Hello there

Frohlich said:

I have seen Evan play four times as my kids school (Indian Hill) played them four times in the last two years. Once in the regular season and once in the playoffs each year. Both years we lost one of the two games handily but twice we really gave them a run for their money. Especially last year when they won state and we actually were winning in the fourth quarter of our the playoff game before they scored late and won. He is a gifted athlete though this is a pretty small league and competition is limited. He was definitely the best athlete on the field. All that being said, he is not a natural passer from what I saw. Or at the very least is not asked to pass that much. Wyoming seems to be about 75% run oriented running a lot of option type of runs with him keeping the ball and running the majority of the time. I wonder how UC will use him...QB...or athlete.

Click to expand...

UC has failed to really develop QBs,so I’d say a little bit of both. Though Evan is probably the best athlete he has recruited at QB

I see you NDSU

The Maryland Terrapins VS The Ohio State Buckeyes
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

Friday morning could have been better, but we are a day away until game time! What seems like to be a constant thing when considering Ohio State, there is always something that comes up to snuff out the momentum and it is usually is accompanied by something negative and whats are the words I am searching for… a conspiracy-laden narrative that will at least attempt to bring them back down to Earth. It what seems to be another strategically timed “article” where it was reported that Chase Young accepted money and that he is suspended for this contest as a minimum pending investigation from the Ohio State Compliance Office. Yay and boo, but all we have to do is wait for the process to wind down and just hope they get it right this time. Whatever happens, does so and I will not waste my breath with the situation.

This game is all about continuing the momentum into the last half of the season and against a once-promising Maryland squad will be the obstacle for the Buckeyes this week. Their opponent was leading the nation in scoring through the first two weeks of the season, but they have faded into obscurity and have limped forward to a 3-6 record through this point of the season. With the Buckeyes being without their defensive stalwart, Chase Young, the Buckeyes will look toward this contest without him, but they have the depth to survive without him. This defense has been stellar with him and without him–I think they’ll be fine, but we will have to see for now.


Buckeyes swarming defense.
Young Bucks Golden Opportunity


As we stated before, Chase Young is out and it will be up to a few younger players to step up and earn their keep for the foreseeable future until Young gets back from his recent suspension. With the Next man up mantra enter Zach Harrison and Tyreke Smith to fill the void for the time being. As we have seen after the game has been put away, the aforementioned two along with Javonte Jean-Baptiste and Tyler Friday have been key members among the Rushmen and they can get some playing time and be disruptive. Defensive Captain Jonathan Cooper will lead this group and he has Davon Hamilton and BB Landers will also help along with their reserves Tommy Togiai and Garrett Haskel too. These younger players have the benefit of learning behind such a talented group of upperclassmen and a great group of leaders on the defensive side of the ball. It is an opportunity to see what the future will look like, but I have a feeling it’ll be good. The once fast offense will have a hard time blocking so many talented players, but I know they’ll be ready for the challenge.


Malik Harrison breaking through.
Defensive Effort


Malik Harrison will have to provide the same spark that Darron Lee created during his breakout season at Ohio State. The Linebackers have willed recent teams to success and he needs to be more of a dog from here on out. He needs to blitz, cover and be disruptive enough while directing his forces to fill the void against a once lethal and fast Terps offense. Communication will be key with the defensive linemen and the defensive back, and my gut tells me they’ll be ready to silence the critics without their star players. The Wisconsin game proved what the team could be with Young and this game will prove that they’ll be fine without them for however long it’ll be or take for the investigation to be over. Best case scenario, he’s out for a single game. Worst case, it’ll be two with Rutgers on the schedule, but I think the compliance department will mess it up again. I am a pessimist, but I can see it going south, but the defense will continue to shine during his absence. The last contest between the two ended in a double-overtime contest where the Buckeyes nearly took the L with an errant throw on a two-point, game-clinching pass to a wide-open receiver that sailed out of reach. The Buckeyes will look to redeem themselves and further prove that they are legit, even without Young.


Fields dodging a would-be tackler.
Field Of Dreams


Justin Fields has been on a tear lately, but after last week’s destruction of Wisconsin, he gave the team and their fans a scare when he came up hobbled after scoring a rushing touchdown. Luckily it wasn’t serious, but Fields is definitely capable of leading the charge on the offensive side of the ball. With another great group of wide receivers and the recent inclusion of their tight ends, they can put the game out of reach and give the defense some juice in the process. In another great year for a quarterback, Fields brings a lot for this offense and he leads them in a calmly and with his play. He will be ready for this contest to show his value to this offense. This is another noon game, but the Buckeyes will pour it on Maryland and former player Keiondre Jones. Welcome back to the Shoe, but buckle up.


Dobbins rumbling through the Spartan defense.
Boom Boom Room


Ohio State has had quite a few playmakers at running back and the “boom, boom room” is always capable of causing fireworks during the perfect time on gamedays. This week is no different and this porous defense is no exception. This defense is bad and without a consistent defense, they will most likely get tore up against this stable of backs that features a young muscle hamster, J.K. Dobbins, a young beast mode clone, Master Teague and mystery man, Marcus Crowley, who gets carries late but has flashed brilliance in limited action. They also have a speedy back Demario McCall, who is also used sparingly but he could be used as a weapon. There is a lot and there is also Jaelin Gill, who is the backup H-Back, who might be used, but I think is en-route to a redshirt. This room is stacked and with the recent misses in the running back position, the future is still bright despite the lack of a 2020 recruit.

Match-Ups To Watch

• Fields vs Maryland Secondary
• Buckeyes Linebackers vs Terrapin Playmakers
• Buckeyes Backs vs Maryland Defense

Prediction

The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Maryland Terrapins 45-6.




Continue reading...

Ohio State WBB Podcast #StringTing Comes to MOTSAG
Chris 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

@wvabuckeye and @Charles_BBC are bringing one of the better podcasts to the (Wo)Men of the Scarlet and Gray this winter and bringing some back up @ohiostatescott to talk Ohio State Women’s basketball each week. @ShannonCFB returns as the wrangler of the cattle so to speak.

Looking forward to kicking the season off with a preview featuring the head coach Kevin McGuff. Premier date coming soon!


@StringTingOSUWB




Continue reading...

Ohio State WBB: Buckeyes Clobber First In-State Foe(Exhibition) Urbana
Chris 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

The Buckeyes will face four in-state teams in the early goings of the season which should prove to be some pretty good basketball down the road against UC, Ohio and kent State. Urbana came to Value City Arena on Sunday so that Kevin McGuffs women could try out their top 5 recruiting classes frosh to see how things will mesh.

The early results are in and those frosh combined for 90 of the 131 points scored in the affair. Jacy Sheldon and Kierstan Bell led the team with 25 points apiece while Kaelynn Satterfield added 22 points.

Aaliyah Patty had the lone double-double in the game with 10 points and 10 rebounds and soph Dorka Juhasz scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Janai Crooms chipped-in with 14 points and eight assists.

The Buckeyes will open the regular season next Sunday vs. Valparaiso, This will be just the second meeting all time between. The game will tip at 2 p.m. and will be played at Wittenberg University in Springfield as a part of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame Classic.





Continue reading...

Rumble In The ‘Bus: Badgers vs. Buckeyes
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



We are midway through the 2019 season, this game was circled in red from the beginning it will still be a good old slobber knocker of a contest. Although the game has lost the interest of the nation after Wisconsin went down in Champagne, this game will still generate the hype and the fireworks to make it another instant classic between two powers of the Big Ten. An undefeated Buckeye squad against an angry or wounded Badger team, but if someone said that it has lost its luster, they have it all wrong. Every occurrence has been close ever since the inaugural College Football Playoffs run, but this has all the inner makings of another classic clash between two conference powerhouses. Will we see a reeling Wisconsin team still at a loss for the after falling from the undefeated ranks or will they be a grounded, angry team vying for an upset? This is the line in the sand and if the Buckeyes are looking for a CFB Playoff berth, they need to play disciplined to come out of this clash still undefeated.


J.K. Dobbins bursting through the Cincinnati for the score
Ground Wars: J.K. Dobbins


This will be a battle of will in the trenches and Dobbins is one of the warriors on this team that has to show up. He has to be effective and he has to punish the Badger defenders in such poor conditions with the weather potentially being a factor. Dobbins has been on a tear as of late and he has to shine early and often against this stingy Badger defense that surrenders just 2.3 yards per rush. So far, Dobbins has 134 carries for 947 yards and 7 TDs. He also chipped in 8 grabs for 55 yards and 2 TDs, but this game should be a battle for ground supremacy. The Buckeyes have been balanced and it will be a key part of the gameplan. They can’t afford to play scared and it will be up to Fields along with Dobbins to bring the team to victory.


Jonathan Taylor turning on the jets for a score
Ground Wars: Jonathan Taylor


Jonathan Taylor is the other side of the ground war and he has been quite the player for the Badgers. They have relied on him to produce and he racked up 157 carries for 15 scores and he chipped in 11 catches for 73 yards and a score. He accounts for the majority of offense and the Buckeyes have to play the gaps while being mindful of the play-action pass to stop Taylor and the Badgers. Coan and Taylor play well together, but they will look to run first to pound the Buckeyes into submission. They both got beat up pretty bad against a lowly Illini team, but they will look to expose the back seven in this matchup. With Arnette dealing with a broken bone on his hand and with Borland in tow, they could look to soften up the zone with a mix of run and pass, and a steady dose of it. Like the Badger defense, the Buckeyes are also stingy on the ground averaging 2.6 yards per rush–which is literally .3 more than Wisconsin’s average. This game could turn out to be another Big Ten signature game with both if not a single team pounding the rock relentlessly.


Justin Fields weaving through the trenches
Soaked Fields Day


Justin Fields has also been on a tear and he has been one of the stars of this offensive attack. A humble leader with no ego has launched the Buckeyes into another stratosphere and with the impending weather, the Buckeyes could face a huge test with a stiff defense. He will look to flash his arm when necessary, but he will play a factor on the ground. He has 1,492 yards and 22 TDs through the air and 63 carries for 291 yards and 8 more TDs and he has done it with just two turnovers. One interception and one lost fumble are all that have blemished his stellar play and with the weather concerns, it looks to be a conservative approach to secure a win. Either way, I think he will find a way to spark this offense even though if it continues to take the ball out of his hands via Dobbins and Teague to soften up and tire the Wisconsin defense. He hasn’t faced a defense like this, but he will approach it like any other game, but if he wanted to make a statement, he would need to show the nation that they are real and that they are a force to be reckoned with this year. This might be his shot to impress and make a statement.


Young Guns


Chase Young and his team have been stingy and he will look to battle this stout Badger line. The big uglies versus the Rushmen and the Linebackers will be the focus and it will be electric with the weather. The advantage is being the home team, but against Wisconsin, it might get rough. They rank 3rd in the nation in sacks per game with 4.14 and 29 total for the year. It’ll be tough against a team that ranks tied for 30th in the nation with 1.43 sacks allowed per game, but they’ll be game to see where they stand. They need to play disciplined and with Taylor, they need to shut him down and force Coan to beat them through the air in order to have their way this game.


Pesky Badgers Defense


On the other side, the Badgers have also been stingy and they rank in the Top 10 in defense this season. Besides the upset loss in Champagne, they have been playing lights out and they have been disruptive and they force takeaways. They need to do both of these to see if Fields will fight or if he will crumble under pressure. The Ohio State line has surrenders 2 sacks per game that puts them tied for 64th in the nation which could be a problem, but we will have to see how much the weather plays a factor. If it pours, running will be the primary weapon, but if not, they need to stop an explosive and shift Fields and his receivers. This may be a cliche, but this game feels like an old-school Big Ten type of game.

Match-Ups To Watch:

• Quarterbacks versus Opposing Defenses
• Running Backs versus The Trenches
• Offensive Lines versus Defensive Lines
• Buckeye DB’s versus Badger WR’s
• Wisconsin WR’s versus Buckeye DB’s

Prediction:


The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat The Wisconsin Badgers 38-21.





Continue reading...

The Ohio State Buckeyes @ The Northwestern Wildcats
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


Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0, Big 10 3-0) vs Northwestern Wildcats (1-4, Big 10 0-3)


The success was evitable for Ohio State under Coach Day and the rebuilt offense along with his new players have meshed well and had consistently beat up on every opponent up until this point. With a new quarterback, new batch of receivers and a semi-new offensive line, many questioned if they can succeed under new management. So far so good for the Buckeyes.

After the conference title game, the hangover with the Wildcats has been evident and after Thorson departed for the NFL, their offense has been less explosive and their defense has been average at best. With just a single win, the Wildcats have pulled out all the stops to ensure this is a close, hard-fought game in a night game and with an alternate uniform to spice things up a bit. It is awesome, but they need to come out swinging to derail this Buckeye train.


Justin Fields shedding defender.

Another Field-s Day?

Justin Fields has been as good as advertised, but he still has untapped potential when he is dialed in. In the passing game, he has 1,298 passing yards and 18 TDs for the year. He has completed 70% of his passes and he has a 94 QBR through six games. He also chipped in 57 rushes for a respectable 283 yards with 8 TDs. He has been shouldering the offensive load when called to do so, but he has that game-breaking knack to swing the momentum at a moment’s notice which should and will concern Coach Fitz and his team. Can they find a way to disrupt the offense and stop the offensive attack? Or will they fight until he puts the game away early?


J.K. Dobbins in the 2018 Big Ten Championship Game.

Ground Game Dominance

Like Fields, Dobbins has also been on a tear on the ground and he has yet to play meaningful snaps in the second half of a game this year, and it doesn’t look like it’ll change with this porous Northwestern defense. With 116 rushes, he has amassed 826 yards on the ground and 6 TDs and he added 6 catches for 44 yards and a score. The Wildcat defense needs to play better than they have been in order to stop Dobbins and his stablemates in the backfield. As stated above, Dobbins hasn’t played in a close game in the second half, but if they show some fight, he may get a shot to pad his stats and grind the defense into the ground.


Big Ten Championship Game.

Trench Warfare 2.0

The Buckeye offensive line has been more consistent in recent years and with this installment, they will be looking to find a way to stop Joe Gaziano. Gaziano, along with the Northwestern defense made it a game and kept it close, but with this season’s offensive line, he’ll need to be more relentless to disrupt this group who found their swagger as a unit. They have been burying teams in the trenches and this game could be another blowout if they can get things going early and often. This defense really needs to work on their gameplan, but they have to pick their poison.


Northwestern Wildcats QB Hunter Johnson.

Fallen Five-Star

The former five-star Quarterback Hunter Johnson transferred to Northwestern after the departure of Clayton Thorston and the transition hasn’t been as smooth as another fellow five-star signal-caller, Justin Fields. Justin Fields has been on a tear and is having a breakthrough season. Johnson has had the opposite and his offense has been struggling. They haven’t been as crisp and as good as before, but all players, regardless of high school rankings are different in their growth within their offense and in the way they develop. He is still rough around the edges, but the potential is certainly there and it hasn’t clicked yet.



The Great Defensive Chase

Chase Young has been keying in on the hapless offensive players on opposing teams and this game, he should be feasting on Hunter Johnson and the running backs. Young has accounted for 8 of the 28 and the Northwestern line has surrendered 12 total sacks and they have been giving up 2.40 per game. This number could be higher with the caliber of Rushmen available with Young leading the way. Not to mention the Linebackers, they will also be another tough matchup for this offensive line. The defense has been stout and they are one of the best in the nation. It will be a tough sell, but we will have to see if they can stop Young and company.

Key Matchups To Watch

• Fields versus Johnson In The Battle of Former Five-Stars
• The Trenches For Both Teams
• BIA versus Northwestern Receivers
• Linebackers versus Receivers In The Seams
• Special Teams and Field Position

Prediction:

The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat The Northwestern Wildcats 45-13.





Continue reading...

Ohio State wide receiver commit earns fifth star in new Rivals rankings
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Rivals.com
The Buckeyes have four top-50 wideouts in the 2020 class

This weekend’s conference championship games will be the last college football action for a few weeks, but that does not mean your favorite program is just hanging out for a month. The break between the conference title games and the first playoff and bowl games may provide some stress relief for fans, but for coaches across the country it gives some additional free time for recruiting.

With the Early Signing Period rapidly approaching, December will feature a huge focus on recruiting for many of the nationwide programs fighting for some of the top talent in the upcoming class. We are also at the point of the year when recruiting rankings are at their most fluid, as the player ratings are constantly changing among the different talent evaluating sites.

Rivals.com has a bunch of updates coming this week, having just released its top 100 prospect rankings on Tuesday. The updated list saw a bunch of movement among the nation’s top recruits, and Ohio State was a big beneficiary of many updated player evaluations.

2020 wide receiver earns a fifth star


One of the biggest stories from the ranking shuffle is the addition of a fifth star for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba has flirted with being a five-star wideout for quite some time now, and his historic senior season has finally given him the boost needed to enter elite company. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound WR comes in at No. 32 in the Rivals100, and is the No. 4 receiver on the list.

Smith-Njigba was one of eight players to receive a fifth star in the penultimate rankings update. Here is what Mid-South recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman had to say of the future Buckeye:

Nine Ohio State commits in the Top 100


The new Rivals100 was not just kind to Smith-Njigba, as the Buckeyes have verbal commitments from nine different players on the list of some of the nation’s most talented prospects. Here is where the OSU commits landed:

• Julian Fleming, WR: No. 6
• Paris Johnson Jr, OT: No. 7
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR: No. 32
• Gee Scott, WR: No. 36
• Mookie Cooper, WR: No. 50
• Darrion Henry, SDE: No. 61
• Clark Phillips, CB: No. 63
• Lathan Ransom, S: No. 81
• Kourt Williams, OLB: No. 87

Incredibly, Ohio State currently holds commitments from four top-50 recruits at the wide receiver position in the 2020 class, as Justin Fields will have no shortage of options to pass it off to next season. Fleming in OSU’s top-rated player in the Rivals100, and is the No. 1 WR. The biggest boosts to overall ranking were Smith-Njigba, who jumped a whopping 46 spots, and Williams, who quietly got bumped up 12 spots.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State is always looking to snag the next great defensive line recruit in its seemingly never-ending pipeline of elite NFL talent at the position. It isn't a bad idea to showcase Chase Young as what you could become if you play on the Buckeye defensive line, and they are certainly using him as a bargaining chip in their pursuit of Korey Foreman.

Ohio State would be elated to add Foreman to the Rushmen, as he is currently the No. 1 recruit in the 2021 class according to 247sports composite. The 6-foot-4, 245 pound defensive end from California is currently projected to wind up at USC, but the Buckeyes could definitely put together a convincing pitch given its recent stretch of phenomenal success at producing NFL defensive lineman.

Continue reading...

Ohio State remains at No. 1 in College Football Playoff Rankings
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 Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
The Buckeyes are looking at the top seed in the playoff with a win this weekend

Not much has changed in the latest edition of this season’s College Football Playoff Rankings, as the Ohio State Buckeyes stayed put at No. 1 following a dominant 56-27 victory in Ann Arbor over the rival Michigan Wolverines. LSU remained right behind OSU at No. 2, followed by Clemson and Georgia at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively — the same top four as a week ago.

The committee did not come out with anything unexpected this week. Ohio State’s upcoming opponent Wisconsin jumped up to No. 8 with a blowout road win over Minnesota this past weekend, and Alabama fell down to No. 12 following a 48-45 shootout loss against Auburn (now No. 11) in the Iron Bowl. On the outside looking in, you have Utah at No. 5 and Oklahoma at No. 6 — the two most pertinent teams fighting for the final playoff spot alongside the Bulldogs.

Other Big Ten teams in the CFP rankings include Penn State at No. 10, followed by No. 14 Michigan, No. 16 Iowa, and No. 18 Minnesota. Cincinnati remained a ranked victory for Ohio State’s resume as of right now, sitting at No. 20 heading into its conference championship game.

Check out the complete College Football Playoff Rankings:


Should Ohio State defeat a now top-10 Wisconsin squad in the Big Ten Championship Game, it would be shocking to see the Buckeyes enter the CFP at anything other than the No. 1 seed. The only possible scenario in which OSU would maybe be unseeded from the top spot would take a sloppy, close win against the Badgers with an absolutely lopsided LSU victory over Georgia. Obviously, a loss in the B1G title game would also drop the Bucks, but almost definitely not out of the playoff entirely.

Win or lose, it seems as though Ohio State, LSU and Clemson have all done enough to punch their tickets into the four-team postseason bracket. It will be interesting to keep an eye on how the rest of the conference championship games go as the fight for the No. 4 spot is still very much alive. Georgia would certainly be in with a victory in the SEC Championship Game, but should the Tigers remain unbeaten it will likely come down to a battle between the Big 12 and Pac-12 champs.

Continue reading...

Ohio State dominates Big Ten awards
Patrick Yen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Including Coach of the Year for Ryan Day, and multiple defensive selections


Is this shocking? It shouldn’t be to anyone who has been watching Ohio State football this year. The Buckeyes aren’t just good, they are incredible. It is a well deserved honor, and a lot of times deserving coaches can fall through the cracks. After all, despite winning a couple of National Championships in this time frame, an OSU head coach has not won the Dave McClain Coach of the Year since Earle Bruce in 1979.

Not Jim Tressel, not Urban Meyer. It is Ryan Day whose the first OSU coach to break that 40-year streak. Can anyone argue? While this roster was loaded with talent when Day got here, there were so many question marks to start the season. Can Day keep up his offensive wizardry from the head coach spot instead of offensive coordinator? Who’s going to play quarterback for this team? Can the defense turn around a dismal performance from a year ago?

The answers to those questions were resoundingly answered in the positive. This offense is unstoppable through the air and on the ground. Fields is a Heisman candidate, and the defense is the best in the nation. This is a historic Buckeye team, and it all starts with the head coach. Throw in an incredible recruiting class in his first year on the job, and this award would be a sham if Day didn’t get it.

But Day wasn’t the only one to snag some accolades today. Chase Young brought home the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, along with the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year. Young is the ninth Ohio State player to win it in the last 18 years. Talk about domination.

Four Buckeyes landed on the coaches All-B1G Defensive first team: Chase Young, Malik Harrison, Jordan Fuller and Jeff Okudah — with Damon Arnette, Davon Hamilton and Shaun Wade landing on the second and third teams. The only difference in the media poll was Harrison getting moved to the second team.

And that was just defense. I’d expect an even better result on the offensive side tomorrow, so be sure to tune in here and the Big Ten Network to see OSU sweep some more awards.


The Ohio State HeisMEN. That’s a good sounding sentence. Buckeyes currently make up four of the top five spots in the Heisman race, including one OSU grad. While it may be kind of cheesy to claim Joe Burrows as one of our own, it doesn’t diminish that even without him OSU has three of five. This is a historic team, on both sides of the ball, and every single statistic will tell you that.

Just look at that graphic. J.K. Dobbins has been a beast on the ground, and he doesn’t just do it against the scrubs. In fact, he plays less snaps against the lesser teams than the best of the best in the Big Ten. In his games against ranked teams he has 172 yards and one TD (Michigan State, No. 25 at the time), 163 yards and two TDs (Wisconsin, No. 13 at the time), 157 yards and two TDs (Penn State, No. 8 at the time) and finally his magnum opus, a 211-yard, four-TD day against Michigan, who were ranked No. 13 at the time. That’s just absurd.

Dobbins is currently fourth in the nation with 1,657 yards. He also has 29 less carries than Wisconins’ Jonathan Taylor, 59 less than Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard and 68 less than Boston College’s AJ Dillon — the three players above him. Oh and by the way, he’s fifth in rushing touchdowns. He’s got the raw numbers, and the ridiculous efficiency. What more could you want?

And then there’s the quarterback, Justin Fields. He’s third in passing touchdowns, No. 12 in completion percentage and No. 51 in passing yards. That doesn’t sound all that impressive. However, he’s thrown only one interception. Need I say more about the passing ability? And If you add in the threat he poses on the ground, he ties Burrow in total touchdowns with 47.

Finally, we come to Young. Despite being held to no sacks for the first time in 11 games against the Wolverines, his presence was still felt. He does this while being held and doubled, tripled and even quadruple teamed (there was at least one play Saturday where four Michigan blockers put hands on Young) every game. He also missed two games due to a silly suspension. Despite this, he still leads nation in sacks with 16.5, leading the next guy by two and a half. Looking at the sacks per game is even more ridiculous. He’s got 1.65, the next closest is at 1.17. They don’t even compare.

The Heisman ceremony will be filled with Scarlet and Gray. The only question is what order they come in.

“Making quality adjustments on the fly is one of the big reasons Ohio State has made an amazing one-year turnaround defensively. In 2018, the Buckeyes finished No. 72 in the country in total defense. This season, they are No. 1 in the land in the same category.”

- Dave Biddle, Bucknuts


Even with about the same roster, this Ohio State defense has been totally different from the one last year. Much has been said about the new simplified scheme as the reason for the Buckeyes’ success, and there is no doubt that’s all true. But what has been just as critical has been Jeff Hafley’s ability to adjust in-game.

The Michigan game was the shining example of that. Giving respect where it’s due, Shea Patterson came out throwing the ball extremely well to start the game. Critical fumble aside, Patterson was picking the Buckeyes apart to the tune of 250 passing yards and a touchdown in the first half. That’s more yards then OSU had been giving up in entire games. Patterson (and the offensive line) weren’t allowing pressure, and were finding open guys everywhere for big chunk yardage plays.

Then came halftime and the adjustments. After that, it was all over for Michigan’s offense. Patterson went 4-for-24 passing the rest of the way, and while some of those were drops, most of them weren’t. The Buckeyes did something they didn’t do much of all year, and blitzed Patterson early and often as they mixed up the coverage and schemes.

The willingness and ability to change whenever they need to is why this defense is No. 1 in the country, and it’s why Jeff Hafley is a favorite for the Broyles Award. He doesn’t just wait until halftime either. He made it clear that they are making tweaks and responding every single play, every single drive. It’s incredibly scary for other teams to behold. It’s not just Hafley either, but as he said himself “credit to the players for being able to so quickly change things. It’s really a credit to them”.

Hafley will unfortunately be one of the hottest head coaching candidates in college football next year, so let’s enjoy him while we have him, and hopefully win a championship.

Quick Hits:

• Speaking of awards, J.K. Dobbins also won the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose National Player of the Week, awarded to the best college player from Texas. Garrett Wilson also received honorable mention for his 118-yard and one touchdown performance.

Stick to Sports:

• Newark sues NYC Mayor for sending homeless families to New Jersey.
• Scientist on the hunt for polar bear spray-painted to reference Russian World War II tank.
• Traditional Nepalese festival that contains the world’s biggest animal sacrifice to take place despite protest.
• Poor potato harvest this year may result in French Fry price increase.

Continue reading...

Podcast: Ryan Day, Paul Chryst preview Big Ten Championship Game
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
Throughout the season, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conference, but also from individual breakout sessions.

On today’s episode we hear from the two head coaches that will be facing off in this weekend’s Big Ten Championship game. First, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, and then Wisconsin’s Paul Chryst.

These interviews come from the Big Ten’s coaches’ teleconference from earlier in the week, and features media members asking them questions about their teams, their seasons, and the championship game ahead.

The No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0, 9-0) will take on the Wisconsin Badgers (10-2, 7-2) in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 7. The game will be broadcast on FOX. The two teams met earlier in the season, and the Buckeyes beat the Badgers 38-7 on Oct. 26.


Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com

Continue reading...

What Wisconsin is saying about rematch with Ohio State
Tia Williams via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Jim Young-USA TODAY Sports
Badgers head coach Paul Chryst, players, and fans weigh in on facing Ohio State...again.

If you’re an Ohio State fan, congrats. It’s Big Ten championship week. We’re playing Wisconsin—who the Buckeyes probably would have blown out in their last meeting if not for poor weather conditions— in a nice and dry indoor stadium. We have some nice wins under our belt since last seeing the Badgers. And we’re the No. 1 team in the country with three potential Heisman candidates on the roster.



If you’re a Badgers fan, well, you’re playing a team that already beat you during a monsoon. That team is the No. 1 team in the country with three potential Heisman candidates on their roster. But hey, you made it to the Big Ten championship and your head coach isn’t Jim Harbaugh. So, congrats anyway.

Nonetheless, Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst had a lot of positive things to say about the improvement of his team since their 38-7 loss against the Buckeyes in week 9.


Against Ohio State, Wisconsin’s players to watch were primarily running back Jonathan Taylor—who the Buckeyes held to a season-low 52 yards— and their No. 1 ranked defense. But, like Chryst said, new names have definitely stepped up since then, which was especially apparent in their 38-17 victory against Minnesota last Saturday.

Freshman running back Isaac Guerendo returned a kickoff for 49 yards— his first play of the season. Junior cornerback Cesar Williams made his first interception of the season and broke up four passes. Junior defensive end Garrett Rand made a season-high seven tackles against the Gophers, as well as his first career sack and forced fumble.


Wisconsin will certainly have a lot more up their sleeve this time around— and just because Ohio State shut down Taylor and out-played the Badgers’ defense once, doesn’t mean they should be overlooked on Saturday. They’re still the Badgers’ best assets, and Chryst said he plans to stay true to what works.


One thing they haven’t done well? Passing the ball. And while Chryst did say quarterback Jack Coan has improved, he knows he’ll have to play his best game of football against Ohio State’s stacked defense if they want to win this game.


Considering, the Badgers held us to 10-7 in the third quarter (before Ohio State scored 28 unanswered points) the Buckeyes need to be better on Saturday as well. They’ll need to pay extra close attention to Taylor, who’s out for blood after his subpar performance in the ‘Shoe.


Senior linebacker Chris Orr— who had six total tackles and one sack against Ohio State— said the Buckeyes’ offense is one of the best they’ve faced this season.


If Wisconsin handles their business and upsets Ohio State (the Buckeyes are 16-point favorites) they will rank ahead of Penn State and Minnesota, solidifying their spot in the Rose Bowl.

Our friends at Bucky’s 5th Quarter have unwavering faith in their Badgers to do just that.


And finally, what other Badgers’ fans are saying:


Continue reading...

BuckeyeMatt91 said:

the djoker is in his prime right now. That Davis Cup win was huge.

Click to expand...

Login to view embedded media

Love the VIN Wiki episodes. Some seriously good stories in there. This is a good one.

ScriptOhio said:

Did you beat the record set by these guys?......

Login to view embedded media
'Cannonball Run' record broken with 27 hour, 25 minute cross-country drive

It’s a record that doesn’t officially exist, and legally can’t be broken, but a team has obliterated the legendary “Cannonball Run” mark by driving across the USA in 27 hours and 25 minutes.

Road & Track first broke the news that cross country racers Arne Toman and Doug Tabutt, along with spotter Berkely Chadwick, left New York City’s Red Ball Garage just after midnight on Nov. 10 in a modified Mercedes-Benz sedan and drove to the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, Calif. -- the same start and finish points used during the first “Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash” in 1971.

They weren’t taking part in a competition, although both drivers had before. Toman tells Fox News Autos that he’s made the run five times during illicit transcontinental events, but this time it was a solo effort specifically designed to break a record set in 2013, when Ed Bolian, Dave Black and Dan Huang completed the route in 28 hours 50 minutes, which was over two hours faster than the previous best time.

Toman has a background in the performance car business and now runs an Illinois CNC machine shop and a clothing company called Crook County. He chose a silver 2015 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG for the trip that he removed the badges from and strategically covered with tape to make it look as non-descript as possible, while tuning it to 700 hp and installing a fuel cell in the tank for extended range between fill-ups.

Toman also added an array of electronic law enforcement countermeasures – radar detectors, laser jammers, police scanner, etc. – that included a thermal imaging camera mounted to a gimbal on the roof that was used to look for police cars parked on the side of the road. Waze and an “underground” speed trap app provided crowdsourced intelligence, while 18 scout vehicles rendezvoused with them at points along the way to drive up ahead and check for speed traps, traffic and other obstacles.

They followed the so-called northern route along I-80, I-76, I-70 and I-15 at an average speed of 103 mph, and hit a top speed of 193 mph at an undisclosed location.

Toman said it was an uneventful 2,825-mile drive without any close calls, as far as accidents are concerned.

Entire article: https://www.foxnews.com/auto/cannonball-run-record-27-hour

Click to expand...

Mac said:

I found this by searching google....

111. Everybody is Irish on St. Patricks Day. And as such said people must consume alcohol on St. Patricks Day. Green and/ or gold body paint may be worn, but no glitter.

:highfive:

Click to expand...

The Brotherhood: Part III is finally here!

Login to view embedded media

LovelandBuckeye said:

What does ultimate edition cone with?

Click to expand...

Just ordered the physical disk... by the time i get around to playing it the game will be in the spring or later... just like having the physical disk

brodybuck21 said:

Platinum sombrero

Click to expand...

I guess that's the better option. I was thinking of Golden Shower.

scooter1369 said:

In this G.O.A.T. list, where does decathalon great Bruce Jenner fall in?

Click to expand...

Login to view embedded media

nomatta said:

just realized that I am easy to spot in the game highlights. I'm the gray coat guy sitting behind the Buckeye basket in the first half who keeps jumping up every time they get a bucket, lol.

Click to expand...

I was behind the Buckeye basket in the first half as well, over by the player entrance. My kid was the one on the jumbo tron stuffing his face with cotton candy.

The only thing I would add to game performance is that Kaleb can get position on anyone and has great hands and nice footwork, but still has issues finishing over people and through double teams and Young had a little trouble with it in this game as well. Morgan was pretty physical in the post, but nothing that you won't see in your average B1G game.

Overall though, we are a difficult team to prepare for because everyone seems to have confidence on the offensive end.

Fungo Squiggly said:

I’d very much like @Buckeyeskickbuttocks to weigh in on that post.

Click to expand...

Fuck that cheating clown with a chain saw

Waited 15 minutes in line outside my nearest Target on Thursday afternoon, got in and grabbed what I wanted (a few Switch games) and checked out all in under about 15 minutes. That Target had their shit together, too. Very orderly, and no stupidity from the other customers the short time I was there.