brodybuck21 said:

Yep officially playing in Omaha! Face Washington 9pm Tuesday

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ORD_Buckeye said:

Granted, I wasnt going to watch it anyways, but I'm so grateful that Chicago is missing out on being part of this shitshow. Only good part of the world cup is if the English fans lay waste to some host city.

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Detroit should be perma host for all England games. Play the motherfucker in the Big House for the cosmic win.

The thought of a drunken/high/violent mob of English soccer fans laying waste to Ann Arbor warms me way down in the frozen parts of my soul.

Just sayin': And then there were 2. Kudos to both UVA and UT. They both lost the doubles point; however, they both fought back to win the match and advance to the Finals. To accomplish this they both had a dominate "ace" in the #1 game (i.e. UVA had #1 ranked Dylan Dietrich and UT had #3 ranked Sebastian Gorzny) who pulled out wins.

Division I Team Championship

• The Final: No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 2 Texas
• Date & Time: Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET
• Location: Dan Magill Tennis Complex, Athens, GA (Hosted by the University of Georgia)
• How to Watch: Stream the matches live on ESPN+

How They Reached the Final

• Virginia: Reached the championship after completing a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over the top-seeded Wake Forest in the semifinals.
• Texas: Advanced to the final by overcoming a 3-2 deficit to defeat the No. 6 seed TCU 4-3 in their semifinal matchup

So 24-22 at about the quarter pole of the season. Things I think I see:

Run Creation:
This is the "unluckiest" team in baseball. They actually draw walks well (6th/10.4%), They do strike out a lot still (26th/23.9%) BUT they are showing decent power (ISO 7th/.165). So how do you then have only a .311 team OBP? You pair that with a team BABIP of .267 which is good for 30th in MLB. At the end of the day when adjusted for ball park they are 23rd in wRC+ with a 94.

At the end of the day they are 13th in Runs scored which is the ultimate result of all of it, the underlying elements would seem to suggest there is a little more in the tank if the bounces start balancing out but all in all the offense is average and isn't likely to be more than that on a consistent basis.

Run Prevention:

Staring Pitchers:
They walk way too many guys (24th/3.75 BB/9) and don't strike out anyone (28th/6.81 K/9) so when you look at what many consider the quick litmus test of "talent" in a pitcher or group of them the Reds starters are 29th in MLB in K-bb% at a laughably pathetic 7.8% (Rockies are last at 7.2%, league best is 19.2%). So as one would expect of any staff that hasn't seen it's top two starters all year. They are not overpowering. So those are some of the basic components, the on field results so far are 24th in ERA- which is about what you'd expect given the underlying numbers. In traditional counting stats you see them 20th in Runs allowed so no big discrepancy there. Burns obviously has some arm talent, the rest are doing it with smoke and mirrors.

Bullpen:
Woof

Dead fucking last in BB/9 so how many guys they strike out doesn't even really matter. You just can't walk that many, that often, as a reliever and not get punished for it. 26th in ERA- and 26th in Runs a allowed would seem to bear that out.

Defense:
I'll just go with the Fielding Bible, Defensive Runs saved and it's a -2 as a team, good for 21st in MLB.

So all in all you have a
C- kind of offense,
a C- starting 5 that could maybe be a solid B with some health and
a D- to F bullpen that has a
C- to D+ defense behind them.

This is not a .500 team folks. FanGraphs has them at 55-61 the rest of the way and I would agree with something in that range. There is just nothing above average to point to. They are average at best to flat out to bad in every component of the game.

Maybe the offense gets a little better and maybe the starters get a little better with Greene and Blister Bitch but even if you get all that, I doubt it's enough to over come the shit bullpen and the shit defense.

Just sayin': The "Horse From U.N.C.L.E." wins The Preakness.....

Napoleon Solo wins 151st Preakness Stakes​

The horse, trained by Chad Summers, entered with 7-1 odds.

For all its history and tradition, the Preakness was expected to have a different feel this year. Golden Tempo, the Kentucky Derby winner, and Renegade, the Derby runner-up, were not slated to run the race. This was only the second time in 40 years that the top two Derby finishers had sat out.

The race was also being held at Laurel Park, in Laurel, Maryland, as Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course continues to undergo renovations. A field with no head-and-shoulders favorite? On a new track? Anything could happen.

Napoleon Solo, a horse that entered with 7-1 odds and had finished fifth in his last two races, won the Preakness on Saturday, overtaking the favorite Taj Mahal down the stretch while also holding off another strong contender, Iron Honor.

For Napoleon Solo’s trainer Chad Summers, this was his first Triple Crown win. “To come here with a horse that Mr. Gold allowed me to pick out for $40,000 and get the job done on a stage like this, it’s just unbelievable,” Summers said on the NBC telecast afterward, referring to Al Gold, the horse’s owner.

Iron Honor took second while Chip Honcho finished third.

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United States 2026 World Cup Preview: Golden Generation Eyes American History​

The U.S. made a round of 16 exit the last time it hosted the World Cup, but this time, it has the superstar talent to mount a more impressive run—if the team plays to its potential.



Arguably the most talented U.S. men’s national team of all time arrives to the World Cup stage desperate to put on a show on home soil.

The Stars and Stripes might have automatically qualified for this summer’s tournament as hosts, but it more than earned the right to compete alongside the top 48 teams in the world. Oozing with talent and rejuvenated under the leadership of Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT hope to pull off a storybook run in front of home crowds across the country.

Having never won a World Cup, the “golden generation” of American soccer players, led by AC Milan standout Christian Pulisic, kicks off its mighty quest on June 12 at SoFi Stadium, where a statement performance could set the tone for the host nation.

World Cup Schedule

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino​

• World Cup experience: Managerial debut
• Time in charge of the team: Since 2024
• Manager meter: Under pressure

Mauricio Pochettino’s résumé at club level is as impressive as it is extensive, but managing the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and PSG is nothing like taking over an underwhelming USMNT side with the threat of a looming World Cup on home soil.

Even the Argentine’s best tactics might not be enough to get a team of individuals up to the level needed to succeed this summer, especially given the competitive nature of Group D.
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And Finally ...​

• Vibe Check: Hopeful
• Who USMNT Doesn't Want to Face: Mexico
• One Stat That Defines USMNT: Just four clean sheets in the last 19 matches played points to ongoing inconsistency
• If Things Go Wrong: Blame will fall on Pochettino for failing to get the best out of the country’s golden generation
• What Will Everyone Say If the USMNT Goes Out Early? America embarrassed at the biggest World Cup ever

Ohio State is going after a Big Ten opponent’s key recruit that is set to play college football with the son of Ryan Day​

Ryan Day’s son recently committed to play football at a Big Ten program. Now, the Ohio State Buckeyes are trying to flip one of RJ Day’s future targets.

Ohio State is after a future teammate of RJ Day to try to pull off a flip​

The Buckeyes’ coaching staff has been busy on the road recruiting and recently made a stop in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and offered a Northwestern commitment. Ohio State has extended an offer to 2027 three-star TE Brady Johnson, who has been committed to Northwestern since Feb. 4.

Asked if he would take an official visit to Ohio State, Johnson said, “As of right now, I think so. I am fully committed to Northwestern still though,” via Rivals.

Ohio State tight ends guru Keenan Bailey recently visited Johnson at home home and he clearly has the attention of the 6-foot-3, 220-pound tight end.

“I love him as a coach,” Johnson said, via Rivals. “He is a highly intelligent and energetic coach that hammers down on the little things. He expects the most out of his players and that they will give him the most back. He is someone you definitely want to play for as he gives everything he has to make you and the team better.”

Ohio State has plenty of work with the class of 2027 to get done with just 11 commitments at this time. The Buckeyes are still in search of their first tight end commitment for the class, so it makes sense that they’re turning up the heat on Johnson.

10-18 3-pt shooting vs the Spurs.
He should have multiple options as backup PG.

Former Ohio State football coach might be trying to take away one of the Buckeyes’ future players in quite the development​

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Kelly was a part of the 2024 staff that got Edmunds to commit to playing in Columbus. At the time, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback was one of the top in the country. Now, 247 Sports Composite has Edmunds as the No. 18 quarterback and No. 225 player nationally.

While Northwestern has Day in the class as part of its 2027 group, it appears they’re fishing for a second quarterback as well. Ohio State wants two in the class, but there’s a world where they finish with just one and it’s not Edmunds.

Ohio State was after 2027 QB Champ Monds before he committed to Notre Dame and they’re showing interest in Nebraska commit Trae Taylor. With all of the interest Edmunds is showing outside of Columbus, no one should be surprised if he moves off of his commitment.

Recruiting is an intense battle, sometimes even among friends. Kelly and coach Day have a long-time relationship, but it’s not going to stop the former Buckeyes play caller from trying to flip one of Ohio State’s key recruits.

calibuck said:

And has the expectations that come with such a HS pedigree. I'd be happy with him getting meaningful minutes, and making an impact when he's on the floor. There appears to be a good recruited base to this team, and flavored with rented players to fill in the gaps. So we'll see how well, Diebs plays his pieces. Here's to W's! Go Bucks!

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Well this team is going to need a heck of a lot more from Anthony Thompson than to just play meaningful minutes and make an impact. For this team to reach its potential, Thompson needs to take over the Alpha role. With his height, length and agility, he's practically unguardable - the question-mark is how efficient he will be.

pnuts34 said:

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Ohio State football predicted to land a major recruiting win with an NFL bloodline over multiple major college programs​

Ohio State needs some good news on the recruiting trail with spring commitments happening left and right. Latest news has the Buckeyes on the ropes of a big time addition for Matt Patricia’s defense.

Larry Johnson predicted to land a real difference maker for Ohio State in 2027 ​

Steam is picking up for Ohio State to be the school four-star St. Thomas Aquinas EDGE Wyatt Smith commits to. Smith has picked up several predictions from both On3 and 247 Sports recently to pick Ohio State over Missouri, Nebraska, Indiana, and Notre Dame amongst others. Smith is the son of former Cincinnati Bengals and San Franco 49ers defensive lineman Justin Smith, who was a five-time Pro Bowler.

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The 2027 EDGE is listed at 6-foot-6, 235 pounds and is the No. 11 player at the position, per 247 Sports Composite. Coach Johnson is leading the charge in Smith’s recruitment and it’s playing a large part in Ohio State being a top school since they offered him in March.

Five-star EDGE DJ Jacobs is the headliner of the class for the Buckeyes and Smith would be an excellent running mate to pair with. Landing a top 100 player would give the Buckeyes a nice boost on the trail and a decision is expected to be made rather soon.

Ohio State has had good luck recruiting at St. Thomas Aquinas over the years with Joey Bosa and Nick Bosa being the most popular. Damon Arnette is another notable name from STA and Smith could be the next in line for the Buckeyes as a key part of the 2027 class.

Former Ohio State basketball player Mike Conley wants to return next year​

Conley is 38 years old, but he wants to keep playing. He is a free agent, but he said that his strong offensive play during the playoffs proves to him that he can still do it. That is why he wants to play at least one more year in the league. Quite frankly, he can still be of service to a team out there.

At this point in his career, Conley could decide to sign a veteran minimum contract to chase a ring. He has never made the NBA Finals, let alone won a championship. If that is what is most important to him, he could sign a cheap deal with a contending team. His veteran leadership would certainly be welcome.

Conley could also decide to return to Minnesota, which is where he has found a home the last few years. He provided them with some much-needed shot-making in the postseason. Without him, they might have been eliminated sooner than they were.

Ohio State basketball fans need to celebrate Mike Conley more

When thinking about Ohio State basketball legends, Conley isn't immediately thought of as one. That should change. He has proven that he is one of the best players to ever come through the program. In his one season with the Buckeyes, Conley was first-team All-Big Ten.

His accomplishments in the NBA would be greater if he had played in the Eastern Conference. He is just a one-time All-Star, but that is because he has played in a loaded Western Conference his entire career. The guard spot was loaded over the last few years, so that hurt his resume a bit.

Still, Conley needs to be celebrated more by fans of the Buckeyes. He's one of the few Ohio State basketball players in the league, and he has clearly been the best one over the past few years. He was one of the best players that Thad Matta ever brought to Columbus, and fans need to enjoy him before he calls it quits.

Ohio State won’t give up its efforts to steal a 5-star WR from Curt Cignetti​

This is a big one for Cortez Hankton.



During Brian Hartline’s eight years as Ohio State’s wide receiver coach, the Buckeyes landing one of the top wide receivers, if not the No. 1 overall receiver in the country, almost seemed pre-ordained. Hartline is one of the best recruiters in the country, and his track record for developing WR talent is virtually unblemished, but he’s taken those talents to USF.

Ohio State has replaced Hartline with Cortez Hankton, a former Georgia and LSU wide receivers coach. Now, it’s Hankton who is tasked with leading the Buckeyes’ pursuit of the top wideout in the 2027 class, Monshun Sales, and he has an uphill battle to pull it off.

Sales, who grew up in Alabama and played his high school football at Lawrence North High School in Indiana, has been predicted to commit to Curt Cignetti’s reigning national champion Indiana Hoosiers. Hankton is looking to change his mind, and Mick Walker of Letterman Row has reported that those efforts included a trip to Indianapolis to visit the No. 7 overall recruit in the country.

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Cortez Hankton could use a win like Sales​

Ohio State was able to hold onto Jeremiah Smith, Quincy Porter Jr., and 2026 five-star Chris Henry Jr. after Hartline left to become a first-time head coach. And in the 2027 class, Ohio State already has a commitment from the No. 4 WR in the country, Jamier Brown. So, while Sales would be a massive addition, the Buckeyes aren’t desperate at the wide receiver position. Hankton, though, could use a win like this to boost his stock with the program, along with keeping him out of Cignetti’s hands.

Alabama seems to still be in the mix, but Sales’ recruitment has quickly become the top story on the recruiting trail in the Big Ten, especially with the quarterback movement seemingly settled.

And has the expectations that come with such a HS pedigree. I'd be happy with him getting meaningful minutes, and making an impact when he's on the floor. There appears to be a good recruited base to this team, and flavored with rented players to fill in the gaps. So we'll see how well, Diebs plays his pieces. Here's to W's! Go Bucks!

Hurry up and get here.... Seems to be a place for you in the two-deep, although maybe not such a splash as Bynum made.

CBS Sports clearly overlooks the Ohio State football team's defense in a major snub​

The Ohio State Buckeyes' defensive turnover has many questioning the team's place in the College Football hierarchy ahead of the 2026 season. CBS Sports' Brad Crawford seems to think they won't be answered by anyone who will establish themselves as one of the most feared players in the country.

In a top 26 list, not a single Buckeye showed up. The worst part? Several players from a number of Ohio State's opponents this fall made the list, including the Texas Longhorns (EDGE Collin Simmons, LB Rasheem Biles), the Oregon Ducks (NT A'Mauri Washington, CB Brandon Finney Jr., S Koi Perich, LB Teitum Tuioti), TTUN (EDGE John Henry Daley), and the Indiana Hoosiers (DT Tyrique Tucker).

Luckily, there are also legitimate playmakers who could step up and prove they always deserved to be in this preseason discussion. Here's just a few...

Kenyatta Jackson Jr., EDGE
The rest of the defensive front holding up will boost Kenyatta Jackson Jr., who has all the talent in the world but hasn't fully shown what he's capable of. Should Eddrick Houston and the rest of the interior defensive linemen plug holes in opponents' run games, Jackson should have ample opportunities to wreak havoc in opposing backfields.

Jackson is aiming to improve himself against the run, but the most important thing for Jackson is to increase an already impressive 6.5 sack total. He is the most Buckeye to get Crawford to eat crow with a total Scarlet and Gray exclusion, with Matt Patricia likely to do the most to maximize his abilities.

Jaylen McClain, safety
Jaylen McClain is already getting some early All-Big Ten predictions, and with good reason. Ohio State's safety room was hands down the best last season. And you have to hand it to Downs for that.

McClain is expected to be as versatile as Downs was, with a focus on the free safety position. He's also expected to be a vocal leader deep in the secondary, and he'll have opportunities to shine against the Longhorns' Arch Manning, the Ducks' Dante Moore, the Hoosiers' Josh Hoover, and the USC Trojans' Jayden Maiava.

Christian Alliegro, OLB/EDGE
Wisconsin Badgers transfer Christian Alliegro will be playing Reese's role in the defense this coming season. It's hard not to be excited about the idea of Patricia having one of the top pass-rushers in the country from the 2025 season at his disposal.

Alliegro is one of the most exciting transfers, though realistically, we could see former Alabama Crimson Tide EDGE Qua Russaw and DT James Smith enter this conversation by next January as well.

Ohio State Spring Recap: Beau Atkinson’s Improvement, Qua Russaw’s Strong Start Elevate Defensive End Competition Opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr.​

Spring Standouts

Kenyatta Jackson Jr.​

Jackson was Ohio State’s most consistently dominant player in the trenches throughout the spring. The only returning starter on Ohio State’s defensive line, Jackson regularly won one-on-one matchups off the edge during the spring game and other practices open to the media, especially when going up against the likes of Carter Lowe and other backup offensive tackles after Austin Siereveld and Phillip Daniels underwent surgeries that sidelined them for the second half of spring.

Going into last season, multiple Ohio State players said Jackson was looking like a future first-round NFL draft pick in offseason workouts. He didn’t quite play up to that level, especially early in the season, which Jackson said this spring was partially due to injuries. But after a strong second half of last season, Jackson looked this spring like a player who’s capable of living up to those lofty expectations and emerging as an elite defensive end as a fifth-year senior in 2026.

Beau Atkinson​

Atkinson started the spring as a bit of an afterthought in the competition to be Ohio State’s other starting defensive end. He had a disappointing first year as a Buckeye last season, recording just 11 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack after transferring in from North Carolina.

This spring, however, Atkinson looked like the player Ohio State thought it was getting a year ago. Being able to go through winter workouts at Ohio State went a long way for the fifth-year senior, who was a summer enrollee in 2025 after transferring to Ohio State in the now-defunct spring portal window, and he showed plenty of pass-rush acumen, quickness and power during March and April practices, giving him a real chance to be OSU’s No. 2 defensive end – even if Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson still wants to see him prove it in game action this fall.

“I think he's done a 360 so far, but we haven't played a game yet,” Johnson said this spring. “I think I like where he's at. He's much better, he's more flexible right now, where we'd like him to be. And again, he's a transition guy coming from the University of North Carolina and trying to play this way, and how do we do it, it's different. It really is, and I think he embraced it. Never had a dull moment, never fought away from it, not even shied away from what we're doing. Now, it's his moment, his time.”

Qua Russaw​

This year’s transfer addition at defensive end also had an impressive spring. Russaw, a fourth-year Alabama transplant, drew praise throughout the spring from the likes of Johnson and Jackson for the power, explosiveness and versatility he demonstrated in practice.

“I think he's very physically strong,” Johnson said. “He’s strong at the point of attack with his hands and body, which is amazing, a guy 245 can set the edge the way he does. And he brings great speed to the table. So he can do a lot of things for us. He can play end, he can play what we call the ‘Buck’ position, do some things out of there. But I think the thing that jumps off the videotape is how hard he plays, and he really has physical strength.”

At only 6-foot-2, Russaw is smaller than the typical defensive end, and he played primarily as a standup outside linebacker at Alabama. But his performance this spring showed he is capable of being impactful as both a pass rusher and run stopper as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end. Preseason might bring more clarity on how exactly Ohio State will use him, as he could also be used as a hybrid linebacker, but he appears more likely than not to see regular playing time for the Buckeyes this fall based on how he performed in his first 15 practices as a Buckeye.

Projected Depth Chart​

Defensive End​

1. Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
2. Zion Grady
3. Khary Wilder
4. Darryus McKinley

Defensive End​

1. Beau Atkinson
2. Qua Russaw
3. Epi Sitanilei
4. Dre Quinn

Post-Spring Outlook​

Ohio State’s outlook at defensive end starts with Jackson realizing his full potential in his final season as a Buckeye and becoming a consistently disruptive force off the edge. Based on what we saw from Jackson this spring, that looks like a standard he’s ready to meet.

Beyond Jackson, Ohio State doesn’t have any sure-fire stars at the position. But Atkinson and Russaw did what they needed to do this spring to generate belief that they can lead Ohio State’s defensive end unit alongside Jackson as upperclassmen, while Grady is another potential breakout star on the edge and Sitanilei and Wilder shouldn’t be overlooked as possible young contributors at the position.

Ohio State shouldn’t be bad at defensive end this season, but there’s a lot that needs to come together for the Buckeyes to be elite on the edge. Where they ultimately fall on the spectrum between good and great and whether they can give Ohio State an effective outside pass-rush will go a long way toward determining whether the Buckeyes have one of the nation’s top defenses once again.

Great question. Am not a fashion expert, simply iconoclastic, so will let the more learned folk on this site decide. Just so they show up and scare the opponents.

bigdog3300 said:

I believe it....you think he's staying there next year?

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Not at 125. Davino has 133. I don't see him being effective at 141...