USF is reportedly interested in Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano for head coach
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 Ducks went in a different direction, but that might open another opportunity for Ohio State’s Schiano.

Earlier, it was reported that Ohio State DC Greg Schiano was a major candidate for Oregon’s head coaching job.

The Ducks have gone in a different direction, hiring USF head coach Willie Taggart instead. But one door closing means another door opens, as now the USF Bulls will need a new head coach, and according to one of the most plugged-in reporters in college football, Greg Schiano will be a candidate for that gig too.


On paper, this would make a lot more sense for Schiano than Oregon. Prior to coming to Columbus, Schiano was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was the defensive coordinator at Miami (FL). He also recruited Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, while working as the head coach of Rutgers.

He’s been exceptionally successful at Ohio State this season, helping launch a fearsome secondary that helped the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff, despite losing many big names to the NFL last season.

Schiano won’t be the only name on this list, of course. Our friends at SBNation.com report that Lane Kiffin will be the top target.

Between Kiffin, Charlie Strong and Schiano, the Bulls will have plenty of options for a quality coach. And given their recent recruiting, it should be an attractive opportunity as well. Whoever steps in to take this job will be in a position to win now, and even compete for the G5 auto-bid to a New Year’s Six bowl.

Schiano almost certainly isn’t going to stay at Ohio State for a long time. Will he be a one and done? It’s possible.

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Morning Roundup: Buckeyes have world's most-devoted college football fanbase | LeBron won't stay at Trump-branded ... - Columbus Business First
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Morning Roundup: Buckeyes have world's most-devoted college football fanbase | LeBron won't stay at Trump-branded ...
Columbus Business First
The Ohio State Buckeyes and LeBron James are in the top 10 in a new ranking of the most devoted fanbases in the world. Fansided examined the fandoms of everything from sports teams to pop culture, from celebrities to brands, Cleveland.com reports.


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Ohio State misses out on 5-star OT
Austin Kemp via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


On a better note: the Buckeyes seem to be on great terms with a 5-star RB.

In what didn’t come as a surprise to many, five-star offensive tackle Trey Smith (Jackson, TN / University School Of Jackson) committed to Tennessee. Smith was considered a Tennessee lean throughout his recruitment, but the Buckeyes made a late push after his official visit to Columbus, Ohio in late November reportedly went extremely well. Coach Greg Studrawa followed up with an in-home visit and Urban Meyer was at his school on Monday for one last effort. At the end of the day, it was too little, too late for the Buckeyes – and they can bank that scholarship for another player in an already loaded 2017 haul.


Who might that player be? With the Smith ship sailed, Ohio State could turn to in-state offensive lineman Thayer Munford. Though not as nationally recognized as Smith, Munford holds 16 total offers of his own, but Ohio State is not on the list. The four-star prospect is adamant about becoming a Buckeye, but the stars have not yet aligned. With Jake Moretti decommitting last month, one would think Ohio State would bring in another offensive lineman – which would give them three total this cycle. We will more than likely not find out if Munford will be in this class until mid to late January as Ohio State is sure to expand their search nationally.

However, if the Buckeyes do offer, Munford would likely jump into this class. Pittsburgh and Kentucky are the other two programs heavily involved with Munford at this point.

An update on the future ground game


Now, to the running back position. J.K. Dobbins (La Grange, TX /La Grange) is saying all the right things and appearing 100 percent solid to Ohio State. Recently on Twitter, Dobbins has retweeted and tweeted about the Buckeyes and thanking the OSU coaching staff for coming down to visit with him.


Since the Tweet with Meyer and running back coach Tony Alford, Dobbins has taken to the social media world to retweet the Buckeyes being in the College Football Playoff, as well as a tweet from Alford.


With Dobbins appearing to be in favor of OSU, it turns the attention to five-star target Cam Akers. Akers was in Columbus for the Michigan game and has been on campus multiple times over the past year. Highly acclaimed recruiting writer Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports recently wrote that he thinks Akers’ final three consist of LSU, Florida State and Ole Miss. If this is indeed true, it’s not totally shocking that a highly touted prospect from the South decided to stay at a program close to home.


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Ohio State's shocking loss to Florida Atlantic leaves questions about Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch (blog)
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Ohio State's shocking loss to Florida Atlantic leaves questions about Buckeyes
Columbus Dispatch (blog)
Cupcakes aren't supposed to taste like vermin on a moldy bun, but tell that to the Ohio State basketball team. On this morning after, the Buckeyes probably need a jar of antacid the size of Brutus' head after somehow losing to the lowly Florida ...
Ohio State football: Who will be the Buckeyes' next real Heisman Trophy candidate?cleveland.com
Buckeyes collapse late to fall in OTBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
Men's basketball: Late comeback falls short for Ohio State, Buckeyes lose 79-77 in overtime to Florida AtlanticOSU - The Lantern
Land-Grant Holy Land -247Sports -Xenia Gazette
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Ohio State football | Buckeyes wary of potent Clemson offense - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Buckeyes wary of potent Clemson offense
Columbus Dispatch
Sam Hubbard flipped back and forth between the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference championship games on Saturday night, with a critical eye on Clemson in the ACC. “I had a feeling that was who we were going to play,” the Ohio State defensive end ...
Sequel? Urban Meyer has another young team but knows way around CFPESPN (blog)
'Why the Buckeyes can win it': JT Barrett featured on Sports Illustrated cover10TV
No, Ohio State's 'brand' isn't why the Buckeyes made the College Football PlayoffLandof10.com
AthlonSports.com -Toledo Blade
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Video: FAU downs Buckeyes in last second - NBCSports.com
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Video: FAU downs Buckeyes in last second
NBCSports.com
Ohio State entered Tuesday night as winners of seven of eight, with a two-point loss to then-No. 6 Virginia as the only blemish on their record. That resume just added a pretty ugly bullet point. The Buckeyes dropped a home game to Florida Atlantic, 79 ...

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Ohio State Buckeyes 2016 Team Awards - AthlonSports.com
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Ohio State Buckeyes 2016 Team Awards
AthlonSports.com
Despite a three-point loss at Penn State on Oct. 22 that denied Ohio State the Big Ten East Division, Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer was able to keep his coaches and players focused on reaching the College Football Playoff. Ranked third heading into a ...
Buckeyes, Wolverines top All-Big 10Beloit Daily News
Ohio State football | Most Big Ten coaches in poll left Penn State out of top fourColumbus Dispatch
Ohio State football: Live updates from Urban Meyer after Buckeyes make College Football Playoffcleveland.com
MyDaytonDailyNews -ESPN (blog) -Dallas News (blog)
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Ohio State basketball: Everything Thad Matta said after Buckeyes loss to Florida Atlantic - cleveland.com
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Ohio State basketball: Everything Thad Matta said after Buckeyes loss to Florida Atlantic
cleveland.com
Matta: "We were 1-for-11 to start the game, and had some good looks. We let everything affect us. They outplayed us. When things happen, we've gotta be a little bit tougher. They bank a 3 in and cut it to five? Who cares? We didn't make them guard us ...


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Ohio State football | Jabrill Peppers has Raekwon McMillan's Heisman vote - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Jabrill Peppers has Raekwon McMillan's Heisman vote
Columbus Dispatch
The Buckeyes played against three of the finalists, including quarterback Baker Mayfield and receiver Dede Westbrook of Oklahoma, and will go against a fourth, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. “I think I've played ...

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Sequel? Urban Meyer has another young team but knows way around CFP - ESPN (blog)
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Sequel? Urban Meyer has another young team but knows way around CFP
ESPN (blog)
All that inexperience certainly didn't do much to slow down the juggernaut Urban Meyer has built during the regular season. And that's exactly what makes the No. 3 Buckeyes so dangerous heading into the playoff as they report to their second training ...
The Wake-Up Call: Buckeyes need to 'play like our hair is on fire,' winter is coming and moreLandof10.com
How to go see the Buckeyes play in the Fiesta BowlColumbus Dispatch
Ohio State Buckeyes 2016 Team AwardsAthlonSports.com
Toledo Blade -247Sports
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Buckeyes Stunned In OT By Florida Atlantic - Scarlet and Game
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Buckeyes Stunned In OT By Florida Atlantic
Scarlet and Game
Trevor Thompson's two free throws at the end of regulation tied the game up at 71, temporarily delaying an embarrassing loss for the Buckeyes at home. Florida Atlantic's Nick Rutherford hit a tough jumper with a second left in overtime to give the Owls ...

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Florida Atlantic upsets Ohio State, 79-77, in overtime
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Adonis Filer notched a season-high 23 points and Florida Atlantic handed Ohio State their first home loss of the season, 79-77 in overtime on Tuesday night.

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Ohio State vs. Florida Atlantic 2016 final score: Buckeyes upset by the Owls, 79-77, in OT
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


If you keep playing down to your level of competition, eventually, you’re going to lose.

Playing down to inferior competition is embarrassing. You know what’s worse? Losing to it.

That’s what happened to Ohio State, as the team shot 4-20 from downtown, gave up nine threes, and struggled mightily with FAU, eventually losing in overtime, 79-77. KenPom gave the Buckeyes a 97% chance to win, but hey, that’s why you play these games.

The Buckeyes had a chance to win the game in regulation, but failed to get a shot off with six seconds left as JaQuan Lyle lost the ball while driving to the basket.

The teams traded baskets all during overtime, with the game tied at 77 with 21 seconds left. Marc Loving mishandled a pass, giving the Owls the final possession, which they converted.

Buckeye fans hoping for a fast start after watching Ohio State struggle in the first half against woeful Fairleigh Dickinson would be disappointed again.

The Buckeyes opened the game shooting 1-9, while also letting the Owls get multiple open looks from three, a point of emphasis for their offense, as FAU took an early eight point lead. Ohio State quickly battled back, but was unable to gain any distance, thanks to timely Owl three-balls and Ohio State’s inability to finish near the basket. The Buckeyes shot only 36.7% in the first half, and lead 32-31.

The two teams continued to trade baskets into the second half, with Ohio State nursing a tiny 41-40 lead with 15:32 left in the game. It looked like the Buckeyes would finally blow the game open, as they started to finally utilize their size advantage, pushing inside for higher percentage shots. But the Owls charged back on a 19-4 run, thanks to the Buckeyes settling for jacking up threes and with the Owls hitting a few tough shots. FAU lead 66-62 with four minutes left, and despite an Ohio State rally, it wasn’t enough.

Ohio State was putrid from downtown, and really, all over the court.

JaQuan Lyle was mostly very good, dropping ten points, seven boards and nine dimes. Five Buckeyes finished with at least ten points. But his teammates struggled, as nobody else scored more than 16. That player was Trevor Thompson, who fouled out in overtime.

Adonis Filer lead all scorers, with his 23 points for the Owls. Frank Booker added 15, as the Owls shot 43% from the floor.

Three things we learned:

1. Ohio State continues to play down to their level of competition. The good news for Ohio State fans is that there’s really only one more true cupcake left on this schedule, when Youngstown State comes to town. But FAU was another example of the Buckeyes failing to put away a team where they had an overwhelming talent advantage. FAU was picked to finish near the bottom of Conference USA, and had already lost to teams like Texas State and Hawaii, but thanks to Ohio State defensive lapses and a failure to match any sense of intensity, they were able to get a massive upset. The Buckeyes now really need to beat either UConn or UCLA, or this game will be an albatross around Ohio State’s RPI.
2. Ohio State is a better team with Keita Bates-Diop. KBD missed the last several games as he recovered from an ankle sprain, and came off the bench against the Owls, but one could already see what he brings to the table, even in limited minutes, against inferior competition. KBD added five points in the first half, and finished with 10 on the night, as his length caused problems for FAU on offense. When he’s healthy and engaged, KBD provides floor spacing for Ohio State, the ability to defend multiple positions, and high upside that other players don’t have. They’ll need that more and more as they get later into the season.
3. Look. Ohio State just lost in OT against Florida Atlantic. Let’s just agree to not talk about this game ever again.

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Dotting the 'Eyes: Trey Smith picks the Vols, Florida State making a play in Texas, Shaun Wade update and more - Landof10.com
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Dotting the 'Eyes: Trey Smith picks the Vols, Florida State making a play in Texas, Shaun Wade update and more
Landof10.com
Trey Smith chooses Tennessee, what's next for Ohio State? Despite a valiant push by Ohio State, 5-star OL Trey Smith, the country's fifth-ranked offensive tackle, committed to Tennessee on Tuesday afternoon. Smith made an official visit with the ...
Urban Meyer Will Push Young Buckeyes This Month, Except for OneScarlet and Game
BH: Seeing red? | In-state increase ahead247Sports
The Hurry Up: Ohio State Makes Final Play for Five-Star Lineman, Buckeyes in Contention for Junior Defensive End ...Eleven Warriors

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Ohio State Buckeyes return to College Football Playoff - Dayton Daily News
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Ohio State Buckeyes return to College Football Playoff
Dayton Daily News
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Matthew Burrell summed up the feelings of many players, coaches and fans around Buckeye nation Sunday morning. “You know time goes slower when you actually want it to go faster,” Burrell wrote on Twitter.
Buckeyes climb in AP pollColumbus Dispatch (blog)
Buckeyes Make Posteason Playoff, Will Face Clemson In SemifinalWOSU
The Buckeyes get an early Christmas giftABC6OnYourSide.com
13abc Action News -Lima Ohio
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pnuts34 said:

Can probably cross off Trey Smith, DPJ, Lamont Wade at this point...

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Trey got crossed off. That's in Trey's thread and happened after Hines. I was just behind in posting this.

Buckeyes in the NFL: Week 13 - 247Sports
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Buckeyes in the NFL: Week 13
247Sports
Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! With so many Buckeyes gracing the rosters of NFL teams, each Tuesday, Bucknuts will take a look at how each former Ohio State player did in their game.

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Ohio State’s Luke Fickell ready to take step into head coaching again
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


After serving as interim head coach for the Buckeyes in 2011, Fickell is ready for a real head coaching job of his own.

“Being here is a blessing and a curse. It's the greatest thing that has happened to my family. It's been stable and you made great memories. The curse is it hasn't pushed you to go do some of these other things. If you're at a place that is not this tradition-rich, where you don't have these roots, maybe it's different. But I'm in an incredible place, so you think we don't have to go.”

- Luke Fickell via Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland.com


Luke Fickell has served as the co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State since Urban Meyer was hired before the 2012 season. Before that, Fickell served as the interim head coach when Jim Tressel resigned from his position as head coach following TatGate and the ensuing NCAA sanctions handed down. That season was rough for many reasons, as the Buckeyes went 6-7 for the year before Meyer led Ohio State to an undefeated record the following season. But Fickell stayed on staff after his brief stint as head coach, despite reportedly getting interest from other programs as a head coach. And his loyalty has helped solidify one of the toughest defenses in college football the past few seasons.

Now, after four seasons under Meyer, Fickell appears finally ready to take the next step in his career and go for a head coaching job. Fickell has been in Columbus since the 2002 season either as an assistant coach or coordinator. Now he’s looking to finally make the move of being a head coach along with his family. Fickell isn’t looking for a stepping stone but somewhere where he can be long term as a head coach. It will be interesting to see where he lands once he decides where that is. But based off his players feelings, he’ll likely have success wherever that may be.

“I think it's a blessing just to be healthy throughout the long season. Just to be able to play, man, it's crazy. I'm thankful for that. ... It's one of the things when I first came here, I wrote down my goals. One of them was to win a national championship. We won one, but I didn't get to play in it.”

- J.T. Barrett via Austin Ward, ESPN


The last time Ohio State made it to the College Football Playoff, J.T. Barrett was not the quarterback leading the Buckeyes to a national championship. He helped the team get there, for sure, but after suffering a season-ending injury against Michigan, Cardale Jones famously took over for the Big Ten championship game and the rest was history. And although Barrett has a championship ring for his efforts, he no doubt wanted a shot of his own in the biggest game of the year. Now, with Ohio State heading back into the College Football Playoff, Barrett finally has his shot. After a narrow win in double overtime against Michigan, the Buckeyes were placed into the playoff as a third-seed and are now slotted to play No. 2 Clemson and quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Barrett started the season hot and even was discussed as a potential Hesiman Trophy candidate. But some inexperience as a team and inconsistency from the junior quarterback derailed that track and a loss to Penn State sealed his chances pretty much off. Still, if you ask Barrett, there’s no other spot he’d rather be in than where his right now. And that is healthy, with a chance to prove his worth and add to his legacy at Ohio State. It’s not a given that the Buckeyes will beat Clemson, but if they did, Barrett would find himself at the very stage he yearned for when he first came to Columbus - a spot in the national championship game.

“We're so young. There's so much improvement. Everybody in this room knows that it, too. We have to get much better, and the challenge has already been laid across the table last week with the players and coaches. For us to compete at this level, we have to be nine [position units] strong. At times we're not nine strong. That has to happen. So we have [four weeks] to get to be nine strong.”

- Urban Meyer via Austin Ward, ESPN


Ohio State has been here before. After all, the Buckeyes were a four-seed in the first ever College Football Playoff when they upended a favored Alabama team that was ranked as the top team in the country. That win propelled Urban Meyer and his team to the national championship game where Ohio State would win decidedly over Oregon to capture its first national championship since 2002. That team was just as young as the current team that Meyer coaches, and perhaps even younger. There are plenty of distinct differences though this time around. Regardless, Ohio State will have its work cut out against Clemson as they face a high-powered offensive attack.

And it’s not the first time Urban Meyer and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney have met, either. The Buckeyes fell to the Tigers in the 2013-14 Orange Bowl in a tightly contested matchup. Ohio State was coming off a crushing upset to Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game. A lot of things are different now, but a chance to avenge the loss would certainly be good for Meyer and Ohio State. A win would place the Buckeyes in the national championship game, but after Clemson fell short in last season’s playoff, they’ll be just as hungry.

STICK TO SPORTS:

• Beer sales at Ohio Stadium exceed $1M in first year.
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Buckeyes return to practice; media schedule announced - 247Sports
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Buckeyes return to practice; media schedule announced
247Sports
Ohio State will return to the practice field Tuesday afternoon for the first time since its 30-27 double-overtime victory over Michigan on Nov. 26. The players didn't have last week completely off as they were working out under the instruction of ...

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Luke Fickell, loyal Ohio State Buckeye, ready to be head coach again: Doug Lesmerises - cleveland.com
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Luke Fickell, loyal Ohio State Buckeye, ready to be head coach again: Doug Lesmerises
cleveland.com
Five years as a player at Ohio State, one year as a grad assistant, 14 years as an assistant and that one unexpected, chaotic year as the Buckeyes head coach in 2011, and now the 43-year-old Fickell was sitting at his kitchen table with his wife Amy in ...


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Ohio State Buckeyes basketball set to host Florida Atlantic - 247Sports
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Ohio State Buckeyes basketball set to host Florida Atlantic
247Sports
Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta was not happy with his team's effort vs. Fairleigh Dickinson. He'll be keeping close watch as OSU hosts Florida Atlantic ...

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Morning Roundup: Buckeyes are in – reaction to controversial College Football Playoff | Petition asks OSU to fire ... - Columbus Business First
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Morning Roundup: Buckeyes are in – reaction to controversial College Football Playoff | Petition asks OSU to fire ...
Columbus Business First
Playoff reaction roundup. The Ohio State Buckeyes will make their second appearance in the third year of the College Football Playoff when they face the Clemson Tigers New Year's Eve in the Fiesta Bowl. With six teams in the mix for the four playoff ...
Buckeyes Picked for College Football Playoff13abc Action News
Buckeyes get in; Nittany Lions left outYoungstown Vindicator
The Football Fever: Buckeyes await College Football Playoff release SundayABC6OnYourSide.com
cleveland.com
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Ohio State football | Most Big Ten coaches in poll left Penn State out of top four - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Most Big Ten coaches in poll left Penn State out of top four
Columbus Dispatch
Ironically, those two were OSU coach Urban Meyer, who voted his 11-1 Buckeyes No. 2 and 11-2 Penn State No. 4, and PSU coach James Franklin, who put his team -- the only one to beat the Buckeyes this year and the winner of the Big Ten title game over ...
Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Just short at Virginia, withstand KnightsWaiting For Next Year
Ohio State basketball: Sluggish Buckeyes hold off Fairleigh Dickinson 70-62cleveland.com
Loving leads Buckeyes to 70-62 win over Fairleigh DickinsonBig Ten Network
WHIZ -Scout -Land-Grant Holy Land
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'Why the Buckeyes can win it': JT Barrett featured on Sports Illustrated cover - 10TV
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'Why the Buckeyes can win it': JT Barrett featured on Sports Illustrated cover
10TV
J.T. Barrett is featured on one of three regional covers of Sports Illustrated's college football playoff preview issue with the header “Ohio State: Why the Buckeyes can win it.” Similar headlines are on the other two covers that feature Alabama and ...

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wadc45 said:

From what I heard, Steubenville was tied and attempted a 40+ yard FG with 1:32 left on a 4th and 1. The kicker popped the ball straight up and a Hartley LB came down with it and returned it to the Steubenville 10 yard line where a few plays later Hartley kicked the game winner.

Click to expand...

love it. Hartley's coach is from my hometown and played high school ball with my older brothers.