Countdown to 2017: Top 10 storylines of 2016 Big Ten season
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

We're one day closer to 2017, and today BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is counting down the 10 best storylines, in no particular order, of the 2016 Big Ten football season.

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The Orange Bowl and Alamo Bowl tops the next set of college football bowl game best bets, odds
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We inch closer to the playoff as the first off the New Year’s Six bowl games kicks off.

Bowl season ATS: 7-16-1 (5-13-1 National, 2-3 B1G)

Season ATS: 92-103-5 (45-51-2 National, 47-52-3 B1G)

Bowl season has been a complete bust for MC&J so far this year. Tuesday and Wednesday really put a hurtin’ on this year’s bowl record, with just a 1-7 record against the spread in those eight games. Hopefully as the importance of the bowl games rises, MC&J’s picks can get better.

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida (-10) v. South Carolina - 12/29 2:00 PM EST - ESPN

South Florida has already set a school record for most wins in a season, which is a major reason why Willie Taggart drew the attention of Oregon for their vacant head coaching position. The Bulls hit the jackpot with Taggart’s replacement, hiring Charlie Strong. But it isn’t quite time for Strong to take the reins of the Bulls just yet, as interim head coach T.J. Weist will lead South Florida against South Carolina in Birmingham.

Quarterback Quinton Flowers could kickstart a 2017 Heisman campaign with a strong performance against the Gamecocks. This year Flowers was one of just three quarterbacks with 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. Between Flowers, who had 1,425 yards rushing, and Marlon Mack, who added 1,137 yards on the ground, the Bulls have quite a potent rushing attack.

South Carolina has been carried by their defense this year, and because of that I think they’ll be able to stay inside the number here. To say South Florida’s offense has been awful this year might be an understatement. While I’m not very impressed with what the Gamecocks offer up on offense, South Florida’s defense can make pretty much anyone look good it seems.

South Florida 31, South Carolina 27

Belk Bowl: Arkansas v. No. 22 Virginia Tech (-7) - 12/29 5:30 PM EST - ESPN

Justin Fuente’s first season in Blacksburg couldn’t have gone much better. A win against Arkansas will give the Hokies their first 10-win season since 2011. Quarterback Jerod Evans is a big reason for that success, throwing for 27 touchdowns and adding another 10 rushing touchdowns. With 20 points, Virginia Tech will break the school record for points scored in a season that was set in 2010.

Arkansas will be looking for their third straight bowl win under Bret Bielema. The Razorbacks will need another big performance out of Rawleigh Williams III, who ran for 1,326 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. What hurt Arkansas this year was they couldn’t get any consistency, as they alternated wins and losses for much of the season.

Another problem for Bielema’s teams at Arkansas is they haven’t found much success against ranked teams. The Razorbacks are 7-18 against ranked foes under Bielema, but this is first non-SEC ranked team they’ve played. I was impressed with how the Hokies stuck with Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, and I think they close out the year strong with a double-digit win in Charlotte.

Virginia Tech 38, Arkansas 24

Alamo Bowl: No. 12 Oklahoma State v. No. 10 Colorado (-3) - 12/29 9:00 PM EST - ESPN

Not only is this a matchup of former conference foes, but it also is one of the most intriguing non-New Year’s Six bowl games. Colorado is playing in their first bowl game since 2007, but they’ll have to do so without the architect of a defense that was one of the best in the country. Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt left the Buffaloes to take the same position at Oregon earlier this month.

While Colorado got some bad news leading up to the bowl game, Oklahoma State just got some good news. Quarterback Mason Rudolph announced he is returning to Stillwater next year, which could see the Cowboys sitting in a lofty position in the polls prior to the season. Rudolph was the only quarterback in the country to pass for more than 3,500 yards and throw less than five interceptions.

I love what head coach Mike MacIntyre has done in Boulder, but I think the loss of Leavitt will hurt Colorado in this game. Where the Buffaloes have been strong is in forcing turnovers, which is something that Rudolph just doesn’t do that much. This should be a fun game, but in the end I feel better about taking the points.

Oklahoma State 33, Colorado 30

Liberty Bowl: Georgia (-1) v. TCU - 12/30 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

This is certainly a bowl game and it is in Memphis, but other than that there isn’t a whole lot to say about this game. At least fans will get to watch Georgia running back Nick Chubb, who is nearing 1,000 yards this season. Kirby Smart has had an up-and-down first season in Athens, but things started to go Georgia’s way later in the year, with the Bulldogs winning three of their last four games.

TCU is a tough team to get a read on, and a lot of that can be attributed to the inconsistency of quarterback Kenny Hill. The Texas A&M transfer threw 13 interceptions this year, so Georgia’s defense could feast on a few turnovers. I’m not terribly impressed by either team, but if I had to choose I’d take Georgia just because I can trust their defense a little more.

Georgia 27, TCU 21

Sun Bowl: No. 18 Stanford (-3) v. North Carolina - 12/30 2:00 PM EST - CBS

Sun Bowl? More like the Shun Bowl if you are a starting running back for either of these teams. Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey and North Carolina running back Elijah Hood are both sitting this one out, with the difference being McCaffrey is doing so to prepare for the NFL, while Hood is returning to Chapel Hill next yesar.

At least scouts can still get a look at North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who threw for 3,468 yards and 28 touchdowns this year. Wide receiver Ryan Switzer was Trubisky favorite target this season, hauling in 91 catches for over 1,000 yards.

Stanford closed the season with five straight wins, with the spark being provided when Keller Chryst was inserted as the starting quarterback. Chryst threw for seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the last four games. I still can’t trust Stanford without McCaffrey. Even though North Carolina doesn’t have Hood, I still think they’ll be able to move the ball and make the Cardinal play catchup.

North Carolina 28, Stanford 24

Music City Bowl: Nebraska v. No. 21 Tennessee (-6.5) - 12/30 3:30 PM EST - ESPN

Is Nebraska even going to have anybody left by the time kickoff rolls around. The Cornhuskers likely won’t have quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., and it was already known that wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp and defensive back Nate Gerry wouldn’t be playing against the Volunteers. Ryker Fyfe started when Nebraska played Maryland, but the backup quarterback didn’t have anyone like Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett chasing him around.

On the other side, Tennessee definitely doesn’t have to worry about the quarterback position. Joshua Dobbs threw for 26 touchdowns and added nine rushing touchdowns, pretty much doing everything on offense for Tennessee this year. The Volunteers were riding a three-game winning streak before ending the regular season on a sour note with a loss to Vanderbilt.

If Nebraska wasn’t dealing with so many injuries I probably would be all-in on them giving Tennessee a close game. Knowing what I know now, it’s hard to see the Cornhuskers keeping up. This one could get ugly for Nebraska.

Tennessee 41, Nebraska 21

Arizona Bowl: South Alabama v. Air Force (-14) - 12/30 5:30 PM EST - ASN

What is ASN? Do I even have ASN? Isn’t Will McAvoy an anchor on ASN? Will Sloan Sabbith be on commentary? And now I’ve lost anybody reading this who didn’t watch The Newsroom.

Are you really going to bet against a team that has a player named Weston Steelhammer? I didn’t think so. Air Force runs all over South Alabama. I think we’ve spent enough time on a game that none of us will end up watching a second of.

Air Force 35, South Alabama 17

Orange Bowl: No. 6 Michigan (-7) v. No. 11 Florida State - 12/30 8:00 PM EST - ESPN

Finally we have gotten to the first of the New Year’s Six bowls. The Wolverines were obviously hoping to be playing in the College Football Playoff and if a certain spot wasn’t so good, Jim Harbaugh’s team just might be. Instead Michigan will have to set their bitter disappointment aside and take on Florida State. Remember when Will Ferrell played nine different positions during MLB spring training? Maybe Jabrill Peppers can do something like that an play every position on both sides of the ball for Michigan in this game.

If I was Peppers I surely wouldn’t want to try and tackle Florida State running back Dalvin Cook. Not many have been to successful at bringing down Cook this year, who has rushed for 1,620 and 18 touchdowns for the Seminoles. Cook will have to be on top of his game to crack a Michigan defense that might just be the best in the country.

Florida State struggled early in the season on defense, which dashed their College Football Playoff hopes a lot sooner than many were expecting. The Seminoles have tightened things up of late though, which is why I think they’ll be able to stay in this game. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker, who has 15 sacks on the year, could give the Michigan offensive line fits. I think Cook puts forward a strong performance in his hometown before announcing he is heading to the NFL and somehow the Seminoles hand Michigan their third loss in four games.

Florida State 24, Michigan 21

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How Ohio State can KO Clemson - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


How Ohio State can KO Clemson
ESPN
How Ohio State can KO Clemson · Ohio State Buckeyes. 1mSteve Muench and Kevin Weidl. Ranking non-playoff teams' chances of making 2017 field · Denver Broncos. 51mBill Barnwell. Karl's latest jabs anger Lillard's coach, agent · Portland Trail Blazers.


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Buckeyes had perfect decoy as Clemson QB - Toledo Blade
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes had perfect decoy as Clemson QB
Toledo Blade
The Buckeyes aimed to mimic Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson using two players. Third-string quarterback Dwayne Haskins simulated Watson's throwing; Glover-Williams entered to give the Buckeyes' defense a taste of a scrambling quarterback.


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BM5: Buckeyes to take over U.S. Army Bowl again - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Buckeyes to take over U.S. Army Bowl again
247Sports
Yes, next week is U.S. Army All-American Bowl Week, culminating with the annual game on Jan. 7 at the AlamoDome in San Antonio, Texas. Once again, the week has a distinct Buckeye feel. Nine Buckeyes commitments and two 5-star prospects we all ...


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4-star WR Joshua Moore includes Ohio State in top schools
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes are in a battle for the Texas native.

Moore reveals top schools


When it comes to Ohio State's 2018 class, the Buckeyes are off to a very good start as they've already secured two commitments from two exceptional out-of-state prospects — '18 quarterback Emory Jones and '18 running back Brian Snead.

On Wednesday, the Scarlet and Gray found out that their chances for another non-Ohioan got a bit better. '18 wide receiver Joshua Moore, the 60th overall player in the class, from Yoakum (TX) announced via Twitter that he narrowed his list of 50 offers down to just 14. Of the 14 programs that were included, Ohio State was one of them.


As for the Buckeyes competition for the 6-foot, 168-pounder, they will have to fight off Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M in this battle.

Ohio State initially jumped into the picture for Moore in September of this year when they delivered an offer to the Lone Star State standout. The Buckeyes have yet to host Moore on a visit to campus, so plenty of credit should go to the coaching staff for keeping the interest high. With that being said, former Buckeye offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who is now the head coach at Texas, is currently projected to be the beneficiary in this recruitment. On the 247Sports Crystal Ball for Moore, the Longhorns have received 73 percent of Moore's predictions.

Pryor, Wilson shine at UA practice


Day 1 of the Under Armour All-American practice was held on Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. and '17 safety Isaiah Pryor, an Ohio State pledge, from IMG Academy (FL) wasted no time making a good impression on those in attendance. According to Adam Gorney of Rivals.com, the four-star prospect looked "strong" on defense.

It was more of the same with '17 defensive tackle Marvin Wilson of Episcopal (TX), who announced, on Tuesday, a top five list that included the Buckeyes. Wilson, the No. 3 player in this year’s recruiting cycle, was listed by the aforementioned Gorney of Rivals as the most impressive player of the day.

Gorney raved about the showing of Wilson, a major Ohio State target, and even stated that the 6-foot-4, 329-pounder was "absolutely dominating." On Sunday, you will be able to see with your own eyes, these two talents in action. It will be interesting to see how they and many other Buckeye commits/targets fare throughout the week.

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Buckeyes roll past Lancers, 71-37 - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes roll past Lancers, 71-37
Athens Messenger (registration)
Nelsonville-York's Hunter Edwards (12, left) goes up for two despite some hard-charging defense from Federal Hocking's Jared Hawk during Wednesday's game in Stewart. The Buckeyes won the game 71-37. prev. next. STEWART – The Nelsonville-York ...


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Ohio State dominates Minnesota 87-62 to open Big Ten play
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kelsey Mitchell makes Big Ten history in the win.

The No. 14 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-4, 1-0) knocked off Minnesota (9-5, 0-1) 87-62 on Wednesday night from the Value City Arena to open up Big Ten play for both teams. Throughout the game, Ohio State’s depth and athleticism kept the Golden Gophers at arms length, despite a gritty effort to keep the contest close at times.

OSU got substantive contributions from every player to step on the floor. Juniors Kelsey Mitchell and Linnae Harper led the way for OSU; 11 Buckeyes scored, but Mitchell was the game’s high scorer with 23 points to go along with six assists. Harper also turned in a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards.

The Gophers got the first bucket of the game, but after that opening basket, the first five minutes were dominated by the Buckeyes. With 4:40 left in the first quarter, Kelsey Mitchell hit the 299th three-pointer of her collegiate career to give OSU a 13-4 lead on the strength of an 11-0 run.

At that point, the Buckeyes were 5-10 from the field, and Minnesota was just 1-10, despite Gopher center Jessie Edwards making the first shot of the game.

After Minnesota converted on a pair of free throws, Mitchell took a deep three with 4:09 left in the first quarter to extend the lead to 16-6. The basket made her only the fifth player in Big Ten history to reach the milestone, and she wasn’t done just yet.

The Buckeyes’ athletic advantage was evident in the first quarter as they routinely scored off of their full-court pressure, and played with an impressive tempo on offense. The first 10 minutes of the game saw the Buckeyes hit five three-pointers on 10 attempts, including four from Mitchell, who was the game’s leading scorer with 12. After one quarter, Ohio State led 29-18.

The hot shooting for the Buckeyes continued into the second period as sophomore guard Sierra Calhoun hit a three from 23 feet to give the Buckeyes their biggest lead of the game, doubling up the Gophers 36-18. While OSU’s bench was outscoring their Minnesota counterparts 12-0 at that point, fouls were beginning to be a bit of a problem for the Buckeyes as three players (Tori McCoy, Stephanie Mavunga, and Shayla Cooper) had already picked up two a piece.

Throughout the first seven minutes of the second quarter, the Buckeyes maintained a substantial lead on the strength of their shooting and turnover advantage. The Gophers were shooting just 27.6% and had turned the ball over eight times, while OSU was shooting 40.5% and had only committed two turnovers.

However, with an increased defensive intensity, Minnesota went on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 40-29 after being down 38-18 earlier in the quarter. During the Gopher streak, OSU made only one of 17 field-goal attempts.

With just over a minute remaining in the quarter, a pair of free-throws from Minnesota’s Carlie Wagner cut the lead to single digits (42-33) for the first time since 2:52 in the first quarter. However, OSU’s Linnae Harper put back an airball rebound with 0:28 left in the half, and then hit a jumper as time expired, to extend the Buckeye lead to 46-33.

Minnesota’s head coach, Marlene Stollings, who played two years at Ohio State before transferring to Ohio University, is still the leading scorer in Ohio High School Basketball history, male or female, with 3,514 points.

At the break, Mitchell lead all scorers with 16, while Edwards led the way for Minnesota with 7. Three Buckeyes; Calhoun, Harper, and Makayla Waterman; turned in five first half rebounds.

The second half opened with both teams coming out of the locker room slightly more sloppy than they had been in the first 20 minutes. Both teams had a pair of turnovers in the first 5:30, and both teams struggling from the floor; Minnesota was 2-11, and OSU was 3-9.

Ohio State re-established a 20-point lead by turning up the heat on defense. With three steals and two blocks in a minute and a half beginning around the 5:00-mark of the third quarter, the Buckeyes look a 59-39 lead. After three quarters, OSU lead Minnesota 16-3 in points off of turnovers. They led the game 65-43 with 10 minutes left to play.

With 6:45 left in the game, Minnesota lost one of its most productive players, as junior center Bryanna Fernstrom fouled out after turning in 12 points and 10 points in 20 minutes off of the bench.

The only statistical category that went Minnesota’s way was rebounding. However, even though they edged the Buckeyes 56-55 on the boards, the Buckeyes outscored the Gophers 16-10 in second chance points, and led in points in the paint as well, 38-26.

Ohio State didn’t shoot particularly well (33-85, 34.6%), they played fantastic defense, causing 24 turnovers, while only giving up 12. Kelsey Mitchell’s twin sister did get her first points of the season, hitting both of her three-point attempts.

The OSU Women’s Basketball team returns to the hardwood on Saturday at 3 p.m. EST on the road against Indiana. The game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network, and should be a great way get into the Buckeye spirit ahead of the Fiesta Bowl matchup against No. 2 Clemson.

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Xavier McKinney, a 4-star S, includes Ohio State in top 3: Could he choose the Buckeyes? - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Xavier McKinney, a 4-star S, includes Ohio State in top 3: Could he choose the Buckeyes?
cleveland.com
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Four-star safety Xavier McKinney of Roswell, Ga., was quietly on an official visit to Ohio State for the win over Michigan on Nov. 26. He wasn't in the spotlight because the Buckeyes were hosting some big-named five-stars like ...


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Ohio State band member hits 55-yard FG, earns Buckeyes tryout - NFL.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State band member hits 55-yard FG, earns Buckeyes tryout
NFL.com
And now, the Ohio State band member will get a chance to show what he can do with a football instead of a musical instrument. The OSU band's official Twitter account captured Brizee connecting on a 55-yard field goal attempt Tuesday, and tagged ...
Ohio State marching band member kicks 55-yard field goal, gets football tryoutLand-Grant Holy Land

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Ohio State’s College Football Playoff hype video is the elixir you need for Saturday
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’s almost that time.

Ohio State’s video team has done a spectacular job all season of getting us ready for matchups week in and week out, and they may have brought their best work for the playoff.

The Buckeyes will be looking for revenge on a Clemson team that knocked them off in the 2014 Orange Bowl. The teams looks very different than they did then, but both are obviously both in a great spot.

Both teams have been highly regarded throughout the year, and to have them meet up in the Fiesta Bowl for a chance at a national championship only seems fitting. If it hasn’t hit you yet, this hype video will do the trick.

Go Bucks.

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Barrett gets 2nd chance for Buckeyes - Beloit Daily News
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Barrett gets 2nd chance for Buckeyes
Beloit Daily News
A healthy, confident Barrett led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff against Clemson on New Year's Eve. Instead of being relegated to the fringe, he's now is at the center of intense bowl game prep with a chance to ...
Buckeye in-state target weighing very important decision247Sports

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Watch Ohio State band member nail 55-yard field goal
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

If any college team is in search of a kicker (there's a lot of them), we recommend scouting The Best Damn Band In The Land. Check out one member of the Ohio State marching band drilling a 55-yard field goal inside.

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A.J. Hawk delivers message to Ohio State players heading into the playoff
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Enjoy the ride.

“Have fun. It goes fast.”

- A.J. Hawk, The Players Tribune


Former Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk wrote a great piece for The Players Tribune that talked about the significance of football in Ohio. He didn’t leave it at strictly Ohio State football, but rather went into how it’s a huge deal at the high school level, despite it not getting the hype that surrounds Texas high school football. At the same time, Hawk mentions that playing for Ohio State seemed impossible, like becoming the President of the United States. There’s numbers you grow up recognizing because of their historical significance, or because they were a player you grew up admiring.

Hawk then talks about suddenly being thrown into that mix, after seeing Jerry Rudzinski, who grew up in Hawk’s hometown, play for Ohio State. That pushed Hawk, who ultimately was able to go to Ohio State and win a national championship. He expands on things that he experienced as a player, like the way that he and his teammates were with each other, including other small details that he noticed while at Ohio State. His message in the end to the 2016 Buckeyes, is to “Have fun. It goes fast.” That sounds like some good advice for young college athletes on top of the world right now.

“Meyer pointed at his own desk. He wasn’t saying [J.T.] Barrett is simply going to be a college head coach someday; he’s saying Barrett will be the head coach at Ohio State someday.”

- Pat Forde, Yahoo Sports


Urban Meyer thinks his quarterback, J.T. Barrett will hold the throne that is the Ohio State head coaching position. “I really believe this,” Meyer told Forde. “I think he’s going to sit right here one day. Right here.” Meyer clearly thinks very highly of Barrett, who is having one of the most prolific careers not just in Ohio State history, but in Big Ten history. He’s involved in a lot of plays, 57.7 percent of them, according to Forde.

Barrett and Meyer have set out to do what everyone does, and that’s win a national championship, and compete for multiple ones. “I know why he came here, he was very clear about it,” Meyer said. “It was to play for a national championship. … He said he couldn’t stand to go to another place and watch Ohio State play for a national championship.” Barrett added, “[A national title] was one of the things I wrote down as my goals as a freshman. The goal was reached, but playing in it is totally different. That’s something I definitely want to be a part of.” The got one in 2014, maybe they’ll have some even-year magic.

“[Curtis] Samuel arrived at Ohio State thinking he was just going to be a running back.”

- Marla Ridenour, Akron Beacon Journal


The story of Curtis Samuel is an interesting one. He’s not from a place (Brooklyn) where a lot of football players come from. He wasn’t recruited to Ohio State to be an H-back, and yet here he is, tearing it up in Urban Meyer’s offense and drawing comparisons to Percy Harvin. When he was in high school, he played running back, but never really felt like one. “In high school, every little combine or camp event I went to I played receiver, I never played running back,” Samuel told Ridenour. “I was kind of comfortable in high school, but the plays we ran were sweeps and bubble screens. I didn’t know about running routes and 15-yard curls.”

Samuel came to Ohio State, who had Ezekiel Elliott, a guy who turned out to be pretty dang good. That’s when Meyer started to work with converting Samuel, who needed a good amount of time to adjust. “It definitely took a lot of time. My first practice was horrible. You could tell I had potential there, but the routes were horrible. [Receivers] Coach [Zach] Smith helped me, coach Meyer, the unit room we had was great, they pushed me, they helped me become the receiver I am today.” He’s undoubtedly turned into a great receiver, and while he may not get the national recognition we feel he deserves, we know what number 4 in the scarlet and gray uniform is capable of. Ask folks in Ann Arbor.

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On the Beat: Buckeyes' strong run defense has Clemson's attention - Charleston Post Courier
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On the Beat: Buckeyes' strong run defense has Clemson's attention
Charleston Post Courier
Only two tailbacks have run for 100 yards against the Buckeyes' third-ranked defense, both in OSU wins: Wisconsin's Corey Clement reached 164 yards on 25 attempts and Michigan State's LJ Scott got 160 yards on 19 totes plus a 64-yard receiving ...


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Xavier McKinney, a 4-star S, includes Ohio State in top 3: Could he choose the Buckeyes? - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Xavier McKinney, a 4-star S, includes Ohio State in top 3: Could he choose the Buckeyes?
cleveland.com
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Four-star safety Xavier McKinney of Roswell, Ga., was quietly on an official visit to Ohio State for the win over Michigan on Nov. 26. He wasn't in the spotlight because the Buckeyes were hosting some big-named five-stars like ...

and more »

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Ohio State football: What do Buckeyes LBs think of new assistant coach Bill Davis? - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: What do Buckeyes LBs think of new assistant coach Bill Davis?
cleveland.com
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- New Ohio State assistant coach Bill Davis won't have a huge part in the Buckeyes' preparations for the College Football Playoff. He's technically not in his new role as defensive assistant yet. He's still a defensive analyst, but ...

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Buckeyes downplay Watson's interceptions; Watson and JT are friends - Cleveland 19 News
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Buckeyes downplay Watson's interceptions; Watson and JT are friends
Cleveland 19 News
Still, Malik Hooker, the Buckeyes safety who picked off six passes this season, and took three of them back for touchdowns, isn't ready to admit he's licking his chops. "We really haven't paid attention to how many turnovers he's had this year because ...

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Ohio State marching band member kicks 55-yard field goal, gets football tryout
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Whoa!

We all already know that Ohio State has The Best Damn Band In The Land. But they just might be the best at more than just music.

The Ohio State Marching Band shared a video of Austin Brizee, a trumpet player, drilling a 55 yard field goal, and you’ve probably got to watch it to believe it.


According to For The Win, Brizee didn’t even play football in high school (he played soccer), and hadn’t kicked a field goal before this week (although he told Eleven Warriors that he’d booted a 60 yarder before too). The motivation for attempting such a long kick? The genesis for every great collegiate feat, a bet over free Chipotle.

Per FTW:


The Buckeyes have found success in finding kickers in unique places before, as current kicker Tyler “Fight Club” Durbin was a former soccer player at James Madison before walking on to Ohio State. The Buckeyes also have the top rated high school kicker, Blake Haubeil, currently in the 2017 recruiting class.

But you can never have too many athletes who can boot a 55-yarder. And even if Brizee decides to stick with the band, here’s hoping somebody buys him lots of Chipotle.

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Lazar Talks Prospect Development
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 16: Curtis Lazar #27 of the Ottawa Senators lays on the ice after taking a hit in the third period against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center on December 16, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Curtis Lazar’s development hasn’t gone the way many anticipated since he was drafted 17th overall in 2013.

Tabbed as a defensively responsible player who oozed intangibles and had offensive upside, Lazar was viewed as the kind of productive, character player that the Senators lacked.

That Lazar would go on to capture the 2013-14 Memorial Cup and bring home gold in the 2015 World Junior Championships only helped fuel perceptions of him as a blue chip prospect.

When it came time for Corey Pronman to reveal his list of the ‘Top 100 Drafted NHL Prospects‘ in 2014 for ESPN, Lazar was rated as Pronman’s 14th best prospect.


Now maybe this team-level success helped boost his profile, but in the years since his arrival at the game’s highest level, it’s impossible to ignore his progression (or lack thereof) as a professional hockey player.

Just in case you weren’t paying attention however, Lazar talked to Postmedia’s Ken Warren about his development and his belief that he’s close to turning the corner.


I guess Lazar believes that Senators fans prior to the year 2000. It’s not like this franchise’s glory years were a function of drafting and player development or anything.

You don’t have to look at the statistics to realize that Lazar’s career highlight has been eating a hamburger off the Canadian Tire Centre’s ice in a moment that wasn’t even intended for him.

I can’t blame a struggling player for using the media as a mechanism to let the public know he’s still confident in his own abilities, but I don’t know why Lazar would willingly throw comments like this out there. I mean, nothing quiets vocal critics more than drawing more attention to his struggles while concurrently shitting on this fanbase’s ability to properly assess his worth. He’d only have to talk to Mark Borowiecki to know about that.

Not even his patented smile can undo this kind of PR damage, but Lazar wasn’t done.


It’s not like there aren’t some reasons which may help to explain his struggles to perform. As many have pointed out, the Senators and Lazar may have benefited by returning him to the junior ranks instead of dressing him as a third or fourth line player for the 67 games he played as a 19-year old during the 2014-15 season.

Conversely, even though it’s easy to say that the Senators should not have rushed Lazar to the NHL, there’s no guarantee that Lazar would be any further ahead now if they didn’t.

Last season Lazar attributed the constant line juggling and his positional versatility as reasons that negatively affected his comfort level, but just like all the other aforementioned factors, there’s no way to conclusively say that: 1) all of these factors have prevented Lazar from fulfilling the lofty expectations that were placed upon him as a prospect; or 2) different factors or stimuli would have helped his development.

The truth of the matter is that if Lazar’s going to have a long career in Ottawa, he has to take ownership for his development. Not only do the excuses need to stop, he has to produce.

Right now, he’s a straight-line player who lacks the confidence or creativity to play with the puck and open up more opportunities for himself and his linemates. He looks like he fell into the prototypical trap of a young player who plays bottom six minutes and feels compelled to play a conservative style that mitigates turnovers and risk so that he can earn the coach’s trust.

His questionable offensive upside essentially makes him a replacement or sub-replacement level player and realistically, it’s his first round draft pick pedigree that has afforded him numerous opportunities to stick as a regular.

Of the 288 forwards who have played more than 1,500 minutes of five-on-five hockey since the time that Lazar entered the league, Lazar is tied for 283rd in terms of points per 60 minutes of ice time. In other words, of all those qualified forwards, only four players — Andrew Desjardins, Jordin Tootoo, Jarret Stoll and Pierre-Edouard Bellemarre — have produced less relative to their respective ice times.

Perhaps most importantly, if fans are critical of Lazar’s production, it speaks more towards their concern for the organization’s asset management than it has to do with Lazar. No one wants to see him struggle or fail in his development.

The problem for Lazar is that whether you believe the criticism is fair or revisionist history, what he represents is lost opportunity: a young talent who has gone from having high value to one with next to none. For many, they believe that the organization may have held onto Lazar longer than they ought have, especially in light of the statistics or predictors which cast doubt on his future success.

Now maybe that bothers Lazar, but the onus is on him to change the perception of how he has developed.


Most fans would be ecstatic with that kind of output, but the cynics will probably remark, “Is that sustainable?” or “Which league is he playing in?”



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Die Hard Michigan Fan Hypnotized, Betrays Wolverines, Praises Buckeyes - Breitbart News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Die Hard Michigan Fan Hypnotized, Betrays Wolverines, Praises Buckeyes
Breitbart News
The postseason in the NFL, and the bowl season in college football, sometimes make for strange allies. Erstwhile enemies frequently find themselves rooting for bitter rivals, because if that hated foe wins it somehow benefits the playoff seeding or ...


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Ohio State’s Chris Worley is the best linebacker no one’s talking about
Chuck McKeever via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The do-it-all OLB needs to have a huge game against Clemson’s talented offense.

One of the most important moments of Ohio State’s season came in its sloppiest performance of the year: a 17-16 squeaker against Michigan State. The Spartans, a year removed from a playoff berth, would finish just 4-8 (the same record as Notre Dame, people forget that). Despite their yearlong struggles, however, they were giving a gassed Buckeye squad all it could handle.

When L.J. Scott punched the ball in from a yard out with 4:41 to play, the Spartans had an opportunity to tie the game with an extra point. They opted to play spoiler instead: Mark Dantonio didn’t hesitate for a second calling the two-point conversion. It felt inevitable, really; the Buckeyes had been so stagnant and uninspiring to that point, primed for what feels like an annual collapse against a team they should’ve boatraced.

Instead, Tyler O’Connor’s attempt to throw into the end zone was thwarted, as safety Malik Hooker and linebacker Chris Worley combined to reel in an interception. Worley had snagged a clean pick earlier in the game, and while he wasn’t credited with this one on the score sheet, he was the clear difference-maker at the game’s most crucial moment.

It was the perfect encapsulation of Worley’s season, really: uncredited, but crucially important.

The stats


Name: Chris Worley

Number: 35

Position: OLB

Year: Junior

Height: 6’2

Weight: 228 lbs.

Stat line: 47.0 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble

Worley has quietly put together a very productive year, finishing fourth on the team in tackles in the regular season. He seemed to play his best down the stretch, too, coming up with big plays against Michigan State and Michigan to close the year.

The Buckeye defensive scheme calls on its outside linebackers to do a little bit of everything, from tracking receivers and tight ends to run-stopping at the line. Worley has risen to the challenge. He’s proven himself as a capable coverage man (check out those four pass breakups), and his lateral quickness has made him adept at meeting running backs on the outside edge.

Opposition research


Clemson’s about as “multiple” as a team can get on offense. The Tigers’ passing game has been electric all season, with QB Deshaun Watson and his huge complement of receivers putting up huge numbers. The running game, while less explosive, has still managed to break teams’ backs thanks to Wayne Gallman’s 5.1 yards per carry. In short: there’s no shortage of ways Clemson can beat you while they’ve got the ball.

One player who really intrigues is TE Jordan Legett. At 6’5, 260 lbs., he’s a matchup nightmare. Leggett caught seven touchdowns this season and averaged just shy of 17 yards per catch. Given that the Buckeyes have struggled at times to contain tight ends in 2016, there’s a good chance that Leggett will be one of Deshaun Watson’s favorite targets in the Fiesta Bowl—especially if Ohio State’s top-notch secondary is locking down the Tigers’ star receivers on the outside.

What to watch for


On short and mid-range throws, it will be on Worley and the rest of the Buckeye linebackers to keep track of Leggett and challenge him for the ball. They all give up at least three inches to the rangy tight end, but this unit doesn’t lack for physicality, and that might be enough.

As far as Gallman goes, look for a heavy dose of him in the first quarter as the Tigers look to dominate up front while steadily building up to a pass-heavy late game offense. As my colleague Chris Jason noted while breaking this tendency down earlier in the week:


In other words, it seems as though the Tigers aren’t maxing out Gallman’s capabilities, occasionally to their own detriment. The Buckeyes almost certainly prefer it this way: the defense finished the regular season ranked No. 5 in passing S&P+, compared to No. 17 in rushing S&P+. Clemson has the best stable of receivers that Ohio State will have faced all year, but between competent coverage linebackers like Worley and the lockdown secondary of the Scarlet and Gray, it’s hard not to like the Buckeyes’ odds if Clemson has to go pass-heavy earlier in the game than the Tigers would like.

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Buckeyes, Let's Hold the Line - The Players Tribune
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes, Let's Hold the Line
The Players Tribune
That's the only way I can describe what Ohio State football means to kids who grew up like I did. If you follow college football, you might already know the most famous numbers in Buckeyes history. You might even remember where you were the first time ...
Ohio State made the Playoff in a massive rebuilding year. That's scary.SB Nation
The Clemson secondary is not the main problem, Buckeyes have some catching up to do and moreLandof10.com
On the Beat: Tigers, Buckeyes don't agree with peers skipping bowl gamesCharleston Post Courier
cleveland.com -The State -Dayton Daily News
all 315 news articles »

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Tide, Huskies Line Dips; Buckeyes Still Favored Over Clemson - Yahoo Finance
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Tide, Huskies Line Dips; Buckeyes Still Favored Over Clemson
Yahoo Finance
If oddsmakers are correct, the Tide and the Buckeyes, the only two programs to win the national title since the CFP's inception in 2014, could clash for the crown on Jan. 9. Although, there could be a rematch of last year's championship if the Tigers ...


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Ohio State Year in Review 2016: BTN LiveBIG
BTN.com LiveBIG Staff via Big Ten Network

It was a B1G year for the Buckeyes.

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