Column: Should Ohio State run up the score as much as possible this season?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Will the Buckeyes need to go all out to convince the committee, or is pouring it on too risky?

Three weeks from tomorrow, the Ohio State Buckeyes will take to the field for the first time in 2020 as they begin a conference-only, eight-game regular season. The coronavirus pandemic has taken college football — which even pre-COVID was the most volatile major American sport — and thrown a gazillion monkey wrenches into its already out-dated and undemocratic processes.

Since winning the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014-15, the Buckeyes have had an up-and-down relationship with the CFP committee, getting in for season which they maybe shouldn’t have, and being left out when they absolutely shouldn’t have been excluded. But with unbalanced schedules, no non-conference opponents, and seasons starting four to six weeks apart, there really is no way to predict how the committee is going to look at the inherently disparate resumes of teams vying for berths in the 2020 playoff field.

So, traditional logic would suggest that coaches and teams should do everything in their power to make a statement each and every time that they have the opportunity to do so; namely, keeping their studs in for as long as possible and running up the damn score.


But in this incredibly weird year, is that the best option for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes? Let’s take a look at the factors that might play in to deciding if OSU should attempt to hang 100 on all of their opponents this fall.

Pro — Run It Up


- ACC teams are scheduled to play 11 games this fall, SEC and Big 12 teams are scheduled for 10, and that’s before conference championship games. So, If Ohio State is to be in contention for the College Football Playoff, they will have played nine games (eight regular season plus the Big Ten Championship game), but will be compared to teams with two or three more data points.

The Buckeyes will inherently be at a disadvantage in terms of resume, so perhaps breaking the scoreboard can make up the difference. So, to compensate for playing 25% fewer games than other Power Five teams, OSU could just pile on the points in order to make a statement.

- Speaking of statements, Ohio State no longer has a marquee non-conference opponent on the schedule and they are avoiding the best B1G West teams in this year’s crossovers, so they are left with just Penn State, TTUN, and the conference title game when it comes to top-line opponents (mileage on the term “top-line” will obviously vary).

So, while Alabama, for example, has LSU, Auburn, Texas A&M and Georgia on the schedule, it might help the Buckeyes’ cause to really show out in as many games as possible, especially against their handful of “quality opponents.”

- Despite the fact that the College Football Playoff Committee touts their reliance on advanced analytics, and that the group includes individuals who understand the sport on a deeper level than the media members who traditionally vote in polls, more times than not, they simply default to the tried-and-not-always-true “eye test.”

So, if the committee needs something flashy to impress them, especially in a season as bizarre as this one, Day and the Buckeyes should give them something flashy.

- The margin for error is likely to be incredibly thin this season. Theoretically, with fewer games, comes fewer losses. So, even though conference title games will guarantee that there’s at most one undefeated team per league, when the committee is splitting hairs on who to put in, it stands to reason that you want to do as much as you can to stack the deck in your favor.

Against — Not to Run It Up


- There are four spots available in the College Football Playoff, and they will almost certainly all be filled by a Power Five team (although I would love to see an AAC team get in this year). With all due respect to the legions of former Ohio State assistants currently coaching at Texas, with Oklahoma’s loss to Kansas State last weekend and the Longhorns struggles with Texas Tech, it is increasingly difficult to imagine that the eventual Big 12 champion will be undefeated come Selection Day.

So, should Ohio State just simply run the table — as I believe they will — they’ll automatically be in the playoff, even if the ACC, Pac-12, and SEC also produce an undefeated champion. Therefore, the focus should simply be on winning, not on by how much.

- Thanks to the B1G’s mismanagement of the season, instead of having a schedule with extra bye weeks built in in order to compensate for potential additional COVID-delays, the Buckeyes will now have to play, and win, nine games in nine weeks to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.

While I certainly expect them to do that, there is no need to put players in additional danger of getting injured just to score a few extra brownie points. Day just needs to follow the blueprint that he laid out last season. Get up by five or six touchdowns by mid-third quarter, and then pull the starters and get the young guys enough experience just in case someone does get hurt.

It’s just too risky to have players in the game scoring irrelevant touchdowns when they could potentially suffer season-ending injuries on any play.

- With the advantage of starting later than almost everyone else — and therefore seeing a month+ of games unfold before taking the field — Day and company will have a better understanding of the college football landscape heading into their Oct. 24 season opener against Nebraska. They will know what they are up against, and whether or not they actually need to take the risks required to dial up their offense.

By being backloaded (in comparison to the three major conferences already playing), Day can start the season sticking to the traditional script, i.e. getting Justin Fields and other starters out early in the second half. Then, if they get to mid-November and it looks like they might need some extra umph to convince the committee, they can start pouring it on down the stretch.

Conclusion


I think that Day should find a mix of the two options. Find a few more opportunities to score than you would in a normal season, but don’t do anything that could too drastically jeopardize the team’s ability to achieve its biggest goals.

What do you think? Vote in the poll and share your thoughts in the comments below.


After some unexpected start and stops, I am back to posting a column every single day from preseason camp until whenever Ohio State’s football season ends. Some days they will be longer and in depth, some days they will be short and sweet. Let me know what you think of this one, and what you’d like to see me discuss in the comments or on Twitter. Go Bucks!

Continue reading...

Buckeye Bits: Justin Fields talks about last year’s knee injury, Ryan Day talks roster management, more
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Happy Friday, Buckeye Nation. With the calendar turning over to October and a crisp fall breeze in the air, it really does feel like college football season. This week we’ve gotten to hear from a number of Ohio State’s coaches and players, and so the anticipation only continues to rise with each passing day.

The pads are officially on, full-contact practices are ramping up, and we don't have to wait that much longer to see football played in Ohio Stadium.


We are still just about three weeks away from Ohio State kicking off its 2020 campaign, but we’ve got some good games coming up this weekend to keep up occupied in the meantime. Speaking of this Saturday’s slate, let’s hop right into the gambling portion of today’s Buckeye Bits, which we have done each of the last two Fridays.

It has been a solid start for the Bits Bets™ segment, as we are a positive 7-4 through two weeks of picks. We could have gone 5-1 last week if not for a late backdoor cover against UCF, but a 4-2 finish is nothing to scoff at. Let’s hope we keep the money rolling in with today’s picks.

Here are some of my favorite plays this weekend (10/3):

• No. 9 Texas vs. TCU (over 62)
• SMU (PK) vs. No. 25 Memphis
• No. 16 Mississippi State (-17) vs. Arkansas
• No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 13 Texas A&M (under 53.5)
• No. 7 Auburn (+7.5) at No. 4 Georgia

Admittedly, this weekend’s slate is pretty tough, and I'm not overly in love with anything on the board. However, if you’re going to give me a Big 12 o/u of less than 70, I'm gonna hammer the over. Now, let’s get to today’s headlines.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...


Auburn-Georgia is the star of this week’s college football lines
(Brett Ludwiczak, LGHL)

As usual, Brett has a much better insight into this week’s gambling slate than I, as he too is positive against the spread on the season (12-8). Check out what he has to say about all the big games this weekend.

Ohio State’s top remaining defensive target announces Top 7 schools list
(Caleb Houser, LGHL)

One of the Buckeyes’ five-star targets on the West Coast dropped his top schools list on Thursday, and Ohio State expectedly made the cut as the odds-on favorite to land the talented defensive end. Plus, an offensive line target is set to announce his commitment tomorrow, and it appears he is Columbus-bound.

Which teams will miss their “home court advantage” the most this season?
(Connor Lemons, LGHL)

Football isn't the only Ohio State sport coming back this fall, as the Buckeyes are also gearing up to compete on the hardwood sometime in November/December. Today, Connor took a look at which Big Ten programs will suffer the most from a lack of fans this basketball season.

Ohio State 2020 Virtual Season: Week 5 at Penn State
(George Eisner, LGHL)

We are winding down our virtual season here at LGHL as the real season inches closer. This weekend is Ohio State’s biggest test yet, as the virtual Buckeyes will head to Happy Valley to take on Penn State in our latest stream. Join us on Twitch at 3:15 p.m. ET to catch all the action.

From around the gridiron...


Ryan Day met with the media via Zoom on Friday morning to discuss the start of Ohio State’s training camp. He began by explaining that the Buckeyes will begin full-contact practices at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

After lauding the teams depth at running back, specifically naming Steele Chambers. Miyan Williams and walk-on Xavier Johnson as looking good in practice behind the starting duo of Trey Sermon and Master Teague, Day once again spoke highly of Fields’ work ethic throughout this weird and crazy offseason.


In terms of the linebackers shifting around, Day likes what he has seen out of Pete Werner at Will after moving from Sam, and while it thinks the position may better suit his skillset, he isn’t committing to anything just yet.


In terms of NCAA eligibility, Day doesn’t see Ohio State going over 85 scholarships next season. He thinks between seniors graduating and players leaving for the NFL, they should able to stay under that number.


The head coach also talked about how the staff’s lives have been very different as a result of the pandemic, with some coaches not sleeping in their own homes for fear of picking up the virus and spreading it to the team.


A big topic of discussion this offseason has been whether or not Ohio State will move back to a two-safety scheme like they did previously under Kerry Coombs or stick with the one-high safety they used under Jeff Hafley. Day didn’t specify anything, but did say theres a chance that both Marcus Hooker and Josh Proctor could be on the field at the same time.


Following Day to the virtual podium was surprise bonus coverage with Justin Fields. Asked about whether or not he wants to be hit in practice, Fields said he doesn’t plan on getting hit preseason because he doesn’t plan on being hit all that much in the regular season.


Fields said he talked to Wyatt Davis multiple times before he made his decision to return to the program, obviously wanting the offensive lineman to return. He understands the importance of a good O-line for successful QB play.


When asked about his leg injury late last season, Fields admitted that it was something that really bothered him. He said at times it hurt him just walking around campus.


Perhaps the most important part of today’s Zoom call, Fields was joined by his dog Uno.

From around the hardwood...


Chris Holtmann also spoke to the media on Friday afternoon. He talked about a few of his new additions to the roster, and apparently the Buckeyes are hoping to get a waiver approved for Bucknell transfer Jimmy Sotos to play this year.


He also gave some important injury updates to a few guys who missed significant time last season. Justice Sueing appears good to go, but it’s going to be a little while before Musa Jallow and Seth Towns are ready to play.


Our own Connor Lemons hopped on with BT Powerhouse to preview the upcoming Ohio State basketball season. Check it out!

From everywhere else...


Whoever is writing the script for the year 2020 is leaving no stone unturned.


The Marlins have never lost a playoff series in franchise history. Baseball is chaos.


This is football-related but Ohio State posted it right before I submitted this piece so I could not leave it out. Enjoy your weekend, everybody! 22 days until Buckeyes football.


Continue reading...

Ohio State 2020 Virtual Season preview: Week 5 at Penn State
George Eisner via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Follow LandGrantHolyLand on Twitch and tune in Saturday at 3:15 p.m. ET to watch the Buckeyes take on the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley!

The 2020 Ohio State Virtual Season keeps on keeping on this week (follow all the action by following LandGrantHolyLand on Twitch), as the Buckeyes prepare to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions on the road. Last week, Ohio State had their hands full in Iowa City with the Iowa Hawkeyes — as they usually do — but prevailed 27-17 thanks to sharp play from Justin Fields and the Buckeye receiver room in the second half:


Though Penn State currently sports a record of 3-3 in this virtual college football universe, they still graded out as a top ten preseason team. That means their roster is more than equipped to tango with the Buckeyes for the length of their upcoming contest.

This promises to be Ohio State’s toughest in-conference challenge yet this season, so let’s take a look at what to expect on both sides of the ball:

What to Watch: Ohio State Offense vs. Penn State Defense



After Trey Sermon essentially beat Nebraska by himself two weeks ago, Ohio State had trouble getting consistent production on the ground last week against a stingy Iowa defense. Penn State’s defense boasts many similar strengths, though they seem to be more prone to allowing big plays than their Hawkeye counterparts. Look no further than the title image of this article, where you’ll notice Master Teague III trucked two Nittany Lions at the same time!

However, this game will likely have to be won behind the heroics of Justin Fields, and he is more than capable of living up to the task. The virtual Buckeyes have been throwing the ball a bit more often this season than the actual 2019 team did, but we can likely credit that to Fields’ maturity and Ryan Day’s growing confidence in him. Of course, it also helps that Jameson Williams is starting to have a breakout as the team’s go-to slot receiver, while Fields continues to hammer Luke Farrell and Jeremy Ruckert with targets over the middle.

Penn State will likely play Ohio State’s offense tough early, but look for the Buckeyes to slowly break things open as the game wears along.

What to Watch: Penn State Offense vs. Ohio State Defense



Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford returns for his second campaign as a starter this season, and though he may not be the most talented quarterback the Nittany Lions have had recently, he is certainly one of the smartest. Clifford will make very few mistakes, has a great sense of when the pocket begins to break down, and makes a lot of correct throws that will likely result in a high completion percentage for this game. The Ohio State secondary will have to play to the best of their ability to avoid getting chewed up by the balanced attack of the Nittany Lions.

In addition to Clifford’s own mobile ability, the Penn State running game gets a further boost from brilliantly-named running back Journey Brown. Brown has great vision and athleticism, which will allow him to capitalize on what little holes may be there for Penn State to run through. Tuf Borland the rest of the Buckeye defense will have their hands full all day trying to clog the running lanes and keep the Nittany Lions from breaking off big plays.

The key to this game will likely come down to Ohio State’s ability to generate sacks. If Zach Harrison shows up in a big way as he did against Iowa, Penn State will likely be in too many uncomfortable long down situations to advance the ball effectively.

Follow LandGrantHolyLand on Twitch and Tune in Tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. ET to watch Ohio State vs. Iowa!



We’ll get the stream going around 3:00 p.m. ET, so be sure to tune in before the game starts! I’ll be using the time before kickoff to provide updates on those performances as well as other news from around the virtual college football universe.

Go Bucks! We can’t wait to watch with you!

Continue reading...

Alright, I love me some hot sauce and I'm assuming there are some here that do as well. Recommend some good ones. If you say Tabasco I will fly to your home a spray diarrhea on your porch.

Here are some I'm enjoying now.

For discussion of this week’s games.

Most interesting game is probably Auburn at Georgia at 7:30 ET.

For today’s games.

Five-star 2022 OT lists Ohio State among top schools
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Five-star OT Gunner Givens | Edit via @Hayesfawcett3 on Twitter
The Buckeyes made the cut for the highly-touted Virginia native.

Ohio State football led by Ryan Day has remained one of the top program’s in the nation. One of the biggest reasons for the team’s continued dominance is its success in recruiting the best high school football players to join them year in and year out.

The Buckeyes dominance in recruiting continues to pay off. The program currently sits at No. 2 in both the 2021 and 2022 recruiting cycles. Fortunately, the quick start the Buckeyes have gotten off to in 2022 seems to be continuing in the right direction.

Five-star offensive tackle Gunner Givens (Daleville, VA/Lord Botetourt) recently included Ohio State in his top 12 schools.


Alongside Ohio State, Givens included Clemson, Virginia Tech, Georgia, LSU, Penn State, Auburn, Alabama, Florida State, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Carolina in his top 12 schools.

Ohio State offered Givens just this summer, but despite being his latest offer, the Buckeyes have made quick work and vaulted into serious contender status.

However, among the dozen selected by Givens, there is no indication of any separation between the schools. Alongside the recent extension of the dead period by the NCAA due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Givens recruitment appears to still have a decently long shelf life.

Givens may try to wait out to the dead period and take some official visits to his interested schools before making a decision. If this is in fact the case, the selection of those official visits will certainly shed some light into separating the field.

While the Buckeyes 2022 class haul has already been impressive, just one offensive linemen is currently a member of the class in four-star OT Tegra Tshabola. Givens would make for an excellent addition alongside Tshabola for a program that likes to reload upfront every year — especially after some big misses at offensive tackle in 2021.

Givens is the No. 1 OT in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 21 overall prospect in the class.

Quick Hits:

• Ohio State 2021 QB commit Kyle McCord is playing in the All-American Bowl, and his high school head coach Tim Roken will be coaching the East team.

• McCord’s teammate and fellow Ohio State commit Marvin Harrison Jr. will also be partaking in the All-American Bowl, which takes place on Jan. 9.

• Despite already being the No. 1 RB in 247Sports’ rankings, TreVeyon Henderson continues to try and get better every day. The five-star back looks like he has all the physical tools as well as the motivation and drive to be the next great Ohio State ball-carrier.

Continue reading...

Buckeye Bits: Ohio State heavy favorite to win Big Ten title, schedule breakdowns, NFL injuries, more
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Happy happy Monday! We have another lengthy Buckeye Bits for you on this fine evening. In fact, you can expect Bits to be a bit lengthier than usual from here on out as we have real live football to discuss! Is 2020 finally looking up? Eh, based on Sunday’s NFL news, not exactly. We have a lot to cover, so let’s jump in. Here’s what’s happening...

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...


Five-star wide receiver lists Ohio State among leaders

Charles Doss, LGHL

The No. 2 wideout and 14th overall prospect in the 2022 class has Ohio State on his short list, along with Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and the University of Oklahoma. That and more in this morning’s State Secrets!

Friday’s Buckeye Bits

Gene Ross, LGHL

As Gene said, we here at LGHL are over the moon that we finally have actual football to write about now that the Big Ten is back in action. No more rumors, speculations, fake sources and bad news. Just good ole fashioned position battles, opponent analyses and X’s and O’s from here on out. In case you missed it, Friday’s edition of Buckeye Bits is jam-packed with players’ reactions to football being back, an AP Poll update, how the Buckeyes plan to replace Chase Young, and everything else happening across the CFB world. It’s good to be back.

Our Matt Tamanini guested on Corn Nation’s podcast, Big Red Cobcast, to discuss Ohio State and Nebraska’s upcoming matchup and all things Big Ten. Check it out in the link below!

From around the gridiron...


This time last week, we were gushing over all of the incredible performances by the Buckeyes in the NFL in Week 1. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same about Week 2, as multiple former Buckeyes suffered serious (some season-ending) injuries across the league. You know those OTAs and preseason games? Yeah, they exist for a reason.


These guys will be majorly missed by their respective teams and the league as a whole. Such a bummer.

On Saturday, the Big Ten released its (third) schedule for the 2020 football season. To sum it up, Nebraska was given a death sentence while Ohio State was handed the golden ticket to the College Football Playoff.


And you know what comes after a schedule release don’t you? That’s right. Ten trillion schedule breakdowns. I’ve listed a few of the best.

First up, Spencer Holbrook of Lettermen Row’s four biggest takeaways, which include his thoughts on The Game’s new date, Ohio State’s trap game, the Big Ten East title and the schedule’s lack of flexibility.


The guys at Saturday Tradition predict when every Big Ten team will lose its first game. That is...every Big Ten team besides Ohio State.


David Regimbal took a look at all the biggest games on the schedule that don’t involve Ohio State. I’ll tell ya what, after last weekend’s college football lineup, I cannot wait for some of these matchups.


I don’t gamble, but how might one go about putting all of one’s money on the over for Ohio State?


Also not surprising, Ohio State opens as a -260 favorite to win the 2020 Big Ten Championship. The only heavier favorite in any conference is Clemson, which is a -700 favorite to win the 2020 ACC Championship.


Ohio State also opens with the second-best odds (+260) to win this year’s national championship, behind only Clemson (+210). And yet, the USA Today Coaches Poll released its Top 25 on Saturday, and Buckeyes are ranked No. 10 (?), despite the fact they were ranked No. 2 in the preseason version of the poll (?). Five SEC teams (who also have yet to play a game) are ranked above them. Someone make it make sense.


The Nerds...they have spoken.


It’s cute how they include the other rivalries.


No one is benefiting more from football being played this season than the conferences’ athletic departments, who would have otherwise been looking at some serious revenue loss. Now, “Ohio State might be able to reduce its projected losses from nine figures to eight figures,” according to Joey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch.


Ohio State football’s insanely talented creative team strikes again.

From everywhere else...


First Ohio State football returns, and now the season finale of Schitt’s Creek?! What a time.

If you have yet to watch Schitt’s Creek, close this article immediately and go power up Netflix. It’s the best comedy series out there right now, and based on their record-breaking number of Emmy Awards they received Sunday night, I am not just saying that.


I’d also like to include a Zendaya appreciation post because it’s a free country.


Continue reading...

Five-star wide receiver lists Ohio State among leaders
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes are now one step closer to adding another standout to the fold.

While you enjoyed the weekend with loved ones, you might’ve missed out some of the latest recruiting news surrounding the Ohio State Buckeyes. Don’t worry! Land-Grant Holy Land is here to help you get caught back up.

Buckeyes make the cut


Nearly a month ago, five-star class of 2022 wide receiver Luther Burden took to his Twitter page to share with the world his top 12 college programs. Fast forward a few weeks, and the Cardinal Ritter College Prep (MO) standout is now down to five potential landing spots.

Releasing his freshly trimmed list on Saturday afternoon, Burden, the No. 2 wideout and 14th overall prospect in the junior class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, is still considering taking his talents to either Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, or the University of Oklahoma, where some around the scene have him pegged to end up when his recruitment is all said and done.


Suiting up for the same high school program that produced current Buckeye Jameson Williams, Burden has proved to be a big time playmaker with the ball in his hands. Throughout his time on the high school level, the 6-foot-2, 194-pounder has accounted for over 2,000 receiving yards and nearly 30 touchdowns.

Burden’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as he has cut his list down from over 40 offers. While Ohio State has made the short list, it does seem that Oklahoma has a hefty lead for his services. All four of his Crystal Balls are in favor of the Sooners, with two of them coming as recently as this past Friday.

Want to see why Burden is considered one of the top prospects in the entire class of 2022? Check out these highlights of him in action from last season for the Lions.

Quick Hits

• As first reported by Stephen Means, class of 2022 four-star defensive tackle and future Buckeye Michael Hall Jr. broke his hand in practice last week and did not participate in Streetboro’s runaway victory over Cloverleaf on Friday night.
• On Sunday, class of 2021 Ohio State pledge Tyleik Williams decommitted from the Under Armour All-American game and will now suit up in 2021 All-American Bowl. Not the first soon-to-be Buckeye heading to San Antonio, the four-star defensive tackle will join nine of his future OSU teammates in Texas.
• The basketball Buckeyes have recently been in touch with 2022 big man Donovan Clingan, according to Tre Jackson. A four-star prospect from Bristol, CT, the 7-foot-1 Clingan has yet to lock in a scholarship from the Buckeyes, but does hold offers from the likes of Boston College, Maryland, Michigan State, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and UConn.

Continue reading...

Buckeye Bits: Justin Fields and Jonathon Cooper speak to the media, B1G schedule expected next week
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 Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Even though Ohio State won't be taking the field this Saturday, it just feels so much better heading into a weekend of college football knowing the Buckeyes will be back soon. It has been painful to watch all these other teams kickoff while the Big Ten was still in limbo. Instead, now we get to sit back, scout out the competition, and enjoy a few weekends of stress-free football knowing that Justin Fields and the gang will be on our TVs soon enough.

We here at LGHL are looking forward to getting back to talking about actual football in the coming weeks as Ryan Day and his team start hitting the practice field hard. It’s going to be a hell of a lot more fun to discuss position battles and future opponents rather than covering the absolute nightmare that was the last five weeks of ‘sources’ and misinformation. The Buckeyes are hungry and talented, and this year’s team really has something to prove — especially given they only have eight regular season games to do it.

Now that Ohio State is back in the national conversation for the College Football Playoff, we have to do our due diligence in keeping an eye on what other teams around the country are doing. While the Buckeyes won’t take on any non-conference opponents in the regular season, these other matchups could provide a glimpse into how the playoff picture will shape up. That being said, I want to start giving out my CFB picks in these Friday editions of Buckeye Bits, and we’ll see how we do each week. I’m no expert by any means, but I'll take my best shot.

Here are some of my favorite picks for this weekend (9/19):

• No. 18 Louisville (-2.5) vs. No. 17 Miami
• Boston College (+6) @ Duke
• No. 25 Pittsburgh (-21) vs. Syracuse
• No. 13 Cincinnati (-34.5) vs. Austin Peay
• Georgia State (+15.5) vs. No. 19 LA-Lafayette

Now, lets get to today’s headlines...

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...


Miami and Louisville’s primetime battle headlines Saturday’s action
(Brett Ludwiczak, LGHL)

If you are into more of the gambling stuff, I would highly recommend checking out Brett’s Money, Cash and Joes column that he puts out each Friday. There, he gives a more detailed breakdown of the big games of the weekend and provides some insight into which teams he thinks will cover the spread. Ohio State doesn’t play for five more weeks, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make these games more interesting and earn a little cash on the side.

Ohio State the early leaders for elite 2022 running back
(Caleb Houser, LGHL)

You thought Tony Alford was gonna haul in two of the top running backs in the country in TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor and just call it a day? Pssshhhhhhh.

LGHL Group Chat: Happiness? In this economy?
(LGHL Staff)

A much more Ohio State-centric edition of the LGHL Group Chat this week with everything that has transpired over the past 72 hours. Overall, the general sentiment is that everyone is stoked that the Buckeyes are coming back sooner than most anticipated.

Ohio State 2020 Virtual Season: Week 3 at Nebraska
(George Eisner, LGHL)

Even though the real Ohio State team will be taking the field in a few weeks, we are going to continue on with our virtual season that we have been streaming over on Twitch. However, we are going to switch up the schedule a little bit, broadcasting only the biggest games left on the docket over the next five weeks leading up to real Buckeye football (and sparing you from having to watch virtual Rutgers lose by 80).

From around the gridiron...


Justin Fields and Jonathon Cooper spoke to the media today as the first players we’ve heard from since the Big Ten announced its was resurrecting its fall season. They both gave great insights into what these strange times have been like for them, what kind of work the team has been doing the past few weeks, and how they feel about the season moving forward.

Fields said at not point did he really consider opting out, not wanting to rush to any decisions and also wanting the opportunity to show the world that he has improved this offseason. Cooper admits it was frustrating that the season was nearly taken away from them after he worked so hard to come back from injuries, but he’s happy they are back and ready to move forward.


In terms of the strict COVID protocols put in place by the Big Ten, Fields does not think it will be a problem for the Buckeyes. He called not partying or going out with friends a “small sacrifice” for what the team is trying to accomplish. Fields also said Ryan Day made it abundantly clear that anyone who wished to opt out could do so, but everyone wants to play.


Fields was also excited to get back to full 11-on-11 drills, and had high praise for Ohio State’s new group of wide receivers, calling them “the most polished freshmen,” he’s ever seen. Cooper talked about how the team will look to replace Chase Young by committee.


Ohio State is incredibly lucky to have someone like Ryan Day in charge of the program.


In other Ohio State news, you can expect the team to re-appear in the AP Poll not this weekend, but the following weekend. It is going to be interesting and weird to see what kind of votes the Buckeyes get when there are teams that have already played a few games, but then again everything about 2020 is weird.


I wouldn’t be too worried about Wyatt Davis or Shaun Wade not being able to come back.


It also sounds as though we will get the new Big Ten schedule early next week.

From everywhere else...


Usually I dedicate this section to non-football topics, but there is a ton of football news from outside the Ohio State sphere that I think is important today.

Beginning with this:


We have already seen a ton of cancellations and postponements of games through just two-plus weeks of action thus far as a result of COVID-19 outbreaks. The Big Ten has little margin for error in their eight games in eight weeks plan, but they are hoping that their rigorous testing protocols will prevent this sort of thing from happening in the Midwest.


Ohio State isn’t the only B1G school that is seeing their opt-outs opt back in.


There is a chance that all of the Power 5 conferences will indeed be playing this fall.


Have a wonderful and safe weekend, everyone. Just 36 (or 35) days until Buckeye football.

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Miami and Louisville’s primetime battle headlines Saturday’s college football betting lines
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Saturday night’s contest between the Hurricanes and Cardinals is the first matchup this season between ranked teams.

Last week: 3-4

Last week started off strong for MC&J with Louisiana and Arkansas State covering, but things started to go downhill when Syracuse couldn’t finish out their cover against North Carolina, giving up 21 points in the fourth quarter. Early season growing pains.

Hopefully this week’s slate is a little kinder.


Tulsa v. No. 11 Oklahoma State (-23.5) - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

My old nemesis, we meet again. I’m pretty sure Mike Gundy is my least favorite coach in college football. I know people love him because he has some stupid mullet and his “I’M A MAN, I’M 40” rant but he just seems like he sucks to play for. It feels like whenever the Cowboys lose, it is never his fault. Also, I don’t think I’ve ever been on the right side of an Oklahoma State pick. Had there been anything resembling a college football schedule this weekend, there’s no way I’d touch this game.

Oklahoma State has Chuba Hubbard, Tylan Wallace, and Spencer Sanders returning, so the offense of the Cowboys is going to be really good this year. As always, who knows what you’ll get with Oklahoma State’s defense. Tulsa has a senior quarterback in Zach Smith and running backs Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor. The Hurricanes at least have enough punch to get a late cover.

Oklahoma State 44, Tulsa 24


No. 19 Louisiana (-15.5) v. Georgia State - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN2

If there ever was a classic letdown game, this would be it. Louisiana is flying high after going into Ames and beating Iowa State last week to secure their first win over a ranked team in 24 years. The Ragin’ Cajuns did have a couple fluky scores though, using a kickoff return, punt return, and 78-yard pass play to account for three of their touchdowns. I can’t see them having quite as much luck two weeks in a row.

Louisiana 31, Georgia State 20


Syracuse v. No. 25 Pitt (-21.5) - 12:00 PM EST - ACC Network

Pitt as a three-touchdown favorite in a conference game? In this economy? What is going on here? Syracuse actually was hanging with North Carolina last week until the Tar Heels scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. I don’t think Pitt is as good as North Carolina, and I don’t think the Orange are as bad as they were late in the game last week.

Pitt 34, Syracuse 17


South Florida v. No. 7 Notre Dame (-25.5) - 2:30 PM EST - USA

I trusted Notre Dame with a spread nearly as big as this last week against Duke and it bit me. I can’t believe I’m thinking of going back to the well again with the Fighting Irish again this week.

South Florida won last week in Jeff Scott’s first game as head coach last week, beating The Citadel 27-6 thanks to rolling up over 300 yards on the ground. The Bulls aren’t going to have nearly that type of success this week rushing the football. When Notre Dame shuts down the run, I don’t see South Florida being able to get the passing game going.

Notre Dame has shown they can pass the football with Ian Book, and run it redshirt freshman Kylen Williams, who ran for 112 yards against Duke. Unlike last week, the Fighting Irish doesn’t let their opponent hang around.

Notre Dame 45, South Florida 17


No. 14 UCF (-7.5) v. Georgia Tech - 3:30 PM EST - ABC

One of the surprises of last weekend was Georgia Tech, who rallied to beat Florida State 16-13 in Tallahassee. Now the Yellow Jackets host a UCF team who has been one of the winningest teams in the country over the last few years.

I really like the Golden Knights in this game, as not only is Dillon Gabriel back at quarterback, but Josh Heupel has three running backs who rushed for over 500 yards last year. UCF has a mix on offense that Georgia Tech just won’t be able to match. The Golden Knights can grind down the Yellow Jackets on the ground to setup Gabriel hitting some big plays through the air. UCF will do what Florida State couldn’t do last week. Secure victory.

UCF 41, Georgia Tech 28


No. 17 Miami (FL) v. No. 18 Louisville (-2.5) - 7:30 PM EST - ABC

This is the first matchup between ranked teams in college football this season. If that doesn’t tell you how cold 2020 has been so far, I don’t know what will. While this game wouldn’t be in primetime if conditions were normal, at least it should be a fun game.

Both Miami and Louisville didn’t have much trouble in their season openers, with both winning by at least 14 points. The quarterback battle is going to be very interesting, with Miami starting Houston transfer D’Eriq King, while Louisville will counter with Micale Cunningham, who threw for 343 yards last week against Western Kentucky.

Cunningham has A LOT of weapons to work with. Not only are receivers Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick back, but so is running back Javian Hawkins, who ran for over 1,500 yards last year. Miami’s offense is still a work in progress and won’t be able to slow down Louisville enough to win on the road.

Louisville 38, Miami (FL) 31

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5’11 170lbs WR, KR,PR

40 time 4.35 by stopwatch

40 yard run video link:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=whSTE0iZBKA

Hudl:

https://www.hudl.com/profile/11020890/Carson-Jenkins

Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Deion Sanders Named 21st Jackson State Head Football Coach

A legendary football program and a Pro Football Hall of Famer have joined forces.

Jackson State University is excited to announce Deion Sanders will become the 21st head football coach in school history.

"I am truly blessed to be the 21st Head football coach of Jackson State University," said Sanders. "This amazing HBCU has always enjoyed a high level of commitment academically and athletically. It's my desire to continue this storied tradition and history of JSU and prayerfully bring more national recognition to the athletes, the university, the Sonic Boom of the South, and HBCUs in general. I am TRULY proud to be a part of the JSU Tiger family. 'I BELIEVE'"

JSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson is excited to introduce Sanders to the Tiger family.

"I am thrilled to welcome Deion Sanders to Jackson State University, the City of Jackson, and Mississippi," said Robinson. "Coach Sanders is student-athlete centered and cares about young men and their wellbeing beyond the football field. We expect to compete for and win championships at Jackson State, and Coach Sanders will help us achieve those goals."

Entire article: https://gojsutigers.com/news/2020/9...d-21st-jackson-state-head-football-coach.aspx

Just sayin': You don't see very many guys being hired as a college head coach without any college or NFL coaching experience. I do remember Notre Dame hiring Gerry Faust back in the 80s; hopefully it works out better for JSU/Sanders than it did for ND/Faust.

Buckeyes visit the wind tunnel in Champaign.

Hoosiers visit a few days before Thanksgiving.

Bucks at Terps.

The Scarlet Knights visit the ‘Shoe.

A Halloween visit without a white-out.

Road trip to East Lansing in early December.

The Game, at the end of the regular season, as it should be.

Announced on Fox.

THE BEST CONTEST ON THE INTERNET IS BACK!!!!!

Once again, this will be a simple contest to participate in. Each week I will list all of the underdogs in the Div 1-A games that I see a point-spread for at the beginning of the week. Each person may pick 1 and only 1 team each week; just post your pick in this thread.

You must pick your team before the kickoff of your game. It isn't mandatory to make a pick every week, but if you don't, you obviously can't earn any points that week.

If your team wins, you are awarded the amount of points that they were assigned in the spread; if they lose you get 0 points. So it's riskier to pick Little-Sisters-of-the-Poor +47 when they play Texas Tech, but you get a ton of points if they win, as opposed to getting only a couple of points when you pick a close game.

Once I post the point spreads inside this thread, they are locked for purposes of this contest. Only the spreads listed in this thread will be used to award points.

The entire season-long contest will exist in this one thread. Each week I will post the points for that week and the season-to-date totals. Whoever has the most points after the Conference Championship Games in December will be declared the winner, and will receive ¤25,000 Sportsbook "cash".

There will be a separate contest in December for Bowl game upsets.

2005 winner: @AkronBuckeye (64 points)
2006 winner: @briegg (64 points)
2007 winner: @MolGenBuckeye (83.5 points)
2008 winner: @osugrad21 (63.5 points)
2009 winner: @NFBuck (85 points)
2010 winner: @LightningRod (69.5 points)
2011 winner: @sears3820 (74 points)
2012 winner: @OSUsushichic (51 points)
2013 winner: @FCollinsBuckeye (64 points)
2014 winner: @808 Buck (78.5 points)
2015 winner: @Wadcutter (64 points)
2016 winner: @BB73 (87.5 points)
2017 winner: @BB73 (65.5 points, only 2-time winner)
2018 winner: @UrbanBuckeye (64.5 points)
2019 winner: @LovelandBuckeye (new record of 103.5 points)
2020 winner: @buckeyemania11 (63 points, short season)

This post will get the new picks and current standings updated each week. There will also be a post with that info near the end of the thread.

Pick just one underdog team from the right column to win outright - you get nothing by picking a favorite that covers the spread. Home teams are in CAPS.

Please try & post the name of the team you're picking as it is listed, opposed to an abbreviation. Makes it much easier when attempting to tally up the scores. Thanks!

If you think an error has been made, send BB73 a PM.

WEEK 14 (FINAL STANDINGS)

buckeyemania11..........63....(Congrats on the WIN!!)
bukipower...............60.5..(lost due to minny's OT loss)
Akron-Buck..............53....(needed Fla to pull it off)
BuckeyeNation27.........52.5..(could have tied for a win if Wazzu didn't blow a 28-7 lead)
LightningRod............52
Wingate1217.............49.5..(could have won if Tenn beat aTm)
osugrad21...............47.5..(too little, too late - that's what SHE said)
AuTx Buckeye............47
gracelhink..............41.5
TampaBuckeyes...........34.5
Jake....................34.5
WoodyWorshiper..........34
Kevin...................31.5
LovelandBuckeye.........30
tOSURox.................30
gmen6981................28.5
ScriptOhio..............28.5
MD Buckeye..............27.5
MaxBuck.................25.5
HineyBuck...............24
scarletmike.............24
Bestbuck36..............23
jenkinswoody............22.5
DruBuck.................20.5
thackattack.............20
brodybuck21.............18
Buckeyeskickbuttocks....16.5
DaBuckeyes..............16.5
jakenick06..............15.5
808 Buck................15
Brutus1.................14
nbuckeyboy..............14.5
ArmyVet83...............12.5
UrbanBuckeye............12
Bborg140................12
LitlBuck.................9.5
Bucklion.................8.5
DaddyBigBucks............8
BB73.....................7
KnotMatt.................7
Abenaki..................6.5
muffler dragon...........6.5
Honor&Glory..............6.5
gregorylee...............6.5
pianobuck46..............3
desert_buckeye...........3
Mike80...................2.5
twister55................2

Ok, new thread for the conference season.

I need a new pair after I lost a pair. I've had these Ray Bans forever. Anyone have Persol (a lot of 50% off deals on their website right now), and are they a true step up from Ray Ban or just marketing? Anyone try (made in USA) Randolph Engineering? Any other recommendations, sunglass specific companies, not Chinese crap with a clothing designer's name attached to it. And no, I'm not buying a no-name $20 pair from a rack at 7-11 that are made in China from god knows what kind of toxic mystery plastic and have lenses that distort so badly that they give you a headache.