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, and Jamison Battle?

Before Adam joined us, we discussed the exhibition on our own and what we learned.

Be sure to like and subscribe to the podcast and leave a review of what you think of the show!

Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

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Oct 26, 2023

Ohio State can ill afford to take Luke Fickell and Wisconsin lightly, especially in Madison
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Spell it with me, y’all: T-R-A-P *spacebar* G-A-M-E

Ohio State will travel to Madison, Wisconsin this weekend to take on Luke Fickell and his 5-2 Badgers. The former OSU player, coordinator, and coach is in his first season running the show at Wisconsin, and while there have been a few bumps in the road, Fickell’s squad is currently leading the Big Ten West race — which, ya know...

Look, I’ll actually nip this in the bud right now: The B1G West is a piss-poor Power 5 division, alright? Let’s just be honest with each other. If Nebraska controls their own destiny heading into November, that’s pretty telling. But a winner from the West will play in Indianapolis. And Wisconsin is a solid team, with a great head coach. So let’s move on.

Big Ten West standings. pic.twitter.com/CI83OA7UAI

— Huskers Gameday (@HuskersGameday) October 24, 2023

Jokes (but not really, because the B1G West is embarrassing) aside, Fickell and his Badgers pose a legitimate threat to not only win their division and book a trip to Indy, but also to upset the Scarlet and Gray on Saturday night. This has all the makings of a classic trap game for Ohio State, especially coming off their big, emotional victory over Penn State. But it’s not just that OSU played a tough, physical game against the Nittany Lions. The inherent danger of this trap goes well beyond any potential Buckeye letdown.

First and foremost, Luke Fickell will be standing on the opposite sideline. Fickell is a damn fine American, a beloved Buckeye, and a hell of a football coach. He owns a .713 winning percentage as a head coach, and that’s if you include his 6-7 record as the interim placeholder in Columbus (2011). Elsewhere, ‘Fick’ went an impressive 57-18 at Cincinnati, guiding the Bearcats to a College Football Playoff appearance in 2021 — the first ever CFP appearance for a non-Power 5 team.

If you were to omit both 2011 and 2017 (Fickell’s first season at UC), then his career winning percentage rises to .830! Simply put: The dude can coach. But Fickell is far from the only accomplished football mind in Madison.

He quickly assembled an impressive staff upon getting the Wisky gig; one that includes offensive coordinator Phil Longo and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel. The former helped turn North Carolina’s Drake Maye into a superstar, while the latter – whose name might sound familiar – was part of Fickell’s CFP staff in Cincinnati and previously helped Michigan State reach impressive heights alongside Mark Dantonio.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY Sports
Just a couple of dudes with serious ties to Ohio State

So that’s the coaching piece. No offense to Ryan Walters, who I think the world of, but this is nothing like Ohio State taking on Purdue and a first-time head coach. Facing Fickell and Co. is and will be an entirely different and unique challenge.

Sticking with the Purdue-Wisconsin comp: Heading into West Lafayette and Ross-Ade Stadium is also nothing like traveling to Madison and playing inside Camp Randall Stadium. The venue itself gives UW some sort of edge or advantage, which adds to the danger or intrigue of this game (RE: the Buckeyes). I mean, sure, OSU has occasionally struggled in Ross-Ade, so ghosts exist there...

But Camp Randall is rowdy. It’s big. It’s loud. It’s nasty. And I mean that in the best way possible! CR Stadium is one of my favorite venues in the entire country for college football.

Jump Around with Everlast in the building at Camp Randall Stadium! pic.twitter.com/Zs5Bl1bWtp

— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) November 5, 2022

If the Wisconsin student section is juiced up and going ballistic when ‘Jump Around’ comes on, watch out. Because that likely means we’ve got a game on our hands. The home advantage is real for the Badgers, and while Kyle McCord and other Buckeyes have played and won big road games this season, Camp Randall at night is a different beast.

Lastly, OSU would be doing itself a disservice if they ignore or attempt to minimize the talent on Wisconsin’s roster. Not that I believe Ryan Day and his coaches would intentionally ignore or underestimate this week’s opponent. Or let their players do so... But if such a scenario were to play out, then the Buckeyes could find themselves in trouble.

Because I get that UW is 5-2, with losses to Washington State and Iowa, but the Badgers have ballers on both sides. Running back Braelon Allen is basically a Derrick Henry clone. Left tackle Jack Nelson is a potential first-round NFL Draft pick. And the team brought in a ton of pass catchers via the transfer portal. Despite the passing stats being rather pedestrian, this is not your mom and dad’s Wisconsin. Sure, they have a big, bruising RB, but they also want to throw the ball.

On defense, the Badgers have a bunch of talented guys being coached up by Fick and Tressel. Safety Hunter Wohler is the an absolute maniac who makes plays all over the field. Their lineman stuff the run. Their linebackers are versatile. And the UW secondary is helping to keep opponents under 200 passing yards per game (on average). On top of everything else, Wisconsin’s defense is giving up just 18 points per game.

This game on Saturday night has the potential to be a rock fight. And the ‘trap gaminess’ factor is very real. So my hope is that Day and Co. took note of what happened to North Carolina, Washington, Texas, and Oklahoma just a week ago. The Buckeyes certainly don’t want to F around and find out. Because if they do so in Madison, the consequences could be severe.

But let’s just go win a game, huh? Business trip mentality... Go Bucks!

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Oct 26, 2023

BOOOM!!!! Ohio State lands 2025 in-state linebacker Eli Lee
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Eli Lee | 247Sports

The Buckeyes add their fourth member of the 2025 class.

It’s hard to believe, but the regular season for Ohio State is already more than halfway complete. With seven wins in as many contests, the Buckeyes are still one of the top-ranked teams in the country, and will once again have another big opportunity this weekend as they head to Wisconsin for a night game against the Badgers.

After a monstrous weekend last week, Ohio State’s on-field efforts versus Penn State were victorious, but in recruiting too, the Buckeyes couldn’t have done a better job. Hosting an incredible amount of elite players, the coaching staff made some serious progress with some of their biggest targets, and though this weekend’s game doesn’t provide a chance to host recruits, it’s another primetime tilt where all eyes will be on Ohio State.

Ohio State adds 2025 in-state LB

When it comes to linebacker recruiting, Ohio State’s track record of success is pretty impressive. Over the years, the Buckeyes have developed some incredible talents at the position, and this year’s team once again boasts some next level type of guys that are anchoring a side of the ball that is getting better each week. With Jim Knowles being a linebacker guy at heart, his knowledge is going to help, but having a former All-American and NFL veteran such as James Laurinaitis on your staff, surely the teaching and development of the spot is going to have some recruiting wins too.

With one true linebacker committed for the 2024 haul, the future 2025 class is going to need to have multiple recruiting wins. Fortunately, the Buckeyes are getting a head start and are seeing early success thanks to the latest commitment coming by way of the linebacker position.

It was just a few short weeks ago that the offer was sent out, but yon Wednesday, in-state 2025 linebacker Eli Lee (Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) decided that the time had come as he took to his Twitter account to share his commitment to Ohio State. The No. 380 player nationally, Lee is currently the 36th best linebacker and the 13th best player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite for the 2025 cycle. Maybe not the highest ranked player Ohio State is used to taking, throw the rankings out with this one, because the staff clearly wanted him, and his overall desire to be a Buckeye makes this a perfect match especially — with his abilities being compared to current linebacker and fellow Ohio native, Tommy Eichenberg.

From the jump, Lee has made it no secret that he along with his family have grown up following Ohio State. Having a few other offers to his name, the Buckeyes were the first major offer he earned, and though he hinted that he may take some time to weigh his options, this commitment seemed to be a forgone conclusion.

Either way, the Buckeyes now have one of their very own in the fold, and if rankings are anything important, it won’t be a shock at all to see Eli’s stock rise pretty high with his new Ohio State commitment now set in stone.

I have decided to commit to THE Ohio State University! #AGTG #GoBucks @OhioStateFB @markpantoni @JLaurinaitis55 @CoachJimKnowles @HobanFootball @Hoban_Strength @CoachMcGrath22 @614EditzDSGN @showcaseneohsfb pic.twitter.com/EwMCwCEXBl

— Eli Lee (@EliLee12) October 25, 2023

Quick Hits

Though he’s still two years away from even being on campus, you can’t undersell how huge the commitment of Chris Henry Jr. is for Ohio State’s 2026 class. From the looks of things, Henry looks to be another next great receiver in line for the Buckeyes when he’s in uniform, and on Wednesday the five-star talent took to Twitter to share his regular season highlights.

The No. four player nationally and the top ranked receiver in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite, with film like this it further goes to show why he’s so highly touted as just a high school sophomore.

Check out my highlight - https://t.co/Uhssaqc2J6

Regular szn highlights

— Chris Henry Jr (@ChrisHenryJr) October 25, 2023

DaddyBigBucks · Oct 25, 2023

In the next 3 weeks, the Buckeyes face the top 3 running backs in the B1G in descending order

Allen of Wisconsin
100.57 ypg

Monangai of Rutger
93.00 ypg

Carter of MSU
80.71 ypg

That is seriously the output of the top 3 RBs in the B1G

Are we adding the top teams in the PAC or are we joining the PAC?

The top receiver in the league has more yards per game for cryin out loud

Oct 25, 2023

Which Ohio State player impressed you most against Penn State?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Also, which pre-Michigan game makes you the most nervous? Let us know in our weekly fan survey.

Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

Last Saturday, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes pulled off their second major marquee victory of the season when they took down then-No. 7 Penn State in The Horseshoe. It was both a confidence-building and frustrating game at times, but any win over a top-10 team is a good one.

So, now that we have a little bit of distance and perspective from that game, we wanted to check in with Buckeye Nation to see what you were thinking about the contest. We have two questions about the game in our weekly OSU fan survey. Make sure to answer the questions and if you have more thoughts, let us know in the comments at the bottom of the page.

Question 1: Whose performance were you most impressed by in Saturday’s win over Penn State?

To me, there were a lot of players that you could pick for this one, and I had trouble narrowing it down to a half-dozen options, but to me this is an interesting collection of guys, because it includes some of the big name, prime time guys that you would expect to turn up in a huge titanic struggle like we witnessed on Saturday, but then there’s also some guys who came up a bit under the radar when the lights were brightest.

It also gives you the opportunity to pick a guy on offense, defense, or special teams, so no matter your preference, you’ve got options. So, make sure to vote below, and if the guy who stood out to you isn’t included, please feel free to write him in in the comments below.

Question 2: What game are you most nervous about before the Michigan regular-season finale?

Starting with Saturday’s primetime matchup against Luke Fickell’s Wisconsin Badgers, the Buckeyes have four more games in order to get themselves ready for THE Game against That Team Up North. There are still plenty of things that Ryan Day and his staff need to get corrected before the regular season finale, but that doesn’t mean that the Buckeyes can over look their next four opponents.

So, which one of the remaining Big Ten foes before the Skunk Bears makes you the most nervous? The Badgers? The Fighting Greg Schianos? Sparty? The Golden Boat Rowers?

Share your thoughts here:

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

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brodybuck21 · Oct 25, 2023

247
Rivals

Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Point Guard
School: Orlando (FL) Oak Ridge
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 155 lbs

brodybuck21 · Oct 25, 2023

247
Rivals

Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Small Forward
School: La Porte (IN) La Lumiere School
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 205 lbs

brodybuck21 · Oct 25, 2023

247
Rivals

Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Shooting Guard
School: Flint (MI) St. Mary's
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 205 lbs

brodybuck21 · Oct 25, 2023

247
Rivals

Class: 2025
Position: Power Forward
School: Napa Valley (CA) Prolific Prep
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 195 lbs

brodybuck21 · Oct 25, 2023

247
Rivals

Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Point Guard
School: Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 180 lbs

Oct 25, 2023

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

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 14 Ohio State at Purdue

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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Oct 25, 2023

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:

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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

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Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye

Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3

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Oct 25, 2023

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.

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.

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.

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Oct 24, 2023

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.

And there it is! The #Hawkeyes celebrate @IowaWBB and women's sports and set a new NCAA women's basketball game attendance record. pic.twitter.com/xZQFV2UWvh

— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) October 15, 2023

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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Oct 24, 2023

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.

Blue Chip

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.

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.

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.

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

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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Oct 24, 2023

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%