Detroit News predictions: Michigan State vs. Ohio State - The Detroit News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Detroit News predictions: Michigan State vs. Ohio State
The Detroit News
Matt Charboneau: The point spread of nearly two touchdowns seems odd considering the Spartans and Buckeyes have had two games decided by a single point in the previous five meetings, as well as a three-point win for MSU two years ago. Expect ...

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Top 10 matchups and rivalry games fill the Week 11 college football schedule
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Here’s the full slate of college football games this weekend.

As the end of the 2017 college football seasons draws closer, there are just a few weeks left for teams to make their argument for a spot in the College Football Playoff, as well as square off against some of their bitterest rivals. Week 11 will prove to have the most influence over the postseason up to this point, with several top 10 matchups and rivalry games set to be played.

This week’s slate of games you’ll want to tune into starts on Friday night, with some West Coast late-night Pac-12 action, with the No. 9 Washington Huskies vying for a spot in the CFP against Stanford. Then on Saturday, aside from the noon No. 13 Ohio State vs No. 12 Michigan State matchup, the day is filled with a lot of upset potential -- especially for teams that upset the Buckeyes.

The afternoon slate, starting at 3:30 p.m., includes Georgia (1)-Auburn (10) and Iowa (20)-Wisconsin (8). The Iowa-Wisconsin matchup should be of particular interest for Ohio State fans, with the Badgers looking like the sure-fire Big Ten West champion and likely only candidate from the conference still in the hunt for playoff spot.

Saturday’s night games are sure to be a big draw too, with Alabama (2) taking on Mississippi State (16) at 7:00 p.m., and then two primetime matchups at 8 p.m. including Notre Dame (3) vs. Miami (FL) (7) and TCU (6) vs. Oklahoma (5).

A lot of playoff hopes will be dashed after this weekend, and as a Buckeye feeling scorned -- this could be fun.

Here’s the full slate of college games this weekend and how to watch:

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Theoretically, Ohio State should crush Michigan State on Saturday
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


But, anything can happen.

“Each team is 7-2 and has one loss in Big Ten play. It would be easy to act like this game’s a toss-up. But it’s a lot likelier that Ohio State wins because the Buckeyes are better at football overall.”

-Alex Kirshner, SB Nation


Despite what the record books say about the past six times Ohio State and Michigan State have squared off, there’s reason to believe that this year’s matchup will break with tradition. Typically, whichever team is on the road leaves with the win, but coming off a big loss to Iowa last week, the Buckeyes will be filled with all sorts of anger when they take the field in Columbus.

Kirshner argues in the article above that Ohio State’s talent simply overrides that of the Mark Dantonio-led team — and Urban Meyer doesn’t lose back-to-back games. It’s rare for Meyer to lose two games in a season (not including the bowl game), but now that we’ve crossed that bridge, here’s hoping his record coming off a loss doesn’t take a hit too.

After a complete shock to the system last week in Iowa, it’s no wonder that fans and pundits are hedging their bet on what opened as a 15.5 point matchup tilting in favor of the Buckeyes. A blowout would be great, but it’d also be silly to doubt Michigan State’s potential — especially with the momentum coming off a big win over Penn State. The Spartans might not be Ohio State’s bitter rival, but as we say -- we don’t give a damn for the whole state of Michigan.

“Urban Meyer freaks out on the sideline and that’s probably not the best way to go about it when dealing with 20 year old kids.”

-James W Snyder, Off Tackle Empire


There have been a lot of comparisons between Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer, but one of the rarer hot takes I’ve come across this season is the comparison between their sideline demeanor. Granted, neither of the two ever really compared to the Brian Kelly’s of the world, but Meyer certainly is more colorful than Tressel was.

That’s not to say that’s a problem though. Meyer isn’t just screaming to scream. He isn’t throwing players under the bus. And sometimes you do need to yell at 19- and 20-year olds to get them to start paying attention.

More so than yelling out of anger, Meyer has to be disappointed in the wasted potential of this year’s Buckeye squad. What started out questionable, turned into a run with serious potential for the College Football Playoff, only for the team to see it squandered by a completely out of sync game with only three weeks to play.

There are a lot of very valid arguments and comparisons to be made between Ohio State teams under Tressel and under Meyer, but their sideline demeanor is not really one of them.

"This particular class represents seven states and some of the very best high school programs in the country. We look forward to getting these men in the Scarlet and Gray next year and following them all this spring as they compete for championships."

-Ohio State men’s lacrosse head coach Nick Myers, via Ohio State


College basketball’s early signing day may have been earlier this week, but there was another Buckeye squad who picked up a lot of future talent. The Ohio State men’s lacrosse team saw 12 future Buckeyes sign their National Letters of Intent to continue their careers in Columbus.

Of the 12 incoming players, they’ve added four midfielders, three attackmen, two goalies, two defensemen and one face off specialist. Three of the 12 hail from Ohio, Anthony Ameo of Painesville, and Skylar Wahlund and Johnny Wiseman both from Powell. The rest of the class includes: Alec Cerasoli, Matt Clibanoff, Mike Clibanoff, Buchanan Dunavant, Brandon Fisher, T.J. Hendricks, Zach Ludd, George Walsh, and Scott White.

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I regret nothing.

I Got Five on it: Prepare yourself for another uncomfortable game with Michigan State
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’s November, and the Spartans would like to interest you in a 20-17 game.

Over the three years I’ve written I Got Five on it, I’ve said some pretty dumb stuff, but nothing quite as dumb as what I said before the 2015 Michigan State game:


Do not listen to the things I say

Oops.

Michigan State not only torpedoed Ohio State’s chances of a repeat national championship, but also won the conference and made the playoff. Oh, they also held the Buckeyes to 132 total yards. My predictions are bad.

On this week’s Hangout in the Holy Land, Matt Brown and I compared playing Michigan State to going to the dentist, and tomorrow should be no different. The Spartans sport a top-10 defense, play physical at every position, and have a just good enough offense to beat you 20-17 and have you wondering what the hell happened afterwards. With the weather projected to be in the mid-30’s, this should be every bit the slugfest that a game with Sparty tends to be.

With that in mind, here are five things to watch tomorrow as Ohio State takes on Michigan State:

Can Ohio State get past the first 20 seconds of the game without giving up a touchdown?


Here’s how long its taken Ohio State’s opponents to score a touchdown the last two weeks:

• Penn State - 14 seconds
• Iowa - 8 seconds

No matter how great you are for the rest of the game, constantly falling behind 7-0 on the first play from scrimmage is a recipe for disaster, and precisely the type of mistake Ohio State can’t afford to make again.

Points are always at a premium against the Spartans, and at this point, an opening drive three and out with a shanked punt would be a fantastic start for Ohio State compared to how they’ve opened games lately.

130-128


If we’ve learned anything previous matchups between these two, it’s that this is going to be a close game. In fact, there’s probably no more even matchup in college football this past decade. The Spartans hold a slim 130-128 total points edge over the last six games, with four being decided by three points or less.

Each team has three wins, and the road team has won every regular season game dating back to 2007. It wouldn’t be surprising to see tomorrow’s edition again come down to one play.


The plays that have decided Ohio State/Michigan State

The Spartans are the close game connoisseurs their reputation suggests. All six of their Big Ten games this season have been one score affairs, with an average score of 23-20 in favor of MSU.

Can the linebackers and secondary bounce back from the Iowa game?


We’ve finally seen what Ohio State’s defense looks like when the line isn’t dominant.

The results weren’t good.

After almost single-handedly winning the Penn State game, the Buckeyes’ front didn’t do much against Iowa, and it exposed the soft underbelly that is the back seven.

Ohio State’s linebackers and secondary had a rough day, looking lost in both run support and in coverage, helping Iowa to their highest yards per play average (6.9) since they dropped 7.1 on Purdue last season. They’ll face a similar-style attack in Michigan State.

The Spartans throw efficiently (third in Passing S&P+), aren’t very explosive (87th in IsoPPP), and protect their quarterback reasonably well (36th in Adjusted Sack Rate). They also have a quarterback in Brian Lewerke who tends to make the right play, and mostly avoids mistakes. If Ohio State’s defensive line can’t control the game, will the back seven pick them up, or will we see a repeat of last week?

Speaking of which, how about a turnover (or two)?


After forcing 12 turnovers over their first five games, Ohio State’s defense has been almost non-existent on the havoc front for the last month. They’ve forced only one turnover the last three games, with none against both Penn State and Iowa.

Even that lone turnover comes with an asterisk, given that it came on the final play of the Nebraska game, when they were up 56-14. The last time the first team defense forced a turnover? Nick Bosa’s strip sack in the first quarter against Maryland:


Ohio State’s last non-garbage time turnover. This was over a month ago.

Michigan State is a good candidate to reverse that trend. The Spartans have turned it over 15 times this season (80th nationally in giveaways), including seven times over their last four games.

Whether it comes in the form of a strip sack, an interception, or a fluky bounce that goes their way, the defense has to be able to get their hands on the ball somehow and make a game-changing play. If not, we’ll have to hope that the offense can reverse its own turnover problems (six combined turnovers against Penn State and Iowa).

*Yells for the 100th time* WHAT ABOUT J.K. DOBBINS?


We’ve said it. Others have said it. You’ve yelled it on Twitter. Why doesn’t J.K. Dobbins get the ball more?

Dobbins hasn’t had more than 14 carries in a game since the season opener against Indiana —you know, the one where he set the single-game school record for rushing yards by a freshman— and seems to completely disappear from the gameplan at times, including his perplexing six carry day against Iowa. Ohio State should probably try and remedy that against the Spartans.

Michigan State’s run defense is predictably very good (6th in Rushing S&P+), so it’s hard to expect a huge day on the ground, but Dobbins is not only Ohio State’s best ground option, but really the only big play threat they have.

In a series defined by Ohio State not giving their running backs the damn ball in crucial situations, it’ll be interesting to see whether Dobbins is called on with the game on the line. No matter what the choice is, you better prepare yourself for three-plus hours of being very uncomfortable.

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The unsung leader of Michigan State’s defense, Joe Bachie could wreck Ohio State’s game plan
Kyle Sumner McKinnon via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The next big thing at linebacker is here for the Spartans.

The latest in a long line of great Michigan State linebackers, Joe Bachie has been everything the Spartans could’ve hoped for this year, and more.

Bachie is in the midst of a breakout season as a sophomore. He’s literally been all over the field as the team’s main man in the middle and is the primary reason why the Spartans defense ranks 12th in the FBS and third in the Big Ten, respectively, in total defense.

With three games remaining in the regular season, Bachie leads Michigan State in tackles (77) – fifth-best in the conference – and is second in tackles for a loss (7.5). He’s forced two fumbles, recorded three sacks and snagged a pair of interceptions.

So, when I say Bachie has been all over the field, he’s been all over the field.

Coach Mark Dantonio had high praise for his young linebacker back in October.


And when the Spartans need him the most, No. 35 doesn’t disappoint.

Few matchups carry more importance to Michigan State than their annual meeting with in-state rival Michigan. On the road in Ann Arbor facing the then-ranked No. 7 Wolverines, Bachie finished the night 10 tackles, a sack, forced fumble, and an interception.

Those turnovers helped the Spartans hold serve for nearly the entire game.


There’s little Bachie isn’t capable of on the field.

While he’s a true three-down, sideline-to-sideline linebacker, the Ohio native gets it done in coverage for Michigan State.

Last week against Penn State, he pulled in his second interception of the season off a high Trace McSorley throw.


Keep an eye on this Spartan, folks.

All Bachie does is make plays for Michigan State, and it’ll continue in Columbus with Ohio State next on the docket. He could really muddy the Buckeyes game plan on offense, which, based on their performance versus Iowa, isn’t too great a challenge.

Okay, maybe keep two eyes on Bachie.

He may very well decide the Big Ten East on Saturday.

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Ohio State recruiting: Latest updates on Buckeyes' top-ranked class - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: Latest updates on Buckeyes' top-ranked class
Landof10.com
Ohio State is hoping for some positive outcomes on the field and in the living room as the regular season begins to wind down. Here's where things stand with the Buckeyes and their 2018 recruiting class as of Friday, Nov. 10.
Buckeyes begin with few expectations, promise strong effort under ...The Athletic
Open thread: More big names for Ohio State recruiting weekend247Sports
How to watch Ohio State vs. Robert Morris: Preview, game time, live streaming onlineLand-Grant Holy Land
Eleven Warriors
all 21 news articles »

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Crispin: One question for each Big Ten team entering the season
Alex Roux, BTN.com editor via Big Ten Network

BTN basketball analyst Jon Crispin has one question for each Big Ten team as the 2017-18 season gets underway this weekend.

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Ohio State hosts Michigan State in Week 11’s Big Ten College Football betting lines
Brett Ludwiczak 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 look to bounce back from last week’s embarrassing loss to Iowa

Last week ATS: 7-10 (6-4 National, 1-6 B1G)

Season ATS: 65-71-3 (28-29-1 National, 37-42-2 B1G)

If you missed yesterday’s national picks for another weekend packed with quality games, you can find them here.

B1G games:


No. 12 Michigan State v. No. 13 Ohio State (-14.5) - 12:00 PM EST - FOX

Can we get one of those Men In Black mind eraser things so that way we don’t have any memory of Ohio State getting destroyed by Iowa? It can be the game we never speak of again.

Something about this line feels off. Of the last six meetings between the schools, the largest margin of victory came back in 2014 when Ohio State beat Michigan State 49-37. The last two meetings have been decided by a combined four points. Are we missing something?

What Vegas might be trying to bank on is people like myself who think there is no way the Spartans won’t cover this, and then Ohio State rebounds from last week’s loss and blows the doors off of Michigan State. I’m extremely aware that could happen, but I’m just not seeing it actually happening.

Michigan State isn’t just going to roll over, as they’re fighting for the Big Ten East just like Ohio State. Brian Lewerke has thrown for 400 yards in two straight games, and with the way the Buckeyes secondary is playing right now, he is catching Ohio State at the right time.

J.K. Dobbins will get more than six carries this week and J.T. Barrett won’t throw four interceptions. Ohio State ends up winning by 10 points, but Michigan State makes them work hard for the victory.

Ohio State 27, Michigan State 17

Rutgers v. No. 14 Penn State (-31) - 12:00 PM EST - Big Ten Network

It’s incredible how Penn State’s season got destroyed in just two weeks. The Nittany Lions lost to Ohio State and Michigan State by a combined four points, and now instead of the College Football Playoff, Penn State will be headed to some unimportant bowl game.

If there is any team that deserves to go to a bowl game, it might be Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have quietly won three of their last four, and need to win two of its last three games to become bowl eligible. It’s unlikely to happen since Rutgers still also has to play Michigan State, but Chris Ash has his team headed in the right direction.

As well as Rutgers has played defense this year, I don’t think it’ll show on Saturday. Penn State has to take their frustrations out on someone eventually, and I think it’ll be the Scarlet Knights. Aside from the opening kickoff against Ohio State two weeks ago, Saquon Barkley has been largely invisible the last two games. That won’t be the case on Saturday.

Penn State 44, Rutgers 10

Indiana (-9) v. Illinois - 12:00 PM EST - Big Ten Network

Illinois is a special class of terrible. The Fighting Illini haven’t scored more than 24 points this year, and have only scored more than 20 points once in Big Ten play. I’m still kicking myself for picking Illinois to at least keep it within two touchdowns against Purdue.

Indiana has lost four straight, but at least they have some pieces where you feel like they could be productive against bad teams. I think whether it is Peyton Ramsey or Richard Lagow at quarterback, they could at least put some points on the scoreboard. With the defense Indiana has, I don’t see Illinois making it to 20 points on Saturday.

Indiana 34, Illinois 14

Nebraska v. Minnesota (-2.5) - 12:00 PM EST - FS1

The $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy is the only reason to care about this game.

Nebraska 21, Minnesota 20

No. 20 Iowa v. No. 8 Wisconsin (-12) - 3:30 PM EST - ABC

What Iowa did last week was amazing. As an Ohio State fan, it’s been quite a long time since the Buckeyes have suffered a beating like that in-conference. Nathan Stanley threw five touchdowns passes and it felt Josh Jackson intercepted 147 of J.T. Barrett’s passes last Saturday.

So which Iowa do we get this week? The Iowa that destroyed Ohio State, or the Iowa that scored a combined 37 points against Minnesota, Michigan Northwestern, and Michigan State?

Wisconsin is still undefeated, but they are banged up right now. Wide receiver Quintez Cephus is out for the year, and linebacker Chris Orr will miss Saturday’s game. The Badgers still have running back Jonathan Taylor, and don’t think Paul Chryst isn’t gonna feed his freshman running back.

When this line came out it felt a little too good to be true. Iowa is going to give Wisconsin a tough game, but I think Wisconsin gets a touchdown late to push this to a two touchdown result.

Wisconsin 34, Iowa 20

Michigan (-17) v. Maryland - 3:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network

Who needs to throw the football when you can run it like Michigan did last week? Karan Higdon rushed for 200 yards, and Chris Evans rushed for 191 yards in a 33-10 win over Minnesota. Higdon and Evans combined for three touchdown runs of at least 60 yards over the Golden Gophers.

Maryland just gave up 239 yards rushing to Rutgers. RUTGERS! Higdon and Evans have another big day, as Jim Harbaugh beats up on his former defensive coordinator.

Michigan 38, Minnesota 13

Purdue v. No. 25 Northwestern (-4.5) - 7:00 PM EST - ESPN2

Northwestern is quietly one of the hottest teams in the country, having won four straight games. The Wildcats have been very giving lately as well, with their last three games going to overtime. Justin Jackson is making sure he finishes out his senior season strong, as the running back has rushed for at least 150 yards twice during Northwestern’s winning streak.

It just feels like the bubble on Purdue’s season burst after the close losses to Rutgers and Nebraska. The Boilermakers got a win last week against Illinois, but everybody beats Illinois. Jeff Brohm has had a good first year in West Lafayette, but I just don’t see the Boilermakers winning two of their last three to become bowl eligible.

Even if somehow Northwestern decides to go to overtime for a fourth straight game, this line is short enough that they can still cover. The Wildcats win in regulation.

Northwestern 28, Purdue 17

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Couch: Michigan State's Ohio coaching ties built the Spartans, helped beat the Buckeyes - Lansing State Journal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Couch: Michigan State's Ohio coaching ties built the Spartans, helped beat the Buckeyes
Lansing State Journal
And make no mistake about it, beating Ohio State has given Mark Dantonio's program its trajectory — 2013 and 2015 don't look quite the same without the wins over the Buckeyes. Ohio is part of the fabric of MSU under Dantonio. It was essential to his ...
Wojo's Pigskin Picks: Spartans in Buckeyes' way again - Detroit NewsThe Detroit News
Buckeyes host Michigan St with Big Ten East up for grabsFOXSports.com
PREVIEW: Ohio State Buckeyes seek bounce back vs. Michigan StateDayton Daily News
Landof10.com -Detroit Free Press
all 491 news articles »

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Ohio State Gameday+ | Recruiting watch: Intrigue heats up around Buckeyes' QB prospects - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Gameday+ | Recruiting watch: Intrigue heats up around Buckeyes' QB prospects
The Columbus Dispatch
“But sometimes when you are dealing with kids from some distance away, as for example with Emory and Anthony Cook (a five-star cornerback prospect from Houston the Buckeyes are courting), it is very easy for a kid to say he will have no problems going ...


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Women’s basketball: Kelsey Mitchell, No. 5 Ohio State are ready to take the next step this season
Kyle Sumner McKinnon via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Hopes are high for the fifth-ranked Buckeyes.

Expectations are at an all-time high in Columbus as the No. 5 Ohio State women’s basketball team gets ready to kick off the 2017 season.

Led by standout senior guard Kelsey Mitchell, the Buckeyes return a loaded roster with one of the most efficient starting lineups in the country.

Mitchell’s a preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and was named to the preseason first-team All-Big Ten team. A two-time Big Ten Player of the Year, she paced the conference with 22.6 points per game last season.


Junior guard Sierra Calhoun chipped in 9.5 points per game and is set to take on a bigger role as the team’s resident sharpshooter. If senior forward Stephanie Mavunga can build on a junior campaign that saw her average a double-double – averaging 11.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game – it’ll really open things up for the Buckeyes.

Senior guard Linnae Harper continues to get it done on the court and, along with Mitchell, was selected to play with the U23 National Team over the summer. Fellow senior guard Asia Doss is a classic glue player, rounding out a speedy unit.

While their smaller lineup may look different than in years past, head coach Kevin McGuff believes it could make the Scarlet and Gray a difficult matchup on both ends of the floor.


The highest ranked team in the Big Ten, Ohio State has championships squarely on the mind in 2017.

After going 28-7 (15-1 in conference) during the 2016 regular season, the Lady Buckeyes fell to Purdue in the B1G Semifinals. A few weeks later, the team would find themselves on the opposite end of a 99-76 loss to Notre Dame in the Sweet 16.

Despite their shortcomings, Mitchell’s confident that titles are in store this season.


That growth will be vital if Ohio State hopes to hang more banners at season’s end.

They’ll need consistency across the board, which means getting buckets and playing solid defense. It’s something the team struggled with when facing tougher competition. And with McGuff rolling with a smaller starting five, there’ll surely be growing pains defensively.

Luckily for the Buckeyes, they have one of, if not the best player in the nation in Mitchell. She’s an absolute wizard on the court and oftentimes dictates the flow of the game.

Back in March, Mitchell passed on the opportunity to go pro, a decision she’s never second-guessed.


This is one of the better basketball teams Ohio State has trotted out to begin a season with.

Behind Mitchell is a strong lineup capable of keeping pace with any opponent in the country, let alone the Big Ten. Their roster is riddled with upperclassmen and players that’ve firsthand experience of what it takes to make a postseason run.

Is a championship, conference or otherwise, in the cards for Ohio State?

We’ll have to wait and see.

The Lady Buckeyes open the season tonight at 6 p.m. against No. 10 Stanford at St. John Arena.

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Early BH: Alumni not pleased | Home on the range? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Early BH: Alumni not pleased | Home on the range?
247Sports
You also may know that landing Mays is going to be tough for the Buckeyes. One of our recruiting sources in the South chimed in with one of the reasons it's going to be tough for the Ohio State staff that you may not have heard yet. “Cade is a big ...


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Bold predictions for 2017-18 Big Ten men’s basketball season
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

With the return of college basketball, we made our BTN basketball analysts go out on a limb and asked them to each submit one bold prediction for the upcoming season.

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Ohio State football podcast: Key games ahead for Buckeyes' waning playoff chances - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football podcast: Key games ahead for Buckeyes' waning playoff chances
Landof10.com
On the latest edition, Kyle Lamb salivates at an impressive slate of football games this weekend and tries to speculate how they might impact the Buckeyes' last glimmer of hope in the College Football Playoff race. Also discussed on the show Friday is ...
Buckeyes begin with few expectations, promise strong effort under Chris HoltmannThe Athletic
The Oval: Buckeyes move in new direction behind Holtmann247Sports
Ohio State basketball vs. Robert Morris preview: TV info, key players, stats, predictioncleveland.com
Land-Grant Holy Land -The Columbus Dispatch -OSU - The Lantern
all 14 news articles »

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


After easily winning Sunday’s exhibition contest against Wooster, Ohio State kicks off their regular season schedule against Robert Morris tonight.

Ohio State kicks off their 2017-18 season tonight at Value City Arena, as they host the the Robert Morris Colonials out of the Northeast Conference. This season marks a new era for the Buckeyes, as it is the first with Chris Holtmann as head coach. The former Butler head coach took over the Ohio State program in June after the Buckeyes parted ways with Thad Matta, who amassed a 337-123 record in 13 seasons as head coach.

Buckeye fans were able to get a look at this year’s squad on Sunday afternoon, as Ohio State beat Wooster 88-63 in an exhibition game. Keita Bates-Diop paced Ohio State on the score sheet, registering 17 points in the blowout win, while freshman Kaleb Wesson added 16 points. Holtmann was able to get a look at nearly everyone on the roster in Sunday’s tuneup game, with 10 of the 13 Buckeyes who played in the game recording at least 10 minutes on the floor.

Even though Ohio State has had plenty of roster turnover the last few years, with players even graduating or transferring to other programs, the Buckeyes do have a solid core for Holtmann to work with in his first season. Not only do seniors Jae’Sean Tate and Kam Williams return, but redshirt junior Keita Bates-Diop returns after missing the majority of last season due to injury. Sophomores Micah Potter and C.J. Jackson also saw time last season, and even more will be expected of them this year.

Robert Morris may have stability at head coach, with Andrew Toole entering his eighth season as head coach of the Colonials, but the same can’t be said for the rest of their roster. Robert Morris has 10 scholarship newcomers this season, with six of those being incoming freshmen. The only program with more scholarship newcomers this season is Pittsburgh.

Since making the NCAA Tournament in 2015, Robert Morris has struggled over the past two seasons, posting a 10-22 record in the 2015-16 season, and a 14-19 record last year. Much isn’t expected from the Colonials this year, as Robert Morris was picked to finish seventh in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Colonials didn’t catch much of a break to start the season, as they’ll play their first eight games of the season on the road, which is their longest road trip to start the season since the 1993-94 season. With so many new faces, the extended road trip will force the team to gel quickly with each other before they open up their home schedule in early December.

The Buckeyes have faced Robert Morris on three other occasions, with Ohio State winning all three of those contests. The last time the Colonials came to Columbus was back in 2004, with the Buckeyes handily defeating Robert Morris 82-50. The other two meetings between the teams came back in 1989 and 1997, with the Buckeyes winning by 27 points in 1989, and 18 points in 1997.

Numbers to know

13


Tonight’s game marks the 13th contest Ohio State has played against an opponent from the Northeast Conference, with the Buckeyes winning each of the previous 12. Last year the Buckeyes defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 70-62 in early December in their most recent contest against an opponent from the NEC.

99-17


Ohio State has posted a 99-17 in regular season home openers. The Buckeyes have won 13 straight home openers. The last time Ohio State failed to win their home opener came in 2003, when the Buckeyes lost to Georgia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

10


Chris Holtmann is the 14th men’s basketball coach in school history. The previous 13 coaches have posted a 10-3 record in their first game as Buckeye head coach. The last head coach to lose his Ohio State debut was Randy Ayers, who beaten 71-53 by DePaul in 1989. Thad Matta’s first game in charge saw the Buckeyes defeat Towson 74-53 in 2004.

Cast of characters

Ohio State

Jae’Sean Tate


The senior forward from Pickerington is Ohio State’s leading returning scorer after averaging 14.3 points per game last season. Tate has started 76 games during his Ohio State career, and in February’s contest against Maryland became the 54th Buckeye to surpass the 1,000 point mark in his career. Tate has recorded 10 double-doubles in his career, with Ohio State having won seven of those contests.

Keita Bates-Diop


Ohio State will receive a big boost if Bates-Diop can return to the form he exhibited during the 2015-16 season. Last year the forward from Illinois was limited to just nine games due to injuries, and ended up taking a redshirt. In the 2015-16 season, Bates Diop averaged 11.8 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Robert Morris

Matty McConnell


The junior is about the only familiar face on the Colonials roster. McConnell is the school’s active leader in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. The guard figures to be the centerpoint of Robert Morris’ offense this year, as he averaged 25.5 points per game in the two exhibition matches the Colonials played to get ready for the season.

Jon Williams


Williams is the only Ohio native on the Robert Morris roster. The true freshman was part of the St. Vincent-St. Mary squad that won their seventh high school state title earlier this year. The guard scored 17 points in the exhibition win against Niagara, and followed that up with 10 points in the exhibition game against Saint Vincent.

How to watch:


Game time: 7:00 p.m. ET

Radio: 97.1 WBNS-FM

Streaming: BTN Plus. To stream this game you will need to create an account, which costs $9.99 per month

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Wrestling: No. 2 Buckeyes to open dual meet season at home against No. 11 Arizona State - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Wrestling: No. 2 Buckeyes to open dual meet season at home against No. 11 Arizona State
OSU - The Lantern
On Friday, the Sun Devils will travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan, just two days prior to their meet with the Buckeyes to face off with No. 4 Michigan. Prior to the dual meet, Ohio State will drop two banners — one celebrating the Big Ten championship and ...


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Ohio State vs. Michigan State 2017: Game preview, prediction, and 6 things to know
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes host Michigan State on Saturday, as they try and put last week’s loss behind them.

The College Football Playoff might be off the table for Ohio State after last week’s 55-24 loss to Iowa, but the Buckeyes are still in the driver’s seat to win the Big Ten East and play in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis next month. If the Buckeyes win their last three games, they’ll take home the Big Ten East crown, and make their third appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game.

If Ohio State was going to have to rebound from such an embarrassing loss, there might not be a worse team for them to have to square off with than Michigan State. The Buckeyes and Spartans have alternated wins and losses in the past six meetings, with Ohio State narrowly squeaking out a 17-16 last November in East Lansing. There is usually plenty at stake when the schools play, with six of the last eight meetings seeing both teams ranked inside the AP Top 20.

Big Ten losses for Ohio State are rare under Urban Meyer, with last week’s loss to Iowa being just the third conference loss Meyer has suffered during the regular season as head coach of the Buckeyes. Now, Ohio State will be hosting Michigan State, who beat the Buckeyes 17-14 in Columbus in 2015, which is still the only regular season conference home loss Meyer has suffered as Ohio State head coach.

Michigan State comes into Saturday’s game with some confidence after a wild win over Penn State last week. Not only did the Spartans and Nittany Lions have to endure a lengthy weather delay in soggy East Lansing, but Michigan State was able to win in dramatic fashion. Matt Coghlin’s field goal as time expired gave the Spartans the upset victory, and sent Penn State back to State College with their second consecutive loss.

Had it not being for a 39-31 loss in triple overtime to Northwestern the week before, Michigan State might be sitting atop the Big Ten East standings right now. With each team having one conference loss so far this year, the Buckeyes and Spartans are tied for the division lead. This game takes on even more importance than normal, as the winner will control their own destiny in the division.

Ohio State’s biggest advantages


In Dobbins we trust. If Ohio State wants to set the tone for the future, they need to focus more energy on getting the football to freshman J.K. Dobbins. The running back has rushed for 914 yards this season, putting him on the verge of being just the fourth Ohio State freshman to rush for 1,000 yards in his first year in Columbus.

Not saying it would have dramatically changed the result, but Dobbins only getting six carries last week is inexcusable. There seems to be a theme in Ohio State’s losses under Urban Meyer, where talented running backs are criminally underutilized. In 2015 in the loss to Michigan State, Ezekiel Elliott only saw 12 carries in the loss to the Spartans. Last year in the loss to Penn State, Curtis Samuel carried the football just twice.

Ohio State is 20th in the country with 235.3 yards per game on the ground, and in games where they have been success, the Buckeyes give the running game some time to grow with Dobbins and Mike Weber. The Buckeyes get into trouble when they rely too much on the arm and legs of J.T. Barrett. While the senior quarterback is more than capable of making plays with both, it has come at the expense of a running back who is averaging 7.7 yards per carry this year, which is the most among freshmen in the country.

Bouncing back. One of Urban Meyer’s strengths as a head coach is his teams bounce back quickly after losses. In his 16 seasons as a head coach, there have only been four times where Meyer’s teams lost consecutive games. The only time at Ohio State where Meyer’s teams have lost back-to-back games came at the end of the 2013 season, when Ohio State lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game, and then lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

Earlier this year, Ohio State didn’t have much time to regroup after the loss to Oklahoma at home. While Michigan State is a lot tougher opponent than Army, the Buckeyes at least have some experience dealing with adversity. The loss to Iowa last week should get Ohio State focused on some of the things that worked during the six-game winning streak they were on before the loss to the Hawkeyes.

At least Ohio State does have a carrot still dangling in front of them even though the College Football Playoff looks like it no longer is a possibility. The lure of another Big Ten title should be enough to get this talented Buckeye team amped up. If Ohio State is able to win their last three games, along with the Big Ten Championship Game, they’ll still be able to play in one of the high-profile New Year’s Six bowl games.

Bone to pick. After being thoroughly dominated last week against Iowa, the Ohio State defensive line has to come into this game angry. Not only did sophomore Nick Bosa get ejected in the first half of the loss due to a targeting call by the officials, but the defensive line was largely non-existent the whole game.

If Ohio State is going to get back to the successes they saw last season, as well as earlier this year, they need the defensive line to play angry. After hearing doubts about their performance following the Iowa game, you’ll likely see a lot stronger performance out of the talented group.

Turnovers have been a problem for Ohio State this year, since the defense isn’t forcing them at the rate that they were last season. The Buckeyes are going to need Bosa, Sam Hubbard, and the rest of the defensive line to put pressure on Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke and force him into some bad throws. If the Buckeyes can get consistent early pressure from the defensive line, it could loosen the rest of the defense up and allow them to make some plays.

Michigan State’s biggest advantages


Hot fire. Right now the hottest quarterback in the country is Michigan State’s sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke. After throwing for more than 200 yards in just three of Michigan State’s first seven games, Lewerke became just the third Big Ten quarterback to throw for 400 yards in back-to-back games in the past 20 years. Prior to Lewerke accomplishing the feat, the only other Big Ten quarterbacks to do so were Purdue’s Drew Brees and Northwestern’s C.J. Bacher. The 445 yards Lewerke threw for in the triple overtime loss to Northwestern two weeks ago set a school record.

Junior wide receiver Felton Davis III has emerged as Lewerke’s favorite target. After hauling in just 25 catches through the first seven games of the season, Davis has caught 20 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns over the past three games. Freshman Cody White has also gained some of Lewerke’s trust after hauling in nine catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns against Northwestern.

Last week Iowa quarterback Nathan Stanley threw for five touchdowns against the Buckeyes, and earlier in the season Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield carved up the Ohio State secondary. Unless Ohio State gets some more production in the secondary from defensive backs Damon Arnette and Kendall Sheffield, it could be another long day for the Buckeyes as they try to slow down Lewerke and the improving Michigan State passing attack.

We are Spartans. While Michigan State’s offense and Lewerke have gotten most of the headlines the last few weeks, the Spartan defense is what has carried them for most of the season. Michigan State’s rush defense is averaging just 87 yards per game, which not only ranks first in the Big Ten, but also is one of the best groups against the run in the country. This week the Spartans will face a tough test against J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber.

Linebacker Joe Bachie is the leader of the Michigan State defense. The Cleveland native has registered 77 tackles, which leads Michigan State, and is fifth in the Big Ten. The sophomore has also registered 7.5 tackles for loss, which ranks second among Michigan State defensive players. Leading the Spartans with five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss is sophomore defensive end Kenny Willekes.

Michigan State has been able to have so much success on defense because they are great at limiting the big play from opponents. The Spartans have allowed just 32 plays of more than 20 yards this season. Ohio State, who has had 57 plays on offense go for more than 20 yards, likely will struggle to find the explosive plays they are used to against a Michigan State defense that plays sound defense.

Ohio connections aplenty. Maybe it is because some of the roots the Michigan State coaches have at Ohio State, but the Spartans always seem to give the Buckeyes their toughest game of the season. The Spartans have won their last two trips to Columbus, beating the Buckeyes 10-7 in 2011, and 17-14 in 2015. Of the last six meetings between the schools, the largest margin of victory came back in 2014, when Ohio State beat Michigan State 49-37 in East Lansing.

Head coach Mark Dantonio spent three years on Jim Tressel’s staff as defensive coordinator from 2001-03 before moving on to become the head coach at Cincinnati, and eventually landing at Michigan State. Dantonio’s staff features a few familiar names, most notably co-offensive coordinator Jim Bollman, who was Ohio State’s offensive coordinator for 11 years under Tressel. Linebackers coach Mark Snyder held the same position at Ohio State from 2001-03 before moving to defensive coordinator for the 2004 season. For those group of coaches, games against Ohio State are always special because of their past connections.

With so many players from the Buckeye State, Michigan State’s student-athletes always get up for games against Ohio State. This year is no different, with the Michigan State roster featuring 26 players from Ohio. Many of those Michigan State players grew up cheering for Ohio State, and had dreams of donning the scarlet and gray. What better way to show Ohio State what they were missing by not offering scholarships to those players by beating them.

Summary


F/+ Projection: Ohio State 33, Michigan State 19

Win Probability: Ohio State 78.2%

Despite the recent razor-thin margins of victory in the series, the numbers like Ohio State to win this game by two touchdowns. After such a big loss to Iowa last week on the road, the Buckeyes should find some success at home as they get their Big Ten title hopes back on track.

Ohio State’s defense has struggled recently, but at some point they have to start playing up to their expectations. The defensive line should be able to create some pressure and not only shutdown L.J. Scott and the Michigan State running game, but also keep Brian Lewerke from coming anywhere close to his recent numbers.

On offense, the loss of Parris Campbell hurt the Buckeyes more than many expected it to last week, as they didn’t have anyone at receiver besides Johnnie Dixon who could break a big play. Not only will Campbell’s return be huge, but J.K. Dobbins should see plenty more activity on offense. Even though Michigan State has been strong on defense this year, the combination of Ohio State’s running and passing game will be too much for the Spartans to handle.

How to watch, stream, listen to Michigan State v. Ohio State:


Game time: Saturday Nov. 11th, 12:00 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Streaming: Fox Sports Go

Radio: 97.1 WBNS-FM

Know your enemy: The Only Colors

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Buckeyes begin with few expectations, promise strong effort under Chris Holtmann - The Athletic
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes begin with few expectations, promise strong effort under Chris Holtmann
The Athletic
The consensus is that the Buckeyes, their roster depleted by several years of subpar recruiting that resulted in Thad Matta's firing and Holtmann's hiring in June, are headed for another double-digit finish in the Big Ten standings and will miss the ...
The Oval: Buckeyes move in new direction behind Holtmann247Sports
Ohio State basketball vs. Robert Morris preview: TV info, key players, stats, predictioncleveland.com
Ohio State-Stanford women's basketball: Game time, TV channel, how to watch onlineLandof10.com
The Columbus Dispatch -FanRag Sports (blog)
all 6 news articles »

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The Oval: Buckeyes move in new direction behind Holtmann - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


The Oval: Buckeyes move in new direction behind Holtmann
247Sports
Holtmann has been granted an eight-year contract to coach the Buckeyes, so there is no urgency to win right away. But you know he is burning to make an instant impact this season. That would help him in finding another signee for 2018 as well as ...
Ohio State basketball vs. Robert Morris preview: TV info, key players, stats, predictioncleveland.com
Men's basketball / Keys to Ohio State's seasonThe Columbus Dispatch
Rothstein | Ohio State to start CJ Jackson at point guardFanRag Sports (blog)

all 5 news articles »

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Ohio State looks to Texas for their next great defensive back
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes are in full pursuit in the Lone Star State.

It’s over. Last week’s debacle is a thing of the past (at least it should be) and the Buckeyes are on to the next test at home versus Michigan State. With the home team losing each year since 2007, the Buckeyes know they can’t afford to play poorly two weeks in a row, especially against a surprisingly improved Spartan squad.

It's hard to stomach how tight the games between Ohio State and Michigan State have been over the last few seasons. Look at last year, for example. A 3-9 Spartan team only lost by a single point to a highly favored and ranked Ohio State team. With a lot still to play for this year, such as a Big Ten East crown and a chance to play for the conference championship, hopefully we will see the return of the Buckeyes we’re more than used to seeing. With eyes from some top recruits in attendance as well, Urban Meyer knows this week is critical for this year’s remaining goals.

A look into the future?


Ohio State’s defensive back recruiting can pretty much be summed up in one word: success. Seemingly each year a top cornerback or safety bolts for the NFL early, leaving Ohio State in a cycle they’ve become all too familiar with as “next man up.” As long as the process continues though, all is good in Columbus. However, that cycle can’t continue without great recruiting efforts and development. Fortunately, the Buckeyes have had both under the helm of Urban Meyer and position coach Kerry Coombs.

Yesterday, the Buckeyes looked to continue their pursuit of top defensive backs as they went into Texas once again to dish out an offer to Houston native Bryson Washington. Washington is only a high school sophomore, but already has a very impressive track record in the recruiting process. The 6'2, 200-pound safety does not currently hold a ranking due to his recruiting class, but with early offers from the likes of Alabama, Louisville, Baylor, LSU, Ole Miss, and most recently Ohio State, it’s easy to see this will be one of the top prospects of his class when all is said and done.


This past week for Washington has been busy, as Louisville, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Ohio State all threw their hats into the ring for Bryson’s future services. An incredible stretch of eight days to say the least, and there’s still more than enough time for more schools to come into play. You can certainly bet Tom Herman and the Texas Longhorns will want to keep this one within the state lines, but if anyone can pull a Texan out and bring them elsewhere, it’s Urban Meyer. Time will tell where the Buckeyes stand in this recruitment, but with the early relationship already beginning to form, anything is possible.

The Gateway to the West


It’s not any news at all to say Ohio State’s creative media team is easily one of, if not the best team in the country when it comes to graphics and content. The amount of work the team does for recruits doesn’t go unnoticed either. Top prospects are sharing the photos made specifically for them all the time, proving just how valuable the media team for the Buckeyes is.

Earlier this week a St. Louis prospect, Marcus Washington, went to Twitter to show the world the latest graphics produced for him by the Buckeyes. The 6'2, 170-pound receiver is not only a high 4-star ranked prospect, but also the 13th-best receiver in the country and the second-best player from the Show Me State. Not only does the star power stand out for Marcus, but with nearly 30 offers already, this 2019 stud looks to be coveted by nearly every top school in the country.


Currently, Michigan is thought to be the leader in the crystal ball predictions, but with only one sole vote there’s not much stock in that. If anything, when you think of Ohio State and their efforts in St. Louis, you don’t have to think hard considering Zeke Elliot not only won a national championship with Ohio State, but is also a first round draft pick and a star for the Dallas Cowboys. If Marcus wants to continue the Missouri to Ohio trend, the Buckeyes certainly wouldn’t stop his efforts.

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Ohio State basketball vs. Robert Morris preview: TV info, key players, stats, prediction - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State basketball vs. Robert Morris preview: TV info, key players, stats, prediction
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes open their first season under new head coach Chris Holtmann, who was hired in June from Butler ... Ohio State beat Division III Wooster 88-63 in an exhibition last Sunday. Bates-Diop led the Buckeyes with 17 points in 24 minutes ... The ...
The Oval: Buckeyes move in new direction behind Holtmann247Sports
Men's basketball / Keys to Ohio State's seasonThe Columbus Dispatch
Rothstein | Ohio State to start CJ Jackson at point guardFanRag Sports (blog)

all 5 news articles »

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Ohio State’s national championship odds take sharp decline
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 slid to 75-to-1 odds, but they aren’t off the board.

We knew that the Iowa loss was going to detrimental to Ohio State’s playoff chances, as well as to their odds of winning the national championship. However, after the Buckeyes’ second loss of the season, Bovada, one of the leading sportsbooks on the Internet, still has Ohio State on the national champion odds board with the 11th best odds to win the title.

Now sitting as a longshot at 75-to-1 odds, OSU entered the Iowa contest with 3-to-1 odds—the second best in the country at that time.

Alabama still holds the best odds at winning the championship heading into Week 11, while SEC foe Georgia is right behind them with the second best odds at winning the whole enchilada.

Below is a table of the 10 teams with the best odds to win the championship.


On the Heisman front, Saquon Barkley’s performance against Michigan State was enough to bump him off the top spot, as Baker Mayfield has now jumped back into the driver’s seat of the Heisman debate.

The Oklahoma quarterback enters Friday morning with 1-to-2 odds of taking home the prestigious trophy, while Penn State’s Barkley now has 7-to-4 odds.

After climbing up the ranks following the comeback against the Nittany Lions, J.T. Barrett’s performance against the Hawkeyes dropped him back to 33-to-1 odds of walking away with the Heisman.

Ohio State basketball odds


While March is a long way off, the odds that Ohio State’s season will end with a basketball championship are deep into longshot territory.

With their season opener tonight against Robert Morris, Chris Holtmann’s program has a 300-to-1 shot at cutting down the nets in San Antonio, according to Bovada’s listing early Friday morning.

On that same listing, the four teams with the best odds to win it all come tournament time are Duke, Michigan State, Kentucky and Arizona.

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Ohio State men's basketball | Buckeyes open practice doors for students - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State men's basketball | Buckeyes open practice doors for students
The Columbus Dispatch
About 100 of Ohio State's most-devoted men's basketball fans got one of the best early looks at Chris Holtmann's program of the entire preseason Wednesday evening. For about an hour, students who found their way to Value City Arena were treated to ...
The Ohio State Buckeyes ink four commits on signing day of the ...247Sports
Luther Muhammad signs letter of intent with Ohio StateLand-Grant Holy Land
Men's basketball: Chris Holtmann locks down first nationally recognized recruiting class with Ohio StateOSU - The Lantern
Scout
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Buckeyes, Cadets set for playoff clash - Athens Messenger
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Buckeyes, Cadets set for playoff clash
Athens Messenger
Nelsonville-York's Colt Yinger (15) runs toward the end zone during a game at Athens. The Buckeyes are 11-0, and travel to New Lexington for a regional semifinal against Fort Frye (10-1). Messenger photo by Louise Fish. NELSONVILLE — The ...


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