Ohio State’s history with Tulsa (and the AAC)
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


There is a Golden Hurricane connection with the Buckeyes.

Last week, I discussed Ohio State’s history with the Bowling Green Falcons. This week, it’s the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes’ history that gets the treatment of online real estate on Land-Grant Holy Land.

While the Buckeyes haven’t played the Golden Hurricanes on the football field, there are some connections between the two programs.

Ya boy, John Cooper


While John Cooper strolled into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, his illustrious career weaved through Tulsa, Okla. From 1977 to 1984, the main man on the Golden Hurricane sideline was Cooper.

Even though Tulsa didn’t get a chance to go to a bowl game, Cooper found success; he had four years in which he guided the Golden Hurricanes to a record of 8-4 or better. For real: Tulsa could compete with the big boys of college football with Coop. In 1982, Oklahoma State, who was part of the Big 8 (the predecessor to the Big 12), lost to Tulsa, 25-15. The following year, the gold and blue squad held close to the Oklahoma Sooners, but fell by 10.

When he left Tulsa for Arizona State, Cooper compiled a 56-32 record. Not too bad considering he was in the Missouri Valley Conference and was playing Big 8 programs throughout his time in charge.

Fun Fact: the current co-defensive coordinator for Tulsa, Bill Young, was an assistant under Cooper at Tulsa, and was a coordinator in Columbus when Cooper was head coach.

"Those fellows put their pants on one leg at a time, the same as everyone else."


Francis Schmidt, the man who said the quote above, was the forerunner to the coach-Tulsa-then-Ohio State-club. Going way back to 1919, Schmidt took control of the Golden Hurricanes after a 1-2 year from Arthur Smith. While he was only in charge for three seasons, Schmidt collected 24 wins, with only three losses and two ties.

After bouncing around to TCU and Arkansas, Schmidt found his way to Columbus, Ohio to coach the Buckeyes. At the time, Ohio State was coming off back-to-back seasons in which they lost to Michigan – to add insult to injury, both those losses to the Wolverines were shutouts.

When Schmidt took the job in Columbus, local press asked how the Buckeyes would defeat The Team Up North? His response was that "those fellows put their pants on one leg at a time, the same as everyone else." The quote must’ve inspired his squad, as Ohio State shutout Michigan in the first four years of the Schmidt era. Also, this is where the Gold Pants trinket originates from.



In a way, you can indirectly link Tulsa to the creation of the most prized possession for The Game.

Whoa, that’s a big ‘Shoe you have there...


Delving a little deeper into Tulsa’s history, there were some pretty neat oddities found within the game week press release from the Golden Hurricanes communication staff.

The first of which is that this week’s game with Ohio State will be the largest stadium Tulsa has played in. Ohio Stadium has a capacity just shy of 105,000; the largest stadium Tulsa was at prior to the showdown with the Buckeyes was 85,657 – last year’s contest with Oklahoma.

If you were to put the Golden Hurricanes student body inside The ‘Shoe, they would take a just a fraction of the South endzone stands. Tulsa has a student enrollment of 3,473; Ohio State has an enrollment that is well over 50,000. Ohio State also has the third highest student enrollment in the country for a public institution, while Tulsa has the lowest among FBS programs.

Ohio State and Tulsa also started football around the same time. In 1890, the Buckeyes kicked off their first season with a win against Ohio Wesleyan. Five years later, Henry Kendall College (now Tulsa University), started their football program with a fellow named Norman Leard as coach.

Conference collision


Over time, Tulsa has bounced around from different conferences: from the Missouri Valley, to being an Independent, to the Western Athletic Conference in the mid-2000s and now the American Athletic Conference.

Ohio State has had run ins with a handful of the Golden Hurricanes’ conference compadres. The Buckeyes carry a 28-3-1 record against current AAC members. Half of Ohio State’s wins against the AAC are against the Bearcats. Two years ago, the scarlet and gray defeated Navy, now in the AAC, in Baltimore en route to a national championship.

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Gameday+ | Tulsa spotlight player: QB Dane Evans | Buckeye Xtra ... - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gameday+ | Tulsa spotlight player: QB Dane Evans | Buckeye Xtra ...
Columbus Dispatch
Dane Evans, one of the more prolific passers in the history of a school with prolific passers, threw a curveball last week in a season-opening win over San Jose ...

and more »

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10 year anniversary of this classic.

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Cleveland Cavaliers Daily: Iman Shumpert, Buckeyes And Basketball - King James Gospel
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Cleveland Cavaliers Daily: Iman Shumpert, Buckeyes And Basketball
King James Gospel
Cleveland Cavaliers Daily features breaking news surrounding an August arrest of Iman Shumpert, ranking the best Ohio State Buckeyes and more Cavs analysis. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert was arrested in an Aug. 10th traffic stop on the ...

and more »

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Making The List: Earle Bruce
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Football Season has begun. Speaking for myself…I am thrilled. I love this time of the year. Football, we all know, is truly a drug among us that profess to the religion called Scarlet and Gray – of which I am a true Kool-Aid-drinker. Last week we finally addressed Eddie George – indeed well overdue. This week we will acknowledge another well-overdue Buckeye.

Earle Bruce as born March 8, 1931 in Cumberland, Maryland. In high school, he was a powerful fullback that dominated with his blocking abilities. He’d be recruited by then Ohio State coach, Wes Fesler, where he became a member of the freshman team in 1950. In 1951, prior to joining the varsity team Bruce suffered a torn meniscus which would end his football career. Woody Hayes would ask Earle to join the coaching staff in 1953, thus beginning his coaching career.

Bruce first served as Head Coach for the University of Tampa (1972) before heading to Iowa State University (1973-78). Following Woody’s firing, he headed to Columbus where he served as the Head Coach of The Ohio State University from 1979-87. Once the snobby board members got their way, Bruce was released from Columbus where he headed to the University of Northern Iowa (1988). Bruce would then move onto Colorado State University (1989-1992) where he ended his college football coaching career. His 20 year head coaching career culminated with a 154-90-2 record at five universities.

At The Ohio State University, Bruce followed the legendary Woody Hayes following the sad fiasco at the Gator Bowl against Clemson. Bruce would go onto win four Big Ten Championships. College Football acknowledged his worth by inducting him into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

In Bruce’s first year, the Buckeyes went undefeated in the regular season and headed to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl. They would lose the national title by one point to the University of Southern California.

Bruce’s Buckeye coaching history was summarized perfectly on his Wikipedia page:


At Ohio State, Bruce would finish with a record of 81-26-1.

Personally, I feel Coach Bruce was treated badly by The Ohio State University. He came in during an impossible time to come in. Following Woody’s meltdown and subsequent firing, there just wasn’t anyone that would satisfy the fan base. Earle Bruce did an outstanding job. In today’s College Football world, he would be well-sought after if the Buckeye canned him for the nonsense they did way back when.

Earle Bruce deserves acknowledgement on our list because, to be honest, he earned it. Imagine following Woody Hayes – allow me to repeat that – imagine following Woody Hayes! It is far from an enviable position of any sort. Earle Bruce earned his Buckeye leaves and he should have been treated better. So on behalf of Buckeye Nation – Coach Bruce – please accept our apologies in your treatment from the school we love and represent. Welcome to our list Coach. I pray all is well.

The post Making The List: Earle Bruce appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Penn State-Pitt and Tulsa-Ohio State headline the Big Ten’s Week 2 college football bets, odds
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 Nittany Lions and Panthers renew their rivalry, while Ohio State looks for another big win ahead of their showdown with Oklahoma.

If you missed out on this week’s national picks, be sure to check them out here.

Last week ATS: 9-9 (6-2 National, 3-7 B1G)

B1G games (All games Saturday unless otherwise noted):


Maryland (-10.5) v. Florida International - Friday 7:30 PM EST - CBSSN

Maryland got the D.J. Durkin era off to a good start with a 52-13 win over Howard last week. Even though running back Wes Brown is suspended for the first three games, the Terps had little trouble getting the running game going, seeing six players rush for at least 40 yards in the rout.

Florida International had Indiana on the ropes last week, taking a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, but Ron Turner’s team completely fell apart in the fourth quarter of the 34-13 loss. The Panthers are 0-10 against the Big Ten and there is a real good chance that record moves to 0-11 after tonight’s game.

Maryland 38, Florida International 23

Penn State v. Pittsburgh (-5) - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

Penn State finally has their rival back! These two schools haven’t squared off since 2000 when the Panthers shutout the Nittany Lions 12-0. Penn State fans want no part of calling Pitt their rival, but these two schools really are perfect for each other.

While we joke about whether this should be called a rivalry game or not, the running back battle in this one really is superb. Saquon Barkley is coming off rushing for 105 yards in the season opening win over Penn State, which is the sophomore sixth career game of 100 yards rushing or more. Pitt’s James Conner returned to the field for the first time since 2014 in the win over Villanova. The 2014 ACC Player of the Year ran for 53 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.

Pitt may have the experience advantage and home field advantage here, but the spread seems a little high. This feels like the type of game that comes down to a last second field goal. Pitt will end up winning but Penn State covers.

Pittsburgh 23, Penn State 20

Central Florida v. No. 5 Michigan (-36) - 12:00 PM EST - ABC

Good for you UCF, you just ended a 13-game losing streak with a 38-0 win over South Carolina State in Scott Frost’s first game as head coach. Your present? You get to go to Ann Arbor and get housed by the Wolverines.

I learned my lesson after thinking Hawaii could keep it with 40 against Michigan last week. I’m still not completely sold on Michigan overall, but I think they have little problem rolling Central Florida here.

Michigan 48, Central Florida 10

Cincinnati (-6) v. Purdue - 12:00 PM EST - Big Ten Network

Purdue beat Eastern Kentucky last week 45-24, raising Darrell Hazell’s record with the school to 7-30. Hazell might not be a bad FCS coach, since he is 4-0 against FCS teams, while his record against FBS teams is a pathetic 3-30.

Cincinnati struggled with Tennessee-Martin in the first half, but found their stride in the second half on their way to a 28-7 win. The Bearcats will be looking for their first road win against a Big Ten opponent in 59 years. After beating out Gunner Kiel for the starting quarterback job, Hayden Moore threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opening win.

This does feel like a game that Purdue will cover, and even though they are playing at home, I just can’t back the Boilers until I see more consistent play out of them. The Bearcats aren’t as sluggish this week and earn a double-digit win.

Cincinnati 41, Purdue 31

Wyoming v. Nebraska (-24.5) - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN2

After not only playing at Nebraska, but also spending time there as an assistant coach, Craig Bohl returns to Nebraska as Wyoming’s head coach. The Cowboys won their opener against Northern Illinois 40-34 in triple overtime. After having one of the worst rushing defenses in the country last year, the Cowboys only allowed 133 yards on the ground to the Huskies last week.

Wyoming will need another stout performance for their rush defense again, as Nebraska ran for 292 yards on 51 carries in the 43-10 victory over Fresno State last week. The Cornhuskers needed Tommy Armstrong Jr. to do very little, as the quarterback only threw 10 passes in the victory.

Bohl has struggled in his first two years with Wyoming, and while his team won’t win on Saturday, I could see them putting together a very competitive effort. Nebraska may win by three touchdowns but I don’t think they win by any more than that.

Nebraska 44, Wyoming 21

Akron v. No. 10 Wisconsin (-24) - 3:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network

What a start to the season for Wisconsin. The Badgers were able to upset LSU and end the Tigers streak of 52 straight wins against non-conference opponents. The big story of the upset was just how good Wisconsin’s defense was against Leonard Fournette and the rest of the Tigers offense.

Now the Badgers might have their hands full since they’ll be taking on a team that can actually pass the football. Tommy Woodson threw for 407 yards and six touchdowns in the Zips 47-24 win over VMI last week. Akron also saw former Buckeye Warren Ball rush for 110 yards and a touchdown.

This has the feeling of a classic letdown game for Wisconsin. Terry Bowden has had Akron playing better the last couple years, so I could see them at least keeping things respectable in Madison.

Wisconsin 33, Akron 17

Ball State v. Indiana (-16) - 4:00 PM EST - ESPNews

Indiana did their best to Indiana things against Florida International last week, until they got their act together in the fourth quarter and scored 21 unanswered points on their way to a 34-13 win. The Hoosiers did at least show a little bit of defense in the win, creating three turnovers, with two of those being interception returns for touchdowns.

Ball State had their rushing attack working against Georgia State last week, rushing for 325 yards in the victory. The Cardinals will be looking to repeat what they did in 2012, when they took down Indiana 41-39.

I keep trying to find reasons to take Ball State in this one, but for some reason I think Indiana puts together a more complete performance and ends up winning by at least three touchdowns. I know, I’m probably going to regret this.

Indiana 45, Ball State 21

Iowa State v. No. 16 Iowa (-15.5) - 7:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network

College football doesn’t get much better than El Assico. What other rivalry game will you see the road team win the last four meetings? Most years this game is truly unpredictable. Iowa State has won three of the last five games against Iowa. I don’t think Iowa State has three wins in all their other games over the last five years.

Well most years this game is unpredictable, I don’t think that will be the case this year. The Cyclones just lost to Northern Iowa 25-20, and Matt Campbell has quite a lot of work ahead of him in Ames. At least he does have Allen Lazard, who caught six passes for 129 yards and a touchdown in the loss, at his disposal as a wide receiver.

Iowa had little trouble in disposing of Miami (OH) last week, extending their regular season win streak to 13 games. The point spread here is a little higher than I’m usually comfortable with, but it’s hard to see this being anything aside from an Iowa blowout. Of course, it’s El Assico so anything can truly happen.

Iowa 37, Iowa State 14

North Carolina (-7.5) v. Illinois - 7:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network

For the third time in the last four seasons North Carolina opened up the season with a loss. Larry Fedora must have forgotten he had Elijah Hood at running back, as the talented junior only got 10 carries in the 33-24 loss to Georgia. The Tar Heels had the Bulldogs on the ropes, but couldn’t stop Nick Chubb and the Georgia rushing attack, which gained 289 yards.

The Lovie Smith era got off to a strong start with a 52-3 win over Murray State last week. Then again, there probably wasn’t a lot of doubt the Fighting Illini would handle a FBS team. This week sees them take on a lot tougher challenge.

Last year the Tar Heels had little problem taking care of Illinois, beating down the Fighting Illini 48-14. This year could be a little different story in Champaign. Illinois does have some experience at quarterback with Wes Lunt, who is entering his 47th straight year as Illinois starting quarterback. Lovie Smith has his team up to play, and while they don’t win, they give Illinois fans some hope for the future.

North Carolina 38, Illinois 34

Tulsa v. No.4 Ohio State (-29.5) - 3:30 PM EST - ABC

Ol’ me of little faith. Last week I thought Bowling Green would at least avoid getting completely pasted by the Buckeyes, and we all saw how that worked out. This week’s game is even tougher to call, since the Golden Hurricanes have an offense that is even more effective than Bowling Green’s. The big difference is Tulsa didn’t lose their starting quarterback from last year, and have a couple of very strong wide receivers returning. Last year Dane Evans passed for over 4,000 yards, making him the third Tulsa quarterback to accomplish that.

For all of the questions surrounding the wide receivers coming into the season opener, Urban Meyer has to be happy with the production he got against Bowling Green. Curtis Samuel was a monster, racking up 177 yards receiving. Mike Weber was able to find some holes in his first game for Ohio State, becoming the third freshman at Ohio State under Urban Meyer to rush for over 100 yards in a game.

What really stood out for Ohio State on Saturday against Bowling Green was the performance of the secondary. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them regress just a little bit against Tulsa, mostly because it’s hard to imagine since a young group performing at such a high level every week. Plus, it’s nothing to be ashamed of if the Ohio State has some problems corralling wide receivers Josh Atkinson and Keevan Lucas. I say the final score lands very close to the number, but it ends up being a Tulsa cover.

Ohio State 52, Tulsa 24

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Bucknuts on Facebook Live: Youth served for Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Bucknuts on Facebook Live: Youth served for Buckeyes
247Sports
Bucknuts.com's Steve Helwagen hosted a 63-minute segment on Facebook Live this morning. He talked Ohio State football and the match-up with Tulsa. He went through the 26 true and redshirt freshmen who debuted for OSU against Bowling Green.


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Big Ten Football: 5 things to know before Ohio State vs. Tulsa
Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor via Big Ten Network

Ohio State hosts Tulsa at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Our BTN Stats Guy provides five things to know before the game.

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Ohio State’s young talent looks to shine again versus Tulsa
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


After steamrolling Bowling Green, can the baby Buckeyes keep it up against Tulsa?

So much for a slow start. Behind an explosive offense, Ohio State steamrolled a Bowling Green team many are picking to win their division, 77-10. Damn near everyone wearing a scarlet jersey touched the ball or scored a touchdown, while setting the school record for single game yardage.

Defensively, Malik Hooker may actually be Ed Reed in disguise, and the Buckeyes limited the Falcons’ explosive offense to a meek 3.3 yards per play. In all, it was a pretty great showing. Expect more of the same this week.

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane come to Columbus with an offense also hell bent on playing fast, with legitimate playmakers out wide and at running back. Tulsa’s offense also provides intrigue in that it’s similar to the Buckeyes’ next opponent: Oklahoma.

For all its prowess on offense, Tulsa’s defense is just as prone to giving up points. Seeing a ‘77’ on the Ohio Stadium scoreboard may not happen again, but the Buckeyes should once again be balanced and dominate an overmatched opponent.

With that in mind, here are five things to watch for tomorrow (Before you start worrying about the Oklahoma game):

Line work


Despite Ohio State’s track record of offensive line success under Urban Meyer, no one would have blamed you for thinking that the new ‘slobs’ would go through an adjustment period. Even against Bowling Green, an up-and-down performance from the new group wouldn’t have been shocking. Instead, they kept the pocket clean for JT Barrett all day, and paved the way for 359 rushing yards, highlighted by this impressive stat:


Regardless of opponent, that’s serious impressive. The two returning starters — center Pat Elflein and guard Billy Price — were unsurprisingly stellar, but the play of the three new faces is cause for excitement.

With a combined zero career starts, Jamarco Jones, Michael Jordan, and Isaiah Prince all performed admirably, hinting at the line’s potential. Saturday is the next step in that development, and make sure to watch these three while the Buckeyes are having another field day on the ground.

Jones and Prince are both maulers in the run game, and another solid week of pass protection will go a long way into quelling uneasiness about Ohio State’s trip to Norman next week. Jordan looked a bit lost while run blocking at times, but that’s to be expected out of a true freshman making their first start. Otherwise, he looks to be every bit the talent he was touted to be this offseason.

The Buckeyes’ offense should feast tomorrow, so take a few plays to appreciate the new hog-mollies up front making it possible.

Open field


Ohio State’s deep stable of runners took advantage of the line’s play last week. Five of the six players with carries averaged at least five yards per carry, helping the offense achieve an astounding 84 percent rushing success rate. They were able to get anything they wanted on the ground, and with multiple threats, as well. Fears of losing Ezekiel Elliott’s high-level production were quashed, at least for one week. What the ground game was missing, though, was explosion.

Ohio State didn’t post a single run of over 20 yards against Bowling Green, despite controlling the line of scrimmage and averaging over six and a half yards per carry. With the talent in the Buckeyes’ backfield, expect that to change against Tulsa.

Redshirt freshman Mike Weber was the unfortunate recipient of at least three shoestring tackles preventing explosive runs last week, but with more experience — and some better balance — is a strong candidate to turn those seven yard gains into 25 yards. Add in the explosiveness of Curtis Samuel — and now Demario McCall — and it would be a surprise if they don’t break off at least a couple of long runs against this defense.

The Golden Hurricane were consistently gashed by opposing runners last season, giving up the fourth most runs of over 20 yards in the country. Despite not surrendering one against San Jose State last week, the Buckeyes should be able to replicate the success of Tulsa’s 2015 opponents. While efficiency is great, adding an explosive element to the run game would be a good sign for the Buckeyes before their trip to Norman.

Fully operational


Do you know who Percy Harvin is? Oh, you do? Did you know that he has a position in Ohio State’s offense unofficially named after him? Or that he was very fast? Well, if you weren’t aware of those things, Harvin was a very good player for Meyer at the University of Florida. He gave the Gators a dynamic weapon in which to destroy defenses however they decided to use him on a given play. In Meyer’s fifth season in Columbus, the Buckeyes may finally have a player with similar versatility. Or three.

Samuel’s first two seasons were littered with moments that showed his ability to play that hybrid role, and against Bowling Green he went full supernova in a Harvin-esque performance:


It’s been hinted that 15 touches per game for Samuel is a offensive goal, and yeah, please do that. Thanks.

In addition to the abundance of touches Samuel received, the original Percy Harvin 2.0 — Dontre Wilson — got in on the fun. Wilson’s 73 yards from scrimmage were the most for him since gaining 92 against Cincinnati in September 2014. He also caught two touchdowns, while seeing time at wildcat quarterback, so it’s clear that the staff is keen on giving him the opportunity to live up to the hype he brought with him in 2013.

Finally, Demario McCall burst onto the scene —literally— on Saturday, giving the Buckeyes a third dynamic H-back. McCall generated 90 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, as the Bowling Green defense could barely lay a hand on him. The production came in garbage time, but McCall looks to have the makings of a special player.

It will be intriguing to see how the staff uses the three against Tulsa, given the insane success they had last week. Keep an eye on not only how many touches each receives, but also they way they are getting them, whether it’s through handoffs, receptions, or snaps at the wildcat quarterback position. Regardless, it appears that Ohio State again doesn’t have the one hybrid back they’ve been searching for. They have three.

Playing in space


Much of the talk this week surrounding Tulsa’s offense centered on its similarities to Art Briles’ Baylor groups, and with good reason. Head Coach Philip Montgomery was a long-time Briles staffer in Waco before migrating to Tulsa, and bringing those offensive principles with him:

Like the Bears, Montgomery wants to play a chess-match with the defensive coordinator at a blazing tempo. Tulsa is going to run the ball when the defense gives them the look they want, or check to a quick pass — typically a screen — if they have numbers. They’re going to want to put pressure on the defense in a couple of different ways, whether it be by going horizontally or vertically, both in the running and the passing game. If the defense is not properly set after a big play, they’ll catch you napping and strike it deep.

While Meyer mentioned Tulsa’s star power at receiver, they are far from a pass-first offense that can’t run. The Golden Hurricane are content to pound the ball, while spreading the wealth. Three backs had at least 70 carries last season, and that trend continued last week against San Jose State. So how will they attack the Buckeye defense?

Much like Baylor, they prefer to split receivers out as wide as possible, creating a numbers mismatch in the box. This puts a ton of stress on opposing linebackers to make plays in a position where a missed tackle means a long gain, or worse. Raekwon McMillan should be fine in that regard, but this will be a pressure packed day for Joe Burger, Chris Worley, and maybe Dante Booker. History indicates if they’re able to make plays against the run, it should be a good day defensively.

During his time as Baylor OC, the key ingredient for defensive success against the Bears appeared to be limiting their production on the ground. When opposing run defenses tackled well, they not only prevented the explosive runs offenses like this so desperately crave, but increased the likelihood of three-and-outs. Three-and-outs are great against any offense, but especially so against one that likes to push the pace, such as Tulsa’s. If the Buckeyes are forcing these quick possessions, it’s likely because the linebackers are making plays against the run.

Causing havoc


If there was one thing to nitpick from last week’s game, it was the lack of a pass rush and overall havoc creation. While the Buckeyes generated two sacks, neither came from the first team defense, and essentially were during garbage time. They didn’t make many plays behind the line either, as Tyquan Lewis and Joe Burger were the only silver bullets with a tackle for loss. It wasn’t a poor performance by any means, but it was a quiet day from Lewis, Sam Hubbard, and co.

Bowling Green’s penchant for getting rid of the ball quickly was a reason for that, so it will be interesting to see the amount of pressure the Buckeyes generate against a team that prefers to wait a little longer before throwing.

The Golden Hurricane didn’t have much trouble preventing San Jose State from making tackles for loss, but did allow major pressure on passing downs, which bodes well for the edge rushers. You don’t need me to explain that if San Jose State can generate pressure, the Buckeyes should be just fine.

Expect the defensive line to get back on track, with Lewis and Hubbard in particular, having big days. Tracy Sprinkle’s season ending injury means opportunities for Dre’Mont Jones and Davon Hamilton, as well. But most importantly: Please, Nick Bosa, shrug next time.

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Ten things we think we know about Week 2 Big Ten football
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

In this week's "Things We Think We Know," BTN.com's Tom Dienhart lays out ten things: Fear Iowa. Ohio State means business. Heres one Week 2 "must win." Read them all ahead of Saturday's games.

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Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/9/2016
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Welcome to your tri-weekly look at all things Ohio State recruiting. Let’s get started!

Buckeyes Offer 2018 Pennsylvania Safety:



The Buckeye coaching staff has been out in full recruiting force this week and 4-star safety Isheem Young out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the recipient of one of these offers. He followed up the Buckeye offer with his 19th offer from LSU a day later. The 5’11” 195lb. Junior now holds 19 offers to date, and his crystal ball predictions read 50/50 between Penn State and Florida State.

He was slated to attend the IMG Academy which is home to a few future Buckeyes, but decided to stay home in Pennsylvania and play his final two seasons at the Imhotep Institute.



Penn State Commit Gets an Offer:




Back in Feburary 5-star defensive end Micah Parsons decided he was done with recruiting and committed to Penn State. A lot of offers have since come in for Parsons, and its possible that he will take visits to other programs before making a “final” decision. Parsons is ranked as the #5 overall prospect in the class of 2018, and is Pennsylvania’s #1 overall prospect.


2018 Oklahoma WR Nabs Buckeye Offer:



The offer train keeps rolling along, and this time it is to C.J. Moore a 4-star wide receiver out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Moore claims 9 offers so far, the biggest from Texas A&M, Georgia and TCU. Moore joins 6 other wide outs with offers from Ohio State, including Jalen Hall, Brian Hightower and Jahan Dotson. The Buckeyes have yet to offer a 2018 receiver from the state of Ohio.



Offer Train Moves West:


The latest offer comes from California, where 4-star linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu received an offer from the Buckeye coaching staff yesterday.



Tuliaupupu has 16 offers to date, and has a 100% crystal ball projection to USC currently. His offers include Oregon, USC, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Notre Dame among others. He is ranked as the #6 outside linebacker recruit in the country, and the 19th overall prospect from talent rich California.


Recovery Mode:


One of the biggest in-state targets for the class of 2018 is running back Jaelen Gill from Westerville, Ohio. Gill was injured in his teams first game of the season when he broke his fibula, which required him to have season ending surgery this week. It appears as if everything went off without a hitch, and now the recovery process begins.



Gill has 19 offers to date, and all projections have him picking the Buckeyes when he makes his decision. He would be the second back in the class along with Brian Snead, the 4-star back from Florida.


Buckeye Commit on the Shelf for the Season?:


It appears that the ankle injury suffered by JK Dobbins in his teams season opener might be worse than originally thought, and might cause him to miss the entire senior season.





Hopefully for Dobbins, and his La Grange team he can return before the end of the season and provide some help on the offensive side of the ball.

The post Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/9/2016 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ari Wasserman is such a troll.

Ranking The 5 Best Ohio State Buckeyes In The NBA - King James Gospel
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ranking The 5 Best Ohio State Buckeyes In The NBA
King James Gospel
Mar 21, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard D'Angelo Russell (0) sits on the bench before the game against the Arizona Wildcats in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA ...


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BM5: Change targeting rule? Breakout for Baker? Talking Tulsa - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Change targeting rule? Breakout for Baker? Talking Tulsa
247Sports
What do we want to see out of Ohio State against visiting Tulsa on Saturday (3:30 p.m.; ABC)? What are our expectations for the remainder of the season for OSU? Is defensive tackle a big concern for the Buckeyes? Is sophomore outside linebacker Jerome ...

and more »

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Script Ohio: Five Bold Predictions for Ohio State vs. Tulsa
Joe Dexter via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Ohio State takes the field again Saturday in non-conference action. Everyone expects the Buckeyes to win, but Joe Dexter and Clair Crawford have some predictions worth watching beyond the final score on today’s Script Ohio.

The post Script Ohio: Five Bold Predictions for Ohio State vs. Tulsa appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Tulsa Hoping To Rock OSU Like A (Golden) Hurricane
Chip Minnich via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Before discussing the upcoming Tulsa/Ohio State game, let me just have a quick moment to elaborate on this week’s post title. Growing up in the 1980s…let me tell you kids. There is a reason why people think of MTV nostalgically, and a band like The Scorpions was only a small sliver of what was available on MTV back then. Enjoy.

My man Shannon Sommers and I discussed Tulsa in greater detail on our latest Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast, with our guest Kelly Hines. If you haven’t listened to the podcast yet, you are missing out, as Kelly provided tremendous insight into Tulsa for this week’s game.


NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 19: Quarterback Dane Evans #9 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane looks to throw against the Oklahoma Sooners September 19, 2015 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Tulsa 52-38.(Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)


It is difficult to find anything concerning about Ohio State football, especially after a dominant 77-10 victory over Bowling Green. Below are three areas I will be keeping an eye on, as toe meets leather at 3:30pm EST on ABC.

1. Ohio State’s interior defensive line vs the Tulsa running game ~ Sincere condolences go out to Tracy Sprinkle, and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Ohio State’s interior defensive line depth was already questionable before the season, and now has been even more depleted with the loss of Sprinkle. Dre’Mont Jones, Robert Landers, DaVon Hamilton, Malik Barrow, Josh Alabi, and Jashon Cornell will all be needed to take over the loss of Sprinkle.
2. Ohio State’s secondary vs Tulsa’s passing game ~ Malik Hooker continued his knack for big plays that he began in the 2016 Ohio State Spring Game. Ohio State’s inexperienced secondary played tremendously well against Bowling Green, but were aided with many drops by Falcon receivers. Both starting Tulsa wide receivers (Keevan Lucas, Josh Atkinson) have big play ability (both averaged over 18 yards a reception against San Jose State), and both are considered legitimate NFL prospects. The secondary needs to come up big here again.
3. Curtis Samuel vs Tulsa’s defense ~ Samuel demonstrated why Coach Meyer called him the Ohio State offense’s most explosive player with three touchdowns scored and a terrific game running and receiving. Is Tulsa going to bring in a nickel defensive back to cover Samuel? Samuel is such a match-up problem for any opposing defense; I merely want to see what Tulsa defensive coordinator/former Ohio State defensive coordinator Bill Young is going to do.

I agree with Gareon Conley, who stated “We’re not going to talk down on our opponents, but next week I feel like we’re going to get more experienced people because I know a lot of guys left from Bowling Green…Watching some of the film from Tulsa, I know they have an experienced quarterback so we’ve got to get ready for that. It’s also a faster tempo than Bowling Green.”. Ohio State will get a better game from Tulsa than they did from Bowling Green, but Ohio State’s depth and speed will be too much for Tulsa in the second half. I have it Ohio State 56, Tulsa 17.

The post Tulsa Hoping To Rock OSU Like A (Golden) Hurricane appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State vs. Tulsa 2016: Game preview, prediction, and 6 things to know
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Bucks seek a 2-0 start when they welcome the Golden Hurricane to Columbus.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off of a promising start to the 2016 season. The Buckeyes welcomed the Bowling Green Falcons to Columbus this past Saturday, and come out with quite the victory at 77-10. It was the most prolific game of offense in the storied history of Ohio State football, breaking the school record for total yards in a game at 776. J.T. Barrett had six passing touchdowns, in what was an extremely successful day through the air for the men in scarlet and gray.

While it was a good start for the young team, it’s still quite early in the season, and it’s a very long and excruciating one (in case last year wasn’t a great indication of that). The Buckeyes come into this game ranked No. 4 in both the AP and Coaches Poll, but as the past two seasons have shown (and every other one, really), that doesn’t count for anything. The first real test of the season will come September 17 when the Buckeyes travel to Norman to take on the Oklahoma Sooners, but they’ve got the Tulsa Golden Hurricane to get past first.

This will be the first meeting between the schools. And although Ohio State is expected to cruise here, it’s not expected to be nearly as easy as the Bowling Green game was. The Golden Hurricane is led by Philip Montgomery, former offensive coordinator at Baylor. His team had quite an explosive offense last year, helping the team improve from a dreadful 2-10 record to 6-7, taking the Golden Hurricane to the Independence Bowl and giving Virginia Tech a hell of a game in Frank Beamer’s last on the gridiron. They even gave Oklahoma a scare last season, before ultimately losing 52-38.

Tulsa has been a good program over the past 5 years, so Montgomery has been quite a bright spot early in his tenure after the hole the program had fallen into. He was able to boost the team’s offense in just a single season immensely, and without recruits. Last season, the defense was really their largest issue, but they were young, and with another year under their belt, the Golden Hurricane hope that it won’t be nearly as bad. A little defense would have gone a long way during last season.

Last season, Tulsa’s yards per game was 13th in the nation. That’s very good! They’re returning last year’s starting quarterback Dane Evans, who threw for over 4,300 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just eight picks. That’s always a good starting point for smaller programs. They’ve lost RB Zack Langer, who led the team in carries and touchdowns, as well as Ramadi Warren, who rushed for nearly 500 yards and six touchdowns. But, they are returning D’Angelo Brewer, who produced over 800 yards and six touchdowns on the ground last season. Despite losing two of their top three wideouts, one to graduation and one to injury, the Golden Hurricane spread the ball out a bunch last season, so there’s experience all around the receivers we will see Saturday afternoon.

But when the Golden Hurricane was playing teams of higher caliber, it was all for none, because the defense just wasn’t there. Ranked 126 in defensive yards given up per game, every game was a shootout. They’ve lost their leading tackler in safety Michael Mudoh, who had 13 percent of the team’s tackles, but they’ve also returned a good amount of talent in the defensive backfield. If there’s going to be any strength in the defense, it’s there.

Ohio State’s biggest advantages


Offense. The Buckeyes had no problem moving the pigskin last week, and as aforementioned, Tulsa doesn’t exactly boast a great defense. We know what we’re getting out of J.T. Barrett. He finished 5th in the Heisman Trophy voting his freshman season, and finished the 2015 campaign strong when he got the bulk of the snaps. Billy Price and Pat Elflein on the offensive line, along with new starter (yet upperclassman) Jamarco Jones serve as a good anchor to let Barrett do what he does, like throwing for 349 yards and six touchdowns against the Bowling Green Falcons.

Along with these guys, come a breadth of new weapons for the Buckeye offense. Nine different Buckeyes caught passes this past Saturday, five of them catching 3 or more passes. New starting running back Mike Weber also showed great promise on the ground, with 19 carries for 136 yards. Curtis Samuel, who might be the most versatile player on the squad, had 177 yards receiving, and was second on the team in rushing with 84 yards. If the Golden Hurricane has to keep their eyes peeled for at least one guy on the offense that isn’t Barrett, it has to be Samuel.

Pure talent. If for whatever reason this game begins to get tough, and Tulsa puts together a complete game, Ohio State’s talent alone should be enough to carry them over the top. Surely if you follow Land-Grant Holy Land closely and our State Secrets, you’ll know that Ohio State recruiting has been going bonkers since the arrival of Urban Meyer. So despite the big turnover on the roster, the talent is undoubtedly there. The aforementioned Mike Weber, who had a stellar debut with the Bucks was a four-star recruit, along with first-year starting offensive linemen in freshman Michael Jordan, and sophomore Isaiah Prince. First-year starting wideouts, and a pair of sophomores Noah Brown and Parris Campbell were also four-star recruits.

It’s the same story on the defensive side of the ball for Ohio State. Sophomore Sam Hubbard wasn’t the highest touted recruit by any means, but he was a monster in his roles last season, and should really shake things up on the defensive line this season. Expectations have also risen for sophomore Malik Hooker, who had a pair of picks for Ohio State last week. Montgomery hasn’t been able to get but one recruiting class in with the Golden Hurricane. So he’s still playing with some from a crop that went 2-10 prior to his first season at the helm. He did a great job last season of coaching up what he had, but with the wide range of talent that the Buckeyes boast, that could be all the Buckeyes need to win, even if Tulsa is somehow able to keep this one close. It helped Ohio State overcome Northern Illinois last season.

Coaching. Urban Meyer is undoubtedly one of the best in the business. Ohio State was already a great program before he took over in 2012, and he’s taken it to new heights, and setting the Buckeyes up for what could be a dynasty-like run if the recruiting classes keep coming and pan out. He’s lost just four games as the head coach of the Buckeyes, and is 13-0 against non-power five schools. Barring the greatest game in Tulsa’s history, that should become 14-0 for Meyer.

Philip Montgomery is a fine young coach. This is his first head coaching gig, but he’s gotten off to a great start. Unfortunately for him and his team, they’re running into one of the most unstoppable forces in college football right now. It’s not a game they expect to win, but it doesn’t hurt to see how one of the best programs in college football does things on a Saturday. Meyer, along with his assistants make up quite the staff. A few of the more notable names include Greg Schiano, Kerry Coombs, and Zach Smith. And despite the heat that Ed Warinner and Tim Beck have taken the past handful of months, they had a hand in the best offensive day in Ohio State’s history. If the game is close and it comes down to coaching, the Buckeyes chances are pretty dang good.

Bowling Green’s biggest advantages


Offensive weaponry. This is likely the greatest advantage that the Golden Hurricane possesses. While the secondary and their ability to stop the run were strengths for them last season, the combined product on the defensive side of the ball, was a huge weakness. With that said, Tulsa boasts plenty of weapons on the offensive end, and they’re able to put it together, and do it against anybody. Last season, putting up points was the farthest thing from being an issue with this team. Their lowest scoring game of last season was in a 30-17 loss against ECU. In seven games last season, they scored at least 40 points or more, with one coming against Virginia Tech.

How were they able to do this? Of course it all starts at the quarterback position with Dane Evans. The senior threw for 4,332 yards last year with 25 touchdowns and just eight picks, and completed 63 percent of his passes. This is good, because last season was his first in Montgomery’s system, so you’d have to imagine with a year under his belt, there’s room for improvement there. The Golden Hurricane is losing starting running back Zack Langer, as well as two of their top three receivers in Keyarris Garrett and Conner Floyd, but there’s still tons of production coming back for them.

D’Angelo Brewer, while not the starter, produced nearly as much as Langer did. The touchdowns weren’t as close, but in rushing yards, Brewer had the advantage. Brewer will be the centerpiece in the backfield, and will likely be coupled with James Flanders, who took Ramadi Warren’s carries. Don’t be surprised to see Raymond Taylor as well, who had 12 carries for 50 yards in their season opener. At receiver, Joshua Atkinson, Justin Hobbs, and Keevan Lucas combined for over 42 percent of the targets last season, and carried the load in their first game of this season against San Jose State. The drop off at receiver should be zero, but if anything, very minimal.

Stopping the run. There were not many bright spots for the Golden Hurricane defense last season. By now, in reading this preview, you’re well aware that this team is, simply put, bad on defense. But you can always find a positive in any situation, and the ability of their defense to stop the run was one of those bright spots. Their linebacking trio of Matt Linscott, Trent Martin, and Craig Suits were the catalyst for this strength in the Golden Hurricane defense. The trio combined for 35.5 tackles for loss. While you might think a good chunk of those were sacks, it was just seven of them.

So if this was the case, how could they have been so bad? Well, everything was getting past them. The big plays hurt, and if safety Michael Mudoh’s percentage of the team’s tackles (13!) is any indication, it happened far too often. It’s nice to drop those linebackers back and keep everything in front of you, but that just wasn’t a reality for them last season, and it resulted in a pretty bad defense. They gave up just 10 points in this season’s opener to San Jose State, but, they’re San Jose State.

Secondary. Another defensive strength? Yes, hear me out. They didn’t get a whole lot of help last season, and despite losing its leading tackler, there’s some experience and some talent there. They return senior Jeremy Brady, corner Kerwin Thomas, and safety Jordan Mitchell, who combined for 17 percent of the teams tackles. Brady and Thomas led the team in picks with two apiece. Thomas also led the team in passes broken up with 12, and is definitely a highlight when it comes to returning players on defense.

The Golden Hurricane also added experience with Keanu Hill, a JUCO transfer, as well as redshirt freshman Reginald Robinson II. The front seven really showed promise in the first game, giving up just 53 rushing yards on 32 attempts. This should help the secondary be better, because of the ground they had to make up for them last season. The hope here is that another year helps them make a greater leap on defense, and that showed in the first game. Ohio State’s offense will certainly be a different test, but the inexperience at wide receiver just might help Tulsa enough to be somewhat effective. Although that wouldn’t be an entirely safe bet.

Summary


F/+ Projection: Ohio State 46, Tulsa 21

Win Probability: Ohio State 93%

It’s a pretty safe bet for Ohio State to get away with this one comfortably. Tulsa is strong offensively, but if their defensive history is any indication, Ohio State could have another very fun afternoon on offense. Ohio State’s talent should be all the Bucks need Saturday to come away with this one.

After a smoking hot start last week, look for J.T. Barrett to keep making a statement, as it seems he has been slept on when it comes to early-season Heisman favorites. He got his campaign started in 2014 this same way, eating up on the lesser competition. Defensively, it’s always a safe bet to keep an eye on Raekwon McMillan, but also keep eyes on Malik Hooker, and Gareon Conley in the secondary. Expect the Buckeyes to come away with the W in the first meeting between these two squads.

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Ohio State Buckeyes Key Offseason Losses - BT Powerhouse (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes Key Offseason Losses
BT Powerhouse (blog)
The Ohio State Buckeyes endured a season of turmoil last year as they missed the NCAA Tournament and lost in the second round of the NIT Tournament, but heading into this 2016 season it's clear that this year's team will be noticeably different ...


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Ohio State offers 4-star receiver from Tulsa
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 enter Sooner territory for a top 20 receiver

We're only a day away from game two of the 2016 Ohio State football season. With the Buckeyes fast start last week versus Bowling Green, Urban Meyer and the rest of the squad look to keep the momentum going in the right direction when Tulsa comes to town. As all eyes in Columbus, Ohio are focused on the Golden Hurricanes, there is still recruiting being done day in and day out for Ohio State. It's been said countless times, but the Buckeyes continue to prove that recruiting is a business that truly never ends.

Ohio State offers Tulsa receiver


The Buckeyes may play Tulsa this weekend at home, but yesterday, Ohio State made their presence known in Tulsa, Okla. as they offered an incredibly talented local receiver. Making it known via his Twitter account, CJ Moore (Tulsa, OK / Union) announced that his latest offer came from The Ohio State University.


At 6-foot-5, 175 pounds, Moore possesses the height advantage every receivers coach desires. A tall and lengthy receiver with speed, Moore is currently the No.17 receiver in the country and the third best prospect from the Sooner State for the 2018 class. The composite 4-star holds nine offers, and the home state Oklahoma Sooners are pegged as the favorites to land his services.

However, Oklahoma has yet to offer Moore. With Ohio State now entering this recruitment, anything is possible. Look for Urban Meyer and staff to do what they can to get Moore on campus in the future. If a visit does in fact occur, the Buckeyes can certainly be considered a major threat to anyone recruiting the star receiver.

Dobbins season over so soon?


There really isn't one name that jumps out on Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class due to all of them being elite players, but all-purpose running back, J.K. Dobbins (La Grange, TX / La Grange) is ranked as the top prospect at his position not only in Texas, but the entire country for the 2017 class. An incredibly gifted athlete, Dobbins had some bad news recently as his season may come to an early end.

If the injury is season ending indeed, Dobbins will have to rehab the ankle and be back in his usual shape before heading north to Columbus. Nothing is confirmed as of yet, so hopefully Dobbins will be able to continue to play and help lead his team the rest of this season.

Gill's surgery was successful


Arguably a "must-get" recruit for Ohio State in 2018's recruiting class, Westerville South's Jaelen Gill had an unfortunate season ending injury early in this 2016 season. Set for surgery yesterday, Gill took to Twitter to let everyone know that his surgery was successful.


Obviously, it’s crushing that such an elite talent and great personality kid had his year end so soon, but fortunately a successful surgery will help him get back to being himself.

Currently rated as Ohio's No.2 prospect and the nation's No.2 all-purpose running back, Gill is every bit of his 5-star ranking. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound stud is right out of Ohio State's backyard – so look for the Buckeyes to continue to put the full-court press on Gill. Currently, 100 percent of the 247sports crystal ball picks are in favor of the Buckeyes. There's a long ways to go in this recruitment, but Ohio State certainly is near if not at the top of the list.

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Lewis has become key defender for Buckeyes - Toledo Blade
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Lewis has become key defender for Buckeyes
Toledo Blade
During an Ohio State recruiting camp, former defensive line coach Mike Vrabel, himself a former Buckeyes defensive end, couldn't take his eyes off a tall, skinny high schooler from a little town in eastern North Carolina. Tyquan Lewis won Vrabel's ...


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Buckeyes go to the the West Coast, offer elite LB - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes go to the the West Coast, offer elite LB
247Sports
The Buckeye recruiting machine remains in high gear all over the country. They have gone to the West Coast to offer a scholarship to Claremont (Calif.) High 2018 linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu.

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Buckeyes tackle mental health stigma during National Suicide Prevention Week - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes tackle mental health stigma during National Suicide Prevention Week
OSU - The Lantern
The Buckeye Campaign Against Suicide handed out free temporary tattoos on The Oval on Thursday in an effort to reduce the stigma of mental illness on campus in light of National Suicide Prevention Week. The semicolon tattoos promote the message of The ...


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ScriptOhio said:

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Houston and Cincinnati are missing. Well, Houston is missing. Cincinnati? Meh.

Buckeyes featured on PFF week one national and conference teams - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes featured on PFF week one national and conference teams
247Sports
The Buckeyes are looking to do the same thing in week two against Tulsa but the players may need a little extra motivation. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now!


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