Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for September 14, 2021
Gene Ross 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 via Imagn Content Services, LLC

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!

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On the Gridiron


Josh Proctor out for the season with fractured leg
- Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

What Josh Proctor’s season-ending injury means for Ohio State’s secondary ($$)
- Stephen Means, Cleveland.com

Speaking of Buckeye injuries, this sucks.


Buckeye Defense Searching For Identity: ‘We have to do things differently’
- Tony Gerdeman, Buckeye Scoop

Ryan Day says Buckeyes can't overreact to Oregon loss
- Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Just some Buckeyes talkin’ shop. (Also, start Justin Fields @ Bears)


Ohio State’s historic passing day was not enough in loss to Oregon
- Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Four Buckeyes who impressed in otherwise ugly loss to Oregon
- Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ohio State’s Sept. 25 Game Against Akron Set For 7:30 P.M. Kickoff
- Andrew Lind, Sports Illustrated

Justin Fields scores first NFL touchdown, Terry McLaurin makes sick catch
- Matt Gutridge, Eleven Warriors

This is very cool.

On the Hardwood


Column: Write off Seth Towns at your own risk
- Connor Lemons, LGHL

‘The right way’: Ohio State’s Cedric Russell refuses to take the easy path
- Adam Jardy, BuckeyeXtra

Outside The Shoe and Schott


Ohio State women’s volleyball ranks No. 3 in the nation!


OSU field hockey goalie Aaliyah Hernandez named B1G DPOW


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Basketball Buckeyes hit the recruiting trail
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Ohio State basketball head coach Chris Holtmann and his coaching staff were active on the recruiting front Monday and will not be slowing down anytime soon.

This weekend was not kind to Buckeye Nation as the Ohio State football team fell to Oregon Saturday for the program’s first (and hopefully, only) loss of the season. While the football team will be focused on fixing the weekend’s mistakes, Chris Holtmann and the Ohio State basketball program are hitting the recruiting trail head-first. In case you missed the Buckeyes making the recruiting headlines Monday, no need to worry as Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.

Holtmann and Ohio State visit with 2022 three-star PF


Ohio State and the basketball Buckeyes have been incredibly successful in recruiting the 2022 class. Currently, the team sits atop of the 247Sports Team Rankings with four verbal commitments, and they are trying to add at least one more member to that class.

It appears the Buckeyes may have found their desired final piece of the puzzle in three-star power forward Brice Sensabaugh. The Orlando, Florida native is schedule to take an official visit with Ohio State later this week, but Holtmann and Ohio State couldn’t wait that long as the staff traveled to the Sunshine State to visit with him on Monday.


Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 240-pounds, Sensabuagh projects as either a shooting guard or small forward at the collegiate level. However, as Ohio State already holds three commitments from guards in the class, the Buckeyes will likely be recruiting him as a forward.

Ohio State is rather new to Sensabuagh’s recruitment, as they only offered him in late August. However, they have made their interest apparent as of recent and one would have to think they are making a solid impression.

Sensabuagh does not have any Crystal Ball predictions as of yet, but he has already taken official visits with Georgia Tech and Alabama. Including his upcoming Ohio State visit, he will be left with two remaining official visits if he so chooses. At this point, it appears Ohio State, Alabama and Georgia Tech are the three teams atop of his recruitment. If Ohio State can impress him this weekend, they may be able to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.

Sensabuagh is the No. 164 overall prospect in his recruiting class, and is the No. 41 SF. He is also the No. 24 player from the talent-rich state of Florida.

Basketball Buckeyes schedule more visits


As was already mentioned, Ohio State’s basketball program will be playing host to Sensabuagh later this week. However, the team isn’t stopping there and will soon be meeting with even more recruits. According to Jake Weingarten of stockrisers.com, the short list of these upcoming visits can be found below:

Five-star SF Mackenzie Mgbako


Class: 2023
Hometown: Gladstone, NJ / Gill St. Bernard S School
Size: 6-foot-7, 185-pounds
Offers: Duke, North Carolina, UConn, UCLA, George Washington, LSU, Oklahoma State, Ohio State

Five-star CG Simeon Wilcher


Class: 2023
Hometown: Roselle, NJ / Roselle Catholic
Size: 6-foot-4, 185-pounds
Offers: North Carolina, UConn, DePaul, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Kansas, UCLA, Miami, Oregon, Iowa, Ohio State

CG Damone King


Class: 2024
Hometown: Louisville, KY / Dupont Manual
Size: 6-foot-1
Offers: N/A

Quick Hits

• 2022 Penn State quarterback commit Drew Allar admitted that Ohio State has increased their efforts in flipping his commitment, but says he has not changed his mind and is remaining committed to Penn State.

• Ohio State also offered a pair of 2023 defensive linemen Monday night. Both Kayden McDonald and Isaiah Neal took to Twitter Monday night to show off their offers.

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Column: Mapping out the rest of Ohio State’s season following Oregon loss
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 Gaelen Morse/Getty Images

Putting the loss against the Ducks behind us, let’s take a look at who the Buckeyes have to beat the rest of the year.

Alright, everyone. Have we finished giving everyone around us the silent treatment, done brewing angry tears in our eyes, and finally accepted what happened on Saturday? No? Me neither. However, it is time to move forward and focus on what the rest of the season holds for the Buckeyes. Let’s take a look at the remaining opponents Ohio State needs to beat in order to get back into the CFP conversation.

Ohio State should be very happy with who they have lined up the next few weeks. Tulsa lost their first game of the year to FCS opponent UC Davis. They bounced back in a respectable loss to Oklahoma St., but still— a loss is a loss. Now they are coming to the ‘Shoe against an angry Buckeye team? I would say the home team has the advantage.

Akron should be a blowout, no question. They have lost by 50 and 21 points their last two games. The latter was against Temple, who got demolished by RUTGERS the week before. Enough said. Speaking of the Scarlet Knights, I truly don’t expect a complete blowout. So far, they’ve beaten Ohio University and Syracuse while looking a little sloppy. Greg Schiano has built up this program, but it should still be a fairly easy dub for the Buckeyes, as I’m sure Ohio State won’t let their mistakes slide.

Maryland will be an interesting one, with Taulia Tagovailoa leading the Terps to a 2-0 record so far, with a nice W against West Virginia, and a soul-crushing shutout against Howard. The junior QB has over 600 yards to open the season, and I am curious to see how Ohio State’s defense plans to defend him. Maryland has had some penalty struggles, so it’ll be a good game in a few weeks, with both teams having time to clean up some mistakes. I still got the Bucks pulling ahead, though.

Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Week 7 was a highly anticipated matchup against Indiana, but not so much after getting pummeled by Iowa. The Hosiers bounced back against Idaho, but they got Cincinnati on the slate for this weekend. I’ll make my final determination after that game, but I feel like I’ve seen enough— Michael Penix Jr. is having a little bit of a slow start which is hurting their offense. I expect Ohio State to capitalize on this one.

Penn State. Halloween. Home game. I CAN’T WAIT. This is going to be a phenomenal game, and I fully believe that James Franklin will bring a prepared team. The Nittany Lions have beaten Wisconsin in exciting fashion, and Ball State. Nothing too impressive from them so far, but the way they gutted it out against Wisconsin is to be noted. Buckle up.

Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska and Purdue shouldn’t cause worry. The Cornhuskers lost to Illinois, but QB Adrian Martinez is a running threat, which I would hope Ohio State can stop by the time we face them. Purdue has a couple of wins under their belt, but a big game against Notre Dame this Saturday. However, I think these are both average teams that OSU will beat. Michigan St. opened up with a nice win against Northwestern to start the season, and look pretty good. The Spartans’ RB Kenneth Walker III is definitely someone to watch out for, as he exploded for 264 yards in that game. Another good running back against a struggling Ohio State defense— we shall see.

Junfu Han via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Last but not least, TTUN. At TTUN. *ichigan routed a struggling Washington team this past weekend as a result of a good RB combo, strong defense, and some trickery on special teams. Harbaugh is getting creative on the hot seat, and he will not go down without a fight in the most critical game of his career at this school. Ohio State can take advantage of *ichigan’s lack of passing on offense, and go off on their own offense. Best game of the year. November 27. LET’S GET HYPED FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON!

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Ohio State’s defensive line has greatly underperformed
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC

The Buckeyes have a laundry list of issues following their loss to Oregon.

You know how people say it’s impossible to choose a favorite child, or even their favorite pizza? You love all your kids, and pizza is always good. Well, choosing our biggest positional disappointment from an Ohio State defense that has woefully underperformed is kind of like the opposite of that. I’m disappointed in the whole thing — there are no favorites. The secondary has been the only pleasant surprise, but I think it’s fair to say that there are glaring weaknesses in that unit as well (cough, a certain safety, cough).

While I am optimistic that the players and coaches can turn it around, I won’t put a guarantee on it. To me, the improvement needs to flow from front to back, so I am singling out the defensive line as my biggest disappointment thus far.

Unlike the linebackers and the defensive backs, we didn’t have many concerns about the big guys up front… initially at least. The Buckeyes return a ton of experience on the line and were supposed to be led by preseason award and All-American candidates such as Zach Harrison and Haskell Garrett. Through two games, those two players have produced one memorable play – the same play – and not much else. As the unit projected to lead this defense, the front four has failed to hold up their end of the deal.

It has only been two games, but the defensive line has fallen well short of expectations. I would argue that they are actually the poorest performing unit — by a mile. The run defense is what jumps out most to me, with regards to their dismal display thus far. Ohio State opponents have rushed for an average of 236 yards per game, on 5.4 yards per carry. The numbers would be even worse had Mo Ibrahim not been injured during the OSU’s opener at Minnesota. Teams are running the ball at-will against the Buckeyes, and opposing running backs have found the endzone six times already.

The run defense (or lack thereof) is a result of multiple failures, but the guys up front are literally the first line of defense. They have gotten no push at the line of scrimmage, and they are being bullied by the opposition. Tommy Togiai is missed, but I did not anticipate his physicality being missed this much. Haskell Garrett and Taron Vincent are talented as hell, and they are physically imposing dudes, but the middle of the line has been stood up far too often. And don’t get me started on the perimeter!

That would have been a poor and dramatic ending, so yes, let me vent on the defensive ends as well. I am still only focusing on the run defense here… Containment, especially against teams that give you option looks and use pulling guards on perimeter runs, is of the utmost importance. Ohio State players and coaches have failed – egregiously – to contain anything. That was on full display against Oregon, as the Ducks got to the outside with ease. The left side was especially vulnerable.

The lack of containment can also be attributed to coaching. Kerry Coombs and Al Washington have failed their players, but Larry Johnson might also deserve some of the blame… or is it simply that his experienced unit has failed to execute?

Against Oregon, the Buckeyes clearly failed to set the edge. If Zach Harrison, Tyreke Smith, and others regularly attacked the mesh point due to coaches’ orders, so be it. However, at some point, you have to catch on to what the other team is doing. Far too often, I saw ends collapsing the middle with their heads down. After a billion read option plays and outside runs, maybe sit home and read the play? Players with multiple years of starting experience need to rely on feel an instinct at some point, and the defensive ends did neither against Oregon… or their instincts were all wrong.

The pass rush as a whole has been abysmal so far in 2021. It was not a whole lot better in 2020, but the Buckeyes did seem to create consistent pressure last season — they just didn’t get home as often as we would have liked. Through two games this year? The pressure is non-existent. Harrison has one strip sack, but he has been a ghost otherwise. He is a preseason award nominee and potential first-round draft pick. Tyreke Smith has been equally unproductive. You don’t expect sacks from the interior, but they need to be able to collapse the pocket. Again, we have seen none of that through two games.

If the linebackers are going to struggle all year, this defensive line needs to make up for their lack of experience. Those linebackers need reps to improve, but what is the excuse up front? They have all the reps you could ask for. They also have uber-recruits sitting on the bench. If the poor performance continues, those guys need to be on the field.

To me, the defensive line is a unit Ohio State should have been able to rely on — similar to the wide receivers. Not to say that the talent level is the same, but Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are going to be security blankets and lifesavers at some point. The defensive line should help keep this defensive afloat while young guys get experience. So far, they have been bullied. That isn’t coaching. That is nastiness and want-to. The guys up front on defense don’t seem to have a lot of either right now. Here’s hoping they get their swagger back against inferior opponents, because the Buckeyes will need them to turn this thing around.

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BigWoof31 said:

FWIW - Some SEC rankings below:

Vanderbilt 14
UF 28
UGA 48
Texas AM 68
Auburn 99
UK 127
Bama 148
Ole Miss 148
Arkansas 162
LSU 172
Miss St 196

Click to expand...

Now do the Sun Belt.

Fungo Squiggly said:

I've had posts deleted/edited before. You know what I did? Reflected on what I said and why it was deleted and tried to do better.

In hindsight....I really should have started a thread and demanded and explanation. So.....where's my fucking explanation, mods?

Click to expand...

Reflecting is for pussies. Bitch up, choose positivity. Nancy.

heisman said:

Click to expand...

I'm thinking that was October 7, 1961 vs UCLA. Final Ohio State 13 - UCLA 3.

OSU Football Program: October 7, 1961
https://kb.osu.edu/handle/1811/79153

1961 Media Guide
https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1961_guide.pdf
Just sayin': There are several other notable players/coaches on the team, i.e. Bo Schemblechler, Gary Moeller, Matt Snell, and Paul Warfield, etc.

Just sayin': If the everyone in the stands wore that much white, it precedes Ped State's 1st whiteout by over 40 years.

Thank you, EM.

Yeah, he looks a lot different out there than most guys. he's ready

BigWoof31 said:

Any of you Buckeye Bros make it to the VaTech game a few years back?

How is Lane Stadium? How is the Va Tech campus. I know next to nothing about Western VA

Click to expand...

Login to view embedded media

I haven't done torrents in years as my previous provider was a stickler. I just checked and the one I am using now also prohibits them. So no torrents, just DDL links. There are plenty of fast free ones. Some like ZS have size limits, but most sites the limit is 5GB or larger. If the links can't be posted on the site in the future I will either PM them to anyone who wants them or I could set up an e-mail account just to send the links directly.

msj2487 said:

#2 SS Mike Doss

Click to expand...

Hey, Mike Doss was a great player; but (updated) there might be a few other better contenders (today) for that #2 jersey.

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not going to be a Buckeye

Login to view embedded media Not going to be a Buckeye

Signed with Overtime Elite.

I picked stay at 14 since kick 2 or 4 out wasn't an option. I'm looking at you PSU, tsun, kNowledge.

Always love the countdown. Miss the program covers Lost Lassie posted in past years. Have we lost her?

Anyway, thanks for the memories. One of these days I'll get off my ass and locate more pics from the 50s and 60s.

So You Drafted A Buckeye: Josh Myers
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

The second Buckeye drafted in the second round, Myers was taken 62nd overall and he was drafted by the Packers. After Corey Linsley left for the Chargers, the Packers have replaced him with another Buckeye in Myers. Myers is a tough one and is very durable. We saw the impact of him being lost for a short time and it wasn’t pretty. Being like the rock on the offensive line, he brings experience that could translate instantly in the NFL.

Making calls at the next level would be tough for a rookie who is unfamiliar with the system but Bakhtiari will welcome him in and mentor him along the way. Like in Werner’s situation, he goes into an ideal situation to where he could also contribute right away. He has the tools and the knowledge to succeed but he would need to study the playbook and get stronger. Either way, his potential speaks for itself. He finds himself in an ideal situation that could blossom into a long career.




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So You Drafted A Buckeye: Pete Werner
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Pete Werner was the first Buckeye defender taken in the second round. Werner was taken 60th overall by the New Orleans Saints joining former Buckeye Marshon Lattimore. Werner, a four star recruit according to 24/7 was an Inside Linebacker prospect that bloomed into a Swiss Army knife on defense. A linebacker with good coverage skills that could also blitz when called upon. Let’s say he’s in good company with him lining up alongside Demario Davis.

Werner is a gamer that will be asked to cover TE’s and if needed receivers. He won’t be asked to start but the current group aside from Davis leaves a lot to be desired. Werner is a sure tackler, but he does try to get that big hit in from time to time but when he makes contact, he shifts momentum fast. He sometimes takes risks on defense as well as bad angles but under the tutelage of Cameron, Davis and Lattimore, he will get right. Either way, he is a competitor and he should be able to secure a decent role on this aging defense.




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So You Drafted A Buckeye: Justin Fields
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

After an unceremonious pre-draft thrashing, Justin Fields slipped past QB-needy teams like the Panthers and the Broncos, and found himself donning a Bears hat. From being the clear-cut QB2, to getting drafted QB4, he lands in Chicago and behind newly signed Andy Dalton to begin his career. Dalton is on his third team after beginning his career in Cincinnati, a single season in Dallas, and now Chicago. Can Fields come in and contribute immediately? Or will he have to grind it out and wait for his time like Mahomes?

All the talk and the doubt have fueled him up to this point. He will let his play do the talking and I personally think he will reverse the QB trend in the NFL. Fields brings immediate competition for Dalton. Enough to be worried about but not until he dissects the playbook and learns the system. He brings toughness and that feistiness you like to see in a quarterback that coincidentally slipped in the draft. A huge chip lays squarely on his shoulders and he wouldn’t want it any other way. Beware. For the teams that passed on him, I feel like this gem will make teams regret it.




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Fandom Origins: RJ Tongohan
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Fans often are so attached to teams and this fan is definitely addicted to anything Ohio State, but would it be crazy to know that I wasn’t always an Ohio State fans? Would it shock you to know that little detail about me, a writer that has been following and writing about Ohio State? Well believe it and here is my comic book-ish origin story for those who have followed me and have enjoyed my fan perspective content over the years.

So to set the stage, I was born and raised in Guam, a U.S. territory located in the Pacific Ocean. I was raised on basketball and knew little about football. The only teams I knew of were the Cowboys and the Dolphins in the NFL. I joined the military in 2005 and I became a Broncos fan by default when watching a Chargers/Broncos game on Turkey Day while attending tech school for my job in the Air Force. He was a Chargers fans and being me, I picked the other team and rolled with it.

Fast forward to my first duty stationed or base, I was stationed at Nebraska in December 2005 and I knew nothing about college football. The husker fans around me were annoying and I watched college football casually but I had no favorite team. Now after watching on and off, I tuned into an Ohio State game in 2006 and I was hooked on them instantly. #10, #7, #28, #33 and #2 reeled me in and that is how I developed my affinity for Ohio State everything.

The offense dazzled. I remember watching Troy Smith slinging and running it, Ted Ginn Jr’s electric skills every time he touched the ball and Beanie Wells dashing past and running over TTUN defenders. The defense was a forced to be reckoned with with stalwarts like James Laurinaitus being involved in every defensive play and Malcolm Jenkins shutting one half of the field down as a shutdown corner.

These are my fondest moments as a fan and it came with its highs and lows. Highs were defeating TTUN consistently, a streak that has few blemishes. I didn’t live through the Cooper years but I did my research and I pray I never see times like those. Demolishing Clemson last year was also another awesome moment and obviously the crowned jewel was winning it all in 2014.

The lows? I’ll start with 2011’s Fickell season and the last loss at the hands of TTUN. There were also the losses to LSU and Florida in the championship games. Add the Bama loss and the Clemson shutout to that, but it has never stopped me from switching teams.

I have been writing for five years and I have stayed loyal to a smaller, lesser known company in the Men Of The Scarlet And Gray or MOTSAG. I sometimes wish for an opportunity to join the ranks of a bigger company but it is unlikely and I’m okay with that. I cannot wait to see what is in store for me and the future but it’s been awesome and I’ve met some cool people on the way. Here’s to more content and I hope you enjoyed this little spin. Look for all my companions to follow suit.

#GoBucks





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You’re Nuts: What is the best Columbus pizza for game-night dining?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Rob Hardin / Columbus Alive via Imagn Content Services, LLC

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

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

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

Today’s Question: What is the best Columbus pizza for game night eating?


Matt and Jami were both huge fans of the dearly departed, south campus institution Catfish Biff’s. So if the pandemic hadn’t stolen them from us, at least one of them would have chosen the Biff’s.

Also, if you haven’t already, you need to pick up this generation’s seminal non-fiction tome “Columbus Pizza: A Slice of History” by Jim Ellison.

Jami’s Take: Tommy’s Pizza on Lane


It’s Game Day in Columbus, and you know what that means — you need to order the perfect game day pizza to feed your crew tonight. But which pizza place should you choose? Matt and I have you covered.

I’d like to take a moment to memorialize the late, great Catfish Biff’s, which Matt and I agree was the greatest pizza place to ever grace Columbus with its presence. Since our beloved Biff’s was a heartbreaking pandemic casualty, if you’re looking for game day pizza, there are only two remaining acceptable answers: Adriatico’s on South Campus and Tommy’s on Lane, depending on your geography.

If your reaction - like Matt’s - to reading that was “Jami, you’re wrong,” first of all, no I am not. I’m never wrong, and I have lived in both Chicago and New York, so I’m certainly never wrong about pizza. Matt, on the other hand, called Tommy’s “overrated” and “a generic knockoff of Donato’s” because he apparently lacks all taste. Arguably, he should be disqualified for even having an opinion on this topic if he can’t differentiate between Tommy’s - the pizza of the gods - and Donato’s - a fine option if cheap pitchers are what you’re really there for.

Adriatico’s and Tommy’s serve up two very different pizzas, but unfortunately, only one can be the best. Let’s see how they stack up in a variety of categories.

Value

I did the math - Tommy’s will cost you about $1.08 for each inch of pizza (it costs $16.25 for a large, 15” pizza). Adriatico’s, on the other hand, will run you about $1.03 per inch ($18.49 for a large 18” pizza). Adriatico’s also offers you more toppings and better sizing options (Tommy’s caps out at a 15” pizza, while Adriatico’s serves an 18”x24” Buckeye-size which is great for parties like the kind you might have on gameday). Each additional topping costs a little more at Adriatico’s than it does at Tommy’s, but overall, Adriatico’s has the better value.

Edge: Adriatico’s

Taste

This is all a matter of personal preference. The crust is the center of attention at Adriatico’s, but that means the flavor of the pizza is largely … bready, whereas Tommy’s flavors all come together into one cohesive pizza. I also prefer Tommy’s sauce and feel they have a better cheese-to-sauce-to-crust ratio.

Edge: Tommy’s

Crust

I personally prefer Tommy’s crust because I like a thinner, crunchier crust on my pizza. But at Adriatico’s, the crust really is the star of the show - it’s perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. That I tend to prefer thin crust pizza but still find myself dreaming about the pillowy goodness of Adriatico’s was enough for me to give them the edge. Tommy’s does a great crust if the thinner, crunchier crust is your thing. Adriatico’s does a great crust even if a doughy crust isn’t your thing.

Edge: Adriatico’s.

Toppings

Adriatico’s offers more variety by way of toppings, but in my experience, Tommy’s does a better job of nailing the ratio. If your heart is really set on putting turkey on your pizza (an option at Adriatico’s but not at Tommy’s), that’s not on Tommy. That’s on you for ruining your pizza. Tommy’s earns extra points in my book for their pepperoni. This might be a hot take, but Adriatico’s pepperoni doesn’t do it for me. Yes, I know it’s huge. I don’t want one giant pepperoni - I want lots of little pepperoni so they don’t slide off with one bite. The best pepperoni is the kind that curls up in the oven to form a small bowl - the ends get crispy and the grease sort of pools in the peps. Tommy’s is doing this all right, and Adriatico’s is a completely fine second.

Edge: Tommy’s

Ease of ordering

Both Tommy’s and Adriatico’s offer dine-in, pick-up, and delivery, but Adriatico’s doesn’t yet offer online ordering. You have to - gasp - pick up the phone and speak to a human (the horror!). Adriatico’s also charges a $2.00 delivery fee. Tommy’s, on the other hand, offers easy online ordering through DoorDash without any delivery fee or price markups on the menu. You can call if you prefer that, but I’m guessing most people don’t prefer that. They also have more than one location, which gives them a slightly wider delivery area.

To any college kids reading this - this is your friendly reminder to tip your delivery people. I know you’re broke. That’s not an excuse not to tip. Seriously. Scrounge up an extra $1 each among your friends to pay this person who is running around serving you food in your drunkenness.

Edge: Tommy’s

Overall winner: Tommy’s

Based on my very scientific analysis of these two very delightful pizza places, Tommy’s is the way to go. From easy ordering to taste you’ll dream about years after you leave Columbus, this is your best bet for all your game day pizza needs.

Matt’s Take:


According to the renowned pizza experts at Slice, Columbus style pizza is described as, “Columbus-style pies are built upon an ultra-thin crust that’s usually crispy, closer to a cracker than the typical pizza base. The toppings go all the way up to the very edge to maximize the real estate for the toppings. After baking, it’s cut into squares, rather than triangles.”

While it is similar in style to that of the St. Louis pie, Columbus style pizza uses more traditional pizza cheeses (mozzarella and parmesan) than our brethren in the Arch City do. Columbus pizza and Chicago thin-crust are very similar.

Now, as someone who hasn’t lived in Ohio in over 17 years, I can tell you that while there is certainly good pizza in other parts of the country, there is nothing like a good thin-and-crispy crust, Columbus-style large pizza that you can house in one sitting without ever realizing that you’ve had more than a couple of pieces.

Now, Tommy’s certainly falls into the Columbus style category, and were my dad to be writing this article, he might be inclined to agree with Jami, as he grew up one block away from the original Tommy’s location at the corner of Hamilton and Livingston. But, my dad’s not writing this article, and I have better taste than he does anyway (and obviously than Jami as well).

Being the elder statesman of LGHL, many of the on-campus pizza options have changed since I was in school, but I did always enjoy a good dose of Adriatico’s, especially when I was an R.A. or working for the Student Activities office, because you could order a Buckeye Pizza for an event and feed like 20 people for $12 on Tuesday nights. It was the Ohio State equivalent of feeding 4,000 people with a few loaves and fishes; a south campus miracle.

But, if we are talking about the quintessential pizza for an OSU game day, Adriatico’s is out, because it just doesn’t meet the qualifications of a Columbus-style pizza. Sorry, guys.

That also means that familiar brands like Pizza Hut, Dominos, Papa Johns, Gumbys (is Gumbys still a thing on campus?), Hounddogs’ (is Hounddogs’ still a thing on campus?), and others are out as well.

So, that brings us to three Columbus-style staples, the aforementioned Tommy’s, the OG Columbus-style pizza Massey’s, and the preeminent representative of the style, Donato’s. I’m clearly not going with Tommy’s, or that would defeat the purpose of this article, and to be honest, it is my personal least favorite of these three.

So, the question is, do I go with the virtual inventor of the Columbus-style in Massey’s or do a go with the ever-growing behemoth in Donato’s? Both are childhood favorites of mine; Massey’s with the added crunch and texture of the extra seasoning on top and their impossibly long and thin slices. Donato’s with their nearly perfect, thin pepperoni that curl up with a delectable crispness on the edges.

Having lived in the south for over 15 years, when I took a friend who was never much of a pizza fan before to Columbus and fed them Donato’s, they responded that it was like they put crack on pizza. That seems like a fairly ringing endorsement.

However, living in Florida, Donato’s is creeping down into the Sunshine State, in fact, they have a franchise about 45 minutes away from me; close enough to go get it when I’m craving it, but not close enough for delivery — a blessing and a curse. They thing is, it’s not exactly the same. The crust is a little too thick to be authentic Donato’s. Everything else tastes the same (although I think they need to leave the pies in the oven a little longer to get that perfect crispness), but it still isn’t the perfect Donato’s experience.

Massey’s on the other hand only has 15 locations and they are all in Central Ohio, making it the type of pizza that seems built for an Ohio State football viewing party.

But, if I’m being honest, Donato’s is still it for me. I know it’s cliche, but there’s a reason that McDonald’s bought them (and them sold them back to the original owners) and that they are expanding nationwide; they are just the best Columbus style pizza out there.

So, I might be a square (cut), but I am riding Donato’s for game night; but you better not eat my corner pieces, damnit.

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