Five best landing spots for Duane Washington Jr.
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images

Where does the former Buckeye hooper fit best in the league?

I had two immediate thoughts when I saw the Indiana Pacers were waving former Ohio State guard Duane Washington Jr. after his rookie season. The first one was, “man that’s weird,” and the second one was, “thank god.” The Pacers are a trainwreck, and Washington is better off really anywhere else. They don’t have an identity right now and they are struggling to really make much of their future. Not the best place for a rookie to be.

Based off how he played last season in just his rookie campaign, Washington proved he can be a valuable rotation player in the league. He showed flashes of elite and streaky shooting, shot creation and improved passing and defense from his collegiate days.

Washington averaged 9.9 points per game averaging 20 minutes per contest with the Indiana Pacers his rookie season.


He originally signed a two-way contract, and that was converted to a standard contract after the season. And then he was released from the Pacers in order for them to be able to offer Deandre Ayton a max contract offer sheet. However, the Suns matched the offer sheet the Pacers gave Ayton, and Ayton will be returning to Phoenix. Kind of a mess for the Pacers.

NBA teams may have up to two players under NBA Two-Way Contracts who will spend the bulk of the season in the NBA G League and not more than 45 days with their NBA team. Two-way players are paid a corresponding daily amount based on the number of days they play in each league. Only players in their fourth NBA season or earlier are able to sign two-way contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.

Since Washington and the Pacers have parted ways, where could the former Buckeye guard land?

Los Angeles Lakers

Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

This is the obvious one and the one I have already seen floated around. The formula to play and succeed with LeBron James is not difficult. Surround him with shooters and guys who can create off the dribble — AKA, Duane Washington Jr.

There is no reason Washington cant have a season like Austin Reeves, Talen Horton Tucker or even Malik Monk had this past season. Russell Westbrook is struggling, but he can still average 10 assists per game, and Anthony Davis is still a top five player in the NBA if he is healthy. A big if at this point no doubt.

If they can get all their big three on the court at the same time, Washington could be a perfect glove fit on that team.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Photo by Rick Osentoski/Getty Images

What is a good list without a little bit of bias? I am a Cavs fan, and I want Washington off the bench. That is pretty much the reason. The Cavs have been going against the grain and the traditional NBA with the size they play, with so bringing in a guy like Washington can help even that out.

Plus, they have yet to extend the contracts of Caris Levert and Collin Sexton, so they may need some new guards if they do not end up doing that, especially ones that may be cheaper to sign so they can hold out hope that LeBron James might return. But I am not going down that rabbit hole right now.

Dallas Mavericks

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

I am pretty sure every shooter in the league would give up an arm and a leg to play with Luka Doncic right now. One of the best passers in the game, Doncic has elite vision and can find anyone on the court at any time. Plus, the Mavericks just lost Jalen Brunson to New York, so they need a guard to step in and attempt to fill that void. Washington doesn’t have to come in and be a 20-point per game guy, but he can step in and help give the Mavs some much needed shooting help next to Reggie Bullock and Dorian Finney Smith.

Phoenix Suns

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

The Suns are one of the five or six teams that are the main contenders for an NBA championship next season, pushing their chips into the middle of the table with the re-signing of center Deandre Ayton to a max contract.

Also, the Pacers released Washington to make space for signing Deandre Ayton, so Washington landing with the Suns and inevitably playing with Ayton feels fitting. Plus, any shooter playing with Chris Paul and Devin Booker should be loving life pretty much immediately.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

This one is a little more off the wall, but I like the fit immensely. First of all, the Thunder were dead last during this past season in three-point field goal percentage, so adding a shooter cant hurt. Plus, the Thunder have a very solid young core in Josh Giddey, Chet Holmgren and Tre Mann, Washington fits on that team very well and can help them grow. Washington could be a key piece to the Thunder’s evolution.

Continue reading...

You’re Nuts: Which broken record sets you off the most?
Brett Ludwiczak 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 NETWORK

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

There are some topics that no matter how silly they are, they are things that people can’t let go of, so we end up having to spending a bit of time annually writing or talking about them. Often times they aren’t things that even happen in a game, instead they are decisions being made by old executives whose only care is about how much money it is going make them.

What channels the games are on, who is calling those games, what times those games start, what uniforms are being worn in the game are just a few examples of silly things we end up getting worked up about. Do the players care about these things? The uniforms might put a pep in their step if they like them, and they might care a little about game times because it will effect their game prep, but they could care less about the other things.

Of course there are numerous other things that have become constant sources of rage for Buckeye Nation. We want to know what is a thing that sets you off without fail, no matter how dumb it is.

Today’s question: Which broken record sets you off the most?

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

Brett’s answer: ESPN hates Ohio State


In my opinion, this has been one of the dumbest complaints from Ohio State fans. ESPN actually loves the Buckeyes because of the great numbers Ohio State games do on their networks. Is the coverage of Ohio State a little iffy at times? You certainly could argue that, but that’s just because sometimes ESPN knows they may have to push a few buttons to get Buckeye Nation talking about them.

In pro wrestling, the worst thing a wrestler can encounter is getting no reaction from the fans. If they get cheered or booed, it doesn’t matter because it means they are moving the needle in one way or anything. The same can be said about coverage of sports teams. In most cases, the last thing you want is to not be talked about at all. If you’re not being talked about, you’re essentially just Rutgers or Illinois.

I would cite incidents that have drawn the ire of Buckeye fans but there are too many to choose from over the years. Usually it leads to the Ohio State faithful saying things like “I’M CANCELLING ESPN!” or “NOW I ONLY WATCH LIVE SPORTING EVENTS ON ESPN!”. Both statements are so incredible stupid. If you only watch live sporting events on ESPN, you are still watching ESPN, so they are still lining their pockets. Even if you go to cancel ESPN, I haven’t come across any cable providers that let you cancel just ESPN, you have to cancel a package so you’re losing a lot more than just ESPN. About the only way I think this is possible is if you rely on ESPN+ and cancel that streaming package.

What some Ohio State fans need to do is getting a little thicker skin. When these fans cry about the type of coverage they get from ESPN and think the network hates them, the fans are playing right into the network’s hands because they are talking about the network. Besides, sometimes it is fun to be the bad guy. Embrace the hate a little more, because it will make victory a little more sweeter.

Meredith’s answer: Scheduling championship games on Mondays


My broken record topic is one that I write about at least twice per year: a rant against Monday night championship games.

For both the College Football Playoff and the finals of the NCAA Tournament, organizers seem to find value in hosting the game not on a weekend, when people might want to host a party and make a night of it, but instead on Mondays. Moreover, the kick (or tipoff) is never at a convenient time. It often starts after my bedtime which, granted, is early.

The combo of a late kick and a Monday date mean that I enjoy the games significantly less than I should. I am wiped from the work day and dread the thought of losing sleep and throwing off my routine for the rest of the week to stay up and watch.

But those are pretty selfish and self-serving reasons. There is something to be said for supporting the next generation of sports fans by putting the biggest games of the year on nights when they will be allowed to stay up for them — that is, not on school nights.

From a ratings perspective, Monday night games aren’t doing the sport any favors. Yes, a game aired on ESPN will see a higher than usual cable audience for a Monday event, but how much larger would the audience be for the same game played on a weekend? The CFP championship game this year, a rematch of the SEC title game, drew 22.6 million viewers, which was 19% higher than the record low we saw in 2021.

While I have a similar complaint about basketball, at least the games are short.

Unfortunately for you readers, I will continue to write my semi-annual column on the topic until championship games stop being played on Monday night.

Continue reading...

You’re Nuts: What Ohio State record will be broken this season?
Josh Dooley 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

Which program record is most likely to fall in 2022?

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. This time around, the guys will be keeping in tune with the theme of the week: Broken Records.

This week’s topic: What Ohio State record will be broken this season?

Josh’s Take:


As I was thinking about Ohio State football records that have the potential to be broken in 2022, I found myself saying “damn, some of these are just absurd.” Not that I was unfamiliar with them before, but I can legitimately see some of these current records continuing to stand for decades. The game is different, and I don’t envision ground-and-pound offenses, old school middle linebackers, or four-year starters coming back. So in my opinion, I think most of the attainable records are single-game or single-season marks. Most, not all.

I was tempted to go out on a limb by predicting that Tommy Eichenberg will set the OSU single-game record for tackles (currently 29, held by Chris Spielman), but I couldn’t quite get there. Or how about Jordan Hancock or Kye Stokes to pick off double-digit passes in a single season? Not in 2022, but eventually. I wanted to be outlandish here, but ultimately settled on realistic. Boring, I know.

The records I have in mind were just set last year. And I predict that the same player who set them will be the one to break them in 2022. In doing so, he will not only set single-season records, but also go down as one of the all-time Buckeye legends. This player’s name is Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and I believe that he will meet or exceed his incredible 2021 output, breaking all sorts of Ohio State receiving records in the process.

JSN finished last season with 95 receptions for 1,606 yards. He also had two games with 15 receptions each, and a Rose Bowl performance during which he racked up 347 yards — all records! The area in which he was “lacking”, was touchdowns. He scored three in the Rose Bowl, and nine all season, but frankly did not show much of a nose for the endzone... please don’t aggregate this, I am clearly joking. JSN did all of this while playing alongside Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jeremy Ruckert. Well, newsflash: all of those guys are gone, and I expect JSN to reap benefits from a statistical standpoint.

Olave, Wilson, and Ruckert combined for 161 receptions in 2021, on well over 200 targets. Those targets are now available for JSN. Obviously, I do not anticipate a 256-catch season from the third-year star, but there will be plenty of opportunity. Because for as much as we all hype up Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Julian Fleming (my personal darkhorse), they are largely unproven. You could have easily said the same thing about JSN prior to 2021, but he has now (clearly) established the strongest rapport with C.J. Stroud. He is the absolute go-to in just about every situation.

I predict that JSN will finish with right around 100 receptions, 1,500 yards, and double-digit TD. As long as both Stroud and JSN remain healthy – and play at least 13 games – the breakdown is pretty simple: 100 catches = 7.7 per game, 1,500 yards = 115 per, plus 10 or more TD. Prior to 2021, I would not have thrown these projections out with such ease, but the QB/WR duo formed such perfect chemistry, that I would be surprised if they did not dominate once again. Lofty expectations? Sure. Realistic? I believe so.

If JSN is able to finish 2022 somewhere in the neighborhood of my predictions, he will not only set another single-season receptions record, but in essentially two years, he will also have re-written the career record books at Ohio State. K.J. is the all-time leader in receptions at OSU, with a total of 201. JSN is 23rd already, but 100 catches would give him 205, putting him above all other Buckeyes. The current record-holder for career receiving yards is Michael Jenkins, with 2,898. JSN needs 1,244 to put his name at the top of the list. Those records are well within reach.

The one area I am staying away from is TD. JSN would need 26 to break the career record set by Olave in 2021... AKA, nine more than the single-season record currently held by Terry Glenn (1995). JSN could absolutely break Glenn’s mark, but I am not willing to throw a prediction out on that one. With so much other talent on the offensive side of the ball, I believe scoring will be done by a large committee.

I would be very surprised if JSN does not break at least one impressive record in 2022. And at the end of the season, I expect him to reign supreme in just about every receiving category. If he continues his current trajectory, Jaxson Smith-Njigba will be one of, if not the, most decorated wide receiver in Ohio State history... Mind. Blown.

Gene’s Take:


Like Josh, I dont know if many of Ohio State’s career-best numbers will be broken with the amount of players the Buckeyes are sending to the NFL these days. Guys aren’t staying for four years, especially those putting up the numbers needed to break records in Columbus. A such, I agree with my podcast cohost that if a record is going to be broken in the 2022 season, it would almost certainly have to be a single-season or single-game mark. Since Josh went single-season, I’ll go a bit outside the box in search of a spectacular single-game performance that tops the charts.

There are no shortage of elite talents on this Ohio State roster, but I'm not quite willing to predict any records to be broken on offense. The Buckeyes should be a lot better on that side of the ball this season, but I'm taking more of a ‘believe it when I see it’ mentality with Jim Knowles and his Silver Bullets. So, we move to the offense, where Josh has already predicted that JSN will break his own receiving record. So as to not be too boring, I'll stray away from that star-studded group of wide receivers and into the running back room, where Ohio State is expecting a much better performance as well this year behind a hopefully improved offensive line.

TreVeyon Henderson is a special talent coming out of the backfield. We saw almost immediately in year one what he is capable of, and I don’t think he has even remotely reached his peak just yet. What makes a former five-star prospect like Henderson so impressive is the range of his skillset. Not only does he showcase track-athlete speed, but his quick feet and ballcarrier vision allow him to find the smallest holes in the defense to potentially break the home run ball. He also showed a tremendous ability as a pass-catcher, using that speed and elusiveness to catch passes out of the backfield on screens and wheel routes. As such, I think TreVeyon Henderson has the chance to break the single-game all-purpose yards mark set by Keith Byars in 1984.

Byars put up an impressive 354 all-purpose yards in one game in 1984, a very impressive mark by a fellow running back. While it seems like a nearly unattainable goal, it isn’t so far-fetched when you look at some of Henderson’s best games in his freshman season.

When it comes to rushing, Henderson’s career-high was 270 yards against Tulsa in the third week of the season. He racked up all that yardage on 23 carries, and added just one catch for five yards for his season-high in all-purpose yards at 275 — just 84 yards shy of Byars with really no involvement in the passing game to speak of. Ohio State’s offense didn’t feature Henderson’s pass-catching prowess all that much in his first year, but he still managed three 50-plus yard receiving performances, all on five or less receptions. Putting together his best rushing performance, 23 carries for 270 yards, with his best receiving performance, 1 catch for 70 yards against Minnesota, and Henderson would be just 14 yards shy of Byars’ record.

I think the Buckeyes will look to get more creative with Henderson this season, especially in the passing game. He is far too deadly on those screen and swing passes to not put the ball in his hands more often, which could open him up for the potential of a 100-yard receiving performance — especially given his ability to turn a small gain into a long touchdown. Combine that with a 200-plus yard rushing performance, which I expect we will see from Henderson on more than one occasion in 2022, and I dont think it is all that crazy to hit that 354-yard mark.

Even if it comes against one of the lesser opponents on Ohio State’s schedule, put me down for a 260-yard rushing, 100-yard receiving performance for Henderson in a game this season to break the program record for all-purpose yards in a single contest.

Continue reading...

Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for July 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


Barbara J. Perenic / 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

On the Gridiron


Buckeyes sending three talented veterans to Big Ten Media Days
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Here’s which Ohio State players made Maxwell Award watch list
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

Opens up Washington and Oregon (and maybe Utah) to join the Big Ten, imo.


Four Buckeyes sign six-figure deal, helped by NIL collective The Foundation
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Denzel Burke’s piece of $550,000 Ohio State football endorsement deal may send message to prospects
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

The Potential First-Year Regular Starters Who Could Play the Biggest Roles for Ohio State in 2022
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Film Study: Jim Knowles’ base defense alignment will bring a new level of organization to the Buckeyes
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

Two Ohio State commitments receive huge bumps in updated 2023 Top247
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts


College Football’s Biggest Trap Games for Playoff Contenders in 2022
Steven Lassan, Athlon Sports

Broken Record: Stroud could break Ohio State’s single season TD record
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

Angry about reports, J.K. Dobbins says he’ll be ready for 2022 season
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

Will the Big Ten wield its increasing leverage in the College Football Playoff expansion discussion?
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

On the Hardwood


Ohio State among nine finalists for Pickerington Central’s Devin Royal
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land

Wessons reunite, Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger stars in summer league
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

I love that this is becoming an annual tradition!


Ohio State hall of fame induction a humbling moment for Aaron Craft
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Ohio State RHP TJ Brock taken by Toronto in 2022 MLB draft
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

Roosevelt alum Kayla Fischer enters final season at OSU with big goals
Jonah Rosenblum, Record-Courier

Men’s Track & Field: Three Buckeyes Complete Competition at the World Athletics Championships
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...




Continue reading...

Ohio State linebacker recruiting update after major target commits to USC
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2023 four-star LB Arvell Reese via Steve Wiltfong of247Sports

The Buckeyes have recently seen two of its top linebacker prospects commit elsewhere, but they still have options at the position.

Ohio State once again made the recruiting headlines on Monday. While the news on the football side of things was not positive, the men’s basketball team received good news regarding a top Ohio prospect. If you missed anything yesterday, no need to worry as Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.

Ohio State LB targets commit elsewhere


Ryan Day and the Ohio State football team have accumulated an impressive haul in its 2023 recruiting class. The class currently sits atop the 247Sports Class Rankings with a total of 19 verbal commitments.

With the offensive side of the game mostly wrapped up in the class, the Buckeyes will be focusing mainly on defense to finish out the class. Ohio State has been able to build an impressive list of targets along the defensive line that the team feels it is in a favorable position with.

However, the Buckeyes don’t sit nearly as pretty with the other main position of importance to close out the class — linebacker.

In the past few days, Ohio State saw two of its top targets at the position commit elsewhere. Four-star LB Troy Bowles (Tampa, FL / Jesuit) committed to Georgia over the weekend, and Ohio State’s top LB target and four-star LB Tackett Curtis (Many, LA / Many) committed to USC on Monday.


While Bowles would’ve made for an excellent addition to the Buckeyes’ top-rated class, the writing had been on the wall for some time that Bowles would choose Georgia. Curtis on the other hand was more of a surprise. It was no secret Ohio State and new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles had made Curtis their top priority at the position. He was the first recruit to secure an offer from Knowles and he had just taken an official visit to Ohio State late last month. A visit in which everything seemed to have gone as well as possible, making his decision to commit to USC sting that much more.

The recent dominoes to fall certainly have not favored Ohio State, but the team is not dead to rights at the position, despite how it may appear online. The Buckeyes still are in good standing with four-star LB Arvell Reese (Cleveland, OH / Glenville), who is favored to pick Ohio State by multiple 247Sports Recruiting Experts.

Reese has not yet taken an official visit to Ohio State, but the Buckeyes are not alone, as Reese has only visited with one team as of yet, Penn State, and it was an unofficial visit. Despite this, Reese is certainly familiar with the Buckeyes after growing up in Ohio.

The Buckeyes are also not out of contention with four-star LB Derion Gullette (Marlin, TX / Marlin) who officially visited Columbus in June. Although, Knowles, Day and Ohio State as a whole will need to roll out the red carpet for him in the coming months if they are to steal him from Texas.

Reese is easily the Buckeyes new top-target at the position, but expect them to ramp up their activity with Gullette. Additionally, the team may spread their net out more as the class comes to a finish.

Reese is the No. 22 LB and is the No. 288 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 7 prospect from Ohio.

Quick Hits

• Chris Holtmann and the Ohio State men’s basketball team moved one step closer in securing one of Ohio’s top talents on the hardwood. 2023 four-star small forward Devin Royal (Pickerington, OH / Pickerington Central) included the Buckeyes in his top nine schools alongside Alabama, Clemson, Marquette, Michigan, Miami, Michigan State, Ole Miss and Penn State. Land-Grant Holy Lands’ own Connor Lemons spoke more on Royal’s game and Ohio State’s chances in securing him.

Continue reading...

These are really nice!

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nfl-pa...-sleek-black-alternate-helmets-160317438.html

BuckBackHome said:

I thought this was going to be the video where he advised people who lived in coastal areas to sell their homes when sea levels rise.

Which begs the question of exactly who the buyers will be?

Click to expand...

Hopefully Ben buys one and then he also sinks into the ocean, never to be heard from again.

Ohio State among nine finalists for Pickerington Central’s Devin Royal
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 Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Chris Holtmann and his staff have made Royal a priority in the 2023 class.

Four-star forward Devin Royal — a Columbus native — announced his top nine schools on Monday afternoon, and the Buckeyes were among the programs he is considering as he enters his senior year at Pickerington Central.


Royal listed Ohio State, as well as Alabama, Clemson, Marquette, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Miami, and Penn State as the schools he is considering. Royal made his official visit to Ohio State on July 3. He took an official visit to Michigan State two weeks earlier, on June 19. He has also made a visit to Penn State.

Chris Holtmann and his assistants — staff changes be damned — have been the most persistent school recruiting Royal over the past two years. During his junior season and the current AAU circuit, Holtmann has made sure that either he or one of his assistants were in attendance for each and every game Royal played in. The Buckeyes, along with Big Ten rival Michigan State, seem to have pulled away from the pack as the two favorites. While Tom Izzo is trying to convince Royal to leave Columbus and blaze his own path, Holtmann and Co. continue to lay out a roadmap for him where he can become the next great Columbus kid who turned into a Buckeye great.

It’s been Royal’s stance for over a year now that he’d like to have his recruitment wrapped up and a decision made before his senior season starts, which means a final decision will likely be made by the end of the summer. Royal is currently the No. 76 player in the nation, the No. 14 small forward, and the No. 2 player in the state of Ohio according to 247Sports. When Ohio State offered Royal in October of 2021, he was a three-star recruit and outside of the top-100. With his versatile game and big frame (6-foot-6, 210 pounds) Royal’s stock continues to rise.

Royal is currently playing AAU for All-Ohio Red on the EYBL circuit, playing alongside current Ohio State commit George Washington III. The Buckeyes have locked up a guard in Washington and a center in four-star Austin Parks, but have yet to add a larger wing such as Royal. The Buckeyes would like to wind up with one of — if not two of — Royal, Scotty Middleton (No. 36 overall), and Dailyn Swain (No. 78 overall), but from the outside it appears Royal is their primary target.

Ohio State’s 2023 class currently sits at No. 8 in the nation with two four-star recruits, according to 247Sports. They are mere decimal points behind Indiana, so an Ohio State commit before an Indiana commit would likely flip the two programs in the 2023 rankings.

Continue reading...

Broken Record: Stroud could break Ohio State’s single season TD record
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Stroud had 44 passing touchdowns in 12 games last year. Breaking the 50-burger is certainly within the realm of possibility this season.

You could say C.J. Stroud had one of the best seasons EVER for a Buckeye quarterback — and it was only his first one. He set the Ohio State single-season records for completion percentage, passer rating and passing yards per game. He also set the record for most yards thrown in one game, with 574 in the Rose Bowl. Like I said, he had a pretty dang good season. However, I predict him to elevate his play even more, and break a hefty record set by Dwayne Haskins.

When Haskins set the Ohio State and Big Ten single season passing TD record of 50 back in 2018, it was quite shocking at the time. The previous record for a Buckeye QB was 35 set by J.T. Barrett, so an increase of 15 touchdowns was sort of unfathomable — yntil Haskins came along with his gunslinger of an arm. He was built for that type of role, though. He was big and extremely strong.

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Stroud is listed as the same height, 6-foot-3, and only about 10 pounds lighter than Haskins. Obviously, he has the same arm strength and accuracy as him, too. He has shown that he doesn't like to use his legs very much, so he does rely on his arm, and it works. He tossed 44 touchdowns last year in 12 games, and that was with sitting out of the Akron game.

This year, I see no reason why he can’t break the record. As long as he stays healthy and plays in all of the games, including (hopefully) some playoff games, it’s honestly a no-brainer that he is going to break it. While he did lose Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson to the pros, who caught a combined 25 touchdowns last season, he still has his main man, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught nine TDs and will obviously expand upon that this season as the No. 1 receiver.

Yes, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jayden Ballard... whoever ends up becoming the new starting receivers, they have big shoes to fill. However, Harrison caught three TDs ALONE in the Rose Bowl, showing just a glimpse of what he is capable of doing for an entire season. Him and Stroud seem to have a really great connection already, and I’m excited to see how they look in the fall after working together all offseason.

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Another advantage that the Buckeyes have when it comes to receivers is that teams don’t have film on them. Obviously, teams knew about Olave and Wilson (and still couldn't stop them). However, Egbuka, Ballard and Julian Fleming haven’t seen the field much, so when they burst onto the scene this year, it’s going to take some time for opposing team’s defenses to figure out how to stop them. Therefore, I’m betting on a good portion of Stroud’s TDs to go to these guys.

When you take a look at the Buckeyes’ schedule, there’s some obvious games where Stroud can pad his stats. Their opponents for Week 2 and Week 3 are Arkansas State and Toledo. While he probably won’t play for the entirety of those games, he can still do a lot in one half, including throwing for three or four TDs. I think by the halfway point of the season, he will already have over 25 passing TDs.

This will most likely be Stroud’s final collegiate season. He’s going to want to go out with a bang. There’s certainly a few records he could break this season, including passing yards in a season, passing attempts in a season, heck, even career passing yards. However, the one I am most intrigued by is the single season TD mark, and I think that the cards are in Stroud’s favor to break it.

Continue reading...

I-70 Football Show: Football Season is almost here
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In this episode, the guys get into what they’re most excited about for the upcoming football season

Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 podcast. On this show we talk all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will get you caught up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players that you should be paying attention to in the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:


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

In this episode, the guys discuss what they are most excited for in the upcoming football season. Jordan is excited for the communal aspect of watching football games and interacting with people on social media. Dante cannot wait to use football as an excuse not to leave the house. We are both looking forward to hopefully watching Clemson’s further demise.

Picking up from a couple of weeks ago, we get into Weeks five, six and seven of the upcoming season. Once again, the Big Ten needs help with scheduling, as Weeks five and six are going to be tough to find much enjoyment. At least Week 6 has Ohio State versus Michigan State, even though that could just be a blowout like last year. Week 7 is more interesting, with Penn State playing Michigan and Wisconsin playing Michigan State.

Taking a step away from college football, the guys get into Roger Goodell mentioning that Sunday Ticket will be on a streaming service in 2023, while some NFL “analysts” think Lamar Jackson is not a top-10 quarterback. In their weekly pit stop, Jordan talks about some fun basketball games as LeBron James plays in the Drew League and TBT is at Rucker Park. Dante thinks Tiger Woods and all legends need to know when it is time to hang it up and retire.


Connect with us on Twitter:

Jordan: @JordanW330

Dante: @DanteM10216

Continue reading...

Film Study: Jim Knowles’ base defense alignment will bring a new level of organization to the Buckeyes
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Knowles brings a nuance and an emphasis on safety play to the traditional “4-2-5” defense

As the football season approaches, the offseason questions have been asked, and now comes the final approach to the first Saturday of college football. Over the course of the offseason for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the main questions revolve around if the defense can be better this year. This is the question Jim Knowles has been brought in to answer.

The Buckeyes under Kerry Coombs failed to meet the expectations of the fan base and what should be expected from a defense with national championship aspirations. The major issues were the oversimplified schemes used, lack of adjustment, and inconsistent preparation. Throughout the 2020 and 2021, the Buckeyes stuck to their base 4-2-5 defense, utilizing one high safety coverages like Cover-1 and Cover-3, and wondered how teams could figure them out so easily.

Last season, Matt Barnes took over the play calling duties after the Tulsa match up, and the Buckeyes added a few 2-High cover looks. Once again, those base looks did not have a lot of safety movement, and also did not have a lot checks in the case of motion, leading to disorganization. This lack of identity and simplicity led to an incredibly underwhelming defensive performance by the 2021 Buckeyes.

The reason the base scheme of a defense is so important and why the organization of the scheme matters is because everything else builds off of it. This is where Jim Knowles comes into play. There will be similar coverages and similar base alignment, but the difference will be in how flexible Knowles can make this defense from their base look.

With the small tweaks Knowles is bringing and the changing emphasis on attacking in multiple ways from the same look, this alone should help improve the defensive results. Teams were able to take advantage of the overly structured and limited defense of the previous regime. By looking at pre-snap alignment, this will show that the changes aren’t overarching, but more so in the small details, which are the difference between middle of the pack and the best in the country.

Ohio State’s 2021 Defensive Alignment


The Buckeyes under head coach Ryan Day have built the Ohio State defense on the Pete Carroll Seattle Seahawks Cover-3 base. This is a simple defensive structure that relies on an elite pass rush and disciplined defensive backs to maintain the integrity of the back end. When all the parts are working cohesively, this defense can be vaunting to get past. But in the two year under Coombs this was not the case.

In the first snapshot, we see Ohio State’s alignment against Oregon’s Trips 11-personnel. Looking at the safeties first pre-snap, the short side safety is already giving away the rotation if the play is a pass, and also highlighting where he will be in his run fill responsibility. This allows Oregon to have a clean pre-snap look, as well as gives them opportunity to check to another look to attack the alignment. The other concerning aspect is the spacing of the linebackers. They are over the offensive guard and tackle, respectively, which leaves the numbers bare on one side of the formation.

Overall, these are small details pre-snap, but this gives good offenses easy keys to read.



In the second pre-snap snapshot, the safety is in the box and the linebackers have more spacing. The issue now is the numbers in the box have changed, and now there is a ton of space to work the running back out of the backfield. There will be limited safety help to the short side because of the trips to the field. Ohio State has lost this play before the snap, and this is totally an aspect that is within the coaching staff’s control. The coverage is a 1-high safety look, and there are seven blockers for seven players in the run game. These types of looks put the Buckeye defense in detrimental positions before the ball was even snapped.


Oklahoma State’s 2021 Defensive Alignment


To learn more about what Jim Knowles is bringing to Columbus from his time in Stillwater, at Oklahoma State we can see a different level of organization.

In the screen grab below, we get the same defensive alignment with a 4-2-5 look. Looking at the safeties first, they are on different levels, but there is a lot more flexibility in what defense can do. Looking at the alignment of the corners, this can easily be a 2-high or 1-high look, The arrows show where the safeties rotate, but overall there is no definitive tell by the safeties. The next aspect is the linebackers are at the same level and the corners are as well, giving a hard to read shell.

With the safety rotation and linebacker fills, the responsibilities for both run and pass are still easy to get to for the defenders while still giving the offense more trouble pre-snap.



In the next picture, after the snap Iowa State runs a play action pass. Looking at the linebacker, he has run responsibility to the gap he is filling, but Knowles has also made him responsible for the running back in the passing game. After identifying that the running back is not a threat, his next job is as an additional rusher. The defense ends up in man coverage. The short side safety rotates over to the middle, similarly to what the Buckeyes did in the play above, but the organization of the secondary leaves no easy window throws post snap.

With the linebacker having the running back taken care of, the boundary side corner doesn’t hesitate to follow his receiver, and we also see how every receiving target is accounted for.



This level of organization allows for a flexible defense, but the difference between the Knowles 4-2-5 and the Coombs 4-2-5 is every offensive option is accounted for. The run fill lanes are all taken care of, and there is not a receiver without coverage. Pre-snap the offense was not able to get a clean read, and this play leads to an incompletion by the offense.

Ohio State’s Spring Game Alignment


The 2022 Spring Game gives an early look into Knowles’ base defensive look for his Ohio State defense. Knowles did not get overly exotic in pre-snap alignments in the scrimmage, but the basic structure is the first key to a successful defense. The base look is what a team plays in the most, so being great and organized in that look is the difference between an average and great defense.

Compared to the 2021 defense, the first noticeable aspect is the safety and linebacker alignment. The safeties are on the same level and the linebackers are even with each other on the same level as well while also having space between them. Against doubles 11-personnel, this makes it hard for the offense to identify the strength of the defense. The other aspect is the run fill lanes are, once again, easily identifiable. If there was a line in front of each player, that would easily work for having every run lane covered.



After the snap, the safeties both come into the box because the play is a run. With the mentioned gap responsibilities, the positioning in the run fills is straight forward. The right side defensive tackle gets doubled and the linebacker play side should be filling the new space aggressively, which in this case isn’t happening. The Buckeyes are in man coverage and the corners/nickel are playing their responsibility, showing how their alignment allows for comfortable coverage opportunities.



The Buckeyes are still a work in progress, but the organization compared to 2021 has already improved in quite a few ways. Even though there will still be some growing pains in the structure and post-snap responsibility, the organization of the defense should raise the floor of results quite a bit. Knowles has already organized the defense, now getting the players to play fast and hard is the next step in the process.


There are no easy fixes in college football, as the Buckeyes learned last year with their patchwork defense in the second half of the season. The one aspect that needs to be taken into consideration though is the 2021 defense was disorganized and simple. On pre-snap alignment, looking at one play against Oregon the cracks were apparent, and the results against teams that can take advantage of those cracks showed up in the loss column.

Knowles probably doesn’t need to get as crazy with the talent he has at Ohio State, but just the basic organization pre-snap should limit the big plays the Buckeyes gave up in 2021. Even though the players will still need to make the plays, Knowles having them more organized will allow them to focus and maximize their responsibilities on a play-to-play basis.

Now this is only the start, and the real moment of truth will be against Notre Dame come September, but looking at the level of organization and flexibility compared to 2021 should give fans something to be excited about. For the Buckeyes to be successful this season, the organization of the defense will make them a much more formidable group. With week one on the horizon, Knowles will finally get to show Buckeye Nation what his defenses are made of.

Continue reading...

Ohio State reclaims top spot after adding four-star tight end 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


Jelani Thurman | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports

The Buckeyes push ahead of the Irish yet again in the recruiting rankings after welcoming their latest pledge to the fold.

Ohio State was back at it again on the recruiting trail this weekend, as it was Kevin Wilson hitting a home run and securing a pledge from another blue-chip tight end as the final piece to the puzzle at the position. Plus, a top offensive line target reveals an upcoming decision date and shows the program they are still in the running for his coveted commitment.

Thurman picks the Buckeyes


Despite entering the weekend with 2023 four-star tight end Ty Lockwood of Independence (TN) already in the fold, it was no secret that tight ends coach Kevin Wilson was always looking to add another at the position in hopes of welcoming much-needed talent to the position room.

While it was no secret that the Buckeyes were in the running for 2023 four-star tight end Jelani Thurman of Langston Hughes (GA), the Fairburn native decided on Sunday that he was ready to fill the vacancy in the class and become the second piece of the tight end puzzle.


Thurman, a noted Spider-Man fan, gathered close to 30 offers from programs across the country but ultimately decided on Ohio State over the likes of Alabama, Auburn Jackson State, Michigan State, and many more. It is notable that Georgia was not considered a finalist in this recruitment despite the fact that his father, the late Odell Thurman, spent his collegiate career in Athens before being drafted to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The pick up for the Buckeyes is certainly one that should not be understated. Thurman becomes yet another blue-chip prospect on the offensive side of the ball to claim their spot in the class and the addition of Thurman actually pushed Ohio State back in front of Notre Dame for the top slot in the team recruiting rankings.

Thurman is currently graded as the No. 135 prospect overall in this years recruiting class. The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder also slots in as the ninth highest graded player among all tight ends and is also listed as the eleventh best prospect that the state of Georgia has to offer.

Alinen sets decision date


With Thurman now in the fold for the Buckeyes, perhaps the program can shift their focus up front for newly hired offensive line coach Justin Frye.

Despite Ohio State already having pledges from the likes of Luke Montgomery, Joshua Padilla, Austin Siereveld, and Miles Walker, the Buckeyes are hoping to add long-time target and four-star offensive tackle Olaus Alinen of The Loomis Chaffee School (CT) to join the quartet. The key here is that the Buckeyes won’t have to wait too much longer to learn their fate with the current Windsor native.

On Friday evening, Alinen revealed that he will be making his decision on July 22. Among the programs still being considered for the Finland standout include Alabama, Georgia, Miami (FL), Ohio State, and Oregon.


Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, it is the Hurricanes who are surging on the 247Sports Crystal Ball as the likely landing spot for Alinen. We will have to stay tuned to see if that changes before decision day arrives for the 6-foot-6, 315-pounder.

Nonetheless, Alinen currently slots in as a Top 150 prospect in the class as he currently stands at No. 132 overall. The hopeful Buckeye also is penciled in as the 15th best offensive tackle in the class and the very best prospect from the state of Connecticut.

Quick Hits

• After offering back in January of this year and securing an official visit just a couple of months later, the Buckeyes now know where they stand in their pursuit of 2023 small forward Scotty Middleton of Sunrise Christian (KS). On Sunday, the Wichita native announced that he will be making his collegiate commitment on Aug. 6, and will be choosing between Connecticut, Kansas, Ohio State, Seton Hall, and Texas A&M.
• Much like Middleton, 2023 combo guard Taison Chatman of Totino-Grace (MN) also revealed the finalist in his recruitment this weekend. The No. 47 prospect overall and top-ranked player in his respective state announced a top five that includes the likes of Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio State, Virginia, and Xavier.
• On the gridiron side of things, the Buckeyes did see a pair of targets head elsewhere this weekend. Despite including Ohio State as a finalist, 2023 four-star linebacker Troy Bowles of Jesuit (FL) announced his pledge to Georgia and 2023 four-star running back Justice Haynes of Buford (GA) chose Alabama this weekend.

Continue reading...

For me, it was the 98 Michigan State game. In my senior year at OSU. I remember after the game, myself, Thump, and our other roommate just sitting there in silence staring at the field until an usher actually came up to us and told us we had to leave

buckeyefool said:

Has anyone had any interactions with this group? Seems it was started by some parents and maybe alumni after the murder of an Ohio State student. Looking at some of their stuff while to their core they obviously want the campus area to be safe they seem to not understand that campus is in the middle of a large city and the city can not focus only on the campus area. Many of them seem to be swooning over this video, which has points is not the award winning doc they all seem to want it to be.

Login to view embedded media

Click to expand...

A friend of mine from high school was murdered while a student at Ohio State in 1997 over some weed. That has nothing to do with the video but thought I would share for some reason.

Burning Questions: Will the Ohio State running game be much improved in 2022?
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 Harry How/Getty Images

Buckeyes seek consistency first, then rushing dominance.

Since the 2021 Ohio State offense averaged about 560 yards per game and led the nation in yards per play, points per game, and yards per game, it seems ridiculous to be looking for improvement. Nevermind framing the issue as a “burning question.”

But the fact remains that the Buckeye running game last season was inconsistent. There were crucial moments when it needed to step up and get the job done — and it didn’t. The inconsistency didn’t matter in the runaway games. But in the losses to Oregon and Michigan and in the few close victories, it did matter. I have no doubt that it will matter this season too.

Last year’s No. 1 offense was unbalanced. The Bucks averaged 381 yards per game passing but only 181 yards rushing per game. They averaged 16.5 first downs and 3.5 touchdowns passing. Conversely, the running attack produced an average of nine first downs and 1.3 touchdowns a game.

That kind of unbalance isn’t typical of Ryan Day’s offenses, nor of Urban Meyer’s before him. In Day’s previous two seasons leading the Buckeyes, his teams averaged 262.5 yards per game passing and 256.9 yards per game rushing in the shortened 2020 season, and 263.1 yards passing and 267.3 yards rushing per game in 2019. With the exception of 2018, when Dwayne Haskins seemingly passed on every down, Meyer’s teams had a similar balance. The 2014 championship team, for instance, averaged 247 yards passing and 264.5 yards per game running.

What was different about 2021?


First, C.J. Stroud isn’t a running quarterback and not a true dual-threat. We thought he was, and early in the season we wanted him to run more. Some still do, but I don’t really expect it to happen. Additionally, the Buckeyes last year had a trio of starting receivers whose combined quality has perhaps never been seen in the college game. Get them the ball. Finally, given the gigantic (and not particularly mobile) offensive line, the offense seemed born to pass.

In 2018, one of the reasons that Haskins passed so much was that the running backs – J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber – didn’t have very good years. Dobbins averaged only 4.6 yards per carry, far below his figure in 2017 or 2019. Meyer alternated Dobbins and Weber, and neither seemed to evolve into the go-to guy. Granted, Haskins wasn’t much of a runner either. So, the Buckeyes passed

Last year, though, the Buckeyes were loaded with superior running talent. TreVeyon Henderson proved to be a true star. Miyan Williams looked nearly as good. And both Master Teague III and Evan Pryor were strong reserves. The problem wasn’t with the backs. No, the problem with the Ohio State running game in 2021 was with the line and with the play-calling.

The running game was very predictable in certain formations: under center, pistol. Defenses knew that a run was coming and stuffed it. The line, great at pass protection, couldn’t pull wide and couldn’t get out on linebackers. The Bucks couldn’t always count on the run, and so they passed. And passed.

But let’s go back to the earlier question. Does balance matter? If OSU had the nation’s best offense – and they did – does it matter if they get their yards and TDs on the ground or in the air? Yes, and here’s why.

The importance of run/pass balance


One of the aims of any football offense is to keep the opposing defense on its heels, off balance, unsure. A well-balanced attack can do that, especially if a team can run or pass from varied formations, looks or personnel packages.

If an offense is nearly certain to pass, the safeties and linebackers are taking a first step back. The defensive line is rushing full go at the quarterback. On a sure running play, the linebackers and safeties step toward the line of scrimmage, the defensive line stays put and reads the play.

A balanced attack, at worst, has the defense holding its position — reacting, rather than anticipating. With the Buckeyes’ speed, a false step on the part of the defense could be fatal.

Third-down plays


Obviously, 3rd-and-1 and 3rd-and-13 are different situations calling for different plays. But over the long haul of a season, a three-to-one ratio of passing for first downs against running for them (the Bucks’ ratio last year) works against offensive efficiency. You’re looking at pass defense packages, blitzes, and stunts. A balanced attack takes away that predictability. The defense has to play straight up.

Red zone offense


Let’s acknowledge it: the Buckeyes have had some trouble with red zone offense. Fortunately, they had a good kicker last year, but “settling” for field goals after good-looking drives is unsatisfying and can produce a momentum shift.

The problem with a passing attack near the opponents’ goal line is lack of room. There’s only 10 yards between the goal line and the end line. Tough to spread out the defensive backs, tough to get separation for the receivers. That end line is a defensive wall.

I know that Meyer always liked a running QB in the red zone, but a run-blocking O-line and a good back will get you over the goal line. A solid running game will freeze linebackers and open up short hook routes if you choose to throw.

The end game


With a small lead in the fourth quarter, the offense wants to be able to run the clock. Keep possession. Eat up time. A short passing game might accomplish the task. But you run the risk of incompletion (or even interception), a sack, a holding call. Any of which can stunt the drive and bring the foes’ offense back on the field. A strong running attack will have worn down the defense, and five yards a carry will finish them off.

Crush the will


A running attack that successfully picks up yardage and first downs not only wears down the defensive line but, eventually, will sap the defensive will. They realize that they really can’t stop the run. They’re getting beat on every running play. Once that happens (and it happened to the Buckeye defense in Ann Arbor), it’s very difficult to regain that confidence.

The 2022 season


Will the Buckeye running game be much improved? Yes, I definitely think so. There’s still the great passer, the nation’s best receiver, and several soon-to-be stars at wideout, but there will be a concerted effort to run the ball. Day has hired his old buddy Justin Frye to coach the offensive line. We’ll see some innovative blocking schemes designed to free Henderson, or whoever is carrying the ball.

Day has also been made very aware of his formation tendencies. I don’t think that we’ll have that problem this year. Someone (other than sportswriters and opposing coaches) is sure to be tracking tendency for the Bucks.

Then, there’s the physicality issue. The Buckeyes last year had no trouble running on weaker teams. Henderson and Williams racked up some impressive yardage. Against elite teams, however, the Buckeye line couldn’t open holes. Tough line play is certain to be emphasized in fall camp.

All in all, I think that we can expect a much more balanced offense from Ohio State this fall.

Continue reading...

Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for July 14, 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


Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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

On the Gridiron


Blue-Chip Ratio 2022: The 15 teams who can actually win a national title
Bud Elliott, 247Sports

Ohio State to “Scarlet the Shoe” Against Iowa, Celebrate 100 Years of Ohio Stadium Against Rutgers
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Is C.J. Stroud the fourth-best quarterback in college football?
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

These people are stupid:


Healthy Josh Proctor gearing up for ‘something bigger’ this season for Buckeyes
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ohio State-Notre Dame is top Week 1 matchup; Buckeyes picked to win
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State football’s run-pass balance needs a tweak in 2022, but not in terms of volume
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

How Buckeyes can have success in secondary by rotating safeties
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

WHAT IS HAPPENING?


Ohio State Recruiting: 2023 commit Jason Moore is a bigger deal than some realize
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land

Forgotten Buckeyes: Vinnie Clark
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Five Buckeyes to make Big Ten civil rights journey to Alabama
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Washington III and Pair of Buckeye Targets to Compete at EYBL Peach Jam
Jack Emerson, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Women’s Golf: Cangrejo Joins Buckeyes as Assistant Coach
Ohio State Athletics

So this is a pretty big deal, huh?


Burning Questions: Can the Big Ten now claim USC and UCLA’s accolades?
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

And now for something completely different...


Continue reading...

Buckeyes may be on the verge of landing another 2023 target on offense
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Jelani Thurman | 247Sports

The 247Sports Crystal Ball pegs Ohio State to land another blue chipper in the 2023 class.

The beat goes on for the Buckeyes, as July has brought the staff plenty of good news in terms of recruiting. That momentum don’t look to be stopping any time soon.

With only a few remaining spots up for grabs in the 2023 class, Ohio State’s focus is on wrapping up another top national caliber class, but having 18 guys in the fold allows the coaches to really start looking at 2024. Being able to focus on the future bodes well for the Buckeyes, but until every spot in the current cycle is signed, sealed, and delivered, enjoy the ride of what is currently ranked the top class in the country.

Ohio State to add big time tight end?


The first commit in the 2023 class for the Buckeyes was Tennessee native tight end, Ty Lockwood. After only landing one TE in the 2022 cycle, the coaching staff made it a priority to land two at the position this year. But over the course of the 2023 class, it looked like the staff may again only land one player at that position for whatever reason. While the current depth in Columbus isn’t a major issue, Kevin Wilson knows he needs to continue stockpiling talent at his spot knowing how important tight ends are to Ryan Day’s offensive scheme.

With certain names coming and going in terms of realistic options for Ohio State, the latest name to emerge the last few weeks has been Georgia native, Jelani Thurman. The No. 135 player nationally, Thurman is considered the ninth-best tight end in the country and the 11th best player from Georgia in the 2023 class. Obviously this would be a major addition, and instantly have Wilson feeling better about the depth of his position. With offers from the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, LSU, and nearly 30 others, clearly he’s deserving of his high four-star status.

The most interesting part to this recruitment is how fast the Buckeyes have seems to come on with Thurman. Offering in February of this year, Thurman was able to get to Columbus for his official visit just over two weeks ago, but the momentum here is coming pretty quickly in terms of Ohio State being not only a realistic option, but the favorite this late in the process.

On Wednesday, both Steve Wiltfong and Bill Kurelic submitted their 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions, and both were in favor of Ohio State landing Thurman. Set to commit this coming Sunday, July 17, it does seem that the Buckeyes are the team to beat here. This second tight end in the class paired with the aforementioned Lockwood would be a terrific haul for Ohio State.

Current commit Brandon Inniss took to his own Twitter account yesterday to tell Buckeye fans to expect a great month, and the timing of his words along with the Crystal Ball action for Thurman point towards Ohio State loading up to land yet another top national talent to further cement this 2023 class as one of the very best in country, and certainly the best in the Big Ten.

Quick Hits

• Four-star Georgia native Martavious Collins took to his Twitter account Wednesday to release the latest update in his recruitment. The 2024 athlete trimmed his list of schools down to a top 11 with a commitment date set for July 20.

The No. 110 player nationally, Collins is also the 13th best player at his position for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite grades. Making the cut for Collins included Alabama, Cincinnati, LSU, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Auburn, NC State, Tennessee, South Carolina, Louisville, and Ohio State.

A big-time tight end in the 2024 class, Collins does not yet have a Crystal Ball prediction in favor of any school, but now there’s only just under a week before we know where he’s headed.


Continue reading...

Burning Questions: Can the Big Ten now claim USC and UCLA’s accolades?
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Those 11 UCLA NCAA Tournament championships sure are tempting…

One of the huge appeals of the Big Ten bringing on USC and UCLA as part of the conference’s expansion is certainly the brand power of the newcomers. The two schools bring a significant history of excellence, from national championships to Olympians to some of the top professional athletes of the modern era.

USC brings a prestigious history on the football field especially:

• 11 claimed national titles
• 82 consensus All-Americans
• Six Heisman Trophy winners (not including Reggie Bush)
• 520 NFL Draft picks

All these accolades are top-10 in the FBS. Despite their struggles in recent seasons, USC brings one of the most reputable brands in college football.

UCLA, meanwhile, is one of the most storied college basketball programs of all time, with 11 NCAA Tournament victories, most of them coming under legendary coach John Wooden.

That doesn’t even get to the non-revenue sports where both have a sizable trophy case of baseball, water polo, gymnastics, track and field and volleyball (both beach and indoor) national titles. In all, the two schools bring a collection of 227 NCAA team championships to their new conference.

With the Big Ten expanding, the question remains: Can the conference absorb the accolades of teams who were not in the conference at the time those accolades were earned?

It would be so easy (and so desirable) to say yes. Having the histories of Indiana and UCLA basketball in the same conference or the combination of Ohio State, Michigan and USC football — either would give the Big Ten such a leg up compared to other conferences.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Beyond the obvious question of the moral decision to absorb their contributions, the fact is UCLA and USC’s accomplishments were earned against different conference opponents in different circumstances. In other words, they didn’t compete in the same realm (or in some cases the same sports) as the Big Ten, so it’s challenging to reconcile.

Over time, however, it’s natural that those histories and accolades will start to fall under the Big Ten umbrella. After all, how often do we consider Penn State’s accomplishments pre-1990 outside the context of the Big Ten? That’s perhaps a bad example, as the Nittany Lions brought in just two national titles and one Heisman Trophy winner when they joined the Big Ten.

Even now, Maryland basketball and lacrosse championships from before 2014 feel like they are Big Ten wins as opposed to ACC. The Terps brought in 26 NCAA team titles when they came to the conference. (At this point we should acknowledge that Rutgers brought a 1949 NCAA title in men’s fencing when they joined the Big Ten.)

It gets easier to start claiming these titles when the sports they came in jive with the Big Ten. For instance, it seems unimaginable that the Big Ten will try to claim USC or UCLA’s beach volleyball titles, but perhaps they’ll try to own some of the tennis titles in a few years.

But beyond these more general historical accolades, there is a very specific scenario that will be a lot more challenging to reconcile: What of the Rose Bowl?

It will certainly be hard to explain to the next generation that the Granddaddy of them All oft featured two teams who belong in the same conference. There’s little precedence for that kind of post-season. We’ll certainly see a diluted version of that with Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC, since the Cotton Bowl featured the SEC and Big 12.

In short, it’s probably not fair to lump all USC and UCLA’s Rose Bowl titles — five and 25, respectively — in with the Big Ten, considering so many of those wins came against current Big Ten teams.

However, the reality is the Big Ten will be home to UCLA and USC’s 227 NCAA titles. Perhaps the Big Ten as a conference can’t claim them, but it will be their forever home.

At least until the next realignment.

Continue reading...

Ohio State Recruiting: 2023 commit Jason Moore is a bigger deal than some realize
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Jason Moore | 247Sports

Landing 2023 defensive lineman Jason Moore is exactly what Ohio State needed in this current cycle.

The commitment on Sunday of four-star defensive lineman Jason Moore was a huge addition for Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class. After only having one committed player along the defensive line before Moore to that point, it was time the Buckeyes and position coach Larry Johnson added an elite playmaker on that side of the ball, and someone who can bring a major impact from his edge rusher position.

Listed as the No. 53 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, any time you land that caliber of athlete regardless of position it’s going to be celebrated. But Moore’s commitment may mean that much and more to Ohio State when looking at a couple of various aspects of his background.

Sure, every player on Ohio State’s recruiting board is there for a reason, whether it be from a pure talent base and beyond, but looking more in depth at what Moore brings to the table and where he comes from, this recruitment may have been more important to the Buckeyes and their current class than many recruiting followers may have realized.

Here’s why Moore’s commitment was not only exciting, but needed.

Raw talent and potential for more


Not far off from being a five-star prospect, there’s a reason why Moore is the the fifth-best player at his position in the 2023 class per the Composite. Additionally, being the top-ranked player in Maryland this cycle, Moore is every bit of a top-100 player, and Ohio State has had more than enough success at developing guys like him for the next level — especially at his position. Look at the previous NFL Draft boards and see how well the Buckeyes have fared in that regard.

While the 20-plus offers from the likes of Alabama, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, LSU, Florida, Penn State, Auburn, and several more really give you all you need to know about Moore’s talent, the 6-foot-6, 255 pound frame he currently has directly points to how impactful he can be on the edge of the defensive line. The length allows him to bend and stretch in pursuit of the ball carrier, but having a basketball background to go along with it, Moore is really athletic for his size and has tons of room to continue getting bigger and stronger.

A perfect example of why he’s a “must-have” player in the class, his talent and ranking give the Buckeyes exactly what they’re looking for in a defensive end target. Everything he brings to the table helps Ohio State’s depth and pass rush and in a position where many times the game is won and lost. This commitment was crucial for the Buckeyes.

Obviously speaking, landing a talented four-star is always necessary when wanting to finish at or near the top of the recruiting rankings at the end of each year, but from a pure talent stance, Moore, with all of the size and potential he brings to the table in addition to a college-ready frame, makes him that much more important to this 2023 haul.

Building strong ties with a familiar prep program


Knowing talent many times can be the deciding factor of looking to land a recruit, where Moore becomes a little more special is because of where he’s from. To many Ohio State fans, his recruitment may even be recognized directly because of his high school team, and the recent history here would make complete and total sense.

Another product of Maryland’s DeMatha Catholic, Moore of course is from the same prep powerhouse that produced former Buckeye great, Chase Young. From the same position on the field, you know Moore has been taught and developed from a high school program that knows what they’re doing when it comes to churning out DI type players. From a schedule standpoint, it’s proven each year DeMatha plays not only some of the top prep teams in their area, but nationally as well. The caliber of player at DeMatha is known by Ohio State, and Moore is the next link in the chain.

Where the commitment of Moore gets even more interesting is from the pipeline aspect. Two players from DeMatha may not exactly be a large quantity to deem it a pipeline, but again, knowing what Ohio State was able to have with Young and now Moore, you get the notion that both the high school staff as well as Ohio State’s staff are pretty comfortable with each other, and that bodes well for future players the Buckeyes want to key in on.

Surely DeMatha isn’t finished producing great players, and having Ohio State ties to the program with two of their higher ranked guys is an aspect the coaching staff has to love.

Larry Johnson isn’t done yet


On top of talent and background, the final aspect of Moore’s commitment that makes him a major key to 2023’s recruiting class is the idea that it further proves Larry Johnson’s continued success. Let’s face it, unfortunately Johnson isn’t going to coach forever, and while the negative recruiting rumors surrounding him and a possible retirement have already been used before with top targets to lure them away from Columbus, this commitment just keeps the Buckeyes and Johnson with a full head of steam moving forward.

Landing an elite player such as Moore is one thing, but in doing so with Johnson, who had to beat out other top national suitors, the negative recruiting gets shushed a little bit. That’s exactly what Ohio State needs as they look to build up the rest of the 2023 defensive line class for one, but as eyes also look forward to the future classes too.

Where some may take a shot at how long Johnson can keep going, winning national battles on the recruiting front is a recipe to add even more guys. With elite talents such as John Walker and Matayo Uiagalelei still out there and highly considering the Buckeyes in their own recruitments, additions like Moore help because other top players see the momentum Ohio State has. That creates the potential to start a domino effect of top national guys wanting to play together at the next level.

At any rate, when Johnson lands players like Moore, it’s not only a good thing for the roster, but it’s also great for the future of the position recruiting.

Overall, the commitment of Jason Moore is just one player, but the after effect can be so much more when you consider all of the above in what has become a recruit that brings more to Ohio State than just talent alone. This addition is something that can positively impact the Buckeyes for some time, and it’s worth noting how important Moore is to this class and why he deserves recognition as such.

Continue reading...

Ohio State quarterback target from Texas delays anticipated decision
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Elite 11

The Buckeyes’ vacancy at the quarterback position in the 2023 class will remain, and a potential option slows down recruitment.

The pursuit for a quarterback for head coach Ryan Day and quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis in the Buckeyes No. 1 ranked recruiting class remains alive and well, as one potential outcome at the position hits the pause button and will instead slow things down. Plus, with another linebacker target headed elsewhere, it sure seems as if Ohio State has their eyes locked in on a select few at the position.

Novosad taking a step back


Back in June, the Buckeyes set their sights on a Texas blue-chipper as they were actively looking to fill the quarterback spot in their class by offering 2023 four-star quarterback Austin Novosad of Dripping Springs (TX). All things considered, interest from the 6-foot-3, 185-pounder in Ohio State developed rather quickly.

Novosad, currently a Baylor commit, would go on to take an official visit to the Buckeyes’ campus just nine days after being awarded the scholarship opportunity from the program, and things certainly felt as if they were trending in favor of the scarlet and gray. But Novosad didn’t jump at the chance to suit up in Columbus, and left all options on the table — including remaining a Bears pledge — and before the month concluded, he also saw another program enter the picture in Texas A&M.

Nonetheless, it seemed as if last week was gonna be when Novosad decided to cross the finish line in his recruitment. After stating that he was planning on making a decision before the conclusion of last week, Novosad is now pushing the pause button for now, and told Eleven Warriors on Tuesday that the timeframe has been pushed back.

“I wanted to get it done, but we talked about it and I just wasn’t sure. When you don’t feel comfortable, you don’t want to pull the trigger and regret something. So it’s just best to wait until you’re sure, so that’s kind of where we’re at. We’re getting no pressure from the schools, so I think we can wait until we’re ready,” Novosad told Garrick Hodge.

Who knows, maybe an offer from Notre Dame that Novosad secured on Monday could be the driving force to the delayed decision. However, the safe and likely unsurprising bet would be that the Texas signal-caller is having a tougher time than he would have expected in deciding between Baylor, Ohio State, and Texas A&M.

With Novosad now taking a step back to make sure he is making the choice he is comfortable with, it will be interesting to monitor the Buckeyes action going forward. Will another quarterback target emerge as a potential option, or will Day gear up for a battle with the Aggies and Bears in hopes of landing the No. 13 ranked quarterback in the country? Stay tuned.

2023 LB target off the board


Ohio State and first year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles have to be pleased with the recruiting success on defense in the 2023 recruiting class. The current haul features seven prospects on that side of the ball in the fold already, with six of them being blue-chip prospects. However, none of the seven pledges come from the linebacker position and on Tuesday, one potential option at the position announced his pledge elsewhere.


2023 four-star linebacker Raul Aguirre of Whitewater (GA) revealed his commitment to Miami (FL) yesterday, and the Fayetteville native choose the Hurricanes over offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, and more.

While the announcement came as no surprise, despite the Buckeyes having Aguirre on campus back in April, it does prove to make one thing very clear for the program — Troy Bowles of Jesuit (FL), Tackett Curtis of Many (LA), and Arvell Reese of Glenville (OH) are the clear-cut top targets at the position, and have been for quite some time now.

Both Bowles and Curtis currently look to be nearing the end of their respective recruitments, and the Buckeyes are a finalist for both as we head down the stretch. As for Reese, the in-state prospect has yet to narrow down his list of suitors, but it is Ohio State who stands as the odds on favorite to secure his pledge whenever that time comes.

While the pledge of Aguirre for the Canes is certainly a nice addition with the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder being graded as a top ten prospect at his position and inside of the state of Georgia, the focus for the Buckeyes remains unchanged.

Quick Hits

• 2024 four-star athlete Martavious Collins of Rome (GA) announced on Twitter that he will be releasing his top schools later today. The No. 110 prospect overall in next year’s class was offered by the Buckeyes back in March, and would make a trip to Columbus just a month later to visit the program.
• With the aforementioned Novosad delaying his decision and still truly considering a trio of programs, it is worth mentioning the noticeable movement on another QB target yesterday. 2023 four-star quarterback Brock Glenn of Lausanne Collegiate School (TN), who was offered by Ohio State just last month, received a pair of 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions that have him landing with Florida State.

Continue reading...

You’re Nuts: What schools would you like to see the Big Ten add next?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images

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

The last couple weeks have been wild for the Big Ten after it was announced that USC and UCLA would be joining the conference in 2024. Even though the announcement of the addition of the Trojans and Bruins is huge as the conference tries to keeps pace with the SEC, it seems obvious that the Big Ten isn’t done adding schools yet.

While we all know that the Big Ten is likely to add even more schools to the conference, what we don’t know is what schools those future additions will be. There has been speculation that academic powerhouse Stanford could be one of those additions. Another thought is state schools Oregon and Washington could be headed to the Big Ten, but if that happens it’s hard to see those schools leaving rivals Oregon State and Washington State behind. Then there is Notre Dame, who could finally be coming to the realization that they’ll have to join an actual conference.

What we want to know today is who are the schools that you’d like to see the Big Ten add next? Aside from Notre Dame, a lot of the big name schools have found a home, so you’re not really going to get any more splash moves like the addition of USC and UCLA, or Texas and Oklahoma. Still, there are plenty of additions that could really bolster the depth of the conference and create some fun matchups.

Today’s question: What schools would you like to see the Big Ten add next?

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

Brett’s answer: Oregon and Oregon State


A lot of my reasoning for wanting these two schools to be added to the Big Ten is personal. My dad and my uncle live in Medford, my cousin did some graduate work at Oregon State, and I have friends that live in Portland. I’m begging the Big Ten to give me more reasons to travel out to Oregon. Honestly, if I didn’t live in Ohio, the state that I would want to be living in is Oregon.

Also, I would like to see Oregon added to the conference after they beat the Buckeyes in Columbus last year. As of now, the Ducks and Bucks aren’t scheduled to meet again until 2032 in Eugene and 2033 in Columbus. We all know the schools could meet before that though, as we have seen them matchup in bowl games twice since 2010.

Oregon is obviously the more desired school when it comes to Big Ten expansion, but it’s hard to see the Ducks coming and the Beavers going somewhere else. I’ve been through Corvallis and it’s definitely better than going to some of the dumps in the Big Ten like West Lafayette, Bloomington, or Champaign. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if the Big Ten added the Beavers along with the Ducks.

I’m sure that the Big Ten might be a little hesitant to add these two when it comes to the academics. Honestly though, academics are falling in the order of importance for conference expansion, especially when the Big Ten has to try and keep pace with the SEC. I just know if the Beavers and Ducks were added to the conference, fans would love it. I can speak from experience since I’ve loved the time I’ve spent in the state, and I know Buckeye fans would really enjoy trips out there.

Meredith’s answer: Notre Dame and Stanford


For starters, I love the move of adding West Coast teams to the Big Ten. As much as I hate the idea of possible 10 p.m. ET kickoffs for conference games, the benefits of geographic expansion — in terms of recruiting, media markets and more — are too good to pass up.

That being said, the teams that I’d like to see added next don’t bring as much new strategic value so much as brand recognition and rivalry opportunities.

Notre Dame has felt like the obvious choice for Big Ten expansion since Penn State joined the conference in 1990, but the Fighting Irish seem to still be smarting from their rejection from the Western Conference (the predecessor to the Big Ten) more than a century ago.

While it’s so easy to get annoyed by Notre Dame and their relentless bend toward exceptionalism, the program does have deep historical roots aligned with the likes of Ohio State and Michigan. Geographically, South Bend is firmly in Big Ten territory. Furthermore, many of Notre Dame’s historical rivals, including Michigan, Purdue and Michigan State, are current Big Ten teams. That list grew with the announcement that USC would be joining the Big Ten.

Selfishly, I also like Marcus Freeman as head coach in South Bend, which further positions Notre Dame as a Big Ten program in practice.

The other team I’d choose to add would be Stanford. This pairing makes sense especially considering recent history, which has seen Notre Dame and Stanford facing off most years since the late 1980s.

Stanford would bring a different kind of prestige to the Big Ten. As regular winners of both the Director’s Cup and Capital One Cup, the Cardinal are the shining example of how athletic departments can support a portfolio of sports that goes beyond football and basketball, which also serves to improve equity especially in women’s sports. (We’ll ignore here that one time Stanford announced they’d be cutting 11 varsity sports due to the impacts of COVID-19.)

Further, Northwestern, as the only private school in the 14-team conference (well, until USC joins officially), has always been something of an outlier compared to the rest of the Big Ten. It’s significantly smaller and significantly more rigorous academically compared to an already rigorous conference. Stanford (or Notre Dame) would give Northwestern a true peer within the Big Ten, because who doesn’t love a good pairing?

Continue reading...

Ohio State will travel to Louisville for the 2022 ACC/B1G Challenge
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

How the defending B1G co-champions have done in the annual challenge and their recent history against the Louisville Cardinals.

On June 16, the Ohio State Buckeyes learned their home and away conference opponents for the upcoming 2022-23 basketball season. Monday, a small piece of the remaining schedule was announced, when the ACC/Big Ten Challenge announced its schedule of games between Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 of 2022. The defending B1G Conference Champion Buckeyes travel south to face the University of Louisville on Nov. 30.

The 2022 season marks the 15th time the two predominantly eastern United States conferences have competed in a mid-season competition, with ACC winning 10 of the previous 14 seasons. This year also marks the second season in a row in which the Buckeyes are the away team.

That Nov. 30 game is the first non-conference matchup announced for the Buckeyes, and it's hard to imagine them getting more difficult than Louisville. Last season, the Cardinals went 29-5, beating ranked teams like UConn, the University of Kentucky, and Notre Dame. Louisville also beat the University of Michigan twice — once in the regular season by 22 points and in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament by 12 points — before falling to the South Carolina Gamecocks, the eventual tournament champions.

However, the Buckeyes had a season that surpassed what many in college basketball expected. Also, Ohio State has Challenge history on its side when it comes to facing Louisville. In 2019, Ohio State beat the Cardinals 67-60.

In 2021-22, the Scarlet & Gray traveled to Syracuse, New York to face the Orange. It was the first non-conference game away from the Schottenstein Center, and the Buckeyes and Orange battled to a 97-91 Syracuse victory.

During the offensive battle, guards Jacy Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell led Ohio State with 23 and 21 points, respectively. Also, forward Rebeka Mikulášiková contributed 16 points and seven rebounds. But the Buckeye’s collective effort wasn’t enough to stop guard Teisha Hyman, who scored 30 points, playing every minute for Syracuse in the win.

Overall, in the challenge’s history, Ohio State has a tough record. In 14 games, the Scarlet & Gray have only four wins, but on the bright side, two of the four have been in the last three years where the challenge has taken place. The only year the ACC and B1G haven’t scheduled this midseason event was 2020, when COVID-19 put a halt to normal scheduling of games.

Elsewhere around the 2022-23 challenge are other exciting matchups. On Dec. 1, the Maryland Terrapins travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame, even though some shine is lost with Maryland stars Angel Reese and Ashley Owusu transferring away from the Terrapins in the offseason.

Also, the same night, the Indiana Hoosiers welcome the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Nebraska Cornhuskers travel to Virginia Tech and the Iowa Hawkeyes and Elite Eight side NC State tip off in Iowa City, Iowa.

Here’s the full list of games over the span of two days:


Continue reading...

Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for July 12, 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

On the Gridiron


Gary Moeller, former Ohio State football player turned Michigan coach, dies at 81
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

You’re Nuts: Biggest Ohio State burning question
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

Film Study: Paris Johnson Jr. finally gets to show off his full arsenal of skills
Blake Brockermeyer, 247Sports

Ohio State listed as early favorite in five critical regular-season games
Matt Parker, Lettermen Row

Black Out vs. the Badgers!


Ohio State records TreVeyon Henderson could break in 2022
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State to honor 2002 national championship team against Notre Dame
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Big moments in Ohio State football history: Tressel Ball
David M. Wheeler, Land-Grant Holy Land

Five Questions as Buckeyes aim to reclaim elite status in secondary
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Did you get your slushie on Monday?


Ohio State back to No. 1 in recruiting rankings (paywall)
Bill Landis, The Athletic

You’re Nuts: What If the Big Ten goes to 20 teams? What would that look like?
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


EJ Liddell injured in New Orleans Pelicans NBA Summer League game, report says
Nick Kosko, 247Sports


Ohio State women to face Louisville in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

With plenty of new faces, will Ohio State’s defense step up this season?
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land

Trey Burke Was “Very Impressed” with Brice Sensabaugh After Stellar Kingdom League Performance, Says Ohio State “Has a Gem” in the Freshman
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

#DevelopedHere


Nick Kellogg ‘thrilled’ to be newest assistant with Buckeyes hoops program
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Wrestling: Three Buckeyes Claim Gold Medals at 2022 U20 Pan American Championships
Chase Brown, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Women’s Golf: McGinty, Seumanutafa, Bourdage Excel
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Hockey: Buckeyes at NHL Development Camps
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...


Well, I loved this more than “The Book of Boba Fett” and a large part of “Obi-Wan Kenobi”:


Continue reading...

Ohio State four-star TE target set commitment date
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2023 four-star tight end Jelani Thurman via @jelani3345 on Twitter

The Buckeyes will soon learn if a four-star tight end will join their 2023 recruiting class. The team is also hoping to steal a four-star LB from Alabama later today.

Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class is quickly coming together. The program has earned 18 verbal commitments thus far, good for the top class in the 247Sports Class Rankings. However, the team is not done adding to the haul, and on Monday they learned they may soon be adding a second tight end to the class.

Four-star TE to commit this month


As mentioned above, the Buckeyes have hold of the nation’s top recruiting class. With limited spots remaining, the team will put more of a focus on the defensive side of the ball, mainly at linebacker and along the defensive line.

Despite focusing on the defense for filling out the remainder of the class, the Buckeyes next commitment may be another offensive skill player. On Monday, the team learned four-star tight end target Jelani Thurman (Fairburn, GA / Langston Hughes) will be making his decision known to the public this weekend on July 17th.


Thurman has not released a top schools list, but judging by his official visits, Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn and Michigan State look to be the contenders to earn his commitment. No team sticks out from the others as the favorite, but the Buckeyes were the most recent visit he completed, with him on campus June 24-26, and should be the freshest in his memory.

Ohio State has already earned a commitment at the position in four-star TE Ty Lockwood but adding a second tight end has always been the plan, making Thurman more of a priority than a desire. Additionally, Lockwood took to Twitter Monday to share that not only is he on board with adding another commitment at the position to this class, but he is excited for Thurman especially.


Lockwood was not the only future Buckeye to try and sway Thurman to choose the Buckeyes. Ohio State 2024 five-star quarterback commit Dylan Raiola (Chandler, AZ / Chandler) showed Thurman some love on Monday.


Ohio State 2023 five-star wide receiver commit Brandon Innis (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) also showed Thurman some love on Monday.


As Thurman has kept his recruitment pretty close to the vest, his decision Sunday will be one for Buckeye Nation to keep a close eye on. It is obvious that Ohio State’s coaching staff and current commitments have Thurman at the top of their list, and they are doing everything they can to land him. Thurman is the No. 9 TE in the 2023 class and he is the No. 135 overall prospect. He is also the No. 11 recruit from the talent-rich state of Georgia.

Gabe Brooks of 247Sports has more information on what Ohio State could be getting in Thurman, if he were to choose the Buckeyes:

Quick Hits

• Ohio State 2023 four-star linebacker target Raul Aguirre (Fayetteville, GA / Whitewater) announced over the weekend he be deciding on his collegiate school of choice earlier than expected, and will be making his decision public at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Aguirre is currently projected to Alabama, and if he were to spurn them, it would come as a big surprise to everyone except recent Ohio State cornerback commit Kayin Lee (Ellenwood, GA / Cedar Grove) who has been doing some last-second recruiting.

Continue reading...