Ohio State hockey 2016-17 preview
Matt Torino via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Many think Ohio State should be much better this season.

You may have recently heard that Ohio State was picked by the Big Ten hockey coaches to finish second in the conference this season. You also may have heard that the Buckeyes received votes in the preseason USCHO Top 25 for the upcoming season. But didn’t Ohio State only finish 8-8-4-1 in conference last season and only 14-18-4 overall? Why are the Bucks being picked to jump up the Big Ten standings above traditional behemoths?

The answer lies in the same reasoning that led Ohio State's world beater football team to be underranked going into the current season: experience, or in the football team's case, a lack thereof. The Buckeyes return nearly all significant contributors from last season's squad aside from forwards Tyler Lundey and Anthony Greco as well as defenseman Craig Dalrymple and are bringing in new contributors, one of whom has done nothing but shine so much that Smash Mouth would call him an All Star.

But let’s start with who’s coming back and why they give Buckeye hockey fans out there the biggest reason to believe since the team nearly upset Wisconsin to win the Big Ten hockey tournament in 2014.

The Offense


Upfront, it starts and ends with Nick Schilkey. The man with the beautiful flowing locks that are on point in literally every picture or video I’ve seen of him led the team in scoring last season with 41 points and 19 goals while shooting a very repeatable 13.9%. He's the son of a hockey coach (yay for clichés) and has shown a proclivity for getting teammates involved and making them better. He's a captain for a reason.

David Gust is the Triple H to Schilkey's Steve Austin in Ohio State's Two Man Power Trip. He broke out last season after exploding in the 2015 Big Ten tournament to the tune of 11 goals and 25 assists with a, once again, repeatable 11.3% shooting percentage.

Greco will be missed, as he generated a significant amount of shots despite only putting home 12 last year (he shot only 7.6%). OSU will rely on Mason Jobst and Matt Weis to shoot more and hopefully score more while maintaining their slightly elevated shooting percentages. Jobst burst on the scene last year with 30 points in his freshman season while Weis broke out in his sophomore campaign with 32 points. Neither broke 12 goals, however.

The Buckeyes have to be hoping that goal scoring will come from the improving and ridiculously talented Dakota Joshua. He may be the most supremely talented player on the team. The Maple Leafs draft pick scored a hat trick on Sunday in the Bucks’ preseason exhibition against Wilfrid Laurier, whoever that is. He only scored five goals last year, but shot under 10%, so with more ice time and more chances, his scoring could bloom as Gust's did last season.

Tanner Laczynski is the other name to really look out for here. He was the only Buckeye drafted in the 2016 NHL Draft (by Philadelphia) and looks to be a possible add to the U20 United States World Junior Championship team this season. That’d take him away from the Buckeyes for at least a little while, but that valuable experience with the world’s best U20 players probably can’t be replicated in Columbus.

Look for breakouts from Miguel Fidler and Freddy Gerard as well. If Christian Lampasso can generate assists similarly to his freshman rate, he could play a middle six playmaking role as well. Hopefully two years in Columbus has made him stronger on the puck.

The Defense


The defense is probably more of a question mark than the offense. Ohio State scored 128 goals last season, good for third in the conference, but also conceded 125 themselves. That’s not great. It was the second most in the conference, only ahead of middling Wisconsin. They fired their coach after last season. Those two events are not unrelated.

And it certainly doesn’t help that Ohio State lost its big captain back there, Dalrymple. But with hockey becoming more of a possession game and Ohio State clearly not lacking talent upfront, maybe smaller, more mobile defensemen can help Ohio State become the 2010 Washington Capitals of the Big Ten.

Drew Brevig returns, having put up 19 points last season on defense, with only a 6.1% shooting percentage, so hopefully he can generate more goals this season. He’s gone from a late scratch a couple of seasons ago to probably the second most dependable defenseman this team has.

The first would be first team All-Big Ten selection Josh Healey. He led the defense with 21 points and had five goals himself. He also led the team in penalty minutes with 66 (Brevig only had 20) so hopefully he can keep that down since they don't have the big space eater Dalrymple on D anymore to clog up the powerplay lanes.

Tyler Nanne could have really helped if the Bucks were moving to a more offensive oriented defensive system, but his heart issue that caused Ohio State to hold him out for all of last season caused him to transfer home to Minnesota. So Sasha Larocque and Tommy Parran look to carry on that offensive place.

Parran, the 5’11 defenseman, registered 10 points last year while Larocque put up 10 himself. Larocque has never been a huge point getter, so a little improvement is probably more than we can ask from him, while Parran has never put up over 18 points at any level. So we’ll probably be lucky if he matches his 10.

Matt Miller, a freshman Ohio native, may be the best bet to replace Dalrymple, in some way. He has size at 6’1 and has put up similar offensive numbers to Parran and Larocque at other levels. Watch out for fellow Ohio native Gordi Myer back there to steal some minutes as OSU only has nine defensemen on the roster this year total.

The Goalie


This is about as cut and dry as any position’s going to be on this team. Christian Frey is the starting goalie. He should be the starting goalie. He has to be the starting goalie. Matt Tomkins, disappointing Chicago Blackhawks 7th round draft pick, is still around, but has shown time and time again that he just isn’t NCAA starting quality.

Frey had a relatively disappointing season last year, with just a .910 save percentage, but Tomkins only put up a beautiful .888 number himself. If Steve Rohlik wants to get fired, he should play Tomkins.

Frey’s goals against average was 2.91 to Tomkins’ 3.87. Frey has to play and play a lot.

Sean Romeo, a transfer goalie from the University of Maine, is the wild card here. He put up a .902 save percentage as a freshman in Hockey East, the toughest top to bottom hockey conference going away, and in two games before leaving the program last year, had a .933 mark. If he can steal time from Frey or Tomkins, great, because the team's goaltending has to be better than last year.

Frey is by far the surest thing on the roster now, but if Frey falters, watch out for Romeo.

The Advanced Stats


If you’ve made it this far down in this article, you’re probably interested, more than superficially, in this team. Here’s where the real predictors are that tell what they did last year and how likely they are to improve in the coming year. And boy do they not look good!

According to College Hockey News, in terms of even strength Corsi percentage (percentage of shot attempts for, including blocked attempts, OSU was only at 47.6%. That ranked fifth in the Big Ten last year. That's right: they were behind lowly Wisconsin. In terms of Coris when the score was "close", the Buckeyes checked in at 47.5%. That ranked fifth as well.

So if you put two and two together, you’ll notice a not-very-good pattern here for the Buckeyes. They give up more shot attempts than they taken, don’t have astronomically high shooting percentages from their forwards (there weren’t any super high outliers there) and don’t have fantastic goaltender save percentages. So it looks like they’ll perform how their statistics say they should, for the most part, and I think their record last year showed that.

The problem is that other teams have better goalies and can survive lower Corsis because of it. Shooting percentages tend to be more likely to come back to the norm, but good goalies save a higher percentage of overall shots than bad ones. Unless Ohio State gets really good goaltending this season or somehow has a bunch of shooting outlier seasons, it’s hard to see them greatly outperforming their statistical indicators this year.

The Prediction


I’m certainly not qualified to be a Big Ten hockey coach and probably not to even vote in the USCHO national poll, but I think both have it waaay off here. I don’t think the Buckeyes will be appreciably better than last year. They’ll be better in some capacity just because of how many good players they return, but there are question marks on defense past the top two and the team may be two years away from pulling one of those Hockey East years where they have older players and can take down the more talented teams with experience and filled out size.

So I think the Buckeyes will finish fourth in the conference once again, in front of only Wisconsin and Michigan State, in that order. In two years, even with Schilkey and others gone, I think the Bucks stand a much better chance of rising in the conference. The blue chip talent isn’t there, but as schools like Quinnipiac and Union have shown, if you get older, bigger and still talented players, you can take down the Minnesotas and North Dakotas of the world.

Ohio State just isn’t there yet. Their advanced stats are underwhelming. They're young and without that blue chip talent, it’s not a great combination. A fluke Big Ten title game appearance isn’t out of the question, but I don’t think this team’s going anywhere special. Yet.

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1. Indiana University is located in Bloomington, about an hour southwest of Indianapolis. IU is the state's flagship public university. The school's motto is Lux et Veritas, which translates to: "Light and Truth".

2. Indiana's colors are crimson and cream and the mascot is the Hoosier. No one knows exactly what a Hoosier is, other than a term for a resident of Indiana. Some say that Hoosier comes from an old Indian word, hoosa, which apparently meant "maize". Whatever the origin of the obscure word, Hoosier now apparently means: "friendliness, neighborliness, an idyllic contentment with Indiana landscape and life." At least that's according to the Indiana Historical Society, which is probably not the most objective source for such information.

3. Indiana has played football for 129 years. The Hoosiers have been good at football for exactly ten of those 129 years. Indiana's overall record is 475-665-44, for a .438 winning percentage. Among Power5 teams, only Wake Forest (.407) has a worse winning percentage.

4. Indiana is not a charter member of the Big Ten, but they have been in the conference since 1900. In conference play, the Hoosiers have a record of 205-495-24 (.300 winning percentage), and have been outscored 17,590 to 11,047 (24.3 to 15.1 on a per game basis). In 115 years of participating in Big Ten football, the Hoosiers have just two conference championships (1945; 1967).

5. Indiana does not have a recognized national championship, or any unrecognized national championships for that matter. The closest that Indiana has come to a national championship was the 1945 season when the team compiled a fine record of 9-0-1 (the Hoosiers' only undefeated season in their history). Indiana's only blemish was a 7-7 tie with Northwestern in the second week of the season. The Hoosiers outscored their opponents by a total of 276 to 56 and they finished 4th in the final AP poll.

6. Indiana has finished ranked in the final polls only six times in their history, with their highest ranking being 4th (AP in 1945; AP in 1967). The last time that the Hoosiers finished a season ranked was 1988, when they were 19th in the AP poll and 20th in the coaches poll.

7. Indiana has been to eleven bowl games, with a record of 3-8 in those contests. Indiana's only major bowl appearance was the 1968 Rose Bowl, where they lost to national champion Southern Cal by the score of 14-3. Indiana's most recent bowl appearance was in last year's Foster Farms Bowl (a 26-24 loss to Utah), which ended an eight-year bowl drought.

8. Indiana's greatest player of all time was undoubtedly running back Anthony Thompson, who was a two-time All American (consensus in 1988; unanimous in 1989) and the Hoosiers' only major award winner (Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, both in 1989; also Big Ten Player of the Year in both 1988 and 1989). For his Indiana career, Thompson rushed 1,161 times for 5,299 yards (4.56 average) and 67 touchdowns; and caught 102 passes for 755 yards (7.40 average) and one touchdown.

9. Just two years after Thompson graduated, the Hoosiers produced their second unanimous All American, running back Vaughn Dunbar. In 1991, Dunbar had 364 carries for 1,805 yards (4.96 average) and 12 touchdowns.

10. Indiana's third (and to date last) unanimous All American was yet another running back, Tevin Coleman. In 2014, Coleman rushed 270 times for 2,036 yards (7.54 average) and 15 touchdowns, including a career-long 90-yard touchdown run against Ohio State. Coleman's 90-yard burst was the second-longest play from scrimmage ever allowed by Ohio State (tied with two others).

11. Indiana has produced just three other consensus All Americans: Bill Hillenbrand (back, 1942); John Tavener (lineman, 1944); and Rob Ravensberg (end, 1945).

12. A Hoosier great who did not earn All American recognition was quarterback Antwaan Randle El. For his Hoosier career, Randle El had 11,364 total yards (7,469 passing; 3,895 rushing) and 87 total touchdowns (42 passing; 44 rushing; 1 receiving). Randle El was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1998 and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2001. The following spring he was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he became an All Pro and Super Bowl champion. For his NFL career, Randle El had 9,221 all-purpose yards and 27 total touchdowns.

13. In 1949, Indiana's George Taliaferro became the first black player drafted by the NFL (Chicago Bears, 13th round, 129th selection). At IU, Taliaferro played quarterback, halfback, defensive back, and punter. In 1948, Taliaferro led the Hoosiers in both rushing and passing, and he was named a first team All American. In 1981, Taliaferro was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

14. Pete Pihos played end and fullback for the Hoosiers during the 1940s. Pihos was named a first-team All American in both 1943 and 1945, and during his time in Bloomington he set several team records in receptions, touchdowns, and scoring. Pihos subsequently played nine seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles, where he won two NFL championships and earned All Pro honors six times. Pihos is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

15. Ohio State has a record of 73-12-5 against Indiana, for an .839 winning percentage. Ohio State has outscored Indiana 2,354 to 983, for an average score per game of 26 to 11.

16. Despite their great success against the Hoosiers, the Buckeyes failed to gain a win in the first six games of the series, going 0-5-1. The Buckeyes got their first win in 1914, and since that time have a record against the Hoosiers of 73-7-4 (.893 winning percentage).

17. Woody Hayes lost his first contest against Indiana in 1951. Since that loss, the Buckeyes own a record of 52-2-2 in the series, for a .946 winning percentage.

18. Indiana last beat Ohio State in 1988. Led by the great running back Anthony Thompson, who had 32 carries for 190 yards and 4 touchdowns, the Hoosiers trounced the Buckeyes by the score of 41-7. That victory gave the Hoosiers a brief two-game winning streak in the series, as they had also beaten the Buckeyes in 1987 by the score of 31-10. The only other winning streak by the Hoosiers in the series was four games from 1903 to 1913.

19. Four of Indiana's twelve wins in the series (33.3%) have been by shutout: 1904 (8-0); 1905 (11-0); 1937 (10-0); and 1947 (7-0). In addition, Indiana held Ohio State scoreless in 1929 and 1959 (both 0-0 ties).

20. Indiana last tied Ohio State in 1990, by a score of 27-27. Since that tie, Ohio State has beaten Indiana 22 times in a row (including the vacated game in 2010).

21. In the 2011 contest, Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller had an 81-yard touchdown run, tied for seventh-longest in Buckeye history. The Buckeyes had a great day running the ball as Daniel Herron (141 yards), Carlos Hyde (105 yards), and Miller (105 yards) each eclipsed the 100-yard mark. The passing game wasn't so hot, as a young Braxton Miller completed just 5 of 11 passes for 55 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. Ohio State prevailed, 34-20.

22. Urban Meyer's first game against Indiana in 2012 was a wild affair. The Buckeyes got off to an early 10-0 lead and it looked like it was going to be another typical blow out of the Hoosiers. But then Indiana running back Stephen Houston busted off a 59-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 10-7. A minute later Indiana blocked a punt and a short-field touchdown gave the Hoosiers a 14-10 lead early in the second quarter. Ohio State re-took the lead on a Bradley Roby blocked punt and a 60-yard touchdown pass from Braxton Miller to Devin Smith, and the Buckeyes led 24-14 at the half. The teams traded scores early in the third quarter, with Indiana kicking a 22-yard field goal and Ohio State getting a 67-yard touchdown run from Braxton Miller to extend their lead to 31-17. Indiana responded with a 76-yard touchdown reception by Shane Wynn to make it a one-score game. A pair of touchdown runs by Carlos Hyde extended Ohio State's lead to 18 points (45-27) early in the fourth quarter. The teams traded touchdowns and Ohio State still had a nearly insurmountable 18-point lead (52-34) with just 6:47 left on the clock. Then the Hoosiers really got down to business. They went on a 10-play, 74-yard touchdown drive (converting two third downs and one fourth down) to cut the lead to 52-41 with 1:40 remaining. Indiana recovered the ensuing onside kick and went 48 yards in five plays, using up only 35 seconds in the process. The Hoosiers successfully executed the 2-point conversion to cut the Buckeye lead to 52-49. Ohio State finally secured victory when Philly Brown recovered the onside kick.

23. For the past six seasons, the series has seen an incredible number of big scoring plays by both sides:

Year	Player	Team	Play	Yards	--TD--
2011	Braxton Miller	Ohio State	Run	81	yes
2011	Daniel Herron	Ohio State	Run	48	no
2011	Carlos Hyde	Ohio State	Run	47	no
2011	Daniel Herron	Ohio State	Run	40	no
2011	Kofi Hughes	Indiana	Reception	43	no
2012	Braxton Miller	Ohio State	Run	67	yes
2012	Devin Smith	Ohio State	Reception	60	yes
2012	Devin Smith	Ohio State	Reception	46	yes
2012	Shane Wynn	Indiana	Reception	76	yes
2012	Tevin Coleman	Indiana	Kick return	60	no
2012	Stephen Houston	Indiana	Run	59	yes
2013	Braxton Miller	Ohio State	Run	41	no
2014	Ezekiel Elliott	Ohio State	Run	65	yes
2014	Jalin Marshall	Ohio State	Reception	54	yes
2014	Jalin Marshall	Ohio State	Punt return	54	yes
2014	Tevin Coleman	Indiana	Run	90	yes
2014	Zander Diamont	Indiana	Run	53	no
2014	Tevin Coleman	Indiana	Run	52	yes
2014	Shane Wynn	Indiana	Reception	49	no
2015	Ezekiel Elliott	Ohio State	Run	75	yes
2015	Ezekiel Elliott	Ohio State	Run	65	yes
2015	Ezekiel Elliott	Ohio State	Run	55	yes
2015	Zander Diamont	Indiana	Run	79	yes
2016	Parris Campbell	Ohio State	Kick-off return	91	no
2016	Malik Hooker	Ohio State	Interception	47	no
2016	Nick Westbrook	Indiana	Reception	50	no
2017	Parris Campbell	Ohio State	Reception	74	yes
2017	Johnnie Dixon	Ohio State	Reception	59	yes
2018	Parris Campbell	Ohio State	reception	71	yes
2018	Stevie Scott	Indiana	run	45	no
2019	Damon Arnette	Ohio State	interception	96	yes
2019	JK Dobbins	Ohio State	run	56	no
2019	Master Teague	Ohio State	run	40	yes
2019	Peyton Hendershot	Indiana	reception	49	yes

24. The 2016 Hoosiers were coached by Kevin Wilson, who is now the offensive coordinator for Ohio State. In six seasons with Wilson at the helm, Indiana compiled a record of 26-47 (.356 winning percentage), but only 12-37 (.245 winning percentage) in Big Ten play.

25. The Buckeyes will be glad not to see quarterback Zander Diamont this season. In the 2014 contest, Diamont had both his career-long pass (49 yards) and career-long run (53 yards); under his guidance, the Hoosiers had a lead late in the third quarter before finally falling to the eventual national champions, 42-27. In 2015, Diamont set a new career-best with a 79-yard touchdown run and came nine seconds and nine yards short of upsetting the then top-ranked Buckeyes. Diamont did not play against the Buckeyes last year, and then quit football at the end of the 2016 season due to concussion concerns.

26. I don't know if the kid can play, but Indiana redshirt junior walk-on tight end Ryan Watercutter has one of the best names in college football.

27. Ohio State and Indiana square off in Bloomington tomorrow (August 31, 2017) at 8:00 PM. The game will be televised on ESPN. The Buckeyes are currently favored by 21.5 points.

1. If you look at the numbers, then Ohio State enters this game as the best team in the country. The most obvious numbers are the 4-0 record and the #2 ranking in both major polls. But here are some more numbers to consider:

Category	OSU Statistic	-NCAA Rank-
Scoring Offense	57.0 ppg	3rd
Scoring Defense	9.3 ppg	1st
Point Differential	47.7 ppg	1st
Total Offense	576.3 ypg	4th
Total Defense	237.8 ypg	3rd
Yardage Differential	338.5 ypg	1st
Rushing Offense	332.0 ypg	3rd
Rushing Defense	97.5 ypg	12th
Passing Offense	244.3 ypg	58th
Passing Defense	140.3 ypg	6th
Pass Efficiency Offense	177.41	6th
Pass Efficiency Defense	73.97	1st
3rd Down Offense	.571	1st
3rd Down Defense	.271	12th
Red Zone Offense	.913	29th
Red Zone Defense	.500	1st
Sacks	2.50 / game	44th
Sacks Allowed	0.50 / game	3rd
Net Punting	47.18 yds	2nd
Turnover Margin	2.00 / game	2nd
Time of Possession	36:45	2nd

2. H-back Curtis Samuel is the Buckeyes' leading receiver (23 receptions, 345 yards, 3 touchdowns) and second-leading rusher (41 carries, 328 yards, 2 touchdowns). Samuel is averaging 168.25 all-purpose yards per game and 10.5 yards per touch, and he is on pace to break the 1,000-yard mark in both rushing and receiving. Samuel already has nine plays from scrimmage of 20+ yards (3 rushes, 6 receptions).

3. Running back Mike Weber is the team's leading rusher, with 68 carries for 495 yards (7.3 average) and 2 touchdowns. In his brief time as a Buckeye, Weber is averaging 123.8 yards per game, which is slightly better than Archie Griffin's career average (121.5 ypg). At his current pace, Weber will rush for over 1,600 yards this season and easily break Ohio State's freshman rushing record (1,237 yards by Maurice Clarett in 2002).

4. Wide receiver Noah Brown has only 10 catches for 149 yards on the season, but half of his receptions have gone for touchdowns.

5. Quarterback J.T. Barrett has 1,093 total yards (205 rushing, 888 passing), for an average of 273.2 yards per game. He also has 17 total touchdowns (3 rushing, 14 passing) on the season.

6. Last week, Barrett set the Ohio State career record for touchdown passes with 59. Barrett is currently 10th in career passing yards with 4,714. He needs 376 yards to pass Jim Karsatos (5,089 yards) for 9th place. Art Schlichter is Ohio State's career leader with 7,547 passing yards.

7. Barrett is in 5th place at Ohio State in career total yards with 6,539. He needs 350 yards to pass Troy Smith (6,888 yards) for 4th place. Art Schlichter is Ohio State's career leader with 8,850 total yards.

8. Barrett is in 3rd place at Ohio State in career total touchdowns with 84. He needs two touchdowns to pass Art Schlichter (85 TDs) and five touchdowns to pass Braxton Miller (88 TDs).

9. Barrett entered the 2016 season as Ohio State's career leader in completion percentage, at 64.2%. This season, Barrett has completed 70 of 102 passes (68.6%), which increases his career completion percentage to an even 65.0%.

10. H-back Dontre Wilson has 2,653 all-purpose yards for his career, which places him 29th at Ohio State. Wilson needs 29 yards to pass Maurice Hall for 28th place; 56 yards to pass Robert Smith for 27th place; 93 yards to pass Joey Galloway for 26th place; 94 yards to pass Cris Carter for 25th place; and 95 yards to pass Devin Smith for 24th place. Ohio State's career leader in all-purpose yards is Archie Griffin with 6,559.

11. Despite limited opportunities, punter Cameron Johnston is having an All American season. Johnston has 11 punts for 557 yards, for an average of 50.6 yards per punt. Eight of Johnston's punts have been inside the 20-yard line, only two punts have been returned for a total of just 18 yards, and one punt resulted in a touchback. When return yards and touchbacks are factored into the equation, Johnston has a net average of 47.2 yards per punt, which is second in FBS.

12. Here's the other good news about Ohio State's punting: the Buckeyes haven't had to do it very often this year. Last season, the Buckeyes averaged 4.6 punts per game, while they are averaging only 2.8 punts per game in 2016.

13. Through four games this season, 15 different Buckeyes have scored touchdowns. Last season, only 11 different players scored touchdowns.

14. Ohio State has not had a kick-off return for a touchdown since November 27, 2010 (Jordan Hall, 85 yards, vs Michigan); has not had a punt return for a touchdown since November 22, 2014 (Jalin Marshall, 54 yards, vs Indiana); and has not had a punt block for a touchdown since October 5, 2013 (Bradley Roby, 0 yards, vs Northwestern).

Women's hockey: No. 1 Badgers kick off home schedule against Buckeyes - The Badger Herald
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Women's hockey: No. 1 Badgers kick off home schedule against Buckeyes
The Badger Herald
The Buckeyes (2-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) are also off to a great start to their season, with sophomore starting goaltender Kassidy Sauve earning the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Defensive Player of the Week. Sauve earned this honor after allowing ...


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Photos: Ohio State Basketball's 2016 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' Event - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Photos: Ohio State Basketball's 2016 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' Event
Eleven Warriors
The Ohio State men's and women's basketball teams took over the courts outside of the RPAC on Thursday night, showing off their skills at the second-annual 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' event. Among the highlights, junior guard Kam Williams defended his ...


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Ohio State vs. Indiana 2016: Game preview, prediction, and 5 things to know
Chuck McKeever via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Fresh off a win over Michigan State, the Hoosiers head to Columbus to face the Buckeyes.

It’s entirely possible that the Indiana Hoosiers don’t get nearly enough shine, at least when it comes to the discussion of the most entertaining teams in college football. Big Ten fans know that past versions of this team have certainly belonged in the conversation. For proof, look no further than the last two contests between the Hoosiers and the Buckeyes, featuring a 228-yard, three TD performance from Tevin Coleman in 2014 and Zander Diamont’s infamous 79-yard scamper for six in 2015. Both games featured a dynamic, albeit incomplete Indiana team butting up against a top-10 Ohio State squad; both games looked like serious upset bids until Urban Meyer managed to slam the door shut.

Kevin Wilson’s team looks like it has that potential again in 2016. The Hoosiers knocked off perennial powerhouse Michigan State last week on the back of a gadget play that saw a quarterback catch a touchdown pass, among other craziness. Hell, even when Indiana loses, they’re entertaining. Their loss to Wake Forest kept the bid for an undefeated Demon Deacons season alive for one more glorious week, and had various SB Nation pundits wondering if we were going to have to start talking to our kids about 12-0 playoff-bound Wake Forest. (Mercifully, or perhaps tragically, the Deacons dropped a game last week.)

There’s a lot to like about 2016 Indiana. Hoosier quarterback Richard Lagow is probably a more polished signal-caller than Diamont was, and what he lacks in soap opera pedigree he more than makes up for in athleticism. The advanced stats don’t love the Hoosiers, but they at least have a little crush, as far as the offense goes. They’ve got three different wide receivers who can hurt the other team. The list goes on.

If you’re reading this, you probably already know a good deal about the havoc that Ohio State has wreaked on college football this season, so instead of waxing poetic for a few more inches of column, let’s dive right into the matchup and see where each team has the edge.

Ohio State advantages


Exploiting the mismatch. As good as the Indiana passing attack has been, the running game has been pretty vanilla for the Hoosiers. That’s bad news for them, because their numbers almost certainly aren’t going to improve against a Buckeye team that ranks seventh nationally in run defense S&P+. The Buckeyes don’t allow many explosive plays on the ground, and the defense under Luke Fickell and Greg Schiano is fast enough and flexible enough to stay with backs trying to run outside the tackles.

Ohio State defensive tackles Robert Landers and Michael Hill have proven themselves stout enough to make any team think twice about going to ground too often. Raekwon McMillan has been, unsurprisingly, an efficient tackling machine; his fellow linebacker Chris Worley showed off his lateral speed and football IQ play after play in the Oklahoma game, resulting in speed demon Semaje Perine being stifled to a degree he’s rarely experienced as a football player. The Hoosiers aren’t going to find any breathing room on the ground against the Buckeyes. Which leads us to...

A Gandalf-inspired secondary. The young and inexperienced Buckeye defensive backs have come out with a pretty clear message to opposing offenses in 2016: You Shall Not Pass. Through four games, the secondary has recorded eight interceptions against just two passing TDs allowed.

There’s a combination of factors at play here. The most basic of these is sheer talent: Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley, and Damon Webb have all come into their own as Buckeyes, forming the core of a pass defense that’s looked ready to take on the world all season. Given that Conley and Hooker were 3-star recruits coming out of high school, this elite performance has been no mean feat on the part of Greg Schiano, Kerry Coombs, and the rest of the defensive staff.

The other thing that gives the Buckeyes such an edge whenever the opponent takes to the air is the press-quarters scheme that they run. Press-quarters gives them the flexibility to create a numbers mismatch regardless of the play call, and they’ve run it with devastating effectiveness. For proof, look no further than the following stat: Ohio State’s defense, through four games, has scored more points than it’s allowed. 18 of the 24 points racked up by the Buckeye defense have come courtesy of interception returns by the secondary. (The other six were on a pick by LB Jerome Baker.)

Indiana’s passing game has more of a pulse than any previous Ohio State opponent, including Oklahoma, but they’ll have little room for error against the Buckeyes.

Top-to-bottom execution. By S&P+, the metric that gauges how well a team performs in five major statistical categories against the average, the Buckeyes are the No. 1 team in the country. They rank in the top 10 nationally in offensive S&P+ (10th), defensive S&P+ (6th), and special teams S&P+ (3rd). Only one other team, Texas A&M, even cracks the top 25 in all three categories.

The offense is explosive, efficient, and multi-faceted. The defense is unrelenting, seemingly immune to big plays, and gets off the field quickly. The special teams unit has consistently created a massive field position discrepancy in favor of Ohio State.

Indiana ranks 48th, 37th, and 78th, respectively, in these same categories. The Hoosiers do plenty of things well, but they don’t do them as well or as consistently as the Buckeyes do.

Indiana advantages


Gunslinger. Indiana’s quarterback, Richard Lagow, isn’t afraid to take his shots downfield. The 6’6, 240-lb. JUCO transfer has an arm, and though the results have been mixed when the Hoosiers have aired it out this season, Lagow has made some really nice throws in important spots. His deep ball is an enviable one.

Lagow averages 319.5 passing yards per game. This high-volume approach has led to the occasional misfire—he was picked off five times against Wake Forest in the Hoosiers’ only loss of 2016—but it’s also gotten his team to a 3-1 record that includes a win over Michigan State. Malik Hooker and his teammates in the secondary will need to be in top form against a QB who’s not afraid to stand in the pocket and take a lick if it means hitting the right receiver.

Stopping the run. Indiana might be 37th in total defensive S&P+, but they come in at 22nd against the run. The Hoosiers’ ability to limit opposing rushers has been an overlooked component of the team’s success so far in 2016, and the Buckeyes might not find nearly as much running room as they’re used to against this solid defensive front.

Our own Chad Peltier dove more deeply into this issue here, but the major takeaway is this: this will be a much stiffer test than the likes of Rutgers, Tulsa, or Bowling Green offered the dynamic Buckeye rushing attack. Ohio State’s ground game has been lethal and efficient, lacking in long plays but with a high overall average per carry. Curtis Samuel, Mike Weber, Demario McCall, and J.T. Barrett all have the ability to take defenses apart, but the Hoosier defense seems well-designed to contain their efforts and force the Buckeyes to pass more than they’ve needed to.

Summary


F/+ Prediction: Ohio State 44.8, Indiana 19.2

Win Probability: Ohio State 93%

Despite all the things the Hoosiers have done well in 2016, the advanced stats like the Buckeyes to roll in this one by roughly 26 points. There’s too much talent top-to-bottom on Urban Meyer’s roster to think that Indiana will be able to keep pace with them on the scoreboard, especially given what the Buckeyes have accomplished on defense this season.

The last two years have seen Kevin Wilson’s team keep Ohio State fans biting their nails for a good chunk of the game. A few big-time throws from Richard Lagow could keep this one close for longer than we’d like to see, but this one should be well in hand by the start of the final quarter.

Expect to feel something like this when the scoreboard hits 0:00.

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

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Hoosiers Hoping To Repeat Harsh History Lesson In Ohio Stadium
Chip Minnich via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Embed from Getty Images​

October 10, 1987. The Ohio State Buckeyes, ranked 9th in the country with a 3-0-1 record (yes kids, games used to end in ties back in the day…), play host to the 3-1 Indiana Hoosiers. Most Ohio State fans, yours truly included, looked at this game as an automatic ‘W’, as Ohio State never loses to Indiana. After all, the last time Indiana defeated Ohio State? 1951, when Indiana beat Ohio State, 32-10.

Maybe someone at Indiana was feeling nostalgic in 1987, and tried to replicate the last Hoosier victory. The final score in 1987 – Indiana 31, Ohio State 10.

Ohio State’s head coach at the time in 1987? Earle Bruce. After the crushing loss, Earle Bruce stated, “I’ve known about Ohio State football since I was a freshman here in 1949. This is the darkest day in Ohio State football since I have been associated with it.”.

Remember who was a graduate assistant coach on the 1987 staff? Urban Meyer.

Saturday’s date for the game is October 8, 2016. Urban Meyer is now the head coach of Ohio State, and is reveling in the recent Dotting Of The ‘I’ celebration involving former Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce. Ohio State is undefeated, ranked second in the country, and guess who is coming into Ohio Stadium with a 3-1 record?

Yep. Indiana.

Fresh off an upset victory over Michigan State, Indiana comes into Ohio Stadium, fully intent on spoiling Ohio State’s dreams of an undefeated season and a shot at a College Football Playoff berth.

#Indiana just beat #MichiganState at football. No. I'm not kidding. #Buckeyes game is way more interesting next week...

— Matt Baxendell (@MattBaxendell) October 2, 2016​

I completely agree with Matt Baxendell’s thoughts regarding this game. Think of it this way ~ Indiana just defeated Michigan State, a team that has crushed Ohio State’s hopes and dreams in 2013 and 2015. If Ohio State was feeling cocky about their chances with Indiana, chances are that the upset win by the Hoosiers has the Buckeyes coming into this game with better focus.

Below are three critical areas I will be focusing upon as the Ohio State/Indiana game gets underway at 3:30pm EST on ESPN…

1. Can Ohio State Avoid A Sluggish Start Against Indiana?

Against Tulsa, Ohio State was tied 3-3 before the Buckeyes began capitalizing on turnovers near the end of the second quarter. Last week versus Rutgers, Ohio State only led the Scarlet Knights 6-0 after the first quarter. Yes, I know that the Buckeyes eventually overwhelmed their opponents. It would be very reassuring to see the Buckeyes come out with the same type of intensity and dominance in the first quarter as they have demonstrated in the latter portions of games.

1. How Well Will Ohio State’s Secondary Play Against Indiana?

Indiana is averaging about 320 yards a game through the air, while the revamped Ohio State secondary is only giving up about 140 yards a game. Which unit is going to come out ahead in this crucial matchup?

1. Will Ohio State Control The Clock With The Running Game?

Ohio State ran for 410 yards last weekend against Rutgers. Mike Weber, Demario McCall, Curtis Samuel, Dontre Wilson…Maybe even Antonio Williams, if the game breaks right. The best way to keep the Ohio State defense rested is by having them on the sideline, and that all starts with the Ohio State offensive line controlling the line of scrimmage against Indiana.

Prediction: Indiana has kept it interesting every year against Ohio State, with the exception of 2013. Urban Meyer is wary of the upset, and wants to see the Buckeyes take care of business at home before two grueling road night games at Wisconsin and at Penn State. Indiana will keep it close until the fourth quarter, but I like Ohio State to put it away with superior speed and depth. I am calling it Ohio State 42, Indiana 17.

The post Hoosiers Hoping To Repeat Harsh History Lesson In Ohio Stadium appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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5-star changes visit schedule, will visit Ohio State this weekend - Land-Grant Holy Land
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


5-star changes visit schedule, will visit Ohio State this weekend
Land-Grant Holy Land
Yesterday, another 247sports crystal ball prediction was in favor of the home-state Buckeyes for Jaylen. It remains unknown the final destination for Harris, but when things continue to trend towards Ohio State, Buckeye recruiting followers have to ...
Ohio State football | Q&A with former Buckeye Ty HowardColumbus Dispatch
62 percent of Ohio Voters Believe The Buckeyes Would Beat The BrownsTotal Pro Sports
Wilson says Buckeyes' selflessness has led to 2016 success247Sports
USA TODAY -CBSSports.com -Stevenspointjournal
all 79 news articles »

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5-star changes visit schedule, will visit Ohio State this weekend
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Due to the weather in Florida, Peoples-Jones will be visiting the Buckeyes.

For the second week in a row, the nation's No. 2 ranked team, Ohio State, will stay at home as they play host to the Indiana Hoosiers. Of the many positives that home games bring, recruiting certainly takes a front seat as Ohio State will continue to host many of their top targets each week they are in Columbus. With their quest to say perfect on the season this coming Saturday, there will be another huge visitor in attendance to watch the Buckeyes.

DPJ headed to OSU for official visit


This coming Saturday was supposed to be dedicated to the University of Florida for Donovan Peoples-Jones. The nation's best receiver and top prospect in the state of Michigan for 2017 was supposed to be on his way to Gainesville, Fla. to check out the Gators for his second official visit, but with the tropical storm taking place in the area, that trip has been derailed.


Instead, the Detroit, Mich. native and Cass Tech star will make a shorter trip south and head to Ohio State for his second official visit. Coming as a surprise to Urban Meyer and staff, the Buckeyes will gladly host Peoples-Jones as he is easily one of the best players in the 2017 class at any position.

Urban Meyer already has star receivers Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey committed in the 2017 class, but would without a doubt love to add Donovan. However, being a Detroit guy, the ties to Ann Arbor and Michigan cannot be denied. As it stands right now, the Wolverines are the clear favorite on the 247sports crystal ball predictions, but Ohio State has had great success in recent years at Cass Tech – so anything is possible.

Look for the red carpet to be rolled out this weekend for Peoples-Jones as the Buckeyes have yet another shot at impressing the 5-star talent.

Continued headlines for Harris


Even though his name was just mentioned, Jaylen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Cleveland, Ohio) continues to make the headlines. While it was noted that regardless of the receivers already committed in Ohio State's 2017 class, Harris would have a spot is he so chooses, the latest rumblings keep Jaylen connected to the Buckeyes.

Yesterday, another 247sports crystal ball prediction was in favor of the home-state Buckeyes for Jaylen. It remains unknown the final destination for Harris, but when things continue to trend towards Ohio State, Buckeye recruiting followers have to feel pretty good about their chances for keeping one of the state's best prospects home for another 4-5 years. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound deep threat is the nation's No. 27 best receiver and the No. 5. best prospect at any position in the state of Ohio for 2017.

Winton Woods duo heading to Columbus


Cincinnati has been good to the Buckeyes in recent years when it comes to recruiting. This year is no different. With Amir Riep and Jerron Cage already in the 2017 class for the Buckeyes, Cincinnati's top talent is staying in the state and heading north to Columbus.

This weekend, when the Indiana Hoosiers come to town, Cincinnati Winton Woods High School stars Jerron Cage and Christopher Oats will be in attendance on unofficial visits. Cage, already in the 2017 class, is the nation's No. 12 best defensive tackle and Ohio's eighth best prospect at any position for the 2017 class.

Oats on the other hand, a 2018 prospect, almost fits the mold perfectly for a Darron Lee type of linebacker. Standing at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Oats has the size, strength, and speed to do some serious damage at the next level. With nearly 10 scholarship offers already, the Buckeyes know just what kind of talent Oats is. With Christopher in attendance again this weekend, it's just another opportunity for Ohio State to extend their stretch as the early recruitment leaders for Oats. With every 247sports crystal ball prediction in favor of the Buckeyes, Ohio State has to like where things currently stand with the four-star linebacker.

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Skull Session: The Stoic Slobs, Ohioans Think Buckeyes Could Beat Browns, and 2006 Similarities - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Skull Session: The Stoic Slobs, Ohioans Think Buckeyes Could Beat Browns, and 2006 Similarities
Eleven Warriors
I've watched every minute of Buckeye 2016 football. I've watched every minute of Browns 2016 football, though that should get me indicted. I'm not one of those fools that think Kentucky could beat the 76ers, either. But this year's Buckeyes could ...


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Buckeyes down Rockets in four sets - Jackson County Times-Journal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes down Rockets in four sets
Jackson County Times-Journal
However, the Buckeyes were able to rally, outscoring Wellston 14 points to one, to take the fourth set at 25-18. The Lady Golden Rockets next travel to Oak Hill, on October 10, before hosting the Jackson Ironladies, on October 11, in their final ...

and more »

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Volleyball: Wellston Golden Rockets v. Nelsonville-York Buckeyes - October 6, 2016 - Jackson County Times-Journal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Volleyball: Wellston Golden Rockets v. Nelsonville-York Buckeyes - October 6, 2016
Jackson County Times-Journal
The following photos were captured during the October 6 varsity volleyball match between the Wellston Golden Rockets and Nelsonville-York Buckeyes. The Buckeyes defeated the Golden Rockets in four sets. (Photos by Scott Jones). Close. 1 of 71.


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Kam Williams wins Ohio State basketball dunk contest at 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' (video) - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Kam Williams wins Ohio State basketball dunk contest at 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' (video)
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Kam Williams wasn't ready to give up the title of best dunker on the Ohio State basketball team. Derek Funderburk, one of four newcomers to the Buckeyes this year, was going to provide stiff competition. At 6-foot-9, Funderburk is ...
Videos: Sights and Sounds From Ohio State's Annual 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' EventEleven Warriors

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Ohio State football | Robert Landers' hard work inspired by family - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Robert Landers' hard work inspired by family
Columbus Dispatch
The redshirt freshman is in the rotation at nose guard and leads the Buckeyes in tackles for loss with five. “His elevator is going up,” defensive line coach Larry Johnson said. Headed into his senior season of high school at Huber Heights Wayne in ...
Small In Stature, But Robert Landers Plays Big Role in Ohio State's DefenseEleven Warriors

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Ohio State football | Q&A with former Buckeye Ty Howard - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Q&A with former Buckeye Ty Howard
Columbus Dispatch
Recruited by Penn State, Michigan, Florida and Tennessee, the cornerback joined the Buckeyes as a member of one of the more celebrated recruiting classes in OSU history. He played parts of four seasons in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals (1997-98), ...
Ready, set, recruit, big Ohio State weekend ahead247Sports
Recruiting Rundown: Where Things Stand with Ohio's Best for the Class of 2018Eleven Warriors
'Indiana Hoosiers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes - 10/8/16 College Football Pick, Odds, and Prediction'Sports Chat Place (blog)
Fox 28 -AllMediaNY -The Spun (press release) (blog)
all 48 news articles »

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Videos: Sights and Sounds From Ohio State's Annual 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' Event - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Videos: Sights and Sounds From Ohio State's Annual 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' Event
Eleven Warriors
Ohio State's men's and women's basketball teams do not open up their respective seasons for another month, but fans were given an early look at both teams Thursday night at the annual 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' event. Started last year, 'Buckeyes on ...

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Polling data shows that a majority of Ohio residents think Ohio State would beat the Browns
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


This is sad and completely on brand for Browns fans.

As anyone who follows the machinations of political polling knows, to lighten up their normally humdrum lives, pollsters like to throw in ridiculous questions, usually meant to generate clickbait headlines or giggles from polling wonks who dive deep enough into the data.

In their most recent polling of Ohio, one of the most tightly-contested swing states, the Public Policy Polling organization included some questions to gauge the overlap between sports and politics. The biggest headline from the report for sports fans is that an absurdly high number of Ohio residents believe that if the Ohio State collegiate football team faced off with the professional Cleveland Browns, that the Buckeyes would win.


What makes this polling even more sad, not to mention completely on brand for Browns fans, is that despite believing that a college team could defeat an NFL squad, the Browns are still Ohio’s favorite professional football team, beating the Cincinnati Bengals 43% to 29%

In addition, the polling company compared the favorability ratings of two widely disliked people and institutions amongst Ohioans, the University of Michigan and Donald J. Trump.


After finally bringing a championship to Cleveland, it’s no surprise that LeBron James has impressive popularity in his home state, but it is a little surprising considering that he made a surprise endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who leads Trump by just one point in the state.

James has a favorability rating of 60/18, but unsurprisingly, it rises to 77/8 amongst Clinton supporters.

PPP also found that both Trump and Clinton supporters seem to have little issue with the Cleveland Indians' Chief Wahoo logo. Among Trump voters, 82% approve of it to just 1% who disapproves, while 52% of Clinton voters approve, compared to 17% who do not.

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Ohio State vs Indiana Trailer
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

The post Ohio State vs Indiana Trailer appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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The Ohio State hype video for the Indiana game is here, and it’s awesome
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’s that time of the week again!


Hype is officially starting to build around Ohio State football nationally. Their potential was already known across the country, but they’re really starting to look like a dominant team.

Typically when you’re that good, is when you start to get everybody’s best game. If last year is any indication, then this week’s contest against Indiana should be taken seriously. The Hoosiers gave the Buckeyes quite the scare last season, but it shouldn’t be overlooked that this year’s Bucks look much better than the year before.

With all that said, if you are sleeping on this week’s matchup, this hype video should be just the kick you needed to get in the mood for Saturday. The college football season is pretty short as it is, so why not enjoy every moment you can?

Go Bucks!

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Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: MOTSAG Podcast, Heard Around the Shoe, Power Poll, Indiana Preview and Daily Funny
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Welcome to the daily rewind of the previous days or weekends articles here on the Buckeye Battle Cry with some commentary and links to the author’s twitter account!




@ZachOsterman joins @ChipMinnich @smsommers84 to talk Hoosiers on @MotSaGPodcast



@BuckeyeBVO wraps up Buckeyes in the NFL this week



@BuckeyeBVO hits us up with the latest video of Oklahoma highlights




@BuckeyeBVO puts together this article for the Nate Ebner E:60



@BuckeyeBVO latest #HeardAroundtheShoe



@bzimmerman9 has the latest game preview and the Hoosiers are coming



@smsommers84 pulls together the latest B1G power poll



@wvabuckeye happens on @OhioState_WBB day one video



Daily Funny



The post Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: MOTSAG Podcast, Heard Around the Shoe, Power Poll, Indiana Preview and Daily Funny appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Mike Weber has shown so far he has what it takes to be Ohio State’s next great running back
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Through just four games, the redshirt freshman is drawing comparison to Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott.

“He’s a banger. He’s a thumper and a plus-yardage guy most of the time. Zeke was too, but he doesn’t have the top end that Zeke has. We’re working on that. And Carlos was a great back. We have been fortunate, and I think Mike falls right in that category.”

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer via Austin Ward, ESPN


How lucky have Ohio State fans been lately when it comes to the running back position? First Carlos Hyde was putting up big numbers in the first few years of Urban Meyer’s reign in Columbus. After Hyde moved on to the NFL, the Buckeyes didn’t miss a beat with Ezekiel Elliott. Now with Elliott also playing at the next level, the next running back that is having a big impact on the ground is redshirt freshman Mike Weber. Meyer has referred to the H-back position as the “Cadillac position” and it’s easy to see why.

Through just four games of his Ohio State career, Mike Weber is currently second in the Big Ten in rushing, amassing nearly 500 yards on the ground. While he is a physical back like Hyde and Elliott, there are still areas of Weber’s game that he knows he has to work on. Elliott had breakaway speed, while Weber isn’t quite as fast, but there is still plenty of time for the running back to improve on that. Meyer sees more of Carlos Hyde in Weber than Ezekiel Elliott due to his feet and power. Either way, it’s quite high praise for a back who is so early into his Buckeye career.

“It’s been pretty fun. I’m starting to get a little momentum. I’m starting to mentally be able to slow the game down. Right now I’m taking it one day at a time, one game at a time, one practice at a time. I’m taking advantage of every opportunity I get.”

Ohio State defensive lineman Robert Landers via David Jablonski, Dayton Daily News


One of the biggest surprises this year for Urban Meyer and Ohio State has been the play of defensive tackle Robert Landers. With a defense full of playmakers, the second-string redshirt freshman is leading Ohio State with five tackles for loss this season. Even though he isn’t starting, Landers is becoming more comfortable when he is on the field, and his play is demanding the coaching staff try and find more ways to get him on the field.

Landers is doing all this while he is a little shorter than the prototypical defensive tackle. Every other defensive lineman on the Ohio State roster is 6-3, while Landers is two inches shorter at 6-1. What makes Landers so effective is that even though he is a little smaller, his lower center of gravity allows him to get better leverage on those trying to block him. Landers says that defensive line coach Larry Johnson has a little fun with the redshirt freshman when it comes to his height, calling him “gravity challenged”. As long as Landers keeps making noise in the defensive backfield, the rest of the Big Ten won’t be laughing nearly as much.

“We’re not going to do any talking. We’re about action. We don’t do any trash-talking.”

Ohio State offensive lineman Isaiah Prince via Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch


Ohio State is third in the nation in scoring, averaging 57.0 points per game, and fourth in the nation in total offense, with 576.3 yards per game. That type of production doesn’t happen if the offensive line isn’t playing at a high level. Even more impressive is the Buckeyes came into the year with three new starters on the line. Pat Elflein and Billy Price have been a big part of the development of the latest edition of “The Slobs”. The latest performance from the Ohio State offensive line saw all five members earn champion status from Urban Meyer and the coaching staff following the 58-0 drubbing of Rutgers.

The scary part about the offensive line this year is they are likely to only get better as the year goes on. Left guard Michael Jordan is a true freshman, and all is becoming more comfortable with his role in the offense with each game. Even though the play from the offensive line has been outstanding before, assistant Greg Studrawa knows there is room for improvement when it comes to run blocking. With the way the Buckeyes are playing right now, any improvement on the high level the offensive line is playing currently could spell trouble for the rest of college football.

“Coaching is teaching. There is a need to educate aspiring coaches on how to teach today’s youth.”

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith via Nick Roll, The Lantern


Nearly everybody watching from afar thinks they can be just like Urban Meyer and Thad Matta, but actually doing so isn’t nearly as easy as it looks. To try and cultivate the next crop of coaches, Ohio State’s College of Human Ecology is preparing to launch a master of sports coaching program. The program is specifically designed for students that are actively coaching a team.

The program will feature faculty who are current and former coaches in the Ohio State athletic department. Many of the assignments will be based on implemented on students’ teams in real time. Also, curriculum will include courses on ethics, sports law and research, as well as race. Athletic director Gene Smith first asked faculty to look into the possibility of a coaching masters program four years ago. For those thinking the program will be easy will need to think again, as the university has made the program rigorous. Who knows, maybe one of Ohio State’s coaches down the road could begin to hone their craft in the program.

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Bowling Green (KY) South Warren

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 290 lbs

Ohio State looking to land top 2017 linebacker - Land-Grant Holy Land

Class of 2019 defensive tackle Jacob Lacey (Bowling Green, KY / South Warren) confirmed on Tuesday that he will be attending Friday Night Lights. Lacey, who is a massive 6-foot-2, 290-pound force of nature is going into his sophomore year.

At the moment, he holds six total offers, but not one from Ohio State. If Ohio State does send out that offer to Lacey sometime after (or before) Friday Night Lights, the Buckeyes would be up against the likes of Kentucky, Louisville, Cincinnati and Fiesta Bowl challenger, Notre Dame.

Lacey has not yet been evaluated from the recruiting sites, but is expected to be one of the highest rated players at his position in his class. Lacey's recruitment is just getting started, but Notre Dame and Tennessee could hold the upper hand right now. Still, that's almost irrelevant since he has a few years until his signing day rolls around.

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Tom Loy already has him CBed to ND. Visiting OSU this Saturday.

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OSU Non-Revenue: Women’s Hockey Off To A Strong Start
Charles via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’s October and that means college hockey season is getting underway. The Ohio State women’s hockey team opened their season last weekend with a trip to Troy, New York to take on RPI, that is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute not the computerized rating system used in NCAA tournament selections. The Buckeyes got their season off to a hot start, scoring two goals in the first two minutes of Friday’s game as they took a commanding 3-0 lead at the end of the first period on the way to a 4-1 win. RPI outshot OSU 35-22 but redshirt sophomore goalie Kassidy Sauve was a force in net, recording 34 saves.


Kassidy Sauve was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for her excellent performance in goal for the OSU women’s hockey team.
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography 2016


Saturday’s game may not have featured as much offense but it was still all Buckeyes as Ohio State improved to 2-0 on the season with a 2-0 shutout of RPI. OSU was once again outshot 33-23 but Sauve put in another amazing performance, stopping every shot she faced. Sauve’s 67 save weekend led to her being named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week; this is the fourth such honor for Sauve but I suspect it will be far from her last.

Ohio State opens WCHA conference play this weekend with a trip to Wisconsin to take on a Badger team ranked 1st in the country. Sauve will need another excellent weekend as the Badgers were on fire with their shooting, scoring 10 goals in their opening two games.

The Ohio State men’s hockey team will also be in action this weekend as they head out west to Denver, Colorado to take part in the IceBreaker tournament. The Buckeyes will take on the University of Denver on Friday night and then either Boston College or Air Force on Saturday.

Cross Country

The Ohio State men’s cross country team continued their strong start to the season, winning the All-Ohio Championship on Friday; this is OSU’s second straight All-Ohio Championship win and their 13th overall. Junior Evan Stifel just missed out on the individual title, coming in second place. OSU has now won two of their three meets this season and finished third in the other, knocking off 28th ranked Louisville in the process.

Other Sports

The women’s field hockey team broke a four game losing streak by posting a pair of victories last weekend. On Friday the Buckeyes defeated Kent State 3-2 and then blanked Ball State 3-0 on Monday. The wins wrap up the non-conference portions of OSU’s schedule and bring the team to 5-7 on the season. Unfortunately the Buckeyes are 0-3 in Big Ten games so far and will need to really turn things around over their remaining games and the Big Ten tournament.

The Ohio State women’s soccer team got the season off to a hot start but struggled at the start of Big Ten play, going winless in their first three conference games. Things appear to be turning around for the Buckeyes though as after getting their first Big Ten win against Iowa on September 25th, OSU tied Northwestern 0-0 last Saturday. The Wildcats entered the game 10-1-0 on the season so a strong OSU performance in the tie is a positive sign. The draw helped Ohio State improve to 19th in the country with a 7-4-2 record. This weekend features games at Maryland and Purdue; both games should be wins which would allow the Buckeyes to build some nice momentum.

The post OSU Non-Revenue: Women’s Hockey Off To A Strong Start appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Is Mike Weber going to be Ohio State’s best freshman RB ever?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Stats and history say he is on pace for a record-breaking season.

Raise your hand if you remember the last time that an Ohio State freshman running back started a season as strongly as Mike Weber has in 2016.

If your hand is currently raised, put it down, because you are lying. No freshman in Ohio State history has ever had a season like the one Weber is on pace for; Ezekiel Elliott didn’t, Carlos Hyde didn’t, Maurice Clarett didn’t, Eddie George didn’t, Robert Smith didn’t, not even Archie Griffin was able to get out of the gate like Weber has.

Obviously, counting eventual records broken just four games into a running back’s freshman campaign is more than a bit foolish. However, in an era of college football in which offensive records are being shattered at an alarming pace, the question does bear consideration, despite the necessary brake-pumping; is the running back from Detroit the best freshman in Ohio State’s illustrious history at the position?

Thus far, Weber has racked up 495 rushing yards in his first four games. That translates to 123.8 per game. If Weber continues on this pace, he will total anywhere from 1,609-1,857 yards, depending on how the Buckeyes’ postseason fortunes shake out. Perhaps needless to say, either total (or anything approaching) would be an Ohio State freshman record. The current mark dates back to Clarett’s historic 2002 season in which he amassed 1,237 yards and a crystal football.

The opposition


There are plenty of caveats that must be thrown into the mix when attempting to forecast Weber’s season; first of all, it’s only been four games, and two of those games were against two of the worst rush defenses in college football; Bowling Green ranks 115th, giving up 227.2 ypg, and Rutgers is at 116th with 227.4, both due in no small part to the bludgeoning delivered at the hands of the Buckeyes.

While Weber went for 136 against BG and a career high 144 against Rutgers, for which he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week, he also faired fairly well against Tulsa (ranked 63rd) with 92 yards, and Oklahoma (ranked 39th) with 123, so it is not a foregone conclusion that he will wilt against better defenses.

The Buckeyes’ remaining opponents are allowing 136.6 ypg on average, a total that would rank them 47th in rushing defense as a team. That total is roughly 3/4s of the average Ohio State’s first four opponents have given up. So, if from this point out, Weber averages only 75% of what he has been putting up thus far, that would bring him in around 1,330 yards in a 13 game season and 1,516 in a 15 game season, both breaking Mo C’s record.

It must also be said that while Ohio State’s early-season foes weren’t the most stout, the same could be said for those of the teams remaining on the Buckeyes’ schedule; so their defensive prowess could eventually prove to be over-inflated.

History has its eyes on him

Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images

In 1972, the NCAA began allowing freshman to play college football for the first time outside of war years. The timing couldn’t have been better for a running back out of Eastmoor High School named Archie Griffin.

That year, playing for Woody Hayes, the innovator of the “Three Yards in a Cloud of Dust” offense, Griffin totaled 867 yards during his 11-game freshman season.

Eighteen years later, Smith became the first Buckeye freshman RB to break the 1,000-yard mark with 1,126 yards in 1990. OSU fans would have to wait over two more decades before another back accomplished that feat. In 2002, Clarett set the current freshman record, playing in just 11 of Ohio State’s 14 games en route to the national championship.

So while Weber is on pace to crack 1,000 yards early in the November 5th game against Nebraska, the cards, and the demands of college football, are stacked against him. During his legendary freshman campaign, Clarett missed multiple games with injuries, most revolving around a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.

Though Weber has played extended seasons before, including 14 games as a senior at Cass Tech, losing in the State Semi-Finals, high school opposition is not exactly comparable to the beating that a running back takes against grown men, in Big Ten defenses.

One advantage that Weber has over Clarett, Smith, and Griffin is that he is a redshirt freshman, while the first collegiate action for those others came in true freshman seasons; and a year working under Strength Coach Mickey Marotti should not be undervalued.

The rigors of being a college running back have been difficult for many talented Buckeyes, including two of OSU’s most recent stars. Hyde totaled only 141 yards as a freshman in 2010, and Elliott put up only 262 in 2013, and their careers turned out just fine. Both now NFL backs, their career rushing totals rank eighth and second respectively in Ohio State history.

Coincidently, quarterback J.T. Barrett bested even Archie in 2014, when he ran for 938 yards as a true freshman.

The other major historical change that has trended towards Weber having a statistically unparalleled season is the type of offenses and defenses being run in today’s college football. While running games are still as important to most college football teams’ success as they have ever been, how they are used is different.

Instead of hard-nosed, up-the-middle slobberknocking, for teams that run more spread-based offenses, holes tend to be much larger, and defenders spread across the field, allowing for less contact and more yards gained.

And, despite the increased tempo of hurry-up offenses, the number of rushing attempts for the Buckeyes has not dramatically changed over the decades. In Griffin’s freshman year, OSU ran the ball 660 times. In Smith’s first season, the total was 506. Two years later when George was a freshman, it was just 541. Under Jim Tressel it was 629 during Clarett’s only season in Columbus, and last season it was just 554.

However, if things continue as they are, Ohio State could total anywhere from 663 to 765 rushing attempts, depending on if they make the College Football Playoff or not.

Compared to the greats

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Weber’s impressive start has already begun to draw comparisons to the other running backs to play at Ohio State under Urban Meyer’s spread system.

During his weekly press conference, Meyer was asked which back, Hyde or Elliott, Weber reminds him of most. Urban immediately said Hyde, noting their shared affinity for contact, and that Weber doesn’t have the speed of Elliott, at least not yet.

“He's a banger,” Meyer said. “(Weber’s) a thumper and a plus yardage guy most of the time. Zeke was too. (Weber) doesn't have the top end that Zeke has. We're working on that… I think Mike falls right in that category.”

One similarity that Meyer noted between Weber and Elliott is their willingness to sell out in pass blocking.

“His protection is outstanding. His effort is -- really pleased what he's turned into,” Meyer said.

For his part, Weber has downplayed the comparisons between him and Ohio State’s two most recent big name runners.

“I just go out there and play my hardest,” he said at a recent media availability. “I want to be myself at the end of the day. Those two are great running backs, so I have a lot of work to do.”

So far in 2016, Weber has been just fine being himself. His 123.8 yards per game on the ground leads the Big Ten; coincidentally (or not), Elliott leads the NFL with 103 ypg.

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Buckeyes set to host Midwest's No. 1 WR Peoples-Jones
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The Buckeyes have had good success at Cass Tech over the years. They signed eventual 1st Round pick Vernon Gholston out of Cass in the 2004 class. In more recent years, they signed running back Mike Weber, defensive back Damon Webb, both starters ...
BH: Nick of time | Off and running?247Sports

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