LGHL Uncut Podcast: Day, Eliano, Stroud discuss victory over Notre Dame
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Ohio State Athletics

The trio of Buckeyes praised the team’s toughness and execution on Saturday night.

Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.

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On this episode of “Land-Grant Holy Land Uncut,” we have press conference audio from head coach Ryan Day, safeties coach Perry Eliano, and quarterback C.J. Stroud’s media availability on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The three answered questions from reporters about the primetime, top-five matchup between the Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday night.

The coaches and team captain discussed the improved defense and running games, explained how the team developed an increased toughness, and praised players including Lathan Ransom, Tommy Eichenberg, Paris Jackson Jr. Xavier Johnson, and more.

Stroud also spent some time dissecting individual plays to give the reporters some insight into what he saw and how it impacted his execution.


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Twitter: @BWWMatt

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Arkansas State Defensive Player to Watch: LB/DL Kivon Bennett
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Photo by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This talented hybrid defender once played alongside Nick Bosa before making some waves in the SEC.

As I wrote earlier this week, the Arkansas State Red Wolves have their work cut out for them on Saturday just to remain competitive in this matchup with the Buckeyes. There is just no other way to put it, given that the Red Wolves finished 2-10 last year, and were blown out a number of times.

The two marquee games on their 2021 schedule were against Washington and Coastal Carolina, and A-State dropped those contests by a combined score of 104-23. The program has been in a freefall since 2019, which was the last of their nine consecutive winning seasons. Gus Malzahn, Bryan Harsin, and Blake Anderson all found success with the team, but Butch Jones might have one of the steepest hills to climb in all of college football.

The biggest factor in Arkansas State’s lack of recent success has been the play of their defense — and it’s not even close. Since 2018, the Red Wolves have finished no better than 112th (out of 130 teams) in scoring defense. They have also surrendered more than 480 total yards per game to opponents during that time, and done so in a variety of ways. In 2020, the team gave up an average of 314 yards through the air. In 2021, they reduced the aerial assault to 244 yards/game, but saw their defense trampled to the tune of 261 rushing yards (!) per. All told, A-State finished ahead of only one team (Duke) in total yards allowed, while giving up 39 points per game. Their reward for 2022 is Ohio State in Week 2...

But alas, a defensive player will be previewed this week. Especially if he has “super” family ties, shared the field and a locker room with Nick Bosa, once held an offer from the Buckeyes, and is currently coached by a national champion from their ’02 team! That player’s name is Kivon Bennett, and he is this week’s Defensive Player to Watch.

Bennett is in his second season with the Red Wolves, after appearing in 28 games over four years with the Tennessee Volunteers. He was a high three-star recruit out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, where he played next to Nick Bosa on the team’s defensive line. Bennett graduated one year after Bosa, and chose Tennessee over a number of other schools — including Ohio State, from whom he had received an offer in December of 2015.

The former Volunteer followed in his father’s footsteps, at least when it comes to the conference in which he decided to pursue his college football dream. Kivon’s father is Cornelius Bennett, former No. 2 overall draft pick and five-time Pro Bowler in the NFL. He (the elder Bennett) dominated in the SEC, earning three All-American nods and a Lombardi Award while at Alabama before spending 14 borderline Hall of Fame-worthy years in the league. In addition to being named to five Pro Bowls, Cornelius Bennett was also named First Team All-Pro on three occasions, and played in five Super Bowls! His football acumen was clearly passed down, as Kivon eventually became an accomplished player in his own right.

But the younger Bennett did not find a ton of early success in Knoxville. He appeared in just a handful of games during his first two seasons, not making an impact at all on the defensive line. He then switched to linebacker prior to the 2019 season, and began to find his footing as a college player. In 17 games at his new position, Bennett totaled 49 tackles, 13.5 TFL, and 6.5 sacks for the Volunteers. However, his time at UT came to a quick and premature end in December of 2020. He was dismissed from the team following an arrest on gun and drug charges, for which he later pled guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Fortunately for Bennett, he had an ally of sorts in Butch Jones. The new A-State coach recruited him while at Tennessee, and apparently there was enough of a relationship there that the hybrid defender felt comfortable joining his former coach again with the Red Wolves. Having played multiple roles in the past, Bennett once again found himself on the defensive line. But this time, it worked out well for all parties involved.

He finished last season ranked second in the Sun Belt with 15.5 tackles for loss, and fourth in the conference with eight sacks. For his achievements, Bennett was named Second Team All-Sun Belt, and now seems poised to potentially follow in his father’s NFL footsteps.

Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Interestingly enough, Bennett’s current defensive coordinator is none other than Rob Harley. The great nephew of legendary Chic Harley, Rob was a former walk-on and member of OSU’s 2002 national championship team. He then spent time coaching linebackers at Michigan State, Florida International, and Pittsburgh before landing his first coordinator job with the Red Wolves in 2020.

Harley apparently had another position change in mind, as Bennett began practicing (once again) with the linebackers during the team’s spring sessions. Although clearly familiar with the position, he was used as more of a pass-rushing specialist in Tennessee’s 3-4 base defense. It could take some time for the sixth-year player to get comfortable playing “traditional” LB, but in the meantime, he is likely to be used in a hybrid role, due to his ability as a pass rusher.

Bennett’s move to LB was likely made out of necessity, given the fact that A-State’s other options were/are woefully undersized. Melique Straker started five games at LB for them last year, at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, which might be a 21st century record for that position. He could potentially move to defensive back at some point, but Jaden Harris has been entrenched as another starter in the middle. Harris is only listed at 6-foot-1, 215. Finally, Jordan Carmouche is yet another option for the Red Wolves. He began playing college football in 2016... as a running back at Houston. I would say that is less than ideal size and experience for the LB position.

Arkansas State is clearly coming in overmatched, but Bennett is still a guy to watch out for. He has a versatile skillset, solid experience, and most importantly he has shown an ability to get after the quarterback. The Red Wolves might not deploy him as a rusher as often as he is used to, but if gets C.J. Stroud in his sights... watch out. Bennett is clearly the biggest threat to Ohio State’s offense, so I expect him to receive plenty of attention. I will be watching him too to see if he can make things uncomfortable for the Buckeyes, and possibly show off some future NFL potential.

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Big Ten releases women’s basketball conference schedule; Ohio State opens home slate with Michigan State
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Photo by Graham Stokes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The conference releases dates for the 2022-23 B1G schedule.

In June, the Big Ten announced the home and away match-ups for all 14 conference teams. Tuesday, the conference put dates on the games, announcing the full schedule live on “B1G Today.”

The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team enters the 2022-23 season as the defending regular season co-champions and their conference title defense will begin against Rutgers on the road in New Jersey on Dec. 4.

Throughout the season, the Buckeyes face three conference contenders on and away from their home court. The biggest ones that everyone will have circled on their calendars ae against the Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State welcomes Michigan first on Dec. 31, with the away edition on Feb. 20, 2023.

A team that many thought would win the conference last year was the Maryland Terrapins. Ranked first in coaches and media preseason polls in October 2021, Maryland ended the year in fourth place in the conference. This summer, they’ve lost First Team All-B1G forward Angel Reese and Second Team All-B1G guard Ashley Owusu, but they’re a team that retools, not rebuilds.

The Buckeyes will face the Terrapins first on the road on Feb. 5, and then their final regular season game of the season will be against the Terps on Feb. 25 in Columbus. Ohio State split the two-game series last season, with each side winning at home.

Another favorite who slipped near the end of the season was the Indiana Hoosiers. The Scarlet and Gray faced the Hoosiers twice last year, but only once in the regular season. Ohio State lost the in-season and B1G tournament games against Indiana, but has two chances in the 2022-23 regular season to narrow the competitive gap.

Indiana welcomes Ohio State first on Jan. 26, while the Buckeyes will welcome the Hoosiers to Columbus on Feb. 13.

Arguably the biggest matchup on the schedule is against the team that shared the regular season championship with OSU last season — the Iowa Hawkeyes. Led by Naismith National Player of the Year finalist Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes followed up their regular season co-title with a B1G Tournament Championship this past spring, but fell to Ohio State in a high-scoring game in Iowa City 92-88.

Clark and the Hawkeyes travel to Ohio State for the lone regular season game between the two teams. The two squads play at the Schottenstein Center on Jan. 23.

Ohio State will also welcome Michigan State, Northwestern, Minnesota, and Purdue to Columbus, after playing each of the five sides away from their home campus last season.

Before the Buckeyes tip off against in-conference opponents, they will play a full non-conference schedule that features a number of big match-ups. Ohio State starts the season by welcoming the Tennessee Volunteers on Nov. 8. From there, the Buckeyes travel to Boston College, Louisville, and play in the two-game San Diego Invitational against South Florida and either the Oregon Ducks or Arkansas Razorbacks.

Here’s the full 2022-23 schedule:

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Class: 2023 (high school)
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School: Miamisburg (OH) Miamisburg
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Ask LGHL: What does Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s injury mean for the Ohio State offense?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports

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: What does Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s injury mean for the Ohio State offense?


First off, it’s never a good thing when you lose the best wide receiver in the country for any period of time, but if you are a glass-half-full kind of fan, there is probably a fairly significant silver lining or two to Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s apparent hamstring strain.

On Monday, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day told the Big Ten Network that his star wide receiver does not have a long-term injury and could be back on the field as early as this Saturday against Arkansas State. However, at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Day said that JSN would need to be 100% in order to play against the Red Wolves, and that he would leave that determination up to the medical staff.

For his part at the weekly presser, quarterback C.J. Stroud alluded to the fact that it appears that Smith-Njigba is dealing with a hamstring injury suffered on a questionably dirty hit against Notre Dame.

While I am neither a doctor (or football coach for that matter), nor do I play one on TV, I feel pretty comfortable in saying that unless JSN’s hammy is in better working condition than it was to start Saturday’s game against the Irish, it’s probably in everybody’s interest if he just takes the week off; heck, take next week against Toldeo off too if you want.

If the best wide receiver in the country is healthy, then obviously, he should be out there, but if there are any lingering concerns about the long-term health of his legs, then Day and company should take the opportunity afforded by back-to-back weeks against opponents that the Buckeyes will not need its full complement of players to beat (I hope this doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass) and sit their star wideout.

As long as JSN is in tip-top shape by the time the Big Ten season kicks off on Sept. 24 when Wisconsin comes calling to Columbus, that’s all that matters to me. Get Smith-Njigba healthy as quickly as possible, but there’s no reason for him to play a second sooner than that happens.

But, beyond having the ability for Jaxon to take the next two weeks off if the medical team deems it necessary, there is another positive to the projected first-round receiver being potentially sidelined.

It was pretty clear for the first two and a half quarters of the game against ND that Stroud was not yet in perfect sync with his first-time starting receivers like he was last year with Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Smith-Njigba; but how could he be? Not only was Saturday the first time that Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. were starting a regular season game, but with injuries to JSN and Julian Fleming, they were quickly elevated to go-to options in arguably the biggest game of the 2022 season until The Game in late November.

While, fortunately, OSU’s QB and WRs seemed to get on the same page when it mattered most to eventually salt away a double-digit victory over the then No. 5-team in the country, I would love to see Stroud and company — including Fleming if he is healthy and everybody’s favorite pass-catcher/special teams playmaker Xavier Johnson — get more opportunities to work on their timing and cohesion in game situations before the pressure of the conference slate kicks into gear.

I think most Buckeye fans — myself included — are pretty confident that Day, Stroud and WR coach Brian Hartline’s crew will be able to get the passing game clicking in fairly short order, but if they are able to make the most out of a potential week or two-absence from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, it could end up being to the Buckeyes’ long-term benefit.

In life and in sports, there are very few substitutions for experience. Because of the abundance of receiver talent that Hartline has assembled at OSU over the past four years, it is tough for even the most talented pass-catchers to gain ample experience if they aren’t on top of the depth chart. So, if opportunity allows, the Buckeyes should take advantage and get Egbuka, Harrison, Fleming, Johnson, Jayden Ballard, et al. as much experience running routes and catching passes from Stroud against non-Buckeye defenders as possible; that will only serve to pay dividends later in the season.

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The Dotted Line Podcast: Recruiting updates, crystal balls following Ohio State-Notre Dame game
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes have got three crystal balls since Saturday and three major defensive ends left impressed.

On “The Dotted Line”, Land-Grant Holy Land’s Matt Tamanini talks to recruiting experts, LGHL’s recruiting analysts, and prospects themselves to get a unique perspective on the players that will be a part of Ohio State’s future.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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dsdfOn Land-Grant Holy Land’s recruiting-centric podcast, LGHL’s Matt Tamanini and Caleb Houser break down the three 2024 crystal balls that Ohio State has picked up following its major recruiting weekend around the 21-10 win over Notre Dame.

They also discuss the trio of major 2023 defensive ends who raved about their visits to Columbus and which — if any — of them could end up committing to the Buckeyes between now and national signing day in December.

They also get in a few their thoughts on the game itself and a little bit of news on the mens’ basketball recruiting efforts following Saturday’s game.


Connect with Caleb Houser
Twitter: @CalebHouser9

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Meh. If everyone's in it, I'll stay in. But I don't really care either way.

Arvell Reese is ready to make his mark in Columbus
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Is Reese the next great linebacker to play for the Buckeyes?

Over the past decade, the Ohio State Buckeyes have had some great linebackers grace the Horseshoe, many of whom are now playing on Sundays. Next year, they could be getting another one from Cleveland, Ohio in Arvell Reese.

Reese is a 2023 linebacker recruit from the famed Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Glenville is led by longtime head coach Ted Ginn Sr., a legendary football coach in Northeast Ohio and father of former Ohio State and NFL receiver, Ted Ginn Jr.

Reese committed to Ohio State about a month ago, getting that decision out of the way and freeing him up to focus on his senior season at Glenville. Reese is listed as a 220 pound, 6-foot-3 linebacker who is ranked as the No. 228 player nationally in the 2023 class, the No. 15 ranked linebacker and the No. 5 player in the state of Ohio, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.


“It was great when I made the decision, everyone was happy for me,” Reese said. “From the Glenville aspect, I just respect it. I have been in the program since I was six (years old) and I respect everyone that went to Ohio State before me, and I love it.”

Reese added, “It is definitely great. I knew what I wanted, and I got it out of the way.”

Glenville has been an NFL factory under Ted Ginn Sr, producing NFL talent such as Marshon Lattimore, Cardale Jones, Troy Smith, Donte Whitner, Ted Ginn Jr., Shane Wynn, Frank Clark and numerous others. Avon high school football coach Mike Elder, who Reese and Glenville defeated on Sep. 2, 27-21, thinks that the Tarblooders have another NFL talent in Reese.

“Glenville has some guys on that team that will play on Sunday, make no doubt about that,” Elder said after the game.

From 2002-2017, 21 players from Glenville have gone to Ohio State.

According to 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu, Ohio State is getting an above-average athlete and player in Reese.


Here are some highlights from Reese’s impressive high school junior season:


Reese also praised head coach Ted Ginn Sr., and the impact he has had on his life and playing career thus far.

“It is a blessing playing for him,” Reese said about Ginn Sr. “He changed my life. He got me on track in school and football and got the right people around us and the best people just teaching us about life. Playing for him is legendary.”

Playing for Glenville, being from Cleveland and watching Ohio State growing up all played a key role in Reese deciding to play his college ball in Columbus over schools like Alabama, Cincinnati, Iowa, Indiana, Kent State, Michigan, Nebraska, USC, Penn State, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin — all of which he held offers from. But they all had the same issue: they just weren't Ohio State.

“I can’t wait to get to Ohio State,” Reese said. “It is a great place and that’s my favorite school. I love it all. I love the coaches, coach Knowles and Coach Day, it’s a special place.”

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Ohio State recruiting: Dylan Raiola and his role as the leader of 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


Five-star QB, Dylan Raiola | 247Sports

Raiola is not only the top player in the country, but also the leader of the 2024 recruiting class for the Buckeyes.

More times than not, the leader in a program’s recruiting class is at the quarterback position. Sure, other players on both sides of the ball may step up and be the vocal leaders of the group, but the quarterback spot being the most important on the field certainly plays a massive role in recruiting classes around the country. Maybe because of the importance of their position alone or who those players are on the national stage, quarterbacks ideally help build the class with talent around them, and Ohio State continues to fit that mold in how its classes are shaped.

Especially under Ryan Day, the Buckeyes have been able to bring in elite signal callers, and that alone has had a direct correlation in how successful these cycles have gone. Since Day has been in Columbus, the QB recruiting has been off the charts, and certainly that makes things easier for bringing in other elite talent to fill the roster — particularly on offense.

It makes sense that the best players want to play with the best quarterbacks, and when you look at the receiver position success the Buckeyes have had, it’s a perfect match for why the best pass-catchers in the nation end up in Scarlet and Gray. Sure, having Brian Hartline is a huge factor in most occasions, but having that elite talent under center is the other part of the equation, and Ohio State has had both.

Though the current cycle is still the 2023 class, when looking at the next big leader under center for Ohio State, Dylan Raiola checks every box for what Ohio State is looking for both on and off the field.

Talent


Talent alone can many times be a deciding factor for why quarterbacks are the vocal leaders of a recruiting class. Top national recruits want to play with a guy who can get the job done at the highest level, and Raiola’s long list of accolades confirms he has every ability to surround himself with a loaded list of stars prior to arriving on campus.

The top 2024 player in the 247Sports Composite rankings, Raiola’s ranking already has guys interested in playing alongside of him. Similar to what Ohio State fans have seen in the last few classes, the Chandler, Arizona should have no trouble in appealing to other top offensive weapons around the country. In addition, the new and improved defensive staff has the other side of the ball on an upward trajectory as well.

Where Raiola can and likely will separate himself is his ability to prove his worth on the field. Seeing him throw the rock is just as impressive as his ranking, and while many have already taken notice of that, it shouldn’t be long before the 2024 class for the Buckeyes adds more players alongside Raiola.

Peer Recruiting


Beyond talent, quarterbacks have to be able to peer recruit. Ohio State’s staff knows that they need their commits to help out with doing some recruiting of their own. When the Buckeyes are at or near the top of the country in the recruiting class rankings, they have players who dominate on the trail with their peers. Fortunately, that happens more times than not for Ohio State.

Looking at 2024, Raiola is a perfect example of an effective peer recruiter, and while there’s tons of work still to do, he’s off to a great start. Whether it be on Twitter or other various social media outlets, Raiola is seen constantly reaching out to other top players and pitching the Buckeyes.

This weekend was also no different, as Raiola was of course in attendance for the Notre Dame contest and did everything he could to be in the ears of the highly touted players that were also on campus. It’s not by coincidence that Dylan spent ample time with both Jeremiah Smith and Joshisa “JoJo” Trader, who are the No. 10 and No. 3 players nationally per the 247Sports Composite grades, and just happen to both play the receiver position.

Being that both Smith and Trader play at the same prep program, Raiola has waisted no time in doing his best to build a relationship with the duo. Fortunately, the Buckeyes already look to be in great position with Smith on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, and would love nothing more than to get heavily in the mix for his prep teammate.


Of course most of the work Raiola is putting in right now is on the offensive side of the ball, but as mentioned, the defensive players too are impacted by who the quarterback of their class is. Like he did with his offensive targets, Raiola put in the work in peer recruiting defensive players as well, because he knows that side of the ball is just as important as his when it comes to building the class as a whole.

Taking time to bond with safety Peyton Woodyard, the leader of this class made sure he took the time to get in his ear about why playing for the Buckeyes at the next level is the right move. The No. 25 player nationally, Woodyard is the second ranked safety in the class and the third best player from California for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite.

A big time target for the Buckeyes, this wasn’t Woodyard’s first trip to Columbus, but he came away very impressed with Ohio State’s new-look defense, and made it very clear how happy he was with his visit. Shortly after, you can see how much of a plyer Raiola will be in his recruitment going forward as a major peer recruiter.

Conclusion


The list of examples could go on and on, but the fact remains true: Raiola is taking the peer recruiting responsibility very seriously, and that’s a must if the Buckeyes are going to have the best possible 2024 class. Add his ability to appeal to other top prospects to his own personal talent, and you have the perfect combo for a great class leader.

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You’re Nuts: What movie titles best describe Ohio State’s performance in each half on Saturday night?
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 Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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

Football season is back and so are the roller coaster of emotions that we are put through during Ohio State football games. The Buckeyes came out a little flat, at least on offense. No complaints can be made about the defense, even though Notre Dame broke off a big play to start the game, which made every Buckeye fan have flashbacks to the horror shows that we have seen from the defense the last few years.

From a performance standpoint, it was a tale of two halves for Ohio State. Since it felt great to see the Buckeyes find their rhythm and earn the victory in the second half, we figured we might as well have a little fun with today’s topic. A football game lasts about as long as a couple movies these days, so why not use cinema to describe the game?

Notre Dame has the movie about that loser Rudy, who most definitely was offside, so why not pick a movie title that best describes Ohio State’s performance in each half on Saturday? The great thing about this topic is there are so many movies that you could ask 100 people to pick movies describing each half for the Buckeyes and you might not see any movie titles repeated.

Today’s question: What movie titles would you use to describe Ohio State’s performance in each half on Saturday night?

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.

Brett’s first half answer: “Joker”


“You wanna know how I got these scars?”

Even though that line came from one of the “Dark Knight” movies, it felt true on Saturday night. For the first 30 minutes of the game, it felt like Ryan Day wasn’t capable of coaching his way out of a paper bag. Even though the Buckeyes went on to win the game, there still are questions about whether Day should give up play-calling duties. After hearing about how the Ohio State offense was going to be unstoppable this year, it was extremely concerning to see the Buckeyes struggle to get anything going offensively, heading into halftime only scoring seven points.

At halftime, it felt like I was Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker”, looking into the mirror and physically forcing my face to smile. Had Ohio State lost this game, I might have painted my face and gone out and caused some chaos around Columbus. All this and it wasn’t until after halftime that we heard official word that Jaxon Smith-Njigba wouldn’t return to the game due to injury.

Brett’s second half answer: “True Grit”


If you wanted to describe Ohio State’s second half performance in one word, it would definitely be grit. Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson not only gave the Buckeyes the lead with their physicality running the football in the second half, they sealed the game for Ohio State. Even more impressive was how the Ohio State defense played throughout the game, putting pressure on Tyler Buchner to rattle the young quarterback in his first start for Notre Dame.

Was Ohio State’s performance on Saturday night pretty? Not at all. But, all that matters is the Buckeyes beat the fifth-ranked team in the country. Last year, Georgia beat Clemson, who was ranked third in the country heading into the season, 10-3. The Bulldogs would use the tough win as a start to a season that would end with a national championship. Hopefully the Buckeyes can also follow the same formula, opening up a championship season with a win in a game that was grittier than sandpaper at times against a top-five team.

Meredith’s first half answer: “Dude, Where’s My Car?”


Ohio State entered this season essentially without questions on offense. From returning C.J. Stroud and TreVeyon Henderson to a strong offensive line and skill position players that had already shown themselves worthy next men up, all signs pointed to a humming unit that should at least sustain the Buckeyes while the defense found its footing.

Unfortunately, the Buckeyes couldn’t seem to find that offense throughout the first half of Saturday’s matchup against Notre Dame. Perhaps they parked it somewhere after the Rose Bowl and the first half was a dramatic attempt to locate it. Regardless, all the things we expected to see — high-flying passes, open bursts of rushing, the ball moving at will — were nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, the early season hiccups didn’t seem to last too long.

Meredith’s second half answer: “The Replacements”


Okay, this one is a stretch, especially since, as mentioned above, Ohio State returned a lot of key players on offense. The Buckeyes also returned key personnel on defense. However, things took a scary turn early on in the game after Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the expected leading receiver heading into 2022, left the game with an injury. That loss was felt even more considering fellow wideout Julian Fleming was ruled out due to injury before the game.

But then fifth-year receiver Xavier Johnson caught a touchdown pass in the second half to put the Buckeyes ahead in the third quarter. Johnson followed up that play with a monster tackle on Notre Dame’s return man on the ensuing kickoff. On the defensive side of things, sophomore defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. had a sack and two tackles for loss. That sack, importantly, came on third down on Notre Dame’s last drive of the game, effectively sealing the win for Ohio State.

Sure, Johnson has been on the roster for a long time, and Hall came in as the No. 54 player in the 2020 class, but they were effectively replacements in the Buckeyes’ opener Saturday — replacements that sure got the job done.

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in his top 5

Iowa St Verbal

Minnesota Verbal

Baylor verbal

Oregon verbal

not in his top 5

committed to Maryland

Baylor Verbal

Bronny James, Taison Chatman among Ohio State recruits at Notre Dame game

Ohio State also hosted Raleigh Burgess, a 6-10, 205-pound center from Cincinnati Sycamore in the class of 2024. He holds offers from Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa, among others.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/spor...ate-for-notre-dame-football-game/65472235007/

Column: There’s no need to freak out after ND... the Bucks won!
meganhusslein 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

I have been seeing a lot of negativity on social media following the Buckeyes’ WIN, so allow me to settle these folks down.

ICYMI, No. 2 Ohio State defeated No. 5 Notre Dame by double digits Saturday. Or, in case you did see it, yet are feeling a little bit concerned about some parts of the team, I am here to calm you down and tell you not to fret.

There are many reasons to be encouraged by this win, so here are just a few.

The most important: Ohio State won!

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

A lot of people acted like the Buckeyes opened the season with a loss. Not only did they win, they beat a top five team by more than one score. I believe that Notre Dame was SEVERELY underestimated by many (including myself), so that might be the reason some were disappointed with the game.

Additionally, it’s tempting to compare Ohio State’s outcome to other top-10 programs. However, it’s critical to point out that No. 1 Alabama played Utah State, No. 8 TTUN played Colorado State, No. 9 Oklahoma played UTEP and No. 7 Utah LOST to Florida. So, there’s three automatic blowouts right there, followed by a loss! The Buckeyes faced a really difficult opponent, especially for Week 1.

You have to give credit to where credit is due — Marcus Freeman had his team prepared. Their defensive game plan worked extremely well, keeping Stroud & Co. in check for the majority of the game. Plus, quarterback Tyler Buchner showed flashes of potential. However, in the end, the Buckeyes simply are more talented, and that is why they came out with more points.

How about that defense?

Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

You could say that the defense is EXTREMELY improved from last season! They limited the Irish to just 10 points the entire game. In fact, in the second half alone, Buchner only passed for two completions, the run game rushed for 23 yards and they were forced to punt in each of their final six possessions.

While there were some nerve-wracking moments in the first half, including the very first play of the game, the defense got their crap together during the critical time — the second half. They held ND to 76 rushing yards on 30 attempts overall, which is very encouraging considering how poor the run defense was last season.

The Silver Bullets just looked confident and powerful out there. There were contributions from everyone. It was expected from Tommy Eichenburg (maybe not as well as he performed!), but how about Mike Hall? Four tackles, two TFL and a sack? Not bad for the sophomore defensive tackle. The best part about all of this is: it was only the first game, and Jim Knowles admitted it was a basic game plan, so that means it’s only going to get better!

The receivers had pretty much zero experience, no JSN... yet still balled out

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

I must admit, once Jaxon Smith-Njigba got injured, I was nervous. It’s Stroud’s first game (well, technically second) without Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, and now JSN is out too? This new slate of receivers had little to no game experience, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. However, I should’ve known to never doubt the Buckeyes’ receiving core!

I expected Marvin Harrison Jr. to step into the WR1 role with JSN out, but Emeka Egbuka truly proved what he is all about. He finished with nine receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown. That was his breakout game as a Buckeye, but MH2 still did well too — we all know what he is capable of.

However, a guy I simply have never heard of, Xavier Johnson, BALLED OUT! While he only had two receptions for 34 yards, one of those was the go-ahead TD in the third quarter. I didn’t know who No. 10 was until that very moment, but that just proves how deep the WR room is, which is extremely encouraging. Cade Stover and Jayden Ballard also played well.

I hope that if you were on the fence about how you were feeling following the game, this has brought you over to the greener side. There is so much to be optimistic about, between the defense, the run game and Xavier Johnson — I could go on and on. If you think the offense looked a bit shaky, it probably did. This was Stroud’s first game with all new receivers, and it was against a top five defense. It’s only going to get better.

The best thing about being 1-0...

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for September 6, 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


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

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


We love our analytical robot overlords.


Jaxon Smith-Njigba injury ‘not a long-term thing,’ coach Ryan Day says
Robbie Weinstein, 247Sports

Ohio State names four players of the week from Notre Dame win
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State Rewatch: Thoughts on defensive pressure and a solid run game (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes


Film Review: Jim Knowles as good as advertised with physical, fast defense against Notre Dame
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

Snap Counts: 52 Ohio State Players See Action Against Notre Dame as Buckeyes Keep Rotations Tight in Season Opener
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land


Five Buckeyes who boosted their stock in opening win over Notre Dame
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Five Questions as Buckeyes turn focus to tuneup stretch (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

You’re Nuts: What was the biggest pleasant surprise from Ohio State in Week 1?
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land


B1G Thoughts: Running backs still rule, Ohio State is tough?
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Four-star guard George Washington de-commits from Ohio State
Travis Branham, 247Sports


What’s next for Ohio State after George Washington III’s decision?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Impressed by Ohio State visit, Taison Chatman could decide soon
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Women’s Soccer: Buckeyes Draw with No. 18 Texas A&M in Entertaining Match
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Golf: McGinty Named To ANNIKA Award Preseason Watch List
Ohio State Athletic

Women’s Volleyball: Emily Londot Named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...


I absolutely love this for him.


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Silver Bullets Podcast: Irish Rewind, Arkansas State Preview
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

Time to dissect the Buckeyes’ win over the No. 5 Fighting Irish and prepare for the Red Wolves.


The season is officially underway! Ohio State may have had the offense stuck in neutral for much of the opening game against the Fighting Irish, but — as usual — there’s always “run the dang ball” on which to fall back. The Jaxon Smith-Njigba injury certainly affected Ryan Day’s offense, Jim Knowles’ defense (after the first play) worked about as well as most OSU fans hoped, and the Buckeyes were able to be physical in the run game when it mattered most.

We break down the Buckeyes’ 21-10 win over the Notre Dame, including what went well, what didn’t work as well as expected, and who the top performers were. We checked the final box score to check on how we did with our score predictions and the players we picked to click.

After our Notre Dame talk, we walked through the results around the Big Ten, where there were few surprises but some results that probably should have gone the other way and at least one that could be costly at season’s end for teams that may struggle to reach bowl eligibility (looking at you, Illini).

Finally, we looked ahead to Saturday’s opponents, the Arkansas State Red Wolves. There will be some familiar faces on the other side of the field on Saturday, including former Buckeye running back Brian Snead. After we present how we think the game will unfold, we give your our picks to click on both sides of the ball and our score predictions as well.

We’ll be back next week to analyze the Arkansas State matchup, check on our picks and predictions, and get ready for an in-state battle against the Toledo Rockets. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.

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Ohio State hoops four-star guard de-commits
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2023 four-star combo guard Taison Chatmon via @tchat04 on Twitter

George Washington III de-committed from Ohio State Monday. What does this mean for Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes?

The Ohio State football team had a more than successful weekend. The team defeated top-5 Notre Dame in the season opener. The win combined with the electric crowd in “The Shoe” created the ultimate recruiting weekend for the Buckeyes. However, it was not just the football team that had a crucial weekend, as the men’s basketball team also had a critical weekend.

If you missed Ohio State making the national recruiting headlines over the Labor Day holiday, Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.

George Washington III de-commits from Ohio State


The biggest news for Ohio State’s men’s basketball program is the recent de-commitment from 2023 four-star combo guard, George Washington III of Dayton, Ohio (Chaminade Julienne). Washington was the first commitment of Ohio State’s 2023 class.


Prior to Washington leaving the program, the Buckeyes had four verbal commitments in Scotty Middleton, Devin Royal, Austin Parks and Washington, which was good for the No. 5 class in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Following his departure, the Buckeyes remain in the top-10, but the class fell to No. 9.

The news of Washington’s departure certainly appeared as a shock at first. However, looking deeper into the men’s basketball program’s most recent actions, Holtmann and the Ohio State coaching staff were not as surprised.

While Washington was committed, the Buckeyes had extended all of their allocated scholarship offers. Yet, the program continued to recruit top-level guards including both four-star guards Taison Chatman and Bronny James, who visited with the program this past weekend as the football team played host to Notre Dame.


Ohio State has long been recruiting both Chatman and James, but until recently, neither seemed to be a realistic possibility. Chatman was someone the team viewed as a great fit, but Ohio State was out of scholarship offers following the commitment of Middleton, and it was thought the other top schools in his recruitment like Kansas, Xavier and Minnesota had better odds at landing him.

Jump forward to Monday, and Chatman’s recruitment looks much different. Following his official visit to Ohio State, rumblings have occurred that he will be ready to make his commitment in the coming week or two, and Ohio State may now be looked at as the favorites to land him.

It needs to be noted that Chatman himself has not stated he is ready to commit, let alone announce a commitment date. But if he is to commit soon, the timing of the Ohio State visit spells good news for the Buckeyes. Chatman has officially visited with both Xavier and Kansas, and those visits went as well as possible. But the Buckeyes certainly sit in a good spot for him.

The other recruit Ohio State hosted on a visit this weekend was the aforementioned James, who visited Ohio State this weekend with his dad — whom you might know.

James recruitment is the exception to the rule. Incredibly little is known about James recruitment, and college was not always the expected route for him (It still may not be). If he does decide to continue his basketball career by going to college, Ohio State has always been a school thought to have a shot, as the Ohio State athletic program and LeBron James have a long-standing relationship. Other schools thought to be actively recruiting him are Oregon, USC, UCLA and Michigan.

So where does this leave the Ohio State men’s basketball program?

Following Washington’s departure, the Buckeyes now have an available scholarship offer. The most-likely scenario, and also probably the best-case scenario, for the Buckeyes would be for that to go to Chatman. This would mean the Buckeyes scholarship count is full and the team would not have one to offer James. However, this does not eliminate the Buckeyes completely in the sweepstakes for James. His father is not the average father, and if James decides to pay tuition and not take a scholarship offer, he would be able to join Chatman and the rest of Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class in Columbus.

Chatman is the No. 8 CG in the nation and is the No. 31 overall prospect. He is also the No. 1 recruit from Minnesota. James is No. 10 CG in the nation and is the No. 41 overall prospect. He is also the No. 10 recruit from the talent-rich state of California.

Quick Hits

• Key Ohio State 2024 four-star safety target Peyton Woodyard visited campus Saturday as the Buckeyes played host to Notre Dame, who has been viewed as the favorite to land the blue-chip prospect. Woodyard said his visit to Ohio State was great, and is already talking to Ohio State’s loan 2024 commit, and five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, on Twitter.

• Important five-star defensive end target for Ohio State, Keon Keeley, visited the Buckeyes Saturday and was “wow-ed” by the atmosphere in Ohio Stadium. His visit also appeared to go as well as possible.

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B1G Thoughts: Running backs still rule, Ohio State is tough?
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kyle Robertson-USA TODAY Sports

Week 1 came with a range of emotions, special plays, break-out performances, and questionable coaching decisions.

Every Monday after the Big Ten slate of games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and maybe a joke or two. Be sure to check out the I-70 Football Show in the Land-Grant Holy Land podcast feed for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.

Mike Hall Jr. meet College Football. College Football meet Mike Hall Jr.


Last year the Ohio State defense was a laughing stock amongst most fans and media. Much of the focus was on the coaching staff, which was well deserved, but something that went a little under the radar was the lack of presence from the defensive line. Larry Johnson, a living legend and a future CFB Hall of Famer, was the only coach retained from the staff. Many of us think it blasphemy to talk bad about Johnson, as he is one of the premier coaches in the game, but it was fair to question his unit last year as there was not A GUY, after a run of Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, and Chase Young. Well, there may be a guy in that room now, and unlike the previous trio, he is an interior defensive lineman.

A few weeks back Larry Johnson was quoted saying, “In every group, you’ve gotta have an alpha dog, right?” Johnson continues to say, “We’ve gotta have that one guy committed to doing that. I think it’s important (and) I think we have that guy.” Most of us assumed that guy was J.T. Tuimoloau or Jack Sawyer, the No. 4 and No. 5 players in the 2021 recruiting class respectively. Instead, it may be Mike Hall, the often forgotten member of the 2021 class despite being the number 53rd ranking player in the class.

All offseason if you listened closely, you could hear the excitement building around Hall, and with a spectacular performance against Notre Dame he confirmed the hype. Hall finished with four tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack, but his impact went way behind counting statistics. What may have been a secret isn’t a secret anymore, as Mike Hall introduced himself to the world in dominant fashion.

Watch Mike Hall dominate the Notre Dame offensive line:

Jim Knowles is as advertised


Jim Knowles built a reputation for himself as a top-tier defensive coordinator who bucked conventional trends. Knowles does not believe in reacting to what the offense is doing, instead believing in making the offense react to what the defense is doing. One of his best qualities according to many experts is his ability to make adjustments mid-game, more specifically at halftime.

Knowles showcased his ability to make adjustments against Notre Dame. After starting 8-of-9 for 128 yards with eight straight completions in the first half, Notre Dame’s Tyler Buchner was 2-of-7 for 49 yards in the second half. Knowles’s defense forced Notre Dame into six straight punts, and they finished the game 3-of-13 on third down. Knowles showed multiple personnel packages, disguised coverages, and a willingness to blitz in crucial situations. It’s hard to say this defense is fixed after one game, but the signs are encouraging.

X-Rays confirm Miyan Williams has that dog in him!


After a hard-fought three quarters, Ohio State got the ball on their five-yard line with a 14-10 lead. Enter Miyan Williams, who converted a critical third-down pick-up with a sliding 12-yard catch from C.J. Stroud after finding himself out of the pocket due to pressure from the Notre Dame defensive front. After the catch, Williams put on a tour de force of physical running play with runs of 11, 15, and 12 yards en route to a two-yard touchdown run.

Ohio State went 95 yards in a drive spanning over seven minutes, and Williams was responsible for 61 yards after refusing to go down and carrying multiple defenders on his back. TreVeyon Henderson may be the name in Ohio State’s running back room, but Miyan Williams is thunder to his lightning. When the Buckeyes needed a touchdown, Miyan put the team and Buckeye Nation on his back.

Welcome back Mo Ibrahim


Mohamed Ibrahim is one of the best running backs in the Big Ten, and after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 1 of the 2021 season against Ohio State, he decided to forego the NFL Draft and come back for a sixth season. In his first action in almost a year, he showcased his ability by running for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Minnesota is a popular pick to win the Big Ten West, largely due to the return of Mo Ibrahim. It was nice to see him back after missing last season.

New running backs, same Big Ten


The Big Ten is a conference run by running backs — no pun intended. Now don’t get it twisted, there are talented players in all positions. Some of the best wide receivers in the NFL are from the Big Ten, and the trend continues as multiple Big Ten receivers were drafted last year. At its core, this is a conference that runs the ball first and foremost.

In Week 1 we saw great performances by runnings backs who have already acclimated themselves to the Big Ten, such as Chase Brown running for 199 yards against Indiana, but we also got some big performances by new faces. Roman Hemby, a freshman running back for the Maryland Terrapins, introduced himself in a major way by running for 114 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries. Anthony Grant, a Juco transfer, put up 189 yards and two touchdowns on 23 rushing attempts in Nebraska’s 38-17 win over North Dakota.

It’s hard to make a name for yourself in the Big Ten as a running back due to all the history and the level of competition, but these newcomers are hoping to break into the top ranks by building on these performances throughout the season.

Look at this play from Roman Hemby:

Penn State and Purdue left their running game in the locker room


Speaking of running the ball, not everyone got the memo. Penn State and Purdue played a game where running success was hard to come by, and it wasn’t because of the opposing defense. Penn State won the game 35-31, but finished the game with only 98 yards on 3.1 yards per carrying. Purdue, somehow, was significantly worse, finishing the game with 70 rushing yards on 3.0 yards per carrying.

Both of these teams are going to have to look in the mirror and figure out a rushing game if they hope to have any success, otherwise they will fall to the middle of their respective divisions. Running may not be a focus for many teams, but in the Big Ten, where the majority of teams still reside in the Midwest and deal with inclement weather. A running game goes a long way in the Big Ten, somehow James Franklin and Jeff Brohm didn’t get the memo.

Poor coaching decisions wreck Week 1


One common thought during Week 1 is that anything can happen because the players are prone to mistakes. We expect missed tackles, miscommunication, and an overall lack of cohesion. One thing that is rarely discussed is coaches not being ready for Week 1. Coaching, like players, takes a few weeks to round in form, and in certain cases, poor coaches have led to Week 1 losses. Week Zero, if we’re talking Nebraska, but that was not early season mistakes. Scott Frost is just bad at his job.

Even still, his decision to green-light an onside kick while up 11 on Northwestern was the epitome of bad coaching. Nebraska did not score again in the game, and lost another one-score contest after being up double digits. Jeff Brohm set his team up to lose by not going for a 4th-and-short in enemy territory instead choosing to punt. A conversion and a touchdown would have sealed the game, but instead Purdue suffered a loss due to his decision not to be aggressive.

Game-winning drives by unlikely subjects


I am on record that the Big Ten is a conference full of mediocre quarterbacks, and I fully stand behind that statement. Yet even mediocre quarterbacks can perform in clutch moments, and that was showcased a couple of times during the Week 1 slate.

After a rough game, and Jeff Brohm’s decision to not go for it on fourth down, Sean Clifford led Penn State on an eight-play, 80-yard drive where he went 7-for-7 including a 10-yard pass to running back Keyvone Lee for the game-winning touchdown. Indiana’s Connor Bazelak found some magic in his first game as a Hoosier, leading his team past the Fighting Illini with a 75-yard touchdown drive. This drive was even more significant due to the fact the Illinois defense had held the Hoosiers to 70 total yards of offense in the second half before this game-winning drive.

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