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LGHL Kyle McCord showed Saturday why he deserves to be QB1

Kyle McCord showed Saturday why he deserves to be QB1
Megan.Husslein
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Western Kentucky v Ohio State

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

He was darn near perfect against Western Kentucky.

There has been a debate for months over who should be the starting quarterback at Ohio State: Kyle McCord or Devin Brown? Even head coach Ryan Day couldn’t decide until the the third week of the season. He decided to go with McCord, and that seems to be 100% the right call.

Admittedly, McCord looked shaky the first couple of weeks of the season. Although it has been made very clear that his performance wasn’t solely on him; the offensive line is adjusting to game play as well. Finally, on Saturday versus Western Kentucky, everything clicked into place.

McCord’s stats are about as perfect as can be. He went 19-of-23 with 318 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions and a QBR of 95.7 He really showed every skill that was expected of him.


Kyle McCord had a big-time game today.

Watch each of his 3 @OhioStateFB TDs passes. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/zYbaRiyx34

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 16, 2023

The deep ball was WORKING for McCord, as clearly demonstrated on his touchdown pass to his high school teammate Marvin Harrison Jr. This was probably the most exciting pass of the game, as it was just a dime to Marv for a 75 yard score. THIS was exactly what Ohio State fans were waiting for.

Overall, he just looked comfortable out there. Day said in his weekly press conference that he was hoping that now that McCord was named the starter, he could relax out there and find his rhythm, and I think that is exactly what happened. He didn’t have to worry about making zero mistakes in fear that Devin Brown might take over. He knew he had the confidence of everyone around him that he was THE guy, and therefore he was confident.

Now, I’m aware that he did all of this against a Western Kentucky defense, a team that was known for its offense (and still only put up 10 points). So, McCord’s first true test will come this Saturday against Notre Dame. However, this is exactly the kind of game he needed to have as a confidence booster heading into a top-10 matchup. The offense as a group needed a game where it fired on all cylinders and everything clicked.


Kyle McCord took a lot of heat the past couple weeks but today he proved a lot of people wrong.

Number 6 exited the field with 300 yards and 3 TD’s and got to truly experience the stardom and love a starting QB at Ohio State gets. pic.twitter.com/lRRVxi3vm8

— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) September 16, 2023

Now, none of this is to make Brown look or sound bad. Hey, he had his first collegiate touchdown Saturday as he went three-of-four throwing the ball. However, McCord’s experience and maturity I think edges Brown’s out a bit, which makes sense as he is older.

So moving forward, what do I want to see out of McCord? Obviously, just continue to build on the performance from Saturday. This weekend I will be interested to see how he stays calm and collected under pressure in a massive road game. Many coaches and players have described how cool he stays in pressure situations, so now it will be time to show that on the field, especially when maybe everything isn’t going as smoothly as it did against Western Kentucky.

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LGHL Silver Bullets Podcast: Western Kentucky rewind and Notre Dame preview

Silver Bullets Podcast: Western Kentucky rewind and Notre Dame 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


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Brendan McAlinden from One Foot Down joins us to help preview the matchup against the Fighting Irish.

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At long last, the Buckeyes finally looked like the Buckeyes. While Western Kentucky might not be the strongest test, it was at least nice to see Ohio State playing football that resembles what we’ve seen from the Buckeyes in recent years. The 63-10 win was a comprehensive one, although it wasn’t without its bumps in the early going. In the end, the improving Ohio State offensive line did well and the defense continues to look good. Heck, they even came up with some defensive touchdowns in this one.

We break down the lopsided win with all of the key plays and performers and check back on our score predictions and picks to click to see how we did. We actually did well this week, although we underestimated Ohio State’s ability to improve and score points.

After the recap, we were joined by Brendan McAlinden of the One Foot Down blog, which covers Notre Dame. Brendan’s encyclopedic knowledge of the Fighting Irish helps get you ready for Saturday’s Top 10 showdown in South Bend.

After our discussion with Brendan, we toured the other results from the weekend around the Big Ten. Sparty seems to be in trouble, Wisconsin is shaky at times, Northwestern is bad, and Rutgers and Maryland are both halfway to bowl eligibility.

Finally, we looked at the matchup with Notre Dame and chose the players we pick to click and made our score predictions for Saturday. We’re expecting a tight game and a little bit lower scoring matchup than your usual Ohio State contest. We’ll check back next week to see how we did in predicting this highly anticipated game between two of college football’s true bluebloods.

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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LGHL Recruits reflect on visit to Ohio State this past weekend

Recruits reflect on visit to Ohio State this past weekend
Dan Hessler
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: South Bend Tribune

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State played host to a handful of recruits for last weekend’s game against Western Kentucky. The Ohio State men’s basketball also offered a trio of prospects.

Ohio State is now 3-0 following an impressive victory at home over Western Kentucky. The offense, led by starting quarterback Kyle McCord, put up a season-high 63 points. While the Hilltoppers are far from the biggest opponent on Ohio State’s schedule, the Buckeyes picked a good time to find their rhythm, as the team will head to Notre Dame this weekend in a top-10 match up.

The timing of the good showing will also benefit the Buckeyes when it comes to recruiting. Ohio State played host to multiple recruits this past weekend, who saw the football team at its best. Two of the bigger names on campus this last weekend were Ohio State 2026 five-star wide receiver commit Chris Henry Jr. and 2025 four-star tight end target Nate Roberts. Land-Grant Holy Land’s own Gene Ross talked on Monday’s edition of State Secret’s about Roberts’ visit and his reaction.

Ohio State’s relationship with Roberts definitely took another step Saturday, but Roberts and Henry Jr. were not the only recruits on hand for the game. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes also played host to a number of in-state prospects. It is no secret Ohio State is prioritizing recruits that hail from Ohio, and Saturday was no exception.

Below are just some of the recruits from Ohio who made the short trip to Columbus Saturday, and how they thought the visit went.

Three-star LB Maddox Arnold


Class: 2025
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH / Elder
Size: 6-foot-2 / 225-pounds
Recruiting Interests: North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Purdue, Central Michigan, etc.


Yes sir! @CamThomas2026_3
https://t.co/q97zzwgJrG

— | Maddox Arnold | 3 ⭐️ (@MaddoxArnold_37) September 17, 2023

ATH Cam Thomas


Class: 2026
Hometown: West Chester, OH / Lakota West
Size: 6-foot-2 / 200-pounds
Recruiting Interests: Akron, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Miami (OH), Michigan, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Northwestern, Pitt, Virginia Tech, etc.

CB Elbert Hill


Class: 2026
Hometown: Akron, OH / Archbishop Hoban
Size: 5-foot-10 / 160-pounds
Recruiting Interests: Akron, Colorado, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pitt, Temple, West Virginia, etc.


I had a amazing time at Ohio state yesterday @OhioStateFB @CoachTimWalton @CoachDuHart pic.twitter.com/Yj4WjySUCF

— Elbert Hill (@Rockk114) September 17, 2023

Quick Hits

  • Ohio State 2024 four-star offensive tackle target Jordan Seaton traveled to Colorado last weekend for an official visit. The Buffs reportedly made a solid impression on Seaton, but don’t expect a commitment anytime soon. Seaton spoke with On3 following the visit on his recruitment, and may wait until December to make a decision.

Ohio State is still legitimate contenders to land Seaton, although they have not yet been able to host him on an official visit. The Buckeyes will likely need to get him on campus this season to remain contenders for his commitment.


New On3 5-star OT @JordanSeaton_ is fresh off his first visit to Colorado. He talks that, his upcoming visits, decision timeline and more: https://t.co/Rg9eOkLsvy (On3+) pic.twitter.com/gX9xU6MmhB

— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) September 18, 2023
  • Ohio State’s football coaching staff is not the only one hitting the recruiting trail head first. The Ohio State men’s basketball team, led by Chris Holtmann, was busy this weekend offering multiple recruits, including 2025 three-star point guard Azavier Robinson, 2026 shooting guard Steven Reynolds III and 2026 point guard Taylen Kinney.

Blessed to receive a offer from The Ohio state University thank you @ChrisHoltmann @JakeDiebler @A_Mitchell5 @callme_cuz #AGTG pic.twitter.com/W4E5AUO7J9

— Tay Kinney (@Taylen_0) September 18, 2023

Blessed to receive an offer from @OhioStateHoops @OhioState #BuckeyeNation pic.twitter.com/vuUTJWY4dZ

— Steven Reynolds III #SR3 (@SR3BucketKing) September 16, 2023

After a great unofficial visit I am blessed to receive a offer from Ohio State university I want to thank coach Holtmann, coach Owens and the rest of the coaching staff pic.twitter.com/Tc44YHAibV

— Azavier Robinson Aka “stink” (@Azavierthegoat) September 16, 2023

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LGHL B1G Thoughts: A return to dominance just in the nick of time

B1G Thoughts: A return to dominance just in the nick of time
JordanW330
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 16 WKU at Ohio State

Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Ohio State returned to dominance a week before the Notre Dame game while Michigan enters Big Ten play with more questions than expected.

Every week after the Big Ten slate of games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and maybe a joke. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024 this article will also include the newest members, Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington. Check out the I-80 Football Show for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.


Is that a dominant defense in Columbus?


Alright, I’m convinced. Ohio State has a good defense. OSU fans can breathe a sigh of relief… for now. This same defense looked good - albeit not this good - last season but failed spectacularly against Michigan and Georgia at the end of the season. This feels different. Three weeks into the season the Silver Bullets have passed each test with flying colors. They are effectively stopping the run, they are limiting big plays and Knowles seems to have learned from his mistakes and has tempered his aggressiveness. Most importantly, they are playing their best players. After giving up big plays last week and last season Cam Martinez only played two snaps in this game. Knowles didn’t overthink this by playing safeties in the slot, instead, he let corner Jordan Hancock man that position for most of the game.

All of this put together led to Ohio State’s most defensive performance in years. Western Kentucky has been a top-five offense for the past two seasons and Ohio State shut them down in all facets of the game. They held Austin Reed to 207 yards and one touchdown. Reed also threw his first interception of the season. While not known for their rushing prowess, WKU ran the ball 33 times for 80 yards at 2.4 yards per carry. Ohio State finished the game with two sacks, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, three forced fumbles with two recovered, and two defensive touchdowns. This was a dominant defensive performance against the best offense they’ve faced so far and it backed up the optimism from the first two weeks. After this game, Ohio State has allowed its fewest points through three games since 1975. This defense is legit and should be a concern for their Big Ten opponents.


Kyle McCord: Best quarterback in the Big Ten?


Stoop me if you’ve heard this before, Ohio State has the best quarterback in the Big Ten. It may be too early to say that but McCord has stepped into his own and shown why Ohio State fans should finally accept him as their QB1. McCord, after getting the official nod from Day, had his best game of the season. He went 19 for 23 for 318 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. He had maybe one bad pass all game and it came on the first drive. The only gripe is he held the ball too long and gave up a sack fumble but other than that it was essentially a perfect game.

Through three games in the conference, McCord ranks third in total passing yards, yards per game, and completion percentage. He also ranks second in passing touchdowns and efficiency. Not bad for a guy who fans and media thought couldn’t play at Ohio State. McCord still has a ways to go to be on par with the Ohio State standard and he has to pass the Notre Dame test but he has shown an ability to play at a high level and he’s gotten better each and every week. If that continues then Ohio State may have found them a quarterback.


A game full of firsts!


Last thing on Ohio State, for college football fans who can’t keep their eyes off the future this was the game for you. With Ohio State finally flexing its muscle it allowed for some young guys to play and show some promise for the future. Ohio State running back Chip Trayanum scored his first touchdown as a Buckeye with a 40-yard run late in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter, the young guys got to show out. Devin Brown threw his first passing touchdown of his career and stud freshman wide receiver Carnell Tate was on the receiving end. Tate has been the talk of the wide receiver room all offseason and after dealing with personal tragedy it was nice to see him get into the end zone and back up all the positive talk. On the defensive side of the ball freshman corner Jermaine Matthews Jr. jumped a route and scored a 58-yard pick-six for the final score of the game. Ohio State always recruits at a high level so it’s great to see that in action early in the season before they collect their redshirts or don’t play due to tighter games against tougher competition.


This was never going to be Michigan’s best team


All offseason I’ve been on a Jon Snow solo campaign to remind people that Michigan lost a lot of talent and this is not their most talented team. To be clear, this is not to say Michigan isn’t good. I’m not saying they can’t or won’t beat Ohio State for a third year in a row or that they won’t make the playoffs. What I am saying is that Michigan came into this season overhyped and through three weeks they’ve shown some concerns that anyone with real analysis could’ve seen coming. For reference in the last two years, Michigan has lost 14 players to the NFL, three in the first rounds and a fourth who would’ve been a first-rounder if not for a pre-draft injury. On defense, they lost starters Aidan Hutchinson, Dax Hill, David Ojabo, Mazi Smith, D.J. Turner, and Mike Morris.

There is no way you can look at the talent lost over the last two seasons and say this is their most talented team. Even with the return of JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, and Donovan Edwards. Michigan also lost talent on the offensive line and clearly, they haven’t figured out who to use to replace them. Through three weeks their running game has been far from dominant and against Bowling Green they brought in a new left tackle and moved their right tackle to left tackle. That is not a positive sign for a team that expects to win Joe Moore awards at the end of the season. Michigan will still run through the Big Ten but I think so far it’s fair to question how this offensive line and defense will hold up against Penn State, Ohio State, and Maryland, the only teams they’ll play with a pulse.


Penn State and the growing pains of a young quarterback


Through three games Drew Allar has looked like the guy Penn State fans hoped he would be. He’s also looked like a first-year starter. Allar has shown all the promise in the world but he did not pass his first test against a real defense this season. Penn State fans should be happy, they won the game and Allar did not make the game closer than needed by throwing the ball away to the opposition but it may be time to pump the brakes on the Drew Allar Heisman campaign. Allar against Illinois completed less than 50% of his passes going 16 of 33 for 208 passing yards and zero touchdowns. Penn State’s offensive line was bullied by Illinois’s defensive front and Allar struggled throughout the game. This is the life with a young quarterback, Penn State shouldn’t be concerned. Allar is clearly the guy and has the potential to be the best quarterback of the James Franklin era but he still needs time to grow into that. Unfortunately for Allar and Penn State, it doesn’t get any easier as they play Iowa this week.


Defensive tackles are now the prettiest girls at the ball


For a long time, the Belle of the Ball on the defensive line was always the defensive end. While ends are still pretty enough, defensive tackles are starting to take away some of the attention. This week in the Big Ten the defensive tackles were by far the prettiest as they put together dominant performances. Ohio State’s Tyliek Willias was a one-man wrecking crew against Western Kentucky. He finished with seven tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, and a defensive touchdown where he pulled the ball out from under a pile of players. Illinois stud duo of Keith Randolph Jr. and Jer’Zhan Newton were dominant against Penn State in a loss. Randolph Jr. had eight tackles with half of a tackle for loss. Newton has six tackles, one tackle for loss, and two pass deflections. Illinois held Penn State to 4.1 yards per carry and had constant pressure in Drew Allar’s face. It’s well-known that quarterbacks hate pressure up the middle and these guys are wreaking havoc so far this season.


Michael Penix Jr. is your next Heisman Trophy winner


Is Michael Penix the best quarterback in the country? Probably not. Is he the most exciting quarterback in the country? That is debatable. He is undoubtedly playing the best of any quarterback so far this season and if the Heisman were given out this week he’d be my pick — not that I have a vote. Through three games Penix has 1,332 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and only one interception. He is completing a ridiculous 74.3% of his passes and Washington looks like one of the best teams in the country. I picked Washington to win the PAC-12 this season and Penix's play coupled with his amazing wide receiving corp was the reason why. The PAC-12 is going to be tough this year, they currently have eight teams ranked in the top 25 but Penix is going to give Washington a chance in every game. He is also catapulting himself into an NFL draft pick. He’s playing great and at this pace don’t be surprised to see him lifting that trophy at the end of the season.


A necessary quarterback change


Nebraska, after falling 0-2, decided to make a change at quarterback. To be truthful, they didn’t have another choice. Regardless of what happened in this game, Jeff Sims did not do enough to keep his job, he accounted for six turnovers on his own through two games. Nebraska’s players and fans deserved to at least see what the backup could do. It’s been one game but so far so good. Against Northern Illinois, a team that already beat an FBS team in Boston College, Nebraska started redshirt sophomore Heinrich Haarbeg. Haarberg wasn’t special but he didn’t make any game-breaking mistakes which is all he needed to do. He finished the game 14-24 for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 121 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. In total, he accumulated 279 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers. That will give Nebraska a chance against most teams. It was Northern Illinois so we’ll have to see how he performs against Big Ten competition but he did enough to earn the start next week and should probably keep the job the rest of the season.


Iowa gets over 25 ppg despite discouraging quarterback play


Congrats Iowa, it only took three games but you finally scored 25 or more points after putting up 41 on Western Michigan. The good, you put up a lot of points. It was clear that Ferentz knew the score and that he was behind the eight ball and kept his foot on the gas. It’s also clear that Iowa still has one of the best defenses in the country. Iowa even had a good game from a running back. Now time for the bad, which is everything else. Cade McNamara was supposed to be different. He was supposed to list Iowa’s ceiling, but so far he is a copy and paste of every quarterback Iowa has rolled out in the past few years. Cade’s biggest strength is the fact that he doesn’t throw interceptions, except at Iowa he does. He threw two interceptions on Saturday.

Through three games, Cade has three interceptions total - he only threw six total in 14 games as a Michigan stater in 2021. He is only completing 53.5% of his passes which is 11 percentage points lower than his Michigan average. He has thrown for 417 yards and four touchdowns to go with his three interceptions. That’s an average of 139 yards 1.33 touchdowns and 1 interception per game. That is awful, the fact that he is this much worse than he was at Michigan is an indictment of Brian Ferentz and that offense. They ruined a perfectly average quarterback. So celebrate the points if you want but Iowa should be concerned. Hopefully, their defense keeps it up, it’s easy to win when you have touchdown drives of 17, 25, and 33 yards due to your defense dominating. For those who thought Iowa would be different, I’m sorry to inform you it’s more of the same.


Wisconsin still doesn’t know how its bread is buttered


I'm going to make this short and sweet. No matter what the result of this season is this needs to be Phil Longo’s first and last season at Wisconsin. It is totally acceptable for Luke Fickell to want to change Wisconsin’s offense, but it is not acceptable for Longo to refuse to utilize the best player on their entire offense. Braelon Allen ran the ball 12 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns. That sounds good, but the issue becomes the fact that backup Chez Mellusi had 15 carries which if you’re bad at math is more carries for the second week in a row over their star running back. The other issue, quarterback Tanner Mordecai threw the ball 30 times with zero touchdowns. Longo is not capable of sticking to running the ball which is bad but refusing to utilize your best player regardless of position is worse. I’m over it and Wisconsin should be too.



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tOSU vs. ND, from an Irish Fan

hey all, ND Fan here, just thought i'd like to chat a little bit about the game this weekend, try and give some input on ND, parking, restaurants, whatever. Not looking to talk crap or anything. Honestly, don't know much about tOSU this year other than what the highlights tell me. I use to follow CFB real close, not so much the last 3 years and just getting back into this year. Always enjoyed having conversations on other teams forums for big games, i.e. George, Clemson, etc. My general rule is though i keep it all to this one thread, seams to be better that way. Im going to try Eleven Warriors as well.

But anyway, if your interested, let me know, doesn't work out, ill leave.

Some quick initial thoughts, ill save some to see if this takes off, not really sure what to make of this game. In my heart i want to believe ND can win this, but my gut says tOSU by 1 score, 24-30 ish. There are times ND's defense looks great, other times look average. Hartman has changes this offense, but the O-line looks weaker than advertised, which i think is where the game will be lost.

Going through a few of your threads, seems like you are all pretty confident that you will leave with a victory, at all concerned about this game?

Good Luck, safe travels.

LGHL Uncut Podcast: Ryan Day said Ohio State played ‘fast’ and ‘violent’ against Western Kentucky

Uncut Podcast: Ryan Day said Ohio State played ‘fast’ and ‘violent’ against Western Kentucky
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Screenshot_2023_09_18_at_12.36.44_PM.0.png


The head coach and his quarterback recap the game while also turning their attention to South Bend.

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 Ohio State’s postgame press conference following the Buckeyes’ 63-10 victory over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday, Sept. 16. Up first, we hear from head football coach Ryan Day who discusses the trajectory of his team and why he was so confident that they would step up their performance level against WKU. Day discusses the performance of his new starting quarterback, how his defense was able to perform so well against a prolific passing offense, and individual plays like Tyleik Williams’ touchdown and McCord’s strip-sack.

McCord also talks about his first start as the Buckeyes’ unquestioned QB1. He talked about how the game was a major confidence boost and what he thinks is his primary job as the OSU QB. Both Day and McCord also talk a little about the upcoming game against Notre Dame.

Watch the complete press conference on Ohio State Athletic’s official Facebook page: Login to view embedded media


Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter:
@BWWMatt

Music by: www.bensound.com


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LGHL You’re Nuts: Bold predictions for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame

You’re Nuts: Bold predictions for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
Josh Dooley
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish battle it out in Week 4.

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: Bold predictions for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame


Josh’s Take


The 2023 college football season begins in earnest this weekend, especially for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Because September has been a bit of a snoozefest thus far for both OSU and most top-tier CFB teams in general.

Outside of Texas-Alabama and a few other matchups, Saturdays have gravitated toward mundane, and the games have not packed a whole lot of punch. Sure, you’ve probably been able to find a game or two each weekend that had its moments and/or a wild ending, but Week 4 should be when and where business really starts to pick up. Seriously, the slate is incredible.

And of course one of the marquee matchups this weekend involves our beloved Buckeyes. The Scarlet and Gray will travel to South Bend (IN) for the first time since 1996, to take on former Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman and his Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Both teams are undefeated, both teams are in the top-10, and both teams really, really want to win. I am not sure which team needs it more, but I think it might be the Irish. Seems like they need a major victory to hang their hat on... Although, if Ryan Day loses another big-time game, I’m sure we’ll hear plenty about him and his ‘overrated’ OSU squad.

Historically speaking, the Buckeyes have dominated this quasi-rivalry... At least I think it’s a bit of a rivalry. Ohio State has won the last five meetings, including last year’s 21-10 victory in Columbus. But playing in South Bend is an entirely different animal, and probably unlike anything OSU quarterback Kyle McCord has ever experienced. Which is why I think the playing field is level this time around, if not tilted slightly in favor of the Irish.

So what should we expect from McCord and the Buckeyes? I am not entirely sure... Sorry if I gave you that impression. But I do have a few predictions for the game, which is what Gene and I decided to roll out for today’s version of You’re Nuts. See how I transitioned seamlessly there?

With a game of this magnitude, it is often hard to predict how things will unfold. There are just so many questions. Such as: Will McCord rise to the occasion against better competition? Will Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman? After all, the Irish have not exactly played a murderer’s row of opponents. Will Ryan Day outcoach the younger and less experienced Freeman? Or will he take the conservative approach that drives Ohio State fans mad?

I could go on and on, but I risk burying the lead. Gene and I owe you predictions. My point with the questions above was to drive home the fact that I am wildly unsure of how this game will go. For that reason, I decided to make a bold prediction about just one individual participating in said game. He does not play quarterback — or any skill position for that matter. And he has been extremely quiet through three weeks for the team in Scarlet and Gray. But I’ve got a feeling that he shows up and shows out in another big moment.

Without further ado, I boldly predict that J.T. Tuimoloau will ‘rise from the dead’ on Saturday night, have at least one sack, one (other) TFL, and generally speaking, make a significant impact on the game. And the Buckeyes will likely need him to, if they are going to go on the road and beat the Golden Domers.

Tuimoloau has not been great thus far in 2023. And honestly, he was hit or miss in 2022 as well. I think that is just sort of what OSU fans should expect from Tuimoloau at this point in his career. We certainly know that he is capable of disrupting and dominating a game, but he hasn’t quite figured out the consistency part. And that can be frustrating for Buckeye Nation. However, the magical, mythical Penn State game (‘22) will always keep us intrigued.

But my bold prediction goes beyond intrigue. I have belief. I have confidence. That Tuimoloau will play a great game on Saturday, while likely going up against one of the best left tackles in the country in ND’s Joe Alt. Crazy? Perhaps. But I like to think of this prediction as reasonably bold.

Tuimoloau has shown or proven in the past that he is capable of single-handedly taking over a game. That was against Penn State, a team with a stud LT and a stout offensive line — a la Notre Dame. Alt is about as good as they come at the college level, but he is only one man. And I just have a feeling that Tuimoloau is going to be wildly motivated on/for Saturday night. To battle ND’s All-American and also show the CFB world what he is capable of... Or at least remind them.

The Buckeyes’ defensive end has likely heard some of the criticism about his up-and-down play. If he has not, well then good for him. Seriously. But Tuimoloau is a talented player. Opponents plan for him. They double him, they scheme away from him, and sometimes they just refuse to give him any opportunities. There is an argument to be made that the latter has been true in 2023. Ohio State encountered two teams who essentially refused to throw the ball, and another that got rid of it in .5 seconds. Notre Dame, on the other hand, will not be afraid. Which means that Tuimoloau should at least get some chances.

I am not predicting another Penn State performance from Tuimoloau, although I would gladly take it. Instead, I predict that No. 44 will play well and make a tangible difference for OSU. And if he does, then I will feel really, really good about the Buckeyes’ chances. Go Bucks.

Gene’s Take


After two meh performances and an impressive outing against Western Kentucky, Ohio State will now truly be tested with a road game at Notre Dame. This is the Buckeyes’ first true road contest in a hostile environment this season, as the Indiana game, while on the road, was probably a greater percentage of OSU fans than those in favor of the Hoosiers. It will be interesting to see how a raucous enemy crowd impacts Ryan Day’s largely veteran group — albeit one with a first-year starting quarterback.

With Josh making a bold prediction on the defensive side of things, I wanted to make one for the offense, but with the way Ohio State’s offense plays when its at its best, nothing really feels all that bold. While I do think Notre Dame’s defense is far and away the best the Buckeyes have seen to this point, is it really all that bold to predict that Marvin Harrison Jr. will go for 150 yards and three touchdowns? Would it be crazy to see Kyle McCord throw for 400-plus yards? I dont think it’s out of the question, but I also think Day will look to have a balanced attack against the Irish much like he did against Western Kentucky.

So instead, I will also predict something from the defense, and I am going to drink the Silver Bullets Kool-aid with a very bold prediction: I think the Ohio State defense will hold Sam Hartman under 200 yards passing.

Hartman has been nothing short of fantastic for Notre Dame through its first four games this season. The Wake Forest transfer has already thrown for over 1,000 yards with 13 touchdowns and an even more impressive zero interceptions. He has far and away his best passer efficiency rating of his career at 217.8, having previously passed for nearly 13,000 yards in his time with the Demon Deacons. Hartman has virtually seen it all, now playing in his sixth year of college football, but he definitely hasn’t yet faced a defense so far this season that is anything close to what Ohio State has been trotting out there.

From the start of the 2021 season to present day, Hartman has started 30 games between Wake Forest and Notre Dame. In that span, he has failed to hit 200 passing yards just two times. Once was the season opener in 2021 against Old Dominion, where Hartman wasn’t asked to do a whole lot in a 42-10 victory wherein Wake Forest ran the ball 41 times and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. The other was this season against Tennessee State, where Notre Dame ran for 221 yards and Hartman only played in the first half of a 56-3 blowout.

Over that same span, Hartman has passed for more than 300 yards on 16 occasions, including twice against Clemson and once against UNC. As previously mentioned, this is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the entire country, having completed over 1,000 passes and throwing for more than 14,000 yards in his collegiate career. Holding him under 200 yards is no easy feat, but I think this Ohio State secondary is one of the program’s best in several years, and they could very well be up to the task.

In three games this season, the Silver Bullets have allowed just 421 passing yards total. Now, this is skewed because of Indiana running the triple option for a majority of that game, but the Buckeyes held Youngstown State to 135 yards passing and the dynamic passing attack of Western Kentucky to 204 yards. Notre Dame is far more talented than either of those teams, but the Hilltoppers are likely more prone to explosive plays. Being able to limit those big plays against WKU has me extremely confident in what they can do against the Irish.

I don’t think it’s at all a shot at Notre Dame to say that Ohio State’s secondary is going up against better wide receivers in practice each week than they are on Saturdays. That kind of thing sort of comes with the territory of having Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka on the roster in addition to the rest of Brian Hartline's band of five-stars. Hartman is a really good quarterback, but the Fighting Irish receivers leave a bit to be desired. There are some talented players in that room, but nobody jumps off the page in a way like the Buckeye pass-catchers do.

Im confident that Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock with a talented group of safeties behind them can shut down the ND passing attack on Saturday — especially if Josh’s prediction comes through and the Buckeyes can finally get a pass rush going.

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LGHL Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky

Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky
Michael Citro
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Somehow, none of these players shown will recover this football. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Get-off-my-lawn grumblings from a comprehensive 53-point Buckeye home win.

For the first time this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes looked like themselves. A 63-10 home win over Western Kentucky is hardly a barometer for the rest of the season, but it’s encouraging that the Buckeyes finally handled an opponent in expected fashion after a pair of less-than-convincing wins over Indiana and Youngstown State to start the 2023 campaign.

It might be disingenuous (or a matter of being spoiled) to nitpick a 53-point win over a team with a prolific passing attack, but that’s why this column exists. Here are the things that caused my acid reflux to act up on Saturday against Western Kentucky.

Mid-Range Trouble


While Kyle McCord has been solid on downfield throws and short passes in this young season, his intermediate game has sometimes been iffy. That was evident again on the first drive of the game.

After the Buckeyes picked up a quick first down at the Western Kentucky 33-yard line, TreVeyon Henderson ran for six yards on first down and a throw to Cade Stover went for a loss of one, setting up third down. Julian Fleming got ridiculously wide open on third, but McCord’s pass was absolutely awful, missing badly and putting the opening drive in jeopardy.

Ryan Day opted not to try a long field goal and left his offense on the field. McCord threw high again on 4th-and-5, but Emeka Egbuka went up in traffic and pulled it down to extend the drive. Henderson went 21 yards for the opening touchdown on the next play. McCord’s medium game needs a little more work in terms of consistency.

Tentative TreVeyon


Ohio State’s offense was set up nicely at the OSU 48-yard line to start its second drive of the game after the Buckeye defense stopped the Hilltoppers on fourth down. Marvin Harrison Jr. caught a 9-yard pass on first down to set up short yardage. However, once again, the Buckeye struggled to convert a short-yardage run.

Although the line could have done a better job, Henderson was too tentative on the run. The speedy back hesitated and tiptoed when he approached the line of scrimmage, waiting for a hole to appear, rather than simply slamming forward with power and getting his first down. As a result, he was tackled short of the line to gain, and Ohio State took an early timeout to set up a run-of-the-mill, third-and-short situation.

Sometimes the hole isn’t there and you’ve got to make your own. That’s the running back’s job. Henderson otherwise had a fine afternoon, rushing for 88 yards and a pair of scores on 13 carries.

Come On, Kyle!


One play after Henderson picked up two yards to extend the second OSU drive, the Buckeyes’ QB1 made a big mistake. In the face of pressure, McCord was loose with the ball and suffered a strip sack, allowing Western Kentucky to jump on the football and take it away. Hosea Wheeler made the hit and McCord had the ball away from his body, losing the handle. Deante McCray fell on the loose pumpkin and the Hilltoppers took over in good field position at their own 41-yard line. Inspired by the turnover, the Western Kentucky offense dove down the field and got points on the ensuing drive.

It’s hard to find many flaws in McCord’s game, aside from the bad miss to Fleming early and the fumble. He otherwise completed 19-of-23 for 318 yards and three touchdowns without tossing an interception.

Wrap Up!


The ‘T’ in JT Tuimoloau did not exactly stand for “tackling” on the Western Kentucky drive after McCord’s fumble. Down the field in coverage, he failed to wrap up sophomore tight end River Helms and gave up a critical first down to the Hilltoppers.

Here’s where I get to sound old by saying that today’s players don’t tackle properly and it’s an epidemic. In every game I see across the country, there are way too many instances of defenders running into ball carriers as hard as they can but failing to wrap up. Tuimoloau simply lowered his shoulder and expected his opponent to fall down after contact. That might happen sometimes, but it’s not good form and is exactly what your opponent wants you to do.

Had it not been for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on former Buckeye Blue Smith, that drive might have ended in a touchdown instead of a field goal.

Holding: One of Life’s Great Mysteries


The officials were seemingly fine allowing Western Kentucky to commit egregious holds at the point of attack all afternoon. On different occasions, quite evident infractions perpetrated against Tyleik Williams and Tommy Eichenberg helped the Hilltoppers earn important yards, and Western Kentucky’s lone touchdown on the day was assisted by uncalled infractions on the edge as Steele Chambers and Davison Igbinosun were both grabbed to prevent them from stopping the scoring play out on the edge.

Egbuka was given no such leniency on a nice, 29-yard jet sweep by Harrison on the third OSU drive. The receiver absolutely held (probably unnecessarily), and that’s on him, but that infraction was less egregious than the four mentioned above. Whatever level the officials want to use to call (or not) holding is fine with me, but some consistency would be nice. It shouldn’t be arbitrarily applied.

See Ball, Get Ball


Ohio State was poised to stop Western Kentucky’s third drive with a forced fumble by Lathan Ransom deep in OSU territory. However, both Josh Proctor and Denzel Burke whiffed on recovery attempts, allowing the Hilltoppers to cover the ball even further downfield and continue their drive. Burke, in particular, looked to have plenty of time to set himself up for the recovery and still somehow failed to pull it in.

Western Kentucky took advantage of Ohio State’s recovery failures — and the aforementioned pair of holds on the edge — and scored a touchdown to cut the Buckeye lead to 14-10 at the time. The Buckeyes again struggled to come up with a fumble later in the game when Chambers failed to scoop and score at the WKU goal line. Williams was the last man into the ensuing dog pile and somehow made the recovery for the touchdown.

Stay True


Although they didn’t hurt Ohio State overall on the day, pre-snap infractions by Josh Simmons and Carson Hinzman showed the developing offensive line still has some work to do. Simmons’ false start in the third quarter put the brakes on the first OSU drive of the second half, ultimately forcing a punt. The Buckeyes also punted after Hinzman’s illegal snap, although they picked up a first down after the penalty before having to do so.

False starts happen, even at home, but they will wreck drives against better opposition, and after last week’s penalties along the offensive line, it’s time to clean things up.

Come On, Cade!


That second drive of the third quarter was extended after the Hinzman penalty when McCord found Stover for 28 yards into Western Kentucky territory. It’s honestly glorious to see the tight end rumbling through the opposition’s secondary with the ball. However, Stover made a basic mistake by being too loose with the ball.

Defensive players nearly always try to go for the strip in the middle of a big play when they draw a bead on a receiver downfield, and it’s on the offensive player to brace for that and protect the football. Linebacker Bryson Washington dislodged it from Stover’s possession. Freshman Carnell Tate managed to jump on it to preserve the drive. The Buckeyes punted anyway a few plays later, after a couple of those odd short tight end passes (three yards to Stover and one to Gee Scott, Jr.) that I wish Day would rip out of his playbook and an incomplete downfield shot intended for Tate.



Obviously, there was far more good than bad on Saturday, and Ohio State played its best game of the season so far. The Buckeyes seemed more adept, cohesive, and creative on offense. The secondary held up well against a good passing attack. The front four didn’t rack up big numbers but did collapse the pocket and pressured Austin Reed into throwing earlier than he wanted. The defense produced takeaways. The wide receivers and Henderson had nice games. But the schedule is about to get more difficult.

Next up is a big one, as the Buckeyes travel to South Bend, Indiana to take on Notre Dame on Saturday.

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LGHL Stock Market Report: Ohio State won by a million, the secondary is on fire, and the game was at 4 p.m.?

Stock Market Report: Ohio State won by a million, the secondary is on fire, and the game was at 4 p.m.?
justingolba
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Some might argue the season begins now, as a trip to South Bend is next.

As 100% of the people in the world predicted in July, the Ohio State Buckeyes are 3-0. Really, no matter how the Buckeyes played, outside of possibly the Indiana game, Ohio State was always going to win the first three games of the season. Now, a date with Notre Dame is looming, and the team finally look ready.

Ohio State destroyed Western Kentucky 63-10 to move to 3-0 and advance one step closer to an undefeated season — and yes, I am already thinking about that. Kyle McCord (who I mentioned as a solid investment last week, just saying) looked the part in his first start since head coach Ryan Day named him the full-time starter, going 19-of-23 for 318 yards and three touchdowns. He did lose one fumble, but he was pretty much perfect after that.

Now, as the Buckeyes head to South Bend next week, the schedule becomes no joke.

Over the next five games, Ohio State will play Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Penn State. Those five teams are a combined 14-1, and all will provide unique and challenging tests. But those games are in the future, so let’s take a look at the previous game and who you should buy into after three games.


Blue Chip Stocks

NCAA Football: Western Kentucky at Ohio State
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The Secondary

I am fully bought in on the secondary, and there is no chance this will come back to bite me next weekend. Zero chance.

Jokes aside, this looks like the most complete that unit has been since 2019-20. Denzel Burke looks like a locked-in All-American, Davison Igbinosun has fit in nicely, Jordan Hancock is getting better with each snap he plays and Sonny Styles is fast approaching generational talent status.

Obviously, the next challenge may be the toughest of the season, with Sam Hartman ready to test the defense and Taulia Tagovailoa, Drew Allar, and J.J. McCarthy waiting on deck. But truly for the first time in three years, I am confident this secondary unit can hang with the best of them.


Solid Investments

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Davison Igbinosun

I realize I already talked about the defensive backfield above, but I think Igbinosun deserves a special mention.

Igbinosun talked a lot in the offseason about how much he has wanted to go to Ohio State since he was a little boy and felt underappreciated when he wasn’t offered by the Buckeyes in high school. He has a chip on his shoulder from that, and he plays like it. He is physical, he is fast, and he complements Burke perfectly.

Carnell Tate

There is a lot of talk about the wide receiver room, and rightfully so. They have the two best players at the position in the country. However, every game that true freshman Carnell Tate plays, he does something that reminds you that his future is as bright as anyone’s.

This week, he scored his first touchdown, jumped on a fumble to save a possession, and recorded two catches for 40 yards. Every time he touches the field, you can see he is getting more comfortable. And once he gets fully comfortable? Watch out.

Marquee non-conference games

This one is simple. I, as is everyone that is an Ohio State, Notre Dame fan, or college football fan, am so excited for the upcoming showdown. These games are so much fun to watch before conference play hits and help teams recognize weaknesses and vulnerabilities early on. Ohio State should play one top 10-15 non-conference opponent every season.


Junk Bonds

NCAA Football: Western Kentucky at Ohio State
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

TreVeyon Henderson hurdling

I am the biggest supporter of Henderson that there is, and I think he is the key to this team’s success. So, I would like him to be on the field. Hurdling is a weird thing in football because it is an amazing athletic feat, but it doesn’t lead to much additional yardage most of the time. This week’s Henderson’s hurdle did lead to more production because he added about three yards and made a possible third-and-kind-of-long to third-and-short.

But Henderson has dealt with injuries, and once you are in the air, you are no longer in control of what happens to your body. I am hoping that fans do not get used to Henderson’s hurdling, and I hope he keeps his feet on the ground so that he can play every minute he possibly can. Because even on two feet, he is incredible to watch.


Buy/Sell


Buy: Improvement

One thing you want to see from a team is improvement, no matter who the opponent is. It is safe to say the Buckeyes have shown improvement in multiple areas in all three games so far. Now, they get to show it against a top team in the country next week.

The offense and the defense have looked better each game, and really that’s all you can ask as the season progresses.

Sell: 4 p.m. ET games

All of this is in Eastern Time. Just to get ahead of that.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but the game time of this one felt weird. The 3:30 games had already started, but it was still the afternoon, but it was almost the evening, but it wasn’t.

I feel like this should not have affected me as much as it did, but it did. I didn’t like it, and I hope they stick to Noon, 3:30, and 7:30 game times. Call me a traditionalist.

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LGHL If This Were a Movie: Alexa, play ‘Dig It’ by the D-Tent Boys

If This Were a Movie: Alexa, play ‘Dig It’ by the D-Tent Boys
JamiJurich
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


holes.0.jpeg


Based on the inspiring true story of Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky

Stanley Yelnats IV found himself the beneficiary of a familial curse of bad luck when he was wrongfully convicted for stealing some sneakers. It is this wrongful conviction that leads him to Camp Green Lake, where he is forced to dig holes in the desert day after day.

For Ohio State, the need to dig holes looked a little different — their need for holes wasn’t dictated by the sinister Warden of a juvenile detention center. Instead, it was dictated by next week’s opponent. If they couldn’t figure out how to dig some holes this week against Western Kentucky, how would they manage against a top-10 Notre Dame next week?

Both Stanley Yelnats IV and the Buckeyes did a lot of digging on Saturday.

Until the Western Kentucky game, the Buckeyes’ run game had been lacking a certain punch. They’ve managed to fly a bit under the radar while we were all watching the quarterbacks duke it out for the starting job, but a Notre Dame team that looks more legitimate than it has in a long time (under the watchful eye of head coach and former Buckeye Marcus Freeman) will be likely to force them to the forefront next Saturday.

So this week, while Kyle McCord secured the starting quarterback job and continued his Elle Woods-esque rise to the top, the rest of the offense grabbed their shovels.

It came on the heels of head coach Ryan Day calling for “violence” from the offensive line, a unit that struggled in the first two weeks against Indiana and Youngstown State.

This week, in their 63-10 routing of the Hilltoppers, the offensive line looked less like football players and more like Zero, Zig-Zag, Armpit, Squid, X-Ray, and Magnet. They were digging holes.

To be clear, Western Kentucky’s defensive front isn’t a good indication of what the Buckeyes will face at Notre Dame next week. But for an offensive line that struggled mightily the last two weeks (especially on third down—we’ll get to that in a minute), opening up holes for the run game was absolutely critical.

They had no choice if they want to win next week. Though they were playing Western Kentucky, their Warden is the Fighting Irish.

Driven by the fear of the warden, much like Stanley Yelnats IV, the Buckeyes offensive line put in the work. It was hard, sweaty, physical labor.

The backfield capitalized.

Junior running back TreVeyon Henderson looked more confident than he has the last two weeks, running for 88 yards on 13 carries and 2 touchdowns. Senior Chip Trayanum contributed 56 yards on 5 carries, with a 40-yard touchdown run of his own.

This run game is even more crucial on third down, where the Buckeyes have been abysmal. In fact, coming into Saturday’s matchup with the Hilltoppers, they were one of the worst third-down offenses in the country.

But they looked better Saturday, digging holes where it counted and going 4-for-4 on third-and-short scenarios.

The win against Western Kentucky was a primer for next week, where we’ll finally get a chance to see what both this Buckeye team and Notre Dame can really do.

But much like Stanley Yelnats IV, the hope is that now that the Buckeyes have started digging holes, they’ll uncover a buried treasure that will set them up for success in the future.

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