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LGHL Behind Enemy Lines: The Iowa Hawkeyes
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Behind Enemy Lines: The Iowa Hawkeyes
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Hawkeyes loom as a favorite to win the Big Ten West in 2023
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about checking in on Ohio State’s opponents. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Lines” articles here.
We are getting closer and ever so closer to the dawn of another college football season. Big Ten media days are rapidly approaching (July 26 and July 27 in Indianapolis), and the next thing fans will get to look forward to is the official start of fall camp in August.
It is against that backdrop that I decided to look at a long-time Big Ten rival of Ohio State’s, the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Iowa Hawkeyes are not on Ohio State’s 2023 regular season schedule, but I believe that Iowa is well-positioned to win the 2023 Big Ten West Division this upcoming season.
Below are three specific reasons why I believe Iowa will be the Big Ten West representative in Indianapolis on Dec. 2. Here’s to hoping that Ohio State will be their opponent on that date...
Looking at Iowa’s schedule, the Hawkeyes’ most challenging Big Ten East opponent comes early in the season, when Iowa travels to Penn State for a night game on Sept. 23. Compared to other Big Ten West rivals, such as Minnesota, which gets both Michigan (Oct. 7) and at Ohio State (Nov. 18), or Wisconsin, which hosts Ohio State Oct. 28, this match-up seems challenging, but not impossible, for Iowa to possibly pull off the upset. Speaking of Wisconsin...
2. Wisconsin Is In For A (Probable) Transitional Year
If you have not yet read Josh Dooley’s strong piece about Wisconsin, please do so. As much as I respect Luke Fickell, and I believe that he will help restore Wisconsin’s traditionally strong program, I believe this year is going to be more challenging than people have anticipated. Remember when Michigan went to the spread under Rich Rodriguez, back in 2008? By no means do I believe that Wisconsin will have that bad of a season, but I think you get my point.
Bringing in Phil Longo, an Air Raid disciple, as the offensive coordinator is going to be an adjustment. The massive offensive linemen that were recruited for a power running scheme under former head coach Paul Chryst will take time to get used to pass blocking, and there may be more than a few bumpy patches offensively as the Badgers try to get used to the wide open offensive scheme being implemented. Wisconsin hosts Iowa on Oct. 14, and it will be a possible elimination game in the Big Ten West Division race.
3. Iowa’s Offense Has To Improve... Right?
Last season, Iowa’s offense was... Well, it was offensive.
How bad was it? Iowa ranked last in the Big Ten in total offense, with 251.6 yards per game. Adding insult to injury, the Hawkeyes ranked 12th in the Big Ten in scoring, with 17.7 points per game, ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing, with 94.9 yards per game, and 13th in the Big Ten in passing, with 156.7 yards per game.
Compared and contrast that with Ohio State, as the Buckeyes led the Big Ten in total offense, with 492.7 yards per game, first in scoring with 44.5 points per game, third in rushing with 198.5 yards per game, and first in passing, with 294.2 yards per game. Oof.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz recognized the problem, and did not try to sugarcoat the woeful Iowa offense...
Iowa welcomed in transfers in quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All, both from Michigan, as well as wide receiver Kaleb Brown from Ohio State this offseason. All should be starting for Iowa this season. With all five starters returning on the offensive line, and a stern directive from Iowa athletic director Gary Barta for necessary improvement by Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, the Hawkeyes should have just enough to claim the Big Ten West Division in its final iteration.
Continue reading...
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Hawkeyes loom as a favorite to win the Big Ten West in 2023
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about checking in on Ohio State’s opponents. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Lines” articles here.
We are getting closer and ever so closer to the dawn of another college football season. Big Ten media days are rapidly approaching (July 26 and July 27 in Indianapolis), and the next thing fans will get to look forward to is the official start of fall camp in August.
It is against that backdrop that I decided to look at a long-time Big Ten rival of Ohio State’s, the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Iowa Hawkeyes are not on Ohio State’s 2023 regular season schedule, but I believe that Iowa is well-positioned to win the 2023 Big Ten West Division this upcoming season.
Below are three specific reasons why I believe Iowa will be the Big Ten West representative in Indianapolis on Dec. 2. Here’s to hoping that Ohio State will be their opponent on that date...
- Favorable Big Ten East Opponent Draw
Looking at Iowa’s schedule, the Hawkeyes’ most challenging Big Ten East opponent comes early in the season, when Iowa travels to Penn State for a night game on Sept. 23. Compared to other Big Ten West rivals, such as Minnesota, which gets both Michigan (Oct. 7) and at Ohio State (Nov. 18), or Wisconsin, which hosts Ohio State Oct. 28, this match-up seems challenging, but not impossible, for Iowa to possibly pull off the upset. Speaking of Wisconsin...
2. Wisconsin Is In For A (Probable) Transitional Year
If you have not yet read Josh Dooley’s strong piece about Wisconsin, please do so. As much as I respect Luke Fickell, and I believe that he will help restore Wisconsin’s traditionally strong program, I believe this year is going to be more challenging than people have anticipated. Remember when Michigan went to the spread under Rich Rodriguez, back in 2008? By no means do I believe that Wisconsin will have that bad of a season, but I think you get my point.
Bringing in Phil Longo, an Air Raid disciple, as the offensive coordinator is going to be an adjustment. The massive offensive linemen that were recruited for a power running scheme under former head coach Paul Chryst will take time to get used to pass blocking, and there may be more than a few bumpy patches offensively as the Badgers try to get used to the wide open offensive scheme being implemented. Wisconsin hosts Iowa on Oct. 14, and it will be a possible elimination game in the Big Ten West Division race.
3. Iowa’s Offense Has To Improve... Right?
Last season, Iowa’s offense was... Well, it was offensive.
How bad was it? Iowa ranked last in the Big Ten in total offense, with 251.6 yards per game. Adding insult to injury, the Hawkeyes ranked 12th in the Big Ten in scoring, with 17.7 points per game, ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing, with 94.9 yards per game, and 13th in the Big Ten in passing, with 156.7 yards per game.
Compared and contrast that with Ohio State, as the Buckeyes led the Big Ten in total offense, with 492.7 yards per game, first in scoring with 44.5 points per game, third in rushing with 198.5 yards per game, and first in passing, with 294.2 yards per game. Oof.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz recognized the problem, and did not try to sugarcoat the woeful Iowa offense...
Iowa welcomed in transfers in quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All, both from Michigan, as well as wide receiver Kaleb Brown from Ohio State this offseason. All should be starting for Iowa this season. With all five starters returning on the offensive line, and a stern directive from Iowa athletic director Gary Barta for necessary improvement by Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, the Hawkeyes should have just enough to claim the Big Ten West Division in its final iteration.
Continue reading...
LGHL Behind Enemy Lines: The defenses that will challenge Brian Hartline, Ohio State’s offense in his first year as play-caller
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Behind Enemy Lines: The defenses that will challenge Brian Hartline, Ohio State’s offense in his first year as play-caller
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State’s offense has some questions, and these teams will challenge the Buckeyes and make them find the answers.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about checking in on Ohio State’s opponents. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Line” articles here.
Ohio State is entering their first real offensive transition since Ryan Day took over as the play-caller in 2017. Since then, there has been no question on who was making the decisions of what the Buckeye offense was doing on the field. Now entering his fifth season as the head coach at Ohio State and his seventh in the program as a whole, someone else will be calling the plays on Saturdays.
This change comes after a few too many games where the offense seemed underprepared at times and failed to adjust on other occasions. Even with those issues, the Buckeyes have only lost six games. The issue is those six games were all direly important matchups. Those games also don’t get into the occasional underwhelming performance against an Indiana, Northwestern, Wisconsin, or even when trying to close out games against Penn State.
With this transition comes an opportunity. Elite recruiter and wide receiver coach Brian Hartline brings the Buckeyes a fresh face calling plays. Hartline will be responsible for a lot more in this role, but after serving as the passing game coordinator, Day chose him to take over the vacant offensive coordinator role for a reason.
This season will be interesting on the offensive side of the ball, especially for a first time offensive coordinator and play-caller. There will be a new starting quarterback in Kyle McCord or Devin Brown, which presents its own challenges. On the offensive line, there will be three new starters, which puts pressure on offensive line coach Justin Frye. With all the skill position talent, if Ohio State gets the offensive line and quarterback right, the sky is the limit.
In previous years Ohio State’s offense has answered any questions emphatically under Day. This year the schedule has a few teams that will provide a different set of challenges for a Buckeye offense with questions. If the offense does not get it right, these teams can make the games closer putting pressure on the defense, and maybe even leading to the first real surprise loss in the Day era.
The Indiana Hoosiers are far from a good football team. They have not been good since the year they only played six regular season games. They only return three starters on defense, but last year the defense was so bad there is only one direction they can go. Against the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers gave up 56 points in an effortless blowout in Columbus.
For Tom Allen, this game is a chance to earn the respect of the conference and country again. In his time in charge of the program, Indiana’s highest finish in yards per play was 21st in the country in 2018. Since then the Hoosiers defense has not finished a year higher than 40th, so you may be wondering what makes this Indiana team a defense that can provide a test?
Their red zone defense has been reliable under Allen. Last season they finished 25th in the country in red zone scoring percentage. That is a number that can make a young quarterback have trouble. Now, this could also be an easy game one for an overmatched opponent, but going on the road to start the season could create an unexpected challenge.
Why this match up could present a challenge for the Buckeyes... Indiana has not been a good football team since their upstart season in the pandemic shortened year. The Hoosiers caused more problems for the Buckeyes in the Kevin Wilson years due to their ability to put points on the board. The last two matchups Indiana has lost due to the inability to keep Ohio State’s offense off the field. I wouldn’t even call this a real test, more of a pop quiz to make sure the Buckeyes were taking fall camp seriously.
Now that the roast of Indiana is over, the Hoosiers play a diverse set of coverages and bring a lot of pressure from the second level. If the Ohio State offensive line can not settle in and the young quarterback is not making quick decisions, that could be a recipe for some big plays defensively by the Hoosiers. This game is also on the road, a dynamic that can’t be overlooked – even if the game is against Indiana.
Look back at Ohio State’s schedule, and you’ll see that the Buckeyes scored less than 30 points three times. One was the loss to Michigan, another was the winter monsoon in Evanston against Northwestern, and the last — which was actually the first — against Notre Dame when the Buckeyes only mustered 21 points.
Marcus Freeman does not run a complex defensive scheme, but he coaches his players to maintain a high level of discipline in all areas. Reading up on this before last season’s matchup, the goal Al Golden and Freeman want is to have their players in position to utilize their instincts to make plays. This worked against Ohio State the first time, forcing the Buckeyes into multiple three-and-outs while also limiting the explosive plays the Buckeyes’ offense is known for.
You add experience to that with eight defensive starters returning for the Irish and some experienced portal additions to boot, this will be the first real test for Ohio State. The defensive line has to replace Isaiah Foskey, who broke a school record for sacks. They brought in former Buckeye Javontae Jean-Baptiste to fill that role. In the middle they are huge with a 302 pound nose and 286 pound 3-tech defensive tackle. They also return major contributors at linebacker in J.D. Bertrand, Jack Kiser, and Marist Liufau.
All this to say there is a ton of experience returning in a unit that held the Buckeyes to 21 points with an offense that had the second overall pick at quarterback and three draft picks on the offensive line. Ohio State is going on the road to South Bend for his game, and the common theme is once again will they have the questions answered by this week four matchup.
Why this match up could present a challenge for the Buckeyes... Notre Dame has grown old and the games at the famous Notre Dame stadium has not been an elite home field advantage for years. That being said, outside of USC, Michigan, and whenever they get Clemson on the schedule, the biggish names coming through to play Notre Dame are not Ohio State. This could get the best of the Fighting Irish fanbase out, and create a hostile environment for a young offense.
On top of the road environment, Notre Dame’s only secondary replacement is Brandon Joseph, and the two players on the defensive line being replaced have talented fill ins. This returning experience will be hungry to right the wrongs, and if they improve on last year’s performance the Buckeye offense could be in trouble.
This game could go one of two ways: similar to last year because Wisconsin basically has the same team minus Nick Herbig and John Torchio, meaning a similar result. Or, Wisconsin improving, controlling the ball, and not giving up easy points in the red zone — a staple of Luke Fickell’s philosophy, which is eerily similar to one of his mentors.
Similar to Notre Dame, they lost some talented players to the draft and are trying to fill that void with transfers. I don’t know if that will be enough to not have the Buckeyes hang 52 on them again, but maybe Fickell has been building a plan since Ryan Day beat him 42-0 back in 2019. There are a lot of storylines here, but the one thing that can’t be overlooked is the regression that has taken place over the past few seasons under Paul Chryst.
Their defense was by no means bad only giving up 20.2 points per game, but with an offense that scored 26.2 points per game with inflated stats from their Illinois State and New Mexico State games, there defense will need to be perfect against an Ohio State team that will have a strong defense of their own. For Wisconsin, winning with Braelon Allen and keeping the defense off the field is the best bet.
Why this match up could present a challenge for the Buckeyes... Getting into this, Ohio State had seemed to have figured out the Wisconsin defense that could challenge them at times. In the last three matchups between the two schools, Ohio State has won by an average margin of 25 points per game.
There are three reasons this game will be challenging. The first is the familiarity of Fickell with Ohio State, something that Ryan Day and the staff will not over look. Two, this is a trap game after a huge home matchup against Penn State. The last is going on the road to Madison in late October. If Ohio State can’t throw the ball, that is always a worry.
Obviously the Wolverines end up in both articles about the teams that will present challenges to Ohio State. Getting into the defense of the Wolverines led by Jesse Minter, this defensive philosophy has been a real challenge to the Buckeyes these past two seasons. For the Wolverines, it starts with limiting the big plays and forcing third-and-long situations so they can sit on the sticks.
With all the match concepts they play, and on top of that the comfortability their defensive backs have in man coverage, Ohio State has struggled to find offensive rhythms. These back-to-back underwhelming offensive performances are a significant reason Ryan Day has passed the play-calling sticks.
What doesn’t help on why this game will be a challenge is the returnees Michigan is bringing back. Mike Sainristill is back inside at the Nickel and Will Johnson returns at corner to solidify the talent on the back end. They return starting linebacker Junior Colson, but they have to replace three defensive linemen to go with Braiden McGregor.
On top of the experience and scheme, this game is in Ann Arbor at the Big House. Harbaugh’s team has began playing the way he envisioned from the start of his tenure, and that has created a team who challenges the Buckeyes in points of discomfort. They do not allow big plays, and they make teams earn every point.
Why this match up could present a challenge for the Buckeyes... There is nothing bigger than this game, and that pressure has gotten to Ohio State in the last two matchups. Defensively, Michigan has built their defensive strategy on foiling Ohio State’s greatest strengths. This game being on the road adds another element to an already challenging and high pressure matchup.
Can Ohio State finish drives and can they limit the third-and-long situations? Add in all the variables Ohio State has to figure out to the last two years, and it is very obvious why this game is a challenge like no other.
The one common denominator of all these games is they are all on the road, a challenge that can catch any team off guard. With a new quarterback this season and an offensive line that has to find three new starters, there are a lot of questions that can be their own challenges.
You add to the mix a group of defenses that return a ton of experience, that could lead to some battles this season. Teams with experienced fronts are dangerous against a new offensive line, and if they can make whoever ends up starting at quarterback uncomfortable, the talented receivers could be rendered useless. This is obviously worst case scenario, but at the end of the day that can be possible.
There is also the question of how smooth the play-calling transition occurs. If Brian Hartline isn’t up to the task that could lead to even greater challenges. Given Ohio State’s offensive success since Day has got on to campus, that probably won’t be the case. The talent is great, but finding success against all these teams will be a challenge.
Continue reading...
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State’s offense has some questions, and these teams will challenge the Buckeyes and make them find the answers.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about checking in on Ohio State’s opponents. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Line” articles here.
Ohio State is entering their first real offensive transition since Ryan Day took over as the play-caller in 2017. Since then, there has been no question on who was making the decisions of what the Buckeye offense was doing on the field. Now entering his fifth season as the head coach at Ohio State and his seventh in the program as a whole, someone else will be calling the plays on Saturdays.
This change comes after a few too many games where the offense seemed underprepared at times and failed to adjust on other occasions. Even with those issues, the Buckeyes have only lost six games. The issue is those six games were all direly important matchups. Those games also don’t get into the occasional underwhelming performance against an Indiana, Northwestern, Wisconsin, or even when trying to close out games against Penn State.
With this transition comes an opportunity. Elite recruiter and wide receiver coach Brian Hartline brings the Buckeyes a fresh face calling plays. Hartline will be responsible for a lot more in this role, but after serving as the passing game coordinator, Day chose him to take over the vacant offensive coordinator role for a reason.
This season will be interesting on the offensive side of the ball, especially for a first time offensive coordinator and play-caller. There will be a new starting quarterback in Kyle McCord or Devin Brown, which presents its own challenges. On the offensive line, there will be three new starters, which puts pressure on offensive line coach Justin Frye. With all the skill position talent, if Ohio State gets the offensive line and quarterback right, the sky is the limit.
In previous years Ohio State’s offense has answered any questions emphatically under Day. This year the schedule has a few teams that will provide a different set of challenges for a Buckeye offense with questions. If the offense does not get it right, these teams can make the games closer putting pressure on the defense, and maybe even leading to the first real surprise loss in the Day era.
Indiana — Sept. 2
The Indiana Hoosiers are far from a good football team. They have not been good since the year they only played six regular season games. They only return three starters on defense, but last year the defense was so bad there is only one direction they can go. Against the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers gave up 56 points in an effortless blowout in Columbus.
For Tom Allen, this game is a chance to earn the respect of the conference and country again. In his time in charge of the program, Indiana’s highest finish in yards per play was 21st in the country in 2018. Since then the Hoosiers defense has not finished a year higher than 40th, so you may be wondering what makes this Indiana team a defense that can provide a test?
Their red zone defense has been reliable under Allen. Last season they finished 25th in the country in red zone scoring percentage. That is a number that can make a young quarterback have trouble. Now, this could also be an easy game one for an overmatched opponent, but going on the road to start the season could create an unexpected challenge.
Why this match up could present a challenge for the Buckeyes... Indiana has not been a good football team since their upstart season in the pandemic shortened year. The Hoosiers caused more problems for the Buckeyes in the Kevin Wilson years due to their ability to put points on the board. The last two matchups Indiana has lost due to the inability to keep Ohio State’s offense off the field. I wouldn’t even call this a real test, more of a pop quiz to make sure the Buckeyes were taking fall camp seriously.
Now that the roast of Indiana is over, the Hoosiers play a diverse set of coverages and bring a lot of pressure from the second level. If the Ohio State offensive line can not settle in and the young quarterback is not making quick decisions, that could be a recipe for some big plays defensively by the Hoosiers. This game is also on the road, a dynamic that can’t be overlooked – even if the game is against Indiana.
Notre Dame — Sept. 23
Look back at Ohio State’s schedule, and you’ll see that the Buckeyes scored less than 30 points three times. One was the loss to Michigan, another was the winter monsoon in Evanston against Northwestern, and the last — which was actually the first — against Notre Dame when the Buckeyes only mustered 21 points.
Marcus Freeman does not run a complex defensive scheme, but he coaches his players to maintain a high level of discipline in all areas. Reading up on this before last season’s matchup, the goal Al Golden and Freeman want is to have their players in position to utilize their instincts to make plays. This worked against Ohio State the first time, forcing the Buckeyes into multiple three-and-outs while also limiting the explosive plays the Buckeyes’ offense is known for.
You add experience to that with eight defensive starters returning for the Irish and some experienced portal additions to boot, this will be the first real test for Ohio State. The defensive line has to replace Isaiah Foskey, who broke a school record for sacks. They brought in former Buckeye Javontae Jean-Baptiste to fill that role. In the middle they are huge with a 302 pound nose and 286 pound 3-tech defensive tackle. They also return major contributors at linebacker in J.D. Bertrand, Jack Kiser, and Marist Liufau.
All this to say there is a ton of experience returning in a unit that held the Buckeyes to 21 points with an offense that had the second overall pick at quarterback and three draft picks on the offensive line. Ohio State is going on the road to South Bend for his game, and the common theme is once again will they have the questions answered by this week four matchup.
Why this match up could present a challenge for the Buckeyes... Notre Dame has grown old and the games at the famous Notre Dame stadium has not been an elite home field advantage for years. That being said, outside of USC, Michigan, and whenever they get Clemson on the schedule, the biggish names coming through to play Notre Dame are not Ohio State. This could get the best of the Fighting Irish fanbase out, and create a hostile environment for a young offense.
On top of the road environment, Notre Dame’s only secondary replacement is Brandon Joseph, and the two players on the defensive line being replaced have talented fill ins. This returning experience will be hungry to right the wrongs, and if they improve on last year’s performance the Buckeye offense could be in trouble.
Wisconsin — Oct. 28
This game could go one of two ways: similar to last year because Wisconsin basically has the same team minus Nick Herbig and John Torchio, meaning a similar result. Or, Wisconsin improving, controlling the ball, and not giving up easy points in the red zone — a staple of Luke Fickell’s philosophy, which is eerily similar to one of his mentors.
Similar to Notre Dame, they lost some talented players to the draft and are trying to fill that void with transfers. I don’t know if that will be enough to not have the Buckeyes hang 52 on them again, but maybe Fickell has been building a plan since Ryan Day beat him 42-0 back in 2019. There are a lot of storylines here, but the one thing that can’t be overlooked is the regression that has taken place over the past few seasons under Paul Chryst.
Their defense was by no means bad only giving up 20.2 points per game, but with an offense that scored 26.2 points per game with inflated stats from their Illinois State and New Mexico State games, there defense will need to be perfect against an Ohio State team that will have a strong defense of their own. For Wisconsin, winning with Braelon Allen and keeping the defense off the field is the best bet.
Why this match up could present a challenge for the Buckeyes... Getting into this, Ohio State had seemed to have figured out the Wisconsin defense that could challenge them at times. In the last three matchups between the two schools, Ohio State has won by an average margin of 25 points per game.
There are three reasons this game will be challenging. The first is the familiarity of Fickell with Ohio State, something that Ryan Day and the staff will not over look. Two, this is a trap game after a huge home matchup against Penn State. The last is going on the road to Madison in late October. If Ohio State can’t throw the ball, that is always a worry.
Michigan - Nov. 25
Obviously the Wolverines end up in both articles about the teams that will present challenges to Ohio State. Getting into the defense of the Wolverines led by Jesse Minter, this defensive philosophy has been a real challenge to the Buckeyes these past two seasons. For the Wolverines, it starts with limiting the big plays and forcing third-and-long situations so they can sit on the sticks.
With all the match concepts they play, and on top of that the comfortability their defensive backs have in man coverage, Ohio State has struggled to find offensive rhythms. These back-to-back underwhelming offensive performances are a significant reason Ryan Day has passed the play-calling sticks.
What doesn’t help on why this game will be a challenge is the returnees Michigan is bringing back. Mike Sainristill is back inside at the Nickel and Will Johnson returns at corner to solidify the talent on the back end. They return starting linebacker Junior Colson, but they have to replace three defensive linemen to go with Braiden McGregor.
On top of the experience and scheme, this game is in Ann Arbor at the Big House. Harbaugh’s team has began playing the way he envisioned from the start of his tenure, and that has created a team who challenges the Buckeyes in points of discomfort. They do not allow big plays, and they make teams earn every point.
Why this match up could present a challenge for the Buckeyes... There is nothing bigger than this game, and that pressure has gotten to Ohio State in the last two matchups. Defensively, Michigan has built their defensive strategy on foiling Ohio State’s greatest strengths. This game being on the road adds another element to an already challenging and high pressure matchup.
Can Ohio State finish drives and can they limit the third-and-long situations? Add in all the variables Ohio State has to figure out to the last two years, and it is very obvious why this game is a challenge like no other.
The one common denominator of all these games is they are all on the road, a challenge that can catch any team off guard. With a new quarterback this season and an offensive line that has to find three new starters, there are a lot of questions that can be their own challenges.
You add to the mix a group of defenses that return a ton of experience, that could lead to some battles this season. Teams with experienced fronts are dangerous against a new offensive line, and if they can make whoever ends up starting at quarterback uncomfortable, the talented receivers could be rendered useless. This is obviously worst case scenario, but at the end of the day that can be possible.
There is also the question of how smooth the play-calling transition occurs. If Brian Hartline isn’t up to the task that could lead to even greater challenges. Given Ohio State’s offensive success since Day has got on to campus, that probably won’t be the case. The talent is great, but finding success against all these teams will be a challenge.
Continue reading...
LGHL Buck Off Podcast: Ohio State’s July recruiting, Northwestern scandal, and ‘contenders or pretenders’
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Buck Off Podcast: Ohio State’s July recruiting, Northwestern scandal, and ‘contenders or pretenders’
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State is getting set to finish off an impactful month of recruiting and a scandal that rocked the Big Ten
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” I’m joined by Jordan Williams to discuss the unfortunate scandal that embroiled the college football world this past week.
To get the show started, we discuss the turn of the calendar to July and what that means for the future show content moving forward. NFL players are reporting next week, so now it is getting down to the business side of the offseason before Ohio State plays football again.
After that, we turn our attention to a tough conversation about the institutional failures surrounding Northwestern’s football team and athletic department. We get into how Northwestern’s leadership failed and the culture of hazing was built over a long period of time. This was not a recent story and highlights the greater issues of power dynamics as well as institutional failures in college sports.
On the other side of the break, we switch our focus to a lighter set of conversations with Ohio State football recruiting. We talk about the recent run of recruiting “losses” the Buckeyes have had, and why some of these recent losses could actually mean a lot of wins are coming. We also turn our attention to two of the hardest recruitments to read in some time.
The last part of our show focuses on a game born out of annoyance, “Contenders or Pretenders.” A straightforward game where we discuss the teams being most talked about as potential national title contenders. If a team can win the national championship they are a contender. If not, they are pretenders.
We close out the show with the saddest media days of all time and if Jordan would skydive like Eboni Walker did.
Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod
Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB
Threads: @ChrisRenneCFB
Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330
Continue reading...
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State is getting set to finish off an impactful month of recruiting and a scandal that rocked the Big Ten
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” I’m joined by Jordan Williams to discuss the unfortunate scandal that embroiled the college football world this past week.
To get the show started, we discuss the turn of the calendar to July and what that means for the future show content moving forward. NFL players are reporting next week, so now it is getting down to the business side of the offseason before Ohio State plays football again.
After that, we turn our attention to a tough conversation about the institutional failures surrounding Northwestern’s football team and athletic department. We get into how Northwestern’s leadership failed and the culture of hazing was built over a long period of time. This was not a recent story and highlights the greater issues of power dynamics as well as institutional failures in college sports.
On the other side of the break, we switch our focus to a lighter set of conversations with Ohio State football recruiting. We talk about the recent run of recruiting “losses” the Buckeyes have had, and why some of these recent losses could actually mean a lot of wins are coming. We also turn our attention to two of the hardest recruitments to read in some time.
The last part of our show focuses on a game born out of annoyance, “Contenders or Pretenders.” A straightforward game where we discuss the teams being most talked about as potential national title contenders. If a team can win the national championship they are a contender. If not, they are pretenders.
We close out the show with the saddest media days of all time and if Jordan would skydive like Eboni Walker did.
Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod
Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB
Threads: @ChrisRenneCFB
Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330
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LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 50
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 50
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 50 days remaining.
Nobody thinks of Michael Thomas of a burner, but he had more than enough speed to outrun the Rutgers defense here on a 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown. It wouldn’t be the last long TD for the Buckeyes in the game, as Ezekiel Elliott’s 55-yard TD run put the capper on what would be a 49-7 win for Ohio State in 2015. Thomas led the way through the air with five catches for 103 yards and the score, while Zeke paced the ground game with 142 yards and two TDs. Quarterback J.T. Barrett put up five total TDs in the game — three passing and two rushing.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 50 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Michael Thomas 50-yard TD vs. Rutgers (2015)
Nobody thinks of Michael Thomas of a burner, but he had more than enough speed to outrun the Rutgers defense here on a 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown. It wouldn’t be the last long TD for the Buckeyes in the game, as Ezekiel Elliott’s 55-yard TD run put the capper on what would be a 49-7 win for Ohio State in 2015. Thomas led the way through the air with five catches for 103 yards and the score, while Zeke paced the ground game with 142 yards and two TDs. Quarterback J.T. Barrett put up five total TDs in the game — three passing and two rushing.
Players to Wear the #50 (since 2010):
- Mike Brewster (2008-11)
- J.T. Moore (2010-12)
- Jacoby Boren (2012-15)
- Nathan Brock (2016-20)
- Jackson Kuwatch (2021-22)
- Alec DelSignore (present)
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LGHL Buckeyes see two 2024 targets commit elsewhere, may still have a shot with a committed prospect
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Buckeyes see two 2024 targets commit elsewhere, may still have a shot with a committed prospect
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes may have missed out on a couple recent commits, but good news should come soon.
With the nation’s second ranked recruiting class, the Buckeyes are in a great spot. Loaded with top talent at several positions, Ohio State has to be pleased with that they’ve brought in so far, and right now the class is made up of just 18 commits. Trailing only Georgia — who has 26 commits — the Buckeyes have less pledges than Florida, Michigan, Penn State, Oregon, and others who make up the top 10 classes nationally, which shows the quality of player being taken by Ryan Day and company.
With plenty of room to spare, the coaching staff is primed and ready to add to their haul and should do so soon. That said, Ohio State doesn’t land everyone they offer, and Thursday that was the case when multiple targets decided to go elsewhere with their college decisions. Important to note, at both of these positions, the Buckeyes have elite talent already committed and fully expect to be in the mix to have some major wins when some of the highest ranked players who are still available make their commitments in the near future.
First on the list, Jayden Jackson was a topic of discussion as the four-star defensive lineman was set to announce on Thursday. He was likely to end up somewhere other than Columbus, and the thought was Jackson would commit to Oklahoma — and he did just that. The No. 446 player nationally, Jackson joins a class ranking 26th in the nation. The feeling here wasn’t real strong for the Buckeyes, and though Ohio State was in the mix even at the end, it just wasn’t in the cards.
Fortunately, landing guys such as five-star Justin Scott softens any blow not landing Jackson would provide. Ohio State is still in a great spot.
The second to commit on Thursday, receiver target Joshisa Trader is a name that’s long been surrounding Ohio State recruiting. He chose to stay close to home by committing to Miami. The No. 25 player nationally, Trader is the third best athlete in the class per the 247Sports Composite, and immediately jumps to the top of the board in Miami’s class as their highest-ranked commit in the 2024 class.
Trader had been really interested in the Buckeyes early on in his recruitment, but as the time passed it seemed that the two parties were drifting away pretty steadily. With Brian Hartline bringing in another elite haul of guys for his position room this cycle, the loss of Trader doesn’t hurt the class too much if at all really. Sure, having that highly ranked of a player would be great for anybody, but again, the group of players Hartline already has committed is once again at the top of the ranks nationally.
The timing of this Trader commitment is interesting because it comes pretty out of nowhere. Trader has been a guy Miami has wanted from the get go being so close, and of course for what he brings to the table with his abilities, but the commitment did come without plans prior to being made public. Ohio State tends to recruit guys until they sign elsewhere if they want them, but with what’s already in the fold this looks to be a recruitment the Buckeyes will leave alone.
In fact, rumors have swirled this week even that Lightfoot may have some second thoughts going on in his mind, and developments that he has interest in visiting the Buckeyes again could be more than just a figure of the imagination.
Don’t be surprised if Lightfoot is on campus this fall, as on Thursday Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts made it known that Larry Johnson has been quoted as saying he’s still very much going to recruit Marquise, and that he has an open invitation to be on site for the Penn State game later this season.
At any rate, while this was a battle the Buckeyes lost out on, it may not be entirely over. Not a prediction that he will decide to rethink and choose Ohio State, but this is something worth paying attention to moving forward as the Buckeyes still have strong interest.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes may have missed out on a couple recent commits, but good news should come soon.
With the nation’s second ranked recruiting class, the Buckeyes are in a great spot. Loaded with top talent at several positions, Ohio State has to be pleased with that they’ve brought in so far, and right now the class is made up of just 18 commits. Trailing only Georgia — who has 26 commits — the Buckeyes have less pledges than Florida, Michigan, Penn State, Oregon, and others who make up the top 10 classes nationally, which shows the quality of player being taken by Ryan Day and company.
With plenty of room to spare, the coaching staff is primed and ready to add to their haul and should do so soon. That said, Ohio State doesn’t land everyone they offer, and Thursday that was the case when multiple targets decided to go elsewhere with their college decisions. Important to note, at both of these positions, the Buckeyes have elite talent already committed and fully expect to be in the mix to have some major wins when some of the highest ranked players who are still available make their commitments in the near future.
First on the list, Jayden Jackson was a topic of discussion as the four-star defensive lineman was set to announce on Thursday. He was likely to end up somewhere other than Columbus, and the thought was Jackson would commit to Oklahoma — and he did just that. The No. 446 player nationally, Jackson joins a class ranking 26th in the nation. The feeling here wasn’t real strong for the Buckeyes, and though Ohio State was in the mix even at the end, it just wasn’t in the cards.
Fortunately, landing guys such as five-star Justin Scott softens any blow not landing Jackson would provide. Ohio State is still in a great spot.
100% COMMITTED
B️
— Jayden Jackson (@JaydenJackson65) July 13, 2023
The second to commit on Thursday, receiver target Joshisa Trader is a name that’s long been surrounding Ohio State recruiting. He chose to stay close to home by committing to Miami. The No. 25 player nationally, Trader is the third best athlete in the class per the 247Sports Composite, and immediately jumps to the top of the board in Miami’s class as their highest-ranked commit in the 2024 class.
Trader had been really interested in the Buckeyes early on in his recruitment, but as the time passed it seemed that the two parties were drifting away pretty steadily. With Brian Hartline bringing in another elite haul of guys for his position room this cycle, the loss of Trader doesn’t hurt the class too much if at all really. Sure, having that highly ranked of a player would be great for anybody, but again, the group of players Hartline already has committed is once again at the top of the ranks nationally.
The timing of this Trader commitment is interesting because it comes pretty out of nowhere. Trader has been a guy Miami has wanted from the get go being so close, and of course for what he brings to the table with his abilities, but the commitment did come without plans prior to being made public. Ohio State tends to recruit guys until they sign elsewhere if they want them, but with what’s already in the fold this looks to be a recruitment the Buckeyes will leave alone.
Quick Hits
- Speaking of Miami, the Buckeyes were recently beat out by the Hurricanes for four-star edge rusher, Marquise Lightfoot. Choosing Miami over Ohio State just a week ago, it was the Buckeyes that led on the Crystal Ball for months, but the thought here is that NIL had some serious impact on his decision. Not a wrong or right debate, Lightfoot may be committed to Miami, but this is one recruitment the Buckeyes are doing their best to stay in the mix on.
In fact, rumors have swirled this week even that Lightfoot may have some second thoughts going on in his mind, and developments that he has interest in visiting the Buckeyes again could be more than just a figure of the imagination.
Don’t be surprised if Lightfoot is on campus this fall, as on Thursday Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts made it known that Larry Johnson has been quoted as saying he’s still very much going to recruit Marquise, and that he has an open invitation to be on site for the Penn State game later this season.
At any rate, while this was a battle the Buckeyes lost out on, it may not be entirely over. Not a prediction that he will decide to rethink and choose Ohio State, but this is something worth paying attention to moving forward as the Buckeyes still have strong interest.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Aside from Ohio State, which Big Ten team are you most interested to watch this season?
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You’re Nuts: Aside from Ohio State, which Big Ten team are you most interested to watch this season?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about checking in on Ohio State’s opponents. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Line” articles here.
Even though Ohio State gets most of the attention in the Big Ten, there are still other teams in the conference that we have to keep tabs on. Obviously the first one that comes to mind is Michigan, followed by Penn State since they give the Buckeyes a tough test almost every year. Next year things will get even crazier in the conference with USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten.
Before we welcome the Trojans and the Bruins to the Big Ten, we are going to focus on this year in the conference. With it being “Behind Enemy Lines” week, we want to focus on some of the other teams in the Big Ten. What we want to know today is which Big Ten team you are most interested to watch this season. It doesn’t matter if the team you pick plays Ohio State this year or not, since even if they aren’t on the schedule they could end up meeting the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game if things go right for both teams.
Your pick for today doesn’t even necessarily have to do with a team being successful on the field. Maybe you want to see just how bad Northwestern can be this season. Or maybe you want to see if Brian Ferentz fails to meet the objectives that were set for him at Iowa so the school has to make a tough decision about what to do with the coach’s son. What is interesting to one person might differ for what is interesting to someone else.
For a while the Badgers were the top team in the Big Ten West, but things have changed over the last few years. Between 2011-19, Wisconsin made the Big Ten Championship Game six times, winning in 2011 and 2012 before losing their next four trips to Indianapolis, with three of those losses coming to Ohio State. In the three years since, the Badgers have gone just 20-13, and even though they have won the three bowl games they have appeared in, those bowls weren’t of the caliber that they had frequented in the 10 years prior.
Despite recent results, there is reason to be excited in Madison after the hiring of Luke Fickell. The former Ohio State player and assistant coach did a great job in his first true head coaching job at Cincinnati, where he posted a 57-18 record over six years. Fickell not only cleaned up a mess left by noted coaching idiot Tommy Tuberville, he led the Bearcats to the first appearance in the College Football Playoff by a team outside the Power 5 conferences.
As if bringing in Fickell wasn’t a big enough move for Wisconsin, the Badgers will also return one of the best running backs in the country. The junior has rushed for at least 1,200 yards in each of his first two seasons in Madison, and rushed for 23 total touchdowns during that span. Along with Allen, Fickell was also able to secure the transfer of SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai, who tossed 72 touchdowns and threw for over 7,000 yards over the last two seasons. After dealing with inconsistent quarterback play for quite some time, Wisconsin will finally have some stability at quarterback this season.
The Badgers do have a great chance at making some noise in Fickell’s first year in Madison. Wisconsin has a pretty easy schedule, with their toughest non-conference game being a trip out to Pullman to take on Washington State. Even the Big Ten slate for the Badgers isn’t too bad, with their toughest game being against Ohio State at Camp Randall Stadium. Road games at Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota won’t scare Fickell and company, which could lead to Wisconsin heading to Indianapolis in early December.
I mean, from a purely drama-focused perspective, Northwestern has to be the answer, right? I am a college football fan, so on fall Saturdays, I will have three TVs going in my living room from 12 noon to 12 midnight ET, so I’m gonna watch a lot of Big Ten football, but am I really going to be invested enough in any time other than the Buckeyes to seek them out for pure football entertainment purposes? Probably not.
So, if you ask what B1G squad I’m most interested in following, it’s going to be the messiest, most dysfunctional, potentially train-wreckable team in the league, and that is obviously the Wildcats. There has rarely ever been a team that I have had more questions about in my time covering college football.
If you’re reading this, you likely know all about the investigation and findings that led to the university finally firing head coach Pat Fitzgerald; but, if you don’t, check out our friends over Inside NU who have done an incredible job of covering the horrifying ordeal.
The question now is what happens next? Who is going to lead the Wildcats this season? Will players enter the transfer portal? They were already going to be pretty awful this year, so just how bad can it get?
There’s no way that NU can promote from within, can they? With an entire program is as toxic as it appears Northwestern’s is, how is replacing the head coach with one of his assistants going to change anything? Then again, fall camp starts in two and a half weeks, how are you going to find a competent head coach — let alone an entire staff — in time to kick things off in September?
Does that mean that Northwestern is essentially going to have to punt (pun intended) on this season? I am fairly confident that most college football fans and journalists are going to write the Wildcats off this year, and understandably so. But, that program has been an underdog for its entire existence, and often in cases like these — when players have something to rally around, something to prove, something to fight for — they find a way to shock the world.
Do I think that Northwestern is going to stun the college football establishment and represent the B1G West in the conference title game? No, I do not. But, whether the season proves to be a dumpster fire or a plucky underdog story, it will almost certainly be entertaining.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about checking in on Ohio State’s opponents. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Line” articles here.
Even though Ohio State gets most of the attention in the Big Ten, there are still other teams in the conference that we have to keep tabs on. Obviously the first one that comes to mind is Michigan, followed by Penn State since they give the Buckeyes a tough test almost every year. Next year things will get even crazier in the conference with USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten.
Before we welcome the Trojans and the Bruins to the Big Ten, we are going to focus on this year in the conference. With it being “Behind Enemy Lines” week, we want to focus on some of the other teams in the Big Ten. What we want to know today is which Big Ten team you are most interested to watch this season. It doesn’t matter if the team you pick plays Ohio State this year or not, since even if they aren’t on the schedule they could end up meeting the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game if things go right for both teams.
Your pick for today doesn’t even necessarily have to do with a team being successful on the field. Maybe you want to see just how bad Northwestern can be this season. Or maybe you want to see if Brian Ferentz fails to meet the objectives that were set for him at Iowa so the school has to make a tough decision about what to do with the coach’s son. What is interesting to one person might differ for what is interesting to someone else.
Today’s question: Aside from Ohio State, what Big Ten team are you most interested to watch this season?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Wisconsin
For a while the Badgers were the top team in the Big Ten West, but things have changed over the last few years. Between 2011-19, Wisconsin made the Big Ten Championship Game six times, winning in 2011 and 2012 before losing their next four trips to Indianapolis, with three of those losses coming to Ohio State. In the three years since, the Badgers have gone just 20-13, and even though they have won the three bowl games they have appeared in, those bowls weren’t of the caliber that they had frequented in the 10 years prior.
Despite recent results, there is reason to be excited in Madison after the hiring of Luke Fickell. The former Ohio State player and assistant coach did a great job in his first true head coaching job at Cincinnati, where he posted a 57-18 record over six years. Fickell not only cleaned up a mess left by noted coaching idiot Tommy Tuberville, he led the Bearcats to the first appearance in the College Football Playoff by a team outside the Power 5 conferences.
As if bringing in Fickell wasn’t a big enough move for Wisconsin, the Badgers will also return one of the best running backs in the country. The junior has rushed for at least 1,200 yards in each of his first two seasons in Madison, and rushed for 23 total touchdowns during that span. Along with Allen, Fickell was also able to secure the transfer of SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai, who tossed 72 touchdowns and threw for over 7,000 yards over the last two seasons. After dealing with inconsistent quarterback play for quite some time, Wisconsin will finally have some stability at quarterback this season.
The Badgers do have a great chance at making some noise in Fickell’s first year in Madison. Wisconsin has a pretty easy schedule, with their toughest non-conference game being a trip out to Pullman to take on Washington State. Even the Big Ten slate for the Badgers isn’t too bad, with their toughest game being against Ohio State at Camp Randall Stadium. Road games at Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota won’t scare Fickell and company, which could lead to Wisconsin heading to Indianapolis in early December.
Matt’s answer: Northwestern
I mean, from a purely drama-focused perspective, Northwestern has to be the answer, right? I am a college football fan, so on fall Saturdays, I will have three TVs going in my living room from 12 noon to 12 midnight ET, so I’m gonna watch a lot of Big Ten football, but am I really going to be invested enough in any time other than the Buckeyes to seek them out for pure football entertainment purposes? Probably not.
So, if you ask what B1G squad I’m most interested in following, it’s going to be the messiest, most dysfunctional, potentially train-wreckable team in the league, and that is obviously the Wildcats. There has rarely ever been a team that I have had more questions about in my time covering college football.
If you’re reading this, you likely know all about the investigation and findings that led to the university finally firing head coach Pat Fitzgerald; but, if you don’t, check out our friends over Inside NU who have done an incredible job of covering the horrifying ordeal.
The question now is what happens next? Who is going to lead the Wildcats this season? Will players enter the transfer portal? They were already going to be pretty awful this year, so just how bad can it get?
There’s no way that NU can promote from within, can they? With an entire program is as toxic as it appears Northwestern’s is, how is replacing the head coach with one of his assistants going to change anything? Then again, fall camp starts in two and a half weeks, how are you going to find a competent head coach — let alone an entire staff — in time to kick things off in September?
Does that mean that Northwestern is essentially going to have to punt (pun intended) on this season? I am fairly confident that most college football fans and journalists are going to write the Wildcats off this year, and understandably so. But, that program has been an underdog for its entire existence, and often in cases like these — when players have something to rally around, something to prove, something to fight for — they find a way to shock the world.
Do I think that Northwestern is going to stun the college football establishment and represent the B1G West in the conference title game? No, I do not. But, whether the season proves to be a dumpster fire or a plucky underdog story, it will almost certainly be entertaining.
Continue reading...
