Ohio State vs. Iowa: 2022 game preview and prediction
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 Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Buckeyes will be looking for their 28th-straight home win in Big Ten play when they host Iowa on Saturday.

Following a week off to recharge their batteries, Ohio State is back at work, hosting Iowa on Saturday. The Buckeyes will be looking to extend their Big Ten record home winning streak to 28 games. The last time Ohio State suffered a loss at The Horseshoe came in their final home game of the 2015 season, when they lost 17-14 to Michigan State on a miserable November day.

A score to settle


The last time Iowa and Ohio State squared off was a tough watch for Buckeye Nation, as the Hawkeyes intercepted a J.T. Barrett pass on the first play of the game and returned it for a touchdown. Iowa went on to win the game 55-24, with the 55 points being the fifth-most points that the Buckeyes have allowed in a game. The last meeting between the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes in Columbus came back in 2013, with Ohio State winning 34-24. The Buckeyes hold a 46-15-3 record all-time against the Hawkeyes.

Last time out


Prior to their bye week, Ohio State dismantled Michigan State, staying undefeated with a 49-20 win over the Spartans. The Buckeyes rolled up 614 total yards in the blowout, reaching at least 600 yards of offense under Ryan Day for the 12th time. The Columbus area code that the Buckeyes put up in the game was the ninth-highest total they have posted under Day.

Movin’ on up


Following an outstanding first half of the season, C.J. Stroud will be looking to add to his Heisman Trophy résumè in the final six games of the regular season. The quarterback is currently leading the country with 24 touchdown passes this season. After his six touchdown performance against Michigan State, Stroud was named Manning Star of the Week and the weekly winner of the Maxwell Award.

Stroud has now passed for six touchdowns three times as a starter for the Buckeyes. With his second touchdown pass against Michigan State, Stroud moved pass Justin Fields for second place all-time on Ohio State’s passing touchdown list. Heading into this week’s game, Stroud has 68 career touchdown passes. With 145 yards passing, Stroud will enter the top-five on the school’s all-time passing yardage ranking.

About to get even better


With some time to recover from a hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener against Notre Dame, Jaxon Smith-Njigba should be able to get back on the field in the second half of the regular season. Even though Smith-Njigba and Stroud formed quite a duo last year, Stroud hasn’t had trouble putting up big numbers without Smith-Njigba so far this year.

One target that has stepped up big time this year is Marvin Harrison Jr., who is leading the country with nine touchdown catches. Three of those scores came against Michigan State, allowing Harrison to make history as the only Buckeye wide receiver to score three receiving touchdowns in a game three times. The son of the NFL Hall of Fame has 31 catches for 536 yards this year.

Along with Harrison, Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming have also been great this season. Egbuka is leading the Buckeyes with 655 yards this year, reaching at least 100 yards receiving in four of six games this year. Against Michigan State, Egbuka had 143 yards receiving, which is a career-high mark for the wideout from Washington.

After missing the first two games of the season, Julian Fleming is finally starting to live up to the hype. The junior has scored in every game he has been active for this year, reaching the end zone five times in four games. Two weeks ago against the Spartans, Fleming caught four passes for 81 yards, with the yardage total setting a career-high.

Thunder and lightning


Following a five rushing touchdown performance against Rutgers, it was a bit of a surprise that Miyan Williams wasn’t active against Michigan State. It didn’t sound like the injury to Williams was anything serious, it was more of the coaching staff being cautious and giving Williams a little extra time to rest with the bye week upcoming, allowing the running back to be as close to 100 percent as possible the rest of the regular season.

With Williams on the sidelines in East Lansing, it allowed TreVeyon Henderson to remind people of just how good he is. Henderson wasn’t available the previous week against Rutgers, when Williams tied the school record for rushing touchdowns. Even though Henderson didn’t repeat Williams’ performance against Michigan State, he did rush for 118 yards and score in the win, marking the second time this year he has cracked triple digits on the ground. Henderson has rushed for 436 yards this year, which is 61 yards behind Williams for the team lead.

Mike check


So far this season there has been two stars on the Ohio State defense. Defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. has been making a lot of noise on the interior of the defensive line as one of them. Hall is currently eighth nationally with 7.5 tackles for loss and 10th in the country with 4.5 sacks, with both of those totals leading the Big Ten. As a team, the Buckeyes have 14 sacks. Defensive ends Jack Sawyer and Javontae Jean-Baptiste both have two sacks on the season.

Halfway there


The other headliner on the Ohio State defense is linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. Through six games this year, Eichenberg is halfway to become the first Ohio State linebacker since Raekwon McMillan to reach 100 tackles in a season. Eichenberg sits second on the team with six tackles behind the line of scrimmage and 2.5 sacks. Eichenberg and Steele Chambers have teamed to give the linebacker unit some stability, which is something that has been lacking over recent years.

A mixed bag at the back


Even though Ohio State hasn’t been tested all that much through the air, there have been some times when the play in the secondary have given many cause for concern. Denzel Burke and Cam Brown have been banged up and ineffective at cornerback, but the position should get a boost as it sounds like Jordan Hancock is ready to play after dealing with an injury for the first half of the season. Luckily, the Iowa passing offense shouldn’t challenge the Buckeyes that much, which might allow the cornerbacks to gain some confidence heading into next week’s contest against Penn State.

While the corners have struggled, at least they have had some help behind them at safety. Ronnie Hickman, Tanner McCalister, and Josh Proctor all have plenty of experience, and have had strong moments so far this season. Along with the three veterans, there has been a little youthful energy at the position, as Lathan Ransom has 21 tackles and an interception so far this season. Without the quartet of safeties, it is scary to think of where the Buckeye secondary would be right now.

Iowa’s season at a glance


Iowa enters Saturday game with a 3-3 record. In their most recent contest two weeks ago, the Hawkeyes lost to Illinois 9-6. Defense hasn’t been the problem for Iowa, as so far this season the Hawkeyes have allowed just 59 points through six games, which is their lowest total since 1956 when they allowed 57 points in their first six games. The Iowa defense has allowed 10 points or fewer in five of their first six games this season. The 9.8 points per game the Hawkeyes have allowed ranks third nationally.

Points are at a premium


The biggest issue for Iowa this season has been their anemic offense. Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz has become a target for Hawkeye fans since the offense has shown little imagination. This season Iowa is averaging just 14.7 points per game and under 240 yards per contest on offense. On three occasions, the Hawkeyes have scored less than 10 points in a game, and their highest scoring output of the year is 27 points, which they reached in wins over Nevada and Rutgers.

Questionable quarterbacking


The contrast between quarterbacks in this game is amazing to look at. On one side, you have C.J. Stroud, who has thrown for over 1,700 yards and 24 touchdowns, while Iowa’s Spencer Petras has 940 yards passing and just two passing touchdowns. The fifth-year senior has shown little growth over the last three seasons, failing to complete more than 57 percent of his passes, and not throwing more than 10 touchdown passes in a season. For his career, Petras has thrown 705 passes, with 21 just touchdown tosses and 17 interceptions.

Strong bloodlines


The one receiver that Ohio State is going to have to keep a close eye on is tight end Sam LaPorta, who is coming off his second career 100-yard receiving game, as he caught nine passes for 101 yards in the loss to the Fighting Illini. His other 100-yard game came in the Citrus Bowl, when he caught seven balls for 122 yards and a touchdown in the 20-17 loss to Kentucky. Last year LaPorta caught 53 passes for 670 yards and three scores.

LaPorta has hauled in 30 passes for 279 yards this year, which is more than 100 yards clear of Luke Lachey, who has nine grabs for 157 yards and a score. Lachey is the son of former Buckeye Jim Lachey, who calls games on the Ohio State Radio Network with Paul Keels. Another Hawkeye that has a famous father is wide receiver Arland Bruce IV, who is the son of CFL standout receiver Arland Bruce III. The elder Bruce is a two-time Grey Cup champion, and amassed over 10,000 receiving yards up north.

Running scared


The lack of a passing game for the Hawkeyes might be a little easier to stomach if they had an effective running game. Unfortunately for Iowa fans, that hasn’t been the case this year. The Hawkeyes are averaging less than 100 yards per game on the ground. Leshon Williams is leading the team with 236 yards and two touchdowns, while Kaleb Johnson is just behind Williams, racking up 232 rushing yards and three scores. How bad the Iowa rushing attack has been can be illustrated by Miyan Williams falling just over 40 yards shy of reaching those numbers in the win over Rutgers.

Puntman


To detail how bad Iowa’s offense is, their best weapon might be punter Tory Taylor, who ranks second in the Big Ten with an average of 46 yards per punt. Taylor has 15 punts of at least 50 yards, and has dropped 20 punts inside the 20. This marks the third straight game where the Buckeyes have faced one of the best punters in the country, as Rutgers’ Adam Korsak became an expert at keeping his kicks out of the end zone, and Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer leads the country with an average of 51.8 yards per punt.

A stout defense


The inability to produce much of anything on offense has put a ton of pressure on the Iowa defense. For the most part the defense has been up to the challenge, keeping the Hawkeyes in games. Iowa is allowing just 154 pass yards per game, which is third in the country, and 265 yards per game, which is seventh in the nation.

Ball Hawk-eyes


What the Iowa defense has done a great job at so far this year is forcing turnovers. Against Iowa State, Rutgers, and Illinois, the Hawkeyes were able to force three turnovers in each of those games. Since 2021, Iowa has intercepted 25 passes, and since 2017 they have recorded 95 interceptions, which is the most in the country. Cooper DeJean has been a ball hawking Hawkeye this year, grabbing three interceptions, which ranks second in the Big Ten. Against Rutgers, the sophomore defensive back returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown.

Along with DeJean, C.J. Stroud is going to have to be aware of where Riley Moss is on the field. After picking off at least two passes in each season since 2018, Moss has yet to intercept a pass in 2022. Of the 10 career passes that Moss has picked off, he has returned three of them for scores. While he hasn’t intercepted any passes this year, Moss has forced two fumbles and recorded 28 tackles.

Senior stoppers


Along with a strong secondary, the Hawkeyes also have a couple linebackers that always seem to be around the football. Senior linebacker Jack Campbell leads the team with 62 tackles, making at least 10 stops in four games this year. Campbell’s high mark this year came last time out, when he was credited with 13 tackles against Illinois. In the loss, Campbell also was able to recover a fumble. Even though he has had a great start to the season, Campbell has a long way to go to reach last year’s tackle total where he finished the season with 140 tackles.

Just behind Campbell is another senior. Seth Benson has 51 tackles this year and 214 stops during his time in Iowa City. Benson’s best performance of the year came against Michigan when he made 14 tackles, and like Campbell, he was able to recover a fumble against the Fighting Illini. Last year saw Benson also eclipse the 100 tackle mark, as he finished the season with 105 tackles, which he could top if he continues to make stops at the pace he did in the first half of the year, and the Hawkeyes make a bowl game.

Looking for consistency


Even though the linebackers and defensive backs have been able to make a lot of plays throughout the year, the Hawkeyes are still looking for a consistent source of pressure on the defensive line. Through six games, Iowa is averaging just over two sacks per game, recording 13 sacks. Defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness leads the team with three sacks, while Joe Evans, Deontae Craig, and Aaron Graves each have two sacks this year. The group will likely have a tough time getting to Stroud with Ohio State’s strong offensive line, as well as the short release time we have seen from the Buckeye quarterbacks on his passes.

Summary


There is really no reason this game should be close. Even though the Hawkeyes might be the best defense Ohio State has faced this year, there’s no question the Buckeye offense is the best the Hawkeyes have seen. C.J. Stroud has shown he is able to carve up tough defenses during his career. Just look what he did to Utah in the Rose Bowl, and Notre Dame in this year’s season opener.

Plus, there is a revenge factor for Ryan Day, who was a member of the Ohio State coaching staff in 2017 when the Buckeyes were embarrassed by the Hawkeyes in Iowa City. Even though almost nobody on this year’s team was on the 2017 squad, Day likely showed his team tape from the 2017 game just to get his team ready to lay a hurting on the Hawkeyes.

The scariest thing about this game, as well as the rest of the regular season, is Ohio State hasn’t really been healthy in the first half of the season. Smith-Njigba has barely played, and Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson each have missed games because of injuries they have picked up in the first half of the year. After having last week off, the Buckeyes should be rested and ready to go. Along with key players getting healthier, there isn’t quite as much wear on this team, since they have been able to be cautious with players, and some blowout games have allowed for players lower on the depth chart to see some time on the field.

Iowa also had last weekend off, but that isn’t enough time to overhaul their putrid offense. Maybe Alex Padilla sees some time if Petras is ineffective early, but with the unimaginative game plan of offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, it’s hard to imagine the Hawkeyes doing much on offense that is really going to surprise the Buckeye defense. Even if Iowa is able to get a few scores, they don’t have the firepower to be able to match what the Buckeyes should put on the scoreboard at home.

LGHL Prediction: Ohio State 55, Iowa 14

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for October 21, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Set Number: X164186 TK1

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: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

Ask LGHL


Introducing ‘Ask LGHL,’ asking and answering questions throughout the football season
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!


Top247 2024 OL Ian Moore commits to Ohio State
Steve Wiltfong, 247Sports

Analyzing impact as top-ranked 2024 tackle Ian Moore commits to Ohio State (paywall)
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes

What commitment of four-star offensive lineman Ian Moore means for Ohio State
Matt Parker, Lettermen Row

What Ian Moore’s Commitment Means for Ohio State’s 2024 Recruiting Class
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors

Twitter reacted after Ian Moore announced commitment to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts

Watch Ryan Day’s final media comments ahead of of Saturday’s Iowa game:


Austin Translation: Analyzing Ryan Day lighting round before Iowa (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Believes Iowa Will Be “As Big a Challenge as We’ve Had,” Says Ohio State Will “Get Some Guys Back” This Week
Chase Brown and Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Ryan Day, Buckeyes expect ‘full-strength’ backfield for Iowa matchup
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

(Thurs)Day: Feeling better about JSN | Miyan is back | ‘Long-term injury’ for Kourt | Preaching ‘sacrifice’
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Buckeyes RBs Henderson, Williams expected to return against Iowa
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Will Ohio State football’s Kourt Williams II play again this season?
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com


Film Preview: The dichotomy of Iowa’s offense and defense represents the state of the program
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State doesn’t want a repeat ‘scar’ of the upset loss to Iowa in 2017
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Film Study: The Iowa Football Program’s Entire Identity Is Built Upon Phil Parker’s Stingy Defense
Kyle Jones, Eleven Warriors

Can Buckeyes’ explosive plays continue against stingy Iowa defense?
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch


Making the spectacular look routine: Inside Marvin Harrison Jr.’s breakout season
Cameron Teague Robinson, The Athletic

Ohio State’s cornerbacks ‘had a good week’ before second-half-of-season challenges
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Column: Has Ohio State wide receiver Julian Fleming finally arrived?
David M. Wheeler, Land-Grant Holy Land


MC&J: Clemson hosts Syracuse in a battle of ACC unbeatens in Week 8 national action
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


By the numbers: Do pre-season rankings indicate how many Big Ten teams will make the NCAA Tournament?
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land

You never know what you’re gonna hear on an LGHL podcast:


Final Four atop to-do list for Taylor Mikesell in Ohio State return
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Big Ten men’s basketball team previews: Maryland Terrapins
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State women’s basketball player preview: Rebeka Mikulášiková
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Bill Mosiello sells new era of Ohio State baseball
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

Women’s Volleyball: No. 6 Ohio State Keeps Streak Alive, Wins 12th-Consecutive Set in Sweep over Illinois
Patrick Kenney, The Lantern

Like I said, you never know what you’ll hear on one of our pods.


Wrestling: Buckeyes to Appear on BTN Four Times in 2023
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...


One of the rare times when I wish I could hear Chris Berman’s sound effects:


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Buck Off Podcast: An angry discussion about Iowa’s offense
Chris Renne 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

The guys are back to discuss the failures of Iowa’s offense and how Ohio State can attack the vaunted Hawkeyes' defense.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio


On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” I’m joined by Jordan Williams. The guys take a look at Ohio State and get into a discussion about the failures of nepotism, and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

To get the show started, the guys get open the show with their Iowa report. They discuss the coaching staff and how Ohio State should approach the matchup. Then they continue breaking down the scenarios of how they see this game going.

After that, the guys get into a discussion about Phil Parker’s successful Iowa defense. In this conversation, the guys discuss how Iowa is simple in what they do, but how effective the defense is. They then give the expectations for what they need from the offense to come away impressed.

Moving on from that, the guys talk about the failures of Iowa’s offense and how Brian Ferentz needs to be brought up on charges for crimes against humanity. This turns into a discussion about how far the Iowa program has fallen since the last time Ohio State and Iowa met.

As the show moves forward, Chris and Jordan then get into what the coaches have to say about the matchup ahead. They talk about Ryan Day’s bending of the truth once again, and how he just needs to start being honest with us. Then they talk about some takeaways from the pressers.

To close out the show, the Buck Off boys discuss their thoughts about the recent overreactions in college football and leave the show with their score position.


Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod

Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330

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Buckeyes pick up their latest BOOOOM in the 2024 class
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ian Moore | 247Sports

Ohio State lands their second commitment in the 2024 class thanks to an Indiana native OL.

Make no mistake about it, the 2023 class is certainly the top priority for the coaching staff right now, as there’s only weeks until the December signing period. That doesn’t mean eyes aren’t already on the future 2024 cycle. Efforts are being strongly given to the next class in line, and fortunately the Ohio State coaches have put themselves in a great spot thanks to early efforts with their top targets in 2024. Those efforts already seem to be paying off in big ways.

On Thursday, Ohio State received the second commitment to their 2024 class when offensive lineman Ian Moore took to his Twitter account to share his Buckeye pledge. No stranger to Ohio State, Moore has been to campus in the last several weeks numerous times, and while the Indiana native is a national target, the chances of him ending up in Columbus seemed to be pretty solid, especially looking at the 247Sports Crystal Ball.

Among the many reasons as to why Moore committed, it’s his comments about positon coach Justin Frye that really stick out and prove Ohio State made the right call in bringing him on staff. Quoted as saying, “I don’t know if it’s an Indiana thing. But Coach Frye literally sounds like my dad when he talks. He feels like a family member.” It’s words like these that show the relationship skills Frye has under his belt, but also that he has every ability to land those top national offensive line targets that this team has missed out on too many times recently.

The No. 82 player nationally, Moore checks in as the fourth best player at his position, and the second best player from Indiana for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite. No question this is a massive get for Ohio State, and as the 2024 haul starts to really take shape, Moore will be an instrumental piece in both peer recruiting, but also as a leader of this class being an early addition. As the 2023 class starts to come to a close, look for Moore and fellow commit Dylan Raiola to really get down to business as they look to lock in many more of the top guys from around the country.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State will be back in the buisness of hosting recruits from across the country on Saturday, including those from right in their own back yard. Sticking with the trend of future recruiting class efforts, the Buckeyes will have Michael Taylor (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) on hand to watch the matchup versus Iowa.

A 2025 running back, Taylor is just a trek down the road from Columbus, and the 5-foot-11, 185 pound sophomore already holds an SEC offer from Kentucky. Putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to recruiting Ohio prospects heavily and early, Tony Alford will be all over this one, and Saturday is just another chance to impress the local product.

Unranked as of now, it could be just a matter of time before Taylor’s ranking and recruitment really starts to take off.


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Ohio State women's basketball player preview: Rebeka Mikulášiková
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeye big in the paint returns for another year in a potential starting spot.

Last season, only three Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball players started every game. Up next in the Land-Grant Holy Land series previewing every player on the 2022-23 roster is one of those three players — Rebeka Mikulášiková.

The forward filled big shoes in the Scarlet & Gray’s 2021-22 title season. With reinforcements in the paint now on the roster, does Mikulášiková push her game to solidify her spot in the starting lineup?


Name: Rebeka Mikulášiková
Position: Forward
Class: Senior
High School: Piaristické Gymnasium

Last Year


Entering the 21-22 campaign, the Ohio State Buckeyes were thin in the forward department due to two transfers: Dorka Juhasz, who won back-to-back First Team All-B1G in 2020 and 2021, and Aaliyah Patty, who started alongside Juhasz in all but two games in her last two years in Columbus, as the pair moved on to UConn and Texas A&M, respectively.

That left a big hole for the Buckeyes to fill. Graduate Tanaya Beacham moved from a starting position to a sixth player role, and junior Rebeka Mikulášiková, who started one game in her first two seasons as a Buckeye, was thrust into the starting five. Mikulášiková played and started in all 32 Ohio State games, leading the team in rebounds per game with 5.0 and finishing third in scoring, averaging 9.4 points per contest.

Normally, Mikulášiková’s offensive production was as inconsistent as commentator’s pronunciations of her last name. At the turn of the 2021 calendar, the Slovakian didn’t score a point in three-straight games. Once Ohio State hit their conference schedule, Mikulášiková hit double-digit points in consecutive games just twice. Looking at individual games though, Mikulášiková’s impact grows — especially in games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

After a tough string of performances to start the calendar year, Mikulášiková went up against center Monika Czinano and the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City. Mikulášiková was able to forget past troubles and score 17 points, her highest of the conference and postseason schedule. On top of that, it was in a game that ultimately gave Ohio State a share of the conference title.

Then, 10 days later, Mikulášiková had another tough matchup against 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alexis Markowski and the Cornhuskers. Like she did against Iowa, the forward stepped up, scoring 15 points — nine from beyond the arc — and grabbed seven rebounds in an 80-70 home victory.

As the year wound down, maybe it was the stress of starting and playing in every game, but Mikulášiková finished the season in a more subdued role, scoring double figures in only one of the final seven games of the season, and only three against the Texas Longhorns in the Sweet Sixteen.

What To Expect


Mikulášiková is a big who plays both in the paint and deep. Coming from a European basketball upbringing, Mikulášiková isn’t afraid to shoot from three, making 21 shots from deep last season, including five against the Hawkeyes.

That ability gives teammates in the post more room to move and create mismatches on the court. If an opposing forward or center goes up against Mikulášiková near the three-point line, the Jacy Sheldons and Madison Greenes on the Buckeyes can attack the basket. If teams switch, it gives Mikulášiková the height advantage over most guards on a deep or mid-range shot.

In the paint, Mikulášiková is a presence, but not as much as you’d expect on the boards. Mikulášiková hit double-digit rebounds only three times last year. However, this season the Academic All-B1G and OSU Scholar Athlete sees her increased responsibilities as the senior post player as a means to grow.

“This season, I’m trying to be a bigger leader on the team,” said Mikulášiková. “Just trying to communicate, especially with the post players that we have, and just explain to them the way we play and what do we need from them.”

Prediction


That group of post players strengthened in the offseason. Not only does explosive forward Taylor Thierry return, but two transfers in Eboni Walker and Karla Vres joined the Buckeyes. Also, fourth-ranked forward in the 2022 recruiting class, Cotie McMahon, makes her Scarlet & Gray debut. With that increased presence around her, Mikulášiková can have a better, more consistent, 2022-23 season.

Mikulášiková will learn from her first full season starting and grow alongside a lineup that includes two other teammates who started every game last year in Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell. With those two and Greene in the guard group, Ohio State has more offensive might than they had last year, giving Mikulášiková space to move.

If Mikulášiková can hit shots more consistently, the three single-digit losses the Buckeyes had on the 2022 calendar could swing the other direction. Unless head coach Kevin McGuff opts to play a smaller lineup, or Vres surprises this year, expect Mikulášiková to start a majority of the Buckeyes’ games this season.

Highlights


Watch Mikulášiková’s highlights from the 92-88 victory over the Hawkeyes on Jan. 31, 2022.


Miss any player previews? Here’s the list so far:

• Taylor Mikesell
• Eboni Walker
• Madison Greene
• Emma Shumate
• Cotie McMahon

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Play Like a Girl Podcast: Frankensteined QBs, Team Dog vs. Team Cat, pre-Halloween chaos
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Because Jami loves chaos.

On LGHL’s Play Like a Girl podcast, Jami and Meredith talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.

Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:


HAPPY SPOOKY SEASON and welcome back to Play Like a Girl! This week, Jami and Meredith build their own Frankenstein’s monster football players, Stranger Things they expect from Iowa vs. Ohio State this weekend and, just for fun, reviews of new Halloween movies this October.

The pair also review their favorite moments from Tennessee’s upset over Alabama and, in a new segment, see how Team Cat did vs. Team Dog this week.

Plus, we learned why Jami was such a fan of Tennessee tearing down the goalposts and also wants to give Michael Myers a hug: She just loves chaos.

Check out the full pod for more.


Contact Jami Jurich
Twitter: @jamiurich

Contact Meredith Hein
Twitter: @MeredithHein

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MC&J: Clemson hosts Syracuse in a battle of ACC unbeatens in Week 8 national 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


Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK

Plus, TCU and UCLA will try and stay perfect on the year when they take on one-loss foes on Saturday.

Last week ATS: 6-6 (2-3 B1G, 4-3 National)

Season ATS: 52-60-3 (26-31-1 B1G, 26-28-2 National)

Sometimes it feels like I’m a broken record when trying to make myself feel better about some of the losses from the previous week. Hitting on Tennessee straight up was nice, but then there are my TCU and Utah picks. While both teams won, neither team covered. Even though we treaded water last week, at least we didn’t fall any games farther behind .500.

National games:


(All lines courtesy of Draftkings Sportsbook.)

No. 14 Syracuse v. No. 5 Clemson (-13.5) - 12:00 p.m. - ABC

Last week Syracuse added to NC State’s woes, beating the Wolfpack 24-9, running the Orange’s record to 6-0 this year. Over the last 10 seasons, Syracuse has won at least six games in a season only three times, so nearing November without having suffered a loss yet is unfamiliar territory for Syracuse.

On the other hand, it is pretty normal these days that Clemson is still undefeated at this point of the season. Last week the Tigers beat Florida State for the seventh-straight time. The 34-28 final score makes the game look a little closer than it actually was, as Clemson jumped out to a 34-14 lead before the Seminoles were able to score a couple times in the fourth quarter.

I’m still not sure if Syracuse is really all that good. Sean Tucker is a great running back and quarterback Garrett Shrader is solid, but who have the Orange really played? Last week Syracuse beat a beaten up NC State team that lost quarterback Devin Leary for the rest of the season. The best win otherwise for Syracuse is over Purdue in a really weird game. I just think Clemson is a lot better, and the difference between the two teams is going to be obvious on Saturday at Death Valley.

Clemson 38, Syracuse 17


No. 21 Cincinnati (-3.5) v. SMU - 12:00 p.m. - ESPN

Following a loss to Arkansas to start the season, Cincinnati has reeled off five-straight wins. The last two wins by the Bearcats have been tight victories, as Luke Fickell’s team won 31-21 at Tulsa to start the month, and the following week they beat South Florida 28-24. Quarterback Ben Bryant has settled into the role, throwing 15 touchdowns, while Charles McClelland rushed for 179 yards against the Bulls.

There’s no question that SMU has a potent offense. The Mustangs average 490 yards and 35 points per game. Oklahoma transfer Quarterback Tanner Mordecai has been good, teaming with wide receiver Rashee Rice to form one of the most dangerous combos in the country. The problem with SMU is they don’t play much defense.

Cincinnati hasn’t had much trouble with SMU of late, winning the last three meetings with the Mustangs, and five of the six times the schools have met since 2013. The Bearcats are a lot more disciplined than the Mustangs, which makes this short line a lot more attractive for the road team. SMU will put some points on the board, but it won’t matter since Cincinnati will get enough stops to win by at least a touchdown.

Cincinnati 41, SMU 31


No. 7 Ole Miss v. LSU (-2) - 3:30 p.m. - CBS

LSU’s 40-13 loss at home to Tennessee a couple weeks ago doesn’t look all that bad after the Volunteers beat Alabama last week. The Tigers were able to rebound from getting routed two weeks ago by traveling to Florida and beating the Gators 45-35. Quarterback Jayden Daniels was living in the end zone last Saturday, throwing three touchdowns and adding another three scores on the ground.

Is Ole Miss for real? The Rebels are a fun team to watch, I’m just not sure they are ready to be in the College Football Playoff discussion. We’ll find out a lot more about Ole Miss in the upcoming weeks, since their schedule will get a little more difficult. Aside from a 22-19 win over Kentucky at the beginning of the month, there isn’t much impressive about the rest of the wins by the Rebels.

LSU is going to be the most challenging team Ole Miss has played this year. The Rebels have found a lot of success running the ball this year, but it is going to be a lot tougher to move the chains on Saturday. Jaxson Dart has thrown six interceptions this year, and a few more picks will be added to his season total as the Rebels suffer their first loss of the season.

LSU 34, Ole Miss 23


No. 9 UCLA v. No. 10 Oregon (-6) - 3:30 p.m. - FOX

Just over a month ago UCLA was struggling to beat South Alabama. Now the Bruins are coming off wins over Washington and Utah, with both those opponents being ranked at the time. It looks like what Chip Kelly is trying to do in Pasadena is finally landing, with the Bruins averaging over 500 yards per game of offense. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has scored 19 total touchdowns so far this year, while Michigan transfer running back Zach Charbonnet has ran for over 600 yards and six touchdowns through six games.

It’s eerie just how similar UCLA and Oregon are. The two teams have similar offensive and defensive numbers. Thompson-Robinson and Bo Nix are both quarterbacks that can run and pass the football. Both teams are even coming off a bye week, which means they’ll be rested for this Pac-12 showdown. About the only thing in one team’s favor is the Ducks have won nine of the last ten against the Bruins.

I just feel like this is going to be a close game that comes right down to the wire. Chip Kelly brings his best team to where he made a name for himself as coach, and it feels like he finally gets a win against his former employer. The Ducks are a very good team, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they ended up beating the Bruins. I figure I gotta take a shot with the underdog here. No matter who wins, this feels like a game that is decided by a field goal.

UCLA 38, Oregon 35


No. 20 Texas (-6.5) v. No. 11 Oklahoma State - 3:30 p.m. - ABC

Six of the last seven games between the Longhorns and Cowboys have been decided by eight points or less. There’s no reason to think this game won’t follow the script we have seen recently when the two schools meet. Oklahoma State is coming off a double overtime loss to TCU, which was their first loss of the season.

Texas was less than impressive last week in a 24-21 win over Iowa State. Bijan Robinson ran for 135 yards while Quinn Ewers tossed three touchdowns in the win over the Cyclones. There’s no doubt the Longhorns are more dangerous with Ewers under center, I’m just not convinced they should be laying so many points in a tough road environment. The Cowboys make it six wins in their last eight meetings with Texas.

Oklahoma State 34, Texas 30


No. 24 Mississippi State v. No. 6 Alabama (-21) - 7:00 p.m. - ESPN

Is Alabama in danger of losing their second game in a row? I’m not betting on it. Especially not against a team they have won 14 straight games against. In those 14 victories, Mississippi State has only scored in double digits three times, and the last time they scored at least 10 points against Alabama was back in 2017.

The Crimson Tide aren’t the only team in this game coming off a loss. Last week Mississippi State traveled to Kentucky and fell to the Wildcats 27-17. Not only was Will Rogers held in check, the Bulldogs only rushed for 22 yards in the game, while Kentucky was able to control the clock by rolling up 239 yards on the ground.

As seen last week, Alabama does have some problems in the secondary. If there is any quarterback that could exploit some of those issues, it is Rogers. Mississippi State will break their streak of not scoring at least 10 points against the Crimson Tide, as they’ll put up a few touchdowns and keep the final score inside 21 points.

Alabama 42, Mississippi State 24


No. 17 Kansas State v. No. 8 TCU (-3.5) - 8:00 p.m. - FS1

TCU will be looking for their fourth-straight win against a ranked team when they host Kansas State on Saturday night. The Horned Frogs beat both Kansas and Oklahoma when those teams were ranked, and last week they staged a furious comeback to beat Oklahoma State 43-40 in double overtime. Quarterback Max Duggan is leading an offense that is averaging almost 530 yards per game.

Kansas State is such a weird team. Sometimes they’ll lose a game to someone like Tulane, and then they’ll come out and beat a ranked team. We already saw it earlier this season when the Wildcats knocked off Oklahoma, who was ranked sixth in the country at the time. Two weeks ago Kansas State barely beat Iowa State, and now they’ll be looking to end TCU’s dreams of an undefeated season.

The Wildcats have gotten great quarterback play out of Adrian Martinez so far this year, while Deuce Vaughn has rushed for 661 yards and three scores through six games. TCU is vulnerable against the pass, but luckily for the Horned Frogs passing the football isn’t something the Wildcats do all that well. TCU has a little too much firepower at home in this one.

TCU 37, Kansas State 27

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

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Big Ten men’s basketball team previews: Maryland Terrapins
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

How will the Terrapins fare their first season under Kevin Willard?

Team: Maryland Terrapins
Head coach: Kevin Willard (first season)
2021-22 record: 15-17 (7-13)
Season finish: No postseason


Players returning: Julian Reese, Donta Scott, Hakim Hart, Pavlo Dziuba, Ian Martinez, Ike Cornish, Arnaud Revaz

Players departed: Eric Ayala, Marcus Dockery (Howard), Qudus Wahab (Georgetown)

Key additions: Jahmir Young (Charlotte), Donald Carey (Georgetown), Jahari Long (Seton Hall), Patrick Emilien (St. Francis Brooklyn), Caelum Swanton-Rodger, Noah Batchelor

Outlook


Last season was pretty much a disaster for the Terrapins, as they underachieved with a talented roster and parted ways with head coach Mark Turgeon. Now, guys like Eric Ayala and Fatts Russell are gone, and new coach Kevin Willard will be looking at some returners and a few transfers to help get Maryland back into the fold of the Big Ten.

The big three returning for Maryland are Donta Scott, Hakim Hart and Julian Reese. Scott and Hart were the third and fourth leading scorers for the Terrapins last season, and Reese showed flashes of what he can be in the conference and on this team. Now, with all three having expanded roles, the numbers and minutes of those three should stand out.

Scott and Hart averaged 12.6 and 9.9 points per game, respectively. Scott also averaged 6.2 rebounds per contest. Reese averaged a modest 5.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. With Ayala and Russell gone — a duo that combined to average 30 points and nine boards — they will need transfers like Jahmir Young from Charlotte and Donald Carey from Georgetown to step in and become immediate contributors.

The depth will be called into question on this team. They will have to have guys like Ian Martinez, Ike Cornish and Pavlo Dziuba step up in productive roles or they will really struggle late in games and when the starters inevitably get tired and banged up throughout the season.

X Factor


Jahmir Young. Young is similar to last season’s Maryland transfer guard Fatts Russell, as he is a guy that can go get you a bucket at any time. He is an in-state kid, hailing from the historic DeMatha Catholic high school in Hyattsville, where the likes of Markelle Fultz, Jerami and Jerian Grant, Quinn Cook, Victor Oladipo and Hunter Dickinson, amongst others, all played their high school basketball.

At Charlotte, Young averaged 16.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Young also started in every game he played in since he was a freshman for the 49ers. Last season as a junior, Young averaged 19.6 points and 5.9 boards.

He mentioned that once he withdrew his name from the NBA Draft, he was already committed to Maryland, and a large reason for that was coach Willard. With experienced guys like Scott, Hart and Reese coming back, Young can be a relief for Willard as someone who can start immediately and average 15 points a night for the Terrapins.

Donald Carey is another guy who could prove to be an X-factor on this team for many of the same reasons.

Prediction


With a new coach coming in and a solid group of transfers, the season has some hope for the Terrapins. Unfortunately, this squad resembles last year’s a lot, and while there was a lot of talent, they struggled with consistency. I think this team will have similar problems. The depth is also something to be concerned about, and even though Willard was a great hire and is a great coach, expectations should always be tempered when talking about a first-year head coach — unless you are at Duke or North Carolina.

I don’t see this being a tournament team, and I would be surprised if they hit 15 wins again. It will be important for Willard to really nail down recruiting the DMV, as it is a hotspot for some of the top recruits in the country. DeMatha High School alone produces DI talent seemingly every season. The future is likely bright, but this season could be a long one in College Park.

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Column: Has Ohio State wide receiver Julian Fleming finally arrived?
David M Wheeler 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

Does it matter if he has?

Take a stroll back to 2020, back to Ohio State’s football recruiting class that year. The class ranked fifth nationally, and there are some names on the list that we have come to know very well — most notably C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But the jewel in the crown of that class was five-star wide receiver Julian Fleming. He was the Buckeyes’ top recruit. He ranked No. 3 overall nationally. He was the top receiver coming out of high school in 2020. What happened?

Heavily recruited by his home state team Penn State and by Alabama, Fleming, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Pennsylvania, committed fairly early – well before he began his senior year in high school – to the Buckeyes. The recruiting reports raved. Fleming could do it all and possessed all of the tools for stardom: size, strength, speed, hands. Unfortunately, he also brought with him to Columbus a shoulder injury that kept recurring.

2020


This COVID-19 season almost didn’t take place at all for Big Ten players. Ohio State played only eight games: five in the regular season, the B1G Championship game, and two playoff contests. A true freshman, Fleming played in only four of those games, snagging seven passes for 74 yards. Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave got the bulk of the targets, and Fleming played behind Jameson Williams and fellow five-star freshman Smith-Njigba.

The season was weird. Lots of cancellations. Lots of players sitting out with positive tests. We watched Justin Fields, Olave and Wilson, as well as Trey Sermon. Fleming, despite his reputation and hype, seemingly got lost in the shuffle. And couldn’t really shake the injury.

2021


Olave, very surprisingly, announces that he’s returning for a fourth season with the Buckeyes. There’s one starting slot taken. Wilson, too, is back, of course. Jameson Williams, seeing the writing on the wall (writing that is spelled “JSN”) transfers to Alabama. Fleming might hope to be fourth receiver, in the rotation for snaps. Two freshmen, however – Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka – got off to roaring starts. And Julian Fleming was once again more or less forgotten.

Still plagued with a shoulder injury, still often wearing a brace, Fleming played in just eight of the Buckeyes’ 13 games last year. Among wideouts, he was fourth in receptions with 12 (JSN had 95, Wilson 70, and Olave 65). Fleming scored a receiving touchdown (his first) but had only 86 yards from his catches. The 7.2 per catch average was so far behind that of the other OSU wide receivers that it had me asking myself last year, “Is Fleming slow? Can’t he shake a defender and get clear? Isn’t he tough enough to break out of a tackle?”

In the Rose Bowl, with Olave and Wilson sitting out, Julian Fleming finally got his chance to start a game. And? His shoulder popped out. He popped it back in, kept playing, and earned the lasting respect of his teammates. Toughness? No question. He finished the bowl game with five receptions for 35 yards. Anyone who watched the game remembers not Fleming’s toughness in dealing with injury, but JSN’s record-setting night: 15 catches, 347 yards, three TDs. Fleming was still an afterthought.

This year


This was to be the breakout year for Julian Fleming. Wilson and Olave were gone. One of the three starting positions was sure to be his. Injury again (this time unspecified) kept Fleming out of Ohio State’s 2022 spring game, but he came back strong and earned one of Mickey Marotti’s “Iron Buckeye” awards for performance in the weight room during summer workouts. Before the Notre Dame game, though, Fleming felt another “tweak” and missed that game – and the Arkansas State game.

If 2022 was to be his breakout year, he was off to a slow start. Harrison Jr. and Egbuka were already well ahead of him. JSN’s injury has given Fleming another shot as a starter. He returned to play against Toledo in the Buckeyes’ third game and caught three passes for 23 yards and two touchdowns. His sideline catch on one of the TDs was a thing of beauty.

Fleming has caught four passes in each of the Buckeyes’ last three games (versus Wisconsin, Rutgers, and Michigan State). He’s scored three more touchdowns, and his per catch average has climbed steadily with plays like his 51-yarder against Sparty. For the season, Fleming’s 15 receptions rank him just behind Egbuka (35) and Harrison Jr. (31) among wideouts. He’s scored five TDs, and his 14.8/reception average is quite an improvement, though it’s still behind Egbuka (18.7), Harrison Jr. (17.3), and Jayden Ballard (18.7).

Answering the questions


To return to the questions at the head of this story: has Fleming finally arrived. I’d say “yes,” or at least he’s finally getting there. No, he hasn’t yet lived up to his billing. The shoulder injury prevented that — and the competition in the wide receiver room. Now that he’s playing regularly, he’s a viable option for Stroud, one that can get open, make the catch, gain yards afterward. He’s starting to look like a star.

The second question, “Does his arrival matter?” is tougher. Here’s why. Smith-Njigba will be back in the starting lineup. With luck, soon; against Iowa, we hope. When he does, who among the current starters sits? My guess would be Fleming. Egbuka and Harrison Jr. have flashed greatness all year. They’ve earned their spots. And that would put Fleming on the sideline, next to Ballard (whom I really like) and Xavier Johnson.

It will be interesting to see what happens once JSN returns. Does Fleming rotate into action on meaningful snaps? Put up good numbers and continue his rise to stardom? Or does he simply become a reliable backup? Come into the game once the outcome is decided? Flank wide while the ball is run into the middle of the line to run the clock?

The future


What happens with Fleming the rest of the year will, naturally enough, determine his future next year. Completing his third year, he’s eligible to declare for the NFL Draft after this season. But has he played enough? Does he have the stats? If he stays at Ohio State, can he join Egbuka and Harrison Jr. as starters by holding off Ballard and the four receivers in the 2022 class? Does he consider the transfer portal, take a chance on a year somewhere where he’ll not only start but also be the quarterback’s primary target?

Time will tell. I think, however, that Fleming wants to be a Buckeye and that he’s happy to take on the competition in Columbus. Healthy, at full strength, he’ll take his chances against anybody in the country. So, I’ll answer that second question with a “yes!” His arrival matters not only to Fleming himself but to the Buckeyes’ who have a lot to gain in putting his talent on the field.

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By the numbers: Do pre-season rankings indicate how many Big Ten teams will make the NCAA Tournament?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Ohio State will start the season unranked as the Big Ten lands just three teams in the initial AP Poll.

As we navigate the college basketball pre-season waters, the shared sentiment among many people who cover the game is that the Big Ten could be — potentially — looking at a down year.

The conference put nine teams in the NCAA Tournament last season, which ties the most they’ve had in the last decade. But of those nine, only two of them — Michigan, which ironically was an 11-seed, and Purdue — made the Sweet Sixteen. Neither Michigan nor Purdue advanced to the next round, with the Wolverines falling to Villanova and Purdue losing to 15-seed St. Peter’s. For the first time since 2017, the B1G failed to put a single team in the Elite Eight.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Last week, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim — whose team missed the NCAA Tournament last season — commented on the Big Ten’s failure in March Madness:

“At the end of the day, you play for the [NCAA] Tournament,” Boeheim said Friday at his team’s media day. “You can say what you want about the Big Ten. They sucked in the tournament. To me, that’s what they did. All of their wins were in their league. If you can’t play in the [NCAA] Tournament, then you’re not good.”

The conference saw an extraordinary exodus of talent following the season that rivals any of the past decade. Trevion Williams, Jaden Ivey, Johnny Davis, Kofi Cockburn, Keegan Murray, E.J. Liddell, Malaki Branham, Ron Harper Jr., and Bryce McGowens all left for the NBA — as well as several others I did not name here.

On the whole, the Big Ten appears to be less talented, not as deep, and not likely to be the dominant conference in the NCAA Tournament. This idea was reinforced on Monday afternoon, when the preseason AP Top 25 Poll was released, and included only three B1G teams:

• Indiana (13)
• Michigan (22)
• Illinois (23)

Over the past 10 seasons, the B1G has never had fewer than three teams in the preseason AP Poll. It had three teams in the preseason Top-25 in 2018 as well, but the conference got it together and still put eight teams in the NCAA Tournament by season’s end. But has the number of ranked teams (in the preseason poll) been indicative of NCAA Tournament teams recently? I pulled the numbers from the last 10 years (nine tournaments) to find out:


Only putting three teams in the very first poll indicates that the media does not think the conference has many “great” teams. This notion, however, does not necessarily coincide with an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. In actuality, a team does not need to be one of the best 25 teams in the country to make it to the NCAA Tournament. They don’t even need to be “good”, since another path to punch a tournament ticket is to get hot and win your conference tournament — see Oregon State, two years ago, who went 10-10 in Pac-12 play, but won their conference tournament and made it all the way to the Elite Eight.

For the Big Ten conference specifically, the last time it only had three teams ranked in the initial poll — 2018 — the B1G still put eight teams in the NCAA Tournament. Conversely, the B1G had six teams ranked in the first AP Poll in 2015 — double what they have this season and in 2018. However, that only led to the conference punching seven NCAA Tournament tickets — one fewer than 2018.

What should concern fans who follow the Big Ten is the fact that there isn’t a single B1G team in the top-10 this season, as statistics show that teams who begin the season in the top-10 are more or less a lock to make the NCAA Tournament. This infers that the B1G once again does not appear to have a team strong enough to break the 22-year national championship draught that’s been hanging over the conference since Michigan State cut down the nets in 2000.



The very first AP Poll is based on predictions, assumptions, and educated guesses. By the end of December, the list will be erased and will look completely different from what we see now. And — as history shows us — only having three teams in that very first poll does not mean the Big Ten conference will struggle to produce NCAA Tournament-caliber teams.

Final Four-caliber teams, though? Well, we’ll see about that.

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Film Preview: The dichotomy of Iowa’s offense and defense represents the state of the program
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Iowa is really bad on offense, but Ohio State will have a major test taking on their defense which is one of the best groups in the country

This week, Ohio State takes on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Columbus in a game of rivaling philosophies.

Iowa’s head coach Kirk Ferentz brought his son onto the coaching staff to run the offense, and it shows every single week. The offense is unoriginal, incredibly basic, and probably hasn’t changed much since Brad Banks was leading Iowa in 2002. Without a modern passing attack, and an incredibly simple run game, Iowa is easy to prepare for defensively.

Despite how archaic the offense is, Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker has routinely led defenses ranking among the best in the country. This will be the most significant challenge the Buckeyes’ offense has faced so far. The Hawkeyes aren’t complicated, but they are disciplined and play their scheme with a lot of consistency. Defensively, the Hawkeyes limit the run game, and their coverage forces a lot of turnovers. Stroud will need to be sharp, and Ohio State will need to be balanced to break down the Hawkeyes.

Ohio State hasn’t played a defense like Iowa’s, and breaking down their coverage is not easy. Defensively, the Buckeyes will need to bring the toughness and dicipline.

Offense


Watching Brian Ferentz’s offense should be against the Geneva Convention. For Iowa fans, I send my condolences on having to watch this every week, and I can not imagine how torturous being a fan of such a bland offense feels on a week-to-week basic.

Despite having multiple tight ends capable of being dangerous in the passing game, Ferentz routinely calls plays that send two wide receivers out while keeping his tight ends inline to pass protect. The glorified extended offensive linemen make running their patented wide-zone just that much wider.

Really, there is not much going on here, and the national statistics show that Iowa’s offense is among the worst offenses in the country. The film below shows a few key concepts and why Iowa isn’t effective.

Passing Game

The passing game for Iowa falls apart quick. They run long developing routes, and Spencer Petras takes forever to get the ball out. That recipe for disaster has led to two passing touchdowns and 5.8 yards per pass attempt through six games. When the passing game has found success – which is rarely – the Hawkeyes are able to use their tight ends in mismatches.

In the first play, we see the two main issues that plague Iowa’s entire offense against Rutgers. Iowa is in 2nd-and-goal from the 6-yard line, and despite all their issues passing the ball, the Hawkeyes run a passing play. The play-action does not get any defenders to bite, and the route concepts do not create any confusion for the back end. Rutgers gets pressure and has every receiver accounted for, and Petras is sacked. The weak play-action and lack of dynamic play makers makes this basic play a disaster.


The next play shows how even when Iowa’s play isn’t bad conceptually, they do not have a quarterback to execute. To start, Iowa motions out their running back to create quads to the short side of the field. This is not ideal, and creates incredibly bad spacing for the receivers. Even with these negatives, two receivers still come open on the play. The tight end comes across the formation and is standing by himself. Petras takes his drop and the wheel route is open immediately.

In this scenario the receiver should sit at the sticks, given the cushion he has. Regardless of if there was miscommunication on the wheel route or a bad throw, the end result is the same. Petras also locked on to one receiver and had an easier throw to the tight end.


In this last play, Iowa relies on the screen game to pick up a 3rd-and-long. This is actually probably where Iowa’s offense is at its best. Once again, Brian Ferentz was in his absolute bag. He calls a running back screen against Rutgers and they almost get a first down. The screen pass takes fold and is well-timed, giving the linemen time to get up field. This play is well-blocked, but the lineman can’t hold his block long enough to break off a big enough gain for the first down.


Run Game

The passing game is bad, but the run game might be even less inventive. Relying on a mix of zone run schemes, including inside, outside, and wide zone plays. Ohio State should be familiar in stopping this because the Buckeyes run all three schemes as well.

In the first play looking at the run game, they have a successful run against Rutgers utilizing their bread-and-butter. Iowa runs their wide zone concept, and this play gives us a good look at how this works when blocked correctly. Iowa brings two defenders, giving this a pin-and-pull action with the tight end split blocking across the formation. The non-pullers on the offensive line wall-off the defenders, creating a running lane. The pullers clear out the filling linebackers.

They rip off a nice gain here, and this shows the true strength of Iowa’s offense — getting their linemen moving and opening up running lanes for the back.


Iowa is in the red zone in the next play. Rather than passing in a 2nd-and-Goal situation from the 5-yard line, they decide to keep the ball on the ground. They run a similar concept blocking wise, but the run-action itself is an inside handoff. Illinois gets immediate penetration up front, and the puller has no chance to get out in space. This play gets blown up in the backfield for a loss of three.

The issues here are spacing and the blocking scheme itself. With the spacing and this type of hand off, there was never any chance this would be a positive gain.

Defense


Nothing more needs to be said about this unit other than the fact Iowa won a game this season 7-3 with two safeties and a field goal after forcing a punt from the opponent’s end zone. Iowa runs a mix of two-high coverages, including Cover-2 man under, Cover-2, and Cover-4 looks. Iowa excels at forcing teams to be impatient, leading to turnovers.

Pass Coverage

In pass coverage, Iowa does not bring a lot of pressure, but they do like to mix in stunts in the pass rush. Iowa is aligned in their goal line Cover-2 man coverage, and they are keeping everything in front of them. To create conflict for the offensive line, the Iowa defensive line runs a stunt to the left side of the front. Illinois is able to block this and give their quarterback time to throw. Despite not having a great pass rush, the coverage behind the formation is organized, and forces an incompletion.


When Iowa does bring pressure, this makes their coverage that much more dangerous. The mix of blitzing and the discipline on the back end is a recipe for forcing mistakes. Iowa fakes rushing the linebacker, who ends up playing as a spy, but this fake allows the other defensive linemen to wrap around the protection. The rush gets home and forces the quarterback into a bad throw. Iowa picks the ball off and they return the interception for a touchdown.

Iowa’s ability to create turnovers will be a challenge for C.J. Stroud and the Ohio State offense. If the Buckeyes can limit the pass rush and give Stroud time, he has shown the ability to sit back, picking apart the zone coverages across from him.


Rush Defense

The defining trait of Iowa’s run defense is their flow to the football. Flow is the defense’s natural pursuit of the football. This is what Iowa does best with All-American linebacker Jack Campbell and their defensive line. Iowa has been stout in stopping opposing teams’ run games, and this is where Ohio State will be most challenged. If they can run the ball against Iowa, they can dominate this defense. But if they can’t, Iowa’s defense can settle in, creating a lot more challenges for Stroud.

In this first play, Illinois picks up a first down running the speed option to the short side of the field. Illinois is able to block Iowa initially, and this is enough in the 4th-and-3 to get the first down. What this play shows is how well Iowa sheds blocks and gets to the football. The initial push gets Iowa impeding the linebackers, but they still get there to limit any bigger gains. Iowa may give up yards, but they are sure tacklers and they get all their hats to the ball.


Illinois runs an outside zone here. The Hawkeyes once again show how disciplined they are. The defensive line gets up the field, forcing the running back to take the ball outside. This allows the linebackers to flow freely to the outside. Iowa’s defensive end is able to make the play in the backfield, but even if the running back gets outside there are two linebackers scraping the line to make the play.

The offensive line and running backs for Ohio State will need to be at their best to get the run game going against the Hawkeyes.


Iowa is an interesting football team, but if I never have to watch their offense again, I’d be in a much better place in life. I’d like to apologize to you the reader for having to watch this offense play football. For the Buckeyes, their improved defense should have no issues keeping the Hawkeyes offense out of the end zone. The lack of originality for Iowa is the main issue, and Brian Ferentz should be charged with robbery.

Defensively, even the great Phil Parker can’t make up for the failures of the offense. Iowa’s defense is by no means creative, but it shows when a group of players is well-coached, they don’t need complex schemes. Iowa forces turnovers and creates a lot of issues for offenses by staying disciplined. When the Hawkeyes are able to put up points, most of it steps from defensive scores or starting on short fields. For Iowa, the dichotomy between the two sides of the ball tell the story of their program.

Ohio State has a great opportunity to see what their offense can do against a real challenge. For the Buckeyes, if they can continue to have their same level of success against Iowa’s defense, start placing your wagers for an Ohio State championship. If the defense can just show up, the Buckeyes should have a clear path to victory in this one.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for October 20, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Set Number: X164186 TK1

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...


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Ask LGHL


Introducing ‘Ask LGHL,’ asking and answering questions throughout the football season
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ask LGHL: How nervous should OSU fans be about Hendon Hooker’s Heisman potential
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


Ohio State leads the nation in CBS Sports midseason All-Americans
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State’s Ryan Day one of 20 coaches on Dodd Trophy Watch List
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts

Practice Report: What We Learned as Buckeyes gear up for date with Iowa
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

What is Ohio State football’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba doing in practice? ‘He’ll be ready’
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Column: How is the Ohio State offense going to work when Smith-Njigba returns?
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

This sounds promising:


How Buckeyes can show marked defensive progress, even against poor Iowa offense
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ohio State’s top-ranked offense faces biggest test against Iowa’s No. 1 defense
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Iowa’s Defense a Measuring Stick for Ohio State’s Offense Entering Second Half of Season
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Buckeyes looking to build on stellar post-off week track record vs. Iowa (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Iowa Defensive Player to Watch: Linebacker Jack Campbell
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

Buckeyes locked in, recounting ‘scars’ delivered by tough, physical Iowa
Tim May, Lettermen Row

What a difference a year makes:


Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz prepares for ‘hard to simulate’ Ohio State team
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

Luke Lachey Excited to Return to His Hometown as Father Prepares to Call His Son’s Game at Ohio State this Weekend
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Column: Iowa is a cautionary tale of the dangers of nepotism and cronyism
Meredith Hein Land-Grant Holy Land

An epic offensive battle coming up on Saturday:



Football: Mike Doss Set for Oct. 22 NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute
Ohio State Athletics

J.T. Tuimoloau is wrecking offenses, just not box scores (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

You’re Nuts: Other than The Game, which second-half matchup are you most excited about?
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Big Ten men’s basketball team previews: Iowa Hawkeyes
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land

#DevelopedHere

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Women’s Cross Country: Engel Again Named Big Ten Athlete of the Week
Ohio State Athletics

Olympic Recap: Women’s Volleyball on Season-Long Win Streak, Field Hockey Pulls Upset, Swim and Dive Ranked
Andy Anders, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

And now for something completely different...


I love this so much.


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Bucketheads Podcast: Talking with Adam Jardy about the Big Ten, NCAA Tournament expansion, and more
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 Ryan Young/Getty Images

We also discuss the latest newsworthy remarks from Jim Boeheim and Mike Woodson.

‘Bucketheads’ is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio


This week, Connor and Justin discuss the Big Ten Conference’s 22-year struggle to win a national championship — is recruiting lagging behind, are they having bad luck, or maybe a little bit of both? They follow with a game where Justin has to match each team’s tournament resume since 2000 to the proper program.

Afterward, Connor talks with the Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy for about 30 minutes on several topics, from NCAA Tournament expansion to Big Ten dark horse candidates to Bowen Hardman’s role at Ohio State moving forward, and so much more.

We close the interview with a rapid-fire round of questions, where we all get to learn a little bit more about the best reporter covering any sport on the Ohio State beat.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

Connect with Adam:
Twitter: @AdamJardy

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2023 DL target sets commitment date, pair of OSU commits receive All-American jersey
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes still on the hunt for elite defensive line talent in the 2023 class.

Back to the grind, this week Ohio State’s staff has been focused solely on Iowa and the back half of the regular season. With last weekends idle status, recruiting was very much at the forefront of their priorities and allowed for plenty of in-person visits. With a home game this weekend, the ability to host both current commits and targets is back, and of course Ohio State is taking full advantage.

Signing Day is getting closer and closer, and the Buckeyes are in a good spot. With a top five class in the country, Ryan Day and crew have built another loaded class of talent at every position. With a few spots still up for grabs, the rest of the way is devoted to landing the names that have long been in the headlines.

Buckle up. The second half of this season and race to Signing Day should be eventful.

2023 defensive line target sets commitment date


The defensive line is obviously the last heavy hitter in terms of where the Buckeyes are still trying to add guys to the 2023 class. The big three edge rushers of Keon Keeley, Damon Wilson and Matayo Uiagalelei have and will continue to dominate the conversation until their plans are are announced, but the Buckeyes are in on some other key names as well, and also await their decisions.

Among those additional names, Daevin Hobbs has burst onto the scene as of late and has quickly become one of the more interesting recruitments down the stretch. A 6-foot-4, 262 pound North Carolina native, Hobbs was only offered weeks ago on Sept. 29. Wasting no time at all, he was able to get to Columbus for the Rutgers game on Oct. 1, and the Buckeyes are very involved this late into the game for a 2023 prospect.

Hobbs’ recruitment is starting to wind down, with an end in sight as his announcement plans are now set. Committing the school of his choice on Nov. 25, the four-star has Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Ohio State has his finalists. According to the 247Sports Crystal Ball, in-state North Carolina is the favorite to land his pledge with every prediction in their favor. With visits to Alabama and Georgia still on deck, it’s certainly anyone’s game.

The No. 95 player nationally, Hobbs is the 12th best defensive lineman for the class and the second best player in North Carolina according to the 247Sports Composite. It’s another situation where the Buckeyes are in the mix, but the next couple of weeks would need to go really well if they pull this one out. Either way, Ohio State is heavily involved for some of the nation’s best guys in the trenches, and decisions are not far off.

Pair of current 2023 commits receive All-American jerseys


Always a theme for Ohio State’s commits, All-American contests each year are loaded with future Buckeyes. Some of the highest honors a prep player can receive, Ohio State has been well represented over the years at the various All-America activities, and this year is of course no different.

Whether it be the Under Armour edition or the All-American Bowl, 2023 Ohio State commits are taking part in their jersey ceremonies, and yesterday two more guys joined the ranks as the latest Ohio State players to crowed All-Americans.

First up, 2023 tight end commit Jelani Thurman received his Under Armour All-American jersey on Wednesday, and it’s just further proof to how big of a get Thurman is for this current cycle. A 6-foot-5, 230 pound Georgia native, Thurman has been committed since July, but as the lone tight end in the class, his addition is a key to the success of the staff’s offensive haul, especially after their the first tight end in the fold de-committed to go elsewhere.

The No. 104 player nationally, Thurman is the fourth ranked tight-end in the country, and the sixth best player in Georgia per the 247Sports Composite.


The Buckeyes also saw current 2023 running back commit Mark Fletcher receive his All-America Bowl jersey on Wednesday. Much like the aforementioned Thurman, Fletcher is the lone commit at his position for Ohio State’s 2023 haul, and a major piece to the overall success of the offense. A running back is a priority in every recruiting cycle, and though Ohio State’s plans were originally to take two backs this year, getting Fletcher in the fold and keeping him has been pivotal for Tony Alford.

The No. 258 player nationally, Fletcher is the 15th best back in the country according to the 247Sports Composite. Under-rated for sure, Ohio State knows what they have in Fletcher, and as he’s shown during his senior campaign with his running style, the Buckeyes are thrilled to have him headed to Columbus.


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Ask LGHL: How nervous should OSU fans be about Hendon Hooker’s Heisman potential?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

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

Every day for the entirety of the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

Question: How nervous should OSU fans be about Hendon Hooker’s Heisman potential?


Look out, folks, the Henden Hooker Hype Train is looking to steamroll over all common sense and objective analysis. As you likely know by now, the Tennessee Volunteers beat the Alabama Crimson Tide last Saturday thanks to a knuckling field goal attempt in a game that saw nary a shred of defense played.

Coming out of the contest, the prisoner-of-the-moment college football intelligencia determined that somehow, Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker had rocketed past Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud to the top of every QB honor watchlist imaginable, including the Heisman Trophy.

Not only was Stroud left off the AP’s mid-season All-America list, but the brain trust over at The Athletic gave Hooker 33 first-place votes to Stroud’s 4, just seven days after the Buckeye QB held a 23-8 advantage in that same category.



ESPN also has Hooker at No. 1 on its Heisman Watch leaderboard, but that at least is by a slim five-point margin. While I understand that Hooker now owns the best win of the college football season and that he played really well en route to the victory (21-for-30 for 385 yards, 5 TDs, and 1 INT), to act as if that one win was worthy of erasing Stroud’s nearly perfect season thus far — and heretofore decided lead in the race — is just silly.

Fortunately, the always level-headed, never-reactionary oddsmakers over at DraftKings Sportsbook were not being held hostage by the results of a single game. Stroud still maintains a comfortable betting advantage at +110 to Hooker’s +425.



But, if you are a Buckeye fan who has been counting on Stroud pushing Ohio State out of its tie with Notre Dame, USC, and Oklahoma for the most Heismans in college football history, I can understand why this would be concerning.

There should be no doubt that Hooker is a fantastic player and is obviously deserving of Heisman consideration, that’s not what I find ridiculous. What I find ridiculous is the kneejerk reactions by “analysts” and “experts” who flip-flop their opinions based solely on the last thing that they’ve seen.

Is beating Alabama objectively a big deal? Of course. Is beating this version of the Alabama defense something that should automatically make someone a Heisman Trophy frontrunner? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Let’s take a quick look at the stats for the two quarterbacks and you tell me if catapulting Hooker ahead of Stroud was more about season-long performance or beating the sport’s premiere dynasty in an obviously down year (by Alabama’s standards)?


The numbers are obviously very similar between the two, with each having the edge in a category or two (although, I think Stroud obviously has the advantage through six games apiece). If you want to say that Hooker has had the more difficult schedule thus far, having played against Ball State, Pitt, Akron, Florida, LSU, and ‘Bama, I will concede that in his favor, but I don’t think the discrepancy is all that much different.

But, today’s question was not about Hooker’s Heisman worthiness, it was about whether or not Stroud supporters should be worried about the UT QB’s candidacy. Obviously, how much of a worrier you are will impact how you answer this question, but I don’t think that you have much to worry about at this point.

Last Saturday was Hooker’s “Heisman Moment,” leading his team to victory over the Tide for the first time in 16 years. Despite the season-opening win against Notre Dame, Stroud hasn’t yet had the opportunity to put up impressive numbers against quality defenses. While his only chance to have anything approaching the Vols’ victory over Alabama likely won’t come until The Game, if Stroud plays up to his season standard against Iowa and Penn State, that should go a long way to further cementing his frontrunner status.

Hooker and the Vols play Tennessee-Martin this weekend, then close out the month by hosting No. 19 Kentucky and traveling to Athens to take on No. 1 Georgia. If the QB plays well and leads his team to victory in both of those SEC games, then it’s probably time for Buckeye and C.J. fans to start worrying. But we’ve been down similar roads with the Vols before; so, until I see them do it with my own two eyes, I’m not going to give them that much benefit of the doubt.

The Buckeyes will be favored in every game from here on out. If Ryan Day allows Stroud to play four quarters against Iowa, Penn State, and TTUN, and he is able to do what he has done for the majority of his collegiate career, I think that there will be every reason to believe that our guy C.J. will be a fixture in Nissan Heisman House commercials for years to come.

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

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Column: How is the Ohio State offense going to work when Smith-Njigba returns?
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeye offense has obviously still found a way to thrive without Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but how will that change with him ready to play?

When Jaxon Smith-Njigba got injured at the beginning of the Notre Dame game, there was definitely some panic, both from the coaches and the fans. However, the Buckeye offense hasn’t lost a step, even with their star receiver being out. Now that JSN is expected to return against Iowa Saturday — even though Ryan Day declined to comment on that possibility during his Tuesday press conference — it’s time to start thinking about how the offense will have to change with the best receiver in the country back in the lineup.


Per usual, one of Ohio State’s biggest “problems” is the abundance of riches it has on offense. The multitude of great receivers has been working seamlessly all year long, even with WR1 out for essentially the whole season up until this point. However, when you throw the best receiver back into the mix, something has got to change.

Emeka Egbuka has taken over for JSN in the slot and as a kick returner and he has done more than one could have ever hoped for. He is actually the leading receiver on the team with 655 yards, more than Marvin Harrison Jr.’s 536. Therefore a difficult decision must be made — you can’t just make Egbuka a part-time player. But then again, you want to utilize JSN as much as possible.

When the season started, the trio of receivers was JSN, Egbuka, and Harrison, because Julian Fleming was still nursing an injured shoulder. So once everyone is healthy, do you go from what has been a three-man rotation with Egbuka, Harrison, and Fleming to a four-man rotation? These are all obviously good problems to have, but it certainly puts the Ohio State coaching staff into a pickle.

Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

I believe that for the next couple of weeks, the decision won’t be difficult, everyone will play; in fact, JSN should probably continue to get the fewest snaps of the top-four WRs. I don’t want him to be rushed back from injury, and obviously, Day doesn’t either. Therefore, he will most likely be eased back into the starter role without being overloaded.

The real challenge presents itself probably starting with The Game, and then into the postseason. How much will Smith-Njigba and Egbuka rotate in the slot? Will one of them move outside, pushing presumably Fleming to the sideline? Will Day instead opt for going four-wide more often?

Personally, I think that by the time the team gets to crunch time, JSN will be fully healthy and fully entrenched as a playmaker who should can never leave the field in critical moments. His postseason experience and veteran presence will prove vital for this relatively young group of extremely talented receivers, but this is one of the only traits he has that the rest of them don’t.

All four guys have been very clear this season that they are willing to do whatever it takes in order to help the team win, so I don’t anticipate there being any problems with ego or personal ambitions disrupting the room. However, I do wonder how Day and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson will be able to squeeze all of these talented players into the games.

The Buckeye offense has thrived this season on its ability to pick up chunks of yardage both on the ground and through the air, so you certainly don’t want to see Day steal plays from TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams simply to satisfy the finally full-strength receiver room. However, you obviously want the offense to take advantage of its full complement of weapons.

This is an opportunity for Day and Wilson to show some creativity in coming up with schemes and play calls to not only spread the ball around, but also to thoroughly confuse and frustrate opposing defenses. There will obviously have to be some sacrifices made by all players, but in the end, I’m just happy that I will soon get to watch the Buckeye offense at full strength.

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You’re Nuts: Other than The Game, which second-half matchup are you most excited about?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joshua A. Bickel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

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

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

Today’s Question: Other than The Game, which second-half matchup are you most excited about?

Jami’s Take: At Northwestern


The Buckeyes technically have two big games remaining (Penn State and The Game), but we know college football sometimes has a few tricks up its sleeve. That’s why as a Buckeye fan, I hope the rest of our season is blowout wins (because rankings and playoffs and all that), but as a Chicagoan who has a soft spot for Northwestern and Pat Fitzgerald’s Wildcats, I am secretly most looking forward to that game (and hoping the Wildcats can – at the very least — not embarrass themselves). The Buckeyes take on the Wildcats in Evanston on November 5.

Something we know to be true about Northwestern is that they are rarely definitively good, but they do have some great sleeper moments, and they historically do have the ability to throw much better teams off their guard, especially if those teams are coming off a hard game with, I don’t know, the Nittany Lions.

While these Wildcats have been getting pretty curb-stomped this season, save for their Week 1 win against Nebraska (a team that was then-ranked and which we now know was HIGHLY overrated), they’re due for a morale boost. I won’t say “win” because I think the Buckeyes are playing the best football in the country right now (with Tennessee right up there on par with us).

I don’t really think Northwestern has a fighting chance at a victory BUT with a season like they’re having, a few fun plays and maybe a couple of scoring drives could be a nice morale boost for them.

It’s also a good time for the Buckeyes to wild out and try some fancy plays, and as a viewer, that’s always fun to watch.

Additionally, if the game goes the way I think it probably will, it’s a good opportunity for the Buckeyes to give some minutes to some new faces. It would be awesome to see some freshmen and second or third-string guys get playing time, both to see what they’re capable of and give them experience so they’re ready to go in the future.

While the Buckeyes’ remaining schedule is manageable, things happen that you can’t plan for (see: 2014 National Champions with a third-string quarterback), and if we can get more minutes to some of the other faces, it might be a good way to keep everyone prepared in case a situation arises that calls for the unexpected.

Ultimately, I think the Wildcats are due for a non-embarrassing loss, and while in the end they will likely be embarrassed by the Buckeyes, this game is a great chance for Pat Fitzgerald’s guys to show they’re not a total disgrace and for the Buckeyes to button up some things as they look toward The Game.

Matt’s Take: At Maryland


Like Jami, I am going with a game that will likely be a blowout, but there are a number of reasons to be excited about Ohio State’s trip to take on the Terps in late November. But, before we get into those factors, I want to run through the general reasons why I didn’t pick any of the more high-profile matchups.

This weekend’s Iowa game is going to be a slog, at least when watching Brian Ferentz’s anemic offense. I do think that we will get a decent idea of how the Buckeyes’ multi-faceted offense fares against an elite defense, I just don’t get any pleasure from watching downright terrible offenses. Of course, this will also mean that the OSU defense will have the opportunity to shine, but where’s the upside?

If Jim Knowles’ unit shuts Iowa out, they absolutely should have. But if they give up like 21 points, then we have to go through all of the worrying and handwringing about how good the defense actually is. No thank you. I’m totally over that discourse.

As for the trip to Happy Valley next week, I will simply direct you to this article that I wrote over four years ago:


Up next? Northwestern, and despite Jami’s well-argued position, I am in no way excited for that one. There’s also a decent shot that because of work travel, I won’t be able to watch it.

Then there’s Indiana, the same Indiana that has losses to Cincinnati, Nebraska, TTUN, and Maryland — not to mention an overtime, three-point victory over Western Kentucky. I’ll watch it, but certainly not looking forward to it for any reason other than seeing another Buckeye blowout.

That brings us to the Mighty Turtles of College Park. Will this be a “good” game? Likely not, but I do think that it has the potential to be entertaining, informative, and (perhaps most importantly) not that stressful.

Assuming that Taulia Tagovailoa is back and healthy by the Nov. 19 contest, this game could be the only game on the entire schedule that features a top-tier passing offense. Currently, the Terps are 25th nationally in passing offense, a full 51 spots above The Harboys. Mike Locksley’s offense is averaging just 16 fewer passing yards per game than the Buckeyes, though, they have actually had to pass the ball in the fourth quarter this year, while OSU has not.

Maryland’s passing attack interests me for two reasons, first, after a murderer’s row of traditional Big Ten, boring offenses of Iowa, Penn State, Northwestern, and Indiana, seeing a team competently throw the ball will likely be a breath of fresh air; and let’s be honest, throwing the ball is so much more entertaining than running it. And I know that Northwestern and Indiana are both in the top five of the Big Ten in passing yards per game, but that is mainly because they are two of the top three teams in the league in terms of attempts per outting. So, it’s not that they’re particularly good at passing the ball, just that they are forced to do it a whole heck of a lot.

Secondly (and obviously more informatively), after facing a cavalcade of rushing teams, I think it will be good to see the OSU defense go up against a quality passing attack. We all know the depths of difficulties that the cornerbacks have had this season, so hopefully in a month’s time, they will be healthy and have had enough game and practice reps to work through the issues that have plagued them thus far.

Depending on who OSU faces in the postseason (hopefully and presumably in the College Football Playoff), they will likely have to contend with an offense that can both run and pass. Unfortunately, unless something changes for TTUN, it doesn’t look like that’s in the cards for the regular season.

So, by mid-to-late November, the Buckeyes will have shown what they can do against running teams, so when they had to the Bay State for the final regular season road trip of 2022, it will be exciting to see how they stack up against a team that is capable of completing a forward pass.

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Alright, I don't know who needs to hear this, but the e-bike people are not part of the cycling community.

They are tesla-mopeds. Govern yourselves accordingly.

Iowa Defensive Player to Watch: Linebacker Jack Campbell
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



The Hawkeyes’ tackling machine leads an imposing defense, which is arguably the toughest Ohio State will face all regular season.

When the Iowa Hawkeyes roll into Columbus on Saturday, they will be hauling a big, bad, nasty defense with them. Currently ranked ninth in total defense and third in points per game allowed, this unit has been the team’s calling card for a number of years. They are disciplined, incredibly opportunistic, and particularly stingy in the red zone.

Perhaps most impressively, the Hawkeyes have not finished outside the top-20 in PPG allowed since 2014 — a streak only matched by Alabama (as far as I can tell). And it’s not solely because they play keep-away and win the time of possession battle with a slow, plodding, egregiously bad offense... Sorry, Ferentz fanatics, you should have seen that coming.

In all seriousness, the Iowa defense has been one of college football’s most consistent, bankable entities. And much of their recent success can be attributed to defensive coordinator Phil Parker. He has been with the program since 1999, when he joined Kirk Ferentz’ inaugural staff. The Lorain, OH native coached Hawkeye defensive backs until 2012, when he was promoted to DC. He then handed DB duties over for his transitional season, but took the responsibility back in 2013. He has been both DC and position coach ever since.

Predictably, the Iowa secondary has been lights out under Parker. From Desmond King, to Amani Hooker, to (currently) Riley Moss, players from this position group have regularly been among the Big Ten’s best. There have also had plenty of studs in the front seven. First-round draft picks along the defensive line, tackling machines such as Josey Jewell, and everything in between. However, the one thing that always jumps out to me is consistent linebacker play from the Hawkeyes.

Now, I can’t sit here and tell you that those guys have been the most athletic three-down linebackers to ever step on a field. They are not asked to rush the passer very often, they can be hit-and-miss in coverage... But Iowa linebackers flat-out know how to play football. They have a see ball, get ball mentality, and seemingly always possess a high football IQ.

Jack Campbell is the current version of “that dude”, and at 6-foot-5, 240+ pounds, he pokes a giant hole in my previous athleticism argument. He absolutely exploded onto the CFB scene in 2021, and has now established himself as arguably the best defender in the Big Ten. For that reason, he is this week’s Defensive Player to Watch.

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The fourth-year Hawkeye is a homegrown kid, hailing from Cedar Falls, IA. Choosing to stay home, Campbell joined the Iowa program in 2019 and appeared in 11 games as a 208-pound true freshman. He barely registered a stat, primarily gaining experience on special teams. As most college players do, he bulked up and worked his tail off during the offseason, fully expecting to compete for a starting LB position in 2020.

However, a case of mono kept Campbell out of his team’s first three games. Given the nature of his untimely illness, it would have been easy for the then-sophomore to fall behind and have a slow ramp-up period. But Campbell was having none of it. He continued to work hard and prepare his body, and once healthy, was immediately thrust into the starting lineup. It is a move that has paid dividends for all.

Campbell became a starter midway through the 2020 campaign, and hit the ground running. He had clearly shown enough during the offseason and throughout his time missed, that the coaching staff was eager to get him into the lineup. And their eager confidence paid off. In the Hawkeyes’ final five games, Campbell registered 29 total tackles, 4.5 TFL, one forced fumble, and one interception — Not a main course, but a fine appetizer. It gave him even more confidence heading into last season, when he became one of college football’s most productive players at any position.

Playing the Mike LB position, Campbell covered not only the middle of the field for Iowa’s defense, but damn-near the entire thing in 2021. He racked up an absurd 143 total tackles, enough to earn him CFB’s tackle title — unless it wasn’t. Sports-reference credited him with 140, good for second in the country. NCAA.com and the Iowa website both have 143, but while NCAA has Campbell No. 1 in FBS, his team bio reads “second in the Big Ten”... And this concludes another episode of The More You Know. At any rate, Campbell also added six passes defended, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. He was in the right place at the right time, every time.

What does not show in the stats is how disruptive the Hawkeye LB can really be. He is not asked to blitz a ton, and for whatever reason, has not accumulated many TFL (10 career). However, Campbell has the ability to get after the QB, and is a regular presence in the backfield. Much like we’ve seen with Ohio State players this year – J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer especially – getting to the QB and applying pressure do not always lead to statistical results, but the impact is significant. Campbell is not an outside rusher, so this is not a perfect comparison, but the facts remain the same. It just so happens that he is typically given other assignments, which he carries out very well.


The fourth-year LB is fundamentally sound, lays the boom with his hits, and honestly, should not be as skilled as he is at 6-foot-5, 240-plus pounds. Because they just don’t make middle linebackers his size. Campbell should be too lanky to play the position. He should have trouble in space or coverage. But he doesn’t. He is without a doubt one of the best in college football at his position. And the accolades certainly reflect that.

Campbell was named a permanent team captain by Iowa, and earned All-Big Ten and All-American recognition for his 2021 season. Heading into 2022, he was put on every national watch list imaginable, and I was unable to find a preseason poll where he was not chosen as the Big Ten’s presumptive Defensive Player of the Year. And thus far, Campbell has not made any of the prognosticators look foolish. He may or not finish as the B1G’s best, but he has totaled 63 tackles and 3.0 TFL. He is the leader of an outstanding Iowa defense, which has been the only thing keeping this team at or above .500.

Jack Campbell is simply a maniac on the football field in the best way imaginable. He is involved on nearly every defensive stop, and plays the LB position with a truly impressive blend of anticipation and feel. Despite their best efforts, C.J. Stroud, TreVeyon Henderson, and others will become acquainted with Campbell on Saturday night. It will take a Herculean effort from him to slow down the Buckeye offense – at least, enough for the Hawkeyes’ own offense to keep up – but he is going to give it everything he’s got. I will have my eyes set on Campbell, hoping that OSU’s front can minimize his overall impact. It will certainly be a tall task.

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Column: Iowa is a cautionary tale of the dangers of nepotism and cronyism
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images

And a good argument for new blood.

They say you shouldn’t go into business with your friends. Why? Because when things go south or the business hits a rough patch, the relationship can turn sour and a beautiful friendship is ruined. This brings us to an enigma that’s been unraveling in Iowa City this season.

The Iowa athletic department is not stupid. The powers that be know that Iowa could just as easily be the one- or two- or three-win Illinois, Nebraska, or Rutgers teams we’ve seen in the Big Ten in the past. Rather than play toward the extremes, they recognized that a coach who consistently goes 8-4, occasionally makes the Big Ten Championship, and regularly puts out NFL talent is worth the occasional mediocre season. See Bo Pelini and Nebraska for what happens when 9-3 isn’t good enough because the Huskers still haven’t recovered.

You don’t get to be the longest-tenured coach in college football by ruffling feathers. In many ways, Kirk Ferentz is the Tim Duncan of Big Ten coaches: He’s always making the same face and never gets flustered or into trouble. Even allegations of racist misconduct within his program seemed to fall away when they got to the head coach.

But nobody’s perfect. Unfortunately for Kirk, what could be his fatal flaw has become so salient this season that everyone is noticing. And he’s keeping it all in the family.

Iowa has never exactly been prolific on offense. Their claim to fame has been NFL offensive linemen and tight ends and quarterbacks who are game managers rather than explosive passers. Outside these position groups, the Hawkeyes are much more renowned for their defenses which regularly stifle even talented offenses.

This year’s Iowa is on a whole different level. The Hawkeyes are allowing under 10 points per game, which is good for third in the FBS and second in the Big Ten (yes, there are a lot of good scoring defenses in the conference).

On the other side of the ball, Iowa is scoring just 14.7 points per game. That mark is the worst in the conference and 127th nationally.

Ohio State, meanwhile, boasts the nation’s top-scoring offense. Something will have to give come Saturday, but given the Buckeyes’ defense isn’t nearly as atrocious as Iowa’s offense, we can imagine how things should play out.

Admittedly, especially from an outside perspective, it was kind of funny when Iowa’s offense didn’t score an offensive touchdown against South Dakota State and the team managed to win on account of a field goal and two safeties. Now, things aren’t so laughable. A team that should have come together offensively hasn’t found its footing and is an embarrassment in the conference.

This brings us back to Kirk’s Achilles heel: his son, Brian Ferentz—who also happens to be his offensive coordinator.

Brian played college ball under his dad from 2002-05. He spent a little more than a year on NFL practice squads before starting his coaching career under Bill Belichick in New England. Of note, Belichick and the elder Ferentz coached together in Cleveland in the 1990s. (Brian) Ferentz spent four seasons with the Patriots before moving back to Iowa City in 2012.

Initially, his role as offensive line coach made sense, though there were probably better-qualified candidates out there. Then he moved up the offensive coaching ranks to take over as offensive coordinator in 2017. Since then, Iowa hasn’t finished better than 40th in the FBS in scoring offense (and really, 2020 doesn’t count):

• 2017: 28.2 points per game (No. 66)
• 2018: 31.2 points per game (No. 44)
• 2019: 25.8 points per game (No. 88)
• 2020: 31.8 points per game (No. 40)
• 2021: 23.4 points per game (No. 99)

Like Michael Scott hiring his nephew as Dunder Mifflin’s intern, Kirk seems to have a blind spot for his son’s deficiencies as an offensive coordinator; deficiencies which have become apparent even on a national level this year.

The trouble is that things are not improving—they’re only getting worse. In some ways, they’re getting worse in ways that impact the entire team. Iowa is 113th in the FBS in time of possession and 124th in third-down conversions. That means that the offense cannot stay on the field and that the defense is on the field far more than it should be.

Eventually, the defense gets tired. We’ve already seen the impact: Iowa allowed 13 points through its three-game non-conference schedule. They’ve allowed 46 through three games of conference play. Granted, one of the teams it faced was Michigan which has a much better offense than the other five teams put together, but nonetheless, there has been a dropoff that can very easily be credited toward the anemic offense.

So what does this have to do with the defensive-minded Kirk? It would be fine if Kirk owned up to his child’s mistakes and did what any head coach would do to an underperforming offensive coordinator and fire him. Unfortunately, this is the hill that Kirk has chosen to die on.

Lucky for Ohio State. And seriously, I am not complaining at all about the offense Ohio State will be facing come Saturday.

On a broader scale, while Iowa and Ohio State are two very different programs, we can learn from this situation, because we came closer than you might think to living it. Urban Meyer had a strong habit of hiring his friends (cronyism in this case rather than outright nepotism). He even hired Chris Doyle in Jacksonville after the strength and conditioning coach was fired from Iowa for the aforementioned racism allegations. Meyer’s coaching selections are one well-publicized aspect of what brought him down in Jacksonville.

One of the benefits of the younger coaching staffs we’ve seen rise in recent seasons is there is less of this anchoring on blood being thicker than water. Kerry Coombs is out at Ohio State because he was not performing like he needed to. Jim Knowles and Ryan Day have no connection, nor do Day and Brian Hartline or really anyone else currently on the Ohio State staff.

In fact, Hartline is probably the most “crony-ish” of the coaches currently on Day’s staff given his Ohio State connections, but he’s one of the hottest, top-performing assistants in the country right now. What this arrangement means is that coaches are hired and fired on merit and that mediocrity doesn’t stick around.

That’s not to say coaches should never hire well-qualified folks they’ve worked with in the past, but when things are not working out, it’s better to fail early than let things get awkward. While it’s doubtful Kirk and Brian’s relationship would fall to pieces if the son were no longer with the program, it’s a helpful lesson of caution against trusting a relationship instead of qualifications and performance.

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Big Ten men’s basketball team previews: Iowa Hawkeyes
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Can Kris Murray replace the production of Keegan Murray?

Team: Iowa Hawkeyes
Coach: Fran McCaffery
2021-22 record: 26-10 (12-8)
Season finish: NCAA Tournament first round

Players returning: Kris Murray, Patrick McCaffery, Filip Rebraca, Tony Perkins, Ahron Ulis, Payton Sandfort, Riley Mulvey, Carter Kingsbury, Connor McCaffery, Josh Ogundele

Players departed: Keegan Murray, Joe Toussaint (West Virginia)

Key additions: Dasonte Bowen, Josh Dix, Dante Eldridge

Outlook


This team is not hard to figure out. They have to somehow, someway replace Keegan Murray. Murray took an insane jump last season from averaging 7.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game his freshman year to averaging 23.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game his sophomore season. He was expected to take a jump, but a jump to a top five pick in the NBA Draft was bigger than most everyone anticipated.

Last season, the Hawkeyes were one of the teams with the highest expectations once the NCAA Tournament hit as they came in red hot, winning nine of their last 10 games and winning the Big Ten Conference championship, taking down Purdue in the tournament final. However, they were upset by Richmond in the first round, losing 67-63 in a game where Keegan Murray and Patrick McCaffery combined for 39 of the teams 63 points.

Now with Murray, as well as six-year player and one of the shooters to play college basketball ever in Jordan Bohannan, gone, the Hawkeyes have a huge void to fill. On the bright side, they return a ton of production, including Kris Murray, Keegan’s younger brother. Whether it is fair or not, a lot of people are expecting Kris to take a similar jump that his older brother did.

Bohannon was a staple in the Hawkeye offense, and will be difficult to replace on and off the court. Patrick McCaffery, Connor McCaffery, Tony Perkins and Filip Rebraca will all be expected to step into larger roles.

X Factor


Kris Murray. I am going to take the low hanging fruit on this one. The younger Murray has all the intangibles and talent to be a star for the Hawkeyes this season and help take them to the next step.

Murray averaged 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season. When two brothers play with each other, it is inevitable that they will be compared.

“I always thought I shot the ball better than him,” Kris Murray said. “I’ve been working more off the dribble, shooting-wise and scoring at all three levels.”

Murray added “I’m more of a willing passer. I like to make my teammates happy, just make winning plays.” However, Fran McCaffery really does not want Murray to lead the team in assists.

“I would say points and rebounds. I don’t know about assists,” McCaffery said about Murray stats. “He prides himself in getting rid of it. But I’d rather him average 20 (points) a game than lead us in assists if we can arrange that.

“He’s got long arms. He’s really put together right now,” Fran McCaffery said. “You think about how he was as a skinny freshman, now he’s 223 (pounds), and he’s bouncy and he’s running the floor and in great shape. We need him to be one of the top five rebounders in the league.”

After losing Keegan Murray and his 8.7 rebounds per game, the Hawkeyes are expecting the younger Murray to step into that role. Coming into this season, Kris is ready to forge his own path in Iowa City away from his brother.

“I knew this day would come, where I wouldn’t be able to play with him anymore,” Kris Murray said. “I’ve found comfort in the guys that we have and being able to play off of them.

“I’m confident in my abilities and looking forward to the season and ultimately, being by myself, with a really good cast of guys who can shoot (and) score at a really high level,” Murray added.

Prediction


Iowa has the potential to be very good, but as mentioned above, their success could very well be tied to how much of a jump Kris Murray takes. They are good enough to win some games and be an NCAA Tournament team no matter what, but if he becomes a star and an All-Big Ten type player, that could take the Hawkeyes to the next tier in the conference.

They will need their guards to step up as well, namely Tony Perkins. With the loss of Bohannon and Joe Toussaint, Perkins will need to be able to lay heavy minutes at the guard position. Murray, the McCaffery’s and Filip Rebraca are all guys who can hold down the minutes at forward.

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