Picks for the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and the rest of College Football’s New Year’s Six games
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State already took care of USC last night. Who is in store to win this year’s New Year’s Six?

Bowl games ATS: 16-13-1 (12-12-1 National, 4-1 B1G)

Season ATS: 109-106-5 (57-52-3 National, 52-54-2 B1G)


If only all the segments of bowl games could go like the most recent one. Not only did Ohio State win and cover, but MC&J went 5-2-1 in the other eight games in the set. Now for the grand finale. Hopefully we end the year with a bang as college football’s biggest games.


Taxslayer Bowl: Louisville (-7) v. No. 23 Mississippi State - 12/30 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

Mississippi State won’t have their head coach, offensive and defensive coordinators, and their starting quarterback for this game. Oh yeah, the Bulldogs are tasked with trying to slow down Lamar Jackson. Spoiler alert: They won’t.

Louisville 41, Mississippi State 27


Liberty Bowl: Iowa State v. No. 20 Memphis (-4) - 12/30 12:30 PM EST - ABC

Matt Campbell did a fine job with Iowa State this year, but the Cyclones faltered down the stretch, losing three of their last four games. Things definitely won’t get any easier today when they have to take on Memphis at the Liberty Bowl.

Had it not been for UCF, the Tigers might be playing in the Peach Bowl right now. The only two losses Memphis suffered this season came at the hands of the Knights. Riley Ferguson is just 29 yards away from 4,000 passing yards for the season. Anthony Miller is Ferguson’s favorite target, hauling in 92 catches for 1,407 yards, and 17 touchdowns this year.

Iowa State is on the rise, but asking them to slow down Memphis in a home game for the Tigers is just too much. David Montgomery and Allen Lazard will find some holes against a leaky Memphis defense, but the Cyclones just don’t have enough horses to keep up.

Memphis 48, Iowa State 38


Fiesta Bowl: No. 11 Washington v. No. 9 Penn State (-3) - 12/30 4:00 PM EST - ESPN

James Franklin’s wife says she is leaving him if Penn State loses to Washington. If you weren’t backing Washington before, you certainly are now.


Washington 24, Penn State 20


Orange Bowl: No. 6 Wisconsin (-4.5) v. No. 10 Miami (FL) - 12/30 8:00 PM EST - ESPN

The turnover chain could get plenty of exposure tonight in Miami. Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook has thrown 15 interceptions this year, so I figure he has a few more left up his sleeve in the final college football game of 2017.

After an outstanding start to the season, Miami faltered in their final two games, losing to Pittsburgh and Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. The Hurricanes have had a few weeks off to regroup and we should see a lot better performance from them tonight at home.

I know there is a chance Jonathan Taylor could have a big game for Wisconsin, but I’m not sure even if he does pile up the yards it will be enough. The Badgers struggled with speed, as shown in their loss in the Big Ten Championship Game to Ohio State, and they’ll see plenty of that from Miami.

Miami 27, Wisconsin 24


Outback Bowl: Michigan (-7.5) v. South Carolina - 1/1 12:00 PM EST - ESPN2

Can this game just be a three-hour loop of Jadeveon Clowney sending Vincent Smith’s helmet into space five years ago? Just a continuous replay of that hit would be considerably better than the first college football game of 2018.

Michigan should be able to win this game, but I’m not confident at all that they’ll win by more than seven points. We have to root against a big Michigan win here or you’ll have Wolverine fans coming out of the woodwork about how this win sets Michigan up as a national title contender in 2018.

Michigan 23, South Carolina 17


Peach Bowl: No. 12 UCF v. No. 7 Auburn (-10) - 1/1 12:30 PM EST - ESPN

After going 0-12 in 2015, UCF is now the last remaining undefeated FBS team. Scott Frost did such a great job in cleaning up the mess that George O’Leary left, that Nebraska lured him to Lincoln to restore some glory to their football program. Before Frost leaves Orlando he’ll try and lead his team to one last victory.

Running back Adrian Killins Jr. certainly didn’t do his teammates any favors by giving Auburn some bulletin board material, questioning the speed of the Tigers. Luckily Killins has quarterback McKenzie Milton, who threw for 35 touchdowns, on his side to try and help him solve the Auburn defense.

Auburn is going to want to run the football, and it’s hard to blame them with a running back like Kerryon Johnson lining up in the backfield. Johnson rushed for 1,320 and 17 touchdowns for the Tigers this year despite missing two games early in the season.

Auburn might have been hoping to be playing in the College Football Playoff, and had they taken care of business in Atlanta earlier this month, they would be playing later on New Year’s Day. I don’t think UCF will be able to complete their perfect season, but they certainly will give Auburn all they can handle.

Auburn 38, UCF 34


Citrus Bowl: No. 14 Notre Dame v. No. 17 LSU (-3) - 1/1 1:00 PM EST - ABC

Late in the season it looked like Notre Dame ran out of gas. The Fighting Irish were in the mix for the College Football Playoff in November, but losses to Miami and Stanford erased any of those hopes. Notre Dame leaned on running back Josh Adams for most the year, but their problem was they couldn’t get much offense going when Adams was bottled up.

LSU has a tremendous running back of their own in Derrius Guice. The junior is a bit banged up heading into the bowl game, but he should be able to play on Monday in Orlando. Even if Guice is limited, the Tigers do have a solid quarterback in Purdue transfer Danny Etling to steady the ship.

I’m having a hard time seeing Notre Dame getting their offense going against an athletic LSU defense. Hopefully this game doesn’t turn out like the 2014 Music City Bowl, where I didn’t have much faith in Notre Dame, and the Fighting Irish wound up beating the Tigers 31-28 in Nashville.

LSU 28, Notre Dame 17


Rose Bowl: No. 3 Georgia (-2) v. No. 2 Oklahoma - 1/1 5:00 PM EST - ESPN

Baker Mayfield should be over his tummy ache by the time the Rose Bowl rolls around on Monday. Now the other question is, will he suffer from a Heisman hangover like so many others have over the years. At least Mayfield has to have plenty of experience dealing with hangovers.

Georgia’s defense will be the toughest Mayfield has had to square off against this year. Roquan Smith and the Bulldogs made plenty of adjustments just a few weeks after getting throttled by Auburn, so who knows what they’ll be able to do with about a month to prepare for the Sooners.

The Georgia offense leaves a lot more to be desired. While Jake Fromm has played tremendous football as a freshman, Georgia doesn’t have much of a passing game. If it wasn’t from Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, the Bulldogs like wouldn’t have come anywhere close to the Rose Bowl.

Even though I respect the Georgia defense, I’m not convinced they can slow down the Oklahoma offense. The Sooners don’t have Bob Stoops coaching the team anymore, so there is a better chance they actually show up for a big game.

Oklahoma 31, Georgia 27


Sugar Bowl: No. 4 Alabama (-3) v. No. 1 Clemson - 1/1 8:45 PM EST - ESPN

The rubber match has arrived. Funny that after playing the last two years in the title game, this matchup has been relegated to the semifinals, but I’m sure both teams are just happy to be involved.

You thought Ohio State fans were tough on their quarterback. All Jalen Hurts has done this year is throw for 15 touchdowns and just one interception, but Alabama fans weren’t happy with how Hurts played against Auburn. I can’t believe a quarterback who is just a freshman had a bad day. That should never happen.

It is hard to blame Nick Saban for wanting to run the football so much when he has running backs like Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough. It is crazy that after he had a huge performance in the College Football Playoff last year that Scarbrough has only rushed for 549 yards this year.

Kelly Bryant has done a great job taking over for Deshaun Watson at quarterback this year, and he has only gotten better as the season has gone on. It also doesn’t hurt that Bryant has the Clemson defense on the other side of the football working for him. Expect to see the talented defensive line in the face of Hurts all night long.

I’m really torn on this game. On one hand it’d be fun to see Clemson win and deny Alabama for the second year in a row. On the other hand, I know Saban and the Crimson Tide have to relish coming into the playoff as the lowest seed.

I’m not super confident in this pick, but I feel like this is like after the Patriots end up losing in the NFL. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick come back angry and take it out on their next opponent. Clemson is the next opponent after the beatdown Auburn gave Alabama, and the Crimson Tide has had more than a month to stew about it.

Alabama 28, Clemson 21

Continue reading...

I hope there are enough pissed off angry guys who remember Iowa next year and the playoff snub. Who have a chip on their shoulder.

No. 9 Ohio State hockey holds off Niagara, 3-2
Matt Torino via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Tanner Laczynski’s tally with seven seconds left is the difference in Columbus

After being off for 20 days, any win is a win and you take it, even if it’s a nail biter over Niagara when you’re a top 10 team. It may not have been pretty and it may have taken a goal with seven seconds left, but it still counts just the same as the December 9th 4-1 win over Minnesota.

No. 9 Ohio State extended their win streak to three with the win over Niagara in Columbus, following the weekend sweep of No. 10 Minnesota on December 8th and 9th. The Buckeyes improve to 11-4-4 and look to continue their climb up the rankings and into the NCAA tournament as they host Niagara again on Saturday night in Columbus.

This one sure looked like it’d be a laugher, though, through the first period. Ohio State came out with a 2-0 lead after outshooting their opponent 15-8. Matt Miller scored the first for OSU at 15:57 of the first, with assists from Kevin Miller and Mason Jobst, and then Sam McCormick followed it up to make it 2-0 just 33 seconds later. Matt Joyaux and Brendon Kearney had the helpers on that one.

Sean Romeo stopped all eight shots fired against him by Niagara and Ohio State looked like they’d cruise. They didn’t.

Niagara struck once in the second at 9:06, as Johnny Curran, who sounds like a deadball- era baseball player, made it 2-1. That score would hold into the second intermission, but Niagara was certainly showing more life headed into the third. They outshot the Buckeyes 12-9 in the second and were suddenly within one bounce of tying it up.

And they’d get it in the third at 14:43. James Roll scored to tie it up after the game remained at 2-1 through nearly the first three quarters of the period. But just nearly. And Niagara Roll’d to a tie and certainly looked like they were headed for overtime. Shut up.

But Tanner Laczynski had other ideas with 6.3 seconds left in regulation. Matt Weis carried the puck into the offensive zone and fired it toward the center of the offensive zone, where it bounced onto the stick of Freddy Gerard who fired on net. Brian Wilson Smiled and stopped it but Laczynski picked up the rebound and and put it in past Wilson’s glove hand.


Suddenly what looked like a possible tie turned into an Ohio State win just like (snap) that. That’s what good teams do. They beat the teams they’re supposed to beat even when they aren’t at their best. And if Ohio State wants to cement itself as a top 10 team, that’s what they have to keep doing. Niagara is a team they should beat. And they did.

Sean Romeo stopped 28/30 shots for a, once again, spectacular .933 save percentage. A lesser performance probably loses the game but once again, Romeo proved the MVP of the team and the biggest reason this team has continued to ascend nationally despite losing much of the offensive production from last year’s team.

The Buckeyes will look to keep the good times rolling tomorrow night as they host Niagara again at 8pm. Go Bucks.

Continue reading...

Buckeyes make sure they don't get torched by another big-time QB in 24-7 Cotton Bowl romp over USC - Dallas News (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes make sure they don't get torched by another big-time QB in 24-7 Cotton Bowl romp over USC
Dallas News (blog)
The pattern changed for OSU on Friday night in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. The Buckeyes smothered an elite quarterback, future NFLer Sam Darnold of Southern Cal, in a 24-7 victory. It was USC's lowest point total since being routed 52-6 by Alabama ...
Ohio State vs. USC score: Buckeyes dominate the Trojans in the Cotton BowlNCAA.com
The Ohio State-USC Cotton Bowl live blog: Buckeyes win, 24-7SB Nation
Ohio State Responds to Playoff Snub With Emphatic Win Over USC in Cotton BowlSports Illustrated
cleveland.com -fox8.com
all 765 news articles »

Continue reading...

Cotton Bowl notebook: Elliott, Prescott on Buckeyes sideline; game ends on testy note after skirmish - Dallas News (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Cotton Bowl notebook: Elliott, Prescott on Buckeyes sideline; game ends on testy note after skirmish
Dallas News (blog)
The first post-Cotton Bowl task for Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is to find out what has gone wrong between former Buckeyes cornerback Eli Apple and the New York Giants. The Giants suspended Apple for the season finale Sunday for "a pattern of behavior ...
Ohio State vs. USC score: Buckeyes dominate the Trojans in the Cotton BowlNCAA.com
The Ohio State-USC Cotton Bowl live blog: Buckeyes win, 24-7SB Nation
Buckeyes take Cotton Bowl, but don't put any fear in the FrogsFort Worth Star Telegram
Sports Illustrated -Landof10.com
all 779 news articles »

Continue reading...

Recruit and return: Ohio State Buckeyes - ESPN (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Recruit and return: Ohio State Buckeyes
ESPN (blog)
Head coach Urban Meyer led the Buckeyes to 11 or more wins for the sixth-straight season and also the Big Ten championship in 2017, narrowly missing a College Football Playoff berth. While Ohio State will lose record-setting quarterback and leader J.T ...


Continue reading...

Watch List: Which Ohio State players could declare early for the 2018 NFL Draft?
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


In addition to the more than a dozen Buckeye seniors who could go pro, there are a few others who could forego their remaining eligibility for the opportunity.

Ohio State’s reputation for preparing players for the NFL continues to hold true with a whole host of new blood expected to head to the league in 2018. Aside from the 19 seniors who played their last snap for the Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl, there’s also a handful of other players, who despite still having eligibility remaining, will declare early for the NFL Draft and never suit up for the Scarlet and Gray again.

This approach of giving up one or more seasons has had hit or miss success over the years for former Buckeyes, but one thing’s for sure, several players will go with the gamble and leave their collegiate playing days behind them. Some players are already expected to make their announcement ahead of the Jan. 15 declaration deadline, including junior defensive end Sam Hubbard.

For awhile, my money was on Mike Weber taking his talents to the league, but after finding a nice carry-count alongside J.K. Dobbins, he could decide to stay in Columbus for one more season. Likewise with Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin; the two receivers have done enough to garner attention, but with only one true season of standout performances under their belts, they might not draw enough eyes for a draft pick.

One of my predictions is that wideout Johnnie Dixon does declare early for the draft, foregoing his remaining eligibility. With all the injury issues that he’s had to endure over the years, I see him going the way of Noah Brown, who, rather than risk another injury and potentially an NFL career in total, accepted a later-round draft position in hopes of being able to grow with a team for a year or two before getting his footing.

Stay tuned for all the decisions as they’re announced, and for comprehensive Ohio State-NFL Draft profiles.


Dec. 29: Just before game time, Denzel Ward announced that he wouldn’t be playing in the Cotton Bowl, and will also forego his final year of eligibility. Considered a potential first-round pick, his decision to turn pro a year early comes as no surprise -- his decision not to play in the bowl game, however, was a bit of a shocker.

Watch List: Buckeyes who could declare early for the NFL

Offense

• Johnnie Dixon
• Parris Campbell
• Terry McLaurin
• Demetrius Knox
• Isaiah Prince
• Mike Weber
• K.J. Hill
• Rashod Berry

Defense

• Sam Hubbard
• Jerome Baker
• Dante Booker
• Dre’Mont Jones
• Kendall Sheffield
• Damon Arnette

Continue reading...

Landers closes season with strong performance for Buckeyes - MyDaytonDailyNews
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Landers closes season with strong performance for Buckeyes
MyDaytonDailyNews
The play helped seal Ohio State's 24-7 victory at AT&T Stadium. The Trojans had the ball at Ohio State's 12-yard line and would have still had a chance to rally if they had scored at that point. The Buckeyes blanked the Trojans in the second half in ...

and more »

Continue reading...

How to watch Ohio State vs. Miami (OH): 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


The Buckeyes have one last non-conference matchup before Big Ten play resumes.

The Big Ten slate, starting with Iowa, No. 2 Michigan State and Maryland, is looming large for the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team in the new year. Before they get there, however, the Buckeyes have one final non-conference test as they face the Miami RedHawks at Value City Arena today.

The Buckeyes are 10-4 on the season, their recent five-game win streak having been snapped by No. 5 North Carolina last Saturday. Junior forward Keita Bates-Diop once again led the Buckeyes in scoring with 26 points on the night, but got into foul trouble early and was benched for much of the first half. Junior guard C.J. Jackson had 19 points of his own on 6-of-13 shooting.

Ohio State has already played two early games--both wins versus Wisconsin and Michigan--in their conference slate in order to accomodate an earlier Big Ten Tournament. This schedule has been something of an anomaly, but positions the Buckeyes with two early wins before the grind begins in earnest in January. Now, after facing a top-five opponent, Ohio State will have a bit of a letdown as they face Miami before facing Iowa next week.

Ohio State is 233-76 all-time against fellow teams from Ohio, a state which is home to 13 NCAA Division I schools. The Buckeyes are 6-2 all-time against Miami, and 46-10 against schools from the MAC. The last time these two teams squared off was in 2014, when the Buckeyes pulled away from the RedHawks with a 93-55 win in Columbus.

The RedHawks were picked to finish last in the conference in the MAC preseason coaches poll, but Miami has started at a respectable 7-5 on the season under first-year head coach Jack Owens. Miami is the first head coaching position for Owens, who had previously held assistant and associate roles at Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois and, most recently, Purdue.

Like Ohio State, Miami will also be moving into its conference slate following this matchup. In their last game, the RedHawks fell to DePaul 83-66 on the road, snapping a two-game winning streak. Miami is averaging 74 points per game on 46 percent shooting this season.

Miami lost a lot of pieces from last year’s 11-21 team, including twins Michael and Marcus Weathers, who were first and third on the team in scoring, respectively. Senior forward Logan McLane, who averaged 11.3 points per game last season, good for second on the team, returns this season averaging 10.3 points per game. Newcomers, like true freshmen Nike Sibande and Jalen Adaway, have made an immediate impact on the court for the RedHawks through 12 games.

Numbers to know

8


The number of minutes Keita Bates-Diop played in the first half versus the Tar Heels after getting into foul trouble early. With Bates-Diop on the bench, the Tar Heels broke through to their first double-digit lead of the night last week. Such foul trouble is rare. In fact, it was the first time this season that Bates-Diop reached even four fouls, averaging under two per game. Still, fouls have proven to be problematic for others on the team, namely Jae’Sean Tate, who himself fouled out against UNC. While the rest of the team should be able to hold their own on the court, especially against Miami, this type of performance shows how necessary Bates-Diop is in the big moments the Buckeyes will face in conference play.

14


Ohio State is seriously struggling with protecting the basketball, giving up 14 turnovers per game. Point guards C.J. Jackson and Jae’Sean Tate, naturally, are the worst offenders, giving up almost three turnovers each per game, but even Bates-Diop, who has been relatively reliable in that area this season, coughed up four turnovers against North Carolina last week. This area is one which has been a problem for several years now and is one of Chris Holtmann’s pet peeves He benched Jackson after Ohio State’s loss to Clemson in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, when Jackson committed five of the Buckeyes’ 14 turnovers. While the Buckeyes have been able to make up for turnovers with strong offensive performance against inferior opponents, they will need to clean it up as they face tougher competition in-conference.

6


The number of points off the bench Ohio State had against North Carolina. There is nothing wrong with relying on starters, especially when four of them are averaging double-digits on the season, but the Buckeyes need some sort of backup should their starters get into foul trouble or become injured. The bench has proven more than capable of scoring, especially Kam Williams who has been a consistent scorer off the bench, and six non-starters had a collective 44 points against the Citadel. While the Buckeyes were up big, giving a chance for backups to see more time, those bench players need to be able to step up even in close games, as was demonstrated during Bates-Diop’s absence in the first half versus the Tar Heels.

Cast of characters

Ohio State

Jae’Sean Tate


The forward from Pickerington is one of just two seniors on the team, along with Kam Williams, and is the only starter (Andrew Dakich, a graduate transfer from Michigan, is in his sole year of eligibility with the Buckeyes). As Tate’s offensive production goes, so the rest of the team goes. The senior was held under 10 points per game in three of the team’s four losses, including nine points against North Carolina. Averaging 12.6 points on the season, Tate is third on the team in scoring, and second in assists with 3.1 per game. Tate has brought a lot of energy to the team this season, but needs to be smart with the ball to avoid issues with turnovers which have plagued him at points this year.

Keita Bates-Diop


The junior forward has been the most consistent player on the court this season for Chris Holtmann. He is third in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game, and tied for second in rebounding, pulling down 8.6 boards per game. Unlike Tate, Bates-Diop has been consistent for Ohio State win or lose, scoring 26 points in 27 minutes against North Carolina. In fact, he has only been held under double-digit scoring in one game this season (Gonzaga). An all-around player, Bates-Diop is shooting greater than 53 percent from the field, including 42 percent from three-point range, and 84 percent on free throws. Chris Holtmann and company will continue to rely on Bates-Diop for his consistent offensive production.

Miami

Darrian Ringo


While not recognized with any accolades in the preseason, the junior guard has been making waves nationally, ranking in the top-10 nationally in both assists and steals. His 7.9 assists per game is good for fourth in the NCAA, and he had 14 assists in a single game versus Midway in November. He also boasts an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.32, which is far better than any player for Ohio State at the moment. Ringo’s scoring isn’t off the charts, averaging under nine points per game, but he had 15 points in the RedHawks’ last outing against DePaul, hitting 8-of-12 field goal attempts on the night.

Jake Wright


The redshirt junior guard from Minnesota has been with the program since 2015 after transferring from the Citadel, and has been a force coming off the bench this season. In fact, he led the RedHawks in scoring against Fort Wayne earlier this month, scoring 22 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field, with all 13 shots coming from three-point range. Overall, Wright is averaging 8.8 points per game. He is Miami’s best outside threat, hitting nearly 42 percent of his shots from behind the arc, and has proven outstanding at protecting the ball, coughing up just 0.5 turnovers per game.

How to watch


Game time: 12 p.m. EST

TV: ESPNU

Radio: 97.1 WBNS-FM

Streaming: WatchESPN

Continue reading...

Buckeyes, Trojans meet in rose-colored Cotton Bowl - Columbia Daily Tribune
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes, Trojans meet in rose-colored Cotton Bowl
Columbia Daily Tribune
Coach Urban Meyer could have easily stoked a debate about expanding the four-team College Football Playoff after his Buckeyes were the first team left out this season. Instead, he focused — as much as he could — on the Cotton Bowl matchup Friday ...
Which teams are ready to crash next year's playoff party?ESPN

all 79 news articles »

Continue reading...

College football: Rosy Cotton Bowl for Buckeyes - The Courier
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


College football: Rosy Cotton Bowl for Buckeyes
The Courier
ARLINGTON, Texas — Coach Urban Meyer could have easily stoked a debate about expanding the four-team College Football Playoff after his Buckeyes were the first team left out this season. Instead, he focused — as much as he could — on the Cotton Bowl ...
Which teams are ready to crash next year's playoff party?ESPN

all 76 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State vs. USC score: Buckeyes dominate the Trojans in the Cotton Bowl - NCAA.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. USC score: Buckeyes dominate the Trojans in the Cotton Bowl
NCAA.com
The Buckeyes, who narrowly missed the College Football Playoff, are the highest ranked team the eighth-ranked Trojans have faced this season, a clear-cut barometer. It is a situation that parallels last season, when USC met playoff-snubbed Penn State ...
Buckeyes make sure they don't get torched by another big-time QB in 24-7 Cotton Bowl romp over USCDallas News (blog)
Ohio State football: Buckeyes' Cotton Bowl championship another reminder of CFP's mistakeLandof10.com
The Ohio State-USC Cotton Bowl live blog: Buckeyes win, 24-7SB Nation
CBSSports.com -cleveland.com
all 668 news articles »

Continue reading...

Best of 2017 Cotton Bowl: No. 5 Ohio State stifles No. 8 USC, 24-7
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Tonight, Ohio State showed that it was playoff-worthy with a dominating 24-7 victory vs. Pac-12 champ USC. Ohio State raced to a 24-0 lead in the second quarter and never looked back.

Continue reading...

bukIpower said:

Again, the ratings will most likely show that

Click to expand...

I'd be shocked if the ratings aren't considerably lower than the previous 3 years. And if it's an all-SEC championship, they'll be even lower.
But again, I don't want ratings (or what people think the ratings will be) to determine who is in the playoffs.

Ohio State uses huge first half to get past USC in Cotton Bowl, 24-7
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes scored 24 points, as USC committed three turnovers in the first 30 minutes of play.

In the early going, the Ohio State Buckeyes came out firing on all cylinders against the USC Trojans. A fumble on USC’s first drive led to OSU quarterback J.T. Barrett securing the first score of the game via a 2-yard rush. From there, the Buckeyes controlled the game, defeating the Trojans 24-7 in the 82nd edition of the Cotton Bowl Classic.

For the game, the three-time Buckeye captain passed for 114 yards on 11-of-17 passing. On the ground, Barrett picked up 66 yards on 16 carries; he also scored two touchdowns on the ground, too. In the fourth quarter, Barrett passed Drew Brees’ mark for total offense by a Big Ten player. He got the accolade in his 50th and final game as a Buckeye.

The other storyline for the night was the Buckeyes’ defense. USC quarterback Sam Darnold was pressured all night, and struggled to find receivers. Darnold was sacked eight times on the night, and went 26-of-44 for 356 yards. Darnold committed three turnovers that tipped the momentum towards Ohio State. He threw a Pick-6, and fumbled the ball in the second quarter; and fumbled the ball again deep in OSU’s territory in the fourth quarter.

By defeating the Trojans, the Scarlet and Gray broke a 7-game streak of losses to the Southern California program. Prior to the Cotton Bowl, the last time that Ohio State secured a win against USC was in 1975—when Archie Griffin was the running back.

With the win, OSU ends the season 12-2 and improves the Big Ten’s stock this postseason. USC falls to 11-3, and adds to the Pac-12’s struggles in this bowl season.

Here’s how this one went down.

The opening kickoff from Blake Haubeil soared 63 yards into the air, and was fielded by Velus Jones for 12 yards. The return put USC on their own 14—but disaster would strike on the third play of the game for the Men of Troy.

Deontay Burnett caught a slant route on third-and-6 and went 16 yards, however, Kendall Sheffield knocked the ball out. Damon Webb scooped up the ball and went 20 yards to the USC 19.

A Dobbins rush, followed by a third down completion from Barrett to Marcus Baugh set the Bucks up at the USC 2. Two plays later, Barrett dove to the end zone from a yard out.

The Texas native got the first score, and put the Buckeyes up 7-0.

USC would get the ball back with 12:19 left in the first quarter. Ronald Jones opened up the drive for six yards. Then Darnold used two big pass plays—including a 27-yard sideline pass to Tyler Vaughns—to get to the OSU 37. But, the Trojans’ drive would stall as a questionable defensive pass interference on cornerback Jeffrey Okudah wasn’t called, much to the dismay of the USC bench.

Reid Budrovich booted the ball on a punt to K.J. Hill, putting the starting point of OSU’s second drive at their own 10. Parris Campbell opened up drive #2 with a six yard run; Mike Weber then took a completion and a rush for seven yards and one yard, respectively. The drive then went stale as an incompletion, and a third-down sack forced Drue Chrisman to punt.

As the Trojans were still looking for their first points of the game, their third drive left more to be desired. Darnold hit 2-of-4 passes, but missed on a third-and-5 attwmpt. (Actually, his receiver, Burnett, caught the ball out of the air—but Sheffield pried it loose as they both hit the ground.)

With 5:01, the Scarlet and Gray were back on the attack. The subsequent OSU drive took 13 plays and marched 83 yards down the field. Short yard rushes and a big reception by Austin Mack for 33 yards at the start of the drive helped set up Sean Nuernberger for a 26-yard field goal. Barrett made two big plays on the drive: a 10-yard sweep to the left side of the field on a third-and-12, and a 16-yard play on the following snap—a fourth-and-2.

After the ensuing kickoff, the turnover bug struck the Trojans again. This time, Darnold telegraphed a pass right to Damon Webb, who sprinted 23 yards the other way for a touchdown. Ohio State was off to a commanding 17-0 lead with 14:42 left in the half.

USC opened up their next drive with a headful of steam. Jones darted for 17 yards, nearly getting to midfield. On the next play, a 4-yard rush put the Trojans at their own 49. But, things would cool off in a hurry. Jones surrendered those four yards back on the next play, and Darnold threw the ball away on third down. The punt unit came back on—and OSU went back on offense.

This would be one of Ohio State’s least productive drives of the first half, ending in a three-and-out. Dobbins opened up the drive with a seven-yard carry, then Baugh caught a 2-yard pass; Dobbins on third-and-1 was stopped—and pushed back a yard. Chrisman would be called on to punt, and sent the ball to the USC 12.

Needing a score, USC had to get points on this drive. A big third-and-5 completion to Michael Pittman for 20 yards propelled USC to their own 42. Darnold then took off for 14 yards, then followed that play up with a 14-yard completion. Working their way down to the OSU 23, Darnold rushed to get a third-and-5 snap off. This proved to be costly, as the pocket collapsed—enabling him to be sacked. That wasn’t the only thing that happened; Darnold had the ball poked loose by Tyquan Lewis. Jerome Baker picked the ball up and raced down the field for 13 yards.

At their own 41, Barrett hit Mike Weber for a 16-yard screen pass. USC compounded their woes by committing a face mask penalty, giving OSU 15 free yards. On the next play, Barrett went around his left tackle and took off for the remaining 28 yards for a touchdown.

Ohio State had a commanding 24-0 lead with 5:27 left in the second quarter.

USC didn’t materialize any points on their next drive. Once again, a pass heavy drive centered around Darnold had one chunk play (a 32-yard snag by Pittman) but nothing outside of that. Reid Budrovich’s 52-yard punt placed OSU on their own 14, however, Hill was running back for the ball with outstretched arms. This caused him to fumble it, and USC recovered. Hill was shaken up on the play—he took a helmet to the left shoulder as he dove for the ball.

The Buckeyes’ misfortune was turned into the Trojans first points of the game, courtesy of a three play, 15-yard march.

Both teams traded scoreless drives in the remaining two minutes of the half, bringing us to halftime with Ohio State leading 24-7.

Here’s what the first half stats looked like.



Coming off the break, Ohio State would get the ball first. Parris Campbell took a reverse sweep for 21 yards to the far side of the field. A no-gain by Dobbins, followed by an 8-yard catch by Austin Mack brought OSU to a third-and-2 situation. Barrett took the ball on a sweep, but came up a yard short. On fourth-and-1, Urban Meyer elected to go for it; Barrett took the ball up the middle, but was stopped just inches short of the first down line. The play was reviewed, but the play stood. For the first time, the spot was not good.

With the ball on their own 42, USC had a chance to get back in the game. This would not be the drive that would spark the feared comeback. Darnold went 1-for-3 for two yards on the drive—leading to another three-and-out.

OSU got the ball on their own 25 following the USC punt. On their first drive of the second half, the Buckeyes followed a similar fate as their Trojan counterparts. After Barrett’s 16-yard rush, the Scarlet and Gray failed to gain anything on their following three plays. Chrisman came back on to punt; this time, he kicked it 54 yards into the end zone for a touchback.

A potent rushing attack moved USC on this drive. Aca’Cedric Ware and Jones were the go-tos on the first three plays of this series. Darnold would then atone for an incompletion with an 18-yard pass completion on a third-and-17. Jones had two more 1-yard rushes before Darnold took a heave down field. From the OSU 33, Darnold missed Steve Mitchell for a near TD. (Fans in the arena, though, thought there was a clear defensive pass interference call that didn’t get noticed). On the next play, Darnold took a sack that put USC out of field goal range. A punt was incoming, again.

USC’s punt pinned the Buckeyes on their own 15. Dobbins had two rushes that combined for six yards, and a pass on third-and-5 fell incomplete to a well guarded Mack.

However, the referees thought Mack was a little too well guarded. Pass interference was called on USC, giving OSU a fresh set of downs. They couldn’t take advantage of the gift, though. Campbell lost three yards, and Barrett hit Baugh for nine yards over the middle; the third down pass fell short to the receiver. Chrisman nearly got the punt blocked, but managed to kick it 34 yards to the USC 24.

Darnold made two big passes in the early going on the next drive. A 17-yard pass to Pittman and a 37-yard sideline one-foot-in-bound snag by Vaughns put the Trojans on the OSU 16. But, a misfire by Darnold and rushes that were stuffed forced Chase McGrath to kick a 28-yard field goal.

McGrath’s kick would hit the far right upright—and continued the tough night for USC.

After another uneventful drive for OSU (that included another Barrett sack), USC went back on offense. The Buckeye defense gave up another big pass play (a 30-yard completion to Vaughns) but came up big when they had to. Down inside the Buckeye red zone after an Okudah pass interference, Darnold was bouncing around in the pocket looking to throw, and when he finally decided on a target, Jalyn Holmes hit his hand—causing the ball to come loose. Robert Landers picked up the ball and OSU’s fourth turnover recovery of the night at the 8:04 mark of the fourth quarter.

From there, the Buckeyes were all roses and had the Cotton Bowl victory sealed up.

Continue reading...

J.T. Barrett passes Drew Brees for Big Ten total offense record
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


With over 175 offensive yards in the Cotton Bowl, the Ohio State quarterback now holds another record.

It seems fitting that in J.T. Barrett’s 50th and final game as the quarterback for Ohio State, he goes and breaks yet another record; this time the Big Ten all-offense record. Heading into the Cotton Bowl matchup against USC, Barrett needed just 175 yards to tie the record previously held by Purdue’s Drew Brees (12,692 yards).

Barrett broke the record on one of his few downfield completions of the game, a 20-yard connection with tight end Marcus Baugh, nearly three minutes into the fourth quarter.

This was one of the few school and conference records that the fifth-year quarterback hadn’t yet broken in his legendary career, and now #16 has claimed one more top spot. His legacy at Ohio State has been marred with untimely injuries and QB controversies, but Barrett has been a leader since the beginning and his effort and dedication has never been questioned since first suiting up in the Scarlet and Gray.

Heading into his final game leading the Buckeyes, Barrett was already one of the most decorated players to ever compete at Ohio State, holding over 20 school records as he finishes his collegiate career. Before the bowl game, Barrett had just under 3,000 passing yards (2,939) and 732 rushing yards, along with 104 and 41 touchdowns, respectively.

As Barrett’s Ohio State career comes to a close, it’s nice to see that he’s once again cemented himself in both Buckeye and Big Ten history.

(Plus, he’s now bested just about every record held by Super Bowl-winning QB Drew Brees, and that’s pretty cool.)

Continue reading...

Buckeyes capitalize on turnovers to take halftime lead - Dayton Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes capitalize on turnovers to take halftime lead
Dayton Daily News
Ohio State's Nick Bosa celebrates a tackle with a shrug against Southern California on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. David Jablonski/Staff. ARLINGTON, Texas. The Ohio State Buckeyes took advantage of ...

and more »

Continue reading...

It's simple: Ohio State missed the Playoff because it lost one too many games - SB Nation
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


It's simple: Ohio State missed the Playoff because it lost one too many games
SB Nation
5, meaning the Tide are in the Sugar Bowl Playoff semifinal against Clemson on New Year's Day and the Buckeyes are in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29 against USC. The Playoff debate can go down a very deep rabbit hole including advanced metrics and enough ...
It's a toss-up: Buckeye fans torn between Clemson, Alabama in playoff semifinalThe Columbus Dispatch

all 548 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State vs. USC : Score, live updates and highlights as Buckeyes, Trojans battle in Cotton Bowl - NCAA.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. USC : Score, live updates and highlights as Buckeyes, Trojans battle in Cotton Bowl
NCAA.com
Two Power 5 champions and traditional college football powers will meet at AT&T Stadium in Texas as Ohio State and USC face off in the Cotton Bowl. While Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett has had his ups and downs this season, this will be his last ...
2017 Cotton Bowl: Betting odds, picks for Ohio State-USC gameLandof10.com
JT Barrett prepares to lead the Buckeyes one final timeThe Ohio State University News
The Ohio State-USC Cotton Bowl live blog, with score updates and more all game longSB Nation

all 521 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward to miss the Cotton Bowl, according to reports
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes will apparently be without their All-American CB tonight.

Ohio State’s All-American junior cornerback Denzel Ward will reportedly miss tonight’s Cotton Bowl Classic. According to The Columbus Dispatch’s Tim May, Ward will not be in the lineup when the No. 5 Buckeyes take on the No. 8 USC Trojans.


Details are still scarce at this point, but at yesterday’s press conference, OSU head coach Urban Meyer said that all players were expected to be available for the game. So, the assumption is that something transpired in the past 36 hours to change the DB’s status.

It could be that Ward opted not to play in the game to preserve his NFL Draft stock, ESPN currently has him ranked as the 10th best draft eligible player over all, but that has not yet been confirmed.

Damon Arnette and Kendall Sheffield are expected to start at corner for the Buckeyes in Ward’s stead, and true-freshman Jeffrey Okudah will likely see more action in the secondary than he has for the majority of the season.

Other than Ward, the rest of the Buckeye roster appears to be going through pre-game warmups as expected.

Ward accounted for 17 passes defended and 15 break ups this season, both of which rank third in the Big Ten. He also turned in 37 tackles on the campaign. His veteran leadership and athletic ability will be sorely missed against potential No. 1 overall draft pick, USC quarterback Sam Darnold.

Continue reading...

Kurelic: Making recruiting hay in Texas; don't forget Ohioans - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Kurelic: Making recruiting hay in Texas; don't forget Ohioans
247Sports
There is plenty going on with Ohio State football recruiting so let's get started! I will of course have plenty more throughout the night and tomorrow. 1) Tonight the Buckeyes play USC in Dallas in the Cotton Bowl. The team has been in Texas getting ...


Continue reading...

Can the Urban Meyer era usher in new hope for Ohio State against USC?
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The last half-century doesn’t favor the Buckeyes over the Trojans, but things could be different under Meyer.

“Let’s start our story 50 years ago in 1968, when Ohio State and USC met in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 14 years. The teams had met four times in the regular season in the intervening period, with the home team winning all four times.”

-Michael Bird, SB Nation


The Ohio State-USC rivalry goes way back. The series includes a handful of home-and-home matchups, but the big marquee events tend to be in the postseason at the Rose Bowl. In fact, all seven of the teams’ postseason meetings have been in the Rose Bowl, until now.

While the Buckeyes once had a handle on the West Coast squad, under the direction of legendary head coach Woody Hayes, it’s been the Trojans’ show ever since the three-year War of the Roses, which saw the Buckeyes and Trojans square off in the Rose Bowl three seasons in a row.

In the decade or so that followed, Ohio State and USC would meet three more times in Pasadena, with the Trojans winning all three by fewer than a combined five points. Things didn’t improve under head coaches John Cooper and Jim Tressel, with USC continuing their 40-plus year dominance over the Buckeyes.

This will be the first time these two teams meet during the Urban Meyer era, who will certainly be looking to shift the series momentum in the other direction — for the first time in almost half a century.

“Beyond the intrigue surrounding Darnold, there are plenty of players who make the Cotton Bowl the best bowl game outside of the College Football Playoff for NFL talent evaluators.”

-Dan Kadar, SB Nation


There will be a lot NFL scouts keeping a close eye on the Cotton Bowl tonight, with one of the more prospect-heavy matchups this postseason. Not only does USC boast one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2018 NFL draft class, but the Buckeyes are looking at another impressive defensive haul headed to the league.

Both programs produce incredible NFL talent, and things have not changed in the eight years since they last met on the gridiron. Two of the Buckeyes’ top draft targets will be CB Denzel Ward and C Billy Price.


In addition to the (almost certainly) first-round locks, the defensive line could feature many other prospects like Jalyn Holmes, Tyquan Lewis and possibly Sam Hubbard and/or Dre’Mont Jones should either decide declare early — Hubbard is extremely likely.

There’s no shortage of NFL talent on both sides of the ball for both teams, and the scouts in attendance on Friday will be looking at more than just the 2018 haul of players. They’ll be keeping an eye on potential 2019 targets, like Nick Bosa.

“The Buckeyes and Trojans have the most talented rosters in the country outside of Alabama’s, according to the 247Sports Team Talent Composite. They’d have made the Playoff if not for losing second games in embarrassing fashion earlier in the year (OSU to Iowa, USC to Notre Dame).”

-Alex Kirshner, SB Nation


The Buckeyes might not have history on their side, but Kirshner notes in his article above that the talent level on both sides of the ball for Ohio State should be enough to outdo the Trojans on Friday night. In his preview, Kirshner calls for a big, 41-24 Buckeye victory, and defends his decision.

His first argument is the strength of the Buckeye run game. With the three-headed rushing monster back in effect, the Trojans will have to try and stop, not only J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber, but quarterback J.T. Barrett. Against other top offenses, the Trojans allowed an average of 6.5 yards per carry, and could have a tough time trying to stop Ohio State on the ground.

Even if USC is able to stop the ground game, the Buckeyes are no slouch via the pass. With more than enough able-bodied receivers to keep the Trojans secondary guessing, #Zone6 also has incredible talent and speed after the catch, which keeps players like Parris Campbell as threats even off eight-yard passes. Kirshner also cites USC’s inconsistent run game and the weight of the world on Sam Darndold’s shoulders as reasons the Buckeyes should come out on top.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Netflix released their list of new original series for 2018.
• If you’re a gamer, here’s a list of 50 titles to be excited about in 2018.
• Ohio man’s obituary cites “hopeless condition of Cleveland Browns” for his death.
• There are some fun things to look forward to on Broadway next year, but is Springsteen on Broadway one of them?

Continue reading...

Early signing day complicates job for Ohio State coaches - MyDaytonDailyNews
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Early signing day complicates job for Ohio State coaches
MyDaytonDailyNews
Southern California's Clay Helton, left, and Ohio State's Urban Meyer speak at a Cotton Bowl press conference on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, at the Omni Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas. David Jablonski/Staff. Posted: 12:14 p.m. Friday, December 29, 2017 ...
Cotton Bowl: Ezekiel Elliott will be with Ohio State | Fort Worth Star ...Fort Worth Star Telegram

all 2 news articles »

Continue reading...

OHIO STATE'S 2013 CLASS HAS “DONE IT THE RIGHT WAY” AS COLLEGIATE CAREERS CONCLUDE IN COTTON BOWL



When Ohio State fans, coaches and players look back on the 2013 recruiting class, they will almost certainly look back with fond memories.

The 2013 class featured names like Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa, Darron Lee and a number of others that are already on NFL rosters. However, there are still a handful of Buckeyes from that class, including quarterback J.T. Barrett, that are preparing for their final game in scarlet and gray on Friday.

For the seven remaining members of Urban Meyer's second recruiting class at Ohio State, their collegiate career will have featured at least two bowl wins, two Big Ten titles and a national title in 2014. Because of their success both on and off the field, Meyer said Thursday that the 2013 class will go down in Ohio State history as one he will never forget.

"They haven't been perfect, but they've been pretty close. And they've won a lot of football games. They've done it the right way. You don't hear about any issues we have to deal with off the field," Meyer said. "Not being disrespectful of any other universities, but Ohio State is a very proud program that you're expected to represent the university the right way. And I think that group in particular have, and I want to make sure they'll never be forgotten because I know I'll never forget them."

In total, Ohio State's 2013 class already features five first-round NFL draft picks, and counting should Billy Price get selected on the first day of the 2018 draft. Despite all of the success of the 2013 cycle, perhaps the most talked about player in the class is also the most discussed and even disputed.

Barrett holds most quarterback records at Ohio State, yet his career has featured a whirlwind of ups and downs that has seen Buckeye fans call for his job at times throughout his senior season.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...as-collegiate-careers-conclude-in-cotton-bowl

USC’s Ronald Jones might be the most underrated running back in the nation
Christopher Jason via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


With defenses keying on Sam Darnold, Ronald Jones makes them pay on the ground.

Potential 2018 No. 1 overall pick quarterback Sam Darnold gets all the publicity, and rightfully so, but there is another player on the USC offense who might make an even greater impact on Sundays next season.

Running back Ronald Jones stands at 6’0, 200 lbs and is a future three-down back in the league. Coming off of back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons, Jones might be the most underrated USC running back of all time — which is crazy to say. In his last two seasons, Jones has totaled 2,568 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. This season, he’s cracked 100-plus rushing yards nine times, and went over 190 yards twice. It’s pretty wild that his name has not been brought up in the same sentence as Saquon Barkley or Bryce Love, when he’s arguably just as talented.


According to the LA Times, Jones added 10 lbs of muscle to his frame while also keeping his burst -- which is his best attribute. Early in his career, Jones was best known as a back who dominated on the perimeter and used his speed to bounce runs outside. Now, he utilizes that added mass and his plus-vision to navigate between the tackles, which makes him more than just a future change-of-pace back in the NFL. Below, he shows off all of his tools, which includes his vision, his newly acquired tackle breaking ability and his breakaway speed.


But just because he added muscle and can bang inside, he still possesses the home run speed that separates him from other backs. Jones has 16 rushes of over 20 yards this season, including an 86-yard run and a blazing 98-yard run that got called back. He also has 39 rushes that went over 10 yards. His blend of speed and strength definitely keeps coordinators up at night.

Below, Jones bounced an inside zone run outside and utilized his track speed to burn the Arizona State defense. He first beat the safety who had a pretty good pursuit angle on him by breaking the arm tackle, then he broke a second arm tackle from behind. He goes 0 to 60 with ease, and he doesn’t let anything slow him down. Once he hits the edge, he’s gone.


One thing that limited Jones from behind a three-down back early on was his inability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s still not great at it, but he has definitely improved in that area. His teammate and electric backup Stephen Carr is the more natural route runner, but Jones has improved both his hands and his route running.

Clay Helton was particularly impressed by this grab from Jones on a wheel route against Arizona -- coincidentally a route that has always given the Buckeyes trouble.

“And then for this one to make that catch; that was probably the biggest play of the game,” Helton said, as he turned to Jones at the post-game podium. Even though it was a huge play, one can see how excited his teammates were for him after making the tough grab. Jones is a true three-down back.


While Ohio State fans will likely be wowed by Darnold, there’s a real possibility that Jones will be the one who burns the Buckeyes. He’s a complete back who could sneak into the back-end of the first round and next to Barkley, he’s the best running back they’ve faced all season. With the defense focusing on stopping Darnold and the Trojan passing game, Jones should be able to exploit the recent suspect linebacking play. One could argue that this is the most explosive and talented offense that the defense will play all season — including semifinalist Oklahoma.

There could be a shootout on the horizon in Jerry’s World.

Continue reading...