Game Preview: No. 3 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. New Hampshire Wildcats
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Buckeyes face one of their last small conference opponents of the season, in a Thursday basketball double-header

The daily schedule gets shaken up for the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team this week. Head coach Kevin McGuff and the Scarlet & Gray play an early game, part of two home Buckeye basketball games on Thursday. Up first is the No. 3 women’s team in the country versus their first of four final non-conference regular season games of the season. On the docket is another smaller conference opponent, the University of New Hampshire.

Preview


Thursday’s lunchtime tip welcomes the New Hampshire Wildcats. It’s another game, now their fifth this season, where the Buckeyes can hone their game before the Michigan State Spartans descend on Columbus, Ohio.

For Thursday’s opponents, they sit 4-6 in the America East conference, the same conference for the Buckeyes' last small non-conference game against the University of Albany on Friday, Dec. 16.

Chosen to sit in seventh of eight teams this season in America East’s preseason poll, the Buckeyes will be the biggest test for the Wildcats, so much of Ohio State’s focus will be internal.

Against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Sunday, coach McGuff applauded a strong start but after the first quarter, the team went stagnant. After Rutgers adjusted, Ohio State had trouble getting back to their game plan, something Thursday will help.

The press didn’t have the same intensity and the team didn’t have the same energy, looking like the Scarlet & Gray weren’t as concerned with the Knights. Even if Ohio State won by 12 points at the final buzzer, it featured the Buckeyes hanging on in the final quarter with a surging Rutgers team who outscored Ohio State from the second quarter through the end of the game.

Expect a motivated Buckeyes team, giving guard Jacy Sheldon another game off to recover her lower leg injury and guard Madison Greene more opportunities to fill that pressing role left by Sheldon. Without Sheldon, the Buckeyes’ opponents average 11 fewer turnovers a game. If Sheldon’s injury continues for bigger opponents, the press will need consistency.

Another area to watch is communication on the floor. Forward Rebeka Mikulášiková and guard Taylor Mikesell played off each other well to score 31 and 30 points, respectively, but coach McGuff referenced overall team communication as a concern versus Rutgers. That meant players forced shots without playing on the same page as their teammates.

On the opponent’s side, the Wildcats' lone game outside of the New England area came in Florida, against Ohio State’s Dec. 20 opponent, the USF Bulls. The Bulls took care of the Wildcats 75-57. Even if it looks like a game with a lot of Buckeyes scoring, there’s still an Ohio connection to watch on the Wildcats.

Photo/Nick Aivazian / USA TODAY NETWORK
Guard Breezie Williams (5) dribbles up the court in a game against Holy Cross on Nov. 16, 2022

Freshman guard Breezie Williams joined New Hampshire this season out of Glenoak High School, outside of Canton, Ohio. Although there wasn’t overlap between Williams and Mikesell, who played close at Jackson High School, their schools are conference rivals. With New Hampshire, the freshman has started all 10 games and averages 10 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Don’t be surprised to see a lot of Wildcats blue in the Schottenstein Center on Thursday.

Projected Starters

Lineup Notes

• Considering the match-up, a Greene start for Sheldon seems likely, making it the guard’s fourth start of the season
• Mikulášiková’s 31 points against Rutgers put her team-leading points per game up to 19.8
• Ohio State features five players averaging double-digit scoring per game

Lineup Notes

• Guard Avery O’Connor is fifth in the conference in scoring per game (12.8) and third in three-pointers made (22)
• The Wildcats are the only America East team with a positive turnover margin (1.20)
• New Hampshire features no NCAA DI transfers on their roster

Prediction


This game should go the way games against North Alabama, Wright State, and McNeese State have gone for Ohio State. In other words, Buckeyes domination.

The Scarlet & Gray will limit starter minutes, and allow players on the bench to continue their progression in competitive play. Starting forward Cotie McMahon’s been benched the last two games, in favor of more experienced players. Thursday gives her the chance to get back on track, offensively. McMahon’s defense has been great throughout.

Watch guard Emma Shumate, who missed two games before the Buckeyes' trip to Louisville. The Newark, Ohio native played against Rutgers in meaningful minutes and should see more Thursday.

How to Watch


Date: Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022
Time: 11:00 a.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center - Columbus, Ohio
Stream: B1G+

LGHL Prediction: 101-52 Ohio State Buckeyes

Buckeye Double-Header Benefits Women’s Team


Value City Arena at the Schottenstein Center plays host to two Buckeyes games on Thursday. The second is on the men’s side when the No. 25 Scarlet & Gray men welcome the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to Columbus. The men sit 6-2, and Thursday’s game against Rutgers is their first Big Ten conference game of the season.

The early tip-off might hurt attendance for the women’s side, but there are still positives.

With a game against Sparty three days later, McGuff gets the extra time to prepare for Michigan State’s visit. If Thursday was a night game for the Buckeyes, that’d cut hours of prep away from a tough conference game.

Inside Thursday’s crowd is the second positive: the children. Thursday’s game is an incentive for students in Columbus City Schools. Through the 2nd and 7 Foundation, close to 4,000 students will be in attedance, a reward for students with good attendance to take in a basketball game.

“Our kids have been doing a great job with [being good role models],” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “I think it’ll be great to have the younger kids here for a game.”

If attending in-person, remember that 4,000 kids can be loud. Bring hearing protection if you need it.

Continue reading...

Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Rutgers: Game preview and prediction
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

The Buckeyes open up their Big Ten season by hosting the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

The No. 25 Ohio State men’s basketball team (6-2) is set to kick off the Big Ten portion of its season tonight at 7 p.m. ET as the Buckeyes welcome the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-2, 1-0). Head coach Steve Pikiell’s squad opened its conference campaign on Saturday with a fairly shocking 63-48 victory over the then-No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers.


Chris Holtmann’s team returns to the floor for the first time following its 96-59 victory over the St. Francis (PA) Red Flash on Saturday, a game in which four Buckeye true freshmen scored in double digits, including Felix Okpara notching the first double-double of his collegiate career going for 10 points and 12 rebounds. It also marked the first double-double by a Buckeye bench player in nearly six years.

When Ohio State opens its 111th season of Big Ten play, the team will do so in the 14th all-time meeting against Rutgers. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 10-4 and are 10-2 in Big Ten Conference games. The two teams met only once last season in a game that ended up being pretty painful for OSU supporters.

With just 3:48 remaining in regulation, the Buckeyes led by eight points. However, the Scarlet Knights used a 10-0 run to end the game giving them a 66-64 win at home in Piscataway. The win snapped a four-game win streak in the series for the Buckeyes.

Fortunately for Ohio State, tonight’s game will be played in the Value City Arena, a venue in which the Buckeyes are undefeated against Rutgers with a 6-0 record. Similarly, Holtmann’s guys have won four of their last five conference openers, and are a perfect 4-0 at home so far this season.

Rutgers comes into the game at 6-2 on the year and 1-0 in the Big Ten after knocking-off preseason favorite Indiana last Saturday at home. The Knights’ two losses came to Temple (72-66) and Miami (FL) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge 68-61.

Preview


The Scarlet Knights enter tonight’s contest as one of the best defensive teams in the country as they are in the Top 20 nationally in blocks per game, field goal defense, and scoring margin.

According to Kenpom, Rutgers is sixth nationally in defensive efficiency. Fortunately for the home fans, Ohio State comes in as the third most offensively efficient team in the country.

Aiding their offensive output, the Buckeye are currently 10th in the country — and tops in the Big Ten — in free throw percentage at 79.1%. and are also in the top 10 in rebounding margin at +10.6.

While Holtmann has been tinkering to figure out the best usage and rotation for a team filled with freshmen and transfers, Ohio State has gotten great contributions off the bench this season. In fact, freshman Brice Sensabaugh is leading the team in scoring at 14.3 ppg, despite not being one of OSU’s starters. The Buckeye bench is averaging 32.3 ppg which is in the top 25 nationally and is second in the Big Ten.

Rutgers is led by its 6-foot-11 junior center Clifford Omoruyi who is averaging 15.4 points and 9.8 rebounds on the young season — good for seventh and third respectively in the Big Ten. Senior guard Cam Spencer has also been very reliable so far this year averaging 13.8 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per outing.

Prediction


This one is a quintessential “something’s gotta give” game. While the Buckeyes are still working out the kinks due to the fact that Zed Key is their only returning contributor from the 2021-22 season, they have been very good on the offensive end, while Rutgers has excelled defensively.

In their upset victory over the Hoosiers last weekend, Rutgers held Indiana to just 30.4% shooting and 24% from beyond the arc. Coming into tonight, the Buckeyes are shooting 48.2% from the floor and 36.4% from distance. Ohio State will need to be rebound and take advantage of open opportunities if it is going to score against the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers comes into the game as the seventh-best offensive rebounding team in the country, with OSU is the eighth-best defensive rebounding team. When the Buckeyes faced Duke earlier this season the Blue Devils came in as the top team on the offensive glass, but Ohio State hung with them. Duke grabbed 13 offensive boards to Ohio State’s 12.

Rutgers is fairly offensively challenged, they are shooting just 46.7% from the field, which puts them at 313th nationally. For the Buckeyes to get the win in their conference opener, they will need to keep control on the glass — especially on the defensive end — and limit the Knights’ second-chance opportunities.

In both of Rutgers’ losses, they allowed their opposition to get at least three players into double digits, and given the construction of this Buckeye squad, they should have the ability to distribute the ball to multiple players tonight, especially if Pikiell decides to take one guy out of the equation.

I imagine that Key, Brice Sensabaugh, and Justice Sueing will all post point totals in double-figures tonight, and even though he might not be scoring at a level that he would like this year, Ice Likekele will continue to have a major impact on defense as well.

ESPN BPI: Ohio State 75.4%
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Streaming: Sling TV

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 72, Rutgers 65

Continue reading...

2023 Ohio State commit named Ohio Player of the Year
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State’s loaded with talent in their 2023 class, but they’re still on the hunt for more as time draws close to an end this cycle.

There may not be another commit in Ohio State’s current class that has seen the uptick in rankings like Jermaine Mathews. The Cincinnati native is shooting up the lists for nearly every recruiting service, showing how valuable he is to the Buckeyes and their 2023 class. Being an in-state player is surely one major importance he carries, but playing the cornerback position is the biggest factor considering the current state of play in the secondary on Ohio State’s roster.

While other programs try to swoop in late and pry Mathews away from the Buckeyes, the coaching staff is doing all they can to prevent that from being the case. He’s now starting to prove to people why he was so sought after by this Ohio State coaching staff.

On Wednesday, as if the latest rankings boots weren’t enough, the accolades continued to come in for Mathews, as he was named Ohio’s Division 2 Defensive Player of the Year. A tremendous honor for one of Ohio’s top players regardless of position, Tim Walton has to be thrilled for what is coming to Columbus soon. In the mean time, the work is not done trying to keep the poachers away from the No. 135 player nationally, 15th best corner and second best player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite.

2023 running back target flips commitment


The running back recruiting situation in Columbus seems to ebb and flow. Depending on the year, the Buckeyes are either in a spot that seems too good to be true, or on the flip side, could certainly be better. Position coach Tony Alford has done a pretty solid job all things considering, but like any coach, there’s wins and losses on the recruiting trail regardless how stable the program is.

In the current class, Ohio State isn’t desperate by any means thanks to their current roster depth, but a running back in this class is of course desired by the coaches. Seeing Mark Fletcher de-commit from the Buckeyes just last month, it’s been a few wild weeks on the running back side of things as the staff tries to land one this late in the game for 2023. Old and new names have surfaced in terms of potential additions, but right now it’s looking like February’s signing period rather than December’s is the route being taken.

One the few names that have been linked as targets to Ohio State, none is bigger than Texas native, Reuben Owens. The No. 23 player nationally, Owens is the second ranked running back in the class per the 247Sports Composite rankings and had been committed to Louisville since June of this year, but yesterday stepped back from that pledge and reopened his recruitment. Taking to his Twitter to announce his de-commitment, Owens being back on the market quickly sorted itself out.

Shortly after Owens released the latest update in his recruitment, a flurry of 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions started to roll in. The favorite, in-state Texas A&M seemed to have gained all of the momentum in this recruitment, and when considering the location, NIL possibilities and more, the two do seem to make sense. Shortly thereafter, Owens announced his new commitment to the Aggies, putting an end to any hopes of the Buckeyes flipping the talented back.

Moving forward, guys such as Ohio native Trey Cornist will continue to be on Ohio State’s radar, and certainly recent offer Jamarion Wilcox is another name worth watching closely. The staff and Alford have earned the right to be trusted and fans just need to hope that continues to remain the case even if much of the happenings lately don’t seem all that positive.

Quick Hits

• Though game planning for the College Football Playoff is at the forefront of the staff’s minds, recruiting never stops. This close to the December signing period, Day and his crew are making their rounds to their current commits before they lock in with their signatures.

Brandon Inniss, the top ranked receiver in Ohio State’s class, had his in-home visit last night with both Coach Day and Coach Hartline. The No. 26 player nationally, Inniss is the top ranked player in the Ohio State class and with all of the programs who’d love to have him in the fold, the Buckeyes are taking the time to continue recruiting him even with him being committed for several months now. The best part, it looks like any worry of his pledge to the Buckeyes can be forgotten about.


Continue reading...

LGHL Uncut Podcast: Ohio State women’s basketball’s McGuff, Harris, Greene on No. 3 ranking, more
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

What the No. 3 ranking means to the team and where their focus really lies

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.


On Monday, the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team achieved their highest ranking in the AP Poll since Nov. 2010. Beginning the year at No. 14, the Buckeyes won their first eight games, including wins against the then No. 5 ranked Tennessee Volunteers and then No. 18 ranked Louisville Cardinals.

Following the new position in the rankings, head coach Kevin McGuff and guards Rikki Harris and Madison Greene spoke with the media.

Coach McGuff largely dismissed the rankings, since he hasn’t been able to watch the other teams around the Buckeyes in the rankings, caring more about what their ranking will be at the end of the season. He also discusses what he’s seen change in guard Madison Greene after becoming a bench player and next-guard-up starter for injured guard Jacy Sheldon.

Also, McGuff discusses what he’s seen so far around the Big Ten, touting it as the deepest it's ever been. He also named a team that’s surprised him the most in conference results this season.

Harris and Greene interviewed together, taking on questions about the No. 3 ranking, the growth of forward Rebeka Mikulášiková over, mental health, and what they’ve noticed the change about coach McGuff in their four years at Ohio State.

That and more as the Buckeyes gear up for two games this week. On Thursday, they begin with an early 11:00 a.m. ET start against the University of New Hampshire before returning to Big Ten play on Sunday when they welcome the Michigan State Spartans to the Schottenstein Center.


Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com

Continue reading...

Freshmen, grad transfers paying early dividends for Buckeyes’ mens basketball team
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


Buckeye freshman Brice Sensabaugh against Duke | Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Checking in on Ohio State’s top 25 team as conference play begins.

The Bucks, at 6-2 for the year, remain in the AP Poll at the No. 25 position, with a game against Big Ten foe Rutgers on Thursday. With football season taking a bit of a hiatus until the bowl games begin and the basketball season about to turn the corner into the conference schedule, it seems a good time to take a look at this year’s Buckeyes and gauge their progress so far in the 2022-23 season.

Rebuilding year? More like starting over


As any OSU basketball fan knows, coach Chris Holtmann had his work cut out for him this season, virtually starting from scratch to build a new squad.

Of last year’s top eight scorers, only one — Zed Key — returned this year. Stars E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham headed off to the NBA. Jamari Wheeler, Kyle Young, Justin Ahrens, and Cedric Russell exhausted their eligibility. And Meechie Johnson, Jr. transferred to the University of South Carolina.

In addition to Key, guard Eugene Brown returned, but suffering a concussion in preseason, hasn’t played in a game yet. Justice Sueing, who missed nearly all of last season with injury, is back to provide some experience and leadership.

Total? Really only three players from last year’s group.

Grad transfers


To go along with his No. 8-ranked (composite) 2022 freshman recruiting class, Holtmann used the transfer portal to pick up some veteran help for this year. The portal has more of an impact on college basketball than it does on football, for the simple reasons that the rosters are smaller and a single player can turn a team around. A player who finds the competition for court time too stiff or discovers that his coach’s playing style or personality doesn’t fit, is often quickly gone.

This year, Isaac Likekele, a grad transfer from Oklahoma State, and Sam McNeil, a grad transfer from West Virginia, have proven to be valuable additions to the Buckeyes, as they lead the team in minutes played per game.

Likekele, a 6-foot-5 guard who led the Cowboys in assists and steals, has picked up where he left off in Stillwater. With 25 assists (against only 10 turnovers), he leads the Buckeyes in that category and also averages 4.5 points and 6.3 rebounds (second on team) per contest. His steadiness has been a real asset for this very young OSU team.

McNeil is more of a shooter and averages in double figures – 10.4 points per game. Whereas last year only Liddell and Branham averaged double digit points, this season sees four Bucks, five if we round up Bruce Thornton’s 9.9 ppg. This balance makes the Buckeyes tougher to guard, as any number of players can spurt and be the leading scorer.

The freshmen


OSU’s recruiting class for this year listed four top-100 players, all of whom were four-star recruits. So far in this early season, all four have made great contributions to the team’s success.

6-foot-6 forward Brice Sensabaugh, ranked No. 63 overall nationally in the class, actually leads the Buckeyes in scoring, averaging just over 14 points a game. And he does it in only about 18 minutes of playing time per 40-minute game.

Bruce Thornton, a 6-foot-2 guard, ranked No. 48 nationally at any position, and No. 10 among point guards. He’s playing 27.5 minutes a game and averaging (as mentioned above) 9.9 points, with a really good 52% shooting percentage for this field goal attempts.

The highest-rated player in the class (at No. 47, No. 2 among shooting guards), Roddy Gayle, Jr., is playing about 15 minutes a game and averaging five points.

The fourth top-10 recruit is Nigerian Felix Okpara. At 6-foot-11, Okpara was the No. 13-rated center in the class nationally, and also sees a lot of court time for the Buckeyes. He’s averaging 13.4 minutes, four points, and just over four rebounds a game.

No matter how you shake it, that’s a lot of production from six newcomers.

And the veterans?

Key and Sueing


Well, they’re clearly the team leaders.

Zed Key is averaging eight rebounds and 13.4 points a game, and no doubt those figures would be higher if it weren’t for his leaving the early season blowout games early. Watching him muscle out Duke players for boards was a joy (Yes, I’m a Duke basketball hater).

As for Sueing, it’s so good just to see him playing again, and the versatile 6-foot-6 player is having quite a year. He’s averaging 13 points and five rebounds a game.

The season so far


Maybe we’re surprised that the Buckeyes cracked the AP Top 25 so early in this season. Obviously, with so many new faces, it was very hard to predict how good this team would be.

But they’ve taken care of business with the early-season warmup games against Robert Morris, Charleston Southern, Eastern Illinois, and St. Francis — winning all of them by at least 22 points.

Then there was the Maui Invitational. The Buckeyes dropped their first game of the season in the tournament’s first round, losing to No. 17 San Diego State, 88-77. Moving into the “losers’ bracket,” the Bucks had a surprisingly easy victory over old-time, in-state rival Cincinnati, 81-53. Keep in mind that this Cincy team had lost narrowly the previous day to highly regarded Arizona. Then, in the battle for fifth place in the tourney, Ohio State handled No. 21 Texas Tech, 80-73, in a hard-fought game.

The wins in Hawaii earned the Buckeyes their Top 25 ranking. OSU’s other loss came at Cameron Indoor Stadium to the Duke Blue Devils, 81-72. Sad, but surely no disgrace.

The tough early schedule will, no doubt, help the Buckeyes as they now begin the meat of the schedule. The Big Ten is very, very good this year (five teams currently ranked), and winning any games on the road will be a challenge. It will be quite interesting to see how this new team fares as the season progresses.

From what I’ve seen, I think that they’ll be OK and continue to improve as the they move along. I’m looking for a strong season and a good NCAA Tournament seed.

Continue reading...

Big names to watch in the transfer portal for Ohio State
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images

The Buckeyes dont abuse the transfer portal like some other programs, but they’ll landed their fair share of impact guys in recent years. Could more be on the way?

Simply put, Ohio State has not exactly thrown its weight around like it should in the NIL era. All too often, the Buckeyes are missing out on some of the most highly rated players around the country because they refuse to get their hands dirty. As a result, you wind up with some holes at key positions. Those holes can be filled through the transfer portal, but that would require a willingness to reflect on your own missteps — something Ryan Day is incapable of doing as Ohio State’s head coach.

Nonetheless, Day has a chance to prove me wrong this offseason, at least in this regard, if he can hit on some big transfers. The portal is loaded with upper-echelon talent already, and there is no reason the Buckeyes shouldn’t be in on a handful of these guys in order to make the roster better and make up for some misses on the recruiting trail.

Let’s check out some of the big names that have already entered the portal with ties to Ohio State.

Fentrell Cypress II (CB, Virginia)


As of Wednesday morning, Fentrell Cypress II is the No. 1 overall player currently listed in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports. A native of South Carolina, Cypress wasn’t all that highly rated coming out of high school, as he was a three-star recruit and the No. 91 cornerback in the 2019 class. However, the 6-foot, 184-pound DB has far outplayed his recruiting rankings, and is one of the most highly sought after prospects in the portal. With Ohio State’s secondary playing subpar at best in 2022, this addition would make sense.

Cypress was named Second Team All-ACC after leading the conference with 14 pass breakups this past fall in only nine games. He ranked fourth in all of FBS with 1.56 passes defended per game. He totals only one career interception, but his stats are reminiscent of a guy like Jeff Okudah, whom teams were afraid to throw at. Cypress is reportedly looking for a place that can help develop him into a first round NFL Draft pick. According to Steve Wiltfong, the Buckeyes are on him hard.

“The Buckeyes called a little after 4:00 p.m. EST time, and Thursday morning a source said the Buckeyes are ‘on him hard,’” said Wiltfong on Tuesday. “As things continue to shake out for Cypress, the source said that Ohio State is expected to be in the mix moving forward.”

Dasan McCullough (LB, Indiana)


A name we expected to see in the transfer portal this offseason, Dasan McCullough is a name that Ohio State fans likely recognize. A former top-100 recruit, the linebacker/edge defender was at one time committed to the Buckeyes. With his father, Deland McCullough, taking a job on Indiana’s staff, he would eventually de-commit to join his dad with the Hoosiers. However, Deland has since left Indiana to take the job as Notre Dame’s running backs coach, so Dasan is now on his way out as well.

It remains to be seen if Ohio State will once again try and reel in the young star, but McCullough would be a welcomed addition to the Buckeyes’ 2023 roster. McCullough has already shown what he is capable of as a freshman, leading the Hoosiers with four sacks to go along with 49 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups. He is clearly the stud that his recruiting profile said he would be, but getting him to Columbus seems like an uphill battle.

While there is already the chance he once again follows his father and takes his talents to Notre Dame, it seems as though it is actually Oklahoma that stands as the current favorite to land McCullough. His younger brother, 2023 safety Daeh McCullough, is committed to Cincinnati, but with Luke Fickell leaving for Wisconsin, he has began receiving Crystal Balls to flip to the Sooners, and it would appear he and Dasan want to play together.

JQ Hardaway (CB, Cincinnati)


Like Cypress, JQ Hardaway is another player Ohio State could look to add to bolster its cornerback room. Following his freshman year at Cincinnati, Hardaway is on the move following Fickell’s exit. A top-200 player overall as a recruit, the 6-foot-3 defensive back was listed as a safety out of high school, but played cornerback for the Bearcats. Most importantly, he was recruited to Cinci by Perry Eliano, who is currently the safeties coach at Ohio State.

Hardaway was used sparingly for the Bearcats in his first year at the collegiate level, playing just 95 snaps over 11 games this season. Still, he was the second-highest rated player in Cincinnati’s 2022 class, and was expected to be the next top DB at a program that recently produced NFL players Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant, both of which came under Eliano’s tutelage.

Could the two look to form a reunion about two hours north?

Tunmise Adeleye (DL, Texas A&M)

One of the many names to throw their name in the transfer portal from Texas A&M’s 2021 recruiting class, Tunmise Adeleye is another former Ohio State commit that is now once again available. A top-40 player and the No. 9 overall defensive lineman in the cycle, Adeleye committed to the Buckeyes back in April 2020, but de-committed in August before joining the Aggies’ class in December, likely due to more lucrative NIL opportunities.

You can’t blame a kid for chasing the money, but now he’s probably looking to go to a school that actually wins games. Adeleye did not get a chance to show his stuff at the next level, as injuries really derailed his redshirt freshman season and limited him to just two games played. However, he was expected to at least be in the mix for a starting job at defensive end for A&M this season, and was certainly in line to be a starter next year opposite Shemar Stewart in College Station.

With Zach Harrison almost certainly off to the NFL, will Ohio State look to get Adeleye back in the fold?

Myles Hinton (OL, Stanford)

This is more of a long shot than even the last few names, as Myles Hinton really has no connections to Ohio State. A top-75 player in the 2020 class, Hinton was the No. 6 offensive tackle in the country, and the No. 9 prospect out of talent-rich Georgia. Despite being Crystal Balled to Michigan, he wound up taking his talents to Stanford, but is now once again on the market after longtime Cardinal head coach David Shaw’s resignation from the program.

Listed at 6-foot-7, 320 pounds, Hinton spent the last three seasons at Stanford, earning the Most Outstanding Freshman Award in 2020 and being named Preseason All-Pac 12 prior to this year. Ohio State is going to have some big holes to fill at offensive tackle this offseason with both Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones expected to enter the NFL Draft. Position coach Justin Frye could look to bring in a proven commodity like Hinton to help bridge the gap and make up for prior recruiting misses from his predecessor.

Continue reading...

Ohio State Wrestling: Sammy Sasso wins, Buckeyes take disappointing 8th at Cliff Keen Invitational
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State Athletics / ohiostatebuckeyes.com

The Ohio State wrestling team journeyed to the desert, hoping to place well in a Vegas tournament they have won six times. But while Sasso hit the jackpot, many other Buckeyes walked away empty-handed.

Since 2009, Tom Ryan’s Ohio State wrestling team has won six team titles at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The team also finished second in 2014, 2019, and 2021, and third in 2013. So to say that this dance in the desert has traditionally been worth the trip for OSU, would be a massive understatement.

Ryan’s third-ranked Buckeyes appeared poised to repeat a high level of success (in this tourney) again this year, entering as a heavy favorite. Instead, 2022’s CKLVI was surprisingly unkind to most scarlet and gray grapplers, leaving more questions than answers as they prepare for an in-state dual against Kent State.

Ohio State got off to a solid-enough start on Friday, with Sasso (149 pounds), Carson Kharchla (165), Ethan Smith (174), Kaleb Romero (184), and Gavin Hoffman (197) all finishing 2-0 during early competition — meaning they would remain alive in the championship bracket. Malik Heinselman (125), Dylan D’Emilio (141), and Tate Orndorff (HWT) also advanced to later sessions, however they – after splitting their first two matches – would be forced to try and navigate the consolation bracket.

Dylan Koontz (133) was the only Buckeye in attendance who did not advance beyond Friday morning, and it should be noted that he wrestled in place of star freshman Jesse Mendez. Also absent was redshirt freshman Paddy Gallagher (157), leaving OSU without two of their talented young guns.

Sasso, the No. 1 seed at 149 (in this tournament), ran roughshod over his competition, and clinched an individual title by outscoring Arizona State’s Kyle Parco in their finals matchup. It was the Ohio State star’s closest match, ending in a 6-2 decision. He also added two falls and a tech fall, showing dominance throughout the entire tournament. After a surprising loss in OSU’s first dual of the season, Sasso has rebounded quite nicely, and seems well on his way to once again competing for a Big Ten and/or national championship.


Unfortunately, Sasso would end up as the only Buckeye to earn a top-3 finish in Vegas. Kharchla – who joined his 149-pound teammate as a top seed – was one of the favorites at 165, but after breezing through the round of 16, he dropped a stunner to Tanner Cook of South Dakota State. Kharchla was pinned merely 37 seconds into their quarterfinal match, resulting in one of the biggest upsets of the weekend. He bounced back with a major decision over Kent State’s Enrique Munguia, but was ultimately forced to settle for eighth due to a medical forfeit.

The same issue forced Smith out of the 174-pound running, as he wrestled to a 2-1 record before his own medical forfeit. Those forfeits, as well as the absence of both Mendez and Gallagher, doomed Ohio State’s chances of finishing highly at the Keen. But the goal is to finish strong and protect athletes, so you have to believe the right decisions were made.

Orndorff was also dealt a medical forfeit after starting 3-1, although he was not necessarily viewed as a favorite in his weight class. However, he did look good in his matches, only dropping a 3-2 decision to Northern Iowa’s Tyrell Gordon. Just another stroke of bad luck the Buckeyes experienced during this tournament, but it was not all bad news to go along with the Sasso win.

Romero wrestled to a solid fourth-place finish, after dropping his last match in sudden victory. He was narrowly defeated by Virginia Tech’s Hunter Bolden, an opponent he had already gotten the best of twice this season — including in the quarters of this very tournament! Romero also dropped a one-point decision to Trent Hidlay of North Carolina State, who is currently ranked No. 3 at their shared 184 weight class. The OSU big man put forth a strong showing, and was not helped by the fact that it becomes increasingly difficult to beat the same talented wrestler three or more times in the span of a few months. Onward and upward for Romero, as I think he makes a strong postseason run once the calendar flips to 2023.

Another solid finish was earned – and I do mean earned – by Heinselman at 125. The fifth-year senior wrestled in a ridiculous eight matches across Friday and Saturday, taking the most difficult path possible on his way to fifth place. His tournament began with a 4-0 loss to Cornell’s Brett Ungar — a loss for which he would later gain retribution. Heinselman then ripped off five straight wins to claw his way through the consolation bracket, eventually ending his weekend with a decisive 11-5 victory over SDSU’s Tanner Jordan (not to be confused with his 165-lb teammate Tanner Cook). It is not how you start, but rather how you finish, and Heinselman showed a warrior’s mentality by competing in eight matches.


As a team, the Buckeyes finished eighth out of 34 teams at the Keen, which is frankly a poor finish for them. They had not finished outside the top-5 in this tournament since 2010, when they took 12th. And Ohio State was absolutely a favorite going into this year’s version. This event in Las Vegas has traditionally been a good, early test for OSU, which they often pass with flying colors. But that simply was not the case this year.

A few young guys being held out, combined with a little bit of bad luck, significantly impacted their chances of becoming a seven-time team winner. Ryan’s group can now use the result(s) to learn and get better, which I have faith in them to do.

Ohio State’s next match is a Sunday (12/11) dual against in-state foe Kent State, taking place in Covelli Center. The Buckeyes should be able to get their mojo back as they also prepare for the Collegiate Duals in New Orleans and an eventual Big Ten slate. Exciting times are ahead, and the action will be intense this weekend. Go Bucks!

Continue reading...

Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for December 7, 2022
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 Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


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

On the Gridiron


Kevin Wilson will continue coaching with Ohio State after accepting Tulsa job: ‘It’s my obligation to finish’
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

What Kevin Wilson taking Tulsa job means for Buckeyes
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Matt and Chris talked all about the Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kevin Wilson news:


Five Buckeyes named to CBS Sports/247Sports All-American teams
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Five Questions as Buckeyes start Peach Bowl, playoff prep (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Column: Ranking the top three College Football Playoffs (hint: this one makes the cut)
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State football vs. Michigan national championship game odds are already up. Who is favored?
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

You have my attention:


B1G Thoughts: Reviewing the Big Ten at the season’s end
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land

You’re Nuts: What pre-transfer portal player would you have wanted at Ohio State?
Brett Ludwiczak and Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


As offense grows, Ohio State freshman Roddy Gayle focused on defense
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Chris Holtmann understands ‘it takes a minute’ for freshmen to adjust to Big Ten competition
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row

B1G WBB Week 4: ACC/Big Ten Challenge, overtime, B1G play begins
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Sasso Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Soccer: Wootton, McLaughlin Earn All-Region Recognition
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Ice Hockey: McWard Named B1G Third Star of the Week
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...

Continue reading...

Ohio State women’s basketball coach, players on No. 3 ranking
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Sure, the Buckeyes feel excited, but there’s a bigger focus beyond their ranking in a poll.

Monday afternoon, the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team earned an achievement they haven’t had since Nov. 30, 2010 — a No. 3 AP Poll ranking. It’s a memento of hard work over the past two seasons that saw Ohio State transform from a team losing multiple starters in the transfer portal to a 2021-22 B1G Regular Season Co-Championship and now on the precipice of greater things. It’s a standing worth boasting.

“It’s so early, it’s hard to tell what being ranked third even means,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “It’s good publicity for the team. Probably helps for recruiting right now.”

It’s not exactly the response a fan expects for an achievement 12 years in the making, but it’s the right answer for a head coach. Any successful coach is focused on the next game.

Thursday and Sunday’s games are a perfect example. In an early, 11:00 a.m. ET tip, Ohio State faces the University of New Hampshire. The 4-6 New Hampshire Wildcats are in second to last place in the America East conference. It’s a game that looks like another triple-digit Buckeyes win.

Sunday, Big Ten conference play continues — an obvious focus for fans, media and team alike, but not to coach McGuff and the Buckeyes. When asked about the Michigan State Spartans, he hasn’t looked that far ahead. Coach McGuff’s players are the same way.

“We just play,” said guard Rikki Harris, speaking about the ranking. “If we don’t win, we can’t be No. 3, so we just focus on playing and winning games.”

Even when prompted about the added motivation for opponents seeing a high ranking, Harris is realistic with how teams view Ohio State. Knowing that the Block O and scarlet and gray already brings with it extra attention from its critics and rivals.

While the coach and team won’t let the ranking get in their way, it’s unrealistic to think that it isn’t on the team’s mind at all. A source of motivation came in their No. 14 AP Poll preseason ranking entering the 2022-23 season.

“I feel like we’d be top-10 for sure,” said Harris. “We weren’t happy with the rankings from the jump, because we felt like we did a lot and just look at what we had coming back this year. We definitely felt we were a top-10 team.”

Now the Buckeyes are working towards cementing that No. 3 ranking by focusing on the next game. Also, underlying their season are hopes of going further than McGuff and the Buckeyes have ever gone. That mean’s getting further than that 09-10 team.

At the turn into the millennium’s second decade, the Scarlet and Gray were led by All-American and future WNBA All-Star Jantel Lavender. The four-time B1G Player of the Year led Ohio State to a sweep of the conference.

Former head coach Jim Foster led that edition of the Buckeyes to a 31-5 record, winning the conference and tournament championships. Ohio State entered the 2010 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament as a No. 2 seed, but didn’t go further than this current slate of Buckeyes went in last year’s tournament.

The Buckeyes of 2010 played the No. 7 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs and lost in a big way. Lavender scored 17 points in an 87-67 defeat, and after the game said the Buckeyes got “outworked.”

It’s a classic example of rankings not meaning much. It’s how teams show up game after game. The Scarlet & Gray’s personified that spirit, beating No. 3 LSU in Baton Rouge in the 2022 NCAA Tournament and against No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers to open the 22-23 season.

Despite initial hype by the Buckeyes, the highest an Ohio State team’s gone is No. 2, achieved back on March 13, 2005. Even so, for coach McGuff, there will be one ranking that does matter to him.

“I’ll be more interested where we’re ranked when its all said and done in March or April.”

Continue reading...

In Conversation: Is Brian Hartline the answer for OSU’s open offensive coordinator job?
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 Ben Jackson/Getty Images

Or does Ryan Day need to go outside of the program and find someone who brings something new to the table?

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 this episode of “Land-Grant Holy Land In Conversation,” LGHL’s Matt Tamanini and Josh Dooley — one of the co-hosts from LGHL’s flagship podcast “Hangout in the Holy Land” — discuss what is next for Ryan Day at the Buckeyes at the offensive coordinator position. With Kevin Wilson being officially named as the new head coach at Tulsa, Day will have a big decision to make sooner rather than later.

Will he turn over play calling to his new hire? Will he promote from within or find the best candidate on the open market? Will he find someone with a similar philosophy and pedigree, or will he look for a coach who brings something new to the offense?

With the football early signing period coming up on Dec. 21, it might behoove Day to move quickly and find his next OC, but with College Football Playoff prep, is that really feasible? Matt and Josh discuss that and much more.


Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Continue reading...

Will Ohio State ultimately take a running back in the 2023 class?
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Jamarion Wilcox | 247Sports

As we near the conclusion of the 2023 recruiting class, the Buckeyes still have a void at the running back spot. Will it be filled?

With the regular season and conference championships now in the rear view, Ohio State will now look to prepare for Georgia in the playoff game, as well as finishing out the 2023 class on a good note. Will the Buckeyes ultimately add a running back in this years cycle? Will Ohio State be able to push away other programs from raiding their class?

Let’s talk about it.

Wilcox, Owens still options for the Buckeyes?


After Ohio State took a devastating blow at the position in mid-November when longtime pledge and four-star running back Mark Fletcher of American Heritage (FL) decommitted from the Buckeyes, the focus has been on whether or not the void would be filled.

Ohio State quickly casted an offer to four-star running back Jamarion Wilcox of South Paulding (GA) and tried to get back into the ear of four-star running back Reuben Owens of El Campo (TX) — a Louisville commit. While there seemed to be some slight momentum for the Buckeyes chances of maybe reeling in one of the two, perhaps that isn’t the reality as of today.

According to Jeremy Birmingham of Dotting The Eyes on Rivals, while the Buckeyes are still pushing to get the aforementioned Wilcox on campus this weekend for a visit, he does not think that will happen. Birmingham had similar sentiments for Owens, which could mean Ohio State walks away empty handed at the position.

While it would have been ideal for the Buckeyes to add at least one running back in the class, and maybe they still do in the coming months, the running back room for Tony Alford still has plenty of talent and experience at their disposal as long as the dreaded transfer portal or potential early NFL entrants don’t shake things up in Columbus.

Ohio State aiming to keep a trio of pledges in the fold


Another tall task for the Buckeyes as the 2023 class will come to a close in the coming weeks and months will be keeping their current pledges in the fold amidst coaching changes and programs also looking to close out their respective classes.

One program in specific that is eyeing a pair of Buckeye pledges is Auburn, who recently hired former Liberty coach Hugh Freeze. The Tigers have long been in pursuit of Ohio State pledge and four-star tight end Jelani Thurman of Langston Hughes (GA). The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder has made over a handful of visits to the Auburn campus and with Kevin Wilson now off to Tulsa, the Buckeyes still have work to do to keep Thurman in the fold. It remains to be seen just how concerned Ohio State should be in this specific recruitment, but it is certainly something to monitor going forward.

The other name that Auburn is looking to poach from the Buckeyes is four-star cornerback Kayin Lee of Cedar Grove (GA). The most notable change for Lee and the Buckeyes is that UAB recently hired Miguel Patrick, former high school coach of Lee, as a defensive line coach on Monday. Will the loss of Patrick from the Ohio State staff be enough to get Lee to reconsider his pledge?

Lastly, it seems as if the Buckeyes still have work to do with four-star cornerback Jermaine Matthews of Winton Woods (OH). The 6-foot-0, 175-pounder has been committed to Ohio State since July but that isn’t stopping the highly NIL equipped Hurricanes of Miami (FL) from attempting to pry him off of that pledge.

According to Birmingham, Matthews is currently scheduled to take an official visit to Miami next weekend. If that visit takes place, it will definitely be of concern to the Buckeyes and where they stand with Matthews, who seemed to have a not so fond reaction on Twitter to Ohio State being interested in transfer portal cornerback prospect Fentrell Cypress II from Virginia.

Quick Hits

• Now former Ohio State offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Kevin Wilson, at least after the playoffs, was introduced as Tulsa’s Head Coach on Tuesday. Wilson, who spent nearly six years with the Buckeyes, revealed at his press conference that he was still out recruiting for the program on Monday.
• Ohio State target and 2025 four-star linebacker Jadon Perlotte of Buford (GA) was Crystal Balled on 247Sports to stay home and land with Georgia on Tuesday. Perlotte, who earned an offer from the Buckeyes back in June, is scheduled to make his collegiate declaration on Thursday.

Continue reading...

so in the coaching change thread i mentioned i played against Herb Tyler in High School.

so just curious who some of you midwestern guys (or the Tomato guy if he actually played and wasn’t on chess team or some shit) either actually played, or just missed playing against in High School.

Played against:
Herb Tyler (LSU quarterback)
Rondel Mealy (LSU running back)
Larry Foster (LSU wideout, spent some time with Detroit Lions)
Travis Minor (FSU running back, spent some time in NFL)


Just missed:
Peyton Manning - we played Newman year after he graduated
Jake Delhomme - played Teurlings Catholic my Sr year (3 years after Jake)
Kevin Faulk - had we won i. first round of playoffs, would have played Carencro in 2nd round his senior year
Corey Webster - i’m 4 years older than him, but our HS are district rivals
Warrick Dunn - same HS as Minor, but his freshman year at FSU was my sophomore year in HS

Go Navy! Beat Army!

In Conversation Podcast: Breaking down Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kevin Wilson news
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 Harry How/Getty Images

On the pod, Matt and Chris break down the crazy news day that we had on Monday.

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


After a wild day of news on Monday, on this episode of “LGHL In Conversation,” Land-Grant Holy Land’s Matt Tamanini and Chris Renne dove into all of the hot topics including Jaxon Smith-Njigba being unable to play in the College Football Playoff, Kevin Wilson taking the head coaching job at Tulsa, Buckeyes heading into the transfer portal, and much more.

They discuss the difficult road JSN has been on trying (and ultimately failing) to get back on the field this season and the difficult decision he had to make for the betterment of his team and his future.

Chris and Matt also dive into what Ryan Day needs to do with he newly opened offensive coordinator position, how Brian Hartline fits into that equation, and a few random names who could be on his target list. They also discuss the first two Buckeyes to enter the transfer portal this season.

Finally, they wrap up the episode talking about the benefits of being a fan blog and being able to ride the emotional swings of true fandom.


Connect with Chris Renne
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Continue reading...

B1G Thoughts: Reviewing the Big Ten at the season’s end
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The season has ended with the Michigan Wolverines as champions for the second year in a row. Let’s take a look back and review the 2022 campaign.

Every week after the Big Ten slate of games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and maybe a joke or two. Be sure to check out the I-70 Football Show in the Land-Grant Holy Land podcast feed for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.


Welcome to the postseason.

The 2022 season has come to an end, with the Michigan Wolverines crowned Big Ten Champs for the second time in as many seasons. Jim Harbaugh, after an eventful 2020 season that led to his almost firing and having to accept a 50% pay cut, has won all but two games since, including two wins over Ohio State. The Big Ten officially runs through Ann Arbor.

While some things change others stay the same, including the Big Ten East’s dominance in the Big Ten Championship game. The East is the best division in college football. The race in the Big Ten is for the East because if you can win that division you’re all but guaranteed a win over your West counterpart.

At season's end, there are three Big Ten teams ranked in the Top 25 — all three of them are from the East division, as Michigan and Ohio State made the College Football Playoff at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Penn State comes in at No. 11 and will face Utah in the Rose Bowl. There is no team from the West division in the rankings, as they all have at least four losses.

The reasons continue to grow for the Big Ten to officially decide to get rid of divisions for the 2024 season when USC and UCLA join the conference. The East’s dominance should be reason enough, but adding USC (who finished No. 10) and UCLA (who finished No. 18) should be the straw to break the camels back. With two teams in the playoffs, a new media deal, and the additions of the Trojans and Bruins, the Big Ten is trying to stake its claim as the best conference in college football as they continue to expand the gap between them, the SEC, and the rest of the country.


This was a down year in the Big Ten for many reasons, but the future is bright. Nebraska and Wisconsin fired their coaches, and replaced them with Matt Rhule and Luke Fickell. Northwestern, Indiana, and Iowa have decided to retain their coaches, but many of them will enter the 2023 season on the hot seat.

We have all offseason to discuss the future, so let’s look at how 2022 ended.


Michigan is the class of the Big Ten, staking its claim as the best team in the conference and one of the best in the country. Michigan and Ohio State sit in a tier of their own, while Penn State is a close third. The rest of the Big Ten is in flux.

Michigan State took a huge step back, with Indiana and Rutgers continues to struggle. The West division is a jumbled mess with no team separating itself from the group. Illinois looked like the best team for most of the season, but stumbled to the finish line, ultimately being topped by Purdue. Purdue won the West division for the first time in program history, led by Aidan O’Connell and childhood friend and Iowa transfer, Charlie Jones.

Minnesota and Wisconsin have to be disappointed in their seasons, as Wisconsin barely reached bowl eligibility and fired their coach, while Minnesota couldn’t capitalize on the return of Mohamed Ibrahim and Tanner Morgan. The 2022 Big Ten season mirrored our society, where the rich get richer and the middle class disappears.


These power rankings have changed dramatically throughout the season. It took until the final week, but Michigan supplanted Ohio State at the top. There was little consistency in these rankings aside from Northwestern and Indiana being two of the worst teams in the conference. Technically, the Big Ten West has more teams in the top 10 with six, but the conference is very top-heavy and it’s unlikely that Michigan State remains this bad.

Despite Purdue winning the West division, Illinois is the highest-ranked West team. They lost to Purdue, but they were the better team most of the season, and if they played 10 times Illinois would win more than they lose. Iowa probably isn’t the sixth best team in the conference, but they have wins over Wisconsin and Nebraska, and would probably beat Maryland as well.

This was a weird season in the Big Ten, it’s going to be hard to take a lot of lessons from it.


C.J. Stroud built an insurmountable lead ending the season with 37 passing touchdowns, but Aidan O’Connell took the lead in passing yards with 3,490 with an extra game played. Ohio State and Purdue had the best passing offenses, with a quarterback and wide receiver for both teams represented as leaders in offensive statistical categories.

Michigan State, despite being a poor overall defensively, was represented well, leading the Big Ten in total tackles and forced fumbles. Jacoby Windmons' ultimate suspension opened the door for Nick Herbig to dominate in sacks and tackles for a loss. Players from eight teams are represented, as there were not many singular dominant players this year.


At the two-thirds mark, I pulled out my crystal ball and predicted the final records for each team. I went 7-for-14 with my predictions, but I got eight out of nine bowl teams accurate. I was high on Illinois finishing the season strong, but they lost three of their final four games.

Aside from Northwestern no one bottomed out. Rutgers lost one more game compared to last season, but they fought and never gave up on their coach. I fully expect pure chaos next season, as many of these teams will be losing star players, fifth and sixth-year seniors, and in some case replacing their coaches.


At season's end comes award season, and as expected I disagree with many of the award recipients. Not to disparage anyone, as they are all great players, but I would make some changes.

Jack Campbell was the known name coming into the season, and he had a good year, but he was not the best defensive player in the league. Nor was he the best linebacker. That honor belongs to Ohio State’s Tommy Eichenberg. Eichenberg had more solo tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and interceptions. His play also led to a much improved defense for the Buckeyes. Campbell has five more total tackles, but the stats don’t support his being the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year or Linebacker of the Year.

Yet, the people who vote for these awards don’t know football and couldn’t explain the intricacies of the linebacker position. Seems they can’t look at stats either.

C.J. Stroud became the third-straight Buckeye quarterback to win the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year. An Ohio State player has won the award for five consecutive years. Marvin Harrision Jr. became the first Buckeye to win the Wide Receiver of the Year award. That was surprising when I heard it, but with all the great wide receivers on the roster, it tends to lessen each player's statistics.

This was not a banner year for Big Ten defensive lines. There were good collections of units, but after years of the Bosa brothers, Chase Young, Aidan Hutchinson, and other dominant pass rushers, Mike Morris winning with only 7.5 sacks is shocking. Despite Morris having less than 10 sacks, Michigan has won the Defensive Lineman of the Year award two years in a row.

My final takeaway is that almost every player on this list will be in the NFL Draft or run out of eligibility. That’s a lot of talent to replace. The Big Ten will be very interesting next season.

Continue reading...

You’re Nuts: What pre-transfer portal player would you have wanted at Ohio State?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Set Number: X86404 TK1 R4 F71

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

College football operates so much differently from what we saw 10 years ago. Not only is there NIL legislation, but players can also transfer once without penalty. We saw just how impactful the transfer portal can be last year, when Michigan State rode former Wake Forest running back Kenneth Walker III to an 11-2 record and a spot in the Peach Bowl.

Ohio State has been able to use the transfer portal to their benefit over the last five years. The Buckeyes were able to bring in Justin Fields to replace J.T. Barrett at quarterback, and they also were the preferred destination of former Oklahoma running back Trey Sermon, who rushed for a school record 331 yards in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game, and followed that performance up with a big game in the blowout of Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal.

Prior to the transfer portal, it wasn’t often that we saw the Buckeyes dip into the transfer market. Not that there wasn’t opportunities for Ohio State to upgrade teams in the past if they really wanted to. While some of these transfers are pipe dreams that weren’t close to ever happening, it’s fun to imagine what could’ve been.

Today’s question: What pre-transfer portal transfer player would you have wanted at Ohio State?

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.

Brett’s answer: Randy Moss


The legendary wide receiver bounced around before even stepping foot on a college football field. Even though Moss had considered Ohio State because his half-brother had played offensive tackle with the Buckeyes, he ended up signing a letter of intent to play at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish rescinded their offer after Moss was involved in a fight and expelled from high school.

Following Notre Dame denying his admission, Moss went to Florida State and redshirted in 1995, but he would never get a chance to play for the Seminoles, as he tested positive for marijuana. Moss returned to West Virginia to play for Marshall, since at the time Marshall was an I-AA school, so he wouldn’t have to sit out another season. Marshall would become a I-A school the following season.

Just imagine if Moss had either transferred to Ohio State following his dismissal from Notre Dame, or even decided to sit out another season following his dismissal from Florida State. Ohio State was 11-1 in 1996 and 10-3 in 1997. Two of the losses for Ohio State in 1997 were by a combined 10 points to Penn State and Michigan. Had the Buckeyes been able to pair Moss with David Boston at wide receiver, you might not see Ohio State lose those games. They could have been playing for a national title in either one or both of those seasons if they had a weapon like Moss at receiver.

Meredith’s answer: Robert Griffin III


There are obviously so many great players who we could choose here, but in terms of a single player in a given year who could have made an impact for Ohio State, Robert Griffin III joining the Buckeyes in 2011 could have made a major difference for a team that had a lot of pieces but was missing a dynamic quarterback to run the offense.

As a reminder, 2011 was a year of upheaval in Columbus following the abrupt departure of Jim Tressel after Tattoogate. Luke Fickell was head coach of a team that would finish 6-7, lose to Michigan and lose their bowl game.

Braxton Miller was a true freshman at the time, backing up Joe Bauserman. Miller obviously had the talent to lead Ohio State as we would eventually see, but it was a tall order to expect him to thrive under the conditions in Columbus at the time. Miller would have benefited from the presence of a veteran quarterback with the run-pass skillset Miller would come to embody.

Griffin obviously won the Heisman in 2011 with Baylor, but had a strong showing in 2010 for a Bears team that finished 7-6 that year. It feels like if he played in the era of the transfer portal, he might have taken his talents to a team that had a chance at contending for a conference title (at least).

2011 was something of a lost season for Ohio State with the entire program in limbo. However, the defense was decent and there were some studs at skill positions. Adding an experienced quarterback to the mix was probably not going to drive toward a national championship that season. However, considering six of Ohio State’s seven losses that season were one-score losses, that marginal impact could have tipped the scales in a way that could have led toward a conference title.

Continue reading...

B1G WBB Week 4: ACC/Big Ten Challenge, overtime, B1G play begins
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Minnesota freshman guard Mara Braun in the Dec. 2 B1G opener against Penn State | Twitter | @GopherWBB

How Penn State and Minnesota got the conference season going and looking back at the last ACC/B1G Challenge

Week four of the NCAA season was full of beginnings and endings in the Big Ten. Celebrating the final ACC/Big Ten Challenge, going away due to television deals and ESPN opting for an ACC/SEC challenge to keep things in-house, and the beginning of another conference season.

Here are some non-Buckeye happenings around the conference.

So Long ACC/Big Ten Challenge


On Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, the Big Ten met the ACC for the last time, at least in a formal, organized, format. Teams can still play each other, and the challenge wasn’t the first time teams from the two conferences met in the 2022-23 season. Even so, an in-season competition like the challenge will be missed, maybe more for the ACC than the Big Ten.

The ACC continued its winning ways, adding an 11th challenge win out of 15 seasons. That doesn’t mean the Big Ten wasn’t successful. Of the four ranked vs. ranked match-ups, the Big Ten took away three wins, and two by double-digits. The third was the most exciting of the competition.

(Rankings as of competition date)

No. 20 Maryland 74 - No. 7 Notre Dame 72

In South Bend, Indiana, the Maryland Terrapins met an undefeated Notre Dame side. The Fighting Irish were also 7-1 in the challenge entering the Dec. 1 game. That didn’t matter to star guard Diamond Miller.

After 39:45, the score was 72-72, with Maryland holding the last possession. The Terps inbounded in their offensive half, quickly getting the ball to Miller. She received a screen, and Notre Dame kept man coverage. After a second screen, Miller shot a midrange jumper, outside of the free-throw line. The rest, as they say, is history.


The week didn’t end great for Maryland, but the buzzer-beater capped off a Miller performance of 31 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists; Diamond’s dominance on full display.

No. 6 North Carolina 63 - No. 5 Indiana 87

A few hours south of South Bend was another ranked game, that looked like the match-up of the challenge. It ended up not being much of a challenge at all for the Indiana Hoosiers.

Missing guard Grace Berger, who was out with an injury, the Hoosiers went down 7-0 quickly, and it seemed like maybe the Tar Heels could take advantage and confirm their higher spot in the polls with a key away win.

Instead, the Hoosiers answered back, going 27-14 for the remainder of the first quarter, stretching a 13-point run into the second quarter. Indiana never let UNC back into the game, outscoring the No. 5 team in the country in all four quarters.

Starting in Berger’s place was guard Sydney Parrish. The Oregon Ducks transfer went off, hitting her season-high in her second straight start, scoring 24 points with six rebounds. Parrish had help too in center Mackenzie Holmes.

The center had 25 points and five assists, for her fourth game in a row with at least 20 points. Holmes helped Indiana outscore UNC in the paint 36-26.

No. 12 NC State 94 - No. 10 Iowa 81

The final ranked v. ranked game saw the Wolfpack travel to Iowa City, Iowa. Guard Caitlin Clark, who won B1G Player of the Week following Week 4, scored an NCAA season-high 45 points. It was another dynamic performance by a consistently dynamic player, but Iowa couldn’t turn that performance into a win.

NC State’s game plan was to limit those around Clark. Only one other Hawkeye hit double-digit scoring and center Monika Czinano scored a season-low five points. Clark took 47% of Iowa’s shots, 28-of-59. The rest of the team shot 11-for-31, a 35.5% average.

Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Caitlin Clark (22) and the Hawkeyes didn’t have an answer for NC State over four quarters

After a rough first quarter offensively for the visitors, scoring just 13 points on 37% shooting, the Wolfpack stormed back and Iowa didn’t have an answer.

Iowa’s defeat is their second against ranked opponents this season and third overall. The Hawkeyes took their aggression out on Wisconsin in Big Ten play, winning 102-71.

Purdue, Illinois, and No. 17 Michigan also won their games, ending the challenge 8-6 in the ACC’s favor.

Gophers and Nittany Lions Play Free Basketball


In last week’s Land-Grant Holy Land Big Ten women’s basketball power rankings, both the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Penn State Nittany Lions were sides that have played interesting seasons. Penn State came back against Syracuse for their largest comeback win in program history and the Gophers lost players in transfers but boast two standout freshmen on their roster.

Friday night, two teams who could surprise the conference played to not one but two overtime periods in an exciting back-and-forth game.

With 2:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions had an eight-point lead in Minnesota. The way the Gophers comeback was unconventional, cutting down the lead with perfect free throw shooting.

Minnesota went 13-for-13 from the charity stripe in the final quarter of regulation. Of those 13, five came from freshman guard Mara Braun in the final 1:18 of the game. Not phased by the pressure, Braun tied the game at 74 a piece hitting three free throws on a foul earned beyond the arc.

Penn State had their chances, even scoring the final in-play basket with guard Leilani Kapinus running the floor and hitting a layup with two seconds remaining. The apparent game-winner was nullified though on the final break of the fourth quarter,

Within two seconds, Minnesota inbounded the ball and an errant knee by guard Taniyah Thompson caught guard Katie Borowicz, sending her to the ground. In the bonus, Borowicz hit her two free throws to send it to overtime.

Even with Penn State freshman Shay Ciezki hitting a big layup at the end of the first overtime, the Lions couldn’t pull out the away victory. The Gophers went 10-for-12 on free throws in two overtime periods, compared to 1-for-6 from the line for the Nittany Lions. That was the difference in the 98-96 Minnesota win.

Speaking of Braun, the freshman picked up B1G Freshman of the Week again for her performance, leading Minnesota with 26 points.

Nebraska Bounces Back Big


The Nebraska Cornhuskers were having a difficult season until Sunday afternoon. In their ACC/B1G Challenge game, the Virginia Tech Hokies won by 31 points in a big 85-54 defeat for Nebraska. Compare that to Maryland’s last-second win against the Irish and Nebraska’s first conference game of the season was looking grim. Fortunately for Big Red, that doesn’t matter after the jump ball.

Maryland lost by 23 points to a Nebraska team showing an incredible ability to bounce back after their worst loss of the early season. Also, they got the Terps’ Miller into foul trouble early.

Miller didn’t play the entire second quarter after picking up two early fouls in the first quarter. Even so, Maryland still went into halftime up five points, with Miller entering the game again in the third quarter, ending the day with 13 points.

The second half belonged to Nebraska guard Jaz Shelley. The Australian scored 18 of her 29 points in the second half on her way to the highest point total for any player on the day, adding five assists.

Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jaz Shelley (left) guarding Diamond Miller (second from left) in Sunday’s big Cornhuskers win against the Terrapins

Sophomore guard Allison Weidner also kept up her rebounding game, hitting a personal high with 15 rebounds, 12 on the defensive boards. Even outrebounding center Alexis Markowski, who leads Nebraska in that department, grabbing five rebounds.

Nebraska’s win was their first against the Terrapins in program history. A potential momentum-shifting win for a Cornhuskers’ side that’s so far not met their expectations of starting the season ranked No. 22.

Way-Too-Early Standings

AP Poll


The same five sides stayed within the AP Top 25 this week, with three teams making moves in the right direction.

3 - Ohio State (+1)

4 - Indiana Hoosiers (+2)

14 - Michigan Wolverines (+3)

16 - Iowa Hawkeyes (-6)

20 - Maryland Terrapins (NC)

Games to Watch (non-OSU)

Wednesday, Dec. 7

• No 10. Iowa State Cyclones at No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes - 7:00 p.m. ET
• Kentucky Wildcats at Minnesota Golden Gophers - 8:00 p.m. ET

Thursday, Dec. 8

• No. 20 Maryland Terrapins at Purdue Boilermakers - 6:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, Dec. 11

• No. 3 UConn Huskies at No. 20 Maryland Terrapins - 3:00 p.m. ET

Team Say No to Las Vegas Invitational


In positive news off the court, the Fyre Frestival-esque Las Vegas Invitational which found the Indiana Hoosiers playing in a near-empty ballroom in The Mirage hotel, lost three teams for its second Vegas tournament this season.

The Purdue Boilermakers, who won the other overtime game over the Big Ten weekend, bowed out of the tournament.

Joining the Big Ten side are the Dayton Flyers and Texas A&M. All three were contracted by Destination Basketball, with five non-Power Five schools with the group organizing the event.

The less money Destination Basketball makes, the better.

Continue reading...

Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for December 6, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


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

On the Gridiron


Jaxon Smith-Njigba won’t return for Ohio State in CFP semifinal, to enter NFL draft
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Certainly didn’t end the way that anybody wanted, but can’t wait to see what JSN does at the next level!


Making sense of Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s injury, decision; Ohio State impact
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Analyzing impact as Jaxon Smith-Njigba makes Peach Bowl, NFL decision (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

I said everything I needed to say about this jacknut on Twitter yesterday:


OSU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson named next coach at Tulsa
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Analyzing the impact as Kevin Wilson takes Tulsa head coaching job
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Could Brian Hartline replace Kevin Wilson as Ohio State offensive coordinator?
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

I hope all 704 find a place that fits everything they are looking for.


Buckeyes linebacker Teradja Mitchell enters transfer portal
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Jaylen Johnson first Ohio State football player to enter transfer portal in 2022
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Transfer Portal: How departing Buckeyes impact program moving forward (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

I think he’s only got a slim chance to win, but it’s still pretty impressive to be there in back-to-back years:


C.J. Stroud’s second Heisman Trophy finalist nod puts him in exclusive Ohio State football club
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

How does this Ohio State team stack up to past Buckeye playoff teams?
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

Listen to Ryan Day’s Sunday, post-CFP announcement press conference:


College Football Playoff offers Ryan Day a shot to change his legacy
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land

Column: Who would you have preferred Ohio State play in the College Football Playoff?
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Ohio State women’s basketball moves to No. 3 in AP Poll
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State preparing for physical test from Rutgers
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

WATCH: Chris Holtmann Press Conference Ahead of Big Ten Opener
Ohio State Athletics


Buckeyes hold on edge of AP Poll entering Big Ten play
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row

Mikesell Named to Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll
Ohio State Athletics

Game Notes: No. 4 Ohio State women’s basketball laments poor win at Rutgers
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Women’s Volleyball: Ohio State Sweeps USC to Advance to Third-Straight NCAA Regionals
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Hockey: No. 17 Buckeyes Notch 4-3 Road Win at No. 6/5 Penn State
Ohio State Athletics

Student Staff Provides ‘Heartbeat’ of Ohio State Marching Band
Sydney Jones, The Lantern

Continue reading...

Column: Ranking the top three College Football Playoffs (hint: this one makes the cut)
meganhusslein 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

I’m just happy Alabama and Clemson didn’t make it this year.

It’s hard to believe that this year will mark the ninth edition of the College Football Playoff. It’s certainly made for interesting postseasons — some bad, some good. There have been mismatches and historical matchups. There have been blowouts and overtime games. Here are my top three college football playoff years.

1. 2014: (4) Ohio State defeated (1) Alabama, then (2) Oregon

Obviously, this was going to take the top spot. It was the first College Football Playoff and it was the best. Not so much the Florida State/Oregon game, as the Ducks won 59-20, but Ohio State’s journey to hoisting the National Championship trophy is one of the greatest stories in college football ever!

Let’s relive the glory days for a minute. Braxton Miller was supposed to lead this team to the Natty. Then he got injured before the season even started and J.T. Barrett took the reins, taking the Bucks to an 11-1 record. The 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech in the second game of the season ignited a fire that would not be relinquished.

Then J.T. got injured against Michigan, and in comes Cardale Jones. After whomping Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten Championship, the Buckeyes slid in as the No. 4 seed as a major underdog against Bama. After being down 21-6 in the second quarter, Ohio State proceeded to score four straight touchdowns, holding on to win 42-35.

Onto the Natty against Oregon — the Buckeyes just overpowered them. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 246 yards (how did I forget about this) and 12 Gauge passed for 242 yards as Ohio State won 42-20. The storyline and magic of this year is purely unmatched: playing the entire postseason with the third-string quarterback, defeating the big, bad, No. 1 Crimson Tide and then taking down Heisman-winner Marcus Mariota to win it all. There hasn’t been anything like it since.

2. 2022: Georgia v Ohio State, Michigan v TCU, Winner: ?

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

I truly believe this postseason is shaping up to be one of the best playoffs yet. I know it hasn’t happened yet, but the way everything has fallen into place is intriguing.

Georgia finished its season undefeated, but has been tested a couple times against Missouri and Kentucky. Could the defending champs be taken down by the Bucks? Speaking of Ohio State, I feel like destiny is coming into play for them. The fact that Utah took down Caleb Williams’ USC AND TCU lost just to ensure the Buckeyes made the playoff makes me feel like this team simply isn’t done yet.

Michigan has been super interesting to watch this entire year, as they also finished undefeated, yet looked like they were going to lose in the first half for a decent portion of their games. However, the Wolverines looked dominant against Ohio State, so perhaps they are better than everyone thought.

OR, they could be a fraud. Maybe it wasn’t that Michigan played well, but the Buckeyes just played poorly. And if any team could expose this, I think it could be TCU. The Horned Frogs are so intriguing, and Max Duggan is a DOG. While I obviously want an Ohio State/Michigan rematch in the final, I certainly smell some upsets brewing.

3. 2017: (4) Alabama defeated (1) Clemson, then (3) Georgia

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

This year was FILLED with big names! Starting with the playoff, Alabama’s Jalen Hurts faced off against Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, and the No. 4 Tide came out on top. Watson and the Tigers didn’t even score a touchdown. Alabama won 24-6, and advanced to the title game.

As for the other playoff game, it was Jake Fromm of Georgia versus Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma. All four of these quarterbacks were great in college — it’s crazy to think that they all played in the same playoff. This Rose Bowl was a classic, as it was an offensive shootout. Georgia was down 31-17 at the half before scoring four unanswered TDs. Oklahoma took the lead, then the Bulldogs’ Nick Chubb rushed for a touchdown to tie it up 45-45 and send it into overtime.

Two field goals sent the game into double overtime, and Sony Michel (him and Chubb on the same team, OMG) scored the winning touchdown, sending Georgia to the Natty.

The Bulldogs got on top early, 13-0 at halftime. Then, Nick Saban switched from Hurts to Tua Tagovailoa and the now-Dolphins QB saved the day. Down 20-13 in the fourth quarter, Tua’s pass to Calvin Ridley tied it up, sending the game into OT. Of course, the overtime winner was to DeVonta Smith, giving the Tide the win. Man, these teams were star-studded.

Continue reading...

Silver Bullets Podcast: A Playoff Berth and Lots of OSU News
Michael Citro 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

A crazy weekend pushed Ohio State into the final four, C.J. Stroud is a Heisman finalist again, Kevin Wilson is leaving, and leave Jaxon Smith-Njigba alone.


What a difference a week makes. On our last show, we spent a good deal of time venting about Ohio State’s loss to Michigan, criticizing the decisions we thought led to it, and thinking that all that remained in the season was a meaningless exhibition game in which a bunch of starters sat out to focus on the 2023 NFL Draft.

But all of that changed on Friday, when USC got pounded by Utah and led to Sunday’s announcement that the Buckeyes are going to the College Football Playoff to face Georgia in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Eve. On this week’s show, we discussed the emotional sea change from last week to this, and discuss the games that ended up falling the Buckeyes’ way. We also touched on the whining we saw on social media from supposedly neutral national college football pundits, and how ultimately the committee picked the four teams that made the most sense.

The game against Georgia is anything but a reward for Ohio State, as the Bulldogs have looked like the cream of the crop all season. But David can’t slay Goliath without any stones for his sling, and now Ohio State has one. We’ll find out how they use that stone on Dec. 31.

The big question on everyone’s mind once the Buckeyes were in was whether Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be healthy and on the field for the playoff. That is not the case, and we discussed both JSN’s public statement, in which he clearly mentions consulting with his doctors, and what was an ugly reaction from many who either somehow know more about his medical file than he does, or else they just like questioning the character of people they don’t know. Either way, it was gross.

Ohio State’s coaching staff will have some changes either before or shortly after the College Football Playoff, with the news that Kevin Wilson is all but officially announced as the next head coach at Tulsa. Will he stay at Ohio State through the playoff or focus on trying to keep Tulsa’s recruiting class together between now and then? What’s best for the Buckeyes? Who will the next offensive coordinator be, and how does Ryan Day’s insistence on controlling the play calling affect that? These are the questions we wrestled with this week.

C.J. Stroud is a Heisman Trophy finalist, and we discussed his season as well as the other contenders to make some sense of what will happen at the Downtown Athletic Club.

Finally, some transfer portal news that is OSU-related came out on a crazy day that saw hundreds of athletes enter in search of greener pastures. How much of it was NIL-driven and how much is it just guys trying to find a better situation? Either way, that’s a lot of names, and several of them are multi-year starting quarterbacks.

We’ll be back next week to talk about whatever news comes out of what is sure to be an interesting December. We’ll be getting ready for the Georgia showdown and taking a look at the other B1G bowl match-ups as well.

In the meantime, feel free to reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email. Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share.

Thanks for listening!

Continue reading...

Ohio State four-star TE target sets commitment date
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2024 four-star tight end Michael Smith via Rusty Mansell, 247Sports

The Buckeyes will soon learn if a 2024 tight end will join the class.

The last 48 hours have been a wild ride for Ohio State. The Buckeyes learned Sunday morning that despite a loss to Michigan in the team’s last regular season game, they will be one of four teams in the College Football Playoffs. Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff had little time to celebrate though, as Monday was the start of the 2022 transfer portal season, and this year’s cycle is far from any other.

While most of the headlines surrounding Ohio State will focus on this current roster and how they prepare for a New Years Eve bout with Georgia, the Buckeyes will also remain heavily involved in the recruiting headlines.

2024 four-star TE to commit in January


Ohio State is off to a quick start in the 2024 recruiting class. The Buckeyes have already accumulated three verbal commitments in next year’s cycle, good enough for the No. 9 group in the country, according to the 247Sports Class Rankings.

While it is certainly early in the 2024 cycle, the Buckeyes have already highlighted a position of priority — tight end.

The Buckeyes have offered six recruits at tight end in next year’s class and the team is hoping to soon add one to the class as 2024 four-star TE Michael Smith (Savannah, GA / Calvary Day School) announced he will be committing on Jan. 24.


Ohio State was able to start recruiting Smith early in his recruitment and he received an official scholarship offer from the Buckeyes on June 28, following a summer camp at Ohio State. The Buckeyes continued to build a relationship with Smith and it paid off on Halloween when he included them among his top eight schools. Alongside Ohio State, Smith also included South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Texas and Penn State.

Since his top schools announcement, Smith has kept his recruitment close to the vest and thus far none of the eight schools have set themselves apart from the pack. There have been some rumblings in favor of Florida and South Carolina, but the Buckeyes certainly still have a chance in this one.

The coaching staff may try and make a trip to Georgia soon to visit him if the Buckeyes are seriously interested in his commitment. An in-home visit may also be necessary for the team to steal him from SEC Country.

Smith is the No. 6 TE in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 133 overall prospect. He is also the No. 24 recruit out of Georgia.

Update on Damon Wilson


Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class has been close to full for some time now. The team has not added a commitment since late October, but that is because they have to be picky with who will take the final spots in the class.

One of the recruits the Buckeyes have heavily targeted to close out their class is 2023 five-star defensive end Damon Wilson (Venice, FL / Venice). Wilson has seemingly narrowed his recruitment down to Georgia and Ohio State for a couple months. He has made official and unofficial visits to both schools lately, his last to Ohio State for the Michigan game. Additionally, both schools will likely make trips to visit him soon, as his high school team is still in the Florida State Playoffs.

While momentum in his recruitment has constantly switched back and forth between the two schools lately, we may soon be learning his decision. Wilson spoke with Chad Simmons of On3.com and Simmons says a recruitment could soon be coming. Even more so, he also said Wilson already knows who he wants to choose.


Simmons also gave his prediction on Wilson’s recruitment and he believes Georgia will get the victory over the Buckeyes. It also needs to be noted however, that the only two predictions submitted on 247Sports favor the Buckeyes. Needless to say, we will not know where Wilson will go until he lets us all know — even if he already knows.

Wilson is the No. 2 DE in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 20 overall prospect. He is also the No. 5 prospect out of Florida.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State Quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis took a quick in-state trip to Findlay, Ohio on Monday to visit with 2023 Ohio State offensive tackle commitment Luke Montgomery as well as his brother 2024 Ohio State quarterback target Ryan Montgomery.

Continue reading...

Column: Who would you have preferred Ohio State play in the College Football Playoff?
meganhusslein 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

Personally, I wanted to play Michigan in the playoff, but now I’m not sure.

Ohio State has officially made the College Football Playoff — yay! I definitely thought the Bucks were going to be the No. 3 seed and play Michigan, but I was wrong. I also wanted Ohio State to play TTUN, but the more I think about, I’m not sure who I’d rather play between Michigan or Georgia. Let’s break it down.

I’m not going to lie, I’m nervous to play Georgia. Seeing them put up 50 points against LSU in the SEC Championship did not help things. It also doesn’t help that the Peach Bowl is pretty much in the Bulldogs’ backyard in Atlanta. They’re the defending national champs, they’re undefeated and they have home field advantage. Yikes.

As for Michigan, I truly wanted to face off with them in the playoff. It would be the biggest game in rivalry history. If both teams make it to the National Championship, it will obviously be the same situation. However, with a trip to the Natty on the line, after losing to them twice in the past two years, I think the Buckeyes would have had a great chance against them.

Now, I’m not saying that Ohio State isn’t going to beat Georgia. I definitely believe they can. It’s sounding like Jaxon Smith-Njigba might play, too, which would be HUGE. Forcing Georgia to play against a Buckeye offense they haven’t played before, plus throwing in JSN — who they haven’t seen on film since he hasn’t played at all this year — would definitely be an advantage for the Buckeyes.

Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

However, I truly think that Georgia having Stetson Bennett as its quarterback is a big plus. He’s a veteran and has played in these types of games before and been successful. On the other hand, C.J. Stroud is 0-2 against Michigan, and has never played in a conference championship or playoff game. So far, he hasn’t proved to be great in important games.

Georgia has more advantages than Ohio State. Yet, that still isn’t reason enough to count the Buckeyes out. Ryan Day said new life has been breathed into the team, and I’m excited to see it for myself. The talent is there. Their motivation has been renewed. I’m sure they’re making the necessary adjustments in practice. Plus, Day said he expects everyone to be back healthy on Dec. 31 (without specifying about JSN).

Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports

Playing the Bulldogs will be tough. Will it be tougher than playing Michigan? I believe Georgia is the better team, but it will be more difficult to defeat Michigan. Everything, absolutely everything — Day’s legacy, Stroud’s legacy and how the season ends — is on the line. If the Buckeyes play Michigan, it will be unlike anything we’ve seen before in the rivalry.

In the end, I guess I am happy with the selection. I know I just listed many reasons why playing Georgia will be difficult, but the bigger game is definitely against Michigan. Playing TTUN in the championship game is the better storyline, anyway. But, let’s focus on one game at a time.

From now until New Year’s Eve, it is Operation Beat Georgia.

Continue reading...

LGHL Uncut Podcast: Ryan Day says juice is back in the Woody for playoff opportunity
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State Athletics

The coach met with the media just minutes after learning his team’s postseason fate.

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.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


On today’s episode, we have uncut press conference audio from Sunday, Dec. 4 as Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day met with the media just minutes after learning that his team had in fact made the College Football Playoff. The No. 4 Buckeyes will square off against the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta for the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31. In his media availability, Day discussed the emotional ups and downs that he and his team went through over the course of the week following the loss to Michigan.

He also talks about some of the things that they will do to prepare for the Dawgs, and potentially the Wolverines, in the weeks to come, how he will thank Utah’s coach Kyle Wittingham after the Utes beat USC, opening the door for the Buckeyes to claim a CFP berth. Of note, this presser happened before Jaxon Smith-Njigba announced that he would be unable to play in the postseason.

You can watch the full press conference on the official Ohio State athletics website.


Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Music by: www.bensound.com

Continue reading...

How does this Ohio State team stack up to past Buckeye playoff teams?
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Buckeyes have a history to look back to and more to make now that they are officially in the College Football Playoff.

The College Football Playoff committee had no choice, but made the correct decision in the end by selecting Ohio State as the fourth representative. Heading into conference championship weekend, the consensus across the country was Ohio State would be in the playoff with a USC loss. A defeated fan base came back from the dead, and the football program has a new lease on life.

Friday night, USC loss emphatically to Utah in Las Vegas 47-24. This was the decisive moment the Buckeyes needed for an opportunity to right their wrong, and reach their ultimate goal of winning a national title. Ohio State’s resume was poked and prodded for the 36 hours to follow, but this was not the first time. Many people spent time pandering for Alabama, using Vegas odds as evidence, but there was one data point the committee has never overlooked — the fact they have never let in a team with two losses.

At the end of the day, the arguments about the Buckeyes losing 45-23 to their rival were trumped by a 2-1 record against top-25 teams, their 11 wins being by double digits, and once again, only having one loss. Ohio State is now in their fifth College Football Playoff meaning they have now participated in more than half of the playoffs since its inception in 2014.

With a lot of recent history, this Buckeyes team will have its own story to tell, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something we can learn from the past trips and exclusions. The Buckeyes have been here before, but they still have a lot to fix if they’re going to replicate their past successes.

Playoff History


Ohio State has a rich history as the No. 4 seed, once being sacred to modern Buckeye lore and the other being a repressed piece of the modern era. Ohio state is once again playing a Southern power with few backers in their corner. Some people have said this is exactly where Ohio State wants to be. Their other appearances have brought mixed results, but four of the five have resulted in a season-ending loss.

2014-2015

Starting in 2014, the Buckeyes had an early loss to Virginia Tech, but then rode an 11-game win streak into selection day. The final data point was a dismantling of Wisconsin, 59-0, winning the Big Ten Championship. Behind the consistent play of J.T. Barrett throughout the season, the emergence of Ezekiel Elliott, and one of the most talented Ohio State defenses in school history, they were able to jump over TCU and Baylor on the final Saturday.

The difference here is the Buckeyes were peaking at the right time. They showed improvement on a week-to-week basis on both sides of the ball. When the moment came to put it all together, the rest of the team was so locked in that the transition to a third-string quarterback was seamless. The rest is history. Strong defensive performances and an all-time run from the star running back in Elliott running for 696 yards and 8 touchdowns led to a national title.

Ohio State does not have Ezekiel Elliott, but the talented backs they do have will have time to rest up and hopefully be at full strength. The Buckeyes are at their best when they are balanced, and 2014 was an example of how dangerous a balanced offense can be. They dismantled Alabama, going 85 yards through the Heart of the South, and the defense was too much for Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.

If the Buckeyes commit to a balanced attack and the running backs are up to the task, their can be some noise made in Atlanta. They have shown they have the ability to get hot and go on a run.

2016-2017

Ohio State no-showed this time around, and the one man show on offense that was Curtis Samuel was not enough when the facing the Clemson Tigers. Clemson came into the matchup with one of the best quarterbacks in college football history in Deshaun Watson, a loaded group of receivers, and a defensive front with multiple NFL defenders.

Ohio State was overmatched immediately on both fronts, and that Clemson team was built similarly to the current Georgia team the Buckeyes will be facing. Compared to 2016, Ohio State has quite a few more weapons versus the team that lost 31-0, and that should keep this game from ending up with a scoreline like that.

That game set the course for the Buckeyes to find a new identity. Head coach Urban Meyer hired Ryan Day to be his offensive coordinator and committed to modernizing his offense. If a similar 31-0 result happens, Day might not have a job when he gets back to Columbus. But if this game shows any more weaknesses, he might finally make the necessary changes to keep his program in the conversation at the top of the sport.

2019-20

The playoff rivalry against Clemson got another chapter, this time with the Buckeyes having one of the most productive offenses in the country. Led by Justin Fields and J.K. Dobbins on offense, the team was the most balanced in the Ryan Day era. On defense, Ohio State had Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, Jordan Fuller, and more among the loaded cast of defenders.

The season began with the transfer of Fields. The Buckeyes started off dominant and maintained their dominant stature. On both sides of the ball they had game changing stars who could make a play at any time. Young was a Heisman contender on defense, and led the resurgence for the Buckeyes having one of the top units in the country.

Come playoff time, Ohio State had the 31-0 game heavy on their mind, but the Buckeyes came out firing. Unfortunately, an incompletion to J.K. Dobbins set the course of the misfortune Ohio State would have that day. An overturned fumble took a defensive touchdown off the board, and a targeting call on Shaun Wade had a decisive impact on the outcome.

The Buckeyes would have still needed to beat an LSU team that fielded arguably the greatest offense of all-time, but they did not even get that chance.

2020-2021

The most recent success for the Buckeyes was their revenge game against Clemson. For a third act, the Buckeyes finally got it right for four quarters. This game was the reason so many Ohio State fans were confident the Buckeyes would bounce back this year against Michigan. That was unfortunately not the case for Ohio State, but the difference this year is they have a chance to avenge that defeat similarly to how they avenged the loss to Clemson.

In that Covid-shortened season, Ohio State was only able to play six games and was a controversial pick for inclusion for that reason. The committee overlooked that fact and put in the four best teams. The Justin Fields led Buckeyes brought in a chip on their shoulder, multiple NFL receivers, and a defense that had showed flashes of excellence. When this Ohio State team was on, they were hard to beat.

This is what Clemson found out when Fields threw for six touchdowns, Trey Sermon added 193 yards in the ground, and the defense shoved Trevor Lawrence into a locker.

That Ohio State team did not play consistent football throughout the year and left a lot to be desired in their six wins. The defense let multiple teams back into games, but the ceiling was obvious when the Buckeyes put it all together. Once they found Trey Sermon, there was no looking back offensively and they got a hug performance from the defense.

In the national title game against Bama, we all remember the clip of Tuf Borland chasing DeVonta Smith. Need I say more?

The next opportunity


This Ohio State team has lived in its own universe, with a very different identity than the previous teams to get here. They have a top-10 defense and a top-3 offense in the country, but throughout the year this team has had long stretches of average football. The stagnation on offense and the missed assignments defensively have caused problems in the biggest games of Ohio State’s season.

But when comparing this team to past Ohio State playoff teams, there weren’t any teams with this consistent level of dominance throughout the season. Every Buckeye win was by double digits, and there were stretches where opponents saw games slip out of control in a snap. Gus Johnson has called Ohio State an avalanche with the way they just explode on teams.

The lasting impression of Ohio State was Donovan Edwards ripping off two long runs to put a nail in the coffin of Ohio State’s season. The Buckeyes now have a new lease on life and a history to add to, as Ryan Day said this team has a new energy. A possible return of Jaxon Smith-Njigba is looming, and Ohio State has a chance to be healthy. If they can reach the ceiling that many believe they came into the year with, this Ohio State team can recreate some past magic.

Having to beat Georgia and redeem a second loss to their rival is not a path any Ohio State team has taken before, but the final comparison will be drawn when we see the game on the New Year’s Eve. Then we’ll find out which category this Ohio State team will fall into. But for now, the Buckeyes have an opportunity to make history once again. The country expects a Georgia win, so Ohio State gets the rare opportunity to play the underdog.

Continue reading...

You’re Nuts: Way-too-early Ohio State-Georgia predictions
Josh Dooley 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

With the game nearly a month away, do we think the Buckeyes can upset the reigning champs?

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.

This week’s topic: Way-too-early Ohio State-Georgia predictions

Josh’s Take


Ohio State and its fans received an early Christmas present this past weekend when the Buckeyes were chosen to participate in the 2022 College Football Playoff. We can debate how much they really earned it all day long, but the fact of the matter is, they were the fourth-most deserving team. Now, with a second lease on life according to Ryan Day, it comes down to whether or not they can take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

All of OSU’s team goals for the season are still attainable — including a victory over TTUN. But first they must get by the defending national champions and winners of 27 games (so far) since the beginning of the 2021 season. Easier said than done? That doesn’t even apply here, Gene, because not a single soul in this entire world has even whispered the word “easy” in reference to this matchup. If anything, people are screaming the opposite!

That is because the Georgia Bulldogs, while mortal, do not bleed often. At least not recently. Meaning, they have been the dominant force in CFB , and shown very few weaknesses while running roughshod over top-tier opponents. The ‘Dogs (or Dawgs) have not been ranked outside of the top-3 (AP) since 2021 preseason votes were cast, boast eight victories over top-11 teams during that same timeframe, and generally play their absolute best when the lights are brightest. See: margin of victory over ranked opponents. One could even say Kirby Smart has his ‘Dogs hunting.

On New Year’s Eve, they will get to do so in their own backyard. Played in Atlanta, the Peach Bowl is home sweet home for UGA, but very unfamiliar territory for Ohio State. The Buckeyes, despite appearing in bowl games essentially every year since the beginning of time, have never participated in a Peach Bowl — let alone won a football game in the state of Georgia, as far as I could tell. The chips seemingly keep stacking against OSU, and that is something I believe Gene and I agree on.

What I am not sure we agree on, however, is our initial reactions to this matchup. While we did not take a deep dive into this matchup on Hangout in The Holy Land, we did address the elephant in the room. That elephant being: Georgia is probably the better top-to-bottom team right now. The Bulldogs opened a touchdown or near-touchdown favorites for that exact reason.

But whereas I think my co-host is near the point of no return with this Ohio State coaching staff and certain position groups, I see this game as playing with house money. Few expect the Buckeyes to win this one, which means they can – and should – play with reckless abandon. As a clear underdog, they should throw caution to the win, empty the bag of tricks, do all of that high-risk/high-reward stuff we often chastise Ryan Day for avoiding. This is it, Gene! Scared money don’t make money, and I think Day goes for broke in this one.

My way-too-early prediction for this Peach Bowl is that history repeats itself. There is precedence here for OSU, against a top-ranked SEC team even! You likely already know what I am talking about, but I don’t want to just come out and say it. Instead, I will hit you with some very specific predictions, and put a bow on it and the end.

First off, for one reason or another, I think Kyle McCord starts this game. The Buckeyes have won a natty with a backup quarterback before, so why not try it again? I think the New Jersey native goes something like 18-of-35 passing, but hits a few big ones when it counts. He will also add a running element, forcing UGA to at least consider the possibility of a QB draw or read option keeper. McCord hooks up with his boy Marvin Harrison Jr. for at least one score and earns the nickname 6-Gauge.

McCord will share the spotlight with Miyan Williams, who enters this game finally healthy. I think he gashes an otherwise impenetrable Bulldog front, racking up 230 rushing yards and Peach Bowl MVP honors along the way. His moment – the one which earns him a permanent place in Ohio State lore – will come in the fourth quarter, when after a short McCord conversion, he busts through the line of scrimmage and rumbles for a long, decisive TD. People will say he went 85 yards through the heart of Georgia.

Lastly, I believe the much-maligned OSU defense will force UGA’s Stetson Bennett to throw a few back-breaking interceptions. The otherwise dependable 30-year old QB is surrounded by loads of talent, but he will be forced to try and win this one on his own. After 12 games of borderline ineptitude, Tim Walton’s cornerbacks finally play a solid game, but they are not the players coming away with INT. Instead, two Ohio State safeties turn the ball over, and J.T. Tuimoloau scores on another pick-6. He does so while Steve Miller Band — Fly Like an Eagle blares throughout Mercedes-Benz stadium.

That, my friends, is how history will repeat itself. Reminiscent of the 2014 season, the Buckeyes beat the unbeatable and punch their ticket to a national title game. And I cannot wait to see it.

Gene’s Take


I dont even know where to begin after Josh’s storybook description of Ohio State’s Kyle McCord-led victory over Georgia. I’m not sure which statement is harder to believe — McCord getting the start in the game of Tim Walton’s corners playing their first good game of the season! But I digress...

My podcast cohost already laid out the narrative. Many don’t think the Buckeyes deserve to be here, but they will have the ultimate opportunity for redemption if they can go on to win the national title. This can go one of two ways. Ohio State recreates its 2014 magic with an upset win over an SEC powerhouse followed by a hoisting a championship trophy with a vengeful win over its biggest rival, or the Buckeyes recreate what happened in 2016 where they snuck into the College Football Playoff without a Big Ten title only to be blown out by Clemson in the first round. Which of these two scenarios seem more likely?

Unfortunately, for me it is the latter. While this Ohio State team is certainly much better than the one that was shut out by the Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl, I have zero trust in Ryan Day to prepare for or call plays in games against this caliber of opponent. He can come out and talk all he wants about being loose and aggressive moving forward, but I'll believe it when I see it. He didn’t learn his lesson after being blown out by Alabama in the national title game or after last year’s embarrassing loss to Michigan, so why should I believe this year will be any different?

Now, don’t get me wrong. Ohio State absolutely has the talent to win this game if their head coach doesn’t turtle up again. C.J. Stroud is still one of if not the best quarterback in the country, and the prospect of having perhaps a healthy Jaxon Smith-Njigba to pair alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as well as a healthy Miyan Williams is a tantalizing thought. Georgia has the best defense in the country for the second year running, but they have not seen an offense quite like Ohio State at full strength this year — given their head coach doesn’t dial up bubble screens and passes to the tight end in critical spots.

On the other side of the ball, Georgia’s passing offense is strong, but isn’t super explosive. The Dawgs’ top receiver is tight end Brock Bowers, and while he is far and away the best at his position in the country, Ohio State has done a good job this year defending tight ends. Georgia also very quietly doesn’t have the greatest rushing attack in the world. It is fine, but not the typical dominant Georgia run game we’ve grown accustomed to. Kenny McIntosh and Daijun Edwards both average a little over five yards per carry, but once again the Buckeyes have been strong against the run.

It looks to be very much a strength on strength battle here, with Ohio State’s dynamic offense — when the play-calling is adequate, at least — against Georgia’s stout defense. I’m not completely writing off the Buckeyes in this one, but after what I saw in Columbus a little over a week ago, I simply can't pick a Ryan Day team to win a game of this magnitude right now. At this current moment, my gut tells me that Ohio State makes it interesting, but ultimately comes up short in a 35-31 type of game.

Continue reading...