LGHL Uncut Podcast: Holtmann on pros and cons from UNC game, preview Maine
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



The coach also gives an update on the returns of Brown and Likekele.

Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


On this new episode of “Land-Grant Holy Land: Uncut,” we have press conference audio from Ohio State men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann as he talks about his team’s overtime loss this past Saturday to the North Carolina Tar Heels. He talks about the positives that he took from the game against one of the sport’s most storied programs, but also the things that certainly need improvement as his squad readies for Big Ten play.

Holtmann also provides updates on the eventual returns of Eugene Brown III from concussion protocol and Isaac Likekele following a personal family matter. He also provides a preview of Wednesday night’s game against the Maine Black Bears.

You can watch the full press conference on the official Ohio State athletics website.


Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Music by: www.bensound.com

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Column: The best gifts Ohio State gave me this year
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

I’m still hoping to receive one or two more gifts, however...

What a year it’s been for Ohio State athletics!

There’s been national championships won, deep postseason runs made and unbelievable stars emerged in 2022. Let me give you a list of the best gifts Ohio State sports gave me this year.

1. Marvin Harrison Jr.

Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

I think we are all in agreement when we say that Marv has been one of the best gifts the football team received this year. It has been an absolute joy to watch him make mind-blowing catches week after week. And, Buckeye nation still gets another year of him!

The impact he has made on this team is undeniable. He stepped into the WR1 role seamlessly after Jaxon Smith-Njigba went down in the first game. He is C.J. Stroud’s go-to guy and is Mr. Reliable. While he was snubbed from winning the Biletnikoff, he was named an unanimous All-American, which further proves his worth.

The best gift from him, perhaps, could be yet to come. I see him showing up big in the playoff game against Georgia, and he’ll need to if the Buckeyes want to advance to the National Championship. Either way, it has been so fun to watch him in his first season as a starter— it’s hard to believe he’s only a sophomore.

2. Women’s basketball last season AND this season!

Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This women’s basketball program has truly become something special. Starting off with last season, the Bucks finished as Big Ten champions AND made it to the Sweet Sixteen. They also upset No. 3 LSU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, which was AWESOME!! Last season was so fun to watch and follow along with.

However, the train didn’t stop in March. Ohio State has been on fire to start the season, building an 11-0 record! They started the season off with a bang with a win against No. 5 Tennessee and followed it up with another dub against No. 18 Louisville.

The women’s basketball team has been a gift. They are a special group of women who are supremely talented, yet have fun while playing. They are currently the No. 3 ranked team in the nation are poised to make a deep tournament run. They really could grant me the best gift of all at the end of the season.

3. Healthy Justice Sueing

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The men’s basketball team is unique this year. With only three returning starters, it is filled with a bunch of new faces. However, one of the veterans that I have been super happy to watch has been Justice Sueing. After struggling to stay healthy the past two seasons, it is so awesome to finally get to watch him perform on the court.

He is averaging 13 points and five rebounds per game as he is working his way back to his true form. In just the sixth game into the season. he had 33 points against Texas Tech, reminding Buckeye nation of what he is capable of. It has really been a gift to watch him play.

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You’re Nuts: What Ohio State-themed gift are you hoping to receive this Christmas?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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

We’re just days away from Christmas. Have you finished your shopping? And what are you planning to get for the Ohio State fan in your life — or are hoping to receive?

Today, we want to know what Ohio State-related gift you’ve written to Santa for this year. From new apparel to replace that jersey you wore during the Buckeyes’ loss to Michigan to serving dishes for the consummate host to some new outerwear for those late November matchups, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Today’s question: What Ohio State-theme gift are you hoping to see under the tree this Christmas?

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

Brett’s answer: Ohio State dartboard cabinet


During the pandemic we all had a lot more free time on our hands. To occupy some of my time, I started playing more darts. My next door neighbor has a couple dartboards, and usually on Thursdays around happy hour there were four to six of us that would play for a few hours.

While I would play drunkenly play some darts at bars around campus when I would go out with some friends 10-15 years ago, this was the first time I got a little more serious about it. Now I’m not claiming that I should be playing darts professionally, but I have seen improvement over the last few years. Once the pandemic settled down, I started playing in a Thursday dart league at Ledo’s.

Also, in June I purchased a house. There is a pretty big basement in the house which would be perfect for a little “B-Leez bunker”. So far I have been working on other parts of the house, so I haven’t really made any improvements or additions to the basement, but an Ohio State dartboard cabinet would be a great addition.

I know that I could say a great Ohio State Christmas gift would be something like a jersey, hoodie, or some other type of apparel. Then again, I have enough of those items when it comes to not only Ohio State gear, as well as apparel from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Bills, and numerous other teams. This dartboard cabinet is something I could get years of use of while I play a game I love.

No matter what your perfect Ohio State gift would be this year, I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, and we all get to see the Buckeyes beat Georgia just before we kick off 2023.

Meredith’s answer: A Lego seat in the Lego Horseshoe


At this point, there’s not much I need when it comes to Ohio State paraphernalia, but one thing that would be extremely cool would be a ticket for a seat in the Lego Ohio Stadium. The model of the Horseshoe, built by Ohio State researcher Paul Janssen, PhD, has more than a million pieces and is massive as far as Lego structures go.

Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

However, what makes this ticket cool is that the “ticket” involves adding a Lego minifigure (a Lego-you, if you will) to sit in the Horseshoe model. Even cooler is that the $25 to purchase a seat goes toward the Heart and Vascular Center at Ohio State to support life-saving research. .

We all have our own fond memories of Ohio Stadium that might be bubbling to the surface this 100th anniversary season, and this gift is one neat way to celebrate those memories while making a positive impact.

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Oregon or Arkansas? Ohio State women’s basketball clear on their pick
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Invitational means one of two games this week are undecided on the opponent front, but the team is sure on who they want.

Tuesday, the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team faces the USF Bulls in the first of two-straight games in the San Diego Invitational. Win or lose, the Scarlet & Gray have two possible options for their Wednesday opponent, and both bring a challenge: the No. 16 Oregon Ducks or No. 17 Arkansas Razorbacks.

That begs the question of who will the Buckeyes play? By the time Ohio State and USF tip at 6:30 p.m. ET, the Buckeye opponent game outcomes become clearer. Oregon and Arkansas, a marquee match-up this late in the non-conference schedule, tips at 1:00 p.m. ET. A win by Oregon and same result by the Buckeyes means a reunion between Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell and a Ducks team she played with for one season.

After breaking out at the University of Maryland, Mikesell swapped the East Coast for the Pacific Northwest. Following two years in the Big Ten of playing over 2,000 combined minutes, Mikesell played a career low 594 minutes, averaging 9.3 points per game and shooting a career worst 33.3% from deep.

Following a 2021-22 debut season with Ohio State where Mikesell was named to the First Team All-B1G, the guard decided to return to Columbus for her final season of eligibility. After announcing it, Mikesell might have hinted to that time in Oregon, when giving advice to players who are looking to transfer schools.

“My advice to someone is to go where they feel appreciated,” said Mikesell. “Go where they’re going to have the chance to showcase themselves as a person and as a player.”

From the sounds of it behind the scenes, the Buckeyes are hoping to show the Ducks their appreciation for Mikesell’s move back to the Big Ten.

“I just want to play Oregon,” said freshman forward Cotie McMahon.

Those were the first words out of the back-to-back Big Ten Freshman of the Week winner, when asked about her thoughts on the San Diego Invitational in general.

Head coach Kevin McGuff’s team wants this matchup, but it’s fair to say the Buckeyes would like to face Oregon after both teams win on Tuesday. Neither the Buckeyes or the Ducks have an easy road to San Diego Invitational glory.

Arkansas is a surprise team this season. After ending the 21/22 season 18-14, the Razorbacks are 13-0, including wins against ranked Kansas State Wildcats and Creighton Bluejays. For Oregon, their lone game against a ranked opponent ended in an 85-79 defeat.

Either team will provide a test for the Scarlet & Gray on Wednesday. Plus, Ohio State can still leave California with a third-straight win against a ranked opponent this season, even if they stumble against a tough USF team.

The Bulls have the Buckeyes number in recent history. Since 2018, their two games against each other ended in big double-digit Ohio State defeats. Even though both teams now feature different lineups, the Bulls feature a conference talent in guard Elena Tsineke and forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu. Also, the Bulls don’t care about Mikesell of the Buckeyes wants for the second game.

No matter which way the games fall, Ohio State has the opportunity to help reinforce their No. 3 ranking in the country. Look too far into the future though, and past USF, the ranking might not be there for long.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for December 20, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


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

On the Gridiron


Ohio State OL Avery Henry announces cancer diagnosis
Sam Marsdale, 247Sports

Sending the absolute best to Avery. All of Buckeye Nation is rooting for you.


Column: Last week was crazy for Ohio State, let’s look back
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

You’re Nuts: Raiola’s gone and the sky is falling
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ire at Ryan Day over Dylan Raiola’s de-commitment is misplaced
Mke Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land

hahaha, good to remember for tomorrow:


Five Questions as Buckeyes game-plan for Georgia (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Jalen Carter, Georgia defensive front already have Buckeyes full attention (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Can Ohio State football’s Jordan Hancock regain his spring form by New Year’s Eve against Georgia?
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Ohio State’s offensive line must maximize potential in test vs. Georgia (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Marvin Harrison Jr. believes he should have won Biletnikoff Award but won’t use snub as motivation
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Just reminding y’all about this.


Column: What is going to happen with Justin Fields’ career?
Megan Hesslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

We’ll talk about this later: An ode to bowl sponsorships
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Ohio State’s Cotie McMahon wins second consecutive women’s basketball Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State’s Brice Sensabaugh named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts


Ohio State’s Gene Brown III could make season debut against Maine
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Swimming & Diving: Ohio State Divers Earn Four Medals at Winter Nationals
Ohio State Athletics

Wrestling: No. 3 Buckeyes Split Dual Matches Monday in New Orleans
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Ice Hockey: Kirk Earns WCHA Goaltender of the Week Nod
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...


I loled...


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Game Preview: No. 3 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. USF Bulls
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Buckeyes face a familiar non-conference foe in the first game of the San Diego Invitational

A major critique for the 2021-22 Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team was their lackluster non-conference schedule. After losing multiple starters to the transfer portal, their return to playoff basketball after self-imposed sanctions started with a slate of games that could help a relatively inexperienced team gel. Well, that team won the Big Ten regular season co-championship and made it to the Sweet Sixteen.

Now, a little over a year after their last campaign began, the Scarlet & Gray face their stiffest non-conference test in a season with a couple non-conference tests already passed. Tuesday, the Buckeyes face the USF Bulls, with a match-up within 24 hours against either the No. 16 Oregon Ducks or No. 17 Arkansas Razorbacks.

It begins with the Bulls, a team the Buckeyes haven’t had much luck with in recent years.

Preview


The USF Bulls, out of the American Athletic Conference, have faced the Buckeyes twice in the head coach Kevin McGuff years. In both contests, not only did the University of South Florida win, but win big.

On Feb. 11, 2018, the Bulls invited the Buckeyes to Tampa, Florida and Ohio State left with an 84-65 victory. Less than a year later, in an early season Nov. matchup, the Bulls came to Columbus, beating the Scarlet & Gray by 24 points.

A lot’s changed since 2018 for Ohio State. None of the current team was part of those two losses and the only consistent piece for both teams are their leaders.

McGuff leads the No. 3 ranked team in the nation, likely without his starting point guard, and Bulls head coach Jose Fernandez leads a Bulls team who’s made the NCAA Tournament in six of the past eight seasons where the tournament was played.

There are similarities between the two teams this year. The first is that both aren’t afraid to shoot from deep.

USF leads the American Athletic Conference, making 36.4% of their 239 threes attempted this season. Ohio State’s 36.3% of their 245 shots (in two less games) means that the ball will be flying at the neutral site San Diego Invitational.

Leading the way for the Bulls is guard Sammie Puisis. The Mason, Ohio native’s shot 100 on the season, sinking 40 attempts. Alongside Puisis is one of four starters hailing from outside of the United States, guard Elena Tsineke.

The guard from Thessaloniki, Greece enters the season as a preseason All-AAC First Team player after securing a spot on the 2021-22 first team. When the opponents get bigger, so do the performances for Tsineke. Against Georgia Tech of the ACC, and the Big 12’s Texas Longhorns, Tsineke’s scored 24 and 22 points, respectively.

Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Elena Tsineke (left) showing her ability to attack the basket

What makes her more dangerous is that defenses don’t know how she'll beat you each time up the court. Tsineke possesses impressive ball handling skills and attacks the basket, breaks away from defenders to shoot midrange and hits shots from deep. There’s a reason Tsineke was the conference voter’s pick for Preseason Player of the Year this season.

Tsineke is only one of the Bulls weapons too. The other is in the paint with Cameroonian Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu. Fankam Medndjiadeu joined the Bulls last season, after transferring from their fellow AAC side, the Memphis Tigers. This season, the 6-foot-4 big averages a double-double with 15.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.

Ohio State’s played tough centers this season, like Tennessee Volunteers’ Tamari Key, and neutralized them. Tuesday’s test ranks up there, making the play of forward Rebeka Mikulášiková and guard Taylor Thierry more important than usual.

Fankam Medndjiadeu averages over three personal fouls per game this season, leading the Bulls with 42. Getting her into trouble early will benefit Ohio State like it did to start the season against the Volunteers.

Projected Lineups

Lineup Notes

• With Cotie McMahon’s recent surge, there are six Ohio State players averaging double-digit points, showing the team’s diversity of scoring.
• Thierry leads NCAA with a field goal percentage of 73.4% — over three percentage points higher than the next player.
• After eight games of double-digit scoring, Mikulášiková’s gone on a little cold spell, scoring 18 points total in the last three games.

Lineup Notes

• Although guard Aeriel Powers doesn’t score in bunches, the point guard averages 4.2 assists per game for the Bulls.
• Four of USF’s normal starters this season hail from outside of the USA, representing Greece, Cameroon, Spain, and Canada
• Half of the Bulls are underclassmen this year.

Prediction


Something the Bulls of USF don’t do particularly well compared to the Buckeyes is cause turnovers. Although USF is predicted to win the AAC this season, they force the second lowest turnovers against their opponents, causing 13.7 per game. That bodes well for likely starting guard Madison Greene, playing for an injured Jacy Sheldon who now dons crutches.

Greene’s protected the ball well and facilitated for the Buckeyes this season. Defensively, she’ll have a tall task with Tsineke on the court but Greene’s solid, confident, ability on the defensive half of the court will benefit the Scarlet & Gray. In the past two games, Greene’s picked up her play in the full court press of the Buckeyes, grabbing 11 steals.

Overall, it’ll be a close game, like the Michigan State Spartans matchup. Ohio State will get better shooting performances from guard Taylor Mikesell and Mikulášiková, after a tough game against the Great Danes.

Their combined 17 points against UAlbany, compared to their over 36.1 points combined average, featured shots they usually hit. Shoot closer to their averages and that takes pressure off their teammates.

How to Watch


Date: Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Pechanga Arena - San Diego, California
Stream: Flohoops

LGHL Prediction: 82-78 Ohio State Buckeyes

Graduating Buckeyes


For some fans, it’s hard to remember that the athletes representing Ohio State are also students. On Sunday, there was a nice reminder.


Guards Mikesell and Harris received their diplomas, part of the fall 2022 commencement. Mikesell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and Harris earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science degree.

Mikesell might get a fun graduation present, depending on the scoreline of Arkansas vs. Oregon. A game against the Ducks gives Mikesell a chance to play against her former team, a one-year stint, with even Mikesell’s teammates wanting to make a statement against the Pac-12 side.

Ducks or no Ducks, if playing basketball at the college level is tough, doing it while earning a degree is even tougher. That should be celebrated.

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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ohio State recruiting update, transfer portal talk
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ahead of game week, there is lots to talk about involving the Buckeyes.

The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast ‘Hangout in the Holy Land’ is here! Join LGHL’s co-managing editor Gene Ross alongside his co-host Josh Dooley as they cover everything from football to basketball to recruiting and more!

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


While the guys weren’t planning to hop on the podcast until it was time for the Georgia game preview, there was a lot to discuss in the interim. Ohio State lost its five-star QB commitment in 2024, but gained the No. 1 WR in the class as well since the last episode. Plus, with the topic of the transfer portal hot in the streets, Gene and Josh talk about the Buckeyes’ involvement, including who is coming and going and what other names to be on the lookout for this offseason.

“Hangout in the Holy Land” will be posting two episodes per week during the regular season, with an episode before and after each Ohio State game to give you all the preview and recap content you may need. Be sure to download and listen in wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple to let us know your thoughts and how we can make things even better!

You can also follow us on Twitter @HolyLandPod, where we will want to hear from you guys even more! If there’s anything you’d like us to talk about on the show, @ us and let us know!

As always, Go Bucks.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod

Connect with Gene:
Twitter: @Gene_Ross23

Connect with Josh
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye

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50%
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE BUCKEYES RECORDED

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COMBINED SECOND-CHANCE POINTS AND POINTS OFF TURNOVERS UNC RECORDED

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POINTS RECORDED BY OHIO STATE’S BRICE SENSABAUGH

Ohio State’s big targets heading into Signing Day
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2023 five-star defensive end Matayo Uiagaleleivia 247Sports

National Signing Day begins Wednesday, and the Buckeyes are still targeting multiple recruits to close out the 2023 class.

This is a busy week for college football recruiting, as the early signing period begins tomorrow. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and his staff are busy with all things recruiting, and in this new recruiting atmosphere, the staff is likely the busiest it has ever been this time of year. The Buckeyes are still targeting multiple recruits and athletes in the transfer portal as well, and below is just a few of the team’s priority recruits heading into the big day.

Closing out the 2023 class


Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class is already one of the best in the nation. Currently, the class sits at No. 7 in the 247Sports Class Rankings and sits atop the Big Ten. While this is already quite the accomplishment, the Buckeyes are far from finished in this class. With just one more day left before recruits are able to sign their National Letter of Intent with their school of choice, the Buckeyes will be looking to bolster their class.

Heading into tomorrow, three names sit atop the list for recruits to watch for the Buckeyes. 2023 five-star defensive end targets Matayo Uiagalelei and Damon Wilson both have Ohio State listed among their final schools, and both are expected to announce their decisions tomorrow. Additionally, the top offensive tackle in the transfer portal, Ajani Cornelius, is also scheduled to make his announcement tomorrow as well.

Ohio State has long been recruiting both Uiagalelei and Wilson, and has appeared as the favorites for both at different times. Georgia seems to be the last remaining competition for the Buckeyes when it comes to Wilson, and the Bulldogs seem to hold a slight advantage over the Buckeyes before his recruitment comes to an end. The Buckeyes are far from out of it, and they have done all they can to make a finishing blow, but Georgia remains the favorite to land Wilson tomorrow.

The Buckeyes also sit well with Uiagalelei, who the team has also long been associated with. Ohio State has been viewed as the favorites in this one since the summer, but Uiagalelei has seen a strong uptick in contact with both Oregon and USC since then, and have established themselves as true contenders in this one. Ohio State still holds the advantage in the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions, but this is far from a guarantee. The Buckeyes chances appear to be stronger with Uiagalelei than the aforementioned Wilson, but either USC or Oregon could easily steal him from Ohio State and keep him out west.

The final name to keep an eye on for tomorrow is the top-viewed offensive lineman in the transfer portal, Cornelius. A rather new aspect related to signing day, and definitely added pressure on the coaching staff, the transfer portal has taken on a new life this year. Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff are having to exert effort in not only keeping kids committed to the program that are already enrolled, but the staff is also recruiting kids who have decided to move on from their original school of choice.

The team has identified multiple targets, but none is bigger than Cornelius, who impressed at Rhode Island this past season. Tennessee is Ohio State’s biggest competition in this one, as he has officially visited with both schools since entering the portal on Dec. 1.

It is incredibly unlikely Ohio State lands all three of the above mentioned recruits, but it looks to be just as unlikely that they miss on all three. Even landing a commitment from just one of them would be a win for the program, as the class is already ranked in the top 10.

Make sure to follow Land-Grant Holy Land as we will keep you up to date on how the above recruitments play out.

Quick Hits

• Ryan Day and the Ohio State football team are not the only coaching staff actively recruiting this time of year. Chris Holtmann and the Ohio State men’s basketball team are constantly hitting the recruiting trail as well. Holtmann has brought in multiple stellar recruiting classes in his six-year tenure at Ohio State and he is looking to build on the momentum.

On Monday, it was reported by Jake Weingarten of stockrisers.com that Ohio State was one of two programs to reach out to four-star shooting guard, and top-50 overall prospect Rakease Passmore. The other program to make contact with him was Oklahoma. Passmore (who has an incredible name for a guard) currently holds scholarship offers from the likes of Indiana, Kansas, Memphis, Oregon, NC State, etc. and will hope to add Ohio State to that list after speaking with the Ohio State coaching staff.


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Down to Auburn and USC.

Committed to FSU.

Ohio State’s Cotie McMahon wins second consecutive women’s basketball Big Ten Freshman of the Week
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

It was a one-game week for Ohio State, but one game was all the Ohioan needed.

Last week, Ohio State women’s basketball freshman Cotie McMahon secured her first Big Ten Player of the Week award. It’s an award an Ohio State player hasn’t received since current redshirt junior Madison Greene received the honor on Feb. 17, 2020. There wasn’t an almost three-year wait this time around, with McMahon doubling up the honor in consecutive weeks.

The Buckeyes faced only one team this week, after narrowly defeating the Michigan State Spartans on Dec. 11. That team wasn’t up there with the Tennessee Volunteers and Louisville Cardinals of the basketball world, but the UAlbany Great Danes still gave Ohio State a rough first half of basketball before the Scarlet & Gray pulled away.

A big piece of Ohio State’s 82-57 win was McMahon. The forward started the game strong, scoring the first nine points for the Buckeyes. McMahon continued her tear, adding another 13 before the final buzzer sounded, making 24 points her new scoring high in her first season of NCAA basketball.

Scoring 20-plus points made Friday night’s win her third game reaching at least 20 points, starting all 11 for the Buckeyes. Of those three high-scoring games, two came in Ohio State’s last three games.

McMahon’s shown a growing maturity after early tests on the season calendar saw the Centerville, Ohioan playing with energy, and attacking the basket, but into crowded spaces and making easy work for college defenses. Since then, and games against Boston College and Louisville where minutes were diminished in place of veterans on the team, McMahon’s shined.

In the last four Ohio State games, McMahon’s scored 14.2 points, grabbed 6.3 rebounds, and dished 3.8 assists per game. That came after averaging 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1 assist per game in the first seven.

Head coach Kevin McGuff and teammates applauded McMahon’s work over the past few games, referencing how the game is slowing down for the freshman, and instead of rushing to the basket, she’s taking a second to find open teammates and draw attention away.

That doesn’t mean she still isn’t fast. McMahon’s aggressive defense and her movement down the court off turnovers led McGuff to call McMahon “the most exciting 10 seconds in women’s basketball.”

The forward wasn’t alone in receiving the award this week. Rutgers guard Kaylene Smikle averaged 22.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in two games for the Scarlet Knights last week, including a 26-point, eight-rebound, game against the Princeton Tigers.

Currently, McMahon and the Buckeyes are in San Diego, California. On Tuesday, the Scarlet & Gray face the USF Bulls. On Wednesday, they follow that game up against either the Arkansas Razorbacks or Oregon Ducks, depending on the results from either game.

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Captain Buckeye said:

Which is horse crap. If these kids are basically semi pro then they should be forced to honor their agreements or forfeit their earnings. No way anyone should be able to get paid and then just leave like that.

Click to expand...

The point is there is never supposed to be agreements to “keep these kids” anywhere. The pay to play is the issue. Stay and we will pay but if not you aren’t required to accept? How is this different than Anthony Davis signing a max contract and then demanding a trade without playing? This is supposed to be a loss for the investor. Which is why it’s going to drop drastically in $$$$ sooner than most people realize. That being said. Kids should be able to sign a commitment any time they want and be held accountable to that commitment. If they aren’t signed, then they can be recruited against until they get somebody to sign a letter of intent. Kids have all of the power right now. That needs to change. Once signed LOI they should be able to begin collecting NIL and if the business gets screwed then, that’s on them

Column: Last week was crazy for Ohio State, let’s look back
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

There was a lot of news, good and bad. Now the Buckeyes aren’t dead, but damn did it take some perseverance from fans to get through this one.

There are not a lot of teams in the country – college or professional – who share the chaotic nature of the Ohio State news cycle. Since Ohio State’s loss to Michigan, the Buckeye faithful have been put through the wringer, and to be honest, it’s been pretty hard to keep up with.

The up and down rollercoaster of being a college football fan has been amplified. This pastime is a year round job now. Missing a day, or two, is missing a lifetime in college football time with how rumors move, dissolve, or become concrete. This past week was the most evident experience of that in recent memory.

Ohio State fans lived through every single aspect of the current landscape of college football. From recruiting and transfer decisions to NIL deficiencies, and the craziest part is the Buckeyes have a playoff game in less than two weeks. Chaos might be an understatement, but looking back at this week, the Buckeyes are far from dead.

This week started off hot — not in the way a fan would want, but hot nonetheless. Rumors began swirling that Ohio State was far behind in the NIL landscape. The fact of the matter is these rumors were substantiated this week. The significance of NIL money might be overblown, but there is real substance to wonder why Ohio State is so far behind.

The man, the myth, the legend Cardale Jones did his best to rid fans of the misnomers surrounding the NIL collective business, and his partner with The Foundation, Brian Schottenstein, announced that there will be a monthly payment option. Many NIL collectives across the country have already had this going, which shouldn’t raise any confidence that the Buckeyes will now start dominating in the NIL landscape.


Columbus is a big city. There are a lot of places to spend and donate money. Hospitals, schools, education buildings, and other places rich donors plan to give their money away to. The recurring donations should help, but the more worrying sign to me is the fact Ohio State Athletics has needed to send out an email from Athletic Director Gene Smith, and Ryan Day has mixed feelings about the dynamic NIL has across the country.

Both men think there’s a great opportunity though with Day saying, “The great news is we’re positioned really, really well in Columbus and with our fan base to do just that. And our team has done very, very well here on campus and over the last year, they’ve done great.”

Now fans can put their money where their mouth is — I say that in jest – and that was just the beginning of the week.

On Tuesday, the Buckeyes ran into some somber news regarding one of their most talented players. TreVeyon Henderson announced he is out for the playoff run with a foot injury, the same foot injury that has been bothering him since the early parts of the season. Henderson’s last notable game was his short lived appearance against Maryland.

There were questions about the severity of the injury, which Henderson responded to in a now deleted tweet. A week later Ryan Day was asked about the injury situation, and stated that there would be more info coming about Henderson in the coming days. The more information was Ohio State’s star running back announcing he would be unavailable for the matchup against Georgia in the Peach Bowl.

This was not the news the Buckeyes needed, and this added fuel to an already hot fire burning in the fan base. This was Tuesday, but this was not the only significant news from Tuesday.

As the Buckeyes continued to gear up for the playoffs, the transfer portal opened up on Monday. Talk about planning from the NCAA. But there are some benefits for players entering the portal in this window. They have time to enter, announce a decision, and enroll in classes in the Spring. A lot of positives, but for fans and coaches this puts the transfer decisions.

Ohio State has announced quite a few offers throughout, but the raised senses around the fan base made it really challenging to cipher through what was fact or fiction. Now imagine hearing Treveyon Henderson has an announcement to make, the running back room is deep, and looking at the landscape of news I can understand why fans expected the worst.

But the news ended up being unrelated. Ohio State has offers out, they’re hosting their share of prospects, and we wait until this week’s crazy news cycle to find out how the buckeyes did.

This week was chaotic like a rollercoaster, the thing about rollercoaster is when they go down they usually go back up – which is why they’re fun. The Buckeyes landed a commitment from a five-star recruit. A few reasons this news was not more noteworthy, the five-star recruit was Jeremiah Smith, a receiver, and he’s in the 2024 class.

This is still exciting news, and there is by no means any reason to not be excited about it. Not everything in the recent news would give anyone reason to not be excited about the 2024 class. Smith is awesome and I’m excited to see what he brings to Columbus, but Hartline landing a five star is not as newsworthy as it once was.

What is newsworthy though is the potential scenario of Ohio State going 0-for-3 on blue chip edge prospects to close out the class. As of writing this article, Matayo Uiageleilei recently gained a USC prediction on On3, Damon Wilson has become a Georgia lean and Keon Keeley committed to Alabama. Recruiting has always been a marathon, not a sprint, but the final stretch has been rough in 2023, highlighted by news this week.

And now to the biggest news of yesterweek. Dylan Raiola – No. 1 overall player and quarterback in the 2024 class - decommitted from Ohio State. A significant reason in why many believed Smith committed. Then Raiola didn’t tweet about Smith’s commitment like he had every other 2024 commitment up to this point.

Once again the rumor mill began swirling. Raiola is closely linked to Nebraska now. There are family connections, his father played there and his uncle is a coach on Nebraska’s staff. Two other rumors include Raiola not appreciating the Buckeyes taking a 2023 commit — which also happened last week — at quarterback, and the other gossip is about a significant NIL deal.

Throwing in some opinion here, if either of those rumors are true, is Raiola the quarterback you want at Ohio State? The two on the roster in Kyle McCord and Devin Brown went headstrong into rooms with multiple top-50 quarterbacks. The 2023 commit, I forgot to mention in Lincoln Kienholz, flipped from a surefire opportunity to light up the world in Kalen DeBoer’s quarterback friendly offense up in Washington.

Instead he chose to step into a fiery competition knowing that there was also an all-world recruit already committed in the class of 2024. Talk about having dog in him. That is the type of player Ohio State fans have talked about missing in recent years. The 2023 class might not close as strong as fans might have hoped, but the transfer portal has the potential to fix that. But we already talked about that.

Going back again, Ohio State fans couldn’t even catch their breath by enjoying a nice, early set of December college basketball games. Earlier in the week, Tanner Holden saved Ohio State from shame at home by hitting a deep three to send Rutgers back to Piscataway sad.

An incredible shot that was, and here it is to enjoy:


The Basket-Bucks weren’t done with the week yet. They had a noteworthy game on Saturday at the Mecca, Madison Square Garden. Ohio State’s trip to New York CIty started off well against the North Carolina Tar Heels; They went into halftime with a lead. A championship level team was here for the Buckeyes, until they had to close out a game.

The Buckeyes blew a lead late allowing the Tar Heels to send the game to overtime, and then went on to lose the game to UNC.

Finally, Ohio State fans, I have seen the new internet rumor. No, I don’t think Marvin Harrison Jr. is interested in transferring to USC. With that being said, it is time to take a collective breath here before we start this week.

Being a college sports fan is not easy, and it is an everyday job on top of all the responsibilities you take on in your life. This week really challenged the reasonable approach, and as always the next week will bring it’s fair share of crazy.

That being said, Ohio State is far from dead, and there is plenty to be excited about.

The Buckeyes have six All-Americans voted on by various outlets. Marvin Harrison Jr. is Ohio State’s first unanimous All-American at receiver, and he joins an exclusive club including 36 other Buckeyes. Paris Johnson Jr. was a consensus All-American, and this is a milestone that is hopefully just a prelude to the his final legacy for the Buckeyes. Four others joined them with C.J. Stroud, Tommy Eichenberg, Dawand Jones, and Ronnie Hickman all being named All-Americans.

The other news keeps you busy. The games are really what being a fan is all about. Ohio State is in the College Football Playoff. They’re taking on Georgia in less than two weeks and the world has ruled the Buckeyes out. This is the time to rise, and remember the fact that Ohio State should never be counted out of anything.

Ohio State still has a top-7 recruiting class, they’re playing for a championship, and people are beginning to rally behind a cause. The Buckeyes are alive, and winning in two weeks will reinvigorate an entire nation of people.

I can’t even begin to predict how these next two weeks will go, but man it’s crazy being a fan of a college football team right now. With all the news, the rumors and all the stories out there, sometimes the joy can get lost in the mess.

That being said, there is still a lot to look forward to in the wild world of college football, especially as an Ohio State fan.

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Such an exciting World Cup. I think Qatar should host ever[mic cuts off]

You’re Nuts: Raiola’s gone and the sky is falling
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Five-star 2024 QB Dylan Raiola | Blair Angulo, 247Sports

Where is our concern level after the latest Ohio State de-commitment?

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

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

This week’s topic: Level of concern after Dylan Raiola’s de-commitment.

Josh’s Take


This past weekend, Ohio State lost the commitment of highly coveted 2024 quarterback, Dylan Raiola. The Arizona high schooler had been committed to OSU since May, but will now (further) explore all of his options. Raiola has quickly been linked to Nebraska, where his father played — and also where his uncle was the only assistant retained by new Huskers’ head coach Matt Ruhle.

But his future destination is neither here nor there, as Buckeye fans are only concerned with the impending collapse of a once great and powerful empire.

Fans and certain media types had a mini-meltdown upon hearing the Raiola news, forcing Gene and I to immediately jump on Reddit and/or completely reasonable message boards to assess the damage. And boy, are there some takes out there in the atmosphere. One Reddit user accused Ryan Day of intentionally letting Raiola walk because he (Day) is a covert TTUN mole, while another message board user said that losing the 2024 talent is a good thing, because he is actually a 29-year-old insurance salesman merely parading as a high school football player.

With debate and conspiracy afoot, my co-host and I felt obligated to weigh in with our respective, current level(s) of concern.

If we are using a numerical scale here, my overall level of concern – focusing solely on the Raiola/2024 piece – is one (1). And that is only because Railoa appears to be a heck of a football player. Otherwise, you could mark me down for a big, fat zero. Allow me to present my case...

Throw out your (any rational Ohio State fan) feelings about the general health and wellbeing of the team/program – which is about to play in another CFP, BTW – and ask yourself this: What is the one thing you absolutely trust Ryan Day to accomplish? With your life on the line, what is the one thing you would ask him to do, to save your scarlet and gray soul? Sort of a trick question here, because the correct answer is actually two-fold.

And here it is: You (again speaking to rational fans) would trust Day to both identify and develop a high-end QB. If you believed in him for no other reason, you at least have to believe in his ability to produce the next Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, or C.J. Stroud. The track record exists, and it is beyond reproach. So why are we collectively freaking out over the lost commitment of a kid who would not start in Columbus until 2025 at the earliest!?

Beyond the trust I have in Day’s ability as a QB whisperer, I would also point out that OSU has time on its side. Like, a lot of it. Because we are still days away from members of the 2023 recruiting class even having the ability to make their early commitments official — emphasis on 2-0-2-THREE. Not the 2024 class, to which Raiola belongs.

By decommitting now, he actually did the Ohio State staff a huge favor. Day, Dennis, and Co. can go back to the drawing board and take an entire year, if needed, to identify and sign their next Heisman candidate QB. And if the whole process take a while? So be it. Because remember: Haskins was a late flip and C.J. Stroud did not even received an offer (from OSU) until three months before he enrolled!

Lastly, Gene, I must bring up the transfer portal. In today’s world of college football, every single player is seemingly available at any time. Quarterbacks have been especially willing to take advantage of this newfound free agency system, and we have seen it work out for the Buckeye as recently as 2019 — albeit under unique circumstances.

There is no doubt in my mind, that if Ohio State is unable to find their desired prospect in an upcoming class, they will just look within the NCAA ranks. Snatching transfers is the new roster construction, and I believe that OSU coaches will be active when they see both a need and a potential fit. There will always be a proven QB looking for better coaching, a better situation, and/or better weapons, and all of those things are consistently offered in Columbus.

At the end of the day, there is no way to frame Raiola’s loss as a net positive. He is the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 class. But we don’t know what the future holds. Maybe he has a change of heart. Maybe he turns out to be a bust (not wishing for it). Or maybe – just maybe – Ohio State finds another QB elsewhere, and turns them into an absolute stud... Ryan Day has only shown us his ability to do so over and over again, so why doubt the process now?

Gene’s Take


While it isn’t the end of the world, I don't want to sugar coat it — losing Dylan Raiola is bad. I’ve seen a lot of talking on social media that sounds a lot like someone rationalizing their ex after a breakup. A bunch of ‘Well, he isn’t THAT good anyway’ or ‘Ohio State will wind up with somebody better’ going on online. I’m here to say that while the Buckeyes will likely land on their feet and wind up in a new relationship with someone who loves them very much, Raiola was a catch, and could be the one that got away down the line.

As far as recruiting rankings go, there is no quarterback better in the 2024 class than Raiola. Not only is he the No. 1 QB in the cycle, but he is the No. 1 recruit overall regardless of position. It seemed almost too good to be true for Ohio State to have the top quarterback in the class committed to go along with the latest commitment of Jeremiah Smith — the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 2 overall player in 2024 — and as it turns out, it was too good to be true.

The reasons for Raiola’s de-commitment aren’t entirely clear, but most of it seems simply out of the Buckeyes’ control. Far be it from me to defend Ryan Day in any matter, as I would pack his bags for him if Mike Vrabel came calling, but my podcast co-host does have a point. Quarterback recruiting and development is far and away what Day does best. If that, mixed with playing at one of college football’s premier destinations with one of the biggest brands on the biggest stage wasn’t good enough, then I'm not sure what Day and his staff could have done to convince him to stay. If family ties at Nebraska and/or NIL were the reason for his departure, Ohio State is shit out of luck.

As far as my concern level goes, I would say I’m at about a four. Most of my concern stems not from Raiola’s de-commitment specifically, but the way things have been trending for this Ohio State staff as a whole, especially in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

We know the shortcomings on the field in recent years, but the recruiting from this staff for everyone not named Brian Hartline has seemingly dipped. Larry Johnson is a legend of the game, but Ohio State is about to whiff on all three five-star edge rushers they seemingly had a good shot with. Tony Alford has landed one premier running back since J.K. Dobbins in 2016, and the Buckeyes are without a RB commitment in 2023. Cornerback recruiting has been a whirlwind as programs try to poach OSU’s top commits before signing day. As things stand, Ohio State has the No. 7 class in the country, and it doesn’t look like its going to get much better before signing day. ‘

Obviously Raiola is a 2024 guy and is unrelated to this cycle, but it is a concerning trend nonetheless. In my opinion, it is time to purge the last of the Urban Meyer holdovers from the program if they aren’t getting the job done anymore. This is probably a topic for another day, as Day is the one mainly in charge of recruiting the quarterbacks and this doesn’t apply to him, but this is more at play for my concern level of Ohio State recruiting than anything else. Raiola’s de-commitment is bad, I just think there are other issues at play that feel more pressing at the moment.

The Buckeyes will find another QB in 2024 and be fine, but there is a lot at stake this offseason in Columbus, and I'm not sure I trust a handful of the current guys in charge to figure it out.

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Column: What is going to happen with Justin Fields’ career?
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

Getting drafted by the Bears really wasn’t ideal.

Each week, Justin Fields continues to show why he is a great quarterback in this league. Whether it be an amazing 60-yard run or him escaping tackle after tackle, he reminds us of his talent. However, with the team that he is surrounded with, how much longer can he perform at this level?

Getting drafted by the Chicago Bears was certainly unfortunate for Fields. He came off of two phenomenal seasons at Ohio State, yet three other QBs were taken ahead of him. Trevor Lawrence, who, based off what we all saw in college, was the obvious No. 1 choice. Zach Wilson. Don’t even get me started — as a Jets fan, I would take Fields 10 times out of 10 ahead of Wilson. Trey Lance remains to be seen, but Fields has proven his talent.

So, unfortunately, Fields dropped down to No. 11 to Chicago. After a rough rookie season under Matt Nagy, many thought that this would be Fields’ breakout year. New GM, new head coach, new receivers and some offensive line additions sounded like a recipe for success.

However, this season hasn’t exactly equaled that.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Fields is the third-most sacked QB in the league, being taken down 40 times. He’s thrown 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Receiver Darnell Mooney is out for the season, and Chase Claypool and N’Keal Harry were both inactive Sunday. Right guard Tevin Jenkins was injured during the game as well. So, Fields’ main targets and some of his protection are unavailable.

Therefore, a lot of the load falls on his shoulders. He has to take it upon himself to give this team a chance to win. That means he has to run — a lot. He became just the third quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season Sunday. So, he’s on the move a lot and he gets hit a lot. What can that mean for his long-term durability?

If he keeps going at the rate he is going, with the little protection he has, I fear that he won’t be able to play for a long time in this league. Just like running backs are only solid for five to seven years, Fields may be on that pace as well if his body keeps taking hits like it is now.

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

However, let’s say the Bears do improve in the next two years and he gets some help on offense. I’m sure Chicago will want to extend him for a fifth season, too. So, after three years, Fields has the option to go somewhere else.

Obviously, it’s too soon to predict what will happen following this season. But, I am saying it’s possible that his team could screw him over as a result of the lack of help he has. His body could also get worn down if he keeps rushing at this amount and taking so many hits. If Chicago doesn’t ruin him, he could get out and go to a better team.

Fields is one of the best Ohio State quarterbacks who has the potential to be successful in the NFL in decades. Let’s hope he isn’t failed by factors he cannot control.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for December 19, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


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

On the Gridiron


Seven From Football Program Graduate Sunday
Ohio State Athletics


Ohio State adds Arizona State transfer long snapper John Ferlmann
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State fans share what worries them most about UGA, which Buckeyes need to step up most
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Bennett Christian officially became a Buckeye over the weekend!


Ohio State football’s Mike Hall Jr. is healing, but can he unleash his early season form on Georgia?
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

How nonstop-grinder Keenan Bailey won over Buckeyes (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Jami and Meredith Get Into All Sorts of Fun Topics on a Special Farewell Episode:


Document discovered: Ryan Day’s letter to Santa
David M. Wheeler, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Ohio State falters in overtime as North Carolina wins thriller
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Reasons for optimism remain after excruciating loss to North Carolina
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

UNC’s on-ball pressure proved too much for Buckeyes in MSG
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row

Would not have guessed this:


Why didn’t Ohio State guard the inbounds pass against North Carolina?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Game Notes: No. 3 Ohio State women’s basketball’s second half vs. UAlbany
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Forgotten Buckeyes, Special Edition: Jamaal Brown
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Student-Athletes to Receive Degrees at Autumn Commencement
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Hockey: Buckeye Sweep Cornell with 4-0 Shutout Victory
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Hockey: No. 14 Buckeyes Finish Sweep with 9-4 Win over BGSU
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...


Come on, you knew I was going to go with this today!


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We’ll talk about this later: An ode to bowl sponsorships
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Your dose of lighthearted takes from this week’s happenings.

Each week, we’ll break down something that happened during the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games and events) that we’ll be talking about for a while—you know, the silly sideline interactions, the awful announcing and the weird storylines that stick with us for years to come. We’ll also compare each of these happenings to memorable moments in pop culture, because who doesn’t love a good Office reference?

There’s a lot to love about this week in sports: the finals of the World Cup, Justin Tucker missing two field goals so the Cleveland Browns could finally beat the Baltimore Ravens, the start of the college football bowl season.


The downside is that (if we can call it a downside), at the start of the bowl season, there’s a lot of eyebrow-raising bowl names featuring teams you probably know nothing about this season. Sponsorships rotate, of course, but it’s hard to keep up with who’s effectively financing the Fenway Bowl year in and year out (this year, it’s cloud storage company Wasabi. More on that below). It brings just enough of a level of absurdity to keep things interesting for the first quarter.


Not everyone can be as classy as the Rose Bowl, which is so iconic that sponsors come after the name of the game (no matter how much they pay!). A few of my favorite names from this year have been:

• Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel: Fresno State beat Washington State Saturday in a blowout, but I’m still confused if Jimmy Kimmel is sponsoring this game, if this game is named in honor of Jimmy Kimmel or if Stifel (a wealth management/investment banking firm) just really likes Jimmy Kimmel.
• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: There’s actually no sarcasm here: I love this bowl. The first thing I think of when someone mentions Idaho is “potato” so this feels like a sponsorship match made in heaven. Further, the second thing I think of is “Boise State football/Smurf turf.” *chef’s kiss.”
• Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Not Frosted Flakes. Not Kellogg’s. Just Tony the Tiger in all his orange and black striped glory. It’s grrrreeat.

It’s also interesting how many business-to-business companies (like Wasabi) are sponsoring bowl games. None of us are purchasing an aircraft, Lockheed Martin, but by all means, sponsoring the Armed Forces Bowl makes perfect sense.


Bowl season also brings us back to some of the more head scratching sponsors. Remember the Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl? Tostitos sponsored the Buckeyes’ favorite desert postseason matchup for nearly two decades before, in a confusing twist, a nearly unknown outdoor fitness company jumped in with a single season sponsorship in 2016.


Having previously managed events and sponsorships, I can only imagine what this one year stunt cost Battlefrog. Sure, it did the company a lot of good in raising awareness, but it was a bizarre interloper between the legacy tortilla chips we know and love and PlayStation, which sponsored the game for seven years after that. Coincidentally, Battlefrog closed its doors in August 2016.

Perhaps the sponsorship was not the right move, after all.

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I-70 Football Podcast: RIP Mike Leach, non-CFP Bowl previews
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

In this episode, we reflect on Mike Leach’s legacy and preview the non-playoff bowl games featuring Big Ten teams.

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

Listen to the episode and subscribe:


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

Welcome back to another episode of the I-70 Football Podcast. In this episode, Jordan and Dante take a moment to reflect on Mike Leach’s passing and the legacy he left in college football. Leach was one of the founding fathers of the air raid offense that changed the game forever. He has a coaching tree that will rival anyone in the sport, spanning multiple levels of the sport. We’re sending thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and players.

In their not-so-quick quick-hitters, the guys explain their thoughts on NIL and if it is ruining college football. Jordan thinks fans are driving themselves crazy by contributing every occurrence to NIL. Players commit, decommit, and transfer all the time, including before NIL funds were available. Obviously, some decisions are made based on NIL, but not as much as people think. Dante thinks people shouldn’t be worried about what players are making or if NIL is the reason behind the player movement. No one questions when coaches leave for more money, so why question the players?

The Big Ten has nine teams playing in bowl games, and the guys take a look at the non-playoff matchups. Utah vs. Penn State in the Rose Bowl is easily the best of the group, and one of the best matchups in general. Penn State hasn’t been to the Rose Bowl since 2016 and would love nothing more than to beat Utah, while the Utes hope to win their first Rose Bowl in program history after losing to Ohio State last year. Dante is intrigued by the LSU vs. Purdue matchup, while Jordan is paying close attention to the two matchups between the Big Ten and ACC.

In their weekly pitstops, Dante wishes his brother a Happy 18th Birthday. Jordan celebrates the release of Ab-Soul’s new album after a six-year hiatus. In the build-up to the album release, Ab-Soul discusses his suicide attempt and recovery. We know the holidays can be tough for people. Please reach out to your friends and family, you never know what that can mean for someone. If you are having suicidal ideations please call the National Suicide Hotline by dialing 988 or connect with someone you love.

Happy Holidays from us to you!


Connect with us on Twitter:

Jordan: @JordanW330

Dante: @DanteM10216

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Graduating should always be recognized.

Ire at Ryan Day over Dylan Raiola’s de-commitment is misplaced
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Brooke LaValley/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

There’s likely nothing Ohio State’s head coach could do about the whims and wishes of a teenage quarterback.

Nothing makes college football fans lose their minds like the whims of teenagers. And so it was this week, when five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola de-committed from Ohio State, denying the Buckeyes of the top 2024 prospect in the nation. People all over message boards and social media went bananas.

This wasn’t unexpected. Every time a player decommits from a program, that school’s fans play the role of scorned lover and many take their frustrations out in the most inappropriate ways. Some direct their venom directly at the recruit — which should never happen.

But others act like it’s some kind of shortcoming by the head coach. The #FireDay crowd’s voice got louder this week because a high school kid changed his mind about leaving Arizona to play college football in Ohio. The same head coach who was at the helm for his May commitment was suddenly the problem.

I shouldn’t have to explain that this is a complicated time for college football recruiting. We don’t know all the backdoor promises and deals that are going on in regard to name, image, and likeness (NIL) behind the scenes. It might not be a coincidence that it’s been a hot topic in OSU circles since before Raiola decommitted and Gene Smith, Day, and the OSU coaching staff may have suspected this was in the works.

But it’s fair to say that whatever happened with Raiola likely had little to do with Day at all. Every college coach faces decommitments and transfers. It’s a common part of the business.

Raiola’s uncle is Nebraska’s offensive line coach, and Matt Ruhle has created a buzz around that program since being named head coach, which is hardly Day’s fault either.

I saw one post on Twitter blaming Day for 2023 quarterback Lincoln Kienholz committing to Ohio State, as if that somehow scared Raiola off. These top prospects rarely lack the confidence of believing they will win the job wherever they go, and fans probably shouldn’t want any that don’t have it.

There was a lot of angst about Quinn Ewers transferring to Texas, but it’s not hard to imagine that whoever takes snaps for Ohio State will put up better numbers than Ewers during his career. Similarly, Raiola at Nebraska or wherever else may have an excellent football career, but I doubt the Buckeyes will be hurting at the position with Justin Fields emerging as an NFL stud (even without an offensive line) and C.J. Stroud about to go in the first round of the next draft.

As long as Day is here, the quarterback play should remain at a high level, especially given the talent at wide receiver that the Buckeyes are attracting to Columbus. In fact, the No. 2 player in the 2024 class, Jeremiah Smith, committed to Ohio State before Raiola decommitted.

I’m not going to be concerned about the starting quarterback until one of them shows me I should be.

Look, there might be some valid reasons to hold the opinion that Ryan Day shouldn’t be Ohio State’s head coach, although we’ll certainly have more data about that in a couple of weeks. But it seems silly to call for his job over a high school kid decommitting.

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They need to change the name, “Unicorn” energy. Certain words send the “Green” people insane are Fusion, nuclear, fossil fuels etc.

LGHL Uncut Podcast: McGuff, McMahon and Greene on final home non-conference win
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes helped UAlbany make things interesting on Friday, hear what the coach and two key performers had to say about it

Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.


The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team looked like they had a good night considering the 82-57 scoreline, but it was closer than it appears. Head coach Kevin McGuff and the Buckeyes struggled in the first half, allowing a rare visitor lead against a smaller non-conference opponent.

After the game, McGuff, forward Cotie McMahon and guard Madison Greene dissect that first half and what changed to propel Ohio State in the second.

Up first is McGuff. He discusses the unique half court challenge created by UAlbany’s Princeton offense, who he calls “the most exciting 10 seconds in women’s basketball,” among other areas of the win.

McMahon talks about what changed for her Friday, after a career high 24 points against the Great Danes. Also, looking at the defensive performance of Ohio State overall and how she feels now after taking a big fall late in the game, on defense.

Last up is Greene. The guard who hit a season high with six steals talked about changing her offensive focus in the second half, listening to teammate’s feedback and adjusting defensively after an upset coach McGuff prepared the Buckeyes in the halftime locker room.

That and more in the latest LGHL Uncut, the last edition before Ohio State travels west, to San Diego, California for the San Diego Invitational.


Connect with Thomas:

Twitter: @1ThomasCostello

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Well, I drove a clunker camaro in college, and these guys are driving Lambos, Mercedes, and Ferraris. Add to the freshman equation of the 'extra' one or two years for Covid, and that additional experience in size, strength, and just plain whatever helps keep players in uniform for a longer time. Mayhaps the portal will thin out these 'super-seniors' by transferring so more freshmen are brought in and having more PT available. Guess we'll see how class balancing will play out in the future as well. Seems to be more moving parts than yesteryear. Bet Pantoni has a couple more 'duties to be assigned' on his resume.