Ohio State's massive O-Line, bigger than the Browns, is the Buckeyes' key in 2017 - The Comeback (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State's massive O-Line, bigger than the Browns, is the Buckeyes' key in 2017
The Comeback (blog)
Despite not winning the Big Ten championship and being blanked by eventual national champion Clemson in the College Football Playoff last season, the Ohio State Buckeyes have plenty of reasons to be thinking about a championship ride in 2017. Among ...
A Big Ten battle right off the bat spices up Week 1 for Ohio StateLandof10.com
Ohio State might be the Big Ten's best team, but Wisconsin and Penn State have easier paths to an undefeated seasonLand-Grant Holy Land
Big Ten Football: Preview and Predictions for 2017 SeasonBleacher Report
Big Ten Conference -Rivals.com (press release) -Comcast SportsNet Chicago
all 22 news articles »

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Lunch Bucks: Buckeye talk live from The Thurman Cafe - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Lunch Bucks: Buckeye talk live from The Thurman Cafe
247Sports
Ohio State will take to the field for the first contest of 2017 on Thursday night in Bloomington, but before that there are still a few more days of preparation to get through. After talking to Urban Meyer and the Buckeye captains on Monday, our beat ...


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J.T. Barrett's performance against Indiana will set the tone for the Kevin Wilson era at Ohio State
Chuck McKeever via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeye passing game needs to get back on track after last season's sputtering finish.

College football is officially back, and Week 1, like all good things—the music of David Bowie, skeleton meme accounts, Jon Bois' 17776—is pretty weird. Ohio State plays on Thursday night, for some reason, and opens the season against Indiana, a conference opponent.

Adding to the stakes of the season's bizarre start? Ohio State's new offensive coordinator, Kevin Wilson, was Indiana's head coach for the last six years. Wilson, whose teams in Bloomington were always super-drunk-fun on offense, is a welcome addition to the coaching staff in Columbus. The Buckeyes' play-calling has stagnated at some of the worst possible moments in recent years, and J.T. Barrett's play at quarterback pretty much plateaued after his outstanding redshirt freshman season. It'll be on Wilson to get more out of the Buckeye passing game after a down year in that category.

Wilson's had a few months with his guys to get them ready. Barrett's week one showing could be a bellwether for his new OC's time at Ohio State.

The stats


Name: J.T. Barrett

Number: 16

Position: Quarterback

Year: Senior

Height: 6’2

Weight: 220 lbs.

2016 notables: 2,555 pass yards, 24 pass TDs, 7 INT, 845 rush yards, 9 rush TDs

Barrett enters 2017 with the weight of expectation squarely on his shoulders. After solid performances in the first 10 games of last season. Barrett's numbers plummeted in the season's final three contests. He looked like a shadow of his former self against Clemson, missing open targets and failing to get the ball downfield when the Buckeyes were in a hole.

But it's a new season, and there is a new stable of four- and-five-star talent for Barrett to throw the ball to. Wilson's ability to scheme will likely open up far more downfield throws for the seasoned QB than Ed Warinner was able to create last year, and potential big-play guys like Binjimen Victor, K.J. Hill, and Austin Mack have a year of experience under their belts.

Opposition research


Unlike previous seasons, Indiana's defense is looking better than their offense as we head into the 2017 schedule. Gone are the days when fans could expect a shootout when the Hoosiers took the field; what they might get instead is a more complete and competitive football team.

The heart and soul of the defense is linebacker Tegray Scales, who just might be the best defensive player in the conference. Scales is a tremendous talent, and his ability to bring down ball-carriers as well as drop into coverage to break up mid-range passes will make him a formidable opponent for J.T. Barrett. Barrett makes as much hay with his legs as his arm, and Scales is the kind of player who can disrupt both of those options. He'll get some help from LB/DL Greg Gooch, who's been a consistent force getting to the QB off the edge.

Behind Scales, the Hoosiers boast a secondary that might actually be the most talented unit on the team. They were a boom-or-bust group in 2016, turning the tide in games where their ballhawking aggression paid off but giving up huge scoring plays to lesser teams when their all-or-nothing gambles fell short. That fire is now paired with an extra year of seasoning; the Hoosiers return every significant contributor from the 2016 pass defense plus Andre Brown Jr. and Jameel Cook Jr., both of whom missed all of last season.

What to watch for


All of this is to say that the Indiana defense likely won't roll over for the Buckeyes. Under new head coach and former DC Tom Allen, the Hoosiers look better-equipped than in years past to give the Buckeyes a game, at least on defense.

(Stephen A. Smith voice) BUT!

There's little reason to think that Ohio State won't be able to get the job done on Thursday night. Barrett is a tremendous talent, and he has the added benefit of Mike Weber lining up in the backfield. Weber's ability to break tackles and hit his holes will take a good deal of pressure off of Barrett (provided Meyer's play-calling doesn't hit the same uber-conservative skid that has stalled the Buckeyes in the past), and freshman J.K. Dobbins, Weber's backup, has also emerged in camp as a real running threat.

Weber's about as consistent as they come. The real question is what Ohio State's new receiving corps will look like against an experienced secondary like Indiana's. Noah Brown and Curtis Samuel are gone, and with them a hefty chunk of the Buckeyes' receiving production from last season. It's unclear who Barrett's go-to guy will be through the air—K.J. Hill? Binjimen Victor? Parris Campbell? Terry McLaurin??—and it will likely take a few weeks for the WR depth chart to shake itself out. Campbell is a pretty safe bet for targets, given how much Meyer loves to use his H-backs; Victor might have the highest potential of the group.

It's a good problem to have. The big question for the Buckeyes heading into week one is whether or not Kevin Wilson and J.T. Barrett have the solution.

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Best of Week 1: What to watch, game rankings & notes
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

The opening week of the 2017 season finally is here. All the speculation and conjecture are finished. It’s time to get down to business. And Week 1 should be revealing in many respects.

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BH: Walking tall | Webb of intrigue - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BH: Walking tall | Webb of intrigue
247Sports
became the first walk-on member of the Buckeyes' 2017 recruiting class to lose his black stripe. Rossi, who is from the same high school as 2018 offensive line commitment Max Wray, arrived at Ohio State as a linebacker. However, once he arrived the ...


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Dryden said:

Anybody that says 'that was better than I thought it'd be,' is the reason these two will have a rematch in 18 months for another $400mm.

That was no contest once Mayweather was done letting McGregor exhaust himself in the first 10 minutes and started punching back.

McGregor couldn't even defend himself by the time round 9 started.

Click to expand...

It's not possible to echo this enough. I actually had someone give me 1/1 and floyd because "connerz has dhat power!". Floyd has stated over and over that the gameplan was to take over mid fight,then end it late. He even had the bet made(that he didnt get to make) down within 30 seconds of ending that fight. He let connor punch himself out early. I'm not sure he could have dominated a whole lot more then he did. Floyd could have taken any of those rounds he wanted,but he actually cares about winning fights and not just rounds. He barely even threw any punches the first few rounds. Hard to argue he wasn't just letting Connor wear himself out.I thought it was totally obvious.It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that anything outside the first 4-5 rounds would be trouble for connor.

Things i've heard after collecting the easiest money ive ever won today. I don't think i've ever heard such bullshit after a fight before. I swear it's like people are dying to say anything positive about Connor and shit on Floyd. Even if it's completely unrealistic. I've seen normal/decent guys that bet saying shit like this..

"but connor won rounds against a pro boxer who is 50-0"
"like to see floyd fight him in mma HAR HAR HAR"
"but connor caught him with that uppercut!!!!"
"Connor was pulling punches. The fight was rigged!"

Is it really that hard to believe that one of the greatest (if not best) defensive boxers that's ever lived,who's never been beat, totally controlled a fight against a guy that's never had a pro boxing match?

Everything you need to know about betting on Ohio State in 2017
Christopher Jason via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Previewing Ohio State and college football from a Las Vegas gambling prospective, with ESPN's gambling reporter, David Purdum.

We chatted with the most well-respected sports gambling reporter in the business, ESPN's David Purdum, to check the current Las Vegas odds, stats and trends, plus we get his opinions on the upcoming college football season. Remember, Purdum is an ESPN reporter who covers the ins-and-outs of the industry and is a recreational bettor — not a sharp bettor who is putting big time money on games. Also, these odds are coming from Las Vegas casinos, which do not have as many prop bets as off-shore sportsbooks, such as Bovada.

Take these trends and odds with a grain of salt, as the casinos always win.

Here are Purdum's takes on Ohio State, the Big Ten and the rest of college football:

Ohio State


Land-Grant Holy Land: Did the Ohio State-Oklahoma betting lines move at all when Bob Stoops abruptly retired? If they weren't released yet, has there been any line movement since the Buckeyes opened at -8?

David Purdum: The book at the South Point Casino — an off-the-Strip property that’s trying to take the lead on college football betting — opened Ohio State as an 8-point favorite over Oklahoma, way back on May 31.

Since May 31, the line has dropped a half point to -7.5. There hasn’t been a lot of early action at this point, but it will certainly be heavily bet the week leading up the game.

Land-Grant Holy Land: What is your favorite Urban Meyer or Ohio State betting trend?

Purdum: When it comes to covering the number, Meyer has entered GOAT status. I have his teams covering the spread in 59.5 percent of his career games. That is an incredible mark.

He’s amazing with extra time to prepare and -- speaking of the Oklahoma game --deadly in non-conference play. Since 2005, he’s 33-16 ATS in non-conference play.

Land-Grant Holy Land: What are the current odds for the Buckeyes to win the national title? How heavily are they being bet?

Purdum: Ohio State is the second-favorite to win the national title and can be found around 3:1 in Las Vegas.

The Buckeyes seemingly every year attract a ton of betting support in the offseason. In terms of number of bets, only USC and Michigan have more than Ohio State at William Hill’s Nevada sportsbook. (They operate the most books in the state).

In terms of money wagered, Ohio State has attracted the third-most, behind Alabama and USC.

Land-Grant Holy Land: What are J.T. Barrett's current Heisman odds? Is Vegas seeing some money coming in on the reigning B1G Offensive POY?

Purdum: Barrett’s 12:1 at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas. USC QB Sam Darnold is the favorite at around 9:2. Barrett is fourth in terms of money wagered to win the Heisman.

Land-Grant Holy Land: Do you expect the Buckeyes to be favored in every regular season game?

Purdum: Right now, they’ll absolutely be favored in every game. In the early lines up in Las Vegas, the Buckeyes are 7-point favorites at Michigan.

Land-Grant Holy Land: What is their current win total in Vegas?

Purdum: 11 wins (-120 to the under).

Big Ten


Land-Grant Holy Land: Who are the top three favorites (in order) to win the Big Ten East and Big Ten West?

Purdum: Books aren’t offering division winners to the best of my knowledge. But here are the top-six favorites to win the Big Ten at the South Point sportsbook:

Ohio State -120

Penn State 9-2

Wisconsin 3-1

Michigan 8-1

Northwestern 18-1

Nebraska 25-1

Land-Grant Holy Land: Besides Barrett, which players from the Big Ten are high on the Heisman Trophy odds list?

Purdum: Penn State’s two stars, RB Saquon Barkley and QB Trace McSorely are in the mix. Barkley is 12:1, same as Barrett, and has been a popular bet this offseason. McSorley is 20:1.

Land-Grant Holy Land: What are some trends from Jim Harbaugh that stick out from his college coaching days and last year?

Purdum: Harbaugh has been decent, but unspectacular against the spread in college. I have him at 41-34 ATS for his career. He’s been solid as a home favorite throughout his career.

National


Land-Grant Holy Land: Who is getting the most action from bettors to win the national title?

Purdum: More money has been bet on Alabama to win the national title than any other team at multiple books. The Crimson Tide are the consensus favorites at around 5:2.

Land-Grant Holy Land: What is your favorite national coaching trend?

Purdum: Kansas State’s Bill Snyder has been money in conference play. Since 2005, he’s 51-26 ATS vs. the Big 12.

Land-Grant Holy Land: Which middle-of-the-pack team would you put something small on (best value) to make the playoff and/or win the title?

Purdum: As you know, I’m a small bettor, $20, $50, and lose more often than I win. So take it for what’s it’s worth, but Washington at 20:1, to me, seems a little under-the-radar for a team that reached the playoff last year and returns its star QB. Chris Petersen, of course, also is been extremely impressive over his career against the spread.

I would add that Wisconsin drew a lot of interested from respected bettors this offseason, due to the Badgers' schedule.

Land-Grant Holy Land: Who is the current Heisman favorite and which player not in the top-5 would you think represents good value?

Purdum: USC QB Sam Darnold is the consensus Heisman favorite. I prefer to bet on the Heisman during the season, looking for some ridiculous game by a player—like Lamar Jackson vs. Syracuse last year—and then try to bet it before the books adjust. The only Heisman bet I think I ever won was on Robert Griffin III, when he was at Baylor. Maybe I should re-think my strategy.

Land-Grant Holy Land: Give me your national champion and Heisman bets:

Purdum: Alabama. Holding tight on Heisman pick until season gets going.

Land-Grant Holy Land: Any final advice?

Purdum: Tread lightly entering the season – Nevada sportsbooks have never had a losing September since gaming control began tracking monthly revenue numbers in 1988.

Oh, and bet smaller amounts. You will make your bankroll last longer if you’re only betting 2 to 5 percent of it per bet.

Good luck!

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Ohio State football announces depth chart: Buckeyes football news - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football announces depth chart: Buckeyes football news
cleveland.com
Urban Meyer said Weber is still working toward getting 100 percent healthy after a hamstring injury in camp. Meyer said he's getting close to that. The receivers, as expected, are all co-starters because the Buckeyes consider themselves as having six ...


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Ohio State might be the Big Ten’s best team, but Wisconsin and Penn State have easier paths to an undefeated season
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Here are the games most likely to determine the 2017 College Football Playoff.

The past five national champions have all ranked in the top four of the S&P+ preseason projections.

Ohio State ranks third in the S&P+ 2017 season projections — but how tough is Ohio State’s schedule relative to other top teams?

To get a sense for that, I decided to look at the Big Ten and College Football Playoff contenders’ toss-up games, which are any in which the Buckeyes have between a 35% and 65% win probability according to the S&P+ win probabilities. According to the S&P+ win projections, neither team should be favored by more than a touchdown with a win probability between 35% and 65%.

This obviously doesn’t determine which teams are necessarily better than the others, but it does give a sense of which are most likely to go undefeated during the regular season.

Recently Bill C. looked at this question and found that Wisconsin might have the easiest path to an undefeated regular season — looking at toss-up games is just another way of answering that same question.

Below are the toss-up games for each contender, along with their expected win percentages. Note: I included near toss-up games from 66-68% too, since there were a fairly high number of those.


Alabama and Wisconsin have the clearest paths to an undefeated regular season, with each team only playing one toss-up game each -- and that’s if you include Florida State for Alabama (at a 68% win probability). Alabama’s schedule is even better considering that a Week 1 loss to FSU would barely factor in to the Playoff Committee’s decision making by the end of the season. While you could imagine a loss to FSU, LSU and Auburn will both be tough; Alabama’s S&P+ advantage over those teams is pretty drastic based on the preseason projections. Unless the Tide’s new offensive coordinator doesn’t work out, expect more of the same dominance from Alabama this year.

Both Penn State and Wisconsin have roughly 10-2 floors (maybe 9-3), while Michigan faces four toss-up games, including three where they’re not currently favored in the S&P+. Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin are likely all about the same quality-wise, though.

Outside the Big Ten and Alabama, USC probably has the easiest path, with toss-up games against only Stanford and Notre Dame. Oklahoma technically only has one toss-up game against Ohio State, but Oklahoma State and Texas are close enough at 67% and 68% (and they’re both rivalry games) that I decided to include them.

Ohio State actually has a pretty difficult schedule, with rivals Michigan and Penn State, along with Oklahoma at the beginning of the year. Add in probable Big Ten West winner Wisconsin in a potential Big Ten Championship, and there’s no doubt that the Buckeyes will be tested plenty before bowl season.

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15 Seconds of Fame captures your appearance on BTN
BTN Communications via Big Ten Network

Smile, Big Ten fans, you’re on TV. And video proof is on its way to your phone. Starting with Thursday’s Buffalo at Minnesota showdown at TCF Bank Field (7 p.m., BTN), for the first time ever, fans who appear on Big Ten Network game telecasts can have their TV moment sent directly to their phone thanks to a free app called 15 Seconds of Fame (15SOF). Fans simply download the app through iTunes or Google Play, take a “selfie” when they sign up, and check in to the game that they are at. If they are filmed by BTN’s cameras

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Ohio State releases first depth chart of 2017 against Indiana
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 depth chart might be out, but there are still several starters to be named.

Just a few days before the season opener against Big Ten opponent Indiana, the Ohio State Buckeyes have released most of their depth chart — which contains more than a few “or” designations. That shouldn’t be surprising with several of the position battles coming down to the final practice, but most starters have begun calling home with their position coaches and letting their parents know that they might need adjust some travel plans.

Heading into Week 1, there are still battles for the WR1 and starting DE positions, but with the reveal of quarterback Joe Burrow’s hand injury last week, the quarterback position is now set, with Dwayne Haskins getting the back-up spot -- and true freshman Tate Martell making the trip to Bloomington this week.

One of head coach Urban Meyer’s most coveted position groups is on special teams. He’s made no secret that he values the performances of his special teams players, and there are a few new faces this season, including punter Drue Chrisman.

There aren’t any freshman or red-shirt freshman listed under the first team offense or defense for the Buckeyes, which is a big departure from their season-opener last year. With more established players lining up for the first snaps this season, the team should have a solid foundation from which to build.

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Ohio State releases Indiana season-opener hype video
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


“You play this game for your brother!”

While Urban Meyer was giving his first game-week press conference of the 2017 season, the Ohio State football program released their hype video for the season-opening match-up against Big Ten foe, the Indiana Hoosiers.



The video opens with painful images of the 31-0 defeat at the hands of the eventual national champion Clemson Tigers in last season’s college football playoff. It then reminds the players and fans that war and adversity strengthens the bonds of brotherhood.

The video includes highlights of the fall camp with Meyer, veteran leaders including J.T. Barrett, and more pumping up the team, repeating the phrase, “You play this game for your brother,” before ending on an image of the season theme “One Strong.”

The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will travel to Bloomington, IN to take on the Hoosiers on Thursday, Aug. 31. The game will kick off at 8/7c, and will be the host of ESPN’s first on-site “College GameDay” of the season, and will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks with their Megacast treatment.

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Urban Meyer’s comfortable with improvement in first game week press conference
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


“As much depth as we’ve had” at WR as the Buckeyes prepare to open up against Indiana.

At his first game-week press conference of the 2017 season, Urban Meyer talked about his team’s progression during the fall training camp as they prepare to open up the season with a Big Ten Conference tilt against the Indiana Hoosiers.

In addition to the season-opener taking on the extra significance of being a conference game, Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator, Kevin Wilson, was Indiana’s from 2011-2016, before being let go last December over concerns about player safety. He was officially hired at OSU in January.

Meyer opened up the press conference talking about the horrific aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. He said that he has reached out to recruit Kendall Sheffield, whose family was impacted by the super storm, and is continuing to keep in touch with them throughout the ordeal.

Meyer said that he is comfortable with the progress that his team has made during camp, coming off of the 31-0 loss against Clemson in the College Football Playoff.

Indiana Gameplan

• Meyer said that it is much different preparing for a conference opponent in Week One, because there is a large portion of the team that is new to B1G action.
• Meyer also said that Tate Martell will definitely be one of the true freshmen that makes this week’s travel roster.

Position Battles

• Urban Meyer said that at the wide receiver position, it’s “as much depth as we’ve had.” He said that six players will rotate in at the WR positions.
• The head coach said that the tradition of calling parents when a player is named a starter began when his daughters played college sports, and he got a similar call. “That’s one of the coolest things.”
• Meyer talked about the challenges coming from replacing so many NFL-level talents.
• He added that Brandon Bowen is one of the most improved players on the team, and he won the starting position by a considerable margin. He added that word came through the strength coaches that something clicked for Bowen in early June, and he has been improving ever since.
• Meyer also said that despite Bowen beating out more experienced players like Demetrius Knox and Matthew Burrell, “No one is counting anyone out. This is a long season.” He went on to discuss the history of players who have continued to fight for playing time after initially being beaten out.
• The head coach said that J.T. Barrett has made improvements on his accuracy and his timing, trust, and relationships with the team’s wide receivers. Meyer believes that Barrett has long had full control and understanding of the offense, and that continued cohesion with the WRs is his next step.

Injury Updates

• Meyer declined to elaborate on the suspension of defensive tackle Mike Hill, but that he will update the media at some point in the future.
• Meyer said that Mike Weber is close to being 100% healthy, and that he doesn’t think that they are at a position where his ability to start is in question.

Other Bits

• When asked why the program decided to select nine captains this season, Meyer said that a few years ago, former defensive coordinator Luke Fickell mentioned that he was never a captain during his time at OSU, and that surprised Meyer. So, he decided that in his program that everyone who deserved to be a captain would be.
• While Meyer says that his staff keeps in close contact with high school coaches for recruits and commits, he said that he has never intervened in asking a high school coach to not play a player on both sides of the ball. However, he does make sure that players committed to OSU are continuing to live up to expectations.

The second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will open up the first full weekend of the 2017 college football season in Bloomington, IN this Thursday, Aug. 31, at 8/7c. In addition to the Big Ten matchup being host for the first on-site “College GameDay,” of the season the game will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks with their Megacast treatment.

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Ohio State men's basketball: Buckeyes in hunt for Florida point guard - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State men's basketball: Buckeyes in hunt for Florida point guard
The Columbus Dispatch
In an effort to make up for lost time since getting the job in June, Ohio State men's basketball coach Chris Holtmann has had to offer scholarships to more recruits than he's normally accustomed. At or near the top of that list for 2018 is Elijah ...

and more »

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Few surprises on first Ohio State depth chart - Dayton Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Few surprises on first Ohio State depth chart
Dayton Daily News
Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins talks to reporters on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus. David Jablonski/Staff. Story Highlights; Robert Landers a backup at defensive tackle. COLUMBUS. The Ohio State Buckeyes ...


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Ohio State football: Buckeyes hope offensive changes can fuel a championship run - NCAA.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Buckeyes hope offensive changes can fuel a championship run
NCAA.com
COLUMBUS -- With dreams of reaching the top of the College Football Playoff mountain, Ohio State was buried before it left basecamp. The Buckeyes' Fiesta Bowl trip last season, ostensibly the first step in the CFP, ended in ignominy. Ohio State's 31-0 ...
Buckeye Numbers: High scoring, win streaks, 1000-yard rushers, other Ohio State numbers to watch in 2017cleveland.com
Higher expectations for Buckeyes defenseAkron Beacon Journal
Blue Smith was almost a Wildcat, 'Bama continues to push for Ohio State commitment and moreLandof10.com
Galion Inquirer -Scarlet and Game -247Sports
all 75 news articles »

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Ohio State’s LBU reputation is safe in the NFL with John Simon and Ryan Shazier
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 list of injured Buckeyes keeps growing as the NFL season inches nearer.

Another week of NFL preseason football is now behind us, and with only one round of games left — all to be played this Thursday night, when most of the country (and certainly all of Buckeye Nation) will be tuning in for Ohio State’s season opener — we take a look at how some of the Scarlet and Gray alumni fared at the next level.

Ohio State’s #LBU reputation is safe in the NFL


Having spent the last three seasons with the Houston Texans behind stand-out players like J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney, former Ohio State linebacker John Simon was often overshadowed. Not anymore.

In only his third preseason game for the Colts, Simon has made big plays in each contest, proving early on that he plans on being the star of the show once the regular season gets underway. On Saturday against the Steelers, Simon made a strip sack on QB Ben Roethlisberger, resulting in a turnover and subsequent score for the Colts — his third turnover in as many games.

On the other side of the ball, another Buckeye linebacker, Ryan Shazier, lined up for some preseason action. Not one to be outdone -- and finally healthy enough to take part ahead of the regular season -- Shazier showed he was back to doing what he does best, making quarterbacks think twice before throwing his direction.

Curtis Samuel makes his NFL debut


He wasn’t in for long, but the Ohio State H-back turned receiver finally saw some snaps during this week’s preseason matchup. Curtis Samuel had been sidelined since the start of training camp and just started getting reps during drills in practice last week. In his first contest, he was 4-of-6 on targets for 15 yards.

It wasn’t Samuel’s production that was the focus for his team, it was the fact that he was back out on the field. Just less than two weeks out from the first regular season game of 2017, the coaching staff is just glad to have him working toward being fully recovered. Although there was a slight scare early after he checked into the game.

The Battle of Los Angeles


There were a bunch of people who used to fight for the State of Ohio, now putting their efforts into claiming a city that just two years ago had no NFL team at all. The Los Angeles Chargers (Joey Bosa, Cardale Jones, Joshua Perry) took on the Los Angeles Rams (Jake McQuaide) during Week 3 of the preseason.

Unsurprisingly, the star of the show was Chargers DE Joey Bosa. In tandem with Melvin Ingram, the Chargers boast one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league. Never one to shy away from a challenge, with the Rams in the redzone early in the first quarter, Bosa made a big hit on Rams’ QB Jared Goff, stripping the ball and setting up Ingram to scoop it up and head for the endzone.


Chargers’ quarterback Cardale Jones fared much better this week, finishing 9-of-13 for 74 yards, although he failed to score and committed one interception. As the regular season draws near, it’s becoming more and more realistic that Jones fill the QB3 spot on the depth chart, and slowly work his way into the backup role behind Philip Rivers.

Quick hits

• Running back Ezekiel Elliott saw his first set of snaps on Saturday night, getting 6 carries for 18 yards and 2 receptions for 6 yards. The former Buckeye is appealing his NFL suspension, and will go in front of a league-appointed arbitrator on Aug. 29 to find out if he’ll be suiting up for Week 1 or Week 7, or any week in-between.
• Wide out Terrelle Pryor Sr. is still trying to get his bearings in Washington, but he continues to prove that he has deep threat potential. He only caught one pass during Week 3 of the preseason, but it was for 17 yards — keeping his first down stats as stacked as they were last year in Cleveland.
• Carlos Hyde saw a decent amount of action Sunday for the 49ers, carrying the ball 7 times for 19 yards, with another three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Injury report

• Colts’ defender Johnathan Hankins was sidelined last week in practice with a shoulder injury and didn’t take part in the Week 3 preseason matchup. Similarly, his teammates — and fellow Buckeyes -- Malik Hooker (shoulder) and Jack Mewhort were also held out with just two weeks left until the regular season.
• Wide receiver Braxton Miller was once again out for the Texans, having been dealing with a lingering ankle injury throughout the preseason.
• Rookie Gareon Conley is still out with a shin injury for the Raiders, but is expected to get back to the practice field this week and could be back in time for Week 1 of the regular season -- talk about being thrown to the wolves though...
• After just coming back from an ankle injury, Giants’ CB Eli Apple was sidelined once again during the Week 3 game against the Jets — this time with an injury to his other ankle.
• Cornerback Doran Grant didn’t return to practice this weekend due to a head injury after the Jaguars game on Thursday. Grant is fighting for a spot on Jacksonville’s active roster given his limited practice eligibility, and the Week 4 preseason game could be an important part of the interview for the Buckeye. His former and current teammate, DT Michael Bennett, has missed the entire preseason, and could wind up being a guy on the bubble as we inch toward the season.

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Future Buckeyes in action: Gill, Jones, Teague, others star - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Future Buckeyes in action: Gill, Jones, Teague, others star
247Sports
After every weekend during the football season I wrap up the weekend that was in high school football in Ohio and elsewhere, focusing on those who will continue their careers playing for the Buckeyes. Over the weekend most of the future Buckeyes were ...


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Watch Johnnie Dixon’s mom find out her son will start for Ohio State for the first time
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Dixon got the starting nod in a receiver role for Thursday’s contest against Indiana.

Last week, we showed defensive end Tracy Sprinkle’s family getting the phone call that he was a captain for Ohio State football in 2017.

Keeping up the theme with good phone calls home, wide receiver’s coach Zach Smith made the call to the mom of junior WR Johnnie Dixon. In the past three seasons, Dixon has battled knee injuries and only appeared in 14 games.

On Thursday, he’ll get to play in his 15th game, but this one is special: it’s the first game he’s been named a starter. Below is the video, that was posted on Twitter by Ohio State football, of Smith making the call—with Dixon right next to him.


So far, Dixon has caught seven passes in those 14 appearances for a total of 55 yards. We’ll see if he can increase those stats come Thursday night at Indiana and continue to build off that performance throughout the season.

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Buckeye Numbers: High scoring, win streaks, 1000-yard rushers, other Ohio State numbers to watch in 2017 - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeye Numbers: High scoring, win streaks, 1000-yard rushers, other Ohio State numbers to watch in 2017
cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Will this be another big scoring season for the Ohio State? Will the Buckeyes extend their winning streak over Indiana to 23 games? Will OSU have yet another 1,000-yard rusher in 2017? Those are some of the numbers to watch as the ...
Higher expectations for Buckeyes defenseAkron Beacon Journal
Blue Smith was almost a Wildcat, 'Bama continues to push for Ohio State commitment and moreLandof10.com
247Sports Take: Smith to Ohio State247Sports
Scarlet and Game -Morrow County Sentinel -247Sports
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Big Ten Power Rankings: Ohio State, Penn State top preseason poll
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

It’s game week … finally! And after visiting each Big Ten camp on the BTN bus tour and with the season on our doorstep, here is BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart's premiere Power Poll.

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Everything you need to know about Ohio State quarterback JT Barrett: Buckeyes season preview - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Everything you need to know about Ohio State quarterback JT Barrett: Buckeyes season preview
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's 2017 season is about J.T. Barrett's 2017 season. Watch the quarterback in the first half at Indiana on Thursday, and you'll have a pretty good idea by the time the band hits the field how this year will go for the Buckeyes.
Torrence Watson de-commits from Ohio State: Buckeyes lose 4-star SGLandof10.com
Will Bosa's pass rush 'go crazy' in Buckeyes' new scheme?Daily Commercial
Counting down most likely OSU commits from 2019 Top Targets list247Sports
Lima Ohio -Eleven Warriors -Philly.com
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BM5: Game week arrives, along with depth chart answers - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Game week arrives, along with depth chart answers
247Sports
Game week has arrived for Ohio State and we have an action-packed edition of the BM5 to kick things off. What are the biggest storylines on both sides of the ball for the Buckeyes as they head into the season opener at Indiana (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) on ...

and more »

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2017 Ohio State Buckeyes mailbag: Will new OC Kevin Wilson help JT Barrett win the Heisman? - Factory Of Sadness
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


2017 Ohio State Buckeyes mailbag: Will new OC Kevin Wilson help JT Barrett win the Heisman?
Factory Of Sadness
It's officially game week for Ohio State Buckeye fans! With the Indiana “Megacast” looming on Thursday, we bust open our inbox to answer your questions from email and social media about the 2017 edition of THE Ohio State Buckeyes. It's not to late to ...
Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson Focused on Current Job, Not Past in Return Trip to IndianaEleven Warriors

all 2 news articles »

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Ohio State’s recruiting class adds another prized recruit
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The rich get richer.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last few months, by now you know Ohio State recruiting is on fire. Even though they’ve hit a bump or two on the trail, the Buckeyes' class of 2018 is still considered number one overall in the country.

Still tracking down talent to bring in, on Sunday Ohio State added another huge piece to their puzzle. Committing to OSU before his Huber Heights (OH) Wayne played live on the ESPN family of networks, four-star wide receiver L’Christian “Blue” Smith announced his verbal pledge to the Buckeyes over chances to suit up for programs such as Kentucky and Cincinnati.

"They get down to business at Ohio State," Smith said to Marc Givler of BuckeyeGrove.com.

"Going to O-State, your future is in great shape. You can go back and get a job and use your connections, that's how much of an impact being an Ohio State football player has," he added.

The 17th member of the Buckeyes class of 2018 team might not have won the game, falling 41-0 to the hands of Pine-Richland (PA), but Smith showed glimpses of why he’s ranked among the best of the best on the high school level.

Want to know what Blue Smith will add to the Buckeyes? The Land-Grant Holy Land recruiting team has your back.

2018 PF names leaders


Chris Holtmann and crew received some sour news when shooting guard Torrence Watson backed off his verbal pledge, but finished the weekend off strong by learning they're still in the mix for one of the top power forward prospects in the class of 2018.

Dropping his final five via his Twitter page on Sunday, four-star post presence Darius Days is considering taking his talents to either Ohio State, Louisville, LSU, North Carolina, or Xavier.


Still yet to visit Columbus, Darius will finally make the trek up from the Sunshine State to the 614 next month to see what Ohio State has to offer on and off the basketball court.


Days, a 6’7, 218-pound standout from The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida, is considered the 19th power forward and 71st overall prospect in the class of 2018, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. A standout for the Lions, he averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds a contest as a junior last season on his way to being named the Gainesville Sun’s co-boys basketball player of the year.

Quick Hits

• Three-star class of 2018 small forward Aaron Henry unofficially visited the OSU campus on Sunday. The 6’5 Indianapolis native recently named a top five of Ohio State, Butler, Illinois, Michigan State, and Xavier.
• Ohio State basketball target Elijah Weaver will name his final four on Wednesday. Weaver, a 2018 four-star point guard from Oldsmar, Florida, holds scholarship offers from not just Ohio State, but also programs like Florida, Oklahoma State, and USC, to name a few of his over 20 college opportunities.

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