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Got some wet snow last 2 days. Fort Fuck scUM standing watch. Lets see some forts!!





My boys, neighborhood kids and adults love it. Plus gave me a place to pout after the Browns loss.

The completionist in me must ask.....will the CFP Title game vs Bama be posted?

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LEAP YEAR COMING
Knowing Ohio State had a deadly 1-2 punch in the receivers room with Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, I still expected true freshmen Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming to make a noticeable impact on the 2020 receiving stats.

The abbreviated season following an extremely short spring no doubt compromised their development but I did not expect a combined 17 catches for 121 yards from the duo.

Smith-Njigba had one of the highlight catches of the entire season but the fact his 10 catches (on 163 snaps) averaged 4.9 yards made me think it was a misprint at first. His longest catch of the season was 15 yards. Smith-Njigba proved to be a very effective downfield blocker especially for a first year player.

For his part, Fleming had seven catches on 128 offensive snaps and seemed a little of out sync at times, dropping a few balls despite being wide open.

Under the watchful eye of Brian Hartline, I expect both players to make huge leaps next fall as they earn their position coach's trust, allowing him to revert back to a more even distribution of snaps among his top four guys.

Just sayin': Also throw Jayden Ballard, Marvin Harrison Jr, and Emeka Egbuka in the mix.

Can the Buckeyes handle the Boilers size inside and avenge the earlier game in West Lafayette?

Anybody watching? Still no CJ or Sotos.

Bucks lead 10-8 at the under 16 time out.

The Reload: Quarterback
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

The combination of the current group of Ohio State quarterbacks and the incoming freshman over the next two seasons helps Coach Day and Coach Dennis build toward the future of the program. They certainly have the talent at their disposal, but even that could be put into jeopardy with a surprise return from Justin Fields. Let’s say he leaves and what do we have left? Who is available to make some noise? Who will come in in the future?

Jack Miller III and C.J. Stroud the understudies to Justin Fields in the 2020 season and they have had their moment when called upon. When games were out of play, they were put in and when each got their shot, the electricity was evident for each. Jack Miller III was the first of the pair to be thrust into the game against Nebraska. He had no pass attempts but carried the ball twice for 23 yards and a score. C.J. Stroud on the other hand played in the Michigan State game and carried the ball once for a 48-yard scamper for six. Both will have a leg up on the incoming players, but even their talent is notable.

Joining Miller and Stroud in the summer, Kyle McCord and is another player that will show up and add to the competition within this position group. McCord, according to 24/7, is a quarterback from Pennsylvania is the #25 overall player in the nation, the third-best quarterback and oh, he’s one of the five five-star players that is coming in. Spicy, but having competition never hurt anyone, especially at a blue blood school like Ohio State.

Looking into the future, we have Quinn Ewers currently committed. Obviously, he is a 2022 recruit and the McCord of the class that will hopefully add to the QB room. He is a big-time player that will be playing in the Texas State Championship Game and he is one of the few players to have a perfect grade of 1.000 on the 24/7 composite. It is still a long way until he signs, but he looks like a gunslinger, and imagine if he is fully developed under Coach Day.

Each of these quarterbacks brings a diverse set of skills. It is up to Coach Day to develop them as men and as players, and the competition this spring will be a storyline to watch. It’ll be a three-way deadlock and the competition will be fierce to be “the man” at Ohio State.

The future at Ohio State is bright. There is no taking away from that. The reload is here. Buckle up.

#GoBucks




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Silver Linings, Onto The Future
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

The offseason is usually a rough time for me, but being able to continue writing about the Ohio State Buckeyes puts my mind at ease. The passion I have and the sheer love for the team prevents me from walking away and here I am talking about the future of the program.

Players will often take some time to make up their minds about their future and here we are in limbo for the time being. Fields, Olave, Fields, Wade and the majority of the linebacking core are likely to leave but the greatest mystery would be to see who stays.

Now, when we find out whoever does stay, it’ll be interesting to see the attrition process play itself out too. Younger players with no shot at being “the guy” for their respective positions—let’s see how mentally tough they are and if they can be patient. This is probably the most interesting part of the year where anything can happen leading up to the annual spring game.

While you can’t bet on the Buckeyes in Ohio just yet, there is optimism in 2021. Sports betting legislation is in the works. If you can’t wait and are in the Michigan area, sports betting in MI is going live this week. You can wager on all the Buckeyes futures bets on DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM, Lineups has the latest news and reviews if you don’t know which book to use.

Anyway, this team should look different this year and the future is too bright to discount the efforts and the strives it took to have a season. These kids are here for our entertainment and for their future. Do not blur the lines. Being able to not let wins or losses dictate our lives is a blessing and for me, I’m just happy that I have found that silver lining in this.




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Ohio State men’s basketball vs Illinois: Game preview and prediction
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo courtesy of OhioStateBuckeyes.com

The basketball Buckeyes are looking to make a BOOM of their own Saturday on the road vs Illinois.

Boasting back-to-back conference wins, No. 21 Ohio State (10-3, 4-3) will now hit the road to take on the No. 14 Illinois Fighting Illini (9-4, 5-2). Saturday’s game against the Illini represents perhaps their biggest challenge thus far, as Illinois entered the season No. 8 in the AP Poll. They have since lost four games and slipped to No. 14, but make no mistake, Illinois is a national championship-caliber team. They are the type of team Ohio State must conquer if they want to make the leap from a good program to a great program.

During their 81-71 victory over Northwestern, Ohio State took control early and never looked back, leading by nine at halftime and never surrendering the lead after that. Northwestern was able to cut the deficit to just one point late in the second half, but Ohio State answered with a Justin Ahrens three-pointer and finished the game on a 14-5 run to close it out.

Illinois, on the other hand, is coming off a head-scratching 66-63 loss to Maryland on Sunday. Illinois turned the ball over just nine times, which is an improvement over their 13.5 turnovers that they averaged coming into the game. The Illini were better than the ‘Terps in nearly every counting stat imaginable, but were doomed by a less than efficient night from their star point guard, Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu, who enters today’s game averaging 22.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, scored 23 points on 9-of-23 shooting. The other nine guys who played for Illinois combined for 38 shots. Not great!

Preview


As a unit the Buckeyes are undersized, with 6-foot-8 Kyle Young playing the five for Chris Holtmann. However, Ohio State has several guys falling in that 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-8 range, which gives them the flexibility to switch constantly, throwing different bodies at opposing bigs until they find something that works (or they find nothing that works and the opposing center eats them alive — that happens sometimes too).

Ohio State has struggled mightily to defend opposing big men this season, getting beat up and taken advantage of by the likes of Dylan Laszewski (17 points, 9 rebounds), Trevion Williams (16 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists), and Liam Robbins (27 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists). It won’t get any easier Sunday when the Buckeyes stare down future first-round pick Kofi Cockburn, who is averaging 17.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

Cockburn — who along with Dosunmu passed up the 2020 NBA Draft to return to Illinois — was included in nearly every mock leading into the NBA Draft. Standing at exactly 7-feet tall and 285 pounds, the Jamaican-born sophomore is the exact type of player Ohio State has struggled to defend all year — except bigger and better. Cockburn is averaging three offensive rebounds per game and is shooting 69.2% from the floor, so Ohio State cannot afford to give the Illini big man second chances.

What makes this Illinois team even tougher to defend are all of the options Cockburn can defer to if he faces a double team. In addition to Dosunmu (22.4 PTS), Trent Frazier (8.4 PTS), Andre Curbelo (9.3 PTS), and Adam Miller (9.3 PTS) are all dependable scoring options whose point totals are a reflection of their lack of scoring opportunities, not their talent. Illinois averages 83.3 points per game this season, second behind only Iowa in the Big Ten conference. They also average 13.5 turnovers per game, which is second in the conference as well.

To go on the road and author one of the season’s biggest upsets, the Buckeyes will need to follow Maryland’s script from last weekend. They will need to double team — and sometimes even triple team — Cockburn in the post, forcing him to defer to a teammate. Cockburn is subpar moving the basketball, and had a key turnover in the closing minutes during their loss to Maryland, when the Terrapins brought three defenders to him in the post. A panicked Coburn passed the ball wide of an open Dosunmu and directly into the Maryland bench for a turnover. The Buckeyes cannot be afraid to commit multiple defenders to Cockburn. If he is able to pass to the perimeter and Illinois converts, Ohio State will have to live with it.

The Buckeyes will need to mix in some full-court and three-quarter court pressure when Illinois is bringing the ball up, which is not something Chris Holtmann’s teams have done much of since he arrived in Columbus. While Ohio State’s defense is most effective when they’re able to get set, Illinois’ offense is far less efficient when they’re forced to pass several times just to get the ball past half court in the allotted 10 seconds.

Dosunmu’s 2:1 assist to turnover ratio is less than stellar, and as a unit Illinois turns the ball over more than everyone in the conference other than Michigan State. The Buckeyes have to create opportunities for themselves off turnovers to have a chance, and this will be made more difficult if both CJ Walker and Jimmy Sotos are out.


Finally, Ohio State needs to dominate the offensive glass, which is something they have been stellar at thus far, despite their size disadvantage. Their 11.5 offensive rebounds per contest ranks fourth in the B1G, just ahead of Illinois’ 10.8 per game. Yes, even with no center, Ohio State is pulling down more offensive rebounds than the team with the 7-footer. Young, Zed Key, and E.J. Liddell have all pulled down 20+ offensive rebounds this season, and they’re going to need to continue that trend Saturday for the Buckeyes to hang with the Illini.

Prediction


Ohio State is 2-3 on the road this season compared to 8-0 when playing at home or neutral site. Conversely, Illinois is 6-1 at home this season and Ohio State has not won in Champaign since the 2015-2016 season. So the home/road splits certainly aren’t friendly to the Buckeyes.

However, one advantage Ohio State may have is familiarity. The Buckeyes bounced Illinois on the final day of the regular season last year when they beat them 71-63 in Columbus on March 5, 2020. While Ohio State’s roster went through a pretty massive turnover, Illinois’ core stayed the same with Dosunmu, Cockburn, and Frazier all returning. Ohio State grabbed 16 offensive rebounds in that game and forced 14 Illinois turnovers, overcoming a seven-point halftime deficit and winning on senior day. Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes have plenty of film from that game they can review and implement a similar game plan as they did in the second half of last year’s victory.

In the end, I think the combination of Cockburn + Illinois' B1G-best three-point shooting (41.2%) is going to be too much to handle, especially on the road. Ohio State can’t afford to fall behind early like they did against Purdue and Minnesota, or else this one could get out of hand.

ESPN BPI: Illinois 68.1%
12:00 PM ET
TV: FOX

LGHL Score Prediction: 82-71 Illinois

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SHAUN WADE'S EXIT CLEARS PATH FOR OFFSEASON COMPETITION FOR SPOTS IN OHIO STATE'S SECONDARY



In the immediacy of the national championship game, Shaun Wade didn’t rule out one more year at Ohio State. To the contrary, he propped the door for a return wide open.

“You know, I do want to come back and everything,” Wade said less than an hour after the Buckeyes lost to Alabama. “I've got to talk to my parents. It is upsetting that we got here and we just didn't accomplish the goal, and that's just been my goal, winning a national championship and just winning big games like this. I'll just go back with my parents, go talk to them and just go from there.”

Whatever conversations took place over the past four days, however, led to the inevitable conclusion most had predicted.

Wade, who appeared destined for the 2021 NFL draft dating back to the moment he announced he wouldn’t enter the 2020 NFL draft, announced on Friday morning he has decided to go pro. No, the Buckeyes couldn’t cap off his career by beating the Crimson Tide for a title, and no, he didn’t boost his draft stock the way he had hoped in his move to outside cornerback. He fell short of those goals. But after four years, he still felt the time was right to take the long-awaited jump to the next level.

Thus, Ohio State loses a multi-year starter in its defensive backfield whose exit from Columbus clears the runway for what has a chance to be a massive offseason competition for spots in Kerry Coombs’ secondary rotation after a season of lackluster production.

Essentially, there are two factions among returners on the back end of the defense: Returning starters and unproven underclassmen.

Almost every year, those returning after a season starting would have a significant advantage. Remember all of the times over the past few years when fans wondered if there would be changes among the starting linebackers? If Tuf Borland or even Pete Werner would at some point get placed? Those who entrenched themselves as starters hung on as years passed.

If we’re putting odds on what will happen over the course of the next eight months ahead of the Sept. 2 season-opener at Minnesota, it’s fair to view cornerback Sevyn Banks, slot corner Marcus Williamson and safety Josh Proctor as favorites to become second-year starters with Cameron Brown having the edge at the other cornerback opening. But after what transpired on the field in the 2020 season, nobody should – or will – view their starting jobs as completely safe.



This was, of course, a secondary that was arguably the No. 1 reason why Ohio State ended the season ranked 85th of 127 teams nationally in opposing yards per pass attempt, 87th in opposing quarterback rating, 111th in opposing completion percentage and 122nd in opposing passing yards per game. The porous nature of the defensive backfield allowed Indiana's Michael Penix. Jr. to toss for a career-high 491 yards and five touchdowns in mid-November, then didn’t improve enough to avoid Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith torching the Buckeyes for 464 passing yards and five touchdowns in the national championship game.

Each year, the Buckeyes have a stated goal for their secondary to be the Best In America. As Jeff Okudah used to say, that’s more important to this team than the DBU moniker that’s so often debated. This past season, Ohio State's secondary was nowhere close to being the Best In America.

The way to fix what went wrong in 2020 and to reclaim that BIA status won’t be to simply trot out the same group of guys in 2021. Coombs needs to – and will – explore all options over the course of the offseason.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...r-spots-in-ohio-states-secondary-after-subpar

Buckeyes future is… BRIGHT
Mike via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

When the Big Ten’s fall season fell apart, the thought of Ohio State playing in the national championship seemed like an imagination.

Coach Ryan Day, Justin Fields, and the Buckeyes fought hard for this season and made it a reality. Fields started a #WeWantToPlay petition which received 250,000 signatures and it took off from there.

That’s all this Buckeye team wanted, a chance. On Sept. 16, when the Big Ten announced a season will take place in October, they got just that.

The Buckeyes ran with the opportunity and didn’t disappoint. This team faced more obstacles then imagined throughout the year. They faced COVID difficulties from week 6 of the season until the end but didn’t stop the fight.

This team was doubted from the start and proved all the doubters wrong winning the Big Ten championship, beating Clemson in the Sugar Bowl championship, and finished the historic season with a heartbroken national championship loss to one of Alabama’s most talented teams we’ve seen in years.

Looking ahead

Leaving (accepted senior bowl invite or most likely to enter draft.): Justin Fields, Wyatt Davis, Shaun Wade, Chris Olave, Trey Sermon, Jonathan Cooper, Tuf Borland, Baron Browning, Marcus Williamson, Drue Chrisman, Justin Hillard.

POSSIBILITY of returning: Tommy Togiai, Haskell Garrett, Pete Werner, Sevyn Banks, Nick Petit-Frere, Jeremy Ruckert, Tyreke Smith.

2021-2022 Season

The Offense

The Quarterback Battle…during the offseason will be as competitive as it gets. CJ Stroud and Jack Miller will be looked at as the front runners for the job heading into the season, but incoming 5-star freshman Kyle McCord may add a three-way race to be the Buckeyes next quarterback.

• CJ Stroud: Class of 2020 (4 star, #2 QB, #42 overall)
• Jack Miller: Class of 2020 (4 star, #13 QB, #334 overall)
• Kyle McCord: Class of 2021 (5 star, #3 QB, #25 overall)

Offensive Line…remain dominant. Nick Petit-Frere, Matthew Jones, Harry Miller, Dawand Jones, and Paris Johnson Jr. will be a force up front.

Running Backs…competition will be interesting. The Buckeyes will have Master Teague, Miyan Willams coming back, but incoming #1 ranked, 5-star running back TreVeyon Henderson will add some fuel to that competition.

Wide Receivers…loaded. Garrett Wilson will be returning for his junior season and looks to have a Heisman type of year. He has the talent and ability to put up record-breaking numbers for this Buckeyes offense next season. The WR core will also bring back Jameson Williams and stud freshmen Jaxon Smith-Njiba and Julian Fleming. The Buckeyes also bring in the #1 and #8, and #15 WR’s in Emeka Egbuka, Jayden Ballard and Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Defense

D-Line…dominant and ready. The D-line will consist of Tyreke Smith (if returns), Taron Vincent, Jerron Cage, Zach Harrison, Tyler Friday. Along with these five, Incoming freshman Jack Sawyer (ranked #4 in the country) will make an immediate impact for the defense.

Linebackers…will consist of some new faces but will be poised for a big year: Dallas Gant, Craig Young, Cody Simon, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste

Secondary…improved and prepared. Sevyn Banks and Josh Proctor will be returning and looking for a strong offseason translating it into next fall. Cornerback Cameron Brown will be back after suffering a Torn Achilles against Penn State early in the season. Along with these three true freshman Lathan Ransom showed his star potential to be a stud for this secondary.

The Buckeyes will also have the #3 and #4 ranked cornerbacks in the country coming in (Jakailin Johnson, Jordan Hancock).

The 2021 Recruiting Class: according to 247sports

• Jack Sawyer, DE (#4 player, #3 pos)
• Emeka Egbuka, WR (#9 player, #1 pos)
• Donovan Jackson, OG (#17 player, #1 pos)
• TreVeyon Henderson, RB (#24 player, #1 pos)
• Kyle McCord, QB (#25 player, #3 pos)
• Jakailin Johnson, CB (#47 player, #3 pos)
• Mike Hall, DT (#49 player, #4 pos)
• Jayden Ballard, WR (#66 player, #8 pos)
• Jordan Hancock, CB (#67 player, #4 pos)
• Evan Pryor, ARB (#81 player, #2 pos)
• Reid Carrico, LB (#84 player, 5 pos)
• Marvin Harrison Jr, WR (#91 player, #15 pos)
• Ben Christman, OG (#124 player, #6 pos)
• Tyleik Williams, DT (#161 player, #12 pos)
• Andre Turrentine, S (#167 player, #9 pos)
• Denzel Burke, ATH (#191 player, #8 pos)
• Jantzen Dunn, S (#202 player, #12 pos)
• Zen Michalski, OT (#318 player, #23 pos)

Early 2022 Recruiting Class look: according to 247sports

• Quinn Ewers, QB (#1 player, #1 pos)
• Jahiem Singletary, CB (#10 player, #5 pos)
• Caleb Burton, WR (#14 player, #1 pos)
• Gabe Powers, LB (#33 player, #2 pos)
• C.J. Hicks, LB (#38 player, #3 pos)
• Dasan McCullough, ATH (#54 player, #6 pos)
• Jyaire Brown, CB (#123 player, #13 pos)
• Tegra Tshabola, OT (#138 player, #15 pos)
• Benji Gosnell, TE (#265 player, #12 pos)

Future is bright.




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MOTSAG Sign Off: Thank You Guys
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

The season has come to a heartbreaking close and give props to these young men that made it happen. Making it to the title game in the manner in which this Buckeye team did is an achievement in its own—and they deserve the praise through the highs and the current low.

The Buckeyes were outmatched and it only took a half to see that. There are few silver linings in this story, but they are left with another question-filled offseason. Who will be leaving, who will be retuning, who will transfer in or out, which coaches will leave or come in—a lot can be said after this crushing defeat at the hands of Alabama.

Whether it was due to poor preparation or poor game planning, there is no reason to abandon ship just yet. Yes, the Buckeyes were whooped with everyone watching but what is another lesson for Coach Day? Or even Coach Coombs? I have no insight as to what will or won’t transpire in the future but this looks to be a turbulent offseason for the players, coaches and us fans.

I am not one for handing out trophies during situations like this but I think Fields deserves a huge pat on the back after fighting until the end. Yes, we had injuries and Covid issues but there is no excuse. We were hit hard with injuries right off the bat and it hurt this team and it only got worse as the depth along the defensive line was lacking, just like the pressure or the lack of tackling.

Regardless, great season, great players, great memories. Thank you for all you’ve done to make this missable year go by. Always behind you guys.

Go Bucks.




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Ohio State vs. Alabama national championship key player matchups: by Mike Scharf
Mike via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

We are officially one day away from the 2021 National Championship between Ohio State and Alabama. Both the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide are coming off dominant performances in the CFP semifinals and are prepared for the biggest game of the year.

Both teams are led by star players in key positions, and the outcome will come down to these players and the matchups that present themselves on both sides of the ball.

The four key matchups for Monday night are seen below:

Trey Sermon vs Dylan Moses

Trey Sermon has been rolling and making a name for himself this postseason dominating on the ground in the Big Ten championship and CFP semifinals rushing for a combined 524 yards and 3 touchdowns. The ground game has been near perfect for Sermon and this Buckeye offense but come Monday the biggest threat to the Tide may be Sermon in the pass game. Sermon had 61 receiving yards on 4 catches against Clemson and will look to be more of a factor in this aspect against this Alabama defense.

This is when the matchup with Alabama’s star linebacker Dylan Moses comes into play. Moses has been dominant stopping the run as he has 38 tackles this season but has struggled in pass coverage as of late.

Look for the Sermon-Moses matchup in open field — with Sermon taking full advantage of it. —

Devonta Smith vs OSU’s Secondary

Coming into the biggest game of the year, everyone knows how dominant Heisman winner Devonta Smith has been all year. Smith can beat you in more ways than one — catching, handoffs, punt returners — He’s the real deal.

The Buckeyes are known to have highly talented defensive backs. Their best this season is Shaun Wade. Wade flourished in the slot last year, while coming back this season to play on the outside to prove he’s capable of playing both positions. Although Wade has not been as solid on the outside this season, he’s still a Thorpe Award semifinalist and has all the tools to be a factor in this matchup.

The matchup will be an interesting one — I expect to see the Buckeye secondary to show more zone and focus more help containing Smith whereas leaving him on an island could lead to success for the Tides offensive game plan.

Chris Olave vs Patrick Surtain

SEC Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain has been locked down all season, and not many quarterbacks throw his way.

The 6-foot-2 junior recorded 32 tackles, 10 pass breakups and one interception this season.

With that being said, Chris Olave is the real deal. Buckeye Nation saw how valuable Olave is as he missed the Big Ten championship against Northwestern, and the Buckeyes found struggles opening up the pass game in a 22-10 victory.

Olave was available in the CFP semifinal against Clemson and didn’t disappoint as he had 6 receptions for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In a short season for the Buckeyes, Surtain will be Olave’s toughest matchup thus far and the two will be in a battle all game.

If Justin Fields finds trouble throwing Surtain’s way, look for Garrett Wilson to have a monster game on the other side for the Buckeyes.

Najee Harris vs OSU’s Defensive Line

Along with Devonta Smith, Najee Harris has been a working force for the Crimson Tide offense. Harris has 1,387 yards and 24 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

With more COVID issues swirling around the Buckeyes program, we are not sure who is suiting up for game time.

But — Zach Harrison, Jonathan Cooper and Haskell Garrett are players we expect to see. Look for these three to control the line of scrimmage against the Tides front and contain Harris from making explosive plays.

If the Buckeyes defensive line can contain Harris and apply pressure on quarterback Mac Jones, look for this team to find success Monday night.

These are two of the best programs in the past century we’ve seen in College Football.

The stage is set. The matchups will be exciting. A champion will be crowned.

Ohio versus the world.




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MOTSAG X-Factors: Defense
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

With the national championship game approaching , as a fan you can’t help but be anxious for Monday. Despite the news that a few key players are out due to testing positive—the game is just four days away.

The story continues and this week the Buckeyes are potentially losing Togiai and Smith—two dogs the rushmen cannot afford to lose. Rumors that will remain on our minds until they release the names of the infected.

We all saw what a Olave-less offense looked like and the struggles that Fields had during that game. He had an awful outing but Sermon carried the burden of leading the offensive charge. Now the defense is in jeopardy of losing two of their cogs on defense and the depth takes a shot.

The odds of the Buckeyes losing starters is high, but they’ve done it with less all year. Against an elite Bama squad that boast the Heisman winner and after winning just about every offensive award, including the best offensive line—this should be a tough test for the defense. Nothing will change the fight but until we know who is in and who is out, let’s take a look at the defensive X-Factors of the defense for this game against Alabama.

The Rushmen

The biggest story out right now is this position group potentially not having enough depth to play the game. This depth issue might have pushed back the date on the championship game but the game looks like a go. Names like Togiai and Smith are huge ones and the Buckeyes need them on Monday, but until we know for sure, I will still write as if they will be playing.

The Rushmen need to control the line and wreak havoc on the best offensive line in America. Alex Leatherwood was quoted as saying “let’s see if they want to play” and Garrett responded with “I feed on that”. In order for the Buckeyes to contain a potent Alabama offense, they must be disruptive and they must play with a huge chip on their shoulder to stall this offense. It’ll be a team effort to stop them with or without Togiai or Smith.

BIA and LB’s

Shaun Wade wants Devonta Smith for the challenge and while some might see it as a slight, he is competitive and wants to gauge his skills against the heisman winner. Aside from Wade, Banks, Williamson, Ransom and Proctor must play disciplined and they must tackle well at all levels. Big hits are good to swing the momentum but the risk of targeting could derail any hopes of contain this offense.

The same can also be said for Browning, Borland and Werner—they too must play near perfect game to edge out Bama. Harris is a monster and don’t discount the Bama tight ends to get some work. Tackling is key and the coverage must be perfect to pull this off. The underdog role suits this team and another challenge is on the table.

MOTSAG Key Players

Haskell Garrett, DT

Tommy Togiai, DT

Jonathan Cooper, DE

Shaun Wade, CB

Sleepers: Lathan Ransom, S and Baron Browning, LB




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National Championship X-Factors: Offense by Mike Scharf
Mike via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Over the past century, whether it’s been on the field or in recruiting, the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide have been two of the most dominant programs in the sport.

Ohio State has won 931 games to go along with 8 national championships. Alabama has won 928 games while claiming 15 national championships.

On. Jan 11. The two programs meet for only the fifth time in history — Ohio State has a record of 1-3 against Alabama — the last meeting coming in the first ever College Football playoffs in 2015, where the No. 4 Buckeyes defeated the No. 1 Crimson Tide 42-35 in the semifinals.

The Buckeyes were heavy underdogs against Clemson, but showed the world even though only six games were played, they indeed deserved a playoff spot after dominating the Tigers 49-28 in New Orleans.

The Buckeyes get another chance to prove the doubters wrong as they square off with the Crimson Tide.

In order to win, the Buckeyes need to execute the game plan and come in with that underdog mentality. Not many will choose the Buckeyes in this one as Alabama has been clicking on all cylinders this season, but as we saw in New Orleans, don’t count this talented Buckeye team out.

Here are a few x-factors offensively that could prevail the Buckeyes’ to victory:

Justin Fields

There’s not much needed to be said about QB1. Fields proved all the critics from previous weeks wrong as he BALLED out against the Tigers in the semifinals throwing for 385 yards and breaking the Sugar Bowl record with six touchdowns. Ball security and decision making will be key in this matchup for Fields — one turnover could be a substantial changing point in the game — After taking a huge hit to the ribs, one of the biggest things to keep an eye on is how the injury will affect Fields’ play. Everytime Fields followed through on his throws he was in pain and was limited in the run game. Fields will need to use his legs in this one. Keeping the Crimson Tides defense guessing will be key. When it’s said and done there’s no other quarterback Buckeye nation wants heading into this one. Fields is a baller, competitor and has all the swagger to win a big time game.

Trey Sermon and the Slobs

The Buckeyes are averaging 545 yards per game this year, and poured 639-yards on the Tigers. Sermon and the front seven have a lot to do with that, especially the past two games (Northwestern/Clemson). Sermon has the most rushing yards in a 2-game span in Ohio State history with 524 yards. The front seven led by Josh Myers and Wyatt Davis are looking for blood, they have been dominating the line of scrimmage and look to continue that trend. Some big keys to the game are managing the penalties and controlling the line of scrimmage on both passing and running plays. Holding penalties can kill momentum and be a changing factor in this game. Every drive matters. As for controlling the line, pass protecting Fields and opening up holes for Sermon will lead to big plays as we saw in the past two games.

Garrett Wilson

The duo of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave have been one of, if not the best duo in college football. Wilson and Olave have been causing havoc for secondaries all season, but Alabama’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain II has been locked down all season long for the Tide. Surtain II has 20 tackles, 1 INT, and 11 PD (tied-3rd). It’s more than likely Surtain II will be assigned to Chris Olave which will open plenty of opportunities for Garrett Wilson to make a statement championship game for Zone 6. Alabama’s team defense has been dominant of late, but containing both Wilson and Olave is a task many teams find trouble doing. The Crimson Tide has one of the best in Surtain II, which may limit Olave in some aspects, but Wilson will be ready on the opposite side of the field.

The Tight Ends

As we saw in the semifinals against the Tigers, the play of the tight ends can be an enormous x-factor in how the Buckeyes play and attack the defense. The use of tight ends seemed to be limited all season for the Buckeye offense, but in this year’s Sugar Bowl, Luke Farrell and Jeremy Ruckert made game changing plays for the offense. In a 14-7 game led by the Tigers, 3rd and goal, Farrell caught a 8-yard bullet touchdown from Fields. While, Ruckert had himself a game with 3 receptions, 55 yards, and 2 touchdowns. These two will be a key in Fields’ passing game against a stout Crimson Tide defense.

This offense seems to have found it’s rhyme and If all these x-factors on the offensive side of the ball come to play and execute the game plan ahead we could see a similar result to the 2015 Sugar Bowl game — Ohio versus the world.




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Shaun Wade declares for NFL Draft, Urban Meyer won’t pillage Ohio State staff
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

The biggest news stories surrounding the Buckeyes to take you into the weekend.

With Ohio State’s football season coming to an end earlier this week, the majority of our focus now shifts over to the basketball side of things. However, as you all know, Buckeye football is a year-round business, with recruiting, the NFL Draft, and all different kinds of miscellaneous offseason topics continuing to dominate the headlines even when the team isn't between the hashmarks.

This was a particularly busy week in Buckeye Nation, as both a former head coach and a highly-touted member of the 2020 roster are now off to next level to pursue careers in the NFL. Let’s get caught up with all the latest Ohio State happenings to kick off the weekend.

Jacksonville Jaguars hire Urban Meyer as head coach


The rumor mill had been circulating around this happening for quite some time now, but this week Urban Meyer officially took the job as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Just two years after stepping down as Ohio State’s headman as a result of medical complications and other external issues, Meyer is back on the coaching scene with his first gig in the NFL as he returns to the state where he won a pair of national titles as the head coach of the Florida Gators.

In Matt’s column last night, he took a look at why it makes sense for Meyer to jump on this opportunity, and discussed what level of success we can expect from the storied college program builder. The biggest question on the minds of Ohio State fans, however, is what kind of impact this could have on the staff in Columbus. Upon hearing Meyer’s intentions to coach in the league, some began to speculate which of the Buckeyes’ assistants he would look to take with him to Jacksonville. Fortunately, we got a clear answer to this question on Friday, and it is one that will quell any fears of the Ohio State faithful.


In his introductory press conference with the Jaguars, Meyer said he will not do anything to hurt the infrastructure set up at Ohio State, which means guys like Mickey Marotti, Mark Pantoni, and Brian Hartline — the incredibly important trio some thought could potentially make the NFL leap with Meyer — will be staying put in Columbus. Meyer says he spoke with both Gene Smith and Ryan Day, and that his affection for the university would discourage him from taking anything away from the Buckeyes.

He did, however, say there “might be one,” staffer who could join him in Jacksonville, and later Friday afternoon it was announced that guy would be OSU director of player development Ryan Stamper. Stamper is a Jacksonville native, and played linebacker for Meyer at Florida. He spent the last eight seasons overseeing player development at Ohio State, and was promoted to assistant athletic director in 2018. His role was obviously important, but nothing that will derail the direction of the team.

Either way, the core of what Day has going for him in Columbus will not be seeing any sort of mass exodus to Meyer’s Jaguars. Behind the scenes, Marotti and Pantoni are the lifeblood of the Ohio State program, and it is good to know they will continue to fuel the Buckeyes’ success.

Shaun Wade declares for the NFL Draft


While some had speculated that Shaun Wade could return to Ohio State for one more season — a la Damon Arnette in 2019 — the former five-star cornerback has elected to enter the NFL Draft, for real this time. Wade had previously opted out before the year began when the Big Ten was dragging its feet on starting the season, but once fall football became official he quickly rejoined his teammates to prepare for the 2020 campaign.

It is no secret that Wade struggled mightily this past season as he transitioned from the slot corner position, where he had flourished in 2019, to the outside spot where you can really earn that NFL money. Whether it be the result of a weird start-and-stop offseason, a lack of consistency in the schedule with few games and multiple cancellations, or just a failure to adopt the necessary changes needed to play on the outside, Wade was nowhere near the shut down corner we saw when he played inside.

In turn, his draft stock has taken a hit, and he certainly didn’t help himself with a poor performance on the biggest stage in the national title game. After being looked at as a likely first-round pick at the end of last season had he left, Wade is now a late second to early third-rounder in most mock drafts. It will be interesting to see how NFL teams value the consensus All-American corner, as the talent is clearly there. Will they ask him to play inside where he looked his best, or will he continue to improve on the outside and eventually earn his place in the league?

Wade is the first of a number of guys who have to make a tough decision in the next few days, as the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft is Monday. Other big names yet to announce their intentions are Justin Fields and Chris Olave (although both will certainly be NFL-bound) as well as Wyatt Davis, Josh Myers, Tommy Togiai, Jeremy Ruckert, and others. With the weird eligibility rules resulting from the COVID-19 affected season, we could also see some of the seniors return, like Marcus Williamson has already decided to do.

Make your 2021 Ohio State predictions!


The 2020 season just came to an end, but it’s never too early to look ahead to next season. Be sure to cast your votes in our poll as we look to get the fans’ perspective on what will happen at Ohio State in 2021.

What are you most looking forward to? Who do you think will start at quarterback? Which exiting piece from the 2020 roster will the Buckeyes miss the most? Let us know!

This week’s top stories from around Land-Grant Holy Land


Catch up on anything you may have missed from all of your favorite LGHL writers.


Of course, for all of your Ohio State recruiting interests, you’ll want to head over to our State Secrets section, where we’ve got all the latest info on that front five times a week in addition to commitments and other breaking news stories.

Have a safe and happy weekend, Buckeye Nation!

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Buckeyes already a top school for 2023 offensive tackle
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Four-star 2023 OT Kadyn Proctor | 247Sports

Ohio State is looking to make an early impact on the current sophomore class

It almost feels like it’s still the year 2020 with Urban Meyer heading to Jacksonville to be the next head coach of the Jaguars, but it’s definitely proving that 2021 is off with a bang. This is relevant news, as it could have a direct impact on Ohio State’s recruiting efforts.

The main fear for Ohio State fans is the poaching of Urban’s top guys — mainly Mickey Marotti and Mark Pantoni. In this case, the real concern is Pantoni potentially being someone Meyer would want with him in Jacksonville. With Pantoni being one of the main keys to the Ohio State recruiting machine, it would be a big hit if he were to head back to his home state of Florida.

On one hand, it would be understandable because Urban is who gave him his start, but on the other Pantoni is really one of if not the best in the business at his job title. The concerns are definitely worth considering, but reports have already started to surface that the dynamic duo of Marotti and Pantoni are thought to be staying at Ohio State and continuing to lead the charge as two of the most integral pieces of Ryan Day’s staff.

That said, don’t worry about the Buckeyes and their recruiting efforts. The momentum is going to be hard to stop regardless.

Buckeyes making an early impact on 2023 blue-chipper


As it is in every recruiting cycle, offensive line will be a major priority for the Buckeyes in both the 2022 and 2023 classes. Everyone knows that games are won in the trenches, and Ohio State will have to continue bringing in elite talent on both sides of the ball to keep winning at the level they currently are.

Fortunately, Ohio State is standing out early to several top linemen. Whether it be in-state or nationally, the Buckeyes and position coach Greg Studrawa will be putting in overtime hoping to land their top targets early and often. After 2021’s little hiccups recruiting the position, the priority to land top-caliber players early in the process will be key.

Yesterday, Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts gave an update on 2023 offensive tackle prospect Kadyn Proctor, saying Ohio State is already a top school in his recruitment. Though it’s early, the Buckeyes love to build relationships with their top targets, allowing them to not only stand out from other top programs, but also help them win out in the end. Knowing Proctor’s talent, it’s not a surprise that the Buckeyes offered him back in December, and will be a player in his recruitment consistently since he’s in the footprint of the Big Ten and a player that is certainly of Ohio State caliber.

A 6-foot-7, 300-pound monster of teenager, Proctor is currently only a high school sophomore. Of course with that size, he already has the frame to be the perfect offensive tackle with size and length. Still, with two full seasons of prep ball to continue his development, it’s pretty easy to see why he will be one of the more sought after players in his class.

Currently, Proctor checks in as the third-best tackle prospect in the country, the No. 31 player nationally, and the top player in Iowa for 2023. As stated, the Buckeyes have offered and Proctor clearly has interest as well in what Ohio State has to offer. This will be a name worth paying close attention to moving forward.

Murphy sheds light on top schools list


In yesterday’s edition of State Secrets, we touched on the top schools list of the nation’s top inside linebacker, Shawn Murphy. Coming as no surprise, Ohio State made the cut for Murphy as he trimmed his nearly 50 offers down to a final eight. With nothing but the best of the best in college football still under consideration for the Virginia native, Ohio State will really have to battle to land his services.

As we touched on Thursday, at one time it really did seem like the Buckeyes had serious momentum, and while things have certainly not cooled between the two parties, it does feel as if his name is not mentioned as much. That simply could be due to the fact that Ohio State does already have three players committed at the linebacker position for the 2022 class.

With his top schools announced, Murphy has given a taste as to what stands out about each program and what peaks his interest. In regards to the Buckeyes, it’s his close relationship with position coach Al Washington. In his own words, the two have “a very nice bond.” When Washington was brought to Ohio State, it was not only his coaching, but also his recruiting that had the Buckeyes excited for him to join the staff. His abilities have been seen everywhere he’s been, and in 2022 especially he’s proving his worth both on and off the field.

In addition to Murphy’s bond with Washington, he also believes he can fit into Ohio State’s defensive system right away. Simply put, the Buckeyes are definitely one of the eight that really stand out, but there’s also others. Even without a prediction on the 247Sports Crystal ball, it could very well be Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, and likely Florida who lead the pack here, but all eight schools of course are in the running still for a reason.

As this recruitment continues, it will be key for the Buckeye staff to get Murphy back on campus when he’s allowed to do so. Continuing to build a strong relationship with him thanks to Washington looks to be the biggest factor and chance for Ohio State to win out in the end. Fortunately, the position coach knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to both recruiting players and relationship building.

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Column: Urban Meyer is Jacksonville’s new coach, will that work out?
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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Three questions that come to mind now that Urban’s in the NFL

After a month of flirtation, it is now official that former Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer is the next head coach of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.


So, with this move now a done deal, there are a few questions that spring to mind for me that I will endeavor to answer without benefit of insight, access, experience, or anything approaching intelligence. You’re welcome.

Why would Urban take this job after retiring from college coaching twice?


I think first and foremost, the fact that Meyer even began entertaining the idea of returning to coaching — at any level — must indicate that he feels that he is healthy enough to commit to any job that he might accept. While many people throughout the sporting world do not believe that the cyst at the bottom of Meyer’s brain stem is a legitimate explanation for his on-going health issues, based on the reporting of the most credible members of the Ohio State beat, I think that it is fair to say that his health situation — both cyst and stress — was serious enough to prematurely end at least his coaching tenure in Columbus.

So, if he is willing to leave the FOX pregame set and return to coaching — this time at the highest level — I have to believe that he is confident that his health is in a place where he can handle the stresses of the job. And probably more importantly, I have to assume that Shelley Meyer R.N. is confident that his health is in a place where he can handle the stresses of the job.

Therefore, if we accept that Meyer, his family, and his doctors are comfortable with him returning to the sidelines, we next have to ask why he would want to return, given the cushy job that he has as the de facto face of the only network TV college football pregame show on the air. Well, if you are reading this article, you know that Urban is nothing if not competitive.

I have long thought that he would eventually like to try his hand at the height of his profession, which means the NFL, and honestly, if you’re going to do that, the Jags in 2021 might be the best possible spot to try your hand.

While Meyer made his name as a college football coach at Utah, he made himself into a household name at Florida. So, even though Gator fans have not been the biggest Urban fans since his first retirement, coming home has a way of erasing a lot of ill will. Heck, I mean Meyer was practically Public Enemy No. 1 in Columbus before he became the Buckeyes’ head man before the 2012 season, and now many in Buckeye Nation revere him. So while they say that you can’t go home again, you can go 71 miles away from home.

Then there’s the job itself. Not only will Meyer be able to take Trevor Lawrence as the first overall pick, but he has 11 total picks in this year’s NFL Draft, including five in the first three rounds. Then there’s the fact that the Jags have anywhere from $75-$90 million in cap space, they’ve given Urban a promise that the organization will improve the team’s facilities, and he will be signing a contract for a reported $12 million salary. Who wouldn’t take that job?


Then, you have to factor in the fringe benefits; he can live on the beach in Jacksonville if he wants, there is no state taxes in Florida (as a FL resident, I can tell you, it’s nice), and perhaps most importantly, the life and hours of an NFL coach are far more desirable than those of a college coach. There’s no recruiting, there’s a legitimate offseason, you can get home every night at a respectable hour.

I don’t know much, but to me, that sounds like a pretty sweet gig.

Will anyone from Meyer’s Ohio State staffs join him in Jax?


This is interesting, because while there are obviously Urban holdovers on Ryan Day’s staff, there’s only a few that I would consider to be “Urban’s guys.” Obviously that list starts with strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti, but it was reported today by the Columbus Dispatch that he intends to remain at Ohio State.

Then there’s Player Development Director Mark Pantoni. While he is the man who oversees the Buckeyes’ recruiting efforts (amongst other things), I think that this could be an interesting opportunity for him to move into an NFL front office, if he would like. However, he isn’t going to jump from his current position straight to becoming the Jags’ GM, so the question is, does he want to stay at a place where he runs the show and he is literally one of the leaders in his field, or does he want to take a chance at tackling a new challenge where he would have to work under someone else and their vision? That’s something only Pantoni can decide. But can you imagine the BOOOOOOM tweets when the Jags land a high profile free agent?

On the coaching side, OSU’s quarterback coach Corey Dennis could head south, as Meyer is his father in law. Kevin Wilson is also an Urban guy, but when he eventually leaves Columbus, I would imagine that it would be to take another college head coaching job, not to jump to the NFL.

Then we have Kerry Coombs, who has become much maligned throughout his first season back in Columbus, now as a first-time defensive coordinator. He had a cup of coffee in the league working for Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, but I don’t see the Silver Fox leaving Columbus again — at least not voluntarily.

Urban also brought the already legendary Larry Johnson to Ohio State, and given the number of guys that he has helped turn into NFL All-Pros, he could most certainly coach at that level, but Johnson doesn’t strike me as an NFL guy. His entire career has been at either the high school or college level, and I think the connections that he develops with his players and their families are important to him. So, I think Larry Johnson retires a Buckeye.

Then there’s the one that worries me the most, Brian Hartline. Ohio State’s wide receiver coach spent seven seasons as an NFL pass catcher, and in his short time as a collegiate coach has become one of the best at recruiting and developing dynamic playmakers. Given his unique resume, Hartline could probably jump to an offensive coordinator position almost anywhere in college football, or garner interest from many NFL teams if he ever made his interest in coaching at the next level know.

So, the question is, is Hartline interested in opportunities outside of his alma mater at this point in his career? Or, is he content to work his way up the OSU food chain to eventually become the Buckeyes’ OC before taking a college head coaching job elsewhere?

I’m hoping that the latter is the case, because the WR legacy that Hartline is currently developing is the thing of legend, and I don’t want to see that end anytime soon.

So, with Coach Mick staying put, I’d put Pantoni at 60/40 that he stays, but Dennis at 25/75. Hartine spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, so he might be interested in making the leap and getting back down south, but I just feel like he knows what a great thing that he has going in Columbus, and hopefully he will be around at least for a few more years.

Will Urban be successful in the NFL?


There is a reason that there are very few coaches who move from college to the NFL and find success, especially when they don’t have prior pro experience. Pete Carroll was a two-time NFL head coach before winning two national titles at USC and then returning to the league with the Seahawks.

The demands and responsibilities and freedoms that come with coaching at each level are very different, and therefore the skillset that leads to conference and national titles in college is not the same as what leads to the playoffs and Super Bowls in the league. Now, of course that doesn’t mean that coaches can’t have both skillsets, but when you have spent your entire adult life honing one skillset, it requires a lot of adjustment, both personally and professionally, to make the changes necessary to succeed in a completely new environment.

And, to be honest, while I don’t know Urban Meyer as a person, I’ve watched enough of him as a coach to know that he has a tendency to be pretty stubborn. So, will he be willing to cede control of certain aspects of the organization over to others, or will he demand final say over personnel? Will he be able to make the cut-throat business decisions that are required in the NFL that he seemed incapable of doing at Ohio State? Will he be able to modify his motivational tactics to work with multi-millionaire grown men? I don’t know, but I think that he will have to in order to be successful.

Now, in his favor is the fact that even dating back to his days at UF, Meyer has always been good at allowing his coordinators to run their specific sides of the ball. So, to me, it seems like much of his success might be predicated on who he is able to bring in to be a part of his staff. Reports circulating on Thursday indicate that he is looking to bring in experienced NFL coaches — potentially even former head coaches — to serve as his coordinators.

Not only would that be a wise decision in terms of acclimating to the professional level, but it also would give him an opportunity to judge potential hires based on a proven track record of success in the league, rather than bringing in experienced college coaches, or unproven NFL assistants.

Look, Urban Meyer has been successful at every stop in his career, Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, Ohio State, FOX, etc., so I think that it would be foolish to assume that he has no shot at being a good fit in Jacksonville. But, he is about to make a jump that requires a lot of self awareness, a willingness to relinquish certain controls that he has had for decades, and the humility to admit that there are things that you just don’t know about the new world in which you are working.

We know that Meyer is a good coach — and he is walking into a pretty good situation in Jacksonville — so if he can wrestle with his new reality in the NFL, I think it could work out.

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Stick to Sports podcast: What to watch or listen to if you’re still feeling the post-national championship blues
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images

Tia and Matt discuss their go-to list of shows, music and hobbies that help them forget DaVonta Smith exists

Land-Grant Holy Land’s newest podcast series, Stick to Sports, will be unlike any podcast you’ve heard on the Ohio State beat. Your hosts, Tia Johnston and Matt Tamanini, will (of course) talk Ohio State football, but the primary focus of the show will be on what’s going on around the periphery, such as weird/funny happenings in college football and the sports world at large, as well as other things that keep us interested in between games, whether that’s pop culture, social media trends— you name it.

Listen and Subscribe Now:


For those of you who have had enough of national championship recaps, analyses and NFL Draft rumors, this podcast is for you. Tia and Matt obviously had to touch on the game for a hot second to start the show before they dive right into anything and everything that makes them feel good during these trying times. They discuss the shows, apps, and music that they turn to when...say...DaVonta Harris makes a meal out of Ohio State’s defense. Check out their ‘Feel Good’ list below, and feel free to name your favorite go-tos in the comments!

Matt’s ‘Feel Good’ List:


Ted Lasso

Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits

Chris Gaines’ Greatest Hits

Tigers Original Off Broadway Cast Recording

Heathers Musical World Premiere Recording

Baseketball

Sports Night

Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Once More, with Feeling— I’ve Got a Theory”

In Short

Tia’s ‘Feel Good’ List:


How To Get Away With Murder

Bridgerton

Bridgerton Soundtrack

Sex and the City Reboot

TIKTOK! (Hop on the TikTok train, people! You won’t regret it)


Contact Tia Johnston

Twitter: @TiaJohnston

Contact Tia’s dogs

Instagram: @buddyandbella_

Contact Matt Tamanini

Twitter: @BWWMatt, @LandGrant33

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Hello to the BP community! Our Elise is now 6 and a Daisy in the Girl Scouts. Hard to believe she's already in Kindergarten. We are selling cookies for her troop to support our troop's upcoming adventures and complete service projects. This endeavor will help her learn how to set goals and work hard to achieve them. She'll also be learning the basics of financial literacy and how to provide good customer service.

There’s still plenty of time to order your cookies. Please consider helping Elise achieve her goal of 250 boxes. You can order them for yourself or order them for the troops. If you order them online, they can even be shipped to you. Thank you!

https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/elise502078

Freshman Ransom, a star in the making
Mike via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Ohio State has found a gem with true freshman Lathan Ransom.

Ransom, a former 4 star out of Arizona quietly gained more snaps for the Buckeyes as the season progressed, but has been making a name for himself this postseason, delivering the biggest hits, and plays at key moments.

As a true freshman Ransom earned his first grade as a champion in the Sugar Bowl against Clemson.

Ransom saw a season high 28 snaps in the Sugar Bowl victory and made plays for the Buckeye defense. Most notably, Trevor Lawrence’s last throw in the end zone targeted for Amari Rodgers was contested and batted by Ransom right into Sevyn Banks’ hands leading to an interception.

Although Ransom has appeared in three games for the Buckeyes he has made his presence known these past two post season games (Northwestern, Clemson). In the Big Ten Championship, on 4th down Ransom made a huge hit on Northwestern’s John Raine causing an incompletion and icing the game leading to a Buckeyes fourth straight Big Ten Championship.

Meeting with the media ahead of the national championship, defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs and senior Shaun Wade had high praise for the freshman.

Coombs said Ransom has improved everyday this season. “He showed up and played big when we needed him to,” said Coombs. “He continues to improve and develop and we’re excited for his future.”

Wade told the media that Ransom is going to be a great player and he even reached out to Wade ahead of the Clemson game to go over things in the slot corner position where they both went over to the WHAC to work on techniques before game time.

Ransom has 4 tackles and 1 PD on the season.

The future is bright.

All the tools Ransom has shown dominating high school and translating it to the college game has future All American written all over it and is going to be a problem for offenses years to come.




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#11 Ohio State Buckeyes Silences #2 Clemson Tigers in the Big Easy
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Yes, you read that right and it was intentional. With all the chatter and all the slights sent their way, the Buckeyes have finally defeated the Clemson Tigers. The risk of falling 0-5 to Clemson was possible, but with all the motivation in the world the Buckeyes trounced the Tigers and silenced the doubters for now—and oh, how sweet it is?!

The build up to this moment was heavy. Two elite teams with two distinct paths to the CFB Playoffs. Two budding rivals that always seem to meet. Two elite head coaches with loaded rosters that could compete to become the next dynasty in college football. Both sides had their motives and their wills tested up to this moment.

One team, Ohio State went through adversity to play this season. They fought for a chance to play and they defeated the odds to do so. They had a nine-game season that turned to six with Maryland and TTUN cancelling, and the Illinois game being cancelled due to COVID concerns.

Clemson looked good but suffered an early loss at the hands of Notre Dame without Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence returns and throttles Notre Dame and avenged the loss to set the table for another head-to-head with the Buckeyes.

The chatter was immense and extremely disrespectful toward the Buckeyes leading up to the game—no one gave them a shot to advance. Coaches, Clemson head coach Dabo Sweeney ranked the Buckeyes 11th (11th!) in his final coaches poll and the media was forecasting another Bama versus Clemson game.

With their demons on the field, the Buckeyes looked great in this game. They played with poise and balance—and they really dominated all phases of the game. Constant pressure by the defense stifled Lawrence while Fields’ grit shined through with the help of Trey Sermon in the ground game. The game was never really that close after the 14-14 tie but the job is not done with the #1 Crimson Tide on the horizon.

Yes, savor the win—do it! But we all know if you want to win a championship, you have to run through Alabama and Clemson. The Buckeyes demolished the latter and now they must be laser focused on the Crimson Tide and their arsenal of weapons at their disposal.

For what it’s worth: Even the Bama head coach, Nick Saban and their future opponent had them out at 5th overall behind Texas A&M and while the slight is less severe—we can all assume that it’ll be used again to sharpen their edge. Focus on the win and enjoy it, the Tide are not to be taken lightly especially with the issues we saw tonight with the secondary.

MOTSAG Heroes of the Game

Offense: Justin Fields, QB

Defense: Haskell Garrett, DT

Special Teams: Drue Chrisman, P

#GoBucks




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Battered Justin Fields out shines Lawrence, setting up clash with Crimson Tide
Mike via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Some players use criticism and comparisons to fuel their performance. Justin Fields did just so in Ohio State’s dominant 49-28 victory over the Clemson Tigers in the Sugar Bowl.

The comparisons and competition between Fields and Trevor Lawrence has been on display since the two were the best prospects in the 2018 recruiting class.

Lawrence has been the consensus number one pick for this upcoming NFL draft after Fields showed some weaknesses against ranked Indiana and Northwestern as he threw a combined 5 interceptions which was more then he had all of last season.

This, last year’s Fiesta Bowl clash, and Dabo’s ranking of Ohio State was more than enough fuel Fields needed for this CFB semifinal Friday night.

If he wasn’t already for his 19-1 record as a Buckeye heading into this game, Fields officially locked himself as a Buckeye legend for this gutsy performance.

Fields took off scrambling and took a big hit to the ribs from linebacker James Skalski that left him in a lot of pain through the course of the game. Fields missed one play before coming back in continuing to dominate.

Fields ended the night throwing 22-for-28 with 385 yards and Sugar Bowl record-six touchdowns.

Fields-Lawrence Battle

The first competition between Fields and Lawrence took place in high school at the Elite 11, where Fields was crowned MVP.

Lawrence took advantage of the second round after beating Fields and the Buckeyes in last year’s Fiesta Bowl.

Fields broke the 1-1 tie breaker in dominating fashion between the two Friday night as the Buckeyes advanced to the national title game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.




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Olave’s anticipated Tiger rematch: By Mike Scharf
Mike via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

December 28, 2019… State Farm Stadium… 29-23. 29-23. 29-23:

That final score has been entrenched throughout Woody Hayes Athletic Center. On the walls in the locker room, in the weight room.

Everywhere.

This score hasn’t left the Buckeyes team’s eyes since a last-minute interception in last year’s Fiesta Bowl ended their national championship hopes.

This Buckeye team seeks redemption after having a bad taste in their mouth from last season’s clash with the Clemson Tigers, and none other than star wide receiver Chris Olave seeks it more than most.

Last season, Olave spoke up that he broke his route in last year’s Fiesta Bowl as he turned left instead of continuing his route thinking his quarterback took off to scramble which led to a Justin Fields’ interception right in the hands of Clemson’s defensive back Nolan Turner in the endzone securing a Tigers victory and national championship appearance.

As the NFL draft was looming, there was no denying in the mind of Olave what he was going to do—he came back to Ohio State to show everyone what he can do.

Olave met with the media ahead of the 2020 season expressing his love for Ohio State and the chip he has from last season’s disheartening loss:

“I care so much about this team, this university,” Olave said, “I don’t think I’ve gotten over it still (Fiesta Bowl loss), and I still got that chip on my shoulder and I want to show the world”.

Olave explained he found himself working out 2-3 times a day, trying to take his mind off things.

This Buckeye team knows who the underdog is and relishes it. The odds have been stacked against this group all season and they are ready to prove the world wrong.

In the Sugar Bowl trailer, narrated by Chris Olave, he acknowledge the team embraces the underdog narrative.

“We know you don’t want to see us here, and we know you don’t give us a chance. That’s fine,” said Olave. “After all we fought through, we just need one chance. A second chance.”

CO2 is ready.




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