Hevynne Bristow shows No. 3 Ohio State women’s basketball team is tough to beat
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Ben Cole - Land-Grant Holy Land

The Buckeye women are defying the odds through their competitive character.

Look around the NCAA women’s basketball landscape and there are similarities. Most teams play a heavy rotation of seven to eight players in any given game. Outside of non-conference outlier performances where a program is dramatically better than another, coaches rely on starters and a select two or three reserves to execute a team’s game plan. When injuries or poor runs of play creep into the equation, there’s a potential for disaster.

Currently, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team is in a disaster scenario — and they keep on winning.

Down two starting point guards — one out for the year and the second with no set timetable for return, the Scarlet & Gray won three straight. Of those three, two came against ranked opponents and the stretch began with Ohio State clawing back from almost certain defeat in overtime to keep their undefeated start to the season intact.

Saturday was the toughest challenge yet for head coach Kevin McGuff and the Buckeyes. Ohio State welcomed the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines to Columbus and went down 8-0 almost immediately.

“We were kind of taking quick shots and you can’t do that against Michigan,” said McGuff. “You’ve got to be able to move the ball side to side to kind of break them down a little bit. They’ll force you into some tough shots early and we were doing that too much.”

It showed how things could be going for the Buckeyes right now. After all, missing a cog in the defensive press like Jacy Sheldon and your top assist creator in Madison Greene, it’s expected that things won’t go Ohio State’s way.

The Buckeyes scored only nine points in the first quarter. That’s their lowest to start a game all season, and only the second time Ohio State failed to score 10 in a quarter since the start of the 2022-23 season.

Stepping into the game in to help fill that void was an unlikely name, senior guard Hevynne Bristow. Unlikely not due to a lack of hard work and skill, but when Ohio State’s been fully healthy, Bristow’s name hasn't been called.

Bristow played high school basketball in Brooklyn, New York before heading off to college, playing with the Providence Friars. In one season in Rhode Island, then freshman Bristow played 261 minutes in 29 appearances.

After transferring to Ohio State prior to the 20/21 season, Bristow faced injury issues. In two seasons, the 6-foot-1 guard played just 111 minutes, scoring 40 total points.

This season, Bristow’s outlook improved, and results followed. Although she played only two minutes against ranked opponents, both of them to start the year against the then No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers, the non-conference schedule allowed Bristow to log more minutes.

The guard averages 4.9 points per game (a career-high) and grabbed 40 rebounds so far this season. Those rebounds were crucial in games against non-conference opponents to put the Buckeyes ahead in games, a stat Ohio State doesn't exactly dominate.

Although Bristow wasn’t getting time on the court in the biggest games of the season, she wasn’t downtrodden on the bench. Bristow brings energy and leadership to the bench, hyping up her teammates. When it comes time to play though, Bristow’s prepared.

“I just got to stay ready in practice,” said Bristow. “Coaches are pushing me, my teammates are pushing me.”

On Saturday, Bristow played 18 minutes, which, combined with 21 minutes against the then No. 16 Oregon Ducks on Dec. 21, she has played 39 minutes in two games against ranked opponents in the past two weeks as injury concerns grew.

Down 10-9 after one quarter, Bristow came into the game in the second quarter and made an impact. Outside of her four points in the quarter, second only to starting guard Taylor Mikesell, Bristow grabbed three rebounds and made a monster block.

Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Hevynne Bristow (3) blocks Cameron Williams (44) in the second quarter of Ohio State’s rivalry win against Michigan.

It wasn’t a block as much as it was grabbing the ball from the outstretched arm of Michigan forward Cameron Williams, almost holding possession from the block single-handedly if not for Williams fouling Bristow.

On the downside, Bristow did commit four fouls in the game; perhaps unsurprising given her especially strong play in the paint and knocking off some rust, but she made up for them.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Bristow fouled Michigan forward Emily Kiser and sent her to the line. On the second free throw, Kiser missed and Bristow grabbed the rebound. In the same possession, Mikesell found Bristow who attacked the basket, making a nice step to split defenders and hit the layup that gave the Buckeyes their first lead of the game.

Bristow played only one minute in the third quarter but played all 10 to close out the game. The guard had a second block and scored the first four points of the quarter for Ohio State. They were four important points too because if she wasn’t on the court to score them the Maize and Blue would’ve grabbed a late lead and potentially the momentum to carry it to a win.

Instead, Bristow continued her Euro-steps in the lane, starting a run where the Buckeyes scored 12 of the next 14 points.

It’s easy to see on the court, but coach McGuff described the 2022-23 Buckeyes team, and performances like Bristow’s, after the game.

“Our kids love playing with each other,” said McGuff. “They show great competitive character every night out and I think we have a lot of people emerging, and stepping up just doing whatever it takes for them to contribute to the win.”

The heart of the Buckeyes on Saturday said it a different way.

“It just shows to prove what a good team we are because we’re down two starters and everybody next up is ready still,” said Bristow. “So, one through 15, we’ll be ready.”

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Peach Bowl Film Review: Ohio State’s heartbreaking loss to Georgia comes down to the little things
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

In a game of this caliber, execution is usually the difference. Ohio State failed in that department when it mattered most.

The wounds are still fresh from Ohio State losing to Georgia 42-41 in the Peach Bowl in heart breaking fashion on Noah Ruggles’ last second missed field attempt. Losing college football games is never fun for fans, players, or the coaches involved, but the gut-wrenching fashion of that loss will stick with everyone in Buckeye Nation for a while.

No one gave Ohio State a chance coming into the game. The Buckeyes came out highly motivated to prove the world wrong. C.J. Stroud played the game of his life, showing every aspect of his game — including a willingness to run. The receivers did an admirable job taking on a Georgia secondary who kept every receiving unit in check until Saturday. Even the offensive line stood the test against the best defensive line unit in the country.

The offensive output was not enough to beat the Bulldogs, and that is going to be tough pill to swallow. Most fans, pundits, and even Ryan Day himself said that it was going to take scoring more than 40, even if the task seemed insurmountable. When it was all said and done, the offense did their part.

This game was won in key moments though — mental lapses and failed technique cost the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s secondary fell short of the BIA moniker that has been bestowed upon the group. The mistakes were costly once again, and every time it felt like the offense did enough to put the game away, a mistake let Georgia march right down the field to answer. Combine this with another botched fake punt, an illegal motion by Mitch Rossi, and a missed tackle early in the game, it ended up being a one point difference.

In a game that was always going to come down to a few plays, the mistakes were too much to overcome in the end for Ohio State, and they’re back to where they started last offseason.

To start, Ohio State came out of the gate firing on both sides of the ball, forcing a field goal defensively and then scoring a touchdown to go up 7-0. The team was alive and looking incredibly sharp. Georgia’s response started off on the wrong foot, losing seven yards on a pass to Ladd McConkey. They get to a 3rd-and-10 after a short gain, and Ohio State has them on the ropes early.

On the season, the Buckeyes held opponents to 29.9 percent on third down attempts. A big reason for this is their ability to create pressure and play tight man-coverage behind the pass rush. Georgia runs a slot fade route one-on-one against Tanner McAlister who is in off man coverage.

McAlister never gets his hands on the receiver which allows the Georgia player to release freely. By not getting his hands on the receiver, the receiver has enough separation for Bennett to deliver a back shoulder throw. This type of throw does not give McAlister enough time to find the ball and make play, which extend the drive.


McAlister was not in bad position, but he was not in position to make a play on the ball at the catch point. This problem has plagued the Ohio State secondary for three seasons now, and this was juts the beginning of the struggles at the second level.

In the next play, there is an obvious mismatch here that gave the entire fanbase flash backs to the last time Ohio State played an SEC opponent. The Buckeyes are in a Tampa-2, which leaves the middle of the field vulnerable. Tommy Eichenberg shows great recognition and has the underneath covered. What is missing is Ronnie Hickman shifting to the slot receiver on the post route.

Instead his eyes stay locked into a receiver who is well covered underneath. This pulls him up and creates a huge area to throw the ball for Bennett. This is a big mistake, and this is a challenging aspect of being a safety. This type of mistake once again reared its ugly head for the Buckeyes.


Ohio State was up 21-7 before giving up the long throw and a touchdown on the ensuing plays in the red zone. With the Buckeyes up 21-14 after a quick 3-and-out, Georgia has a chance to take momentum back, and Ohio State has opportunity to keep the Bulldogs at arms length.

Up until the next play, Ohio State had kept the Bulldogs in check on the ground for the most part. The only damage done by a Georgia running back to this point of the game was the quick screen to McIntosh that went for a touchdown.

In the play below, Ohio State is in a Cover-0 look, which means they have whoever is in the box to stop the run. Lathan Ransom is taken out of the play with the motion of Brock Bowers, this leaves Georgia with a numbers advantage to the run side.

The double team by Georgia gets to the second level and seals off Steele Chambers, and the defensive line is unable to crash down quick enough to slow the back down. The aggressiveness of Knowles backfired on this play, and the Bulldogs should have had a long touchdown run.


Ohio State responded to go into the half with a 28-24 lead. Starting the third quarter off with a stop, they scored to get an 11-point cushion. With a chance to really put this game into favorable position, the Buckeyes made their first detrimental mistake in pass protection.

Georgia had been limited to one sack, and when they created pressure, Stroud was able to respond with his feet. Due to the injuries to the running backs and Cade Stover, the fact the protection held up as well as it did is a testament to Justin Frye, Tony Alford, and the offensive staff game planning the protection.

Mitch Rossi releases out. He doesn’t chip the blitzing safety, which gives him a free run at Stroud. This may have happened with Stover, but odds are with more game experience Stover gets his hands on the blitzer, giving Stroud additional time to throw. This mistake turned into a punt, and Georgia was then able to get the game back to within one score.


These small mistakes turned into key moments in the game, when playing a team of Georgia’s caliber, these errors in execution are the difference. When the small errors add up like they did, it gives the team no margin for error. Georgia has the ball down two scores with eight minutes to go in the game. If Ohio State can just make Georgia earn the points, eat up some clock, and give the offense a chance to not give the ball back to Georgia.

Instead, Jim Knowles puts the offense into a one high man-coverage look. Understanding the fact that a coach needs to be able to trust his players to make the plays when needed, the coverage is not a total problem. The issue starts with the alignment.

Georgia has trips to the boundary side of the field. This condensed formation and the wide split on the other side from the receiver forces the safety to play further away from the trips side. Georgia wins with alignment. They attack the middle safety with a vertical up the seam from the single receiver side. Ransom is left on an island and allows his cushion to get eaten up. This forces him into an uncomfortable turn leading to him falling down.


This mistake was the difference in the game. The Buckeyes end up being up three points with almost the same amount of time on the clock. In games like this, time can be a best friend or worst enemy, and when you have the lead it is usually the latter.

Georgia was probably going to score again, but the biggest issue was how easy it was because of the mistake. Now, instead of the offense having to churn down four to five minutes of game time, they have just under eight minutes. The offense does a great job of taking time off the clock and moving the ball without Harrison Jr. They were looking for that seven minute drive that put the game away against Notre Dame.

The Buckeyes have the ball down in the red zone. Day dials up a play-action pass to try to get another chunk play. Since the Harrison Jr. injury in the third quarter, the offense was struggling because Georgia’s confidence to bring pressure was much higher. This overwhelmed the offensive line a few times late, and unfortunately on this play, it was just a little too much for Stroud to escape from.

Dallan Hayden runs right past the blitzer and Donovan Jackson has too many defenders to pick up on the play side. With a long play-action fake and no quick check down, Stroud is trapped.


After the sack, Ohio State settled for a field goal, and Georgia has just under four minutes to score a touchdown. The much improved defense has an opportunity to right the ship for their crucial second half errors that kept the Bulldogs in the game, and also gave them an opportunity to have a chance to win it with a touchdown.

Ohio State had a huge play that should have forced the Bulldogs into a second and long, but instead an illegal substitution moves the ball up five yards. This gives Georgia the ability to take a shot down field, which they take.

The Buckeyes simulate pressure and player Cover-5, behind meaning two high safeties with man underneath. McAlister gives the receiver a free release and the speed kills him. This creates a hole shot between the trailing McAlister and the safety help over top. The same problem from the first half reappeared in an even more crucial moment, and this set Georgia up in the red zone with plenty of time to score.


Knowles learned from his mistake and gave all the underneath defenders help over top. The issue was the execution of the underneath defender’s trail technique turned into a burnt toast technique. This was the secondary execution costing the Buckeyes once again in 2022. Heading into the offseason, the secondary is the biggest question mark, and in a lot of ways the reason Ohio State was unable to hold onto multiple double-digit leads.

The last play here is man-coverage in the red zone. Denzel Burke struggled early in the year, but for much of the second half was playing like his freshman All-American self. His coverage was solid against Georgia all the way up until the last touchdown given up.

Burke is not in bad position, but he bites on the inside fake by the receiver. His slight stumble due to the fake gives the receiver enough separation for an easy pitch-and-catch from Bennett to take a one point lead with a minute to go.


This game came down to minor mistakes turning into big plays for the opponent. The one thing Ohio State failed to improve on this year was discipline. Each player had moment of great play individually, but the complexities of the Knowles scheme lead to players needing to understand their role on a play-by-play basis, or big plays happen. Against Michigan, blown coverages transformed the game. The same issues occurred against Georgia.

Unfortunately, the mistakes are not done just yet, the Buckeyes had one more before it was all said and done. After C.J. Stroud makes an incredible run on a scramble to get the Buckeyes into field goal range, Ryan Day calls a run play into the boundary. He stated in the post game the zero coverage Georgia was playing was the reason for the call. If Hayden got a crease, he was gone, which was the reasoning behind the call.

Then Ohio State evaded two sacks with Georgia bringing the house, needing to settle for a 5-yard field goal. If the Buckeyes are able to chip away 10 more yards, the kick is much more manageable.


On the kick the snap was slow, the hold was bad due to the snap being too far into the holders body, and the combination of the issues led to a kick with thrown off timing. Ruggles rushes the technique, and it looks like he loses his footing slightly on the contact of the ball. This leads to an over kicked shank that he hooks wide left of the upright. The kicking game is a unit, but this game coming down to Noah Ruggles happened far before that ball was snapped.

Ohio State once again did not do the little things well enough to win the football game. The small mistakes added up and turned into monumental moments that will define the offseason conversation. As the secondary gave up a number of big plays to begin the result of the game slipping away, the other mistakes just added to the fall.

The Buckeyes proved they are talented enough to be there. That is not enough though, as the fanbase has a hunger to reclaim the throne on top of the College Football Playoff castle. A game where mistakes define the result makes it a much tougher pill to swallow. If any of the plays above went the other direction, this article is probably getting you excited for a championship matchup. Instead, another offseason of reflection ensues for the Buckeyes with the same questions they entered with.

The improvement of the defense was commendable. Ryan Day showed he can still rise to the occasion as a play-caller, and many of the key players in this game will return next year with one more chance to right their misfortunes. Until then, the mistakes are what define Ohio State’s loss, and will define much of the conversation surrounding the Buckeyes this offseason.

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Column: Ryan Day proved himself as a play caller in the Peach Bowl, but giving that up is the next major step for his team
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

If Justin Frye is promoted to coordinator and play caller, that very well might bring balance back to the OSU offense.

For the past 13 months, I have written about how it was time for Ryan Day to relinquish his offensive play-calling duties for a multitude of reasons. None of those reasons were because I thought that he was incapable of calling a tremendous offensive game, we have seen him do it on multiple occasions, but my reasons were mainly centered on the fact that his responsibilities as the head coach did not allow him fully dedicate himself to what it takes be an elite-level playcaller.


Not to rehash more than a year’s worth of articles (a few samples linked above), but Day’s in charge of one of the biggest businesses in the state of Ohio, he just doesn’t have the time to get into the schematic weeds on a weekly basis to innovate like he’s capable of.

Think about it, what are the two best play-calling games Day has had? The Sugar Bowl against Clemson after the 2020 regular season and Saturday’s Peach Bowl against Georgia. What do those two games have in common, aside from being against blue-blood programs in the College Football Playoff semifinals?

That’s right, Day had more than a month to prepare. Yes, it was a busy month, but despite the early signing period and diving into the transfer portal, he had time to watch hours upon hours of film and then sit in front of a whiteboard and draw stuff up. This should reinforce the fact that Day is obviously still capable of being one of the best play callers in college football, but as Ohio State’s head coach, he just doesn’t have the time required to make that happen.

The other logistical reason that it is time for Day to give up the play-calling job is because, as the head coach, he is on the sideline during games, and I firmly believe that playcallers should be upstairs. There’s a reason that when players and coaches break down film that it is while watching from the All-22 angle. You can just see things better from above, meaning that you have a better understanding of what will and won’t work.

Also, when you’re in the booth, you don’t have to worry about calling timeouts, arguing with refs, or any of the other mishegoss that happens on the sideline during a game. You just have a better view, and more time, to think things through when you’re an eye in the sky.

All too often, we’ve seen Day almost get overwhelmed by the moment — how many delay of game penalties or timeouts have come from the play not getting called in on time? — and effectively get so stubborn that he went into a play-calling turtle shell, ignoring the most obvious paths to offensive success.

As I’ve said since he was hired, I think that Ryan Day is the right guy to lead the Ohio State football program for years to come. However, because he had never been in charge of a program before, there have been some growing pains along his journey. Following last season, we saw him take a huge step in his development by dismantling his defensive coaching staff, and now, according to Kirk Herbstreit, he is getting ready to clear the next major hurdle in his head coaching process.


If Herbie is correct — and I have no reason to think that he isn’t — and the head coach actually follows through, that means for the first time since 2016, someone other than Day will be calling offensive plays (except for the 2020 game against Michigan State that Day missed due to COVID).

With offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson leaving to become the head coach at Tulsa, this is a perfect time for Day to hand-pick the perfect successor to pass the sticks to. Since there has been no announcement made about any other coaching changes as of yet, and the program has already announced that it has promoted Keenan Bailey to tight ends coach, I think most onlookers assume that the next OC — and presumably play caller — will be coming from in-house.

While many fans have been stumping for Brian Hartline to get the promotion since Wilson’s departure was announced, as I said on our podcast nearly a month ago, while I love Hartline and hope that he never leaves the Buckeye coaching staff, the far better — and more likely — option to take over is offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Justin Frye.


Not only does he have offensive coordinator experience, but he has it under Day’s mentor Chip Kelly. Frye was the offensive coordinator and o-line coach at UCLA before essentially taking a demotion to come to Columbus this season. While Ohio State is a step up from even a Power 5 contender (and future conference foe) in UCLA, it is unlikely that he would make such a move without there being some sort of understanding that should an opportunity to rise up the ladder present itself that he would be given the first opportunity to do so.

So, while that is admittedly just speculation on my part, all of the pieces fit — from experience, expertise, and personnel moves. But what makes me most excited about this potential partnership is that obviously Day is still going to be heavily involved in the offensive game plan and will undoubtedly maintain veto power as each play gets radioed in. But, with Day’s wunderkind passing game knowledge and Frye’s creative running game expertise, this very well might be what the Buckeyes need to bring back some semblance of offensive balance.

Despite having some extremely talented running backs during Day’s tenure, the ground game has essentially been relegated to second-class citizen status. Defenses never really feared the threat of the run from OSU, at least not enough to have to worry about both a run and a pass. It has seemingly always been that defenses have just picked trying to stop the pass as their particular poison; daring the running game to beat them. Sometimes it has, more often it hasn’t had to, and — unfortunately — against some of the best teams that the Buckeyes have played in recent years, it has failed to do so.

Therefore, with Day’s influence on the game plan — and Hartline’s preternatural recruiting acumen — the passing game will almost certainly remain at the forefront of offensive play calling, but having someone whose roots are in the running game will hopefully provide enough balance to get the Buckeyes back to being able to deploy a smash-mouth running attack when it needs to.

Perhaps it is just me looking for something to make me feel better after Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to Georgia — or somehow patting myself on the back for calling for this for over a year — but this potential play-calling development has made me more excited for the 2023 season than I anticipated being.

Ohio State will almost certainly be starting a new quarterback this fall, but if Justin Frye can find ways to incorporate TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Evan Pryor, and Dallan Hayden (or whichever combination of those backs returns for next season), that should go a long way to bridging the gap left by a departing two-time Heisman Trophy finalist QB.

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Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Georgia
Michael Citro 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

College Football Playoff grumpiness is one way to ring in the New Year.

There are always things I can find to be grumpy about when watching a football game. Flaws are often easy to see, and when things are largely going in a positive direction, the negative things stand out even more. I could probably fill the entire internet with things that I didn’t like about Ohio State’s 42-41 loss to Georgia in the Peach Bowl, but I’ll try sticking to just some of the basics because that wound is still raw, and I don’t really feel like picking at it.

These are the things that had this old Buckeye yelling at clouds.

Free Rein


Ohio State’s first drive was undone by confusion on the offensive line. The center and right guard blocked the same Georgia defensive lineman, and that allowed a free rusher to come up the middle unimpeded to sack C.J. Stroud on third down. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, but Ohio State could have used a few points on that drive, as it turned out.

Secondary Play


This section started out being about one specific play — Tanner McCalister had decent coverage on an early third down but didn’t locate the ball and allowed Dominick Blaylock to convert. However, it became a massive issue throughout the game. Everyone took turns getting burnt, but probably the safeties more than anyone. Cam Brown struggled for a few plays, then others took turns. At one point, Tommy Eichenberg was forced to cover a much faster receiver down the middle, which was never going to work.

The secondary was exceedingly disappointing in 2022, and was the area of the team the coaching staff could never get a handle on to find a solution. Opposing wide receivers aren’t supposed to be running freely deep down the field but they did so all night and the worst of those incidences came on Georgia’s go-ahead touchdown drive late. If there’s ever a time to lock things down, it’s when protecting a late lead.

Uh… Chris?


It’s now 2023, but even way back in 2022 we knew that it wasn’t cool to pick at someone’s physical appearance. ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler decided to body shame Miyan Williams on national TV upon his entry into the game, noting that after the month off between games, Williams looked to be “a few biscuits” heavier. This, despite the fact that Williams was known to have a stomach bug the week before the game, meaning he had probably lost a few pounds recently.

Fowler, who chuckled at his own remark, needs to remember that body shaming a player is wrong and adds nothing to the broadcast.

Thanks for the Effort


On the second Georgia touchdown, Ohio State seemed to be in good shape to stop the play, with three defenders against one blocker and runner Kendall Milton. Those should be good odds to get a stop. Instead, Milton powered through them and scored. Brown looked like he wanted no part of getting involved in the tackle. In the buildup to the game, Ryan Day said he wanted his team to play violent football. Whatever the defense was doing on that touchdown was the opposite of violent.

Nope, Don’t Like That


After Georgia’s second touchdown, Ohio State went three and out. That alone was aggravating enough, but the most bothersome part of it was the third-down play. Consensus All-American left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. got blown up on a regular four-man rush. The defender who cast him aside like a dirty work shirt at the end of a shift was Mykel Williams, a freshman. Every player gets beaten from time to time but it’s troubling when a freshman gets one over on a seasoned All-American one on one in such a big moment. Stroud was sacked on the play, quickly cutting the drive short.

Inside, Outside


Teams are going to have weaknesses. Some teams get beaten on the edge and others give up plays up the middle, but Ohio State couldn’t decide, so the defense just did both. After Johnson allowed the sack, forcing a Jesse Mirco punt, Georgia had the ball at its own 38-yard line. I noticed Jack Sawyer standing as if playing linebacker on the right and then Steele Chambers moved to the left side of the line. I don’t know if someone lined up wrong or Ohio State was expecting a pass, but I was thinking that middle of the defense looked awfully vulnerable just before the snap. It was.

Kenny McIntosh took a handoff and went right up the middle for 52 yards. Luckily, he fell down on his way to a sure touchdown. Unluckily, Ohio State wasn’t done with getting gashed on the drive. Daijun Edwards carried for seven yards on the next play and with just three more yards to make, Stetson Bennett took the snap himself and ran untouched around the left end as the Buckeyes were outflanked at the goal line.

Getting Cute


The Buckeyes didn’t have a huge night running the football, but they did manage to show some balance by sticking with it throughout the game. Except that time they didn’t. Day sometimes gets too cute and he did after Georgia tied the game. Ohio State had second-and-1 on its next drive and Day called a short pass play that didn’t work. I’m generally OK with taking a shot down the field when you’ve got a favorable down and distance, but this always appeared like one of those horizontal passes that the Buckeyes have failed to successfully execute time and again this season.

The Buckeyes ran on third down and Dallan Hayden was stopped for little to no gain. It would have been nice to have done that on second down to get the extra opportunity of grinding out that yard, but the Buckeyes decided to go for it on fourth, despite being at their own 35. But then Mitch Rossi inexplicably turned up the field before the snap on what would have been a conversion and that killed the drive, as Day sent on the punt team.

In a game in which I thought Day largely avoided some of the play-calling that has been questionable (like when he completely abandons the run against opponents the offensive line can bully), that second-down call was the only one I really hated. I know some people didn’t like the run on first down on the last OSU drive, but with Georgia blitzing on every play, there was a good possibility of the running back beating the first defender and picking up eight or 10 yards. It’s easy to blast the play call when it doesn’t work but there are variables. Trying that wide pass that the team has struggled all year to execute helped to derail that crucial drive and Georgia took the lead on a field goal on the ensuing drive.

The Timeout and Stuff


Ohio State was up by 11 early in the fourth quarter when Stroud scrambled just a yard short of a first down on a third-down play. Ohio State faced a fourth-and-1 at its own 34-yard line. Day sent out his punt unit, but the fake was on. We saw the play get stopped, but did Kirby Smart really get the referee’s attention in time for him to blow his whistle? I’ve watched it a lot of times, but I can’t tell. It seemed to get blown as Rossi was catching the snap. Regardless, the timeout was given.

That irked me, to be sure, but so did the ensuing decision to punt it. Sometimes you’ve got to roll the dice when you’re the underdog and that seemed like a good time to take a shot at converting. You’re willing to let Rossi pick up your first down but not willing to let Stroud try? That seems like a mixed message to me. Obviously, if this is considered a ”play call” rather than an in-game decision, my earlier point about only having an issue with one play call all game was a lie.

Missing Marv


Stroud made an incredible throw to the back of the end zone on third-and-goal from the Georgia 7-yard line and it looked like Marvin Harrison Jr. would catch it to put Ohio State up 42-24. Now he might have stepped out of the back of the end zone and the play could have been called back anyway, but then we all saw him get absolutely blasted. The flag flew immediately, and targeting was called.

Ohio State looked to have a first-and-goal on the doorstep of putting the game away. But the call was reversed upon review. Day was told Harrison never got hit in the head, but the side end zone shot certainly appeared to show him getting hit where his neck and shoulder meet with the defender’s shoulder and then a glancing helmet-to-helmet hit. I’ve read the targeting rule repeatedly and you’ll never convince me that call shouldn’t have stood.

Not only did Ohio State’s ensuing field goal leave the door open for Georgia’s comeback, but it deprived the Buckeyes of their best offensive weapon. Without Harrison, the Bulldogs could move their best cover corner to Emeka Egbuka. Julian Fleming and Xavier Johnson are good complementary players but they aren’t nearly as adept at getting separation as Harrison and Egbuka and that showed in the fourth quarter. Georgia was rewarded for a vicious hit — the kind that the game is correctly trying to eliminate — in multiple ways.

Fair and Balanced?


Really cool, ESPN. You gave us the Georgia radio call of the go-ahead score while the game was still in doubt, and I’m pretty sure we didn’t get any Paul Keels calls after any Ohio State touchdowns all night. But maybe I’m being overly sensitive. Maybe the plan was to play the Keels call of the Ruggles field goal if it had gone in. Let’s just say I would not be willing to bet my house on it.

The Aftermath of the Field Goal Attempt


I’ve already talked about the secondary above, so I’ll just skip the comeback and get right to the end of the game. Ohio State did well to get into long field goal range in the game’s final minute, and it looked like another 10 yards would nearly assure a late victory. Noah Ruggles has been a reliable kicker and had made a 48-yard kick earlier in the game. The running play didn’t work, but I’m not faulting the call due to Georgia’s blitzing giving the line and Stroud problems in the second half.

It was sound reasoning to think the play would at least gain a couple of yards and could potentially turn into 10 or more if Hayden could make the first man miss. He didn’t, and in fact he lost a yard. Two incomplete passes later, Ruggles lined up to try to kick a 50-yard winner.

OK, it didn’t go well. Was the snap a little slow getting to the holder? Was the hold perfect? I’m not a special teams coach, so I’m not going to try to definitively analyze why Ruggles sent the worst-looking kick of his OSU career well wide. It never even had a chance. Were the moment, distance, and pressure too much? Did Smart successfully “ice” him? I don’t know. But what I do know is that a lot of people on social media took completely vicious shots at a kid whose only crime was to miss a field goal (he also made two in the game).

It’s a good policy to never tweet at athletes, especially those in college or even younger. No one was more upset about that miss than Noah Ruggles was, and he has to live with that memory the rest of his life while you and I go back to our jobs and families. Those people who felt they should tweet hateful things at Ruggles need to grow the hell up. Honestly, nothing else about the night made me as angry as seeing some of that garbage.


Saturday night was a difficult one. A big upset and a trip to the final were right there for Ohio State to take. Stroud played such a great game that it’s a shame he didn’t earn one more. But in the end, at least Michigan also lost.

These were the things that ruined my New Year’s Eve. What struck a nerve with you?

Thanks for reading my rants all season.

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Huge home game vs #1 ranked Purdue.

We’ll talk about this later: Ohio State turned back into a pumpkin at midnight
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Gotham/GC Images

Your dose of lighthearted takes from this week’s happenings.

Each week, we’ll break down something that happened during the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games and events) that we’ll be talking about for a while—you know, the silly sideline interactions, the awful announcing and the weird storylines that stick with us for years to come. We’ll also compare each of these happenings to memorable moments in pop culture, because who doesn’t love a good Office reference?

Naturally, we are all sad that Ohio State did not pull off the incredible upset over Georgia Saturday in the Peach Bowl, but on a lighter note, it is absurd that the game managed to end exactly as the ball dropped at midnight on the east coast.


It was a magical night in Atlanta, but just like Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother’s magic ran out at exactly midnight and the Buckeyes’ incredible run came up just short, with the Buckeyes’ field goal attempt going awry as the year turned.


There was something special about the whole day of bowl games, and was exactly what the organizers of the CFP were probably hoping for when they began scheduling New Year’s Eve games.

For starters, Iowa did Iowa things and beat Kentucky owing in large part to defensive scores in the Music City Bowl. Then we had an entirely unexpected performance in the other semi-final game between Michigan and TCU. Ohio State’s game was also objectively really good, even if the outcome wasn’t what we wanted. C.J. Stroud upped his NFL Draft stock, Ohio State beat the spread and Ryan Day maybe had a stroke out of pure excitement.


Also how cute was Uga?


It was nonstop entertainment until the stroke of midnight. And we’ll just say that the kick wrapped 2022 and we have a lot to look forward to in 2023.

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Four Ohio State targets named the Buckeyes as finalists
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


KJ Bolden | 247Sports

The Buckeyes are serious contenders for a host of highly-coveted prospects in the 2024 class.

Despite a gut wrenching loss on Saturday against Georgia, Ohio State was able to get some positive news on the recruiting trail. The Buckeyes found themselves as serious contenders for a quartet of highly-coveted prospects who have now began narrowing their respective recruitments down.

Four include Buckeyes as finalist

Among the four that have penciled in Ohio State in the group of final schools in their recruitment include 2024 four-star athlete KJ Bolden of Buford (GA). The Peach State standout is arguably the very best prospect that the class has to offer next year and the Buckeyes being listed inside of his top 15 is certainly a positive development in Columbus. Also listed as a finalist for top ranked safety in the country include Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, USC, and more.


Among the offensive front, Ohio State was also slotted inside of the top seven for 2024 four-star interior offensive lineman Donovan Harbour of Catholic Memorial (WI). The Buckeyes offered the Waukesha native about eight months ago and were able to have him on campus twice back in September for visit which is likely indicative of his interest level in the program. Harbour also named Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and Wisconsin in the group.

The Scarlet and Gray also found themselves in the top schools for a pair of Florida prospects in 2024 four-star cornerback Charles Lester III of Riverview (FL) and 2024 four-star running back Stacy Gage of Wharton (FL).

The Buckeyes find themselves in a battle with Alabama, Florida, Florida State, and Georgia for the coveted services of Lester — a top five player at a priority position. Ohio State was one of the first programs that extended an offer to the Sarasota native. While the Buckeyes are happy to be a contender for Lester, Ohio State will likely now shift their focus to getting the blue-chip defensive back on campus for his visit with the program.


As for Gage, he has also been a longtime target of running backs coach Tony Alford and the Buckeyes. Gage trimmed things down to eight remaining schools after securing over 40 offers on the recruiting trail. The Tampa standout will now key in on Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, Penn State, and USC. Gage was most recent on campus back in early November. The 247Sports Crystal Ball currently favors the Sooners to land the Florida running back.

Quick Hits

According to Bucknuts, 2024 four-star tight end KingJoseph Edwards of Buford (GA) will return to Columbus for a visit with Ohio State “soon.” The 6-foot-5, 242-pounder, who the Buckeyes offered last March, currently grades out as a consensus top 25 player in next years class.

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Ohio State men use fast start to down Northwestern, winning 73-57
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes started off the new year with a statement victory over the Wildcats in Evanston.

In their first game of 2023, the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team (10-3, 2-0) and the Northwestern Wildcats (10-3, 1-1) met in Evanston, Ill. and the Buckeyes used an incredible first-half defensive effort to build an 18-point lead heading into halftime en route to a 73-57 win on New Year’s Day.

Northwestern entered this contest with a 10-2 record overall and 1-0 mark in the Big Ten after taking down Michigan State in East Lansing last month 70-63. The Wildcats' two losses came in back-to-back games against Auburn and Pittsburgh.

Ohio State came into this one on a two-game winning streak after falling to North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic on December 17. The Buckeyes also have lost to San Diego State in the Maui Invitational and Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Northwestern is led by senior guards Chase Audige and Boo Buie, who have proven to be tough opponents with their ability to score and play on both ends of the floor.

The game started off with a Justice Sueing offensive rebound and put back off a Brice Sensabaugh miss. Northwestern’s Chase Audige was 0-for-3 from the field in the first minute.

The Buckeyes got off to a 14-3 start with six points from Justice Sueing and five quick rebounds from Zed Key. Tanner Holden and Sean McNeil knocked down back-to-back three-pointers as well.


With Ohio State leading 18-6 after the second media timeout, both teams went on a bit of a cold streak offensively, trading missed baskets and blocked shots. Northwestern only scored six points in the first 10 minutes of the game, putting them on a pace to finish with 24 points in the contest.

Ohio State took a 22-6 lead after four straight points from Zed Key. The Buckeyes then rattled off a 12-0 run to take a 34-8 lead, including an emphatic dunk by Eugene Brown in his second game of the season after being in concussion protocol most of the season.


Northwestern cut the Buckeye lead to 21 after a Ty Berry three-pointer made the score 34-13, forcing a Buckeye timeout with two minutes left in the first half.

Sparked off the bench by Brooks Barnhizer, the Wildcats finished the first half on a small run, cutting the Ohio State lead to 35-17 at the half. This was the fewest points scored in the first half all season by the Wildcats.


The Buckeyes were led in the first half by Justice Sueing and Sean McNeil, who both had 11 points. Sueing also had four rebounds and Zed Key had six points and four rebounds. Roddy Gayle had four rebounds in six minutes.

To start the second half, Sean McNeil made a free throw off a flop warning from Ty Berry, and then Brice Sensabaugh knocked down a mid-range jumper to give the Buckeyes a 38-17 lead.

Sean McNeil knocked down another three-pointer to give him 15 points and up the Buckeye lead to 24 points.


A Zed Key dunk and a three from Brice Sensabaugh forced a Chris Collins timeout and the Buckeyes led the Wildcats 46-18 with 15 minutes left in the game.

The Wildcats struggled from the free throw line and three-point line, shooting just 10-for-17 on free throws and 9-for-31 on three-pointers.

After a Ty Berry three-point play, the Buckeyes lead 52-30 out of the under-12-minute media timeout.

The Buckeyes did a good job of answering every Wildcat run with a run of their own, pushing the lead to 26 and leading 56-30 with eight minutes left in the game.

Northwestern then went on a 10-2 run to force a Buckeye timeout with just under five minutes remaining in the game and the score 63-47 Ohio State.

After Northwestern made it 63-49 to give a little bit of hope, Brice Sensabaugh recorded five straight points to officially shut the door on the Wildcats.

Chase Audige had 16 points and Boo Buie had 10 points for the Wildcats.

For Ohio State, four Buckeyes finished in double digits. Brice Sensabaugh had 18 points, Sean McNeil had 15 points, Justice Sueing had 13 points and Zed Key had his fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Phenomenal freshman


Freshman forward Brice Sensabaugh came into this one as a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Sensabaugh scored a team-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc. He also pulled down a game-high seven rebounds and dished out a career-high seven assists.

Sensabaugh earned his first weekly honor after scoring a team-high 22 points – including the go-ahead jumper with three seconds remaining in the second half – in the Buckeyes’ 89-84 overtime loss to North Carolina at Madison Square Garden.

The best ability is availability


For the second straight game, the Buckeyes had their full roster available to use. According to the Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy, the last time the Buckeyes had a full roster at their disposal was March 24, 2019 in the second round of the NCAA tournament in what was a 74-59 loss to the three-seeded Houston Cougars.

Battle of styles


Some of the best games are the ones with good on good. Coming into this contest, that is exactly what this was.

Ohio State came into the game second in the conference in points per game and second in the conference in field goal percentage. Northwestern came into this one second in the conference in points allowed and first in the conference in opponent field goal percentage.

The return of Ice


Right after the first media timeout, senior transfer guard Isaac “Ice” Likekele entered the game for the first time. Likekele started alongside freshman Bruce Thornton in the Buckeyes' first eight games, but missed three games with a personal matter and only played in nine minutes against Alabama A&M in his return to the team.

In this one, he came off the bench but seemed to have no real minutes restriction to start the new year.

All Boo Buie to start


The Wildcats struggled immensely in the first 15 minutes of the game, with Ohio State leading 31-8. Northwestern senior guard Boo Buie had the first six points of the game, knocking down two three-pointers as the first field goals. Buie came into the contest averaging 14.2 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, and 4.3 assists per game.

All the freshman


With 11:13 left in the first quarter, the Buckeyes had four freshmen on the floor at the same time. Bruce Thornton, Brice Sensabaugh, Roddy Gayle, and Felix Okpara were all in the game with Isaac Likekele which marked the first time that all four freshmen shared the floor in the 2023 calendar year.

Up Next


The Buckeyes have a tough test coming up next as the No. 1 team in the country, the Purdue Boilermakers are 13-0 overall and 2-0 in conference. The Buckeyes take on Purdue on Thursday, January 5th at 7:00 p.m. on FS1.

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Didn't see a game thread so here goes. Bucks up 2-0

LGHL Uncut Podcast: McGuff and guards Harris, Bristow on women’s basketball win over Michigan
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ben Cole - Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State earned a New Year’s Eve win against their rivals, and they talked about it after the game

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


Before the clock struck midnight, and the 2022 calendar flipped to 2023, the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team fought for 40 minutes to beat the Michigan Wolverines.

Following the Scarlet & Gray’s 66-57 victory, head coach Kevin McGuff and guards Rikki Harris and Hevynne Bristow spoke with the media. They covered a wide range of topics after snapping a three-game losing streak to the Wolverines.

Coach McGuff started off by talking about the game as a whole. Specifically, how the game didn’t go exactly as planned, adjustments made in the first quarter, and how having both programs at the top of their game helps the conference.

After McGuff’s turn, Harris and Bristow addressed the media together. In their joint press conference, the two guards had a lot to say about the Wolverines. Specifically that the Michigan defense isn’t the toughest one they’ve faced this season, how it was just another win for the team, and how the officiating in the game turned it into a much more emotional contest.

Also, Bristow talks about her big game, leading Ohio State in the second half in important, game-changing, plays. The guard started the season mostly on the bench but has found her spot in the rotation with injuries at the guard position.


Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com

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Game Gallery: An up-close look at Ohio State women’s New Year’s Eve win over Michigan
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ben Cole - Land-Grant Holy Land

Sights from the Buckeyes’ big rivalry win at the Covelli Center.

The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team had a tall task to end the 2022 calendar year; end a three-game losing streak against the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines.

In a game that featured three lead changes and both Big Ten teams making impressive runs to balloon and deflate leads. Photographer Ben Come captured the action from under the baskets exclusively for Land-Grant Holy Land as the Scarlet and Gray defeated their rivals 66-57.

Here’s what happened on the court, from inside the Covelli Center.

Connect with Ben Cole:


Instagram: @BenColeImaging
Twitter: @BenColeImaging

Website: www.bencoleimaging.com

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You’re Nuts: What is Ohio State men’s basketball’s most important game in January?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

Of Ohio State’s next three games, two are on the road and the third is at home against the No. 1 team in the country.

The Bucketheads Connor Lemons and Justin Golba are back for another week and another iteration of the “You’re Nuts” series, where they debate a topic related to Ohio State men’s basketball or college basketball at large.

As always, a quick reminder to check out the latest episode of “Bucketheads,” as well as last week’s “You’re Nuts” to catch up on what we debated last time out.


Last week, we talked about which former Chris Holtmann player would best fit on the current team. Connor said Malaki Branham, and Justin said Kieta Bates-Diop. The results favored Bates-Diop, as Justin got 60 percent of the votes.



Here are the updated standings after 81 weeks.

After 81 weeks:

Justin- 35
Connor- 33
Other- 9

(There have been four ties)


This week, we are doing a little January preview. Let’s get into it.

This week’s question: What is Ohio State’s most important game in January?

Connor: Jan. 15 at Rutgers

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State stole a win from Rutgers in Columbus on Dec. 8, as Tanner Holden’s game-winning shot at the buzzer should not have counted, per the Big Ten conference the very next day. It was a slow, physical game that ended up only reaching the 60s, with the Buckeyes coming out on top 67-66 in the end.

Rutgers outplayed Ohio State in most facets of that game save for rebounds, and the Buckeyes had multiple chances to take the lead or win the game in the closing seconds prior to the Holden shot and failed to do so. Neither Steve Pikiell nor his players (that I saw) complained about the non-call at the end or blamed the loss solely on that call, but the fan base sure did after the game.


Some in the fanbase went so far as to request the game be ruled a “no contest” by the NCAA when reviewing NCAA Tournament resumes come March. After the B1G put out the statement saying Holden shouldn’t have been able to touch the ball on the final possession, some Rutgers fans asked “that’s nice, but what about the loss?” Now that there’s been time for Rutgers players and coaching staff to review that tape and realize they got jobbed, they are no doubt waiting for an opportunity to make things right and really lay a pounding on the Buckeyes at the RAC on the 15th.

Rutgers is 8-1 this season at home, and over the past several years has had one of the best — if not the best — home-court advantages in the Big Ten. The RAC (now known as Jersey Mike’s Arena) is a small venue that holds 8,000 angry New Jerseyans. It’s a hot, loud, tin can of an arena that goes up high on each side and traps the sound inside. Rutgers has picked up the nickname “The Ranked Reaper” in recent years based on their reputation for knocking off highly ranked teams at home.

Ohio State won’t be highly ranked in two weeks, but they could take a 4-1 or 5-0 record in Big Ten play into that game if the cards fall right, with a very winnable game against Nebraska right after. For all intents and purposes, winning this game on the road is a huge stepping stone for an Ohio State team looking to win its first Big Ten title in 11 years.

Plus, Ohio State only has a 39.5% chance to win the game at Rutgers according to ESPN’s basketball power index, compared to a 65.2% chance to beat No. 1 Purdue at home next week. Simply put, the Rutgers game is a bigger challenge.

Justin: Jan. 5 vs. Purdue

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

I genuinely am not sure if I have ever held the lead in this series, so this is a good feeling to have. Plus, I like my chances in this one.

It is always a big deal when Purdue and Matt Painter come to town because of how good they always are, but this one has a little more juice to it since Purdue has moved their way all the way to No. 1 in the country. Now, the Boilermakers come to Columbus.

The only Purdue game before the 5th is Rutgers at home, so they will likely still be undefeated. Even if they lose that game, they will still be No. 1 in the country because that game is on Monday and a new AP Poll won’t have been released yet.

The Boilers proved they were legit after beating Duke and Gonzaga handedly in back-to-back games in November, and they shot up to No. 5 in the AP Poll from No. 24.

Purdue is led by junior big man Zach Edey, who is averaging 22.6 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. Freshman guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith are averaging 12.8 and 9.3 points per game, respectively. Sophomore Caleb Furst is averaging 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Purdue is incredibly deep and has some great playmakers to complement Edey, who would be the National Player of the Year if the season ended today. Ohio State has had some success under Chris Holtmann in Columbus against No. 1-ranked teams, beating Michigan State and Duke in recent years. They will have a tall task (literally) on the fifth to see if they can do it for a third time.

And I cannot wait.

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I hate blaming a loss on play calling and officiating because the vast majority of games are won and lost as a result of what the players do on the field. Yet here I am this morning blaming both because both were so bad (at least at critical moments of the game).

1. For the umpteenth time on this website, the job of the replay official is NOT to get the call right. The job of the replay official is to overturn, and I quote, with emphasis in the original, "only those plays where the absolute standard of indisputable video evidence is met." If the replay official has to go frame-by-frame and draw a single pixel red line on the screen, then it should be obvious that the absolute standard of "indisputable video evidence" (again, their bold type, not mine) has emphatically not been met. The officials who are actually on the field are still supposed to make the tough calls; the replay official is there to make easy calls that the crew on the field obviously missed.

But no, not when Ohio State is involved in a playoff game. Then the replay officials are given free rein, with little or no video evidence to support their decisions; or worse yet, with clear video evidence that actually goes contrary to their decisions; to create phantom targeting calls, overturn obvious targeting calls, render scoop-and-score fumbles into incomplete passes, and turn fourth down failures into first down successes. Ah, the miracles of modern technology! Ah, the obvious conflict of interest having the video feeds controlled by the network that has a rooting interest in one of the teams! Now, I would never accuse ESPN of fixing games through the replay booth, but it is an undeniable fact that an inordinate amount of replay calls in playoff games have gone in favor of schools from conferences that have television deals with the folks in Bristol. Must be one of them coincidences....

2. In this game, the first of the replay shenanigans was the overturning of a targeting call on Georgia. Why did the official on the field call targeting? Perhaps because the Bulldog player lowered his helmet, ran full speed into a defenseless player who had already dropped the pass and was out-of-bounds, launched himself into said defenseless player, hit said defenseless player with forcible contact to the head and neck area using the crown of his lowered helmet, and in fact caused said defenseless player to suffer a concussion that prevented said defenseless player from returning to the game. Pretty clear case of targeting, no? Well, apparently not, because the replay official supposedly saw some angle at some slowed down speed with some pixel-thin red line added by some miraculous video technology, all provided courtesy of ESPN, which showed that the targetor actually hit the targetee a millimeter or two below the "head and neck area". The verdict from the star chamber: Clean hit, no ejection, no penalty, replay wins again! What we all saw was a dirty hit with intent to injure that is exactly the kind of bullshit play that the targeting rule was specifically designed to eliminate from the game:

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What were the consequences of the replay official not only exceeding his authority (the absolute standard of indisputable video evidence), but actually using his authority to contradict the indisputable video evidence that we all saw, and can see again and again in the footage above? If the targeting call stands, then Ohio State has first-and-goal from the 3-yard line with a chance to go gain a nearly insurmountable 18-point lead in the fourth quarter. Instead, Ohio State has to settle for the field goal and a 14-point lead that obviously was not insurmountable. Now, it is quite possible that Ohio State would not have scored a touchdown with first-and-goal from the 3-yard line (anyone remember Clemson 2019?). Hell, CJ Stroud might have thrown a pick six on the very next play, so maybe the replay official did Buckeye Nation a huge solid by overturning that obvious targeting call. Maybe the Buckeye offense does score a touchdown to go up 18, but the Buckeye defense has shown that no lead is insurmountable. That's why one bad call, by a coach or referee, rarely changes the outcome of a game. With that being said, the replay official's overturning of this targeting call was pretty egregious and definitely had an impact on the outcome of the game.

The insult to injury? Said defenseless player was none other than Marvin Harrison, Jr, arguably Ohio State's best player. Of course, Harrison was out for the rest of the game regardless of the ultimate ruling on targeting, but a penalty with an ejection would have been a momentum builder for Ohio State and would have at least somewhat negatively impacted Georgia's defense - not exactly an eye for an eye, more like a tooth for an eye, but some retribution is still better than none.

2. The second controversial replay overturn happened on Georgia's next drive. Facing 4th-and-6 from the Ohio State 13-yard line, the Bulldogs eschewed the field goal and went for the first down. Georgia completed the pass but the receiver was pushed out of bounds short of the first down marker, so Ohio State gets the ball back up 14 points with 11 minutes left in the 4th quarter and a chance to ice the game. Not so fast my friends.... The little scientists up in the replay booth have to review the play millimeter by millimeter, nanosecond by nanosecond, drawing pixel-thin red lines on super-zoomed images to create indisputable video evidence that the Bulldog receiver actually got the first down. Deus ex machina! Another replay miracle is born unto us! Although the point differential from the targeting call is purely speculative, we do know that this replay meddling did in fact give Georgia three points because the Bulldogs did in fact kick a field goal after the replay booth granted them a second chance on that drive, three points that turned out to be (but really should not have been) the difference in the game. Again, Ohio State might not have won the game if the original call had stood - I will never again underestimate Ryan Day's capacity for melting down in big games - but taking those three points off the board would have been huge both in terms of the actual score and the momentum of the contest.

3. With the replay officials so obviously affecting the outcome of the game, the on-field officials apparently believed that they had to make their presence felt as well, because on Ohio State's ensuing drive they made a call that cost the Buckeyes a first down and killed whatever momentum remained after the previous hosings. Facing 4th-and-1 from their own 34-yard line, Ryan Day (credit to him here) whipped out his big swinging dick and called for a fake punt, a fake punt that worked to perfection and gained a Buckeye first down. But wait! Did I hear something? Was it Kirby Smart calling a time out? Oh, it must have been! Let's blow the whistle and call the play dead ... three seconds after the Buckeyes gained the first down. Even SEC honk Chris Fowler (undoubtedly chortling under his breath) had to admit that Smart's time out was called "with a nanosecond to spare." Of course, that nanosecond could not be reviewed by the replay officials who'd already proved themselves so very adept at analyzing the game nanosecond by nanosecond. No, that call had to stand and Ohio State had to have its best play of the game - and possibly the deciding play of the game - negated by more official shenanigans.

Of course, the time out didn't prevent Ryan Day from trying another fake punt, or from lining up and going for it on fourth down, or from making a sensible defensive call on the very next play after the punt (a 76-yard TD pass by Georgia), so I can't really say with absolutely certainty that the officials cost Ohio State the game. But I know that they did.

4. The officiating crew definitely dealt Ryan Day a bad hand in the fourth quarter of yesterday's game, but the Buckeyes still had a 14-point lead after the first screw job (the targeting call), and an 11-point lead with under nine minutes left in the game after the third screw job (the phantom time out). Even after that gangbanging, the Buckeyes still should have won the game. So why didn't they? After the phantom time out, Ryan Day elected the conventional option and punted the ball away. While success on 4th-and-1 would have given the Buckeyes a huge and sorely needed momentum boost and could have sealed the victory, failure could have led to disaster. So punting was the sensible move, the move best designed to preserve the remaining momentum and avoid potential disaster. Except for one little thing - Ryan Day's hand-picked defensive coordinator doesn't make sensible calls and likes to flirt with disaster. After a decent but not great 42-yard punt was fair caught at the Georgia 24-yard line, the Bulldogs needed just one play and 10 seconds to go 76 yards for the touchdown; add in a 2-point conversion and it's a 3-point game with 8:41 left on the clock. The punt was the safe play, the Tresselball move. At that point of the game, your defense doesn't need a "stop", it just needs a "slow". Go prevent, play zone, keep everything in front of you, make them go 76 yards in 10 plays, increase their chances of a fumble, an interception, a sack, a holding penalty (LOL), or something negative that will kill their drive. At least make them chew up four or five minutes of clock to get their six or seven or eight points. But no, the Riverboat Gambler up in the booth wants to go man-free with his worst cover guy (Lathan Ransom) on their fastest receiver (Arian Smith), and it's yet another busted coverage leading to yet another huge scoring play for the opposition. As someone (I believe @NFBuck) said after the Michigan game, it seems like Ryan Day is calling offense for a Big Ten slugfest and Jim Knowles is calling defense for a Big Twelve shootout. It simply makes no sense to follow up a conservative and "correct" call (a punt) with a risky and "incorrect" call (man-free defense), especially against the defending national champion and current number one team in the country in their "home" stadium with a Heisman finalist quarterback when you've got the 11-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. It was a stupid call by Jim Knowles and it backfired in spectacular fashion, as many of his other similarly stupid calls have similarly backfired in similarly spectacular fashion. But I blame Ryan Day for that fiasco. Last time I checked, Day is the head coach of the entire team. In that situation, Day needs to call up to the booth and tell his DC that we're not taking any chances, we're going exclusively zone, and we're playing conservative at least until this becomes a one-score game.

5. Ryan Day deserves some blame for his offensive play calling as well. While Day did a beautiful job for most of the game, his play calling became questionable down the stretch. For some reason, in pressure situations Day seems to call plays that have the least chance of success, like he's countering his counters to his counter-tendencies in some 4-D chess game while the other team is simply playing checkers. For example: With about four minutes left in the game, Ohio State had the ball second-and-five at the Georgia 18-yard line nursing a three-point lead. CJ Stroud has been dissecting the Georgia defense all game with designed roll outs and quick throws, and he's uncharacteristically been gaining significant yardage on undesigned scrambles. So what does Ryan Day do? He calls a play that has already failed at least three times this game - he runs jet motion with the WR going behind the QB (maybe it should be called spaceship motion because the WR has taken himself so far out of the play), and Stroud then fakes to the RB and the WR which not only is slow developing but also causes him to take his eyes off the defense not once but twice before looking for his receivers downfield (one of whom, spaceman, is decidedly not downfield because he's still five yards behind the line of scrimmage). While the previous iterations of this unfortunate play resulted in little or no gain on outlet passes to the spaceman, this time Georgia sniffed out the play (pretty easy to do with that ridiculous pre-snap motion), blitzed Stroud, got a sack about a nanosecond (the vocab word of the day) after his second fake, and turned this "safe" play into a 12-yard loss. This turn of events put Ohio State into a difficult if not quite impossible 3rd-and-17, and the Buckeyes were actually pretty lucky to come away with three points on a 48-yard field goal.

But remember, Ohio State was "nursing" a three-point lead, which perhaps is the real problem here. Maybe Ryan Day in particular, and head coaches in general, should not look to nurse leads but to sweep legs. Maybe the smart call in that situation was to let your superstar quarterback, who has been spectacular all game with both his arms and his legs, make a career-defining play, perhaps even the potentially game-clinching touchdown. Is this contrary to what I just said about Riverboat Gambler Knowles calling a balls out blitz up 11-points? Maybe, but there is a fairly large grey area between too much risk and too little risk, and the two situations were entirely different. In the first, Ohio State was up eleven points with under nine minutes left in the game and Georgia needed a touchdown, a two-point conversion, and a field goal (essentially three scores) to tie the game; that's when you go conservative and make the other team work for their points. In the second, Ohio State was up only three points with four minutes left in the game, so a field goal was going to do little or no good, especially with the Buckeye defense leaking like a sieve; that's when you take the risk because both a field goal (good result) and an interception (bad result) leave you with a just a one-score lead, so why not try for the knockout blow by throwing into the end zone at least once? And who better to deliver that knockout blow than CJ Stroud?

Well, perhaps Stetson Bennett IV would be better to deliver that knockout blow. Because Ryan Day did make a low-risk, low-reward call that didn't let his Heisman finalist quarterback make a play with either his arm or his feet, that backfired spectacularly, and that resulted in an utterly meaningless three points, and that decision gave the other guy's Heisman finalist quarterback the chance to have his career-defining moment. And define that moment, he did. Down 41-35 with just 2:36 left in the game, Bennett drove his team 72 yards in 5 plays (all pass completions) for the go-ahead score.

The only problem with Bennett's drive is that he left too much time on the clock, and the Buckeyes still had 54 seconds and two time outs to gain the 50 or so yards necessary to get into field goal range. And CJ Stroud did what a Heisman finalist quarterback is supposed to do in such situations - he drove the team 44 yards in 30 seconds without using a single time out. Then Ryan Day got weird. Instead of letting his superstar quarterback do superstar things, he took the ball out of his hands and gave it to fourth-string running back Dallan Hayden on outside zone to the short side of the field and the weak side of the formation (Day's security blanket play, which he dialed up after a Georgia time out that gave him the chance to overthink his decision, but which he somehow make worse by running away from his strength); Hayden proceeded to lose one yard, Ohio State was forced to call a time out, and you could see the Buckeyes' momentum completely blowing away in the air conditioning of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Then a slant (nice call) to Xavier Johnson (not the best option) that fell incomplete, followed by some sort of abomination that had Stroud running for his life back to nearly midfield before heaving the ball out of bounds to save any chance for the game-winning 50-yard field goal attempt. As you might imagine, the attempt was missed because college kickers aren't really adept at kicking 50-yard field goals, especially with the game, the season, and the national championship on the line. If Ryan Day had called some better plays that had gained ten yards, would Noah Ruggles have necessarily connected and won the game? Of course, we have no way of knowing what would have happened, and I'm sure that we all remember Tyler Durbin missing from 37 and 21 yards in similar but not quite so high pressure situations against Michigan in 2016, but Day's play calling in those most crucial moments of the game did not give his kicker the best opportunity for success.

6. Let's talk about Ryan Day for a minute. His overall record at Ohio State is now 45-6 (.882 winning percentage). Those are great numbers, but I don't care. Day gets no credit for beating Arkansas State and Toledo and Tulsa and Akron and the bottom feeders of the Big Ten. Hell, I could beat those teams with Ryan Day's roster and Jim Bollman's playbook. In big games (that would be Michigan and bowl games, for those of you who might still be unaware), Ryan Day now has a record of 3-5 overall (.375 winning percentage), with a 1-2 record against Michigan, and a 2-3 record in bowl games. This is not John Cooper territory, at least not quite, at least not yet. It's more like post-1968 Woody Hayes territory, when the team went 88-20-3 (.806 winning percentage, with no MAC/Sunbelt patsies to fatten the record), but Hayes had losing records against Michigan (4-5-1) and in bowl games (2-6); went 0-5 in de facto national championship games (1969; 1970; 1972; 1974; and 1975); and got destroyed in back-to-back games against two of his legendary peers in the terminal phase of his career (Bear Bryant, 35-6, in the 1978 Sugar Bowl; Joe Paterno, 19-0, in the 1978 season opener). Where Day veers into Cooper territory is how he has lost his big games: Blowing a 16-point lead to Clemson in 2019; blowing a 14-point lead to Georgia in 2022; and getting outscored 56-17 in the second halves of the two Michigan losses.

Yesterday was Ryan Day's chance for redemption after his second straight Wolverine beat down - hang onto a 14-point fourth quarter lead, defeat the #1 team in the country, then head out to SoCal to play a heavy underdog TCU in the title game. It was easy money, a lock, a lead pipe cinch....



7. Now to end on a positive note. I have never been a particular fan of CJ Stroud, who has always seemed mechanical and robotic and lacking the dynamic "IT" factor that subjectively, almost irrationally, defines greatness (I know it when I see it). My particular complaints about Stroud have been his lack of pocket presence (with tendencies to retreat, turn his back to the defense, and bail out to his left) and his unwillingness to run (not on designed runs, at which he is not good, but on scrambles when he has a clear open field ahead on him). Well, yesterday Stroud exhibited (possibly for the first time in his career) consistently excellent pocket presence, stepping up or rolling to his right (strong hand) while keeping his eyes down field and ignoring pressure in his face. This allowed Stroud to keep several plays alive that could otherwise have died on the vine, and further it allowed him to see running lanes that opened up as the pocket collapsed. Stroud made several nice completions from an unclean pocket and when there were no open receivers he had the presence of mind (and yes, the moxie) to take off running (6 scrambles for 67 yards). Through the air, Stroud was 23 of 34 for 348 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions, against a defense that had the reputation for being the best in college football. After two years of waiting, with a few glimpses and flashes along the way, Stroud finally looked like a potential #1 overall draft pick. Best of luck to him in The League.

Stroud's receiving corps did a fine job, as you might expect: Marvin Harrison Jr (5 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TDs); Emeka Egbuka (8 receptions, 112 yards, TD); Julian Fleming (5 receptions, 71 yards); and Xavier Johnson (3 receptions, 43 yards, TD; also 6 rushes, 28 yards).

Game Notes: No. 3 Ohio State women’s basketball downs No. 14 Michigan in hard-fought victory
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ben Cole - Land-Grant Holy Land

The Buckeyes were the tougher side against a formidable Wolverines side.

The Ohio State women’s basketball team ended the 2022 calendar like the 2022/23 season began — beating a ranked team. This time around it was the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines, a team themselves who’ve amassed an impressive season in the first two months of the campaign. Even so, the Scarlet & Gray picked up their fourth win against a ranked team in a 66-57 defeat of their rivals.

Here’s what set Ohio State apart.

The Tougher Team


After the game, head coach Kevin McGuff was clear with his team.

“I thought we showed a lot of toughness with our press, continuing to press and I think it kinda wore on them a little bit,” said McGuff.

At the start of the fourth quarter though, with Ohio State’s 16-point third-quarter lead shrunk down to only nine points, it looked like Michigan was on its way to a road win. The Wolverines went on a seven-point run and sat only two points down.

With Ohio State’s lead cut to one possession, enter guard Hevynne Bristow. Receiving more minutes due to two injuries at point guard, Bristow received a pass near the top of the key, and Euro-stepped her away through the lane, hitting the layup.

Then, on the Michigan inbound, who was it creating a turnover for Ohio State? Bristow, of course. The New York City native won the possession, with help from teammates to create the bad Michigan pass, and found guard Taylor Mikesell near the basket for an eventual foul and two made free throws.

Within 20 seconds, Bristow helped turn a two-point lead into six points and Ohio State took it from there. The Buckeyes went on an eight-point run, capped off with forward Rebeka Mikulášiková’s only points of the night — a three to put the home team back up double-digits.

Bristow had eight points, four rebounds, and three steals on the day. They came at pivotal moments in the Buckeyes' win and earned her a second dub chain of the season.

Turnovers


For anyone who’s new to the Buckeyes women’s basketball team, the Wolverines out-rebounding the Buckeyes 45-33 is alarming. For anyone who’s watched this team over the past two seasons, it’s another example of sacrificing rebounds for wins.

The way Ohio State does it is through its pressing defense. For the 14th time in 15 games, the Scarlet and Gray grabbed over 20 rebounds. Saturday it was 27, causing fits for the Michigan Wolverines. Only two of the Buckeyes’ eight players who saw minutes didn’t grab a steal, with three grabbing three steals apiece.

Ohio State made a well-disciplined Michigan side turn the ball over five times in the fourth quarter. While they didn’t always turn into points for the Buckeyes, it was part of another goal of the Scarlet and Gray’s press.

“I didn’t know how many times we’d turn them over but I knew that could be a big part of our strategy,” said McGuff. “Even if it wasn’t turning them over, kind of wear on them with our pressure and our full court style.”

It had its intended effect. Wolverines guard Leigha Brown, a leader on offense and defense, committed eight turnovers and scored eight points on the day after averaging 15.3 entering Saturday. The only other game this season where Brown scored less than 10 points in a start was Michigan’s other loss, in a 71-68 defeat to the Toledo Rockets of the MAC.

Season Low in Scoring


Before Saturday, Ohio State averaged 88.8 points per game. Seeing the 66-point game is a shock initially, but it points back to how gritty of a game it was at the Covelli Center.

It was Big Ten basketball featuring two of the best in the conference. Michigan also entered the game-holding teams to the lowest points per game in the Big Ten with 57.2. After the game, guards Rikki Harris and Hevynne Bristow were asked if Michigan has the best defense they’ve faced this season.

“No, I feel like we’ve played good defenses against all teams at different points in different games, so not really,” said Harris. “Their defense wasn’t bad, it was good.”

Clearly not overly impressed by the Maize and Blue, but Harris has a point. Look at the first quarter for the Buckeyes, where they scored a game low nine points compared to the other three quarters.

It wasn’t necessarily because of a stout Michigan half-court defense. A lot of the errors were self-inflicted. The Buckeyes began the game missing their first five shots — and some of those from open looks.

“They’ll force you into some tough shots early and we were doing that too much,” said McGuff. “So, I think once we got past the first quarter, our ball movement and execution got way better and we generated a lot better shots.”

Once Ohio State moved the ball more before taking their chances, the scoring improved greatly. The Buckeyes scored 57 points after the first quarter, showing that the Wolverines' defense could be broken down.

“I don’t think it was the toughest defense either,” said Bristow. “I just think they executed well but we executed better. Good defense, better offense.”

Next Buckeye Up


With the obvious weakness of being down two starting point guards, it still hasn’t turned into a Buckeyes loss. After Harris stepped into the point guard position with less than 24 hours till a game against a ranked Oregon Ducks side, Ohio State’s continued their unbeaten run to match their program record.

In that run was of course Saturday’s rivalry win. Bristow’s night was great, and Harris followed suit. The Indiana-raised guard scored 14 points, and added three rebounds and three assists. It was Harris’ best scoring night of the season, and Ohio State needed it.

Harris came out of halftime and got the Buckeyes going early, hitting a layup and subsequent shot from the foul line. In the fourth, Harris led the Buckeyes with five points — all from the free throw line — as she continued to attack the paint.

Then, going in for another layup, Harris drew multiple defenders so she had the awareness to dish back to forward Rebeka Mikulášiková for an open three. It was the shot that took. the air out of the Wolverines' comeback.


The guard wasn't alone either. Substitute guard Emma Shumate played more minutes in big moments and created a highlight reel three at the halftime buzzer.


What made the shot even more impressive is that it came after Shumate had a difficult time scoring, missing three layups in a row under the rim. It showed that the Newark, Ohio guard wasn’t phased by the early difficulties and instead showed why Coach McGuff got her to transfer to Ohio State.

Fellow substitute Bristow isn’t surprised by any of these performances.

“It just shows to prove what a good team we are because we’re down two starters and everybody next up is ready still,” said Bristow. “So, one through 15, we’ll be ready.”

Rivalry Heightened


After the game, Harris was coy in saying that it was “just a win”. It looked and felt like anything but “just a win” on the court.

Throughout the game, the emotional reactions to bigger baskets were more than in a usual Buckeyes victory. Forward Cotie McMahon and Mikesell each showed on their faces that it was a game that was more important than others.

In the fourth quarter, after fouling out herself, McMahon jumped to her feet and waved goodbye to Michigan’s Brown after she joined McMahon on the stat sheet in earning five fouls.

Also, Wolverine players were dishing their fair share of trash talk from the bench throughout the 40 minutes. It all adds to a rivalry that, until recent history, Ohio State’s dominated.

With Ohio State’s win, they move to 58-16 against the Maize & Blue. The win also ended a three-game winning streak for Michigan, tied for their longest win streak in the series that dates back to 1978.

The back-and-forth results are good for the rivalry, and the conference overall.

“It’s a great rivalry because we’ve both got great programs, that’s probably the way it should be,” said McGuff. “I think it makes it a lot more exciting when both programs are good and right now both programs are operating at a high level and I think it will continue to be a very tense rivalry.”

There’s not a long wait for the two programs to create another chapter in the rivalry. Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor, Michigan on Feb. 20. After Saturday’s win, Michigan has a good chunk of new motivation to add to their locker room board.

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Buckeye Stock Market Report: So close, yet it wasn’t meant to be
David M Wheeler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Buckeyes and Bulldogs battle in a playoff game to remember – and to relive over and over

After each Ohio State game during the 2022 football season, LGHL will offer its market analysis of the Buckeyes’ performance. Using a standard bond rating system, we’ll evaluate the offense, the defense, and the special teams, according to this formula:

AA: Very Strong
A: Strong
BBB: Adequate
BB: Facing Major Uncertainty

Then, we’ll take a look at any individual players whose performance stood out (in one way or another!) and assign them a stock rating: Blue Chip, Solid Performance, Penny Stock (akin to a junk bond, dangerously high risk).

Quick Overview


Ohio State entered the playoffs with the sting, the embarrassment of the Michigan loss still fresh enough to raise questions about whether they belonged, whether they’d even be able to play with Georgia. Well, the questions were answered last night. The Buckeyes did belong, and they certainly could play with the Bulldogs. They didn’t get blown out, as they did in the second half against Michigan. They didn’t get beaten physically on the lines of scrimmage. But, as they did against the Wolverines in the second half, they did give up big, explosive plays that finally spelled their doom.

The Buckeyes put up a touchdown on their second position, and, except for a short spell at the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, when the score was tied 7-7, they led the whole game. Until they didn’t at the very end.

Ryan Day’s team was considerably more aggressive. There was no attempt “to establish the running game.” Nobody had run on Georgia all year. No, the Bucks’ strength was the passing arm of C.J. Stroud, and they would take their chances with that. It worked. At intermission, with OSU ahead 28-24, Stroud had thrown for 238 yards and three touchdowns.

The Buckeyes owned the third quarter, scoring 10 more points and shutting out the Dogs. Especially notable was that the Buckeyes had shut down Georgia’s vaunted running attack. But in the fourth quarter, we saw why Stetson Bennett was a Heisman finalist, why he doesn’t lose many games. Time and again, his receivers burned the Buckeye secondary, and he hit them in stride with deadly accuracy.

All season Stroud had to make do without key players at times: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, and even Evan Prior. Last night two more weapons from his offensive arsenal were removed, as Cade Stover went down and Marvin Harrison, Jr. followed him at the beginning of the fourth quarter. It was all Stroud. As the Bulldogs disrupted the Buckeye passing game with a vicious blitzing rush, Stroud started to scramble, determined to win the game by himself, if he had to. And until the final three seconds, I thought that he would.

We’ll remember this game for a long time. So close. With a game like this one, there are individual plays that stand out – difference makers. There were the key injuries, of course. And then the two reversed calls that went against the Buckeyes. The targeting that put Harrison, Jr. on the sidelines. The fourth down attempt that upon review gave the Dawgs a first and goal. The illegal motion call against Mitch Rossi that negated a converted Buckeye fourth down and forced a punt. The shrewd time-out called by Kirby Smart that canceled a successful OSU fake punt. The successful two-point conversion. And — yes — the missed 50-yard field goal attempt at the very end. Had any one of these plays gone differently, the outcome probably would have been reversed.

Offense


Overall rating: A Strong

For the past several years the Georgia Bulldogs have been defensive giants. Opponents can’t run against them, can’t score. This year, however, they were somewhat vulnerable to the pass. Ryan Day and Stroud exploited this “weakness” for 348 yards and four passing TDs. The Dawgs couldn’t cover Harrison, Emeka Egbuka, or Julian Fleming one-on-one. They were continually open, as the offensive line provided good protection, and Stroud burned them.

Once Stroud began to run, even the running game opened up a bit, as the Bucks accumulated 119 net rushing yards (there were four sacks). In the fourth quarter, though, Smart changed strategies, and rather than guard against the big play, he started blitzing. The Buckeye line broke down, and Stroud was on the run. Ohio State managed only three points in the final frame, and Georgia got 18.

467 total yards, 41 points, and control of most of the game was a valiant offensive effort against the likes of the Georgia Bulldogs. But not quite good enough. The opportunities were there, and that’s what makes this loss such a bitter one.

Defense


Overall rating: BBB Adequate (i.e., good enough to win)

You might say that the defense wasn’t good enough to win. But it was. Those few, decisive plays made all of the difference. Georgia finished with only 134 rushing yards and converted only two of 10 third down attempts. Good enough to win.

But once again, the Buckeyes’ weakness all season – the defensive secondary – gave up the big plays. Cam Brown generally played pretty well. But not always. Denzel Burke had good moments. And bad. The three safeties – Ronnie Hickman, Tanner McCalister, and Lathan Ransom – had trouble keeping the speedy Bulldog receivers in check. In fact, they couldn’t do it. And the Buckeye pass rush could hurry Bennett but could rarely bring him down. He rose to the occasion in the fourth quarter and played like a champion.

Special Teams


Overall rating: BBB Adequate

The only blemish on special teams for the Buckeyes was the missed field goal that effectively ended the game. I must say, though, that was a big blemish. Noah Ruggles has played well for two seasons with the Buckeyes, and the blame can’t fall on only his shoulders. There were lots of plays, lots of chances. It didn’t have to come down to that long kick.

Individual Performances

Blue Chip


C.J. Stroud. Playing in what was, no doubt, his final game in scarlet and gray, Stroud was magnificent. He played smart. His passing was sharp. His determination to win took my breath away. Stroud finished with 23 completions in 34 passing attempts (exactly the same numbers as Bennett). That’s a fine 68% against a very rugged defense. He’ll go down as one of the great ones.

Emeka Egbuka. Harrison gets star billing for the Buckeyes, but Egbuka outplayed him in this game. He caught eight passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, and he was especially important after Harrison went down.

Steele Chambers. Chambers not only had the second-quarter interception that led to a quick Buckeye TD and a 14-point lead, but he finished with eight total tackles and was largely responsible for stymying the Bulldog runs in the second half.

Solid Performance


Marvin Harrison, Jr. Harrison, Jr. had a remarkable first half. His performance – five catches for 106 yards and two TDs – put Ohio State in command of the game. But Harrison also had a couple of rare drops, one on a slant over the middle, the other on a sideline pass. Again – little things, key plays.

Julian Fleming. Fleming had to step up, and he did. He got open, and he got yards after the catch. He gained 71 yards on his five receptions.

Zach Harrison. Harrison, probably also playing in his final collegiate game, was a strong presence in both the pass rush and the rush defense.

Penny Stock


One could probably put a couple of defensive backs in this category, but, finally, what’s the point? They played hard, and the secondary problem is perhaps more of a coaching and scheme issue than it is execution. I’m not sure.


I had said to myself before the game, “If the Bucks can somehow beat Georgia, they’ll win the national championship, and all of the problems will be forgotten.” Finally, they couldn’t quite do it. The defensive issues of giving up the big play and defending the pass, in general, will be top priorities for the off-season. And, of course, there will be a new quarterback. I guess that it’s already time to look ahead to next season.

In consolation: at least Michigan lost.

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nice to see scum lose.

heck of a game easier to deal with

To do list.
First a shout out, they showed massive heart last night.
Huge last impression for C.J. stud.
We went toe-to-toe with best team in the country in their backyard.
We ran out of guys especially on O (I’ll never get over JSN not playing).
And 3 huge 50/50 calls went against us.
Targeting on Marv, Bowers 4th down review, time out before fake punt.

Next year:
Deep dive into why we couldn’t stay healthy.
Find a legit OT in the portal (Paris & Dewand were awesome and will be impossible to replace).
Find at least 1 DB in the secondary. We went the entire year without an interception by a CB and had huge busts/tripping over themselves/getting clowned like an and one mix tape in every big game.
OT is my biggest concern.
Secondary is a concern. We aren’t seeing noticeable development. Guys didn’t take the next step.
We should be elite at RB, WR, DL, & LB (depth?).
Figure out a coherent NIL plan.
We should be damn strong but this year was there for us.

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


Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports

What better way to kick off the new year than with Big Ten hoops?

New year, new Buckeyes. The Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team is jumping into 2023 with their second Big Ten matchup of the season against Northwestern this evening.

The Buckeyes have their first true road game of the season tonight since they fell to Duke in Durham to close out November. The squad has a quick turnaround since facing Alabama A&M to wrap up the 2022 slate Thursday.

Ohio State emerged with a 90-59 win over its final non-conference foe of the season to improve to 9-3 on the season, but the game was not always that one-sided. The Buckeyes went into halftime up just 36-33 over the Bulldogs. In fact, Ohio State didn’t lead by more than seven during the opening half.

Fortunately, freshman forward Brice Sensabaugh, who’s won two-straight Big Ten freshman of the week honors, was an anchor for the Buckeyes with a team-high 21 points on the day. It was Sensabaugh’s third-straight game leading Ohio State in scoring. Senior forward Justice Sueing added 18 points while freshman guard Bruce Thorton had a dozen.

A true team effort, 12 players scored for Ohio State as fresh faces returned to the lineup, including junior guard Gene Brown and senior guard Isaac Likekele. Brown had missed the first part of the season with a concussion while Likekele was out due to personal reasons. It was the first time all thirteen scholarship players on the roster were available this season.

The Buckeyes finished the game shooting 52.5% from the field. After making just 2-of-12 three-point attempts in the first half, Ohio State surged in the second half, righting the ship from range and making 7-of-13. The Buckeyes outrebounded Alabama A&M 42-30 and had 10 turnovers to the Bulldogs’ 17. Unfortunately, Ohio State continued to struggle from the free throw line, connecting on just 17-of-29 attempts.

The performance against the Bulldogs was the tuneup the Buckeyes needed before heading into the meat of conference play — and on the road, no less. Now, Ohio State looks to take those learnings to Welsh-Ryan Arena this evening to face a surging Northwestern squad.

Preview


The Buckeyes’ opponent for this afternoon might not spark fear in your hearts by reputation (the Wildcats famously made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2017 and haven’t won a Big Ten title since 1933), but Northwestern is riding a five-game win streak and is one of the top defensive squads in the country. And according to KenPom, the Wildcats are ranked as the No. 45 team in the nation.

This season, the Wildcats are off to a hot start, especially by Northwestern basketball standards. The smallest Big Ten school already has big wins on its resume with 10 wins on the schedule so far. Notably, the Wildcats had a 15-16-overall record last season, so those 10 wins are really impressive. It’s their best start since the 2016-17 season that saw their NCAA Tournament berth.

The Wildcats, like Ohio State, are 1-0 in conference play so far this season with a W over Michigan State on the road (the Spartans were also ranked No. 20 at the time).

The claim to fame for this Wildcat squad has been its strong defensive play to open the season. Northwestern has the No. 7 scoring defense in Division I, allowing less than 56 points per game. The Wildcats are also second in the Big Ten in steals per game with 8.6 and turnover margin (+4.2). Coincidentally, all those stats put them directly behind Rutgers, who is Ohio State’s sole conference win thus far this season. One area Northwestern leads the conference in is field goal defense, with the Wildcats holding opponents under 35% shooting.

Most recently, Northwestern pulled out a 63-58 win over Brown. The Wildcats shot just 34.5% from the field (and an abysmal 19% from three-point range), but who needs offense when you have great defense? Northwestern outrebounded the Bears 38-31 and recorded nine steals on the afternoon. The Wildcats also shot 90.5% from the free-throw line.

Leading the way in scoring for Northwestern was senior guard Chase Audige, who had an impressive 24 points against the Bears. Fellow senior guard Boo Buie added 15 while junior guard Ty Berry had 12. The starting lineup anchored the Wildcats, who had just four points off the bench and just eight players seeing time on the court.

Audige leads the Wildcats in scoring this season, putting up 14.5 points per game. He’s also second in the Big Ten in steals per game with 2.6. Buie and senior forward Robbie Beran are the other players averaging in double figures for Northwestern. Once again, though, offense doesn’t seem to be a big priority for the Wildcats, who are averaging a Big Ten-worst 39% from the field and are 13th in the conference in scoring offense.

Northwestern brings one of the most experienced squads in the game. All five starters are upperclassmen and, with the exception of Audige who spent his first collegiate season at William and Mary, all have spent their collegiate careers in Evanston. All have at least three seasons playing for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats are led by head coach Chris Collins, who is in his 10th season in Evanston. He’s amassed a 143-152 overall record, including 57-113 in conference play. Before coming to Northwestern, Collins spent 13 seasons as an assistant at Duke, his alma mater, under Coach K’s tutelage. Having played high school ball in Northbrook, another north shore Chicago suburb, Collins was also Illinois Mr. Basketball in 1992.

Prediction


If we were to look at Ohio State’s schedule so far this season for a comparable matchup, Northwestern plays strong defense with a more limited offense, similar to Rutgers. Ohio State pulled out a win against the Scarlet Knights at home earlier this season, but it wasn’t easy.

Ohio State has emerged with the second-best scoring offense in the Big Ten, averaging 82 points per game. It doesn’t hurt that the Buckeyes returned to full strength before facing Alabama A&M and had that game to gel before getting back into conference play.

The added personnel seemed to help fix some of the kinks we’d seen from the Buckeyes, who’d been struggling with turnovers. Ohio State had been averaging a dozen turnovers on the season (and many more in recent games, including 16 in the loss to North Carolina), but 10 turnovers versus the Bulldogs felt a lot cleaner.

Still, the Buckeyes’ free throw shooting was just 59% Thursday. Considering Northwestern plays such tight games (and that the Wildcats simply don’t seem to miss their free throws), that could be a problem if things come down to the wire this evening.

There’s also the bit that this game will be on the road in Big Ten play, which has tended to be a massive advantage for the home team in recent seasons. Then again, Welsh-Ryan Arena is the smallest of the conference’s basketball venues and Northwestern’s average attendance for home games has been around 3,300 fans (Ohio State’s home attendance has been closer to 11,000). And we all know how Ohio State fans turn out for Northwestern vs. Ohio State football games.

Northwestern has had a better-than-expected start to the season and surprised many with a conference win over Michigan State. They’re certainly not the same Wildcats who Ohio State beat in Columbus last season. While there’s a lot of basketball left to be played (and the leaderboard will almost assuredly shift as teams enter the grind of Big Ten play), Northwestern is looking more and more like a Tournament team.

Still, Ohio State has been able to match up against similar teams, even when not at full strength. We have to believe that the Buckeyes will be a better team in conference play with the complete roster at their disposal.

Things start to get real serious for Ohio State this week. We haven’t even addressed that, hot on the heels of Northwestern, the Buckeyes return home to face No. 1 Purdue Thursday. There’s certainly no time to waste in the New Year.


ESPN BPI: Ohio State 56.2%
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: BTN

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 66, Northwestern 59

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Irrational Overreactions(?): Day should call plays like that all the time; secondary let down the rest of the team
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Also, C.J. Stroud is one of the best QBs in Ohio State history.

Ohio State fans live in the extremes, whether good or bad. As they say, we have no chill. So, I am going to give voice to those passionate opinions by running through my completely level-headed, not-at-all over-the-top, 100% unbiased takeaways from Saturday’s 42-41 defeat to the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

C.J. Stroud is one of the three best quarterbacks in Ohio State history


Throughout his time as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, C.J. Stroud has bizarrely, and unfairly, never been accepted by a certain vocal portion of the Ohio State fanbase. I’ve never been able to identify exactly why that is (although I have my suspicions), but in what will prove to be his final as a Buckeye, he showed that he absolutely belongs in the conversation for best QB in program history.

I have said since 2019 that, ultimately, that title belongs to Justin Fields, and I stand by that, but after I allow the fog of this game clear, I think there is a pretty likely chance that he slots in directly behind his predecessor. I think that OSU’s last Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith deserves to be in the discussion as well, but in the decade and a half since he played, the game and position have changed so much, that I’m not sure how to evaluate that.

J.T. Barrett might arguably have the best career of any Buckeye quarterback, but his skillset doesn’t warrant his inclusion. Terrelle Pryor might be the most physically gifted QB to ever wear the scarlet and gray, but his time beyond center (and how his career in Columbus ended) doesn’t stack up.

Obviously, I’m not counting any quarterbacks from before the invention of the forward pass, and maybe Art Schlichter or someone else I’m forgetting deserves to be in the running; but right now, it’s Justin Fields at No. 1 with C.J. Stroud — or maybe Troy Smith — at No. 2.

If Ryan Day calls plays like that all the time, the Buckeyes will never not be the best offense in the country.


I’ve been on (leading?) the Ryan-Day-Should-Give-Up-Play-Calling train for over a year now for a variety of reasons. Many of them are logistical, having to do with the other responsibilities of a head coach, not being able to fully see what the defense is doing from the sideline, and more.

But the other part of it has been that I think Ryan gets in his own way far too often to be entrusted with that specific responsibility. Whether it’s trying to prove a point about toughness, trying to play nine-dimensional chess when checkers would do, or being too stubborn, it just feels like far too often, he lets something other than the guys on the field determine if the offense plays to its potential on any given day.

Then there are games like this. Was it a perfectly called game? No, of course not; but playing the best defense in the country will do that to you. Was it miles better than what we saw most of the season, especially against Michigan? Damn straight.

So, if Day is going to keep the play-calling responsibilities (which I have resigned myself to accepting until he actually pulls the trigger) then he has to figure out how to replicate this creativity, this precision, this fun every game. No more coasting on talent, Ryan, that shit won’t fly anymore. It is not acceptable to only have games like this every few years in the playoff because you are smarting from being embarrassed.

This type of playcalling performance must be the standard, because if it is, Ohio State will never not be the best offense in the country... I mean, they already are — at least statistically — but we all know they can be so much better. Call plays like this and you will have the best players in the country wanting to be a Buckeye (even more than they already do). Call plays like this with that type of roster and you will be an absolute offensive Deathstar.

Or, you can settle for being an underachieving unit that gets by on talent because the head coach can’t be bothered to get in his bag for 95% of the games. Eventually, if you miss on a few recruits or some players don’t live up to expectations, the talent won’t be there to coast on, and it could be a precipitous fall from there.

The secondary is a major problem and I’m not sure that the current coaches are able to fix it


Let’s be 100% clear here, the Ohio State defense lost this game. Day, Stroud, and company did just about everything that you could hope that they would against the best defense in the country, but far too often, the defense got absolutely toasted. Whether it was a safety not getting deep enough or a corner not getting his hands up, despite being in position, a DB falling down, or a linebacker missing a tackle in the backfield, something stupid always seemed to happen when OSU needed a stop the most... and more often than not, that stupidity was emanating from the secondary.

I know that there are a lot of people in Buckeye Nation (and some that write for LGHL) that want to get rid of both Perry Eliano and Tim Walton (and maybe even Jim Knowles), but I’m not sure making massive coaching changes for a second year in a row helps all that much, but this has been a recurring theme for this team for quite a while — save for 2019 when Jeff Hafley was in charge,

I’ll have to go back and watch the game again (or maybe I just won’t), but I feel like the defensive line mostly played tremendous football, and I think the linebackers were mostly solid, but the safeties and corners? Woof.

Part of that is poor coaching. Part of that is poor execution (which can at least partially be attributed to poor coaching). Part of that is regular recruiting failures by pretty much every defensive coaching staff under Day.

Sure, Sonny Styles was the No. 12 player in 2022 and JK Johnson was No. 50 in 2021, but beyond those two, do you know how many DBs that have signed with Ohio State have been in the top 100? Two: Jordan Hancock was No. 73 in 2021 and Calvin Simpson-Hunt was the No. 79 player when he signed two weeks ago.

For a program that not that long ago bragged about its secondary being the “Best In America” (RIP #BIA), how is that possible? Two top-50 guys and four top-100 DBs in five classes (yes I know the 2023 cycle isn’t technically over yet); that is flat-out embarrassing.

Obviously, I don’t put all of the recruiting failures on this coaching staff, but they certainly haven’t done anything to turn the tide. But what they have done is seemingly not much to prepare the current players that they inherited to play at the requisite level to keep up with either the defensive front or the entire offense.

I would say that Lathan Ransom has had a pretty solid season but beyond that... I’m struggling to come up with anyone else in the secondary that has been consistently reliable. Whether it is cornerbacks using their athleticism to keep pace with receivers only to have their technique fail them at the point of the catch or safeties routinely overcommitting and getting burned deep, that’s as much on the coaching as it is on the players and despite their impressive resumes, I haven’t seen much that has given me confidence in Eliano or Walton (especially Walton) being able to fix that moving forward.

If they can’t figure something out, I’m afraid we are going to be subjected to seeing elite offenses and sturdy defensive fronts routinely let down by ill-prepared secondaries time and time again, and I don’t know if I can handle that.

Quick hitters


1) The targeting rule sucks. If the rule is designed to protect defenseless players and yet it doesn’t protect defenseless players, fix the rule.

2) I think not having Jaxon Smith-Njigba or TreVeyeon Henderson available for the entire game, and Miyan Williams, Cade Stover, and Marvin Harrison Jr. available for large portions of the game is a bad thing for an offense.

3) It was pretty clear that something was wrong with Stover on his last play, it looked to me like he might have landed oddly on his back, but having to go to the hospital during a game is always scary and I’m sending him all the best.

4) Similarly, I really hope Marv is ok long-term. He appeared to be doing fairly well (all things considered) on the sideline, but anytime you are (presumably) dealing with a concussion, you get nervous.

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Instant Recap Podcast: Pain and suffering, Ohio State loses a heartbreaker to Georgia to end the season
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Ohio State Buckeyes left it all on the field, mistakes get to them late in loss to Georgia.

Ohio State loses in a heartbreaking fashion to the Georgia Bulldogs 42-41 in a Peach Bowl Showdown for the ages.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


To get the show started, we get into their initial reactions to the game and why this loss will sting for quite a long time. After that conversation we get into C.J. Stroud’s performance and how this was one of the greatest games from an Ohio State quarterback. We also discuss the narratives around the Buckeye signal-caller and why those might be unfair to continue down the road – including a suspect defense.

Ohio State’s secondary was atrocious once again in key moments, and let the Buckeyes down multiple times in the second half. We discuss these problems and why the Buckeyes will need to take a long look in the mirror heading into the new year. This conversation also includes some discussion about position groups who also struggled;

After that, our conversation moves to the job Ryan Day did as a play-caller and how he called his best game in over two years. This conversation starts with a discussion about strategy and turns to talk about the impact injuries had on this offense,

To conclude the show, we give our final thoughts on the season, our final takeaways from the matchup with Georgia, and discuss the expectations for next year as Ohio State begins their offseason


Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Justin Golba
Twitter: @Justin_Golba

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It's 2023 and Michigan still sucks!!!!

No. 3 Ohio State women knock off No. 14 Michigan in New Year’s Eve thriller 66-57
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ben Cole - Land-Grant Holy Land

It was a fiery game at the Covelli Center on Saturday between bitter rivals, and one that likely fuels the bitterness even more.

On the final day of 2022, the Big Ten saved the best for last with a conference match-up that could define the Big Ten early in the season. The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes welcomed rival No. 14 Michigan Wolverines to a smaller, but rowdier, Covelli Center. Both sides had their chances in the game, but it was the Buckeyes holding on in the fourth quarter and ending a three-game losing streak to Michigan, winning 66-57.

Excitement was high in the 3,700-seat gymnasium, and maybe it was that energy that impacted the Scarlet and Gray early. Michigan came out and went up eight points quickly. Part of that run was on Ohio State shooting 0-for-5 and giving up the ball more than their rivals.

The deficit forced a quick timeout by head coach Kevin McGuff, but the timeout helped. Out of the 30 seconds, guard/forward hybrid Taylor Thierry got Ohio State going. The sophomore attacked the basket and the layup sent the sellout crowd to their feet.

Off the make, the Buckeyes’ defensive press got the home side the ball back right away, this time forward Cotie McMahon getting the make after the turnover. From there though, the quarter was difficult for both sides.

Michigan and Ohio State shot 22.2% and 25% overall, respectively. Then, with 18 seconds left in the first quarter, the Wolverines had ad scare. Forward Emily Kiser, who leads the team in scoring this season, went down after the Buckeyes forced a turnover on the Michigan big. Kiser needed medical attention, and help walking off the court.

The two sides ended the first quarter scoring a combined 19 points and 16 turnovers. Although Ohio State only had six of those swaps in possession, they were down 10-9 with three-quarters remaining.

Michigan wasn’t without Kiser for long. The forward rejoined the game at the 7:05 mark, allowing Wolverine fans to breathe a sigh of relief. But not for long.

A highlight of the first half was the number of fouls. The two teams split the 22 fouls called, and Michigan had eight of theirs in the second quarter. That meant Ohio State went to the line a lot more often, with the Buckeyes going into the bonus with 6:41 left in the quarter.

Ohio State hit 6-of-9 from the free throw line, but what got the Buckeyes fans excited was the work done away from the charity stripe. The Buckeyes overcame their deficit overall, eventually getting ahead of the Wolverines for the first time in the game.

The Scarlet and Gray got there by timely defense and beginning to hit shots from deep. Michigan isn’t a team known to hit shots from behind the arc, making only 79 attempts in 13 games compared to 111 made by Ohio State in 14 games.

With 3:51 remaining in the second quarter, it was point guard Rikki Harris who hit the first one for Ohio State after going 0-for-7 to start the game. That three also put the Buckeyes and Wolverines even at 19 apiece.

That lead wouldn’t last long, with Michigan guard Maddie Nolan hitting the Wolverines’ first three on the visitor’s next possession. Not to be outdone, guard Taylor Mikesell followed that three up with one of her own, three of her seven second-quarter points.

Like Michigan, Ohio State also gave the Wolverines free trips to the line, sending them to the bonus much later in the second quarter. After guard Leigha Brown hit one of two from the line, the Buckeyes earned their first lead of the game, albeit a short one.

Substitute guard Hevynne Bristow, who also had a massive block earlier in the quarter, hit a layup that put Ohio State up a point. Michigan cut the lead down again but their lead didn’t last much longer.

With the clock winding down before halftime. Mikesell looked to hold the ball for the last shot. Michigan knew what Mikesell wanted to do, but their defense on the Ohio State guard was strong in the first half. Instead, Mikesell and the Buckeyes passed the ball around to transfer Emma Shumate.

Even though the Newark, Ohio native hasn’t had a lot of minutes for Ohio State this season, Shumate got possession, made a move like she was headed to the basket, and then cut to her left and hit a step-back three to put the Scarlet and Gray up 30-27 entering the locker room.

To start the second half, the same foul trend hurt the Wolverines. It began with Harris going to the rim with authority, hitting the layup and a bonus shot from the line. It was the beginning of a quarter that ended up being mostly Buckeyes.

Ohio State outscored the visitors 20 to 14 in the third, holding the Wolverines to 4-for-11 shooting, and forcing seven turnovers.

Offensively, it was the two Taylors running things for the Buckeyes. First, it was Mikesell. Mikesell saved an errant pass in the offensive half of the court, and with the play close to blown up, Mikesell decided to take the shot from five feet outside of the three-point line. Mikesell hit the three, sending the Covelli Center into a frenzy. That three put the home team up seven with seven minutes remaining in the quarter.

Thierry was the other Taylor making the third quarter difficult on Ohio State’s rivals. The forward/guard led the Buckeyes in the third with six points and six rebounds, four on the offensive boards.

Coach McGuff’s side went up 16 points on the Wolverines, but the away team fought back. Ohio State committed turnovers late, including two in the final minute of the third quarter. Michigan clawed back to cut the deficit to nine points with 10 minutes left in the game.

Michigan’s momentum continued into the fourth. They did that by exploiting a weak Ohio State presence in the paint. Forwards Kiser and Cameron Williams scored six to start the quarter, with Ohio State forward Rebeka Mikulášiková having trouble stopping their attack.

A 6-to-2 run to start the last quarter forced coach McGuff to use a timeout with 7:44 left, in hopes of regrouping his team for the final stretch of the game.

The final quarter was as even as things could be between the two teams. Michigan trimmed Ohio State’s once 16-point lead down to two at one point, but it’s a 40-minute game for a reason.

Ohio State answered a seven-point run by the visitors with an eight-point run of their own. It was Harris and a surprise in substitute guard Hevynne Bristow who scored a majority of the Buckeyes fourth quarter points.

Ohio State ballooned their lead up with an eight-point run, beating their hated rivals 66-57, with three players fouling out in the game (two for Michigan and one for Ohio State.)

Cotie McMahon Brings Intensity


Ohio State’s dynamic freshman forward isn’t a stranger to having big performances in the last three weeks, but against the Wolverines, she brought another level of energy.

It wasn’t necessarily leading to a better scoring night. Her 12 points aren’t close to her high of 30. Also, it hurt her own game, fouling out with four minutes left in the game, but it was infectious to her teammates.

Multiple times in the game, McMahon hit a layup and responded with an enthusiastic scream or cheeky smile.

In the fourth, moments after McMahon fouled out, Michigan’s Brown fouled out too, prompting a jump up by McMahon with a smile and wave to the Michigan star.

It showed that the rivalry between these two teams is one of the more exciting in the nation, and not just on the football field.

Stopping the Streak


With the win, the Buckeyes snap a three-game losing streak to their rivals. After losing two games last year by 19 points each, revenge was served to the Wolverines thanks to a game where Buckeyes point guards Mikesell and Harris led the way, scoring a combined 30 points.

What’s Next


The Big Ten calendar rolls on as 2022 changes to 2023. Ohio State is back on the road this week, heading to Minnesota with a game against the Golden Gophers on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 8 p.m. ET.

Then, another test comes to Columbus, with the Illinois Fighting Illini and Scarlet and Gray playing Sunday in an afternoon tip. It’s also a return to the Schottenstein Center for the Buckeyes.

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In Conversation: Lori Schmidt on if Ryan Day feels pressure, Ohio State keys to victory
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

The Columbus Dispatch assistant sports editor is one of the absolute best covering the Buckeyes.

On Land-Grant Holy Land In Conversation, we talk to people in and around Ohio State athletics, and the sporting world at large, to bring you a different insight and perspective to the teams, athletes, and university that you love.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


On our final podcast before Ohio State takes on Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Peach Bowl, Matt Tamanini talks to the assistant sports editor for The Columbus Dispatch Lori Schmidt. Every week during the season, Lori profiles current and former Ohio State football players peeling back the curtain a bit to show who they are as human beings off the field.

This gives her a unique insight into the makeup of this year’s team as they prepare to rebound from a demoralizing loss to Michigan in the regular season finale. Matt and Lori discuss how the players have responded to the disappointing outcome from The Game, how Ryan Day deals with the pressures inherent to his job, and what the Buckeyes need to do in order to leave Atlanta with one more game to play this season.


Connect with Lori Schmidt
https://www.dispatch.com/staff/7714074002/lori-schmidt/
Twitter: @LoriSchmidt

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

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You’re Nuts: What is the biggest key to an Ohio State victory over Georgia?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

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

Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.

In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.

Today’s Question: What is the biggest key to an Ohio State victory over Georgia?

Jami’s Take: A Persistent Running Game


This is one of those rare, beautiful football seasons where I truly believe on any given day, any team in the top 10 could have taken down any other team depending on which way the wind blew. Hopefully, this works in the Buckeyes’ favor tonight against Georgia in the Peach Bowl, where the Bulldogs are favored (but not by much).

Ohio State can’t count on the wind blowing in our favor, though. We’ll need near-perfect execution on the field, and the ultimate key to victory lies in the Buckeyes’ ability to establish the run.

Now “Establish the run” is a bit watered-down, especially against a team like Georgia. OBVIOUSLY the Buckeyes need to be able to run the football well against a top opponent - this is not exactly revolutionary stuff. Running backs Miyan Williams, Dallan Hayden, and Chip Trayanum (who switched to the RB position from linebacker due to late-season injuries) hold the keys to the kingdom in many ways.

But in the Buckeyes’ case, it also doesn’t go without saying that the run game doesn’t start and end with the running backs.

In past years, part of OSU’s domination was wrapped up in the fact that at any point, the quarterback might go for a little jog (sometimes straight to the endzone). It made them very hard to defend. We haven’t seen much of that from Heisman finalist C.J. Stroud, who let me be clear – is as capable of running the ball as past quarterbacks, if not as comfortable.

But the other issue we’ve seen in the Buckeyes’ run game is that they get a little panicky if their opponent shuts it down for a play or two. An immediate stop or loss of a few yards on two or three plays does not a whole game make (or break), and yet, we’ve seen OSU abort mission when they come up against good defensive stops a few plays in a row.

Now, I’m not saying the Buckeyes should keep running the ball if it’s absolutely NOT working the entire game. But Georgia has a good defense. They’re going to stop a few plays. If the Buckeyes are going to win this game, it’s absolutely crucial that they keep running even if Georgia gets a big stop.

Persistent running is going to be huge against this Bulldog squad. I’m talking down-in-the-mud, fighting-for-every-last-yard running. OSU needs to be pounding the Bulldogs constantly, which means the running backs also can’t be afraid to play a really physical football game. I want them winning physical battles against the safeties and defensive linemen.

If OSU can get the running backs moving down the field, even in short or intermediate spurts, it will open up the possibility for Stroud to take a few long shots from mid-field or the back of the red zone, and possibly connect for some major scoring plays. We know there are holes in the Bulldogs’ pass defense, seeing as they allowed 502 passing yards in the SEC Championship game against LSU. So if the Buckeyes can use the run to keep their options open and position Stroud to go long, they just might win the war.

Matt’s Take: Keeping C.J. Stroud Free from Pressure


Here’s the thing, there are A LOT of things that will have to go right for the Buckeyes to win the Peach Bowl tonight, but to me, the game will not be decided by how Jim Knowles’ defense handles UGA’s pair of dynamic tight ends, or even if Miyan Williams and the Buckeye’s stable of backs are able to establish the run (although, I do agree with Jami that this will be crucial). Instead, I think the biggest thing that Ohio State needs to do in order to win, is keep quarterback C.J. Stroud clean.

The best part of OSU’s team on either side of the ball is obviously their passing game with two-time Heisman finalist Stroud and Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Julian Fleming. But with a defense as stout as Georgia’s it would be foolish to expect OSU to operate at the same level that they have all season. But, for the Buckeyes to have the best chance to succeed on that side of the ball, Stroud will have to have a solid game, and given what we’ve seen from him over two seasons, for that to happen, he has to have time to throw the ball.

This isn’t exactly a hot take, but QBs are better when they aren’t facing pressure than when they are, and that has been evident with Stroud during his entire time in scarlet and gray. When he has pressure in his face, Stroud has had a bad habit of falling backward and not committing to his fundamentals, often resulting in poorly thrown balls.

Georgia’s defense, led by unanimous All-American defense tackle Jalen Carter, will likely look to create a pass rush with just four or five up front and it will be incumbent on the offensive line to keep the Dawgs at bay. UGA doesn’t wrack up a ton of sacks or tackles for loss — the Dawgs are 73rd nationally with two sacks per game and 51st in TFLs with 5.85 — but they won’t need to necessarily get home to disrupt OSU’s offensive flow.

So, if the Buckeyes want to have any shot to utilize its incredible array of offensive weapons, they will have to give Stroud time and opportunities to survey the field and get the ball out in rhythm.

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