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LGHL No Fall Weddings: Will Ohio State’s defense be exposed by Iowa’s running game?
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No Fall Weddings: Will Ohio State’s defense be exposed by Iowa’s running game?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jami and Matt also pick their individual top 12 and handicap the Heisman Trophy race.
Every week during the college football season, Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich will be getting into all things Ohio State, previewing the weekend’s slate, unveiling their individual CFP rankings, and picking Heisman contenders on “No Fall Weddings.”
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On this episode of the Land-Grant Podcast Network’s “No Fall Weddings,” Jami Jurich and Matt Tamanini drink the Kool-Aid on the greatness that is Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith before exploring whether or not the concerns surrounding the Buckeyes’ recent defensive performances are warranted or a bit overblown.
Then, after a break, Jami and Matt reveal their own personal top-12 lists, dive into the Heisman horserace, and recommend games in each window of the college football season.
Connect with Jami Jurich:
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Connect with Matt Tamanini:
Online Portfolio: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
Theme music provided by audiio.com
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jami and Matt also pick their individual top 12 and handicap the Heisman Trophy race.
Every week during the college football season, Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich will be getting into all things Ohio State, previewing the weekend’s slate, unveiling their individual CFP rankings, and picking Heisman contenders on “No Fall Weddings.”
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On this episode of the Land-Grant Podcast Network’s “No Fall Weddings,” Jami Jurich and Matt Tamanini drink the Kool-Aid on the greatness that is Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith before exploring whether or not the concerns surrounding the Buckeyes’ recent defensive performances are warranted or a bit overblown.
Then, after a break, Jami and Matt reveal their own personal top-12 lists, dive into the Heisman horserace, and recommend games in each window of the college football season.
Connect with Jami Jurich:
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Connect with Matt Tamanini:
Online Portfolio: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
Theme music provided by audiio.com
Continue reading...
2027 AZ RB Noah Roberts (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
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247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: RB
School: Chandler (AZ) Basha
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 200lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: RB
School: Chandler (AZ) Basha
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 200lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL MC&J: Ohio State is nearly three-touchdown favorites over Iowa in Week 6 Big Ten action
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MC&J: Ohio State is nearly three-touchdown favorites over Iowa in Week 6 Big Ten action
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 Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Plus picks against the spread for the rest of this week’s games around the conference.
Last week ATS: 6-9 (2-5 National, 4-4 B1G)
Season ATS: 48-47 (15-17 National, 33-30 B1G)
Last week certainly had some frustrating results. Michigan fell apart in the fourth quarter to lose the cover, Louisville and Arkansas narrowly missed covering on Saturday afternoon, while Auburn couldn’t finish off Oklahoma.
Our record would look a lot better had we had a little more luck in those games. I guess that’s why they call it gambling!
Michigan State v. No. 6 Oregon (-24.5) - Friday 9:00 p.m. ET - FOX
The schedule makers certainly didn’t do Michigan State any favors in this spot. The Spartans are coming off a 38-7 loss to Ohio State on Saturday night, and now have to travel out to Eugene on a short week to take on the Ducks. Right now the only thing going for Michigan State is head coach Jonathan Smith has a lot of familiarity with going to Autzen Stadium from his time at Oregon State.
Oregon has finally started to look like the team we expected them to be prior to the season. After struggling with Idaho and Boise State, the Ducks had no problems with Oregon State and UCLA. About the only thing Oregon can be criticized about in their last two games is not covering against the Bruins last week. Just imagine what Dillon Gabriel is going to be able to do to the Michigan State defense after seeing how much success Will Howard had on Saturday night.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25655378/2175504064.jpg "Oregon v UCLA")
Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
We have seen countless times how much a game against Ohio State takes out of teams the next week. Now Michigan State not only has to deal with all those body blows from Saturday night, they have to travel across the country to take on a talented Oregon team that will be hosting their first-ever Big Ten game.
The Spartans are way too sloppy with the football to stay inside the spread.
Oregon 45, Michigan State 17
UCLA v. No. 7 Penn State (-27.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
After missing on Penn State’s opener against West Virginia, I somehow have navigated the last three games for the Nittany Lions, correctly predicting they’d cover against Kent State, while siding with Bowling Green and Illinois in the other two contests.
Something still doesn’t feel quite right about the offense of the Nittany Lions, though. It looked like in the opener we’d see Drew Allar air out things more in new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s offense, but that really hasn’t been the case over the last few games.
UCLA is a mess right now. At least for new head coach Deshaun Foster, his team is playing hard. The Bruins didn’t get completely blown off the field against LSU and Oregon. Aside from effort, not much else is going right for UCLA. They have no running game and Ethan Garbers has struggled at quarterback, which is surprising since the Bruins have a couple receivers who played pretty well last year. Since the offense hasn’t been able to sustain drives, it has put more pressure on the defense.
UCLA has already gone to a tough environment and covered this year, squeezing inside the number against LSU a couple weeks ago. This trip to State College is going to be a lot different, especially since it starts at noon in the eastern time zone. Penn State has more to offer on defense than LSU did, so it is going to be extremely challenging for the Bruins to put points on the scoreboard.
I think the Nittany Lions blow out UCLA to send a message to USC, who they take on in Los Angeles next Saturday.
Penn State 44, UCLA 13
Purdue v. Wisconsin (-13.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Wisconsin really needs to channel Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema in this game. If the Badgers don’t run the football at least 40 times, Luke Fickell should fire offensive coordinator Phil Longo on the spot. The running game was working against USC and then for some reason Wisconsin decided the best strategy after halftime would be to abandon what was working. USC outscored the Badgers 28-0 in the second half.
How bad are things in West Lafayette? Following last week’s 28-10 loss to Nebraska, head coach Ryan Walters got rid of offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. Opponents have had a lot of success running the football against the Boilermakers, which is another reason why Wisconsin should give Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker plenty of carries on Saturday afternoon.
Laying nearly two touchdowns with Wisconsin is pretty scary, but it feels like the right play since the Boilermakers haven’t been competitive in any of their three games against FBS foes this year. At least with the Badgers there feels like more of a path to right the ship a bit, where Purdue is lost at sea.
Wisconsin 31, Purdue 14
No. 23 Indiana (-13.5) v. Northwestern - 3:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Apparently I haven’t learned my lesson when it comes to Indiana football, since I have backed the opponents of the Hoosiers to cover in each of the last three games. Maybe Curt Cignetti is printing on my picks and reading them to his team to fire them up before games. Kurtis Rourke had some rough moments early in last week’s game against Maryland, throwing his first two interceptions of the season in the first half of the 42-28 win. The Ohio transfer has thrown for at least 250 yards in each of the last four games.
Northwestern is a really tough watch. Take away their 31-7 win over Eastern Illinois and the Wildcats haven’t scored more than 20 points in their three games against FBS foes this year. Even when they scored 20 points against Duke, that was a game that went to double overtime. I have no idea how they are going to keep pace with an Indiana offense that has scored at least 31 points in every game this season, and at least 40 points in their last four contests.
The Hoosiers continue the fairly tale start to the Cignetti Era in Bloomington with an easy win over Northwestern in the temporary stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan that holds like seven people.
Indiana 38, Northwestern 10
Rutgers v. Nebraska (-6.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - FS1
Nebraska was able to rebound from their overtime loss to Illinois by pulling away from Purdue in the second half in West Lafayette last week. Quarterback Dylan Raiola is playing more like an upperclassman and not a freshman, throwing for over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns over his first five games with the Cornhuskers. The Nebraska defense has also been really good, allowing 10 points or less in four games so far this season.
Not only is Indiana undefeated so far this season, Rutgers enters this game at 4-0. Last week the Scarlet Knights grinded out a 21-18 win over Washington. The formula for Greg Schiano’s team is to wear down defenses with their running game, have Athan Kaliakmanis make some smart throws, and then rely on your defense to close out games. Kyle Monangai has been one of the best running backs in the country so far this year, but he will be facing his toughest test of the season so far on Saturday afternoon.
I still don’t fully trust Nebraska. This has the feel of a game where Schiano is going to throw some looks at Raiola that will confuse him. The Cornhuskers have been cruising in games where they have built a sizable lead. I don’t think Nebraska is going to run away with this game, and we have all seen how they crumble in one-score contests.
Rutgers 24, Nebraska 20
No. 10 Michigan v. Washington (-2.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC
We have a rematch of last year’s title game where pretty much nobody of note from either side is back. That’s not technically true since the Wolverines still have Donovan Edwards, who must be a victim of the video game cover curse since he is only averaging 4.4 yards per carry so far this season and has taken a backseat to Kalel Mullings in the backfield.
Quarterback Alex Orji will be making his third start of the season, and is still looking for his first game with at least 100 yards passing.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25655379/2175317265.jpg "Minnesota v Michigan")
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
It feels like Washington is still trying to figure out who they are in Jedd Fisch’s first year as head coach. The Huskies have a solid defense, they just have sputtered on offense recently, scoring less than 20 points in two of their last three games, losing both of those contests. Washington is going to need quarterback Will Rogers to make some smart decisions since the Wolverines are led by their defense.
After starting the season with five games in Ann Arbor, now Michigan has to go a long way on their first road trip of the season. If Washington can shut down the run, they should be able to beat the Wolverines since we all have seen that Alex Orji can’t throw the football. The Huskies get some revenge for losing to Michigan in January.
Washington 21, Michigan 17
No. 11 USC (-8.5) v. Minnesota - 7:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Lincoln Riley and the Trojans probably won’t even know where they are by the end of the week. After playing in their first Big Ten game a couple weeks ago in Ann Arbor, USC was back in Los Angeles last week to take on Wisconsin, and now they’ll be heading to Minneapolis to take on the Golden Gophers. At least USC should be happy this game isn’t a month later since we all know how suspect the weather in Minneapolis can be as the season moves along.
Minnesota did show a little life in the fourth quarter against Michigan, scoring 21 points to keep the Wolverines from covering. The Golden Gophers still are having a tough time running the football, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry this year. When Minnesota has been good under Fleck, they use the run to set up the pass. They haven’t been able to do that this year, which is why their only wins have come against Rhode Island and Nevada.
I can’t say I’m a fan of either coach in this game. What I do like is how the defense of the Trojans has played since D’Anton Lynn took over as defensive coordinator. USC has the ability to jump out to a lead over Minnesota, making the Golden Gophers throw the football, which they haven’t looked all that comfortable doing with Max Brosmer behind center.
USC 34, Minnesota 20
Iowa v. No. 3 Ohio State (-19.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
Ohio State was able to easily navigate their first road game of the season, defeating Michigan State 38-7 on Saturday night. All the talk following the win was about wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, with the true freshman receiver making two insane one-handed catches on the same drive late in the first half.
With how well Will Howard was slinging the football against the Spartans, the Buckeyes didn’t really need more from Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. The duo will be trying to find holes this week against a Iowa rush defense that hasn’t allowed over 100 yards on the ground this season.
Imagine if Iowa had gotten rid of Brian Ferentz sooner. The offense of the Hawkeyes has been solid in the first four games under offensive coordinator Tim Lester. The star of the offense has been running back Kaleb Johnson, who has ran for at least 100 yards in every Iowa game so far this season. Had the Hawkeyes not blown a second half lead at home to Iowa State, this would be a matchup of undefeated teams.
Iowa does a few things well on both sides of the football. Ohio State is great at pretty much everything. Honestly, it feels like we haven’t even had the full Chip Kelly experience on offense yet since the new Buckeye offensive coordinator hasn’t had to get too wild with his calls since Ohio State has played such weak competition so far. Kelly will have to get a little more funky this week since Iowa is stout on defense.
With Oregon on deck for the Buckeyes next week, Ryan Day will be looking for another complete performance from his team ahead of the trip to Eugene. This won’t be as ugly as 2022 for Hawkeye fans, but it also won’t be fun for them to watch.
Ohio State 37, Iowa 13
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Plus picks against the spread for the rest of this week’s games around the conference.
Last week ATS: 6-9 (2-5 National, 4-4 B1G)
Season ATS: 48-47 (15-17 National, 33-30 B1G)
Last week certainly had some frustrating results. Michigan fell apart in the fourth quarter to lose the cover, Louisville and Arkansas narrowly missed covering on Saturday afternoon, while Auburn couldn’t finish off Oklahoma.
Our record would look a lot better had we had a little more luck in those games. I guess that’s why they call it gambling!
B1G games (All games Saturday unless otherwise noted)
Michigan State v. No. 6 Oregon (-24.5) - Friday 9:00 p.m. ET - FOX
The schedule makers certainly didn’t do Michigan State any favors in this spot. The Spartans are coming off a 38-7 loss to Ohio State on Saturday night, and now have to travel out to Eugene on a short week to take on the Ducks. Right now the only thing going for Michigan State is head coach Jonathan Smith has a lot of familiarity with going to Autzen Stadium from his time at Oregon State.
Oregon has finally started to look like the team we expected them to be prior to the season. After struggling with Idaho and Boise State, the Ducks had no problems with Oregon State and UCLA. About the only thing Oregon can be criticized about in their last two games is not covering against the Bruins last week. Just imagine what Dillon Gabriel is going to be able to do to the Michigan State defense after seeing how much success Will Howard had on Saturday night.
We have seen countless times how much a game against Ohio State takes out of teams the next week. Now Michigan State not only has to deal with all those body blows from Saturday night, they have to travel across the country to take on a talented Oregon team that will be hosting their first-ever Big Ten game.
The Spartans are way too sloppy with the football to stay inside the spread.
Oregon 45, Michigan State 17
UCLA v. No. 7 Penn State (-27.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
After missing on Penn State’s opener against West Virginia, I somehow have navigated the last three games for the Nittany Lions, correctly predicting they’d cover against Kent State, while siding with Bowling Green and Illinois in the other two contests.
Something still doesn’t feel quite right about the offense of the Nittany Lions, though. It looked like in the opener we’d see Drew Allar air out things more in new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s offense, but that really hasn’t been the case over the last few games.
UCLA is a mess right now. At least for new head coach Deshaun Foster, his team is playing hard. The Bruins didn’t get completely blown off the field against LSU and Oregon. Aside from effort, not much else is going right for UCLA. They have no running game and Ethan Garbers has struggled at quarterback, which is surprising since the Bruins have a couple receivers who played pretty well last year. Since the offense hasn’t been able to sustain drives, it has put more pressure on the defense.
UCLA has already gone to a tough environment and covered this year, squeezing inside the number against LSU a couple weeks ago. This trip to State College is going to be a lot different, especially since it starts at noon in the eastern time zone. Penn State has more to offer on defense than LSU did, so it is going to be extremely challenging for the Bruins to put points on the scoreboard.
I think the Nittany Lions blow out UCLA to send a message to USC, who they take on in Los Angeles next Saturday.
Penn State 44, UCLA 13
Purdue v. Wisconsin (-13.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Wisconsin really needs to channel Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema in this game. If the Badgers don’t run the football at least 40 times, Luke Fickell should fire offensive coordinator Phil Longo on the spot. The running game was working against USC and then for some reason Wisconsin decided the best strategy after halftime would be to abandon what was working. USC outscored the Badgers 28-0 in the second half.
How bad are things in West Lafayette? Following last week’s 28-10 loss to Nebraska, head coach Ryan Walters got rid of offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. Opponents have had a lot of success running the football against the Boilermakers, which is another reason why Wisconsin should give Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker plenty of carries on Saturday afternoon.
Laying nearly two touchdowns with Wisconsin is pretty scary, but it feels like the right play since the Boilermakers haven’t been competitive in any of their three games against FBS foes this year. At least with the Badgers there feels like more of a path to right the ship a bit, where Purdue is lost at sea.
Wisconsin 31, Purdue 14
No. 23 Indiana (-13.5) v. Northwestern - 3:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Apparently I haven’t learned my lesson when it comes to Indiana football, since I have backed the opponents of the Hoosiers to cover in each of the last three games. Maybe Curt Cignetti is printing on my picks and reading them to his team to fire them up before games. Kurtis Rourke had some rough moments early in last week’s game against Maryland, throwing his first two interceptions of the season in the first half of the 42-28 win. The Ohio transfer has thrown for at least 250 yards in each of the last four games.
Northwestern is a really tough watch. Take away their 31-7 win over Eastern Illinois and the Wildcats haven’t scored more than 20 points in their three games against FBS foes this year. Even when they scored 20 points against Duke, that was a game that went to double overtime. I have no idea how they are going to keep pace with an Indiana offense that has scored at least 31 points in every game this season, and at least 40 points in their last four contests.
The Hoosiers continue the fairly tale start to the Cignetti Era in Bloomington with an easy win over Northwestern in the temporary stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan that holds like seven people.
Indiana 38, Northwestern 10
Rutgers v. Nebraska (-6.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - FS1
Nebraska was able to rebound from their overtime loss to Illinois by pulling away from Purdue in the second half in West Lafayette last week. Quarterback Dylan Raiola is playing more like an upperclassman and not a freshman, throwing for over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns over his first five games with the Cornhuskers. The Nebraska defense has also been really good, allowing 10 points or less in four games so far this season.
Not only is Indiana undefeated so far this season, Rutgers enters this game at 4-0. Last week the Scarlet Knights grinded out a 21-18 win over Washington. The formula for Greg Schiano’s team is to wear down defenses with their running game, have Athan Kaliakmanis make some smart throws, and then rely on your defense to close out games. Kyle Monangai has been one of the best running backs in the country so far this year, but he will be facing his toughest test of the season so far on Saturday afternoon.
I still don’t fully trust Nebraska. This has the feel of a game where Schiano is going to throw some looks at Raiola that will confuse him. The Cornhuskers have been cruising in games where they have built a sizable lead. I don’t think Nebraska is going to run away with this game, and we have all seen how they crumble in one-score contests.
Rutgers 24, Nebraska 20
No. 10 Michigan v. Washington (-2.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC
We have a rematch of last year’s title game where pretty much nobody of note from either side is back. That’s not technically true since the Wolverines still have Donovan Edwards, who must be a victim of the video game cover curse since he is only averaging 4.4 yards per carry so far this season and has taken a backseat to Kalel Mullings in the backfield.
Quarterback Alex Orji will be making his third start of the season, and is still looking for his first game with at least 100 yards passing.
It feels like Washington is still trying to figure out who they are in Jedd Fisch’s first year as head coach. The Huskies have a solid defense, they just have sputtered on offense recently, scoring less than 20 points in two of their last three games, losing both of those contests. Washington is going to need quarterback Will Rogers to make some smart decisions since the Wolverines are led by their defense.
After starting the season with five games in Ann Arbor, now Michigan has to go a long way on their first road trip of the season. If Washington can shut down the run, they should be able to beat the Wolverines since we all have seen that Alex Orji can’t throw the football. The Huskies get some revenge for losing to Michigan in January.
Washington 21, Michigan 17
No. 11 USC (-8.5) v. Minnesota - 7:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Lincoln Riley and the Trojans probably won’t even know where they are by the end of the week. After playing in their first Big Ten game a couple weeks ago in Ann Arbor, USC was back in Los Angeles last week to take on Wisconsin, and now they’ll be heading to Minneapolis to take on the Golden Gophers. At least USC should be happy this game isn’t a month later since we all know how suspect the weather in Minneapolis can be as the season moves along.
Minnesota did show a little life in the fourth quarter against Michigan, scoring 21 points to keep the Wolverines from covering. The Golden Gophers still are having a tough time running the football, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry this year. When Minnesota has been good under Fleck, they use the run to set up the pass. They haven’t been able to do that this year, which is why their only wins have come against Rhode Island and Nevada.
I can’t say I’m a fan of either coach in this game. What I do like is how the defense of the Trojans has played since D’Anton Lynn took over as defensive coordinator. USC has the ability to jump out to a lead over Minnesota, making the Golden Gophers throw the football, which they haven’t looked all that comfortable doing with Max Brosmer behind center.
USC 34, Minnesota 20
Iowa v. No. 3 Ohio State (-19.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
Ohio State was able to easily navigate their first road game of the season, defeating Michigan State 38-7 on Saturday night. All the talk following the win was about wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, with the true freshman receiver making two insane one-handed catches on the same drive late in the first half.
With how well Will Howard was slinging the football against the Spartans, the Buckeyes didn’t really need more from Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. The duo will be trying to find holes this week against a Iowa rush defense that hasn’t allowed over 100 yards on the ground this season.
Imagine if Iowa had gotten rid of Brian Ferentz sooner. The offense of the Hawkeyes has been solid in the first four games under offensive coordinator Tim Lester. The star of the offense has been running back Kaleb Johnson, who has ran for at least 100 yards in every Iowa game so far this season. Had the Hawkeyes not blown a second half lead at home to Iowa State, this would be a matchup of undefeated teams.
Iowa does a few things well on both sides of the football. Ohio State is great at pretty much everything. Honestly, it feels like we haven’t even had the full Chip Kelly experience on offense yet since the new Buckeye offensive coordinator hasn’t had to get too wild with his calls since Ohio State has played such weak competition so far. Kelly will have to get a little more funky this week since Iowa is stout on defense.
With Oregon on deck for the Buckeyes next week, Ryan Day will be looking for another complete performance from his team ahead of the trip to Eugene. This won’t be as ugly as 2022 for Hawkeye fans, but it also won’t be fun for them to watch.
Ohio State 37, Iowa 13
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LGHL Column: Ohio State fans drew the short end of the stick with this year’s home basketball schedule
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Column: Ohio State fans drew the short end of the stick with this year’s home basketball schedule
Connor Lemons 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
The Buckeyes were given two weekend home games by the Big Ten this season.
Fresh off of back-to-back seasons missing the NCAA Tournament, a combined 14-26 record in conference play the past two seasons, and record lows in home attendance, the Ohio State men’s basketball program was in desperate need of a refresh this past spring.
Former athletic director Gene Smith watched the product on the court decline, and the excitement around the program steadily fall with it. Ross Bjork, Smith’s replacement as of July 1, watched from the periphery after he was announced as the athletic director in waiting.
Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes went 2-6 after Ohio State President Ted Carter announced that Bjork would be the next athletic director on Jan. 17. On Feb. 14, Holtmann was relieved of his duties and Jake Diebler took it from there, finishing the season with a record of 8-3 and parlaying it into the full-time job.
Hiring Diebler as the next Ohio State men’s basketball coach was Bjork’s first move to reinvigorate the program. Bjork wasn’t just rewarding Diebler for his performance as the interim head coach, he was also trying to catch lightning in a bottle. There was more buzz around the program than there had been in over two years, and Diebler was the reason. Ideally, that buzz is going to carry over the summer into the fall, and ticket sales will jump accordingly.
The student ticket package is now $110 for 13 games, or $8.46 per game. Students can also buy tickets for $9 on a game-by-game basis. Season ticket prices were lowered, single-game prices were lowered, and Ohio State is now offering flexible four and eight-game packages for fans who aren’t ready to commit to full-season tickets.
Ohio State made tickets cheaper, sure, but the flip side of this whole deal? You need to give the fans a schedule that makes them want to come to games. Unfortunately for the fans, that did not happen this season.
Ohio State’s full schedule:
The biggest opponent that will visit Columbus during Ohio State’s non-conference schedule – Pitt – missed out on the NCAA Tournament last season. Unlike the Buckeyes, the Panthers declined an invitation to participate in the NIT. The two programs have not faced each other since 2002 and while I personally am excited for this game, most casual Ohio State fans and alumni are not too terribly fired up for a game against the Pitt Panthers.
Aside from the Pitt game, Ohio State fans get six more non-conference games at home, the toughest being against Indiana State, which also happens to be the only weekend home game on the non-conference schedule.
The Big Ten schedule – which, unlike the non-conference schedule, is completely out of Ohio State’s hands – isn’t much better for the fans, or any more convenient.
Weekend home games are the biggest draw for programs and are a head coach’s best friend. More families show up with kids, more students go to games, and they’re much easier to coordinate for potential recruiting visits. Weekend home games have better energy, louder, larger crowds, and generally provide a superior game day experience than say, a Tuesday night.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25655489/usa_today_22491584.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Big Ten gave Ohio State and its fans exactly two weekend Big Ten home games this season – the fewest of any team in the conference. The Buckeyes’ matchup with Rutgers on Saturday, Dec. 7 will likely be a noon tipoff between two NCAA Tournament-caliber teams, but the Ohio State football team could wind up playing in a rather important game in Indianapolis that evening, too.
Few fans — if any — are going to attend the basketball game that afternoon in Columbus and then hightail it to Indy to watch the football team (potentially) play in the Big Ten title game that evening. Even more likely — some fans might forget the basketball team plays altogether, considering it is the first Big Ten home game of the season and most people will be fixated on football that day. Tough break!
Ohio State’s second weekend Big Ten home game comes over two months later – yep, that’s a 10-week gap – when the Buckeyes welcome Roddy Gayle and the Michigan Wolverines to the Schottenstein Center on Sunday, Feb. 16. The arena should be nearly sold out for that one, for obvious reasons.
If things go well for Ohio State in Jake Diebler’s first year, the team’s momentum should be hitting its crescendo at that point, and over 18,000 fans should be in attendance to welcome back former Ohio State guard-turned Michigan man.
The Buckeyes host Northwestern the following Thursday at home (Feb. 20), and then senior night will feature the Nebraska Cornhuskers traveling to Columbus on Tuesday, March 4 – and that’s the end of the home schedule. Even senior day, which in its purest form is a weekend game against a regional foe such as Michigan State, Indiana, or Michigan, is being snuck in on a Tuesday night against a team that has no historical significance to the Big Ten and even less emotional relevance to Ohio State fans.
Long story short – the fans got hosed this year.
Not all of this is on Ohio State, and I would even go as far to say that much of it is not. The Buckeyes hosted a ranked Texas A&M team last year at home and lost – a phenomenal game against a great team in front of the home fans. This season, the Buckeyes have to fulfil their end of the home-and-home agreement and go play on campus at Texas A&M. That game will take place on Friday, Nov. 15.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25655495/usa_today_21865389.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State is still locked into a contract for the CBS Sports Classic, which will pit them against Kentucky on Dec. 21 in New York. A great opponent, albeit one that 99% of Buckeye fans won’t be able to see in person.
Diebler was also able to get Texas and Auburn on the schedule – two teams that will likely be ranked to start the season – but both are at neutral locations (Las Vegas and Atlanta). That’s just a sign of the times in college basketball, as fewer and fewer programs are willing to travel and play true road games on someone else’s campus other than the ones they’re required to play within their own conference.
Did Ohio State want to load up the schedule with multiple monster home games in Jake Diebler’s first season and potentially set him up for a rough first season, and risk popping the bubble of excitement that currently surrounds the program so early in the season if things went south? I would assume the answer is no.
But even if they wanted to replace the Evansville or Campbell game with a power conference opponent at home, would Ohio State have even found a willing opponent? When you consider conference challenges and early season tournaments like those we see during “Feast Week”, it gets tougher and tougher to find a quality opponent who’s willing to use another spot in their schedule on a fellow power conference team.
There’s a very clear excitement around the program as we grow closer and closer to the season. But now that the full season schedule is together, it’s clear that Ohio State fans drew the short end of the stick with the slate of games they’ll get in Columbus.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes were given two weekend home games by the Big Ten this season.
Fresh off of back-to-back seasons missing the NCAA Tournament, a combined 14-26 record in conference play the past two seasons, and record lows in home attendance, the Ohio State men’s basketball program was in desperate need of a refresh this past spring.
Former athletic director Gene Smith watched the product on the court decline, and the excitement around the program steadily fall with it. Ross Bjork, Smith’s replacement as of July 1, watched from the periphery after he was announced as the athletic director in waiting.
Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes went 2-6 after Ohio State President Ted Carter announced that Bjork would be the next athletic director on Jan. 17. On Feb. 14, Holtmann was relieved of his duties and Jake Diebler took it from there, finishing the season with a record of 8-3 and parlaying it into the full-time job.
Hiring Diebler as the next Ohio State men’s basketball coach was Bjork’s first move to reinvigorate the program. Bjork wasn’t just rewarding Diebler for his performance as the interim head coach, he was also trying to catch lightning in a bottle. There was more buzz around the program than there had been in over two years, and Diebler was the reason. Ideally, that buzz is going to carry over the summer into the fall, and ticket sales will jump accordingly.
Buckeye Students ️
Student tickets are on sale NOWWe can’t wait to have the Schott rocking this season. Lock in your spot supporting the Scarlet & Gray at home all year long
️ https://t.co/XgC4K57uNB#Team126 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/modi1idZTy
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) September 24, 2024
The student ticket package is now $110 for 13 games, or $8.46 per game. Students can also buy tickets for $9 on a game-by-game basis. Season ticket prices were lowered, single-game prices were lowered, and Ohio State is now offering flexible four and eight-game packages for fans who aren’t ready to commit to full-season tickets.
Ohio State made tickets cheaper, sure, but the flip side of this whole deal? You need to give the fans a schedule that makes them want to come to games. Unfortunately for the fans, that did not happen this season.
Ohio State’s full schedule:
The biggest opponent that will visit Columbus during Ohio State’s non-conference schedule – Pitt – missed out on the NCAA Tournament last season. Unlike the Buckeyes, the Panthers declined an invitation to participate in the NIT. The two programs have not faced each other since 2002 and while I personally am excited for this game, most casual Ohio State fans and alumni are not too terribly fired up for a game against the Pitt Panthers.
Aside from the Pitt game, Ohio State fans get six more non-conference games at home, the toughest being against Indiana State, which also happens to be the only weekend home game on the non-conference schedule.
The Big Ten schedule – which, unlike the non-conference schedule, is completely out of Ohio State’s hands – isn’t much better for the fans, or any more convenient.
Weekend home games are the biggest draw for programs and are a head coach’s best friend. More families show up with kids, more students go to games, and they’re much easier to coordinate for potential recruiting visits. Weekend home games have better energy, louder, larger crowds, and generally provide a superior game day experience than say, a Tuesday night.
The Big Ten gave Ohio State and its fans exactly two weekend Big Ten home games this season – the fewest of any team in the conference. The Buckeyes’ matchup with Rutgers on Saturday, Dec. 7 will likely be a noon tipoff between two NCAA Tournament-caliber teams, but the Ohio State football team could wind up playing in a rather important game in Indianapolis that evening, too.
Few fans — if any — are going to attend the basketball game that afternoon in Columbus and then hightail it to Indy to watch the football team (potentially) play in the Big Ten title game that evening. Even more likely — some fans might forget the basketball team plays altogether, considering it is the first Big Ten home game of the season and most people will be fixated on football that day. Tough break!
Ohio State’s second weekend Big Ten home game comes over two months later – yep, that’s a 10-week gap – when the Buckeyes welcome Roddy Gayle and the Michigan Wolverines to the Schottenstein Center on Sunday, Feb. 16. The arena should be nearly sold out for that one, for obvious reasons.
If things go well for Ohio State in Jake Diebler’s first year, the team’s momentum should be hitting its crescendo at that point, and over 18,000 fans should be in attendance to welcome back former Ohio State guard-turned Michigan man.
The Buckeyes host Northwestern the following Thursday at home (Feb. 20), and then senior night will feature the Nebraska Cornhuskers traveling to Columbus on Tuesday, March 4 – and that’s the end of the home schedule. Even senior day, which in its purest form is a weekend game against a regional foe such as Michigan State, Indiana, or Michigan, is being snuck in on a Tuesday night against a team that has no historical significance to the Big Ten and even less emotional relevance to Ohio State fans.
Long story short – the fans got hosed this year.
Not all of this is on Ohio State, and I would even go as far to say that much of it is not. The Buckeyes hosted a ranked Texas A&M team last year at home and lost – a phenomenal game against a great team in front of the home fans. This season, the Buckeyes have to fulfil their end of the home-and-home agreement and go play on campus at Texas A&M. That game will take place on Friday, Nov. 15.
Ohio State is still locked into a contract for the CBS Sports Classic, which will pit them against Kentucky on Dec. 21 in New York. A great opponent, albeit one that 99% of Buckeye fans won’t be able to see in person.
Diebler was also able to get Texas and Auburn on the schedule – two teams that will likely be ranked to start the season – but both are at neutral locations (Las Vegas and Atlanta). That’s just a sign of the times in college basketball, as fewer and fewer programs are willing to travel and play true road games on someone else’s campus other than the ones they’re required to play within their own conference.
Did Ohio State want to load up the schedule with multiple monster home games in Jake Diebler’s first season and potentially set him up for a rough first season, and risk popping the bubble of excitement that currently surrounds the program so early in the season if things went south? I would assume the answer is no.
But even if they wanted to replace the Evansville or Campbell game with a power conference opponent at home, would Ohio State have even found a willing opponent? When you consider conference challenges and early season tournaments like those we see during “Feast Week”, it gets tougher and tougher to find a quality opponent who’s willing to use another spot in their schedule on a fellow power conference team.
There’s a very clear excitement around the program as we grow closer and closer to the season. But now that the full season schedule is together, it’s clear that Ohio State fans drew the short end of the stick with the slate of games they’ll get in Columbus.
Continue reading...
LGHL Tyleik Williams is officially expected to return against Iowa... for real this time
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Tyleik Williams is officially expected to return against Iowa... for real this time
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
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!
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
Buckeyes DT Tyleik Williams expected to play against Iowa
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Lightning Round: Ryan Day Calls Cade McNamara “A Veteran Quarterback” Who Has “Made Some Really Good Throws,” Says Kaleb Johnson Has “Developed Into a Really Good Football Player”
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Quick Hits: Gee Scott Jr. Says Buckeyes “All Just Want to Win Badly,” JT Tuimoloau Says Ohio State is “Gonna Have to Bring It” Against Iowa
Dan Hope, Chase Brown, and Andy Anders; Eleven Warriors
Game Data: Iowa brings running game, stingy defense into match-up at Ohio State
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
You’re Nuts: What matchup will determine the winner of Ohio State vs. Iowa?
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State Buckeyes Live: Keys to victory vs. Iowa; OSU defensive tweaks
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Key takeaways from Jim Knowles on Ohio State’s slow starts, Iowa challenge
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
Jim Knowles Happy With Sonny Styles’ Progress Switching From Safety to Linebacker for Buckeyes: “I’m Very Pleased”
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Four lessons learned from Ryan Day, Chip Kelly ahead of Iowa game
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Is Ryan Day getting more aggressive on fourth down?
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Could the Buckeyes get a five-star quarterback BOOM this weekend?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
EA Sports updates six Ohio State player ratings in College Football 25
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
What we learned from OSU women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff at Big Ten Media Day
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Who did Big Ten basketball writers pick to win the league this year?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
4 takeaways: Ohio State’s Kevin McGuff at Big Ten Media Days
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Is This March?
Baseball’s 2025 Big Ten Slate Announced
Ohio State Athletics
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
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
Buckeyes DT Tyleik Williams expected to play against Iowa
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Lightning Round: Ryan Day Calls Cade McNamara “A Veteran Quarterback” Who Has “Made Some Really Good Throws,” Says Kaleb Johnson Has “Developed Into a Really Good Football Player”
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Quick Hits: Gee Scott Jr. Says Buckeyes “All Just Want to Win Badly,” JT Tuimoloau Says Ohio State is “Gonna Have to Bring It” Against Iowa
Dan Hope, Chase Brown, and Andy Anders; Eleven Warriors
Game Data: Iowa brings running game, stingy defense into match-up at Ohio State
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
You’re Nuts: What matchup will determine the winner of Ohio State vs. Iowa?
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State Buckeyes Live: Keys to victory vs. Iowa; OSU defensive tweaks
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Key takeaways from Jim Knowles on Ohio State’s slow starts, Iowa challenge
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
Jim Knowles Happy With Sonny Styles’ Progress Switching From Safety to Linebacker for Buckeyes: “I’m Very Pleased”
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Four lessons learned from Ryan Day, Chip Kelly ahead of Iowa game
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Is Ryan Day getting more aggressive on fourth down?
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Could the Buckeyes get a five-star quarterback BOOM this weekend?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
EA Sports updates six Ohio State player ratings in College Football 25
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
On the Hardwood
What we learned from OSU women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff at Big Ten Media Day
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Who did Big Ten basketball writers pick to win the league this year?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
4 takeaways: Ohio State’s Kevin McGuff at Big Ten Media Days
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Is This March?
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Baseball’s 2025 Big Ten Slate Announced
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball receives one first-place vote in Big Ten media poll, lands eighth overall
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Ohio State men’s basketball receives one first-place vote in Big Ten media poll, lands eighth overall
Connor Lemons 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
The Buckeyes received a first-place for the first time in over a decade.
The Big Ten’s “official/unofficial” men’s basketball media poll was released on Wednesday afternoon — the first 18-team edition of the poll managed by the Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy and the Indianapolis Star’s Zach Osterman.
Ohio State was picked to finish eighth in the conference this season, one spot lower than it was picked to finish last year in this poll. The Buckeyes were one of six different teams to receive first-place votes.
The pre-season poll has changed hands over the years from Jardy, to the Big Ten Network, to the Big Ten conference itself, but it appears that this is the first year since 2011 that Ohio State received a first-place vote in the poll.
Purdue was picked to repeat as league champions with 20 of the 33 first-place votes, just ahead of Indiana, UCLA, and Illinois. The last team to win at least a share of the Big Ten title in three straight seasons was Michigan State from 2018-2020. The last team to win the league outright three years in a row was Purdue from 1994-1996.
You can check out the full preseason media poll here:
Of the four programs that hired new coaches this off-season, Ohio State was the highest ranked at eighth, followed closely by Dusty May’s Michigan Wolverines at ninth. USC, which hired former Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman this off-season, was picked to finish 14th. Washington hired Utah State’s Danny Sprinkle, and were picked to finish 15th.
In the new 18-team Big Ten, an eighth place finish likely puts Ohio State just on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, which gives good insight about what the collective media thinks about Jake Diebler’s first team. Although he’s the only first-time head coach in the conference, Diebler may have been given a bit more credit since he’s been at Ohio State for a total of eight seasons dating back to 2014, including a brief stint as interim head coach at the end of last season. Unlike May, Musselman, and Sprinkle, Diebler is not walking into a new locker room with a completely fresh group of players.
The Buckeyes received one singular first-place vote in the poll, which marks the first time in over a decade Ohio State has been picked to win the league by anyone in the media. It seems a bit outlandish to pick a team that hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament in two years to win the league, but Diebler did add five-star talents from the transfer portal in Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw, an all-SEC guard in Meechie Johnson, and return Bruce Thornton, who was selected First Team All-Big Ten in this same media poll.
The Buckeyes range of outcomes is very broad, and that voter clearly was betting on Ohio State reaching its proverbial ceiling. Voting results for each individual voter were not released on Wednesday, so it’s not currently known which media member picked Ohio State to finish first.
Ohio State opens up the season on November 4 against the Texas Longhorns in Las Vegas. Diebler’s first game as head coach will come against Rodney Terry, who, like Diebler, was elevated to interim head coach at Texas in December 2022. He then coached Texas to the Elite Eight and, like Diebler, was rewarded with the full-time head coaching job.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
The Buckeyes received a first-place for the first time in over a decade.
The Big Ten’s “official/unofficial” men’s basketball media poll was released on Wednesday afternoon — the first 18-team edition of the poll managed by the Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy and the Indianapolis Star’s Zach Osterman.
Ohio State was picked to finish eighth in the conference this season, one spot lower than it was picked to finish last year in this poll. The Buckeyes were one of six different teams to receive first-place votes.
The pre-season poll has changed hands over the years from Jardy, to the Big Ten Network, to the Big Ten conference itself, but it appears that this is the first year since 2011 that Ohio State received a first-place vote in the poll.
Purdue was picked to repeat as league champions with 20 of the 33 first-place votes, just ahead of Indiana, UCLA, and Illinois. The last team to win at least a share of the Big Ten title in three straight seasons was Michigan State from 2018-2020. The last team to win the league outright three years in a row was Purdue from 1994-1996.
You can check out the full preseason media poll here:
Of the four programs that hired new coaches this off-season, Ohio State was the highest ranked at eighth, followed closely by Dusty May’s Michigan Wolverines at ninth. USC, which hired former Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman this off-season, was picked to finish 14th. Washington hired Utah State’s Danny Sprinkle, and were picked to finish 15th.
In the new 18-team Big Ten, an eighth place finish likely puts Ohio State just on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, which gives good insight about what the collective media thinks about Jake Diebler’s first team. Although he’s the only first-time head coach in the conference, Diebler may have been given a bit more credit since he’s been at Ohio State for a total of eight seasons dating back to 2014, including a brief stint as interim head coach at the end of last season. Unlike May, Musselman, and Sprinkle, Diebler is not walking into a new locker room with a completely fresh group of players.
The Buckeyes received one singular first-place vote in the poll, which marks the first time in over a decade Ohio State has been picked to win the league by anyone in the media. It seems a bit outlandish to pick a team that hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament in two years to win the league, but Diebler did add five-star talents from the transfer portal in Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw, an all-SEC guard in Meechie Johnson, and return Bruce Thornton, who was selected First Team All-Big Ten in this same media poll.
The Buckeyes range of outcomes is very broad, and that voter clearly was betting on Ohio State reaching its proverbial ceiling. Voting results for each individual voter were not released on Wednesday, so it’s not currently known which media member picked Ohio State to finish first.
Ohio State opens up the season on November 4 against the Texas Longhorns in Las Vegas. Diebler’s first game as head coach will come against Rodney Terry, who, like Diebler, was elevated to interim head coach at Texas in December 2022. He then coached Texas to the Elite Eight and, like Diebler, was rewarded with the full-time head coaching job.
Continue reading...
LGHL Things you need to know about the Iowa Hawkeyes — and a few you don’t need to know, but are fun anyway
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- 0 Replies
Things you need to know about the Iowa Hawkeyes — and a few you don’t need to know, but are fun anyway
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images
This year’s Iowa squad relies on a stingy defense and strong running game... What else is new!?
The Ohio State Buckeyes host the Iowa Hawkeyes this weekend, in a meeting of teams with “eyes” in the name/description of their mascot(s)... Ok, that was a rough start but I’m keeping it in because nobody’s perfect. We own up to our mistakes around here. I promise to get marginally better.
Saturday’s matchup will be the 20th all-time between Ohio State and Iowa – on the gridiron – with OSU holding a 16-3 advantage. The Hawkeyes have won just once in Columbus, way back in 1991. And while the Buckeyes also boast the largest margin of victory (44 points in 2022), Iowa handed out their own ass-whoopin’ the meeting before that (31 points in 2017) and have kept a number of these games close under longtime head coach Kirk Ferentz.
This year’s Iowa squad is, well, similar to all the past Ferentz-led versions. The Hawkeyes run the ball and play defense in an effort to grind down their opponents and win a tough, physical, often ugly game. It’s not my brand of whiskey, but there’s a reason that Ferentz has over career 200 wins, several Coach of the Year awards, and two Big Ten titles.
Iowa is 3-1 this season, with their lone loss coming at the hands of in-state rival Iowa State. The Hawkeyes are also coming off a bye week, increasing the likelihood that Ferentz’s team will be and/or look well-rested and well-prepared early against the Buckeyes. Whether the former (Iowa) can get enough stops and keep up in the scoring department is TBD.
Here are a few more things you should know about the Iowa Hawkeyes:
The University of Iowa is actually, officially known as the State University of Iowa, according to Wikipedia. This nomenclature might be common for (other) state universities, but hey, I found it interesting. In 1855, the university became the first public university in the United States to admit men and women on an equal basis. Now you know.
Herky the Hawk is the school’s mascot. And apparently, he’s just some anthropomorphic, non-descript hawk!? Not a particular species, such as the sharp-shinned hawk or crested goshawk, two of my favorite predatory birds.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25645593/2172827139.jpg)
Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images
Iowa was kicked out of the Big Ten! In 1929, the university was suspected and ultimately deemed guilty of providing impermissible benefits (cash, false employment, etc.) to athletes. According to reports, “boosters”, at least one local bank, and even the university’s president were involved in some manner, resulting in expulsion from the Big Ten. Iowa was then reinstated in 1930, after disqualifying several athletes from competition.
Iowa’s football program claims five national titles. The last of which was claimed in 1960.
Kirk Ferentz has won Big Ten Coach of the Year more times than the rest of the current conference coaches combined. Look, I know there’s been a lot of coaching turnover and that Ryan Day never gets credit for winning a shitload of games, but Ferentz’s four B1G COTY awards are impressive nonetheless.
Phil Parker is arguably (or inarguably?) the best defensive coordinator in college football. And he has been for some time. The Lorain, OH native has been at Iowa since 1999, eventually taking over as the Hawkeyes’ DC in 2012. And since then, his defensive units have consistently been among the best in the country, despite often lacking a bunch of four and five-star recruits. That is because Parker is also one of the best pure talent developers in college football, which combined with his incredible defensive mind, makes him an integral part of Iowa’s success. In fact, I would argue that without Parker, the Hawkeyes are (or would be) a .500 team most years. Here he is pictured below, seemingly a bit angry with an official.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25645600/1243119350.jpg)
Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images
Brian Ferentz was not one of the best offensive coordinators in college football. This is why, after several years of offensive ineptitude and a “nudge” or two from Iowa’s athletic director(s), Kirk Ferentz finally got rid of his son and brought in Tim Lester as the Hawkeyes’ OC. Lester was the head coach at Western Michigan from 2017-22 and is highly respected in coaching circles for his offensive acumen. Unlike the previous guy.
Even with Brian Ferentz gone, Iowa is still going to pound the rock on Saturday. As they should! Because Hamilton, OH native Kaleb Johnson is putting up video game numbers. Arguably the best running back in the country through the first month of the season, Johnson has already racked up nearly 700 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns on “just” 82 carries.
Jaziun Patterson and Kamari Moulton provide solid RB depth behind Johnson, but with the Hawkeyes coming off a perfectly timed bye, their Doak Walker Award candidate should be well-rested and ready to go against Ohio State.
Two of Iowa’s most talented offensive weapons are a former Buckeye and a Buckeye legacy. Former OSU wide receiver Kaleb Brown has just one reception this season but flashed serious playmaking potential for the Hawkeyes in 2023. Tight end Luke Lachey, on the other hand, has been consistently productive when healthy. The son of Ohio State legend and current (OSU) radio voice Jim Lachey seems poised to follow in the footsteps of Dallas Clark, George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, and others — Iowa TEs turned longtime NFL contributors.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images
This year’s Iowa squad relies on a stingy defense and strong running game... What else is new!?
The Ohio State Buckeyes host the Iowa Hawkeyes this weekend, in a meeting of teams with “eyes” in the name/description of their mascot(s)... Ok, that was a rough start but I’m keeping it in because nobody’s perfect. We own up to our mistakes around here. I promise to get marginally better.
Saturday’s matchup will be the 20th all-time between Ohio State and Iowa – on the gridiron – with OSU holding a 16-3 advantage. The Hawkeyes have won just once in Columbus, way back in 1991. And while the Buckeyes also boast the largest margin of victory (44 points in 2022), Iowa handed out their own ass-whoopin’ the meeting before that (31 points in 2017) and have kept a number of these games close under longtime head coach Kirk Ferentz.
This year’s Iowa squad is, well, similar to all the past Ferentz-led versions. The Hawkeyes run the ball and play defense in an effort to grind down their opponents and win a tough, physical, often ugly game. It’s not my brand of whiskey, but there’s a reason that Ferentz has over career 200 wins, several Coach of the Year awards, and two Big Ten titles.
Iowa is 3-1 this season, with their lone loss coming at the hands of in-state rival Iowa State. The Hawkeyes are also coming off a bye week, increasing the likelihood that Ferentz’s team will be and/or look well-rested and well-prepared early against the Buckeyes. Whether the former (Iowa) can get enough stops and keep up in the scoring department is TBD.
Here are a few more things you should know about the Iowa Hawkeyes:
The University of Iowa is actually, officially known as the State University of Iowa, according to Wikipedia. This nomenclature might be common for (other) state universities, but hey, I found it interesting. In 1855, the university became the first public university in the United States to admit men and women on an equal basis. Now you know.
Herky the Hawk is the school’s mascot. And apparently, he’s just some anthropomorphic, non-descript hawk!? Not a particular species, such as the sharp-shinned hawk or crested goshawk, two of my favorite predatory birds.
Iowa was kicked out of the Big Ten! In 1929, the university was suspected and ultimately deemed guilty of providing impermissible benefits (cash, false employment, etc.) to athletes. According to reports, “boosters”, at least one local bank, and even the university’s president were involved in some manner, resulting in expulsion from the Big Ten. Iowa was then reinstated in 1930, after disqualifying several athletes from competition.
Iowa’s football program claims five national titles. The last of which was claimed in 1960.
Kirk Ferentz has won Big Ten Coach of the Year more times than the rest of the current conference coaches combined. Look, I know there’s been a lot of coaching turnover and that Ryan Day never gets credit for winning a shitload of games, but Ferentz’s four B1G COTY awards are impressive nonetheless.
Phil Parker is arguably (or inarguably?) the best defensive coordinator in college football. And he has been for some time. The Lorain, OH native has been at Iowa since 1999, eventually taking over as the Hawkeyes’ DC in 2012. And since then, his defensive units have consistently been among the best in the country, despite often lacking a bunch of four and five-star recruits. That is because Parker is also one of the best pure talent developers in college football, which combined with his incredible defensive mind, makes him an integral part of Iowa’s success. In fact, I would argue that without Parker, the Hawkeyes are (or would be) a .500 team most years. Here he is pictured below, seemingly a bit angry with an official.
Brian Ferentz was not one of the best offensive coordinators in college football. This is why, after several years of offensive ineptitude and a “nudge” or two from Iowa’s athletic director(s), Kirk Ferentz finally got rid of his son and brought in Tim Lester as the Hawkeyes’ OC. Lester was the head coach at Western Michigan from 2017-22 and is highly respected in coaching circles for his offensive acumen. Unlike the previous guy.
Even with Brian Ferentz gone, Iowa is still going to pound the rock on Saturday. As they should! Because Hamilton, OH native Kaleb Johnson is putting up video game numbers. Arguably the best running back in the country through the first month of the season, Johnson has already racked up nearly 700 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns on “just” 82 carries.
Jaziun Patterson and Kamari Moulton provide solid RB depth behind Johnson, but with the Hawkeyes coming off a perfectly timed bye, their Doak Walker Award candidate should be well-rested and ready to go against Ohio State.
Two of Iowa’s most talented offensive weapons are a former Buckeye and a Buckeye legacy. Former OSU wide receiver Kaleb Brown has just one reception this season but flashed serious playmaking potential for the Hawkeyes in 2023. Tight end Luke Lachey, on the other hand, has been consistently productive when healthy. The son of Ohio State legend and current (OSU) radio voice Jim Lachey seems poised to follow in the footsteps of Dallas Clark, George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, and others — Iowa TEs turned longtime NFL contributors.
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2026 NC DL Rodney Dunham (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 1 Replies
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Class: 2026
Position: DE
School: Charlotte (NC) Myers Park
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 225 lbs
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HudL
Class: 2026
Position: DE
School: Charlotte (NC) Myers Park
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 225 lbs
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2026 TX OT Zaden Krempin (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 0 Replies
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Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Prosper (TX) Prosper
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 275lbs
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Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Prosper (TX) Prosper
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 275lbs
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2026 CA OL Tommy Tofi (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 4 Replies
247
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Class: 2026
Position: OL
School: San Francisco (CA) Archbishop Riordan
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 340lbs
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Class: 2026
Position: OL
School: San Francisco (CA) Archbishop Riordan
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 340lbs
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LGHL I-80 Football Show: Washington may finally put an end to our national nightmare!
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I-80 Football Show: Washington may finally put an end to our national nightmare!
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
It may be a light Week 6 nationally, but the Big Ten has a couple of underrated matchups that will define the 2024 season!
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, 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 Dante Morgan.
Welcome back to another episode of the I-80 Football Show! We have a packed traffic update, starting with Purdue firing offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. The guys take a moment to look at the rise and fall of Harrell, who was considered a fast riser in the industry at one point.
Indiana finally played a team with a pulse and committed a turnover for the first time all season, but they still beat Maryland by 14 points and are officially ranked in the AP Top 25. Minnesota gave Michigan a scare, but it may be time to ask some tough questions about PJ Fleck’s tenure with the Golden Gophers.
Washington played an almost perfect game on offense, but still lost to Rutgers after a mistake-filled game, including missing three field goals. Illinois and Penn State felt like a heavy-weight fight that went the distance, but Penn State was the better team and found a way to win when it mattered most.
In this week’s Mapquest segment, Friday night is headlined by a feisty Michigan State hosting the Oregon Ducks. Noon is a snoozefest, but if you’re not taking a nap to prepare for the mid-day slate you could watch Purdue and Wisconsin fight for the bottom of the conference.
Mid-day starts the underrated matchups, with Ohio State beginning its toughest four-game stretch against Iowa and Rutgers battling Nebraska. Primetime also has two notable matchups headlined, by Washington hoping to bounce back from a disappointing loss by upsetting Michigan and Minnesota and Darius Taylor welcoming USC to Minnesota.
Dante brings the SEC to a Big Ten podcast in his pitstop. This podcast had questions about how Alabama would look without Nick Saban, but Kalen Deboer answered them by beating Georgia on Saturday. Jordan takes a moment to celebrate 10 years of friendship.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 you can subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Thursday.
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: @I80FootballShow
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
It may be a light Week 6 nationally, but the Big Ten has a couple of underrated matchups that will define the 2024 season!
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, 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 Dante Morgan.
Welcome back to another episode of the I-80 Football Show! We have a packed traffic update, starting with Purdue firing offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. The guys take a moment to look at the rise and fall of Harrell, who was considered a fast riser in the industry at one point.
Indiana finally played a team with a pulse and committed a turnover for the first time all season, but they still beat Maryland by 14 points and are officially ranked in the AP Top 25. Minnesota gave Michigan a scare, but it may be time to ask some tough questions about PJ Fleck’s tenure with the Golden Gophers.
Washington played an almost perfect game on offense, but still lost to Rutgers after a mistake-filled game, including missing three field goals. Illinois and Penn State felt like a heavy-weight fight that went the distance, but Penn State was the better team and found a way to win when it mattered most.
In this week’s Mapquest segment, Friday night is headlined by a feisty Michigan State hosting the Oregon Ducks. Noon is a snoozefest, but if you’re not taking a nap to prepare for the mid-day slate you could watch Purdue and Wisconsin fight for the bottom of the conference.
Mid-day starts the underrated matchups, with Ohio State beginning its toughest four-game stretch against Iowa and Rutgers battling Nebraska. Primetime also has two notable matchups headlined, by Washington hoping to bounce back from a disappointing loss by upsetting Michigan and Minnesota and Darius Taylor welcoming USC to Minnesota.
Dante brings the SEC to a Big Ten podcast in his pitstop. This podcast had questions about how Alabama would look without Nick Saban, but Kalen Deboer answered them by beating Georgia on Saturday. Jordan takes a moment to celebrate 10 years of friendship.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 you can subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Thursday.
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: @I80FootballShow
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
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LGHL Ohio State offers two 2026 prospects, makes the cut for a top safety target
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Ohio State offers two 2026 prospects, makes the cut for a top safety target
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Rodney Dunham | 247Sports
The Buckeyes had another busy Wednesday on the recruiting trail.
The Buckeyes passed their first conference test last week with flying colors in a win over Michigan State that was really over after midway through the second quarter. With four consecutive weeks coming up with big time contests, Ohio State is looking at an October slate that provides quite the gauntlet, but this team looks poised and ready for the challenge at hand.
Starting with Iowa this weekend, the Buckeyes know the Hawkeyes are bringing in a defense that is always nationally respected and an offense that is improved from last year. Ready to get back at it, it’s also a major opportunity for this staff to host their current commits and other top recruits, and they’re doing that and them some.
The Buckeyes have been pretty active with their offers over the last few weeks. Proof that this staff is always looking and evaluating talent all over the country, Wednesday was another instance where the 2026 class saw another Ohio State offer sent out. More names are sure to pop in the near future as that class gets closer to being the current cycle, and the goal will be to get those newly offered targets on campus before too long.
Making yet another stamp in North Carolina, the Buckeyes latest offer went out to 2026 edge rusher, Rodney Dunhman. A 6-foot-4, 230 pound athlete, Dunhman is currently the No. 56 player nationally and sixth best prospect at his position per the 247Sports Composite.
Well over 20 offers to his name already and from the likes of Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and a host of others, it’s easy to see why Larry Johnson and Ohio State felt enough time has passed before throwing their own name into the mix. With how often the Buckeyes are recruiting the state of North Carolina right now, it’s no surprise to see this staff looking to continue making a lasting impression on a state that has been kind to Ohio State in the recent recruiting classes.
Per Jeremy Birmingham of The Podcast, Rodney will be in town this weekend to see the Buckeyes take on Iowa. Being an unofficial visit, this offer comes at a pretty perfect time considering the excitement he will have once on campus and seeing his position group up close and personal. Keep a close eye on this name as moving forward he will surely continue to be a topic of discussion.
It’s been talked about at length already and it remains true that 2026 will have to be a big time class for the offensive line. Needing to land a solid number of commitments in the next wave, position coach Justin Frye is still working hard in 2025, but a lot of the attention is already looking ahead to ensure the depth needed is landed.
Keeping no stone unturned, Ohio State made another impression in California by offering offensive lineman, Tommy Tofi. The No. 125 player nationally and tenth best interior lineman in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Tofi is another massive prospect at 6-foot-6, 320 pounds.
Knowing not many players possess his college ready frame and size, it makes sense for the Buckeyes to try and get into the mix here and seeing his list of nearly 30 other schools who have already joined the fold let’s you know the caliber of player Tofi really is.
Like any prospect from that far away, the Buckeyes will have to work hard to get him on campus. That being said, for a California native, UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington are now in the Big Ten, and that helps with travel as Ohio State can now recruit with the pitch that they too will be much more present on the west coast thanks to games being played there on a regular base.
Staying hot on the trail yesterday besides just the new offers being sent out, Ohio State also received positive news with a Texas native defensive back when the Buckeyes landed in his top five final schools.
2026 safety target Isaiah Williams is the No. 393 player nationally and the 31st best safety per the 247Sports Composite, and his nearly 30 offers should help show just how impressive he is in the eyes of the Ohio State staff.
Announcing a list of just five schools on Wednesday, cutting it down to just these few shows Williams is definitely well on his way to getting closer to a final call. Keeping just LSU, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas in the mix, some of the notable programs left out include Florida, Oregon, Tennessee, and obviously several others.
A position of importance every year thanks to Ohio State’s scheme, Jim Knowles and Matt Guerrieri will look to bring in multiple top players. Isaiah being this high on the Buckeyes is one to keep an eye on as he gets closer and closer to really shutting it down.
Included in the mix is Devin Sanchez, who couldn’t be any more solid to the Buckeyes, but guys like Tarvos Alford who once in a while can be a little worrisome also making the trek is great timing for the staff as they want to keep their guys locked in. Additionally, Zion Grady will also make the trek north from Alabama for Saturday’s game, and he’s another top commit Larry Johnson is thrilled to have back.
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
Rodney Dunham | 247Sports
The Buckeyes had another busy Wednesday on the recruiting trail.
The Buckeyes passed their first conference test last week with flying colors in a win over Michigan State that was really over after midway through the second quarter. With four consecutive weeks coming up with big time contests, Ohio State is looking at an October slate that provides quite the gauntlet, but this team looks poised and ready for the challenge at hand.
Starting with Iowa this weekend, the Buckeyes know the Hawkeyes are bringing in a defense that is always nationally respected and an offense that is improved from last year. Ready to get back at it, it’s also a major opportunity for this staff to host their current commits and other top recruits, and they’re doing that and them some.
2026 edge rusher gets Ohio State offer
The Buckeyes have been pretty active with their offers over the last few weeks. Proof that this staff is always looking and evaluating talent all over the country, Wednesday was another instance where the 2026 class saw another Ohio State offer sent out. More names are sure to pop in the near future as that class gets closer to being the current cycle, and the goal will be to get those newly offered targets on campus before too long.
Making yet another stamp in North Carolina, the Buckeyes latest offer went out to 2026 edge rusher, Rodney Dunhman. A 6-foot-4, 230 pound athlete, Dunhman is currently the No. 56 player nationally and sixth best prospect at his position per the 247Sports Composite.
Well over 20 offers to his name already and from the likes of Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and a host of others, it’s easy to see why Larry Johnson and Ohio State felt enough time has passed before throwing their own name into the mix. With how often the Buckeyes are recruiting the state of North Carolina right now, it’s no surprise to see this staff looking to continue making a lasting impression on a state that has been kind to Ohio State in the recent recruiting classes.
Per Jeremy Birmingham of The Podcast, Rodney will be in town this weekend to see the Buckeyes take on Iowa. Being an unofficial visit, this offer comes at a pretty perfect time considering the excitement he will have once on campus and seeing his position group up close and personal. Keep a close eye on this name as moving forward he will surely continue to be a topic of discussion.
Ohio State continues to look at new offensive line targets
It’s been talked about at length already and it remains true that 2026 will have to be a big time class for the offensive line. Needing to land a solid number of commitments in the next wave, position coach Justin Frye is still working hard in 2025, but a lot of the attention is already looking ahead to ensure the depth needed is landed.
Keeping no stone unturned, Ohio State made another impression in California by offering offensive lineman, Tommy Tofi. The No. 125 player nationally and tenth best interior lineman in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Tofi is another massive prospect at 6-foot-6, 320 pounds.
Knowing not many players possess his college ready frame and size, it makes sense for the Buckeyes to try and get into the mix here and seeing his list of nearly 30 other schools who have already joined the fold let’s you know the caliber of player Tofi really is.
Like any prospect from that far away, the Buckeyes will have to work hard to get him on campus. That being said, for a California native, UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington are now in the Big Ten, and that helps with travel as Ohio State can now recruit with the pitch that they too will be much more present on the west coast thanks to games being played there on a regular base.
Buckeyes make the top five for 2026 safety target
Staying hot on the trail yesterday besides just the new offers being sent out, Ohio State also received positive news with a Texas native defensive back when the Buckeyes landed in his top five final schools.
2026 safety target Isaiah Williams is the No. 393 player nationally and the 31st best safety per the 247Sports Composite, and his nearly 30 offers should help show just how impressive he is in the eyes of the Ohio State staff.
Announcing a list of just five schools on Wednesday, cutting it down to just these few shows Williams is definitely well on his way to getting closer to a final call. Keeping just LSU, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas in the mix, some of the notable programs left out include Florida, Oregon, Tennessee, and obviously several others.
A position of importance every year thanks to Ohio State’s scheme, Jim Knowles and Matt Guerrieri will look to bring in multiple top players. Isaiah being this high on the Buckeyes is one to keep an eye on as he gets closer and closer to really shutting it down.
Four-star Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall safety Isaiah Williams has announced a top five!
Williams plans to take official visits in the spring before a commitment.
Rivals ranks the contenders herehttps://t.co/TY2pijQVjx pic.twitter.com/2Tg7Jh2Rgm
— Marshall Levenson (@MarshallRivals) October 2, 2024
Quick Hits
- While much of the attention will be played to the uncommitted prospects on campus this weekend, the Buckeyes are also bringing in several of their own current commits from the 2025 class for visits this weekend — some of extra importance considering the other schools trying to poach these players away from Ohio State.
Included in the mix is Devin Sanchez, who couldn’t be any more solid to the Buckeyes, but guys like Tarvos Alford who once in a while can be a little worrisome also making the trek is great timing for the staff as they want to keep their guys locked in. Additionally, Zion Grady will also make the trek north from Alabama for Saturday’s game, and he’s another top commit Larry Johnson is thrilled to have back.
- In hoops news, the Buckeyes will also have some basketball worthy attention this weekend as Jake Dieber and the rest of his staff will be hosting four-star talent, Jerry Easter. The Toledo, Ohio native is the No. 32 player nationally and forth best at his position per the 247Sports Composite in the 2025 class.
NEWS: 2025 4️ Jerry Easter II (@JerryEast8) is taking an official visit to Ohio State this weekend, a source tells @LeagueRDY.
Easter has taken official visits to SMU, Oregon and Georgia Tech, so far. He’s playing his senior season of high school for @LinkHoops.
#31 in the… pic.twitter.com/17LynDxKCC
— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) October 2, 2024
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