Bold Predictions: C.J. Stroud finds the end zone often in his first start as Ohio State’s quarterback
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. Stroud throwing four touchdowns, Jeremy Ruckert catching five passes, and a number of other bold predictions for tonight’s game against Minnesota.

Prior to each Ohio State game this year, LGHL is going to bring you some “bold predictions”. This will include somewhere around five predictions for the game, whether it be passing yards, points scored, sacks, or a number of other things that we could see happening during the game.

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

C.J. Stroud will at least throw as many touchdown passes as Justin Fields did in his first start at Ohio State


When Justin Fields opened up his Ohio State career against Florida Atlantic in 2019, the Georgia transfer threw four touchdown passes against the Owls. Expect Stroud to at least match Fields’ debut total, and maybe even get to five touchdown passes, which is how many Dwayne Haskins threw in the season opener against Bowling Green in 2018.

It certainly makes things easier that Stroud has an insane collection of receivers to work with. Stroud is going to try and spread the football around, which will help to boost his touchdown totals not only tonight, but throughout the season. You have to figure that Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson will each haul in a touchdown pass, and smart money would be on Jeremy Ruckert catching one for a score inside the red zone. That just leaves one more touchdown that Stroud has to throw, and with guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Julian Fleming, and Emeka Egbuka, it shouldn’t be hard to connect with at least one of them for a score.

Jeremy Ruckert will catch at least five passes

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

This number might sound a little high considering how Ohio State has sparingly used their tight ends over the last few decades, but look into it more and it makes a little more sense. Jeremy Ruckert has had three games over the last two years where he has caught at four passes in a game. One of those games was the 2019 season opener against Florida Atlantic, where two of those receptions were touchdowns.

There’s no doubt that Minnesota is going to be keyed in to trying to slow down the ridiculous collection of talent that Ohio State has at wide receiver. The Golden Gophers can’t cover everyone, which should leave players like Ruckert open. Also, Ruckert should provide a bit of a security blanket for Stroud if things start to breakdown in the pocket. When it doubt throw it to the man who has caught about everything thrown his way during his time in the scarlet and gray.

Ohio State will intercept at least two passes


The pressure that Ohio State will put on Tanner Morgan will force the Minnesota quarterback to make some risky decisions. This will backfire against an opportunistic defense that will be looking to reassert their dominance after some shaky performances in 2020. Even with their struggles last year, the Buckeyes did intercept seven passes in eight games.

It also will help that Ohio State should be up by a couple scores in the second half, which will lead to the Golden Gophers throwing the football a little more than they would like to. As time in the game goes on and the clock dwindles, Minnesota will get more desperate, meaning Morgan will make some more suspect decisions that Ohio State will take advantage of.

Mohamed Ibrahim will record his ninth straight 100-yard rushing game

Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images

The Minnesota running back is one of the best backs in the country. Add in an experienced offensive line and it’s easy to see why Minnesota will want to hand the football off to Ibrahim early and often. With his usage rate, it might not seem like cracking triple digits is all that bold of a prediction. The reason that could make this a little spicy is because Ohio State has some of the best athletes in the country and is usually rather stingy against the run.

Ohio State has to replace all their starters at linebackers, which could lead to some miscues early in the season. While the Buckeyes will have an upgrade at one of the linebacker positions since they won’t have Tuf Borland and his snow plow speed at linebacker, there will still be some growing pains amongst the new starters.

A lot of the damage Ibrahim will do on the ground against Ohio State will come earlier in the game. As the game moves along, the Buckeyes will tighten up their run defense as they become more familiar with what Ibrahim and the Golden Gophers will throw at them. Also, Ohio State should extend the lead in the second half, which will make Minnesota rely more on the pass than the run.

Ohio State will score at least 50 points for the third time in four season openers under Ryan Day


I know it’s hard to put a whole lot of stock in 2020, but Minnesota did allow Michigan to score 49 points in their season opener in Minneapolis. Yes, that Michigan team that lost four of their next five games. While the Golden Gophers are definitely more experienced on defense this year, Ohio State has a lot more to offer than anyone Minnesota saw in 2020.

With Oregon on deck for next Saturday in Columbus, Ryan Day is going to want to send a message out west to the Ducks. Don’t expect Ohio State to take their foot of the gas pedal tonight, as with a new quarterback Ohio State is going to want to give C.J. Stroud and the rest of the offense as much confidence as they can going into the home opener against Oregon next week.

Even though this will undoubtedly be the toughest opponent Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have seen in a season opener during his time as a head coach (interim coaching duties from 2018 included), don’t expect the Golden Gophers to be able to keep Ohio State off the scoreboard. If Stroud throws at least four touchdown passes as predicted earlier, it shouldn’t be out of the question for the Buckeyes to find 22 points (assuming all extra points are converted) in other aspects of the game.

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LGHL’s 2021 Ohio State and college football season predictions
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Set Number: X163093 TK1

Our staff predicted every thing for the Buckeyes, the Big Ten Conference, and college football as a whole.

As the Ohio State football team prepares to embark on the 2021 college football season your favorite Ohio State SB Nation blog, no, not that one... not that one either... the other one. No, I’m talking about Land-Grant Holy Land. To get ready for the season, our panel of experts refuses to be silenced by the inevitable shaming at the hands of Freezing Cold Takes, and is putting their collective knowledge where their typing fingers are.

Fifteen LGHL writers and editors have made predictions about the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Big Ten Conference, and college football as a whole. Let us know who you are — and aren’t — agreeing with in the comments below. And don’t worry, we will be revisiting these come season’s end.

If you want to see how some of our returning LGHL prognosticators did in the 2020 season, check out the results from last season’s predictions.


Who will lead Ohio State in rushing yardage this season?



True freshman TreVeyon Henderson the clear leader in this predictions category.


Who will lead Ohio State in rushing TDs this season?



Despite Henderson taking the lead in the yardage question, veteran Master Teague is the presumptive leader in TDs. Henderson and Miyan Williams are close behind.


Will the coaching staff #FreeDemario this season?



I will never..... EVER..... give up on this. How dare you, person who is certainly not me who asked this question.


Who will lead Ohio State in receiving yardage this season?



No surprise here, Chris Olave leads the way with 60% of the vote, with Garrett Wilson close behind at 40%.


Who will lead Ohio State in receiving TDs this season?



Same thing as the question above.


C.J. Stroud Passing Stats Predictions


While there is some variance amongst the responses, most everyone is in the same, general range.


How many passing yards will Quinn Ewers have?


Not gonna lie, a lot more zeros in these predictions than I was expecting, but I respect Dante for going big. It’s a longshot, but if it hits, he’s gonna look like a genius.


Who will lead Ohio State in tackles this season?


Come on, Chris. Pick one. If Simon or Young ends up leading the team, you’re only getting half credit when we tally this stuff up.


Who will lead Ohio State in sacks this season?



Zach Harrison leading in a big way here. I hope 2/3s of us are right!


Who will lead Ohio State in interceptions this season?



Sevyn Banks and Lathan Ransom in the lead here, which makes sense.


How many combined punts and field goal attempts will Ohio State have this season?


This is the one that I am by far the most invested in.


Which true freshman will end up having the biggest impact this season and why?


I expected a little more for Henderson in here, but I love that there are so many optionsand that all are legitimately viable.


Which Buckeye that nobody is talking about will step up to make the biggest impact (non-freshman edition)?


Apparently the mileage on “that nobody is talking about” will vary, but good options, nonetheless.


Which player and brand will end up being the most ubiquitous example of the new NIL rules during the season?

I won’t list all of these, but I will share some of my favorites.

Connor Lemons: Dawand Jones and Buckeye Donuts.

Shane Bailey: Dawand Jones definitely needs a Big Thanos clothing line; although I’m sure Marvel would take issue with that. If no Big and Tall stores have reached out to Dawand yet they are missing out on a huge opportunity.

Gene Ross: Miyan Williams doing a meatball/pork chop ad for a restaurant.

Chris Renne: The OL, people love their linemen and we’re going to see a lot of group opportunities as well as individual. Plus the OL are crafty dudes who will find some great opportunities.


If no games are canceled, what will Ohio State’s regular season record be?


David and Josh, please report to my office immediately.


What will the score of the Ohio State vs. Michigan game be?


Apropos of nothing, don’t forget that you can purchase our “Hang 100 on ‘Em” t-shirt here and have it in plenty of time for this year’s edition of The Game.


Please list your predicted order of finish in the Big Ten East (Top to Bottom)


I would have been pretty upset if anyone had gone off the map with their Big Ten East pick, to be honest.


Please list your predicted order of finish in the Big Ten West (Top to Bottom)


Lots of Badger love here at LGHL.


Who is your Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year?


We might be homers, but five of the last nine people to win this award have been Ohio State quarterbacks, so it seems like a good bet to go with Stroud.


Who is your Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year?


Who is your Big Ten Coach of the Year?


Of course we all wanted to pick Ryan Day, but we’ve been burnt too many times before.


What is your boldest, most out-of-left-field prediction for Ohio State this season?


What is your boldest, most out-of-left-field prediction for college football this season (non-Ohio State version)?


Lots of folks down on Bama, huh?


Who wins the Heisman Trophy?


Two people picked running backs? What decade are you living in, guys?


Will Ohio State have a Heisman finalist(s)? If so, who?


It’s ok, you can say it. We’re homers.


College Football Playoff Seeding Predictions


I’ll take my chances with these lists.


Who is your National Champion?


What do you want? I told you we were homers.

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Minnesota Defensive Player to Watch: Linebacker Jack Gibbens
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Jack Gibbens is wearing new colors, but will look to make a similar impact for the Golden Gophers | Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images

Minnesota had a rough 2020, exacerbated by their issues on defense. A small-school transfer should play a pivotal role in helping to turn the unit around this season.

Minnesota is not expected to be a defensive juggernaut. Let’s get that out of the way first. I could pick and choose stats all day long, but a few jumped out to me from their 2020 season: 206.7 opponent rushing yards/gm (99th in the county), 4.00% sack rate (114th), and 64.06% opponent completion percentage (92nd). On paper, you’re basically telling me they struggle to stop the run, they don’t pressure the quarterback, and the opponent is able to complete a high percentage of their passes due to said lack of pressure.

In reality, the 2020 version of the Golden Gophers lost a lot of talent from their 2019 defense (recurring theme for Minnesota). Antoine Winfield Jr. was an All-World defensive back, and Carter Coughlin could get after the quarterback. Similar to the offense, Minnesota’s defense was attempting to fill major holes from the previous season, and went up against a pandemic during an effort to do so. I am still not intimidated by what they do have coming back in 2021, but there are some good players on that side of the ball.

Guys like Coney Durr and Jordan Howden are returning starters in Minnesota’s secondary, and they will be tasked with trying to stop Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and others… average DBs, so don’t count on them being able to shut down Ohio State’s passing attack.

Boye Mafe is a breakout candidate at defensive end, but his production has not yet matched the hype. Eight sacks in 29 games (1/4 of which came against Illinois last year) means he is a capable pass rusher — not Lawrence Taylor. Additionally, P.J. Fleck brought in transfers to try and give his defense a much-needed boost, including former Clemson defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney. One of those transfers — and the player on Minnesota’s defense who could have a big impact on the unit as a whole — is newcomer Jack Gibbens.

Gibbens is a graduate transfer from Abilene Christian, and he may end up “quarterbacking” the Golden Gophers defense. He brings a ton of experience to a unit that struggled last year, and looks the part of a solid Big Ten linebacker. He also has the instincts and the intelligence to anchor a defense, as evidenced by his inclusion among the 2020 Campbell Trophy finalists. The Campbell Trophy has been nicknamed the “Academic Heisman,” and is open to FBS, FCS, and lower-division athletes. Gibbens has enough brain and brawn so that he should not be overwhelmed by his transition to the Big Ten.


Gibbens played four years at Abilene Christian, starting his final three. He somewhat surprisingly never earned all-conference honors (only Honorable Mention in 2018), but was productive nonetheless. He racked up 104 tackles as a junior in 2019, and totaled 22.5 tackles for loss, including seven sacks, and five interceptions during his time as a starter. He is coming off of a strong overall season in 2020 as well, albeit one that was shortened due to the pandemic. In six games, he accumulated 49 tackles, to go with 4.5 TFL, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception, and one forced fumble. He was a force all over the field, and will bring some serious thump for the Golden Gophers.

The former Wildcat is 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds of bad intentions. He is one of, if not the biggest, linebackers on Minnesota’s team. Not that size is everything at the linebacker position, especially when going up against modern offenses, but Gibbens is no small dude. He has the ability to lay out a Buckeye ball carrier if the opportunity arises. Furthermore, he has played in certain pass-rushing packages during his career, so he could be used to create pressure on C.J. Stroud with a timely blitz. He is not a blazer (4.7+ speed), but at his size, all he needs is the element of surprise.

It is difficult to be too intimidated by, or concerned with, any player from a defense that performed so poorly last year, however, Joe Rossi’s unit has experienced plenty of success since he was named the interim defensive coordinator in 2018. He will also have the benefit of a traditional offseason. Sure, the talent was at a higher level in 2019, when they ranked tenth in total defense, but it’s not as if the Minnesota coaches abandoned the scheme(s) they had success with. They just lost talent… and a lot of it.

Gibbens brings a certain maturity to the Minnesota defense, and he is a proven playmaker. If he can direct traffic in the middle of the field, the Gophers’ experienced secondary stands a better chance of keeping the Ohio State wide receivers in-check. If the secondary holds its own, Mafe will have more time to penetrate the line of scrimmage. OSU has not had the luxury of their own defense being directed by a field general recently (or at least not a good one), but Minnesota might have an impact leader in Gibbens.

Gibbens’ role is still up in the air, so identifying him as a player to watch out for is a bit risky. However, if you look back at what Minnesota did on defense last year, should we feel confident about anybody else outside of perhaps Mafe? Remember, Mafe will be going against Thayer Munford, Nicholas Petit-Frere, or Dawand Jones — not Illinois. Even if Gibbens is part of a rotation, he is already more experienced (and I would say more proven, despite the level of competition) than his peers.

Minnesota’s defense should be improved in 2021… they almost have to be. Much like Oho State, they were breaking in a lot of new starters and were forced to deal with unusual circumstances last year. I still like the Buckeyes to put up 35 plus, but keep an eye on Gibbens. He could bring a much-needed stability to their linebacker rotation, and his presence should be a positive for the Golden Gophers.

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What can we expect from C.J. Stroud based on recent OSU first-time starters?
David M Wheeler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


C.J. Stroud impresses in buckeye spring game. | Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Expectations run high as Buckeye season opens, but are those expectations fair?

It begins tonight. The Ohio State season opener against Minnesota. The beginning of the C.J. Stroud era for Buckeye football; or at least that’s the plan.

So, what can we reasonably expect from the Buckeye quarterback who’s never thrown a pass in a college game? We didn’t see much of Stroud in the shortened 2020 season, he played in only one game, carrying the ball only once. But on that one run, he galloped 48 yards for a touchdown. We all watched with our eyes open wide.

For comparison, let’s take a look at how J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, and Justin Fields performed in their starting debuts. Note that I’m leaving out Cardale Jones, we all know how he did in his first start against the Badgers in the Big Ten Championship Game. But Jones’ start came at the end of a season. He was more experienced than these others first-time starters.

Aug. 30, 2014 | Ohio State vs. Navy: J.T. Barrett’s first start

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Barrett starts at quarterback after Braxton Miller’s injury seemed to doom the season before it started. How did Barrett do?

First of all, and most importantly, he won, 34-17. He completed 80% of his passes (12-of-15) for 226 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Barrett also rushed nine times for 50 yards.

All in all, his first start brought a strong sense of relief to the Buckeye faithful and a return of hope for the season as a whole. Barrett wasn’t outstanding, but he was good, very good, as we would see as the year unfolded.

Sept. 1, 2018 | Ohio State vs. Oregon State: Dwayne Haskins’ first start


We get our first look at Dwayne Haskins as a starter against the Beavers, and wow! Haskins led the Bucks to 723 offensive yards in the jaw-dropping 77-31 victory over the other OSU.

Haskins completed 22 of 30 passes (73.3%) for 313 yards, five touchdowns, and an interception. He also carried the ball twice for 24 yards. Had we ever seen an Ohio State passing attack like this one? Probably not, but we’d see plenty more of it before the 2018 season ended.

Aug. 31, 2019 | Ohio State vs. Florida Atlantic: Just Fields’ first start


Transfer quarterback Justin Fields makes his Buckeye debut against the Owls a little over two years ago. Again – Wow! Ohio State won as Fields threw 25 times and completed 18 of his passes (72%) for 234 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also proved that he could run, too: 61 yards gained on 12 rushes.

The game was a sign of really good things to come over the next two seasons — and likely more, if you are a Chicago Bears fan.

Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

What did these three opening starts have in common? All three were OSU victories. All three QBs completed at least 70% of their passes. All three played really well and launched the season positively.

Sept. 2, 2021 | Ohio State vs. Minnesota: C.J. Stroud’s first start


After winning a heated battle to the top of the depth chart, Stroud makes his first start tonight. Compared to the other three recent examples above, there are several differences this time that we notice immediately. The game is on a Thursday night. The game is against a conference opponent. That opponent is of higher quality than Navy, Florida Atlantic, or even Oregon State.

Naturally, as Ohio State fans, our expectations are sky-high for Stroud, who’s loaded with talent. He looked great in the spring game, he’s got the best corps of receivers in the country, his offensive line may also be the best in the country. Also, we know that Ryan Day can coach quarterbacks and get them ready to play.

Stroud has a strong arm, and I think that he’ll be allowed to use it in this game. He’ll throw 15-yard sideline patterns; he’ll throw deep balls. He’ll also give the ball to his three running backs and watch them roll behind that line.

Anything to worry about? Sure. Stroud’s young and inexperienced. He’ll make some misreads of the defense, make some bad throws. He may even show some panic when he’s rushed.

One thing to watch for is how easily he gives up on a pass play as pressure mounts. We know that he can run — as evidenced by his TD scamper last season — but you want to see him trust his line and receivers enough to let routes develop.

If you watched Saturday’s Nebraska-Illinois game, you would have seen Adrian Martinez scramble way too often and way too soon. Yes, he gained some yards, and the Huskers weren’t having much success otherwise, but his scrambling put an end to the Nebraska passing game. It frustrated his receivers, who soon became less focused on their routes. It also adversely affected the line’s blocking on pass calls and led to some penalties. Stroud needs to stick to the call — unless he’s about to be sacked. And I don’t see that happening much.

All in all, I think that Stroud will do just fine, just as his predecessors have. The first priority, obviously, is to win the game. He needs to limit his mistakes (misreads, penalties, turnovers) and let his excellent supporting cast do their stuff.

Secondly, he needs to pass well enough to build his confidence going into a tougher game in Week 2. He needs to complete, say, 60 to 65% of his passes, throw at least a couple of touchdown passes, and rack up 250 yards of passing offense. He should also show that he can run on designed quarterback rushing plays. Stroud needs to display poise and leadership and demonstrate that he’s genuinely next in line to those who have come before him and worthy of defining a Buckeye “era.”

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All Parking and Stadium vendors are going cashless this year. If you don't have an event parking pass, parking for cars will be $20 payable only by credit card this year. Apple, Samsung, and Google Pay are not accepted.

colobuck79 said:

That's tough stuff. Be well, and good luck. Ditto for sticking around here! And for the record, I have worked with several husker engineer graduates over the years and they were top notch.

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She'd better be top notch with all the I'm dropping down there. She has scholarships, but dang.

Clifford Heffelfinger would be proud: the Jablonka boys helped keep the Book Loft around for another generation!

https://www.dispatch.com/story/busi...an-village-sold-surprising-buyers/5654070001/

NFBuck said:

Click to expand...

You just made me wake my entire family up at 5:15am and I have a whole damn house full of them. Bahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Here's to Mac Jones falling flat on his stupid punchable face.

Unfortunately any time I go to create a new banner, I get an error & it's not letting me save it.

Give up jwins....he thinks the original discussion was that Nike and Oregon would never spill a penny over a single recruit, so in his mind he's already pwned the rest of the internet.

I would play.

Tongohan’s 6 Spring Tings
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Spring games are used to build players and to showcase their progress after the winter workouts have concluded. Now after the spring game, players are vying for starting positions and trying to separate themselves among the pack. With multiple starting positions up for grabs, you could expect to show out—and a few players caught my eye. I am no pro scout or anything but as a fan, I am pleased with what I saw for the future. Here’s how we saw it a MOSTAG.

1. Quarterback Battle Intensifies

Stroud, Miller and McCord all have the tools to become the heir to Justin Fields’ vacant starting gig. Hear me out. Stroud and Miller have a slight leg up while learning under Fields and they have some in-game experience, but neither has thrown a pass as a Buckeye. McCord is a true freshman with the capacity to learn quickly and urgently to overtake the two redshirt freshman, but it’s too easy to tell and this battle should bleed into the fall.

Stroud, the odds favorite to succeed Fields had an efficient game and finished with over 100 passing yards and a touchdown strikes to Marvin Harrison Jr and Joe Royer. The poise and confidence was there but Miller and McCord proved their cases as well.

Miller started efficiently as you could. He brought his team up into the red zone but was picked off by Watts after forcing a pass to Wilson. After the pick, his decisiveness resurfaced but he was held to 100 yards and no touchdowns. Mistakes happen and the future cannot be predicted. Miller needs to take it all in and push forward like his competitors.

Finally, McCord started with a bang. A 40 or 50 yard bomb to Wilson who ended up getting the wind knocked out of him on what to me was one of my favorite plays of the game—and what a way to introduce yourself young man! McCord brought that sauce and he too went for 100+ yards with a strike to Smith-Njigba. He is a gamer that could surprise folks.

The scout team players also got some play and Andrade and LaRoe flexed their skills. Both were efficient and it looked cerebral at times. Sure, it was against other scout players and a few scholarship players but to cap off the game LaRoe hit Wiglusz for a spinning walk-off score to end the day. What a tremendous play and way to send fans out on a high note.

2. Hartline’s War Chest

Brian Hartline is by far the best recruiter on the Buckeye staff and he has proved it over the last 3-4 recruiting cycles as he seamlessly stockpiles and develops his talent at the wide receiver position. For perspective, in 3 of 4 of these years, he reeled in at least one big fish each cycle. By big fish, I mean a five-star fish and Egbuka (2021) Fleming (2020), Smith-Njigba (2020) and Wilson (2019) are the big fish that he has stockpiled in recent classes. This season, he has Olave and Wilson so he can afford to get these younger players ready for their time after the aforementioned two depart for the pros.

Out of all the receivers, I’d say that Egbuka and Harrison showed out with a combination of tough catches and route running prowess. For Egbuka, his run after catch talent was evident and Harrison’s polished route running makes the future bright for the offense and for zone 6.

3. Cadillac Backs

So the running back position struggled a bit after the departure of JK Dobbins. Injuries have ravaged the position, but with fully recovered players in Chambers and Crowley, a returning mayhem meatball (Williams), and two talented true freshman in Henderson and Pryor—the future is bright for this group as well.

Henderson stood out as a pass catcher, Chambers broke off a sizzling run, mayhem meatball didn’t stray away from contact and Pryor’s effort to make plays stood out. Pryor did not have any wow plays, but none the less he showed up.

4. The Jack Sawyer Show

So tap football was different but Sawyer had himself a day. He was disruptive and as he reeled in 4-5 sacks with one being a strip sack that would’ve led to a turnover. He did not play last season, but he is as advertised. He set-up his pass rush moves and got to his target occasionally.

Although Smith and Harrison are ahead, I can see him in sub packages to spell either of the two. He is too valuable to leave off of the field and although it’s a spring game—he was an impressive player. A high motor, relentless type of player that could be the next rushman star of the future.

5. Secondary Flashes

With Shaun Wade leaving, a hole remains in the secondary. Johnson and Banks remain, but they were not playing today. Watts and Burke got some reps and they did well enough to be mentioned. Watts picked off Miller in the first quarter and Burke got best here and there but he got some valuable reps.

Ransom flashed again and nearly picked off a pass one-handed while in zone coverage. Although they weren’t perfect, the future is still bright. The Buckeyes have a couple of more defensive backs that have yet to show up, so we won’t truly know what we have in that room. All I know is they have the talent to be better in pass defense after getting torched last season and finishing 116th in the nation. I feel like they will have a massive chip of their shoulder to reclaim the BIA title.

6. Kicking Woes

So With Haubiel and Chrisman departing for the pros, enter Jake Seibert and Jesse Mirco to replace them. Mirco had no issues but the Seibert went 0-2, missing wide on both field goal attempts. His extra points were good but the kicking game should be better than that.

You never know when a game would rest on the leg of the kicker and I think he needs some work to build confidence during crunch time. Special teams and field flipping are staples of the Ohio State game plan—so moving forward, I think Day will focus on this aspect of the game.






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Marvin Harrison Jr., TreVeyon Henderson, stars in the making
Mike via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Coming to a program like Ohio State as a highly ranked recruit is enough pressure for young collegiate athletes, but living up to the hype and making a name for yourself early on is another thing.

Former 4-star WR Marvin Harrison from St. Joseph’s Prep High School and 5-star RB TreVeyon Henderson from Hopewell High School are doing just that — living up to expectations.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

From the minute Harrison Jr. stepped onto campus Ryan Day was impressed with his ‘more’ defined physique, and he didn’t disappoint on the field either. — Harrison Jr, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, was the first freshman from the offensive side of the ball to lose his black stripe. You saw why from the Ohio State Football media team post ”Throw it up. Marv will catch it” (@OhioStateFB) as Harrison Jr. caught three INCREDIBLE passes, one being a tough catch in the back of the endzone for a touchdown thrown by quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Coach day had high praise for the freshman WR:

“Excellent attention to detail with his routes,” said Day. “Somebody who cares a lot. He’s in here after hours. He’s here early in the morning. He takes a lot of pride in his work, and he’s making plays.”

Reports say Harrison Jr. lined up with the second-string offense, along with junior Jameson Williams and fellow freshman Emeka Egbuka.

TreVeyon Henderson

Being ranked the #22 player in the country, and #1 ranked running back — you’re going to have a lot of eyes on you, and Henderson didn’t disappoint anyone with his performance in camp thus far.

Henderson did not get to play his senior year of high school football at Hopewell due to the COVID-19 pandemic but seems to have left off right where he started — Henderson rushed for 2,424 yards and 45 touchdowns his junior season.

Henderson is the first freshman running back to lose his black stripe in spring practice since Urban Meyer introduced the routine in 2012. (He was the third player to lose it this spring — (Sawyer, Harrison Jr)

Coach Day met with the media this past week and stated that Henderson is doing all the right things early:

“He’s had a good attitude. He’s got a good work ethic. He’s done everything right so far,” Day said. “Now he’s still gotta play more and learn every day. He needs a million reps. But the talent is there. The work ethic is there. I think he’s going to have a really bright future here. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do so far.”

Day went on saying: “He’s flashed at times already,” Day said. “So excited to see what that looks like during the spring game.”

It’s too early to say Harrison Jr and Henderson are going to be immediate factors for the Buckeyes offense this season, as they have a LOADED WR and RB room, but there’s no denying the future for these two freshmen are BRIGHT, and they will see the field sooner rather than later.




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Spring Ball Updates
Mike via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Stroud Leads QB battle

• The notable discussion this offseason for the Buckeyes was the three-way quarterback battle between C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller, and Kyle McCord. Ohio State opened practice to the media for the second time and reporters noted Stroud was the first quarterback in the passing order followed by Miller and then by true freshman McCord.
• Reports note Stroud is building momentum due to his “big arm, underrated athleticism, and strong personality.”

Jeremy Rucket

• Buckeye nation loved the news when Jeremy Ruckert announced he was returning for his final season with the Buckeyes and he looks to dominate
• Ruckert will be a big-time weapon for Ohio State’s offense this year. Kevin Wilson thinks he can be “the most complete TE in the nation.”

Master Teague

• Teague is back and ran an UNREAL 4.35 40 yard dash this offseason. That’s very impressive for a guy that’s 5-11 226.
• The other RB’s to note are Miyan Williams and true freshman 5-star TreVeyon Henderson

WR core

• We all know this unite of Zone 6 is ELITE with studs Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson returning but some freshman have been making some noise
• Reports note Emeka Egbuka (5-star #1 ranked WR) is FAST
• @OhioStateFB posted a video of Marvin Harrison Jr. catching three TOUGH passes against the Buckeyes secondary
• This unit also has Jameson Williams, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Julian Fleming returning

Center Position

• With Harry Miller sidelined this spring, Day says “Matthew Jones, Luke Wypler and Jakob James have been taking the reps at center.”
• Luke Wypler is looking like the guy at center during spring ball per reports
• Wypler has been getting first-team reps and making big improvements heading into his second year with the Buckeyes

Secondary

• A big topic heading into this season is how the Buckeyes’ secondary will play after a ‘disappointing’ year this past season:
• Kerry Coombs says Lathan Ransom is practicing at the cover safety/slot position right and from videos posted by the Ohio State social media team (@OhioStateFB) he’s looking to have a breakout sophomore season for this secondary
• Coombs also noted Josh Proctor started the spring as the first-team deep safety and has been playing “really well.”
• The coaches have been IMPRESSED with the true freshman defensive back from Arizona, Denzel Burke. Ryan Day says that he has already “flashed” and is making plays in practice. Defensive backs coach Matt Barnes says he’s been “blown away” by Burke thus far. The 6-0, 189 Burke has a bright future for the Buckeyes
• Another name that keeps coming is Ryan Watts. Reports note Watts had a very productive winter off-season in the weight room. Watts is showing his potential and could be a HUGE contributor to the secondary this upcoming season

Tyleik Williams

• The 6-3, 330 freshman DT from Manassas, VA. has been getting some high praise from his teammate this spring
• Zach Harrison says Williams looks “really good” and “really promising” so far

More to come:




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MOTSAG Draft Profiles: Justin Fields
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

With the 2021 NFL Draft fast approaching, the odds of a Buckeye getting drafted are pretty high—especially after the championship run this past season. Although the game did not go as planned, the legacy of the outbound players cannot be underestimated and their achievements speak for themselves. Here are just a few tidbits about each draft eligible Buckeyes starting with Justin Fields.

Although the scoreboard failed to showcase his improvements, Justin Fields’ had plenty of good plays that were captured on tape. His intangibles are good enough to be a great, productive quarterback in the NFL and he could potentially break the stigma for future Ohio State Quarterbacks.

Fields is accurate from deep and he has improved his mid and short range accuracy as well. The know of locking onto his first receiver is a thing of the past because he has shown that he is actively coming off of the first receiver and is working through his progressions. Yes, sacks and holding onto the ball is bad but Fields has the potential to be a good one in the future. Pack in the speed and toughness—and you have a durable player with leadership capabilities and the concept I’ve drive to help your team turn things around.

If oddsmakers have it right, there is very little chance Justin Fields winds up a New England Patriot after the 2021 NFL Draft says Paruk from SportsBettingDime.com had mentioned. After the 49ers traded up to #3, they became -150 favorites to take the Ohio State pivot. The Patriots were not among the other eight teams listed. That’s because the chances of Fields lasting until the 15th-overall pick are basically nil, as is Bill Belichick’s history of trading up in the draft.

The NFL Draft is never lacking in drama, but there many teams looking for a future signal caller/playmaker. Fields fits the mold in being one of those future stars and all he needs is to hear his name to begin putting in the work.

PROS:

• Deep ball accuracy/placement
• Durability
• Athleticism/Speed
• Leadership Qualities
• Arm Strength

CONS:

• Holds onto ball too long/Eats sacks

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Class of 22′ OT Carter Smith talks recruitment, Ohio State involvement and fun outside of Football
Zack via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Carter Smith, Olentangy Liberty, Offensive Tackle (247sports.com)



OT Carter Smith might not have the loftiest recruiting rating per the 247 Sports composite rating, but if there is anything we all know about Ohio kids they have an act of outworking anybody/everybody in the country no matter what the recruiting analysts say. Carter may be lower ranked but he lets his hard work do his talking and programs are clearly listening as the offers continue to roll in. “I currently have 24 offers and I don’t want to disclose any leaders until the time comes. I’m hoping to have my top 5 out by April 15th, but anything can happen.” Smith said.

I can honestly say I do not blame Smith for waiting as just in the last couple weeks alone he has had offers still rolling in and the last two have been from SEC country (Auburn , Vanderbilt) but he also has a Tennessee offer so the big programs are definitely interested and Smith is excited about the potential opportunity to take his talents to SEC territory. “It’s really cool to have the opportunity to play good ball down south, but I just want to find somewhere that fits me best.” Smith said.

With Carter being located just a short ways away from Ohio State I Asked him if Ohio State has reached out about a potential offer and if he thought the lack of camp opportunities that Ohio State usually holds and the on-going recruiting dead period on campuses has caused a lull in said communication. “I know they (Ohio State) would like to see me at around 280-290 pound range and I’ve talked with Coach Stud a few times but nothing too much about an offer.” Smith Said. “Absolutely. It’s the worst part about this right now, not only can I not see the campus, but the coaches and players too. It’s really frustrating. I hope to make it to a camp or two this summer, there will absolutely be visits taken.” Smith added.

While football is important to Smith there is plenty that he values outside of the sport. “I enjoy doing volunteer work, youth group, making smoothies at my work, and hockey. I hope to make an impact on everyone I meet and make my mark at the best place for me! It’s all about relationships and i need to cherish that as much as possible.” Smith said.

I cant thank Carter enough for giving me some of his time and I think we can all agree that he will do big things no matter wherever he goes!




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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: 2021 Ohio State preview
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s the last offseason Hangout before the regular season begins next week.

Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast ‘Hangout in the Holy Land’ is back for a brand new season with brand new co-hosts! While the show has previously just been an in-season project, this year we are coming at you once a week throughout the offseason to keep you updated on all things Ohio State. 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


In their final offseason edition of the pod, Gene and Josh break down the 2021 Ohio State roster. They go position by position, discussing who they expect to start at each spot and what they expect to see from each unit. The guys take a look at what should be a dominant Buckeye offense, and attempt to answer some of the questions on a defensive unit that struggled mightily in 2020 — including what will happen with everyone’s favorite OSU defensive back: Demario McCall. They also discuss how some changes in philosophy and scheme for the coaching staff should put the team in the best position to make the College Football Playoff this season.

Beginning next week, Hangout in the Holy Land will be moving to two episodes a week, with a preview episode breaking down each of Ohio State’s opponents — starting with the season opener against Minnesota next Thursday — and a postgame reactions episode following the game each weekend. 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, as we’ve started to get that account a little more active as the regular season is now upon us, 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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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for August 25, 2021
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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


ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 announce historic alliance
- Big Ten Press Release

Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 officially announce alliance between conferences
- Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

You’re Nuts: Which Week 1 game that isn’t Ohio State/Minnesota are you most excited for?
- Brett Ludwiczak and Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

Luckily, college football programs are incredibly trustworthy and always above board...


Kourt Williams ‘coming quick’ and more determined than ever after injury
- Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com

Kamryn Babb being named captain ‘one of the more amazing stories I’ve been around’
- Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ryan Day continuing to focus on what he can control as he enters year three
- Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

(Preseason) QB1


Five Buckeyes On ESPN’s List Of Top 100 College Football Players For 2021
- Andrew Lind, Sports Illustrated

A deep dive on 2024 QB Jadyn Davis and his importance to Ohio State
- Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land

‘Pork Chop’ Miyan Williams pushing for meaty backfield role with Buckeyes
- Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

These videos will literally never get old.


Column: What I love about each of Ohio State’s football captains
- Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


The B1G-ACC-PAC-12 alliance also extends to basketball


Ohio State recruit Dillon Mitchell begins senior year at Montverde Academy
- Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Outside The Shoe and Schott


OSU field hockey comes in at No. 22 in the NFHCA Preseason Poll.

And now for something completely different


The legend of J.R. Smith continues to grow.


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Ohio State target, No. 2 overall 2023 prospect set to reveal top schools
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Lebbeus Overton | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports

Big time Buckeye target from Georgia will trim down his list today and begin focusing on twelve going forward.

It was a bit of a slower news day on the trail for Ohio State but there never seems to be a completely quiet day. Land-Grant Holy Land discusses what Tuesday brought for the Buckeyes on the recruiting front including the latest on a pair of lineman on both sides of the ball.

Overton to trim list


One of the nation’s very best in next year’s recruiting cycle is five-star defensive lineman Lebbeus Overton of Milton (GA). The No. 2 overall player in the country has already obtained over 25 offers during his recruitment and some of the very best programs in the country will be tracking him for the foreseeable future. But for now, Overton is ready to begin narrowing things down and start focusing on a smaller number of suitors going forward.


Ohio State is one of the elite universities setting their sights on the Peach State prospect and the Buckeyes initially jumped into the picture when they offered him a scholarship back in mid-February of this year. Just one month ago, Overton made a stop in Columbus to check out campus and what the Scarlet and Gray had to offer. With that in mind, it would come as no surprise to see the Buckeyes included in the group.

Wagner becoming a priority?


As we enter the day, Ohio State’s No. 3 ranked recruiting class features just two offensive lineman in four-star offensive tackle Tegra Tshabola of Lakota West (OH) and four-star offensive tackle George Fitzpatrick of Cherry Creek (CO). It is no secret that the Buckeyes are aiming to take anywhere from four-to-five inside the trenches to add to Greg Studrawa’s OL room.

One of the possibilities to claim one of those spots is four-star offensive tackle Aamil Wagner of Wayne (OH) and according to Joseph Hastings of Buckeye Grove, the Buckeyes have now “picked up their contact with him.” Wagner has already used one of his five official visits on a stop at Ohio State so the Buckeyes will likely want to get him back on campus in the near future.

Wagner reveled a top six back in March that featured Auburn, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, and Stanford. The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder holds just one prediction on the 247Sports Crystal Ball and that forecast favors Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. Wagner is currently graded as the 11th offensive tackle in the class and a top five player in the state of Ohio.

Quick Hits

• According to Chad Simmons of On3, 2023 five-star safety Sonny Styles of Pickerington Central (OH) will visit Ohio State on September 11th. Of course, that is the day where the Buckeyes will take on Oregon in what is shaping up to be a major opportunity for the program to impress some of the nation’s best prospects.
• 2023 four-star cornerback Sharif Denson of Bartram Trail (FL) tells Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors that Ohio State is “definitely in the mix” for his services. The Buckeyes delivered an offer to Denson back in June of this year. For now, Florida holds the early lead on the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions.
• Despite a decision date already set for 2023 four-star wide receiver Carnell Tate of IMG Academy (FL) — a major target for Brian Hartline and the Buckeyes — the offers are still coming in. Florida was the latest program to attempt to jump into the picture on Tuesday when the Gators dropped an offer to the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder.

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Column: What I love about each of Ohio State’s football captains
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 Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Six players received the honor of being named a captain, and I am so happy with each and every selection — read on to see why.

lBeing named a captain of THE Ohio State University’s football team is one of the biggest honors that a player can receive. This year in particular is special, because the team lost all of their captains from last season. Therefore, six brand-spankin new guys were selected by their fellow teammates as leaders of the team.

This year broke a few records in regards to captains. It is the first time in seven seasons where at least one captain isn’t returning (Tuf Borland isn’t STILL on this team?!). It is also the fewest number of captains selected since 2015, with only six being chosen. So, these guys must feel pretty special that their teammates collectively thought of them to lead them!

Let me give you the list of players: WR Kamryn Babb, DT Haskell Garrett, DE Zach Harrison, LB Teradja Mitchell, OT Thayer Munford, and last, but certainly not least, WR Chris Olave. We have a lot of experience here, with most of them being seniors, but Garrett and Munford are super-seniors (thx, COVID!). Zach Harrison is only a true junior— yet still a leader on this powerhouse of a defense. All of these guys truly deserve to be awarded with this prestigious honor, and I’m going to tell you why I love every single one of these picks!

Kamryn Babb

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

So, you hear this name, and you might not immediately recognize it. You might look up his stats and be extremely confused. Babb has been through A LOT during his football career. The worst injury that an athlete can suffer from, a torn ACL, happened to him. THREE TIMES. I feel so sorry for him, yet he has persevered and kept working hard— on the field and in the classroom. Babb is a three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. He redshirted his first two seasons, and played for his first time last season. He got injured again during the spring, so he’ll be out for at least the start of the season this fall. However, this shows how much respect he has gained if his teammates chose him as a leader, even if he hasn’t been playing beside them very much. You have to root for Kamryn Babb. Praying that he gets back on the field soon!

Haskell Garrett

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

First off, we know how Garrett exploded onto the scene last year- First Team All-American, one of the best parts of our D-Line. He has a lot of experience— 41 games played, and the stats racked up, too; 40 tackles, 6.5 TFL, two sacks, two PBU, and a pick-6 interception. Oh yeah, and he got shot in the face last summer— AND DIDN’T MISS A SINGLE GAME. He is just a total beast on and off the field. He is on the preseason All-America list, and the watch list for the Outland Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He has clearly battled adversity, but didn’t let anything, even a gunshot wound, stop him. He also gets my respect for taking advantage of his COVID year. We love super-seniors!

Zach Harrison

Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images

Can anyone else not believe that he is already a junior? To highlight that point, though, it is extremely impressive that he was selected as one of the six as a true third year player. The local kid from Lewis Center has shined in his first two years, with a team-best 9.5 TFL, and 5.5 sacks. He is also on the watch lists for the Bronko Nargurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy. One of the most intriguing facts about him, I think, is that he was one of the three Buckeye student-athletes at Big Ten Media Day this year. This shows how much of a leader he is, and his teammates and coaches think highly of him. I can’t wait to see what he does in possibly his final collegiate season.


Teradja Mitchell: Okay, if you haven’t seen the video of linebacker coach Al Washington calling Mitchell’s father to relay the news of his son being named a captain, here you go, You might want to grab some tissues:


Sadly, his big brother died very recently, so it was nice to see some good news for the Mitchell family. On the field, he has been a great special teams player, and is one of the more experienced linebackers in this year’s room. I really expect a breakout season for him! One more thing: he is majoring in fashion and retail studies, so I will be focusing on his pregame outfits this year.

Thayer Munford

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Another super senior! Munford is entering the 2021 season as one of the most experienced offensive linemen in the Big Ten – and country – after starting 33 games over the past three years and played in 45 of 50 games over the last four seasons. He is a preseason first team All-American. His experience and talent is unmatched among offensive linemen across the nation! Why I love this pick is because he came back as a result of a promise made to his momma. He promised her that he would graduate, and you can expect him with a degree in sports industry following the fall semester. He’ll be the first one in his family to graduate from college, plus I expect him to be a high pick in next year’s NFL draft! Thayer Munford is just a great story.

Chris Olave

Russell Costanza-USA TODAY Sports

This, I feel like, was a no-brainer. Olave is one of the best players in the country, will most likely be a top-ten draft pick, and has been/will continue to be a record breaker. He is also a preseason first team All-American, and could break the OSU record for most career TD receptions (he only needs 13 more). I feel like rattling off his stats is not necessary, and frankly, would fill up the rest of this page. We all know his greatness. However, I respect the fact that he came back for his senior year, and wants to help this team win a National Championship. Last year was a receiver-heavy draft, so I definitely believe that he will be chosen near the top this year. But, we still get one more season of watching CO2 for the Scarlet and Gray— let’s enjoy it!

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You’re Nuts: Which Week 1 game that isn’t Ohio State/Minnesota are you most excited for?
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 James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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

The great thing about Ohio State opening up their season on Thursday this year is that it gives us time to relax over Labor Day weekend and take in the rest of the college football action around the country. Taking in a full slate of college football action over Labor Day weekend is an even bigger deal this year, after last year saw just a handful of games played over the holiday weekend.

The start of the 2021 college football season shouldn’t disappoint. There are five games over Labor Day weekend between ranked teams on the schedule, including two Big Ten conference games. By the time Week 1 of the college football season wraps up, there will have been five Big Ten conference games, which is a change from normal scheduling that saw conference games a little later down the line.

One of those Big Ten conference games is Ohio State heading to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers. We are all excited to see how the Buckeyes look with a new quarterback taking the snaps, along with some of the new talent on both sides of the football that will be stepping into starting positions vacated by those that have graduated or moved on to the NFL.

What we want to know is what game aside from Ohio State/Minnesota are you most excited for in Week 1 of the college football season. You could also include a game from Week 0 of this season, but if you are most excited for Nebraska/Illinois or Hawai’i/UCLA over what Week 1 has to offer, then you might want to take to a therapist since there isn’t something right going on upstairs.

Today’s question: Which Week 1 game that isn’t Ohio State/Minnesota are you most excited for?


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

Brett’s Pick: #17 Indiana v. #18 Iowa


Many have Ohio State’s trip to Bloomington later in the year pegged as the toughest game of the year for the Buckeyes. The Hoosiers have a number of hurdles to clear if they want to go into that game against Ohio State undefeated. The first of these hurdles is a trip to Kinnick Stadium to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The expectations for Indiana this year were high even before the Hoosiers were ranked 17th the AP Poll, marking the first time that Indiana has been ranked in the preseason poll since 1969. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is returning from a knee injury suffered during the 2020 season. Joining Penix on offense will be wide receiver Ty Fryfogle and tight end Peyton Hendershot, while linebacker Micah McFadden and cornerback Tiawan Mullen will lead the way on defense.

We are going to find out real quick if Iowa is for real this season. Not only do the Hawkeyes host Indiana in their season opener, the next week they head to Ames to take on the Iowa State Cyclones, with their hated rival ranked inside the top-10. If the Hawkeyes can get through their first two games without losing one of those games, Kirk Ferentz’s squad has a real chance at winning the Big Ten West, as well as putting themselves in position for a spot in the College Football Playoff, since Iowa’s toughest remaining game will be traveling to Madison to take on Wisconsin.

Much like Indiana, Iowa also does have their quarterback from last season returning. Even though Spencer Petras didn’t put up big numbers last year, he should be more comfortable behind center in his second season as starter. The star on the Iowa offense this year will be running back Tyler Goodson, who ran for 762 yards and seven touchdowns in 2020.

This feels like it’s going to be a game that comes down to the wire, much like Penn State/Indiana did to open up last season. There is so much on the line in this game, so expect both teams to go all out. While I think Iowa squeaks out a close win at home, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Indiana win.

Meredith’s pick: #5 Georgia at #3 Clemson


There are a ton of week one matchups to look forward to (even outside of Ohio State’s opener at Minnesota). While the stakes get higher (because dropping a conference game in week one can doom a season), it’s exciting to kick off the season with a conference matchup, which most of the Big Ten is doing this year.

However, the matchup to watch in the early days of the 2021 season is not in the Big Ten at all, and is certainly No. 5 Georgia at No. 3 Clemson. The game is being played in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium Sept. 4.

There are lots of storylines here, the most drama-fueled one being that this game will be the first major non-conference matchup since the SEC announced its expansion with Oklahoma and Texas. All eyes will be on how the reigning ACC champ fares against one of the top teams in the SEC. I’d also have to imagine that Clemson will have some unlikely bandwagon fans for the outing, perhaps including fellow alliance members in the Big Ten and Pac-12.

Then there’s the fact this is basically a bowl game in September — a once-in-a-season top-five matchup right out of the gate. While Clemson is technically the host, the game is being held at a neutral site which is also pretty fun.

Further, we’re entering a new era of Clemson football. On the field, for the first time in what feels like forever, we’ll have a new starting quarterback for Clemson in DJ Uiagalelei (although technically Uiagalelei did start in place of Trevor Lawrence against Boston College and Notre Dame in 2020 after Lawrence tested positive for COVID-19).

The sophomore quarterback is looking to build on his success from those two games where the then-freshman excelled. In a two-OT thriller against the Irish, Uiagalelei completed 29-of-44 passes for 439 yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing score — though the Tigers couldn’t quite eke out a W over Notre Dame. He followed up that performance with a win over Boston College, connecting on 73% of his passes for two more passing and one more rushing touchdown.

The Tigers will also be looking to replace Travis Etienne, who joined Lawrence in Jacksonville. Etienne rushed for 914 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior in 2020, making him the leading rusher by more than 700 yards. Etienne also happened to be the Tigers’ third-leading receiver.

Georgia, meanwhile, returns USC transfer quarterback JT Daniels, who played just four games for the Bulldogs last year but threw for 1,231 yards, 10 touchdowns and two picks over that span. Oh, and he also led Georgia to a 4-0 record in the process (including a bowl win over No. 8 Cincinnati).

Georgia’s had its share of injuries during fall camp, but head coach Kirby Smart expects that his starting lineup will be back and ready to go for the opener.

Clemson opened as three-point favorites over Georgia, and the Tigers will certainly be looking to right the record after falling 45-21 to the Bulldogs the last time out in 2014. Overall, Georgia holds a 42-18-4 advantage over its ACC counterpart.

Coming at it from an Ohio State lens, it’ll certainly be a lot more palatable to cheer for Clemson since we just watched the Buckeyes fully throttle the Tigers in the Sugar Bowl in January.

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Tyler Smith, No. 8 basketball prospect in 2023 class, signs with Overtime Elite

Tyler Smith, the No. 8 basketball prospect in ESPN's Class of 2023, has signed with Overtime Elite, he told ESPN on Sunday.

"This is different and new," Smith said. "I wanted to be a pro already, working on stuff that NBA players work on. In high school, you can't work out as much as they do at OTE."

Smith is the seventh five-star recruit to sign with the upstart league. He is considered one of the best long-term prospects in the class, spurning scholarship offers from schools such as Kansas, Baylor, Texas, Florida State, Oklahoma, Memphis, LSU and others..
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Smith, who will turn 17 in November, is not eligible for the NBA draft until 2024 under current rules, unless he is able to graduate high school a year early and enter the 2023 draft, which he would be eligible for due to his age. He said he signed a two-year, "seven figure" contract with OTE and "will see from there." Smith said he'll be represented by agent Chris Gaston of Family First Sports.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...-8-basketball-prospect-2023-class-signs-elite