OL needs to get their shit together - fast.
Good news, Texas OL was probably worse last year and they won't be THAT much improved barring a miracle.

Arch was terrible last year processing 3rd level rotations. It's why all those post snap shifts & safety rotations had his head spinning. Early evidence shows he still struggles.

Julian needs work at this as well, but he isn't nearly as bad.

Running game has to be efficient. Can't be behind schedule early. But that concerns me because to counter, the Bucks ran some RPOs that Miami's corners sat on early when we last played. So I'm hoping we're aggressive downfield early and often (pass pro has to hold up)

Ultimately I'm going off the strength of the Buckeye defense vs Arch's turnover penchant and Julian being an efficient distributor using the + turnover margin.

Buckeyes +1.5

NCAA grants Ukrainian Kate Koval transfer waiver following departure from LSU due to Russian teammate​

Koval decided to leave LSU after the Tigers signed a Russian teenager this summer​

The NCAA has granted Kate Koval a waiver that will allow her to enter the transfer portal following her recent departure from LSU, per multiple reports. Although the transfer portal window for women's basketball closed in April, Koval will be able to play for a different team during the 2025-26 season. The 6-foot-5 center has at least two seasons of eligibility still remaining.

While Koval originally planned on staying with LSU, she decided to officially leave the team last month. At first it was announced that it was for "personal reasons, but on Sept. 2 she confirmed the reason was because LSU had signed a 17-year-old Russian post player Anna Minaeva. This created a difficult situation for Koval, who was born and raised in Ukraine -- a country currently at war with Russia. Koval and her family are extremely close to the situation since her father works as a drone operator for the Ukrainian military.

"My father serves in the Ukrainian military and takes tremendous pride in defending his country against Russian aggression," Koval explained on a social media post. "For me, this war is not distant or abstract. People close to me have been killed and wounded in Russian attacks, and places where I grew up and first began playing basketball have been destroyed by missile strikes."

Koval has been playing basketball in the United States since 2021, when she left Ukraine to play at Long Island Lutheran High School in New York.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey had a conversation with Koval when her staff was going to start recruiting Minaeva. She even suggested that they could be "ambassadors" for the two countries, but Koval was not comfortable with the situation and ultimately decided to leave.

Koval spent her freshman season at Notre Dame and made the ACC All-Freshman Team before transferring to LSU for the 2025-26 season. As a sophomore with the Tigers, she appeared in 35 games, 17 as a starter, and averaged 8.3 points on 56% shooting, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per contest. She was expected to be the starting center for Mulkey this season. Earlier this summer, Koval represented Ukraine in the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Women's World Cup and helped the native country advance to the quarterfinals.

The NCAA allows a maximum of 15 players on a Division I women's basketball roster, and Koval would be a welcome addition for any team still looking to add frontcourt depth. As college basketball programs already have practices underway, Koval's options will be limited since most rosters are completed. However, if her waiver had not been approved, she would have had to sacrifice a year of eligibility.
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Just sayin': I only count 11 players on Ohio State's roster.


Update: Per ESPN...Baylor signed Ukrainian center Kate Koval, the school announced Saturday, several weeks after she left LSU because Tigers coach Kim Mulkey brought in a Russian player.

brodybuck21 said:

Campbell at LT should spend more time at his job than being a troll with his "THEE Louisiana State" intro

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Campbell had a pretty good game against Seattle.

NFBuck said:

Whoopin' the Rams ass is always a little erotic.

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Shanny done me proud last night.

Just when you think they’ve reached new levels of weird shit…

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TDunk said:

You really want to take over @BB73 job? Is there a name for folks before Boomers? Diggers?

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Cro-Magnons....

Kentucky's Will Stein encourages Wildcats fans to 'sneak a flask' into game vs. No. 12 Alabama​

The first-year Kentucky coach is calling for fans to 'scream obscenities' to make Alabama feel as uncomfortable as possible for Saturday's SEC opener​

College football fans have never needed permission to hurl a stream of obscenities at their opponent or sneak contraband into the stadium, but the Kentucky faithful have the green light from coach Will Stein this week.

With No. 12 Alabama coming to Lexington for Saturday's SEC opener, Stein wants to make Kroger Field an inhospitable environment for the Crimson Tide. Speaking with Kentucky Sports Radio, Stein wants the fan base to become the "loudest 65,000 group of people in the history of the world."

If Stein gets his way, parents may want to pack a set of headphones for the children because there might be some four-letter words thrown Alabama's way this weekend. Throw southern hospitality out the window.

"I want them in there 45 to 30 minutes before, in their seat, standing up, screaming obscenities at our opponent, making them feel very unwanted in Kroger Field and creating an environment of excellence for Kentucky football," Stein said. "I mean, that's what it's about. You want to see a great product on the field. I want to see insane fans in the stands as well."

With college football stadiums now serving alcohol, an interesting dynamic was created. Sometimes, there are empty seats scattered throughout the venue as fans seek refills. Stein's solution is simple: Go old-school and sneak booze into Kroger Field.

"Sneak a flask in," Stein said. "Sneak a flask in. Again, do whatever you got to do, right? Get your drinks ready. Sit in your chair, all right, and start cheering. And then once you're done with the drink, go back in as fast as you can, and come right back out."

There's no word yet on whether security measures at Kroger Field will be loosened to accommodate Stein's request.

Stein has certainly brought a renewed energy to the Kentucky program, and that might help him on Saturday. Alabama is the more talented team by a clear margin, but the crowd in Lexington should be amped up for Stein's first game in SEC play.
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Just sayin': ....Yeah, Kentucky needs to instigate fights in the stands too like those in European soccer stadiums......

gmen6981 said:

Hunter-Gatherers.

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GPA

NFBuck said:

View attachment 94389

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"Bawth!"

Highly contested where it means more ..

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Thump said:

Title change needed.

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"Worse than Puka at tackling?"

1926Buckeyes said:

The more dire OL film breakdowns I see, the more negative I am. Same issues they had all last year. Hoping it’s something that improves the more live reps they have in Smith’s O. Can’t understand why communication is still an issue.

Good points about McCuin and Bey. Same with Inniss hitting on some slants and screens to slow down the rush. The short game was sorely lacking last season.

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Yeah personally I'm leaning towards OL issues costing us this one but it lights a fire to get them fixed. Otherwise I'd probably pick OSU easily since I think coaching wise the Buckeyes have a big edge. It's tough to replicate the clinic the defense put on last year but I'd trust Matty P to dial something up. Muschamp D's are pretty aggressive from what I can recall and Day generally eats those kinds of defenses for breakfast. One thing is for sure, we'll definitely get to see what Arthur Smith is made of pretty early.

Wells4Heisman said:

I've read that our band isn't making the trip? Apparently they're saving money for playoff games?

That sucks, they were incredible in the 2006 win.

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I sorta doubt its about saving money....they don't always travel to every away game.

Best Buckeye said:

I sure hope we have some hot weather acclimation before the game. Possible 100 deg. At game time.
The Marines at Parris Island shut down training at 95 deg.

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It won't be 100 but 95 still sucks.

I sure hope we have some hot weather acclimation before the game. Possible 100 deg. At game time.
The Marines at Parris Island shut down training at 95 deg.

I've read that our band isn't making the trip? Apparently they're saving money for playoff games?

That sucks, they were incredible in the 2006 win.

Purdue

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