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2024 PA DL Deyvid Palepale (Southern Cal Verbal)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 0 Replies
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Class: 2024
School: Landisville(PA) Hempfield
Position: DL
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 300lbs
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HudL
Class: 2024
School: Landisville(PA) Hempfield
Position: DL
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 300lbs
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2025 FL DE Myron Charles (Texas Signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 7 Replies
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Class: 2025
Position: DE
School: Port Charlotte)FL) Port Charlotte
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 270lbs
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HudL
Class: 2025
Position: DE
School: Port Charlotte)FL) Port Charlotte
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 270lbs
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2026 FL(CA) DB Zechariah Fort (Georgia Verbal)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 5 Replies
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Class: 2026
Position: DB
School: Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 180 lbs
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Class: 2026
Position: DB
School: Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 180 lbs
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2026 AZ DL Tony Cumberland (Oregon Verbal)
- By MD Buckeye
- Football Recruiting
- 2 Replies
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Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, AZ)
Ht: 6'5"
Wt: 250 lbs
Class: 2026 (High School)
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Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, AZ)
Ht: 6'5"
Wt: 250 lbs
Class: 2026 (High School)
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2024 MS DL Kamarion Franklin (Ole Miss Verbal)
- By MD Buckeye
- Football Recruiting
- 1 Replies
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Lake Cormorant (MS)
Ht: 6'4.5"
Wt: 260 lbs
Class: 2024 (High School)
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Lake Cormorant (MS)
Ht: 6'4.5"
Wt: 260 lbs
Class: 2024 (High School)
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2026 OH OL Maxwell Riley is a Buckeye!!!
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 105 Replies
2025 FL WR Jaime Ffrench Jr (Texas Signee)
- By MD Buckeye
- Football Recruiting
- 124 Replies
247 Profile
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Mandarin (Jacksonville, FL)
Ht: 6'2"
Wt: 175 lbs
Class: 2025 (High School)
Was offered last summer.
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Mandarin (Jacksonville, FL)
Ht: 6'2"
Wt: 175 lbs
Class: 2025 (High School)
Was offered last summer.
2025 TX OL Michael Fasusi (Oklahoma Signee)
- By MD Buckeye
- Football Recruiting
- 10 Replies
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Lewisville (TX)
Ht: 6'6"
Wt: 290 lbs
Class: 2025 (High School)
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A name to watch, per Bill Greene. Recently offered by Texas, Penn State & aTm.
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Lewisville (TX)
Ht: 6'6"
Wt: 290 lbs
Class: 2025 (High School)
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A name to watch, per Bill Greene. Recently offered by Texas, Penn State & aTm.
Wisconsin at Ohio State, Feb 2nd, 7 PM EST, FS1
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 100 Replies
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Two teams in need of a Big Ten will collide tonight as Ohio State hosts Wisconsin at Value City Arena. Fox Sports 1 will have national coverage at 7 p.m. Eastern.
The Buckeyes (11-10, 3-7) just wrapped a stretch where they played four of their last five games on the road. OSU has also lost seven of its last eight games to fall to 12th in the conference standings.
The most recent loss was on Saturday night at Indiana, where OSU suffered its worst loss of the season by margin in an 86-70 defeat. The Hoosiers went on 15-0 run in the last minutes of the first half to grab control of the game.
Freshman forward Brice Sensabaugh had 23 points and six rebounds to lead OSU. Center Zed Key added 12 points.
Wisconsin (12-8, 4-6) has lost its last three games to fall to 11th in the Big Ten.
This is the lone scheduled match-up between OSU and Wisconsin this season.
The Buckeyes are wearing “This Game is No Secret” shirts on Thursday night vs. Wisconsin. The third annual event is organized by the coaches behind ERACISM and is in honor of the legacy of John McLendon. He led his team to a win over Duke in 1944 in a game that had to be played in secret due to Jim Crow laws.
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* Where: Value City Arena
* Date, Time: Tonight, 7 p.m. (Eastern)
* TV: Fox Sports 1 (announcers: Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson)
* Radio: OSU Radio Network (64 stations); WBNS-FM (97.1 The Fan) in Columbus (announcers: Paul Keels and Ron Stokes; click here for affiliates).
* 2022-23 Records: Ohio State, 11-10 overall, 3-7 Big Ten; Wisconsin, 12-8 overall, 4-6 Big Ten.
* Poll Rankings: Ohio State, unranked; Wisconsin, unranked.
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continued
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Like Ohio State, Wisconsin has been beset by injuries. Star forward Tyler Wahl missed three games due to an ankle injury and the Badgers lost them all. Even with him, they’ve dropped their last three games coming into this one. They were outright humbled at home by Illinois on Saturday, losing by 10 points and only scoring 51 points.
Now comes Ohio State, which is also coming off its worst loss of the season (at least by margin) with Saturday’s 16-point loss at Indiana. The story of OSU’s season is the Buckeyes have played nearly everybody even but have found ways to lose tight games. That was true to a degree at Indiana, where the teams were even for 35 minutes. But Indiana outscored OSU by 15 points in the final five minutes of the first half.
And it’s been like that all season in the losses (and even in some of the wins) where the Buckeyes go five or six minutes without scoring or without a made field goal.
It’s common sense that the team that makes the most shots will win this game. I think Ohio State is better equipped to do that, particularly if Wisconsin can’t find a way to deter OSU freshman phenom Brice Sensabaugh. It could be on Wahl to try and defend him.
OSU center Zed Key seems to be working his way back from a shoulder injury. He was finally finishing some plays in the loss at Indiana. He should have the edge against 7-footer Steven Crowl in the middle.
OSU may go with Justice Sueing to defend Wahl. The Buckeyes need to get the ball out of his hands or deny him as much as possible. He is clearly Wisconsin’s best player.
Bruce Thornton could have his hands full with UW veteran point guard Chucky Hepburn. My guess is Sueing or Sensabaugh will be on UW guard Max Klesmit, who can be a three-point threat. Sean McNeil likely takes on UW freshman guard Connor Essegian, who broke out for a career-high 19 points in a recent game against Maryland.
In short, I just don’t think Wisconsin has the offense or shot making ability to win this game. OSU will need to find through a lot of contact because UW defends like heck. But the Buckeyes, playing at home, will put this one in the win column.
* I’ve got it: Ohio State 71, Wisconsin 65 (Ohio State is favored by 7-1/2 points on the early line; the over/under is 132-1/2 points)
What To Watch: Buckeyes host Wisconsin in battle of struggling squads
Two teams in need of a Big Ten will collide tonight as Ohio State hosts Wisconsin at Value City Arena. Fox Sports 1 will have national coverage at 7 p.m. Eastern.
The Buckeyes (11-10, 3-7) just wrapped a stretch where they played four of their last five games on the road. OSU has also lost seven of its last eight games to fall to 12th in the conference standings.
The most recent loss was on Saturday night at Indiana, where OSU suffered its worst loss of the season by margin in an 86-70 defeat. The Hoosiers went on 15-0 run in the last minutes of the first half to grab control of the game.
Freshman forward Brice Sensabaugh had 23 points and six rebounds to lead OSU. Center Zed Key added 12 points.
Wisconsin (12-8, 4-6) has lost its last three games to fall to 11th in the Big Ten.
This is the lone scheduled match-up between OSU and Wisconsin this season.
The Buckeyes are wearing “This Game is No Secret” shirts on Thursday night vs. Wisconsin. The third annual event is organized by the coaches behind ERACISM and is in honor of the legacy of John McLendon. He led his team to a win over Duke in 1944 in a game that had to be played in secret due to Jim Crow laws.
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continued
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WHAT TO WATCH: WISCONSIN AT OHIO STATE
* Opponent: Wisconsin* Where: Value City Arena
* Date, Time: Tonight, 7 p.m. (Eastern)
* TV: Fox Sports 1 (announcers: Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson)
* Radio: OSU Radio Network (64 stations); WBNS-FM (97.1 The Fan) in Columbus (announcers: Paul Keels and Ron Stokes; click here for affiliates).
* 2022-23 Records: Ohio State, 11-10 overall, 3-7 Big Ten; Wisconsin, 12-8 overall, 4-6 Big Ten.
* Poll Rankings: Ohio State, unranked; Wisconsin, unranked.
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continued
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HOW WE SEE IT
After one of the worst January showings in years, Ohio State has a chance to resurrect its season with a big stretch run. The Buckeyes will play six of their last 10 games at home, including three of the next four. This stretch begins with tonight’s home game against a Wisconsin team which is scuffling every bit as much as Ohio State has been.Like Ohio State, Wisconsin has been beset by injuries. Star forward Tyler Wahl missed three games due to an ankle injury and the Badgers lost them all. Even with him, they’ve dropped their last three games coming into this one. They were outright humbled at home by Illinois on Saturday, losing by 10 points and only scoring 51 points.
Now comes Ohio State, which is also coming off its worst loss of the season (at least by margin) with Saturday’s 16-point loss at Indiana. The story of OSU’s season is the Buckeyes have played nearly everybody even but have found ways to lose tight games. That was true to a degree at Indiana, where the teams were even for 35 minutes. But Indiana outscored OSU by 15 points in the final five minutes of the first half.
And it’s been like that all season in the losses (and even in some of the wins) where the Buckeyes go five or six minutes without scoring or without a made field goal.
It’s common sense that the team that makes the most shots will win this game. I think Ohio State is better equipped to do that, particularly if Wisconsin can’t find a way to deter OSU freshman phenom Brice Sensabaugh. It could be on Wahl to try and defend him.
OSU center Zed Key seems to be working his way back from a shoulder injury. He was finally finishing some plays in the loss at Indiana. He should have the edge against 7-footer Steven Crowl in the middle.
OSU may go with Justice Sueing to defend Wahl. The Buckeyes need to get the ball out of his hands or deny him as much as possible. He is clearly Wisconsin’s best player.
Bruce Thornton could have his hands full with UW veteran point guard Chucky Hepburn. My guess is Sueing or Sensabaugh will be on UW guard Max Klesmit, who can be a three-point threat. Sean McNeil likely takes on UW freshman guard Connor Essegian, who broke out for a career-high 19 points in a recent game against Maryland.
In short, I just don’t think Wisconsin has the offense or shot making ability to win this game. OSU will need to find through a lot of contact because UW defends like heck. But the Buckeyes, playing at home, will put this one in the win column.
* I’ve got it: Ohio State 71, Wisconsin 65 (Ohio State is favored by 7-1/2 points on the early line; the over/under is 132-1/2 points)
LaAllan Clark (LB Coach Texas)
- By MD Buckeye
- College Football
- 12 Replies
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gojagsports.com
Big pickup & could be the heir to replace Larry Johnson when the time comes. Pass rush specialist with ties to the south (Louisiana).
LaAllan Clark - Defensive Ends - FOOTBALL Coaches - Southern University
LaAllan Clark was named to the Southern University coaching staff as the Defensive Ends Coach in January 2022. Clark who is entering his first season as a full-time
gojagsports.com
Big pickup & could be the heir to replace Larry Johnson when the time comes. Pass rush specialist with ties to the south (Louisiana).
LGHL Ohio State lands No. 10 transfer player, Ole Miss cornerback Davison Igbinosum
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Ohio State lands No. 10 transfer player, Ole Miss cornerback Davison Igbinosum
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Davison Igbinosum | 247Sports
The Buckeyes picked up a welcome addition to what looked to be an inexperienced secondary on Tuesday.
The Buckeyes got a much-needed spark in the defensive secondary on Tuesday as they dipped into the transfer portal for their latest addition to Jim Knowles' unit. Plus, an in-state offensive lineman lands an offer from Ohio State as the home-grown talent continues to feel like more of a priority moving forward.
After kicking off the new year by securing a transfer pledge from former Syracuse safety Ja’Had Carter, the Buckeyes watched January come to a close by ending the month similarly to how it began. On Tuesday, Ohio State landed a commitment from now-former Ole Miss cornerback Davison Igbinosum.
Igbinosum, a freshman all-American with the Rebels, is currently graded as the No. 10 ranked transfer in the country. The addition of Igbinosum and Carter provides a much-needed boost to a secondary that hasn’t been up to the standards in Columbus combined with a few departures among the group.
The New Jersey native originally picked Ole Miss out of high school despite offers from Notre Dame, Tennessee, and more. But this go-around, Igbinosum was being courted by Michigan, Tennessee, and UCLA before ultimately deciding on the Buckeyes yesterday.
The newest Buckeye briefly caught up with On3’s Hayes Fawcett to discuss what led him to Ohio State.
Igbinosun recorded 37 tackles and five pass deflections in 13 games this season for Ole Miss. He will have three years of eligibility left with the Buckeyes.
As Ohio State adjusts to the new wave of recruiting in the NIL era, it seems that there has been an added emphasis on securing the top talent in their backyard. A flurry of offers has gone out to numerous Ohio kids in the month and Tuesday was no different.
Marc Nave, a 2024 three-star interior offensive lineman from Central Catholic (OH), was the latest in-state prospect to land that coveted offer from the Buckeyes.
Nave is 6-foot-5, 315-pounder who has already garnered offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Pittsburgh, and more. The Toledo native has yet to receive a 247Sports Composite ranking due to the lack of rankings elsewhere. However, 247Sports by themselves grade Nave as the 37th highest-graded interior offensive lineman and a top 25 prospect from Ohio.
According to Eleven Warriors, 2025 four-star running back Gideon Davidson of Liberty Christian Academy (VA) is planning to camp at Ohio State in June. The 6-foot-0, 193-pounder is currently graded as the top running back in the class and the No. 1 player from Virginia.
After a visit with the Buckeyes last week, 2025 athlete Dante McClellan of McKinley (OH) caught up with Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors where he revealed that an offer from the program “would be big time.” “I always watched them as a kid growing up in Canton, Columbus isn’t too far. Being home and playing where my family could come see me with no problem (would be great).”
Continue reading...
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Davison Igbinosum | 247Sports
The Buckeyes picked up a welcome addition to what looked to be an inexperienced secondary on Tuesday.
The Buckeyes got a much-needed spark in the defensive secondary on Tuesday as they dipped into the transfer portal for their latest addition to Jim Knowles' unit. Plus, an in-state offensive lineman lands an offer from Ohio State as the home-grown talent continues to feel like more of a priority moving forward.
Ohio State lands transfer CB
After kicking off the new year by securing a transfer pledge from former Syracuse safety Ja’Had Carter, the Buckeyes watched January come to a close by ending the month similarly to how it began. On Tuesday, Ohio State landed a commitment from now-former Ole Miss cornerback Davison Igbinosum.
Igbinosum, a freshman all-American with the Rebels, is currently graded as the No. 10 ranked transfer in the country. The addition of Igbinosum and Carter provides a much-needed boost to a secondary that hasn’t been up to the standards in Columbus combined with a few departures among the group.
The New Jersey native originally picked Ole Miss out of high school despite offers from Notre Dame, Tennessee, and more. But this go-around, Igbinosum was being courted by Michigan, Tennessee, and UCLA before ultimately deciding on the Buckeyes yesterday.
The newest Buckeye briefly caught up with On3’s Hayes Fawcett to discuss what led him to Ohio State.
Igbinosun recorded 37 tackles and five pass deflections in 13 games this season for Ole Miss. He will have three years of eligibility left with the Buckeyes.
Buckeyes offer Nave
As Ohio State adjusts to the new wave of recruiting in the NIL era, it seems that there has been an added emphasis on securing the top talent in their backyard. A flurry of offers has gone out to numerous Ohio kids in the month and Tuesday was no different.
Marc Nave, a 2024 three-star interior offensive lineman from Central Catholic (OH), was the latest in-state prospect to land that coveted offer from the Buckeyes.
Nave is 6-foot-5, 315-pounder who has already garnered offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Pittsburgh, and more. The Toledo native has yet to receive a 247Sports Composite ranking due to the lack of rankings elsewhere. However, 247Sports by themselves grade Nave as the 37th highest-graded interior offensive lineman and a top 25 prospect from Ohio.
Quick Hits
According to Eleven Warriors, 2025 four-star running back Gideon Davidson of Liberty Christian Academy (VA) is planning to camp at Ohio State in June. The 6-foot-0, 193-pounder is currently graded as the top running back in the class and the No. 1 player from Virginia.
After a visit with the Buckeyes last week, 2025 athlete Dante McClellan of McKinley (OH) caught up with Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors where he revealed that an offer from the program “would be big time.” “I always watched them as a kid growing up in Canton, Columbus isn’t too far. Being home and playing where my family could come see me with no problem (would be great).”
Continue reading...
LGHL Play Like a Girl Podcast: Super Bowl is set, Ohio State basketball needs to hit the reset
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Play Like a Girl Podcast: Super Bowl is set, Ohio State basketball needs to hit the reset
meganhusslein 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
Also, can Ohio State really claim Joe Burrow as a Buckeye?
On LGHL’s “Play Like a Girl” podcast, Megan Husslein and Jami Jurich welcome in friends from around the LGHL, Ohio State, and sporting worlds to talk about everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
The NFL season officially has one game left and you know what that is— the Super Bowl! Jami and Megan talk all things Championship Sunday and what the storylines are heading into the SB matchup. However, Ohio State is not to be left out as the pair reflects on which Buckeyes had the best seasons in the pros.
Additionally, both the Ohio State men’s and women’s basketball teams are riding the struggle bus as of late, but do not fear! The duo is confident that the women will turn the season around, and while they can’t say the same for the men’s team, they will remain faithful fans for the rest of the year.
Contact Megan Husslein
Twitter: @meganhusslein
Contact Jami Jurich
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Continue reading...
meganhusslein 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
Also, can Ohio State really claim Joe Burrow as a Buckeye?
On LGHL’s “Play Like a Girl” podcast, Megan Husslein and Jami Jurich welcome in friends from around the LGHL, Ohio State, and sporting worlds to talk about everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
The NFL season officially has one game left and you know what that is— the Super Bowl! Jami and Megan talk all things Championship Sunday and what the storylines are heading into the SB matchup. However, Ohio State is not to be left out as the pair reflects on which Buckeyes had the best seasons in the pros.
Additionally, both the Ohio State men’s and women’s basketball teams are riding the struggle bus as of late, but do not fear! The duo is confident that the women will turn the season around, and while they can’t say the same for the men’s team, they will remain faithful fans for the rest of the year.
Contact Megan Husslein
Twitter: @meganhusslein
Contact Jami Jurich
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Continue reading...
2025 MI DB Alex Graham (USC Signee)
- By MD Buckeye
- Football Recruiting
- 4 Replies
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Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Ht: 6'1"
Wt: 170 lbs
Class: 2025 (High School)
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Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Ht: 6'1"
Wt: 170 lbs
Class: 2025 (High School)
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2026 MI ATH Corey Sadler (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 2 Replies
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Class: 2026
School: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: ATH
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 185 lbs
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HudL
Class: 2026
School: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: ATH
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 185 lbs
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LGHL Column: It’s not time to jump ship on the Ohio State women’s basketball team
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Column: It’s not time to jump ship on the Ohio State women’s basketball team
JamiJurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Hsu/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Three consecutive losses doesn’t erase their accomplishments this season
Two weeks ago, the Ohio State women’s basketball team was ranked No. 2 in the country after the longest undefeated start to a season in program history. Now, they’ve fallen to No. 10 after dropping three straight games, with back-to-back-to-back conference losses to Iowa, Indiana, and Purdue.
Three losses in a row is a tough pill to swallow for fans of a team that seemed to be having a dream season, winning games even without star guard Jacy Sheldon, who has been out with a foot injury since November 30.
Given the recent turn of events, it might be tempting to call the season a wash and quit paying attention to Buckeye basketball altogether, resigning yourself to a March with less madness and returning to counting the days to football season (especially since the men’s season, for its part, is giving us more sadness than madness).
Where the Ohio State women’s basketball team is concerned, I think that would be a mistake. I’ve gone on the record saying this women’s basketball team is the real deal, and I don’t think three losses negate what they’ve managed to accomplish this season. Losing streaks happen – they happen to really great teams, especially in sports with long seasons like basketball has.
And while losing streaks are never fun, they can also be a hurdle that makes the team stronger. Adversity itself isn’t what makes or breaks a team. In fact, it’s an inevitable part of any season, to differing degrees. The thing that separates champions from has-beens is how they face adversity. Does it make them stronger, motivate them to improve, and bring them together? Or do they crumble and wash their hands of the season?
This women’s team doesn’t strike me as the latter. This is a team that has already faced its share of adversity with injuries early in the season. They know how to work together and fight back. So I don’t think three losses are going to derail everything they’ve worked for.
I do feel obligated to acknowledge that I don’t abide fair weather fans under any circumstances. The only thing I hate more than fair-weather fans are Dodgers fans (and fair-weather Dodgers fans have a special circle of Hell just for them). As a Cubs fan from birth, sports can’t hurt me, so I can’t support abandoning your team when the going gets rough.
With that said, I also deeply understand the desire to turn your attention elsewhere out of self-preservation. Buckeye Nation doesn’t handle losing particularly well in the first place, and it can feel disheartening to invest time, energy and hope in a team only to be let down.
The thing is, though, I don’t think three losses are enough to call the season a letdown. I think it’s a setback. I do think they need to regroup and find a way to shift momentum.
But the season is far from over, and this team is far from a pack of quitters. They are still a top-10 team in the country. They are only two games back from the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten, with three remaining games against the teams ahead of them. The conference tournament has yet to be played. And it sounds like Sheldon will be back on the court soon.
If you want to celebrate the wins with them, you’ve got to be there through the hurdles. If they can overcome this one, they might be nearly unstoppable. This team has more steam left in them – it’s worth sticking around to find out how much.
The Buckeyes play again Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Wisconsin.
Continue reading...
JamiJurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Hsu/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Three consecutive losses doesn’t erase their accomplishments this season
Two weeks ago, the Ohio State women’s basketball team was ranked No. 2 in the country after the longest undefeated start to a season in program history. Now, they’ve fallen to No. 10 after dropping three straight games, with back-to-back-to-back conference losses to Iowa, Indiana, and Purdue.
Three losses in a row is a tough pill to swallow for fans of a team that seemed to be having a dream season, winning games even without star guard Jacy Sheldon, who has been out with a foot injury since November 30.
Given the recent turn of events, it might be tempting to call the season a wash and quit paying attention to Buckeye basketball altogether, resigning yourself to a March with less madness and returning to counting the days to football season (especially since the men’s season, for its part, is giving us more sadness than madness).
Where the Ohio State women’s basketball team is concerned, I think that would be a mistake. I’ve gone on the record saying this women’s basketball team is the real deal, and I don’t think three losses negate what they’ve managed to accomplish this season. Losing streaks happen – they happen to really great teams, especially in sports with long seasons like basketball has.
And while losing streaks are never fun, they can also be a hurdle that makes the team stronger. Adversity itself isn’t what makes or breaks a team. In fact, it’s an inevitable part of any season, to differing degrees. The thing that separates champions from has-beens is how they face adversity. Does it make them stronger, motivate them to improve, and bring them together? Or do they crumble and wash their hands of the season?
This women’s team doesn’t strike me as the latter. This is a team that has already faced its share of adversity with injuries early in the season. They know how to work together and fight back. So I don’t think three losses are going to derail everything they’ve worked for.
I do feel obligated to acknowledge that I don’t abide fair weather fans under any circumstances. The only thing I hate more than fair-weather fans are Dodgers fans (and fair-weather Dodgers fans have a special circle of Hell just for them). As a Cubs fan from birth, sports can’t hurt me, so I can’t support abandoning your team when the going gets rough.
With that said, I also deeply understand the desire to turn your attention elsewhere out of self-preservation. Buckeye Nation doesn’t handle losing particularly well in the first place, and it can feel disheartening to invest time, energy and hope in a team only to be let down.
The thing is, though, I don’t think three losses are enough to call the season a letdown. I think it’s a setback. I do think they need to regroup and find a way to shift momentum.
But the season is far from over, and this team is far from a pack of quitters. They are still a top-10 team in the country. They are only two games back from the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten, with three remaining games against the teams ahead of them. The conference tournament has yet to be played. And it sounds like Sheldon will be back on the court soon.
If you want to celebrate the wins with them, you’ve got to be there through the hurdles. If they can overcome this one, they might be nearly unstoppable. This team has more steam left in them – it’s worth sticking around to find out how much.
The Buckeyes play again Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Wisconsin.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State wrestling completes Michigan sweep in dominating fashion
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Ohio State wrestling completes Michigan sweep in dominating fashion
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State Athletics / ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Tom Ryan’s Buckeyes won in Ann Arbor for the first time since 2018, before dismantling Sparty less than 48 hours later.
Tom Ryan’s Ohio State wrestling squad earned not one but two dual victories this past weekend, both over Big Ten opponents from that state up north. In a span of fewer than 48 hours, OSU made a business trip to Ann Arbor, traveled back home to host the lesser of two evils, and won 16 out of 20 individual matches along the way. As a result, the Buckeye grapplers remain undefeated in conference duals (5-0) and should find themselves ranked firmly inside the top five of the next NWCA coaches poll.
Ohio State’s big weekend began with a tough matchup against TTUN. Save for a lopsided loss at the hands of No. 1 Penn State, the Wolverines had dominated other Big Ten opponents and were no doubt looking to defend their home mat inside the Crisler Center. But the Buckeyes rolled up on their rival with bad intentions and jumped out to a huge lead — one which they would not surrender.
OSU’s trio of Malik Heinselman (125 pounds), Jesse Mendez (133), and Dylan D’Emilio (141) staked the Buckeyes to an early 9-0 advantage, each earning victories over a ranked Wolverine. Mendez’s win over 12th-ranked Dylan Ragusin was key in establishing early momentum, as the latter is a third-year grappler who took third place in last year’s Big Ten Championships. But Ohio State’s true freshman phenom scored a takedown in sudden victory, continuing to stake his claim as one of the top newcomers in the conference, if not all of college wrestling.
Competing next, Sammy Sasso (149) extended the Scarlet and Gray lead with his 20-5 rout of UM’s Fidel Mayora. The win was Sasso’s 12th of the season by either tech fall or pin, giving OSU a comfortable 14-point lead. Those points provided a nice buffer for when the Wolverines inevitably began to claw back... Which is exactly what they did in the next two matches.
Will Lewan earned UM’s first points of the night at 157 with a come-from-behind win over Ohio State’s Paddy Gallagher. The former was taken down early but rallied to earn a 6-4 decision in sudden victory. It was Gallagher’s third loss of the season, by a total of five points. And the hits kept on coming at 165, where OSU’s Carson Kharchla dropped a heartbreaker to the two-time All-American Cameron Amine.
Mired in a 1-1 stalemate for most of the match – and after Kharchla was robbed of a match-ending takedown in sudden victory – the two 165-pounders eventually found themselves going toe-to-toe in a second extra (fifth total) period. It was there that Kharchla attempted a quick reversal, only to be snatched up and immediately countered by Amine. The Wolverines’ Big Ten runner-up put Kharchla on his back and scored a six-point fall for the home team. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, 14-9 is as close as their bitter rival would get.
Needing to take back momentum, Ohio State enjoyed the luxury of turning to proven vets who were more than ready to take the mat. Ethan Smith (174) and Kaleb Romero (184) were able to stem the Maize and Blue tide, each earning an impressive individual victory while combining for six crucial team points. Smith went on the attack early and often during his match, while Romero did significant damage late. He scored two third-period takedowns against UM’s Matt Finesilver, defeating a top-10 wrestler in the process. It was Romero’s 18th win of the 2022-23 season and 76th as a (non-redshirt) Buckeye!
Gavin Hoffman put a bow on this one for the good guys, earning a 5-3 decision over Rylan Rogers at 191. TTUN then won the last individual match via a Mason Parris (HWT) pin, but only Friday’s outcome had already been determined. In the end, OSU secured a 23-15 result, giving Ryan’s team their first win in Ann Arbor since 2018. It was a heck of a team performance, as well as a prelude to Sunday’s runaway victory back in Columbus.
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Ohio State Athletics / ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Roughly 40 hours after securing the rivalry dub against TTUN, Ohio State was quickly back in action, this time inside the friendly confines of Covelli Center. But frankly, folks, there is not much to tell about this match. Because OSU dismantled Michigan State by a score of 36-3. It was the team’s largest margin of victory this season, putting an emphatic end to a very impressive weekend.
The Buckeyes won 9 out of 10 matches against the Spartans, including pins by D’Emilio and Sasso. Mendez also scored a major decision over a top-20 wrestler at 133 (MSU’s Rayvon Foley), while Romero added another tech fall for his team-leading 19th victory. Ohio State’s only loss on Sunday came at 157, where Gallagher dropped yet another one-point decision. The redshirt freshman has been on the wrong end of too many closely-contested matches, so one would think breaks will start to go his way in February and beyond. Hoffman and Isaac Wilcox also impressed, with the latter notching his fifth “pinch hit” victory of the season. There is simply no other way to say it: This was a total ass-kicking by Ryan’s surging squad.
Next on his team’s schedule is a Friday (home) date with none other than Penn State. Cael Sanderson’s Nittany Lions have only won 9 of the last 11 national championships, so they will likely be coming in with just a little bit of swagger and/or confidence. But Ohio State is hot right now, and they will have the sold-out Covelli home crowd behind them. If they get a few wins from the Sassos and Romeros of the world, who knows what might happen? I definitely expect the Buckeyes to go in and fight, during what is sure to be an entertaining match.
This battle of the titans will be televised on BTN, beginning on Friday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. ET. Go Bucks!
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Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State Athletics / ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Tom Ryan’s Buckeyes won in Ann Arbor for the first time since 2018, before dismantling Sparty less than 48 hours later.
Tom Ryan’s Ohio State wrestling squad earned not one but two dual victories this past weekend, both over Big Ten opponents from that state up north. In a span of fewer than 48 hours, OSU made a business trip to Ann Arbor, traveled back home to host the lesser of two evils, and won 16 out of 20 individual matches along the way. As a result, the Buckeye grapplers remain undefeated in conference duals (5-0) and should find themselves ranked firmly inside the top five of the next NWCA coaches poll.
Ohio State’s big weekend began with a tough matchup against TTUN. Save for a lopsided loss at the hands of No. 1 Penn State, the Wolverines had dominated other Big Ten opponents and were no doubt looking to defend their home mat inside the Crisler Center. But the Buckeyes rolled up on their rival with bad intentions and jumped out to a huge lead — one which they would not surrender.
OSU’s trio of Malik Heinselman (125 pounds), Jesse Mendez (133), and Dylan D’Emilio (141) staked the Buckeyes to an early 9-0 advantage, each earning victories over a ranked Wolverine. Mendez’s win over 12th-ranked Dylan Ragusin was key in establishing early momentum, as the latter is a third-year grappler who took third place in last year’s Big Ten Championships. But Ohio State’s true freshman phenom scored a takedown in sudden victory, continuing to stake his claim as one of the top newcomers in the conference, if not all of college wrestling.
Competing next, Sammy Sasso (149) extended the Scarlet and Gray lead with his 20-5 rout of UM’s Fidel Mayora. The win was Sasso’s 12th of the season by either tech fall or pin, giving OSU a comfortable 14-point lead. Those points provided a nice buffer for when the Wolverines inevitably began to claw back... Which is exactly what they did in the next two matches.
Will Lewan earned UM’s first points of the night at 157 with a come-from-behind win over Ohio State’s Paddy Gallagher. The former was taken down early but rallied to earn a 6-4 decision in sudden victory. It was Gallagher’s third loss of the season, by a total of five points. And the hits kept on coming at 165, where OSU’s Carson Kharchla dropped a heartbreaker to the two-time All-American Cameron Amine.
Mired in a 1-1 stalemate for most of the match – and after Kharchla was robbed of a match-ending takedown in sudden victory – the two 165-pounders eventually found themselves going toe-to-toe in a second extra (fifth total) period. It was there that Kharchla attempted a quick reversal, only to be snatched up and immediately countered by Amine. The Wolverines’ Big Ten runner-up put Kharchla on his back and scored a six-point fall for the home team. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, 14-9 is as close as their bitter rival would get.
Needing to take back momentum, Ohio State enjoyed the luxury of turning to proven vets who were more than ready to take the mat. Ethan Smith (174) and Kaleb Romero (184) were able to stem the Maize and Blue tide, each earning an impressive individual victory while combining for six crucial team points. Smith went on the attack early and often during his match, while Romero did significant damage late. He scored two third-period takedowns against UM’s Matt Finesilver, defeating a top-10 wrestler in the process. It was Romero’s 18th win of the 2022-23 season and 76th as a (non-redshirt) Buckeye!
Gavin Hoffman put a bow on this one for the good guys, earning a 5-3 decision over Rylan Rogers at 191. TTUN then won the last individual match via a Mason Parris (HWT) pin, but only Friday’s outcome had already been determined. In the end, OSU secured a 23-15 result, giving Ryan’s team their first win in Ann Arbor since 2018. It was a heck of a team performance, as well as a prelude to Sunday’s runaway victory back in Columbus.
Roughly 40 hours after securing the rivalry dub against TTUN, Ohio State was quickly back in action, this time inside the friendly confines of Covelli Center. But frankly, folks, there is not much to tell about this match. Because OSU dismantled Michigan State by a score of 36-3. It was the team’s largest margin of victory this season, putting an emphatic end to a very impressive weekend.
The Buckeyes won 9 out of 10 matches against the Spartans, including pins by D’Emilio and Sasso. Mendez also scored a major decision over a top-20 wrestler at 133 (MSU’s Rayvon Foley), while Romero added another tech fall for his team-leading 19th victory. Ohio State’s only loss on Sunday came at 157, where Gallagher dropped yet another one-point decision. The redshirt freshman has been on the wrong end of too many closely-contested matches, so one would think breaks will start to go his way in February and beyond. Hoffman and Isaac Wilcox also impressed, with the latter notching his fifth “pinch hit” victory of the season. There is simply no other way to say it: This was a total ass-kicking by Ryan’s surging squad.
Next on his team’s schedule is a Friday (home) date with none other than Penn State. Cael Sanderson’s Nittany Lions have only won 9 of the last 11 national championships, so they will likely be coming in with just a little bit of swagger and/or confidence. But Ohio State is hot right now, and they will have the sold-out Covelli home crowd behind them. If they get a few wins from the Sassos and Romeros of the world, who knows what might happen? I definitely expect the Buckeyes to go in and fight, during what is sure to be an entertaining match.
This battle of the titans will be televised on BTN, beginning on Friday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. ET. Go Bucks!
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LGHL You’re Nuts: What is your one wish for this year’s Ohio State men’s lacrosse team?
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You’re Nuts: What is your one wish for this year’s Ohio State men’s lacrosse team?
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 Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
It is becoming more and more obvious that Ohio State’s men’s basketball team isn’t going to give us much of anything to cheer for in March. If you’re a fan of basketball, at least the women’s basketball team is still going to make the NCAA Tournament, but their recent three-game skid has brought expectations back down to earth a little bit. While Ohio State could still make a run in the tourney, it is looking like opponents have found a blueprint on how to slow the Buckeyes down.
So what’s a good way to get through the next few months sports-wise when it comes to Ohio State? A couple weeks ago Brett wrote about Ohio State’s new state-of-the-art lacrosse stadium. After two scrimmages, the men’s lacrosse team will play the first actual game at the stadium on Saturday when the Buckeyes host Air Force. The women’s lacrosse team will play their first game at the new stadium six days later.
Today we are going to focus on the men’s lacrosse team since there are a number of reasons to be excited about this year’s team. We want to know what you are most looking forward to seeing this year. Whether it be certain players you are looking forward to watch, opponents you are eagerly anticipating Ohio State playing, or how they fare in postseason tournaments.
Ohio State’s men’s lacrosse team have had sporadic success over the years. Even though the school has lots of resources, they won’t quite match the long-term dominance that schools like Syracuse, Johns Hopkins, and Maryland have been able to accomplish. Maybe that changes with the new stadium and the training areas it adds.
With being hit-or-miss when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament each year, it just adds to the excitement when Ohio State is able to win a few games in the postseason. That is exactly what made 2017 so special. I remember during the run that here at LGHL we were really excited — not only because it gave us something to write about during the “offseason”, but the team was fun to watch and root for.
Nick Myers was in his third season as Ohio State’s head coach, having already taken the Buckeyes to the quarterfinals in the 2015 NCAA Tournament in his first year in charge. Prior to the 2017 tournament, Ohio State had never even made it to the semifinals, let alone the championship game. Even though Maryland ended up winning the title, it was still a great ride to be a part of.
This year, the Buckeyes certainly have the talent to reach the Final Four. Ohio State returns eight of their top-10 scorers from last year. Jack Myers scored 38 goals and was credited with 45 assists last year, and should be even better this year. Even before the tournament, the Buckeyes will be tested, with games against Virginia, Maryland, and Johns Hopkins on the schedule.
As long as Ohio State can be competitive in those games, there will be a real reason to be excited for May.
While I am personally cheering for my alma mater Air Force Falcons this weekend, I’m pulling for a Big Ten Tournament title for Ohio State this season.
The Buckeyes have been so close as of late, but they haven’t pulled off a tournament championship since 2013 before Big Ten lacrosse was even a thing (at that time, Ohio State was a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League). Even in 2017, when the Buckeyes finished the season as NCAA Tournament runners-up, they fell to Maryland in the finals of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Big Ten Tournament began in 2015, the first year the conference officially sponsored men’s lacrosse. Ohio State finished that season as runner-up to Johns Hopkins in the Big Ten Tournament that season. Since then, just three teams have won the tourney:
The fact that Big Ten lacrosse has been so dominated by newcomers should not be a surprise. Maryland and Johns Hopkins were powers in the space well before they joined the conference. Considering there are just six men’s lacrosse teams in the Big Ten, even with these big names it’s a little alarming that half of the programs have won titles, and Ohio State is not among them — especially since the Buckeyes have had such solid teams in recent years.
But with so much excitement surrounding the program this year, the Buckeyes are well-positioned to change that narrative and take home a title.
Continue reading...
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 Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
It is becoming more and more obvious that Ohio State’s men’s basketball team isn’t going to give us much of anything to cheer for in March. If you’re a fan of basketball, at least the women’s basketball team is still going to make the NCAA Tournament, but their recent three-game skid has brought expectations back down to earth a little bit. While Ohio State could still make a run in the tourney, it is looking like opponents have found a blueprint on how to slow the Buckeyes down.
So what’s a good way to get through the next few months sports-wise when it comes to Ohio State? A couple weeks ago Brett wrote about Ohio State’s new state-of-the-art lacrosse stadium. After two scrimmages, the men’s lacrosse team will play the first actual game at the stadium on Saturday when the Buckeyes host Air Force. The women’s lacrosse team will play their first game at the new stadium six days later.
Today we are going to focus on the men’s lacrosse team since there are a number of reasons to be excited about this year’s team. We want to know what you are most looking forward to seeing this year. Whether it be certain players you are looking forward to watch, opponents you are eagerly anticipating Ohio State playing, or how they fare in postseason tournaments.
Today’s question: What is your one wish for this year’s Ohio State men’s lacrosse team?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: A deep run in the NCAA Tournament
Ohio State’s men’s lacrosse team have had sporadic success over the years. Even though the school has lots of resources, they won’t quite match the long-term dominance that schools like Syracuse, Johns Hopkins, and Maryland have been able to accomplish. Maybe that changes with the new stadium and the training areas it adds.
With being hit-or-miss when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament each year, it just adds to the excitement when Ohio State is able to win a few games in the postseason. That is exactly what made 2017 so special. I remember during the run that here at LGHL we were really excited — not only because it gave us something to write about during the “offseason”, but the team was fun to watch and root for.
Nick Myers was in his third season as Ohio State’s head coach, having already taken the Buckeyes to the quarterfinals in the 2015 NCAA Tournament in his first year in charge. Prior to the 2017 tournament, Ohio State had never even made it to the semifinals, let alone the championship game. Even though Maryland ended up winning the title, it was still a great ride to be a part of.
This year, the Buckeyes certainly have the talent to reach the Final Four. Ohio State returns eight of their top-10 scorers from last year. Jack Myers scored 38 goals and was credited with 45 assists last year, and should be even better this year. Even before the tournament, the Buckeyes will be tested, with games against Virginia, Maryland, and Johns Hopkins on the schedule.
As long as Ohio State can be competitive in those games, there will be a real reason to be excited for May.
Meredith’s answer: A Big Ten Tournament title
While I am personally cheering for my alma mater Air Force Falcons this weekend, I’m pulling for a Big Ten Tournament title for Ohio State this season.
The Buckeyes have been so close as of late, but they haven’t pulled off a tournament championship since 2013 before Big Ten lacrosse was even a thing (at that time, Ohio State was a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League). Even in 2017, when the Buckeyes finished the season as NCAA Tournament runners-up, they fell to Maryland in the finals of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Big Ten Tournament began in 2015, the first year the conference officially sponsored men’s lacrosse. Ohio State finished that season as runner-up to Johns Hopkins in the Big Ten Tournament that season. Since then, just three teams have won the tourney:
- Maryland (four championships)
- Johns Hopkins (two championships)
- Penn State (one championship)
The fact that Big Ten lacrosse has been so dominated by newcomers should not be a surprise. Maryland and Johns Hopkins were powers in the space well before they joined the conference. Considering there are just six men’s lacrosse teams in the Big Ten, even with these big names it’s a little alarming that half of the programs have won titles, and Ohio State is not among them — especially since the Buckeyes have had such solid teams in recent years.
But with so much excitement surrounding the program this year, the Buckeyes are well-positioned to change that narrative and take home a title.
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LGHL Highlighting the top five Buckeyes in the NFL this season
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Highlighting the top five Buckeyes in the NFL this season
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Spoiler alert: it was a very good year for the scarlet and gray in the pros.
99% of Ohio State players in the NFL are officially done for the season. The lone Buckeye remaining is running back Trey Sermon for the Philadelphia Eagles. Therefore, I wanted to reflect on which players had the best seasons this year.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24396670/usa_today_19885613.jpg "NFL: NFC Championship-San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles")
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
While one Bosa brother, Joey, was injured for the majority of the year, the other brother had the best season of his career. Nick has been named a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, and it is highly likely that he will win the award. He finished this season with 18.5 sacks, the most in the league.
I gave him the top spot because I believe his play had the biggest impact on his team. The 49ers had one of the top, if not the top, defense in the NFL this past year, and that is largely because of Bosa. He was the leader of this defense, and quarterbacks all around the league feared going against him. He is going to be scary for the next few years if he continues to play at this level.
2. Joe Burrow
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24396701/usa_today_19886761.jpg "Syndication: The Enquirer")
Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Two things: yes, he is a Buckeye, and yes, he could also have taken the top spot. It is very possible that Burrow takes home MVP and Bosa takes home DPOY. So these two can tie for the top spot, just to appease everyone.
Anyway, I feel like I really don’t have to say too much about Joey B. Everyone knows how cool he is under pressure and how critical he is to the success of the Bengals. His 35 touchdowns are the second-most in the league, and his 4,475 passing yards are fifth.
The most remarkable stat, however, is how he led his team to 10-straight wins to finish out the season. While Cincy lost in the AFC Championship game, it is pretty safe to say it wouldn’t have made it there without Burrow.
3. Garrett Wilson
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24396718/usa_today_19608164.jpg "NFL: New York Jets at Buffalo Bills")
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
My personal favorite out of all, my guy GW on the Jets! As a Jets fan, I could not have been happier with how his rookie season panned out. Obviously I knew how talented he was at Ohio State, but I was very impressed with how seamlessly he transitioned to the pros. Even with the unfortunate QB carousel, Wilson did not miss a beat.
He quickly became WR1 on the team. He had 147 targets, 50 more than the next receiver. Additionally, his 1,100 yards were pretty much double from Tyler Conklin, who had 552. If he can get a solid, stable quarterback throwing to him next year, I cannot wait to see how he does. Also, he is a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he better win.
4. Chris Olave
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24396742/usa_today_19516800.jpg "NFL: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers")
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The only other acceptable OROY winner would be Chris Olave, although unfortunately, he is not a finalist. I think this is rude because he also put up a 1,000 yard rookie season! Olave and Wilson had almost identical seasons, as Olave also became WR1 on his team. He had the most targets by far, and also about double the amount of receiving yards as the next receiver.
5. Terry McLaurin
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24396754/usa_today_19751365.jpg "NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders")
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
What a year for scary Terry! This is his third consecutive 1,000-yard season, finishing with 1,191 yards this year. The theme continues here as he was also WR1, but the next leading receiver is fellow Buckeye Curtis Samuel! That’s a threatening receiving duo. McLaurin has managed to shine the past couple of years even with the multiple quarterbacks he’s had throwing to him. He truly is an underrated player in this league.
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meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Spoiler alert: it was a very good year for the scarlet and gray in the pros.
99% of Ohio State players in the NFL are officially done for the season. The lone Buckeye remaining is running back Trey Sermon for the Philadelphia Eagles. Therefore, I wanted to reflect on which players had the best seasons this year.
- Nick Bosa
While one Bosa brother, Joey, was injured for the majority of the year, the other brother had the best season of his career. Nick has been named a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, and it is highly likely that he will win the award. He finished this season with 18.5 sacks, the most in the league.
I gave him the top spot because I believe his play had the biggest impact on his team. The 49ers had one of the top, if not the top, defense in the NFL this past year, and that is largely because of Bosa. He was the leader of this defense, and quarterbacks all around the league feared going against him. He is going to be scary for the next few years if he continues to play at this level.
2. Joe Burrow
Two things: yes, he is a Buckeye, and yes, he could also have taken the top spot. It is very possible that Burrow takes home MVP and Bosa takes home DPOY. So these two can tie for the top spot, just to appease everyone.
Anyway, I feel like I really don’t have to say too much about Joey B. Everyone knows how cool he is under pressure and how critical he is to the success of the Bengals. His 35 touchdowns are the second-most in the league, and his 4,475 passing yards are fifth.
The most remarkable stat, however, is how he led his team to 10-straight wins to finish out the season. While Cincy lost in the AFC Championship game, it is pretty safe to say it wouldn’t have made it there without Burrow.
3. Garrett Wilson
My personal favorite out of all, my guy GW on the Jets! As a Jets fan, I could not have been happier with how his rookie season panned out. Obviously I knew how talented he was at Ohio State, but I was very impressed with how seamlessly he transitioned to the pros. Even with the unfortunate QB carousel, Wilson did not miss a beat.
He quickly became WR1 on the team. He had 147 targets, 50 more than the next receiver. Additionally, his 1,100 yards were pretty much double from Tyler Conklin, who had 552. If he can get a solid, stable quarterback throwing to him next year, I cannot wait to see how he does. Also, he is a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he better win.
4. Chris Olave
The only other acceptable OROY winner would be Chris Olave, although unfortunately, he is not a finalist. I think this is rude because he also put up a 1,000 yard rookie season! Olave and Wilson had almost identical seasons, as Olave also became WR1 on his team. He had the most targets by far, and also about double the amount of receiving yards as the next receiver.
5. Terry McLaurin
What a year for scary Terry! This is his third consecutive 1,000-yard season, finishing with 1,191 yards this year. The theme continues here as he was also WR1, but the next leading receiver is fellow Buckeye Curtis Samuel! That’s a threatening receiving duo. McLaurin has managed to shine the past couple of years even with the multiple quarterbacks he’s had throwing to him. He truly is an underrated player in this league.
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LGHL Column: Ohio State women’s basketball’s return to Earth is a good thing
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Column: Ohio State women’s basketball’s return to Earth is a good thing
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
How the Buckeyes recent adversity represents reality, and might be the best thing to happen this season.
This season, the Ohio State women’s basketball team has been breaking program records. Whether it’s steals in a game or best start in the University’s women’s basketball history books, if there’s a metric to calculate, the Buckeyes have either broken it or gotten close.
After three straight losses though, an unbelievable season looks much more believable, and its not only not a surprise but its also one of the best things to happen this season. Well, it could be one of the best things. Only the Scarlet & Gray are in control of what happens next.
All season, to the Buckeyes’ credit, Ohio State’s responded to wins and losses the same way. Outside of excitement on the court following big wins like the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers, once the locker room talk is over its all business.
As the number on their AP Poll placement got lower and lower, the response remained the same to the media.
“We just play,” said guard Rikki Harris, after the Buckeyes moved up to No. 3 in December. “If we don’t win, we can’t be No. 3, so we just focus on playing and winning games.”
On the surface, it looked true. Just check out their results. A 19-point win over the then No. 18 Louisville Cardinals who allowed Ohio State to move up to No. 3. Throwing close to 100 on multiple smaller conference opponents. Beating heated rivals the Michigan Wolverines on New Year’s Eve. The Buckeyes amassed a 19-0 record, but that doesn’t mean Ohio State was focused for 40 minutes of all 19 games.
Throughout the year, all the highlight wins, except a big win against the Oregon Ducks, featured comebacks for the Buckeyes. Land-Grant Holy Land ranked the best five, and those were only the double-digit comebacks.
Starting the season, Ohio State stuck with the Volunteers, ultimately down nine in the first half. Then, a huge third quarter propelled the Buckeyes to a win. Exactly the opposite of what happened Thursday in Bloomington when the Indiana Hoosiers held the Buckeyes to six points in the third quarter.
Against Louisville the Buckeyes were down 14 points and needed a huge second half comeback, and would wind up playing up to their then-No. 4 ranked expectations.
In conference play, the Wolverines held Ohio State to nine points in the first quarter, and almost hit the Buckeyes with a comeback of their own in the second half. Against the Illinois Fightling Illini it was a 17-point comeback in the third quarter.
By this point, you probably get it: It wasn’t a road paved in gold for the now-No. 10 ranked Buckeyes, dropping eight spots on Monday, but there’s one last example.
It might seem like small potatoes, but look at a home game on Dec. 8 versus the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. The Buckeyes won 92-36, but at halftime Ohio State was up 39-29. To paraphrase a line from a fellow member of the media, the Scarlet & Gray were on the hunt but playing with their food.
So even though coach and players say the right thing, it might not be the truth. That’s not accusing anyone of lying, but it’s human nature to subconsciously go into a game with more focus and preparation against the Iowa Hawkeyes than the North Alabama Lions.
Through every scare, Ohio State battled through. The only difference between the first 19 games and the last three are the Scarlet & Gray looking like the side in deficits but without the magic at the end to comeback.
Last season, the Buckeyes struggled defensively against the Iowa Hawkeyes but scored 92 points to come away with the win. On Jan. 23, Ohio State scored 72 points. A hard total to beat the Hawkeyes by when guard Caitlin Clark is hitting a triple-double.
In two games against the Hoosiers, Ohio State lost by 20 points in the regular season and by eight in the Big Ten Tournament semi final against a recovering forward Mackenzie Holmes.
Thursday, Ohio State brought their best fight to the Hoosiers in two years, minus a difficult third quarter. A 10-minute span where adjustments weren’t made quick enough on the court and maybe the Monday loss crept in on the mindset of the Buckeyes.
Sunday, the play of coach McGuff’s side looked like they were mentally fatigued, and on the wrong day against a surging Purdue Boilermakers — which is the actually the good news.
“We still have a lot of league play left and you don’t want to be playing your best basketball right now so it’s good to take a little bit of adversity,” said guard Taylor Mikesell.
If this were March, the Buckeyes’ season would be over after the loss to Iowa. Instead it’s January and there are seven regular season games remaining. That means nine games For Ohio State to get starting guard Jacy Sheldon back into the lineup. Despite one of their best players not playing since Nov. 30, the Scarlet & Gray kept winning.
With Sheldon’s return, and potentially many of those nine games remaining, Ohio State can get into a rhythm with a healthy starting lineup that mirrors the group that started the season opener against Tennessee.
Also, hope for a regular season conference title is still alive with teams above them still playing big games ahead. Indiana plays Purdue and Iowa twice to end their season, plus a game against the Michigan Wolverines. Iowa has two games against Maryland on top of that pair of games against the Hoosiers.
Plus, coach McGuff’s side has the chance to beat Indiana in the home edition of their two regular season games of the year. Beat them and a pair of games against the Maryland Terrapins and the Buckeyes are still in the Big Ten trophy conversation at the end of the regular season.
Overall, Ohio State is a team deserving to be in the top-10. On their best night, they can compete with just about every team in the country. They’re still working towards their best, even if their ranking is no longer No. 2.
The climb towards the Buckeyes’ peak is underway, and it all starts Wednesday in Madison, Wisconsin.
“I told them that’s going to ultimately be what this week will show us in terms of our leadership,” said coach McGuff on Sunday. “How we practice and whether we win or lose on Wednesday, how we show up and compete.”
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How the Buckeyes recent adversity represents reality, and might be the best thing to happen this season.
This season, the Ohio State women’s basketball team has been breaking program records. Whether it’s steals in a game or best start in the University’s women’s basketball history books, if there’s a metric to calculate, the Buckeyes have either broken it or gotten close.
After three straight losses though, an unbelievable season looks much more believable, and its not only not a surprise but its also one of the best things to happen this season. Well, it could be one of the best things. Only the Scarlet & Gray are in control of what happens next.
All season, to the Buckeyes’ credit, Ohio State’s responded to wins and losses the same way. Outside of excitement on the court following big wins like the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers, once the locker room talk is over its all business.
As the number on their AP Poll placement got lower and lower, the response remained the same to the media.
“We just play,” said guard Rikki Harris, after the Buckeyes moved up to No. 3 in December. “If we don’t win, we can’t be No. 3, so we just focus on playing and winning games.”
On the surface, it looked true. Just check out their results. A 19-point win over the then No. 18 Louisville Cardinals who allowed Ohio State to move up to No. 3. Throwing close to 100 on multiple smaller conference opponents. Beating heated rivals the Michigan Wolverines on New Year’s Eve. The Buckeyes amassed a 19-0 record, but that doesn’t mean Ohio State was focused for 40 minutes of all 19 games.
Throughout the year, all the highlight wins, except a big win against the Oregon Ducks, featured comebacks for the Buckeyes. Land-Grant Holy Land ranked the best five, and those were only the double-digit comebacks.
Starting the season, Ohio State stuck with the Volunteers, ultimately down nine in the first half. Then, a huge third quarter propelled the Buckeyes to a win. Exactly the opposite of what happened Thursday in Bloomington when the Indiana Hoosiers held the Buckeyes to six points in the third quarter.
Against Louisville the Buckeyes were down 14 points and needed a huge second half comeback, and would wind up playing up to their then-No. 4 ranked expectations.
In conference play, the Wolverines held Ohio State to nine points in the first quarter, and almost hit the Buckeyes with a comeback of their own in the second half. Against the Illinois Fightling Illini it was a 17-point comeback in the third quarter.
By this point, you probably get it: It wasn’t a road paved in gold for the now-No. 10 ranked Buckeyes, dropping eight spots on Monday, but there’s one last example.
It might seem like small potatoes, but look at a home game on Dec. 8 versus the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. The Buckeyes won 92-36, but at halftime Ohio State was up 39-29. To paraphrase a line from a fellow member of the media, the Scarlet & Gray were on the hunt but playing with their food.
So even though coach and players say the right thing, it might not be the truth. That’s not accusing anyone of lying, but it’s human nature to subconsciously go into a game with more focus and preparation against the Iowa Hawkeyes than the North Alabama Lions.
Through every scare, Ohio State battled through. The only difference between the first 19 games and the last three are the Scarlet & Gray looking like the side in deficits but without the magic at the end to comeback.
Last season, the Buckeyes struggled defensively against the Iowa Hawkeyes but scored 92 points to come away with the win. On Jan. 23, Ohio State scored 72 points. A hard total to beat the Hawkeyes by when guard Caitlin Clark is hitting a triple-double.
In two games against the Hoosiers, Ohio State lost by 20 points in the regular season and by eight in the Big Ten Tournament semi final against a recovering forward Mackenzie Holmes.
Thursday, Ohio State brought their best fight to the Hoosiers in two years, minus a difficult third quarter. A 10-minute span where adjustments weren’t made quick enough on the court and maybe the Monday loss crept in on the mindset of the Buckeyes.
Sunday, the play of coach McGuff’s side looked like they were mentally fatigued, and on the wrong day against a surging Purdue Boilermakers — which is the actually the good news.
“We still have a lot of league play left and you don’t want to be playing your best basketball right now so it’s good to take a little bit of adversity,” said guard Taylor Mikesell.
If this were March, the Buckeyes’ season would be over after the loss to Iowa. Instead it’s January and there are seven regular season games remaining. That means nine games For Ohio State to get starting guard Jacy Sheldon back into the lineup. Despite one of their best players not playing since Nov. 30, the Scarlet & Gray kept winning.
With Sheldon’s return, and potentially many of those nine games remaining, Ohio State can get into a rhythm with a healthy starting lineup that mirrors the group that started the season opener against Tennessee.
Also, hope for a regular season conference title is still alive with teams above them still playing big games ahead. Indiana plays Purdue and Iowa twice to end their season, plus a game against the Michigan Wolverines. Iowa has two games against Maryland on top of that pair of games against the Hoosiers.
Plus, coach McGuff’s side has the chance to beat Indiana in the home edition of their two regular season games of the year. Beat them and a pair of games against the Maryland Terrapins and the Buckeyes are still in the Big Ten trophy conversation at the end of the regular season.
Overall, Ohio State is a team deserving to be in the top-10. On their best night, they can compete with just about every team in the country. They’re still working towards their best, even if their ranking is no longer No. 2.
The climb towards the Buckeyes’ peak is underway, and it all starts Wednesday in Madison, Wisconsin.
“I told them that’s going to ultimately be what this week will show us in terms of our leadership,” said coach McGuff on Sunday. “How we practice and whether we win or lose on Wednesday, how we show up and compete.”
Continue reading...
