Say it ain’t so!!!

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OhioState002 said:

because they beat an unranked ND team? If they finish above 4th in the Big Ten or make it to the Sweet 16 get back to me

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I believe he is signing next week and is an early enrollee but man, I’d love to see the good guys come back into the picture on a guy like this.

Seems like the early signing period has really changed the flip game and I miss the Taylor Decker situations where you land an elite guy at a position of need almost out of nowhere.

I am super finicky about any new series and this one is fantastic. It's going to be hard for Season 2 to match Season 1.

Ominous Tweet from a former TTUN (current Wisky) commitment....

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Tony Curcillo, Woody Hayes' first starting quarterback at Ohio State, died Tuesday at the age of 89 due to complications from COVID-19, according to his family.

Curcillo played for the Buckeyes from 1950-52 and was the starting quarterback in 1951, Hayes' first season as Ohio State's head coach.

He had one of the best games ever for an Ohio State quarterback against Iowa in 1951, completing 10 of 14 passes for 292 yards and four touchdowns while also running for two touchdowns, setting a record for the most total touchdowns by an Ohio State quarterback in a game that stood until 2013, when Kenny Guiton had six touchdowns against California. (J.T. Barrett broke the record with a pair of seven-touchdown games against Bowling Green in 2016 and Nebraska in 2017, while Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields have also since tied the record.)

After sharing a backfield for his first two seasons with 1950 Heisman Trophy winner Vic Janowicz, who he also played alongside at Elyria High School, Curcillo moved to fullback for the 1952 season and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors.

Curcillo was selected in the sixth round of the 1953 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals and went on to play for the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who he helped win the 1957 Grey Cup.

R.I.P.

BuckeyeNation27 said:

Heh...a TE who commits to Tennessee and flips to Ole Miss.

HARD pass.

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Who was criticized for using Ohio State for “clout” (ie driving up the bids) by other commits in Ohio State’s class.

HotMic said:

I think you meant to post this in the 2021 Ohio State recruiting thread sir.

https://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/threads/tosu-recruiting-discussion.661632/

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Yeah.......

But still it would be interesting to compare this list to scUM's early enrollees.....

I did find an August article indicating that they may have a QB (5star), OC (4 star) and 2 WRs (3 and 4 start) enrolling early:

McCarthy, Worthy, Crippen And Anthony To Enroll Early At Michigan

Several Michigan commits have already decided to enroll early at Michigan, and a handful of other pledges are likely to join them before all is said and done.

Entire article: https://www.si.com/college/michigan...ting-mccarthy-crippen-anthony-worthy-harbaugh

Jaxbuck said:

I always jump on B1G officials so I'll add that this was the best crew I think I've seen in years. Not a single blown call or replay. Ref was clear, organized and to the point.

Give me those guys again.

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I agree with you that it was the best B1G crew I’ve seen in awhile, and that after the Indiana game it was really obvious

BUT

They still had the B1G bias against defensive linemen. The OL seems to be allowed to do whatever they want. That crew Saturday wouldn’t have flagged the guy that shot Haskell Garrett in the face (and they were still the best crew to work a Buckeye game this season by miles)

LordJeffBuck said:

1. Well, that's what Buckeye football was supposed to be in 2020 - complete domination from start to finish, as Ohio State rolled Michigan State, 52 to 12. The only break in the complete domination was a brief span of 86 seconds in the third quarter (from 6:14 to 4:48) when Sparty went on an improbable 2-play, 75-yard TD drive to cut the Buckeye lead to 35-7, then forced a Buckeye fumble two plays later. At that point, I wasn't exactly having flashbacks to the nightmare 1998 game, but it was beginning to look a lot like another Buckeye second half meltdown (a la Penn State, Rutgers, Indiana) was in progress. Fortunately, Shaun Wade made a spectacular interception on the very next play to kill any chance of Sparty respectability, and the Buckeyes closed out the scoring on a 17-5 run.

2. His numbers were okay (17/24, 70.8%, 199 yards, 2 TDs, 3 sacks), but we didn't really get Heisman Justin Fields yesterday. There were plenty of contributing factors - makeshift offensive line, numerous bad snaps, typical December weather, conservative play calling. Perhaps the biggest factor was the success of the Buckeye running game (45 carries, 345 yards, 7.7 average, 4 TDs), led by Fields himself with 13 carries for 104 yards (8.0 average) and 2 TDs.

3. Trey Sermon had clearly his best game as a Buckeye, with 10 carries for 112 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown run (his first as a Buckeye). On the play, Justin Fields was running stride for stride with Sermon, and he threw a block for him at the 5-yard line to help secure the touchdown. I love Fields's hustle, effort, and desire to help out a teammate, but to be honest, I don't want to see my starting quarterback sprinting 60 yards down the field for any reason, especially not to throw a block - too many bad things can happen and the risk is not worth the reward.

4. Chris Olave had a huge game, with 10 receptions for 139 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown. On the negative side of the ledger, Olave also had a drop and two fumbles (one lost). Garrett Wilson saw his streak of 100-yard games end at four, as he was held to 3 receptions for 59 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown.

5. True freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud took over in the fourth quarter and promptly led Ohio State on a 5-play, 76-yard drive, capped by his own 48-yard touchdown run (the first of his Buckeye career) on a perfectly executed read-option. True freshman running back Miyan Williams saw his first extended action of the season, with 5 carries for 28 yards (5.6 average).

6. Because three offensive line starters were out with COVID concerns, Harry Miller moved from left guard to center for the first time this season, and the results were, shall we say, interesting. For much of the first half, Miller's shotgun snaps seemed to be aimed in any random direction - high, low, left, right, but never directly at Justin Fields. It was frustrating seeing so many dribbles and bobbles, but in a strange way the end results were not half bad. Because the timing of so many plays was ruined from the get go, Fields was often forced to improvise, and with him being the best athlete on the gridiron, he was able to turn several broken plays into positive yardage based solely on his physical talents.

7. Backup center Luke Wypler got a chance to enter the snapping escapades and he clearly outperformed Miller on the lulz scale, as he launched a snap that went over the quarterback's head and traveled 20+ yards into the end zone for a safety. Michigan State, in typical Sparty fashion, fumbled the ensuing free kick.

8. Right guard Wyatt Davis entered the scorebook after making a reception on a deflected pass and then rumbling, bumbling, stumbling his way for a 2-yard loss.

9. The Buckeye much-maligned defense played surprisingly well, as they were active and aggressive and generally in position to make plays all game long. Pete Werner (8 tackles) is looking more and more like an NFL linebacker every game. Baron Browning made some big plays, with a forced fumble and a pass deflection. Shaun Wade had an interception and broke up another pass and didn't make any negative highlight reel plays. Tyreke Smith (3 tackles, sack) and Jerron Cage (1 tackle, .5 sack) didn't show up much on the stat sheet, but both seemed to be very disruptive. Marcus Hooker had a fumble recovery, saved a touchdown by breaking up a pass in the end zone, and didn't have any egregiously bad plays. Redshirt freshman Cormontae Hamilton, a converted tight end who still wears #83, had his first career sack.

10. Undoubtedly, the play of the day, and maybe the play of the year, was defensive tackle Haskell Garrett's interception. Facing 3rd-and-9 from their own 2-yard line, Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi dropped into the end zone. The Buckeyes got a strong rush and Garrett deflected Lombardi's pass straight up into the air. Garrett then won the succeeding jump ball and came down with the pigskin in the end zone for a 0-yard pick six.

11. Garrett's pick six (0 yards) is the shortest in Ohio State history. Previously, the shortest pick six was 13 yards by defensive lineman Mike Sullivan versus Iowa on November 12, 1988. In their history (going back to 1960, when the record books begin), Ohio State now has a total of 27 touchdowns of 0 yards, 13 by fumble recoveries, 13 on blocked punts, and Garrett's interception.

12. By the way, Haskell Garrett is having quite the senior season. In his first three years, Garrett had a total of 20 tackles and 2.5 TFLs in 33 games. In 2020, Garrett already has 12 tackles, 2 TFLs, a sack, an interception, and a touchdown in just five games.

13. Drue Chrisman had an All American day punting the ball, averaging 53.4 yards on 5 punts. Chrisman had a 35-yard punt downed at the 1-yard line (which led to Garrett's pick six); and a 74-yard punt downed at the 2-yard line (which led to a quick 3-and-out).

14. Backup place kicker Dominic DiMaccio had a pair of tackles on kick returns.

15. Ohio State dominated in all areas of the game, not just on the scoreboard. The Buckeyes doubled Sparty's offensive output, 521 to 261 yards, and 26 to 13 first downs; averaged 7.2 yards per play compared to Sparty's 4.1; converted 6 of 12 (50.0%) third downs, while holding Sparty to 3 of 17 (17.6%); and also won the time of possession battle, 32:47 to 27:13.

16. Ohio State did not have a great game when it came to penalties (7 for 63 yards), but Michigan State was downright sloppy, with 10 penalties for 101 yards (5 leading to first downs for Ohio State), including four personal foul penalties (two roughing, one late hit out of bounds, one unsportsmanlike).

17. I know that we can't get Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt every game, but did ABC/ESPN really have to give us their Z Team yesterday? As someone said, Bob Wischusen and Dan Orlovsky didn't pass the "ear test". And we didn't even get a hot sideline reporter, but some guy named Quint Kessenich (a former All American lacrosse goalie, according to his bio). The camera crew were no better, maybe worse, as they missed the action on several key plays including Garrett's historic pick six.

18. Ohio State played better than I expected, considering that several starters and key reserves, and head coach Ryan Day, were sidelined due to COVID concerns. The Buckeyes finally seemed engaged and motivated for the entire sixty minutes, perhaps because they now realize that "style points" might be an issue going forward.

19. It's _ichigan Week ... maybe.

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Perfectly summarized sir!

damn, even with the kickoff back at the 20 wazzu only gets the ball to the 25.

The 50 Best College Players Who Flopped in the NFL

No. 22: Trev Alberts, LB
College: Nebraska

Drafted: 5th overall, 1994, Indianapolis Colts

After an outstanding junior season in 1992 (All Big Eight, second-team All American) Alberts was one of the leaders of Tom Osbourne's incredible defense.

During that 1993 season, in which the Cornhuskers went undefeated during the regular season, Alberts posted 97 tackles and 15 sacks. The co-captain was named a first-team All-American and the Big Eight's Defensive MVP.

None of that mattered in the NFL. Injuries and limited production caused him to retire after three seasons, at the age of 27.

Entire article: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/596944-the-50-best-college-players-who-flopped-in-the-nfl

21 game "loosing" streak ended by a four-touchdown victory. Ouch.

Akron beats Bowling Green 31-3

Beating Michigan is the main course. The Rose Bowl was the cookie and reward for the team. Fans today can’t understand that because they believe what ESPN and their shills pontificate.They say they hate them and slurp every bit of it.

chornii said:

I'm still seeding.

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Thanks!

Go Bucks!!

bukIpower said:

View attachment 27411

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Yup

NorthCoastKid said:

Still remember this as the game where William Gholston "got the wind knocked out of him."

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Yep. Kid was face down on the ground and clearly unconscious. Looked like WWE where they pick the guys hand up 3 times to see if he's still awake.

Then he comes back in the game later and no one in the media ever said a fucking word.

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Apparently Chemistry midterms haven't changed much over the years, I never found Chemistry midterms (or finals for that matter) a "piece of cake" either. Reminds me of a story about a couple of "dorm friend" living on the 9th floor of Smith Hall too (back in 1967). I posted this a few years ago in a different thread:

ScriptOhio said:

Kind of reminds me of my sophomore year at Ohio State living on the 9th floor of Smith Hall. Two freshman (Whitey and Burley) were roommates and both were in a freshman chemistry course. Whitey was actually bragging that he got 3 times the score that Burley got on a midterm. Whitey got a 6 and Burley got a 2. The maximum possible score was 100. Anyway maybe it would be funnier if you had lived on the 9th floor of Smith Hall in 1967/68 and knew the guys. I always wondered what became of Whitey and Burley, for whatever reason they never returned to school after their freshman year. Whitey and/or Burley if you read this, drop me a PM and let me know how you are doing.

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BUCKYLE said:

B looks like pajamas

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1. Michigan State was the last of the "original" members of the Big Ten to join the conference. The Spartans joined the Big Ten in 1949 but did not play a full conference football schedule until 1953.

2. Now for a brief aside on the history of the Big Ten. The conference was formed in 1896 with seven members: Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin. Indiana and Iowa joined in 1899. Michigan withdrew from the conference in 1908, only to return in 1917. In the meantime, Ohio State joined in 1912. When Chicago permanently withdrew in 1946, Michigan State was recruited to become the new tenth member of the conference that for four decades had been informally known as The Big Ten. (The conference was originally incorporated as the Intercollegiate Conference Athletic Association, and did not officially obtain the name "Big Ten" until 1987.) Of course, subsequent expansion has seen the addition of Penn State (1993), Nebraska (2011), Maryland (2014), and Rutgers (2014).

3. Ohio State leads the series 33-15-0 (.688), with a 33-13-0 (.717) record in Big Ten play. Ohio State has outscored Michigan State 1,230 to 773, or 25.6 to 16.1 on a per game basis.

4. The teams first played on November 28, 1912, a game which Michigan State won by the score of 35 to 20. The teams would not play again until the 1951 season.

5. Michigan State has 9 Big Ten championships, the most recent being the 2015 season. After earning a national championship in 1966 (see below), the Spartans experienced an extended downturn, winning only four Big Ten titles in the next 44 years. The Spartans have been resurgent in recent years, winning a co-championship in 2010 and outright championships in 2013 and 2015.

6. Michigan State has one undisputed national championship, that being for their perfect 1952 season when the Spartans won both the AP and UP (coaches) titles. The NCAA also recognizes national championships for 1965 (coaches poll, which was awarded prior to Michigan State's loss in the Rose Bowl) and 1966 (NFF co-championship with Notre Dame). Michigan State also claims national championships for 1951 (9-0-0 record; #2 AP; #2 CP), 1955 (9-1-0 record; Rose Bowl victory; #2 AP; #2 CP), and 1957 (8-1-0; #3 AP; #3 CP). The 1957 claim is particularly laughable, as the Spartans did not even win the Big Ten title that year (Ohio State did, en route to a 9-1-0 record, a Rose Bowl victory, a coaches poll national championship, and a #2 finish in the AP poll).

7. Five times Michigan State has ruined a perfect season for Ohio State. The first time came on November 11, 1972, when #5 Ohio State (7-0-0) lost to unranked Michigan State (3-4-1) by a score of 19-12. Ohio State would rebound from the loss to win the Big Ten championship and finish the regular season at #3 in both major polls. The Buckeyes played #1 Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl in the de facto national title game and lost, 42-17.

8. The second came on November 9, 1974, when #1 Ohio State (8-0-0) lost to unranked Michigan State (4-3-1) by a score of 16-13. The game featured an 88-yard touchdown run by Michigan State tailback Levi Jackson, the 7th-longest play from scrimmage ever against Ohio State, and a controversial ending that saw the Buckeyes come up a foot short from the game-winning touchdown as time expired (replays showed that Ohio State got the play off in time and that Cornelius Greene crossed the goal line). The Buckeyes would again rebound from that loss and win the Big Ten championship and secure a berth in the Rose Bowl. In another national championship showdown with Southern Cal, the Buckeyes lost a heartbreaker, 18-17 on a last-minute touchdown and two-point conversion.

9. The third came on November 7, 1998, a date that will live in infamy. #1 Ohio State (8-0) lost to unranked Michigan State (4-4). Down 24-9 in the middle of the third quarter, Michigan State punted from its own end zone. The Spartan punter shanked the ball so badly that it hit the back of an Ohio State gunner (Nate Clements) and Michigan State recovered the muff near midfield. A quick Spartan touchdown cut the score to 24-15, but the Buckeyes still seemed to be firmly in control. In reality, the wheels were falling off one by one. The ensuing Buckeye possession lasted a grand total of two plays and 11 seconds before a fumble killed the drive; the Spartans kicked a field goal to cut the lead to 24-18. The next Ohio State drive ended with a punt followed by the go-ahead Michigan State touchdown. Then another punt, another fumble, and a turnover on downs. Even after that comedy of errors, Ohio State still had a chance to pull out a sloppy victory with a first-and-ten in the red zone, but Joe Germaine threw three straight incompletions and an interception as time expired. Michigan State had pulled off one of the greatest upsets of all time, 28-24. Ohio State recovered from the Spartan debacle by beating Iowa 45-14 and Michigan 31-16 to complete the regular reason at 10-1-0. Tennessee was the only major program to finish the regular season undefeated, and they secured one spot in the inaugural BCS Championship Game. Florida State, with a bad early loss, was selected over Ohio State, with a bad late loss, for the other spot. The Volunteers won that game to secure an undisputed national championship. Meanwhile, Ohio State beat Texas A+M in the Sugar Bowl by the score of 24-14 to finish #2 in both the AP and the coaches poll.

10. A little known fact about the 1998 contest: Michigan State had 15 tackles for loss (5th most allowed by Ohio State in one game) for 86 yards lost (most allowed by Ohio State in one game).

11. The fourth came on December 7, 2013, when #2 Ohio State (12-0) lost to #10 Michigan State (11-1) in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Spartans got off to a quick 17-0 start, but the Buckeyes scored 24 unanswered points to take a touchdown lead midway through the third quarter. Ohio State imploded soon thereafter, allowing Michigan State to score the final 17 points of the game to win 34-24. Buckeye quarterback Braxton Miller was particularly ineffective down the stretch, with 6 rushes for 18 yards (including a failure to convert a crucial fourth-and-2) and 1 completion in 7 pass attempts for 3 yards. As the winner of the Big Ten, Michigan State went to the Rose Bowl where they defeated Stanford, 24-20, to finish with a 13-1 record and #3 in both major polls. Ohio State went to the Orange Bowl where they lost to Clemson, 40-35, to finish with a 12-2 record, #12 in the AP poll, and #10 in the coaches poll.

12. The fifth Michigan State ruination of an Ohio State perfect season came in 2015, when the 9-1 Spartans defeated the 10-0 Buckeyes on a cold, windy, rainy November night in Columbus. Although Michigan State entered the game with just one loss, the Spartans had been living on the edge all season long with single-digit wins against Oregon (3 points); Purdue (3 points); Michigan (4 points); and Rutgers (7 points) on their résumé. The highlight of the Spartans' season, and the moment that pointed to Michigan State as a possible team of destiny, was the play now known as the Agony in Ann Arbor. But the undefeated Buckeyes also had their share of issues during the 2015 season, with a quarterback controversy, a tendency to play down to the competition, and generally lackluster performances not typically expected of a defending national champion having a roster loaded with future NFL stars. Michigan State played without their starting quarterback, fifth-year senior Connor Cook, but Ohio State played without any intensity, direction, or desire and the Buckeyes went down to defeat on a last-second field goal by the score of 17 to 14.

13. Michigan State almost ruined a perfect season for Ohio State in 2007. The #1 Buckeyes (7-0) jumped out to a 24-0 lead over the unranked Spartans (5-2). Then with 4:03 left in the third quarter, Michigan State's Otis Wiley picked off Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman and returned the interception 54 yards for a touchdown. Two plays later, Boeckman fumbled and Michigan State's SirDarean Adams scooped-and-scored from 25 yards out to cut the lead to 24-14. Michigan State added a fourth quarter field goal, but behind the running of Beanie Wells (31 carries, 221 yards, 7.1 average, TD) the Buckeyes were eventually able to Tresselball their way to a 24-17 victory.

14. In 1981, Ohio State beat Michigan State, 27-13. The most notable play in that game was a 63-yard field goal by the Spartans' Morten Andersen, one of the longest field goals in NCAA history and the longest ever against Ohio State.

15. In the 1997 contest, Buckeye defensive back Gary Berry scored on a 45-yard interception return and a 1-yard blocked punt return, one of the few times that a Buckeye defender has scored twice in the same game. Ohio State would go on to win by the score of 37 to 13.

16. In 2004, freshman Ted Ginn, Jr. had his coming out party against Michigan State in week nine. In his first eight games, Ginn had a total of 221 all-purpose yards (27.6 per game) and 2 touchdowns. In the Michigan State game, Ginn exploded for 169 all-purpose yards and 3 touchdowns (17-yard run, 58-yard reception, 60-yard punt return) and led the Buckeyes to a 32-19 victory.

17. In the 2005 game against Michigan State, Ashton Youboty did something that no other Ohio State player has ever done before or since (at least according to the official record book): he returned a blocked field goal attempt for a touchdown. With just seconds left in the first half, Michigan State was leading 17-7 and driving in the red zone. With no time outs and facing 3rd-and-12, the Spartans hurriedly rushed their field goal unit onto the field when they could have simply spiked the ball to stop the clock and attempt the kick on fourth down. The disorganized Spartans got the snap off in time (a bad move, as things turned out) but failed to pick up their blocking assignments. Several Buckeyes broke through the line and Nate Salley blocked the kick. Youboty scooped it up and raced 72 yards, scoring with no time left on the clock. Instead of leading 20-7, the Spartans were now up by only three points heading into the locker room, and that inspired an epic meltdown from Michigan State head coach John L. Smith: "The kids are playing their tails off, and the coaches are screwing it up!" Riding the momentum from the blocked field goal, Ohio State owned the second half and won the game 35-24. Just another example of Sparty being Sparty.

18. In that 2005 contest, Ohio State had a team-record 12 quarterback sacks, including four from linebacker Bobby Carpenter and three from defensive tackle David Patterson.

19. In the 2008 game, Ohio State won 45-7. The Buckeye offense gained only 332 yards, but the defense forced five turnovers (3 fumbles, 2 interceptions) including a pair of scoop sixes from Thaddeus Gibson (69 yards) and Jermale Hines (48 yards). It was (and remains) only the second time in Ohio State history that the team had two fumble recoveries for touchdowns in the same game (the other being against Fresno State in 2000). Gibson's return is the 3rd-longest in Ohio State history, while Hines's is the 7th-longest.

20. Speaking of long fumble recoveries, Michael Doss had the 2nd-longest scoop-and-score in Buckeye history with a 73-yard return against Michigan State in 2000.

21. Michigan State has never shut out Ohio State, but they came very close in 2011. The Spartans were leading the game 10-0 with ten seconds left in the fourth quarter when Buckeye quarterback Joe Bauserman hit Evan Spencer for a 33-yard touchdown pass to prevent the whitewashing. For the game, Michigan State's defense held the Buckeyes to 178 yards of total offense and recorded nine quarterback sacks, the most ever allowed by Ohio State.

22. In 2014, #14 Ohio State (7-1) faced off against #8 Michigan State (7-1) in a battle for supremacy in the Big Ten. With 4:37 left in the second quarter, the Spartans took a 21-14 lead and once again had the ball thanks to a fumbled kick-off by Ohio State's Dontre Wilson. The Spartans appeared to score on an 11-yard run from Jeremy Langford, but a holding call wiped the touchdown off the board. The Buckeye defense then stiffened and held the Spartans to a 39-yard field goal attempt, which was wide left. Ohio State took over at their own 21-yard line and on the very next play J.T. Barrett hit Michael Thomas for a 79-yard touchdown pass, which is tied for 9th-longest pass in Ohio State history. The Buckeyes never relinquished momentum and would go on to win by the score of 49-37, racking up 568 yards against one of the best defenses in the country.

23. Ohio State had another 79-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State in the 1987 contest. On the very first play from scrimmage, Buckeye quarterback Tom Tupa threw a 79-yard pass to Everett Ross to take a 7-0 lead just fifteen seconds into the game. However, the Buckeyes had only 68 total yards on their remaining 48 plays (1.42 yards per play) and ended up losing the game 13-7. The Spartans defense was led by Travis Davis, who had five sacks for 37 yards lost. Michigan State would finish the 1987 season with a record of 9-2-1, an outright Big Ten championship, a Rose Bowl victory against Southern Cal, and a #8 finish in both major polls. Ohio State would lose its next two games (26-24 to Wisconsin; 29-27 to Iowa); fire head coach Earle Bruce; rally to beat Michigan 23-20; and finish the season 6-4-1, unranked, with no bowl game.

24. Since the loss in 2015, Ohio State has beaten Michigan State four times in a row by a combined score of 115 to 35. #4 Ohio State (4-0) enters the 2020 contest as a 23.5-point favorite over unranked Michigan State (2-3), with an over/under of 59.5 points.

Buckeye Football Looking Ahead by Mike Scharf
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

Last Week

After nearly a consistent recording of a 0% positivity rate since August, chaos entered the Buckeye program as their game against Illinois was canceled when additional positive COVID-19 tests were discovered after a round of testing took place Friday afternoon. Head coach Ryan Day was amongst those positive. Ohio State did not disclose the identities of the others who tested positive for privacy reasons.

The Big Ten requires all programs to suspend organized football activities including practices and games for a minimum of seven days if both their positivity rate exceeds 5% and their population positivity rate surpasses 7.5%. The Buckeyes positivity rate crossed the 7.5% threshold, but had not gone above the 5% test positivity rate.

With the Buckeyes not going above the 5% threshold, Athletic director Gene Smith and head team physician Dr. Jim Borchers believed the best decision for the program going forward was to cancel, slowing down the spread of the virus.

Going Forward

Good news came as the Buckeyes resumed small group workouts on Monday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center according to a Ohio State spokesman — Team meetings will maintain being held virtually.

The noon ABC kickoff against Michigan State this weekend is up in the air as we still don’t know the exact number of positive cases the program is dealing with, but this is an enormous step in the right direction going forward.




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Has the ship sailed for Ohio State to land a five-star offensive tackle?
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Tristan Leigh

The Buckeyes look to be out of the running for the top offensive tackle prospect left on the board.

In a season that feels nothing short of a roller coaster ride, it looks as if the Buckeyes will be back on the field in just over 24 hours — knock on wood. After last week’s unfortunate cancellation against Illinois, seeing Ohio State back in action against Michigan State is exactly what we all need. Without going into all of the details Buckeye Nation already knows, OSU could use all of the good fortune possible to still make the Big Ten Championship game and beyond, but tomorrow’s game will surely help in that regard.

One thing that has never taken a hiatus for Ohio State is its efforts in recruiting. With news popping up near daily, the Buckeyes are making incredible headway in their 2022 class as they also look to close up their 2021 class with only a few remaining spots. This weekend may have an ultimate affect on the 2021 class, as top targets plan to visit elsewhere. Though the team and staff will be on the road, recruiting never stops whether it’s on or off campus.

Consider this one all but over


On Sunday, five-star offensive tackle Tristan Leigh announced he would be committing to the school of his choice this coming Jan. 2. Down really to three schools of consideration between Ohio State, Oklahoma, and LSU, Leigh has long been a prospect that the Buckeyes have been recruiting and doing so with relentless effort. With offensive tackle being a position of serious need, Ohio State would love nothing more than to add the fourth-ranked tackle and the 11th-best player nationally to their already incredible 2021 class.

Unfortunately, over the last couple of months, Ohio State has lost a bunch of their momentum with Leigh. Yesterday seemed to be the final nail in the coffin in regards to their chances at landing the top target when he announced that he would be visiting Oklahoma yet again this coming weekend. Though he will not be able to speak with the Oklahoma staff due to the in-person recruiting restrictions, it is still another trip to Norman that shows where Leigh’s heart and mind are in terms of the leader for his pledge.


It’s been reported basically weekly that Ohio State is still in the race, but when you see multiple trips to Oklahoma coming to fruition, on top of the Buckeyes’ 2021 commits unable to get Leigh up to visit for their Buckeye Bash this past October due to a family issue, it really does seem like this recruitment has sailed away in favor of Oklahoma. With Ohio State being closer to Tristan’s home than Oklahoma, this should be pretty telling.

Sure, in recruiting anything can happen with a month still to go before he announces his final call, but the Sooners really do seem to have all of the positive energy here. Worth noting, another huge Ohio State target — five-star WR Emeka Egbuka — will also be in Norman this weekend for what will likely be the Washington native’s final visit before making his ultimate decision.

Quick Hits

• Per Bill Kurelic, current Ohio State five-star quarterback commit, Quinn Ewers has already been at work recruiting for the Buckeyes in the 2022 class. One target he has been in communication with is Kiyaunta Goodwin, a four-star offensive tackle who was mentioned in yesterday’s State Secrets. Ewers more than anyone would love Goodwin in the class to help protect the edge for him during his college career, and it looks to already be well in the works.
• Ohio State’s other commits continue to put in work on the trail as well. It has been no secret that the Buckeyes have been high on four-star RB Dallan Hayden, and the current pledges in the 2022 class are doing their due diligence to help try and sway the Tennessee legacy to Columbus. According to Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts, Ohio State is a major player for Hayden, alongside Notre Dame and obviously the Vols.

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Buckeye Bits: So it looks like we’re gonna have a football game this weekend after all
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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As I said on the Tweeter Machine, when Ohio State canceled their game against Illinois, I just assumed that they would follow the pattern that every other Big Ten team that had canceled games had followed; canceling one game = canceling two games.

However, because Gene Smith and Ryan Day took a proactive approach when the team saw a spike in positive tests, they very well may have saved their B1G title hopes, which could be an important factor to saving their College Football Playoff hopes.

Anyway, judging by the hype video that they released today, it sure looks like they are planning to play against Michigan State on Saturday.

From around LGHL...

From Ryan Day’s Radio Show...


As he normally does on Thursdays, Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day took to the airwaves to discuss where his team was and how things will presumably work this weekend as they prepare to travel to East Lansing to take on Sparty... well, Day’s not traveling anywhere, since he is still in isolation following his own positive COVID test.

Day said that he has been frustrated to not be able to be with his team, and that the cancelation of the Illinois game was just another disappointment in a year full of them for the players. The coach notes that Saturday’s game will likely be one of the most difficult three hour periods of his life. But, he will not be texting in play ideas or calling Kevin Wilson on his cell phone to tell him when to #FreeDemario.


Though everything looks good for the Buckeyes — shorthanded though they might be — to make the trip to the state up north on Friday night, they will have one more hurdle to clear first as they will do another round of testing before they depart at 9 p.m. ET by charter plane.

Day said, however, that the team have exemplified incredible leadership despite all of the unfortunate starts and stops, “I don’t think they’re getting nearly enough credit for doing that,” he said.

In discussing his team’s next opponent, he noted that they were a team that was getting stronger as evidenced by their win over B1G West leading Northwestern. As always, MSU has technically solid defenders and now that they have adapted to Mel Tucker’s new system, they are going to be dangerous.

When you couple that with the fact that the Buckeyes will be short-handed, Day said, “If we don’t play really, really well and take care of the ball, we’ll be in a dog fight into the fourth quarter.”

Ohio State will not release an availability report until Saturday morning ahead of the game, meaning that we won’t be able to deduce what players tested positive until right before kickoff. OSU has been very coy about providing any substantive information on that front this week, even in social media images, but offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson — who will assume play-calling in Day’s absence — said that he will move down to field level from the coaches box for this game so that he can look into “Justin’s eyes” during the game. So, whether he meant to or not, it looks like Wilson confirmed what was widely rumored, that Justin Fields is healthy and ready to go on Saturday.

While there have been a number of players who have tested positive and exhibited symptoms, fortunately thus far, none have required significant medical attention.


Also, for the second season in a row, the Buckeyes will be wearing alternate jerseys against Sparty, as they will wear their all-white road unis, after not being able to agains tIllinois last week.

From elsewhere on the gridiron...


Johnson embracing role as OSU’s acting head coach for MSU game

Steve Helwagen, 247Sports

Status Check: Justin Fields = still good.


I think it is interesting that because of a “bad” game against Indiana, and then an extra week off following, people seem to be sleeping on Justin Fields. Can he still win the Heisman? Probably not. Can he still be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft? Maybe. But one question that no one should be asking is whether or not he is actually an absolute stud at quarterback.

A fourth Buckeye will end his college career in the Senior Bowl.


Browning has probably maximized his draft potential so far this year, so this seems like a good more for him and his future. Good luck to you, Baron.

“Play the semifinals at the higher seed’s home stadium” Challenge! Pass it on!


Here is the father of a current Ohio State player (and not coincidentally the Executive Vice President of the NFL) announcing that four former Buckeyes (Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Cameron Heyward, and Terry McLaurin) had been selected as their team’s nominees for the NFL’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award this season.

From around the sporting world...


Something called the Knight Commission which has literally zero power made some recommendations today. Let our good friend Matt Brown explain what they suggested:


The OSU women’s hockey team does not have enough players to field a team currently, so next weekend’s series has been postponed.


Well, this is a swift kick in the chestnuts roasting on an open fire. You know what would help me feel better? An incredibly weird college football message board conspiracy theory.


Oh look what we have here!

And now for something completely different...


How you watch movies is going to change next year.


A lot of people believe that this is going to be the death knell for movie theaters; I don’t agree with that. There will always be blockbusters that call out for the big screen, communal experience. Theaters will also need to adapt. They will either need to become super fancy and offer a high-quality experience (as many theaters already have begun doing), or they will need to make it cheaper and even more family friendly.

I have full confidence that there is room for both types of approaches in the entertainment space, but, today’s announcement certainly puts pressure on theaters, and gives consumers more affordable options.


After some unexpected start and stops, I am back to posting a column every single day from preseason camp until whenever Ohio State’s football season ends. Some days they will be longer and in depth, some days they will be short and sweet. Let me know what you think of this one, and what you’d like to see me discuss in the comments or on Twitter. Go Bucks!

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