Three Things To Watch from Arkansas State
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Ohio State looks to build upon its strong game from the season opener.

Ohio State psychologically cleared a hurdle by virtue of their 21-10 win over Notre Dame in the season opener. An entire offseason focused upon substantially-needed defensive improvement, as well as overall physical toughness, was demonstrated to a nationally televised audience that saw the Buckeyes slowly but surely wear down the Fighting Irish over the last two quarters of the game.

As tempting as it may be to rest upon the laurels of game one, Ohio State needs to focus all of their energy and attention on their next opponent, the Arkansas State Red Wolves. This game will mark the first time that Ohio State and Arkansas State have ever played.

Arkansas State is also 1-0, coming off a dominant 58-3 win over FCS Grambling. Considering how Arkansas State went 2-10 in 2021, any news that is positive for the Red Wolves is probably welcomed enthusiastically in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Ohio State is an overwhelming favorite (-44.5) and is expected to win handily. Even with the odds in Ohio State’s favor, below are Three Things To Watch From Arkansas State as this game kicks off on The Big Ten Network at 12 p.m. ET.

1. The Ohio State Running Game Vs. The Arkansas State Defense

On our latest Silver Bullets Podcast that previewed this game, Michael Citro AKA “The Grumpy Old Buckeye” and I speculated on what Ohio State’s offensive attack may look like versus the Red Wolves, especially with the likelihood that WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba will probably be withheld from the game as a precautionary measure. It was gratifying to me that Ohio State focused on running the ball effectively in the second half of the Notre Dame game, and I believe that is where the Buckeyes will try to build upon what worked so well for them in game one.

Arkansas State held Grambling to only 50 yards on the ground, but it is highly unlikely that they will be able to replicate that same success versus an Ohio State offensive line that is trying to reestablish a reputation for physical dominance. TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams may both carry the ball a lot, and I am curious if we will see the debut of true freshman Dallan Hayden at some point in this contest.

2. The Ohio State Linebackers Vs. The Arkansas State Run Offense

A familiar name will be carrying the ball for Arkansas State in former Buckeye RB Brian Snead. Snead carried the ball 12 times for 57 yards and 1 touchdown in the season opener, spelling teammate Johnnie Lang (13 carries for 124 yards, 1 touchdown). Arkansas State had little trouble from Grambling, as the Red Wolves ran for 339 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

The Ohio State defense, especially the linebackers, played well against a formidable Notre Dame offensive line and running game. As I wrote up above about Ohio State looking to build upon what they did in game one, here is a chance for the linebackers, led by Tommy Eichenberg, to show their fans and the rest of college football that the game one performance was not a fluke, and that the Silver Bullets have truly returned as one of college football’s premier defensive units.

3. Which Ohio State Freshmen/Backups Will Play Versus Arkansas State?

True freshman DE Caden Curry was the only freshman credited with game activity versus Notre Dame, and it came all exclusively on special teams units. Ohio State is a substantial favorite, and this is the kind of game that backup units on both sides of the ball may have opportunities to get some well-needed game experience.

If Ohio State has a sizable lead after the first half, quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Devin Brown may see some action. As any Ohio State fan will recall from the 2014 national championship season, the Buckeyes needed three quarterbacks during the course of that season, so getting McCord and/or Brown snaps in a game seems prudent. The aforementioned Dallan Hayden may be able to get some carries as the 3rd-string tailback, while other players such as C.J. Hicks or Sonny Styles may also get some action in the game versus the Red Wolves.

Even with a nearly 45 point spread, I have a difficult time seeing Ohio State beating Arkansas State by that much, especially if the Buckeyes focus on running the ball a great deal during the game. I have it Ohio State 42, Arkansas State 7.

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Ohio State vs. Arkansas State: 2022 game preview and prediction
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

After opening the season with a top-five win, the heavily favored Buckeyes look to put up points against their Sun Belt foe.

The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes took care of business last week in their season-opening matchup against now-No. 8 Notre Dame. Now, the Buckeyes get some breathing room as they host Arkansas State of the Sun Belt Conference Saturday at noon in Columbus.

Arkansas State? Never heard of ‘em


This week marks the first time Ohio State and Arkansas State have faced off, and just the fourth time the Buckeyes have played a Sun Belt opponent. Ohio State has previously recorded wins over Marshall (2004, 2010) and Troy (2008) — though, at the time Ohio State played them, Marshall was in Conference USA.

Home is wherever I’m with you


It’s fitting that the centennial season at Ohio Stadium begins with a five-game homestand for the Buckeyes — one that kicked off with a bang last week with Ohio State’s first-ever, season-opening top-five win. A 106,594-person crowd came out for the night game, the highest attendance at the Horseshoe since 2017. Chief among the crowd were more than 60 top recruits from upcoming classes who got to see Ohio Stadium at its finest. Oh, and also LeBron and Bronny James.

This weekend’s matchup against Arkansas State might not draw such a large crowd, but still, there’s no beating the atmosphere at the Shoe.

Standing in the Hall of Fame


Ohio State will honor its 15-person 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Saturday during halftime. The class includes four former football players, including cornerback Shawn Springs, the third-overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. Basketball great Aaron Craft is also being inducted. Take that, Iowa State.

We don’t get no respect


Despite the massive, nationally televised win Saturday (did we mention it was against a top-five opponent?), Ohio State fell from No. 2 in the AP Poll to No. 3 following Week 1. Credit to Georgia, who blew a now-unranked Oregon team out of the water, but Alabama stayed in the top spot after a shutout win over Utah State.

While these early polls hardly matter in the grand scheme of the season, there’s no doubt that achieving a blowout win Saturday is all but a necessity in maintaining Ohio State’s positioning against SEC foes ahead of non-conference play.

Dances with Red Wolves


Speaking of Saturday’s opponent, Arkansas State beat FCS Grambling State 58-3 in their season opener last week. The Red Wolves dominated just about every statistical category in the overwhelming victory. Here are just a few to note:

• Outgained Grambling State in total yardage 572-102
• Allowed just two yards per play
• Had zero punts to Grambling State’s eight
• Gained 34 first downs to Grambling State’s nine
• Maintained possession for nearly 12 minutes more than their opponents

This game which, again, came against an FCS opponent, was surely a breath of fresh air for an Arkansas State team that struggled in 2021.

Last season, the Red Wolves finished at the bottom of the Sun Belt’s West Division with a 2-10 overall and 1-7 in-conference record. Don’t let that fool you, though, as the Sun Belt was mightier than usual in 2021: Louisiana and Coastal Carolina both earned national attention with 13 and 11 wins, respectively.

That’s just offensive


Let’s talk more about that offense. Arkansas State is currently 12th in the nation in yards per game, with 572, and 10th in scoring offense with 58. Of course, that’s with just one game having been played (and this will not be the last time we reference our limited data points at this point in the season).

Sound familiar?


Leading the charge for the Red Wolves is senior quarterback James Blackman, a super-senior in his sixth year of eligibility. You might remember Blackman: He spent his first four seasons with Florida State, including two as the Seminoles’ leading passer.

Saturday, Blackman was 15-of-20 for 210 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Of note, while he’s not prone to take off (in fact, his career rushing stats look a lot like C.J. Stroud’s), Blackman can make plays with his feet — or at least he did in his final season opener. In fact, he had two touchdowns on two rushing attempts last week against Grambling State, thereby tripling his career rushing touchdown total.

Blackman is probably among the most experienced quarterbacks currently in the FBS — even more so than Penn State’s Sean Clifford. Facing a secondary that is still finding its footing, Blackman might be able to make some plays. For Ohio State, it doesn’t help that Blackman is not alone in his Power Five roots.

Feeling the transfer portal effects


Leading the way in receptions for the Red Wolves was Champ Flemings, who hauled in seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Like Blackman, the fifth-year senior receiver came from a Power Five program previously (Oregon State).

And rounding out this highlighted group of super seniors on offense, running back Johnnie Lang, a sixth-year player who spent his first four seasons at Iowa State, led the Red Wolves in rushing last week. Lang had 124 yards on 13 carries and scored one touchdown Saturday.

Mr. Jones and Harley


Head coach Butch Jones is kicking off his second season at the helm with the Red Wolves. You might remember Jones from his time at Tennessee, Cincinnati and Central Michigan. He actually won two Big East titles during his time with the Bearcats. Unfortunately for Jones, after going 0-6 in the SEC in 2017, he got booted from Tennessee and the head coaching ranks more broadly for a few years. But don’t feel too sorry for him. He joined Nick Saban’s crew at Alabama before joining Arkansas State in 2021.

Perhaps more relevant for this week, assistant Red Wolves head coach Rob Harley is the great-great nephew of Ohio State great Chic Harley — as in “the House that Harley Built.” The younger Harley happened to be a walk-on on Ohio State’s 2002 National Championship team honored last week. It’ll be the second-straight week a former Ohio State player comes to coach against the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe.

Day of our Lives: Season 4


Perhaps the least dramatic soap opera ever, Ryan Day’s tenure at Ohio State got a boost in ratings this past weekend against Notre Dame. The Buckeyes head coach is now 34-4 overall with one more premiere, top-five win.

While Day is still growing as a head coach (and probably should consider handing over play-calling duties), his offseason savvy seems to have paid off with the addition of former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

Jim for the win


On that note, Jim Knowles’ defense was as good as advertised and showed rapid improvement from the Buckeyes’ performance in the Rose Bowl to now. While the defense started off hot, it only continued to improve throughout the game. Notre Dame had just 72 yards in the second half and punted on its final six possessions.

And because the scoreboard matters, Ohio State’s scoring defense was phenomenal. The Irish’s 10 points were the fewest against a top-five opponent since 1996.

Arkansas State can put up points — at least they did against Grambling State. Again, it’s hard to know how prolific the Red Wolves truly are given just a single game’s worth of data, but Knowles’ new defense will have a test from a set of veteran offensive players who can make plays.

Not a second(ary) to lose


Ohio State’s secondary still has room for improvement, but the unit was better than they were, say, last year against Oregon, Michigan or Utah. One area of focus will assuredly be big plays, as the Irish had four passing plays of 20+ yards. It was also somewhat troubling that Notre Dame’s Tyler Buchner, a first-year starting quarterback coming into a night game in the Horseshoe, completed his first eight passes.

The Red Wolves’ passing attack was prolific against the likes of Grambling State. Still, it’s unlikely the Buckeyes’ defensive backs will be on the ropes against Arkansas State’s receivers.

Bringing down the house


Or, just bringing the house. Ohio State saw an outstanding performance from its defensive line — especially in the second half. Moreover, some surprising players led that performance. In his first start for Ohio State, defensive tackle Mike Hall had, perhaps, the sack of the game on 3rd-and-10 on Notre Dame’s final possession of the game, thus sealing the victory for Ohio State. Hall added two tackles for loss.

The Red Wolves allowed zero sacks against Grambling State last week. That will probably change tomorrow.

Tommy Boy


Fortified play from the linebacker position certainly played a role in the defensive line’s dominance Saturday. As we know, Ohio State has struggled at the linebacker position for several seasons. However, things finally seemed to click Saturday with the performance of linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, who earned Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Notre Dame. The fourth-year linebacker, who was second on the team in tackles in 2021 and the defensive MVP of last year’s Rose Bowl, had a team-high nine tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks Saturday.

Seeing red (zone)


On the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes are first in the FBS in red zone offense, scoring touchdowns on 100% of their attempts from scoring range. We’ll, for now, disregard the fact they’re tied with 64 other teams for the No. 1 spot as we’re just one game into the season.

Ohio State’s offense was not as prolific as we might have liked to see against Notre Dame, but the Buckeyes were facing a fierce defense. For those thirsting for high-flying action, tomorrow will be a much better option.

Getting the job done


C.J. Stroud had far from his best game as starting quarterback at Ohio State, but it was hardly a poor performance. And it makes sense that there were some fits and starts for the second-year starter, as he was missing his favorite target in Smith-Njigba. The junior quarterback began his second season under center going 24-for-34 for 233 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. Not bad against a defense that finished last season ranked 15th in total defense.

Further, while the numbers he put up were not monster, Stroud remained the favorite in Heisman betting after Week 1. He’ll certainly have the opportunity to pad those stats tomorrow.

We miss you, JSN


Star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba may be out against Arkansas State, and that’s okay. Smith-Njigba was hurt against Notre Dame Saturday and Day has said that Stroud’s favorite target won’t return until he’s at full strength — something the head coach surely felt comfortable with given the next two matchups against Arkansas State and Toledo.

If you’re worried about who Stroud will throw to tomorrow, never fear. Electrifying return man Emeka Egbuka had a career game at receiver, hauling in nine catches for 90 yards and the Buckeyes’ first touchdown of the season. Beyond Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr. had five catches for 56 yards. Even the tight ends got involved. Senior Cade Stover had three catches for 14 yards.

And of course, there’s fifth-year senior wide receiver Xavier Johnson, whose touchdown catch put the Buckeyes ahead in the third quarter and whose tackle on the ensuing kickoff put the Irish in terrible field position from which they could not emerge.

Too fast, too furious


Despite a first half where the Buckeyes seemed off their rhythm, Ohio State showed some tempo in the second half against Notre Dame, catching the Fighting Irish on their heels.

After two punts on two drives to open the third quarter, the third drive was the charm as the Buckeyes drove downfield going 78 yards in 10 plays in under five minutes. That drive, of course, wrapped with Stroud’s touchdown pass to Johnson.

For the first time all night, Notre Dame’s defense looked winded as Stroud ran what wasn’t exactly a hurry-up offense, but just enough to keep the Irish on their heels. And Buckeye Nation breathed a sigh of relief as we saw a vestige of the quick-strike offense which made Ohio State so powerful last season — offense we’ll hopefully see a whole lot more of against the Red Wolves.

This here is a run-out-the-clock situation


On the flip side, after taking things up a notch, the Ohio State offense seemed to melt right into a clock-killing, fourth-quarter drive that effectively eliminated any hope of a comeback for Notre Dame. Running back TreVeyon Henderson took the first three carries for 15 total yards before fellow back Miyan Williams took over rushing duties, carrying the ball seven times. Williams also had a critical catch on 3rd-and-3 deep in Ohio State’s own territory to keep the drive going.

We’ll also take a moment here to credit the offensive line. Though the unit allowed an early sack on Stroud, the highly touted group paved the way for Henderson and Williams’ performances and a very respectable 172 rushing yards against a fierce Notre Dame defensive line.

What was impressive about that 95-yard, 7:06-minute drive was how the offense managed to switch gears from going tempo right before. Many teams struggle with the run-out-the-clock situation. Especially facing a team like Arkansas State, being able to put things away early and drain the clock down is an important skill.

Kicking and screaming


Ohio State’s special teams have been a source of stability for most of recent memory. Unfortunately, the performance Saturday was something we’d rather forget. Noah Ruggles, who was Mr. Reliable last season going 20-for-21 on field goal attempts and 74-for-74 on extra points, missed his one and only field goal attempt Saturday from 39 yards away.

Granted, we’re being super picky here. On a weekend where some teams lost actual games because of missed extra points, we must admit that Ohio State’s special teams never put the result in jeopardy Saturday.

Elsewhere on special teams, Jesse Mirco put up a strong performance punting for the Buckeyes — something we haven’t had to say in a long time. Mirco punted five times Saturday (compared to 31 times all of last season) and averaged 45 yards per attempt. Hopefully we won’t see much of Mirco tomorrow.

Summary


The question here (not to jinx anything) is less so about if Ohio State will beat Arkansas State, but rather if the Buckeyes will manage to beat the enormous 45.5-point spread Vegas has laid out for them.

The game brings about as different an atmosphere compared to last week as possible: a noon game, an unranked opponent from the Sun Belt and fewer unknowns on both sides of the ball.

Still, Ohio State will need to avoid the letdown that inevitably follows a win like the Buckeyes had in their opener. And there are some tricky players on the Arkansas State side who could make things difficult, especially defensively, if Ohio State shows up in the wrong mindset.

This opponent doesn’t feel like a typical Group of Five matchup — possibly because the Red Wolves have benefited so much from the transfer portal. It doesn’t help that their head coach also has SEC roots and a proven ability to win.

Still, Ohio State squashed much of the speculation surrounding the program heading into the season. The offense didn’t panic when it was down and made second-half adjustments to take and maintain the lead. More impressively, the defense grew by leaps and bounds in just a few months (and with many of the same personnel) to become what looked like an elite unit last week. The Buckeyes looked in many ways like a College Football Playoff contender.

Now, let’s see that offense at work.

LGHL Prediction: Ohio State 59, Arkansas State 10

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for September 9, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


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Ask LGHL


Introducing ‘Ask LGHL,’ asking and answering questions throughout the football season
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ask LGHL: Just how many rushing yards can Ohio State put up against Arkansas State
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Loves Ohio State’s Talent but Wants to Keep Building Skill, Talent and Discipline in 2022
Chase Brown and Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Analyzing last Ryan Day comments before Arkansas State
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Previewing Buckeyes Week Two game against Arkansas State
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Can Ohio State cover a 44-point spread against Arkansas State?
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land


Will Ohio State football center Luke Wypler play Saturday against Arkansas State?
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Mutual trust between Buckeyes players, Jim Knowles already showing up on field (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Lathan Ransom Expected to Start for Ohio State Against Arkansas State
Braden Moles, Buckeye Sports Bulletin


What issues emerged for the Buckeyes in Week 1? Anything need fixin’?
David M. Wheeler, Land-Grant Holy Land

Film Study: C.J. Stroud and the Ohio State Offense Played Better than the Numbers Showed in the Victory Over Notre Dame
Kyle Jones, Eleven Warriors

Buckeyes preparing contingency plans along interior of offensive line (paywall)
Tim May, Lettermen Row

Emeka Egbuka in Prime Position to Steal Spotlight at Wide Receiver Amid Injuries to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

On the Hardwood


Men’s Basketball: Buckeyes to open Big Ten with Rutgers and close year at Michigan State
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Big Ten basketball: Rating each team’s conference schedule for 2022-23 season
Isaac Trotter, 247Sports


Ohio State men’s basketball player preview: Isaac Likekele
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Women’s Soccer: Buckeyes Win A Thriller 3-2 at Brown
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Golf: Buckeyes Fire -14 in Final Round of Frederica Cup
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...


Should be national holiday, tbh


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Buck Off Podcast: Notre Dame review, C.J. Stroud’s new confidence level, and our Arkansas State report
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas State is the biggest game on Ohio State’s schedule (this week), but there is a lot more to talk about than the Red Wolves.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” I am joined by Jordan Williams. The guys take a look back at Ohio State’s matchup against Notre Dame, take a look forward to Arkansas State, and discuss the news from throughout the week.

To get the show started, the guys give their final takeaways on Ohio State’s matchup against Notre Dame. The guys discuss the performance from the defense in detail, getting into some particular sequences from the game and the rotations of the defensive position groups. After that, they look at the offensive performance and why the offense was better than initially thought. They discuss the offensive line play and how Ryan Day needs to learn how to rely on his running backs.

Then we get into the coach and player press conferences from this week. The Buckeyes coaches talked about the physical win, and the guys discuss why this is the foundation to a successful season for the Buckeyes. They also talk about Perry Eliano’s clout as the safeties coach, his confidence, and the future rotation of the Ohio State safeties. The last part of this discussion gets into Stroud’s leveled up confidence from a leadership standpoint.

After the break, the guys get into their Arkansas State report. A major point of discussion is how hard this game will be to get up for after an incredibly high level matchup against Notre Dame. The guys discuss the Arkansas State roster building strategy, and how the Buckeyes can attack a defense that had the worst run defense in 2021 and an offense that gave up 48 sacks in 12 games.

To close out the show, the guys get into a list of things fans and coaches can learn from a game like the matchup against Arkansas State. Then, Jordan brings up one of the wildest “Final Thoughts” in Buck Off history — hint: kickers are people too.


Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod

Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330

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Ohio State earns Crystal Ball for in-state 2024 athlete, preps for another slate of visitors
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Damarion Witten | 247Sports

The Buckeyes look to be in position to keep one of the top 2024 players within state borders at home.

Arkansas State is already coming to town as the week went by rather quickly. With another home game on the docket, the Buckeyes are set up to host a crew of recruits again. While it’s not at the same capacity of Week 1, it’s another chance to keep the momentum rolling in a positive direction on the trail. If anything, having a smaller number of visitors this week allows the coaches to roll out the red carpet, and that should be a big time benefit.

Ryan Day and company have a great recipe for gameday visits, and this weekend should be much of the same. With the season well underway, look for the rest of these home games slated over the next couple of months to be huge recruiting opportunities as both local and national targets make their way to Columbus.

Signs pointing towards keeping a 2024 athlete home


Pipelines are hard to come by when it comes to recruiting, but when one is steady, there’s not much that’s better. For years, Cleveland Glenville was exactly that for Ohio State, and after a bit of a hiatus, it looks to be very much back in the works of being a school that produces several elite players — many of which end up in Columbus suiting up for the Buckeyes.

With a 2023 player already committed thanks to Arvell Reese and a couple of other names already taking priority, the Buckeyes are seeing additional targets come to mind. A 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction was submitted in Ohio State’s favor on Thursday for yet another Glenville product in the 2024 class.

6-foot-4, 220 pound athlete Damarion Witten was predicted to stay close to home for his college career, and the submission coming from Bill Kurelic makes it one that’s definitely worth paying attention to. Witten being linked to Ohio State this early after his recent Buckeye offer bodes pretty well for the 2024 class adding him to the fold sooner or later.

The No. 240 player nationally, Witten is the 31st best athlete in the class and the 10th best player in Ohio for 2024 per the 247Sports Composite. Witten was just recently offered by Ohio State, and with the upside he already has, this is one target that the Buckeyes would love to keep at home. Fortunately, signs are trending towards that being the case.

Guest list growing for Saturday’s contest


As mentioned, another game in The Shoe is the perfect opportunity to host recruits for game day experiences. As they will all season long, recruits will flock to Columbus to see what the Buckeyes have to offer, and the coaching staff has the perfect itinerary for these players to follow as they take in one of the best atmospheres in all of college football. With the game just over 24 hours away, here’s a few names that will be in attendance on Saturday.

Making the in-state trek, 2024 offensive lineman Jaden Ball (Carroll, Ohio/Bloom-Carroll) will be on site to see the Buckeyes in action. A 6-foot-4, 285 pound interior lineman, Ball does not currently hold an offer from Ohio State, but does have three to his name with MAC schools such as Akron and Miami Ohio in the fold. An unranked prospect right now, solid junior and senior seasons will certainly have more eyes on his play.


Sticking with the trend, Ohio State will also be hosting another 2024 interior lineman from not too far away as Jake Grimm (Columbus, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) will make the short commute to campus. Like the aforementioned Ball, Grimm is also a 6-foot-4, 280 pound offensive line prospect that is starting to see his recruitment start to take shape. With only one offer to date, this is yet another player that Ohio State is able to keep tabs on to see how the rest of his junior season plays out and then some. Unranked as of now by 247Sports, the Buckeyes are at the very least are paying attention.

Quick Hits

• In addition to the two offensive linemen slated to visit, the Buckeyes will also be hosting another pair of in-state prospects as both Tito Glass, an unranked running back in the 2024 class, and Jaystin Gwinn, a 2025 quarterback, have confirmed their visit plans for this weekend. While both are currently without a 247Sports ranking, like any visitor, the Buckeyes are watching their in-state products and evaluating every chance they can.

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Ask LGHL: Just how many rushing yards can Ohio State put up against Arkansas State?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Set Number: X164138 TK1

You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.

Every day for the entirety of the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

Question: Just how many yards can Ohio State put up against Arkansas State?


I feel like I can speak for most Buckeye fans when I say that the biggest pleasant surprise from Saturday’s 21-10 victory over the then-No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish was the absolutely stellar performance by the Ohio State defense. However, a close second would be the impressive rushing performance by Miyan Williams, TreVeyon Henderson, and the entire OSU offensive line.

In total, they rushed for 172 yards, with Henderson going for 91 on 6.1 yards per carry while Williams had 84 on 6.0 ypc. While I am on record as saying that Ryan Day and the Buckeyes should take the next two games — against Arkansas State and Toledo respectively — to rest Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s ailing hamstring and build more cohesion between quarterback C.J. Stroud and his corps of first-time starting wide receivers, this Saturday against the Red Wolves might be a perfect opportunity to continue building momentum on the ground.

Though the Buckeyes opened as a 45.5-point favorite over Arkansas State, that number has dropped a while point to 44.5 as of publishing time, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Beyond the obvious talent differential, undoubtedly a lot of that point spread is due to the Red Wolves’ inability to stop the run.


While they did only give up 50 yards on the ground last week against Grambling State — a game they won 58-3 — in 2021, Butch Jones’ crew was last, like literally dead last, in stopping the run. They gave up 261.08 yards on the ground per contest, 11.25 more per game than 129th-place Kansas.

The Red Wolves gave up a nation’s worst 6.42 yards per carry last season; 2.74 ypc worse than the Buckeyes’ did in 2021, and we all know how OSU fans felt about that rush defense. Keep in mind that Arkansas St. only played one Power 5 team last year (a 52-3 loss to Washington) and their only ranked opponent was Coastal Carolina (a 52-20 defeat).

So, while DraftKings Sportsbook is not giving rushing total prop lines for this contest, I think it is safe to assume that OSU will be able to put up as many rushing yards as they want on Saturday afternoon in The Horseshoe. The question is, how many yards will they actually want to put up?

While I do expect Ryan Day to give Stroud, Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jayden Ballard, Xavier Johnson, and Julian Fleming (if he is healthy) ample opportunities to build an in-game report, at what point will the game get out of hand leading the coach to take the air out of the ball?

I am going to guess that the first half will see a fairly well-balanced offensive attack, with a slight favor towards putting the ball in the air. However, when it becomes clearly uncouth for Stroud to continue to chuck it, I imagine that we will see Kyle McCord step in to lead the OSU offense. I would think that Day would like to get him some passing reps in the game, just so he’s ready in case the unimaginable occurs with Stroud, but undoubtedly McCord will be handing the ball off more than throwing it.


What will be interesting to see is how long Henderson and Williams remain in the game. With the preseason third-string back Evan Pryor out for the year, the next man up is true freshman Dallan Hayden. Saturday would be a great opportunity to get his feet wet at the collegiate level, but does Day want to burn one of Hayden’s redshirt games this early in the season?

Players can appear in up to four games and maintain their ability to redshirt, but given the relative lack of depth at the running back position, I’m not sure that OSU wants to eat into the freshman’s four games this early into the season, just in case something happens down the stretch.

However, given that the emergency fourth-string RB is linebacker Chip Trayanum, the Buckeye coaching staff might not have much of a choice in how and when they deploy Hayden.

Either way, I am going to put the rushing total for the Buckeyes this weekend at 261.5, less than half a yard more than the Red Wolves’ 2021 season average. Even if the Buckeyes put on the breaks from an offensive standpoint, stop throwing the ball, and call simple, straight-ahead running plays, I have a feeling that with the team’s renewed emphasis on toughness, even the backup lineman and backs are going to want to prove their mettle when given the opportunity.

So, I’ll go out on a limb and say that Henderson and Williams both eclipse 100 yards rushing and in total, the Buckeyes finish north of 261 — who knows, maybe Stroud will even answer Buckeye Nation’s prayers and run the ball a bit himself.


Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

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MC&J: Can Ohio State cover a 44-point spread against Arkansas State?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

After last week’s huge season-opening win over Notre Dame, the Buckeyes host Arkansas State on Saturday.

Week 1 ATS: 7-8-1 (2-5-1 B1G, 5-3 National)

Season ATS: 11-11-1 (4-5-1 B1G, 7-6 National)

Going nearly .500 in the first week of the college football season isn’t all that bad. What makes it sting so much is we were so close to a number of underdog upsets. West Virginia, Purdue, and Illinois were all leading in the last five minutes of their games. UTSA was up 21-7 and had multiple chances in overtime to knock off Houston. At least Florida came through, which is funny because it was the “upset” I was least confident in.

Week 2 B1G picks:


Duke v. Northwestern (-10) - 12:00 p.m.- FS1

Evanston will host the Nerd Bowl on Saturday when Northwestern takes on Duke. The Wildcats had last week off as they traveled back from Ireland after downing Nebraska 31-28 in Dublin. Ryan Hilinski threw for 314 yards and two scores, while Evan Hull added 119 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

New Duke head coach Mike Elko had a successful debut last week, shutting out Temple 30-0. Riley Leonard also threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener. The win was Duke’s first since last September of last year when they beat Kansas, snapping an eight-game losing streak.

Even though I think Pat Fitzgerald is one of the most overrated coaches in the country, I do like Northwestern here. The Wildcats are rested and have a great running back combo in Hull and Cam Porter, along with a defense that is usually tough to do much against. Duke’s shutout was more of a fluke that Northwestern’s win in Ireland, and it’ll show on Saturday.

Northwestern 27, Duke 14


Ohio v. Penn State (-25.5) - 12:00 p.m. - ABC

If Penn State was smart they’d move this game to the evening so they could do their stupid “whiteout” thing against a team from Ohio. The Nittany Lions obviously should pull out all the tricks they can against the Bobcats, who won 24-14 when the teams met in State College in 2012.

Penn State was able to survive last week against Purdue in West Lafayette. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Sean Clifford knows what to do when his back is against the wall since he has been quarterback of the Nittany Lions for 75 years. The Penn State offense still has some concerns though, as they were only able to average 3.1 yards per carry against the Boilermakers.

I would love to pretend the Bobcats have a shot to upset the Nittany Lions in State College like they did 10 years ago. Sorry Ohio fans, it isn’t gonna happen. Penn State routinely handles MAC teams with little problem under James Franklin, while Ohio is rebuilding under whatever a Tim Albin is. The Nittany Lions had a couple extra days to recover from the win against Purdue and prepare for Ohio, but they don’t really need it.

Penn State 44, Ohio 13


Washington State v. No. 19 Wisconsin (-17.5) - 3:30 p.m. - FOX

Usually Wisconsin early season non-conference games can be boring, but this games does have some areas of intrigue. Not only will Washington State be visiting Camp Randall, running back Nakia Watson will be returning to Madison, where he started his college career. Watson ran for 117 in Washington State’s season opener against Idaho.

The Badgers aren’t hard to figure out. A heavy dose of Braelon Allen, hope Graham Mertz doesn’t make any mistakes, and trust your defense. Wisconsin wasn’t tested against Illinois State last week, and has a layup against New Mexico State next week, so this will be their only chance to play a real team before heading to Columbus in a couple weeks.

Wisconsin wins here, but they’ll get a test from the Cougars and quarterback Cameron Ward, who was one of the best FCS quarterbacks when he was with Incarnate Word. The Badgers do have some problems against teams that can throw the football a little, which is why I think Washington State can stay within 17 points.

Wisconsin 24, Washington State 20


Maryland (-27) v. Charlotte - 3:30 p.m. - Stadium

I’m not exactly sure why Maryland is playing at Charlotte. I guess that tells you just where the Terrapins stand when it comes to their hierarchy in college football. You would never see Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, or any of the other national powers do something like that. Then again, Maryland isn’t anywhere close to a national power.

The Terrapins were close to covering the 24-point spread last week. Buffalo hung around just enough to stay within the number. Even though the Terrapins are on the road, Charlotte is really bad, losing their first two games by a combined score of 84-37. After falling to FAU in their season opener, the 49ers lost to William & Mary last week. If Charlotte can’t even beat an FCS school, what chance do they have against Taulia Tagovailoa and the Terrapins? I can’t see Charlotte keeping this within 30 points.

Maryland 51, Charlotte 17


Akron v. No. 14 Michigan State (-34.5) - 4:00 p.m. - BTN

Akron needed overtime to beat Saint Francis last week. If the Zips can barely get an FCS team that hasn’t won more than seven games in the last decade, what chance do they have against Michigan State? Remember last year when Akron came to Columbus and were beaten 59-7 by Ohio State? This game is probably going to look a lot like that. Running backs Jalen Berger and Jarek Broussard get plenty of work as they jockey for carries ahead of next week’s game at Washington.

Michigan State 54, Akron 10


Iowa State v. Iowa (-3.5) - 4:00 p.m. - BTN

After watching Iowa last week, it’s hard to imagine the Hawkeyes scoring four points, let alone winning by at least that many. The Hawkeyes totaled 166 yards in a 7-3 victory over South Dakota State last week, using two safeties to dispatch the Jackrabbits. Apparently Kirk and Brian Ferentz had to see more of awful Spencer Petras at quarterback this year. Petras was as terrible as advertised, going 11-of-25 for 109 yards and an interception on Saturday.

As bad as Iowa’s offense is, their defense is that good. Iowa State has not only lost their last six meetings with their in-state rival, they have only scored more than 17 points in one of those contests. Things won’t get any easier this year as the Cyclones have to replace quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Breece Hall. Even though Iowa looked awful last week, it’s hard to not back the Hawkeyes in El Assico until Matt Campbell can prove he can beat Kirk Ferentz.

Iowa 21, Iowa State 10


Virginia v. Illinois (-4.5) - 4:00 p.m. - ESPNU

If Illinois was truly turning the corner, they’d be 2-0 right now. Instead, the Fighting Illini showed no killer instinct, allowing Indiana to hang around last week, which allowed the Hoosiers to score a late touchdown to beat Bret Bielema’s team. Running back Chase Brown has been great, he just hasn’t gotten much help on offense.

This line is a little puzzling to me, especially after what we saw when these teams met last year in Charlottesville, when Virginia won 42-14. I know that this year’s contest will be played in Champaign, but other than that there isn’t much different. Brennan Armstrong threw for 405 yards and five touchdowns last year, and he still key targets Dontayvion Wicks and Keytaon Thompson at his disposal. The Cavaliers are just the better team, plain and simple.

Virginia 31, Illinois 20


Georgia Southern v. Nebraska (-23.5) - 7:30 p.m. - FS1

What exactly has Nebraska done this year that suddenly makes you think they are going to put everything together and win by at least 24 points? Even though the Cornhuskers won last week against North Dakota, they took their sweet time to put some distance on the Fighting Hawks.

Georgia Southern does have a few things going for them. Not only do they have Clay Helton as their head coach, they brought in Buffalo transfer quarterback Kyle Vantrease, who threw for 367 yards and four scores in a 59-7 win over Morgan State. Until Nebraska proves they can play a complete game, fade them when they are laying this many points.

Nebraska 38, Georgia Southern 24


Hawai’i v. No. 4 Michigan (-51.5) - 8:00 p.m. - BTN

This week is J.J. McCarthy’s time to shine! Last week Cade McNamara got the start and it was a truly Cade McNamara performance, going 9-of-18 for 136 yards and a score. The Wolverines didn’t need McNamara to do much more than that in a 51-7 victory over Colorado State.

The cupcake gets a little fluffier this week with Hawai’i visiting Ann Arbor. The Rainbow Warriors are worse than Colorado State, as evidenced by Hawai’i losing Timmy Chang’s head coaching debut 63-10 to Vanderbilt a couple weeks ago. If Hawai’i can’t stay within 50 points at home against Vanderbilt, they have no chance of doing so on the road against Michigan.

Michigan 66, Hawai’i 7


Arkansas State v. No. 3 Ohio State (-44) - 12:00 p.m. - BTN

Just win, baby! After a slow start to last week’s game, that’s what Ohio State did, making some second half adjustments to send Notre Dame back to South Bend with a 21-10 loss. Thankfully the Buckeye defense came to play, since the offense had some issues early, which were compounded by the loss of Jaxon Smith-Njigba to injury. While head coach Ryan Day doesn’t expect Smith-Njigba to miss much time, there wouldn’t be much harm for sitting the standout wide receiver this week, and maybe even next week to give the injury time to heal.

There was quite a hilarious coaching matchup last week when Arkansas State and Butch Jones took on Hue Jackson’s Grambling squad. Jones and company easily defeated Jackson and the Tigers, 58-3. The Red Wolves have a familiar name at quarterback, as Florida State transfer James Blackman is taking the snaps. Along with Blackman, Arkansas State also has former Ohio State running back Brian Snead, who was dismissed from the team after he was accused of rape.

As much as I don’t want to see it, this feels like a perfect scenario for a bit of a hangover for the Buckeyes. After starting the season with an emotional game under the lights against a high-profile opponent, now they are playing a nooner against an inferior team. Even just a couple early drives not ending in touchdowns could be what decides whether the Buckeyes cover or not. Plus, Ryan Day said there could be more rotations on defense, which we all saw how well that worked over the last few years. 44 points feels just a touch high for this one.

Ohio State 55, Arkansas State 14

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What issues emerged for the Buckeyes in Week 1? Anything need fixin’?
David M Wheeler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Set Number: X164138 TK1

A closer look at Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame and what exactly ailed the Buckeye passing game.

Playing No. 5 Notre Dame in the season opener was bound to expose some problems for the Buckeyes. I was concerned about the defense: the line, the linebackers, the secondary. I guess that’s everybody. And I was wondering about the effectiveness of the OSU running game against a good defense. But never did I think that I’d devote this column to issues with the Ohio State passing game, and – let’s be honest – with quarterback C.J. Stroud.

The passing game, however, didn’t measure up, and it took a stout defense and a bruising running attack to pull out the big win.

C.J. Stroud


After the game, Stroud obliquely addressed his subpar performance. He didn’t use the word “nervous,” but he talked about how strange it felt to be playing for real, in front of a huge crowd, for high stakes. Yeah, he was nervous. Not surprising really, given the circumstances. What was surprising was that it took so long to shake off the nerves, to settle down, and find what broadcasters always refer to as his “rhythm.” But it did take a while, so let’s look at why.

The Notre Dame defense


Stroud was up against one of the best defenses that he’ll face this year, and perhaps one of the best defenses in the country — and they played like it. They came in with a good scheme, were disciplined, and executed well. They were beaten down by OSU’s aggressive and physical O-line at the end, but for nearly three quarters, the ND defense was the real deal.

The Irish, for much of the game, kept their two safeties (one of whom, Brandon Joseph, is a preseason All-American) deep to prevent the long pass plays that make the Buckeye attack so powerful. They combined this formation with a formidable pass rush on Stroud. The result of this combination was that Stroud couldn’t throw the deep ball. He didn’t have time, and the receivers couldn’t get behind the Irish secondary.

Although the Irish were credited with only one sack, the pass rush frequently flushed Stroud from the pocket, forcing him to roll out in order to keep the play alive, and to throw on the run. He’s good at it. But Stroud, like most QBs, is much better throwing from a protected pocket.

Small ball


Not being able to hit the big plays, Stroud was frustrated as he turned his attention to shorter routes. Once his favorite receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, went down in the first quarter, Stroud’s frustration (and nerves) worsened. He underthrew a number of passes. Some of them were incomplete, but, even on completions, he was short, or late. Throwing behind a receiver rather than hitting him in stride lessened the likelihood of a good catch and run, long a trademark of the OSU passing game.

Emeka Egbuka managed to snag a sideline pass and break free of his defender. He streaked down the sideline for the Buckeyes’ first touchdown, a play that covered 31 yards — the longest play of the night.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so many short passes from the Buckeyes, especially ones over the middle, that went for four or five yards. In Stroud’s great 2021 season, he averaged 10.1 yards every time he threw the ball, complete or incomplete. Against the Irish, his average yards per attempt was 6.6.

In 2021, JSN averaged 16.9 yards per catch; against ND, he had three yards on two catches. Marvin Harrison Jr., in limited play in 2021, averaged 12.6 yards per catch; his performance on Saturday was close – an 11.2-yard average for his five receptions. Egbuka averaged 21.2 yards per catch in 2021 (only nine receptions) and 10 yards per catch (also nine receptions) against Notre Dame. Xavier Johnson averaged 17 yards on his two catches, Cade Stover 4.7, and Jayden Ballard seven. No big plays.

Stroud didn’t really settle down until the running game started clicking in the second half. That success, combined with the great job that the Buckeye defense was doing, visibly removed some of the pressure from Stroud. He didn’t have to win the game himself.

The receivers


It’s a good thing that the Buckeye receiver room is so deep. We anticipated JSN, Harrison Jr., and Julian Fleming to be the starting wideouts. Fleming sat out of the game with an injured shoulder, and Smith-Njigba was injured on his first catch. Harrison Jr. and Egbuka both played pretty well, without blowing me away. And we saw Ballard and Johnson, surprisingly, playing meaningful downs. Stover caught three short passes but was (in my opinion) under-utilized.

Miyan Williams made a really nice catch for a 12-yard first down, diving toward the sideline as he made the grab. It was his only reception. And TreVeyon Henderson didn’t catch a pass. So, neither of these weapons was used to catch a wheel route, a screen, even a dump out in the flat. They didn’t have the chance to get the ball in some open space.

Play calling


Stroud and the OSU offense weren’t helped any by the play calling. The Buckeyes had to expect Notre Dame to try to take away the long pass. If they didn’t, the game would be over quickly. But it was hard for me to tell what solution Ryan Day had in mind to counter that tactic. Running plays, in order to bring the safeties up in support, are the obvious call, but we didn’t see much running in the first half.

Screens and draws are often employed to slow down a vicious pass rush. I know that Ohio State doesn’t run many draws and that screens are often executed with wide receivers, but I would have liked to see running backs on screen passes. Since Stroud seemed willing to run a couple of sneaks for first downs, how about a quarterback draw?

Notre Dame’s defense is no doubt faster than most teams’ that OSU will face this year. Nonetheless, the Buckeyes are loaded with elite talent. It’s necessary to get the ball to big-time playmakers — guys like Henderson and Egbuka — in open space. The Bucks like to run the slot receiver (or tight end) in underneath the linebackers and hope for a good run after the catch. With the safeties back, it was hard for OSU to get the linebackers to drop deep into coverage to allow room for these plays.

What about passes to the backs or a delay pattern for the tight end? When your wideouts are depleted, and the defense has taken away deep posts, seam patterns, and long outs, you need to have some other arrows in your quiver.

Solutions


First of all, Stroud is going to be just fine. He has a couple of fairly easy (I would hope) games to regain his stride. He’s the best QB in the country, and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to show his stuff.

I don’t know how long Smith-Njigba and Fleming will be out. Not long, I hope; the injuries don’t sound all that serious. But Stroud will need to familiarize himself with other receivers. He already has a good rapport with Harrison Jr., Egbuka, Ballard, and Johnson will get more practice reps this week. And, against an opponent like Arkansas State, we may see one or more of the true freshmen receivers.

The running attack looked very good in the second half of the Notre Dame game. It needs to be used, with perhaps some more plays outside to pressure linebackers and corners and set up some passes. Passing more to the backs and to the tight ends would also be a good idea until JSN, especially, returns.

Just as the passing attack is probably the most unexpected problem for the Buckeyes to face, it’s probably also the easiest to fix. All of the parts, really good parts, are already in place. It was a big win, and the only damage from the unexpectedly modest passing attack is a drop behind Georgia in the AP Poll. I can’t see that it makes any difference at this point whether a team is ranked No. 2 or No. 3. There is quite a bit of football left to be played.

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Ohio State men’s basketball player preview: Isaac Likekele
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images

“Ice” is trading one OSU for another.

As the basketball offseason continues and we move into the fall, Land-Grant Holy Land will put out our basketball player and team previews. There will be two previews a week leading all the way into the start of the season, beginning with player previews.

Last time we finished up the freshmen on the team and discussed Brice Sensabaugh and what he can bring to the program as a freshman. This time around, we are going to knock out one the three transfers coming into the program, starting with Oklahoma State transfer Isaac Likekele.


Name: Isaac Likekele
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 215 pounds
High School: Timberview High School
Former College: Oklahoma State University
Class: Graduate senior
2021-22 stats: 7.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.4 APG

Outlook


Likekele was the third and final transfer to commit to Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes for the 2022-23 season, and was the one that came out of the blue. “Ice” as he is known to teammates and coaches, played in 114 career games at Oklahoma State and started in 110, so he was productive in Stillwater from the jump.

Coming out of high school, he was ranked as the No. 156 recruit in the 2018 class, the No. 26 point guard and the No. 10 player in the state of Texas. He committed originally to Fresno State, but ended up going to Oklahoma State. He was only in the transfer portal this past offseason for a week before committing to Ohio State.

Last season, Likekele averaged 7.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He shot 43.7 percent from the field, 19 percent from the three-point line and 54 percent from the free-throw line. Likekele is not the best shooter, but that is not what he will be relied upon with the Buckeyes. They will need him to help run the offense and use his big frame to create his own shot in the lane, as well as create for others.

He was the 44th player in Oklahoma State history to surpass the 1,000-point mark, and the only player in Cowboy history to record 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 400 assists. He started all 30 games last season, and averaged over 30 minutes per game, so he has a motor that just keeps going.

For his career as a Cowboy, almost all of his stats and shooting splits are higher than last season. He averaged 8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 46 percent from the field, 27 percent from the three-point line and 62 percent from the free-throw line.

Expectation


As is the case with all three of the transfers coming to Columbus, Likekele will be expected to step in and make an impact from day one. He can easily play 25-30 minutes per game once he proves to be one of the most consistent guys on the roster, which he should do fairly early.

He averaged about 30 minutes per game at Oklahoma State during his career, but he was never on a team as deep as the Buckeyes are this year, and could see a slight dip in minutes because of that.

Prediction


Likekele is going to be a main fixture in the lineup this season, and could very well be a starter at the one or the two. He is a veteran that is reliable with the ball, plays both ends of the floor at a high level and can bring leadership and experience to a fairly young team that will be playing four freshmen.

My current prediction, and this could very well change since its only early September, is that Likekele will start at the two next to freshman Bruce Thornton. Sean McNeil and Eugene Brown are also candidates to start at the two, and there is a small chance the Buckeyes coaching staff goes Tanner Holden-Justice Sueing at the two and the three, but Likekele makes the most sense at this current time. Plus, it would help take some pressure off of true freshman Bruce Thornton to not be the lone ball handler on the floor.

Highlights


(Trigger warning, this video contains Oral Roberts)

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for September 8, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

Ask LGHL


Introducing ‘Ask LGHL,’ asking and answering questions throughout the football season
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

LGHL Asks: Did the Notre Dame win make you more confident in Ohio State’s title chances?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


Ryan Day’s contract finalized, with buyout starting at $5 million
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State’s Tommy Eichenberg named as FWAA’s Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts

Videos: Hickman, Brown, Harrison, Tuimoloau, Egbuka, Jones, Jackson
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts


Jaxon Smith-Njigba makes practice appearance as Ohio State football sets contingencies for Luke Wypler
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Practice Report: Buckeyes continue gaining confidence in trenches as Arkansas State tuneup nears
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Arkansas State Defensive Player to Watch: LB/DL Kivon Bennett
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

Scarlet & Gray, Hall of Fame and more in Store for Saturday
Ohio State Athletics


Ohio State’s Season Opener Against Nore Dame Drew 10.5 Million Viewers, the Most of Any College Football Game in Week 1
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors

Film Review: The Ohio State offense struggled early, leaned on physical run game in the second half
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

Why Ohio State switched safeties against Notre Dame
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch


Ohio State’s Xavier Johnson became surprise star vs. Notre Dame, ‘That’s exactly who Xavier Johnson is’
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Column: Unlike previous seasons, we can take Ohio State’s Week 1 win at face value
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

How C.J. Stroud showed marked improvement in Buckeyes opening win
Tim May, Lettermen Row

Ryan Day and C.J. Stroud Unbothered by Ohio State’s Slow Start on Offense: “We Just Want to Win Games”
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors


Healthy, confident Cameron Brown elevating Buckeyes defense (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Where former Ohio State players will start 2022 NFL season
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

Justin Fields, Bosa Brothers Among Eight Buckeyes Named NFL Team Captains for 2022 Season
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

On the Hardwood


Big Ten releases women’s basketball conference schedule; Ohio State opens home slate with Michigan State
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Jake Diebler, Ohio State coaches to make north of $1 million combined
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Is a Basket-BOOOOOM coming?

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Women’s Soccer: No. 22 Ohio State Takes on Undefeated Brown on Thursday
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Golf: Buckeyes Post Two Solid Rounds on Day 1 of Frederica Cup
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Tennis: Buckeyes in ITA Preseason Polls
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...

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Play Like a Girl podcast: Overreactions following Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

Plus, overreactions from the rest of college football.

On LGHL’s Play Like a Girl podcast, Megan and Meredith talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.

Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:


Ohio State certainly started the 2022 football season off with a bang. As Megan and Meredith discussed on this week’s episode, we learned a lot about the Buckeyes following their top-five matchup against Notre Dame Saturday — probably more than we would have if the Buckeyes had played a Group of Five opponent, at least.

But it was an exciting weekend even beyond Ohio State’s game. We saw a preponderance of defense in Iowa vs. South Dakota State and the exact opposite in North Carolina vs. Appalachian State. We also saw a strong showing from most of the SEC (we see you, Georgia and Florida) but not so much from one program (cough, LSU).

Check out the full pod for more.


Contact Megan Husslein
Twitter: @meganhusslein

Contact Meredith Hein
Twitter: @MeredithHein

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Buckeyes offer 2024 offensive lineman, leave big impression on recruits in attendance for Week 1
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame isn’t just impacting this season...

Just a few days removed from the season opening win over Notre Dame, the positive vibes are still rolling through Columbus. That win over the Irish is big for this season’s ultimate goals, but when you look at the grand scheme of things, Saturday’s success has a lasting impact off the field as well.

On the recruiting front, the Buckeyes were able to impress a laundry list of top recruits, and they’ve been pretty vocal about how impactful Saturday’s game day was. From the win itself to the overall atmosphere of the stadium, these top targets are raving about all things Ohio State, and that’s a major win for this coaching staff and program as a whole.

The immediate class of 2023 provided three uncommitted five-star talents that were on site to see a new-look defense. While it’s only one game, the proof of improvement was plain as day. In the future classes of 2024 and even 2025, thoughts on this game are still being discussed, and Wednesday made that very prevalent as several recruits who were on hand gave insights to their visits.

Buckeyes dish out latest offer in 2024 class


Among the many things that stood out Saturday, Ohio State’s offensive line was definitely one of them. While not perfect all night, the offensive line really started clicking in the second half as they asserted their will up front, and that was a sight Buckeye followers have to love seeing as the offseason was full of talks about needing to improve in the area of toughness. Not a finished product by any means, this unit is trending in the right direction, and looks to be a strong-suit not only for this team, but one of the better units in the country.

When Ohio State is able to bring in highly touted players to pave the way, the development track is made a lot easier. That said, the search for talent to uphold the success never ceases. On Wednesday, Ohio State kept with that trend by offering the latest offensive lineman in the 2024 class.

On the receiving end, Jordan Seaton (Washington, DC/St. John’s) took to his Twitter account to release the latest news in his recruitment.


A 6-foot-6, 300 pound lineman, Seaton is currently the No. 128 player nationally as well as the eighth best player at his interior line spot and the second best player from DC for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite. With nearly 30 offers to his name already, Ohio State can be considered a little late to the party, but now with the offer in hand, position coach Justin Frye can get down to work and make up any lost time.

Successful visits giving Ohio State momentum


The night game against Notre Dame didn’t have an impact on just the current 2023 class. In fact, with all of the future cycle players in attendance, Saturday night looks to be having maybe even a bigger impression on players in both the 2024 and 2025 classes.

Starting in 2025, Ohio State was able to host tight end target, Bear Tenney (Chandler, Arizona/Hamilton) who of course is from the same area as current Buckeye quarterback commit, Dylan Raiola. Sure to be a connection the coaching staff is looking to take advantage of, it’s not going to be a surprise if Raiola is the one doing most if not all of the peer recruiting in regards to Ohio State.

The 6-foot-5, 230 pound high school sophomore has yet to see a ranking by the 247Sports Composite grades, but nearly 20 offers to his name already lead to the feeling that he will be one of the more highly regarded players at his position.

With his unofficial visit now concluded, the Buckeyes have come out smelling like roses for Bear, as he came away super impressed with what Ohio State has to offer. Going as far to say, “By far the best game I’ve ever been to.” in conversations with Rivals, clearly the Buckeyes have made a lasting impression on a target that will be mentioned frequently in the coming years.


In addition to Tenney, Ohio State also stayed close to home with 2024 target, Garrett Stover. The cousin of current Buckeye, Cade Stover, Garrett is no stranger around Ohio State’s campus. While the commute isn’t a long one, getting him back on campus is always beneficial, as the Buckeyes have full intent on adding another Stover to the program when the time comes.

Taking it all in Saturday, Garrett has been pretty vocal with how highly he thinks of the program, and has been quoted by 247Sports as saying, “it’s such a special place” in regard to Ohio State.

The No. 228 player nationally, Stover also grades out as the 28th best athlete in the country and the ninth best player in Ohio for the 2024 class according to the 247Sports Composite. With one Crystal Ball prediction currently favoring Ohio State, the easy assumption is that Garrett also ends up in Columbus as a Buckeye, but getting the job done still remains to be seen. However, it’s probably just a matter of when and not if.

Quick Hits

• Keeping a fence around the Ohio border, the Buckeyes are very much still evaluating the talent in the 2024 class, and aren’t having to look too far as right in their own back yard there are still players the coaches seem to be looking at.

A program that has been very kind to the Buckeyes recently, Lakota West is home to some of the top players in the state, and Ohio State is looking to keep that pipeline building. Yesterday, 2024 athlete Taebron Bennie-Powell showed how much the Buckeyes are keeping in touch with the amount of mail he is receiving.

The No. 511 player nationally, Bennie-Powell does not currently hold an Ohio State offer, but an impressive season this year and the chance to camp in Columbus in the offseason and that could be a move in the making. Either way, the interest is clear.


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LGHL Asks: Did the Notre Dame win make you more confident in Ohio State’s title chances?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Set Number: X164138 TK1

You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.

Every day for the entirety of the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

We here in Buckeye Nation can be a fickle bunch (no Luke pun intended). Our emotions can rise and fall on one individual bounce of an oblong-shaped ball. Saturday’s contest against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish did not go exactly how most people thought that it would, but the final result was certainly one that all Buckeye fans should be able to happily embrace.

So, today we are taking the temperature of LGHL’s lovely Ohio State fans to see how you felt coming out of the 21-10 victory over the Golden Domers.

Question 1: How did you feel about the Notre Dame game?


As always, I will try not to insert my thoughts until you all have had a chance to get your answers in, but I do think that there are myriad opportunities for shade and nuance when it comes to pinpointing individual feelings about that game.

Our Megan Husslein made it clear that people who were freaking out about the offense need to chill the F out. While I think it was another indication that there is a law of diminishing returns when it comes to top-tier coaches calling plays.

Either way, I think it is safe to say that a double-digit win over a top-five team is certainly an outcome that we all can be happy with.

Question 2: Did the Notre Dame game change your expectations for the season?


Before the game on Saturday, we posted our annual staff predictions and nearly all of LGHL’s contributors picked Ohio State to go undefeated and win the national championship. I feel like a lot of Buckeye fans probably felt the same way heading into the ND game.

I will be interested to see if how OSU won changed opinions or not. Check back later in the week to find out!

Question 3: Who were you most impressed with in the Notre Dame game?


This one is the hardest one to answer for me, because there were so many guys who stepped up and played phenomenal games. I have my pick, but I won’t disclose it until the results are in. However, there were guys on offense, defense, and special teams that absolutely fantastic showings and they all deserve to be celebrated.


Have your voice heard and share your thoughts on the Buckeyes here:


Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State Buckeyes fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate.

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LGHL Uncut Podcast: Day, Eliano, Stroud discuss victory over Notre Dame
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State Athletics

The trio of Buckeyes praised the team’s toughness and execution on Saturday night.

Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.

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On this episode of “Land-Grant Holy Land Uncut,” we have press conference audio from head coach Ryan Day, safeties coach Perry Eliano, and quarterback C.J. Stroud’s media availability on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The three answered questions from reporters about the primetime, top-five matchup between the Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday night.

The coaches and team captain discussed the improved defense and running games, explained how the team developed an increased toughness, and praised players including Lathan Ransom, Tommy Eichenberg, Paris Jackson Jr. Xavier Johnson, and more.

Stroud also spent some time dissecting individual plays to give the reporters some insight into what he saw and how it impacted his execution.


Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

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Arkansas State Defensive Player to Watch: LB/DL Kivon Bennett
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This talented hybrid defender once played alongside Nick Bosa before making some waves in the SEC.

As I wrote earlier this week, the Arkansas State Red Wolves have their work cut out for them on Saturday just to remain competitive in this matchup with the Buckeyes. There is just no other way to put it, given that the Red Wolves finished 2-10 last year, and were blown out a number of times.

The two marquee games on their 2021 schedule were against Washington and Coastal Carolina, and A-State dropped those contests by a combined score of 104-23. The program has been in a freefall since 2019, which was the last of their nine consecutive winning seasons. Gus Malzahn, Bryan Harsin, and Blake Anderson all found success with the team, but Butch Jones might have one of the steepest hills to climb in all of college football.

The biggest factor in Arkansas State’s lack of recent success has been the play of their defense — and it’s not even close. Since 2018, the Red Wolves have finished no better than 112th (out of 130 teams) in scoring defense. They have also surrendered more than 480 total yards per game to opponents during that time, and done so in a variety of ways. In 2020, the team gave up an average of 314 yards through the air. In 2021, they reduced the aerial assault to 244 yards/game, but saw their defense trampled to the tune of 261 rushing yards (!) per. All told, A-State finished ahead of only one team (Duke) in total yards allowed, while giving up 39 points per game. Their reward for 2022 is Ohio State in Week 2...

But alas, a defensive player will be previewed this week. Especially if he has “super” family ties, shared the field and a locker room with Nick Bosa, once held an offer from the Buckeyes, and is currently coached by a national champion from their ’02 team! That player’s name is Kivon Bennett, and he is this week’s Defensive Player to Watch.

Bennett is in his second season with the Red Wolves, after appearing in 28 games over four years with the Tennessee Volunteers. He was a high three-star recruit out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, where he played next to Nick Bosa on the team’s defensive line. Bennett graduated one year after Bosa, and chose Tennessee over a number of other schools — including Ohio State, from whom he had received an offer in December of 2015.

The former Volunteer followed in his father’s footsteps, at least when it comes to the conference in which he decided to pursue his college football dream. Kivon’s father is Cornelius Bennett, former No. 2 overall draft pick and five-time Pro Bowler in the NFL. He (the elder Bennett) dominated in the SEC, earning three All-American nods and a Lombardi Award while at Alabama before spending 14 borderline Hall of Fame-worthy years in the league. In addition to being named to five Pro Bowls, Cornelius Bennett was also named First Team All-Pro on three occasions, and played in five Super Bowls! His football acumen was clearly passed down, as Kivon eventually became an accomplished player in his own right.

But the younger Bennett did not find a ton of early success in Knoxville. He appeared in just a handful of games during his first two seasons, not making an impact at all on the defensive line. He then switched to linebacker prior to the 2019 season, and began to find his footing as a college player. In 17 games at his new position, Bennett totaled 49 tackles, 13.5 TFL, and 6.5 sacks for the Volunteers. However, his time at UT came to a quick and premature end in December of 2020. He was dismissed from the team following an arrest on gun and drug charges, for which he later pled guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Fortunately for Bennett, he had an ally of sorts in Butch Jones. The new A-State coach recruited him while at Tennessee, and apparently there was enough of a relationship there that the hybrid defender felt comfortable joining his former coach again with the Red Wolves. Having played multiple roles in the past, Bennett once again found himself on the defensive line. But this time, it worked out well for all parties involved.

He finished last season ranked second in the Sun Belt with 15.5 tackles for loss, and fourth in the conference with eight sacks. For his achievements, Bennett was named Second Team All-Sun Belt, and now seems poised to potentially follow in his father’s NFL footsteps.

Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Interestingly enough, Bennett’s current defensive coordinator is none other than Rob Harley. The great nephew of legendary Chic Harley, Rob was a former walk-on and member of OSU’s 2002 national championship team. He then spent time coaching linebackers at Michigan State, Florida International, and Pittsburgh before landing his first coordinator job with the Red Wolves in 2020.

Harley apparently had another position change in mind, as Bennett began practicing (once again) with the linebackers during the team’s spring sessions. Although clearly familiar with the position, he was used as more of a pass-rushing specialist in Tennessee’s 3-4 base defense. It could take some time for the sixth-year player to get comfortable playing “traditional” LB, but in the meantime, he is likely to be used in a hybrid role, due to his ability as a pass rusher.

Bennett’s move to LB was likely made out of necessity, given the fact that A-State’s other options were/are woefully undersized. Melique Straker started five games at LB for them last year, at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, which might be a 21st century record for that position. He could potentially move to defensive back at some point, but Jaden Harris has been entrenched as another starter in the middle. Harris is only listed at 6-foot-1, 215. Finally, Jordan Carmouche is yet another option for the Red Wolves. He began playing college football in 2016... as a running back at Houston. I would say that is less than ideal size and experience for the LB position.

Arkansas State is clearly coming in overmatched, but Bennett is still a guy to watch out for. He has a versatile skillset, solid experience, and most importantly he has shown an ability to get after the quarterback. The Red Wolves might not deploy him as a rusher as often as he is used to, but if gets C.J. Stroud in his sights... watch out. Bennett is clearly the biggest threat to Ohio State’s offense, so I expect him to receive plenty of attention. I will be watching him too to see if he can make things uncomfortable for the Buckeyes, and possibly show off some future NFL potential.

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Big Ten releases women’s basketball conference schedule; Ohio State opens home slate with Michigan State
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Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Graham Stokes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The conference releases dates for the 2022-23 B1G schedule.

In June, the Big Ten announced the home and away match-ups for all 14 conference teams. Tuesday, the conference put dates on the games, announcing the full schedule live on “B1G Today.”

The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team enters the 2022-23 season as the defending regular season co-champions and their conference title defense will begin against Rutgers on the road in New Jersey on Dec. 4.

Throughout the season, the Buckeyes face three conference contenders on and away from their home court. The biggest ones that everyone will have circled on their calendars ae against the Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State welcomes Michigan first on Dec. 31, with the away edition on Feb. 20, 2023.

A team that many thought would win the conference last year was the Maryland Terrapins. Ranked first in coaches and media preseason polls in October 2021, Maryland ended the year in fourth place in the conference. This summer, they’ve lost First Team All-B1G forward Angel Reese and Second Team All-B1G guard Ashley Owusu, but they’re a team that retools, not rebuilds.

The Buckeyes will face the Terrapins first on the road on Feb. 5, and then their final regular season game of the season will be against the Terps on Feb. 25 in Columbus. Ohio State split the two-game series last season, with each side winning at home.

Another favorite who slipped near the end of the season was the Indiana Hoosiers. The Scarlet and Gray faced the Hoosiers twice last year, but only once in the regular season. Ohio State lost the in-season and B1G tournament games against Indiana, but has two chances in the 2022-23 regular season to narrow the competitive gap.

Indiana welcomes Ohio State first on Jan. 26, while the Buckeyes will welcome the Hoosiers to Columbus on Feb. 13.

Arguably the biggest matchup on the schedule is against the team that shared the regular season championship with OSU last season — the Iowa Hawkeyes. Led by Naismith National Player of the Year finalist Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes followed up their regular season co-title with a B1G Tournament Championship this past spring, but fell to Ohio State in a high-scoring game in Iowa City 92-88.

Clark and the Hawkeyes travel to Ohio State for the lone regular season game between the two teams. The two squads play at the Schottenstein Center on Jan. 23.

Ohio State will also welcome Michigan State, Northwestern, Minnesota, and Purdue to Columbus, after playing each of the five sides away from their home campus last season.

Before the Buckeyes tip off against in-conference opponents, they will play a full non-conference schedule that features a number of big match-ups. Ohio State starts the season by welcoming the Tennessee Volunteers on Nov. 8. From there, the Buckeyes travel to Boston College, Louisville, and play in the two-game San Diego Invitational against South Florida and either the Oregon Ducks or Arkansas Razorbacks.

Here’s the full 2022-23 schedule:

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Class: 2023 (high school)
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Class: 2024 (high school)
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Ask LGHL: What does Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s injury mean for the Ohio State offense?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports

You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.

Every day for the entirety of the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

Question: What does Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s injury mean for the Ohio State offense?


First off, it’s never a good thing when you lose the best wide receiver in the country for any period of time, but if you are a glass-half-full kind of fan, there is probably a fairly significant silver lining or two to Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s apparent hamstring strain.

On Monday, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day told the Big Ten Network that his star wide receiver does not have a long-term injury and could be back on the field as early as this Saturday against Arkansas State. However, at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Day said that JSN would need to be 100% in order to play against the Red Wolves, and that he would leave that determination up to the medical staff.

For his part at the weekly presser, quarterback C.J. Stroud alluded to the fact that it appears that Smith-Njigba is dealing with a hamstring injury suffered on a questionably dirty hit against Notre Dame.

While I am neither a doctor (or football coach for that matter), nor do I play one on TV, I feel pretty comfortable in saying that unless JSN’s hammy is in better working condition than it was to start Saturday’s game against the Irish, it’s probably in everybody’s interest if he just takes the week off; heck, take next week against Toldeo off too if you want.

If the best wide receiver in the country is healthy, then obviously, he should be out there, but if there are any lingering concerns about the long-term health of his legs, then Day and company should take the opportunity afforded by back-to-back weeks against opponents that the Buckeyes will not need its full complement of players to beat (I hope this doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass) and sit their star wideout.

As long as JSN is in tip-top shape by the time the Big Ten season kicks off on Sept. 24 when Wisconsin comes calling to Columbus, that’s all that matters to me. Get Smith-Njigba healthy as quickly as possible, but there’s no reason for him to play a second sooner than that happens.

But, beyond having the ability for Jaxon to take the next two weeks off if the medical team deems it necessary, there is another positive to the projected first-round receiver being potentially sidelined.

It was pretty clear for the first two and a half quarters of the game against ND that Stroud was not yet in perfect sync with his first-time starting receivers like he was last year with Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Smith-Njigba; but how could he be? Not only was Saturday the first time that Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. were starting a regular season game, but with injuries to JSN and Julian Fleming, they were quickly elevated to go-to options in arguably the biggest game of the 2022 season until The Game in late November.

While, fortunately, OSU’s QB and WRs seemed to get on the same page when it mattered most to eventually salt away a double-digit victory over the then No. 5-team in the country, I would love to see Stroud and company — including Fleming if he is healthy and everybody’s favorite pass-catcher/special teams playmaker Xavier Johnson — get more opportunities to work on their timing and cohesion in game situations before the pressure of the conference slate kicks into gear.

I think most Buckeye fans — myself included — are pretty confident that Day, Stroud and WR coach Brian Hartline’s crew will be able to get the passing game clicking in fairly short order, but if they are able to make the most out of a potential week or two-absence from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, it could end up being to the Buckeyes’ long-term benefit.

In life and in sports, there are very few substitutions for experience. Because of the abundance of receiver talent that Hartline has assembled at OSU over the past four years, it is tough for even the most talented pass-catchers to gain ample experience if they aren’t on top of the depth chart. So, if opportunity allows, the Buckeyes should take advantage and get Egbuka, Harrison, Fleming, Johnson, Jayden Ballard, et al. as much experience running routes and catching passes from Stroud against non-Buckeye defenders as possible; that will only serve to pay dividends later in the season.

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The Dotted Line Podcast: Recruiting updates, crystal balls following Ohio State-Notre Dame game
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes have got three crystal balls since Saturday and three major defensive ends left impressed.

On “The Dotted Line”, Land-Grant Holy Land’s Matt Tamanini talks to recruiting experts, LGHL’s recruiting analysts, and prospects themselves to get a unique perspective on the players that will be a part of Ohio State’s future.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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dsdfOn Land-Grant Holy Land’s recruiting-centric podcast, LGHL’s Matt Tamanini and Caleb Houser break down the three 2024 crystal balls that Ohio State has picked up following its major recruiting weekend around the 21-10 win over Notre Dame.

They also discuss the trio of major 2023 defensive ends who raved about their visits to Columbus and which — if any — of them could end up committing to the Buckeyes between now and national signing day in December.

They also get in a few their thoughts on the game itself and a little bit of news on the mens’ basketball recruiting efforts following Saturday’s game.


Connect with Caleb Houser
Twitter: @CalebHouser9

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

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Arvell Reese is ready to make his mark in Columbus
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Is Reese the next great linebacker to play for the Buckeyes?

Over the past decade, the Ohio State Buckeyes have had some great linebackers grace the Horseshoe, many of whom are now playing on Sundays. Next year, they could be getting another one from Cleveland, Ohio in Arvell Reese.

Reese is a 2023 linebacker recruit from the famed Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Glenville is led by longtime head coach Ted Ginn Sr., a legendary football coach in Northeast Ohio and father of former Ohio State and NFL receiver, Ted Ginn Jr.

Reese committed to Ohio State about a month ago, getting that decision out of the way and freeing him up to focus on his senior season at Glenville. Reese is listed as a 220 pound, 6-foot-3 linebacker who is ranked as the No. 228 player nationally in the 2023 class, the No. 15 ranked linebacker and the No. 5 player in the state of Ohio, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.


“It was great when I made the decision, everyone was happy for me,” Reese said. “From the Glenville aspect, I just respect it. I have been in the program since I was six (years old) and I respect everyone that went to Ohio State before me, and I love it.”

Reese added, “It is definitely great. I knew what I wanted, and I got it out of the way.”

Glenville has been an NFL factory under Ted Ginn Sr, producing NFL talent such as Marshon Lattimore, Cardale Jones, Troy Smith, Donte Whitner, Ted Ginn Jr., Shane Wynn, Frank Clark and numerous others. Avon high school football coach Mike Elder, who Reese and Glenville defeated on Sep. 2, 27-21, thinks that the Tarblooders have another NFL talent in Reese.

“Glenville has some guys on that team that will play on Sunday, make no doubt about that,” Elder said after the game.

From 2002-2017, 21 players from Glenville have gone to Ohio State.

According to 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu, Ohio State is getting an above-average athlete and player in Reese.


Here are some highlights from Reese’s impressive high school junior season:


Reese also praised head coach Ted Ginn Sr., and the impact he has had on his life and playing career thus far.

“It is a blessing playing for him,” Reese said about Ginn Sr. “He changed my life. He got me on track in school and football and got the right people around us and the best people just teaching us about life. Playing for him is legendary.”

Playing for Glenville, being from Cleveland and watching Ohio State growing up all played a key role in Reese deciding to play his college ball in Columbus over schools like Alabama, Cincinnati, Iowa, Indiana, Kent State, Michigan, Nebraska, USC, Penn State, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin — all of which he held offers from. But they all had the same issue: they just weren't Ohio State.

“I can’t wait to get to Ohio State,” Reese said. “It is a great place and that’s my favorite school. I love it all. I love the coaches, coach Knowles and Coach Day, it’s a special place.”

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Ohio State recruiting: Dylan Raiola and his role as the leader of the 2024 class
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Five-star QB, Dylan Raiola | 247Sports

Raiola is not only the top player in the country, but also the leader of the 2024 recruiting class for the Buckeyes.

More times than not, the leader in a program’s recruiting class is at the quarterback position. Sure, other players on both sides of the ball may step up and be the vocal leaders of the group, but the quarterback spot being the most important on the field certainly plays a massive role in recruiting classes around the country. Maybe because of the importance of their position alone or who those players are on the national stage, quarterbacks ideally help build the class with talent around them, and Ohio State continues to fit that mold in how its classes are shaped.

Especially under Ryan Day, the Buckeyes have been able to bring in elite signal callers, and that alone has had a direct correlation in how successful these cycles have gone. Since Day has been in Columbus, the QB recruiting has been off the charts, and certainly that makes things easier for bringing in other elite talent to fill the roster — particularly on offense.

It makes sense that the best players want to play with the best quarterbacks, and when you look at the receiver position success the Buckeyes have had, it’s a perfect match for why the best pass-catchers in the nation end up in Scarlet and Gray. Sure, having Brian Hartline is a huge factor in most occasions, but having that elite talent under center is the other part of the equation, and Ohio State has had both.

Though the current cycle is still the 2023 class, when looking at the next big leader under center for Ohio State, Dylan Raiola checks every box for what Ohio State is looking for both on and off the field.

Talent


Talent alone can many times be a deciding factor for why quarterbacks are the vocal leaders of a recruiting class. Top national recruits want to play with a guy who can get the job done at the highest level, and Raiola’s long list of accolades confirms he has every ability to surround himself with a loaded list of stars prior to arriving on campus.

The top 2024 player in the 247Sports Composite rankings, Raiola’s ranking already has guys interested in playing alongside of him. Similar to what Ohio State fans have seen in the last few classes, the Chandler, Arizona should have no trouble in appealing to other top offensive weapons around the country. In addition, the new and improved defensive staff has the other side of the ball on an upward trajectory as well.

Where Raiola can and likely will separate himself is his ability to prove his worth on the field. Seeing him throw the rock is just as impressive as his ranking, and while many have already taken notice of that, it shouldn’t be long before the 2024 class for the Buckeyes adds more players alongside Raiola.

Peer Recruiting


Beyond talent, quarterbacks have to be able to peer recruit. Ohio State’s staff knows that they need their commits to help out with doing some recruiting of their own. When the Buckeyes are at or near the top of the country in the recruiting class rankings, they have players who dominate on the trail with their peers. Fortunately, that happens more times than not for Ohio State.

Looking at 2024, Raiola is a perfect example of an effective peer recruiter, and while there’s tons of work still to do, he’s off to a great start. Whether it be on Twitter or other various social media outlets, Raiola is seen constantly reaching out to other top players and pitching the Buckeyes.

This weekend was also no different, as Raiola was of course in attendance for the Notre Dame contest and did everything he could to be in the ears of the highly touted players that were also on campus. It’s not by coincidence that Dylan spent ample time with both Jeremiah Smith and Joshisa “JoJo” Trader, who are the No. 10 and No. 3 players nationally per the 247Sports Composite grades, and just happen to both play the receiver position.

Being that both Smith and Trader play at the same prep program, Raiola has waisted no time in doing his best to build a relationship with the duo. Fortunately, the Buckeyes already look to be in great position with Smith on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, and would love nothing more than to get heavily in the mix for his prep teammate.


Of course most of the work Raiola is putting in right now is on the offensive side of the ball, but as mentioned, the defensive players too are impacted by who the quarterback of their class is. Like he did with his offensive targets, Raiola put in the work in peer recruiting defensive players as well, because he knows that side of the ball is just as important as his when it comes to building the class as a whole.

Taking time to bond with safety Peyton Woodyard, the leader of this class made sure he took the time to get in his ear about why playing for the Buckeyes at the next level is the right move. The No. 25 player nationally, Woodyard is the second ranked safety in the class and the third best player from California for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite.

A big time target for the Buckeyes, this wasn’t Woodyard’s first trip to Columbus, but he came away very impressed with Ohio State’s new-look defense, and made it very clear how happy he was with his visit. Shortly after, you can see how much of a plyer Raiola will be in his recruitment going forward as a major peer recruiter.

Conclusion


The list of examples could go on and on, but the fact remains true: Raiola is taking the peer recruiting responsibility very seriously, and that’s a must if the Buckeyes are going to have the best possible 2024 class. Add his ability to appeal to other top prospects to his own personal talent, and you have the perfect combo for a great class leader.

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You’re Nuts: What movie titles best describe Ohio State’s performance in each half on Saturday night?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

Football season is back and so are the roller coaster of emotions that we are put through during Ohio State football games. The Buckeyes came out a little flat, at least on offense. No complaints can be made about the defense, even though Notre Dame broke off a big play to start the game, which made every Buckeye fan have flashbacks to the horror shows that we have seen from the defense the last few years.

From a performance standpoint, it was a tale of two halves for Ohio State. Since it felt great to see the Buckeyes find their rhythm and earn the victory in the second half, we figured we might as well have a little fun with today’s topic. A football game lasts about as long as a couple movies these days, so why not use cinema to describe the game?

Notre Dame has the movie about that loser Rudy, who most definitely was offside, so why not pick a movie title that best describes Ohio State’s performance in each half on Saturday? The great thing about this topic is there are so many movies that you could ask 100 people to pick movies describing each half for the Buckeyes and you might not see any movie titles repeated.

Today’s question: What movie titles would you use to describe Ohio State’s performance in each half on Saturday night?

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.

Brett’s first half answer: “Joker”


“You wanna know how I got these scars?”

Even though that line came from one of the “Dark Knight” movies, it felt true on Saturday night. For the first 30 minutes of the game, it felt like Ryan Day wasn’t capable of coaching his way out of a paper bag. Even though the Buckeyes went on to win the game, there still are questions about whether Day should give up play-calling duties. After hearing about how the Ohio State offense was going to be unstoppable this year, it was extremely concerning to see the Buckeyes struggle to get anything going offensively, heading into halftime only scoring seven points.

At halftime, it felt like I was Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker”, looking into the mirror and physically forcing my face to smile. Had Ohio State lost this game, I might have painted my face and gone out and caused some chaos around Columbus. All this and it wasn’t until after halftime that we heard official word that Jaxon Smith-Njigba wouldn’t return to the game due to injury.

Brett’s second half answer: “True Grit”


If you wanted to describe Ohio State’s second half performance in one word, it would definitely be grit. Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson not only gave the Buckeyes the lead with their physicality running the football in the second half, they sealed the game for Ohio State. Even more impressive was how the Ohio State defense played throughout the game, putting pressure on Tyler Buchner to rattle the young quarterback in his first start for Notre Dame.

Was Ohio State’s performance on Saturday night pretty? Not at all. But, all that matters is the Buckeyes beat the fifth-ranked team in the country. Last year, Georgia beat Clemson, who was ranked third in the country heading into the season, 10-3. The Bulldogs would use the tough win as a start to a season that would end with a national championship. Hopefully the Buckeyes can also follow the same formula, opening up a championship season with a win in a game that was grittier than sandpaper at times against a top-five team.

Meredith’s first half answer: “Dude, Where’s My Car?”


Ohio State entered this season essentially without questions on offense. From returning C.J. Stroud and TreVeyon Henderson to a strong offensive line and skill position players that had already shown themselves worthy next men up, all signs pointed to a humming unit that should at least sustain the Buckeyes while the defense found its footing.

Unfortunately, the Buckeyes couldn’t seem to find that offense throughout the first half of Saturday’s matchup against Notre Dame. Perhaps they parked it somewhere after the Rose Bowl and the first half was a dramatic attempt to locate it. Regardless, all the things we expected to see — high-flying passes, open bursts of rushing, the ball moving at will — were nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, the early season hiccups didn’t seem to last too long.

Meredith’s second half answer: “The Replacements”


Okay, this one is a stretch, especially since, as mentioned above, Ohio State returned a lot of key players on offense. The Buckeyes also returned key personnel on defense. However, things took a scary turn early on in the game after Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the expected leading receiver heading into 2022, left the game with an injury. That loss was felt even more considering fellow wideout Julian Fleming was ruled out due to injury before the game.

But then fifth-year receiver Xavier Johnson caught a touchdown pass in the second half to put the Buckeyes ahead in the third quarter. Johnson followed up that play with a monster tackle on Notre Dame’s return man on the ensuing kickoff. On the defensive side of things, sophomore defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. had a sack and two tackles for loss. That sack, importantly, came on third down on Notre Dame’s last drive of the game, effectively sealing the win for Ohio State.

Sure, Johnson has been on the roster for a long time, and Hall came in as the No. 54 player in the 2020 class, but they were effectively replacements in the Buckeyes’ opener Saturday — replacements that sure got the job done.

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Column: There’s no need to freak out after ND... the Bucks won!
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I have been seeing a lot of negativity on social media following the Buckeyes’ WIN, so allow me to settle these folks down.

ICYMI, No. 2 Ohio State defeated No. 5 Notre Dame by double digits Saturday. Or, in case you did see it, yet are feeling a little bit concerned about some parts of the team, I am here to calm you down and tell you not to fret.

There are many reasons to be encouraged by this win, so here are just a few.

The most important: Ohio State won!

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

A lot of people acted like the Buckeyes opened the season with a loss. Not only did they win, they beat a top five team by more than one score. I believe that Notre Dame was SEVERELY underestimated by many (including myself), so that might be the reason some were disappointed with the game.

Additionally, it’s tempting to compare Ohio State’s outcome to other top-10 programs. However, it’s critical to point out that No. 1 Alabama played Utah State, No. 8 TTUN played Colorado State, No. 9 Oklahoma played UTEP and No. 7 Utah LOST to Florida. So, there’s three automatic blowouts right there, followed by a loss! The Buckeyes faced a really difficult opponent, especially for Week 1.

You have to give credit to where credit is due — Marcus Freeman had his team prepared. Their defensive game plan worked extremely well, keeping Stroud & Co. in check for the majority of the game. Plus, quarterback Tyler Buchner showed flashes of potential. However, in the end, the Buckeyes simply are more talented, and that is why they came out with more points.

How about that defense?

Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

You could say that the defense is EXTREMELY improved from last season! They limited the Irish to just 10 points the entire game. In fact, in the second half alone, Buchner only passed for two completions, the run game rushed for 23 yards and they were forced to punt in each of their final six possessions.

While there were some nerve-wracking moments in the first half, including the very first play of the game, the defense got their crap together during the critical time — the second half. They held ND to 76 rushing yards on 30 attempts overall, which is very encouraging considering how poor the run defense was last season.

The Silver Bullets just looked confident and powerful out there. There were contributions from everyone. It was expected from Tommy Eichenburg (maybe not as well as he performed!), but how about Mike Hall? Four tackles, two TFL and a sack? Not bad for the sophomore defensive tackle. The best part about all of this is: it was only the first game, and Jim Knowles admitted it was a basic game plan, so that means it’s only going to get better!

The receivers had pretty much zero experience, no JSN... yet still balled out

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I must admit, once Jaxon Smith-Njigba got injured, I was nervous. It’s Stroud’s first game (well, technically second) without Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, and now JSN is out too? This new slate of receivers had little to no game experience, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. However, I should’ve known to never doubt the Buckeyes’ receiving core!

I expected Marvin Harrison Jr. to step into the WR1 role with JSN out, but Emeka Egbuka truly proved what he is all about. He finished with nine receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown. That was his breakout game as a Buckeye, but MH2 still did well too — we all know what he is capable of.

However, a guy I simply have never heard of, Xavier Johnson, BALLED OUT! While he only had two receptions for 34 yards, one of those was the go-ahead TD in the third quarter. I didn’t know who No. 10 was until that very moment, but that just proves how deep the WR room is, which is extremely encouraging. Cade Stover and Jayden Ballard also played well.

I hope that if you were on the fence about how you were feeling following the game, this has brought you over to the greener side. There is so much to be optimistic about, between the defense, the run game and Xavier Johnson — I could go on and on. If you think the offense looked a bit shaky, it probably did. This was Stroud’s first game with all new receivers, and it was against a top five defense. It’s only going to get better.

The best thing about being 1-0...

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