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.

Continue reading...

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.

Continue reading...

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.

Continue reading...

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.

Continue reading...

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.

Continue reading...

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...


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

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.


Continue reading...

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

Continue reading...

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.


Continue reading...

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.

Continue reading...

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.

Continue reading...

Thanks again. I really appreciate it!

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.

Continue reading...

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.

Continue reading...

Column: Iowa is a cautionary tale of the dangers of nepotism and cronyism
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 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.

Continue reading...

Amier listed at #13

Login to view embedded media

Big Ten men’s basketball team previews: Iowa Hawkeyes
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

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.

Continue reading...

Login to view embedded media
“ANY TIME YOU HAVE A SCAR LIKE THAT, IT'S REAL. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT TO OUR STAFF, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IT TO OUR PLAYERS, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IT AS AN OFFENSIVE STAFF AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IT.”– RYAN DAY

Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for October 19, 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


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

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

LGHL Asks: What did you learn from TTUN’s win over PSU? Will Iowa score on Saturday
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


Watch all of Day, Knowles, and Wilson’s comments:


Key Takeaways as Buckeyes ramp up for Iowa, B1G title push (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Practice Report: Buckeyes back to work after idle week, focused on physical Iowa defense
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Says the Iowa Defense Is “Very Effective,” Ohio State “Got a Lot of Guys Rest” Over the Bye Week and Reflects on 2017 Loss to Iowa
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

What we learned from Ohio State’s press conference previewing Iowa
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Buckeyes remaining quiet, optimistic on status of Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Listen to all of Day, Knowles, and Wilson’s comments:


Ohio State’s offensive line named to Joe Moore Award midseason honor roll
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Johnson and Harrison Midseason All-Americans
Andy Anders, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

You’re Nuts: Which two players should join C.J. Stroud as Heisman Trophy finalists?
Brett Ludwiczak and Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

Jim Knowles may already have Ohio State ready for a potential postseason matchup with Tennessee
Stephen Means, cleveland.com

The return of Jaxon Smith-Njigba would ‘take some stress off’ an already productive Ohio State receiver group
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Yep, that tracks:


Iowa defensive players for Ohio State football fans to worry about or maybe feel sorry for
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Ohio State must keep balance, versatility when Jaxon Smith-Njigba returns (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Assessing the Carnell Tate situation and the continued pursuit by Tennessee
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land


Ohio State football coach Ryan Day isn’t costing Kyle McCord as many reps as you think
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

B1G Thoughts: Ten years of regret?
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Ohio State women’s basketball ranked no. 14 in AP Preseason Poll
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Women’s Basketball: Mikesell Makes Ann Meyers-Drysdale Preseason Watch List
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Basketball: Mikesell Returning, Ready to Lead Buckeyes in Second Season with Program
Caleb Blake, The Lantern

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Ohio State wrestling lands commitment from Brock Herman, Top 20 145 lbs. prospect flips from NC State
Nick Kosko, 247Sports

Women’s Soccer: Fischer’s Big Week Leads to B1G Player of the Week Honor
Ohio State Athletics


Men’s Soccer: Trejo Brings Passion, Professional Experience to Ohio State
Gaurav Law, The Lantern

And now for something completely different...


Make sure you watch until the end:


Continue reading...

Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ohio State opens the second half against Iowa
Gene Ross 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 take on the Hawkeyes for the first time since being upset in Iowa City in 2017.

The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast ‘Hangout in the Holy Land’ is here! Join LGHL’s co-managing editor Gene Ross alongside his co-host Josh Dooley as they cover everything from football to basketball to recruiting and more!

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


Gene and Josh are very excited to get back to their normally scheduled programming, as Ohio State is back in action this weekend when they host the Iowa Hawkeyes. Before getting into that, the duo recaps a crazy weekend of college football with Ryan Day’s group hopefully using the time to get healthy.

They then get into this year’s Iowa team, which comes to Columbus with one of the nation's worst offenses but also one of the nation’s best defenses. Can that elite defense hold down the Buckeyes' offense? And if so, will it even matter if the Hawkeyes can't put points on the board?

“Hangout in the Holy Land” will be posting two episodes per week during the regular season, with an episode before and after each Ohio State game to give you all the preview and recap content you may need. Be sure to download and listen in wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple to let us know your thoughts and how we can make things even better!

You can also follow us on Twitter @HolyLandPod, where we will want to hear from you guys even more! If there’s anything you’d like us to talk about on the show, @ us and let us know!

As always, Go Bucks.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod

Connect with Gene:
Twitter: @Gene_Ross23

Connect with Josh
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye

Continue reading...

Ohio State leaves positive impression on four-star DL target from Georgia
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kayden McDonald | 247Sports

The Buckeyes continue to prioritize a top defensive line target as an upcoming decision looms.

As decision day inches closer for one of defensive line coach Larry Johnson’s top remaining targets, the Buckeyes made another big impression on the blue-chip standout with a recent visit to his school. Plus, a future Ohio State pass-catcher that has been committed to the program since June revealed his official visit date to Columbus on Tuesday.

Ohio State “checks another box” for McDonald


We are less than two weeks away from finding out the collegiate home for 2023 four-star defensive lineman Kayden McDonald of North Gwinnett (GA). The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder is currently set to announce his commitment on Oct. 31, and the Buckeyes are hoping to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit.

This past Friday, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and cornerbacks coach Tim Walton made their way to Suwannee, Georgia to stop by the high school that McDonald attends to see the peach state prospect. The check-in from Day and Walton left a positive impression on McDonald, and he didn’t hold back when speaking about the visit.

“The head coach of the No. 2 team in the country came to see me,” McDonald told Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors. “It checks another box for Ohio State. It means a lot to me.”

As the Buckeyes look to outlast the other finalists in the recruitment of McDonald which includes Clemson, Florida, Michigan, and Oklahoma, this is definitely a positive development for Ohio State. But just how much it impacts the decision of McDonald is yet to be seen. For now, the 247Sports Crystal Ball has the Tigers as the prohibitive favorite to land the Georgia standout, but those predictions were made a couple of months ago.

Regardless, whichever of the five programs that is fortunate enough to land McDonald will be welcoming a massive talent to their respective defensive line room. McDonald is currently penciled in as a top 250 prospect in the class. The Suwannee native also ranks as the 33rd highest graded defensive lineman and the No. 22 overall player from the talented state of Georgia.

Rogers sets Buckeye official visit


Back in June of this year, Ohio State wide receiver coach Brian Hartline worked a little bit of his recruiting magic by securing a commitment from 2023 four-star wide receiver Noah Rogers of Rolesville (NC) less than a week after he stepped on campus.

Fast forward to Tuesday, and we learned that the blue-chip pass-catcher will be back in Columbus sooner rather than later. According to his 247Sports profile, Rogers will be back at Ohio State for an official visit with the program the weekend of Nov. 25 — Michigan week.

When the visit is happening should come as no surprise, as the weekend will be a major recruiting one for the Buckeyes which their arch-rivals in town. But the fact that Ohio State will have Rogers back on campus again, with attempts from NC State and North Carolina to flip his pledge, is the important aspect of the scheduled visit.

That is not to say that the commitment of the No. 47 overall player in the class was or should be in question. But sometimes prospects need to be reminded of why they initially made the decision that they did, and him being back in Columbus in front of what will surely be a tremendous atmosphere and around a host of future teammates might just be the reminder that Rogers, the seventh highest graded receiver, needs on why he wanted to be a Buckeye from the get go.

Quick Hits

• According to Kristian Dyer of Rutgers Wire, Ohio State will receive a visit this weekend from 2024 four-star safety Vaboue Toure of Irvington (NJ) for the contest against Iowa. The Buckeyes offered the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder just nine days ago.
• 2023 Ohio State four-star running back commit Mark Fletcher of American Heritage (FL) will be honored as an All-American later today. The No. 9 running back will take part in the contest that features “the nation’s top 100 high school football players,” according to the website.
• Buckeye target and 2024 four-star running back Stacy Gage of Wharton (FL) took to Twitter on Tuesday that his “recruitment is still 100% open.” With Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, and many more in pursuit, the Tampa native also noted that his top schools will be revealed soon.

Continue reading...

BB73 said:

Georgia went to South Bend in 2017 and won 20-19.

Click to expand...

and the Devil went down to Georgia.

LGHL Asks: What did you learn from TTUN’s win over PSU? Will Iowa score on Saturday?
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

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.

The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will be theoretically returning to the field this Saturday as healthy as they have been since before the season began after taking last week off. The team will host the offensively (feel free to put the emphasis on whichever syllable you would like) challenged Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday at 12 noon ET.

So, for this week’s LGHL and SB Nation Reacts survey, we wanted to ask some questions about OSU’s two biggest conference rivals, Saturday’s game, and what you did on the open week. So, go ahead and share your thoughts to the questions below.

Question 1: What was your biggest takeaway from Saturday’s Michigan win over Penn State?


After close (at least on the scoreboard) in the first half of their game last week, the Harboys blew out the Nits in the second half en route to a dominant 41-17 win to firmly distance the top two teams in the Big Ten East from the rest of their divisional foes.

But we want to know what you came away from the game most thinking. Did you learn more about the Skunk Bears or the Nittany Lions? Or, was that more or less what you already expected?

The Buckeyes will travel to Happy Valley a week from Saturday to take on Penn State and will obviously host the Weasels in the regular season finale.

Question 2: What did you do on Saturday during Ohio State’s off week?


On Saturday, I drove from my home in suburban Orlando out to St. Petersburg, Fla. to watch the world premiere of a new play written by Ruper Holmes — the guy who sings “The Pina Colada Song” — and then went to the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa for the evening to play poker and watch all of the late afternoon and primetime college football action.

What did you do while the Buckeyes were on the bye? Did you have some quality FFF (forced family fun)? Maybe rake some leaves or winterize the homestead? Or did you do what I assume most folks did and just binge 12 hours of some of the best college football in recent memory?

Question 3: How many points do you think that Ohio State will give up to Iowa this weekend?


On the season, Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes are scoring just 14.7 points per game, the 127th-worst total out of the 131 FBS teams. So, since I assume that the vast majority of you would pick the Buckeyes to win, I wanted to ask a slightly different question.

Ohio State is currently 10th nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 15.7 points per game, so the question is whether or not Jim Knowles’ unit will hold Iowa’s anemic offense to under its season average or not, and if so, how far under.

As always, I will share my thoughts when we reveal your responses later in the week.


Have your voice heard and share your thoughts on the Buckeyes here:


Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State Buckeyes fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate.

Continue reading...