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LGHL How to watch Ohio State vs. Iowa: Preview, game time, live streaming online

How to watch Ohio State vs. Iowa: Preview, game time, live streaming online
Meredith Hein
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes are back in conference play in Iowa City.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have made it through their non-conference slate, not undefeated, but relatively unscathed. Their losses have not been terrible, with three of four coming against teams in the RPI top-20. Now, they once again enter conference play as they take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City.

With the earlier conference tournament this season, Big Ten teams will have to play a compressed schedule to accommodate 18 league matchups. For Ohio State, that means playing three games a week on average through their season finale on Feb. 23 at Indiana. For Iowa today, it means the Hawkeyes have had one day of rest before taking on another conference opponent.

The Buckeyes sit at 11-4 on the season, and are in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Ten with a 2-0 conference record. Most recently, Ohio State defeated the Miami RedHawks 72-59 in Columbus, led by Keita Bates-Diop who had 19 points on the afternoon. Junior point guard C.J. Jackson had 16 points, and senior guard Kam Williams, who started against the RedHawks, added 15 of his own as the Buckeyes pulled away from a scrappy Miami squad.

Iowa has not had a strong start to their season. After winning their first three games, the Hawkeyes fell in consecutive matchups to Louisiana and South Dakota State before losing four of their next five. Now, the Hawkeyes sit at 9-7 on the year, and already have three conference losses to Penn State, Indiana and, most recently, Michigan. Iowa had been riding a five-game win streak into their matchup with the Wolverines Tuesday, but fell flat against a Michigan team that has now won six straight since falling to Ohio State, losing 75-68 in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have a long way to go if they have any hope of making it back into the conversation for a Big Ten title, and are looking at Ohio State as a chance to get their first conference victory.

Fran McCaffery is in his eighth season at the helm of Iowa, and has amassed a 144-108 overall record with the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes entered the season down their top scorer from last season, Peter Jok, to graduation, but brought back sophomore small forward Tyler Cook and sophomore point guard Jordan Bohannon. Cook has already proven an offensive force this year, while Bohannon, whose father played quarterback for the Hawkeyes while brother Jason starred for Wisconsin’s basketball team, is third on the team in scoring.

The Buckeyes hold an 804-713 record against the Big Ten overall. Ohio State is 73-77 all-time against Iowa, having lost its most recent meeting in 2017 85-72. In that matchup, Jae’Sean Tate led the Buckeyes with 17 points, with Williams adding 14.

Numbers to know

1,282


The career points total for senior forward Jae’Sean Tate. He is tied for 32nd-overall on the all-time scoring list with Jared Sullinger, and will likely pass him this evening versus the Hawkeyes. However, after spraining his left shoulder during practice last week, Tate was a game time decision heading into the Buckeyes’ non-conference finale Saturday. He ultimately played 28 minutes, scoring 11 points while shooting 50 percent from the field. He has been day-to-day since, and has not participated in contact drills during practice, but will likely see the floor this evening. Last season, Tate became the 54th player all-time in program history to hit 1,000 points. He could be joined by Keita Bates-Diop and Kam Williams, both of whom are approaching 900 career points apiece.

19.5


The number of assists per game that Iowa dishes out. That figure is good for second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally. Coincidentally, Michigan State is tops in the category in the NCAA, with 21.9 per game. With 14 turnovers per game (not great), the Hawkeyes’ assist-to-turnover ratio is still a very respectable 1.4. Jordan Bohannon leads Iowa with 4.7 assists per game to go with a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. Ohio State’s C.J. Jackson is not far behind, recording 4.3 assists per game, but the Buckeyes as a whole are averaging just 14.9 assists per outing. With 13.5 turnovers per game, the Buckeyes have an assist-to-turnover ratio of just 1.1.

0


Bad losses. Last season, Ohio State endured a loss to Florida Atlantic, who was No. 271 according to kenpom at the time. The year before, the Buckeyes fell to UT Arlington, Louisiana Tech and Memphis consecutively--all teams below 70 in the same rankings. This year, Ohio State brings a worse non-conference record into Big Ten play than it did last year, but without the stigma of a truly horrific loss blotting their record. Four losses have come to Gonzaga (No. 9), North Carolina (No. 11), Clemson (No. 19) and Butler (No. 37). The Buckeyes themselves have been slowly climbing the kenpom rankings and currently sit at No. 46. They still have a lot of basketball to play, but Ohio State is already far-better positioned than they have been in two seasons for a potential tournament spot.

Cast of characters

Ohio State

C.J. Jackson


The point guard has come on strong in his junior season, averaging 13.6 points per game--good for second on the team. He has proven to be an all-around player, hitting 44 percent from three-point range and 82 percent on free throws. He leads the team in assists and, naturally, in turnovers as well with nearly three per game. As a result of these gaffs, which included a a seven-turnover performance against Butler, Chris Holtmann had Jackson come off the bench for a two game stretch. Since that point, the point guard has cleaned things up for the most part, and has scored in double figures in all but one game. Most recently against Miami, Jackson went 4-for-6 from three-point range, adding five rebounds and six assists before fouling out after 34 minutes on the court.

Keita Bates-Diop


The best all-around player for Ohio State, the junior forward has made a strong run thus far this season to the top of the Big Ten in scoring, rebounding, free throws, steals, three-pointers and blocks. He leads the Buckeyes in scoring with 18.7 points per game (second in the Big 10) and rebounding, pulling down 8.7 boards per outing (fourth in conference). He is one of five Buckeyes shooting greater than 50 percent from the field, and has been consistent from three as well, hitting 39 percent of his shots. On the other side of the ball, Bates-Diop has been one of Ohio State’s strongest defenders, and is second in the conference in defensive rebounds with 7.3 per game.

Iowa

Tyler Cook


The sophomore small forward leads Iowa in scoring with 14.8 points per game, and seemed to be the only player who showed up on offense against Michigan, scoring 28 points on the night (the next closest player, Jordan Bohannon, had just 12 points). The point total was a season high for the sophomore, and he added a team-high eight rebounds. Cook was 10-of-15 from the field, while the rest of Iowa went a collective 15-for-37 shooting. However, Cook has been sloppy with turnovers this season, giving the ball up 2.4 times per game, including four against the Wolverines.

Luka Garza


The forward from Washington, D.C. was an ESPN top-100 prospect coming into his freshman season in Iowa City. At 6-foot-11, 235-pounds, he is the biggest player on the court for the Hawkeyes. He won Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors this past week after coming off the bench for a 25-point performance against Northern Illinois--a career high. He hit all eight of his shots from the field, including a trio from three-point range, and was 6-of-8 from the free throw line. While his production certainly slumped against Michigan (six points), he is shooting 57 percent from the field on the season and leads the Hawkeyes in rebounding with 6.5 boards per game.

How to watch


Game time: 7 p.m. ET

TV: ESPNU

Radio: 97.1 WBNS-FM

Streaming: WatchESPN

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Google CJ Jackson Emerging for the Ohio State Buckeyes - BT Powerhouse (blog)

CJ Jackson Emerging for the Ohio State Buckeyes - BT Powerhouse (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


CJ Jackson Emerging for the Ohio State Buckeyes
BT Powerhouse (blog)
Despite the myriad of questions that branded the Buckeyes entering this season, two names stood out as stalwarts in Jae'Sean Tate and Keita Bates-Diop. The duo would be the workhorses, carrying the load and paving the way for a new staff and young ...


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LGHL Under Armour All-American Game could bring in a couple more commits for Ohio State

Under Armour All-American Game could bring in a couple more commits for Ohio State
Geoff Hammersley
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The recruiting showcase takes place on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET

Today is pretty big day for the recruiting world. The Under Armour All-American Game takes place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Some of the most talent high school prospects around the country will show off their skills—and some will even make their college commitments known.

A couple of highly touted recruits are on the radar for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Could they snag those recruits before Thursday comes to an end?

Getting a top talent in Ohio?


Four-star weak-side defensive end Tyreke Smith (Cleveland / Cleveland Heights) is an Ohio prospect that the Buckeyes are hoping to keep in-state. Smith is the No. 4 WDE in his class, and is the No. 3 prospect in the Buckeye State.

On late Wednesday evening, Smith took to Twitter to get people hyped about his commitment time.


This recruiting journey has been great and it’s going to end in the best way possible! Tomorrow i will pick where I continue my college career! Tune in to ESPN 2 @ 6 Eastern time to see where!!!!! #Top5 pic.twitter.com/uN6IwcjAXQ

— Tyreke Smith™ (@T_23_baller) January 4, 2018

This one appears to be a two team race between Ohio State and Penn State. Thirty-three predictions have been casted on 247sports for where Smith is headed at the next level. A whopping 31 of those predictions believe that Columbus, Ohio and the Buckeyes will be where Smith ultimately ends up. Penn State received just one of the Crystal Ball votes, while another vote said the prediction was “cloudy” on where he would end up.

If Smith does commit to Urban Meyer and the OSU program, then he would be the second DE in the 2018 class. During the early signing period in December, the Buckeyes were able to flip three-star DE Alex Williams away from West Virginia.

Down to Two


Another prospect slated to make a commitment will be strong-side defensive end Jayson Oweh. Oweh, a four-star talent out of New Jersey, is considered the No. 5 SDE in the 2018 recruiting class, as well as the No. 3 prospect out of New Jersey, according to the 247sports composite.

On Wednesday afternoon, Oweh posted on Twitter of his looming decision.


It’s all over tomorrow! Been a beautiful journey. Can’t wait to commit to one of these schools #WeAre #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/NfuLuPv3EU

— Jayson Oweh (@JaysonOweh) January 3, 2018

The race for the Blair Academy standout appears to be, once again, down to the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes. The 247sports Crystal Ball has 23 predictions in for where Oweh will likely attend school; of those predictions, 22 of them have him going to PSU. Since the start of the New Year, all five predictions that have been submitted for Oweh have gone the way of the reigning Fiesta Bowl Champions.

Wilder things have happened, though. Oweh is projected to announce his commitment a little after 6 p.m. ET, according to the scheduled commitments page of 247sports.

How to watch the Under Armour All-American Game


When: 6 p.m. ET

Where: Camping World Stadium (Orlando, FL)

TV: ESPN2

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Google Ohio State football: Jayson Oweh and Tyreke Smith set to announce commitments; pair of...

Ohio State football: Jayson Oweh and Tyreke Smith set to announce commitments; pair of Buckeyes make AP All-Bowl ... - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Jayson Oweh and Tyreke Smith set to announce commitments; pair of Buckeyes make AP All-Bowl ...
Landof10.com
Ohio State football is the No. 1 topic in Wake Up every day — but we cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Ohio State football, recruiting, basketball ...

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Google Men's basketball | Ohio State up and good with free throws - The Columbus Dispatch

Men's basketball | Ohio State up and good with free throws - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Men's basketball | Ohio State up and good with free throws
The Columbus Dispatch
Now, as the Buckeyes get back into Big Ten play Thursday night at Iowa, they will do so as the most improved free-throw shooting team in the Big Ten. After hitting on 68.2 percent of their attempts last season, fourth-worst in the conference, the ...


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Google Ohio State Men's Basketball Head Coach Chris Holtmann And The ... - Scout

Ohio State Men's Basketball Head Coach Chris Holtmann And The ... - Scout
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Men's Basketball Head Coach Chris Holtmann And The ...
Scout
Ohio State is 2-0 in Big Ten play but will face an Iowa team Thursday that is coming off a loss to Michigan. With that, OSU is expecting an intense game from the Hawkeyes.
OSU men's basketball | Buckeyes through early slate without black eyeThe Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Buckeyes basketball resumes Big Ten play at Iowa247Sports
Gophers-Ohio State women's basketball previewMinneapolis Star Tribune
The Gazette: Eastern Iowa Breaking News and Headlines -Quad City Times -Kaplan Herald
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Google Eagles slow down Buckeyes in 55-34 win - Athens Messenger

Eagles slow down Buckeyes in 55-34 win - Athens Messenger
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Eagles slow down Buckeyes in 55-34 win
Athens Messenger
Eagles slow down Buckeyes in 55-34 win. From staff reports; 40 min ago; 0. Eastern 55, Nelsonville-York 34. Nelsonville-York's Reece Robson (32) goes up for a shot against Eastern. Robson tallied nine points in Nelsonville-York's 55-34 defeat. Photo by ...
Eagles soar past Nelsonville-York, 55-34Daily Sentinel

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Google Ohio State recruiting: 5-star RB impressed with Buckeyes; 5-star T hearing plenty from Ohio...

Ohio State recruiting: 5-star RB impressed with Buckeyes; 5-star T hearing plenty from Ohio State - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: 5-star RB impressed with Buckeyes; 5-star T hearing plenty from Ohio State
Landof10.com
“Right now the school that solidified itself is Ohio State,” Cain said when asked which teams he intends to include in a top-5 list this offseason. “Just talking to them on an everyday basis, either Coach [Urban] Meyer or [running backs coach Tony ...
ESPN lists two Buckeyes as breakout players for 2018247Sports
OSU men's basketball | Buckeyes through early slate without black eyeThe Columbus Dispatch
Big changes ahead for Ohio StateToledo Blade
Mansfield News Journal -Land-Grant Holy Land -Waiting For Next Year
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Google Chat Wrap: So who else will be heading to the NFL? - 247Sports

Chat Wrap: So who else will be heading to the NFL? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Chat Wrap: So who else will be heading to the NFL?
247Sports
I don't have the Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma 2-deeps in front of me ... but my guess aren't many true freshmen starting. Fromm plays QB from Georgia and he was a true freshman. Exception to the rule. They've had freshmen get banged up like Wade and ...


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Google Ohio State recruiting: 5-star RB impressed with Buckeyes; 5-star OT hearing plenty from...

Ohio State recruiting: 5-star RB impressed with Buckeyes; 5-star OT hearing plenty from Ohio State - Springfield News Sun
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: 5-star RB impressed with Buckeyes; 5-star OT hearing plenty from Ohio State
Springfield News Sun
“Right now the school that solidified itself is Ohio State,” Cain said when asked which teams he intends to include in a top-5 list this offseason. “Just talking to them on an everyday basis, either Coach [Urban] Meyer or [running backs coach Tony ...

and more »


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Google Future Buckeye named captain at Under Armour All-America Game - 247Sports

Future Buckeye named captain at Under Armour All-America Game - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Future Buckeye named captain at Under Armour All-America Game
247Sports
When Ohio State goes out recruiting, they always look for great players, but they also look for great people that could end up as future captains during their career with the Scarlet and Gray. Want daily inside scoop on the Buckeyes? Get VIP access ...

and more »


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LGHL The Cotton Bowl gave Ohio State a glimpse of its future secondary

The Cotton Bowl gave Ohio State a glimpse of its future secondary
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Also, would things have been different if OSU and UCF were in the playoff picture?

“With Ward gone, the Scarlet and Gray have a rather large hole to fill at the No. 1 cornerback position. But OSU got a taste of what life will be like without Ward in the Cotton Bowl, holding USC to just seven points, albeit 356 passing yards.”

- Patrick Murphy, 247sports.com


The decision for All-American cornerback Denzel Ward to sit out the Cotton Bowl was a surprising one for many fans, especially since the day before the game, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said that all players were expected to be available against USC.

However, with the Buckeye defense dominating the Men of Troy en route to a 24-7 victory, we did get a sneak peek as to what the OSU secondary could look like next season. As Murphy points out, despite only officially being a starter for one season, Ward has made himself into a first-round pick in part because secondary coach Kerry Coombs freely rotates DBs throughout the season; something that benefited Ward as a sophomore.

So, when Ward decided to end his college career before Friday’s game, Damon Arnette, Kendall Sheffield, and Jeffrey Okudah were ready to go. The former two (both sophomores) saw more playing time than freshman Okudah during the season, but it would be surprising if those three were not the “first team” corners—thanks to one of those “OR” demarcations— when the depth chart is released for the Buckeyes’ season opener against Oregon State on Sept. 1.

To me, Okudah is the most exciting one in the group. While Arnette and Sheffield had impressive moments throughout the season, when an OSU corner got embarrassingly beat this year, it was almost certainly one of them. Okudah on the other hand didn’t see the field nearly as much as part of the first-team secondary, but he was an electric difference maker for the much maligned special teams units.

With eight months for the former five-star recruit to continue to improve before his second season in Columbus begins, I would not be surprised if he ends up starting alongside Arnette against the Beavers.

“Jae'Sean Tate and shoulder injuries. Bad news if you've been following his Ohio State basketball career.”

- Bill Landis, cleveland.com


Going into OSU’s 72-59 victory over Miami (OH) last Saturday, word started circulating that senior forward Jae’Sean Tate might miss the game due to a left shoulder strain. Ultimately, he ended up playing and turned in a workman-like 11 points and five boards.

Head coach Chris Holtmann noted than Tate didn’t play as well, or as hard, as he would have liked him to against the RedHawks, but that is to be expected to a certain extent, given the Pickerington native’s shoulder issues in the past. While he was still in high school, he had surgery on his right shoulder, and then his sophomore year for the Buckeyes was cut short due to surgery on a torn left labrum.

The current injury, which happened in practice last week, is not expected to keep him out of tomorrow’s game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, but Holtmann is a bit wary that Tate hasn’t been participating in contact drills at practice during the first few days of the week.

“My biggest concern for him right now is coming off a break and having these days,” Holtmann said, “he's a guy that needs rhythm both in his conditioning and fitness level, and in his play. So I'm a little concerned about what his rust level might be when you include the break.”

As the Big Ten season begins in earnest for the Buckeyes, they are going to need Tate to be as close to 100 percent as possible. Freshman Kaleb Wesson is essentially OSU’s only true post-player— especially with Micah Potter still hampered by injury— and the younger of the Wesson brothers is averaging less than 22 minutes per game, often due to foul trouble.

While Tate is not the prototypical big man, the Buckeyes will need him to contribute down low in conference play, if they want to defy the odds and earn an NCAA berth.

“But how would Ohio State, the team left out, and UCF, the underdog looking for its shot, have fared against the Crimson Tide or Bulldogs if given that chance in the national championship? ”

- Ben Kercheval, CBS Sports


As an Orlando resident, I am 100 percent on board with the University of Central Florida Knights declaring themselves national champions following their undefeated season. The Knights have an incredibly exciting offense that Buckeye fans will likely be seeing a version of soon, as UCF head coach Scott Frost has left Orlando for his alma mater in Nebraska.

However, CBS Sports is playing the ultimate “what-if” game (clearly they read our Matt Brown’s book and stole the idea) and running the numbers on imaginary National Championship games between the real title combatants, Alabama and Georgia, and UCF and Ohio State.

CBS’s SportsLine simulator gave ‘Bama an 80 percent chance to beat UCF, but only a 60 percent chance against the Buckeyes. The projected score for that theoretical matchup is 23-19 in favor of the Tide over OSU.

The Bulldogs on the other hand still were picked to defeat the Knights, but by the slimmest of margins, 27-24. And the Buckeyes were given a 65 percent chance over the Dawgs. CBS says that score would have been 26-19.

Of course these types of things mean absolutely nothing in the big picture, but they do illustrate one of Kercheval’s main points, that, when at its best, Ohio State was one of, if not the, best team in the country. Unfortunately for all of us Buckeye fans, they didn’t play their best every week.

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Google Future Buckeyes all over MaxPreps All-American teams - 247Sports

Future Buckeyes all over MaxPreps All-American teams - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Future Buckeyes all over MaxPreps All-American teams
247Sports
On Ruckert: The future Ohio State Buckeye was named the Gatorade Football Player of the Year in New York after a big-time senior year. He hauled in 13 touchdown receptions and added 13 sacks on the defensive side of the ball. On Mitchell: The future ...


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LGHL The Flag Seen Around the World

The Flag Seen Around the World
Patrick Mayhorn
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Let’s remember the most important game in Buckeye history, 15 years later

The 2003 Fiesta Bowl started, as seemingly every national title game had for as long as national titles had been played, with a hearty “Hello again, Keith Jackson here along with Dan Fouts,” from the voice of ultimate authority in college football. The 13-0 Buckeyes were set to take on the defending champion 12-0 Miami Hurricanes. The pair of blue-bloods would spend the next four hours battling for the “Circuit City National Championship Trophy” (a very funny sentence in 2018), but little did they know this would turn out to be not just a championship game, but rather, the most important game in the history of either school.

Most Buckeye fans know what happened in the 2002 season, even if they weren’t old enough to truly follow it. Ohio State, led by Youngstown legends Jim Tressel and Maurice Clarett, underwent one of the most chaotic seasons in the history of the program, and rode the chaos to a title berth, after close victories over Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue, Illinois, and Michigan.

The regular season isn’t the story here. That isn’t what we need to remember, or learn from, or honor. No, the most important part of that season happened exactly 15 years ago today.

“And here are the Ohio State Buckeyes. Read that is Keith Jackson’s voice. Remember where you were during this game. Remember how you felt, how excited you were, how nervous you were. The Buckeyes had the chance to win a national title for the first time since 1970, and the only thing standing in their way was one of the greatest college football teams of all time.

“Miami in winning the toss, defers, they will give the Ohio State Buckeyes the ball first”. The game started as so many had for Ohio State in 2002: slowly. The teams traded punts, before Miami struck first, with a touchdown pass to Roscoe Parrish, who had blown past Mike Doss. It’s fun to look back at wins, because you forget how mad you were during the game. Mike Doss had no business covering Parrish, but Dustin Fox was on the wrong side of the field, away from his assignment.

“Interecepted, on the rebound, by Sean Taylor. The ill-advised throws like this one fade away over time when your team wins the game. Craig Krenzel had throws like this one all season, though he was able to make up for them, and shape his legacy with iconic plays like “Holy Buckeye” (it’s iconic because you already know what that links to, just because of two words).

“The pass is in the air... intercepted, by Dustin Fox”. 15 years later, you may not remember the Krenzel interception, or the Doss missed coverage, but you probably remember this interception 3rd and 4, with Ken Dorsey sailing a pass across the middle directly to Dustin Fox.

“3rd and 6. Pass hummmmmed INTERCEPTED!”. Mike Doss made up for the missed coverage earlier with the deflected interception. Ignore the downright silly call on Ohio State’s previous drive, when they opted to fake a field goal despite having an outstanding kicker (and failed miserable).

“The quarterback keeps it, and he’s in there”. It doesn’t matter that it took an absurd number of tries from right outside the goal line, or that Ohio State managed to misuse a star running back (does this sound familiar?), because ultimately, Krenzel tied the game just before the half.

Let’s skip ahead to the part everyone knows, to the play that changed the trajectory of Ohio State (and Miami) football. “The ball goes into the endzone and it is.. incomplete. Intended for Gamble, now there’s a penalty flag thrown”. That penalty, whether you believe it was correctly called or not, may have been the most important play in Ohio State’s football history.

It doesn’t really matter if the call was right, at this point. That game has been finished for 15 years, and nothing anyone can say or do will change that. The call, much like everything else that wasn’t positive for Ohio State, has mostly left the minds of Buckeyes fans around the nation. Ohio State won, and because of that, we remember the Fox and Doss interceptions, the Krenzel touchdown, Maurice Clarett chasing down and stripping Sean Taylor after an interception, the game winning touchdown, and the fourth down incompletion that sealed the game in double overtime.

We don’t remember the bad, because there’s no reason to. That’s what fandom is all about. The specifics don’t matter when you win the game, and in winning this game, Ohio State may have saved themselves from the kind of obscurity that major schools like Tennessee, Nebraska, Florida and Michigan are currently finding themselves in.

It’s impossible to say for sure that Ohio State wouldn’t have still been great under Jim Tressel if they lose this game. Hell, they probably would’ve been fine, because Tressel was a very talented coach, but this win did more for Ohio State’s reputation, relevance, and respect in the college football world than any one game has or will, in the history of the program.

If Ohio State loses the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, does that incredible 2002 team fade from our collective memory, just like the bad plays did? Does the Jim Tressel era do the same, without a title to boast?

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Google Ohio State football: Will Kevin Wilson have more influence on Buckeyes' offense in 2018? -...

Ohio State football: Will Kevin Wilson have more influence on Buckeyes' offense in 2018? - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Will Kevin Wilson have more influence on Buckeyes' offense in 2018?
Landof10.com
Now, I'm not sure it's as easy as just suggesting that Meyer maintained too much control over the system during the season. The Buckeyes played some really good defenses, particularly late in the year, and it's just unreasonable to think they should be ...
OSU men's basketball | Buckeyes through early slate without black eyeThe Columbus Dispatch
Well done? Final grades posted for Big Ten champ BuckeyesMansfield News Journal
End-of-season grades for Ohio StateToledo Blade
Land-Grant Holy Land -CBSSports.com -Waiting For Next Year
all 45 news articles »


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BTN A look at East-West records since move from Legends and Leaders

A look at East-West records since move from Legends and Leaders
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

When the Big Ten ditched the Legends and Leaders divisions that was based on competitive balance and went to a geographic East-West split in 2014, many felt the power went to the East with the presence of traditional powers Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. And, that has played out on the field.
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Google Ohio State football podcast: Can the rushmen pick up where they left off in 2018? -...

Ohio State football podcast: Can the rushmen pick up where they left off in 2018? - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football podcast: Can the rushmen pick up where they left off in 2018?
Landof10.com
Waiting on receivers Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon to make decisions about their future with the program and if the receivers will assist in turning the passing game into a strength next year for the Buckeyes. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins and if fans ...
BM5: Dre'Mont staying or going? CFP committee get it right?247Sports

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Google Ohio State football: After unexpected Cotton Bowl role, Jeffrey Okudah looks like Buckeyes'...

Ohio State football: After unexpected Cotton Bowl role, Jeffrey Okudah looks like Buckeyes' next CB star - Landof10.com
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Ohio State football: After unexpected Cotton Bowl role, Jeffrey Okudah looks like Buckeyes' next CB star
Landof10.com
Jeffrey Okudah-Ohio State-USC-Buckeyes-Trojans-Cotton Bowl-cornerbacks Jeffrey Okudah was hard on himself for giving up catches even in a strong defensive outing. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images). That wasn't just praise for bowl practices. It wasn't ...
Kerry Coombs pleased with progress of Sheffield, Okudah247Sports

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BPRT's Recap of the Class of 2018 (Early Signing Edition)

General Thoughts

"A great class, to be sure, despite the underwhelming stretch run. Urban Meyer's legendary closing skills were certainly not on display this year." Those were my exact words to describe last year's class, and the same holds true this year. The Buckeyes lost 5-star prospects DE Brenton Cox, OT Jackson Carman, QB Emory Jones, and DB Jaiden Woodbey on or just before the early Signing Day. Some of this was due to kids who were more concerned with the journey than the destination, some of it was Urban Meyer's desire to avoid kids he doesn't want to coach. Missing out on so much talent so late in the process definitely looks bad, but in the long run Ohio State might be better off without the look-at-me!!! ZOMG shock-the-world!!! recruits whose acts probably won't change too much once they actually get on campus. Check out Miami's class of 2004 for the classic example of how five-star recruits can morph into five-alarm fires.

While most fans are upset over the "loss" of several long-term committed prospects and losing out on Jackson Carman, this is still a GREAT class and it's not finished yet. While there's still some needs that need filled, I have no doubt the staff will address those and close with a monster class.


Earliest Impact
Marcus Baugh is a senior. A.J. Alexander's career is over due to injury. Kierre Hawkins is transferring. The other three scholarship tight ends on Ohio State's roster have a combined 8 receptions for 119 yards, and one of those three might be moving over to the defensive line. Enter Jeremy Ruckert, the #1 tight end prospect in the country. If ever there was a golden opportunity for impactful early playing time, then Ruckert would certainly seem to have it.

Tough question to answer, given the fact we don't know who is declaring early for the NFL draft.... as stated above, Ruckert likely has the best shot, but to provide another answer, I'll go with Antwuan Jackson. Someone who should've been a Buckeye to begin with, Jackson has finally made his way to Columbus and I expect him to be in the rotation early.


Most Star Potential
Even though he was a five-star recruit, all-purpose back Jaelen Gill has been somewhat overlooked in this class as the fan base became obsessed with the Twitter All Stars and ignored the quiet local kid. The Buckeyes have two traditional running backs in this class (Brian Snead and Master Teague), but Gill looks like he has the ability to be the next Curtis Samuel from the H-back position.

Given the matchup nightmare he creates, I'm going with Jeremy Ruckert here. Arguably the best TE prospect the Buckeyes have ever signed, I think Jeremy shows early that he's going to have a great Buckeye career.


Surest Thing

Marcus Hooker may not end up being a first round draft pick like his older brother Malik, but he will definitely prove the experts wrong by out-performing his lowly three-star rating (#57 CB, #619 overall). And that's a sure thing.

Teradja Mitchell - somewhat of a forgotten man in the 2018 class, Mitchell is exactly what the Buckeyes want at the inside backer position. He likely isn't a 3-down backer, but will shut down the run & has underrated cover skills.

Most Upside
Sevyn Banks was the #26 cornerback and #236 overall prospect according to 247 Sports, but he has excellent size (6'1" 180 lbs) for a cornerback and that's why the Buckeye staff homed in on him early in the recruiting process. If Banks can stay healthy, then he should easily out-perform his recruit ranking and become yet another Ohio State defensive back who is selected high in the NFL draft.

Love the Banks pick... I'll go with Jaelen Gill. The H-Back has always been a prime position within Coach Meyer's offense and Gill has the making of being a super star. He'll be a matchup nightmare, whether he's lined up in the backfield or in the slot.

Biggest Reach
Quarterback Matthew Baldwin. He has all the tools and a great high school pedigree, but Baldwin was clearly a Plan B guy after five-star QB Emory Jones wouldn't firm up his commitment to Ohio State. Baldwin has what it takes to play at the FBS level, but will he be able to distinguish himself at a place like Ohio State? And will a passing quarterback like Baldwin ever truly fit Urban Meyer's read-option offense?

Easiest answer for me is Alex Williams. I see the upside... but where does he project? OT? DE? Both of those positions needed filled & Alex was someone they snuck in before the early signing period. All that being said, he's an Ohio kid & they've been known to have special powers.

Sleeper
Master Teague was much more of a sleeper when he committed to Ohio State back in June (3-star, #505 overall), but even after his rapid rise up the recruiting rankings he's still just the #11 running back and #220 overall prospect in the country. Teague should be the heir apparent to J.K. Dobbins and he has the talent to put up huge numbers in Ohio State's offense.

Sevyn Banks is my sleeper of the class. Coming off an injury his Junior year, Sevyn made an appearance at The Opening Orlando Regional & put on a show. 4.5 40, 4.32 20yd shuttle, 41.5' powerball toss & a 41.7" vertical. Provided he can stay healthy, Sevyn may be the next great OSU corner.

Biggest Surprise
When Josh Proctor verbally committed to Ohio State on April 15th, he was 100% crystal balled to Oklahoma. And why not? The #2 high school player in the state of Oklahoma usually ends up signing with the Sooners. Ohio State pretty much came out of nowhere, getting an unofficial visit for the Spring Game followed by a quick commitment. Often such decisions are impulsive and the good feelings fade away over the following months. But not in this case - Proctor stayed firm to Ohio State the entire time and there were very few rumors about him even looking at another school. Which was kind of refreshing, given the Jaiden Woodbey and Emory Jones recruiting sagas.

Tommy Togiai... have the Buckeyes ever landed a recruit from Idaho? Let alone even recruited one? There aren't any that I know of. Not only was his commitment somewhat of a surprise, he's a GREAT talent and fills a huge need at defensive tackle.

The One Who Got Away

What we learned from Early Signing Period: An Ohio State offer trumps a Virginia Tech OFFER, but it does not trump a Virginia Tech Letter of Intent. In the past, top schools like Ohio State could slow play a borderline recruit with a conditional offer - "we want you in our class, but you're #3 on our list, so can you please hold off making a decision until #1 and #2 let us know what's up?" That was generally good enough to keep the third-place kid hanging around until the final week before Signing Day, but not now. If a second tier program hands a kid an LOI on December 20th, is he really going to tear it up with hopes that his dream school will eventually deliver the goods on the first Wednesday in February? Not very likely. And that was the case with offensive tackle Walker Culver. Culver was an under-the-radar prospect from a small school in Tennessee who made an early commitment to the University of Colorado. Then Ohio State suddenly discovered Culver and he made an official visit to Columbus on November 18th. That visit led to a Buckeye "offer" and set off a firestorm of late recruiting activity that saw Auburn, Virginia Tech, and others getting into the mix during the final month before Early Signing Period. Ohio State tried to slow play Culver past the Early Signing Period to see where they stood with higher-rated offensive tackle prospects, but Virginia Tech had an all expenses paid four year trip to Blacksburg on the table. Guess which school signed Walker Culver? Guess which school now needs an offensive tackle?

Emory Jones... to me, he was one of the better QB prospects that the Buckeyes have recruited in recent memory. While he isn't your prototypical Urban Meyer read-option QB, Emory can absolutely sling the rock. I wouldn't be surprised to see Emory have a great career in Gainesville before heading to the NFL. Forget the Carman's & Woodbey's of the world, Emory was the biggest loss in my opinion.

What This Class Lacks

Are you kidding me? After years of striking out at the position, Ohio State signed the #1 high school defensive tackle, the #1 JUCO defensive tackle, and #9 high school defensive tackle, all of whom appear to have the size to handle the all-important 1-tech duties. That's the good news. Now for the bad news. After years of signing top-flight defensive end prospects (Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Jonathan Cooper, Jalyn Holmes), the Buckeyes have struck out at defensive end in 2018 so far....

As stated above, defensive end is lacking and is a huge need for the 2018 class, but thankfully there's still time between now & February. I expect Tyreke Smith & Jayson Oweh to both commit to the Buckeyes at the Under Armour Game on January 4th.


Top Targets for February

The Buckeyes have struck out at defensive end in 2018 so far.... But they are the favorites to sign Tyreke Smith (#4 WDE, #60 overall) and Jason Oweh (#5 SDE, #106 overall), and they remain in contention for combo lineman Tyler Friday (#3 DT, #85 overall). Another name to consider is Daniel Carson (#22 SDE, #519 overall), a sleeper prospect who seems to be holding out hope that better offers will materialize between now and February, and Ohio State is on his short list. The Buckeyes could also use an offensive tackle (understatement), and Nicholas Petit-Frere is the #1 guy on their board. Petit-Frere is the rare five-star recruit who takes care of his business quietly, so it's difficult to say whether he is seriously considering Ohio State at this point. If he makes a (rumored) January official visit to Columbus, then it's game on. If not, then it's scramble around for a late bloomer like Thayer Munford from the class of 2017, or wait until next year.

Tyreke Smith, Jayson Oweh & Rasheed Walker will be the main targets. New names will obviously pop up between now and February 7th, but there remains an obvious need at DE, OT & possibly corner as well.

LGHL Ohio State signees continue to shine at U.S. Army All-American Bowl practice

Ohio State signees continue to shine at U.S. Army All-American Bowl practice
Geoff Hammersley
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Ruckert, the top TE in the 2018, was hauling in the football.

It’s a big week in the recruiting world. First, the Under Armour All-American Game is happening on Jan. 4 in Orlando. Then on Jan. 6, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl is happening in San Antonio. In both games, which include the best high school prospects in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes will have a noticeable presence.

For the Army All-American contest in Texas, the players have already made their way down for the practices—and they are already balling out.

Welcome to the Alamo


Four-star tight end Jeremy Ruckert is one of the Buckeyes’ future prospects in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He is the top TE in the 2018 recruiting cycle, as well as the top recruit out of New York, according to the 247sports composite.

A couple days ago, we wrote about Ruckert’s Twitter update about him landing in San Antonio. Now in the Lone Star State, the No. 1 TE took to the practice field—showing that he deserved to be called the best at his position.


#Buckeyes LB commit Dallas Gant likely gets a sack here but lets up at end of practice rep. Future teammate Jeremy Ruckert catches the TD. pic.twitter.com/iUeOMKC0wz

— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) January 2, 2018

Even though this would’ve ended up as a probable sack, Ruckert hauled in the touchdown. Outside linebacker Dallas Gant, another future Buckeye, was the one who would’ve had the sack opportunity had this been a real game.

Like Ruckert, Gant is one of the best in his home state, too. The Toledo, Ohio native is the No. 5 prospect in the Buckeye State, and is the No. 8 outside linebacker, according to 247sports. If these two are making plays like this in a practice, just image what they could do given time with an elite coaching staff like OSU’s. The TE position has molded the likes of Jeff Heuerman, Nick Vannett and Marcus Baugh. On the LB side, there’s too many great defenders to count.

The future looks bright for these two.

(For those wondering: the quarterback was Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 prospect and quarterback in the 2018 class. He signed with Clemson during the early signing period.)

Another Buckeye in the fold is Jaelen Gill, the standout running back from Westerville, Ohio.


#Clemson OT signee Jackson Carman (No 74) springs #Buckeyes RB signee Jaelen Gill: https://t.co/9gfsBorwTC pic.twitter.com/4P4IV3leOT

— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) January 1, 2018

In this tweet from recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong, Gill finds an open path right up the middle, courtesy of another Ohio native in Jackson Carman.

If Gill gets the space (or is used as an east-west kind of runner) then it’s entirely possible that he will break off huge runs. With J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber currently leading the running back depth chart, the addition of Gill adds another dimension of explosive RBs at Ohio State. It may be entirely possible that the best backfield in America will be in Columbus next season.

What’s happening today in Orlando?


Pivoting to another city and game, the prospects in the Under Armour All-American game are still practicing for Thursday night’s showcase at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

The schedule for Wednesday includes the fourth and final practice. Four prospects in this game will be representing Ohio State: Cornerback Sevyn Banks, offensive lineman Matthew Jones, linebacker Teradja Mitchell, and running back Brian Snead.

Also, media day will happen for the Future 50, the top underclassmen and 2019 prospects for next year’s game.

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Multiple NFL teams interested in former Buckeye Mike Vrabel - 247Sports
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Ohio State recruiting: Defensive tackle dominating, 2 former commits struggle at showcase game - Landof10.com
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Landof10.com
Ohio State would take either player in a flash if it were possible, so don't confuse the following for a report that the Buckeyes should be happy about missing out on two heralded recruits. But with that being said, both 4-star quarterback Emory Jones ...

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