'Irrelevant Bowl' between college football's two worst teams has 'no chance' to receive waiver, per report​

It's unlikely that a Southern California-based promoter's bowl game proposal will become a reality​

A bowl game featuring the two worst teams in college football? That's exactly what a Southern California-based promoter wants to see happen in 2024, though sources told the Action Network's Brett McMurphy there is "no chance" the NCAA would issue the necessary waiver allowing for a proposed "Irrelevant Bowl."

Proposed by Newport Beach, California-based promoter Roy Englebrecht, the bowl game would feature a pair of college football teams that are either winless or close to it. Cities would put in bids within the first quarter of the year to host the "Irrelevant Bowl," according to the release. The city selected as the host site would retain all event revenue, including ticket sales, concessions and parking fees.

"No polls, no rankings, no controversy, just two winless or near winless teams looking for redemption and one elusive win," Englebrecht said in a press release. "Knowing that the NCAA has become more flexible with the number of team's wins to qualify for a bowl, I will petition the NCAA asking them to grant a waiver in 2024 so that two teams would be eligible to play in the inaugural Irrelevant Bowl."

While the proposed bowl game would provide a postseason opportunity for two teams who would otherwise be nowhere close to the six-win bowl eligibility mark, it immediately poses questions about the integrity of competition. As one source told Action Network, "a conference or team is not going to mock itself for going 1-11 or 2-10."

Just sayin': Probably one of the worst ideas (concerning the NCAA) ever. There will be no "Irrelevant Bowl" in 2024. Nobody would care who wins and/or watch it on TV and I doubt that very many of either team's fanbases would pay thousands of dollars traveling to the site to watch their "loser team" play another game.

College Football Top 133 Team Rankings for 2023 (After Week 14)​

132. ULM
133. Kent State

How interested would you have been in seeing Kent State vs ULM in a bowl game this past season?

OHIO STATE’S CORNERBACK UNIT BUILT TO BE BEST IN AMERICA IN 2024, ELITE FOR YEARS TO COME​

Going into the 2023 season, Tim Walton had reason to ponder whether Ohio State’s secondary really deserved to call itself the Best In America.

Ohio State’s defensive backs have proudly used “BIA” as a moniker for the past decade, but the Buckeyes’ secondary play was far from that standard from 2020-22.

Ohio State finished 122nd in the FBS in passing yards allowed per game in 2020, 96th in 2021 and 26th in 2022. So, while the Buckeyes’ secondary improved in Walton’s first year on the job in 2022, he knew the BIA standard was something Ohio State had to earn back this past season.

“The Best in America, that’s a big statement. I think we had that going for a while. I think we gotta get that back,” Walton said in a “Tradition Talk” video posted by Ohio State last June. “Get that standard back to where it used to be, man, where we have first-round draft picks, first-team All-Americans, first-team All-Big Tens, guys up for the Thorpe Award, things like that. That’s to me the standard of BIA, the absolute Best in America.”

Half a year later, it no longer feels like a stretch for Ohio State’s defensive backs – particularly its cornerbacks, the position Walton primarily coaches – to call themselves BIA once again.

Statistically, Ohio State’s pass defense was the Best in America in 2023, leading the nation in passing yards allowed per game (145.9) and passing yards allowed per attempt (5.0). Those efforts were led by elite secondary play, particularly from the starting cornerback trio of Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock, who consistently covered up opposing receivers and made it difficult for opponents to pass the ball all year long.

Ohio State has every reason to believe it should have the best cornerback unit in America once again in 2024, as it now knows that it will have all three of those starting cornerbacks back. While Burke could have been an early-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft and Hancock played well enough in his first year as a starter to get himself drafted, both of them announced Wednesday that they would stay at Ohio State for their senior seasons. Igbinosun, who joined the Buckeyes via the transfer portal in 2023, is not yet draft-eligible and is entering his junior season.

After three years of substandard play at the position, Ohio State’s cornerbacks were arguably the team’s best unit in 2023, finishing the year with three of the team’s 12 best players. Burke bounced back from an injury-plagued 2022 season to become one of the nation’s top cover men in his third year as a starter. Igbinosun was a clear upgrade opposite Burke, providing physical coverage and excellent run support all season as Ohio State’s No. 2 cornerback. Hancock didn’t become a starter until midyear, when the Buckeyes moved to a three-cornerback lineup instead of starting Sonny Styles as a nickel safety, but he emerged as an excellent slot cornerback and one of Ohio State’s top defensive playmakers down the stretch of the season.

With Burke now set to be a rare fourth-year starter at Ohio State, Igbinosun having a full year of experience as a Buckeye under his belt, and Hancock now entrenched as a full-time starter, Ohio State’s cornerbacks should be even better in 2024, setting the foundation for the Buckeyes to have an elite defense.

“We’ll be the No. 1 defense coming into next year,” Burke said before the Cotton Bowl when asked about the defense’s potential if he returned to Columbus. “There’s a lot of guys that have played a lot of ball. Honestly, it would look scary.”
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OHIO STATE HIRES FORMER INDIANA CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, OSU SENIOR ADVISOR AND ANALYST MATT GUERRIERI AS SAFETIES COACH​

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A familiar face is back to coach safeties for Ohio State's defense.

Matt Guerrieri, who served as a senior advisor and analyst for the Buckeyes in 2022 before a year as Indiana's co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, is back to replace the recently fired Perry Eliano. Ohio State officially announced Guerrieri’s hiring on Wednesday.

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Guerrieri has coached alongside Knowles for seven seasons between their time together at Duke and his year as an OSU analyst.

“He’s been everything,” Guerrieri said of Knowles in a September interview with Eleven Warriors. “I didn't know anybody in coaching, so I worked as many camps as I possibly could, and one of the camps that I worked was Duke’s camp. ... I just worked the camp with him, that's how I got to know him, on a Saturday in the middle of June. And anyways, built a relationship with him, was fortunate to shortly after that interview for a GA job there, and was fortunate to get that and then our relationship kind of took off from there. So since I've been with him, he put his arm around me and mentored me, and on and off the field, he's been a huge influence on my life.”

“HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND ME AND MENTORED ME, AND ON AND OFF THE FIELD, HE'S BEEN A HUGE INFLUENCE ON MY LIFE.”– MATT GUERRIERI ON JIM KNOWLES' INFLUENCE ON HIM



Matt Guerrieri
Safeties Coach
(Pronounced: gurr-AIR-ee)

Guerrieri, the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Indiana in 2023, has Ohio and Ohio State ties. He is from Willoughby Hills, Ohio and is a graduate of Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School, and he spent the 2022 season in Columbus as Ohio State’s senior advisor and analyst on defense. He has a seven-year history with Buckeye defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, stretching back to 2012 when the pair first worked together at Duke University.

Guerrieri has extensive experience – eight years – coaching safeties. He was a graduate assistant for three seasons at Duke before being named safeties coach prior to the 2015 season. He coached safeties for the Blue Devils from 2015-21 and, when Knowles left Duke after the 2017 season to go to Oklahoma State, Guerrieri became the team’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the next four seasons (2018-21).

While at Duke, Guerrieri was one of three finalists for the 2020 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Assistant Coach of the Year award, a nominee for the 2018 Broyles Award, and one of 247Sports’ Top 30 Coaches Under 30 in both 2018 and 2019. He mentored All-American Jeremy Cash and five additional all-conference honorees. Cash, the 2015 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, was also a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Guerrieri also coached at Duke Michael Carter II, a fifth-round NFL Draft pick who has played in 47 games and started 20 times the past three seasons for the New York Jets.

Before joining the Blue Devils, Guerrieri spent the 2011 season as a defensive graduate assistant at Lenoir-Rhyne University, where he helped coach the secondary and the outside linebackers.

Guerrieri was a three-year letterman at Davidson College and a starting safety for the Wildcats. He was a senior captain and a three-time All-Pioneer Football League honor roll selection. He graduated from Davidson in 2011 with a degree in sociology. He earned his master's degree in Christian studies from Duke in 2014.

Guerrieri is married to the former Alex Thompson, from Asheville, N.C. The couple has two young sons, James and Max.

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PRESSER BULLETS: WISCONSIN “AS GOOD AND AS DEEP” AS CHRIS HOLTMANN HAS SEEN IT BE, FELIX OKPARA FEELS ADDED SIZE HAS HELPED WITH REBOUNDING​

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• A variety of players will guard star Wisconsin small forward AJ Storr, Holtmann said.
• Roddy Gayle Jr. needs to take a step in managing the offense when the ball is in his hands, Holtmann said. "It's decision-making combined with his ball skills growing and getting better. ... He's gotta make some corrections in terms of simplifying his attack, reading situations better."
• More on Gayle: "He needs to be more consistent. ... We need that from Roddy, we need to that to experience the kind of growth that he wants to experience."
• On Felix Okpara and whether his effort stood out where Ohio State's defense might have fallen short as a whole against Indiana: "He's got real gifts and we're different defensively when he's on the floor. ... It's gotta be a team effort, and I think we were good at times but not good enough. But at the end of the day, it was really turnovers that got us in that game."
• Gayle's also had difficulties now that teams have more film on him, Holtmann said. "His minutes weren't as consistent until the end of the year (last year). ... Now that's changed. Now there's more film on you, there's more tendencies. That's changed, so he needs to adjust."
• On Wisconsin: "I think it's probably as deep and as talented of a Wisconsin team as we've seen. ... They have a number of guys. The addition of a couple of freshmen has helped them."
• On Badger forward Tyler Wahl: "Really tough, tremendous motor and really smart."
• Wisconsin can be a threat from the perimeter, though Holtmann sees their attack as balanced overall. "We just need to have great awareness, they have a number of guys that can make shots."
• With Gayle and star point guard Bruce Thornton combining to shoot 7-of-34 against Indiana, Holtmann wanted to see other players step up. "We really needed to be a little better collectively across the board when two of your top players aren't shooting well and one is struggling."
• Devin Royal has missed time with an illness, but Holtmann said that he's recovering well and that it "thankfully" hasn't spread to other players yet.

u of cheaters vs washinngton

Here's the first "way too early" 2024 Poll (and obviously a lot could change between now and the start of the 2024 season):

2024 Way-Too-Early college football Top 25​

1. Georgia Bulldogs​

2. Texas Longhorns​

3. Oregon Ducks​

4. Alabama Crimson Tide​

5. Ohio State Buckeyes​

2024 outlook: Ryan Day has done solid work as Ohio State's coach since taking over for Urban Meyer in 2019. The Buckeyes are 53-8 the past five seasons, winning two Big Ten titles and reaching the CFP three times. But after a third consecutive defeat to rival Michigan, followed by a listless 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the pressure is building. McCord transferred to Syracuse, and Day went into the portal to land former Kansas State starting quarterback Howard, who threw for 48 touchdowns and 5,786 yards over four seasons with the Wildcats. Noland, from Fairburn, Georgia, was the No. 2 pocket passer in the 2024 ESPN 300. Improving the offensive line is also a priority. Ohio State's schedule in 2024 includes home games against Iowa and Michigan and road contests at Oregon and Penn State.

6. Michigan Wolverines​

7. Ole Miss Rebels​

8. Missouri Tigers​

9. Arizona Wildcats​

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish​

11. Washington Huskies​

12. Penn State Nittany Lions​

13. Utah Utes​

14. LSU Tigers​

15. Oklahoma Sooners​

16. Florida State Seminoles​

17. Tennessee Volunteers​

18. Oklahoma State Cowboys​

19. Clemson Tigers​

20. NC State Wolfpack​

21. Kansas State Wildcats​

22. Louisville Cardinals​

23. Kansas Jayhawks​

24. SMU Mustangs​

25. Iowa Hawkeyes​

An Ohio State backfield of Henderson, Judkins would be the best in the country​

Nothing is official, but it’s pretty exciting to imagine what OSU could do if both Henderson and Judkins were Buckeyes next fall.



I know that there has been a ton of consternation surrounding the Ohio State Buckeyes’ football team over the past month and a half, and things seemed to hit something approaching rock bottom at the Cotton Bowl in what would generously be considered an embarrassing performance by the team and especially the coaches. There were rumors of squandered practices and a coaching staff asleep at the wheel, but, my fellow Buckeye fans, in the immortal words of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, “It’s alive... It’s ALIIIIIIIIIIVE!”

From landing the All-Big 12 second-team quarterback in Kansas State’s Will Howard to picking up a pair of future starters in Alabama center Seth McLaughlin and Ohio tight end Will Kacmarek, things appear to be picking up. The Buckeyes also secured the commitment of the No. 1 cornerback and No. 4 player in the country in Devin Sanchez. And with rumors swirling about a bit of a staff overhaul, it seems like head coach Ryan Day is approaching this month as one that could make or break his tenure at Ohio State.

Well, over the weekend, it at least seems like the Buckeyes took one more step to reestablish their offense as a multi-faceted attack complete with top-line depth at every skill position. While nothing has been confirmed as of this writing, it appears that former Ole Miss Rebel and two-time first-team All-SEC running back Quinshon Judkins is set to transfer to Ohio State; that announcement could come at any time.

Naturally, that raises questions about the Buckeyes’ incumbent back TreVeyon Henderson, who has yet to make an announcement about whether or not he will be returning for a fourth season in Columbus, or if he will opt for the NFL Draft instead. However, Henderson had long been believed to be one of the Buckeyes planning to run it back; so, does Judkins' impending commitment mean that Henderson is on his way to the pros? Or is there a chance that Ohio State could be on the verge of securing the best backfield in the country as they head into the first season of the expanded College Football Playoff?
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Quinshon Judkins commits to Ohio State after Michigan wins College Football Playoff National Championship​

The former Ole Miss star and top portal running back didn't let Ohio State's top rival enjoy the moment​

Former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins is transferring to Ohio State, he revealed via social media Monday evening just moments after Michigan -- the Buckeyes' top rival -- capped its 2023 season with a 34-13 win against Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Judkins even took aim at the Wolverines in his announcement.

"I'm looking forward to being a part of a winning culture and helping do my part to beat the TUN (Michigan) bring a Big 10 Championship and National Championship to Columbus," Judkins wrote. "The RB brotherhood at Ohio State is incredibly special and I am grateful to have an opportunity to be a part of that."

Judkins, the No. 1 running back and No. 4 overall prospect in 247Sports' transfer rankings, is a big get at a position of need for Ohio State. A rising junior, he is fresh off his second straight 1,000-yard season with the Rebels, finishing the 2023 campaign with 271 carries for 1,158 yards and SEC-best 15 touchdowns. Judkins leaves Oxford, Mississippi, with more than 3,000 all-purpose yards and 34 total touchdowns.

By comparison, Ohio State hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2021. On top of that, the Buckeyes will have plenty of snaps available in their running back room moving forward. No. 2 rusher Chip Trayanum entered the transfer portal and veteran Miyan Williams, who led OSU in rushing in 2022, already declared for the NFL Draft.

That leaves the Buckeyes with one proven option in the talented but oft-injured TreVeyon Henderson, who has yet to make a public decision on his future. If he leaves, Ohio State will have just one running back with at least 15 career carries left on its roster, pending the addition of Judkins.

Judkins could unlock Henderson​

If Henderson elects to return, he and Judkins would form one of the nation's best running back duos. It could be an ideal situation for Henderson, who would no longer have to play as a bellcow back but should still get plenty of opportunity to shine.

In the two years since his breakout freshman season, in which he rushed for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns, Henderson has missed a total of eight games while dealing with various injuries. That particularly hampered Ohio State in 2023, when it lacked the depth and a clear No. 2 to replace him.

Despite his high volume over the past two years, Judkins has yet to miss a game and he's used to sharing the backfield with another standout rusher. Former SMU transfer Ulysses Bentley IV actually led Ole Miss in yards per carry in 2023 with 5.7 while finishing with 540 yards on 95 carries. The split between Henderson and Judkins would be a lot closer to 50-50, but it would allow Ohio State to maximize both options without wearing either out -- a key dynamic given Henderson's past and a potential selling point for his return as he looks to boost his NFL stock.
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Did not think the Bucks were in the market for a RB but this kid is a stud. Tremendous talent.

12-2 (2-1) Bucks travel to Bloomington to face Indiana where they have lost 3 straight by 12+. 8pm tip on FOX

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW: OHIO STATE OPENS FULL-TIME BIG TEN SLATE AGAINST STINGY RUTGERS DEFENSE​

By Andy Anders on January 3, 2024 at 8:35 am @andyanders55

Vincent Carchietta – USA TODAY Sports

• OSU BASKETBALL

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It’s scarlet on scarlet to open full-time Big Ten play for Ohio State.
RUTGERS
SCARLET KNIGHTS

8 - 4
ROSTER | SCHEDULE
JAN. 3, 2024 - 7 PM ET
VALUE CITY ARENA
COLUMBUS, OH
BTNOSU -9.5
On Wednesday night, the Scarlet and Gray will meet the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, a program head coach Steve Pikiell has taken from a 30-year NCAA Tournament drought and brought to back-to-back tourneys in 2021 and 2022. Rutgers just missed the dance last year with a 19-15 record.
The Scarlet Knights are off to an 8-4 start to their 2023-24 campaign. A season-opening defeat at the hands of Princeton and a 19-point shellacking by Wake Forest serve as the biggest blemishes in their loss column, though they do hold a Power 5 win over Seton Hall.
"A really good, tough-minded Rutgers team," Chris Holtmann said. "They are a tough, tough-minded, physical, great length across the board. So it will be a great challenge."

NEED TO KNOW​

STINGY, MULTIPLE DEFENSE​

Rutgers is 15th nationally in points allowed per 100 possessions and it can roll through various schemes to slow opposing attacks down. Its interior defense is particularly effective as the Scarlet Knights collect 5.9 blocked shots per game, 11th-most in the country.
"They change defenses, so we're gonna see a combination of different defenses and they're really good at all of them," Holtmann said. "They press, which can take you out of things. Their press does a good job of being disruptive, yet at the same time shortening the shot clock, making it a situation where you're working with a limited shot clock."

OFF ON OFFENSE​

That No. 15 defensive rating nationally contrasts with an offense that is rated 305th for the Scarlet Knights, scoring just 98.5 points per 100 possessions. The Buckeyes will be the far more prolific attack on the court, ranking 33rd at 116.1 points per 100 trips down the floor.
Only two Rutgers players average at least nine points per game and none average 13 or more. The Scarlet Knights are 345th in two-point shooting percentage and 326th from three-point range, so if the Buckeyes can play with pace and build a lead, it’s going to be hard for their opponents to assemble a run.

THREE IMPORTANT BUCKEYES​

JAMISON BATTLE​

Strong shooting from the perimeter is a surefire way to break through a defense like Rutgers’, and Battle has been the Buckeyes’ best perimeter threat so far. Hitting at least five triples in back-to-back games entering Wednesday, Battle is shooting a team-high 42.5% from outside and making a team-high 2.8 threes per game.

BRUCE THORNTON​

Ohio State will need its star point guard and team galvanizer on point as conference play hits its full swing. He’s on a 10-game streak of scoring in double figures, though he barely cleared that mark in his last two contests, scoring 11 points against both New Orleans and West Virginia and shooting a combined 38.1% from the field, bringing his team-high season average down to 16.9 points per game.

SCOTTY MIDDLETON​

Circling back to shooting, the freshman Middleton is Ohio State’s top sharpshooter off the bench (40.7%) and another player who can create his own shot against a disciplined defense that might demand it.

THREE NOTABLE SCARLET KNIGHTS​

CLIFFORD OMORUYI​

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Omoruyi not only paces the Big Ten but is third in the entire country in blocks per game with 3.4. He also leads Rutgers in rebounding with 9.1 boards per game and is second on the squad in points per game at 11.4. The 6-11 center from Nigeria will go up against another 6-11 center from Nigeria in Ohio State’s Felix Okpara.

AUNDRE HYATT​

Hyatt is the Scarlet Knights’ top scorer (12.3 points per game) and most efficient 3-point threat (36.2% from distance). More than half of his scoring comes from behind the arc, as the 6-6 forward hits just 38.8% of his shots overall.

NOAH FERNANDES​

No less than nine players have started a game for Rutgers this year as it has rolled through various opening lineups to try and get the best matchups on the floor. Fernandes is the third of three players who have started every game, joining Hyatt and Omoruyi, and provides some playmaking in the backcourt with 2.4 assists per game. His 1.3 steals per contest also contribute to the Scarlet Knights’ defensive identity.

HOW IT PLAYS OUT​

LINE: OHIO STATE -9.5, O/U 133​

It’s time for Ohio State to find its full form. The Buckeyes have the talent and depth to open January with a conference victory at home if their shotmakers can knock down a few tough ones.
Prediction: Ohio State 65, Rutgers 58

enjjoy..happy new year

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If you could replace Day with one of these guys right now, who would it be?

It‘s 2024 and tCun still sucks!!

FUCK *ICHIGAN!


2023.Thread

247
Twitter



Position: TE
Previous school: Ohio University
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 256lbs

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It's officially basketball season now. Go Bucks!

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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings to all Buckeye fans, especially those serving this country, double especially those serving in foreign lands.

Remembering Christmas 1968, First Infantry Division, Lai Khe, Vietnam.

It is that time of the year again after early signing period for the BRPT, it makes the most sense to me to do this after the early signing period since most of the class is locked in outside of same potential late adds and portal prospects. As has become tradition now, all members are encouraged to contribute their thoughts in a communal process. While candid discussion is great, keep in mind our recruiting forum rules. Here is my rundown.

General Thoughts

Last year I started this topic with admitting a disappointing finish to the class and really I can't say this year is any different, plus I will have to admit it is compounded by NIL and the transfer portal really souring the recruiting process. We lost out on numerous recruits and had several decommits that were most likely NIL related. You can say "well we don't want that type of kid at OSU", but reality is the coaches wanted those recruits and we didn't land them. I am not talking about circus recruitments like Raiola and Seaton, but guys like Baker, Lyle, McClellan, Lightfoot, Scott, Carlon Jones, Amaris Williams, Dylan Stewart, Woodyard, Bolden, etc. We landed a lot of good players and it is a top 3 class most likely, but we did have major gaps at crucial positions.

Earliest Impact

Had to think hard on this, partly because it depends on who leaves and who stays. I am going with Aaron Scott, I see him as game ready and I am figuring on Burke departing for the NFL. Yes, PT will not be easy to come by with Davison, Hancock (also a possible departure), Mathews and CSH, but I just see Scott as one that forces his way onto the field in some fashion. The other obvious name would be Jeremiah Smith, he is definitely playing next season.

Most Star Potential

I will take the softball on this one...Jeremiah Smith. I've followed recruiting for around 20 years and this kid is the best WR prospect I have ever seen, maybe the best prospect period but there is a lot of competition on that one. Literally the whole package and if he keeps his head on straight and stays healthy, he will be a top pick in the draft 3 years from now. Plus he is going to have Innis, Tate, Rogers and Graham surrounding him so defenses can't focus on him. If MH Jr and Egbuka go pro like I would expect, there should be an opportunity here. James Peoples could also be our next great RB, he was injured most of the season but he has 5* potential written all over him.

Most Intriguing

Demarion Witten. Kid is a freak jumbo athlete at TE and had an incredible senior campaign. I see Witten coming into Hartline's WR room meetings and getting used as more of a WR to start off. He is ranked lower than he should be imo.

Biggest Reach

Never my favorite topic, but it deserves discussion. Going with Mensah at DT. We needed numbers at the position and eventually ran out of targets. Don't get me wrong, he could turn into a good player but he seemed to be a byproduct of missing other recruits. I would throw VanSickle out there based on taking after the OL misses, but I just watched his film and think he is severely underrated.

Sleeper

Speaking of VanSickle, he is my pick here. He was a late addition and I thought out of necessity, but watching him I think he will be a nasty B1G OL for us. Really nice find by the staff. Leroy Roker is another sleeper, crazy athletic and really is just starting to learn the game...plus his senior film is pretty dang good.

Biggest Surprise Commitment

Going with Eddrick Houston. Not only surprised when he committed, but also that he stayed committed after his late visits. He could be the most important recruit in this class with the desperate need for DL.

The Ones Who Got Away

The list is long and I already listed the prominent names above. But if I am narrowing it down to one, it is Justin Scott...game changer at DT with rare size and athleticism. You never know how it will play out, but that is going to be the biggest loss in this class imo. If we are talking uncommitted prospects we looked primed to land, pretty much name your list of DL with Amaris Williams, Dylan Stewart, Carlon Jones and Lightfoot.

What This Class Lacks

DE's and it is just obvious. Thank the gods that be that Eddrick Houston stuck with us, because we will need him big time. DT we should be alright since in '23 we pulled in Moore, Smith Jr, and McDonald, though losing Scott was a tough loss. But the cumulative losses at DE in the last cycle and this one are going to hurt us unless we rock the portal. It might not be next year depending on what JT and Sawyer do, but it is coming next year or the year after. OL could get a mention, but I like the guys we brought in and added to Montgomery, Padilla and Siereveld, that could be a good unit.

What This Class Has

A lot of star power at offensive skilled positions. You look at Noland, Peoples, JJ Smith, Graham, and LeBlanc/Witten, that is something to be excited about. Then the back 7 on defense...love both of Stover and Pierce, plus all of our secondary in Scott, West, Lockhart, McClain and Roker. If we can step it up in the trenches, the other positions are stacked. A big "if" I know, but that is where we sit.

2025 Outlook & Objectives - Offense and Defense

We HAVE HAVE HAVE to get 3 quality DE's. I said that in my last BRPT class report and we got 1. People can do the whole "sky is falling" phrase whilst burying their heads in the sand, but it seriously could be true without immediate solutions. Championship teams have elite defensive line play, that is how it works. We have to strike the portal hard and get a clear succession plan for LJ Sr. I know I am beating a dead horse but it is the truth and directly relates to this topic. For the '25 class if you are looking outside the portal, we have to nail the DE position and there is no other option...plus DT really after Scott defected, need 2 good ones.

At LB, I feel good where we are at...Lee is a good start and we've been doing well there. Definitely need one more quality LB, maybe two, but I like the slate of guys we are going after and that is a spot where the portal can help. At DB, I think we are going to be giddy next year. Woodby is a huge talent we have committed and between Sanchez, Brew, McNutt, Delane, etc...this will be an elite DB class. If I had to guess, it would be Woodby, Sanchez, Brew, McNutt and Delane. That would be DBU status (if we ever lost it) adding them to Mathews, CSH, Hartford, Bonsu, Scott, West, Lockhart and McClain. Exactly why we need to focus on the DL, back 7 is loaded.

On offense, not even necessary to address QB, WR or TE...we are good there. At RB, we definitely need 2 after Lyle bailed. Davis is a stud and no brainer take. Will Bo Jackson also come in that scenario? I hope so, because I would rather not bother with anyone else if we have two Ohio guys onboard that are legit and on par talent-wise with guys from OOS that will decommit in a heartbeat. Regardless, we need 2 guys there. WR is whatever, Boggs is a really good one and we are set there. TE looks real promising with Roberts and Gilbert. OL it would help to lock down Gach and Lowe early on, we probably need 4-5 depending on the portal. The '24 class was pretty good though even though adding someone like Baker would have been ideal, so there isn't as much pressure as we had the last two cycles.

This was a great recruiting class overall and we know what needs to be addressed in '25. So go address it and we will be fine. If we don't address it, we won't be fine. To me it really is that simple this year, not really a negative outlook but there are problems that just need to be fixed at DL and somewhat on OL. Silver lining is that having a great recruiting class at most positions helps you focus on the areas you need to work on.

Cheers to BP members and hope everyone is having a great holiday season!

Buckeyes Host New Orleans Thursday Evening​

Ohio State will conclude the home non-conference portion of the schedule on Thursday when it hosts New Orleans. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed exclusively on B1G+. Connor Schuh, former Ohio State captain Joey Lane and Tyler Danburg will call the action.

• This will be just the second all-time meeting between the programs. Ohio State won the first meeting back in the 1989-90 season as Perry Carter scored 22 points to lead the Buckeyes to a 74-66 victory in the Sugar Bowl Tournament.
• The Buckeyes are also a perfect 5-0 all-time against the Southland Conference and are looking for their 31st consecutive victory against unranked non-conference opponents at Value City Arena.
• Ohio State enters the game at 9-2 overall and is coming off a hard-fought 67-60 victory over UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic last Saturday in Atlanta. Sophomore Roddy Gayle Jr. led the Buckeyes with a game-high 19 points. Jamison Battle made the team's lone three-pointer and finished with 14 points. Atlanta area native Bruce Thornton scored 13 points, grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and dished-out a game-high four assists.
• The Buckeyes have the 18th best adjusted offensive efficiency according to KenPom. They average 79.5 points per game and shot better than 38 percent from long range as a team. The game against UCLA snapped a streak of six-consecutive games of 80 or more points.
• Thornton leads the team in scoring at 18.0 ppg and his 4.70 assist-to-turnover ratio is second-best in the country and in the Top 10 nationally.
• Gayle Jr. has exactly matched his scoring total from last season as he has 162 points for an average of 14.7 ppg. He and Thornton are the only guard duo in the Big Ten to each average better than 14.5 points and 3.5 assists per game this season.
• New Orleans comes into the contest at 5-6 overall. The Privateers last played on Dec. 14, defeating DIII Birmingham Southern 91-51. Jordan Johnson leads the team in scoring (23.1 ppg), three-pointers (36), and assists (48). Khaleb Wilson-Rouse is the other Privateer averaging in double-figures at 10.9 ppg and he has a team-best 22 steals.
• Transfer forward Jamison Battle has made at least one three-pointer in every game this season and at least one in 17 of his last 18 games. He is just 17 three-pointers away from 300 in his career.

Ohio State puts home win streak on the line against New Orleans​

New Orleans Privateers (5-6) at Ohio State Buckeyes (9-2, 1-1 Big Ten)

Columbus, Ohio; Thursday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Ohio State hosts New Orleans trying to continue its six-game home winning streak.

The Buckeyes are 6-1 in home games. Ohio State is second in the Big Ten with 10.9 offensive rebounds per game led by Zed Key averaging 3.1.

The Privateers have gone 1-5 away from home. New Orleans ranks sixth in the Southland with 9.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Jamond Vincent averaging 1.7.

Ohio State makes 46.8% of its shots from the field this season, which is 2.6 percentage points higher than New Orleans has allowed to its opponents (44.2%). New Orleans scores 13.4 more points per game (80.0) than Ohio State gives up (66.6).

Jordan Johnson, New Orleans out to upset Ohio State​

Ohio State righted itself against UCLA and hopes to carry that momentum into its home game against New Orleans on Thursday.

The Buckeyes (9-2) defeated the Bruins 67-60 in Atlanta on Saturday, a week after blowing an 18-point second half lead in an 83-80 loss at Penn State.

"Our guys were not too dismayed by a loss. They know it's a long season and you can't get too high or too low," Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said on his weekly radio show. "You try not to make too much of wins and/or losses, particularly early in the season because it's so much about how you're growing and getting better, but it was a really solid win.

"We've had a really good start to our year. To be able to beat a tough-minded team in UCLA, it's a really quality win. Our guys just found a way."

New Orleans (5-6) is led by Jordan Johnson's 23.1 points per game. He is making 37.5 percent of his 3-pointers, down from his 48.2 percent last season as a junior when he had the best 3-point percentage among Division I players.

"He's an elite marksmen," Privateers coach Mark Slessinger said.

Yet, Slessinger said the key to beating the Buckeyes is playing close to the basket and getting free throws.

"The foul line for us wins games," he said.

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Hey, nobody has posted a "poll" lately so I thought that I'd try one.....

What should Bears do with Justin Fields? Chicago faces decision to trade QB or top pick for 2nd straight year​

Who could have known exploring whether the Chicago Bears should take a quarterback at No. 1 overall or soldier forth with Justin Fields would become evergreen content?

A year after trading the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and the eventual rights to Bryce Young, the Bears are in a similar position with three games remaining in the regular season as a result of that trade, as the Panthers pick they acquired would currently be No. 1 overall.

Should the Bears trade Justin Fields and draft a quarterback?​

Why would Chicago keep Justin Fields?

His play this season has inspired a bit more confidence in his capabilities moving forward. However, has it been enough to tip the scales in his favor? The NFC North franchise could keep their young quarterback and try to build upon the momentum established over the past month, winning three of their last five games. In that scenario, they could either select the best non-quarterback at No. 1 overall or trade out of the pick for the second consecutive year. The defense, particularly, has shown a lot of promise over the second half of the season since acquiring Montez Sweat. If the offense can catch up, the Bears should be able to rise quickly in a relatively open NFC.

So, again, why would Chicago trade Justin Fields?

First, he was drafted by neither general manager Ryan Poles nor head coach Matt Eberflus. They do not have ties to the quarterback outside of the past year they have spent together. Fields, who is nearing the end of his third season, was drafted No. 11 overall. He is through 60% of his rookie contract if it is assumed that the fifth-year option would be used.
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A lot of speculation going on in various threads, so I thought it would be good to start a thread for all of us BP coaches and thoughts on coaching changes.

I’m not going to speculate on who may be trending towards becoming a coach here, but just my thoughts on who may be/should be on there way out.

Time to move on:
Parker Fleming - This is just a no brainer

Larry Johnson - Appreciate all Larry has done here, but the recruiting and the line play have plummeted the last couple years and just not what they need to be.

Mickey Marotti - Too many injuries. Guys getting pushed around in the trenches. Like LJ the game has passed him by.

Trending out the door:
Corey Dennis- is he really the guy for this role, I don’t know. Rumored to be getting replaced.

Justin Frye - I had high hopes here when Frye was brought in. I’m hoping he can turn things around next season.

Buckeyes face the Bruins in the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta.

tOSU has won the last two meetings, evening the all-time series at 6-6.