Another "miss" that, uh, wasn't

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Buckeyes can't hold on as they fall to UVA - BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes can't hold on as they fall to UVA
BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
The Buckeyes led for more than 35 minute against Virginia and had a shot to win it at the buzzer but it was all for naught as Ohio State came up short, 63-61 in their first true road game of the season to fall to 6-1 on the season. Jae'Sean Tate led ...
RECAP: Ohio State suffers first loss of season, falls to No. 6 Virginia 63-61 in ACC/Big Ten ChallengeLandof10.com
Ohio State basketball falters late, Buckeyes lose to No. 6 Virginia 63-61cleveland.com
Virginia 63, Ohio State 61 | Buckeyes can't hold early lead on the roadColumbus Dispatch
Fredericksburg.com -Streaking The Lawn (blog) -247Sports
all 90 news articles »

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This is the ultimate reload job by the Buckeyes - 247Sports
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This is the ultimate reload job by the Buckeyes
247Sports
Take a second and realize what the Buckeyes are about to accomplish.

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5-star LB Baron Browning commits to Ohio State
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


BOOOOOOM! The Buckeyes pick up another big time pledge.

Just days after visiting the Ohio State University campus for the Buckeyes match up with arch rival Michigan, one of the most sought after prospects in the class of 2017 has verbally committed to suit up on the college level for Urban Meyer and OSU.

Fresh off taking in the wild come from behind victory, touring the Ohio State facilities and meeting with the Buckeye coaching staff with his family, five-star outside linebacker Baron Browning will now call Columbus home for the next few years.

Considered the second outside linebacker, and ninth overall prospect in the class of 2017, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Browning, a U.S. Army All-American, chose to continue his education and athletic career at Ohio State over the likes of Michigan, Florida State, TCU, Alabama, and UCLA. Other programs such as Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M, USC, and Baylor, where he was formally committed, were among the over 35 schools to offer the Kennedale, Texas native throughout the recruiting process.

After missing most of his sophomore campaign due to a shoulder injury, the 6’4, 230-pound standout has bounced back to account for nearly 150 total tackles and four sacks for Kennedale High over the last two seasons.

The third potential linebacker and 17th overall 2017 recruit to give Meyer, and crew a pledge, Browning’s commitment helps put the Buckeyes one step closer to once again grabbing the top ranked overall class in the country from Alabama.

Want to to see the latest Ohio State commit in action? Get a better feel for what Browning will add to the Buckeyes defense with these highlights:

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Dotting the 'Eyes: Ohio State hoping today is the day for Baron Browning, Trey Smith talk and Houston Griffith update - Landof10.com
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Dotting the 'Eyes: Ohio State hoping today is the day for Baron Browning, Trey Smith talk and Houston Griffith update
Landof10.com
According to sources on both sides of the Ohio State and Alabama divide, everyone is expecting that, as of Thursday, the Buckeyes will be the choice. If there's one potential hiccup in this happening it could be some concern on Browning's part about ...
BH: Lone Star love | Future for Elflein, Lewis247Sports
Curtis Samuel impresses Ohio State Buckeyes coaches, teammatesWKYC-TV
'Bama, Buckeyes on topThe Daily Iowan
Land-Grant Holy Land -BC Rainforest: Ecologue -OSU - The Lantern
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Ohio State center Pat Elflein’s decision to return for senior season pays off
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


With Saturday’s memorable win over Michigan, the Buckeye center now has five pairs of gold pants.

“I’ll never forget that, Senior Day. That was the craziest this place has been ever since I’ve been here. That was the ultimate ... it was an electric atmosphere.”

Ohio State center Pat Elflein via Jacob Myers, The Lantern


After watching many of his teammates leave for the NFL following the 2015 season, Pat Elflein had to make a decision. The offensive lineman had the chance to follow his fellow Buckeyes to the pros, but Elflein opted to return to Columbus for his senior season. With Ohio State’s regular season having wrapped up, it is looking like Elflein made the right choice. The Buckeyes are not only likely to be included in the College Football Playoff, but Elflein’s final game inside Ohio Stadium is one of the most memorable in Ohio State history.

Saturday’s victory over the Wolverines saw Elflein earn his fifth pair of gold pants. After redshirting in 2012, Elflein made his first appearance in The Game in 2013, replacing Marcus Hall after Hall was ejected. Not only is Elflein undefeated, but he has bragging rights over fellow Pickerington native Jake Butt, who is one of his best friends from high school. Before the season Elflein was not only moved from guard to center, but was also named a captain. Now that Elflein is perfect against Michigan, as well as likely to be a high draft pick, all that is left is to try and bring a second national title in three years back to Columbus.

“The line, the receivers, everybody understood what was at stake. Everybody trusts me with the ball in my hands. They know I can make a play. I had two pullers coming around, great guys, great blockers, and they filled up. They made it easy for me. All I had to do was turn up the field and get into the end zone.”

Ohio State h-back Curtis Samuel via Matthew Florjancic, WKYC


There might have been plenty of memorable moments in the thriller on Saturday between Ohio State and Michigan, but two plays that stick out the most were made by Curtis Samuel. Just a couple plays before his game-winning touchdown, Samuel looked to be stopped in the backfield by the Wolverines, but reversed field and gained eight yards on 3rd & 9. The next play saw J.T. Barrett barely get a first down, and after a review, Samuel scored on the next play to secure Ohio State’s fifth straight victory over Michigan.

Samuel didn’t have huge stats like he has put up in some games during the season, but he did exactly what Ohio State needed when the Buckeyes needed it most. The Ohio State offense were going up against the toughest defense they’ve seen all year and early on it looked like the Buckeyes might not be able to put up enough points to beat Michigan after the Wolverines opened up a 10-point lead. Samuel and his teammates didn’t give up though, believing in each other as they erased the deficit and sent the game to overtime. Now the question that has to be answered is if Samuel will return for his senior season to earn his fourth pair of gold pants.

“The man who ended the two-OT classic victory over Michigan with a 15-yard touchdown scamper is a multi-tool, multi-position player who has earned Percy Harvin comparisons from the scouting world.”

Eric Edholm, Shutdown Corner


With the college football season winding down, this is the time of year when many underclassmen announce whether or not they’ll be entering the NFL Draft. Ohio State doesn’t have quite as many players to worry about jumping to the professional ranks as they did last season, but there are still a number of key players from this year’s squad who will have a tough decision to make. The most notable of those players is Curtis Samuel, who has been Ohio State’s biggest offensive threat this year. The junior is drawing comparisons to Percy Harvin because of his athleticism and versatility. Samuel has been able to make a name for himself despite seeing just 290 touches during his three years in Columbus. Having not taking a lot of punishment during his college career, it might be time for Samuel to strike while the iron is hot and jump to the next level.

Even though safety Malik Hooker stated earlier this week that he is returning to Ohio State next year, there is still a strong possibility Hooker could be playing in the NFL next year. There are some mock drafts that have Hooker being taking in the middle of the first round, it’d be hard to blame Hooker for declaring for the NFL Draft this year. Hooker would be well served by spending another season with the Buckeyes to improve his game, but the redshirt sophomore has shown the ability to learn on the fly.

“I think all of my (turnovers), maybe except one, were unforced. I was throwing the ball all over the place. You cut those turnovers against a great defensive team, and that’s a nice day for us.”

Ohio State guard JaQuan Lyle via Bill Landis, Cleveland.com


After building a big lead in the first half on the road against Virginia on Wednesday night, Ohio State faltered in the second half and narrowly missed out on their upset bid. While there are a number of reasons why Ohio State wasn’t able to close out the Cavaliers, what really hurt the Buckeyes were the late turnovers from guard JaQuan Lyle. The sophomore had eight turnovers in the game, with four of them coming in the last three minutes of the first half. The biggest turnover by Lyle came with two minutes to go, when the guard coughed up the basketball, allowing Virginia to take the lead for good.

Even though the turnovers from Lyle hurt, the sophomore is still one of Ohio State’s most important players. In the first half Lyle was able to get to the rim and score, helping Ohio State jump out to an early lead. Lyle ended up playing 37 minutes in the game in the loss. While not an excuse for some of his turnovers, it could help to explain some of the lapses down the stretch. Wednesday night’s performance could be a learning experience for Lyle. If Lyle can cut down on the turnovers in pressure situations, Ohio State could make some more noise this year in the Big Ten than many might have thought heading into the season.

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Curtis Samuel impresses Ohio State Buckeyes coaches, teammates - WKYC-TV
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Curtis Samuel impresses Ohio State Buckeyes coaches, teammates
WKYC-TV
Offensively, the second-ranked Buckeyes struggled for much of the day against Michigan, but from the latter part in the third quarter, and then, throughout the fourth and both overtimes, they scored three touchdowns to lock up their fifth straight ...

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Ranking Ohio State’s regular season defensive performances
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 Buckeyes were loaded on D this year. Who was the best of the bunch?

The regular season is over, and the postseason fate of the Ohio State Buckeyes won’t be decided for another couple of days. Whether or not the team makes the College Football Playoff for the second time in its three-year history, there is no question that they put on a defensive clinic week after week. This elite defensive performance kept the Buckeyes’ season alive throughout a few stretches of offensive mediocrity.

There was a little something for everybody, too. Like advanced stats? So do we, and the stats love the Buckeyes: the OSU defensive unit finished the season ranked No. 5 in S&P+, finishing behind only Alabama, Michigan, Wisconsin, and LSU. Like defensive touchdowns? The Buckeyes racked them up in bunches. Like bone-jarring hits laid on opposing QBs? You get the picture.

So, without further ado, here’s a completely objective and totally unquestionable ranking of Ohio State’s five best defensive players, with which no one will disagree in the slightest:

5) Tyquan Lewis

Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Position: Defensive end

Year: Junior

Best single game: 5 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble (Indiana)

On Tuesday, Tyquan Lewis was named the Big Ten defensive lineman of the year, and you’ll find little argument with that distinction here. Lewis was incredibly productive and disruptive for the Buckeyes in the 2016 regular season, amassing team-high totals in sacks (7.5) and forced fumbles (3). Quiet games against Bowling Green and Michigan bookended what was otherwise an excellent season for the junior defensive end.

Lewis is now in danger of becoming a “called underrated so often that he becomes overrated” guy, but screw it: he’s still underrated, despite the recent hardware he added to his shelf. (He joined several teammates on the conference’s First Team All-Big-Ten Defense this week, too.)

4) Marshon Lattimore

Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Position: Cornerback

Year: Sophomore

Best single game: 5 total tackles, 1 interception (Oklahoma)

It’s difficult to single out one performance in which Lattimore impressed this season, because there were quite a few. Do you go with his pair of interceptions and a touchdown against Tulsa? His nine tackles against Wisconsin in overtime? Ultimately, we settled on his standout effort against Oklahoma, in which he nabbed an interception against a Heisman-contending QB while guarding one of the most talented WR corps the Buckeyes faced all season.

Lattimore, stuck most of the season with an “OR” designation on the depth chart alongside Damon Arnette at the No. 2 corner spot, played like anything but a timeshare guy in the secondary. He reeled in four interceptions and broke up nine passes, numbers that put him ahead of No. 1 corner Gareon Conley on the season.

3) Malik Hooker

Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Position: Safety

Year: Sophomore

Best single game: 7 total tackles, 1 interception, 1 TD (Michigan)

Forget defense. There were stretches this season where Hooker looked like he could contend as one of Ohio State’s best players on offense, were he so inclined. The ballhawking sophomore safety took three of his six interceptions back to the house this season—it would’ve been four, but for a suspect penalty called during the return. That’s an absurd ratio of pick-sixes; despite that, Hooker’s name did not appear among the finalists for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. (He did, however, join Tyquan Lewis in 1st-Team All-Big Ten honors this week.)

Hooker recorded a number of memorable performances in 2016. He racked up 14 total tackles against Northwestern in a game that saw the Buckeyes otherwise struggle defensively against a mediocre opponent. He caught two passes from Bowling Green’s quarterback in the season opener, more than several Falcons receivers did in the same game. He found pay dirt against Tulsa, Nebraska, and Michigan. It was a hell of a season for a young player who burst onto the national scene in the biggest possible way this year.

2) Raekwon McMillan

Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Position: Middle linebacker

Year: Junior

Best single game: 16 total tackles (Michigan)

It feels borderline crazy to put Raekwon McMillan anywhere other than the top spot, but such is the embarrassment of riches on the Ohio State defense. (And remember, these rankings are scientific and absolutely above reproach.) The captain of the defense led by example, holding down the top spot in total tackles for just about the entire season. His total for the year also included five tackles for loss, one sack, and two forced fumbles.

McMillan hasn’t announced his plans for the future yet, but on Saturday, he sure as hell played like this would be the last time he’d ever face Michigan—he terrorized the Wolverine offense, racking up 16 tackles. His most impactful play? That’d be his perfect shoot-the-gap blitz on Wilton Speight, resulting in Malik Hooker’s game-changing pick-six. It’s hard to understate just how important Raekwon the chef has been to the Ohio State D.

1) Jerome Baker

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Position: Linebacker

Year: Sophomore

Best single game: 15 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception (Michigan)

It’s fitting, really, that the team’s three most outstanding defensive players saved their best efforts for the game of the year. Granted, they got a little extra time to get the job done, but still—the stats racked up by Malik Hooker, Raekwon McMillan, and Jerome Baker against the Wolverines were absolutely eye-popping.

It was Jerome Baker who made the game-changing interception to keep the Buckeyes alive. Who else could it have been, really? Baker was a force of nature for Ohio State’s defense all season, your classic heart-and-soul type player. He was second only to McMillan in total tackles; 8.5 of those were for loss, second only to Tyquan Lewis. He picked off two passes, taking one back for a touchdown. He recorded 3.5 sacks. The list goes on and on.

He still has at least a year left as a Buckeye. Is it selfish to beg for two? It’s hard to imagine this team without Baker, who—despite being only an honorable mention on the season’s All Big-Ten team—was arguably the most impactful player on the entire defense in 2016. No one was a more complete player in as many areas of the game as Baker was this year. We wouldn’t bet against him in 2017, either.

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Ohio State DE Sam Hubbard named Academic All-American
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Hubbard becomes the 52nd Buckeye all-time to be recognized for academic honors.

Besides dominating on the field, Ohio State sophomore defensive end Sam Hubbard’s made a bit of a name for himself in the class room this fall.

After helping anchor the Rushmen and aiding OSU’s efforts to be named co-Big Ten East division champions, Hubbard was honored for the student portion of student athlete and was named a first-team Academic All-American.

Per Ohio State, Hubbard carried a 3.61 GPA while majoring in Finance. He'd twice previously been named Academic All-Big Ten and was also a two-time OSU scholar-athlete.

Hubbard is second on OSU linemen with 41 tackles and four QB hurries. He has seven tackles for a loss to his name along with three sacks. He was honorable mention all-Big Ten for his work on the field to boot.

A year ago, center Jacoby Boren and graduate transfer kicker Jack Willoughby were also first-team Academic All-American honorees.

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Antjuan Simmons Decommits From Ohio State Buckeyes - Campus Insiders
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Antjuan Simmons Decommits From Ohio State Buckeyes
Campus Insiders
Four-star prospect Antjuan Simmons decommitted from Ohio State on Wednesday night, leaving the Buckeyes with 15 total commits in the 2017 recruiting class. Ohio State still remains at No. 3 in the class rankings, but it's now 296 points behind No.
Former Michigan commit excited as Buckeyes defeated Wolverines247Sports
Ohio State loses another commitment: Antjuan Simmons has re-opened his recruitmentLandof10.com
2017 Four-Star Linebacker Antjuan Simmons, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Pioneer, Decommits from Ohio StateEleven Warriors
BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription) -Detroit Free Press -cleveland.com
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More proof that nobody who resides North and Eats of Pennsylvania should ever be allowed to write about college football . . .

Ohio State basketball falters late, Buckeyes lose to No. 6 Virginia 63-61 - cleveland.com
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Ohio State basketball falters late, Buckeyes lose to No. 6 Virginia 63-61
cleveland.com
Ohio State withstood Virginia's first run. The Buckeyes couldn't take two shots. Ohio State suffered its first loss of the season, 63-61, to the No. 6 Cavaliers on Wednesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Virginia point guard London Perrantes tied ...
RECAP: Ohio State suffers first loss of season, falls to No. 6 Virginia 63-61 in ACC/Big Ten ChallengeLandof10.com
Virginia 63, Ohio State 61 | Buckeyes can't hold early lead on the roadColumbus Dispatch
STEVE DeSHAZO: Cavaliers carve out a close victory over BuckeyesFredericksburg.com
Comcast SportsNet Chicago -247Sports -Streaking The Lawn (blog)
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Ohio State has in-home visit with 5-star LB
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Buckeyes make a house visit to connect with Browning.

Buckeyes go in-home with Browning


On Saturday, Ohio State hosted a bevy of highly touted prospects in hopes to positively impact their position within their recruitments. Of course, the way the Buckeyes were able to pull off the victory against the Wolverines, especially in that atmosphere, would definitely make one think they did as much as they could.

One of those prospects roaming the sideline of The Horseshoe during the Buckeyes 30-27 downing of Michigan was 2017 linebacker Baron Browning. The Kennedale (TX) defensive stud is a major target for the Scarlet and Gray and the official visit seemed to have paid off for Ohio State.

Browning was initially set to make his decision on Tuesday. However, after a "great time around great people" for his Buckeye visit, he is putting his decision on hold.

Fast forward to Wednesday afternoon, Ohio State put their foot on the gas as they hope to carry their current momentum for Browning all the way to the finish line. The Buckeyes sent "3-4 coaches including Urban Meyer" to his home, according to Jeremy Birmingham of Landof10.com.

For now, it’s widely expected that Browning's decision comes down to Alabama or Ohio State. As of Wednesday night, The Crimson Tide currently hold 42 percent of the predictions in the 247Sports Crystal Ball for the five-star LB and No. 9 ranked prospect in the class. However, it is worth mentioning that the two most recent forecasts have gone in favor of Urban Meyer and the Bucks pulling this one out.

Florida staff sees Wade


One question that has been asked all around the recruiting world is where '17 cornerback Shaun Wade will end up. Wade committed to Ohio State just hours prior to the Buckeyes matchup against Oregon for the National Championship. The Trinity Christian Academy (FL) lockdown defensive back has remained committed for the entire time – but has visited elsewhere.

Nick Saban and Alabama have been heavily involved and even had the 6-foot-1, 177-pounder on campus for an official visit this past weekend. Another team in the mix is the in-state Florida Gators. Florida sent head coach Jim McElwain and three other Gator staffers to Wade's house on Wednesday.

It'll be interesting to see how this one finishes out. As of now, this one definitely seems to be up in the air.

Harris welcomes MSU coaches


Ohio State's recruiting class for this cycle currently features two pass catchers — '17 wide receivers Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey. With that being said, a third is a possibility. If OSU did get another WR in ‘17, signs could point to Jaylen Harris from Cleveland Heights (OH).

Harris, like the aforementioned Browning, was in attendance this past weekend for the Buckeyes regular season finale. Following the visit, it was time for Harris to start conducting the in-home visits from coaches – and it began quickly.

Tennessee stopped in to see Harris on Monday. On Wednesday, it was Michigan State who had a crack at the 6-foot-5, 217-pounder. The Spartans sent WR coach Terrence Samuel and OL coach Jim Bollman to Harris' home. Harris tweeted that the MSU in-home was a "success."

Some late Wednesday news on Simmons


Even though the Buckeyes won against Michigan, they lost a commit that is, literally, in the Wolverines’ backyard. Linebacker Antjuan Simmons (Ann Arbor, MI / Pioneer) reopened his college search late Wednesday night.

A top 20 player at his position, the four-star ‘17 prospect is projected to go somewhere in the Midwest, with Notre Dame, Michigan State and Michigan leading the pack, according to the 247sports crystal ball predictions.

While he didn’t ended up suiting up for the Scarlet and Gray, we hope for all the best to Simmons in his future endeavours.

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Curtis Samuel among four Ohio State Buckeyes named first-team All-Big Ten on offense - cleveland.com
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Curtis Samuel among four Ohio State Buckeyes named first-team All-Big Ten on offense
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Quarterback J.T. Barrett, offensive linemen Pat Elflein and Billy Price and H-Back Curtis Samuel were all named first-team All-Big Ten on Wednesday evening. Offensive lineman Jamarco Jones and running back Mike Weber, who also ...
Ohio State football | Barrett, Elflein named best at positions in Big TenColumbus Dispatch
Ohio State's JT Barrett, Pat Elflein, Mike Weber Earn Big Ten HardwareScout
Ohio State Buckeyes' J.T. Barrett named top quarterback in Big TenSpringfield News Sun
Land-Grant Holy Land -Eleven Warriors
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RECAP: Ohio State suffers first loss of season, falls to No. 6 Virginia 63-61 in ACC/Big Ten Challenge - Landof10.com
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RECAP: Ohio State suffers first loss of season, falls to No. 6 Virginia 63-61 in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Landof10.com
Thad Matta's basketball Buckeyes are no longer undefeated, as Ohio State gave No. 6 Virginia all it could handle but fell 63-61 in a closely contested ACC/Big Ten Challenge contest in Charlottesville, Va., on Wednesday night. The Buckeyes (6-1) took a ...
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Virginia 63, Ohio State 61 | Buckeyes can't hold early lead on the roadColumbus Dispatch
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No. 6 Virginia holds off Ohio State, 63-61
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

Ohio State jumped out to a 22-11 lead at No. 6 Virginia, but the Cavaliers clawed their way back and held on for a 63-61 victory. JaQuan Lyle's potential game-winning three missed at the buzzer for the Buckeyes.

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Virginia 63, Ohio State 61 | Buckeyes can't hold early lead on the road - Columbus Dispatch
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Virginia 63, Ohio State 61 | Buckeyes can't hold early lead on the road
Columbus Dispatch
The Buckeyes dented the scoreboard by going right to the paint on their first possession, and Jae'Sean Tate hit one free throw. Micah Potter scored on the next possession for a 3-0 lead, and an uneasy feeling germinated throughout the orange-clad crowd ...
Ohio State basketball recap: Buckeyes fall to No. 6 Virginia 63-61 in ACC/B1G ChallengeLandof10.com
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Trip to UVA will be measuring stick for BuckeyesBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
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STEVE DeSHAZO: Cavaliers carve out a close victory over Buckeyes - Fredericksburg.com
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STEVE DeSHAZO: Cavaliers carve out a close victory over Buckeyes
Fredericksburg.com
But point-blank shots weren't the Buckeyes' only weapon; they hit four 3-pointers in the first half alone, including back-to-back NBA-range shots by sophomore C.J. Jackson, who seemed incredulous to be left so wide open. Virginia's defense improved in ...
Ohio State basketball recap: Buckeyes fall to No. 6 Virginia 63-61 in ACC/B1G ChallengeLandof10.com
Virginia 63, Ohio State 61 | Buckeyes can't hold early lead on the roadColumbus Dispatch
Trip to UVA will be measuring stick for BuckeyesBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
247Sports -Scarlet and Game -Streaking The Lawn (blog)
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Ohio State vs. Virginia 2016 final score: OSU drops a close one 63-61 to the Cavaliers
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Buckeyes proved that they are ready for primetime against Virginia.

Be it on the gridiron or the hardwood, Ohio State has had its share of back-and-forth slobberknockers in the past week. On Wednesday night, the unranked Buckeyes went on the road for their first challenge of the season against No. 6 Virginia, and despite leading for nearly the entire game, fell to the Cavaliers 63-61 in one of the most exciting games of the 2016 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Despite the loss, OSU turned in an impressive performance against one of the country’s best teams.

Early on, it was obvious that Ohio State was not up against the likes of North Carolina Central, Jackson State, or Marshall, as UVA’s energetic approach on both sides of the floor stood in stark contrast from what the Buckeyes had seen in the first six games of the season.

Despite the step up in competition, OSU appeared ready for the challenge early as they maintained a 12-7 lead at the under-16 timeout. Playing against Ken Pomeroy’s best team in the country, the Bucks seemed to find an extra-gear, matching the Cavaliers in tempo and on the glass.

Through the game’s first 10 minutes, both because of stellar defense and poor UVA shooting, Ohio State held a 55% to 21% advantage from the field. OSU continued a theme common in their best performances this year; in the first half, the Buckeyes outscored Virginia 22-4 in the paint. The inside advantage buoyed the Buckeyes to an early 22-11 lead.

Back-to-back three-pointers from sophomore point guard C.J. Jackson around the four-minute mark ballooned the lead to 32-16 for OSU. Those buckets pushed the Buckeyes to 4-10 from behind the arc in the first half, compared to the Cavaliers who were 3-10.

With UVA cutting the Buckeye lead to 32-21, Virginia’s Kyle Guy got a pass from Devon Hall in transition, setting him up for what appeared to be an uncontested layup, but Buckeye big-man Trevor Thompson recovered well, and blocked the shot, igniting a fast-break that resulted in a layup for Jae’Sean Tate. Virginia’s mini-run was in part spurred on by OSU guard JaQuan Lyle, who fell victim to a few minutes of sloppy play, ending the first half with six of OSU’s nine turnovers. Lyle tightened up in the second half, ending the game with 12 points, five assists, and eight turnovers.

At the half, the Buckeyes held a 36-24 lead, out-shooting UVA 60% to 29% from the floor. Coming into the game, the Cavaliers had not allowed an opponent to score 53 all season, holding opponents to a collective shooting percentage of 30.5%.

Unsurprisingly, the Cavaliers came out strong in the second half, scoring the first eight points, to cut the lead to 36-32, before Thad Matta was forced to call a timeout. It wasn’t until Tate hit a pair of free-throws 4:10 into the second half that OSU ended the UVA-run.

With 14:40 remaining in the second half, London Perrantes hit a jumper to give Virginia their first lead of the game, however, on the subsequent possession, Jackson hit his third three-pointer of the game to give the lead back to the Buckeyes.

Over the next four minutes, Ohio State was able to hold off the Cavaliers’ offensive, as they maintained a 46-41 lead. UVA turned up their defense throughout the second half, forcing more turnovers from the Buckeyes. OSU ended the game with 20 turnovers, and the Cavaliers turned those into 16 points.

With just under 5:30 to play in regulation, Tate picked up his fourth foul, and had to sit. While the Buckeye scoring was fairly balanced on the game, Tate led the team in points and rebounds with 14 and nine. With the game within on possession, losing their best player was not something that Matta was looking forward to.

After an offensive rebound, Perrantes hit a three to tie the game at 55 with just four minutes left in the second half. On the next possession, JaQuan Lyle slipped through the UVA defense for a layup, giving the lead back to the Buckeyes.

As the clock ticked under two minutes, Marial Shayok took the ball to the hole to give UVA a 59-57 lead.

However, down 61-59 with less than 25 seconds remaining, the Buckeye press was broken with an outlet pass to UVA’s Isaiah Wilkins who got the layup to extend the lead.

On the next UVA possession, Shayok was fouled and missed both free-throws, giving the Buckeyes an opportunity down 63-61 with just 6.5 seconds remaining. However, a deep three by Lyle went unanswered as time expired.

For the fourth game in a row, junior forward Keita Bates-Diop was not in the starting lineup for OSU, as he nurses a high ankle sprain that he suffered on November 17th against Providence. Though he was dressed and available for the game in Charlottesville, he didn’t see any action; the Ohio State staff seeming to prefer to play it safe, rather than sorry.

Ohio State returns to the hardwood on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET against Fairleigh Dickinson. The game will be broadcast from the Value City Arena on BTN.com.

3 things we learned


1. The Buckeyes are capable of playing up to their competition too. Coming into this matchup, few expected the Buckeyes to be able to hang with Virginia, who boasted the best defense in the country through the first month of the season.

Over the first four games of the season, the Buckeyes seemed to sleepwalk through the early season against below-average competition. However, against No. 6 Virginia, the Buckeyes looked like a completely new team.

Against Marshall last week, they showed signs of the athleticism and efficiency that they would need to stand toe-to-toe against one of the toughest teams in college basketball, but UVA is in a different league than Marshall, Providence, and anyone else OSU has played so far this season. Nonetheless, Matta and company had the Buckeyes ready to compete from the opening tip.

As the Big Ten season looms, Wednesday’s performance is a sign of good things to come.

2. Ohio State is at its best when they play inside out. This is beginning to be a bit of a broken record for the Buckeyes, but when their guards are able to work the ball inside the lane, their offense borders on special.

With a deep bench of seemingly interchangeable 6’4”-6’9” drill bits, nearly everyone on OSU’s roster is able to score in the paint, but when the opposing defense collapses, most are also able to hit from downtown. In addition to 32 points in the paint on the night, four players also hit three-pointers.

It is one of basketball’s most reliable truisms, but unless you are just loaded with studs on the outside, the way to win is inside-out.

3. It’s time to end the Marc Loving experiment. I understand that Marc Loving is a 1,000-point scorer, I understand that he is averaging an acceptable 11.5 points this season (third on the team), but I also understand that he is often the antithesis of what makes the rest of the team competitive.

While it is cliche, without a top-line star, it would be fair to describe this Ohio State team as scrappy. They spread the ball around, play solid team defense, and rarely give up on plays, as evidenced by a number of blocked shots coming from trailing OSU defenders.

However, other than an early first half play in which Loving laid out in a failed attempt to save a ball from going out of bounds, the team’s lone senior rarely displays anything approaching the energy of his teammates.

Against UVA, Loving shot 3-8 for seven points in 39 minutes of play. If he is not going to be a more reliable, active part of the team’s system on either offense or defense, I would rather see his playing time go to Kam WIlliams, Andre Wesson, or Bates-Diop when he is healthy.

Obviously Loving should still be in the rotation, but with 39 minutes, he led the team in playing time, and was more-or-less a non-factor in the game’s outcome.

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Ohio State football | Barrett, Elflein named best at positions in Big Ten - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Barrett, Elflein named best at positions in Big Ten
Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State's J.T. Barrett was named the Big Ten's quarterback of the year for second time in his career Wednesday, highlighting a string of Buckeyes who were recognized when the conference offensive awards were announced. Senior center Pat Elflein was ...
Curtis Samuel among four Ohio State Buckeyes named first-team All-Big Ten on offensecleveland.com (blog)
Four Buckeyes named first-team All Big Ten on offense247Sports
4 Buckeyes First Team All-Big Ten Offense, Weber Freshman of the YearScarlet and Game
Scout -Springfield News Sun -Land-Grant Holy Land
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Ohio State women's basketball | Reversing recent results is Buckeyes' challenge - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State women's basketball | Reversing recent results is Buckeyes' challenge
Columbus Dispatch
The last time the Buckeyes won was in a 78-75 overtime home win over Florida State in 2011. Over the next four years, the team lost all four games by a combined 22 points. That includes last season when then-No. 10 OSU pushed then-No. 3 Notre Dame to ...


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Four Buckeyes named first-team All Big Ten on offense - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Four Buckeyes named first-team All Big Ten on offense
247Sports
Just a night after four Ohio State defensive players earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, the Buckeyes have four more first-team honorees on offense. Quarterback J.T. Barrett, H-back Curtis Samuel, and offensive linemen Pat Elflein and Billy Price ...
Curtis Samuel among four Ohio State Buckeyes named first-team All-Big Ten on offensecleveland.com (blog)
Big Ten awards | Ohio State's Barrett named quarterback of the year; Elflein, Samuel, Price, Weber also recognizedColumbus Dispatch
4 Buckeyes First Team All-Big Ten Offense, Weber Freshman of the YearScarlet and Game
Springfield News Sun -Scout -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 31 news articles »

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Ann Arbor, MI LB Antjuan Simmons decommits from Ohio State
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The class of 2017 just got a bit smaller.

Ohio State has assembled one of their best recruiting classes ever for 2017, but it now has one less member.

2017 LB Antjuan Simmons of Michigan has decommitted from Ohio State:


Simmons, who committed to Ohio State back in March, is a composite 4-star linebacker. His commitment was especially notable, since he hails from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, just literal steps away from the Big House.

Simmons is the 19th ranked OLB nationally in the 2017 class, per 247. He holds other offers from Notre Dame, Georgia, LSU, and a slew of other power programs. He will certainly not lack for options.

Right now, the Buckeyes have 15 commitments in the class of 2017, and remain ranked second nationally, tops in the Big Ten. They are currently without any linebacker commitments, but they will hope to replace Simmons with one, if not more, other recruits.

We wish Simmons the very best of luck in his college career.

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Buckeyes represented on All-Ohio team - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes represented on All-Ohio team
Athens Messenger (registration)
Nelsonville-York senior Noah Andrews was named to the First Team All-Ohio list as a linebacker by the Associated Press on Wednesday. prev. next. The Nelsonville-York Buckeyes were rewarded for their stellar football season.


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Ohio State football | Buckeyes remain No. 2 in playoff rankings - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Buckeyes remain No. 2 in playoff rankings
Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State stayed No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings announced Tuesday night behind No. 1 Alabama, which seems to put the Buckeyes in good stead headed toward the final rankings Sunday that will set the four-team playoff field. But can Ohio ...

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