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LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball player preview: Evan Mahaffey

Ohio State men’s basketball player preview: Evan Mahaffey
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

Mahaffey returns to the Buckeyes having logged the second-most minutes behind Bruce Thornton.

Even though it’s October and fans are locked into college football, the fall also means that college basketball is right around the corner.

From now until the start of the hoops season in early November, we will be doing player previews and team previews for all the players on the men’s basketball team and the new look Big Ten Conference.

The Evan Mahaffey File​


Name: Evan Mahaffey
Position: Forward
Class: Junior
High School/Previous School: Archbishop Moeller H.S./Penn State
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Weight: 200 pounds
Height: 6-foot-6

Breakdown ​


The Penn State transfer and Ohio native was one of the top overall producers for the Buckeyes last season, as one of four players to play in all 36 games and made 35 starts.

He was one of the team’s top defenders, and averaged 4.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while also recording 25 blocks. As a scorer for the Buckeyes, he had four double-digit scoring games, including a career-high 16 against his former team, Penn State.

Before Ohio State, he played in 34 games as a true freshman at Penn State, averaging 2.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game while shooting 56.9 percent from the field in an average of 9.4 minutes per contest

He is one of the few Ohio State players with tournament experience, as he appeared in both NCAA Tournament games for the Nittany Lions in 2023 against Texas A&M and Texas.

According to 247Sports, he was a consensus three-star prospect coming out of Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller High School. As a senior at Moeller, he was a finalist for 2022 Ohio Mr. Basketball, the GCL Conference Player of the Year, the Ohio Player of the Year by Cincinnati.com, and a Division I first-team All-Ohio honoree.

Expected Role​


Mahaffey is one of the few returning players to the Buckeyes, and his role will look much different this year. He started all but one game last season, and will come off the bench this year.

With the addition of Micah Parrish and Sean Stewart, they will push Mahaffey to the bench. More than likely, Devin Royal and John Mobley Jr. will come off the bench before Mahaffey, so he could be the 8th or 9th player in the rotation for Jake Diebler and the coaching staff.

Last year, as a starter, he played just over 22 minutes a game for Ohio State. I expect that number to drop a little, but he is still a valuable player to the team with his defense and as a returning player. He also played the second most minutes of any returning player, only to Bruce Thornton.

I would expect him to be the third guy off the bench, and play 14-18 minutes per game.

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LGHL Buckeyes and Nittany Lions set for the always thrilling, big-game, marque 12 noon kickoff

Buckeyes and Nittany Lions set for the always thrilling, big-game, marque 12 noon kickoff
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...​


Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land


Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio

On the Gridiron​


Kickoff time, TV set for OSU’s upcoming road trip to Penn State
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch


⌚️ Game Time Announcement ⌚️
Penn State
️ Beaver Stadium
️ Saturday, Nov. 2
@CFBONFOX
12 P.M. pic.twitter.com/AqWxcRQrG9

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 21, 2024​
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Ohio State adds big visitor to guest list for Nebraska game
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ryan Day Lasered In On Ohio State’s Defensive Dilemmas During Buckeyes’ Bye Week
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors

Four thoughts on Ohio State football in the second half of the 2024 season
Bill Landis, Dotting The Eyes

Stock Market Report: Special Big Ten edition, Is Indiana the standout stock of the league
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land

This makes me very, very happy. But also, don’t count out a loss to Little Brother and going 5-7 and not making a bowl game!


Michigan is 4-3.
They still have:
• Oregon
• at Indiana
• at Ohio State

1 year after winning the Natty…
This is a 6-6 football team.

— Sam Block (@theblockspot) October 19, 2024​
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Stat Pack: Where Ohio State stands statistically after Week 8
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

You’re Nuts: Who is Ohio State’s biggest non-Oregon threat in the Big Ten?
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood​


Entering final season, Taylor Thierry key to Ohio State women’s basketball success
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott​


Men’s Soccer: Ohio State Earns No. 1 NCAA Committee Ranking
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Golf: Choi, Hollenbaugh Fire Rounds in the 60s as Buckeyes Tie for Fourth at Jim West Challenge
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...​


Now they are saying that 247 was hacked, but then why did they have the graphic made? ️


247Sports posted and deleted this a few minutes ago…

Could something be on the horizon here? pic.twitter.com/pYmmcXGyva

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) October 21, 2024​
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LGHL Silver Bullets Podcast: Ohio State’s bye week, Big Ten results and Nebraska preview

Silver Bullets Podcast: Ohio State’s bye week, Big Ten results and Nebraska 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

Will the Huskers go after Denzel Burke on Saturday? | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Buckeyes complete their second “improvement week” and prep for the Huskers.


With the Ohio State Buckeyes on their second bye week of the 2024 season, it provided a great opportunity for us to focus on some of the other teams around the Big Ten. With that in mind, we opened this week’s show with a trip around the other B1G results to see how everyone was doing.

It was a bad weekend to be an Iowa Hawkeyes or a Michigan Wolverine — is there ever a good week to be a Michigan Wolverine though? — and the wheels seem to have come off for Rutgers. On the flip side, Michigan State notched an important win and Indiana looks as formidable as it has been in my lifetime. We discuss some of the key talking points.

After looking around the conference and the country, we turned our attention toward the Buckeyes’ upcoming game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Huskers were humbled on Saturday and will be looking to bounce back with a much stronger defensive performance than they had against Indiana. Dylan Raiola, a former OSU quarterback commit, will no doubt feel like he has something to prove to Ohio State fans, even though it wasn’t the Buckeyes’ fault he decided to flip — not once, but twice. Raiola started the year strong but has not looked great the last two games.

We made our score predictions and selected the players we thought might have good games on Saturday against Nebraska.

We also looked at the Ohio State players who were named “Midseason All-Americans,” although we don’t agree that that’s actually a thing, and we had another black stripe removal to discuss.

We would love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email. Any questions directed toward us will be answered on our next show.

Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.

As always, thanks for listening!


0:21 - The Buckeyes were off over the weekend, but there was plenty of drama around the rest of the Big Ten.

33:01 - The Buckeyes get set to take on a Nebraska Cornhuskers team that just got humbled by Indiana — and a former OSU quarterback commit.

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LGHL Ohio State a top school for new No. 1 overall recruit

Ohio State a top school for new No. 1 overall recruit
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

GQTRVq_WoAAf6QS.0.jpeg

2026 five-star edge Zion Elee | via @D1zion26 on X

Ohio State is one of the top schools for Zion Elee, who was just named the No. 1 overall prospect by On3.

Ohio State is still 5-1 following the team’s week off. The Buckeyes made the most of the extra time, as the coaching staff was busy preparing this year’s team for Saturday’s game against a Nebraska team that is stronger than in recent years. With the Oregon loss still being the last time this team was on the field, the Buckeyes are hard at work ensuring they give a stronger performance.

The coaching staff was not only busy working with the current roster on the bye week, as the team was also busy making recruiting headlines. Even though Monday meant the start of a new game week, the Buckeyes still found a way to make more recruiting headlines.

In case you missed any Ohio State recruiting news on Monday, as always Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.

Ohio State a top school for five-star edge​


Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class is all but complete, which has allowed the coaching staff to put more focus into next year’s class for the last couple months. The Buckeyes only have one verbal commitment in the 2026 class, albeit it is a great one in five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., but the Buckeyes would like to start adding more names to the class sooner rather than later.

One of the recruits Ohio State has made a priority target was recently named the No. 1 overall prospect by On3.com. Five-star edge Zion Elee (Baltimore, MD / St. Frances Academy) is the new top recruit in the 2026 class, and he also released an updated list of schools that stand out to him — and the Buckeyes were one of them.


These schools “Stand Out” to Five-Star EDGE Zion Elee, he tells me for @on3recruits

He was just named the No. 1 Recruit in the ‘26 Class, per On3 https://t.co/eMTXHpKGhr pic.twitter.com/Wb7zrW1XGJ

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 21, 2024​
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Alongside Ohio State, Oregon, Alabama, Texas A&M, Maryland, Miami, Tennessee and Penn State were also named one of his top schools.

Ohio State has long been targeting Elee, but the school may have some work to do if it is to secure a commitment from him. Shortly after being named the new No. 1 recruit by On3, Steve Wiltfong dropped a prediction for him in favor of Oregon. There is still plenty of time left in Elee’s recruitment, but Ohio State will need to get him on campus for an official visit if it is to remain contenders.

Elee is the No. 3 edge and is the No. 16 overall recruit by 247Sports, he is also the No. 2 recruit out of Maryland.

Quick Hits​

  • Ohio State saw former Georgia commit and five-star quarterback Jared Curtis (Nashville, TN / Nashville Christian School) become available over the weekend. The Buckeyes were also named one of six schools he is interested in, alongside Alabama, Clemson, Oregon, USC and South Carolina. It appears that Oregon is the early leader in of that short group, as he told Hayes Fawcett so on Monday.

That being said Ohio State is far from out of it, but it will definitely need to get him on campus this season to remain contenders. Curtis is the No. 1 QB and the No. 6 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the top recruit out of Tennessee.


These schools “Stand Out” to Five-Star EDGE Zion Elee, he tells me for @on3recruits

He was just named the No. 1 Recruit in the ‘26 Class, per On3 https://t.co/eMTXHpKGhr pic.twitter.com/Wb7zrW1XGJ

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 21, 2024​
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LGHL Ohio State fans remain optimistic about season despite loss to Oregon

Ohio State fans remain optimistic about season despite loss to Oregon
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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

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.


Ohio State’s second and final bye week of the season is now behind us, and it is time to look forward to next Saturday’s matchup with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. With that forward-looking eye in mind, we asked two questions about the Buckeye roster and the second half of the regular season in this week’s fan survey, but we also took the temperature of Buckeye Nation coming out of the 32-31 loss to Oregon.


So, check out the results and see what your fellow Buckeye fans are thinking about the Buckeyes and the rest of the season.

Question 1: What is your general feeling about the season following Ohio State’s 32-31 loss to Oregon?​



If ever you hear anyone saying that all Ohio State football fans overreact or that we all think the same thing about the team (often something negative), point them to these results, because the results ran the gamut. Half of the respondents were essentially calling for calm following the one-point road loss to the new No. 1 team in the country.

I think that is a very fair way to feel coming out of OSU’s first defeat of the season, but, to be honest, I think that you could convincingly argue for any of these answers. One thing that we know now though is that there are no perfect teams in college football this season, so even with weaknesses and shortcomings, Ohio State is still certainly able of winning the national championship.

Question 2: Which offensive Buckeye will have the biggest second half of the season?​



Another fairly close vote, which I think bodes well for how fans feel about the potential of the season. Going with the two passing game veterans seem like solid choices, and honestly, I wouldn’t argue with any of the top-five vote-getters. However, I am a bit concerned about the impact that the loss of Isaiah Simmons will have on the running game. Obviously, it will also play into the pass protection as well, but that has felt sturdier for the Buckeyes the last few years.

I would probably go with the quarterback as well, because I think that there is still room for him to get comfortable with the offense and with his teammates, and more that he can do in the running game. So, hopefully, if Chip Kelly pulls out all the stops from now until the end of the season, we will see more from Will over the next six games.

Question 3: Which offensive Buckeye will have the biggest second half of the season?​



A few weeks ago, Jim Knowles said that he was unleashing Caleb Downs and we’ve seen his production increase a bit in terms of the big play/counting stat categories. But there certainly seems to be room for him to continue to improve. However, I do think that part of the reason that the Alabama transfer hasn’t been a more front-and-center part of the Buckeye defense this year is because of the scheme.

Ohio State continues to run a very vanilla front four where the four defensive linemen just simply run straight forward into the offensive line. Not only is that not productive when it comes to generating pressure on the opposing quarterback, but it also puts the defensive backs in nearly impossible situations when it comes to keeping guys locked in coverage for abnormally long periods of time.

So, if Knowles and Larry Johnson can finally figure out a way to do something... anything... creative with the pass rush, that should also help Downs, Lathan Ransom, Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, and the rest of the secondary.


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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Google Skull Session: Officials for Texas-Georgia Set a Terrible Precedent, Indiana Looks Like a Legitmate Threat to - Eleven Warriors

Skull Session: Officials for Texas-Georgia Set a Terrible Precedent, Indiana Looks Like a Legitmate Threat to - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Skull Session: Officials for Texas-Georgia Set a Terrible Precedent, Indiana Looks Like a Legitmate Threat to Eleven Warriors

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LGHL LGHL’s WBB Podcast: Recapping the major storylines from Big Ten Media Day

LGHL’s WBB Podcast: Recapping the major storylines from Big Ten Media Day
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

GY6sXbkW8AAupKp.0.jpeg

Ohio State women’s basketball on Twitter | @OhioStateWBB

Recapping storylines from the Buckeyes’ first expanded conference media day

The Land-Grant Women’s Basketball Podcast is a show dedicated to coverage of the Ohio State women’s basketball team. Each Monday during the basketball season, LGHL recaps recent games, previews upcoming contests and talks with those in and around the Ohio State women’s basketball universe. Hear directly from players and coaches and receive additional context behind what they say to the media.


Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio


In the debut episode of the Land-Grant Women’s Basketball Podcast, beat writer and host Thomas Costello talks about his trip to the Chicagoland area for Big Ten media day.

Ohio State women’s basketball head coach Kevin McGuff joined his fellow coaches in boosting the stature of the newly expanded 18-team Big Ten conference. When talking about the Buckeyes, he discussed how Taylor Thierry needs to grow in her final season, new recruits, and what he’ll be doing instead of going to a haunted house.

Also, how will Madison Greene be vital to the Buckeyes’ success on and off the court? Plus, what Thierry sees as her areas of improvement heading into the 2024-25 season.


Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello

Theme music: HOLY MOLY by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

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LGHL Entering final season, Taylor Thierry key to Ohio State women’s basketball success

Entering final season, Taylor Thierry key to Ohio State women’s basketball success
ThomasCostello 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

Thierry continues to grow and will have an enhanced role for the 2024-25 season

College basketball season is fast approaching and Land-Grant Holy Land is getting you ready with a series of player previews. Before the season starts this fall, check back regularly for more player previews, schedule news, features, and more heading into the 2024-25 Ohio State women’s basketball season.


For years, the extra year of eligibility granted to student-athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of the sport. Players stayed at schools longer, transferred more, and provided roster stability. Now, most of the 2021-22 class of freshmen are entering their final collegiate seasons and for Ohio State women’s basketball, that means one more season of head coach Kevin McGuff’s Swiss Army knife fans know as Taylor Thierry.


Name: Taylor Thierry
Position: Forward/Guard
Class: Senior
High School: Laurel High School (Shaker Heights, Ohio)
2023-24 Stats: 11.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, .610 FG%, .448 3FG%, .757 FT%

Last Season​


In the 2022-23 season, Thierry went from a freshman who had increasing responsibility off the bench to a starter. Thierry hasn’t relinquished that spot since and last season continued showing the growth that’s made the quiet kid from Northeast Ohio into a consistent force on both sides of the ball.

Strictly comparing numbers from her first starting season to her second shows a dip in points, rebounds, and assists per game but Thierry’s impact makes an argument for being vital to team success.

Using offensive rating, a complicated formula including shooting percentage, times fouled, opponent point differential, and more shows that Thierry’s impact is the most wide-reaching not only in the Big Ten but the country.

In Division I, Thierry led the nation with an offensive rating of 135.2. The top 10 players in offensive rating also included stars like UConn’s Paige Bueckers, South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso, and Utah’s Alissa Pili.

“She’s a really consistent player. She’s got great work ethic and discipline. So you tell her to do something she’s going to do it right and she’s going to keep doing it,” said McGuff about Thierry. “She’s always in the right spot defensively, she’s a great defender. She’s a good rebounder. She can score the ball. She’s unselfish.”

The decline of traditional stats can be chalked up to a less effective offense for the Buckeyes. Losing the three-point shooting of Taylor Mikesell meant fewer rebounds, fewer made shots for assists, and fewer passes inside to Thierry for easy baskets. Even so, Thierry was as consistent as a player can be.

When calculating a player’s true field goal percentage (including two-point, three-point, and free throw percentage), Thierry had a 67.3% true percentage, which is top of the Big Ten.

A good example of that is the Buckeyes’ trip to Maryland in January. The usual offensive linchpins of Jacy Sheldon and Cotie McMahon started the game slow. That’s when Thierry shined, grabbing six offensive rebounds and scoring 17 points. Seven of which came in the third quarter, helping Ohio State keep up with the Terrapins before a fourth-quarter performance of the year by McMahon brought the game to the Buckeyes’ win column.

Thierry always producing at a consistent clip meant Ohio State was usually always in games and provided the support for the names who usually grab more attention like Sheldon and McMahon for their key moments in games.

What to Expect​


While playing the support role and always being there in the background has been crucial for Ohio State, McGuff wants Thierry to be more assertive.

That means more shooting. More driving to the basket. Turn Thierry into that player grabbing attention and taking over games from the forefront.

Efficiency is definitely important to me. I don’t really like missing shots, I’m sure anyone else could say the same thing,” said Thierry. “I’m going to be more offensively aggressive, just taking the open shot and having the confidence that my teammates trust me to take those shots.”

An area to watch is beyond the arc. Thierry is the type of player who stays late after practice to take more shots. It’s something she did alongside the renowned deep shooter Mikesell in their two years together in Columbus.

Last season, when Thierry was open and missed a three-point attempt, it was usually followed up with more hesitancy to try it again. It would stretch to other games too where Thierry felt more comfortable finding a teammate instead of taking the open look. This year that could change.

In previous years, Thierry has shown the aptitude to adjust. As a freshman, it was Thierry getting down on herself for fouls and not playing as aggressively. The soft-spoken forward worked through it. Even taking threes themselves is a sign of the player’s growth after being known mostly as an interior presence in her first year and a half.

Defensively, each season Thierry’s made strides off the ball, and expect that to continue. McGuff often mentions how Thierry is usually the most athletic player in whatever game she steps into. With Sheldon and Celeste Taylor gone, Thierry’s role in the press will be even more important and will lead to her best defensive year in her career.

Prediction​


The only way you don’t see Thierry playing is injury. McGuff’s starting lineup has Thierry’s name written in permanent ink.

There may be speed bumps early in the season with Thierry asserting herself more, but the level of opponent not stretching outside of mid-major sides will lessen the burden.

Outside of another standout defensive year, once the Buckeyes’ offense gels in Big Ten play, Thierry could also have her best offensive season. Ohio State is full of offensive weapons like McMahon and newcomers Chance Gray and Jaloni Cambridge. With the presence all of them will demand from opposing defenses, Thierry will get the chance to go one-on-one and drive, or drive-and-dish to one of the many outlets around her.

Also, rebounding won’t completely be on Thierry’s shoulders with the addition of Ajae Petty from the transfer portal. That extra freedom will be evident with Thierry hurting opponents from anywhere on the offensive side of the court.

Thierry has a real chance to not only end her NCAA career as a conference First Team player but also an honorable mention for AP All-American.

Highlights​


Despite it being in a losing effort, the 20-point performance of Thierry against the UCLA Bruins shows the diverse skillset of the Ohio State senior.

Other Player Previews​


Miss a player preview? Click the links below to learn more about the 2024-25 Buckeyes roster:

Madison Greene
Eboni Walker
Ava Watson
Chance Gray
Elsa Lemmilä
Kennedy Cambridge

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Google The Buckeye 20: Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs and Emeka Egbuka Lead Midseason Ranking of Ohio State’s Best Pla - Eleven Warriors

The Buckeye 20: Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs and Emeka Egbuka Lead Midseason Ranking of Ohio State’s Best Pla - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

The Buckeye 20: Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs and Emeka Egbuka Lead Midseason Ranking of Ohio State’s Best Pla Eleven Warriors

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LGHL You’re Nuts: Who is Ohio State’s biggest non-Oregon threat in the Big Ten?

You’re Nuts: Who is Ohio State’s biggest non-Oregon threat in the Big Ten?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Penn State v USC

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

Besides the Ducks, who else can challenge the Buckeyes?

Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.

In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.

This week’s topic: Who is Ohio State’s biggest non-Oregon threat in the Big Ten? ​

Josh’s Take​


Depending on who you ask(ed), Ohio State either experienced its Week 8 bye at A) exactly the right time or B) the worst time imaginable. It seems like this is/was no in between.

On one hand, the Buckeyes were able to lick their wounds after a tough loss, try to figure out their left tackle situation, and recalibrate before a tough stretch of games. On the other hand, the Scarlet and Gray were forced to sit and stew in the stench of said loss, with no opportunity to redeem themselves. Personally, I think having time to at least try to figure out the LT situation is and was paramount to immediately getting back on the horse.

Regardless of how you or I feel/felt about OSU’s bye week, it’s over. It’s done. And I think we’ll see rather quickly whether the time off was beneficial (or detrimental) to the team. If the Buckeyes come out hot against Nebraska, then we can safely assume that the break was well-timed and very much needed. If the home team struggles in The Shoe on Saturday, well then maybe they’re not “built for this” like we heard all summer. And that would be a damn shame. But we’re not considering a trip to Negative Town just yet.

Instead, Gene and I wanted to take this opportunity to look ahead. Ohio State has six games remaining in the regular season, four of which will be played in Columbus. Two of the six are against teams currently ranked in the top-15, while two others will pit OSU against teams at or near the bottom of the Big Ten barrel (Purdue and Northwestern, no offense). And then there’s, ya know, the rivalry of all rivalries. We call that a mixed bag.

Within said bag, which game and/or opponent should Ohio State fans be (most) nervous about? That is the question Gene and I are attempting to answer. And for me, there is one clear and obvious choice: It’s the Michigan game!

Look, I get it. The Wolverines might just stink out loud now that they can’t cheat. Or throw a forward pass. But TTUN is still OSU’s hated rival, and nothing is ever off the table when it comes to the greatest rivalry in all of sports. Especially when one team has nothing else to play for. And that’s Michigan this season. By the time Nov. 30 rolls around, Sherrone Moore’s squad might be staring down the barrel of a .500 record. And that makes this year’s version of The Game pretty interesting in my mind.

TTUN is likely going to pull out all the stops in their effort to knock off the Buckeyes because the game in Columbus is all they’ll have left at that point, literally and figuratively. This season is already a wrap for the Wolverines... But what if Moore could move to 2-0 against Ohio State and Ryan Day? What if he and his team could take down OSU in a year when/where the latter was expected to compete for a national championship? Wouldn’t that be the next best thing to actually winning a natty!? Maybe that’s just me being petty.

And finally, the other thing that concerns me about this year’s TTUN game is the same thing that concerns me year-round or season-round, which is Day’s record and coaching performance in big games. Until he and the Buckeyes start winning a few of these games, I am always going to have some level of anxiety and/or doubt going in. Even if Michigan is 6-5... Why do you do this to me, Coach Day!?

So that’s where I’m at. I understand and acknowledge that Penn State and Indiana might be better teams on paper, but that paper gets crumbled up and thrown away when we’re talking about The Rivalry.

Gene’s Take​


Of Ohio State’s six remaining games, Penn State is obviously the toughest, right? If the Buckeyes are legit, they have three should-be easy matchups remaining against Nebraska, Purdue and Northwestern, two ranked opponents in Indiana and Penn State, and of course The Game at the end of the regular season against Michigan.

It would seem that the Nittany Lions present the biggest challenge among this group. Ohio State has dominated this “rivalry” over the past decade-plus, with the Buckeyes having won each of the last seven meetings and 11 of the last 12. In fact, Penn State’s only victory over those 12 games was on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in a 24-21 contest in Happy Valley.

However, this year’s Penn State team is much improved from year’s past. Now in year three, Drew Allar is a big upgrade at quarterback from those that came before him. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are a tremendous duo at running back, and Tyler Warren is one of if not the best tight end in the country. The Nittany Lions also have some game-breakers on defense in Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton.

All that being said, I am not choosing Penn State as Ohio State’s biggest remaining threat. Much like Ryan Day, James Franklin has a propensity to lose the big game, which may outweigh the Buckeyes’ own similar issues. Instead, Ohio State’s biggest threat in the conference is the one that is also the most well-coached, and that team resides in Bloomington, Indiana.

The Hoosiers have become a complete different program under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti, who previously managed to lead James Madison to 8-3 and 11-1 records in their first two seasons at the FBS level. Now coaching in the Big Ten, Cignetti has seen no drop-off in his ability to get results, as Indiana has begun the year a perfect 7-0, including a 4-0 mark in conference play.

Indiana has managed to find immense success both offensively and defensively under Cignetti, currently ranking No. 1 in the nation in scoring offense with 48.7 points per game and No. 7 nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 13.7 points per contest. The Hoosiers haven’t exactly had to play the toughest schedule to this point, with B1G wins over UCLA, Maryland, Northwestern and Nebraska, but they are coming off a 56-7 beatdown of the Cornhuskers and have won each of their seven games by an average margin of 35 points.

Offensively, Indiana has been led by Ohio transfer quarterback Kurtis Rourke. The former MAC QB has dominated so far, racking up over 1,900 passing yards with 15 touchdowns to just three interceptions. The Hoosiers have a pair of 400-plus-yard receivers in JMU transfer Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., while the run game has been strong as well with Wake Forest transfer Justice Ellison leading the way with 514 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on seven yards per carry.

On the other side, Indiana has imposed its will on teams defensively. The Hoosiers lead the Big Ten with 48 tackles for loss, led by another pair of JMU transfers in defensive linemen Mikail Kamara and James Carpenter with 8.5 and 6.5, respectively. Indiana is tied for the B1G lead with 21 sacks as a team, Kamara and Carpenter leading the way in that category as well, while the unit also ranks second in the conference in forced fumbles with seven, having picked off seven passes as well.

This is not your older brother’s Indiana football team. Sure, there are still question marks with this group that we may or may not figure out before the Hoosiers and Buckeyes meet on the field on Nov. 23 — a week before The Game. Indiana hasn’t played any real high caliber football teams thus far, with matchups against Washington, Michigan State and Michigan ahead of the Ohio State game. There is also the question of Rourke’s health, who is currently sidelined indefinitely with an injury but expected to return this season.

All that to say... I do think Indiana could be a real thorn in the Buckeyes’ side. Is Penn State the more talented team between the two? Absolutely. But the Hoosiers under Cignetti are one of the most well-coached teams in Big Ten, and I could see them giving Ohio State a real tough time, especially with the game occurring right before the finale against Michigan.

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LGHL Ohio State adds big visitor to guest list for Nebraska game

Ohio State adds big visitor to guest list for Nebraska game
Gene Ross 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 05 Iowa at Ohio State

Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Buckeyes also sent out a new offer over the weekend.

It’s been a little bit since Ohio State has played a game in front of the home crowd. The Buckeyes’ last contest was a week ago in Eugene, Oregon, suffering their first loss of the season to the Ducks, followed by an off week. Ryan Day’s group will return to Ohio Stadium on Saturday when they host the Nebraska Cornhuskers, which also means they'll get to host some big time recruits as well.

Taking full advantage of one of four remaining home games during the regular season, Ohio State will welcome five-star offensive tackle Maxwell Hiller to campus this upcoming weekend.


I’ll be at ⭕️hio State on Oct 26th vs Nebraska @CoachJFrye @CoachSollenne @adamgorney pic.twitter.com/epOuBND9gu

— Maxwell Hiller 5 OT (@HillerMaxwell) October 20, 2024​
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Hiller, a member of the 2027 class, ranks as the No. 4 offensive tackle and the No. 29 player overall in the cycle. Despite being just a high school sophomore, the 6-foot-5 lineman out of Pennsylvania has already amassed nine scholarship offers from some premier programs, including the likes of Penn State, Michigan, Oklahoma and Ohio State.

The Buckeyes are one of three Big Ten programs to get an early visit from Hiller, with the tackle having visited Maryland earlier this season and having plans to check out Penn State on Nov. 9. Hiller expressed his excitement for his trip to Columbus when he spoke with Rivals last month.

“I’m super pumped to be there,” Hiller told Rivals of Ohio State. “It’s a huge blessing and it’s a championship organization.”

The 2023 MaxPreps Freshman All-American is the only offensive lineman in the 2027 class to receive an Ohio State offer to this point. Justin Frye has come under plenty of fire for his lack of recruiting success during his time with the Buckeyes, so he is certainly hoping establishing an early relationship here will pay dividends down the line for the program.

Quick Hits​

  • Ohio State sent out an offer to 2026 defensive lineman Alexander Haskell over the weekend. Haskell, a product of St. Joseph’s Prep in Pennsylvania, is ranked as the No. 43 DL and No. 17 player in the state per the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound lineman has nine offers to his name, including a handful of Big Ten heavy hitters among the likes of Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin and others.

Blessed to receive an offer from The Ohio State University #Gobucks @T_Roken @mikepieco @Coach_Sug pic.twitter.com/9DaOjkIJ5T

— Alexander Haskell (@Alexhaskell99) October 20, 2024​
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  • Ohio State linebacker commit Riley Pettijohn had a huge game for McKinney High School on Friday. The high-four star defender racked up 15 total tackles for the Lions, adding a sack, a tackle for loss and a blocked field goal in addition to a punt return for a touchdown. The Texas native ranks as the No. 2 LB and No. 36 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, and looked every bit of it this weekend. The Buckeyes are getting a special player in Pettijohn.

Riley Pettijohn doing Riley Pettijohn things@r_pettijohn | @McKinneyFBall pic.twitter.com/rXj46LrWvd

— Jason Howell (@Jason_Howell) October 19, 2024​
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LGHL Stock Market Report: Special Big Ten edition, Is Indiana the standout stock of the league?

Stock Market Report: Special Big Ten edition, Is Indiana the standout stock of the league?
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 Herald-Times

Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With Ohio State on a bye, we take a look at the conference as a whole this week.

Since the Ohio State Buckeyes were off this weekend, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to do this week’s Stock Market Report on them. So, instead, we are going to focus on the Big Ten Conference as a whole.

Here is who and what we are high and low on in the Big Ten after this weekend.

Blue Chip​


Indiana

I was going to put Curt Cignetti and Kurtis Rourke (MAC legend), but the Indiana defense is superb, and the offensive weapons and line has been great, so it is fair to credit the whole team.

There is a very legitimate chance that Indiana will go to Columbus 10-0 and will be a top-10 or even higher nationally. Hopefully Kurtis Rourke won’t miss significant time with his injury, because America wants to see this team at full strength.

Solid Investments​


Illinois

The Illini have to head to Eugene next week to take on Oregon, so the magical one-loss season could be over in six days. For now, things are looking up for the fighting Bret Bielema’s.

They held Michigan to under 10 points for the first time in 10 years and are 6-1 on the season. Luke Altmyer is having a great year, and the playoff — as of now before the Oregon game — is in play, as Illinois’s only loss is to an undefeated Penn State team.

Ohio State’s remaining schedule

I say this because if Ohio State finishes 11-1, they will be more than battle-tested. Including the most recently played game at Oregon, Ohio State could still have three top-10 opponents left to play before the College Football Playoff.

Junk Bond​


Michigan

At this point, there really isn’t much else to say about this Michigan team. They are 4-3 and still have Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana left on the schedule. They don’t have a quarterback, and while they do have a running back, they won’t give him the ball 30 times a game. Will Johnson is hurt, and Sherrone Moore is getting outcoached each game.

This is not a one-prong problem in Ann Arbor, and 6-6 might be the best-case scenario this season.

Buy/Sell ​


Buy: Big Ten playoff odds

At this rate, four Big Ten teams getting into the College Football Playoff is possible, because Oregon and Penn State don’t play each other, and Indiana plays neither of them.

Sell: Lincoln Riley

Lincoln Riley has lost 12 games as the USC head coach. In five of them, they held a double-digit lead at some point. That is negative for the coaching staff and a bad omen for USC moving forward. Riley got paid a lot of money to go coach at USC, and that didn’t include being 3-4 on Oct. 20 and already out of the 12-team playoff halfway through the season.

Something has to change, and it has to change fast for Riley.

Sell: Nebraska

Maybe this is a bad idea as the Buckeyes prepare to play the Huskers this week. I want to be clear: I am not saying Dylan Raiola or Matt Rhule altogether — just for this season. Raiola hasn’t looked great, and the Huskers have not taken the leap forward that most people expected. I still think it will come, but not this year.

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LGHL Power Two Podcast: Won’t the real playoff teams please stand up?

Power Two Podcast: Won’t the real playoff teams please stand up?
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Nebraska v Indiana

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

As we near the middle of the season, is it becoming clearer who will contend for the playoffs?

Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football… and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.

After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.

My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.


This week, DJ and Jordan catch up on their weekend activities. Army and Navy are undefeated for the first time in decades. DJ and Jordan discuss the implications of this and how it will affect the rest of the season.

In the two-minute drill, DJ and Jordan discuss how Texas and Georgia showed us that the Longhorns are not who they say they are. Miami is still undefeated despite using all their efforts to lose. DJ is officially tired of Jalen Milroe, and Jordan has a changed opinion about Nebraska following their loss to Indiana.

Jordan has some strong thoughts about USC, the coaching team’s structure, and how it manifests itself in conference realignment. DJ relishes in being right about Colorado football and we have finally been freed of our national nightmare.

DJ and Jordan were annoyed with the power rankings this week — again. Some teams are ranked way too high considering their records, and others seem to be held to a different standard.

For the Pregame Power Seep, we suggested:

  • Friday: Boise State - UNLV, Rutgers - USC
  • Saturday, Noon: OSU - Nebraska, Notre Dame - Navy
  • Saturday, Mid-Day: Alabama - Missouri, Texas - Vanderbilt, Oregon - Illinois
  • Saturday, Primetime: LSU - A&M, Michigan State - Michigan
  • Saturday, After Dark: Cincinnati - Colorado.

In the two-minute warning, DJ shares who the WNBA Champions are, and Jordan discusses his excitement for the Yankees’ return to the World Series.


If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.

You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.

Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast

Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia

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